Here’s a preview of what’s in store right now. Some of the sales end this week, and some at the end of the month:

The Beautyblender: a special “sponge” to make make-up application more flawless. Watch the video here.

Okay, I must admit I wasn’t interested in The Beautyblender at first, but after reading several reviews from makeupalley.com, it really got me curious.  There were so many raves about it, and even locally, several beauty bloggers have always been on the lookout for it.  It wasn’t readily available in the Philippine market, so it’s a good thing that AVA.ph is featuring it now as now as one of their sales.  There must be really something special with this make-up sponge to be garnering so much attention from all these glossies. Just take a gander at all its awards:

• Preview Magazine PH Winner Beauty Awards 2010
• Cosmopolitan PH Magazine Winner Beauty Awards 2011
• Allure Magazine (USA) Winner  Best of Beauty 2011
• Canadian Living Magazine Beauty is Everywhere- Editor’s Choice Must Have Beauty Tools 2011
• In Style Magazine (USA) Editor’s Picks: This month best beauty finds 2011
• In Style Magazine (Poland) Winner of Best Beauty Buys 2011.

AVA is selling this as a set. It’s the Beautyblender sponge and cleanser.

Also featured is the brand Crabtree & Evelyn–them of the creams, lotions, well, basically bath and body sets that just smell so heavenly.  It’s easily one of best (and poshest) bath and body brands right now.  This is different from AVA’s previous holiday sale, as this features more scented and aroma therapy oils, exfoliants, moisturizers, SPF, creams and body butters.  Some of the items up for grabs:

AVA.ph Sale: Evelyn Rose Jewelry Box

Aromatherapy Distillation Body Night Cream (I want this! Imagine slathering this on after taking a bath, after coming home from a really long day.  Wouldn’t it be just heaven to feel your skin all smooth and smelling nice when you slip under the covers? Just thinking about it makes me want to take a deep, relaxing breath and snuggle deeper into my pillow.)

Rose Essence Daily Protector & Moisturizer with SPF 15

Natural Nourishing Botanicals Body Butter

If you love your nails, then you know about Orly. They’re one of the best brands for nail polish because they have the hottest shades and they’re tough–they last long, don’t chip easily.  I used to find it surprising that some people really buy their own big bottles and that they actually finish it.  If you’re one of them, Orly is great investment.  Some classics that never go out of style, like polish for French manicure, are on sale now.

Some of the shades on sale right now

One of my fantasies is to have someone blowdry my hair everyday for me.  I’d rather much have a personal hair stylist than a housekeeper, haha!  Maybe some day, when I get rich.  In the meantime, one could actually just purchase a professional set of hair styling tools and DIY.  Normally, such things would run to several thousands.  But in AVA.ph, Valera Swiss and ISO hair straightener are on a huge sale of up to 40% off.  Meaning, they cost almost as much as decent quality ones from your department stores, except well, they’re just better.

This is another product that got me really curious.  At first I thought it was just mascara.  Then I realized it was really quite different!  Well, at AVA, two bottles are sold as a set.  One of them is the lash lengthener and the other is as mascara, so I was half right.  What it does is actually coat the lashes with hundreds of tiny fibers, as if you were putting on a second layer of eyelashes.  Like gluing on falsies!  Except this isn’t as complicated.  While I always love the effect of false lashes, I can hardly glue them on myself.  The Divaderme is like putting them on except you just swipe them.

Watch out for several more sales to come from AVA.ph!

Last month, Coca-Cola kicked off their 100th year anniversary through a Big Youth Blowout. It was really quite something to behold–the cheerfulness was quite palpable.  Loud pops of color, a cacophony of happy chatter and smiling faces, and of course, the ever present Coca-Cola red decorated the activity center.  Famous teen personalities like Enchong Dee, Julia Montes, Joseph Marco, Kathryn Bernardo, Steven Silva, Rocco Nacino, Enzo Pineda and Eric Chua were there to celebrate with the huge gathering of teens, students and ambassadors.  The main event was a fashion show of The Coca-Cola Bench originals which I esepcially liked, because the t-shirt art were vintage pop (one of the very few reasons why I would wear t-shirts, really).

The tandem behind this epic youth gathering is no other than the beloved beverage brand that’s celebrating its 100th birthday in the country, Coca-Cola and top clothing line, Bench. The two global pop icons reunited this time, to bring a complete, new line of hip, energizing a co-branded apparel and merchandise collection for the new breed of Filipino teens and teens-at-heart- the Coca-Cola Originals by Bench.

But the big youth blowout was not solely just a fashion party for the Pinoy youth. It was also an occasion to give back and make a difference in the lives of our fellowmen. Led by the Coca-Cola happiness ambassadors, the teen guests and other partakers of the day were able to raise and donate funds for ongoing rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts for the victims of recent calamities that struck the country.

I was there early, with the other Coca-Cola fashion fashion correspondents, so we were able to watch rehearsals.  We all sat there in awe, me especially marveling at the dance crew (Philippine All-Stars) and the pep squad (UE) because though I don’t dance, it’s not for lack of wishing.  I couldn’t take my eyes off the dancers because they were just so cool.  From their outfits to their swagger to their utterly toned abs…God, why didn’t you give me the gifts of rhythm and grace??

Photos of the rehearsals:

Kathryn Bernardo and Julia Montes were wearing these shoes during dance rehearsals, since they were the shoes for the actual show.   Of course one has to practice dancing in dubious heel height lest one falls during the actual performance.

Practicing with the harness

The crowd went wild over Enchong Dee. I had no idea he was so popular! All the loudest screams and cheers were for him.

As the fashion bloggers with the most votes, David Guison and Vern Enciso walked the runway along with the other Bench models and endorsers.

Watching at the sidelines with fellow blogger and Coke fashion correspondent Pax

I think it was also interesting to see how the models are usually dressed up, prior to the fashion show.  Here, they’re rehearsing in their own clothes.  They have pretty interesting taste!  That’s David and Vern in the last photo.

You’d think that after seeing the rehearsals, you pretty much know the whole show.  But the event’s whole vibe was just so lively and upbeat, you can’t help but move with the music and hoot appreciatively at the awesome dance numbers.  We were also pretty busy going around the activity center, trying our hand at painting the huge Coke bottles on display, and browsing through the Bench merchandise.  The Coca-Cola Originals by Bench was launched last February 1, so they’re available in stores now.

The actual show opened with UE Pep Squad’s jaw-dropping performance.  Well, sortof.  The show actually opened with all of us fashion correspondents getting called up on the stage for a short interview portion.  But after that,the real party started:

The Philippine All-Stars on the dance floor

Those abs…!

Apart from the awesome dance moves, I really like how they styled themselves.

The models

A montage of the first part of the fashion show. Bright hues = happiness!

Enzo Pineda

Now I know I’m getting old and I never watch TV anymore (I get my daily dose of media all in front of a desktop PC…or Pepper Potts, my Android phone/tab) because I don’t know any of these young stars except for the two female stars of Mara Clara and Enchong Dee.  But I must say, they’re all pretty good dancers!  No wonder Coke-Bench got them as ambassadors. Very talented kids.

Rocco Nacino

David Chua. I think he might have been the best dancer among the young artistas there.

Steven Silva

The second part of the fashion show opens, and the models are back

I love this model’s hair! It’s got so much character.

The dance crew came strutting back on stage

With Kathryn Bernardo

And Julia Montes

I wonder what those shoes are

The roar of the crowd was deafening as Enchong Dee came down from above, supported by a harness, and landed center stage.  You’ve got to hand it to the boy, he knows how to work up the crowd.  His dancing was impressive, too.  Plus, he was the only celebrity on that stage who actually did backflips. O ha?

The whole area in a flurry of red and confetti

Coca-Cola says “Maraming Salamat sa 100 Taon! Ituloy ang Happiness!”. Catch updates via the Coca-Cola Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/cocacola) and follow on Twitter @Coke_PH.

Check out the merchandise. I think they have a lot more beautiful prints in store that weren’t used for the posters (just check the fashion show photos, the ones that the models were wearing).  I have my own, which of course, has a vintage pop art design, but I’m planning to do a little DIY cutting and styling for that shirt, so I’ll reserve that for another post.

Turns out, they were swapping stories of their highly experimental teens and the unconventional ways they’ve decided to style their hair.  It was very interesting, to say in the least.  Most of the moms were pretty cool about it, and very understanding even if they didn’t particularly care for the hairstyles their daughters wanted. But some were rightfully concerned.  There were, of course, a lot of questions, particularly about head-shaving–and I thought maybe that was something I could help out with.  Besides, that blog post about Anya Ayoung-Chee being my inspiration is one of the most visited articles in my site, so I figure a lot of girls must be curious about the experience of head-shaving.

B for Bald? Or Bold?

So…why?

Now, I’ve had this hairstyle roughly around three and a half months.  But I figure I’ve been maintaining it every week, or at least every 2 weeks, by diligently trimming so you can say that yes, I like it.  In fact, I’ve raved over and over again about how much I love it.  But truthfully, when I decided I wanted to get my hair shaved (and at first, I even wanted a long mohawk, exactly like Anya Ayoung-Chee), I wasn’t expecting to be in love with it in the sense that I wasn’t expecting to look prettier or hotter, and I accepted that.  So why did I want to do it in the first place?  I did it because was itching for a really drastic change with my hair.  In my mind, it was gonna be cool and bad-ass and I was going to rock the hell out of it.  I’ve had years to try and look pretty as a doll, and one gets tired of it eventually.

So if you’re asking why on earth would your lovely daughter want to try messing with her hair my top three guesses would be 1) she’s bored 2) she doesn’t want to look like everybody else and 3) she wants to look different, but still cool.  Nothing to get worked up for, right?

How it looks when the shaved part is a bit long (I went without a shave for more than 2 weeks)

This is about a week’s growth

Piling it up on one side

Getting past the stares and questions

Now I don’t know how it is in North America, but I imagine it’s a lot more open-minded than Manila (where I live) when it comes to unconventional fashion.  Here, I get stared at a lot.  I wouldn’t say it’s uncomfortable, but I’ve gotten pretty used to it.  Once in a while, a cashier lady will just gape and forget to take my order or something, and it’s more amusing than anything.   It’s funny though–after this haircut thing, I noticed how little I’ve begun to care about people staring.  In the Philippines, if you’re out commuting and you’re not wearing an office uniform or a jeans and tee combo, people are bound to stare.  I used to feel self-conscious sometimes, because I’m not really a “basics” person and even my casual wear stands out in the MRT. Now, I go out wearing outfits that I normally would categorize as too dressy for commuting and I find that I don’t care anymore.  And I don’t know if it’s just all in my mind, but sometimes I even think people are more accepting of my manner of dressing because of how my hair looks.  Like it explains everything!

When I was in Singapore, nobody even looked at my head twice (and if somebody did, he/she’s probably Pinoy).  And I think I saw at least two other Singaporean girls who were sporting a similar haircut.  I imagine it would be the same thing in Hong Kong, which I observed is a lot more fashion-forward or accepting of experimental fashion compared to the Philippines.

If you do happen to be in a socially-conservative place like I am, then yes, you will get stares.  You will get questions and sooner or later, someone’s gonna try and get witty.  I give different answers to “Why did you shave your hair?”  To a boss, I said “I pulled it all out when you were stressing me out.”  To someone who thought it was funny, I said something like this with a dead serious face: “I had to have an important surgery that required slicing and peeling off this part of my head and it saved my life. You think it’s funny?”  (Never mind that if it were true, then one would have been able to see the scars easily, but at least it sobered and shut them up.)

Growing it out

It’s just hair.  It grows back.  It’s not like a tattoo, which requires a lot more thinking because the change is permanent.  Your kid wants to experiment with her hair?  Let her be!  At least she seems confident enough to pull it off.  It’s character-building, and it shows she has imagination.  It’s okay to be different.  Some people have this notion that if you have a punk hairstyle then you only dress in hooker outfits, biker duds or clothes that look like they should be washed.  Not true.  You might be surprised to know that a good number of fashion trends and styles go with this cut.  Just Google “undercut girls” and you’ll see.  I was inspired by Anya Ayoung-Chee myself, seeing how fabulous she was.  She was so chic and her clothes were always sophisticated–and she rocked them all with a long mohawk.

I get questions about growing out the shaved part a LOT.  Since I only have the half part shaved, it’s actually pretty easy for me.  Several people suggested that when it gets to a certain length, I should just cut it all short and equalize it, but there’s no need to.  See, I have so much hair that if I want to hide the shaved part, I can just flip some of my hair to that side.  Nobody even notices the shaved part when I do that.  So in a way, this is a pretty “safe” wild cut in that you have several options for styling it, even one that’s conservative or conventional.  Before you (or your kid) decide what edgy undercut you want to go with, research for a lot of pegs.  I even checked out undercuts.livejournal.com for tips in maintaining it and getting the cut I wanted.  (I ended up with a lot of Alice Dellal’s photos and some from that livejournal community).

Hair grows unbelievably fast. I didn’t realize before how often guys visit the barbers, because I used to do it just two or three times a year! Luckily, now, I save money because we have our own clippers and shavers at home, and I just ask my dad or my brother to trim it for me at least every 2 weeks (ideally, it would be every week, but I don’t often have the time).  I’ve yet to have the long part trimmed, but I plan on doing that at one of my favorite salons soon.

A bit covered here, not too noticeable

What if I end up not liking it?

There was one person from that forum who shared the story of her sister who went through a “phase” with crazy hair and regretted it later, especially hating the pictures of herself taken that year.

Well, I’ve had normal hair forever!  Since I have wavy-curly hair, my styles were very limited.  I couldn’t cut it too short and one-length just made it frizzy, so I always wore it long and layered.  No surprise I eventually got bored with it!  Coloring could only get me so far as I didn’t want to damage my hair chemically.  I had a breakage scare last year and that was that.  So I went for an undercut.  Though I love it now, there is that possibility that it’ll look funny to my future self–but I think that’s the beauty of it!  I think it’s fun to look at old photos and see how different you were back then.  That you have actual proof that you’ve changed.  It’s an interesting story to tell.

And if you get your crazy haircut and you end up hating it right after…

…you can always wear a hat.

Buuuuut, I discovered Yosi Samra.  The first time I slipped them on, I knew they were a keeper!  Like I mentioned, I don’t normally wear flats, and ballet flats almost NEVER, but that just goes to show how impressed I was with the pair I got from Yosi Samra.  I wore them everyday the whole week after that first time–it was just so convenient and easy to use and they didn’t feel flimsy.  They’re pretty tough!  The soles were quite durable and the stitching withstood several construction sites I passed by.

What they claim:

Yosi Samra’s years of experience within the footwear industry has allowed him to produce the highest quality ballet flats at the lowest price points. The innovative split-sole structure is made of 1/8^” durable rubber allowing the shoes to fold neatly yet also ensuring that they do not wear when worn. Materials for the actual shoe are made from the best materials, thick enough that you do not see the outlines of your feet. Yosi Samra’s are topped off by a comfy elastic band creating a secure fit and eliminating the shoe cutting into a woman’s heels, painful rubbing blisters or an extended breaking-in period.

Though I don’t use it as often as I do my regular shoes, I always have it in my bag now.  You never know when you need a rest from the pair you’re wearing, and I just feel more comfortable knowing that I can change into my foldable flats if I need it.  I went to Singapore last month, and a friend I met up with there decided to wear her newest high heels at our mini-reunion.  After a while, I took pity at her staggering and constant massaging that I offered to let her borrow my Yosi Samra pair.  They were supposed to be a size smaller than her, but she seemed comfy enough, and even asked me what brand it was and where I bought it.  Even she noticed how tough it seemed to be.

I also like that the pouch they came in is even smaller than my wallet so it fits neatly in my everyday handbag.

My own pair in patent navy blue

Yosi Samra is exclusively distributed by Green Tee Inc. at the following locations: GAS, Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma Mall.

Well, technically, it’s not something totally new.

You see, as part of The Coca-Cola 100 Years Project, 12 fashion bloggers were chosen to participate as fashion correspondents in the Coca-Cola Big Youth Blowout to be held at Trinoma on January 28, 2012. I’m one of them (long story, or maybe not).  Out of these 12, 1 male and 1 female fashion blogger with the highest votes will walk the runway on that day, for the Coke-Bench fashion show. How do you vote?

1) Tweet “I vote for @rstylista to walk the runway this Saturday at the Coca-Cola Big Youth Blowout! @Coke_PH #CokeBenchFashionShow”.
2) Follow @Coke_PH to make those votes count.

Voting is up to January 25. 11:59pm. Yes it’s only one day of voting because everyone has a sense of humor!

I have no real aspirations of modeling and I do it for the kicks (there was Ferretti and House of Vanita thing that’s uber top secret *cough cough* because of what I was or was not wearing).  However, if I did end up on the runway again for some reason, I can’t promise you regal and inspirational.

I’d probably be like this flower arrangement.

Except now I have half my head shaved.  I’m not sure if I qualify as 1 male and 1 female because now I look like this:

Is the image of this boyish girl applying pink lipstick confusing you in any way? Good!

So if you want a bad-ass post-apocalyptic look on a summer-themed show or you have a sense of humor, then you’ll probably end up voting for @rstylista.

This post was brought to you by Snickers and Starbucks overdose lalala

New ways of shopping you ought to try

The new improved Multiply. I used to lurk around my favorite Multiply shops during my web designer days since I was always in front of the computer then.  Now they’ve really changed leaps and bounds and shopping is so much easier.  I hate going to malls anyway (except that now I have to since I get styling gigs regularly and you have to physically be in the stores for pullouts and such).

AVA.ph is the Philippine’s first members-exclusive flash sales sites.  Flash sales are a win-win situation.  Lately they’ve started including beauty products, not just fashion.  I bought a total of three pairs of shoes from them, from their Melissa and Tonic sales.  I’m contemplating on getting Phaidon books, too.

Top 3 establishments you ought to visit

Fab salon. My favorite so far is the one in Valero beside Pancake House, but there’s also one in Newport Mall and another in Glorietta 5. Consult with hair genius Lourd Ramos, who gives helpful, personal suggestions and fabulous cuts and styling.  I also like their nail polish collection in the Valero branch and the staff is great.

Browhaus (Greenbelt 5).  I probably would never have visited this place if I didn’t have a gift certificate. I thought they might be ridiculously expensive.  Well they are, but now I can see why.  Thanks to ARC, I was able to try their Browgraphy and I loved it.  I’m definitely going back for their expert knowledge in eyebrow shaping.  I hope they’d have a friendlier and more helpful staff, though.  I was the only customer at that time, so maybe they weren’t used to someone interrupting their quiet schedule of doing nothing (I know I’d be miffed if it were me haha). Kira and I asked if we could take pictures, but they refused. That was free marketing they turned down, but what the heck.  Kira and I secretly took photos anyway, because I’m really iffy about eyebrow services and I wanted to blog about the experience no matter how it would turn out.  I like the person who did my brows, though I’ve forgotten her name now.  She shaved off more than what I was used to but it allowed for a more defined arch that I’ve been trying to follow ever since. (Photo by Kira Ramirez)

Art of Scent (Newport Mall). Aptly named, as they really take the search for your perfect scent seriously.  It’s the first concept fragrance store around here. And let me tell you, for a girl who doesn’t take to perfume especially, I was able to find a scent that I really liked just by the way they categorized things.  Picking a signature scent really does have something to do with your personality and it’s different for everyone. I also like that the attendants don’t push you to buy their latest or most expensive, or chase you with testers.  Instead, the store had trays that classified the scents as Woody, Floral, Fresh and Oriental so that you get a basic idea of what you might like based on their notes and other ingredients.  It really helps identifying what you like!  A great way to get acquainted with new perfume.

Shampoo of the Year

I thought it would be Watsons’ Pure Beauty line, and believe me, I was raving about that shampoo and conditioner.  Then I discovered TIGI Bedhead’s Epic Volume and I fell head over heels in love despite the price tag (P1800/bottle!) that I’ve sworn to replace my bottle once I finish it.  I was reluctant to try Epic Volume because on its own, my hair already has epic volume, but I do tend to overdose with conditioner when I try to tame it.  This shampoo and conditioner make my curls sleeker but it doesn’t kill the volume.  It makes my hair super soft and smell candy-sweet.  I find it comparable to Kerastase in terms of quality and price.  So if you have curly hair and want shiny, bouncy curls that are soft to touch, I highly recommend TIGI Bedhead’s Epic Volume.  I bring it with me whenever I have my hair washed at salons and I make them use this. In fact, it’s the only shampoo I keep in my bag in case I go home to my parents’ unexpectedly (which was much more often during the last two months due to the holidays and preparations for my brother’s wedding).

(Obviously taken before my half-head shave)

What you should bring to the beach apart from the obvious

Beach Hut Max 100 SPF.  It might not be that obvious to bring 100 SPF if you like tanning as much as the next non-Pinay!  7 days in Boracay can really burn your skin.  I hardly reapplied but I didn’t get scaly skin and sunburn this time with this in tow. So I suppose it has great moisturizing properties aside from its sun protection.

adidas ClimaCool. I discovered this by accident.  I had little clean laundry left while I was packing for Boracay, and I realized I had a lot of unopened stuff from adidas.  So I threw that in my luggage.  Thank goodness because ClimaCool wear is the most practical sort of clothes you can bring to the beach.  They simply don’t absorb moisture and they don’t stink the way regular fabrics do when dampened with salt water.  I reused my ClimaCool plenty of times I wasn’t in my bikini–saved me luggage space and I didn’t have to literally hang dirty laundry outside our room to let the sun dry them up before repacking them. They’re very easy to clean and quick to dry.

Urban Decay primer potion.  I hardly ever used this, but I found a handy use for them at the beach.  Since I don’t have smudge or waterproof eyebrow pencils, and I hate going anywhere without my eyebrows drawn in, (yes, even at the beach) I tried swiping them on before the eyebrow makeup.  They work.  I went underwater and they didn’t budge.  Just don’t go rubbing them off with skin contact.

Jenova/Triple Pinky. I swear by this lip and cheek tint.  Even after swimming, the tint doesn’t just go away.  It’s comparable to Smashbox’s O-glow, except it’s cheaper.  And if you’re like me and your skin tends to look gray and lifeless after sun and saltwater exposure, this is a invaluable.

Best lingerie

House of Vanita. Not really new.  I was one of the blogger models for them back in 2010.  But they deserve a mention because since then, I haven’t found a bra that fits me better than the one I got from them.  It’s really a shame they don’t have other stores/outlets other than their showroom in Citibank Tower, Paseo (Makati).  I’d hoard their stocks if they did, even if they are a bit more expensive than the usual (then again, expensive for me just means anything more costly than cheapo but ever reliable and hip Bench).

Top moisturizers to try

Human Nature’s Royal Jelly and Aloe Vera Night Moisturizer. If you’ve read my review some time ago, you’ll know how much I raved about this product.  It’s cheap, effective, organic and local.  It does feel heavy at first application, but just wait for it to get absorbed.  It’s an all-time favorite as it makes my skin soft and supple when I wake up in the morning.

Mosbeau Placenta White All-in-One Facial Cream. I didn’t really expect anything from this at first, but it totally surprised me.  It’s light like a water-based moisturizer but moisturizes excellently and it’s multi-purpose.  I use it for day and night.  A makeup artist once commented how well-moisturized the sides of my nose were and that surprised me because that’s usually the driest part of my face apart from the sides of my lips.  This was the moisturizer I used just before that.  So far, it’s also the only moisturizer that has been managing this weird drying around my lips (I should really check with the dermatologist about this).

Most underrated mascara

The Face Shop’s Freshian Volumizing Mascara (01 Curling).  I think I’m the only person or blogger who loves this mascara, as I never read anything about it elsewhere.  It was my first, and though I’ve tried others that are more expensive and raved about, I still come back to this.  It thickens and curls my lashes easily and it’s just as hassle-free to wash off.  A friend says this makes her raccoon-eyed at the end of the day.  Thankfully, I’m not given to raccoon eyes despite my oily lids–then again, I find that the smudged liner/mascara look suits me, so I don’t care either way.

Must-try local organic brands

Leyende. It was love at first sight with Leyende–they have the best packaging in the local beauty industry, in my opinion.  I love their minimalist look, excellent typography  and clever names for the products.  I’m also a fan of the cloth bag that’s made from recycled car seat covers that sometimes comes with your purchases.  Leyende has also recently launched their Real Benefits campaign.  Watch the video here.  Leyende truly is beauty with a heart!  I know among local organic brands they’re a bit more expensive in comparison–but they’re totally worth it.  And I must say, I LOVE the scents of their products.  I recommend: Face Canvas, and La Dolce Muscovado Natural Sugar Exfoliant.

All Organics. I think this brand is not as popular as it should be.  I love their toner and my mom swears by the Rose Hip cream.

I buy most of my organic products from Sesou, including these two.  They have stalls in Glorietta, ATC and Trinoma, but I usually drop by the Glorietta branch on the ground floor across the exit/entrance to Landmark.

Best makeup discoveries

The Face Shop’s Phytogenic Infinite Makeup Base. I’m in a mild panic whenever I find myself without this. Again, I made an accidental discovery when I ran out of SPF at my parents’ home and found a small sample of this, quite forgetten in my makeup kit.  It had SPF 15 so I decided to smear it on.  I was surprised at how it made my skin look much better.  I thought maybe it was just my imagination or I was having a good skin day.  But after continuous usage, I’ve been stopped a total of 4 times (yes, I counted) during different conversations only to be asked why my skin was looking flawless.  Of course it’s not–but if this makeup base can give that illusion, how can I, in vain conscience, not keep it up?  I never even believed in makeup base before this as I used to consider it an unnecessary step for girls like me.

Jane Iredale. Up until last year, I’ve always used liquid foundation.  It wasn’t until Prestige’s Wet/Dry foundation and then later, Jane Iredale that I’ve completely switched to powder foundation.  At least for the time being.  I like the combination of this light mineral foundation with the Phytogenic makeup base from The Face Shop.  It works for me so I’m sticking to it.  Plus, Jane Iredale is touted the makeup you can sleep in–it’s that light and fresh on your skin that it supposedly doesn’t do any harm to leave it on.

Favorite fashion stops

Oxygen. Hands down my favorite stop for local RTW. I hate to describe it as edgy, hip and cool, but that’s exactly what it is.  I shop both the women’s and men’s aisles–androgynous style at its best!  You can layer it in different ways, too.  Oxygen is my GAP.  I wear it every week, and sometimes, everyday.

Bosquejo Bazaar. I always seem to be wearing Bosquejo. My favorite is his hardware accessories collection, made from different sorts of knickknacks that you usually see everyday but would never have thought of using as materials for a necklace or bracelet.  Another is his Sacre collection, since I’m a sucker for old things.  If you want something different that stands out, definitely check El Bosquejo.

Freeway. They’ve been a favorite of mine since they started the National Artist series.  For me, this is the best take on the patriotic fashion trend that started a few years ago.  It’s not so in-your-face or literal like the Philippine map and flag prints because they feature classic Filipino art/literature.  My favorites being the Ang Kiukok and Ramon Valera collections.  Now they’re featuring Manansala.

Fab flats

Yosi Samra. I used to believe that once you slip on those high heels, you ought to standy by them the whole day, no compromises. Still, if you just can’t, then it’s a good idea to always have a back up in your bag in the form of foldable flats.  I haven’t been using them as they ought to be (you know, as a back up) but as my actual footwear for the whole day.  In the case of Yosi Samra, the first time I slipped them on, they were so comfortable and lightweight, I ended up wearing them everyday for a whole week.  And I was walking across uneven pavements the whole time!  I was surprised that the stitches didn’t give up–they’re that durable.  And if they endured my feet and the way I walk, that’s really something.

Melissa. They may not be the most comfortable shoes if you go for their most stylish styles, but you’ve gotta admit they really stand out.  I’m totally in love with my Joy Maskrey pair–and they’re comfy enough if you know the right socks to use them with.

Shoelogy.  I got my favorite zebra flats from them, and they’re the comfiest pair ever!  I don’t always feel the comfiest with flats, so I get really picky with them.  I’m sad they haven’t restocked this style because I wanted to buy another pair as mine is pretty worn out.  Plus, I really like their zebra print in Oh well.

Favorite fashion designers

Noel Crisostomo.  He’s one of the best designers around here, one of the few who’s got impeccable taste.  He’s got real class, he’s down-to-earth and really talented.  My favorites are his art deco-inspired designs.  I wore one of his creations to the First Philippine Fashion Ball.  He’s also is one of our go-to designers for KC Concepcion.

Eric delos Santos.  He can do classy and downright sexy.  But most of all, I love it when he does flowy.  He’s one of my favorite designers last year, though I haven’t been able to work with him as much as I wanted to.  I was able to do some pull-outs from him, though, and he’s always very friendly and warm.  I’ve yet to meet him in person, though, haha!  We normally just communicate through text.

Favorite style team

The dynamic duo, make-up artist Rae Venturanza and photographer Noel Salazar.  If you’re looking for a team to work with you on your pre-nup, pre-debut or your wedding, I highly recommend these two.  I’ve worked with them on several projects.  They’re also a couple, getting married this November 2012.

Photoshoot for Jenica’s pre-debut

Macky Angeles or Hair x Makattak. Last month, I had part of my hair shaved off, and I think it’s the best style decision I ever made.  I love my hair!  So if you’re up for a unique style or cut, give Macky a call.

Even Grimace seems to love it.

So what do I have in store for you?

The Carrot (P950)

At first glance, I wondered what The Carrot was.  To me, it looked more like a cute fish.  See, that yellow eyelet looks like a fish eye and the pink zipper looks like a fish’s mouth.  It’s a pencil case that’s roomy but compact.  Of course being Crumpler, it looks simple but the nylon casing and stitching is sturdy.  The material is even waterproof.  I especially like that the zipper twists around, making it look like a cute fish opening its mouth when you zip it down.  Well, I stuffed the fish with some items from my desktop.  (Yes, I just bought Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover, and I’m excited to use it!).  You can pretty much use The Carrot for other things, too, like storing your watercolor brushes or even make-up items like lipstick and make-up brushes.  I like having a lot of cases inside my bag because I have a lot of junk in it. I keep everything separated in pouches and cases, because bag organizers don’t work for me.

The Noose (P850)

Funny name, yeah?  But it does look like its name!  The Noose is a camera strap for your wrist.  It works well with my Canon 30D, which is a heavy D-SLR model.  But since it IS heavy, I don’t recommend letting it hang about your wrist for so long (or even your neck) if you have the same model.  As you can see, the strap is pretty thick and it’s very well-cushioned.  It can adjust to any wrist size.  What I usually do with my camera strap is that I wrap it around my wrist so I have no fear of it dropping.  At least now this is an actual wrist strap.  Like I said, I don’t really let my camera hang from my wrist, but I always tie it to my wrist so that it’s secure.

The Limpet (P750)

I like having different luggage tags for all my travel bags and styling suitcases.  Do you know that particular luggage tag which had these words like “Put it back it’s mine” etc.?  They were pretty cool, but they were so popular that lots of people had them!  Doesn’t make sense anymore to have a luggage tag which you might confuse  for yours when it’s actually someone else’s.  That’s what I appreciate about The Limpet, because I haven’t seen it elsewhere yet.  It stands out, so you have an easier time locating your luggage.  And it’s not flimsy, either–the ID tag is sturdy and well-protected.

I’m giving these 3 away–The Carrot, The Noose and The Limpet, to one winner each.  That means yes, 3 winners.  So how do you join?

1) Follow @rstylista in Twitter OR in Google Friend Connect.
2) Tweet or post in Facebook “Join The Reluctant Stylista’s Crumpler Giveaway: http://reluctantstylista.com/article/the-reluctant-stylistas-crumpler-giveaway” and provide me with the link of your tweet/post via the comments space below.
3) Tell me which prize you want to win (pick one) and why via the comments space below.

I can only choose winners from the Philippines or people with a Philippine address.  Only one entry per person (for all prizes)! Winners will be chosen via Random.org.  Giveaway will end on January 4, 2011 at 11pm.  Obviously, entries failing to comply with all 3 steps and meeting the deadline are disqualified.

Good luck and Merry Christmas to all!

The Carrot, The Limpet, and The Noose by Crumpler are available at Crumpler Bonifacio High Street, Crumpler SM Megamall, and Crumpler Trinoma.

But I just received word that the sale has been extended up to December 23! Woohoo!

Looky looky what I scored.  I’m such a fan of Melissa’s, so I couldn’t resist:

Melissa x Vivienne Westwood Lady Dragon heels (at 50% off on AVA)

I wasn’t actually planning on buying this at all, but when I saw it in person, wow!  It looked so much better than the photo.  I knew immediately I’d go home with it.  There were no second thoughts about it.  It kinda reminds me of my Malibu Barbie’s shoes though, haha!  I wore them to the last Bloggers United bazaar.

And then, I was planning on getting the Alexander Herchcovitch Troupe Wedge in black, but I wanted to get it one size higher after fitting my regular size 7.  Unfortunately, there weren’t any stocks for a size 8 left.  That brought me back to a pair of Joy Maskrey–another shoe that was way better than it looked in photos and which I lusted for after first sight.  I hesitated at first because it had Swarovski in it–I just know I’m going to lose them!  I’m not very delicate with shoes.  I tend to rough them up a lot.  But finally, vanity won over.  When I couldn’t get the Alexander wedge, I went back to my first choice.  I’ve worn this almost everyday for the past 2 weeks.  No regrets.

Joy Maskrey Oxfords. This is originally P10,950 but it’s now selling for P3285 in AVA.  That’s frickin’ 70% OFF!

I’ve always ALWAYS loved Melissa shoes, but I find them a bit expensive.  That’s why I definitely couldn’t pass up this sale!  I’ve limited myself to two pairs, though…but if I had a bigger budget this Christmas, I’d buy at least 4 pairs.  I wish they featured some of the other styles, too, but anyway, with the deals I got, I’m not complaining.

So it might come as a surprise to others when I said I wanted to shave it.

My brother’s wedding is over and done with–he didn’t have a punk for a maid-of-honor.  I haven’t told anyone in the family yet what I did, but I want to surprise them when I come home this weekend.  Unless of course, they’ll wind up here (90% chance) and check out the preview of my new ‘do.

Taken hours before I left for Macky’s place. The “Before” photo:

On twitter: “Goodbye Gryffindor hair! Hello Alice Dellal”

Frothing with excitement on Twitter!

I set up an appointment with Macky last weekend and decided on having my cut last night.  Macky Angeles used to cut hair in B-side, but now she only takes appointments (until further notice, I guess?) either in Taft or her apartment in Anonas. Do you know that Sykes ad all over Ayala and sometimes along Edsa?  I often pass by the one at the walkway between Greenbelt and Landmark.  Anyway, that’s Macky, shaving off some brave soul’s hair.

Prior to my visit, I already sent her pegs.  I wanted something like Alice Dellal’s.  And I figure I still have so much hair that if I need to cover the shaved part, I can.  Lion’s mane nga eh.  Anwyay, it’s sort of a compromise, since originally I wanted something like Anya Ayoung-chee’s hair, but my friend Nayna (who was there to witness the whole thing) talked me out of it.  Nayna, despite her own undercut, didn’t want me shaving my hair because we’ve had mutual hair envy since grade 3.  I wanted to have straight, thin, soft hair like hers and she wanted curly-voluminous-instant-party hair like mine.  (I remember asking her back then what she did to make her hair so soft and she said it was baby oil.  I tried doing that I only ended up looking homeless).

Some pegs:

model Alice Dellal

(Okay, I’m kidding. I didn’t send a photo of Delirium to Macky. But I just realized, after 2+ years of planning to go as her on Halloween, I can actually pull it off now if I wanted to)!

I was giddy with excitement when we were about to start. But half the people in the room that night weren’t sold.  I got asked if my curls were natural.  Yes, they are.  Was the shine natural?  I didn’t even know I have shiny hair, so I suppose yes.  (Thank you Bedhead TIGI)! “Sayang naman!” I was again told, but by now I was so stoked and completely unmoved from my decision that I didn’t even notice Macky already clipping a handful of my hair that was maybe about 7-8 inches long.  I just saw Nayna cringing and turning away.

I kept standing up from my seat every now and then to check the progress in the mirror.  The first time I did, I exclaimed “SHIT!”  Everyone looked up in alarm, thinking I hated it.  Just the opposite.  I couldn’t believe how much I loved this new hair that I wish I had done it sooner!  It’s so badass! <3  Even the other half that didn’t want me shaving my hair had to concede.  My jawline, which I never liked because I think it’s too strong, looked way better with cropped hair.  Which made me wonder what it would look like with everything else shaved off.  Heh.  I guess I’m at that point in my life where I feel so secure about who I am and how I look that I didn’t mind going through a drastic change.  Even if it didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to, I just know I would still find a way to make it work.

It’s so weird, I thought I’d feel more emotional about losing quite a chunk of my hair.  But I’m not.  I was just thinking “Man, this must be so easy to shampoo!”

Before this, I practically never changed my hairstyle since I believed with my wavy-curly hair, I was limited to layers, some fringes every now and then.  I tried going for a Halle Berry look back in 2002 but everyone else thought I was channeling Aiza Seguerra instead. I promise, this is no Aiza anymore!  The above photos are just a preview.  I’ll have to take more decent photos of the “After” look to show y’all.

So first, the good news. There are loads of freebies and great stuff at Bloggers United 2, but The Reluctant Stylista booth will also have its own giveaway.

1) We’ll give special gifts for every P500 purchase.

2) All buyers will automatically qualify for our raffle. We’ll give away 2 Benefit Crystal Lip glosses, 2 pairs of Eyelash Diva natural black with glue and 1 Jenova triple pinky (lip+cheek tint that lasts a loooong while, even after being underwater! I tested it out in Boracay).

3) As a special treat to my readers, I’ll be giving away products from Dove, Pure Beauty, H Bella, Elizabeth Arden, Skin Food, Cosmo Skin, Obagi, Watson’s, Belo and more!  No purchase needed!  All you have to do is drop by my booth, say the secret password and then you draw lots for your prize. Don’t worry, none of the rolled up pieces of paper there will say anything like Thank You for Trying, that just sucks and I hate that so you won’t get that from me.

The password: “I love Reluctant Stylista”

The cheesier the password, the better, eh?  At least it should be easy enough to remember for everyone.  It’ll only be until all my stuff are given away, so you better be there early!

And of course, I’m having a SALE on bath and beauty products, exclusive at the Bloggers United bazaar!  Check these out:

Benefit Ultra Shine Crystal Gloss for P500. Original market price is P800.

Bathina for P1500. Original selling price: P1980

Bella Bamba 3D blush for P1400 from P1800.

Benefit Dandelion blush for P1400. Original selling price: P1800.

Erase paste for P900. Original selling price: P1300

Feeling cheeky set for P1000. Original selling price: P1400.

Rush hour for P800. Original selling price: P1200.

Elf products for as LOW AS P88! And this is not the Elf you see in SM Department store that was manufactured in the Philippines.

Some clothes by Pia Gladys Perey:

Another dress from Zara:

I hope that got you guys excited!  See you there!