It shouldn’t be hard to release one’s wild side. This season, we draw inspiration from the animal kingdom that has inspired fashion all over the planet. Designers and “It” girls have adopted animal prints from the leopard, crocodile and python, all faux of course; they’re shown off proudly in every tone for a casual style or a dressy evening look.

For those in the know, it is worn in small sexy touches, perfect on heels, a thin belt or a minaudiere clutch; a reference to our urban yet wild nature.

Today’s makeover will be an encounter of exactly that: eye-popping shades that create a perfectly playful and stunning look when paired with a nude lip.

To help us unleash this beauty’s venom is makeup artist Carmie Locsin. She transforms a very wearable day look to reveal a wild and chic spirit for evening events.

Our subject, Popo, works in the marketing department of a telecommunications company. After years on the job, she’s beginning to think that her serious job doesn’t leave much room to experiment and have fun with her makeup. So Locsin helps Popo to reinvent her look to reveal a fierce and daring young woman.

Day look

Working in an air-conditioned office can dry out your skin. So Locsin suggests prepping your skin with a light moisturizer:

“Before applying any makeup on Popo’s face, I prepped her skin with Leyende’s Place in the Sun, a light moisturizer with SPF.”

Ladies on the go can also try Neutrogena BB (which stands for blemish balm) Cream with UV, (P575). It’s a moisturizer and light foundation that provides excellent coverage while immediately hiding blemishes.

“Since Popo is blessed with good skin,” says Locsin, “I spot-concealed minor break-outs with a cream concealer and applied YSL Touche Eclat on her undereye area, on the sides of her nose and on top of her cupid’s bow. This is done to brighten her face.”

She then sets her face with a pressed powder that matches her skin tone. With a slanted eyebrow brush, she then fills in the sparse areas of her brows with a matte taupe eyeshadow and keeps the hairs in place with clear brow gel.

“For brighter eyes, I dabbed a peach colored eyeshadow from the base of her lashes to just above her crease,” Locsin says. “With a fluffy brush, I blended away the lines of the peach eyeshadow and then added some shimmery vanilla shadow on her brow bones and the inner corners of her eyes.”

Locsin then defined her upper and lower lash line with a dark brown pencil. “For those with shaky hands,” she says, “try making little dots in between your lashes with the pencil instead of one line on your lash line. It’s much easier to do and the result is more natural looking.”

“Using a pencil brush (you can use a cotton bud too), I then set the liner with a dark-brown shadow,” she explains. After curling Popo’s lashes, Locsin applies a coat of black mascara. Try Maybelline’s Volum’ Express Falsies Mascara, (P449).

To match the peach-colored eye, our make up maven puts the last touch of blush. “To compensate for the office lighting that can leave one looking shallow and pale, I applied a peach colored blush on the highest points of her cheeks and blended the color toward her hairline.”

“Try Bobbi Brown’s Nude Peach Blush (P1,300),” Locsin says. “It gives the face an instant lift and perfectly complements brightly accented eyes and lips.

Locsin then finishes Popo’s office look with a creamy peach-pink lipstick. Try Make Up For Ever Rouge artist in watermelon (P1,280).

Night look

For a quick “office to night out” look,  Locsin keeps the focus on the eyes. “I used a black khol liner to line her upper and lower lash lines as well as her water line.”

Try LÓreal Super Liner lasting Crayon (P395). “I then dabbed a dark bronze eyeshadow on the area where I had placed the peach eyeshadow for her day look. I also brought the dark bronze color down to her lower lashes to create smokey, sultry eyes.”

Try Maybelline’s Eye Studio Hyper Diamonds (P599). “To add some sparkle, I applied a shimmery gold eyeshadow to the inner corners of her eyes and I applied another coat of mascara.” For that additional pop of Gold, try MAC’s crushed metallic pigments in Lantern Light Gold (P2,000).

Locsin finishes off the face by adding soft touches to the checks and lips. “I added more warmth and definition to Popo’s face by applying a bronzing powder (like Benefit’s Hoola) on the hollows of her cheeks, temples and on her jawline,” she explains.

“I then patted Benefit’s High Beam on her cheek bones, brow bones and the bridge of her nose for a more dewy finish. Lastly, I topped her lips with a nude, creamy gloss.” Try MAC’s Innocence Beware (P1,000).

Top tip

Brown eyeshadow is a great staple to have in your makeup kit, especially for everyday office wear. You can always blend or pair it up with colored eyeshadow to add depth and drama to your evening looks. Get your hands on Bobbi Brown’s Ultra Nude eye palette (P 2,900) featuring six classic Bobbi shades that are sure to look flattering on everyone. Pair any of these colors with a bright lip and you are sure to look incredible.