“TV STARS should know how to apply their own makeup,” says Pauleen.
Says Pauleen Luna, a regular host of the long-running noontime variety show “Eat Bulaga!” on GMA 7: “How you see me on television is really how I am in real life.”
The same is true, Pauleen says, of her cohosts: “We are always teasing each other even on-cam. I guess ‘Bulaga’ has lasted this long because viewers can relate to the hosts.”
What she enjoys most about TV work, Pauleen admits, is getting dolled up every day. “We have a stylist who provides our clothes. Julia (Clarete) and I have the same stylist so we don’t
PAULEEN in her walk-in closet, that she proudly describes as “well-lit and clutter-free.”
have to worry about our outfits clashing. Julia is the rocker chick; I’m more girly.”
Pauleen, also a cast member of the drama series “The Borrowed Wife,” prefers casual outfits off-screen, such as white shirts, shorts and slippers. “When I need to attend formal occasions, I panic. When I open my closet, it’s all shirts and denims,” she tells Living Stars at the Luna home in Quezon City.
Clothes
Pauleen bought her purple H&M jacket when the “Eat Bulaga” team visited Singapore in 2011. “I usually wear a black long-sleeved shirt, black leggings and leather boots when I go abroad. I bought this because it’s a good accent for my usual all-black outfit,” she says. “I don’t splurge on clothes. I’ve had this military jacket from Debenhams UK for a while now. My leather jacket is from Zara in Hong Kong.”
Cosmetics
HER LIP colors are all in shades of pink, by Mac.
Pauleen says every TV personality should be able to apply makeup on his/her own. “I started when I was with ABS-CBN. There were many of us in that batch. If I waited for my turn with the makeup artist, I wouldn’t have been able to perform!”
Because she has sensitive skin, Pauleen uses only Shu Uemura powder and under-eye concealer, Mac and Nars for blush, Bobbi Brown for eye shadow and Maybelline for mascara. She has various shades of pink for lip color (Mac).
She gives us a tip: “When you’re scraping the bottom of your lipstick tube, scoop the remaining content into a pill box. Heat the pill box in the microwave oven for 10 seconds or until the content becomes pasty. Then you can use it with a lip brush.”
Shoes
Pauleen bought her “fun” pair of Kurt Geiger pumps on a London vacation. Another favorite is a pair of Sergio Rossi sandals in royal blue that she bought in Italy. “I got it from an outlet
HER FAVORITE pairs are by Kurt Geiger and Sergio Rossi.
[store]; I rarely splurge on shoes.” She also likes her “super-girly” pair from Fendi, in leopard print, with red ribbons.
“Most of my shoes are in neutral colors—beige, white, brown, black. The colorful ones are just for shows. Since I have chunky legs, I don’t wear gladiators or footwear that goes above the ankle,” she says.
“I’m guilty of buying stuff just because they look pretty, not because they’re comfortable. Since I use them for work, I’m willing to make sacrifices in order to look good. I’m already used to wearing high heels for over three hours. I even dance in them.”
Walking around abroad, Pauleen is usually in boots. Her sneakers and flat shoes are mostly gifts from Instagram followers. “They give me cute Tory Burch pieces.”
Bags
THOUGH partial to big bags, she bought this Chanel clutch for work.
Mom Chat is very much into collecting designer bags. “Nahawa na lang ako. But I’ve realized that they are good investments,” Pauleen says as she shows us a Prada bag “from someone very special.”
She owns a few second-hand bags, too. “I don’t mind, especially if I really like the style…
My first Hermes bag is this cute yellow number. It’s so dainty. I also have a Chanel clutch, which I think is very impractical. I got it only for work.”
Her advice: “Be sure to use your bags—don’t just put them on display; they deteriorate faster that way.”
Pauleen recalls that her Louis Vuitton Speedy is her first branded bag. “I like it because it’s the right size and not too heavy. A girl should get a bag that she can use every day.
It’s important to invest in traveling bags by trusted brands, she says. “I’ve resisted buying hard-case luggage for years, fearing that they’d crack. But Rimowa suitcases don’t.”
SHE GOES for fruity and fresh-smelling scents.
Scents
Pauleen goes for scents that are either fruity or fresh-smelling. “My favorites are Acca Kappa, Clean and Green Tea by Elizabeth Arden. They all smell like you just got out of the shower. Another favorite is Baby Touch by Burberry. I just don’t bring it with me often because the bottle is heavy. It reminds me of Angel’s Breath, but the scent lasts longer.”
For formal occasions, Pauleen sprays on Lanvin Eclat, Bright Crystal by Versace and Envy by Gucci. Her tip: “Never buy a scent just because it smells good on your friend—every girl has a different skin chemistry. Try it first.”
Accessories
SHE ADMITS that colorful accessories, like these Hermes bracelets, are perfect accents for her mostly neutral-color clothes.
“Most of the shades I use are gifts from Instagram followers (they’re all so sweet). I prefer big frames because I have a square face,” notes Pauleen.
She likes colorful bracelets from Hermes, she adds, because “they are perfect accents to my less colorful outfits.”
Gadgets
“I like my iPhone 5S because it’s lightweight,” she says. “I bring it everywhere because I enjoy playing games. I also have games on
PAULEEN owns
several digital SLR cameras and is the “official photographer” of the “Eat Bulaga” gang.
my iPad Mini. I’m the queen of Candy Crush!”
She owns several digital SLR cameras, but keeps her old Canon PowerShot D10 for its sentimental value. Pauleen explains, “I used to bring my Nikon D7000 everywhere until I got my iPhone. Kiko (the late rapper-host Francis Magalona) used to be our official photographer in ‘Bulaga.’ When he died, I started taking pictures of everybody. That’s why my cohosts say ako na raw ang susunod kay Kiko.” She also has a Fuji Film instant camera. “It’s still nice to see your pictures printed rather than just from a camera monitor.”
E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph