Canadian Beauty

The Illumination Foundation

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Henna

I’ll admit that illuminating foundation isn’t normally my thing because it makes my skin look a little greasy, but lately I’ve been adding a dose of Hourglass’s Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint into my foundation routine and it’s been doing wonders for making me look more awake and better-rested.

The Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint is a treatment foundation more than a tinted moisturizer. It provides way more coverage than any other tinted moisturizer I’ve tried and is hydrating like a cream, and so I think that it’s more to treat dry skin while providing coverage.

If you’re familiar with Hourglass, then you may notice that the tube has changed. Instead of a pump bottle, this is now in a squeeze tube, which is probably a good idea because the foundation is quite thick and the story is that it used to get stuck in the pump bottle. It’s also available in 12 colours now so it can match more skin tones – I found that Beige is pretty close to my skin tone and so this works so well for me.

Because this foundation is so thick, it doesn’t apply well with a foundation brush. I found that gives me more coverage and illumination than I like, but I love this mixed into my regular foundation and then I have just enough coverage and illumination. I have found that used over a period of time, this foundation helps hydrate my skin and keeps it hydrated throughout the day.

It’s great on the go too, because it mixes well with moisturizer or sunscreen.

$64 at Sephora stores.

Posted in Spring 2015 | Tagged Hourglass | Leave a comment

32 Must-Have Nail Colors for Spring 2015

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Henna

It’s time to ditch your vampy, bold winter nail polish colors for soft, spring-ready pastels. Here, 32 brand-new polishes you need to add to your collection.

See the new pastel nail polishes.

Posted in Spring 2015 | Tagged nail polish | Leave a comment

Smoky Poppy Lip and Cheek Tint

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Henna

The Smoky Poppy collection also has a makeup line to go with it, and the best part of the collection is the Lip and Cheek Velvet Stick. These have a very cool new texture – truly they are like cream to powder but always velvety to the touch, never creamy. Think of them as a powder with just enough of an emollient blended in to make them easy to swipe on the cheek and lips.

The Velvet Sticks aren’t overly pigmented which is a good thing. It means that it’s easy to apply them on the cheeks without overdoing it, and that you can blend the colour easily with your fingers.

My favourite way to use the sticks is on my lips, and the coral colour is my go-to right now. I just layer the colour and it seems to set to a very long-wearing matte finish. I can get through lunch and a coffee with this still on my lips, so it’s a winner for me! Because this is a matte formula, be sure to moisturize before and after because otherwise the formula will just accentuate any dryness.

The stick also comes in a universal shade which sets to a mauve-pink on me but looks greyish black in the tube. It’s kind of cool, but the coral is where it’s really at for me.

Also available in red, pink, nude and bronze.

$15 each.

Posted in Spring 2015 | Tagged The Body Shop | Leave a comment

The Body Shop’s Smoky Poppy Collection

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Henna

The Body Shop totally breaks the mold and every single “Body Shop” stereotype with their Smoky Poppy collection. Forget about about a fruity, gourmand scent, The Body Shop now has a scent that’s grown up.

The entire collection is based around the poppy flower and is enriched with poppy oil and poppy seeds. I’m not sure what a poppy actually smells like, but I’m sure it’s not like this collection, which, by the way, smells amazing.

Smoky Poppy does indeed smell smoky, with a touch of amber

I really love the Smoky Poppy massage oil ($15). It’s beautifully scented and light so it goes on easily after the bath or shower and leaves your skin scented so that you don’t need a perfume afterwards. The oil itself is a blend of Soybean oil, corn oil, almond oil, sunflower seed oil, and olive oil. The result is an oil that’s moisturizing and skin conditioning but easy to spread.

The Smoky Poppy body scrub ($20) is pretty impressive too – this sugar and salt body scrub also has pretty little poppy seeds in it. The difference sizes of the three scrubbing agents means that you get a very thorough scrub.

The only sad thing is that this collection is limited edition, so if you love the scent, stock up while you can.

Available online or at The Body Shop stores.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged The Body Shop | Leave a comment

Garden Muse Nail Inspiration for Summer 2015

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Henna

This week, I checked out CND’s latest nail polish collection, called Garden Muse, and it’s everything you could want for Spring. I know we’re not into the season yet, but I’m actually tired of the pale nudes and greys. I need some colour in my life and this collection has it.

CND is the maker of Shellac, so if you normally get a Shellac mani, you’ll be able to find this at your salon. If you’re not into Shellac, you’ll be able to find these colours in the Vinylux formula which is sold at beauty supply stores and salons. I will say that two of the colours in this collection are repromotes in the Shellac formula (Water Park and Hot Pop Pink) and totally new additions in the Vinylux formula. They look almost the same but there might be a few differences in shine and opaqueness.

I got a Shellac manicure in Beckoning Begonia with flowers using Butterfly Queen and Lost Labyrinth and I’m obsessed with how spring-like these colours look. Beckoning Begonia went on sheer on the first coat, but the second coat made it opaque and the silver shimmer in it makes it look extra shiny.

The collection is available now, and if you opt to get a Shellac manicure, you’ll want to invest in a box of Offly Fast which is Shellac’s new at-home removal system. The box has enough product for two uses, and lets you use the same Acetone-based remover that they would use in the salon – Shellac’s is formulated with macadamia nut oil to help hydrate the nails as it’s taking the Shellac off. You simply soak the included cotton pads in the acetone solution, put it on your nails, wrap with the foil, and wait 10 minutes. There’s an orange stick to help you scrape off the Shellac, and a mini bottle of their Solar Oil to help re-hydrate the nails. The box retails for $20, and saves you a trip the the salon if you weren’t planning on getting another manicure right away.

Check out the Garden Muse collection at your local Shellac salon now.

Posted in Summer 2015 | Tagged CND, nail polish | Leave a comment

New Garnier Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Henna

Ok, sleeping masks are the new thing in beauty. Basically they’re rich heavy creams that work to hydrate and plump up your skin while you’re sleeping. What all these masks seem to have in common is that they do tend to sit on your skin and penetrate slowly throughout the night. They all also seem to plump the skin making it look more hydrated and refreshed. Don’t regular night creams do this, you ask? I guess they do, if you’re using them just to hydrate your skin, but I usually use products to clarify and exfoliate my skin so that it looks brighter, and I find that those products make my skin look and feel drier instead of more hydrated.

The Garnier Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream is the first sleeping mask that I’ve tried, and I have to say that I’m sold. The mask has a bouncy texture, which is no doubt a replica of some Korean skincare product. By bouncy, I mean that your finger kind of bounces off the top of the cream and you have to physically push in it there to extract some product. Some have said that they leave their bouncy creams on their side to be able to get product out, but I just push my finger straight down the middle and out, and then I have enough product on my finger for my whole face.

The cream is nicely scented and light-weight, and I totally saw a difference in my skin after the first time using it. Maybe I was really dehydrated but the cream just gave me lots of brightness and a glow in the morning so I loved that.

Unlike a regular mask, you’re not applying tons of product to your face – you’re applying as much cream as you would normally apply and letting it soak in before you go to bed at night. In the morning, I didn’t notice any greasiness or oiliness, so this is different than a regular moisturizer. It seems more water-based than emollient-based, and I quite like that.

I should add that the cream is housed in a beautiful glass jar that fits into the palm of your hand, and looks quite chic in the bathroom. The packaging is opaque so the light can’t get into the cream, and the ingredients inside stay active for a longer amount of time.

The key ingredients are:

LHA – developed to boost radiance
ADENOSINE – helps to combat the signs of aging caused by fatigue
EXTRACT OF ALBIZIA – an antioxidant that combats fatigue, helping to control dull skin tone and unevenness and reduces wrinkles
HYALURONIC ACID – intensely hydrating
EXTRACT OF RUSCUS – used to boost skin’s microcirculation
JOJOBA OIL – helps to strengthen the skin’s natural barriers
LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL – helps improve the quality of sleep and combat the signs of aging

The Lavender is what I smell when I use the product, and I can’t comment if it actually helps me sleep, but the cream does smell nice. The scent dissipates or is un-noticeable a few minutes after using the product.

For a drugstore product, it’s absolutely amazing and totally works. Pick it up at drugstores now. $25.

Posted in Moisturizers | Tagged Garnier | 2 Comments

Soap on a Rope – the 2015 version

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Henna

I was under the impression that Soap on a Rope was just for camping. I figured that having a rope attached meant that your soap was easily carried to the lake or showers, but apparently there’s another purpose: if you hang your soap at the end of the shower, instead of putting it at the side of your tub, it’ll dry better and won’t collect as much bacteria.

Kind of ingenious actually, and The Body Shop loves the concept so much that they have a new Hemp Soap on a Rope. This huge soap comes with a huge rope so that you can hang it in your shower after you use it. The soap has moisturizing Hemp Seed Oil in it, so it’s not as drying as a regular soap, and also has the rich herbal hemp fragrance that’s in all The Body Shop Hemp products.

The soap is a huge green leaf shape… so, you know, it appeals to everyone who might be in the shower.

Pick it up at The Body Shop for $10.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged The Body Shop | Leave a comment

Beauty Blender in a BirchBox!

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Henna

Guess what, my friends? If you’ve always wanted to try a Beauty Blender, now is the time. If you sign up for a BirchBox then you can get a Beauty Blender in it.

BirchBox is a trial box program. For $10 plus $4.95 shipping and handling, you get a box of beauty goodies delivered to your door each month. Some of the products are sample-sized, some are full-sized, and some are deluxe sample sizes. It’s a cool program if you buy a lot of products but find that you don’t use a lot of them. It might be better to get some smaller sizes so that you can see whether you like the products before you invest in full sizes.

If you sign up for a Birchbox by March 17th, you will get a Beauty Blender sponge in your first box – it’s a great deal because Beauty Blender sponges normally cost $34 for 2 sponges.

If you’re wondering whether you really need this, here are ways in which you can use your Beauty Blender:

Stipple, Don’t Rub!

Wet sponge until completely saturated, squeeze out the excess water, and dab it in your makeup. Bounce it along your skin, pressing slightly on the surface.
Finish your look by swiping your favorite cream blush and stippling with your Beauty Blender to achieve a seamless dewy glow.
If you’re looking to take your makeup from day to night, finish with powder to set makeup.
Make your cheeks pop by applying highlighter at a slight angle until you’re in line with the center of your nose. Using your bb sponge, blend for the perfect contour effect.

Easy DIY Ombre Nails

Prime nails with a base coat before applying two coats of your base nail color.
Wet Beauty Blender until completely saturated, then squeeze out the excess water. Take three of your favorite nail colors that compliment your bottom nail shade, and paint one line of each color on to the smaller tip of your bb sponge.
Test the ombre effect by rolling your bb sponge on a piece of paper towel until you find the desired ombre effect you want to apply to your nails.
Position your sponge on the middle-left side of your nail then swipe to the right, repeating this process on every finger. Clean up excess polish on your fingers with nail remover and finish with a top coat.

Perfect the Matte Lip

Once BB sponge has been squeezed dry of access water, apply leftover foundation on to sponge. Stipple foundation over your entire lip area to prep them for a matte look.
Tap the sponge into a translucent setting powder to hold foundation. Then outline and fill in lips with your favorite lipstick shade.
To add a bit of flare, highlight around lips to make them appear more full.

Create the Ultimate Smokey Eye

Wet sponge until completely saturated, squeeze out the excess water.
Once you have set your eyeliner, achieve a more enhanced smokey eye by stippling the smaller end of your bb sponge across your lid.
Add a bit of contrast by using a lighter eyeliner shade to swipe along the corner of your inner eye.
The end result is a perfectly smudged smokey eye.

Posted in More Than Beauty | Tagged Beauty Blender, BirchBox | 2 Comments

The Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Henna

Contour? That’s a daily thing now. I don’t know how I lived without it, and I’ve actually gotten to be pretty pleased with how my pictures are turning out thanks to it. The key is definitely using a matte bronzer and sometimes I mix in a bit of taupe shadow to make it really look like the hollows of my cheeks.

When I saw the Kat Von D shade and Light Contour Palette ($55) at Sephora, I knew I had to try it. The palette has three shades of contour matched with three shades of highlighting powder. Every single colour is matte, which is awesome.

Because the palette is designed just to contour and highlight, each of the contour shades are cool-based so that they look like undertones instead of misplaced bronzer (which can look dirty).

The highlighting powders are pretty amazing too. They don’t have shimmer in them so you can apply them under the eye, on the forehead, nose, chin – areas of your face that you’d want to stand out. What I’ve noticed is that these powders are more pigmented than a brightening CC powder – definitely more pigmented than MAC or Bobbi Brown’s CC Powder, and meant to be used differently (not all over the face). The contour colours are pigmented enough to provide depth quickly and without much layering so they look skin-like.

The best thing about these powders is that although they’re pressed, they’re light as air because they’re so finely milled. That means that they blend into foundation seamlessly. I use the highlighting colour to set my makeup, avoiding the places where I know I’m going to put my contour colour. ,I like using the contour shade in the crease of my eye but the finish is a bit powdery so it’s not my go-to.

Overall – whether you’re new to contouring or a pro, you’re going to love this palette because it makes contouring and highlighting fool-proof. You know that you’re using the right tools because those tools are made specifically for the job you’re doing.

Check out this, and other Kat Von D products at Sephora.

Posted in Spring 2015 | Tagged Contour, Kat Von D, Sephora | Leave a comment

Women of Influence – The Founder of Baby Gourmet

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Henna

If you have a kid under three, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of the Baby Gourmet brand. I’m actually a huge fan of the brand myself because when I was looking for baby food, this was the only one that didn’t put salt or sugar in any of their products – that was the one ingredient that I wanted to try myself, but finding a baby snack with no sugar or salt is shockingly difficult.

In any case, I found Baby Gourmet and then I was set, and actually, I still buy their snacks as a treat for my little one – all their ingredients are organic which is another plus, and the company is from Canada.

When I heard that Jennifer Carlson, the founder of Baby Gourmet, was going to speak at the Women of Influence event here in Calgary, I was so excited. I definitely wanted to hear from her because she found a niche market in an area that seems already saturated. Carlson’s topic is: “Turn a Bright Idea into a Million-Dollar International Brand” or in other words how she created a company from a basic idea.

You too can hear Carlson speak, if you’re in the Calgary Area. She is speaking on March 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at The Westin. Head over to the Women of Influence website to purchase tickets ($55 each).

Posted in More Than Beauty | Leave a comment