L’Wren Scott x Bobbi Brown Amnesia Rose Collection

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Henna

bb l'wren scott collectionExclusive to Holt Renfrew stores, this collection will be available March 1st and features limited edition products.

The Amnesia Rose collection was a collaboration between L’Wren Scott and Bobbi Brown. Bobbi Brown did the makeup for her Fall 2013 collection and the colours that she used are packaged in a chic palette – along with four lipsticks.

The Amnesia Rose Palette ($79) seems pretty versatile – great for day or night, with a combination of matte and sparkly, light and dark shades. It includes:

Amnesia Rose Eye Shadow, Silver Lilac Sparkle Eye Shadow, Pink Lilac Sparkle Eye Shadow, Iron Eye Shadow, Ultra Violet Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow, Mulberry Eye Shadow, Desert Rose Pot Rouge, Sand Pink Blush.

The lipsticks ($33) are in limited edition packaging, and the colours available are:

Heather Mauve, Wine, Vintage Red, Cosmic Lily.

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Tom Ford Blush Review

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Henna

Blush.  It actually drives me crazy.  I love how it looks on other people (most of the time) and sometimes I love how it looks on me, but every once in a while I catch an image of too much blush, and I decide never to wear blush again.  Plus, I like matching my blush to my lipstick, and my lipstick changes according to my mood, the weather, the time of day, so that makes matching blush a little impossible.

But then when I find a blush I like… well, then I’m on the blush bandwagon again.

tom ford blush RavishTom Ford Blush has got me back on the bandwagon.

At $65 it’s probably the most expensive blush that you will own, but the pan is nice and large so you can properly pick up enough product on your blush brush, and the blush is pigmented just-so that you can layer on lots or wear very sheerly and create a seamless finish. The lasting power?  Basically all day.

Some of the colours do have shimmer in them.  The shimmer is not undetectable, but it’s not nearly as distracting as, say, Nars Orgasm shimmer.  I have the blush in Ravish, and it’s kind of a dark pinkish plum with a bit of coral in it.  It’s natural looking on deeper complexions but anyone with a medium skin tone or lighter will need to use it with a lighter hand.  The shimmer is lighter than the blush and makes skin look pretty and glowy.

Is this the only blush out there that can deliver?  Probably not… but if you have to have Tom Ford, then know that this blush is a great one.  It’s velvety, smooth, and just so easy to use.

Tom Ford products are sold at Holt Renfrew Bloor St. and Vancouver locations.

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Philosophy When Hope is Not Enough Serum Review

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Henna

philosophy when hope is not enoughWant to take your skincare to the next level?  Add a serum to the mix.  Apply this after cleansing and toning, but before your moisturizer.  You can use a serum morning and night, and a good one will be light-weight enough to use twice a day.

My most recent find is Philosophy’s When Hope is Not Enough antioxidant and firming serum.  I love that it has a gel formulation which feels light and soothing on the skin.  It absorbs quickly and is gentle enough to use all the time.  Because it’s oil-free and so light, it’s suited for all skin-types.  On an oily day, you’ll just need your sunblock on top, and those who have dry skin will need to use their regular moisturizer on top of this.

Because it’s so light and unassuming, this serum will fit into your beauty regimen easily and soon enough you’ll be wondering what you ever did without it!

After a few weeks of using this serum, I’ve found that my skin looks refreshed thanks to the vitamins C and E in this serum.  It’s also smooth and thankfully, this water-based serum hasn’t irritated my skin at all.

Pick it up at Sephora for $49.

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A Fashionable Evening to Support Cancer Research

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Henna

Love Her ImageIf you’re making plans for a night out on the town, then call your closest girlfriends and get tickets to the LOVE HER Gala that raises funds for Ovarian Cancer. Organized by Ovarian Cancer Canada and co-sponsored by CIBC, this gala takes place in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver.

The Calgary event will be Thursday, MARCH 6, 2014 at the always-chic Hotel Arts. Guests will be treated to the musical stylings of Sophie Serafino and a fashion show by Oohh La La boutique.

If you happen to be from Vancouver, that event will take place on May 28 at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel where attendees will enjoy stunning panoramic views of the west coast.

Tickets to the Calgary event are usual $250 but as of right now, Early Bird tickets ($200) are still available and can be purchased online.

True story: I know someone who suffered from Ovarian Cancer. It turns out that mortality rates for the cancer are quite high because the detection rate is usually when the cancer is already in its advancing stages. Fundraising can help with better detection and more treatments. I truly support this cause and I hope that you do too!

I’ll be attending the Love Her Gala in Calgary and if you’re going, let me know, I’d love to see you there!

March 6th, 2014
Hotel Arts Calgary
6pm

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Win! FASHION Magazine’s 12 Annual Readers’ Choice Awards Winners

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Henna

Beauty BasketWe all love a good list, and the best ones are these crazy all-inclusive surveys such as the Readers’ Choice Awards that FASHION Magazine puts out every year. It’s always interesting to see what products readers gravitate towards and that tried and true favourites will always have a place in consumers’ hearts.

Wanting to know more about what a FASHION Mag veteren had to say about the list, I asked Fashion Magazine Beauty Director, Lesa Hannah, whether there were any surprises in the list:

She said:

“We added a few categories this year and one was Dry Shampoo—I was surprised that Batiste won, since it’s from the ‘70s. With so many brands launching their own dry shampoos the last few years, I thought for sure it would be a newer one from a more widely recognized name. I was also surprised to see L’Occitane win for hand cream, since they are a small French brand and the product is a little pricey, but it clearly has a huge following (and that part doesn’t surprise me—the hand cream is amazing).”

I love that she mentioned L’Occitane since I am also slightly obsessed with their moisturizers. They are so thick and rich and since they use Shea Butter as the primary moisturizing ingredient, you’re getting a quality product.

And ever one for insider info, I wanted to know what she used. The answer? Burt’s Bees Lip Balm – a cult classic!

I always wonder why there are so many run-of-the-mill and not-always-the-best products on these lists. How come the cool new brands that are doing amazing research and putting out great products don’t make the winner’s circle?

It turns out that although those products are getting votes, they’re just not known enough to be winning in their categories. Lesa explains: “for the most part, mass brands win, and to me, that speaks a lot to availability, accessibility and just overall presence in the market place.”
And now here’s your chance to win: just enter a comment below and tell me your TOP FIVE FAVOURITE beauty products right now. I’ll pick a winner in a week.

And my top five right now?

– Avon CC Cream (it has SPF 50!)

– Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser

– Philisophy When Hope is Not Enough Serum

– Balenciaga Rosabotanica perfume

– Bobbi Brown Bronze Palette

Man, it was difficult to narrow it down to just five but I did it…

Now it’s your turn!

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Thursday Threes: Best Drugstore Lippies

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Henna

Revlon ColorBurst matte BalmRevlon ColorBurst Balms Matte

 

We love these balms because they have a smooth texture, and unlike most glosses they have a matte look.

$10

TheKateCollection_PRODUCT_01

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss

This amazing lipstick line is highly pigmented and has a the perfect edit of bright and natural looking shades.

$8

Buffs-Bare-all

Maybelline New York The Buffs by Color Sensational Lipstick

This collection of eight lipsticks offers perfect nude lip colour – and there’s one for every skin tone.

$10

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Clinique’s Pop of Blush

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Henna

clinique cheek pop blushesIs this not the prettiest blush you’ve seen in a long time?  Say hello to Clinique’s new Cheek Pop blush.  Bright, pigmented, but utterly blendable and perfect for spring.   Oh yes, and because there’s so much pigment in these, the Cheek Pop blushes are very long-lasting.  Also, you won’t need to layer lots because they’re so pigmented, and if you want, you can sheer these using your application technique or some extra powder or foundation with them.  The colour I tried wasn’t at all powdery and was exceptionally easy to use.  It had a tiny bit of shimmer which seemed to wear away throughout the day while the pigment stayed.  I normally don’t like shimmery blushes, but was happy with this one.

clinique pop of blush

This blush comes in four colours and they’re all bright, so if you’re used to your blush soft and light (almost not there?) then maybe this blush isn’t for you.

But if you’re interested in waking up your look and want a lovely new blush to look at and use, then check these out!

The colours are: Plum, Berry, Ginger, and Peach.  Berry Pop is the colour you see above.  $24 each available at your local Clinique counter.

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Make Up For Ever’s New Pressed Powder

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Henna

Our favourite setting powder now comes in a compact!

If you’ve never tried Make Up For Ever’s HD Microfinish Powder, then you’re missing out. It’s white to the eye, but goes on invisible on the skin. The powder has no talc, cornstarch, or mica in it but instead is a blend of silicones that go on invisible and absorb oil throughout the day.

mufe hd pressed powderNow there’s a pressed version of this powder and it’s just as great as the loose version. The powder is quite hard and there isn’t much fall-out with it – thank goodness because that much waste of powder always makes me sad. You can use it throughout the day to mattify skin and absorb any oil that comes through, and although there are some amazing powders out there, I haven’t found one that can keep me matte for an extended period of time, so I’m happy to have a powder that I can use on the go.

This pressed powder doesn’t come with its own sponge or applicator – kind of a bummer because it would have been nice to have a package to fit into a tiny purse. Instead, Make Up For Ever recommends that you use its kabuki brush to apply the powder – I usually find that to be too dense, and always feel like I’m almost removing some of my foundation when I use it, so a fluffy brush is what I keep with me.

Pick up the HD Pressed Powder at Sephora stores for $41.

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Bobbi Brown Uber Pink Collection

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Henna

Bobbi Brown Uber PinkLooking for that perfect shade of pink lipstick or gloss?

Swing by the Bobbi Brown counter and check out the Uber Pink collection which features two pink glosses (Pale Pink and Baby Pink, $29 each), a new Neon Pink lipstick ($29), Pink Nail Polishes (Ballet Pink and Pink Peony, $17.50), and two shades of Illuminating Bronzing Powder (“Be Pretty” Antigua, “Be Bold” Pink Peony, $44).  The Illuminating Bronzing Powder is more of a golden shimmery blush.  If you find that regular blush looks a little unnatural for you, then you might need this “bronzer” instead because it’s a blush/bronzer blend.

Bobbi Brown is available at Murale, Holt Renfrew, and Sephora stores.

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3 Solutions to Fight or Hide Acne

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Henna

best acne solutionsAcne prone skin? Fear not! These solutions help you fight acne in every step of your skincare routine, and then help you hide stubborn spots. Check out our picks for the best  products for acne-prone skin.

Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Cleansing Wipes.

Clean skin leads to clear skin, and we love these wipes because at the end of the day they make cleansing our face a snap and they’re oil-free.

$12

Clarisonic Mia2 Skin Cleansing System.

Proven to cleanse skin six times better than hands alone, the Clarisonic Mia2 has two different speeds for cleansing customization. The sonic vibrations effectively remove impurities helping skin become more clear.

$175

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

Acne-prone skin is typically oily but still needs added moisture. Neutrogena’s newly formulated Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel has cucumber water to add light hydration without overloading skin with more oil.

$32

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