Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i MEGA

In the early morning light, Solenn Heussaff Bolzico is positively golden. She’s bustling about her bedroom and the team is following her, taking photos as she fixes herself, cradles her baby. It seems like we can’t take a bad shot of her and we know that it’s not just the combination of good lighting and a comely subject. She is just radiating beauty—confident, simple and serene. Like many of us, the celebrated artist has been home for several months, quarantining with her young family—husband Nico Bolzico and Thylane Katana, their adorable eight-month-old baby. She’s been keeping busy with work, much of which we’ve seen on her social media channels, where she freely shares her hilarious but tender relationship with Bolzico and the learnings she’s picked up from her motherhood journey.…

1 ADANTE LEYESA When it comes to statement accessories, Adante Leyesa is alway top of mind. Coming from a career in the structured corporate world, Leyesa has always wanted to break free from the monotony by creating artistic accessories. After being named as the Grand Winner in an accessory design competition back in 2011, he took this chance into building a full-time career as a jewelry designer. His creations aren’t only worn by Manila’s elite fashion circles, but has also been an international success as women who value artistic pieces order from around the world. From semiprecious stones to indigenous materials, Leyesa never forgets to incorporate Filipino design into his creations. Today, Leyesa’s creations are one of the top accessory designers housed in Manile Fame, the country’s premier design and…

ASCENDING Royal blue is one of the colors that work well for any skin tone…

The construction and IT industries are generally dominated by men, but the entry of many female entrepreneurs and innovators have only made them grow leaps and bounds. Leading the pack is Charmaine Lagman, who together with husband Mike Lagman, built MC Geometric Proportions. The spark came when the duo were building their own home. “With positive responses for our home and with features in several magazines, clients began approaching us. From these low rise buildings, MCGP became a Triple-A licensed contractor; our projects scale from homes and high rise buildings to roads and bridges,” shares Lagman. As the head of MCGP, she crossed paths with a group of programmers who were discussing softwares and programs during the early stages of e-commerce 18 years ago. This was another catalyst for Lagman…

The pandemic is a great challenge to the fashion industry, but for designer Noel Crisostomo, he took it on by going straight to the essence of fashion—the fun and fantastic. “My color choices and prints become more bright and cheery to help buoy everyone’s spirits during this dark times,” he shares. This optimistic point-of-view didn’t just come because of the pandemic, but has been a value present throughout his designer journey. It was from an encyclopedia where a young Crisostomo first laid eyes on the transformative power of fashion. “I saw a black and white photo of Christian Dior with The New Look creation holding a ruler showing how [much] he had raised the hemline. It intrigued me so much because it was such a beautiful image,” he says. His…

“Art should comfort the disturbed, and disturb the comfortable,” is a famous quote by Mexican poet and activist Cesar A. Cruz that holds great weight in the current world we inhabit. It can be hard to find reprieve from all the chaos we’re surrounded in. Even just for a while, the arts have always been a place where one can be freed from the trappings of daily life, especially now where the year is marked with unforeseen circumstances. With each month that goes by, it seems that nothing is going right for this year; but none have been as devastating and life-altering than the coronavirus. For months, we’ve been under orders to follow quarantine protocols that resigned ourselves to our homes and put a halt to our plans. Our economy…

Prioritizing one’s physical and mental health became more vital to every Filipino in these trying times. This includes having different versions of self-care to simply take a breather from all that’s happening. Some have entered the world of gardening, while others revamped their lifestyle by adding some workouts here and there. To be able to face a new day feeling realigned and level-headed, a person’s wellbeing is considered an essential. Now that establishments such as beauty and aesthetic centers are starting to open their doors once again, more people are thinking about investing in safe and effective treatments and proceduresaspartoftheirself-careregimen.Thisis to ensure that they can put their best faces forward to get over the humps they encounter each day. #THEBESTU Looking and feeling your best isn’t always as easy as…

AESOP G/F Greenbelt 5, Online via aesop.greenbelt@wwi. ph; AIVEE SKIN Online via theaiveeclinic.com; AVEDA G/F Greenbelt 5, Online via Zalora, Select Salons; AVEENO Leading department stores, Online via Lazada, Shopee, Watsons; BABYLISS Rustan’s, Ansons, SM, Robinsons, Landmark, Online via BeautyMNL, Lazada, Shopee, Zalora, BeautyBar, Watsons; BAYLIS & HARDING Rustan’s Department Stores; BELO MEDICAL GROUP Alabang, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Bonifacio Global City, Greenbelt, Powerplant Mall, S Maison Conrad, Shangri-La Plaza, SM Megamall ; BELO shopbelomed.com; BENEFIT Boutique Greenbelt 2; Online via Lazada, Zalora, BeautyMNL; BIO-SCIENCE All Watson’s and SM stores nationwide, Online via Watsons, Lazada, Shopee and Zalora; BLYTHE BY CARELINE Watsons, SM Beauty, Robinsons, Landmark, Online via Lazada, Shopee, pnybeauty.com; BOBBI BROWN Online via Lazada, Rustans.com; THE BODY SHOP SM Mall of Asia, The Podium, Online via thebodyshop.com.ph and…

FASHION BERSHKA, Glorietta 2, SM Megamall; BURBERRY, Greenbelt 4, Rustan’s Makati; FENDI, Shangri-La Plaza Mall; GIVENCHY, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Greenbelt 4; GUCCI, Greenbelt 4, Shangri-La Plaza Mall; H&M, SM Southmall, SM Makati, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, Uptown Mall; LOUIS VUITTON, Greenbelt 4, Solaire Resort and Casino; MAZEE PH, web <instagram.com/mazeeph>; NAWA.PH <instagram.com/nawa.ph>; PLASTIC HONEYMOON, web <instagram.com/plastichoneymoon>; PRADA, Greenbelt 4, Solaire Resort and Casino; SAINT LAURENT, Shangri-La Plaza Mall; SOLE ACADEMY, UPTC, Trinoma, Bonifacio High Street; STONE RIVER, web <instagram.com/stoneriverph>; STRADIVARIUS, Glorietta 2, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, SM Aura; THE NEW MOOD, <thenewmood.online>; TOPSHOP, Greenbelt 3, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Power Plant Mall; UNIQLO, SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura, SM Makati, SM Megamall; UNIVERS, East Tower One Rockwell; Adora Greenbelt 5; ZARA, Greenbelt 5, Power Plant Mall,…

STYLE TIP Settle into this confident trend by leaning on the allure of the classic black…

“I am disciplined. I am focused. I am healthy.” Confidently written in a journal entry one Thursday morning last March, these self-affirmations were much-needed pick-me-ups for a then troubled Ben Wintle. And why wouldn’t he need all the positive reinforcement he can muster during that time–his wife, Iza, was about to be admitted into a hospital; his phone was buzzing with messages of concern from friends and family; his company, Booky, was carefully navigating around the shifting food and beverage industry. But amid the emerging trials and tribulations from all aspects of his life, Ben manages to achieve a state of mental clarity all throughout. Honestly speaking, it’s rather surprising for a man like Ben to be able to keep a headspace free from the constant internal oohs and ahhs.…

Let’s admit it, the times have forced us to face our real selves. While on lockdown and self-isolation for several months now, we have been stripped off the pleasures of things such as a trip to the salon, pampering at the spa or even a visit to our favorite aesthetics center or dermatologist. Suddenly, doing these mundane things seemed life-threatening or high-risk. Deprived of our beauty “necessities,” we have been compelled to go back to basics, and ultimately do things on our own. During this period, I felt so depressed every time I saw strands of my hair turn to gray, and as I faced my face everyday sans makeup, I began to resent the way I looked. I started to notice all the flaws, and it became more pronounced…

UPSIDE DOWN Boxy and oversized cuts are both playful yet polished…

Burnout. It is defined as the reduction of a fuel or substance to nothing through use or combustion. In recent years, we’ve seen many creatives step down or take a hiatus from their work due to a dizzying schedule and intense pressure to perform. Even high-profile labels aren’t immune— Balenciaga, Dior, and Lanvin have seen their celebrated creatives depart from their plum positions, despite the fame, fortune and influence afforded to them. Fashion industry burnout is definitely an unwanted trend. “There is too much information, too much product, too fast, too much demand. And fashion is the fastest creative cycle, historically speaking, it’s faster than technology,” says fashion journalist Kate Betts. “It was a six-month cycle, but now it’s a three-month cycle and actually if you talk to a designer…

The iconic Pasha de Cartier invites people to take a wider view of the world through defying conformity with creativity. It has attracted like-minded individuals generation after generation. And with the coming of the latest Pasha, a new circle of popular and widely successful artists have been chosen to be its ambassadors. TROYE SIVAN “Who I am is very closely linked to what I make. I’m really pushing myself to explore the edges of my creative pursuits.” Having faith in his creativity, defying all obstacles, and expressing his personality without compromise: these are the keys to the success of singer-songwriter and actor Troye Sivan. Time magazine described him as “the perfect pop star of 2018” and he continued his rise with his album, Bloom. MAISIE WILLIAMS “To build something and…

And just like that we’re in the last legs of the year. Early on in 2020, the internet was already rife with memes about what a sh*t show it was turning out to be. We asked ourselves (often), really, how much worse can it be? Mind you, it’s still not over. Not by a long shot. Many of us are still burdened by the prospect of death and illness lingering in the air, of life compressing within the same four walls we’ve been staring at for almost a year now, of being stretched out until we feel unbearably light for our being. It’s not over, but we have to get on. We have to get going. And we start by doing what we’ve been doing since we started being human,…

t’s an innocuous greeting, a cheeky I adieu to a girlfriend, a lover. Stay beautiful, beautiful. Many of us spent a good part of the year in hibernation, barely touching the jars and tubes and pans that was part of our daily routine. Many of our essentials became, well, nonessential: the lipstick covered by a face mask; the highlighter unseen in the virtual world. Hairstyles grew out, nails remained unpainted… Beauty was undone, laid bare. But we did not simply let go. Working from home and with time on our side, skincare became a bigger deal, as did health, which made exercise and eating well become bigger priorities. Stay beautiful. These days, we use it out of hope, out of defiance. It’s the message we got from the bigwigs of…

There was a time when the beauty industry seemed invincible. In cosmetics, new brands were popping up daily, serving even the most niche beauty needs; celebrities were coming into the game and winning us over, thanks to progressive and inclusive approaches; social media kept feeding our desire to consume, not just beautiful things, but to see beautiful things being made, reviewed, and fawned over; skincare and aesthetic innovations were moving at warp speed, to a point where the question was no longer if you had any work done, but why haven’t you yet. Like any growing industry, beauty had its shortcomings and issues, but as a whole it seemed like the industry was going from strength to strength. It was no mystery why—everything just looked better with a dusting of…

Days have become longer, but moments have been so fleeting. Our routines have changed leaving us no time to adjust. This scattered mindset coupled with a slow move to address the pandemic has left us not only to fend for ourselves, but for us to face our inner self, our hopes, and our fears while fully embracing all these emotions that we are feeling during this time. In this issue, we share the validity of all these emotions. You may feel sorrow or gratitude in these moments and we are here to assure you that we are all here with you. The important thing is to embrace these emotions to find a greater understanding in yourself. In this issue, we highlight feelings that root not only from new routines but…

I was a very confident 22-year-old. I went to an international high school and graduated top ten percent of my class, with honors and an international baccalaureate diploma. I also got a spot at a highly coveted American university where I double majored in Biology and Math. I came home to the Philippines because I wanted to give back to my country and at that time, I thought I was so cool. My confidence was sky high. I thought I would succeed in anything I chose to do and I also thought anything I touched would turn into gold. Together with some friends, we conceived a product that we felt would be revolutionary, an LGBTQ magazine for the Filipino. It was glossy, had beautifully written narratives, and high-quality photographs. Like…

STYLE TIP Already loud and proud in its realization, it will be wise to temper the vibrancy of tie-dye with more neutral staples BRO TIP Be mindful of the order that goes into skincare. Typically, lighter products go first before heavier creams for better absorption JUST PUMP IT A little goes a long way with skincare. A pea-sized pump or careful dollop is enough to ensure a full effect…

The tides have changed and we are riding a brand new wave. Yes. Still, we rise. From our usual big fashion issue rich in editorials, out-of-the-box stories and comprehensive shopping guide, the new MEGA was washed anew with sustainability, innovation, coping with the times, and protective gear must-haves for last month’s issue. It was a different kind of story to tell—living proof of how everyone must adapt and survive. The fashion industry was purified. This October, we go face-to-face with real beauty, beginning with actress, artist and now, a mother—Solenn Heusaff. No one else is a more perfect muse than the French-Filipina who’s a no-fuss beauty, never shying away from being bare-faced and unfiltered. Running errands with a face fully made up used to be the norm. But in the…

TAKE THE LEAP Navy blue and gray is an unexpectedly strong color combination…

The depths of the world's oceans have long mystified our imaginations to the point that it has become a subject of fear. It's an innate feeling for us on the surface-we fear what we don't know. But one word often escapes us when describing the vast waters: home. Once thought to be devoid of life, the oceans are home to millions of Earth's living creatures. And just like every home, it must be cared for, especially given how high production rates in consumer goods equate to high waste production. In fact, over 8 million metric tons of plastic trash enters seas every year. That's why it's disheartening to learn that only 8% of the ocean is in any kind of designated marine protected area. Looking to shift this number is…

Anthony Bourdain once said: “Food is everything we are.” An extension of our history and soul, the value of eating meals as a family is deeply embedded in Filipino culture. Food is the center of every celebration that can bring everyone together. Eating out at our most-loved restaurants for Sunday dinners have always been part of our weekly routines. However, the act of dining out with our loved ones has now completely changed. Because of the pandemic, any form of social gathering is now prohibited. The once bustling streets filled with restaurants is now unrecognizable with many forced to close down and some with only a handful of customers a day. As the fight for survival continues, we asked the professionals to share their unfiltered truths in keeping the industry…

Similar to many people, I have had a strange relationship with my body and appearance. As the quarantine extends and idle time is easy to come by, I find myself staring at the mirror more often. However, the longer I stare, the more my mind magnifies my flaws like the acne marks on my cheek, how my arms aren’t toned anymore, or the rough skin on my knees. I look at another mirror and it has turned into a carnival funhouse, distorting my whole appearance and making me feel something far from fun. I try to distract myself by going on social media. I scroll through Instagram Stories and many of which are people working out or sharing how their skin has cleared throughout the lockdown. I turn to YouTube…

The start of the decade defied all of our expectations. Sure, it has had its lows; living in isolation, less human contact, and a seemingly endless string of bad news among other things. You might feel spent, and that’s okay, because we’re here to change that. This year’s beauty awards is one for the books. As we tested and coordinated virtually, the team was reminded why we do what we do—beauty connects us, no matter where we are. It makes us feel better and look damn good; It’s our salvation in isolation. So, without further ado, here are the winners of MEGA 2020 Beauty Awards. Skincare: Anti-aging Maintain your skin’s youthful vigor with these age-defying remedies To the unfamiliar, “glass skin” is a K-beauty trend that took the industry by…

Over Zoom, the zeitgeist of the pandemic, Solenn Heussaff Bolzico sits barefaced and relaxed in what appears to be her bedroom. Sporting a shirt with rolled up sleeves, her loose tresses tucked behind one ear, a virtual Solenn attempts to define beauty. Solenn, whose ascent to It-Girl status was swift, whose first name is so resonant it can stand alone, is a sought-after actress and endorser. Since her beginnings as an island castaway in the Philippine leg of Survivor, Solenn’s decade-long career resulted in dozens of roles on TV, multiple iconic films, hosting gigs, and countless endorsements. Her side projects are no small feat either. As the ultimate multi-hyphenate, Solenn also holds exhibits for her widely-acclaimed art, launches fashion lines (she studied fashion design in France), and has published two…

For the past few months, we have grappled, wrestled, and struggled with the concept of what normal has become for all of us. While many continue to look at once was, hopelessly wishing things would just go back to how we understood it to be, the rest have been working on carving out the path we all would move forward in, redefining what it is to live with this aggressive shift in our histories hovering over us for the rest of life itself. Everything has been shaken up, undone, and turned on its head, and now we are making better choices—whatever, wherever it may be. MEGA Man still means business and is taking its chances, charging ahead in an approach that is conscious and considerate. This month, we meet Ben…

1 LANEIGE A wise man once said: “Moisture is the essence of wetness. And wetness is the essence of beauty.” If anyone understands this more it has to be the skin, and well, Derek Zoolander. All cult-favorite film references aside, the skin goes through much on the daily, which is why it is imperative to hydrate and nourish it at any given opportunity. Anchored on the pursuit of water science to maintain optimal moisture levels, Laneige quenches parched skin with a cool, tall, and most refreshing glass of water in the Water Bank Hydro Essence. A lightweight and highly-concentrated formulation, the best-selling innovation is crafted with green mineral water and infused with vitamin-rich kale, watercress, and beet to deliver intense clarity and hydration minus the sticky feeling typically akin to…

Transit can be a very lonely thing, especially when in between destinations. In the rush to get from one point to the other, this is where the rest succumb to their most vulnerable. An introspection often unexpected, Dubai-based Filipino artist Augustine Paredes dissects connections and encounters that cuts across space and time, encompassing the nuances of feelings unbridled. Fresh off the heels of Conversations At The End Of The Universe, a limited edition book of photographs and poetry, this is an exclusive excerpt of the yet-to-be-released follow up on prose and images aptly called, Long Night Stands With Lonely, Lonely Boys…