Alee Benson – Acie Fores

Acie Fores on WheninManila.com

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I had the privilege of being interviewed and featured in Manila’s top lifestyle hub, When in Manila, a couple of weeks ago when writer/columnist Tonette Nicolas of The Health Junkie, was assigned to do the write-up. We met up with my friend and blog coach, Martine de Luna at the EDSA Beverage Design Studio, to do a makeover on Tonette, to showcase the “Acie Fores makeup” style and aesthetic. We did a “workday to weekend” transformation. Here are some of my favorite shots of Tonette from the shoot.

acie fores when in manila — Tonette Nicolas, blogger and writer for WheninManila.com

Read the full feature on When in Manila here: Get Your Celebrity Look from Acie Fores. Thank you, Tonette and When in Manila, for the opportunity!

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December 3, 2014

Behind the Scenes Personal

Behind the Scenes: Interview with Tina Henson

I call her my Electric fan. Tina has been my muse/model of sorts. Good Bone structure, check, lithe and model proportions, check. It helps too when she always encourages you to do your best and is very easy to please. Call it mutual admiration, she best epitomises what I look for in a dream client, her words are always ‘ikaw na bahala’ or “its up to you what looks best on me”. Despite her minimal look of a bare face and a bold lip, she pulls it off very effortlessly. Her shameless plug interview with me humbles me no end and I thank her for making me her artist of choice. Below is the light chat we had.

1. For what kind of event(s) did you hire Acie to create your look?

These are some of as far as I can recall. I may have missed one or two since Acie has been doing my make-up and my daughter’s (Marga) from the time she began her career in this field.

003 Sister Sandy Wedding - July 2011 — My sister, Sandy’s Wedding (July, 2011) – My make-up, Marga’s, the Bride’s (Sandy’s) and my other sister’s (Nadine’s)

007 Velada Oct 15&16, 2011 — My Assumption High School Velada: 25th Anniversary (October 15 & 16, 2011) – My make-up on both days and on the second day, Acie also did the make-up of a group of my HS classmates

020 Belair Pasinaya - May 2013 — The Belair Pasinaya – May 2012 – Makeup by Acie

Flores de Mayo, Makati (May 4, 2012) – Make-up of Marga

2. What did you enjoy about working with Acie? What did you like about her makeup style, as well as her work style/ethic?

Acie is very professional with me and my daughter, Marga, even if she is my first cousin. She comes on time, complete with make-up, paraphernalia, assistants, and even pegs. She takes the time to understand what it is exactly that you want by asking questions about the event you’re going to, what you will be wearing, what you want or do not want. I noticed that she also makes the effort to “size up” your personality and she takes this into consideration as well. From there, she’ll incorporate her own touch and the result is always impeccable! She is very passionate with what she does and her expression of eagerness to do your make-up (every single time!) is contagious. These are only some of the many reasons why I wouldn’t have anyone else do my make-up and my daughter’s, but Acie.

A professional shoot. Makeup by Acie Fores.

What I like most about Acie’s make-up style is that it always turns out to have that natural look, yet my face is strikingly enhanced in all the right places. For someone who doesn’t really wear make-up on an everyday basis, it makes me feel like I’m still myself. My daughter and I get compliments all the time and the make-up stays the entire duration, even if the event is from morning to evening.

3. What are some of your favorite makeup products/must-haves for daily wear?

Ironically, I don’t wear any make-up on ordinary days. I simply put on my favorite shade of red lipstick by Mac or Chanel. This is how I’ve always done it for decades. In fact, I don’t know how to apply make-up. So, on special occasions when I really need to, I call on Acie to do her magic!

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November 7, 2014

Beauty Behind the Scenes Bridal PreNup

Pre Nup or is it a case of Never Enup?

The very first time I heard of a Prenup before a wedding event was from a cousin of mine, Sandy Henson, who was getting married at that time to her longtime friend and soul mate, Fernando De Achaval in July 22, 2011. She asked me if I could do her Prenup. Prenup? I asked in horror. Why do you need me for a Prenup? Fernando asked you to sign a Prenup? On what grounds do you need to sign a Prenup? These were the thoughts racing in my mind and I immediately told her that a Prenup was such a tasteless way to start a wedding and that she should reconsider her wedding plans to him because I saw a red flag hovering somewhere there. The actual definition of a Prenup is a document that either party signs before a wedding to protect significant assets that one brings into a marriage, in the event of a divorce or separation. So formal and so business like. Not romantic at all.

I felt like I had to be an Ate to her and give her my 5 cents worth of marriage advice because I felt I had to tell her something is wrong. She laughed and told me to chillax because nowadays, a Prenup is actually a photo or video shoot not a document. Susme! Prenups by today’s definition are video or photo shoots of the couple in varying moments of love all captured in digital media for all to see and shown during the wedding reception. This becomes part of their wedding album. Huwow!!!! I never felt so behind the times, considering I’m supposed to know this right?

I said to myself, wow how times have changed; I never had a Prenup during my wedding in 1996 so this Prenup concept was a bit shocking to me. All that I had as a memento of my wedding was a wedding album with 5×7 photos inside it. No video, none of the social media posting that we do get today. I was getting over the shock but soon after felt relieved and excited to be a part of something romantic and magical, and so I agreed, and shock turned into excitement and being honored to be a part of this couple’s magical love train. The shoot was captured by no less than Jason De Guzman of Imagine Nation Photography and Manu Cuevas. Hair was expertly styled under the deft and skilled hands of noted hairstylist Alee Benson. Makeup Used was Nars Bridal Palette on her eyes, MAC Lingering for her brows, MAC Studio Fix Foundation in NC 35, MAC Blacktrack Fluidline, Orgasm Blush, Makeup Forever Sculpting kit and MAC Spice lip liner topped with Angel Lipstick.

Felt the love already. First few shots of the day and there is no feeling of hiya or stiffness between the two. Photographer Jason was excited to see the progress of the shoot.

Lovers Delight. This is one of my best photos. The bride used this for her profile photo in Facebook recently.

Last few shots of the day and they were still in good spirits. Jason couldn’t have captured it any better.

As I write this, Sandy and Fernando have been married for the past two years and I can testify that the mood and feeling captured in these few photos are still shared up to now. When I follow them in their Facebook and Instagram accounts, I see them express their love for one another by posting random acts of kindness , some may call it oversharing or TMI (too much information) but I commend them for keeping the flames of passion burning between them. Nowadays, love can be cheap and overrated, with expressions of motherhood statements about empty promises but not these two lovebirds.

Currently they are trying to expand their family and I wish them all the luck and happiness and I have no doubt it will be sooner than they think. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Love you both Sandy and Fernando. A huge thanks to you for making me a part of your wedding and your lovefest.

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September 28, 2013

Tag: Alee Benson