Beauty | Style Blog

Carine Roitfeld for MAC Cosmetics

MAC-Cosmetics-Carine-Roitfeld-Makeup-Collection-Fall-Winter-2012

Huge news! Former Vogue Paris editor-in-chief Carine Roitfeld is teaming up with MAC Cosmetics to launch a limited edition colour cosmetics line that’s due to land this fall!

Every time I think of Carine, I envision the dark eyeliner, and a smoky eye, which she proudly sports in the first sneak peek of the collection’s ad campaign. I don’t think I’ve been this excited about a MAC collab since Disney’s Venomous Villains collection.

What do you think of Carine + MAC? Are you inspired by her look? Share in the comments.

Beauty: Maybelline Baby Lips

Maybelline-Baby-Lips-2

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.

Beauty: John Frieda, and Billboards, and Samples…Oh, My!

john-frieda-foam-live-billboard

Sponsored Post

Last weekend, as promised, John Frieda hair care launched their fun live billboard campaign around Toronto, showcasing their salon-quality foam hair colour on real life models in billboard boxes. Having attended one such event at Sherway Gardens on Saturday, le bf and I watched as people stopped in their tracks to check out the gorgeous model in the box, rocking shiny radiant blonde tresses. Apparently, she’s never coloured her hair before trying John Frieda…and as someone who was able to really scrutinize her do, I can attest to her hair colour’s awesomeness. Seriously, it looked terrific!

Apart from showcasing what John Frieda foam colour can do, there were plenty of free sample vouchers given away to lucky shoppers. And if you weren’t one of the lucky few, but are still jonesing for a hair pick-me-up, you’ve come to the right place!

john-frieda-foam-live-billboard

Here’s the deal. The first 50 Style Blog readers* who input the code below on John Frieda Precision Foam Colour Canada Facebook page, will receive a special sample voucher to redeem One John Frieda Precision Foam Hair Colour Kit (value of $14.99). So if you want to add some shine to your hair this spring season, hurry up, grab the code below and get cracking. Because as they say…early bird gets her hair coloured for free. Ready, set, go!

Instructions and the code after the jump!

Beauty: Girls’ Night In With John Frieda Precision Foam Colour

john-frieda-precision-foam

Sponsored Post

I don’t know about you, but colouring my hair at home is not one of my favorite things to do. It’s messy, and the usual at-home hair colour kits don’t do a very good job. So when John Frieda hair care challenged me to try their new foam hair product, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The new John Frieda Precision Foam Colour promised to provide “salon-quality results” in 24 flattering shades, without the annoying drips and stains the usual home colouring kits leave behind. Luckily, my friend Aleyda wanted to freshen up her hair, and was up for the challenge.

After selecting her perfect shade, Al was ready to get started. Having coloured her hair at home for a while now, I knew she’d be able to tell me how good (or not) the product was, and I couldn’t wait to find out.

john-frieda-precision-foam

The John Frieda Precision Foam Colour kit included a pair of salon-quality black gloves, a bottle of developer and colour agent, as well as a handy (and generous) bottle of after-colour conditioner, along with glossy (and very thorough) instructions. It was clearly stated what we needed to do to achieve best results, and what actions we had to avoid altogether. I watched as Aleyda mixed bottles #1 and #2, tilting bottle #1 exactly 5 times (I’m telling you, the instructions were very specific). She then applied some lotion around her hairline, put on her fancy gloves, and we were ready to get started!

john-frieda-precision-color

Once the solution was mixed, it was time to foam it up! Instead of pumping, the instructions advised us to squeeze the bottle, and like magic (ok, not magic, but still pretty cool), the foam came out nice and foamy…and it smelled great too.

john-frieda-precision-foam

Al parted her hair, and began to apply the foam to her roots first, moving on to the rest of the hair as she coloured.

Continue reading after the jump!

Beauty: Wedding Makeup 101

Makeup Forever

When my Clinique-loving girlfriend and ex-bridesmaid told me that she wouldn’t be able to make it to my destination wedding after all, I was disappointed. Mostly because I really wanted her to celebrate with us, but also, because she was supposed to be my wedding makeup artist. I probably don’t need to explain to you why it’s important to have a trustworthy makeup artist on your big day, and obviously, I wasn’t just going to let some stranger do my makeup for me…So, what’s a bride-to-be to do? Learn how to DIY, of course!

To get myself started on the road to wedding makeup know-it-all-ness, I stopped by Sephora, and booked an application appointment with the lovely Flavia. The goal was to pick up some products that I would need on my wedding day, and learn a trick or two (or a dozen) to help me do my own makeup…ahem…better. Sephora makeup applications are free, but you do need to buy a $50 giftcard, that can be used to buy anything in the store.

Wedding Day Make up For ever

After years of using Clinique products (almost exclusively), I had to fess up to Flavia (and myself), that my makeup routine no longer worked for my skin. My foundation wore off after a couple of hours, making me look exhausted by 5pm. And considering how long an average wedding day is, that just wouldn’t do. So out with the old it was…and in with the new and improved.

1. To get me started, Flavia recommended a couple of good primers: Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Usually, I skip primers all-together, but in this case, more is actually more. A primer smoothed and enhanced my skin’s texture, while helping my foundation stay on longer. For my trial run at home, I used the Make Up For Ever primer…and I can’t express how much I loved it. Lightweight, and oil-free, it did wonders for my face.

Wedding Day Make Up For Ever

2. After all the priming and moisturizing, we got to the truly interesting part – concealers, foundations, and powders. In my early 20s, I got away with using tinted moisturizers…mostly because I’ve never been a fan of the cakey/overdone look, and my skin was youthful and free of imperfections. Now that I am nearing 30, I’ve realized that I need something more…substantial.

After the rave reviews from close friends, I told Flavia that I’d like to try Make Up For Ever concealer and foundation, and she agreed that their long-lasting HD line was one of the best, if I wanted staying power, and medium coverage.

Now that I’ve been using Make Up For Ever HD concealer and foundation for over a week, I cannot help but kick myself for not trying these products sooner. My friend has been raving about the company for years, so why was I the last to make the leap? The coverage is great, and it literally will not budge from your face until you’re ready to take it off, leaving your with a flawless-looking face. I could really get used to that. To set my makeup, I now use the brand’s HD Microfinish Powder - translucent and barely there.

More beauty tips after the jump!

Holidays 2011: Beauty Essentials

Some of my fave beauty products that will keep anyone cheerful and beautiful this holiday season…from head to toe!

1. Greg May Peppermint Cream Conditioner ($21.99)

Every time I use this product, I feel a happy jolt of energy that only the smell of fresh peppermint could provide…Its decidedly Christmassy scent makes me want to smell my own hair all day long (it’s not weird, I swear!), while the botanical extracts and proteins moisturize, condition and add body to my hair, leaving it soft and shiny. This one’s a keeper, ladies and gents!

2. Topshop Metallic Nail Polish ($11)

It’s pretty much a given nowadays that New Year’s eve requires the highest wattage of sparkle and shine. And with a plentiful selection of glam and glittery polish over at Topshop, you are sure to walk away beaming! Your fingers and toes have never looked so pretty!

3. Nip + Fab Eye Fix ($20)

Long nights of partying, lack of sleep, and a little too much eggnog can result in some nasty under-eye issues. Nip those circles in the bud by using this fab duo of eye cream and concealer. Works like a charm!

4. Mary Kay Really Red Lipstick ($16.50)

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been in dire need of a good red lipstick, so when I got this Really Red one from Mary Kay, I jumped for joy! The color is simply perfect, the texture is creamy, and it actually stays put. Will surely come in handy for that New Year’s Eve kiss.

5. Benefit Cosmetics Dallas Powder ($28)

Here in Ontario, the sun don’t shine from September to…well…June. So what’s a girl to do to keep herself from overdosing on self-tanner? Go to Dallas! Ok, not literally. But seriously, Benefit’s Dallas Powder is a personal favorite and an instant glowifier (yes, I made that one up). Shimmery and light, it won’t make your face look cakey and overdone…unless that’s the look you’re going for, in which case all you have to do is layer it until you achieve the desired…errr…result. See? Easy, peasy, beautiful!

What are you fave holiday beauty products and tips? Share them in the comments.

Giveaway: A is for ALDO Fragrances

Today, we are giving away 3 A is for ALDO fragrances on our Twitter! Here’s what you need to do to win:

1. Take the color quis here: http://www.aisforaldo.com/en/quiz

2. Tweet the following: “Hey @styleblogca, my color is ______ and I want that @ALDO_Shoes #AisforALDO fragrance!”

3. Giveaway will close on Friday, December 23rd at 5pm

4. This giveaways is open to readers everywhere

Good luck!

A Is For ALDO Fragrance Launch

Last week, I attended an intimate launch of A is for ALDO fragrance collection – a first for everyone’s favorite Canadian shoe retailer ALDO. The collection included 3 scents for the ladies, and 2 for the gents. With clean minimalistic design, the bottles (and roll-ons) would look good on any vanity, and they smell great to boot! Not like boots, silly! Red is for sensual and passionate people, with top notes of Icy Peach and Bergamot. Yellow is for someone who’s chic and playful, with top notes of Mandarin, Grapefruit, and Neroli Blossom. And last, but certainly not least (as it’s my fave of the three) is Blue – for sexy, glam, and seductive peeps (oh, yes!), that smells of Bergamot, Freesia, Lemon Verbena…and freshness! I’ve been wearing (and loving) it every day since the launch. True story.

One of the highlights of the event for me was meeting and chatting with the uber-stylish and cool Vyara Ndejuru, ALDO’s Director of Marketing, who answered our many questions about the new venture, and the process of creating a perfect fragrance, which in this case, took a full year! Though Alexandra Richards (daughter of Keith Richards and Patti Hanson) DJing at the event was certainly not too shabby either.

Prior to attending the much-anticipated launch, I made sure to take the Color Quiz. What’s that, you ask? Well, it’s a really fun way to gauge which scent is right for you based on your color preferences (and personality). Go ahead and take it. It’s fun, I promise!

Prices for the A is for ALDO Fragrance Collection range from $15 for a roll-on to $45 for a 75ml bottle, making it an awesome (and affordable) idea for a stocking stuffer, or a holiday treat for yourself. Stop by your neighborhood ALDO store to give it a try, and pay close attention to my tweets, as I will be doing a couple of Twitter giveaways soon.

Style Days of Christmas: Misikko Giveaway

I can’t believe it’s Day 12 of Style Days of Christmas Giveaways already! It went by in a flash, and I really hope that the winners enjoyed their prizes, and everyone else got a few holiday gift ideas in the process.

Our final giveaway is here, and it would make for an amazing Christmas present! Up for grabs is one Hana Professional Flat Iron (est value $205), courtesy of Misikko! If you were looking for a new professional-grade flat iron, you’re in luck, because Misikko carries some of the best flat irons in the industry…ones that make hair soft, shiny, manageable, and pin-straight (if you are so inclined)!

Earlier this year, I got to test out Hana Elite flat iron, and I really loved the results. You can read all about my experience here. In the meantime, don’t forget to enter our giveaway below!

Enter after the jump!

Beauty: Feather Hair Extensions

Sponsored Post

This summer, I got to try the latest hair trend that everyone seemed to be crazy about – feather hair extensions. Though I was initially skeptical, I let the pros from Donato Salon do their magic, and just like that, 5 minutes later, I had a bird in my hair! Ok, not a bird per se…but a couple of fun turquoise feathers peeking out from my mane. My extensions were bonded to my natural hair, and lasted the entire summer – through many washes, cuts, etc…I could even curl them with a curling iron if I wanted to. How awesome is that?

Now that the summer is over, you can still rock those pretty feathers in your hair, but perhaps for the cooler months, it’s best to stick to more subdued colors (I’m think of adding some brownish-yellow feathers to my hair for fall). The cool thing is – you can change-up your look as much or as little as you want. A couple of thin feathers attached to your hair could give a quick and easy update to your do, without having to resort to something as radical as actually coloring your hair. And if you are handy with the tools (or even if you’re not), it’s actually pretty simple to DIY too!

Here are the quick steps to adding some flair to your hair:

1. Place feather extension bead onto your loop tool.

2. Part out at the location at where you want your hair feathers to sit and grab about ten strands of hair and thread through the loop tool. Remember that the feather stem and your strands of hair have to fit through the bead.

3. Slide the bead off of the loop tool onto your hair and hold bead in place very close to scalp.

4. Place your finger under the bead to make room for your feathers.

5. Place stems of hair feathers into bead.

6. Clamp down to flatten bead around feather stems.

7. Gently tug on your feathers, they should not slide off. If the feathers are sliding, clamp harder to assure a tight bead fit.

8. If needed, trim off excess feather stem above bead so it doesn’t poke scalp.

9. Voila! You’re done.

For more info on feather hair extensions, or to buy the necessary tools, check out www.featherhairextensions.com.

Photo Credits: 1 – Vivid Salon Spa; 2 – Feather Hair Extensions; 3 – A Little Girl Talk; 4 – Fashion Toast

Don’t Miss This Month: Beautylicious

Beautylicious in Yorkville

October 27 – November 6th, 2011

Third annual Beautylicious event will take place in Yorkville this month, until November 6th. With top salons, spas, and wellness studios participating, you can get some kick-ass deals on spa treatments, haircuts, you name it!

This year’s price points are $30, $50, $75, and $125. Some of the hottest treatments this year include Three Zumba Fitness classes from Izzy Fitness for $30, a Shellac manicure from Sitamaa Spa for $50, a Liquid Gold Anti-Aging Facial from Esthetics of Lara for $75 and an Eyelash Extension from the Mync Lash Lounge and Brow Bar for $125. It’s an awesome way to check out high-end services without having to pay high-end prices.

I got a chance to preview two services for myself: a haircut from Greg May Hair Architects, and a 60-minute facial from Pure + Simple. I will be doing a more extensive review of both, but for now, I just want to tell you that I loved both! You can see what my hair looked like after Greg did his magic here. Pretty amazing, right? And since he applied the “protein shake” to my mane, my hair has been so glossy and smooth. The level of service at Greg May Hair Architects is top-notch…and you might even get a free sushi lunch out of it too!

The Pure + Simple facial (save for the extractions) was one of the most relaxing experiences ever! Seriously, it included a massage, a mask, and an electric-zapping thingamajig, to make sure that all of the bacteria was dead. In short…it was awesome!

If you’re a beauty junkie, or just need a good haircut, make sure to check out Beautylicious…there are SO many salons to choose from, and prices are a dream. Go forth, and beautify!

Beauty: Fall Hair Dos

I don’t know about you, but summer hair is so easy! All summer long, I would just roll out of the house with my hair tousled in loose waves, spritz some frizz-fighting serum, and go. Not so in the fall. I find that cooler temps call for cooler hair. Or at least more…put together. So this fall, I am starting with these 3 must-have products.

1) milk_shake Leave-in Conditioner

Love, love, love this leave-in conditioner! Smells like heaven (if your idea of heaven is a yummy milkshake that is), makes my hair soft, and frizz-free. Perfect for keeping your strands shiny and sleek this fall. Buy it at Donato Salons.

2) Goody Simple Styles Spin Pins

I cannot recommend these spin pins enough. These two tiny pins do the work of up to 20 regular bobby pins, and and are such a cinch to use to create amazing up-dos! Just twist your hair into a bun (high or low), spin one pin from the top, and the second one up from the base, and voila – you’re done! As someone with fairly thick hair, I can attest to spin pins’ durability – the up-do holds every time…without elastics, hairspray, whatever. Oh, and they come in two convenient colors: blonde and brunette! You can find these magical pins at Wal Mart.

3) Hana Elite Flat Iron 1.5″ at Misikko

After an entire summer of flat-iron-free existence, the heat is back on! After trying out Hana Elite Flat Iron (courtesy of Misikko), I don’t ever want to go back to my old iron. The plates of this flat iron are super smooth, and heat up in a flash. And since the plates are also wider (Hana Elite 1.5″ Flat Iron is the first and only pure ceramic plate flat iron in the world to be available in a wider plate size) – flattening my hair takes literally minutes! And when the days are shorter, noone wants to spend too much time on primping.

Another cool feature of this iron is the temperature dial! This is something that my old iron did not have – and it makes such a difference, as different hair types require different temps. After playing around with the dial, I found the perfect setting for my hair.

Hana Elite Flat Iron is literally a salon-quality iron, with a ton of amazing features. It gets the job done better than any iron I’ve owned before, and with a two-year warranty – you know it won’t be dying on you any time soon. If you want to check out the entire line of Hana products, head on over to Misikko for the best selection.

Photo Credits: milk_shake, Goody, Style Blog, Misikko

Happy Birthday, Hip and Urban Girls!

When The Hip & Urban Girl Lisa invited me to HUG’s first year blog anniversary, my initial reaction was shock. They’ve only been around for 1 year??? Seems like I’ve known the partners in crime Lisa and Wendy forever! For a while now, I’ve been a loyal HUG reader, and have always wanted to attend one of their many networking parties/events. And what better occasion than a birthday?

The party was held at SCHOOL – one of my fave places for brunch. Now, this is kind of detention I don’t mind at all! Baked goods bar awaited, and I didn’t waste any precious time digging into some yummy brownies and cookies. As with any networking event, there were lots of people to meet, and some old friends to hang out with. The Diet Coke Beauty Boost Van was on standby, and full of refreshments and awesome Joe Fresh beauty goodies. I got a mini mani, and a swipe of the most-coveted fuschia lipstick (as seen on Flare’s July cover), which I picked up for myself over the weekend.

All in all, the Hip & Urban Girls threw one hell of a party! Not too bad for one-year olds. Here’s wishing them many (many) more years of stylish adventures! And if you still haven’t discovered their kick-ass website, make sure to check it out. And maybe I’ll see you at their next fab event!

More after the jump!

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Style Blog, June 28th 2011 | Tags: Beauty, Canadian, Diet Coke, Events, Joe Fresh, Organic Style, School Bakery & Café, The Hip & Urban Girl's Guide, Toronto
Posted in Beauty, Events, Fashion, Organic Style

Beauty: Stila Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners

After searching what feels like forever for a perfect eye liner, I have finally found The One. ~~We’re getting married in September~~. Thanks to the lovelies over at NKPR, my newfound eye liner for life is Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner ($20)!

What I loved about this liner in particular is how easy it was to apply. No more struggling with the tip, no more unsightly smudges, or worse yet, split lines. Stila liner does the job in one sweep – no fuss, no mess. Just as promised on Sephora’s website: “The thin, marker-like tip is easy to use, even for the beauty beginner, and delivers any look (from a thin line to a bold, dramatic stroke!). It goes on smoothly without skipping, smudging, or pulling, and lasts all day!” True story. Another great thing about this product is that even though it’s waterproof, it is not impossible to remove. I hate having dark make-up circles left over from waterproof mascaras, etc, but with this liner it’s not an issue.

I also tried Stila’s Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner ($22), which comes in 8 fun eye-candy shades – perfect for a night out. My current fave is definitely the Bora Bora, but next time I’m planning to pick up Curacao too. If you want just a hint of a sparkle, than Starry or Sequins shades are a way to go.

If you’re looking for an eyeliner, and haven’t had much luck, like me. I wholeheartedly recommend Stila products, because I know you won’t be disappointed…or your money back. Ok, not your money back, but if you hate it, you can yell at me on Twitter. Deal? Now go and try it already!

Photo Credits: Stila

Don’t Miss – This Month in Toronto!

The Bay x Topshop and Topman Pop-up

Queen St. West and Soho Street (parking lot)

June 17th (noon-8pm), June 18th (10am-8pm), June 19th (10am-5pm)

For all of you Toronto shopping addicts, The Bay is bringing Topshop right to your doorstep. Well, kinda. As we’ve reported before, Topshop will be coming to Canada in the fall. But if you just can’t wait that long, get your credits cards ready – Topshop and Topman pop-up shops will be…erm…popping up this summer!

This weekend, the first 200 customers, will receive a limited-edition canvas bag (each day), and the most stylish shopper will not only win tickets to the official The Bay Yorkdale VIP launch party (in September), but will also walk away with a $500 Topshop shopping spree (courtesy of The Bay). Not to mention that you’ll get to shop the fave Brit retailer without having to board a transatlantic flight. I say, not too shabby.

Diet Coke x Joe Fresh Mobile Beauty Boost

Loblaws locations in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver

June/July 2011

Pamper yourself in this sweltering heat with some refreshing Diet Coke, and a Joe Fresh beauty boost. Diet Coke x Joe Fresh Beauty Boost van will be stopping by various Loblaws locations in the months of June and July in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, to provide some free makeup touchups, mini manis, and of course, ice cold Diet Coke. Sounds like fun to us!

To find out where the next pop-up will take place, follow Diet Coke on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DietCoke_CA

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