Bloggers Day Out: Em Alcantara

Lately, I’ve been watching the Philippine Madrigal singers on YouTube.  Their videos came out in my feed and I clicked on a few of them and 2 videos stood out, the one in Uruguay where they sang Eres Tu and my favorite, the one at the Abbey of Saint Michel, they sang Izar Ederrak.  It makes me so proud to see Filipino excellence appreciated in so many parts of the world.  Truly we Filipinos are blessed with so much musical talent, we are world class.

I met Em Alcantara through Martine De Luna.  Em is  part of the community of bloggers called Mommy Bloggers Philippines and also happens to be a former member of the Philippine Madrigal Singers.  I love it when the universe is conspiring with you.  She needed a refresher course on stage makeup since she is now on her own, performing for various events.  It was music to my ears.  (Pardon the pun, couldn’t resist).   Em was also concerned about her skin condition, which is oily to dry and rough which she said was exacerbated during her  pregnancy.  Here is what went on.

Fresh Faced
Fresh Faced

Skin Analysis:

  • Oily in the T Zone Area but dry on some parts of her face.
  • Big Pores, redness in some areas like the cheek and chin and skin texture is rough.
  • Pigmentation around the chin area and sides of her face

Skin Prep:

I just discovered this new Exfoliating toner called Cure Natural Aqua Gel which is made of 90% Hydrogen water and is preservative, coloring, mineral oil and artificial fragrance free.  Made in Japan and can be purchased at Beauty Bar.  I used this on her since I knew she had sensitive skin and didn’t want to add to her sensitivity.  Her skin was smooth after this.

IMG_3418
1 pump and massage into the face for 30 seconds. Dead skin flakes will fall off. Rinse with water and follow with your normal skin care routine. Use 2x/week to get maximum results.

 

IMG_3430
Instructions in English. Love this product.

 

After Exfoliating the skin, Water treatment Skin Cream was applied to the face as a moisturizer.

 

IMG_3585
Canvas is ready.

I used a combination of Kryolan Camouflage Concealer mixed with Coverderm Camouflage makeup in 3A and 5A and Judith August Everything Pencil in Golden Beige to hide her pigmentation.

IMG_3479
Ace of base

 

judith august everything pencil
Judith August Everything Pencil. It’s like the blemish sweeper. I used these 2 pencils to hide her pigmentation on her chin.

 

Makeup:

Eye Makeup

IMG_2782
Eye Prep and Makeup. L-R Maybelline Lash Curl Mascara, Urban Decay Zero Eyeliner, Nurturing Force Blot off Primer, MAC Eye Cream, MAC Blacktrack gel eyeliner, Benefit Brow Zing in Medium, The FAce Shop Style my Eyebrow in 03, Ben Nye Glam Shadow Palette. I used the first 2 and bottom 2 for her shadows.

 

image
Photo courtesy of Kage Gozun

 

image
Photo courtesy of Kage Gozun

Face:

IMG_1243
Makeup Forever Scultping Powder in Shade 2, NARS Orgasm Blush, MAC Highlighter

Lipstick:

IMG_2768
I used a combination of Inglot Lipstick #30, utmost right topped with MAC lipglass in Cultured on top and New Spirit above

 

image
She is ready for her performance. Love her beaming smile.  I can’t wait to hear you sing Em!

 

image
Ems smoky eye look.

 

IMG_3496

A singer and a writer
A singer and a writer

 

What do you think of her look?  Book Em Alcantara through her website, FaceBook, Twitter, and Instagram account of @touringkitty.

 

 

Coverderm The Perfect Camouflage

Anyone posting a selfie is fair game for anyone on social media more so, if you are a celebrity or someone famous. Consider the Instagram photos of Miley Cyrus’ dyed armpit hair or Kim Kardashian’s famous gleaming booty that resembles a Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut, is proof that a face or a body part is now a typical form of self expression.  Haters and bashers went to town with those ones.

I’m not going to do a self righteous rant but rather share with you how those with skin issues and afraid to post their selfies can be a thing of the past.

Previously, camouflage makeup was relegated to the medical sphere and not readily available, since various skin diseases or imperfections like birthmarks, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, burns, moles, couperose, vitiligo, age and sun spots, pigmentation, freckles and facial redness are considered skin diseases or conditions that needed medical assistance.  Now,  skincare and cosmetics are intrinsically connected via advances in research and technology that most cosmetics contain healing, restorative and medical benefits which make it accesible to the consumer.   Coverderm, formerly Covermark before, was recently launched in Manila by Brady Pharma, its local distributor for everyone to obtain.

 

IMG_2135
Invisible Makeup..visible beauty

 

IMG_2180
Leg Makeup for those with Varicose Veins, stretch marks, tattoos, dark marks, sun spots, phlebitis, scars, burns, moles and bruises.

 

 

http://www.skinsentials.com.au/media/catalog/product/cache/4/image/512x512/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/c/o/coverderm-classic-concealing-foundation.jpg
Ultimate skin corrector making skin remain unnoticed.

 

It was developed by Lydia O Leary, an American chemist who had a birthmark on her face that she wanted to conceal.  She wanted to develop a product that had coverage but was light on the face and easy to apply.  Her goal was to rid skin imperfections and make ordinary people lead normal lives through makeup, as explained by Rome Maglalang, sales account executive.

What can it do?

IMG_2146
Birthmarks be gone
IMG_2168
Cover Birthmarks and Chicken Pox scars on face (Before)
IMG_2171
After

 

IMG_2145
Cover Rosacea. Before and After

 

IMG_2173
Cover Tattoos (Before)

 

IMG_2174
After

 

IMG_2185
Actual Demo on our UMAP member, Sydney Dee who is undergoing treatment with her Dermatologist for her severe acne problem. (Before)

 

IMG_2187
Its best applied with a damp sponge and dabbed on the face.

 

IMG_2193
After. Her acne marks were concealed but considering it was still raised, the foundation smoothed out her facial discoloration and hid the redness.

 

IMG_2142
UMAP Members, headed by its president Charisma Vergara, eager to try out the products.

 

 

Advantages:

Hypoallergenic

Has SPF 30 and UVA and UVB sun protection

Easily Applied (Click here for more demo videos)

Lightweight, waterproof and sweatproof

24 hour coverage

High coverage

A little goes a long way

Has a lot of global shades

Has a satin like finish.

Disadvantages:

Has to be removed with its waterproof makeup remover cream.  It s not really a bad thing but due to its high coverage, soap and water will not easily remove it.

Has a Waxy smell but slowly dissipates.

Not available in palettes.

 

Coverderm Makeup Remover
Coverderm Makeup Remover

 

IMG_2138
We were not left empty handed. Beautyfull indeed.

 

We were given samples of their foundation and makeup remover.
We were given samples of their foundation and makeup remover.

 

Swatched. L-R, 3A, 5 and 7. My shade is 3A.
Swatched. L-R, 3A, 5 and 7. My shade is 3A.

 

 

IMG_2139
Coverderm Makeup Line

 

Final thoughts on Coverderm.

It’s consistency is really smooth, creamy and lightweight.  It does cover skin imperfections really well without the feeling of heaviness.  I would compare this to  the Kryolan Cream Camouflage and will use this as a concealer if not as a foundation too. Product comes with a spatula, its best to warm it at the back of your hand apply with a concealer or foundation brush, or damp sponge.   The packaging of the foundation can be improved by coming out in tubes like their leg makeup counterpart, instead of a jar for portability and convenience.  For artists, a palette with global tones can come in handy.   However, I would still consider getting  this for my kit.

Photoshop just met its match.

IMG_2201
Thank you Rome Maglalang and Coverderm for hosting us.

 

Coverderm is available in select Watson and SM stores and retails between P1700.00-P2000.00.