Look haute this year

MANILA, Philippines - New year, new everything, look included. If you’re not quite ready to commit to something as (semi-)permanent as a fresh cut, there are other ways to switch up your look this 2015. The easiest among them: trying a new makeup technique. Add a couple of new products to your existing kit and you can throw together all sorts of new looks.

We asked artists from some of our favorite beauty brands to show us some new tricks with their latest — and in some cases, upcoming — booty.

Kick up the classics

The black eyeliner and mascara combination will never go out of style. It’s a go-to technique that every girl — regardless of aesthetic preference — has mastered, and utilizes on many, many occasions. But even the classics require some switching up to stay fresh, and that’s what Mikee Raymundo of MAC does with this look, deconstructing the traditional methods to create an edgier take on the defined eye. Lashes are either non-existent, or like on model Anna, way out there — there is no middle ground.

Be bolder

NARS

“Nars has a signature look: A clean and well-contoured face, paired with either a bold eye — which will mainly consist of bold colors and bold liners — or a bold lip. In Jeanine’s case, I chose to go with a bold lip. Nars just launched their Audacious lip line late last year, and I thought that it would be fitting to build my look on that. Given that the color of the year is Marsala, I chose a color in the same family, just a few shades darker. 2015 is going to be the year for change. Most Filipinos are so afraid to experiment with their lip colors. They’d rather go for the classic pink, nude or red lip, but deep down, I know they want change. They’re just so afraid that the lipstick color they really want to wear won’t suit them. So I have a feeling that this year, people would want to break out of their comfort zones and try something new. Plus, it’s super easy to do. This look is clean, classy, and easy to replicate. All you need is your standard makeup kit and a new lipstick color.” — Kat Gumabao of Nars                                         

Go color-crazy

Shu Uemura

As a brand, Shu Uemura has always played with color (note their wide range of available shades for pretty much everything) and texture (their Lash Bar alone boasts every eyelash you could imagine, and some you likely didn’t). Makeup artist Patrick Alcober demonstrated the brand’s penchant for both with this look. “It gives you an idea of what our upcoming Metal:Ink Eyeliner can do, giving you a wider range of eyeliners to choose from and allowing you to be more creative. My look is a playful one, a play on the cat eye look that’s still so in vogue, but with a variety of shades to choose from. I used the blue, green, black, midnight blue, and gold liners to create dimension and tone on Tola’s eye.”

Get glowing

Laura Mercier ?

“The look that I think will be hot this year is glowing skin, healthy-looking skin that has a youthful glow, because most of us want to look younger. If looking oily is your concern, you just have to be careful to choose the right products to get the effect. Choose products that will look like skin. I used Laura Mercier’s Shimmer Bloc. It has a unique baked formula that applies effortlessly, while brightening the eyes, cheeks, and body with a hint of natural color and light. Light-reflecting properties lend together to give the skin a healthy all-over glow. The trick is to only use it on the tops of your cheekbones, the inner corners of your eyes, and your browbone. You can also apply it on your cupid’s bow. Then you’re good to go!”                                — Qua of Laura Mercier

Photos by MELSON BOLONGAITA

Makeup by QUA of Laura Mercier, MIKEE RAYMUNDO of MAC,

Kat Gumabao of NARS, and PATRICK ALCOBER of Shu Uemura

Hair by OGIE RAYEL of KIEHL’S STYLIST SERIES

Modeled by ANNA BUQUID, CHELSEA ROBATO, JEANINE TSOI, and TOLA ORENDAIN