The Sun Stayed

Boasting Toast!

The trip to La Union did wonders to my soul and my overall thirst for a summer getaway. Took a bus ride from cubao for a grueling 6 hour ride. The city has been good so far, but nothing beats hitting the water of the pool or the sea in this very very hot weather. 

We stayed at La Travieza that our friends used to own. It's such a lovely place, it has that mediterranean vibe  and very homey. There are pools and a walk away from the beach. 

Then another friend of ours invited us over where she lives in la union where lies another sweet escape from manila.

This summer has been really fun and tanning definitely made it heavenly and stronger bonds with friends to boot!

That Blue Line

Went to a close friend and client to do her makeup for her cosplay for an anime event last week. Decided to wear something colorful and fun because I'm accompanying her to the event at the same time. :) I usually do it in black clothes so I can look extra professional when doing my services. Hope you guys like it.

What a difference a day makes?

the difference would be You. 

ethnic print button down top + gray cropped pants into shorts + white supra shoes +black fringe necklace + studded bracelet +black and gold skechers watch + studs earrings. 

of Honey Mustard and some go joes!

Got me this really fun colored pants last time and I sure was excited to wear it ASAP then came the event I'm going to so the itch can be scratched. I went last time, to a premiere of G.I. Joe Retaliation. There were cosplays, really fantastic food catering and a lot of pound per pound action that night. Luckily, my friend used her trusted phone to snap a pic of what I was wearing.

Polka button down shirt, tassle necklace made by me, lego printed belt designed

by me and mustard pants. 

Photo was by my college bestfriend Jill. thanks!

My trip to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar and of Hair and Makeup

I got a call from a friend while  I was busy contemplating in my life and whatnots about my career. I was really starting to think how terrible it would be if I didn't get a gig soon. Lovely enough, my friend James called about a shoot he can't do for tomorrow. He warned me it's gonna be a long trip since it's not gonna be in manila. Luckily, my schedule is free and I can really pull it off. It's gonna be a makeup and hair for the prenup which was styled, art directed and styled the set by Rabbit Hole team. I honestly don't know where exactly we'll do the shoot, he just told me it's gonna be in Bataan and I just need to show up around 6am and thank God, the meet up point is near our place! 
Our destination will be in Bagac, Bataan.

I met Darryl and Geoff, the two people who were with us instructing their team from  the rabbithole creatives that day. . . They're pretty groovy and fun to work with, their vision was clear (they know what they want), fun and quirky all at the same time.

also the couple  Ericka and Derrick

They were also both fun and easy to work with, they roll with the punches and are not afraid to try something new.

 here's the detail i did for her hair as a messy up do. I curled it and worked my magic from there. I didn't use any rubber bands on this. 

Since it's a short notice, the pegs were given to me on the day itself and I didn't have that much time over thinking everything, which can be good at times. It was also a humid but windy weather that day. so the hair can get extra messy. I hair sprayed her hair like crazy so it wont budge much and cover her face. 

The place was very, very gorgeous and the 3hrs trip or more from manila was worth it! 

It's definitely a visually stimulating place, all those hispanic and filipino attributes the houses and structures were derived from up to the arabesque and baroque minute details it caters definitely is a historical eye candy! Made me almost forget that I was there for a makeup and hair gig! Here are more of those lovely details I saw! 

PS: These are heritage houses in luzon that were restored and placed here in bataan.

      These were just a few of the places that i had the luxury of snapping during our break. I was trying to stay in the zone even though I lack sleep, plus the lazy daisy weather and the crunch was really taking it's toll. 

          And we were literally chasing the sun when our lunch got really delayed serving it. It took them almost 20 mins to prepare it, and a few more serving the next one. We lost time to have a change of costumes but thankfully we got most of the shots we like. This sunset is really gorgeous and the ombre effect in the sky it's giving. 

here's the third look I did for her. something frosted, darker contour and blush and a pair of wispy hair to complete the breezy-ethereal vibe especially since it's a windy there and her clothes are perfect for the effect. 

i couldn't help but snap a few.

The "town" is already engulfed by darkness by the time we finished shooting. Again, it was nothing but beautiful and romantic.

 I can live in this "town" everyday (next to our neighborhood and malls please). There's still so much more to see aside from the photos i've posted, they were still constructing a church, there were scenic beaches, a lake or river of some sort, a few more houses and like this, I hope you see it during night time! The town is paved with light posts and that romanticly-nostalgic place makes you feel all that trip was worth it! 

I'm sure the direct target market of this place, would be photographers, directors, foreigners and the "balik-bayans" since their place is kinda pricey and a bit far from manila, but it's one of those trips you wouldn't want to miss if you love history, architecture, aesthetics and art! 

Be ready to fall in love! 

Maximize your Green Thumb

A play on prints and accessories where spring meets your wardrobe!
Keep everything on your face low key and give it an ethereal "au naturale" glow by highlighting some areas on your face, as for foundation, use something dewy to make you look more radiant.

To switch it up, change your boots into those beautiful golden strappy shoes and remove your floral blazers for the sun has fallen as well as the season in your wardrobe.

Of Nerdy Rock and Club music

Late post:

My bestfriend scored us VIP tickets for David Guetta's concert here in the philippines and boy, I was excited to the nth level! I love his jams and partying of course!

This is what  I wore before his music wore us out (in a good way of partying)

My Blazer was trifted, as well as my tunic length tank top with skull embroidery, my huge nerdy glasses is from SM accessories, Spikes Necklace from and Studded Bracelets and Earrings are from flea market, Trousers are from Oxygen and Shoes from Salvatore Men and Red Watch from Adidas

I really enjoyed David G.'s concert party! We got pretty interesting after a few chugs of booze and danced the night away. It was an interesting night of randomness. :)

We can be who we want to be.

So, after being absent for such a long time in blogging, I was busy doing these as part of my portfolio.

I've worked with so many random clients and collaborations. I can say I'm used to it so much and it still brings me joy every time a client is very happy with how s/he looks like after my magic. :)

I somehow improved in my Photography skills, Makeup has been innate ever since as well as my Styling powers, my Graphics venture is still doing good especially when  editing some of the photos I took. I started out as one in an RTW (ready to wear) company here in the Philippines. It taught me enough to improve my taste as a total artist. As a freelance artist,  thank God everything is still workable and going forward. I hope this blog will be too! See you soon. :)

Conditioner...conditioner

Our crowning glory can make or break whatever our attire is, it can even limp our confidence just by looking horrid and having treated hair is a plus factor to be more worried or concerned.

Having bleached hair means one condition of hair which has undergone a very severe treatment. Being stripped of protein from the hair makes it prone to breakage, and will need a lot of moisture.

Among many conditioners that I tried that's easy on the pocket and is available in the market, there's this product I tried when I visited the grocery one time.

Suave Professionals Damage Care and Conditioner

this is what the bottle looks like.

the ingredients.

The consistency of this product is not too thick and runny at all. 

My Verdict: It's a really good conditioner for my overly treated hair, after bleaching and coloring to even perm, it's a good one. Is it a keeper? Yes and No. Yes, because it does the job and no, because there are more inexpensive product that exists that i can get the same results like Dove and it hydrates my hair faster.

Tell-tale signs you need a Hair Makeover

1. Flat boring and unflattering hair.
When your hair no longer frames your features and the top is flat and it seems that it just sits there on top of your head lifeless even after you blown it dry, set or even curled it. Do get a trim to give it volume, character and would frame your face better!

2. Dry, Damaged, Unmanageable hair.

Years of aggression from different styling tools, lifestyle, unhealthy habits, stress and weather conditions can alter your hair, especially the end part of your hair. Chopping it off would be a great option. Especially if you have split ends. It goes up even more, but for the mean time, if moisturizing your hair still helps, try cream based styling products or serums. It would leave it supple and less tendency to break.

3. It takes a lot of time to style your hair.

maybe you're too particular in making it too perfect, or you want to alter your hair texture into the polar opposite of what it should do, or the cut is not making the most of your hair texture. 

4. Your crowning glory doesn't recieve compliments as they used to or at all.

You deserve it. Having a great-hair-day is not enough. it should last more than that. Make the most out of the style and change it up a bit. Set it in hot rollers, to create the soft waves, use curling irons, flat irons and the likes to moderation.

5. What you wear or who you are now doesn't reflect what your hair should be like(vice versa).

As you evolve, your hair should too! It should reflect how you feel about yourself, and who you are as a person, wether your determinant may be your job, your weight loss, lifestyle.  

6.You sport your hair in one particular style all the time.

If your work requires you to pull it into a pony or bun most of the time or your lifestyle, consider bangs and layers to make it interesting and with a shape so you may be able to opt to wear it down since it's stylish to be worn in one style most of the time. If bangs are really not an option for your lifestyle, then maybe trying on a clip on bangs. :) And also make sure that you would at least dry your hair properly before tying them. Your hair are at it's weakest point when it's wet.

7. Colleagues from your past comments on your look that "you haven't changed at all"

Run the opposite direction and opt for a change! It's about time. Get inspirations from celebs to normal people who share the same face shape, "taste", and style you might consider. If you can picture yourself looking like them and having it, next step would be scheduling an appointment with your reference. :)

8. Your stylist gives you the same hairstyle.

It's either you give your stylist your pegs s/he will work on, or meet halfway with the style you're aiming for if it's doesn't necessarily suit you and work it to your advantage or just shift to a new pair of vision with a new stylist. 

9. Your skin and hair are like your foundation in perfect match! 

So far, in the fashion industry, this is a NO-no!  it doesn't frame the face one bit and would add weight and zero dimension. If this is the case, consider having low lights. (it's the reverse of highlights, it's darker than your base color and highlights.)