Índex per February 2021 a MEGA

Transcendence is defined as the act of rising above something to a superior state. It is to go beyond ordinary limitations. It is the state of excelling and surpassing expectations. A little under three decades ago, our founding editor Sari Yap had a dream—to create a local fashion magazine that will teach Filipinas how to dress up and, more importantly, champion Filipino design and talent. This dream was challenged with a lot of trials and tribulations—and there were times when it seemed that the odds were against its success. But somehow, the dream overcame them all and found ways to continue, armed with its purpose. From its humble beginnings, MEGA, The Philippines’ Best Fashion Magazine eventually became a powerhouse brand that continues to evolve today, creating content that is relevant…

For a designer who’s been around for quite some time, Chynna Mamawal has seen everything. Diving into fashion was a no-brainer, but establishing her label to cater to everyone, not just the fashion-forward, was the real challenge—especially during a pandemic. Despite the industry being massively hit, she’s been expanding her brand, slowly and quietly. Early on, it was all about protective suits and face masks to support the medical frontliners and adapting with the times, but it didn’t stop there. 2020 was off to a good start. The brand was supposed to showcase their collection at Vancouver Fashion Week, but all that was put to a halt because of the travel ban. Despite the setback, Mamawal managed to turn it all around, thanks to a mix of determination, strong entrepreneurial…

Barbarella, Britney Spears in “Oops I Did It Again” and Blade Runner are just some of the top-of-the-mind films for space age fashion. Sure, there’s also the Star Wars saga, but what about the 1995 Keanu Reeves sci-fi starrer Johnny Mnemonic? That film pretty much predicted how personal data will be free for the taking among large corporations. The eerie part? The movie was set in 2021. But enough of the dystopian talk. For the time being, we are still stuck limbo, which, oddly enough, proved to be fertile ground for many creatives such as young designer Coleen Ayton. For her first collection entitled House of Dimensions, she shares that she imagined people in an alternative universe. “The story behind it is that there’s a distant space station somewhere in…

The year 2020 was a wakeup call and the manner in which we learned its lessons hit as rudely and as pervasively as the lessons themselves. The Philippines was in the middle of a longstanding environment and climate crisis, and Metro Manila was on the brink of civic unrest due to issues of poverty, pollution, corruption and a slew of infrastructure and transportation mishaps. The city was rotting from the ground up, and the wear and tear of the gears that keep it running needed greasing. And then, the pandemic finally brought the country to a complete stop, and honestly, we were unsure when the wheels would turn again. During the time we spent exclusively indoors, we had the opportunity to take a step away from the chaos and reexamine…

STAND CORRECTED The iconic Secret Camouflage has been given an update. LAURA MERCIER Secret Camouflage Brighten And Correct Duo (P1850) is a dual-ended pen that includes a brightening finish. The correcting side blurs imperfections with the littlest amount, thanks to its weightless maximum pigment load and spherical blurring powders, while the brightening side contains emollient Murumuru butter, plant-derived squalene, skin brightening plant extracts and pink and gold-tone pearls. SHEER LOVE This little moisturizing bullet sold out mere minutes after it was first released online. What makes the DIOR Rouge Dior Balm (P2300) so much more than the drugstore balm you toted in high school? Could it be the 95% natural origin ingredients that include red peony extract, pomegranate extract and shea butter? Perhaps it’s the midnight blue lacquered case, entwined…

Working with Sylvina Lopez—also known as Slo—always comes with a feeling of excitement and curiosity of what she’ll create. One of today’s most sought-after makeup artists, she built herself a notable client list thanks to her playful and adventurous aesthetic. She first gained attention for doing the transformative Halloween looks of popular celebrities such as Kathryn Bernardo, Ria Atayde and Isabelle Daza. Since then, she’s become an in-demand conceptual makeup artist for the likes of Kim Jones, Mond Gutierrez and many in the magazine industry. Lopez has a penchant for dramatic storytelling and her work speaks for itself. A self-taught artist, she notices color and texture wherever she goes. May it be from the lines of a painting or the colors of a dreamy skyscape, she lets these inspire the…

First shoots of the year lay down a precedent on what the year could be. A great first shoot could be the beginning of good energy that would hopefully last the rest of year. We felt quite excited knowing that it will be one of our favorites, Heart Evangelista-Escudero on the cover. Aside from her stunning features and her positive demeanor, she is the quintessential professional: always on time and an efficient and effective cover star. It came to no surprise that she arrived fifteen minutes earlier than the call time, all glammed up and wearing her first look for the shoot. Even if we only had a few hours to get our shots, nothing felt rushed as she knew her best angles, adjusting quickly to show off the beautiful…

From an outsider’s perspective, running a business looks too easy. You just take “aesthetic” flat lay photos, post it on social media and create good packaging. What they don’t realize is the curation, content planning and research that goes into every post. Take it from Rhea Bue, a creative who started out as a vlogger more than 10 years agopre-Instagram—who used her platform to express herself, and eventually ventured into business with her passion. She’s also a social media manager for different brands on top of managing her own, and also manages her own YouTube channel that already has 2 million views and counting. But how does Bue do it? Aside from being one of the most effortlessly stylish influencers in the city, her content is relatable to everyone. Her…

The funny thing about Bridgerton, Netflix’s Regency-era romp that dazzled many us with its frothy fashion and even frothier depictions of courtship and romance, was that its take on love was true. “We chose to love each other every single day,” said Bridgerton matriarch Violet to her doll-faced daughter Daphne. Later on the young wife echoes her mother’s sentiment to her dashing yet incorrigble husband, leading to their happily ever after. Trite, yes, but it has its truths. Falling in love is easy, but to stay in love and to love a person after having been and living with them for several years is hard. From the little annoyances—the way they chew their food or their inability to put dirty clothes inside a hamper—to late-game realizations that shake the very…

2021 is undoubtedly doubling down on its efforts to be better. Look, there’s not one, but two Pantone Colors of the Year. The beautiful contrast of Illuminating, a sunny yellow, and the rather exuberantly named Ultimate Gray, speaks volumes of the values we wish to uphold in this still-fresh time: warmth, calm, dependability and a good foundation. A good base is, of course, essential to beauty. In Rulebook and both Main Beauty editorials, discover how a flawless face is the perfect canvas for all the fun, irreverent and pretty makeup (think colorful liners, fanciful blush and juicy lip stains) befitting this brand new start. Meanwhile, in Beauty Blog we present Dominique Cojuangco, a marvelous beauty making her own way in society. In Artist Confidential, we chat with Sylvina Lopez, popularly…

Growing up in the public eye is not easy but Dominique Conjuangco does it beautifully, and, more importantly as her own person. With a “do more, do better” approach to life, Cojuangco lived independently abroad to pursue her studies in fashion, recently graduating as magna cum laude from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in California. She now impressively holds two degrees in fashion, all while working as part of the Benefit Cosmetics Global e-commerce team. Today, Cojuangco remains to be on our one-to-watch list with her impeccable style and innate grit behind all the glamour. She’s poised, self-assured and takes action for herself and for others. Coming into a new phase in her life with adulthood and womanhood, she has always believed that anyone at anytime can…

Patton Studio The new world has established new laws in dressing—easy, comfortable and versatile. These same values became the basis of loungewear brand Patton Studio. Aptly labeled as the “Foundation of every wardrobe,” Patton Studio is all about the simplicity of everyday wear combined with quality that gives every piece a special place in everyone’s forever wardrobe. The overall clean and practical aesthetic comes from both the color choices as well as the construction of every detail. From the bestselling seamless bodysuits and unitards to the chic, garterized sweats that you can easily wear both indoors and out and about, these comfortable everyday staples are new additions to your style ecosystem. What’s best about the brand is that you can also shop for your MEGA Man as they also offer…

OXFORD VACCINE Developers: University of Oxford and AstraZeneca Country of Origin: United Kingdom Efficacy: 90% Doses: 2 (28 days apart) MODERNA VACCINE Developers: Moderna and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Country of Origin: U.S.A Efficacy: 94.5% Doses:2 (28 days apart) PFIZER VACCINE Developers: Pfizer and BioNTech Country of Origin: Multinational Efficacy: 95% Doses: 2 (28 days apart) CORONAVAC Developers: Sinovac Country of Origin: China Efficacy: Ranging from 50.4%-90% Doses: 2 (28 days apart) SPUTNIK V Developers: Gamaleya Research Institute and Acellena Contract Drug Research and Development Country of Origin: Russia Efficacy: 91.4% Doses: 2 (21 days apart)…

Love is a choice. And apparently, a dream is a wish one’s heart makes. Together it’s hard to make heads or tails about the whole thing, but we will try anyway. After all, it’s the month of love and we’re here to tell you the myriad ways one nurtures the other. In Forvm, one of our editors makes a case for coming out in one’s own time. Yes to living one’s truth, but remember, it’s theirs, not yours. Meanwhile, in Feature Story, we ask several dreamers about their hopes for our country’s future, and the changes they wish to implement in the way we live, work, play and travel. Here’s what could be, they say, or what’s soon to happen, we hope. Lastly, in People, we go back to love,…

MOTHER’S DAY Inspired by his first muse, François Nars’ first beauty collection for 2021 is composed of—and named after—his stunning mother Claudette, a glamorous Parisienne with a distinct Rive Gauche style. The collection’s color palette is bold and intensely feminine, dominated by fiery sunset shades, shimmering ruby and dark peach. Highlights include the Claudette Cheek Duo (P2700), composed of peach and amber shades reminiscent of the ‘70s’ high octane glamour and bohemian sensibilities, as well as the limited edition Audacious Lipsticks (P1850). From the spiced rose Léa to the deep brown-red Ginette, we want them all. GROUND WORK Les Fleurs de Chanel, the brand’s S/S ’21 beauty collection is a veritable garden of delight. Inspired by hot florals and the rich earth, the range covers lips, complexion and eyes, adorning…

1 THE ONE THAT LASTS “The Baccarat Rouge 540 by MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN (P14,650/70mL) is a fragrance that feels like second skin. It opens with the luminous scents of jasmine and saffron but then softens into a prominent, woodsy blend of amber accord and freshly cut cedar, settling into the skin with a desirable depth and a dash of freshness. Sophisticated, elegant and sultry in all the best ways, it’s a high performance gourmand bottle that, with one spritz, leaves a lasting impression wherever you go.” - Peewee Reyes-Isidro, Editor-In-Chief 2 (JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER “In these uncertain times, I can’t help but fall in love with the idea of first love: it’s carefree, uncomplicated and brimming with optimism. These are the feelings evoked by LANVIN Modern Princess Blooming (P4950/90mL),…

As of January 2021, Aveda is proud to declare that all its products are 100% vegan. The years-long journey to get there was full of surprising turns, many of them challenging, but also incredibility gratifying for a brand that has long championed animal-rights and the environment. Reformulating such beloved products may not be easy, but true to their heritage, the brand soldiered on and came back with products that are better than ever. Good for us, and good for the world MUST HAVES: AVEDA Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo (P1200) AVEDA Shampure Dry Shampoo (P1900) AVEDA Invati Advanced Scalp Revitalizer (P3900) AVEDA Control Paste (P2400)…