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Bridal: Valerene Chin-Khoo

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:35:46 +0100

Photography by Shayla Sanchez of Imagine Nation
Makeup by Dior Co
Hairstyling by Cora Lee

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Q&A: Make-up Artist Attire

Thu, 10 May 2012 06:43:44 +0100

Q: Hi Dior! I'm starting my journey into making makeup artistry as a career. Just a question, what do you wear when on the job?

A: When I went to my makeup training schools, they always advise us to wear black. They say it's the signature "makeup artist attire." The same thing was followed when I was in L'Oreal. I did retail training for the beauty advisers of Shu Uemura and the rule was to have all our makeup artists wear black. Well it only makes sense -- black looks professional, it almost never looks unpolished and it any dirt hardly looks obvious on it.

But to be honest, I don't usually wear black on jobs. I'm a person who gets easily bored that's why I chose this profession. Please, please, please don't ask me to wear a uniform! We are artists for crying out loud. We're creative people and that should be reflected in how we look, even fashion-wise. And to answer your question, I wear whatever I feel like wearing on jobs. Here are some of photos of me on a job, just to give you an idea of what I think is appropriate or not.

But of course, I still have my own guidelines, which are just actually common sense:

Never wear anything too sexy. You won't be respected by your colleagues and bending over to pick up your cosmetics would be very unpleasant if you're wearing anything too short.
Consider the theme. Doing a wedding? Wear dresses, florals or something ladylike. At a high fashion shoot? Wear something edgy and eclectic. It helps when you start conditioning your mind on how your day is going to go. What you'll wear for the day will also determine your mood, aura and inspiration. Choosing an outfit accordingly on the shoot or event's theme can inspire ideas and will affect your work output.
Be comfortable in your clothing. The job is hard as it is and usually done is a not-so pleasing environment. Don't worsen it by making it less comfortable for you.
- When I know the shoot is going to be held outdoors, I'd wear cotton or light colored tops.
- Wear something that will allow you to freely move. You'll be moving a round a lot especially at shoots.
- Don't even try to be in those killer heels. If you still want height, platform wedges is the best you can do with. Comfy flats are your best friend. My choice are ballet flats, and currently I'm in love with my pair of EuTOEpia.

Chic yet super comfy. I got the one in fuchsia in time for summer!

The name says it all, it's the eutopia for your toes! I can't imagine standing all day and running at shoots without a pair of comfy flats such as these. The local brand also has a few more loafers and moccasins that I've been eyeing on.

Will get the one in the middle! Reminds me of brush strokes, shouts "artist!"

The best thing about EuTOEpia is that they manufacture their shoes locally and they ship for free anywhere within the Metro. Support our own! And they're very affordable too, a pair for about P700-P1000 bucks.

Check out EuTOEpia's Facebook page or call them at +639175270912 for more info.

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Make-up Shelf Life

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:16:59 +0100

Q: What's the shelf life for make-up products? How do I know if they're already expired and needs to be thrown out?

A: Nothing saddens me more than having to throw away makeup from my stash. I always allow myself to hoard makeup, telling myself "I'll be able to use it in my profession anyways," but always end up throwing up a bunch from my kit. Before I enumerate the guidelines on makeup shelf life, let me just say that anyone should never ever use makeup that's way past their expiration dates. Over time, cosmetics can harbor harmful bacteria that can lead to infections. The few bucks you'll save from buying a new one just isn't worth the risk.

So here it is. Expiration dates — beginning from the time you first open the products:
Powders and shadows: 2 years
Cream shadows: 12 to 18 months
Foundation: 1 year
Lipstick & lipliner: 1 year
Mascara & liquid liners: 4 months
Pencil liners: 2 years
Makeup brushes: Clean weekly using a mild detergent
Makeup sponges: Replace weekly, or when sponge becomes soiled
Nail Polish: 1 year

Note also that like food, the more natural the product is, the earlier it will spoil. So organic and mineral makeup might even have a shorter shelf life than ordinary makeup. Deduct 3-6months from the shelf life I listed above.

When in doubt, use common sense. For those of you who have lost track as to when you first opened your pots and compacts, what you can do is smell them. If they smell funny or emits a weird odor, it's time to toss them. Any changes in color or texture is also a sure sign that it's no longer safe to use.

Q&A is a section of my blog where I'd be posting beauty-related questions from my clients, readers and anyone really. To submit a question (and get an answer of course!), email questions to diorco@gmail.com. You might just read your query here in my blog and at the same time help others get answers to the same beauty worry!

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Prenup: Jackie Lou & Rainier

Tue, 08 May 2012 06:50:28 +0100

Photography by Marvin Dungao
Makeup by Dior Co
Hairstyling by Bien Menez

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ArtDeco in Beauty Bar

Tue, 08 May 2012 17:49:01 +0100

Germany's number one cosmetic brand is back in Manila! Operated for a few years and gone for about two years, ArtDeco is available to us again, but this time, in a more posh home in Beauty Bar. I wasn't really that familiar with the brand; I've just been seeing its ads in our top local glossies for the past few months and I've been curious ever since. So when I got an invite from Beauty Bar to attend their workshop and learn more about the brand, I immediately said yes.

Makeup artist Carmen Reyes lead the workshop using ArtDeco cosmetics on a model, doing a daytime look first and then bumping it up to a nighttime look.

Model after the ArtDeco make-over

Aside from seeing how the products look on the model, we were able to play with them too. Here are some of the products I was able to try and my initial thoughts on them.

ArtDeco Long-lasting Foundation (P1,350.00)

This oil-free long-lasting foundation gives every skin type a naturally matte, even complexion. It's amazing how light this feels yet it offers decent coverage. I particularly like that its oil-absorbing elements reduce shiny skin areas and refine pores, which is just perfect for our humid climate. It has SPF 20 to protect the skin against UV rays and hyaluronic acid to maintain skin's moisture levels.

ArtDeco Fixing Powder (P1,250.00)

In contrast to conventional powders that usually has coarse-grained texture, this powder feels light and appears invisible on skin. The micro-fine powder particles melt together with the skin and perfectly fixes the make-up and leave a delicate transparent matte finish. This might be a good affordable alternative to the Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish powder I consistently keep in my kit.

ArtDeco Eyeshadow Base (P450.00)

Sometimes, skincare and priming products excites me even more than makeup. I'm just so glad there are products out there that make my work easier by making the final result last longer! ArtDeco shadow base has a soft mousse texture that hardly creases. The skin-toned base (almost the same shade as MAC's Painterly) gives powder eye shadows staying power and makes colors more vibrant. I like that upon application, it neutralizes any redness or eyelid discoloration.

ArtDeco Hot Chili Lip Booster (P895.00)

I've been an avid fan of lip plumpers since the fad started out in the early 2000. I can't recall how many tubes of glossy plumbers I've bought to desperately make my super small lips millimeters bigger than they are. I've got myself a bit too many only to realize the sting that I feel after each application (from all five brands I've tried) didn't only plump up my puckers, but dried them out as well. After realizing that, I stopped using -- until ArtDeco made me try their Hot Chili Lip Booster.

When Carmen handed me the tube, I was hesitant. To try or not to try. Well, how can I resist makeup if it's staring me right on? I gave in.

My lips aren't normally this plump. Thanks lip booster!

I didn't remove the lip booster until I accidentally did, at dinner. So let's say I had about 3 hours of this plumping action on my lips and yet it didn't dry them out unlike all the others I tried before. I'll sure be back in Beauty Bar for some more of these babies!

ArtDeco Mosaic System

The heart of the ArtDeco makeup line is the “Système Mosaïque” or Mosaic system -- a refillable system where you can compile your ArtDeco favorites in a magnetic box. You can put in ArtDeco concealers, eyeshadows, brow shaders and blushes in a customizable palette. You can combine and collect your favorite colors as you please, replace old brushes, add new trend colors, and integrate brushes and applicators whenever you like. I've got two eyeshadows in my mosaic system as of the moment and I'm excited to fill it in with more!

The Artdeco counter looks and feels a lot like Smashbox, only with more color and selection!

I'll be posting a more in-depth review on some of the ArtDeco products I brought home with me soon. For now, you can visit them in all Beauty Bar branches nationwide. They have a complete and varied cosmetic line from primers to color makeup to nail lacquers!

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Prenup: Elma & JB

Sun, 06 May 2012 12:57:23 +0100

Makeup by Dior Co
Hairstyling by Christy

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Bridal: Jovie Bonifacio-Dinglasan

Sun, 06 May 2012 12:41:48 +0100

Photography by Zye de Guzman
Makeup by Dior Co
Hairstyling by MJ Delizo

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Prenup: Valerene & Augustine

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:26:56 +0100

Photography by Nelwin Uy
Styling by Sidney Yap
Makeup by Dior Co
Hairstyling by MJ Delizo

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Ad Campaign: SM Mother's Day Sale 2012

Wed, 02 May 2012 03:35:55 +0100

Photography by BJ Pascual
Styling by Alyanna Martinez
Makeup by Dior Co
Hairstyling by Aries Manal

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Dior Garden Clutch

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:44:47 +0100

I already find it difficult to resist buying new makeup, but always find it near impossible to stay clear of Christian Dior Limited Edition products. Aside from the intricate and sophisticated design of the containers, a new CD makeup is always welcome in my Christian Dior cosmetics collection (Thanks mom for starting it all!).

Spring makeup generally consists of romantic fresh pastels as well as colours inspired by florals. This Spring, the couture house of Dior chose his hometown, Granville Normandie, to be the source of inspiration. The number one item from this collection I could not resist is the Garden Clutch palette.

This garden-inspired compact clutch features three pearlescent shadows and two sheer glosses. It's available in two palettes, Granville Garden and Milly Garden. Since I'm in love with this year's Spring pastel trend, I chose to purchase Granville Garden instead of Milly Garden that consists of greys and plums.

The Granville Garden luxurious compact reveals a harmony of precious pink and pale green eye shadow shades, accentuated by a deep brown hue, to emphasize eyes. A duo of apricot-tinged lip glosses complements the eyeshadows.

The best thing about this palette is that it can double as a party clutch too! The design and workmanship of the two roses are remarkable.

It is a signature Dior clutch with soft leather-like woven texture and adorned with silvery rosebud clasps. When you hold on to the clutch, it is so sleek and smooth that it is hard to let go. It’s got a nice weight to it, holding it feels just like holding a real purse!

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