Anne Curtis is MEGA’s May cover star. With a face card like that, what of her makeup? MEGA Beauty Director Agoo Azcuna-Bengzon talks about how to final look came together
When Anne Curtis gets in front of a camera, she is dutiful, present, and utterly precise. And her beauty doesn’t take away the moment that is Anne Curtis—in fact, it magnifies it. On the big screen, Anne morphs into Mae, Aya, and Nina—all the roles and all the stories she’s taken care of and given life to. But on MEGA’s cover, she makes a whole other conversation with the camera in Michael Leyva, Carl Arcusa, and Rafa Worldwide, all partnered with shining Tiffany & Co. jewelry—and she is purely Anne. MEGA’s Beauty Director Agoo Azcuna-Bengzon, alongside makeup artist Robbie Piñera, decided that her makeup should testify to the beauty of now. A look that is insistent and unapologetic, but is restrained in other areas to keep it all well-balanced. Pinera is mindful and expressive in Anne’s makeup, and in the artistry of her beauty, he striked a balance between bold and vivid and subdued and soft.
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“We actually started with a bold deep red ombré lip which looked perfect with the first outfit Anne wore. However, as the shoot progressed and the ensembles curated by stylist Eldzs Mejia changed, so did the makeup—organically,” Agoo shares with MEGA, giving us a look into the behind-the-scenes. “A nude, glossy lip wasn’t originally in the beauty deck that day, but the dress by Michael Leyva that eventually made it to the cover called for a less-is-more approach makeup-wise, hence the pared-down lip,” she continues. Agoo also put emphasis on how Anne’s skin was kept natural and dewy to highlight Anne’s flawless complexion.
Finding the balance between feminine and fierce is demanding, but it comes naturally to Robbie when applying this kind of makeup on Anne’s face. She is fiercely elegant with carefully painted eyes in a soft mix of sensual browns and sultry pinks, and glossy high-shine lips that is indisputably glamorous without being overtly so. It’s no surprise that everyone Robbie touches—artists, supermodels, and A-list actresses such as MEGA’s May star is left with a moment of assured confidence.
His partnership with hair stylist Raymond Santiago makes them one of the most versatile glam teams in the beauty and fashion industry—so it’s no surprise Anne has them on speed dial. For the cover, Raymond gives Anne’s short-do natural, voluminous care that looks wet.
“For hair, we wanted to work with Anne’s natural locks,” Agoo explains, “but for a little drama, we gave it a wet finish with pieces of layers that fell naturally over her face as she moved according to the direction of photographer BJ Pascual and MEGA’s Creative Chief, Patrick Ty.” Agoo also shares that the wet hair look is a nod to the “hydro-bob”, a top hairstyle trend this summer, as it easily lends a layer of sultriness to the overall study. “But since actual wet hair doesn’t stay wet for long, Raymond made sure to use products that made Anne’s hair look wet and piece-y for a good amount of time,” the beauty director explains.
All this to say—Agoo, Raymond, and Robbie’s treatment of Anne’s beauty has never been more pronounced, spotlighted, and simon-pure. She continues to share, “The goal was to highlight Anne’s natural features—her flawless skin, pretty freckles, full lips, engaging eyes, bold brows, and perfectly textured locks.”
Read more about how Anne Curtis rediscovers a new definition of beauty through motherhood, growth, and passion in MEGA’s May 2024 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photographed by BJ PASCUAL. Behind-the-Scenes Photos by TIMOTHY DUENAS. Creative Direction PATRICK TY. Art Direction BRIE VENTURA. Beauty Direction AGOO AZCUNA BENGZON. Production JONES PALTENG. Styling ELDZS MEJIA. Sittings Editor PEEWEE REYES- ISIDRO. Makeup ROBBIE PIÑERA. Hair RAYMOND SANTIAGO. Production Design JUSTINE ARCEGA-BUMANLAG. Fashion Assistant BITHIA REYES. Styling Assistants CARL ALBERTO and MIGGS LEGUERRA of ELDZSTYLES Nails POSH NAILS. Photography Assistants RICHARD DETITA, DAMIAN ESTRELLES, UMELLE RAYOS DEL SOL, ABEL SANTOS, and JOHN PAUL PAREÑA DELA CRUZ. Fashion AXEL QUE, CARL ARCUSA, KATHLEEN ANN DRES, GLADEMIR ECHAVARRE, NERIC BELTRAN, MICHAEL LEYVA, RAFA WORLDWIDE, TIFFANY & CO. Shot on Location SIREN STUDIOS. Special thanks to NIKKI MARTEL OF TIFFANY & CO., WARREN DIMEN, PICKUP COFFEE, and CALLE NAKPIL.