Summers With Guess x Spectrum

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The summer just got a little hotter with Guess’ brand new Summer collection which was recently released here in Cebu. With the season usually associated with bright colors and anything + everything island-y, Guess’ color summer line which consists of different pastel hues and a little bit of blacks and denims for that edgy vibe, is as always spot on.

Aside from the awesome collection, their Summer Kickoff party surely did not disappoint. Accompanied by live music from Spectrum, summery drinks and even better company; my Friday night was filled with everything that makes summer my favorite season ever!

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There’s definitely something for everyone at Guess whether you’re looking for something to beat the heat in or if you’re looking for something fun and flirty on a night out or even just something to chill in. Make sure to check out Guess at the ground floor of the Ayala Center Cebu.

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with lifeonaflavoredrunway, Jean Yu. :*

xx,

Issa

Like Mike

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Happy Productive Monday, everyone! I’ve only been through half the day but I feel like I’ve done a weeks worth of work already!

When dealing with manic Mondays like this, I like to make sure that I’m comfortable while running around the city making deliveries and having meetings in between. Since I acquired these hand me down shoes from my not-so-baby brother, life got so much easier. And fashionable!

One sure way to make any article of clothing stand out is by sticking to a monotone outfit, allowing your highlighted piece to stick out. I’m not even going to state the obvious anymore…

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“Mondays, you suck!” (jk. I actually like Mondays)

Top: Forever21| Shoes: Nike

Dedicating this post to my Papa and brother who are both in the States probably playing basketball and are plotting to catch a GSW game without me and of course, to my Meow for always interrupting my shoots. Now, you are finally in one. ❤

Photography: Jing Pascual

xx,

Issa

Natori Is Now In Cebu

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Luxury department store, Rustan’s, recently reopened its doors to welcome loyal customers here in Cebu to a bigger new space located at Ayala Center. After decades of bringing only the finest brands from all over the world to the Filipino market, Rustan’s continues to astound and impress the country’s most discerning shoppers with a fresh lineup of the best collections under one roof.

This season, Rustan’s is proud to present yet another aspirational brand to grace the shores of Cebu, N Natori. Guided by Josie Natori’s legendary East/West aesthetic, N Natori infuses sophistication into feminine, utterly wearable fashion that celebrates all sizes, and that are accessible and relevant to modern women everywhere.

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The softer, more relaxing side of island life is expressed in the N Natori SS15 collection. Muted colors, sheer cottons, and new silhouettes create an uplifted spirit for N Natori. Signature caftans and staple separates in classic Natori fabrics reflect the islands’ mellow nature and create a look of simple sophistication. The collection’s ease and comfort transform any day into an island vacation.

Witness the exquisite collection of N Natori and give your time for lounging and relaxing a gorgeous new wardrobe.

N Natori is exclusively available at Rustan’s Cebu and Gateway. Josie, Josie Natori and Natori are available at Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-la.

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 xx,

Issa

I’ve Got All This Going On

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Fashion and fashion blogging changes you. I never thought I’d be the type of girl to don a full printed one piece with pastel colors and zebra stripes but now that I finally have, I keep asking myself why I never did it to begin with!

I know by now you all probably know my undying love for rompers like this and  Let’s Stylize really up-ed their game with their bright prints and body pleasing patterns.

I’m always going to be beach, mountain or city ready in this piece.

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Shades: Forever21| Romper: Let’s Stylize

 

xx,

Issa

Holiest of Holies

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I know most of you won’t even have the time to read this blog entry since you’re most likely lounging on the beach and getting an awesome tan but since I am doing neither of those things, I’ve decided to grace you all with yet another set of photos that I shot with Jing Pascual. 🙂

These are the last set of photos from this shoot that I will be sharing with you guys but I look forward to the next shoot that we are currently planning. My creative/ bored side has recently re-emerged and I’ve got a lot more artsy concepts that I will soon be showing you all on the blog so watch out for that but in the mean time, help yourselves to these wonderful photos.

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I hope you all have an amazing Holy Week, one spent with family/ friends while keeping the true essence of the season in mind. As for me, I’m going to spend the long weekend planning shoots, working and spending it with my family. I really wouldn’t have it any other way ❤

xx,

Issa

It’s Never Too Hot For Leather

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 Fine, I lied… it’s always too hot for leather! But you gotta admit Cebu weather aside, if you don’t already own one, it is your life’s goal to actually own a leather jacket. Luckily for me, I was able to score one that isn’t too impossible to wear in this hot, hot city.

Here’s another set of photos I did with photographer Jade Caballo at the Temple of Leah. The trick with shooting at spots that may tend to get a little overrated is to try to find different angles or backdrops that others may not have thought of before. A wall, windows, even a pile of scrap metal is interesting if you just use your imagination!

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 Crop top: Forever 21| Jacket: @cebuthriftedpicks| Pants: Sister’s pants| Shoes: Addidas

xx,

Issa

Coke & Kimonos

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2015-03-23 03.52.42 3 There are so many things I love about Summer like how the sun is always out, glaring cats in the background of my photos and that I get to wear pretty pieces of clothing like this full length kimono from Let’s Stylize. But almost always, it’s definitely got to be the summery trends that always give a new meaning to my very existence.

I feel like the world is working hand in hand to make all my boho dreams a reality. Kimonos, fringe (or are they tassels?), hats of all styles and braided sandals are all the trend and even if it’s going to cause a massive whole on my wallet I still couldn’t be happier!

What trends are you looking forward to this sunny season? Let me know in the comments! ❤

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 P.S. Decided to carry around a bottle of Coke to this shoot because it was impossible to stand under the heat of the sun without any refreshments. If you’re wondering where my straw hat went, I offered it to my yaya who was taking my outfit shots. She’s currently 5 months pregnant and I didn’t want to stress her out by making her stand under the heat of the sun with me. But it was perfect timing since Coke is always my go to drink during hot days and yummy meals! [P.S.S. This is not a Coke sponsored post!]

[Full length kimono: Let’s StylizeRomper: Department store find| Sandals: Francesca Collection

xx,

Issa

 

How I Do My Make Up feat. Dara Beauty Market

 

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Make up and fashion are two things that always go hand in hand and never without the other. As much as I love a bare face, I have to admit that applying make up is something I do religiously before doing a shoot to put my whole look together.

Recently I was able to do an eyeliner tutorial, but for this post I’m going to go into full detail on how I do my whole face for photo shoots using Korean beauty products purchased from Caffe Dara Beauty Market.

Step 1:

Start with a bare face.

no make upTo properly remove my make up, I used Nature Republic’s Forest Garden Tea Tree Cleansing Oil [P 250.00]. Used as a face wash, this product removes any trace of make up or dirt on the face, saving me so much time and energy in removing my make up. I hate it when I have to use face wash and then tons of make up remover to remove everything. This product does all of that in one go!

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 Step 2:

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Apply a base.

Innisfree’s Olive Real Essential Rich Oil [upon inquiry] is a base that has an overall effect on your make up by making your skin glow a lot brighter. Some make up tends to dry out your skin but this product helps lessen that problem. If you have naturally oily skin then you might want to skin this step.

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Step 3:

Conceal!

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There’s no denying it, I need all the concealer I can get with my dark eye bags and uneven skin tone (from years of tennis/ swimming and any sport I could get into). But at the same time, I also need something light enough to enable my skin to breathe while still doing its job. With Face Shop’s Dual Veil Radiance Concealer (P 460.00), the inconsistencies in my skin are cleared out giving the illusion (yes, illusion) of even and smooth skin.

I top it off with Tony Moly’s BCDation with SPF30 PA ++ (P850.00) and any loose powder to lock everything in place and to avoid looking blotchy. Others prefer to use foundation before concealer but I’ve always done my make up like this and I’ve always been satisfied with the end results.

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STEP 4:

CONTOUR & BLUSH

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I found a really convenient way to do my contouring and blush on at the same time! By using the Holika Holika Love Fantasy blusher (P300++), I can contour my face and add blush on without having to take out so much make up since it comes in one tiny and not to mention cute container.

When it comes to contouring, there are different ways to do it depending on your face and preference. I usually like to work around my cheek bones, below it, my hairline and my jawline. This is to make my face look skinnier and to give it more details especially during shoots.

 STEP 5:

BROWS

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This set is a lot harder and took a lot of time and practice to get right. I won’t say perfect since I still need a lot of practicing to do but decent enough to frame my face.

For my brows I use Holika Holika’s Wonder Drawing Eyebrow pencil (P150.00), Mamonde’s Natural Cake + Eyebrow kit (P480.00) and TwistUp (P650.00). If you want to see how I do my eyebrows then let me know, I’d gladly do a make up video for you guys! ^_^

STEP 6:

EYE & LIPS

For my eyes, I’m currently obsessing over Tony Moly’s Backstage Gel Liner (P400.00) and Tony Moly’s Delight Circle Lens Mascara (P150.00). I recently did a tutorial on how I do my eyeliner with Faceshop’s All About Simple Liquid Liner (P150.00) but I still use the same technique with my gel liner so I’ll just go ahead and post the link here for your convenience. 🙂
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIEQyMAS-Pg
As for my lips, I use Berrisom’s Oops My Lip Tint (P650.00) that comes in various colors. What I love about this lipstick is it works as a lip stain, so I don’t need to worry about constantly reapplying my lipstick. Honestly, I’m not a big lipstick fan so the faster I can get away with it, the better.
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And there you have it! A fully made up face, ready for a night out/ party or in this case, an outfit shoot.
For those who are on a tight budget, don’t worry, you don’t need to spend so much in one go to complete your set. I built mine over the span of a few months and I’m really happy that I chose to invest in quality make up. I used to use a lot of cheap stuff on my face which led to a lot of problems in the long run but these Korean brands are perfect for our Filipino skin and most of them are Paraben-free or mineralized which is great for those who have sensitive skin. 

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 Here are more photos:

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Dara Beauty Market (@darabeautymarket on Instagram and Caffe Dara on Facebook) sells authentic Korean cosmetics at cheaper prices. Make sure to follow them on their social media accounts to find out what products they have for grabs or you can drop by their store at Caffe Dara located at One Kenji Place, first street La Guardia, Salinas Drive, Lahug.
See you guys there!
xx,
Issa ❤

 

Canvas Bistro Introduces Their New Snack Menu

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The Canvas Bistro has just launched its brand new snack menu created by the resident chefs for the local Cebuano population. Canvas, which is popularly known for their Australian/ fusion cuisine has added brand new, delicious and filling items that are sure to keep your stomach’s full and hearts happy after a long shopping filled afternoon.

With lots of items to choose from such as pastas to pizza breads, sandwiches and more, you’re bound to come back for that distinct taste of flavor and technique that can only be found at Canvas.

Here’s their new snack menu:

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A few weeks ago, I, along other Cebuano bloggers, were given the opportunity to sample Canvas’ new snack menu. But don’t let the name fool you, their daytime are heavy enough to fill your stomach’s throughout the evening but in case your appetite is bigger than mine, there’s absolutely no harm in staying over for dinner as well. All their meals are worth staying for!

Here are a few of my favorites:

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Fried Fish Aioli Sandwich @ P150.00

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Spanish Sardine in Olive Oil Pasta @ P 175.00

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Sardines, Onion and Cheese Pizza Bread @ P 125.00

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Cheesy Tuna & Apple Sandwich @ P 160.00

Check out Canvas Bistro during your next mall trip! They are located at the 2nd floor of the Ayala Terraces and are open during mall hours.

Or you may contact them at 417 1978 for deliveries.

Also, make sure to check out their art installations where they feature different local artists at a time. Here we are creating our own masterpieces!

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‘Til next time,

Issa ❤

Flawed But Still Flawless

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Photos by Jean

Quick post of what I wore to the Flawless event I attended last week. I’m actually wearing my sisters’ prom dress because I’m trying to abstain from shopping for a year. I made it to a month now so I think I’m going to award myself by buying a nice pretty top that I’ve been eyeing for a while now. hahaha!

Lace is always a safe and elegant design when it comes to white themed parties but of course, the possibilities are simply endless.

Will blog again soon when my brain isn’t dead.

xx,

Issa