We are still not over it! After that dramatic disclosure of Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach’s win as Miss Universe 2015, we are looking forward to a full year under the Filipina’s reign. And, of course, a good way to start is by discovering how the beauty always manages to look miraculous every single time.
This time around, we have got to know her beauty secrets by her makeup artist of more than three years, Gery Penaso of MAC Cosmetics and he reveals her beauty secrets from her pre-makeup process to her favorite products. Excited girls? Here we go.
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On being asked about her unique look – “She’s a chameleon as they say. For me, it’s her captive stare! I have worked on a lot of sexy eyes as a makeup artist, but Pia knows how to work her eyes pretty well. I think that’s what sets her apart.
On defining her unique features - “Each of us has a unique feature and as a makeup artist, it’s part of our job to be aware on how to enhance them. With Pia, I had to study her features and like I said, she has a very captivating stare; even without eye makeup. The key to enhance that feature is very simple - I just avoid overdoing it!”
On being asked about her favorite products – “She’s definitely a MAC girl! She owns over 30 shades of MAC lipsticks and I would randomly get a call from her just to ask me about what I think of a particular lipstick from MAC and if she should go buy it. She loves the Fast Response Eye Cream, Mineralize Skin Finish Powder, blush in Harmony for contouring, eyeshadows in Embark and Sketch, and eyebrows in Fling, Lingering, and Spiked.”
On her favorite makeup look – “Pia loves makeup. Not only does she have a massive collection of makeup, but she’s a beauty writer as well. That’s why she takes pleasure in trying out makeup products and skincare on herself. To tell what her favorite makeup look is would be difficult, as she can go with a bare-faced look, to fresh-day makeup, to glam makeup. I just know she’s not a fan of pink lipsticks!”
He further describes how he prepares her skin before applying the makeup – “First, I use MAC Lightful-C Marine Bright Formula Softening Lotion to hydrate the skin instantly. I saturate cotton pads with the product and pat lightly over the entire face. I let it sit on her face for 3 to 5 minutes for the skin to absorb the product. I then apply moisturizer and MAC Fast Response Eye Cream under and around the eye area to de-puff the eyes (Pia’s ultimate favorite).”
Also Read : Pia Wurtzbach's Homecoming
He also talks about the effortsPia’s makeup team put up behind her gorgeous look for Miss Universe – “All of the looks and shoots that we did were all part of the whole preparation for Miss Universe. We trust each other and she let me try as many looks as we can; in order to see which one works best for her. During every makeup session, I can really see her pay attention to every detail I do. She’s very attentive and always asks me questions about makeup.”
He also revealed more about her barely-there look for a Photoshoot – “That shoot was unforgettable! Doc Marlon wanted to do something that Pia has not done before and it was his brilliant idea to do a bare faced look. He further joked that he didn’t need me anymore. The main focus of the makeup was the skin. I used MAC Strobe Cream as a base for a luminescent finish, then MAC Face and Body foundation for a dewy finish and sealed it with MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Powder.”
On Pia’s mastery as a makeup stylist – “As a beauty queen, Pia has comfort zones with makeup application and the challenge for me was to take her out of that mindset and gain her trust. Fresh from winning the Bb. Pilipinas pageant, her eyebrows and contour were always overly done! Now, she has improved a lot and I am so proud of her. After the Miss Universe preliminary competition, I got a lot of calls from people congratulating me. It makes me really proud and fulfilled not only that she learned how to put makeup on herself, but in all aspects of being our country’s representative for Miss Universe. Pia has defined what determination and hard work truly means.”