Beauty: Winter Skin Rescue

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After le bf and I returned from our Caribbean Christmas getaway, I was relaxed, refreshed, and…BURNED! Even though I tried to protect my face from the sun, apparently, I didn’t do enough, and was punished with peeling skin, deepened wrinkles, and freckles (aka sun damage) galore. That’s the thing about the holidays, even without the excessive sunbathing, all of those parties, complete with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails wreck havoc on your skin. So if you are making New Year’s resolutions this year, taking care of your skin should definitely make the list.

5 products that will be saving my skin this winter after the jump!

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Holidays 2012: Canadian Fashion Insiders’ Gift Guide Part One

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The holidays are almost here, and if like me you still haven’t started your holiday shopping, don’t worry and get happy, because this year, I asked some of my favourite Canadian Fashion Insiders to share their stylish holiday wishlists and gift ideas with us. What will a designer, a model, a photographer, a make-up artist, a stylist, an editor, a blogger, and a PR maven be getting and giving this holiday season? Read on to find out!

1. Ela Kowalewska, Designer, ela Handbags

One of my favourite Canadian accessories designers, Ela is without a doubt one stylish lady. This holiday season, on her wishlist is a gorgeous Cartier Juste un Clou ring (yes, please!), Margiela’s Untitled perfume, and a weekend stay to relax and play at Langdon Hall. As for her Give list…all I can say is her loved ones are pretty lucky, because this season she’ll be giving some pretty sweet presents. On Ela’s shopping list is the editor’s pouch from her namesake line ela, Caudalie beauty elixir (one of my fave skincare brands too!), Byredo Parfums’ Gypsy Water, and Tkees flip flops, among other lovely presents.

As for her favourite places to shop, Ela counts Holt Renfrew, eLUXE, and Chapters as her holiday mainstays. “Aside from spending quality time with family and friends over homemade dinners/cocktails on both sides of the Atlantic a touch of snow (sprinkle will do), a good Christmas market as well as a few laps around the Somerset House skating rink get us into the holiday spirit,” shared Ela.

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2. Jason Hudson, Photographer

Not only is Jason one of the most talented photographers I know, I am also obsessed with his personal blog. Chronicling the people he meets, the events he attends (and works), the delicious food he cooks, along with personal stories and helpful tips on a variety of subjects, his website is more than just a blog – it’s pretty much a life guide, and a very helpful one at that.

What more, Jason and his partner Jeff will be setting off on an adventure of a lifetime this December, taking a year off to travel the globe! Appropriately, on Jason’s wishlist this season is a new luggage set from Heys (something durable, that will survive a year of constant travelling), MacBook Air to record his adventures, and a pair of new Persol sunglasses, which he’ll surely need while sipping delicious drinks in Honolulu.

As for what he’ll be giving to his loved ones this holiday season, Jason shared that his go-to host gift is the “super Canadian” Sortilege Maple Whisky, and that champagne flutes from Tiffany never fail – “the blue box is high-impact and exciting, and the glassware is classic.” Jason and Jeff will also be buying a map of the world for their nephews, so that they will be able to “follow us on our travels around the world!”

More after the jump!

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Beauty: Maybelline Baby Lips

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While hanging out backstage with the lovelies from Maybelline and Redken during Toronto Fashion Week, I was lucky enough to be gifted a few products to try at home. And if there was one item in that generous gift bag that I am seriously obsessed with a couple of weeks later…it’s BABY LIPS by Maybelline ($6.49).

Initially, I brushed it off as yet another Chapstick-like balm…but then I tried it, and my lips have not been the same since. Baby Lips’ moisturising lip renew formula with SPF 20 promises up to 8 hours of hydration for visibly renewed lips after only 4 weeks. In my case, I noticed the difference in just a couple of days! My lips felt softer, never chapped, and definitely “renewed”. And unlike other lip balms, I didn’t feel like my lips were addicted to the product, and didn’t look any worse when I didn’t reapply.

Initially, I got a freebie version in “Peppermint” flavour, but have also picked up the “Cherry Me” version for a little hint of colour. There are 6 different flavours/shades in all, including “Quenched”, “Grape Vine”, “Peach Kiss”, and “Pink Punch”, and I am determined to collect all 6.

If you need some lip-love this spring, don’t walk…run to your nearest drug store, because from what I hear, these babies are selling out like hot cakes.

Have you tried Maybelline’s Baby Lips? Are you a convert? Why or why not? Share in the comments.