Flawless Skin Achieved

Shiseido’s creative director Dick Page delivers just the right beauty products to make every picture of you a flawless one.

Start with the Refining Makeup Primer to fight off skin dullness and redness that could be due to stress. It even hides pores and evens out fine lines, which makes this a stand-alone product you should always have in your bag. For those whose faces tend to shine because of excess sebum, the Pore Smoothing Corrector will be your best friend as it delivers a matte finish with its gel-type texture that’s light on the skin.

For those who need extra coverage on areas such as dark spots, scars and under-eye circles, the Natural Finish Cream Concealer in liquid form will last throughout the day without drying and becoming cakey. Hence, the natural and smooth finish is achieved.


And if you’re up for some color, whether bright or natural, Shiseido’s Collector’s Edition Makeup Palette called “Essential Elegance” is the only compact you’ll need for quick touch-ups and even for your five-minute beauty sessions.

“The ‘Essential Elegance’ palette is a unique collection of items designed to create looks that take you anywhere, from casually dressed in jeans to glamorous in a black dress. Exquisite colors calculated to work with every skin tone. Perfect beauty created with one makeup palette,” shares Dick Page.


*Shiseido is has stores/kiosks at The Podium, Greenbelt 5, Glorietta, and most SM department stores.

Shiseido's New Baby

A few weeks ago, Shiseido launched their new and improved White Lucent line —and on my first day of work!  So, I was up that day by 6:30 a.m. and got to the event around 8 p.m.  Go, go, working mom, right? :)  To read about how my first day was, visit my other blog by clicking on this link. 

I got to the Ayala Museum in time for the countdown (in presenting the new product line), and bumped into Heidi Ng on my way in.  It was great to see old friends and colleagues.

I didn't read the hard copy invite, and found out that we were supposed to wear white. Yikes! But oh well...

At the stage were the products with their staff ready to explain and let you try their products

A closer look at the products.

Now, I'm not into whitening skincare products, but we do need it when we want to lighten dark spots and pimple scars.  Their star product is their Spot Targeting Serum, which has Melano Sensor System that works on lightening skin pigmentation.  Can't wait to try this one on my slowly-creeping-out freckles :o

A photo exhibit by Shiseido

Other guests and friends that I miss hanging out with :)

Heidi Ng and Pierra Calasanz-Labrador (former MEG EIC) who obediently wore white.

Former Preview ladies, Alyanna Martinez and Marianne Perez looking lovely in shades of pinks.

Alyanna showing off her fab nails

Pretty preggy Frances Amper-Sales of OK! magazine who's also a fellow blogger of Topaz Horizon, Topaz Mommy, and Beauty for a Living (whew! She's a wonder woman!) with Luxasia's Vicky Marchadesch.  For those of you who do not know, Luxasia is the company that brought in Shiseido.

And finally, a group pic with fellow bloggers.

L-R: Shen, me, Frances, and schoolmate Nikki Tiu

Oh, and I came out last Friday in Philippine Star, under Anne Bella's column. Thanks, Anne :D


What I'm wearing: Magenta cotton jersey dress from Hong Kong, courtesy of my mom; thrifted floral denim blazer, purple stingray cuff with snake design from JMA (Shangri-la EDSA hotel) courtesy of my mom again; Fendi Spy bag; and House of High Heels platforms.  I know, I'm a lucky girl to have a mom like mine ;)

What a productive first day, right? :) Do check out Shiseido's White Lucent range at their stores in Glorietta, Greenbelt 5, and Power Plant Mall. 

Texture Play

With matte lips and nail polishes dominating the runways and magazine editorials, it’s about time beauty brands gave in to their consumers’ requests. And with Shiseido’s successful line of Perfect Rouge lipsticks launched last year, its Artistic Director, Dick Page, introduces eight additional shades for all us lipstick lovers.

Two new varieties, each with four new colors, are sure to excite you as they did for me—Glowing Matte and Tender Sheer. Glowing Matte, obviously, is my recommended choice. Page explains: “For Glowing Matte, my inspiration was softness, smoothness, and a delicate, lightweight veil of color.” Unlike the matte lipsticks of the ‘90s, these slickers come in semi-transparent color, and are formulated with Shiseido’s exclusive Smoothing Matte Powder. It doesn’t leave your lips dry, since it has intense moisturizing properties. Hence, the look of sheer matte is achieved, with minimized appearance of lip lines, too.

Left: Perfect Rouge Tender Sheer lipsticks in pout, tender, natural wine and natural red.
Right: Perfect Rouge Glowing Matte lipsticks in sugarbabe, natural beige, wink and coral glow.

On the side: I love the packaging of both lines. The black matte cases for the matte lipsticks are so sleek!

For those who prefer to stay on the safe side, Tender Sheer is for you. Though light and glossy, it’s highly pigmented to give your lips just the right tint. It has a dewy finish that keeps your puckers moist all day keeps flaked and chapped lips at bay. Both lip ranges have Super Hydro-Wrap Vitalizing DE that locks in moisture, and keeps it from evaporating. So your lips stay fresh and moisturized all day long.

Other new releases include eight shades of lip gloss, six colors of blushes, five satin eye colors, and sheer matifying compact.

*Shiseido is available at Rustan’s, Greenbelt 5, and Power Plant Mall.

The Naked Truth on Sweet Pink Lips

I know, I know ... another post related to Emma Watson. But I promise, this will be my last on the teen actress. Not only do I love her dress, but I am also quite enamored with her pinkish nude puckers. Something about this natural-looking shade speaks of flirty innocence. Don't you agree?

Photo courtesy of Yahoo.com

Last night, I went through my box of press releases and found these new lippies that are quite similar to Emma's. Do take note that nude or light colors look best on plump or thick lips. If you have thin lips, then it's recommended that you go for more color. As for how you to pull off these nude-colored tints? Avoid looking pale and ghostly by picking shades that are more pinkish or coral, for a healthier hue. Here is my pink list:

Guerlain L'Rouge Jewel Lipstick Compact, P2350, comes with a secret mirror panel for quick touch-ups. It has powdered ruby (a natural color booster), Vitamin A that stimulates the epidermis growth, and wild mango butter that keeps skin hydrated. My choices? 4 Gentiane (rosy beige), and 6 Garance (pink beige).

Lancome Color Fever Sweet Bitten Lips, P1295, is their latest offering composed of a collection of different beige hues. Take your pick from six rich, light-infused blushed beiges (from left to right): 254 Fairly Beige, 256 Kissing Lips Peach, 258 A Little Beige Crush, 262 Pure Bitten Lips, 264 Urban Beige, 266 Brown Lust. My personal fave would be 256, simply because it has more pink undertones for a healthier-looking pout.

Shu Uemura Pink Collection Rouge Unlimited in PK323, P1350, now has pink hybrid pigments which help you achieve the purest of pinks. I've always been a fan of this Japanese brand. Their lipsticks are light enough for day wear, but strong and build-able enough for nights out.

Shiseido Smoothing Lip Pencil in (top) RD702 Anemone in soft greyish pink, and (bottom) RS303 Mauve in blushing rose. The Anemone would look better on fair-skinned ladies, while the Mauve one is perfect for those with a darker skin tone. Oh, and it comes with a lip brush which can be used to apply lipstick or gloss. For best results, apply light-colored or clear gloss.

M.A.C.'s latest collection, Colour Craft, also has a nice pinkish flesh-toned lipstick called Madly Creative—pearly pink neutral, P950. It comes in a shimmer texture for sexier glossy-looking puckers.

Bobbi Brown Lip Crayon Trio, P1650, makes for easy application. A lipstick in the form of a pencil, these crayons come in semi-matte finish, non-drying (has castor seed oil and shea butter) and can last all day. The set comes with a sharpener as well. This photo doesn't do justice to the colors; all three of them fall under the pink beige category with names such as Naked Pink, Pink Raspberry and New Sugar Blush.

Lastly, I got this tip from Style.com:

Ready to get naked? There's nothing indecent about it, at least not when it comes to a flesh-tone lip color. Instead of splurging on a new lipstick, makeup artists sometimes dab concealer over balm-coated lips using their finger. The result? Creamy nude lips! —Polly Blitzer

So, ladies, which pink nude are you eyeing? ;)

*Availability: Bobbi Brown at Rustan's; Guerlain at Rustan's; Lancome at Rustan's and Greenbelt 5; M.A.C. at Rustan's Shangri-la Plaza mall and Glorietta; Shu Uemura at all Rustan's and Greenbelt 5; Shiseido at Rustan's, most SM Department stores, Power Plant Mall, Greenbelt 5 and Glorietta.

For the (secretly) Vain Dad

I'm sure your dad secretly wishes that he could age gracefully as well. (photo courtesy of Clarins)

Most dads are too embarrassed to ask for help with regards to vanity,

so why don't you give him some skin care products to try?

Sleepless working nights can make him look older through his eye area. Help him fight wrinkles

and puffiness with these Clarins products. The Line-Control Eye Balm (left) smoothes and firms

the eye area; while the Anti-Fatigue Eye serum (right) prevents dark circles and puffiness from

appearing. Don't forget to teach your dad how to apply these creams

by lightly touching the eye area with just one finger (or his ring finger).

It's a long-time fave shave cream that works for all skin types. And you don't have to use much on your skin,

just a very thin layer of this product will do. Dads who love mint (like mine) will surely love this,

since it comes with Menthol and Camphor to give an antiseptic cooling effect.

If you hear your dad talking about sagging skin and his double chin getting bigger, then give him

this Shiseido Men Facial Contour Refiner. It has Yeast Extract, which enhances

the tightening of collagen fibers.

The Body Shop's Maca Root men's care range is an affordable starter/travel kit. According to the brand, Maca Root is the "super food of the Andes"

that grows in the mountains of Peru. It has essential vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that have been used

by the Incas 2,000 years ago—believed to make them strong before going to battle. Now, it comes in a skin care line

to keep men's skin healthy, radiant and firm.