I've heard that Rustan's in EDSA Shangri-La has undergone a renovation. True enough, the place looks so chica now! I remember it being a bit gloomy and admittedly shabby before. Now it's bright, fresh, with gleaming counters and warm beauty assistants.

Last Saturday, I went there to check out Estee Lauder's new counter. What can I say - they really outdid themselves this time! They're occupying a big space near the entrance, complete with a lounge and a long table for anyone who wants to play with EL makeup.

Feeling like a queen. Lol!

The place looks so posh and worthy of Estee Lauder as a premium brand. After touring it, I settled down to listen to a cool and fairly new makeup tip that EL shared to us beauty bloggers. It's called their 4-step Simple Smoky eyes inspired directly by EL's creative makeup director, Tom Pecheux.

Hi Julia! :D

Step 1: With a generous amount of eyeliner, draw a circle on the back of your hand about an inch across.

Benefit Cosmetics held an exclusive party for beauty bloggers last Wednesday and holy hell, I haven't had that much fun in ages! The Benefit gals really know how to throw a girlie bash!

The girls of Benefit

The event was held at Sweet Bella in Burgos Circle. Even though it was stormy that night, the cafe was close to bursting with giggles, makeup, and Sweet Bella's signature macarons and cakes.

So! Here's a rundown on what transpired that fateful night. Warning: expect to see your favorite poised beauty bloggers doing lots of silly things! :P

I'm in Bonifacio High Street at least three times a week. It's where I grab my favorite drink (Happy Lemon!), walk my dog, run errands, eat dinner every so often. It's one of my favorite places to hang out but I've always wished that there were more shopping choices. I only like the shoe and bag stores there; when it came to clothes, there wasn't anything spectacular.

Until Vogue Concepts opened new stores, that is. :) Bonifacio High Street Central is becoming the next high-street (get it?) shopping mecca. The latest addition is Promod, the French fashion brand! With this new opening, Promod now has 10 stores in the Philippines.

I've talked about Promod many, many times before. Bottomline is, it's a great place to look for on-trend but never tacky pieces to make your existing wardrobe come alive. They also have dresses in classic cuts, as well as the basics like shorts and cotton tops.

This season, Promod presented six key looks that is sure to tickle your stylish imagination. Check them out!

SAINT TROPEZ. Who says summer is over? Mix and match playful pieces with white and  pastel shades that keep you looking and feeling fresh, just like what you need on a hot summer day!

I've worn this dress and this eyeshadow look before, but I think it's the added little details that make them new. I don't have a bottomless closet, you know, so a girl has to reinvent her things every so often!

Topshop coverup / Forever 21 dress / Pinkbox bangle / SM necklace / t0nic heels

I wore this outfit to the Charriol event last week at Skye. It was a rather wet afternoon so I threw on this coverup and stable glittery heels. Yeah, I don't want to fall on my face, what with all those slippery pavements I have to navigate. My mantra: look good, but be practical.

Anywhoo, here are the details for the makeup! I created this grape eyeshadow look with the help of an Ever Bilena Mousse Eyeshadow. It's pretty awesome. I've never done purple as crazy as this before.

Face: Lancome Teint Miracle, MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer, Clinique Airbrush Concealer (for eye bags), Bobbi Brown mineral foundation to set

How do you feel about new foreign brands coming to the Philippines at breakneck speeds? I'm loving it! More brands mean more options for picky shoppers like me. The important bit is that prices become more competitive. Gone are the days when new brands can enter at prices that are 50% more than their SRP abroad. (Or am I just kidding myself? Still, let's not forget to buy Pinoy!)

Anyway, there's going to be a new clothing brand in town! It's called Ever New, a  brand founded in Melbourne, Australia. Ever New emerged in late 2006 as a start-up retailer and now trades over 120 stores across seven countries including New Zealand, the United States, Singapore, and now, the Philippines.

Their PR sent me a few photos to whet the appetite. If you like elegant, feminine clothes, then I think you'll love Ever New. 

Anne Curtis is the hottest celebrity right now. After seeing her in person last week, I understand why! Up close, she looks exactly like she does on celluloid and print - drop-dead gorgeous, with an ultra-slim bod. Someone commented that she looks like a live Barbie doll and I gotta say that's not too far off the mark! #starstruck

Anne's looks aside, I really appreciated that she seems genuinely happy and excited to be there. It seems to be a good fit, Avon lipsticks and Anne Curtis. Anne is famous for her trademark red shiny lips while Avon makes some of the best lipsticks around (at least for me) - call it destiny, predetermination, natural selection!

So, what's the deal with the Avon Shine Attract Lipsticks?

If I had television, I would have watched the Bb. Pilipinas Coronation last night! As it were I just had to get my news from my Twitter feed (please do follow me btw!). Many of them were catty comments on the evening gowns and the Question and Answer portion. Haha. I guess that's part and parcel of the festivities. 

May I present the Bb. Pilipinas court!

The Bb. Pilipinas 2012 queens are: Janine Tugonon as Miss Universe Philippines, Nicole Schmitz as Bb. Pilipinas- International 2012, Katrina Dimaranan as Bb. Pilipinas - Tourism 2012, Elaine Kay Moll as 1st Runner-Up, Annalie Forbes as 2nd Runner-Up

Photo from Adventures of a Beauty Queen

Janine Tugonon is a 22-year old pharmacy graduate from the University of Sto. Tomas. From her profile, you can see that she's a veteran in joining beauty contests, unlike Shamcey Supsup from last year. 

I have always enjoyed standing in front of a crowd and doing my thing, whether it's speaking or singing. That was why weird little me looked forward to reporting, especially in college! Lol. That's why I was very excited to give a talk on beauty and fashion in one of Manila's top schools, Adamson University, upon the invitation of Tupperware/ Colour Collection.

The huge purple tour bus and I

The Colour Collection / Tupperware team - I love you guys!

Inside the bus, a Colour Collection paradise awaits

I dished a lot of makeup tips for college girls - from applying base to working with color, all under 15 minutes -and then shared some advice on how to dress for certain occasions like job interviews or romantic dates. Many of the girls asked me tips on specific concerns like how to make thin lips look fuller, how to contour, and so on. It's like a hyperactive, live version of Project Vanity, and I loved every minute of it!

I am super duper mega excited for Friday! I will giving a beauty talk to Adamson University students as part of the Colour Collection Tour. I am just this close to bursting with all the things I want to share to the students, not only when it comes to makeup and fashion, but how to cultivate their self-confidence and hopefully go into a career they love.

It's really more of me sharing my story. I was a reclusive college kid pretty much, and now I'm in PR and marketing. Makeup plays a big role in my life beyond the fact that I write about it almost everyday. It helped me find the courage to face a future that I wasn't sure would happen to me. 

The purple bus!

I had work last December 15 which is why I wasn't able to catch the 11am launch of Benefit Philippines, but that didn't stop me from dropping by later in the afternoon to check out the store. Like the brand, its local store is all pink and cheeky, with big white budoirs and rose-patterned wallpaper.

Things you must do while inside: swatch everything, get a makeover from their well-trained counter assistants, and try the Brow Bar! Read my sneak peek post for product photos + complete price list.

So, without further ado, here's a tour of the place!

All the makeup is neatly laid out for you to try

There's really nothing like a gaggle of girls just chillin' like villains in a fabulous salon. It's all laughter and crazy one-liners as everyone does their favorite thing, which is to primp and prettify just because!

That's what happened at the opening of the newest FAB Salon branch in Valero Street, Makati. Beauty bloggers got together to try the salon's services such as hot oil, foot spa, mani and pedi, hair cut, and even a makeup makeover. They are pretty good considering the fact that FAB Salon is a relatively inexpensive salon. I already reviewed some of their services here!

I got a hot oil and a looooong overdue haircut.

A few weeks ago Lancome Philippines invited bloggers to visit their Greenbelt 5 Atelier. It's my first time to actually go inside so it was, to say the least, an interesting afternoon for me!

The atelier is posh, all gleaming glass and silver panels decorating the bright interiors. I immediately scoured the displays for makeup (surprise surprise?). Hehe.

One of the brand's latest foundations - Blanc Miracle

The makeover table

Benefit is a wildly popular brand worldwide, not just because of their cheeky names and packaging but also because their products deliver exactly what they promise. Ever heard of Benetint? This cult classic has actually been around since the 70s, when twins Jean and Jane Ford started a backyard business selling cosmetics. Over the years, it has become one of the most well-known cheek colors and one of Benefit's top-selling products.

The brand is finally arriving in the Philippines this December 15, and I want to show you what to expect! Think cute and vintage-y interiors, our fave Benefit products (of course), and friendly prices that matches Hong Kong's. Yes, the Benefit here is reasonably priced and is actually cheaper than in Singapore! You can check out the complete price list at the end of this post.

Okay, ready to see what happened at the blogger sneak peek in the Benefit office? Here goes!

I know, I know, this is rather late but I wanted to share what went down at the Clinique Real Women Party anyway. It was, as all Clinique parties go, an intimate affair. All my favorite people were there plus I got to meet one of my readers, Mina! It was chika all afternoon at the Clinique Rockwell counter and even most of the evening as we had dinner together. Super fun. 

The new Clinique counter in Rustan's Essences, Powerplant Mall

That's Mina and that's me!

I've always wondered how it would be like if I were a glamorous celebrity. I would imagine the lights, the makeup, the beautiful clothes, and a score of people attending me as I prepare for a fab shoot. But I am not a celebrity, so all I can do is wonder (and D-I-Y to death) - that is, until Sunsilk asked me to join a shoot by one of the country's top photographers, Niccolo Cosme!

Sophie, Shen, Nikki, and I

I've been blogging for a few years now. In the course of my "career", I've luckily experienced a few cool milestones, but being part of a real photoshoot is definitely a first. It's all thanks to Sunsilk, who chose four beauty bloggers to celebrate with them after they reached 1,000,000 fans on their Hair Experts Facebook Page.

What do you think? I normally hate this angle of me, but Niccolo Cosme has some magic in his shutters. ;) Anyway, would just like to share a photo diary of what transpired at the shoot. You'll see a lot of Sophie, Nikki, and Shen as we prepare for the shoot behind the scenes.

Nikki is bright and sunny as always

Did you know that Bobbi Brown began with just ten lipsticks in 1991? What actually made those lipsticks special is Bobbi's intense desire to make them wearable by women of all ages and colors. The ten original lipsticks were brown-based, as was the trend that time. Twenty years later these lipsticks are still relevant and of-the-moment. Classic!

To celebrate the 20-year milestone, Bobbi Brown Philippines threw a party for the press at The Establishment, The Fort. They showed off the gorgeous 20th Anniversary Lip Palette which contains the ten original Bobbi Brown lipsticks plus ten new trendy shades. Kai Vinson, the Bobbi Brown Asia-Pacific Regional Director for Artistry and Education, also flew in to demonstrate two holidays looks on top model Jessica Yang.

Kai showed us two looks we could wear for the holidays - classic glam with red lips and sexy smoky eyes.

Belo is a name that's so big, it has become part of Pinoy pop consciousness. If you need to go to Belo, you need to have your face or body fixed - that's what the word means! After 20 years in the business, the whirlwind that is Dr. Vicky Belo has built a brand that even celebrities would flock to.

I must admit that I don't know much about Belo until I met her during the Belo Blogger's Dinner. She gamely discussed her top treatments over delicious food at The Establishment, The Fort. Two of Belo's most loyal customers, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Albert Martinez, were also there to talk about their favorite treatments too. 

This picture doesn't do Zsa Zsa justice, but I swear, she looks good for her age! She's in her 40s but she looks fit and glowing even with light makeup on. She shares that she loves the Sculptor Plus treatment which effectively tightens and contours both her face and body.