MUT: Ombre Lips

When I first heard about this trend, I just had to try it! 

It's fun, unexpected and definitely something worth trying ;) 

 This was my peg for the look. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this look was from a Miu Miu Fashion Show. Lovely combo.

[Photo from Google]

[Photos edited by Allan Manalac.Thank you Allan!]

The key to this look: A light and dark shade of lipstick that compliment each other. 

For this look I used:

-MAC Lipstick in Russian Red

and

- Face It Lipstick in PK102 (Face Shop)

I applied the darker shade, Russian  Red, first on my lips, leaving the center of my lips bare. 

Then I applied the lighter shade, PK102, on the remaining bare area of my lips. 

Voila! You now have Ombre Lips! :)

You can wear these colors for day or night! But I suggest a darker color combo for night time :) Don't be afraid to experiment! Makeup is all about trial and error. If you never try, you'll never know right? :p 

And if you do decide to try this look, send me over a photo or link your blog and I'll be glad to check it out :D

Stay gorgeous ;)

Tamara x

Face Routine

Hi Everyone!

I received a question in my FORMSPRING just recently and the question was "How do you keep your face clean/pimple-free?" I thought that this would be a great topic to blog about since I myself struggled with acne before, and still am, just like everybody [except if you are one of the lucky ones who are blessed with divine skin since birth :p]. 

I think it was around 2005 or 2006 when I started having really bad breakouts on both my cheeks. And when I say bad, it's really bad. From afar you'd think I just had really rosy cheeks. But the "rosy-ness" was actually caused by inflamed pimples [not a pretty sight]. I felt very self-conscious during this horrible breakout stage. I remember feeling very frustrated most of the time because I felt like anything I did, may it be trying countless dermatologists and over the counter products, did not work at all.

 I dreaded going to the dermas! Everytime I would leave the derma for a session, I would always look like a strawberry [that's what my sister described me as hahaha]. And not only did I dread the pricking, I also dreaded the medications that they would prescribed  to me. I think there was a time that I was using 6 products on my face :| It was a painstaking process.

After what seemed like an endless search for a solution for my "curse", I finally found products that help keep my skin in check. And I guess my hormones are more balanced now :p [cause you know how acne can be cause by hormonal imbalance hahaha]

 (Left-Right: St. Ives Apricot Cleanser, Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner, Olay Total Effects Day Cream and Serum, PanOxyl Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%)

 I discovered this facial wash a few years back when my older sister visited the Philippines. I first tried the original formula which had a coarser texture. That worked well too but I found it a bit drying on my skin. Then I tried out this formulation which was more creamy and was more gentle and hydrating. Been using this for months now and it definitely keeps my skin clear :)

 I really love this toner! It's perfect for me since it refines pores [I have huge pores :( ] and removes and controls oil without totally drying out my skin. You can find this at any Healthy Options stores :)

 Yes, I use Olay Total Effects even though I am not experiencing any signs of skin aging-YET. Like I said, prevention is better than the cure :p hahaha I use the day cream during the say [obviously :p] and the serum for night time before I go to bed. But I sometimes use the serum for the day when I just want something light and less creamy than the day cream. Downside of the serum: No spf :( 

Last but definitely not the least, PanOxyl! This baby is actually my saving grace. It works wonders for me! When my skin was really bad, I would put this on my entire face and after a month or two, my skin gradually cleared up. I got less and less of those big and painful zits. Hallelujah for this great invention. I never went higher than the 2.5% because I read that anything above this can sometimes cause irritation and severe drying.  It's always best to consult with a dermatologist :) 

So, there you go, my top skin saviors! Are you currently using any of these products or have tried one before? :) 

Hope you had a great Thursday!

Stay gorgeous ;)

Tamara x

MUT: Wide Awake

Hi Everyone!

I'm finally on the last push before my sembreak starts!! It's been a hectic week that's why I haven't been able to upload any makeup for today looks :( I didn't feel like putting on makeup that much since I was so stressed.. 

Anyway, I thought this look would be perfect for this specific circumstance that a lot of students and hard working ladies experience: GETTING NO SLEEP. I'm sure a lot of you can relate. Well, I've been having a lot of sleepless nights lately and I needed something that'll make my eyes look brighter because sometimes, concealer just isn't enough. 

One trick to awaken those tired eyes: White eyeliner. 

Products Used

On the FACE: 

- Olay Total Effects Day Cream

- ETUDE Aloha Face Primer

- MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW 25

- MOTIVES Dual Perfecting Powder in Neutral
- ELLANA Mineral Powder Blush in Obsession

- NYX Mosaic Powder in Highlighter (used along the cheek bones)

On the EYES: 

- MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

- MOTIVES Essential Brow kit 

(brow powder in dark brown used as eye shadow along the crease)

- Maybelline One by One Volume Express Mascara in Brownish Black

- The Face Shop Eye line pencil in White

(lower waterline) 

On the LIPS:

- MOTIVES Rich Formula Lipstick in Natural 

So if you want an instant I've-had-8hours-of-sleep look but really only had 3 hours, white eyeliner is your best bet. It instantly brightens up your eyes and face :)

Hope you had a good one!
stay Gorgeous ;) 

BTS: Tela Couture Photoshoot

Hi Everyone!

I did makeup for my friend Madi Garcia's online shop TELA COUTURE last September 24, 2011. I did makeup on two lovely and leggy ladies, Bea and Addie :p You'll see in a bit why I said "leggy".

 Addie

 Bea

[These photo's were taken by Heidi! Thanks so much :)]

Both very pretty girls! Madi requested the brown smokey eye since it's going to be the "spring" collection.

 told you...LEGGY O__O how I wish I had legs as long as these! 

 Madi and Heidi 

Mandi directing the girls :p

 The makeshift background hehe

SO TALL RIGHT! Madi and I are tiny beside Bea and Addie :( hahaha

Thank you again Mandi!! :)

Visit: http://telacouture.blogspot.com/ today! 

Stay gorgeous ;) 

Tamara x

MUT: Baby Blue Eyes

Today was a bit gloomy so I decided to add a bit of color to my makeup to brighten up my day :)

Products Used 

For the FACE :

- OLAY Total Effects Day Cream 

- MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW 25

- MOTIVES Dual Perfection Powder in Neutral

- The Body Shop Bush in Golden Pink

For the EYES:

- MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

- Wet n' Wild Kohl Eyeliner in #659 

- Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Waterproof Mascara in Glam Black

For the LIPS:

- MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy

Here's a twist to the classic black eyeliner. If you want to add a pop of color to your usual makeup look, why not use an eyeliner in a fun and unexpected color ? :> I used a blue eyeliner because it brings out the brown in my eyes. 

I just recently tried the Olay Total Effect Day Cream since my mom started using it. My skin has been on a dry spell lately and my mom suggested that I try this product. It's so thick and creamy that you only need a tiny amount for your entire face. So far, I'm really liking it :) And so what if it's supposed to be for mature women? Prevention is always better than the cure, right? :p 

Unfortunately, Aaron forgot to bring his camera today :( So I just took these pics thats why they aren't as good as the photo from the last post :p 

Thumbs up or down for this look? :) 

Hope you had a good one! Stay gorgeous ;) 

Tamara x

MUT: Makeup for Today

Hi Everyone!

I came up with this genius idea last week and I'm just so excited for it :D Okay, so I thought of doing this new segment in my blog called "MUT: Makeup for Today" and it will feature makeup looks with a little more spice into them but are still appropriate for school/work. sounds fun, right? :>
I'm hoping to make this a daily thing, but if not, at least 3 times a week. 

I teamed up with the very talented Aaron Articulo to take my photos for the MUT segment.

Please check out his blog at: http://dailysmidgens.tumblr.com/

THANK YOU SO MUCH AARON :D

So let's get started! :D Last friday, I did this look for school and its very simple and fresh. 

Products Used

 For the FACE: 

-ETUDE Aloha Face Primer

- MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW25

-MAC Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder

- The Body Shop Matte & Shimmer Cheek Color in Pink

- MAC Fix+

For the Eyes:

- MAC Paint pot in Painterly

- Maybelline One by One Volume Express Waterproof Mascara in Blackest Black

- Motives Brow Wax (from the brow kit)

For the Lips:

- Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Twilight

Now I know you might be thinking "That's a lot of products!" But trust me, it'll only take you 5-10 mins to finish this look. And its all worth it! :) Plus, you aren't in any way required to follow this routine entirely. You can edit it and make it fit your own style and preference :) 

Living in the Philippines, the number one enemy of makeup is the humidity! A few hours out the door and your makeup might have already melted from the heat. The key to lasting makeup: PRIMERS. That's why I started this look with the ETUDE Aloha Face Primer. It's a very refreshing and light primer that'll make your makeup last through out the day. I also used MAC paint pot on the eyes (can also act as a primer before eye shadow application) because I absolutely hate it when I apply concealer on my top lid and it starts to CREASE after a while. Don't you hate that? But this baby stays put all day long, I love it! 

You may have noticed that I didn't use a foundation. This is because I don't like that heavy feeling of having TOO many products on my face, specially when I'm in school. That's why I just opt to use a loose powder. But if you want a little more coverage, you can use a tinted moisturizer. Acts like a foundation without the heavy feeling of a regular foundation. 

I absolutely LOVE Revlon's Just Bitten Lip Stain in Twilight. I discovered this through my friend Liz who uses this all the time. Not only is the color perfection, but it stays on your lips foreverrrr haha! Seriously, it's very long lasting, not a lot of touch-ups required. Perfect for the on-the-go girl who's too busy that she doesn't even have time to do touch-ups. 

PHEW was that a long post or what? =P I hope it was helpful though! 

If you have any makeup look requests, please just leave a  comment below or send me an email! I'd love to hear from you :) 

Hope everyone had a blessed Sunday! Stay gorgeous ;) 

Tamara x