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Fashion

Beautiful At Every Age

There’s no age limit to being beautiful. This month, we celebrate beauty at every age with four stunning Cebuanas—Jennifer Sarmiento, Vanessa Deen, Iris Arcenas and Alice Woolbright, who share their beauty secrets– and products that addresses specific skin care needs to look gorgeous, no matter what year it says on the birth certificate.

There’s no age limit to being beautiful. This month, we celebrate beauty at every age with four stunning Cebuanas—Jennifer Sarmiento, Vanessa Deen, Iris Arcenas and Alice Woolbright, who share their beauty secrets– and products that addresses specific skin care needs to look gorgeous, no matter what year it says on the birth certificate.

20s: JENNIFER SARMIENTO Founder and CEO of Beauty and Beyond Philippines

In the midst of a busy schedule, it’s important to have a product that serves multiple functions. The CliniqueMoisture Surge CC Cream gives a naturally rosy glow with color-correcting technology that uses light to achieve radiant and healthy-looking skin. It’s infused with key hydrating ingredients to combat the effects of humidity, and prevents environmental damage with UVA/UVB protection and antioxidants.

Give your natural look more oomph with the Balm NudeTude Palette, which features shimmery shades that range from the white Shimmer and the bronze Silly to the deep black Serious. Its ultra-cute packaging doesn’t hurt either.

Cute packaging is always appealing—what’s better than a product that’s effective and looks great? The EOS LipBalms come in pretty round shapes with colors that echo its flavors, like Strawberry Sorbet, Lemon Drop, and Sweet Mint. The same goes for the Dose ColorPills, the fun pharmaceutical-like bottles that make manicures a lot more interesting.

A part of a refreshing new take on the brand’s classic scented collection, the L’Occitane Mint Verbena BodyIce Gel leaves skin with a minty feeling—spearmint and peppermint are mixed in with citrus fruits, lemon zest and verbena. Use with the Exfoliating Shower Gel for something truly refreshing on those humid tropical days.

BEST BEAUTY ADVICE

“My parents told me to keep yourself hydrated at all times and drink lots of water. Water alone gives you so much benefits: detoxifying hydrating, and makes your skin clearer.”

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

Rose water. “This is my favorite beauty product, I honestly cannot live without it. You can use it for everything– it’s not just a natural toner, it also helps with skin irritation, hair trouble and eye infections, and it’s very soothing.

30s:VANESSA DEEN, Managing Partner of Bigseed Public Relations Events

Lips can be very sensitive to the elements, and it’s important to pick products with gentle but effective formula. Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Lip Glosses add color and sheen while moisturizing lips with botanical oils and beeswax. For a more dramatic look, though, Vanessa turns to MAC Lipsticks. “The have the most versatile and wearable shades, and I love how they are vanilla-scented too.”

In homage to the iconic New York City graffiti and visual artist, the DKNY Keith Haring Fresh Blossom Art Eau de Toilette is vibrant and fresh. With a colorful palette of lush flowers and fruits, it’s a scent that epitomizes the charismatic and captivating spirit of the Big Apple.

The Bobbi Brown Navy Nude Collection was especially created as its namesake founder’s take on a sexy but fresh-faces summer look– a nude face with a hint of color. the two-level Eye Palette features shades that range from creamy white to a deep royal blue, while the Brightening Brick adds a soft, pearlized glow to create a sun-kissed look.

BEST BEAUTY ADVICE

“It’s from my mom. She always used to tell me to never touch my face with dirty hands and, most importantly, to get atleast eight hours of sleep every night.”

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT:

Weleda Rose Day Cream. “Since our skin is our largest organ and comprises 70% of our body, I try not to put anything with harmful chemicals on it. I found this line of products called Weleda and I swear by their rose day cream—it’s light, nongreasy and the only thing I put on my face.”

40s:IRIS ARCENAS, President of Ferimar Import-Export Incorporated

As the season shifts into colder weather, take on darker and more mysterious beauty looks with the Laura MercierDark Spell collection. Start off with the Face Illuminator to highlight with its soft rose gold shimmer, then add some eye drama with the Satin Matte Eye Color and Kohl Liner Extreme.

Twelve weeks of using the Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle UV Damage Corrector is a potent serum that promises visible wrinkle-reducing power that rivals that of a dermatological laser procedure.

Younger-looking skin might just come overnight with the Estee LauderAdvanced Time Zone Night Cream. The brand’s revolutionary formula boosts the skin’s natural production of hyaluronic acid to fight fine lines and a nightime amino acid complex to optimize collagen replacement—resulting in plumper skin in just three days

Stay fresh with the elegant scent of the Givenchy Dahlia NoirL’Eau. A fuller version of its original composition, the perfume has top notes of citron and neroil, and rose petal middle notes for a subtle but sensual fragrance.

BEST BEAUTY ADVICE

“Drink lots of water, exfoliate, and stay happy.”

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

“I use Argan Oil for my hair, body and face. It’s really a great product, it’s natural and has a lot of benefits– from fighting frizzy hair to moisturizing your skin.”

50s: ALICE WOOLBRIGHT, Managing Partner of the Beverly Hotel

Signs of aging are more prominent in the eye area so make sure to give some extra TLC. The Benefit Erase Paste instantly brightens the eyes and reduces signs of fatigue with a quick sweep before putting on concealer. Finish off with the Elizabeth Arden CeramideLash Extending Mascara, a special no smudge formula engineered to revitalize and protect lashes to make them fuller and longer.

An inspired blend of artistry and advanced biotechnology, the La Prairie White CaviarIlluminating Système offers lightening and lifting benefits in a luxurious formulation. The three-part system is composed of a cream and two concentrated serums, each offering anti-wrinkle, illuminating and hydrating effects.

Dubbed the age-defying foundation, the Lancome Renergie Lift Makeup SPF 20 blurs lines and wrinkles for up to 12 hours, with Micro-Lift technology that makes skin look flawlessly even, luminous and younger than ever.

Add drama to your look with the ShiseidoLacquer Rouge, inspired by Japanese lacquer artistry to produce intense color and luster.

BEST BEAUTY ADVICE

“Make a habit of cleansing your face every morning and before bedtime. It’s important to find the right cleansing cream (never soap), then use a warm washcloth to gently remove. Follow up with icy cold water to close pores then dab on some moisturizer. This gives skin a smooth radiant glow. These are the basic skin care steps I learned in my teens as a beauty consultant.”

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT:

“Mary Kay Timewise 3-in-1 Cleanser and Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. I have tried so many products in the market, but I always go back to these these favorites, which I have been using since I was 16.”

  • photography Dan Douglas Ong
  • makeup Jomer Arances and Emi Ayag

Fashion

Ravens, Runways, and Revelations: A Glimpse of Amato

by OJ HOFER | photo credit JOSEPH ONG | jewelry ROYAL GEMS  

Fashion had become as instinctive as breathing—so natural that one scarcely noticed it. Yet, after seasons adrift in sartorial limbo, the piercing peal of Birds of Prey by Amato Furne One jolted this archipelago’s fashion scene to attention. Amato’s spectacle soared beyond mundane couture, drawing me from the quiet of my atelier to the intoxicating front row at the reinvented Tops in Busay—from the low murmur of machines to the electrifying brouhaha of the style set.

Amato is not merely a label; it is a visionary ideal stitched in silk and dreams, a symphony of artistry that transforms yarns, fibers, and fabric into fashion phantasmagoria. Under the deft hands of Furne One, Amato has adorned the world’s most fearless icons—Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez—women who, like his creations, embody style, strength, and spectacle. His couture is not merely worn; it takes flight, transforming the wearer into a mesmerizing apparition of fleeting beauty—a phenomenal vision that lingers long after the moment has passed.

But how does one conjure such fantastical transformations? To offer a glimpse into the mind of this visionary, we posed three playful questions:

Oj: If you were a bird, would you soar as a mighty raptor or scheme as a clever corvid?
Furne: I’d be a raven—sharp-witted, shrouded in mystery, and draped in the perfect shade of midnight. Its inky plumage matches my flair for dark romance; because even in shadows, I prefer a little drama.

Oj: What would be your most formidable power?
Furne: As a raven, I straddle the seen and unseen—transcendence is my superpower.

Oj: What bird would you absolutely refuse to be reborn as?
Furne: Never a turkey—too commercial, too festive, and far too likely to end up as Thanksgiving dinner.

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Fashion

Lucky Colors of 2025: Harness the Energies of Emerald Green & Carmine Red for Success

Thom Browne Cropped tweed jacket
by Oj Hofer

With the Year of the Wood Snake underway, understanding the significance of lucky colors can help align us with its energetic flow. Rooted in Chinese astrology and Feng Shui, the year’s fortifying shades—emerald green and carmine red—offer mindfulness and good intention attracting luck, and fostering personal growth.

Emerald green, associated with the Wood element, symbolizes renewal, clarity, and inner peace. In the year of the wood snake, its dynamic energies will empower and inspire you, fostering growth, renewal and wise transformations. The hue is ideal for moments of self-reflection, study, or creativity. Wearing or incorporating this shade into your space enhances balance and mental focus.

Carmine red, linked to the Fire element, embodies passion, confidence, and vitality. This year, which according to the Bazi Four Pillars Chart, has a lack of metal, earth and fire elements, it will bring balance and the propitious energies. It’s perfect for professional meetings, decision-making, and moments requiring assertiveness as a splash of red can energize and embolden you throughout the day.

Stella Macartney vegan Leather tote

Stefano Ricci silk tie with paisley print

To fully harness their benefits, use these colors in a contemporary, mobile context; through clothing, jewelry, bags and accessories. Alternate between these two potent tints based on your needs. For example, wear green for calmness and clarity when you are going into stressful and mind challenging meetings or appointments. Choose red when you are going into places or situations where you need courage and motivation such as fashion galas, elite socials, prestige affairs, VIP gatherings and so forth. 

Saint Laurent crepe de chine mules

Optionally, you can also choose to wear these colors inconspicuously in small details, such as a garnet or jade bracelet, or a ruby or emerald pendant and earrings set. Men can wear a burgundy or forest green tie or pocket square, or casual polo shirts with poppies or with botanical prints, or jade and garnet jewelry. Doing so can subtly align your energy with the year’s vibrational flow.

Jan Leslie emerald bracelet

Daily Mood Cuff Links with red tiger’s eye tubes

The use of colors is more than just aesthetic choices or preferential picks. Colors can serve as energetic tools, reminding you of your good intentions and keeping you mindful of you daily motions. Effecting an optimistic mental state in the wearer, they can effectively shield you from negativity while fostering prosperity and emotional balance. Thoughtfully incorporating them into your wardrobe and surroundings ensures that you move through 2025 with confidence and the right intentions.

Embracing emerald green for tranquility and carmine red for strength are intentional, mindful choices that have the power to transform your energy and shape your path forward. May you have the best of luck in navigating through Year of the Snake with harmony, energy, and the power to attract good fortune.

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Events

The First NUSTAR BALL

Janine Taylor, June Alegrado, Jackie Lotzof, Frances Siao, Ina Ronquillo and Christine Pelaez

The NUSTAR Ballroom, a magnificent venue at the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu, sets the stage for last night’s first-ever NUSTAR Ball.

Black was the color of night at the Zee table.

Glamorous guests from Manila and Cebu converged at the NUSTAR Ballroom, an exquisite venue within the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu. The evening unfolded with a seated 5-course dinner. The opulent feast started with Beetroot Salmon Gravlax, adorned with caper berries, caviar, set with delicate edible flowers; and a main course of Compressed Pork Belly with Crackling Skin and Baby Scallops. Another highlight was the auction of coveted items like Dior and YSL handbags, a limited-edition Bulgari watch, and an exclusive 2-night stay in Nustar’s opulent 3-bedroom villa—complete with a private pool and a dedicated butler. The charity evening benefited the Cameleon Association, an NGO based in Iloilo City created in 1997 that developed a global approach to act on the causes and effects of sexual violence against children.

Nora Sol, Beth Go, Frances Siao and Marylou Ong

Ina Ronquillo, Maryanne Aboitiz and Jackie Lotzof

Designers Jun Escario and Philip Rodriguez

Philip Rodriguez with NUSTAR Malls two power ladies: May Adolfo and Joanna Salazar

Lana Osmeña with Mariquita Yeung

PJ Castillo and Kaye Abad with Cary Santiago

Drew Sarmiento with LV Manager Adrian Decuigan

Cary Santiago with Eva Gullas

Manila socialites Julie Boschi and Ching Cruz with June Alegrado

It was a night of elegance, luxury, and unforgettable memories as ladies in long gowns and gentlemen in black ties danced the night away.

 

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