Aleyda

Toronto Fashion Week: Best Beauty Looks from Fall 2015 Shows

13 April, 2015 Aleyda 1 Comment

Another season of World MasterCard Fashion Week has ended and as always, I am here to give you a quick recap on my favourite beauty looks from Fall 2015 shows and how to achieve them, so let’s get to it!

Hayley Elsaesser was the belle of the ball last season with her bright and quirky spring collection. And her “Midnight Cowboy” fall line was just as good – a combination of 70’s glamour with a touch of Uma Thurman from Kill Bill.

Grace Lee the Head Makeup Artist for Maybelline started her beauty look with a sheer natural palette using Dream Wonder Liquid Touch Foundation and Face Studio Master Prime in Blur + Illuminate all over the face. She then created a translucent smoky eye look using a mix of molten brown shades (Plum Fusion and Taupe Crazy) and added a highlight in the form of Color Tattoo’s Tenacious Teal to the center of the lower lid. The eyes were then finished off with Brow Drama and Lash Sensational Mascara. For the two-toned lips, Grace used Color Sensational Lipstick in Rebel Bloom first as the base and then Vivid Rose on the center of the lips to create an ombre effect.

Redken’s Head Stylist Jorge Joao decided to incorporate blocks of color to the hair to reflect Hayley’s vibrant style. Hair was primed with Pillow Proof and then flat ironed to sleek perfection. He then made two tight braids on each side, which were then wrapped around to created 2 side buns. The ends of the braids were left sticking upwards, creating an almost bird-like effect. The look was sealed with a healthy dose of Control Addict 28 to keep stray hair in place.

Essie’s Lead Nail Artist Rita Remark was inspired by the animal print Hayley had in her collection and decided to recreate it on models’ nails. By blotting one color on top of another she was able to create a fun yet versatile look. Rita used Naughty Nautical, Meet Me at Sunset, Butler Please and Mod Square to achieve this exciting combo.

More after the jump!
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Beauty: Garnier Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream Review

11 February, 2015 Aleyda 3 Comments

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What is the secret to beautiful youthful skin? Good news: the answer is fairly simple – sleep. In Asia, people believe that the optimal sleeping time aka “Golden Time” (the hours between 11pm and 2am) is the most important for skin regeneration, and a good night’s sleep is synonymous with good health and beauty. Bad news: studies have shown that women all over the world are sleeping less, while leading exceedingly stressful lifestyles. And since our skin naturally regenerates itself while we snooze, lack of sleep leads to weaker regeneration overtime. So what’s a girl to do if more zzzs is simply not an option?

Garnier to the rescue! The brand’s latest Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream, inspired by sleeping packs from Asia, has 7 Active Ingredients that promise to help regenerate those skin cells quicker, hydrate the skin, and combat signs of fatigue and aging. Sounds pretty awesome, right? Well, I put those claims to a test.

Along with a few other Canadian beauty bloggers, I was invited to use the Garnier Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream for 28 days, and I must admit that I was a little hesitant at first. With oily, acne-prone (very sensitive) skin, I am always extra cautious when it comes to trying new products that could cause me to break out, but the cream sounded too miraculous not to give it a whirl, and so I accepted the challenge.

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The cream itself has a thick, lush texture which literally melts into skin, absorbing quickly, while leaving it feeling hydrated. When I woke up the next morning I was relieved to see that my skin did not break out and in fact felt velvety and hydrated. After doing a little research I noticed that one of the key active ingredients is LHA, which acts like salicylic acid to combat bacteria and boost radiance. For acne-prone skin this is a definite plus!

Over the next few weeks I used my “Sleeping Cream” diligently, noticing major improvements just two weeks in! Lucky for me, wrinkles aren’t a real concern just yet, but I did feel like the hydration the cream provided was giving extra bounce to my skin, because it looked brighter and smoother each morning. I was very happy with the results, since I have never been able to use a night cream for fear of causing overproduction of oil in my skin. Not so with this product!

Along with the sleeping cream, I also got to try the Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream Eye Cream. This smooth gel helps combat tired eyes by hydrating and smoothing the eye area while fighting dark circles. It’s the perfect pairing to the Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream and will guarantee that you wake up looking rested! I really loved the texture of this eye cream, and the fact that it actually firmed my eye contour – it’s a keeper.

More after the jump!
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Toronto Fashion Week: Best Beauty Looks From Spring 2015 Shows

21 November, 2014 Aleyda Leave a Comment

Another season of World MasterCard Fashion Week came and went in a whirlwind of lipstick and hairspray and I am here you give you a quick recap of the most noteworthy looks of Spring 2015.

Make Up

Haley Elsaesser had one of the more unique looks of the week. Haley’s “Heavenly Bodies” collection reflected a very bright, sparkly mix of pastel colours and prints. To prep the skin, Maybelline’s Head Makeup Artist Grace Lee used Dream Finish BB Cream, making the skin look smooth and flawless. After highlighting the bridge of the nose, top cheekbones and eyes, she finished the look with two-toned red and pink lips. Color Whisper in Faint for Fuchsia was applied on the top lip and Color Whisper Oh La Lilac on the bottom.
Star Product: Maybelline’s Color Whisper in Faint for Fuchsia and Oh La Lilac

Matthew Gallagher’s collection was inspired by the “Rebirth of Spring”, so the make-up reflected this through a mix of soft nude/bronze colours. Skin was made to look fresh and dewy with Dream Wonder Liquid Touch Foundation, contoured with bronzer and then highlighted (with focus on the top of the cheekbones and underneath the brow). Lash Sensational Mascara was applied generously on the lashes, with the final touch of Color Elixir by Color Sensational in Breathtaking Apricot lightly blotted off to give it a worn-in look.
Star Products: Lash Sensational Mascara in Black and Color Elixir by Color Sensational in Breathtaking Apricot

Mackage’s inspiration came from “a hip well-traveled girl on the go”. Smooth, matte skin created the perfect palette for this natural look. Eyes were kept simple, yet strong with a coat of Great Lash Mascara and the new Eye Studio Brow Drama gel on the eyebrows (a new favorite product of mine) to create a strong brow. The lips were the unique part, with Grace creating an ombre look using Color Sensational Creamy Matte in Magenta as the base all over the lips and then taking Color Whisper in Oh Lilac and gently blotting it on the center of the lips. Natural, but really cool.
Also, noteworthy was the fresh take on the models’ nails with Essie’s Lead Nail Artist Rita Remark taking blue polish and placing a dot on the half-moon at the base of the nail. Fun and easy!
Star Products: Eye Studio Brow Drama in Dark Brown

Best Hair Looks after the jump!
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Beauty: NARS Adult Swim Collection Summer 2014

23 May, 2014 Aleyda Leave a Comment

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Well it looks like summer is finally here, and with it all of the new and exciting summer make-up collections. One I am particularly thrilled about is NARS Adult Swim Summer 2014 Collection, which includes an unbelievable selection of fun and flirty shades to put you in that summer mood and get you all dolled up. Because summertime is the perfect time to get adventurous and playful with your make-up!

Earlier this month, a few bloggers were invited to preview the collection at Holt Renfrew on Bloor, and we were treated to a demonstration and a Q&A session with International Lead Makeup Stylist for NARS – Jane Richardson. Jane graciously walked us through a make-up demo using the beautiful summer collection, while giving us fun tips on achieving that vibrant look for the summer. She used the Duo Eye shadow in Tropical princess, which is comprised of a lovely lime green/lavender eye shadow and used the lime colour on the lids. For the lips, she applied the lovely Wonder Sheer Lip Gloss, which is a mandarin orange colour with hints of pink and gold. Both looked beautiful on the model, giving her a fresh look without looking overdone, and made me want to try it out for myself. A perfect look for sipping margaritas on a sunny day!

NARS make-up is always at the top of my must-buy list – with their beautiful selection of colours, silky smooth textures, and lasting power, it just doesn’t get better than this. I’ll leave you with the tip that Jane gave me during our chat – try and take 5 mins before bed to play with your make-up. It’ll help you get to know your face and your bone structure and to create a look that will show-off the best version of you. As they say…practice makes perfect!

xoxo

Aleyda

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More photos of NARS Summer 2014 collection after the jump!

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Toronto Fashion Week: Best Hair and Makeup Looks For Fall 2014

28 March, 2014 Aleyda 1 Comment

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Greetings Lovely Readers! Toronto Fashion Week has officially wrapped up and although I’m still exhausted, it was a phenomenal experience watching the hair and makeup “magic” happen backstage.

Here are my favourite hair and makeup looks from the Fall 2014 season of WMCFW, with some handy tips on how you can achieve the same results at home. Enjoy!

Hair by Redken

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Pink Tartan hair was one of my absolute favourites last week. The collection told the story of a Canadian girl living a normal everyday life so the hair reflected that natural and lived-in look. The hair was set off-centre, with soft waves and looked pretty without looking structured. They really wanted the hair to have movement, making it look effortless.

Star Products: Pillow Proof Primer, Forceful 23 Super Strength Finishing Spray

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As a huge fan of Joe Fresh, I was very excited to see what the fall hair would look like. For hair, Joe wanted to have a more bohemian feel so the models wore a dishevelled side braid with lots of texture. Again, they didn’t want it looking too polished but rather wanted something with more of a grunge feeling with soft wisps framing the face. One great tip that Jorge Joao, Lead Stylist for Redken gave us was to take the elastic and tie the hair at the top before you start the braid. Once you are done, cut the top elastic so your hair and braid looks fuller and not as structured. The big focus of this look was to make the models look chic and effortless.

Star Products: Pillow Proof Primer, Redken Fashion Waves 07

Narces

Narces hair had more of a classic feel to it. It was all about being sleek, stylish, but again without looking like you spent hours doing your hair. As a result, sleeked back, smooth hair was pulled into a classic small bun at the base of the head. As with other looks, hair was once again primed with Pillow Proof Primer, prepped with mousse for texture and then finished off with Forceful 23 Super Strength Finishing Spray to get rid of flyaways and give the hairstyle that polished sleek finish. Definitely a look you can wear to the office or after work for some drinks!

Star Products: Pillow Proof Primer, Redken Full Frame 07 Volumizing Mousse Foam, Forceful 23 Super Strength Finishing Spray

More after the jump!

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WedLuxe Wedding Show 2014

4 February, 2014 Aleyda Leave a Comment

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The WedLuxe Wedding Show is where “True Love meets True Luxury” and if you are a bride-to-be in the GTA, this is the show you need to go to. As a member of two bridal parties in upcoming weddings, I am becoming quite educated in what is involved in planning a wedding. So when my cousin recently got engaged I suggested we visit the WedLuxe Show. What better place to start your planning?!

So there we were, early Sunday morning walking onto the second floor of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel and being greeted by a ceiling covered in rose vines, bountiful collections of lovely floral arrangements and just ultimate decadence at every corner. The theme of this year’s show was “Springtime in Paris” and literally felt transported to The City of Light.

Our first stop after registering was at the Le Rêve Boutique Gift Bar. This is where your complimentary tote bag came into good use! We were showered with a variety of gifts and samples from the many sponsors of the show. Moroccanoil samples (one of my favorite product lines!), William Ashley tea cups, Jergens body products and the list goes on. It was truly a fantastic way to start the show. From here we were guided over to the Ooh La La Nail Salon where manicurists would freshen up your nails with a wide selection of O.P.I colors! Definitely felt very spoiled at this point.

Read more after the jump!

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Beauty: Holiday Hair with Moroccanoil Part One

25 November, 2013 Aleyda 1 Comment

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Back in September I had the privilege of attending an event hosted by Moroccanoil’s Stylist and Artistic Director Antonio Corral Calero. He was gracious enough to give us a few hair tutorials for some quick and easy hairstyles. Today I’m going to show you my version of one of those looks, which I think is a great style for this Holiday Season.

Let’s begin, shall we?

First, take your freshly-washed damp hair and spread some Moroccanoil Treatment throughout your hair, focusing on the ends. Then take a round brush and blow-dry your hair straight.

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Continue reading after the jump!

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Beauty: Elizabeth Arden Untold

4 July, 2013 Aleyda Leave a Comment

As a little girl there was no bigger rush than sneaking into my mother’s room and spritzing a bit of her perfume on my wrist….Yes, I was a naughty girl. One of my mother’s favourites was Red Door – an Elizabeth Arden classic. Now, 24 years later, Elizabeth Arden is launching Untold, a new signature scent that celebrates and captures the essence of every woman.

With hints of peony, black currant and white musk, Untold creates a lovely balance of fresh and feminine without being overpowering – definitely a scent you can wear through summer into winter! And after letting Mummy smell Untold, I have a feeling that she’ll be the one sneaking into my room to steal a spritz!

xoxo

Aleyda

Photo Credits: Elizabeth Arden

Beauty: Elizabeth Grant Skin Care Vitamin C Hydra-Moist Super Fruit Collection

20 June, 2013 Aleyda 6 Comments

I am super excited to introduce Style Blog’s new beauty editor – Aleyda Canales! This beauty junkie will be dishing on her latest obsessions and sharing her experiences with you right here. Enjoy her first post! Nelia

Is it me or has summer taken its sweet time to get here? But not to worry, the warmer temps are finally here, and what better accessory to go with that summer style than bright, luminous skin? I don’t know about you but I know my skin needs a little kick and I can’t imagine a better way to get that kick than with some lovely products from Elizabeth Grant’s Skin Care line.

A few days ago, I actually got to be one of the lucky few editors to try Elizabeth Grant’s latest – Vitamin C Hydra-Moist Super Fruits Collection. Infused with natural ingredients such as Acai Berry, Dragon Fruit and Cranberry, these amazing skin care goodies promise to reduce fine lines, nourish your skin and bring out that healthy luminous glow! How can you not want to try them?

My personal favourite is the Vitamin C Hydra-Moist Super Fruit Concentrate. I’ve been smoothing on a small amount over my face before bed the past week and I can honestly say I’ve noticed that my face looks brighter and smoother. A great start! If serums aren’t your thing (why not?!), you can give the delicious-smelling Cleansing Mousse a whirl. It will leave your skin looking clean and refreshed like it did mine.

Named one of Profit 500’s fastest growing companies in Canada, Elizabeth Grant is a very successful company, and after trying their latest collection, I can totally see why. So ladies, grab your summer dresses, put some Super Fruit on those faces, and enjoy that natural glow!

xoxo

Aleyda

Photo Credits: Elizabeth Grant