Canadian Beauty

MAC Cosmetics Pencilled In Collection

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Henna

A little collection waits for you at the MAC Counter, and it’s called Pencilled In. MAC has gone ahead and created lip liners to match some of their most iconic lipsticks. Candy Yum Yum, Heroine, Ruby Woo, and lots of others now have their very own matching lip liner colour – it’s a sign, more than anything else, that lip liners are back and they’re here to stay for atleast a while. Even the image that goes with the collection seems strangely iconic, almost a throw-back to the 90’s: bright lipstick lined with a dark purple liner. To tell the truth, it might not be my look, but it’s not one that would be out of style at all.

Actually, it’s not that we ever stopped using lip liners. They’re great if you want matte colour, and they’re really great if you want your lipstick to last a really long time. But, now they’re a make-up bag essential, like the contour colour and brush.

The pencils in this collection are the traditional kind, and I would say that’s the only down side to them. You have to physically sharpen them, and I much prefer a pencil that’s self-sharpening because it’s much easier to use on the go. Anything that needs to be sharpened stays in my makeup bag at home and sometimes that means that it doesn’t get used as much. Nonetheless, these pencils are nicely pigmented but not too soft, so you can use them on their side to get a uniform wash of colour, or you can use them on their point to get more pigmented finer lines.

Lip pencil colours are:

Edge to Edge dirty blue pink / Rosy Rim muted rosy-tinted pink

Fruit Cocktail clean light-peachy coral / Chic Trick amped-up fuchsia

Candy Yum-Yum neon pink / Talking Points bright blue fuchsia

Ruby Woo very matte vivid blue-red / Follow Your Heart vivid bright-bluish red

Nightingale mid-tone cream plum / Heroine bright purple / Cyber World intense blackish purple

Suggested Retail Price $16.00 US / $19.00

I have the Talking Points lip pencil and it’s definitely a bright rosy pink that can give a sheer wash of colour or really be used as a lip liner. It goes with Please Me, which is another lipstick I own and have worn a lot.

The collection also includes a Lipglass version of Candy Yum Yum, Ruby Woo, and Heroine – I have to check those out, still. I own Ruby Woo (and yes, it’s the perfect red) but I want to see the Lipglass version.

Lipstick colours (that match the lip pencils above) are:

Pink Plaid dirty blue-pink (matte) / Ravishing clean light-peachy coral (cremesheen)

Impassioned amped-up fuchsia (amplified) / Girl About Town bright blue fuchsia (amplified)

M·A·C Red vivid-bright bluish red (satin) / Rebel mid-tone cream plum (satin)

Candy Yum-Yum neon pink (matte) / Cyber intense blackish purple (satin)

Ruby Woo very matte vivid blue-red (matte) / Please Me muted rosy-tinted pink (matte)

Snob light neutral pink (satin) / Heroine bright purple (matte)

Suggested Retail Price $16.00 US / $19.00 CAD

I don’t own Pink Plaid, but it seems like a perfect neutral pink so I might have to pick up one of those.

Posted in Spring 2015 | Tagged MAC, Pencils | Leave a comment

New! Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Henna

Nars has the hottest new foundation to come out this year. Last year was the year thin, silky-feeling, weightless foundations that looked and felt great but weren’t for everyone because they didn’t provide a lot of coverage. I know that although I loved using these foundations, I did so only when I felt my skin was amazing… or not at all.

Now, Nars has changed all that – they’ve come out with a foundation that looks amazing and feels completely weightless.

I got a brand new bottle of the foundation and the first few pumps were a little oily and super sheer. Obviously, I was confused. The foundation was supposed to be full-coverage with just one pump. After a lot of shaking, and pumping out a couple of more pumps of foundation, I got to where the foundation was supposed to be.

It’s a super thin formula that’s intensely pigmented. It literally glides on to your skin and sets to a powdery finish. The feel is a little like the Lancome Miracle Air de Teint or the Armani Maestro, but because there’s so much pigment in this foundation, it’s a little thicker to the feel and not quite so watery. Although this is a mostly silicone-based foundation, I found that it worked very well with my oily skin. It didn’t clog my pores like silicone usually does, and I didn’t have to use a primer or set it with a powder. Because it’s a powdery finish, it doesn’t work very well with dry skin – it will likely accentuate dry spots, and you’ll be advised to moisturize before applying the foundation.

Nars suggests that you dispense one pump directly into on to your finger tips, rub them together, and then apply on your face. It’s the best way, for sure because a sponge just seems to absorb the foundation and using a foundation brush means that you’ll need to use 2-3 pumps of it where one would have done. Still, I don’t like applying foundation with my fingers because I feel like so much product gets left on my hands, so I do prefer to use a sponge with this and just use a little more product.

The finish is matte but luminous (not shimmery) and the foundation really lasts the whole day because it’s so pigmented. That said, I would say that it’s high coverage and not full coverage (like a concealer). You can cover your whole face with a full coverage foundation, but that won’t give you the natural look that this foundation is meant to give you. When I applied the foundation with my fingers, I got high coverage that I could build where I wanted to, but still sheer out the foundation where I didn’t need it so much.

Get matched at Nars counters now – the shade selection is great, although I found that Stromboli (my usual Nars colour) was a little yellow on me (I should have maybe gone up to Barcelona?) but once I blend it out to my neck, it’s a good match.

$57 at Nars counters – hefty price, but it comes in what seems like a huge glass bottle and will last a long long time.

Posted in Spring 2015 | Tagged Foundation, Nars | 1 Comment

The New Drugstore Cleanser You Need to Try

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Henna

Ok, so Garnier just added a Sensitive line of cleansers to its existing Clean+ cleansing lineup, and while I don’t usually use cleansers for sensitive skin, I was drawn to the Clean+ Gentle Clarifying Cleansing Gel. I love a foaming cleanser, and one that’s meant to be gentle sounded good.

Turns out that this completely affordable drugstore cleanser rivals some of the most expensive ones I’ve tried, and yes, it totally reminds me of the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser that I always rave about.

What I love about the Fresh Soy cleanser is that it’s slippery in feel and washes off clean. The Garnier Cleansing Gel is just as slippery in feel, it also washes clean, but it foams a little when you add water to it, so it dissolves makeup much better than the Fresh cleanser. It comes in a huge 235 mL bottle so you can use it to your heart’s content without really breaking the bank. This cleanser is free of alcohol, fragrance, dye, and oil.

The line also includes cleansing milk and wipes, but if you’re trying to take makeup off, then this is all you’ll need.

Pick it up at drugstores now for about $12.

Posted in Cleansers | Tagged Garnier | Leave a comment

The New Product That Will Give You Thicker Hair

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Henna

If you have thinning hair, then you need to invest in the Nioxin line to help retain what you have and prevent new growth from falling out. I like using the Nioxin shampoo but the leave-in products are really what do the work, and there’s a line of styling products in the system as well.

Now, there’s Diamax Advanced which is the latest leave-in from the brand. It has 25% more of the key ingredients that make the Nioxin system work.

This spray seems thicker than the other Nioxin Leave-In treatments that I’ve tried, but once sprayed into your hair, it’s just as light and easy to work with as the other ones were. You simply spray this on to your roots, and then massage it into your scalp. Not only do the ingredients work to help you keep your hair, but the spray will also make your hair look thicker and fuller than it may have previously.

The root spray is not like a hair spray or a traditional thickening spray (or texturizer). It is light like a leave-in conditioner, protecting the hair and making it stronger. Because it’s so light, you can use it on wet or dry hair, although my favourite way is to use it when my hair is wet and clean so that I know I’m not going to have any product build-up.

Pick it up at salons and beauty supply stores for $59.99.

Posted in Hair | Tagged Nioxin | Leave a comment

Lush for Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 7, 2015 by Henna

I’m happy to say that a Valentine’s Day gift doesn’t have to be anything crazy expensive. Turns out that while we all want our partners to splurge on us, actually we spend much less than what we expect to receive. So why not keep expectations in check, and go for a present that’s pretty, special, and best of all, easy to find.

Head to a Lush shop, and you’ll find something that’s all of the above. Yes, you’re looking at some expensive soap and bubble bars and bath bombs that your significant other has been doing without, but this is how you’re going to splurge this Valentine’s Day.

My favourite product from their collection this year is the Love Locket Bath Bomb. Just like a regular locket, this one opens up to reveal a smaller bath bomb inside, so while you could throw this whole thing into the bath and use it all at once, it’s better to break it open and just use the middle and then each side.

The locket also has little hearts inside – but unlike paper hearts or plastic ones, these are made from agar agar (seaweed) so they’re going to disintegrate and dissolve back into the ocean. It’s $11.95 so this isn’t going to be the only thing you’re going to gift, but it’s a great starting point.

If you’re significant other is more practical and sticks to showers instead of baths, splurge on the Cupid’s Love soap ($6.95 each). Like all the wonderful things at Lush, this one could have been made in your own kitchen, because it has ingredients like fresh passionfruit juice and soy yogurt, along with a fresh woodsy scent. Rapeseed, Glycerine, and Coconut Oil means that it’s moisturizing to use and not stripping the way that regular soap is.

Pick up this, and other lovely gifts at your local Lush store or online.

Posted in For the Body | Tagged Lush | Leave a comment

Out Now: MAC Toledo Collection

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Henna

Isabel and Ruben Toledo are a well-known couple in the fashion world, known for their fashion design and illustration. For this latest collection, MAC paired with the couple to have them bring their aesthetic to makeup. The result was the Ruben Toledo’s illustrations are on the MAC packaging, and Isabel Toledo picked the colours that went inside.

If you like lots of colour, this is a great collection to check out because there’s are some unusual colours available.

Of note, are some of the eyeshadow palettes.

They are:

BELLGREENS

FRESH BLADE
pale frosted yellow (veluxe pearl)

GORGEOUS GOLD
muted yellow gold (veluxe pearl)

SAVANT
mid-tone mustard lime (satin)

VICUÑA
light neutral olive (frost)

CHARCOAL BROWN
muted taupe brown (matte)

SUSHIGREEN
charcoal olive with multidimensional pearl (velvet)

SRP $44.00 US/$53.00 CAD

VIOLENTWINK

SWEET ALLURE
soft light pink (satin)

FRENCH CLAY
white grey (frost)

STARS ’N’ ROCKETS
purple with pink pearl (veluxe pearl)

TENDERSMOKE
muted silver lilac (frost)

FRIZZYPLUM
dark violet with multidimensional pearl (frost)

OVERNIGHT
cool black (matte)

SRP $44.00 US/$53.00 CAD

MOODYBLU

MIDNIGHT SNOW
pale silver (frost)

IDOL EYES
silver violet with gold (lustre)

DEEP TRUTH
true dark blue (frost)

KNIGHT DIVINE
black with silver pearl (veluxe pearl)

EXOTIC PURPLE
dark navy (satin)

INDIGOGO
blackened navy with multidimensional pearl (veluxe)

SRP $44.00 US/$53.00 CAD

There are even intensely coloured eyeliner ($21) and mascara ($29).

The Ombre Blushes ($39) are my favourites.

Above is Ripe Peach, Azalea Blossom, and Kindergarten Red.

The lip story is also kind of major. Clearly Isabel Toledo loves a vibrant lip (and from past images, I know that she is a red lip kind of gal).

LIPSTICK

OXBLOOD light peachy nude (matte)

BARBEQUE vivid orange red (matte)

VICTORIANA mid-tone pink red (matte)

TENOR VOICE true classic red (matte)

OPERA dark red (matte)

SIN deep blood red (matte)

SRP $17.50 US/$21.00 CAD

LIPGLASS

OXBLOOD light peachy nude

BARBEQUE vivid orange red

VICTORIANA mid-tone pink red

TENOR VOICE true classic red

OPERA dark red

SIN deep blood red

SRP $16.50 US/$20.00 CAD

NAIL LACQUER:

FAINT OF HEART palest milky nude (cream)

VENUS RED clean true red (cream)

VIXEN deep burgundy red (cream)

SRP $13.50 US/$16.00 CAD

The entire collection (which also includes a makeup bag and brush) is out today and is limited edition.

Posted in Spring 2015 | Tagged MAC | Leave a comment

Make Up For Ever Fifty Shades of Grey Collection

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Henna

True story: I’m a huge reader, but I couldn’t get through even one of the Fifty Shades of Grey books. They were so slow and so completely unbelievable that I just couldn’t get interested.

…so I don’t think I’ll be going to watch the movie when it comes out on February 13th…

However, I was all over Make Up For Ever’s collection of products that were curated directly from the makeup kits of the artists who worked on the movie.

What I love the most is the Tease Me sets ($38 each). Available in an Innocent/Nude Lip Trio or an Passionate/Berry Lip Trio, the sets include a lip pencil, an Aqua Rouge, and a Lab Shine Lip Gloss. The sets are designed to give you the perfect lip look: whether you’re going for something natural or dramatic.

The lip liner in the set is amazing, and I can’t believe that I didn’t already use it. It’s super pigmented, smudge-proof, and once it sets on your lips, it’s difficult to get it off. The Aqua Lip is Make Up For Ever’s version of long-wearing lip cream, and the gloss is super light and easy to wear on its own.

Apparently, the makeup department head, Victoria Down, used the lip look to show how the main character was feeling. When she wore the berry shades, she was more sultry and intriguing, and her “day” look, if you will, was the nude lip look. For the record, the Aqua Rouge 3 that’s part of the Nude lip look is the perfect nude/neutral lip colour so if you’re looking for something long-wearing that’s natural looking, that’s the way I would go.

The Fifty Shades of Grey collection also has a cheek trio that comes with an Artisan Brush ($56 for the set).

There is also a Give In to Me set that has four Artist Shadows matched with eyeliner, and hot pink lipstick and gloss ($79 for the set).

Check out the sets at Sephora now.

Posted in Spring 2015 | Tagged 50 Shades of Grey, Make Up For Ever | Leave a comment

New Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfector

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Henna

Makeup these days has to do it all: it has to look natural, cover, conceal, and it has to work as skincare too.

This Spring Clarins launches the Instant Light Lip Balm Perfector. Part lipstick, and part lip balm, this product is a little like Dior’s Rouge Baume which is also supposed to hydrate while adding sheer colour to the lips.

Of course, like other products the Clarins Lip Balm Perfector is less balm and more lipstick. It offers a light wash of colour while remaining comfortable on the lips and working as an emollient lipstick. Just keep in mind that it feels like a balm but works more like a lipstick.

Available in rose, coral, “my pink”, orange, red and rosewood, there’s a colour for every makeup story.

What I love about this balm/lipstick hybrid is that it’s not overly shiny and looks natural on the lips. My favourite colour is Rosewood, which is a my lips but better colour. My Pink wasn’t dark enough for the look that I love, but the bright orange and red are also beautiful.

This balm is slim and on the small size, and it’s nice to slip into your makeup bag. Pick it up at your local Clarins counter now.

Posted in Spring 2015 | Tagged Clarins | 1 Comment

MAC Lightness of Being Collection

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Henna

The one major trend you’re going to be seeing this spring, is highlight and lighter shades as a change up from the deep dark lips and eyes that we’ve been seeing before. MAC’s Lightness of Being collection helps you get with the spring shades with a variety of shades from their Mineralize products.

The lipsticks are:

MINERALIZE RICH LIPSTICK
BE FABULOUS Washed-Out Pastel Pink
LUXE NATURAL Light Beige Cream
DREAMINESS Soft Cool Pink Cream
STYLE SURGE Neutral Coral Cream
TOUCH THE EARTH Light Wood Brown
SRP $22.00 US/$26.00 CAD

I know the lipsticks are supposed to bring lightness instead of darkness to the lip look, but I am finding that most of these are so light that they don’t work if you’re trying to go for a neutral look. The look you’re going to get one where the lips are obviously pale.

Lipglosses are:

MINERALIZE GLASS
POETIC Pale Champagne Pink With Pearl
LOOSE & LIVELY Peachy Orange
ON CUE Gold Pearl
BOUNDLESS ENERGY Violet Pink
BEAUTIFUL MOVES Pale Mint With Pearl
SRP $22.00 US/$26.00 CAD

They seem light but are so sheer that they layer well over almost any colour and help lighten up colours in a more natural way.

Eyeshadows:

MINERALIZE EYE SHADOW
SPIRITUAL LIFE Shimmery Pale Lemon (Half Pearl/Half Frost)
NATURAL VIGOR Shimmery Champagne Peach (Half Pearl/Half Frost)
JUST BREATHE Shimmery Light Blue (Half Pearl/Half Frost)
UNINHIBITED Shimmery Light Grey (Half Pearl/Half Frost)
LEAP Shimmery Lavender (Half Pearl/Half Frost)
FORCE OF NATURE Shimmery Brown (Half Pearl/Half Frost)
SRP $22.00 US/$26.00 CAD

All these are one shade available in two different finishes.

Eye pencils:

EYE PENCIL
TAUPE Dark Brown
SLATE Dark Grey
SRP $16.00 US/$19.00 CAD

Look for dark black eyeliner to disappear this season and instead define eyes with shades of brown and grey.

The Mineralize Skin Finishes are highlighters:

MINERALIZE SKINFINISH
LIGHTSCAPADE Shimmery Pale Peach With Lavender Marble
PERFECT TOPPING Shimmery Off-White With Light Pink/Blue/Yellow Marble
SRP $32.00 US/$37.00 CAD

And the Mineralize blushes are super shimmery so if you’re using them, you may not need the highlighter.

MINERALIZE BLUSH
UPLIFTING Peach With Bright Orange Marble
PLEASE YOURSELF Light Pink With Plum Marble
SRP $27.00 US/$32.00 CAD

The nail polishes are pale too… and I love them…

M·A·C STUDIO NAIL LACQUER
LIGHTNESS OF BEING Pale Beige
MODERN MOVEMENT Pale Lavender
SRP $12.00 US/$14.00 CAD

The entire collection is available at all MAC locations now.

Posted in Spring 2015 | Tagged MAC | 1 Comment

MAC Ultimate

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Henna

Nice packaging is not as easy to come by as you might think. Sometimes what looks pretty ends up being plastic, and even the most hyped eyeshadow palettes aren’t designed to stand the test of time in your makeup drawer (but the Urban Decay Naked on the Run palette is most definitely not in this category!).

The MAC Ultimate Sheer Mystery Powder packing definitely wins the prize for best power packaging.

This hefty compact fits easily into my hand, and isn’t meant to fit neatly into any kind of makeup slot, but that’s why I love it. It’s actually – literally – multi-dimensional and contains a solid serving of the MAC Sheer Mystery Powder in one of four shades.

I have Medium Plus which is described as being tan beige. It’s a great shade of powder, but the colour is so sheer, that I think you could safely order any shade you felt would be close to your skin tone, and you would get it right. The $72 price tag means that your shipment will also have a refill so that your pretty packaging doesn’t have to be empty. The powder is ultra soft and easy to use, although it’s not totally long-wearing. But the packaging is so pretty that this is probably a powder you want in your purse for touch-ups rather than in your makeup kit for actually setting your foundation.

The MAC Ultimate collection also contains lipsticks in ten colours ($28 each).

Check out the entire collection online.

Posted in Make-Up | Tagged MAC | Leave a comment

MAC Cosmetics Pencilled In Collection

New! Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation

The New Drugstore Cleanser You Need to Try

The New Product That Will Give You Thicker Hair

Lush for Valentine’s Day

Out Now: MAC Toledo Collection

Make Up For Ever Fifty Shades of Grey Collection

New Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfector

MAC Lightness of Being Collection

MAC Ultimate

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