New Makeup Stash (Ben Nye Luxury Powder + NYX Matte Lipstick + Wonder Pencil)

Posted on May 21, 2013 by blauearth

My recent MUD makeup lessons are driving me nuts — turning me into a hoarder (it’s my dad’s middle name). Just when I thought I’m done with lippies, I found a very nice NYX matte cranberry red. And how can I not resist the tempting T. LeClerc Banane Loose Powder clone that is Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder? I was looking for a pale pink pencil to highlight the brows and a nude lip liner, but discovered NYX Wonder Pencil as the all-around alternative. Got two new MAC lippies too.

I don’t usually pile on a lot of products. My skin is oily and extra sensitive, so I skip the toner, moisturizer and primer. For everyday makeup, I go straight to the concealer to even out the face and then dust it with powder foundation like MAC Studio Fix NC30. I use NC 35 at night though. I dust MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Light on certain areas. Liquid or cream foundation is reserved for special occasions. In the photo, I used the Wonder Pencil Light to highlight the brows and line the lower inner eyelids, and the Medium to line my lips. I’ve been eying the Make Up Forever Lip Line Perfector (a colorless lip liner), but 19 dollars is way too expensive for a lip liner. Dusted the whole face with the finely milled Ben Nye powder. It’s quite easy to work with its silky texture and a little goes a long way. The container eats up a lot of space, yet a neater alternative. The yellow tone cancels the red in blemishes. The effect is polished, but not heavy at all, matte, but not too matte. I wore it at night, so I still have to test it during the day. My skin felt comfortable all throughout, no issues. About Bloody Mary, it’s such a gorgeous red with pink undertones. The blue in it brightens the skin tone. The matte formulation is not drying like some drugstore brands I’ve tested, best of all, it stayed on forever, surviving a buffet dinner:) NYX is so affordable you can buy three lipsticks for the price of one MAC, at least in this part. Will definitely try more from the matte line again.

Have you been to Red Dot lately? Check out the new makeup arrivals.

La Virgen Milagrosa and Nana Leonila Arzadon of Badoc

Posted on May 20, 2013 by blauearth

I do believe in miracles. I also believe in goodness, humaneness, perseverance and above all, faith.

Today, I paid La Virgen Milagrosa a visit. I had to ask a local where I could see the miraculous Virgin Mary. It’s such a wonder the esteemed 400-year old image was at the St. John the Baptist Parish Church for there are days when she travels to places. She was crowned The Patroness of the Diocese of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, in 1980.

The downcast-eyed Virgin Mary (in a wooden box) together with another statue, Santo Cristo Milagroso, angels and a violin were said to have been discovered floating in the sea by fishermen in a village in Lugo in Dadalaquiten Norte, Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

Honesto, the catechist at the 200-year old church says that the image of the miraculous Crucified Christ and the violin were left in Sinait while La Virgen Milagrosa and the angels were entrusted to the fisherman from Badoc.

A kind dame, the 86-year old second curator of the Juan Luna Shrine and a Child of Mary, Nana Leonila Benemerito Arzadon (who I met after the church visit), says that there are times when it is impossible to move the image to a different location. “No di na kayat mabagkat ket madi.”

The cut on her chin, Honesto says, was from an attempt to desecrate her, but survived the whack, and all the calamitous events in the past. The old golden crown was stolen some decades ago.

What used to be a convent is now the St. Elizabeth Elementary School.

Nana Leonila lives in this beautiful 1928 house inherited from her father, Bibiano. It stands out in the neighborhood.

She’s a “balasang” and lives with two younger ladies, perhaps her nannies. She suffered a stroke and had to quit work. I asked if she ever had a boyfriend or boyfriends and she giggled. “Sika a! Madi daguita idi.” I love the woman! It so happened that she knew my lolas and aunts in Batac and Paoay. I think also my dad and mom, back in the Cursillo and Daughters of Isabela days.

She hesitated to be photographed, but changed her mind when I said I will also be in the frame. The photo turned out blurry, yet I like it. When I kissed her goodbye, she uttered “Ammum, college ak iddi ag-usu ti shorts.” I asked, “Agso–shorts ka met ngarud iddi a, lola?” “Haan,” she said giggling.

She says, by the grace of God, she survives. I noticed her extra-long “pidit-pidit”. Told her, she should reach her 100th birthday ‘coz I’ll be going back to photograph her.

Lippie Review: MAC Vegas Volt

Posted on May 18, 2013 by blauearth

This has been such an emotionally charged week for me. But life goes on, blogging and all.

There’s good news for MAC makeup fans in Ilocos! You can order online your favorite MAC makeup or newly released MAC products at Shop From The USA. They accept orders for other brands and ship to any part of the country as well.

Heard about the online seller from Martine and snagged a MAC Vegas Volt straightaway. I’ve long wanted to try it, but was afraid it might be too bright for my age ‘coz MAC says it’s an amped up coral. It turns out it’s a beautiful, upbeat coral pink. I also liked the lighter, more orange, more retroesque cousin of Vegas Volt, Sounds Like Noise from the Hayley Williams collection, but had to test Vegas Volt first. Bright shades of orange, coral and salmon have been in the forefront in the last two years.

Getting hooked on the amplified creme texture for its smooth, highly pigmented and lasting qualities. The subtle sheen is also another factor. Lately, I’ve been trying to experiment with different colors. Sometimes a pop of color is all you need…

Under two different kinds of light.

Maybelline ColorSensational Coral Crush comes close except for its less-opaque texture.

Benny Arce’s Footprint in the Sands of Ilocos Norte

Posted on May 17, 2013 by blauearth

Before the rainy season arrived, the LEAD Movement was blessed with the opportunity to tell their humble story of pioneering the Ilocos Norte tourism mainstay in the Philippines — sandboarding and off-roading in the distinct rolling sand dunes of La Paz, Laoag — via Reuters, the international news provider.

How the LEAD Movement wish Benny Arce left us later, just a little later to watch himself tell the world his dream as a LEADer. Benny Arce passed away in the early hours of May 15. Please watch the video and say a little prayer for the fine guy.

LEAD Movement Executive Direstor Benny Arce said: “It would be nice to be called, the Laoag as the sand boarding capital of the Philippines. And maybe we can’t claim that for the whole world, maybe we could say, one of the best in the world.”

It will be remembered that Manong Benny Arce worked so hard for a sand adventure park blueprint that was submitted to both the provincial and local governments. After one full term, we never got an answer from the leaders.

I quote young LEADer Ericke Tan, “Tito Benny Arce, your memory lives in every sand board track, every foot print and in every grain of sand in La Paz.”

Our heartfelt thanks to Thompson Reuters television producer Michaela Cabrera and cameraman Pedro Uchi. View this travel news feature on the Laoag La Paz Sand Dunes posted on Today.com.

Check out the LEAD Movement (The innovators of sandboarding in the Philippines) website. For sand adventure inquiries and booking, contact Reny Tan 0919-873-5516, 0917-841-5155 Facebook page.

Video via NTD Television on YouTube
Photographed by Sean Arce, Angelo and Blauearth
© Blauearth™ All Rights Reserved 2009-2013

Lippie Review: Korres Mango Butter Lipstick SPF 10 22 Rose

Posted on May 14, 2013 by blauearth

Korres Mango Butter Lipstick SPF 10 22 Rose

I planned to go out today, but it rained, so it means rainy afternoons are here to stay until October:( Hence another “ardyud” post.

My lazy summer makeup consisted of powder, MAC Velux Brow Liner in Brunette, Etude House Dear My Blooming Cheeks OR202 blush, and Korres Mango Butter Lipstick SPF 10 13 Natural Pink. The moisturizing power is exceptional and the formulation is friendly, so I purchased another color – 22 Rose — and so far I’m loving this Greek thing! The pink in 13 Natural Pink is a closer shade to my lip color, while 22 Rose is a natural peachy pink or salmon that is pretty warming, yet soft. It’s a beautiful all-around color for day to evening, particularly with the smoky eye.

Korres Mango Butter lipstick is not for everyone though. Since it is made with emollients, the color kinda disappears faster than regular lipsticks.

I tried a no makeup makeup look with natural looking falsies. (The products used are listed below.) Sticking on falsies was easy as pie, especially that the local Nichido Tru Lashes glue I got has an itty-bitty wand and the goo does not appear like white putty when dry, so there’s no need for mascara.

Korres Mango Butter Lipstick SPF 10 22 Rose

THE “NO MAKEUP” MAKEUP
Products used:
MAC Studio Fix Foundation NC 30
MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 NC 30
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Light
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Tipsy
MAC Espresso eyeshadow on brows and crease
MAC Sweet Lust eyeshadow as highlighter
Nichido waterproof pencil liner in Onyx
China false eyelashes
Nichido Tru Lashes glue
Korres Mango Butter Lipstick SPF 10 22 Rose

Conjugal Leadership

Posted on May 14, 2013 by blauearth

Melanie and Alfredo Valdez

Chevylle and Michael Fariñas

The stark parallelism of the highly anticipated official election returns in the mallified town of San Nicolas and city of Laoag, both intense areas in the just concluded midterm elections, shows a constituency with a mind-set for a family-run affair. The similitude ends however in regard to support from unopposed reelectionist Governor Imee Marcos, with the Valdezes running independently and the Fariñases under the One-Ilocos Norte ticket, a seeming manifestation that Ilocos Norte is not really one, politically, debunking the Solid North myth.

Alfredo and Michael are about to complete their terms as mayor, while their wives, Melanie and Chevylle, will be taking over the top posts, with the husbands as vice and next presiding official of the sanggunian (council).