Professional makeup on a budget

Dear Rissa,

I just read your article in the Philippine STAR. I’ll be part of the entourage for my good-good friend’s wedding and I’m looking for a makeup artist who can do my hair and makeup. Who can you recommend? I have tried Jing Monis and Lala Flores in the past and I love their work! My makeup was light but I was very satisfied. I never imagined I could look that way. I liked it so much I tried to book them but apparently, they’re unavailable already. Besides, their rates are so expensive now. I was hoping you could recommend someone more affordable, within the price range maybe of P700 to P1,500 but can do makeup similar to the likes of Jing’s or Lala’s. In your article, you mentioned Denise Go. I have seen her works in magazines and she seems good too. Would she be someone you’d recommend? I’m not the bride so I was thinking it wouldn’t be so practical to spend money on trial makeups. But I want to look good too because I’ll be in the pictures! Hehe! So your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much and I really hope you could help me on this because you’re the best person to ask since you’re a model and you’ve probably worked with all the make-up artists in town! — Perc

Dear Perc,

Whenever there’s a special occasion, every girl wants to look pretty. Whether we’re attending a wedding or debut, or even going out on a special Valentine’s date, we want not just to look gorgeous but be memorable too.

I love the work of Jing Monis and Lala Flores too! And so do many models! When we have fashion shows or shoots where Jing or Lala do the makeup, instead of wiping out all the makeup after a hard day’s work, we leave it on and enjoy a gimmick night out! It’s too bad they aren’t available to do your makeup for your friend’s wedding. And since you feel their rates have increased, when that extra special occasion arises, I’m sure the price will be right and you’ll know who to turn to.

For the wedding you’re attending, why don’t you try Denise Go? She has done countless beauty shoots for magazines like Cosmopolitan and Preview. She’s also responsible for the many beautiful faces you see in TV commercials. And Denise is so pretty that she has appeared in some ads as well!

Since you like light makeup, I think you’ll like Denise. Whenever she does our makeup for fashion shoots, we never feel that her makeup is heavy and thick — as if our features have been erased. Her makeup allows our skin to breathe while bringing out our best features. I always feel so pretty whenever she does my makeup! Her makeup always makes me feel like smiling and batting my pretty lashes!

Denise is also one of the friendliest make-up artists I’ve worked with. She’s so warm and approachable. The moment I first sat on her makeup chair, I easily felt comfortable. I never felt intimidated to tell her my concerns about makeup or even ask about a new product. She also generously shares beauty tips and advice whenever I turn to her.

Since your beauty budget for your friend’s wedding ranges from P700 to P1,500, Denise certainly fits. She charges P1,500 when you go to her salon for hair and makeup. But if you want to get ready in your own home or at the hotel, she charges P3,000 for home service.

There are other makeup artists who you might want to consider. It pays to have alternatives because the makeup artist you like may not always be available on that special day. It can also be because the location of another salon is just much more convenient for you.

I’d recommend Dawn Saytas of Hairbytes Gamboa in Makati. (His salon fee is P1,500.) I first got to work with Dawn when I did a shoot for L’Oreal. It was for Estetica, a Paris-based magazine. When Estetica sent L’Oreal copies of the magazine, I was pleased with the pictures. The makeup he did was a beautiful bronze look to complement my newly-colored hair. I’ve also worked with Dawn for fashion shows. He was one of the makeup artists for Mang Ben Farrales’ 50 Years in Fashion gala. We all felt like goddesses that night.

Although they cost a teeny-weeny bit over your budget, you might want to consider Victor Ortega and Danny Katalbas of Emphasis in Rockwell. They charge P1,750 at the salon. They’re both experts in hair and makeup and have won numerous competitions. I first got to work with Victor for a bridal beauty shoot. I worked with him again when Emphasis was chosen to do our makeup for a Bulgari show. Later on, I got to work with them both because Emphasis sponsored my hair and makeup for my show The Kikay Machine on Juice TV.

I’d also highly recommend Henri Calayag of H Salon in Rustan’s Makati. (According to the salon, he charges P2,000.) H is one of the salons that is quite close to all the main hotels in Makati (in case the wedding you’re attending is in Makati.) Henri was one of the very, very first makeup artists I worked with when I started modeling. I love his work so much that he did my makeup for my prom, my senior ball, my graduation, and my wedding! I really never felt so beautiful and radiant my whole life! I couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle that day.

Well, I hope I’ve given you enough alternatives especially since you’re working on a budget. Although you mentioned you don’t feel it would be practical to spend on trial makeup, I suggest you go to the salon to perhaps meet the makeup artist. You may not be asking for a trial but getting to know the makeup artist in person may give you an idea of his makeup style. You might be lucky when you visit his/her salon and find the makeup artist with a client on his/her chair. That would be a free chance to see his/her make-up style.

Also remember, never hesitate to tell the makeup artist your concerns. You may feel a certain eyeshadow color works best for you or that your skin looks better when liquid foundation is used. Voice them all out.

But at the same time, don’t be too close-minded. I know an important event like a wedding isn’t the right time to experiment. But if the makeup artist suggests something, try it if you can. You never know if it looks good on you after all. If he wants to try a new eyeshadow color, maybe he could test it at the back of your hand so you could see how the color looks on your skin. (It doesn’t always look the same on the container.) Or he could try dabbing a little color first on your lids. And if you don’t like it, he could just blend it all away. Remember, makeup isn’t like a bad hair color that you can’t wash off.

Also take this as a time to learn putting on makeup! Watch the makeup artist and observe how he makes your eyelids more dramatic, how he strokes the mascara to make your lashes look fuller, or even how he applies blush or bronzer to make your face look slimmer. I’m no expert on putting my own makeup but I’ve learned so many ways to make myself look better just by watching the makeup artists. So happy learning!

Jing Monis and Lala Flores
Propaganda
3rd floor, Greenbelt 1, Makati
Tel 893-4098

Denise Go
Salon de Orient Acropolis
Unit B, Magnitude Commercial Arcade
186 E. Rodriguez Ave. (Libis)
(The building is beside Whistlestop.)
Tel 438-2225 or 635-0355

Dawn Saytas
Hairbytes Gamboa
Unit GFM, First Midland Building, Gamboa St.
Legaspi Village, Makati
(It’s very near Greenbelt 1.)
Tel 893-3497 or 893-3843

Victor Ortega and Danny Katalbas
Emphasis Salon
Rockwell Information Center,
Estrella corner Amapola St., Makati
(It’s beside the Rockwell tent.)
Tel 898-0818 or 898-0819

Henri Calayag
H Salon
3rd floor, Rustan’s Makati
Tel 817-6143 or 817-6140 to 5

* * * Footnotes On Dark Feet

Hi Rissa!

First of all, I would like to congratulate you for a very successful stint in a soap (I really watched you!) and for your show, The Kikay Machine (I try to catch even the replays). Your show has helped me a lot not only with how to enhance my physical beauty but also how to live out inner beauty. I am an avid reader of your column and I would just like to say that you are such a beautiful person. I am really amazed with the way you give advice to your readers and I am really glad that you are that generous to share your personal experiences, even your personal preferences.

I am writing because I have a really huge problem. I have dark skin, although I am proud of it. My problem is my feet. I’m not comfortable with them because they are dark and what’s worse is that my calluses have turned dark. You see, since I was young, my mom did not allow me to wear sandals because they get my feet dirty because of the dust. I used to wear leather clogs and loafers, without socks. My mom also did not allow me to wear rubber shoes because they make me look boyish. As a result, my feet got really worn-out. I have tried whitening lotions but to no avail. I have also tried using exfoliants (for the face) but nothing happened. I have exhausted myself with foot scrubs to the point that my mom even bought me my own foot spa kit, including a foot spa machine, but I don’t see any improvement. For almost half a year now, I have stopped wearing shoes without socks. Summer is coming and I’m really, really desperate to show some toes. Please advise me on what other remedies I can try. I’m really desperate and at the same time, hopeful.

I have never shown my feet to my boyfriend of almost two years now because I know that he has a fetish for girls’ feet. I just avoid the situation...that really lowers my self-esteem.

By the way, I’m 18 years old, from Bacolod.

Thanks so much and God bless. — Anne

Dear Anne,

You know, it’s really funny. When I was taking ballet before, my feet were never harmed despite the endless hours on toe shoes. But when I started modeling, that’s when my feet first got a taste of dead toenails (from wearing too tight shoes which I couldn’t decline since they were part of the designer’s collection), blisters (wearing strappy stilettos may be sexy but sometimes some straps just rub the wrong way), and even calluses (walking in stilettos isn’t always a pleasure when the ramp looks infinite!). Don’t get me wrong but my feet hardly look disgusting right now, OK? I never got those all at the same time. I just experienced it at one point or the other — and my feet have recovered well. But I never imagined modeling to be more cruel on my feet than ballet!

You know, you may always be wearing closed shoes because your mom didn’t want your feet dark and dirty from the dust.But it could be your closed shoes that started causing the darkening. Dr. Clare Palabyab, resident dermatologist at the Medical City, reasons that your shoes might be a tad too tight and there are points where the skin rubs against the shoe — like the knuckles of the toes especially when they get scrunched. They hit the top of your shoes. What happens is your skin gets red and irritated, this forms into blisters, which turn dark and can become calluses. This is what you call post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Take a look at your shoes. It’s possible that they may not be tight but consider the shape of the shoe as well. The length of your shoe may be perfect but the shape can be a disaster. Discontinue using shoes that rub the wrong way to protect your feet from further darkening.

Using socks or foot stockings also helps a lot in minimizing the rubbing or the friction. A foot powder not only prevents perspiration on the feet but can help lessen the friction too. Also keep in mind that perspiration can encourage fungal infections — these can cause darkening too.

Dr. Clare Palabyab encourages you to keep using your foot spa kit. Do scrub your feet once a week but only on the soles and do this very lightly. Overscrubbing your feet can cause thickening. Our skin has protective mechanism — when overused, the skin gets thicker. Just like on our hands and feet. Aside from soaking your feet in your foot spa kit, Dr. Palabyab recommends that you use a lotion with urea, an ingredient that softens the skin. You can try the brand Nutraplus which contains 10 percent urea. This can be easily purchased in leading drugstores.

The ingredient urea may make your skin softer but not necessarily whiter. You should see a dermatologist for lightening the skin on your feet. A dermatologist can properly prescribe to you a product with ingredients that are stronger than over-the-counter whitening ingredients but these aren’t always strong enough to visibly whiten the skin on your feet.

For your calluses, you can try callous removers like Dr. Scholl. If this doesn’t work and the dark color is still there, a dermatologist can give your feet a skin peeling followed up with a lightening lotion prescriptive strength. Never attempt to do this by yourself or you might worsen your feet’s condition and regret everything. Don’t ever hesitate to turn to experts like dermatologists.

Care for your feet regularly and be patient. This can’t happen overnight. But if you give your feet enough dose of TLC, pretty soon your boyfriend will be kissing you from head to toe.

You can visit Dr. Clare Palabyab at Room 414 of the Medico Building in Medical City. Her clinic hours are 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. everyday except Sundays and Wednesday afternoons. You can also call 631-6961 for an appointment.

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E-mail your questions and comments to: rissa_ms@hotmail.com.