A Family Christmas

9:42 AM gem 0 Comments

This is by far the most different Christmas I’ve ever had. Like what I said in my facebook status before, I would rather give money than give gifts this Christmas and I think I was able to do that. I was praying that my godchildren will realize the value of money and would spend, invest or save their aguinaldos wisely.

It’s the first time that I was not expecting any gifts for myself. Somehow, gifts didn’t really matter to me. What I treasure the most is my family’s happiness. This year, I was very glad that I get to spent Noche Buena, Christmas, and all the days after that with my family when years ago, Christmas would just pass by and then I would have to think of work again the next day. Isn’t that sick?

And this celebration became more meaningful everytime I saw Megan’s face lit up whenever she opened he gifts. She made us all very happy.

Although I wasn’t expecting gifts, I still got some. And they really know how to make me smile. I guess I am very easy to please. chocolates are the way to my heart! I remember when I was still working and stressed, I would go to 711 to buy any chocolate. After eating, I would be ready for another battle. This year though, I got more chocolates and ate them in one sitting. Hence, I know have sore throat! haha.

My Christmas was spent not just with my De Olazo family but also with Yan’s family. The feeling of seeing how our family got extended also showed me why its always preferred to celebrate the holidays with your loved ones.

Merry Christmas to all those I haven’t greeted yet because of my hectic Holiday schedule. We still have New Year!

What makes one beautiful?

9:31 AM gem 0 Comments

Each of us possesses characteristics or features that make us stand out from the crowd. It could be your eyes, your nose, your cheekbones, your smile, your hair or a combination of all of these. Since I am the first born, I grew up having tons of pictures at a very young age. I then realize what my best features are and have learned to accept that my other features were part of me being human, imperfect but still beautifully crafted by God.

Puberty was the time when I learned how to be creative. Stage plays brought out the makeup artists in me. And from that time, I have always loved making people more beautiful!

This December of course is not an exception. With all the Christmas parties from left to right, I enjoyed having a busy December with my Clients.

My most challenging task was doing the 1950s hairstyle. I haven’t really gone through formal Hairstyling school so I really had to study how to do it.

And one of my favorites was the NO OTHER WOMAN makeups I did for my friend Nenz and her colleague. It was really fun seeing both of them- I really felt like I did a makeup for Kara and Charmaine. =)

KARA’s Makeup

CHARMAINE’s Makeup

And here are pictures of us together.

And lastly, my sister attended her Christmas party and was in the mood of saving money going to a parlor. Thus, she made use of the available resource she has- her eldest sister’s talent! I did her makeup and helped her choose what to wear too. Oh how I love the end result of her look!

Special thanks to Say Artillero for the boxes of false eyelashes I bought from her from the Trinket Bazaar. And for my sister’s necklace, we got it from Tinderella love Brazillda.

It’s fulfilling to see happy clients. This has not only been just a hobby, it has developed to a passion to help other people realize how beautiful they are. A makeup can further show the brilliant personality one has. What makes one beautiful is not just the physical features but also their radiating personality!

Check my website at: www.makeupbygemtaopo.tk

Great Finds this Christmas & Ensogo Luminare Discount!

1:13 AM gem 0 Comments

Christmas is really the season where people can get great discounts. Don't waste your time and check out this Luminare discount my sister found in Ensogo! I already told myself no but when I checked it out, the offer is too good to resist!

I got myself a voucher.

Luminare is a US brand mineral makeup. And yes, by now, we should already know that we should avoid the use of heavy makeups on a daily basis most specially if the makeup you are using contains paraben and other harmful chemicals which the manufacturers say as "safe" because they are only in small amounts. So, the good thing about using mineral makeup is that it is organic. It does not contain preservatives or fragrance which makes it good for sensitive skin. And more to that, it gives you a natural look that is perfect for those who just want to enhance their beauty and not look like they are going to a party in daytime.

SO WHAT DO YOU GET FROM GETTING THE VOUCHER?

For only 999 Php, you will get  5 brushes and a set of 8 mineral make-up pieces with pouch. Imagine, all of these are valued at 3,500.

Check the Ensogo promo here and you can also visit Luminare Mineral Make-ups here.

HURRY! You only have 2 days to avail this offer.


The above is a video I found featuring the use of Luminare Mineral Make-ups by Ms. Miriam Quiambao.

And of course, my visit to the mall was exciting because I was able to get additional makeups that I will use for my makeup gigs this December.

Stippling Brush- DOLLFACE  500 Php

I have bought an entire set of makeup brushes before from Dollface and I really love them. I just really need to add this cute PINK stippling brush to my collection. Stippling brush is very good for applying liquid foundations.

NYX WHITE EYELINER- 245 Php

 Was just walking when I saw a shop (which I forgot the name) where they sell NYX cosmetics. I was looking for their jumbo pencils but they are not available. Thus, I got this white eyeliner.

Cream Eyeshadow- SHAWILL- 148 Php

I will be doing a Fairy makeup for one of my clients this week so I decided to get a suitable ES for the look. And perfect, I found this 12 color cream eyeshadow from Shawill. This brand is very affordable and so far, when I swatched the ES, they color looked good.

GLITTER EYELINER- 98 Php

And of course, I had to buy a glittery eyeliner for whatever PEG I had in mind. I am excited for my Thursday event and the next ones after that!

Its really a good feeling when you are able to do what you really love! I enjoy making people beautiful!

Again, you can check www.makeupbygemtaopo.tk

Ciao!

Trinket Town Bazaar!

10:26 AM gem 0 Comments

Super fast post. Yesterday was a "Bed" weather day. Nobody wanted to go out and would rather stay in bed to sleep. The bad thing there was, I was not one of them. I have already planned on going to the Trinket Town Bazaar at II Terazo Mall at Tomas Morato. What for? Would you believe it? Just for faux lashes! I have makeup gigs this December and imagine 10 sets of faux lashes just for 150Php... that would really be a HUGE saving! I know I will really regret it if I will not be able to go there to buy lashes from Say Artillero.

Finally, after some drama here and there to Boi, we finally drove to Tomas Morato and got there around 3pm. The Bazaar's space is not that big but it's full of beautiful and fashionable things to buy. However, I told myself I will not be overspending this Christmas. Thus, we went directly to for booth #25 and finally!!!!!



Yey!!!! I can definitely say now that I have saved a lot!!! Plus, I was able to see Say Tioco Artillero personally. Too bad we didn't bring my camera. You can view her Youtube channel here. I regret not going around though because Say was able to find NYX Cosmetics being sold. Awww... You can check her post about the bazaar here.

I also got an Ellana Loose Mineral Powder. Gosh I so love this one. I'll put a review on this later.



For now, I really have to go. 10:25 on my watch. Have to leave by 11am. Wish me luck!!!!!

December is B.U.S.Y.

9:58 AM gem 0 Comments

I will definitely have to write this entry fast because I only have 1 hour left before I start preparing myself for business meetings. Anyway, last November 30, Boi and I celebrated our 4th year Anniversary. Yey! We didn't really have the time to go out of town because of our busy schedule.


We went to Shangrila and had a sumptuous dinner at Circles. I have missed this place a lot!

My First Plate

Who would resist the chocolate fondue??

My Tita and Me

Waiting for the Buffet to open

What are the secrets to staying gorgeous at any age?

2:56 PM gem 0 Comments

Click Here

Always be stress free!

Warning: Some dirty pictures of mine

9:30 AM gem 0 Comments

(pictures may deceive you, read the entire story below)

Yesterday, my uncle visited us. He was with a lady whom he said will help us detoxify our body. He was so excited to have all of us detoxified. She was carrying with her a machine- ION CLEANSE machine. I have seen this before in a morning show where the host tried it. The lady said that the water will change color depending on the toxins that we have in our body. The color can change from brown, orange, green, black and a lot more.

Since I am in the health and wellness industry, I for one wants to find out what's the "REAL" reason why the water's color changes. Do we really release toxins in our body with the help of this machine?

I was second to try it out. I have colds, that I know. She got her basin, placed water in it. She heated the water with a heater. Then she asked me to soak my feet in the water. She placed the machine at the middle of my feet and got some "salt" which she said will fasten the release of the toxins. (really now...) After 30 minutes, this is what she said was the toxins that were removed from my body.

The Tooth Fairy and a Giveaway!

6:35 AM gem 0 Comments

One of the nicest feeling is having your teeth cleaned by a dentist. Isn’t it? For me, the feeling that I have a squeaky clean teeth makes me wanna smile at everyone. I am lazy when it comes to having my teeth checked by the dentist. I once wore braces but for some odd reason, it just made my teeth and bite’s case worse. The other day, I had to undergo a tooth extraction. This is the third that I had to let go. My teeth started to become weak 2 years ago. Had I known that our body stops producing Calcium after the age of 25, I should have done something to strengthen them. Oh well, I bid goodbye to my tooth and said hello to the toothfairy.

Speaking of toothfairy, so do you know why parents tell their kids to put their tooth under the pillow? Let me give you the folklore or the fairytale about it. From what I remember, in the Middle Ages, it was known that evil spirits can gain extreme power once they get to possess a child’s tooth. With this, once a child loses his tooth, the mother would keep the tooth to prevent the evil spirits from getting it. One day, a mother accidentally dropped the tooth of her child which the rat got and hid in between the walls of the house. The mother was so scared if the evil spirits get to possess the tooth. The news spread and it reached the Queen Fairy. She called for the mother and told her that the tooth will be safe with the rat because as long as it keeps the tooth, the evil spirits will not be able to go near it. However, rats leave their hiding places too. For that, the Queen Fairy has issued all Fairies to collect the children’s fallen off tooth. So that the evil spirits won’t find it, the children have to hide the tooth under their pillow so that all fairies would know where to find it. Hence, we have the Toothfairy!

For the bravehearts, there is a movie related to this story. If you want a good scare, you can watch Darkness Falls. It’s a 2003 movie which stars Chaney Kley as the boy who saw the evil spirit when he lost his tooth and was expecting the toothfairy. Everybody thought he lost his mind. After a few years, another boy experienced the same thing. They thought that the boy is just afraid of the dark but later, they realized he was telling the truth.

Enough of the scary part. At least we now have a better understanding of the fairytale. Anyway, the best part about having tooth extraction is the ice cream! And don’t forget that you have to take Mefanamic to combat the pain when the anesthesia wears off.

This will be the last tooth that I will have removed. (please Lord… I am kind) I thought drinking milk will be enough but I was wrong. Milks stored in Tetra packs contain UVA and UVB blockers.

These chemicals are needed so that the milk won’t get spoiled due to sunlight while it is being delivered from the country it came from to its destination. But these very same chemicals prevents the human body from Vitamin D which is needed for Calcium absorption. What is the use of drinking milk if your body won’t get the calcium anyway?! So now, if you regularly drink milk that you buy from the grocery, sad to say, you are just being fooled. Yes there is Calcium there but they will not be absorbed by your body. It will just become Calcium crystals that in the long run will be detrimental to your health.

So how do we get Calcium? I suggest you drink fresh cow milk- this for a fact is accessible for people in the province. After drinking milk, go outside and get your sunlight! (Morning please- 7am to 10am only) The Sun is the best source of Vitamin D which will help your body absorb the calcium. If we are not lucky to have access to fresh milk, find a good supplement for your bones. Make sure to research on its contents. It doesn’t mean that if a beautiful actress says its good for your bones, it really is. We need the best quality since, as I said, the body stops producing calcium after the age of 25. Some of us might not feel the need, but we all know that the signs will show when its rather too late for any prevention.

I am giving away a 30 day Calcium supplement for my readers.

All you need to do is

#1. Subscribe to this blog

#2. Click the Facebook icon below this blog entry and share this on your wall.

#3. Click the Twitter icon below and tweet this.

#4. Send me an email at gemtaopo@gmail.com on why you or your loved one deserve a 30 day Calcium give away before November 25, 2011.

This is a US Brand supplement called Active Calcium. It’s important for your body’s structure and the integrity of your bones to absorb the right levels of calcium and magnesium, and vitamin D helps this process. The benefits of having strong bones include preventing bone fracture and even avoiding osteoporosis later in life. Active Calcium is a balanced and complete formula of these important ingredients. And what makes Active Calcium “active” is the fact that the ingredients are bioavailable. For a calcium supplement to be effective, it must be absorbable, and this Active Calcium’s formula is the outstanding choice among competitors.

Isn’t this a healthy give away! You wouldn’t have to worry about bone problems and this will definitely help keep teeth strong paired with regular dental checkup. Click AWAY!

Red Wine for Your Skin

4:25 PM gem 0 Comments

Looking young is not just a dream these days. A lot of skin care clinics offer treatments and even surgery to bring back one's younger looking image. However, I would rather stay away from needles and cosmetic surgery just because there are natural ways to keep ourselves looking young. But mind you, it is easier to preserve the beauty that God has given to you than to try to get back years of youthfulness that you've already lost.

I am not a fan of lotions because I hate the greasy feeling and I disgust it when it mixes with sweat in a hot day. I don't want to lock myself in an air conditioned building all the time. So now, I am going to share a very effective way to keep your skin soft and smooth.



You've probably heard about Teri Hatcher bathing in red wine. This was also written in The Book of Hollywood Secrets. This bath is very good for all skin types. Red wine has polyphenols which are great antioxidants and antiaging. All you need to do is to pour a glass of red wine in running water and soak your body for 20 minutes!




If you don't have a bath tub to soak yourself into, then you can try LUSH Gloff Shower Gel which is a limited-edition wintery shower gel inspired by a festive Swedish mulled wine. The formula is infused with warming organic red wine, brandy and spice oils to get circulation flowing down to your toes and heat up those cold, sore muscles.

For some, the red wine bath might not be economically feasible. People nowadays are wise. They want to get more value for their money. If you want to maintain a youthful skin and a healthier body, check out Proflavanol. It is your "red wine tablet". It has a generous amount of grape seed extract in each tablet offering superior antioxidant protection. It is 20x more potent than your regular Vitamin C and 50x more potent from regular Vitamin Es. This is why it helps in keeping the skin youthful most specially if you are prone to pimples or acne. Do your research. I don't think there's a product that's offers better benefits for the skin (other than Proflavanol C100- a higher version)

Our Bar at Home

We need a better way of living. What you eat is what you are. Diseases and skin degeneration do not show at a young age but your body will show the signs after 10 years. Why waste your money for surgery when you can preserve your youth not tomorrow... but TODAY. Go and take your red wine bath or take Proflavanol for a healthy glowing skin. You'll be glad to never hear the word "You look STRESSED today!"

TIME, Website and Makeup Tutorial!

9:44 PM gem 0 Comments

It depends on how you look at and value time, really. Some think they can't get enough and some think they have a lot. But in reality, if you find out you only have a few hours, worse, a few minutes left, wouldn't you spend it by doing the most important thing that matters to you?

You got it right, I've already seen the movie. However, this is not a review about it. It would be best if you watch Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried's movie "In Time".

And since we are speaking of time, I HAVE to find the time to post about the things that I have already started. First is my official website! Yey! Apart from the business that I am in, I have loved makeups ever since time in memorial. It has now become my part time job!

Presenting… Makeup By Gem Taopo

And a few of my friends have been asking if I could start a makeup tutorial online. Truth is, I have never really done anything like that before. There is a big difference when you do personal makeup and makeup on screen. Yet, I always want to learn from experience so, after a long time of editing, cutting to make sure everything fits in less than 10 minutes, I finally finished my first makeup video.


This makeup is best done with cream eyeshadows. In this tutorial however, I used the Sleek pallette that I just bought from last weekend’s Supersale Bazaar at the World Trade Center.

Youtube username is: fordiamond

This is the pallette that I used in this video.

It was really fun doing this. As I said, I just hope the cyber bullies don’t find me! Trust me, the makeup looks better in face to face.





My eye color is brown and that’s not a contact lens. I hope the video helps!

Always remember that we should make every second of our lives worth it. Do not be contented in doing the same thing over and over. Live life by doing the things you love and by helping others.

Ciao!