Fashion

The five best beauty tips we learned from a Bobbi Brown makeup artist

The recent opening of the Bobbi Brown store at SM Seaside City brought along the brand’s chief training artist Tamara Pineda, and we spend an afternoon picking her brain (and her beauty kit) on how we can look like the best versions of ourselves everyday.

We can admit it–we’re always looking for an excuse to indulge in a day devoted to beauty. We got to do just that when Bobbi Brown opened their stand-alone store at SM Seaside City (their first outside Metro Manila!) and brought along chief training artist Tamara Pineda (or Tammy, as she adds with a smile).

As a brand, Bobbi Brown know that women are most beautiful when they look and feel like themselves. The personality behind the brand believes in creating products that help women look and feel like the best version of themselves. The philosophy is something that’s taken to heart, and it’s even written in script on their handy makeup pouches: Be who you are.

Charming, cheerful and someone who definitely knows what she’s doing, Tammy happily answered our beauty questions while taking us through the brand’s skincare and makeup lines. Through all of it though, we picked up some basic everyday tips.

Skin is always in.

Tammy couldn’t stress this enough–the most important thing in your makeup routine is skincare. Clean, tone and moisturize may sound simple enough, but they do wonders for your face in the long run.

And when you’re feeling a little worse for wear, Bobbi Brown recently released Remedies. The specially formulated line specifically addresses different skin issues–the Skin Reviver to brighten up tired skin; the Skin Relief to battle redness and irritation; the Skin Clarifier to unclog and clarify pores; the Skin Moisture Solution that pulls moisture into the skin; the Skin Fortifier to rebuild and strengthen skin’s structure; and the Skin Salve for chapped, cracked skin. Just a two drops on a freshly clean face will do wonders, and make the rest of your skincare routine a lot more effective (and your daily makeup a lot faster).

Find your best match.

Speaking of cutting down your makeup time, Tammy emphasizes the importance of finding the right shade of foundation. “The problem with a lot of Filipinos is that they pick a lighter shade, and have to blend it in all the way to the neck,” she shares. “Why not just find the right shade and save all that time, right?”

She also says that when shopping for foundation, you shouldn’t be afraid to put it on your face. “I’ve seen so many people looking for foundation, but they’ll swatch on their arm. That’s not the same color,” she continues. She suggests taking two or three shades and creating swatches on your cheeks to see which color really disappears into the skin. “Also, you can do some swatches on your forehead. That’s usually a little darker than the rest of your face because it gets the most light.”

Tamara Pineda (photo from Instagram)

Go into the highlight zone.

One of our Bobbi Brown favorites is the Shimmer Brick, a palette of powders that you can use to add some glow to your look. The Shimmer Brick comes in bronze and pink palettes, and individual colors can be used to do eye makeup as well. Trust us, we know the impact that comes with a simple highlight.

For this, Tammy says to sweep the product into the parts of the face that gets hit by the light–the apples of the cheeks, the nose, your Cupid’s bow and the forehead.

Don’t be afraid of easy.

Even though she’s a makeup artist, Tammy admits her everyday look is pretty basic. She takes a deep breath and enumerates the steps a simple daily look should entail–skincare, concealer, eyebrows, mascara, blush and a little highlight, lipstick. Doesn’t sound all that hard to us.

In fact, don’t be afraid. Period.

Makeup is supposed to be fun. Experiment with colors and looks, and keep experimenting until you find the best look that works for you. “At the end of the day, you can just wipe it off,” Tammy adds.

If you really don’t know where to start, though, you can visit any of the Bobbi Brown counters and stores. Their artists are happy to answer any questions or to do quick tutorials–and that comes with absolutely no pressure.

Bobbi Brown is at Rustan’s Department Store in Ayala Center Cebu and SM Seaside City Cebu.

Related Topics:Beauty Tips Bobbi Brown Bobbi Brown PH SM Seaside City Tamara Pineda

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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.

: A lattice dress with an aureole, beautifully bedecked with Birds of Prey, opens the show.

: A winged bustier frames the face with bold curlicues.

: A fringe dress with a farthingale rustles mysteriously in the nocturnal stillness.

: A bell-shaped T’nalak dress, woven with vivid dreams, sways with mystery.

: A T’nalak ballgown, shrouded in black mesh, catches the moonlight like a whispered secret.

: An entrance-making tulle and T’nalak off-shoulder ensemble commands attention.

: A crystal-studded bodysuit paired with a vinyl trench coat burns with fierce intensity.

: A red lacewing butterfly emerges, shedding the remnants of a tattered cocoon.

: A fiery ensemble, cloaked in phantom glamour, leaves an unforgettable impression long after the wearer’s exit.

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.

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.

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.