Ladies Who Lunch XIII:The BusinessWorld Female Forum presents "Make it with makeup"

With the exception of French women who, even after centuries of cosmetic evolution, still dismiss it as vulgaire, women from different cultures see makeup as an essential part of their beauty habit.

In magazines and in TV shows, vanity experts have pointed out that makeup is one of the things that can make or break a woman's look for the day. An overdone eyeshadow, a clumpy mascara, or a brightly colored lipstick—something only a lucky few can pull off—can spell disaster to a woman's overall appearance.

“Makeup is something that boosts your confidence, so you have to do it right,” said professional makeup artist RB Chanco as she addressed some 20 female guests who were invited to attend Ladies Who Lunch: The BusinessWorld Female Forum.

Now celebrating its fourth year, the Ladies Who Lunch forum hosted by BusinessWorld and HerWord.com took on a lighter subject, but it was one that was just as crucial as any other issue plaguing women today.

The female forum was held at a loft inside the artist-inspired The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences in Makati City. It began with an elegant lunch prepared by the culinary team of Brasserie Boheme by The Gustavian, a fine-dining restaurant located at the ground level of The Picasso.

Chanco began her makeup talk just as the ladies were enjoying their desserts. She explained that there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving Mother Nature's work a little touch-up every now and then. After all, makeup can work wonders on the face: it can highlight a woman's best facial assets and it can even hide the ones that are best left hidden.

There are a number of different tricks and techniques that professional makeup artists have developed to make applying makeup easier. And Chanco was generous enough to share with the ladies her basic makeup steps, with a few tips and tricks.

The forum on beauty didn't just focus on Makeup 101. Chanco, who also teaches professional makeup courses at the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA), said a lot of things have changed in the way women apply makeup. For one, the availability of high technology cosmetics gave way to creative makeup techniques. Citing her training from a beauty academy in New York, she also said a lot of makeup rules are already outdated.

For instance, she stressed that women should leave their pressed powder at home. Instead of re-applying makeup, she recommended women to use an oil blotter instead. It was one of the few pointers that surprised the female guests who were invited to learn a few makeup tricks from one of the city’s most sought-after makeup artists.

Applying makeup on the face may seem complicated to some, but it's not rocket science. As most professional makeup artists would say, the key is to “practice, practice, practice.” Not only that, to achieve a perfectly made-up face—that is, without looking like a clown—one must also do a lot of research. And most important of all, wearing makeup is all about confidence. A flawless makeup, Chanco said, should make a woman look fresh, vibrant, and ready to put her best face forward.