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All You Want for Christmas

Still not done shopping??? If you haven't finished getting presents for the special people in your life this Holiday and still have no idea what they'll like, you don't have to worry because that's what we're here for! Read up, you still have tonight and tomorrow to shop!

When it comes to gift giving, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all philosophy. Spread the cheer this Holiday Season with gifts that fit the characters and quirks of the people in your life with our gift guide to all things beautiful.

NATURAL HIGH

Wonderful finds for your friends and an ode to Mother Nature with these eco-friendly beauty products.

clockwise from top: AHAVA Dead Sea Bath Crystals (P1495); ONE NATURALES Hand and Body Lotion in Vanilla Almond Custard (P599); RITUAL Jojoba-elemi anti-aging serum (P250); RITUAL Grapefruit liquid soap (P150); RITUAL Terrapy organic balms in Perk Me Up (P110); JURLIQUE Rosewater Balancing Mist (P2098); RITUAL Procrastinator's Massage Oil (P200)

GRAND GESTURE

Herald these key beauty products of the season that suggest a hint of opulence.

clockwise from left: MAYBELLINE Eyestudio Hyper Diamond Shadow Palette (P599); ANNICK GOUTAL Rose Absolue Eau Parfumee (P5250/100ml); GUERLAIN Orchidee Imperiale Exceptional Complete Care Fluid (P20,888)' DIPTYQUE Paris Scented Candle (P3100); LES PARFUMS DE ROSINE in Poussiere De Rose Eau de Parfum (P5500/100ml); CHRISTIAN DIOR 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palete (P3300); MAYBELLINE Pulse Perfection Waterproof Vibrating Mascara in 01 (P699)

CLEAN SLATE

Veer away from anything done in excess to give way to the "less-is-more" philosophy.

clockwise from top KERASTASE Perles Chronologist (P9000); L'OREAL PROFESSIONAL PARIS texture Expert Definition & Structure Paste (P940); GUERLAIN Midnight Star Extraordinary Radiance treatment (P3200); GUERLAIN Le2 De Guerlain Two Brush Mascara in Noir 2 Laque (P1998): L'OREAL PROFESSIONEL Aqua Sleek (P915); ISSEY MIYAKE Noir Absolu Eau de Parfum (P4250/50ml); GUERLAIN Parure Gold Powder Foundation in Beige Pale (P4195); VMV Hypoallergenics Skin Bloom Blush in Bellini (P1490)

Happy Holidays, Blush readers!

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Beauty Blunder No. 5

NOT EXFOLIATING

Skin cell turnover happens every 28 days -- longer as you age. That said, if you want to maintain porcelain like skin, you need to exfoliate. The best time to do this is at night (twice a week at most), when skin rejuvenates as you sleep. Make sure to choose a product with rounded beads; sharp-edged ones are too abrasive.

Try our Managing Editor, Beverly Dalton's, choice of scrub -- Salt of the Earth Ritual Salt Scrub!

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Beauty Blunder No. 4

SKIPPING LINER ON LOWER RIMS

Many prefer to apply liner on the upper rims of the eyes, but that just makes you look tired. Skip that and focus on the lower rims instead. Doing so "lifts" the eyes, making you look more awake. You may apply it first with powder then layer on with pencil for a lasting effect. Oh, and stick with the browns -- black liner channels Adam Lambert.

Tip: It is also best to use smudge proof liner to avoid looking like a raccoon just a couple of hours after application!

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Beauty Blunder No. 3

DITCHING SUNSCREEN

You may not see virtual effects right now, but devotion to SPF of at least 30 will have your complexion thanking you in the future. Skipping this now will lead you to want frequent laser sessions to eliminate sun spots -- as well as tubes of concealer, and the risk of having dry, leathery skin. P.S. We're not saying that freckles aren't pretty, not at all! But getting more and more every year is not a good sign. It means that the sun is doing more and more damage to your skin. So slather on some sunscreen every single time you go out! 

We recommend these three sun busters:

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Beauty Blunder No. 2

OD-ING ON THE BRONZER

A sun-kissed effect lends a healthy glow, but overdoing it is not pretty. It draws your features down, making you look old and tired. If you must, use a large fluffy brush and apply bronzer on areas where the sun hits, usually on the higher planes: forehead, nose, chin, and cheekbones. Throw in a pop of pink on the apples of the cheeks to lift the complexion.

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Beauty Blunder No. 2

OD-ing ON THE BRONZER

A sun-kissed effect lends a healthy glow, but overdoing it is not pretty. It draws your features down, making you look old and tired. If you must, use a large fluffy brush and apply bronzer on areas where the sun hits, usually on the higher planes: forehead, nose, chin, and cheekbones. Throw in a pop of pink on the apples of the cheeks to lift the complexion.

NO:

The beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones disappoints with overly bronzed cheeks and raccoon eyes.

GO:

Trust this angel to do it perfectly. Alessandra Ambrosio has amazing control of how much bronzer to put, making her look like a sun goddess every time.

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10 Beauty Blunders in 10 Days: Blunder No. 1

THICK FOUNDATION

If you have good skin, we urge you to skip foundation. But to those who cannot be freed from the mask-like effect, use it sparingly. Use a brush to apply, which distributes the foundation evenly all over the face. Let it sit for a minute, then using a damp sponge, dab on areas where foundation tends to settle in (corners of the nose, area around the eyes and around the lips.) When dry, set with loose powder (doing so with compact powder is just a tad too heavy.) A tip to make your foundation last longer -- primer! Squeeze two pea-sized amounts of makeup primer on your ring fingertip (the index is just too heavy) and spread evenly across your face before applying your foundation! 

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One-on-one with Bea Alonzo

What makes you BLUSH?

"I blush when people tell me I'm pretty or whenever I get so much attention, whenever people talk about me or when the attention is all on me in a big room!"

WHO makes you BLUSH?

"There IS someone who makes me Blush but I can't say who right now!"

What do you think makes a woman beautiful?

"I think what makes a woman beautiful is when she's approachable, when she doesn't know that she's beautiful or when it's not in her head that she is."

Who is your beauty icon? Grace Kelly.

What is your favorite beauty trend?

The "no makeup" makeup look.

Was there anything you were insecure about with how you looked while growing up? What was it and how did you overcome it? Yes, my height and my weight! When I was younger, I didn't know it was nice to be tall. Siyempre mas nauuna ako maging matangkad sa mga guys and they were intimidated by me and afraid to approach me. When I became an actress, I realized it was an edge. At 14 years old, I was given a role of a 21 year old lawyer na dapat raw and when I auditioned, they accepted me because of that. I looked raw but I could pass as a 21 year old lawyer. My insecurity became my edge. When it comes to insecurities about my weight -- I'm big boned and I gain easily but I don't starve myself. I can't starve myself. It's always been my insecurity but I do something about it like I do boxing right now. Especially now with ******, whenever we're together, I can't really not eat because it's an issue with him. Feeling niya kaartehan lang iyon, so I have to really eat! 

Don't forget to grab a copy of our Bea Alonzo cover!

Photographed by Ronnie Salvacion

Makeup by Mickey See

Hair by Brent Sales

Styled by Eldzs Mejia

BTS shots and interview by Jilli Gomez

Shot on location at The Picasso Residences

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Sweet Tooth

Indulge in a huge serving of bold, mouth-watering candy-like colors that leave those lips luscious -- good enough to eat!

Pumpkin Pie

A combination of yellow and red, orange signifies vibrancy. As a warm color, it is known to increase one's appetite.

Junior Mints

With a balance of cool and warm undertones, green is one of the most refreshing colors. This shocking primary color is also thought to relieve stress.

Fresh Lemonade

The liveliest shade in the color spectrum, yellow spells out enthusiasm. No one's bound to miss this bright intense color!

Wild Cherry Chews

Known as the color of happiness and love, pink is a positive shade that brings back sweet memories. Youthful and fun, pink radiates excitement and energy.

Ice Breakers

How can one possibly feel sad with blue? This primary color between green and violet is the coolest shade in the color wheel. Reminiscent of clear skies and calm oceans, blue gives of a sense of calmness.

Photo BJ PASCUAL

Makeup MICKEY SEE for Shu Uemura

Model JESSICA YANG of Mercator Models

Shot on location at The Old Vine, Venice Piazza McKinley,McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

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"The pages of a magazine are just not enough to say/vent/comment/judge anything you want without much restriction about lipsticks and coffee (which means basically anything and everything under the hot Manila sun)" - Vicky Tensuan, Blush Magazine Editor-in-Chief

Welcome to the blogosphere, Vicky! Follow our Editor-in-Chief and be entertained with her honest-to-goodness thoughts on beauty at coffeeandlipstick.wordpress.com.

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hi! I read that you offer internships in your magazine which is really awesome :) but I've minimal experience as far as writing ie having a graduate degree in communications/journalism. beauty is my passion and i know i can deliver well enough :) so i guess my question is, am i still eligible for an internship... or maybe a possible position (someday)? :/

Definitely! Just email your resume to us at editorial.blush@gmail.com. :)

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where can i buy here in Cebu a back issue of Blush Magazine where Anne Curtis is the cover?

Hi! Please email spaceblushmags.dennis@gmail.com for that particular back issue! Thanks! :)

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Hi Im Blanch from GeiserMaclang Communications Inc. We are a PR Company and as such we would like to get the email addresses of the the BLUSH TEAM for us to send invites and press releases to your magazine. Thank you!

Hi Blanch!

Please do send us your personal email address so we can send our contact information to you directly. Thank you!Jilli 

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If you haven't seen this yet, here are the FIVE BEST ANSWERS at Miss Universe 2011. Out of 89 beautiful ladies who joined in the 60th anniversary, do you think our Miss Philippines, Shamcey Supsup, is also one of the smartest? Watch the video to find out!

Oprah Winfrey on the results via NBC news:

‎"I have reservations with the results. If the only basis is the Q and A portion, after having been trimmed down to 5, Ms. Philippines deserved to win. What made her different from the rest is that she had no seconds to rethink of her answer as she had no interpreter to break the ice. The rest had their interpreters and having breaks on seconds to think about their answers. Hands down, Ms. Philippines answered straight to the point."

We couldn't agree more, of course -- if not, she definitely deserved to place higher! Nonetheless, we couldn't be prouder to have such a beautiful and smart woman represent our country! We'd like to know what YOU think. Reply or send us a message! Again, congratulations for winning third runner-up, Miss Shamcey! 

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Maricar -- Incredible Beauty, Amazing Grace

Maricar Reyes -- model, actress, doctor, and our August - September cover girl lets Blush in on what she thinks about beauty.

What makes you blush?

 My crush/es always makes me blush!

What is your everyday beauty routine?

 I just wash my face, put on moisturizer, curl my lashes, and apply lip balm!

What are the beauty products you can't live without?

 I can't live without moisturizer, an eye lash curler, cheek tint, and lip balm!

Were you ever insecure about yourself while growing up? How did you overcome it?

 Yes I was, especially in college because that was the time when girls started to learn how to fix themselves up and I didn't at all because I grew up with boys and hadn't been exposed to those kinds of things. Other girls knew how to put on makeup and I didn't even know how to apply nail polish. I would feel insecure during parties because the girls were very well dressed and knew how to put themselves together and it was just not really my talent. Now, I am learning and starting to become more confident!

What do you think makes a woman beautiful?

 I think what makes a woman beautiful is what's in the inside. You will see the beauty of a woman in how she carries herself and it shows when she is comfortable in the skin that she's in.

Official photos by BJ Pascual

Behind-the-scenes photos by Jilli Gomez

Makeup by Ricci Chan

Hair by Ogie Rayel of Kiehl’s

Styled by Eldzs Mejia

Shot on location at Maxims Resorts World Manila

Makeup by San San Cosmetics

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The Creator of Lip Gloss

Very few people know that it was MARILYN MONROE who first invented LIP GLOSS. She was the first ever woman to achieve those "wet lips" by combining lipstick, beeswax, and Vaseline! Her invention was passed on from her makeup assistants to cosmetic companies, with the ultimate bombshell receiving no credit or royalties at all! 

So girls, every time you slide some gloss over those lips, thank Marilyn for coming up with the most used beauty product of all time!

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I am 22 and I have read that women over the age of 20 should start using retinoids. Can I start using one without consulting my dermatologist? Which retinoids could you recommend? Thanks so much! <3

Hi! It is always best to consult your dermatologist first because she will know what formulation would work best for you and because these are actually prescription medication. She will be the one to advise you what particular retinoid you should use and how often you should use it! There are a lot of different brands/kinds of retinoids (we've tried Tretinoin (Retin-A) if you really want to know) it's just a matter of what your dermatologist thinks is best for your skin.

Hope that answers your question!