Philippines missed the chance for a back-to-back win for the Miss Universe crown, but no tears need to be shed here, ladies! Here at Calyxta, we are truly beaming with pride as to how elegantly Maxine Medina carried herself all throughout the competition. She received more than her fair share of harsh criticisms, but there was definitely no stopping this confident young lady as she battled her way to her well-deserved spot at the Top 6.

As our special way of honoring Maxine, we have put together 6 of her best looks that reveal the other side of our Miss Universe Philippines 2016 – long gowns and pageantry aside. Take a look at the stylish world of Maxine Medina – off the pageant court! 

1. Boyfriend Blazer

Maxine definitely knows how to travel in style as she struts down the streets of Tokyo in high-fashion. She’s a sight to behold clad with an oversized emerald green blazer paired with chic tan ankle boots (that are totally big in the shoe game right now)! She balances the busy look with a low slicked back ponytail, and finishes it off with deep red lips!

2. Classic Tank Top and Jeans

Maxine glamorously pulls off the classic black tank top and jeans, while pairing it with a simple black peep-toe pumps. Keeping it simple and fresh, she opts for a relaxed ‘do by letting her gorgeous locks down.

3. Lady Boss Trousers

Slaying the office ensemble in style, Maxine keeps it monochromatic with a loose polo and wide-leg trousers combo. To elevate the lady boss glam to another level, she sports a loose low bun with a side part for her ‘do while wearing her favorite red lips!

4. Pop of Color

Making the world her very own runway, Maxine is truly a showstopper in this stylish white top and bright orange high-waist trousers. She pairs it off with a slicked back high bun and nude lips to keep the whole look neat and shipshape!

5. Casual and Comfy

Maxine also knows how to keep it young and fresh with an off-the-shoulder top and comfy black dress while rocking those white kicks! She opted for a soft high bun and a moderately glammed up makeup to complement the casual look!  

6. Effortless Glam

Looking effortlessly beautiful while traveling is undeniably one thing we ought to learn from Maxine! With her hair in tip-top shape and bright pink lips, how could she have been sitting on the plane for hours and step out looking like she just came straight from a fashion show? 

The Calyxta Crew salutes you, Maxine!

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Styling the likes of A-listers Nigella Lawson, Vanessa Matsunaga, Kim Cam Jones and Solenn Heussaff represents Bea Constantino’s impressive body of work. Her sublime balance of eye-catching visuals and stylistic depth has earned her purpose-driven aesthetic plaudits from the industry. Her work over the past 14 years continues to layer in more dimensions to her craft, cementing her legacy as one of the country’s preeminent stylists.

But the gorgeous stylist is aware that she couldn’t be a fashion stylist forever. She knows that fashion is her world, but there’s more to what she could do. She admits, “I am at this point in my career when I have to ponder about the things that I had accomplished in the past 14 years. I’m at this point where I question myself about the sense in all that I do. It’s not just about styling or dressing up someone or looking good, it’s also about a sense of purpose like homecoming, heritage, giving back, tradition, authenticity – it’s all about that.”

She ultimately found her sense of purpose by revisiting her roots. Moving forward meant looking back. Beyond the glam setting of her styling world, Bea now also immerses herself in her ancestral Zamboanga. It is here where Bea was generally drawn to the diverse richness of the indigenous ethnicities – Subanon, Sama, Tausog, Yakan, Badjao – and in particular to the beautiful visions of the woven textiles that were handmade by the artisans of the Yakan tribe.

Finding her future path was an outcome of a random trip, but an outcome of an epiphany that led the pretty stylist to rethink her purpose in life. Bea told Calyxta, “So, I woke up one day, and I felt the need to have a sense of purpose. Then, I found myself in this path back to my roots – putting up the Herman & Co., a heritage concept brand that I co-own together with my brother Dinjo. And, suddenly, it felt like an anointed path, that I’m meant to do it. It felt so right.”

Bea’s venture to Herman & Co. does not only highlight her years in fashion but more importantly tells the narrative of her family’s German-Chavacano-Tausug heritage. The genesis of the concept brand began with Sulu Coffee, the twin brother of the woven clothing line that Bea spearheads. The Sulu Coffee narrates a century-old story that started in 1860s when Bea’s great-great grandfather Captain Herman Leopold Schück landed in Jolo. The German merchant mariner fell in love with the Philippine town, established a brotherhood (by way of blood compact) with Sultan Jamalul Alam, and settled in Lukut Lapas, Jolo where he built a plantation with thousand shrubs of coffee. 

After more than three years of upholding the family’s heritage, Bea and her brother  (members of the fifth generation of the Schück clan) have built Herman & Co. in promoting the local cultures. From enriching the lives of the coffee farmers in Sulu, the company, through Bea’s leadership, has reached out to the Yakan weavers, and recently started a clothing line that uses the indigenous woven textiles made by the indigenous tribe. In a matter of months, Herman & Co. released limited pieces of Victoria, a collection of trendy varsity jackets with intricately handmade accents of the Yakan weaves. Over the holidays, the company came out with colorful coordinates, Tiara, that come with a reversible top and culottes that imbibe the vibrant fusion between the Malay culture and Yakan artisanship. Meanwhile, the stylish and colorful weaves are also used in Herman & Co.’s exclusively designed neckerchief and standout #OOTD post worthy top, Amirah. 

With her sense of purpose, fueled by her creativity, passion and fashion acumen, Bea is not only continuing her family’s legacy but she is also helping improve the lives of the local artisans. She quipped, “If I’m able to impart something to someone then that makes for a very fulfilling journey.”

In our exclusive interview, watch Bea Constantino answer more questions about her as a stylist and as a founder of the brand Herman & Co.

The post Bea Constantino’s Homecoming appeared first on Calyxta.

We begin our retrospect with the ladies who have been positively influencing women through social media. These darlings know how to harness the power of social media platforms –  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, blogs  – in touching and transforming lives. Let’s all come together in celebrating our social media sweethearts: Mari Jasmine, Carla Humphries, Aryanna Epperson, and Tricia Gosingtian.

Tricia Gosingtian (August 2016)

Any young girl who is perennially plugged to the net will certainly know (and perhaps even idolize) Tricia Gosingtian. This life, style and travel photographer-blogger has been influencing her legions of followers through her self-described sophisti-cute persona since 2007. This is the “Tricia Effect”: the phenomenon where ladies—mostly teens—profess and flaunt their love for pinks, lace, soft-looking filters, frilly skirts, J-pop, and the Korean girl group SNSD, all through the influence of Tricia.

A photographer-turned-lifestyle-blogger by circumstance, Tricia has evolved from an oft-liked Lookbook.nu mannequin to a legit digital presence whose net worth and ad rate cards could send you gambling your career for the slightest chance of becoming an online celebrity. She is also an author, peddling “150 style essentials for every girl.”

What’s surprising is not her rise to fame; it’s her longevity. In an industry saturated with young blood equipped with teams—writers, photographers, a makeup artist—to document their #OOTDs, staying relevant while aging is the unspoken challenge.  

Read her full interview here.

Aryanna Epperson (June 2016)

This pretty young thing has been able to successfully juggle creating highly-followed social media accounts and being an MTV VJ at the same time. She also manages to make it to the dean’s list at the De La Salle University, where she is majoring in Marketing Management. (Her parents are Tom and Jenni Epperson, both well known in their own right as photographer and stylist, respectively.)

“No one had ever told me to try YouTube. I guess it had to do with my growing up watching YouTubers. I eventually thought, hey, I could do something like that, you know? And I know how to do video editing. It started off with art, and then branched out to travel, then food, lifestyle…it was a form of self-discovery through that form of media. And I’ve been focusing a lot on beauty over the past year.”

Read her full interview here.

Carla Humphries (February 2015)

“I think the best love stories are the ones you appreciate even after they’re gone,” Carla Humphries says as she’s being made-up for her shoot and the whole room bursts out in agreement. This is, of course, after she narrates the love story she has experienced recently in Europe. It wasn’t quite a whirlwind romance because the story unfolds over the span of two years and in various exotic locations all around the romantic cities in Europe but it was definitely life changing in the sense that it was a turning point for the 26-year old actress and artist.

It was only in coming home that she was able to truly grasp the magnitude of her self-discovery. It was highlighted by the connection she made with her ex, but it was bigger than that. “It was an opportunity for me to fall in love with myself,” she says. “I saw the beauty of who I am and where I come from.” 

Read her full interview here.

Mari Jasmine (December 2014)

It is her fresh face and approachable demeanor that makes people truly take notice. As a model and television host for ETC Channel’s Etcetera, she is no stranger to the spotlight, as she started doing small appearances in commercials and television shows back in Sydney, Australia where her family is based. This brunette beauty has toured all over Asia and Europe to do campaigns for major hair and skin care brands, among others.

In between editorials and photo shoots, Mari maintains a blog http://marijasmine.com/blog/where she posts health-related tips and even shares some of her own recipes. She grew up eating well because of her mother who is an amazing cook.

Mari doesn’t claim to be a hardcore health buff as she occasionally has a cheat day or two. Her interest in living a healthy lifestyle deepened when she watched food documentaries and researched more about it. She shares her advocacy of eating well on her blog and hopes to inspire her readers in the process.

Read her full interview here.

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The post Calyxta Girls Revisited – The Social Media Sweethearts appeared first on Calyxta.

To all our gorgeous readers,

We celebrate two years of Calyxta this month.

It has been a challenging yet fulfilling journey. You have entrusted us with being your source and resource for aspirational yet attainable beauty care, and we are grateful.

We believe that beauty is the currency of life. True beauty – inside and out – enables, empowers and enriches our lives. True beauty allows us to all come together in touching and improving lives.

To best celebrate our anniversary, we will be launching our advocacy platform. Education and employment are the two key metrics by which women’s development in nations are measured. While women’s literacy in the Philippines has progressively scored higher than men’s, this literacy has not translated to employment. Women’s functional literacy rate is double that of men (meaning, girls have better intellectual aptitude than boys) yet they lag behind men in the workforce.

Our advocacy platform will aim to bring women together and connect them with employment opportunities. It’s an opportunity for us to continue in our mission of becoming a true beauty source and resource for women.

“We are all different…born into a thousand stories and molded by our diverse experiences

We are…
Steadfast in spirit
Driven to achieve
Lofty in aspirations
Bound by beauty

We all strive for halcyon days.

Let’s all come together.

Lyda

LYDA DE DIOS

(Chief Operations Officer)

The post Letter from our COO appeared first on Calyxta.

I started getting curious at around 6 years old watching my mom, lola and titas get ready for an event. It was a process that was akin to painting a picture, layer upon layer of products that always ended with the lips, usually a bright crimson or merlot. I was mesmerized. Watching my mom take off her make-up was interesting, too—a sheet of facial tissue with Pond’s cold cream every single night before sleeping. One day, I thought, that would be me.

I got introduced to the late make up maestro Kevyn Aucoin when I was around 21. I literally poured over his books Making Faces and Face Forward for hours trying to replicate the looks with my meager collection of cheap make up. I learned how to do a smoky eye and line my lips. When I was a pre-teen, I also had a colored eyeliner stage, wearing it only during the summer since it wasn’t allowed in school. I felt so grown-up and cool, haha!

Little did I know that when I turned the big 4-0, I’d end up in beauty. After being in fashion for more than a decade, it’s a refreshing change. I used to rush out the door with a bare face, not bothering to even curl my lashes. Nowadays, I take care in wearing light foundation, mascara and a bright lip. I found myself having fun playing with different shades—purple is my new favorite!

I’m very excited to be working at Calyxta, with like-minded people who love the art of make up, hair and skincare as much as I do. I hope you join me in this fun journey to an even more beautiful you!

Speaking of beautiful girls, our April cover girl Kiana Valenciano is a natural beauty, a vibrant spirit with a thirst for wandering the world. Meeting her was an enjoyable experience, her easygoing nature and smile was infectious. Read all about her rise in the music and fashion industries, two of my favorites things!

April is also all about pampering yourself. We’ve come up with ways to bring the spa experience home by way of our beauty deals and introduction of new brands in the shop. Staying safe under the sun has never been more relevant and we’ve got the tools you need to enjoy the summer months, stress-free.

Have an awesome summer, everyone!

Anne B. Arguelles

Managing Director

The post appeared first on Calyxta.

To celebrate the love month in an inclusive way, we decided to put model siblings Jessica and Sky Yang on our cover. This brother-sister duo are so close and inspire each other so much, one would not think that there is actually a five-year age gap between them. I swear, they could be mistaken for twins! Check out their story and gorgeous photos on the cover story page!

To go against the grain this Valentine’s Day, take a cue from Jessica’s Boho-meets-Rock n’ Roll make up looks. From unique colored lipsticks like blue and greige, to yellow eyeshadow and lime colored eyeliner; it’s all about staying away from the sticky sweet pinks and trying out something a little more edgy. We have everyone’s favorite long wear matte lippies in all brands and shades for you to choose from to kiss-proof yourself on Vday!

Much love to you and yours!

The post Editor’s Note – February appeared first on Calyxta.