Today I’m thankful for the pleasure of doing my friend’s family’s makeup for their dear brother’s wedding 😀 To Tita Nena, Tita Carrie, Lala and Vic, thank you from the bottom of my smokey heart! Wishing Vic and Miggy a lifetime of love and laughter 😀🙏 And thank you, Lala, for the delicious pork buns from Tim Ho Wan ❤️ You all look so beautiful as always 😍
Cleaning and caring for your makeup brushes need not be a chore 🙂
High quality makeup brushes can be very pricey. For us makeup artists, it truly is an investment. These premium brushes are built to last a very long time. Some of the makeup brushes I’ve had for years still feel brand new. What is important is how to care for them.
An easy way to clean them is by using regular shampoo. You may even condition them if you want just like real hair. Since I use my brushes on different clients, I really have to clean them after every use. But for your personal brushes you may clean them twice a week to avoid bacteria build-up.
Another brush cleaner I love is Parian Spirit. This is the cleaner I use when I need my brushes clean and dry in between clients. You just have to swirl your brushes in a container with this cleaner and you’ll see the makeup and dirt come off instantly. Then using tissue or a paper towel, just wipe and squeeze off excess liquid and in five minutes, you may use your brushes again.
“Parian Spirit Professional Brush Cleaner is the go-to for top makeup artists and cosmetic brands because it does an overhaul on your brushes while conditioning the brush hair. It rids the brushes from oil, dirt and colors left by cosmetics. It is made with Florida oranges so it smells good on your next brush stroke.” -Sydney Go (COO, Nippon Esthetic Solutions).
Another wonderful discovery is this organic and eco-friendly water activated solid brush cleaner made at home by celebrity makeup artist, Xeng Zulueta. It is made from coconut and lavender extracts. “What’s great about this organic cleaner is that makeup brushes become safe for sensitive skin”, Xeng mentions. This is the more affordable and safer alternative from other high-end brands out in the market. One tub of 80 grams only costs P150. I love this product because you can really see how much dirt and makeup are easily removed. It’s like giving them a bath with a bar of soap.
So now you’ve already washed your brushes. They’re wet and damp. What do you do next? For the longest time I would lay my brushes on a towel and let them dry overnight. But I noticed that the center of my brushes would still be damp in the morning. I also tried drying them upright and placing them in a pencil holder, but the bristles would end up drying in different directions. Until Xeng introduced the Makeup Junkie Drying Brush Stand to me!
“This awesome brush stand allows your brushes to dry upside down. You need to air all sides of the brush to ensure no moisture has trickled down the stem. Moisture causes bristles to break and bacteria to grow. Upside down drying preserves your makeup brushes. Flip it upside down and it becomes an instant makeup brush organizer and stand.” – Xeng Zulueta (@xengzulueta on IG and Twitter)
To be honest, washing my brushes became such a chore. But these products have made cleaning my brushes fun again! Seeing all the dirt come out of your brushes at the end of the day and seeing them organized in a cute stand makes me look forward to “cleaning time”.
For inquiries, you may email bellecat.studio@gmail.com 🙂
HAVE YOU BEEN DYING FROM THE HEAT LATELY?! Have you stepped outside for a few seconds and felt sweat beads dripping down your face. And you say to yourself, “There goes my makeup”.
Not to worry. It doesn’t mean you have to leave the house with just sunblock on your face. Here are some tips to keep your makeup sweat and heat proof.
First, make sure your cleansing products are oil-free. Use a toner to take away excess oil. Applying a clay mask also once a week will help remove excess oil.
Summer is the perfect time to say, “Less is more.” You may avoid using liquid foundation and concealer if possible. But if you’re like me, who absolutely cannot leave the house without makeup, I suggest you use a foundation primer. Believe me, you won’t regret adding primer in your daily makeup routine. This will keep the foundation from slipping. Apply concealer only in the problem areas and set with either loose powder or powder foundation making sure not to over apply.
You may also use an eye primer to keep your eyeshadow in place. The key word for summer is “waterproof” especially in looking for your mascara and eyeliners. (Recommended product: Eye of Horus Mascara and Eyeliners).
This eye pencil is 100 percent waterproof and glides on without tearing.
The Eye of Horus Mascara has a natural-based formula that won’t run or smudge.
Please do not neglect your lips. Always apply lip balm preferably the one that has a base of beeswax or petroleum jelly. And finally, a makeup setting spray will be great to have. It’s like hairspray for the face and will keep your face looking fresh all day. (Recommended product: Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray http://www.skindinavia.com).
Don’t let the heat stop you from wearing your favorite makeup products this summer 🙂
*Photos courtesy of Eye of Horus Philippines and Skindinavia Philippines’ Facebook pages.
My very first bride for the year 2014, Mycel 🙂
How gorgeous are these flowers?!
Choices, choices 🙂 The sketch at the back was drawn by the bride herself. Awesome 🙂
My work station for the day 🙂
Hairstyling by one of my favorite hairstylists ever. RJ Dela Cruz, my sissy 🙂
Hair and makeup, check!
The mother of the bride is glowing, too 🙂
Stunning and glowing bride, Mycel 🙂 #nofilter. Hehe 🙂
Mycel’s bouquet 🙂
Almost ready…
Mycel, opening a gift from her fiance 🙂 How sweet! 🙂
Big hugs to my super beautiful bride, Mycel! 🙂
Thank you for the opportunity to be part of your big day! 🙂
Hope all is well with you guys! 🙂
Here are some behind-the-scenes photos of one of my favorite cover shoots for the year so far! 🙂
These photos were shot in a beautiful house in Makiling.
Styling by the one and only, Liza Ilarde 🙂 Thank you for making me part of this shoot!
Our beautiful and flawless model, Karen Pamintuan 🙂
Makeup by yours truly using Shu Uemura 🙂
Hairstyling by the very talented, Helen Egan for L’oreal Professionel 🙂
How cute are these ponies?!?! But they’re very naughty! Haha!
Our photographer was none other than Shaira Luna 🙂 She’s so awesome. And I love her OOTD 🙂
It was a beautiful and windy day… I can imagine myself living here… Seriously. Haha!
It’s Liza and Lisa 🙂
So far the Year of the Horse has been good to me 🙂
How’s your year so far? 🙂
It was a beautiful morning in July. Look at this breathtaking view from one of the rooms in Taal Vista, Tagaytay! 🙂
It was Therese’s BIG day! 🙂 Here are some photos I took during this lovely Friday morning 🙂
Love the shoes! 🙂
Check out Therese’ gorgeous engagement ring!!!
And here comes the bride… Therese 🙂
Therese with her Maid of Honor.
Thank God for friends who will help you get dressed on your wedding day! 🙂
Stunning Therese!!! 🙂
RJ, fab hairstylist, helping Therese with her veil 🙂
Me and Therese before she says, I do! 🙂
Team Belle & Cat, my talented girls, Nerissa and Honeyca with the fab, RJ Dela Cruz and Helen Egan! 🙂 Love my team! 🙂
It was a perfect day in Tagaytay…
With a perfect bride, Therese 🙂
My warmest thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Wigforss, for making me part of this memorable day! 🙂 Hope all is well with both of you on the other side of the world! Hope to see you both again soon with a little one, perhaps?! Hihi… 🙂
It was one hot and sunny day in the summer of 2013 in Nasugbu, Batangas.
Ga, one of my cutest brides ever, was getting prepped for her lovely beach wedding! 🙂
Hairstyling by Miss Helen Egan from L’oreal Professionel 🙂
Here are some snapshots during her wedding preps in this beautiful beach home! 🙂 I just love Ga’s pre-wedding outfit!
Ga and her huge glass of Coke. Haha! I am so jealous of Ga’s gorgeous tan!!! Such a beach babe 🙂
Ga’s beautiful wedding gown designed by the one and only Kate Torralba 🙂
Hair and makeup… CHECK! 🙂
Such a beautiful bride! 🙂
Super talented and gorgeous designer, Kate, now attaching Ga’s veil 🙂 So nice to see you again, girl!!! 🙂
Congrats again, to you and Patrick, Ga!!! Thank you so much for trusting me on your wedding day! 🙂
Wishing you both all the happiness in the world! Hope all is well in sunny California 🙂
Another beautiful bride of mine who said “I Do” last March 31, 2013. Her name is Eva 🙂
She wanted the simplest makeup on her big day, that “no makeup and barely there” look 🙂 It truly did make her natural beauty shine through 🙂
Hairstyling by the talented, RJ Dela Cruz 🙂
Congratulations again to my dearest Eva! 🙂 It was a pleasure being a part of this memorable day! You looked radiant!!! 🙂
Mehn, I look so fat in this photo. Haha!
One thing I love about weddings is the happiness and love I feel all around 🙂
Meet my beautiful bride, Eleonor 🙂
A lovely, braided updo. Super love this hairstyle for weddings 🙂 Hairstyling by the one and only, RJ Dela Cruz 🙂
Eleonor’s wedding day was just one of those days when I couldn’t stop laughing! I love happy weddings!
Today was all smiles, as you can see in the photo below captured by the talented Oly Ruiz of Metrophoto 🙂 Thanks for this awesome photo, Oly 🙂
The atmosphere was just wonderful. Everyone was just so excited for Eleonor’s big day! 🙂
Hair and makeup for the entourage was done by the fab stylists of Belle & Cat Studio 🙂
Final touch-up before Eleonor leaves for the Church.
Blooming bride, Eleonor 🙂
Congratulations, Eleonor and Steve!!!
A second look for the reception 🙂
Hanging out with the ladies at the couple’s holding room in Le Pavilion before the program starts 🙂
A million thanks, Eleonor and Steve! It was really such a pleasure spending this special day with you guys!
You’re a perfect pair and I wish only all the best for you both! Til we meet again 🙂
One beautiful Sunday last March 3, 2013, I was so excited to head over to Intramuros, one of my favorite places in Manila, to do makeup on another lovely bride, Casini 🙂
She was checked in at The Bayleaf Intramuros, a new hotel that just opened late last year. It was a really nice hotel and the staff was very helpful. I bring around five bags whenever I do weddings and you can tell when the staff is more than willing to help you. At Bayleaf, they were happy to help 🙂
Casini’s beautiful gown 🙂
Casini’s hair was done by my talented sistah, RJ Dela Cruz 🙂 Cas just wanted to have her down with loose waves 🙂
Fresh makeup done! 🙂
Almost done with hair 🙂
Beautiful Cas with her gorgeous bouquet.
Awwww, look who was waiting for Cas outside the hotel??? 🙂
Casini ready to ride her carriage to the Church! I love it 🙂 So perfect!
Congratulations again, Cas! You looked stunning, just like a princess on her way to marry her prince! Haha!
I had so much fun being a part of your wedding team 🙂 Thank you for that opportunity, Lovi! 🙂
Crowpod 