All-Around Pinay Mama

REVIEW: Basic Make-Up Workshop by Marie San Luis

December 12, 2016

I’ve attended two basic and one advanced make-up workshops but I still want to learn more. Taking an intensive make-up course is included in my bucket list because make-up is one of the things that I am passionate about. But due to family duties and financial constraints (sending two boys to school is very, very expensive), I set this big dream aside and focus on taking it slowly for the meantime while I am doing what’s important at the moment.

I kept on waiting for the right timing to attend another workshop and that right timing came when a good blogger friend of mine, Marie San Luis of www.mamaneesnest.com, asked me if I would be interested to attend her workshop. Of course naman, I really, really liked the idea! I was not just excited but super-duper excited because it was her first ever Basic Make-up Workshop and I was so happy to know that she was starting to fulfill her dream of becoming a make-up guru. I would be very much delighted to see her share her craft with me and the other participants as well. Ako talaga, kapag masaya ang mga taong mahalaga sa buhay ko, mas masaya ako para sa kanila.

Before the workshop, Marie and I were chatting on Facebook. Makulit talaga ako kapag sobrang excited ako! I had so many requests. I was telling her to teach me concealing, correcting, eye make-up, etc. because those were the areas that I needed help. She was so willing to accept suggestions and she understood that I really couldn’t maintain my composure that time.

Moving on to the workshop, Marie created a group solely for her workshop participants two days before the event and told us to answer a survey so that she would know more about our personal details (for the certificate and documentation purposes), our make-up skills, the things we would like to learn, and our skin type and color. She also mentioned the exact location of the venue and how to get there so that we would not have a hard time locating it. Everything was systematic and clear prior to the workshop. I was so impressed.

The day of the workshop came. It was in the morning of the 27^th of November when we convened at The Clubhouse Robinsons Magnolia. It was a cozy place perfect for dining and having intimate meetings and gatherings. The interior was nice and the food was good. Obviously, I ate first before the workshop started. (Tip: When you visit the place, I encourage you to taste its carrot cake. So yummy!)

I wish I don’t sound defensive. Kitang-kita naman sa katawan ko na mahilig akong kumain. LOL! Well, learning is best when your stomach is full. Anyway, before I get carried away with the food, let me tell you the things that I find special about Marie’s Make-up Workshop.

The Speaker

Marie was very presentable. Honestly, she’s one of the bloggers that I admire when it comes to dressing up. She was dressed appropriately for the event, talagang make-up artist na make-up artist ang dating. She was not puro porma lang, she knew what she was talking about. She was knowledgeable and she exceeded my expectations. She discussed the following topics thoroughly: how to choose a skincare routine, how to choose the right make-up for our skin, basic make-up skills, make-up brushes uses, and taking that perfect make-up selfie. She could answer our questions clearly and completely.

It was only during this workshop that I learned so many new things like the uses of the different brushes based on the intensity of color that I wanted to put on my face- subtle, soft, or precise for instance in applying blush. It was also during that time that I learned thoroughly the different eyebrow colors, lipsticks, blushes, and eyeshadows that could fit different skin undertones. Kaya pala may lipstick ako na ang ganda ng kulay sa iba pero parang ang putla-putla ko naman kapag ako na ang gumamit. May blush din ako na kapag ginamit ko para akong sinuntok sa magkabilang pisngi. All the while I was using the wrong colors for my skin undertone pala. She made suggestions on what brands work for budget conscious like me but won’t sacrifice the quality and their high end counterparts as well.

Marie was so organized. From skin routine to applying the setting powder, we did them all one step at a time. She worked with her model and make-up partner, Cess, that made it easier for us to follow.

The very gorgeous, Cess
Courtesy: Marie Bella- Sanluis on Facebook

After doing the step at Cess, she assisted us one by one especially when we needed help. Ang gaan-gaan ng kamay niya when she helped me with my brows and tightline my upper lids. For me this was the best way to learn, with personal touch and the learners with different learning styles--auditory, visual, and kinesthetic, could follow effectively. She made sure that each participant learned before she proceeded to the next topic. Walang hanging sa amin at walang naiwan. As we moved on from one topic to another, the transformation on our looks became evident. We didn’t look like clowns because everything that we did and the colors that we used were in accordance to our skin types and undertones. Marie taught us to enhance our assets and still looked naturally radiant. I also liked the fact that she was generous in sharing her make-up knowledge. Hindi siya bitin, sobra-sobra pa. She tackled correcting and concealing techniques that should be discussed in advanced make-up workshops that I appreciated very much.

I should say that Marie is the type of make-up guru that wants her students to become the best that they can be. I am not saying this because she is my friend. Marie wants her students to be more beautiful and confident with their natural beauty. Si Marie ang guru na hindi lang niya gusto na siya lang ang maganda at magaling. Gusto niya, lahat tayo ay maging magaganda at magagaling lalo na pagdating sa make-up.

Materials

Pink, pink, pink… Everything was P-I-N-K and I loved it! From the mirror, hand-out folder, hand-outs, certificate, pen, and freebies, there was a touch of pink. It was aesthetically nice. It added drama and a pop of color to the set-up. I also appreciated that the hand-out pages where printed in full color. At a glance, they were perfect guides especially to a starter like me. The concepts written were so easy to follow and understand and the photos used were actual samples of tools and make-up that were easy for me to memorize. Marie let us use her make-up and brushes even though she let us bring our own make-up kits. The advantage of bringing our own make-up and tools was that Marie was able to identify whether we were using the wrong shade of make-up or not based on our skin undertone. Busog na busog kami sa bagong kaalaman because her basic make-up workshop content was uncommon and unique. She also made time for consultation and answered our questions patiently and clearly.

Aside from the high quality workshop certificate, hand-outs, new knowledge, we went home with a bag of freebies from her generous sponsors- DEARBERRY, KOHL INDUSTRIES, and PUREPOWER VENTURES.

With all honesty, seeing Marie in front of us doing her passion made me almost cry. Well, almost because I held my tears. Hindi kasi waterproof ang mascara na ginamit ko. LOL! Seriously, Marie nailed it and that made me almost cry tears of joy because a dear friend did for the first time one of the things that she would love to do right in front of me and my companions.

Our final workshop photo. L-R: yours truly, Marie San Luis, Alaine Alejandrino, and Nina Ricci Bunsoy Courtesy: @mamaneesnest on Instagram

If you are looking for a make-up guru that is going to teach you basic make-up application in a different perspective and doesn’t charge you so much, Marie San-Luis is probably one of the best of the best to contact. She and her make-up model, Cess, are partners and they also accept hair and make-up services for all occasions. You may contact Marie and Cess through Marie’s Facebook page.

Marie is brewing her next Basic Make-Up Workshop and first Advanced Make-Up Workshop. They are so affordable, way cheaper than the others but I assure you that you are going to learn a lot. Stay tuned! I will announce the schedule on my social media accounts soon.