NARS Workshop with SADA

Excitement to learn more.

I think that statement what really drives me to attend any makeup workshop. I got hooked at it. Di ako nagsasawa. ^_^ That's why I'm always on the look out for the next workshops. After work, I went straight to Rustan's, Shangri-La Plaza just to get to know NARS (I mean the cosmetic brand) and SADA, NARS' International Makeup Arist (MUA) to demo a makeup look.

So here goes...

Before the demo

SADA prepared the makeup and tools which he was going to use for the demo. See the background? Ooh-la-la, right?? Stunning, fierce look!!! Anyways, going back...

Makeup demo begins

SADA is a Japanese Professional MUA. He's been with NARS for several years already. He demonstrated a classy and elegant night look using the latest NARS collection.

Okay, so here are some of the tips I got from this workshop...

SOME TIPS FROM AN INTERNATIONAL MAKEUP ARTIST

1. Never skip that moisturizer.

This is no secret. Always start your makeup ritual (whut?!) with a clean face (cleanse & toned) and apply your moisturizer. This step will definitely keep your face hydrated and looking fresh throughout the day. A key to glowing and healthy looking face!

2. Eye Cream.

NARSskin Total Replenishing Eye Cream

Ahhh... Good thing I was again reminded to NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE UNDER EYE SKIN! My goodness! Of course, you guys are aware that your under eye skin have the thinnest skin layer in your face therefore the most sensitive part! So I heed the experts --- it needs proper (special) attention. So, put a tiny amount of eye cream underneath your eyes and DAB GENTLY TO BLEND. DAB, DAB, DAB!!! 

SADA's most recommended among NARSskin line is the Total Replenishing Eye Cream. According to him, this is an amazing product that he uses himself! For almost a year of using this product, his friends noticed his eyes got brighter and bigger. (@_@)--like that.. Kidding!

3. Prime-time!

On top of your moisture regimen, apply Face Primer all over your face, even on your neck. This will keep your makeup last all day, able to withstand the humid weather in the Philippines. Massage all over your face to blend evenly. You can put a bit under your eyes and on your eyelids.

I like the idea that throughout the day, the skin absorbs the moisturizer rather than the foundation. So, PRIME! I say you invest on a good primer!

4. Apply Foundation and Concealer.

Foundation on your face and neck then Concealer under the eyes (dab, dab, dab to blend!)

5. Set the canvass with a lightweight, translucent powder.

Just to remove the excess shine esp. on your T-Zone. :)

6. Classic, glamour look: Smoky eyes, defined brows, flushed cheeks, bold deep red lips.

Have the proper tools and products to achieve your desired look. 

Creating smoky eyes does have to be that "perfect" so don't worry. 

Line the eyes. Smudge. Dust off some shadow. Blend. Highlight. Curl eyelashes. Apply mascara on top and under your lashes (in a zigzag motion).

 ... And see the final look! Notice her nice bold eyes and dark red lips. :)

At the end of the workshop, SADA made a rundown of the products he used on the model.

Then I visited NARS' shop afterwards to check out their stuff and to ask for the $$. That time, they offered 10% off in all of their product range. 

Pretty nice, huh? I covet them. (LOL)

Still, I couldn't afford 'em! Argh! But what I really look forward in this workshop is a FREEBIE! :) Yay! It was worth it! 

That's all folks! See you soon! Ciao!

Life's Second Most Important Decision by Greg Laurie

Marriage as Covenant

I first met my wife Cathe at a Bible study I was teaching. She was there with her two sisters. They went everywhere together, and I realized that getting to know her would mean including her sisters too. So, one night after Bible study, I suggested that the four of us go out for coffee. (I had just bought a car with a stick shift, and somehow, I thought Cathe would be impressed with that.) So, we all got into my car. As we were driving along, a huge truck started coming toward us in the middle of an intersection. Suddenly, I couldn't remember how to shift gears. I started screaming and pounding on the wheel. I made quite a first impression.

But Cathe got to know me, and I got to know her. In fact, we spent three years getting to know each other before we decided to get married. When we pledged our love to each other on our wedding day, we knew it was a lifetime commitment.

If you're single and you're a follower of Jesus Christ, then I can assure you, God is vitally interested in your choice of a marriage partner. He wants to reveal the person He has chosen for you, but it's important to go slowly and carefully into that decision. Next to committing your life to Jesus Christ, it's the most important decision you'll ever make.

God's first desire for everyone, married or single, is a total commitment to Jesus Christ. As followers of Christ, we must be willing to accept God's will, even if it's contrary to ours (Matthew 16:24). However, we need to realize an important truth about God's will: His will is good because He is good (Psalm 34:8). Some people are afraid of God's will. They fear that once they submit to God's plans, He will force them to do something miserable. That's a warped concept of God. He loves you. You are not a victim of chance, hoping you'll be lucky enough to find a good mate. God has a plan and a purpose for you, and His plans are better than any you could imagine for yourself.

Just as important as God's will is God's timing. Until God reveals His choice for you, He wants you to find contentment in your unmarried state. Single people often envy those who are married, and married people often envy those who are single. But the Bible tells us, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you' " (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV).

Many, in their desire to be married, have become desperate in their search for the right person. But the singles' scene, from nightclubs to mindless TV programs that only emphasize sex, offers nothing but emptiness. Not only is it shallow, it's also spiritually harmful. Don't let this world tell you what to look for (Colossians 2:8).

I know it's hard sometimes. It gets lonely. You might be thinking, "I'm tired of waiting. I'm just going to go out and find someone and hope I make the right decision." Please throw on the brakes. Slow down. Don't make that mistake. Rushing into marriage without the proper timing is like building a house without the proper foundation.

Some people are called to be single their entire lives. This is rare, but it happens, and its a special calling from the Lord. However, this isn't God's calling for everyone. Just as surely as God has created you with a void in your life for Him, He also has created you with a void in your life for a companion, someone with whom to share your life (Genesis 2:18).

If you're single and want to be married, then I believe that God has handpicked someone just for you. It might be someone you've never met. You might meet that person next week, next month, or next year. You might meet that person today. Or, perhaps it's someone you've known for years. Whoever it may be, God will reveal that person in His timing.

Until then, it's so important to follow God's way and wait on His timing. Be faithful to Him and live the way He wants you to live. Seek to live a life that pleases Him (Matthew 6:33). He will bring that person into your life. Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

_________

*repost from http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/a-new-beginning/read/articles/lifes-second-most-important-decision-8441.html. Credits to the author Mr. Greg Laurie

"If Men Are Like Buses, How Do I Catch One?" by Michelle McKinney Hammond

If men were like buses, how do you catch one? A more important question is - how do you catch the RIGHT one?

Simple: You take only the bus that's headed the RIGHT direction. First we must allow our Heavenly Father to do the picking. And second, the decision for a mate must be made on a spiritual and intellectual basis before it's made on an emotional one. What about love?, you ask. I’ll tell you why. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jer. 17:9). The heart is willful and is driven by its own agenda It does not consider things rationally and intelligently – it just loves to love! Therefore, you have to point it in the right directions: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

Whenever you meet a man, you need to get clearance from God, check out his attributes, and then allow your heart to engage. Dating exists not for mating; it exists for collecting data. I believe that the biblical design would be friendship, courtship and then marriage. Friendship is two people walking together in agreement and accountability, learning and growing together. Courtship follows the mutual agreement to commit to one another exclusively - it is the decisive turning toward the agreed-upon goal of the marriage altar. It is a period of laying a foundation and preparing your life together after marriage. But dating? Well, if you do date, use the time wisely to gather facts. So when you do gather facts, let us compare the process to clothes shopping.

1. Check out the fabric. Is the person mate material? Does this man have an intimate relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ? Does he care what God thinks about his behavior? Is he accountable to God as well as another co-laborer in the faith? Accountability is an important factor. It is imperative to maintaining a committed relationship. Is your potential spouse a member of the same family -the family of God? Scripture is clear on this: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" (2 Cor 6:14). You need to have common interest and values and agree on the essentials of living day to day. You have a similar spiritual walk. You eat the same diet. You enjoy a lot of similar things. You have like interests, like goals in life, like opinions on basic life issues. You have had like experiences in your background. Though there is some truth to the idiom that opposites attract, like-minded folks far better together. Furthermore, does he want to get married? If you want to be married and your dreamboat isn't interested, don't waste your time. Remember, women fall in love and get married. Men decide to get married and then look for a wife. Note the difference in order. So if a guy says he's not looking for anything serious, take his words seriously. If he's not going your direction, get off the bus & wait for the right one.


2. Does this man want you? Is he pursuing you? The man who is right for you will pursue you and God's hand in the relationship will be clear. No guessing, no fleeces, no dead ends. Scripture says: "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord" (Prov 18:22). Note - who finds whom? THE MAN FINDS THE WIFE. From the beginning of time, God has transported men & women across the world in order to put them together. At the RIGHT TIME, He will bring that man on the scene and he will find you. In God's perfect design, the man is the one who recognizes his mate. Adam has no problem recognizing that Eve was his missing rib. You do not need to strategically place yourself anywhere. You don't have to help a guy because he's shy. Men will do whatever they have to do to get what they truly want. The man in your life should recognize you as the pearl of great price in his life and be willing to do whatever he must in order to gain your hand. If he is passive about gaining your affections, take it as a sign that he is not interested. Many a woman's mother has suggested that it is a good idea to marry a man who loves you more than you love him. As cold as that sounds, it actually might be scriptural if you stop to think about it: "We love him because he first loved us" (1 Jn 4:19). Until then, take the ultimate chill pill. You don't need a bunch of men in your life to make you feel all right about yourself. You need only one man - your man, the one God has selected to select you. And trust me, the right man at the wrong time can be just as awful as the wrong man at any time. So trust God's timing in this. He is the ultimate matchmaker. Relax, sit pretty and allow yourself to be found. Again - WAIT until the man voices his intentions. He should take the lead in establishing the relationship. You may have an inkling that he is the one, but God will use the man to set the tone of the relationship. Allow him the opportunity to woo you - this is your first act of submission. Jesus set the standard for all men to follow. They should love us first. And they should lead the relationship.. DO NOT SEDUCE A MAN AND DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE HIM PURSUE YOU!!!!


3. The man in your life should not desire to move into your house, only into your heart. A man who prepares for your future has made his intentions clear. A man who is husband material has the means to take care of a wife. He is a responsible human being who understands he needs to have something to offer. In short, a man should have the means to be suitable for you.


4. Check out his buddies. Everyone knows birds of the same feather flock together, yet most women fail to see the connection between a man and his friends. A man's pals tell you a lot about the person that you haven't seen yet. They reveal things about the guy's character that might be hidden when he is on good behavior. Everyone knows how to put his best foot forward. Don't stay focused on the foot, check out the rest of the body!


5. Check out his relationship with his mother. How does he treat her? This is your preview of how he will treat you. There are lots of men who, because of a negative relationship with their mothers, really don't like women, yet say they do. Unresolved issues between mother and son continue between husband and wife.


6. Remember that a man's family reveals the cloth from which he's cut. Take note and decide whether you want your future with the man in your life to look like his present family situation.


7. Check out the patterns of his life. Do you see repeated cycles of drama in his personal kingdom? Broken relationships? Problems in making commitments? Including the job market? Mood swings? Is a problem always someone else's fault? Does he embrace responsibility or shirk it? Does he keep his promises? Is he a man of good reputation? Remember all garments look wonderful hanging in the store, but with wear, some begin to wrinkle. Give yourself time and space to check out the man in your life. Time will always reveal whether or not he is made of the right stuff. TEST... TEST... CHECK HIM OUT...


8. Does this man have a vision for his life? Is he running with that vision? Remember, God decided Adam needed help once Adam got busy DOING his assignment. As we saw Adam, a man doesn't need help until he is busy doing what he was created and called to do. Is your guy guided by a sense of destiny and purpose, or does he just allow life to happen around him? A man who is not certain of his mission can be a most miserable person - and you'll be miserable too if you know where YOU want to go in life. A man who has vision, is not intimidated by a woman whose mission statement is clear. He will be your best ally, cheerleader and assistant because he wants you both to make it! A man who cannot be a supportive of your achievements because he is floundering in a sea of uncertainty over his own life is not a healthy partner to have and to hold forever. Creating dependencies or feelings of obligation is not the way to get the best out of your man. Somewhere along the way, he will resent you and flee from the smothering burden of obligation he associates you with. You want a man who is firmly anchored in his identity in Christ. Remember, we are looking for a man who will be priest and leader of his home. His first instinct should be to want to cover you, redeem you, and provide for you. Your job is to decide if this is the man God has ordained for you to complement.


9. Complementarities. Do your talents and gifts complement his? Do his gifts complement yours? What about your temperaments? Do you see the two of you as an effective team capable of bringing blessing to the lives of those around you? Do your futures mesh? Can you coordinate your gifts in an attractive and effective way? This is why knowing your purpose is so important. Make sure your hearts beat for mutual causes. When I go shopping always consider the fabric, the fit and what I already have in my closet. Will my next purchase be a complementary addition to what I already have? If I find that I am going to have to buy shoes and matching accessories to go with a new outfit, I leave it right on the rack. It is too expensive a proposition. If the man you meet makes you feel that you need to completely reinvent yourself, something is wrong. This is where I ask you to consider the relationship in terms of cost. Is this relationship expensive spiritually, emotional or physically? Does your longing for a mate make you willing to forfeit who you are in the process? Or does he see you as the gift that you are? The man in your life should consider you a rare find, a priceless jewel - because of you he is getting ready to get blessed big-time! Any relationship that causes you to feel unworthy, unlovely, unacceptable, undesirable or that causes you to work for love is too expensive! God has called the man to cover, protect and provide not only materially for a woman but emotionally and spiritually as well. You should be richer in mind, body and spirit for your union with the man of your dreams. The man in your life should make rich deposits into your heart and spirit, not withdrawals.


10. Does he have a healthy love & acceptance of himself? Make sure the man in your life has taken time to heal from past relationships and has made peace with himself. How he cares for himself is how he will care for you. A man's relationship with God is crucial here. His love for himself will only be as strong as his love for God. This is not something that you can impart. You cannot be his savior or teacher. That is out of spiritual order. In his rightful place as your personal priest, he should be leading you to a richer relationship with Christ. If he is causing you to compromise your faith and destabilize your walk, if he is leading you into sexual sin or causing you to be distracted from your commitment to Christ, the relationship is too expensive. Offending the Lover of your soul, who promises you eternal love, is too high a fare to pay for a ride that has a limited run. If you and your man can't soar in the Spirit, when the force of your love for another is tested by the pull or gravity of the world, your union will not be able to survive. So you decide. How much is your life worth? How much is your love worth? You will be able to accept only what you believe you deserve. God himself calculated the worth of your love and decided it was worth His life. He now pledges you His love for eternity. Yes, Jesus sets the example for all others to follow when He paid a ransom for His bride. Should you expect less from a mortal man? Throughout the biblical age, men were willing to pay the cost for the hand that they desired. The truth of the matter is, everyone knows that anything worth having, costs. And no one gets a ride in this life for free.

______

*Re-posted from http://chysa.livejournal.com/19483.html. Credits to Michelle McKinney Hammond