The Laneige Face

I have been reading good reviews on Laneige, the Korean skincare and make-up brand that is being endorsed by Korean top actress, Song Hye Kyo.

Song Hye Kyo, the face of Laneige

Song is so flawless in the blockbuster, That Winter The Wind Blows, where she played a blind heiress who fell in love with a con artist (played by the sooo handsome Jo In Sung) who impersonated her dead older brother.  Her feeble condition in the soap did not prevent Song's beauty from shining.  She used Laneige make-up in the entire filming of TWTWB.

Jo In Sung and Song Hye Kyo in That Winter The Wind Blows

The Laneige make-up line used by Song in That Winter The Wind Blows

The viral unedited picture of Song Hye Kyo while being made up with Laneige lipstick

Song uses the entire Laneige skin care line to keep her skin look youthful, radiant and filled with moisture all day.  Laneige skin care boasts of crystal snow essence from the Himalayas that moisturizes the skin like water all day and all night;

  Song uses the Water Bank Essence from the Waterful Sharing Campaign Limited Edition

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack Ex (limited Edition from the Waterful Sharing Campaign) is the best nutrition for skin at night 

Another ad of the Water Sleeping Pack Ex, one of the bestsellers of Laneige skincare products

White Plus Renew line, whitening care with hydration

White Plus Renew Original Essence

Since the efficacy of my existing skincare and make- up brands have been wearing out, or am I getting tired of them? I finally decided to splurge on Laneige, anyway my birthday and Christmas are nearing. I want to have a more radiant skin on these occasions. I have read in one blog that there's this Korean classmate of the author whose skin is to die for and uses Laneige.

I searched the web for Laneige branches in the Philippines and the nearest to me is the one in Shangrila Mall in Edsa. I first tried to contact Laneige through their phone numbers but the numbers seem to be not in use. So, I just went to Shang and found out that the former spot of Laneige near Debenhams had been vacated. I was frustrated and thought Laneige should have notified the public of the relocation. I asked around but the people from several stores in Shang also didn't know where Laneige transferred. Well, I should have felt totally bad, but my desire to purchase the 'talked about' product prevailed. I thought, if Laneige is so good then it's worth chasing after. And I want to have that 'to die for' skin.

Song Hye Kyo's 'to die for' skin

Since I'm already out and I didn't want to waste my time, I went to Robinson's Galleria, as i recalled my sister mentioned before that there's Laneige in Galleria. The Information Desk lady told me Laneige is in the 2nd floor, in front of The Face Shop and Dorothy Perkins. I was relieved, finally I've found Laneige.

So, up I went to 2nd floor, I passed by The Face Shop and did not see Laneige. A bit of disappointment pinched my ire, " is it really here?". I asked the girls from the beauty kiosks in the middle of the isle. They pointed Laneige to me. Oh! That's why I did not see Laneige at once, because I pictured it on my mind as the boutique it was in Shang in the web pictures. Now, it's just a kiosk. But don't be deceived, the products are pricey.

The Laneige kiosk in Robinson's Galleria carries the entire skincare line

The kiosk bears the face of its star endorser, Song Hye Kyo

Laneige has skincare line for men too 

The Sales Associate, Shelly Cura, was friendly and accommodated me for a make-up trial inside the kiosk, I especially requested it inside so no passers-by could watch me.

The Laneige make-up rack filled with snow crystal-infused products

Shelly did my make-up in the following order:
1. She removed the make-up on my face and applied a water-based moisturizer.
2. After the moisturizer has evaporated, she applied Snow Crystal BB Cushion on my entire face. I first thought that it was a powder foundation, but it is a liquid foundation in a compact case. Nice packaging!
3. Dabbed some loose powder over the BB foundation to seal it.
4. As final powder, using a sponge dabbed pressed powder over my face.
5. Applied blusher on my cheeks with a combi shades of pink palette.
6. Tried many lipstick shades on me. Finally, a natural pink lip shade became me. Shelly revealed that the lipstick shade I preferred is the shade Song Hye Kyo was wearing in her ad for Snow Crystal BB Cushion.
7. Curled my lashes with a volumizing mascara.

Shelly did not fix anymore my brow since it's already defined with a brown shade, and the brow kit tester she has was left with black shade, not good as black brows tend to make one look older. Also, she did not fix my eyeshadow anymore.

Finally, my Laneige make-up was done. I liked what I saw in the mirror. It was a clean, refreshing, glowing, poreless face. In fairness, my make-up was similar to Song Hye Kyo's-- simple yet more attractive. I even looked slightly like her (haha!)

Needless to say, I bought skincare sets and make-up sets of Laneige. Mostly the ones used during my make-up trial. Laneige is generous with freebies and samples. And I was satisfied with their customer service.

My Laneige make-up acquisitions

My Laneige 3-step skincare products 

Sliding Pact Ex White Plus renew, Satin Finish Loose Powder, Snow BB Cushion

To define and add color to my face: brow kit, Professional Selection Blusher, Luminous Pink lipstick, volumizing mascara

Laneige make-up cases are a piece of beauty with rainbow prisms, inspired by the merging of water and light 

Lipstick case is inspired by the color of crystal snow

Snow Crystal Intense Lipstick in Luminous Pink

My Laneige bag of skincare and make-up products with freebies

Presenting the Laneige freebies!

Laneige skincare samples: eye gel, sunblock, water sleeping pack, yogurt mask

Laneige Pour Homme skincare samples

And I got this limited edition elegant white Laneige luggage!

I asked Shelly and her pretty OIC, who looked Korean but she's pinay, how Laneige is pronounced. They pronounced it the way most people do--- Laneige (la-nei-j). Well, I don't care if Laneige is actually french for "the snow" and in France it is pronounced as Laneige (la-nezh). Since, if you say Lanezh in the Philippines, people are like hearing it quizzically, with eyes that tell "you're different". Well, nothing wrong to be beautifully different-- overall package. Of course, it starts with the face.  :D

I did not retouch my make-up from the time it was applied in the kiosk at noon and its freshness lasted 'til evening when I went out for dinner and movie. My face wasn't oily, just dewy, fresh, smooth and poreless. So, this must be the start of a face that's to die for? Hahaha!  So, I will live the Laneige face.

Song Hye Kyo's Laneige face

My Laneige face

My verdict on the Laneige products is written all over my face. :)))


Updates on Laneige store locations:
Shangrila boutique relocated as a kiosk at the 2nd floor of Robinson's Galleria, in front of The face Shop and Nine West
Trinoma boutique has been converted to a kiosk
There's boutique now in SM Aura in Taguig City
They will soon open in SM Megamall

Ask the Information Desk of the malls for exact location.

Discover Florabotanica’s Hidden Garden!

One of the fun benefits of buying Balenciaga Florabotanica perfume is the excitement of confirming that you got an authentic fragrance product.  With every box of Florabotanica is an alpha code that serves as your personal key to explore the hidden garden at www.balenciagafragrance.com.

Although I bought my Florabotanica from Balenciaga Greenbelt 5 outlet, my heart had little throbs in anticipation of whether my personal key would be accepted.

Flacons of Florabotanica

My personal key (I have registered it so no one can use it except me)

So I entered the letters of the code (all caps without spaces) provided in my Florabotanica box, I clicked the “enter key”, the laptop screen loaded and I was relieved to see that I was allowed access to the hidden garden.   And dear I was satisfied that my Florabotanica is a genuine fragrance from Balenciaga.  You’ll never know when you’ll get swapped by a knock-off so you should be a conscious buyer.

Getting inside the hidden garden is fun!  

The invite page

Click enter key on your first visit and log-in on your succeeding visits

You get to explore the corners of the garden.  It’s like a tour.  You get to explore the Florabotanica story, the concepts, the inspirations and you get privy to a conversation with Florabotanica’s face, Kristen Stewart.  

Just scroll the cursor to the quadrants of this page to take the garden tour

Most of all, you get to download two Florabotanica screensavers—both of which are inspired by the beauty of spring and elegance of today’s fashion. 

The two pretty screensavers

You are not limited to a single visit.  You can revisit the hidden garden again and again.  You just have to register using your personal code on your first visit and voila! That would be your passport to a hidden garden.  All you need to do is log in during your succeeding visits.

I revisited

Your personal code is exclusive to you once you have registered.  Another person cannot re-register the code under his name and won’t be allowed access using your code.

  

I shall meet you in the hidden garden. J

Off The Ground- An Afternoon of Music, Poetry and Visual Arts

Grounded is an ongoing art exhibit in the Lopez Museum and Library which will run until August 3, 2013.  It showcases the classic artworks of the national artists in face with the modernist work of the contemporary artists.  

The Lopez Museum and Library entrance with marble door frame

The term Grounded suggests a vast genus of definitions:  failure to launch, electrical misfires, immobilized states-- any term conveying rootedness or failure to proceed. Grounded though does not reside on the negative premise as it sees art as a means to take flight while remaining anchored at the same time, straining forward while staying entrenched.  The opposites of things that are meant to supplement each other. 

Off the Ground therefore means freedom, a free flow, a stride forward-- that moment of being loosened from the grip of anything that's stifling an action, a spirit or a journey, because the time calls for such liberation.  And April 27, 2013 was one moment to let go off the grip.  It was the day the Lopez Museum & Library presented a free concert-- Off the Ground, An Afternoon of Music, Poetry and Visual Arts, and once more allowed the free expression of nationalistic spirit and sentiments through the arts.

The audience was composed of different people-- art patrons, art enthusiasts, writers, photographers, young adults, students, parents, tots!  A young wife was there with her three girls, approximately 3-5 years of age, and she was saying that they were there for the music.  It was nice that the mother was inculcating in her little ones the love of orchestra and classical music at their tender age.  Children exposed to classical art and music grow to be more multi-intelligent than the ones confined in the living room to watch Barney and the likes.

Program was opened by Ms. Ethel Villafranca

The program showcased fresh talents.  Three young poets read passages from their own published books. 

Franz Joel Liboon read excerpt from Humigit-Kumulang

Raymond John De Borja read excerpt from They Day Daze

Marlon Hacla read excerpt from Glossolalia

Budding soprano, Ms. Ellaine Marie Vibal, impressed the audience with her world-class nightingale voice, singing Ugoy ng Duyan, a tribute to Filipino master songwriter, Levy Celerio, and the Italian theatrical song, Caro Mio.  Her musical accompaniment was provided by the Orchestra for The Youth, a Lopez scholarship foundation for the deprived youth with musical talents.  Guest conductor was the precise, Maestro Ernesto Zaldua.

Ellaine Vibal singing the Caro Mio, with the Orchestra ForTthe Youth for the music accompaniment and Mr. Ernesto Zaldua as conductor

The co-producer of the program, High Chair, a non-profit organization promoting the love of poetry, talked about their cause and the importance of instilling the love of artistic pursuits among the young people and adults.

High Chair emphasizing importance of poetry

Free snacks were served in cooperation with sponsors like Tully's.

The guests were allowed to tour the galleries to view the Grounded exhibits. 

The National Artists

The Grounded exhibition is composed of the resident artworks of the Lopez Museum like the masterpieces of Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, among others.

The Hidalgo Gallery

One of Hidalgo's undated oil on canvas creations and publications

The Luna Gallery

The exhibition also showcases the works of the national artists like Jose Joya and Federico Alcuaz, Pacita Abad and others.  

Recluse, 1994, is Pacita Abad's creation of painted cloth stitched on dyed linen and canvas;  this patchwork-like form of art was dedicated by Ms. Abad to her friend who committed suicide

Filipiny XIV by Federico Alcuaz, Oil on Canvas, 1983

I'm standing beside the masterpiece, Moros Playing the Bandolin, by B. Morales, Oil on Canvas, 1987

Brenda Fajardo's Pira, Aking guro, Para Kang Bulag Na Nakadilat Ang Mga Mata, Print, 1978

The Modernists

   

Ang Simula ng Pagsibol, 2013, by glass artist, Goldie Poblador;  behind is Toym Imao's Ship, Shift, Strip, a resin-fiberglass-iron-brass-wood take on the USS Guardian that crashed on the Tubbataha reef

I'm standing under the sculpture, Diyos, Choose, Duez, 2013, by Toym Imao;  this sculpture is a take-off from Michaelangelo's The Creation-- here, the hand with the folded paper toy represents God's hand, the folded paper toy represents the choices that God offers us, the other hand represents ours, posed at selecting our fate

P/flight, 2013, fiberglass by Toym Imao, is a metaphorical representation of OFWs, posed at taking a flight but suppressed by the marks of chains on its wrists;  the body has marks of the logos of different airlines

Drawn, Drone, Drown by Toym Imao, Brass Metal Wood, 2013

The art videos will surely appeal to the younger guests as it combines sensibilities with modern forms of art like 3D animation.  The 3D artist, Ahmed Al Shaer, proves that modern art has its distinct appeal.

Selection, Reflection, Attention, Video by Ahmed Al Shaer, 2012, running time 2:09

Ahmed Al Shaer's Selection... video is a game pun on Charles Darwin's setting off gene-spurred politics

My favorite area is the Installation which contains the many footwear creations of Ms. Josephine Turalba.  What's amazing about the footwear collection is that it is made of empty bullet casings!  Guests are allowed to wear the scandals (pronounced as san-dals) to traipse along the corners of the wooden stage which contains various photograph negatives captured during the American occupation.  The area is purposely on dim lights which provides mystique to the experience.

Me, sitting on the wooden stage of the Installation, 2013, which was also designed by Josephine Turalba, with canals on the corners that contained photo negatives during the American colonization;  lighting was purposely dim 

Various bullet shell slippers inspired by footwear designs of different countries

I tried one of the bullet shell sandals, heavy with chain-like clanky sound

Photo negatives taken during the American occupation in the Philippines

In Gallery 1, there's a wall of art called Jutay's Wall. Jutay in the Ilongo dialect means small and this is the very idea that the sociology artist, Alma Quintos, wants to convey--- that everything great starts with small things.  Jutay's Wall allows guests to write their thoughts, draw or express through paper cut-outs and designs whatever their feelings and ideas are.

Expressions of art on the Jutay's Wall

More expressions of art on Jutay's Wall

Ms. Alma Quintos, sociology artist, conducted a talk for the public school teachers on transforming narratives of pain and struggles into power

Guests busy creating their own pieces of art for the Jutay's Wall

One of the cute drawings on Jutay's Wall

My left hand left a self-sketch on Jutay's Wall

Ms. Alma Quintos signing her books which were given for free to the guests

The statements on the gallery walls are especially worth remembering.

A lot more masterpieces by the national artists and the modernists await the guests of the Grounded exhibit.  Time is your enemy when you get engaged on the beauty and significance of these works of art.  Art appreciation is a good means of bonding for the whole family and friends.

Grounded is curated by Back to Square Juan artistic director Claro Ramirez. It will run until August 3, 2013.  Lopez Museum and Library is at the G/F Benpres Bldg., Meralco cor. Exchange Rd., Ortigas Center, Pasig City.  Museum hours are 8-5pm Mondays through Saturdays except Sundays and holidays.  

For information and registration, call Fanny or Tina at 631-2417 or email lmmpasig@gmail.com.

Credits: 

Many thanks to Ms. Ethel Villafranca of the Lopez Museum and Library for providing the press kit and to Ms. Janice O. Dugan of First Gen Corp. for the invitation