Nicole Pastrano, Makeup Artist.

Makeup. Yikes.  This word actually scares the hell out of me.  Why?  Because I am absolutely clueless about it. Sure, I put on BB cream and a little blush everyday, but that's a no-brainer, right?  I think makeup---the one that's done professionally---should make you prettier than you already are.  It should enhance your pretty features and hide your imperfections.  It shouldn't change your face.  Makeup shouldn't be used to paint a freakin' face over yours.  That's just....sad.

My friends and I (A Cord of Three, Event Specialists...check us out at acordofthree.webs.com), have worked with a number of makeup artists.  Most of them are really good.  They think fast (yes, you actually have to think of what colors/ shades/ types of makeup would work well on certain skin types/ tones, hindi yung puro kolorete lang), they blend well...they make our brides look stunning!  Some of the really good ones we've worked with are Mayone Bakunawa, Cherry Pacheco-Uy, Faye Young, Pong Niu and Jinky Ureta.  There are a lot of good makeup artists,  but of course, everyone has to have a favorite.  And mine is no other than Nicole Pastrano.

Grabbed from Nicole's facebook page

I've known Nicole since she was born (okay, okay, she's my cousin), and I think she started playing with makeup when she was in High School (I THINK...I mean, she started wearing heels even before she started walking so it's possible that she was already putting on makeup during her toddler years).  After attending film school in Cebu, she did a couple indie films, and attended Makeup Design Academy. She would always put makeup on herself or her sister, Noelle, (who is her partner hairstylist), and post pictures online.  She's a natural :)  She has done makeup on a couple of local actors and actresses, but of course, she was too shy to take pictures for her portfolio.  She currently works as a makeup artist for a big international makeup brand.

The first time she did my makeup (for a wedding) was last year.  Honestly, I was scared.  I've had makeup done in salons before, and I often wondered why it would take them more than an hour to do my makeup.  I was under the impression that my face was not the easiest face to put makeup on (I have skin asthma and I don't ever remember having smooth, blemish-free skin).  I wasn't facing the mirror then, and my eyes were closed most of the time, and so when she told me that she was done, I opened my eyes and said, "Tapos na?!"  I looked at the mirror and she said, "Do you want me to remove anything...or add anything?" To which I  replied, "No, no...I'm good!"  I think it only took her half an hour to do my full makeup, and I just loved it the way it was :)

Here it is.  Makeup by Nicole Pastrano and hair by Noelle Pastrano.

I love how she would always ask me what colors I want her to use and what kind of look I want.  Also, after she's done, she'd always ask if there's something I want to add or remove.  That just goes to show the kind of professionalism she has.  She's REALLY good, but she also knows that there is always room for improvement.  And you know what else I love about the way she does makeup??  It's the fact that I can still see myself in there! After she's done, I KNOW that it's still me staring back from the mirror!  I've gone to salons before, and ended up asking myself where the heck my face was underneath all the gunk, but Nicole, she's the one who made me feel that I shouldn't be scared of makeup anymore, LOL.  She doesn't complain about call times, she gets the job done when it's supposed to be done, she asks if you're in a hurry...she's a wedding coordinator's dream come true! Haha!

Check out her portfolio pics (Nic, I hope you don't mind, but I grabbed away):

Model: Noelle Pastrano

Sultry.

Model: Sara Aghabararian

Fresh.

Before and After (men's makeup)
Model: Dino Pastrano (kailangan talaga ganyan yung "Before" photo, Dino?? lol)

Thanks, Nic, for taking time out to do my makeup :)

If your makeup artist is as gorgeous, humble and professional as Nicole...you can never go wrong.

Nicole Pastrano, Makeup Artist.

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post her number here, but for inquiries and bookings for Nicole, you may email acordofthree@ymail.com.  We can just send you her contact number.  Checkout her website here.