Weddings are the bread and butter of a makeup artist. Depending on the level of expertise and length of years a makeup artist has put for some it’s commercial, TV and film work. Mine is the former.
For my Brides, as a way of thanking them, I offer them a retouch kit to be used on the wedding day. This gift is given regardless whether she has a second look or not, this is what I offer them. To add more value to the package, I also give them a facial GC from reputable derma salons or clinics to be used weeks before their wedding day to ensure glowing skin. I admit I splurge a bit even if it is not included in the package. She may opt to have another one a week or a few days before to give her the much needed de stressing moment.
Makeup artists have to be creative in their marketing and selling skills to attract that discerning Bride. The skillset is there, but the name of the game is how to up the ante in the marketing scheme.
Below is a sample of what my retouch kit contains. Budget will play a big role on what you want to spend for this but its all in the creativity as to where you want to source. I source mine through online sites, department stores, and brand tie ups.
I buy in bulk, and I look out for sales so I can stock up. But be mindful of expiration dates, you don’t want your bride developing a rash or allergy because of this oversight.
Basic Retouch Kit Must Haves
Tissue
Blotting Papers
Cotton pads, disposable Mascara and lip wands, Q-tips and sponges
Powder
Concealer (can double up as face fdtn) depotted in a container
A new tube of Lipstick or you may depot into a container
Wipes and Cleansing Oil
Lash Glue
Calling Card
Add Ons:
Sewing kit
Ecological Straw
Eye and face serum (as shown above)
Hairspray
Face Masks
Nail File, Bobby Pins (this should be provided by the event coordinator )
Double sided tape (this should be provided by the event coordinator)
Misting spray
Essential oil
Elastic Hair band
It’s up to you on how you want to save or splurge, with consideration to your budget and your rapport with the Bride. Personally I like the Brides I’ve worked with, so sometimes I get carried away.
I always explain what s inside the kit and let her know this kit should be entrusted to her Maid of Honour or the Event Coordinator that’ s assigned to her the whole evening or afternoon.
Share with me your kits and if you have any items that are not included in mine, I would love to see what you have. Do you give retouch kits to your Brides?
While working on a client recently, her choice of lipstick was a matte long wearing liquid lipstick, the current craze nowadays, the one that stays on your lips for days on end. I ended up giving her the lipstick tube and as soon as I left, I went to the local Beauty Bar here in my neighbourhood to replenish the lipstick. And then I came across
Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long lasting Liquid lipstick. These are all from the brand The Balm Cosmetics. I wanted to update my lipstick collection and these are the colors I ended up home with.
These are nude pinkish brown shades with the exception of a plum looking shade. From top to bottom, Affectionate, Charming, Sincere and Charismatic.
Texture is smooth, is not runny and lasts a good 4-5 hours. Photos below show a 6 hr time lapse of how long this liquid lipstick lasted. Excuse the lighting, but I noticed there is a little feathering on the upper lip and is less darker as it was first applied. I was also careful in dabbing my lips during the meal but there is still color left in fact it is still noticeable and still quite pigmented despite some feathering on the upper corners and a little bleeding on the bottom lip.
Taken at 4:00 pm Shade AffectionateTaken at 9:52 pm. After eating a dinner and had green tea.
I like the texture of it, doesn’t have that silicon feel although it is an ingredient in the formulation, it doesn’t feel drying or doesn’t feel dry or cracked on my lips. It has a slight peppermint flavour like a mild tingling feeling but its not so distracting.
Tips on applying a matte lipstick:
Exfoliate lips with a lip scrub or a DIY recipe, mix brown sugar and olive oil and mix into a paste. Apply and scrub into lips until you feel the dead skin flakes come off. Rinse.
Apply a lip primer, a good one to try is MAC Prep and Prime Lip primer
Apply matte lip color beginning from the bottom lip and then the upper lip. Let stand for 15 seconds.
When its time to remove, use an oil based cleansing oil like Biore Cleansing oil, let it soak into the lips with a cotton pad and remove gently.
Its reasonably priced at Php775.00 and I will definitely make these lippies a staple in my personal and pro kit. Perfect for Bridal and everyday looks. There are 18 shades in total, the shades are named after qualities you look for in a friend or soul mate, a matt ch made in heaven. Like a loyal friend colors stay true and doesnt feel clingy.
Go and get these liquid lipsticks at Beauty Bar and see how these lipsticks stay committed to your beauty kit.
MAC Prep and Prime Lip is available at all MAC beauty stores. Priced between Php 900.00- 1200.00
Don Quijote or Donki to Tokyo residents (shortened for Don Quijote), a famous discount chain of stores in Tokyo Japan was my first stop when my family recently traveled there on a holiday. I find it the equivalent of Target in the US where you can find cosmetics, electronics, clothing and grocery items in one store, all packed from floor to ceiling in their own distinct manner.
Open 24 hours 7 days a week.
Floor to ceiling is packed with merchandise.
I knew that I could get my cosmetics fix in this one stop shop without the hefty price tags in department stores. They also extend a 8% tax free discount to tourists so it made your guilty purchases a bit sweeter.
Donki Purchases:
Biore Cleansing Oil Refill
Biore Cleansing Oil refill and bottle
I mentioned in my Instagram post that this is one thing I don’t want to run out of — and I found the refill! (That’s a “Hallelujah!” moment!) Best of all, it comes with a spout for no-mess spills. You simply empty the contents in the bottle and you just saved yourself precious bucks until your next purchase.
NewBorn Eyebrow Pencil
Favorite Eyebrow pencil that is 3-1.
This pencil is not too hard or soft, it dispenses the right amount of color and it comes with a matching brow powder and spoolie all in one pencil. The powder is hidden in the twist side portion of the pencil where the spoolie is. The tip is angled so you can really make fine hair strand strokes to create natural looking brows. Love the design! My favorite shades are B5, and B6 which is always out of stock. It is similar in color to MAC’s Fling and Lingering.
Aqua Peel Moisture Peeling Gel
What it is: It is an exfoliating gel that removes dry flaky skin without the harsh ingredients. It’s 90% water, Fragrance free, Color free, Mineral free, Preservatives free, Contains Collagen, Hyaluronic acid, Squalane and Royal Jelly. Pump one time and apply to freshly cleaned DRY face and rub it in for 20-30 seconds and see the flakes come off. Rinse off with water and continue with your skincare regimen. Your skin will love you for it. Use it 2x/week only.
Cure Water Skin Treatment
Used by factory workers in TOYO who were experiencing extremely dry hands from opening cardboard boxes. It is lightweight, creamy and when rubbed between the palms of your hands, it forms water droplets to indicate the moisturizing properties are working, and is absorbed quickly. It contains silicon. The small tube is handy to carry in your purse.
La Roche Posay Hydraphase
Good for normal to combination skin, it infuses the face with water and keeps it hydrated. I like the pump it comes in, when you’re running low, the see through bottle will indicate how much you have left. It moisturizes without the greasy after feel. I would say this is very similar to Embryolisse moisturizer.
La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat
This is a good moisturizer for oily-combination skin, it does what it says, skin is mattified and feels like satin. No primer needed, go straight to the makeup application. It fills up your pores but be careful if yours are really large, it leaves a very thin film that fills up those unwanted lines and gaps. I’m always out of this often.
Shiseido Anessa UV Sunscreen
A friend suggested to me that this is her favorite sunscreen, it’s not thick, very light and gives you protection. She said that this can be worn underneath makeup without the flashback. I may have to switch from my heavier sunscreen and use this instead.
Department Store purchases
MAC oil control lotion
I purchased this simply because it was in front of the MAC cashier at Takashimaya Department store and when I read it was oil control, I bought it and it was in a trial size tube. I tried it but it doesn’t really control the oiliness, it only acts like a primer and makes your face oil free for a few hours. I was told to use it constantly to realize its effects. Hmmm… I have only tried it twice. I’ll use this when I’m travelling and see if there is a difference.
Hakuhodo brushes
These brushes are my favorite of all time simply because it’s made of sable and goat hair, which makes makeup application so effortless and seamlessly blended. You have to at least buy 1 to see the difference. The 3 brushes above are their bestsellers, I use the 2 face brushes for blush and powder and contour. The pencil brush is perfect for putting eyeshadow or eyeliner underneath the eyes or on the upper lash line. Love love love! Upon arriving home, I realized I bought the same J 5521 brush that I also purchased from a previous trip. Talk about fatal attraction.
MAC 196
I was drawn to this brush because it’s curved and very dense. I’ve tried this for my foundation application and it gave my skin an airbrushed finish. It’s just difficult to clean because of the curved design but it works like a dream. Best trick I learned is to use this brush after you’ve laid down your foundation with a square synthetic brush and use this to buff away and make your application seamless. Your skin will be selfie ready.
By the way, please join my contest in Instagram, I am hooking up with Martine De Luna of makeitblissful.com, and we are giving away summer staple beauty items from Biore! How to join? Read below!
Mechanics:
1. Follow @aciefores and @bioreph on Instagram.
2. Repost this photo telling me your summer plans!
3. Tag and mention three more friends when you repost and use the hashtag #acieforesxbioreph,#biorePH #LoveBiore
4. In order for us to SEE your entry, make sure your settings are not in private mode so we can track your posts.
That’s it! Winner will be chosen next Friday, March 4!
The world is looking to Asia for inspiration, trade and business and for innovation. With the proliferation of new Korean and Japanese cosmetics and skincare line available to the consumer, it is inevitable that products that have become familiar to us gets an upgrade. Today felt like a shopping spree to Sasa, Mannings or Tokyo Hands.
Biore has been in the Philippines since the early 80’s and is still under the umbrella of the Kao group. Remember their Pore and Blackhead remover? Yup same company. Kao has also improved on this product but we will see it s relaunching in a few months.
Biore just recently launched their makeup removal and SPF line and Unified Makeup Artists of the Philippines (UMAP) was invited for the demo and launching.
Biore launched its Makeup Remover product line in the Philippines as a result of a study conducted in Asia that despite hard economic times, women turn to the beauty industry to lift their spirits up. The instant gratification one feels is a testament to the female buying power of a non negotiable aspect in their consumer buying habits.
From L-R Charisma Vergara President of UMAP, Chistabel Low ASEAN Manager Skincare/Haircare Business of KAO Singapore Private Ltd. and myself
UMAP Members pose with the Biore organizers
Makeup Removers are vital components in the makeup application simply because what we put on needs to be removed. Kinda like the yin and yang of things. With more R&D in the cosmetics industry, makeup nowadays have improved in extending its longevity and increased pigmentation therefore making makeup removers step up its properties to match it. We need makeup removers because soap and water sometimes doesnt cut it.
The Stats
Biore Cleansing Oil
Biore Cleansing Oil removes waterproof face and eye makeup including gel liners and mascara. Pump into a cotton pad and press against the eye for about 10 seconds and swipe down. For the face, pump once and warm it into the hands and rub all over the face until makeup is dissolved. Rinse with water and pat face dry. Does not leave an oily residue, leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. Best Dupe for its expensive Japanese counterpart. Shhh U know what it is.
Instructions are in English. It comes with a plastic lock for the pump to avoid spills.
Biore Micellar Water
Micellar Water removes all makeup, stubborn mascara and liners. Best used for light-medium makeup application. Non comedogenic, does not clog pores. Alcohol, oil and fragrance free and allergy and Opthalmologist tested. Comes from the Japanese Alps and enriched with collagen and white tea extract.
Apply and soak a cotton pad and press against the face and eye and wipe off. Also a good dupe for the expensive French Pharmacy counterpart.
Biore Cleansing Facial Oil Sheets
Best used when you’re on the go and have no access to water and soap. It boasts of its unique cloth construction that is thick enough to hold more liquid inside. It’s actually the cleansing oil in a pad form. Press for a few seconds and swipe down.
Best when you have ‘tamad” days and dont want to go through a lot of cleansing rituals.
Its container is perfect for travelling. Hygienic and portable.
Well sealed so it wont dry out. It will last 3-4 months. It comes in refills too.
Biore Cleansing Oil Facial Sheets Handy Pack
Handy Pack. Ideal for the “tingi” user who only wants to carry it in her handbag.
Biore UruUru 2-1 Cleansing Foam
Best used for light makeup with sunblock application. It has a high cleansing ability and no tight after feeling after washing. UruUru means Soft and Moist.
Biore UV Sunscreen
Aqua Rich series UV Sunscreen is water based, Texture is light and not sticky. May be used as a primer prior to makeup application. No white cast, sweatproof and lightweight. High SPF blocks harmful UVA/UVB rays.
My Personal Favorites
I personally like the Facial Cleansing oil, Micellar water and the UV Aqua Rich Sunscreen. Aside from its reasonable and affordable price points, these products attest to its claim and since July when UMAP first met with them, I have been trying their products and my skin has had no adverse reactions except that it has also found its match in an Asian brand. True to form, Japanese products never fail, and they are effective. “In the Pink of Health’ is symbolic in the cutesy pink packaging that appeals to the Japanese market.
Japanese Packaging simplified and beautiful to look at and receive
Gift brief case
Unboxed and filled with goodies. This was the highlight of the morning. I felt like I won a Kabuhayan showcase. WootWoot!
We were left with a great reminder, “The best makeup needs the best makeup remover, invest in having good skin too”. Do you agree?
Thank you to Olive Soria, Brand Manager and Mr. Vincent Genato, President of Vibelle Distribution Inc and their staff for extending their generosity and hospitality to UMAP and its members.
Biore is locally distributed by Vibelle Distribution Inc and all its products are available at Watsons, PCX Exchange, Landmark, Metro Dept Stores and SM Department Stores.
