High shimmer is trending on eyes and nails, and we love Avon’s new Brushed Metals collection. The polish has a matte finish and is super shimmery but is still easy to remove!
We swatched Brushed Gold, Platinum, and Dusky Copper.
The other colours are Lilac Quartz, Textured Topaz, and Burnished Copper.
$6.99 available this month at Avon.ca or through your local Avon sales representative.
This year instead of going through as many looks as possible from New York Fashion Week, I just went through the ones that were from brands and designers I actually buy (…and want to buy more of). It’s interesting to me to see what the designers visualize as the wearer of their clothes.
First up: Rag and Bone. I resisted buying Rag and Bone jeans for such a long time, but once I got a pair that I really loved, I was sold on the entire collection, and have their Harrow Boot too. The Rag and Bone girl for Spring 2014 is way cool. She doesn’t need glamourous hair, and can get away with just a bright lipstick when it comes to makeup (… and some major contour under the cheekbones, but you’re not supposed to see that). .. and also, my favourite look featured overalls, so I guess those are still going to be in.
The makeup was done by Gucci Westman, which means that this orange lipstick is by Revlon.
Second:BCBG Max Azria. Truth be told, I haven’t bought anything BCBG for atleast a year – there seems to be too many prom dresses to wade through whenever I go in – but I do always go into their stores and keep an eye on each collection. The breezy number in pale blues below stood out to me, and I’ll definitely be checking out their spring collection. Beauty-wise it seems the Azria’s prefer a girl to work her natural look as much as possible. Hair was wind-blown but not beachy or unkempt, and makeup was subdued to say the least.
Finally: Kate Spade New York. I love Kate Spade because the brand always uses colour and prints and sometimes those can be difficult to find. Where other designers were using a lot of white, black, and not much else, KSNY did the opposite and had lots of colour in their collection. The opposition also applied to their beauty: where there was very little in the way of makeup for most designers, the Kate Spade girl has heavy eyeliner and seems to stick to her own quirky look. While the natural nail reigned on the runways, the Kate Spade girl loves the white polish from this past summer and keeps wearing it. Stuck in the past or just in her own ways, it’s nice to know that there’s a space for those who want to do their own thing.
Another round-up coming next week!
And with the change of every season, there comes some resolutions – a chance and will to do better and more. This fall I’m drinking more water, watching what I eat, and getting back into the gym after a long time. I’m taking with me my new Rainbow Active Top Collection by SIGG because it has a straw that lets me drink water without even tilting the bottle.
$28.99 at various retailers.
My all time favourite lipstick colour is MAC’s Ruby Woo ($18). When I wear it, I get stopped in the street and people ask me what colour it is. It’s that amazing. It’s just the absolute perfect shade of bright red (MAC describes it as: “very matte vivid blue red”) and it goes well with lots of skin tones.
What makes it even more amazing is the formula. It’s a Retro Matte finish, meaning that it’s supposed to resemble the very dry red lipsticks they used in the ’20’s. The lipstick goes on very smoothly but then definitely sets and stays put for a long time. It’s pretty amazing. Ruby Woo has a cult following because the combination of colour and formula makes it the kind of red lippie that you just can’t find anywhere else.
And because it’s time, MAC’s new Retro Matte line will introduce SEVEN NEW LIPSTICK COLOURS in the same formula.
Here are the colours in the new Retro Matte collection:
Steady Going light pink matte
Runway Hit light nude matte
Dangerous orangey red matte
Relentlessly Red bright pinkish coral matte
All Fired Up bright fuchsia matte
Flat Out Fabulous bright plum matte
Ruby Woo very matte vivid blue red
Fixed on Drama rich wine matte
All the colours are permanent. I want to get my hands on pretty much all of them… except of course Ruby Woo, because I already have that one! A really nice matte formula is hard to find (my other favourite is by Rimmel, actually) and I think this is a nice collection of colours that should be in everyone’s kit.
The collection also has new Pro Longwear Lip Liner colours ($23). The entire collection is on counters September 12th.
We tried Kiss Nail Dress Nail Strips.
These come in lots of bright colours and prints, but we’re sorry to say that they’re not the best we’ve ever tried. The strips are thick so it’s difficult to smooth them out and apply them without any bubbling. The best nail strips are thin (as thin as a couple of coats of nail polish in some cases), and so are very easy to apply.
They lasted a couple of days and then started peeling off.
They are available at drugstores.
I’m going to come right out and say it: this mascara is crazy good! From the formula to the wand, it’s an amazing volumizing mascara that’s long-wearing and gives you the perfect black lashes.
What’s great about the formula is that it applies thickly so that your lashes actually look thicker. It’s also quick to set, so there’s no smudging, and no matter how much you’ve applied, there’s no flaking.
The brush is actually dual-sided (1 brush, 2 kinds of bristles). There are longer comb-like bristles on one side, and shorter bristles on the other side. The two kinds of bristles makes it extremely easy to apply the mascara thickly and then separate any clumps (using the comb-like longer bristles). So, even though the formula is thick and goes on thick, there’s no clumping in your lashes, and they just look amazing.
I was very impressed by this mascara and use it daily. You can get it on the Marcelle website (and at drugstores) for $12.50.
Back to school time, lovies! Here’s what I recommend for Back to School skincare… because going back can be a wee bit stressful. (As posted on Stylelist.ca.)
1. Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Treatment Mask. Late nights can leave skin feeling and looking tired, but this new tissue mask promises to hydrate and brighten skin in one step.
2. Clean and Clear Advantage Daily Soothing Acne Scrub. Keep skin clear by exfoliating regularly. We like that this scrub contains salicylic acid to take care of acne, but aloe and avocado to take care of our skin.
3. Neutrogena All-In-One Makeup Removing Cleansing Wipes. Having these wipes on hand means that even on your longest day, you have no excuse for not removing your makeup.
4. Biotherm Lait de Gommage Milk Scrub. We love that this scrub doesn’t wash down the drain when we use it in the shower. It’s also ultra-hydrating and contains olive oil and vitamin E to protect skin.
5. Avon Clearskin Pore Penetrating Toner. This chamomile-containing toner removes all residue from your skin to keep pores from clogging.
6. Mary Kay Clear Proof Pore Purifying Lotion for Acne-Prone Skin. 2% salicylic acid prevents pores from becoming clogged and the light lotion even helps skin feel moisturized.
All wearers of flats, rejoice — soon, you’ll be able to find the signature “T” gold logo you love so much on your ballet flats emblazoned on your makeup as well. That’s right, Tory Burch is finally making her way into beauty. Plans for a beauty collection include a fragrance, a makeup line, and a body care line. The products launch September 26, but we have the sneak preview.
A little something I wrote for Stylelist.ca.
Warmer weather doesn’t mean that our skincare routine goes on vacation, but we find that we definitely need a change in products to help us look radiant and fresh throughout the hotter months. Here’s what we use to keep our skin looking great in the summer.
1. Fresh Rose Face Mask. This hydrating mask has a cooling gel base which makes it perfect after a day out in the sun.
2. Avon Cooling After Sun Aloe Gel. Light-weight and non-sticky, this gel is perfect for hydration and especially useful for sunburned skin.
3. Philosophy Time in a Bottle. This amazing serum comes with its own fresh-pour bottle of Vitamin C so you’re getting stable antioxidants proven to repair DNA damage. Perfect for hydrating and rejuvenating skin in the summer.
4. Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer. This light moisturizer is non-greasy which makes it great for use in ultra humid weather.
5. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs lotion. Although this is only an optical skin saver, it’s our must for the summer because it makes legs (and any other part of your body) look absolutely flawless. We like the cream version of this popular spray staple because it makes less of a mess and you can still get amazing results.
6. L’Occitane Pivoine Shimmering Body Oil. A good dry oil is an absolute must in the summer and we love that this one is scented with L’Occitane’s peony scent so we can skip the perfume.
If you’re like me, although the weather’s nice outside, it’s fun shopping for some fall staples to get ready for cooler temperatures. If you’re looking for amazing pieces without breaking the bank, then Ultimate Outlet might be your best bet!
Check out some pieces that are on sale, like their Sleek Leggings with Studs which are only $24. 
They also have a great selection of pencil skirts that have shape wear built into them!
Check out the site, and happy shopping!
Just another something that I wrote for Stylelist.ca.
Summer means a special arsenal of products meant to combat everything from excessive frizz to over-dry tresses. Plus, we need something that can make our hair look beachy without looking too messy. Here are some favourites that you need in your summer lineup.
1. Shu Uemura Touch of Gloss Hair Wax. The hottest style off the runway is hair slicked back to that it looks like you just stepped out of the pool, and this is just the product to help you get that look.
2. Pantene Overnight Miracle Repair Serum. Absorbs into your hair and doesn’t leave a residue on your pillow. It’s completely weightless which means that your hair actually looks fresh and shiny in the morning. A must-have if you plan on spending long hours in the sun.
3. L’Oreal Evercreme Conditioning Cleanser. This is the ultimate in gentle hair care which is a must since most of us wash our hair more in the summer. This Conditioning Cleanser turns the shampoo-conditioner 2-in-1 formula on its head by being conditioning first and cleansing second. Perfect for getting the grease out without over-drying your hair.
4. Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Repair and Finish Spray. Give beachy waves a mist of moisture with this super hydrator.
5. Joico Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo smells amazing and leaves hair looking and feeling fresher. Perfect for those hot days when you don’t want to turn the hair-dryer on!
6. Live Clean Exotic Vitality Monoi Oil Leave-in Conditioner Spray gives hair light-weight moisture so that you don’t weigh down tresses.
7. Anastasia Hypercolor Brow and Hair Powder. Perfect for testing our coloured tresses without actually having to commit to colour.
8. Kerastase Spray à Porter Tousled Effect or “Beach Look” Spray. If you have hair that’s already dry, you’ll want to use a spray that doesn’t have salt in it, and this Kerastase spray might just be your best bet. The light hold that this spray offers means that it’s great to use on dry hair because it won’t leave it sticky or hard.
