Beauty Picks

Multiple matte must-haves for lazy girl beauty

MANILA, Philippines - Who even has the time to bother with makeup brushes these days? Top quality brushes are expensive. There are so many that most beauty newbies don’t know which ones to use for what purposes, or how. Even beauty nerds like me will resort to what is essentially finger-painting on our faces when we’re in a rush. Well, my everyday makeup kit is now totally brush-free, thanks to Nars’s Multiples. The original Multiple is an innovative makeup product for use on all areas of the face (eyes, cheeks, and lips) that comes in a series of shimmery shades, including cult favorite Orgasm. It is literally a one-stop shop for facial color, and most makeup enthusiasts I know own and love at least one.

Next month (just a few more days, ladies), Nars cracks out a twist on the tried-and-true classic: a new matte formula that’s perfect for looking hot in spite of the heat and humidity. Available in three bronze shades and four bright pops of color, the Matte Multiple’s the ultimate makeup must-have for summertime. Pick up one of the bronzes to create contour (Altai’s the subtlest; a gorgeous rose bronze), then use one of the four brights for your cheeks and lips. (I’m obsessed with Siam, a brilliant poppy red, but it’s the universally flattering pink apricot Exumas that every beauty nerd I know — myself included — is coveting.) The color may look intense when you first swipe it on, but it’s easily blended out and totally buildable. Apply it wet (mist the top with water) for a sheer finish, or dry for intensity. Pro tip: Throw in the original Multiple in Copacabana to highlight the high planes of the face. Then throw out your cheap brushes. You’re done.

Bobbi’s latest bombshell

We can argue all day about whether or not Kate Upton can hack high fashion, but one thing no one can contest is that she’s gorgeous. Golden glow and sunny disposition, girl-next-door face with an unbelievable body — Kate Upton’s the poster girl for being comfortable in your own skin, something Bobbi Brown’s all about. So it comes as no surprise that she’s the new face of the brand. “The brand celebrates a woman’s natural beauty and individuality — that’s a message that stands out. It’s a philosophy that speaks directly to me and that I’m proud to represent,” says Kate.

Living the dream skin

Some people start prepping for Laboracay as soon as the clock strikes midnight on the coming new year, eating what amounts to rabbit food and spending most of their spare time living in the gym for the next few months to score the Candice Swanepoel beach body of their dreams. I never have. My beach prep is limited to the neck up — my skin.

I always freak out about the state of my skin a little bit more than usual in March, when the summer months start to creep up on us, because while it’s easy enough to cover up any skin issues I might have with a touch of foundation at any other time of the year, even I think it’s ridiculous to wear base to the beach — and I speak as someone who attempted to wear tinted moisturizer in Boracay a couple of years ago. I spent the entirety of that weekend trying not to get my head wet because a) my base would wash off, and b) it would ruin my hair. (What was even the point of being on an island? I have since realigned my priorities.)

To cut it short: Great-looking, foundation-free skin is essential. It’s also not the easiest thing to achieve. Enter Dior Capture One Totale Dreamskin, a “perfect skin creator” that claims to make skin look immediately more radiant and, over time, correct all your epidermal woes: wrinkles, pores, dark spots, and redness. Intended for use across ages and races, this product is typically applied after moisturizer, but if you’re lazy or don’t use moisturizer (like me) just use this and don’t bother with layering.

Upon application, the extremely lightweight formula blends right into the skin, its mica platelets and silica microspheres reflecting light and smoothing texture, minimizing the appearance of imperfections and making you look luminous; no heavy feeling of layering products and no need to use a highlighter (my not-so-secret great skin secret). My face felt silkier and more hydrated after I put it on, and I had a glow but still looked matte — crucial in the summertime, when everyone looks like they bathed in cooking oil. It’s basically a VSCOcam filter for your face. Sold.

Pop Proenza Schouler into your pocket

I’m years behind on the Proenza Schouler PS1 train — I still don’t own one, a fact that I continue to lament from the depths of my very soul — but while I may not have their satchel slung over my shoulder, I do have their lipstick swiped on my kisser, thanks to MAC. This April, MAC launches its latest designer collaboration: a collection created with Proenza Schouler. It’s an unfussy, practical selection, packed with cool-girl colors for lips, cheeks, and nails, plus black and brown eye pencils. Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez have never been about making their women look over-thought-out, so they understand that the modern-day chic chick doesn’t need to look like she spent two hours putting on a face to look better than everyone else.

Our picks from the collection: matte Mangrove (a great orange-red for summer) for your lips, Ocean City (universally flattering orange-into-beige ombre) for your cheeks, and Nocturnelle (black, duh — who says you can’t wear black in summertime? Break the rules!) for your fingertips.