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.

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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.

 

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Instructions in English. Love this product.

 

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

 

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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.

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Ace of base

 

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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

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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.

 

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Photo courtesy of Kage Gozun

 

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Photo courtesy of Kage Gozun

Face:

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

Lipstick:

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

 

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

 

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Ems smoky eye look.

 

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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.

 

 

Behind the Kit with Acie Fores

This is a new section of my blog where I’ll be featuring makeup artists. I believe in the adage “community not competition” when it comes to the “cut-throatness” of this industry, that we can all learn from one another as artists and as colleagues. I hope you agree with me! And so, I’ll begin this series with my very own “behind the kit” responses, so that you can get a glimpse of my tools of the trade that enable me to magically transform and enhance anyone.

1.  What inspired you to get into makeup and did you immediately know that’s what you wanted to do?

  I did not plan my life dreaming about this as a career, but I was always mesmerized with how makeup can enhance a woman’s beauty by observing my mother when I was growing up.   The turning point that I decided to go and make it a second career change was when I took up a Basic course at SOFA, and I became part of the hair and makeup team for the fashion show being held for its graduates.  I thought to myself that “I can make this work and I want to give it my all and make something out of this”.

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2.  Are you self taught or did you train somewhere?

I was trained under Ericka Saenz for  SOFA, Georginna Desuasido, Yuki Geraldo, Monica,  Mio Robo and Mikee Raymundo of Makeup Professionel, CAS and Jenn Delica.     I continue to learn from the artists that I work with by observing and absorbing their styles and techniques and by going to seminars that are field related.  To be relevant, fresh and dynamic, constant learning  is requisite for being ahead of the game.

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3. What’s your makeup style?

I am inspired by fresh clean looks, I love a classic golden age Hollywood look like the 40’s and 50’s which produced so many icons like Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly,  to name a few.  I am also inspired by the flamboyant 80’s and pared down 90’s which are totally different in their beauty points of view.  This current milenium decade is also my favorite place to be in because all the rules are broken and it is a turning point in the advancement of cosmetic technology and research which make our lives as makeup artists so much easier.

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4.  Which product would you advise someone to never leave home without?

I never leave home without my eyeglasses!  Being in my late 40’s, I’ve grown to appreciate and see the importance of wearing sunscreen.  Aside from that, my lipsticks.  Tom Ford is a current love.  And oh, Concealer!  It’s my answer to my universe

5.  How do you relax?

I do indulge in occasional massages, foot reflexology, Pilates and Yoga.

6.  Which Person or thing defines beauty for you?

I like women who are strong, and I also like women who have flaws, perfection is not my goal.  I admire women who have paved the way and made a difference to give us a voice and created opportunities and certain freedoms that we enjoy now.

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INXS

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7.  Which makeup artist/s has helped you along the way in your career?  Whose work do you look up to?

Alee Benson, Jenn Delica, Tony Dusich, Pia Reyes, Cristina Cacnio, Rikki Suarez,  Toni Gutierrez and all of my other friends in the industry,  They continue to inspire me with their work and work ethic, and we always uplift and support each other. Locally, it would be Juan Sarte, Jigs Mayuga, Fanny Serrano, Patrick Rosas, Denise and Effie Go.  Internationally, Way Bandy, Scott Barnes, Kevin James Bennett, Kevin Aucoin, Mary Greenwell,  Val Garland,  Pat Mcgrath,  Kabuki, Bobbi Brown, Lisa Eldridge, and Charlotte Tillbury all for their unrivalled creativity and for making women look effortlessly gorgeous which is something I have always aimed to achieve for myself.

8.  Do you prefer to work on set shooting or with weddings?

Both are good avenues I enjoy being in, I enjoy the intensity of it.  On Shoots, its always making yourself better while working as a team to create a beautiful image, for weddings and red carpet events, its all the tension, the emotions,  very nerve racking waiting to see how they look in photos.  I feel so privileged to be part of it all.

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9.  What’s the best advice a fellow professional has ever given you?

Find your niche.  Less is more.

10.   Which one product do you wish you could have or create, to make your life easier?

A makeup bag or trolley that performs like a drone.

11.   Describe yourself in one word.

Inspired.

12. Who would be in and where would your Your Dream Shoot be?

Location –  Palawan or the Maldives

Photographer –  Marc Nicdao

Model(s) –  Fatima Rabago and Vanessa Matsunaga

Stylist –  Pam Quiñones

Hair –  Nante Alingasan

Acie’s Makeup Artist Kit:

Behind the Kit interview

Marsala Photo Tutorial Eyes, Brows, Cheeks and Lips

I had the opportunity to do a mini makeover on my friend and fellow blogger Kira Ramirez the other week. Since I wanted to play around a bit with the Pantone color of the year, Marsala, I knew I needed a willing model who had the right skin tone and face shape for the look I wanted to create. Kira fit the bill, and so we scheduled a makeup date to test drive the look.

Here’s what I used:

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Clockwise, Viseart Matte Palette, MAC Eye pencil in Teddy and Smolder and Urban Decay glide on pencil in Zero, MAC Blacktrack gel eyeliner and Fairy Drops H2Oproof mascara.
Brow Wow, MAC eyeshadow in Shade 2, MUFE eyebrow pencil in no. 4, MAC Brow brush in 263 and Clinique Brow spoolie
Brow Wow, MAC eyeshadow in Shade 2, MUFE eyebrow pencil in no. 4, MAC Brow brush in 263 and Clinique Brow spoolie
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Kohl liners were used on the upper lashline and bottom lashline and smudged to create a base.
MUFE Eyecream shadows shades of plum and bronze to create the Marsala color was applied on the eyelid crease and smoked on the bottom lashline.
MUFE Eyecream shadows shades of plum and bronze to create the Marsala color was applied on the eyelid crease and smoked on the bottom lashline.
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Focus on the lashline.
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No Tears!
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A MAC blending brush in 217 was used to remove all the harsh edges on the eye. A soft brown color was applied on top of the crease as a transitional color and to add depth to the eye. MAC Blacktrack gel eyeliner was applied and I made a slight wing on the outer part to elongate her eyes.
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217 lashes were used to enhance her eyes.
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Not a torture weapon, but eyelash tongs to secure the lashes on Kira’s eyes.
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I’ve combined MAC Pinch me center bottom and Blushbaby center top to give her cheeks a flush of color.
MUFE Contour powder in 1 and 2 were used to sculpt and give warmth to her cheeks.
MUFE Contour powder in 1 and 2 were used to sculpt and give warmth to her cheeks.
These two combined give a Marsala color.
These two combined give a Marsala color.
L-R L'Oreal Bare Mocha, Estee Lauder Forbidden Kiss and Marsala Lipstick
L-R L’Oreal Bare Mocha, Estee Lauder Forbidden Kiss and Marsala Lipstick
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Applying the combined colors on Kira
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In the words of Ricky Reyes, Eto ang finished product. A Beaming Kira!

Do you like this look on Kira?  Give me your comments below.

A big shout out to EDSA Beverage Design Company’s Manila Coworking HoneyComb and Martine De Luna for the location shoot and for Kira Ramirez for being my ganado model and for being so helpful in shooting the photos for the blog.  A true blogger who made DIY look so easy!