Pierre Hardy for Nars Nail Polishes

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Henna

Pierre Hardy for Nars nail polishesThis summer, we’re loving some of the polishes that are part of the Pierre Hardy for Nars collection.  The iconic shoe designer has made his name because of his prints, and the entire makeup collection harkens back to that.  Thus, the nail polishes come in pairs and are sold in boxes like shoes.  The pairs can be worn alone, together, or used to create your very own print-like designs just like the graphic ones on Hardy’s shoes.

As can be expected with Nars, the polishes are richly pigmented and look amazing with just two simple coats.

The duos are:

Ethno Run (Orange and Navy)

Ethno Run

 

Sharplines (Peach/Burgundy)

sharplines

 

Vertebra (Coral/Dusty Rose) (*Note: the “dusty rose” looks more like a rosy beige)

Vertebra

 

Easy Walking (Rose Gold/Camel) (*Note, Nars says that this is a Rose Gold, but I really found it to be more of a light bronze metallic.)

Easy Walking

 

Sharks (Yellow/Lavender)

Sharks

 

Venemous (Gunmetal/Black)

Venemous

$32 per duo available on NarsCosmetics.ca.  

 

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New From MAC: All About Orange

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Henna

MAC All About Orange CollectionAvailable yesterday online, and in stores from June 6-22 is MAC’s All About Orange collection which hits on the coral and orange craze that is sweeping makeup counters this summer.  We’ve seen oranges and corals in bits and pieces in summers past, but I think MAC brings it all together by featuring a collection that focusses on just that colour.  If you’ve been looking for the perfect shade of coral lipstick or blush then you’ll find what you’ve been searching for in this collection, because there’s an entire range of shades so that there’s something for everyone (well, almost… you’ll see what I mean).  The collection spans from peaches to corals to bright tangerine in a variety of finishes.  The cherry on top is the eyeshadow quad – not made up of orange (thank goodness!) but of greys which go with everything!

I love that there are tons of lipstick colours to choose from and they come in a variety of finishes, but I do wish that the Cremesheen Glass wasn’t just available in frosted colours.  It would have been nice to see a few cream finishes which is what I love the Cremesheen Glasses for!  I also wish that all the blushes weren’t satin finishes.  It would have been nice to see atleast one matte – shimmer is the one thing you can always add in yourself, especially when it comes to a blush or bronzer.  Still, the saving grace is that the Satin finish is not overly shimmery.  It just has a beautiful finish that makes skin look like it’s glowing.

Here’s what you’ll see in the collection:

Lipstick:

Razzledazzler light cream peach (lustre)
Sweet & Sour soft peach cream (cremesheen)
Tangerine Dream warm orange cream (lustre)
Flamingo light milky bright coral (lustre)
Sushi Kiss mid-tone coral cream (satin)
Tart & Trendy bright neutral orange cream (lustre)
Neon Orange bright clean orange (amplified)

SRP $15.00 US/$18.00 CDN

Cremesheen Glass: 

Double Happiness frosted light nude (cremesheen)
Imperial Light frosted light peach (cremesheen)
Rising Sun frosted bright orange (cremesheen)

SRP $20.00 US/$23.00 CDN

Eyeshadow x 4 – Rainy Season

Arctic Grey frosted mid-tone gray (lustre)
Courtly Grey matte cool gray (matte)
Typographic asphalt black (matte)
Rainy Season light warm gray frost (satin)

SRP $40.00 US/$47.50 CDN 

Powder Blush

Honey Jasmine soft warm coral (satin)
Royal Sunset soft cool peach (satin)
Immortal Flower bright peach (satin)

SRP $21.00 US/$25.00 CDN

Nail Lacquer

Ke Ai soft pink frost (frost)
Sweet Pop peach cream (cream)
Fiestaware mid-tone orange coral (cream)
Morange bright cream orange (cream)

SRP $16.00 US/$19.00 CDN

I haven’t been able to check out the collection yet, but I’ll definitely update when it comes out on counters.  Are you interested in trying anything from this collection?

 

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Givenchy Gentlemen Only Perfume Review

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Henna

I guess it’s the impending Father’s Day date that’s making me think of doing more reviews of men’s products, but it’s also the fact that there are some pretty spectacular ones that have come my way recently.

Givenchy Gentlemen OnlyOne of those is Givenchy’s new perfume, Gentlemen Only which smells so different than the majority of men’s fragrances out there.  Some how, most of those smell the same to me, and this one seems to really stand out.  In fact, I love it so much that I would even consider wearing it myself.

The official notes are: Green Mandarin, Pink Pepper, Nutmeg, Birch Leaf, Cedar Wood Texas, Heart Of Patchouli, Vetiver, Incense.

At first sniff, I didn’t get a lot of the mandarin, pepper, or nutmeg, and this seemed to go right to the heart of the scent which is a woody patchouli incense.  The vetiver keeps it super fresh and light-smelling while the woodsiness keep it grounded.  This is an amazing scent with reasonable longevity.  $67 at The Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Sephora.

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A Note on Sunscreen

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Henna

coppertone sunscreensI wanted to post this before it gets super warm and you all go out on a hunt for the best sunscreen.  Although there are some amazing high-end sunscreens out there, the truth is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get sunscreen.  In fact, I recommend getting it from the drugstore so that you can apply without worrying about how much it’s costing you!

To that end, check out Coppertone Sport sunscreens, and I’m especially loving the Coppertone Sport line this year.  The sunscreens are waterproof and sweatproof, so it won’t run when it gets really hot outside.  The formula basically sticks to your skin and comes off only after a long time in the water or an actual shower.  Of course, you’d still want to apply every hour or so to avoid getting sunburned, but atleast you can enjoy yourself for that hour.

I’ve tried the Coppertone Sport suncreens (for the face and for the body), the Mousse, and the Spray and all over them are non-greasy and don’t leave a whitish tint on the skin, which means that they’re perfect for everyone and you’re going to look great in your summer pictures.

All of the above are $11.99 for a full-sized bottle, so there’s no excuse to use sunscreen like it’s going out of style this summer!

 

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Summer’s Must Have Lip Products

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Henna

Summer is almost here, and at the very least most of use update our lip balm, lip glosses, and lipsticks to suit the season. Here are the ones that you absolutely need to check out this summer.

summer lip products

1. Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil ($49). So exclusive that it comes with its own gold plated applicator tip so that it’s totally anti-bacterial. The treatment oil contains a blend of essential oils including Bois De Rose, Lavender, Geranium, Petitgrain, Lemon, Rosemary, Vanilla, Clove, Amyris, Orange, Ylang Ylang, Eucalyptus, Cedar and Rose Geranium. It also has oils that are rich in lipids: Hazelnut, Kukui Nut, Rose Hip, Borage, Olive, Green Tea, Cherry Pit, Sweet Almond, Jojoba, and Evening Primrose. Finally, there are vitamins A, B5, C and E. Really, this is perfection as a night or day treatment for lips.

2. Dior Jelly Lip Pen ($26). Dior jumps on the jumbo lip gloss trend with its own version which is a sheer balm formula that provides lots of shine and a hint of pigment to lips. Available in three colours (sheer violet, sheer pink, and sheer coral), the lip pen is perfect for easy summer beauty.

3. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Nourishing Lip Balm SPF 20 ($23). If you want something with some sun protection factor, look no further than Elizabeth Arden’s new offering. This thick balm is sure to give your lips a dose of moisture but also protect against the sun. It makes a perfect base for lipstick as well.

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Dior 2013 Summer Mix

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Henna

On June 1, look for Dior’s Summer Mix capsule collection at Dior counters.  The collection features three nail polishes ($24 each), and four cream blushes ($30) – it’s a take on matching your nails to your lips, but Dior decided to match nails to cheeks.

The collection features a new product called Diorblush Cheek Cremes.  The creams are highly pigmented and shimmery, and their texture reminds me of the Maybelline Bouncy Blushes! Because of the amount of shimmer, I’m not reaching for them, but they might be pretty for a summer night out.  Because they have a non-oily texture they last a long time on the skin.

The blush colours are: Panama, Pareo, Bikini, and Babies.

SummerMix013_PowdersRound

The nail polish colours are: Tye & Die, Sunnies, and Creoles.


 Dior Summer Mix Nail Polishes

Here’s my swatch of Sunnies.  It’s a super bright coral orange (verging on neon) that wears a bit like a jelly. It was slightly sheer even after 2 coats.  I would apply a white polish underneath this to really make the colour pop.

Dior Sunnies swatch

 

All the colours are limited edition and available June 1 at Dior counters.

 

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Lanvin Me

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Henna

Lanvin MeToday I’m trying out the new Lanvin Me Eau de Parfum, available at Holt Renfrew. Like the brand, it’s supposed to make you feel chic and very French.

At first sniff, it smells just like Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb (which actually doesn’t smell like flowers or bombs). There’s vanilla, musk, and amber in it, and amber is what I got to sniff first. It was interesting because all those notes are usually what appear in the dry down. I don’t like wearing amber or vanilla – I have warm skin and those two warm up into a sticky caramel sweetness on me, which I hate. They usually end up being too cloying.

However, with this scent, because the amber and vanilla were on top, there was no lasting cloying scent. Instead, you get used to the sweet and then start smelling all the other chypre notes that Lanvin Me also has. There are florals: rose and tuberose. A nice powdery sandalwood is the star dry down note and it’s so uncommon to find so much of it in a scent that I am really enjoying it.

The scent is supposed to be a floral gourmand, and I definitely agree with the gourmand aspect of it, but if you’re expecting something lushly floral, this will not be for you.

The scent is totally unlike anything I wear on most days, and I like the dry down so much (and it came a mere hour after wearing the scent) that it’s a winner for me.

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Super Shiny Healthy Hair

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Henna

Live Clean Exotic Vitality Leave inI woke up this morning to healthier shinier hair. Of course, I had washed it last night, but still, I couldn’t figure out why it looked so much better than usual. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember what I had put in it to give it that extra bounce and oomph.

And then I remembered.

I had used Live Clean Exotic Vitality Monoi Oil Leave-in Conditioner Spray ($6.99). It has all the benefits of most Live Clean products: 96% plant derived, paraben, phthalate and phosphate free, sulfate and petroleum free, and contains organic botanicals.

The leave-in spray is enriched with monoi oil, jojoba oil, and bamboo extract which is why my hair seemed so much shinier and well-nourished. I already loved the Live Clean Professional Restoring Spray (I’ve written about it here and here), but this one goes a cut above by really adding an extra layer of gloss.

Available at Walmart, Loblaws, and Shoppers Drug Mart.

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L’Occitane Collection de Grasse

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Henna

loccitane collection de grasseL’Occitane’s new collection of bath and body products are named after Grasse, the city in France where all the major perfumers live and make their creations. The collection is a fresh new take on fragrance – each scent is refined and unlike any other bath and body product that’s out there.

There are four scents to choose from:

Jasmin and Bergamote
Vanille and Narcisse
Magnolia and Mure
Tea Vert and Bigarade

My favourite is the Magnolia and Mure (Magnolia and Blackberry) which smells woody and totally fresh and not at all fruity as the blackberry would suggest.

Each scent includes an eau de toilette ($75), body milk ($24), shower gel ($20) and soap ($10).

Available this month at L’Occitane boutiques across Canada.

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Bobbi Brown Nude Beach Collection

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Henna

Bobbi Brown Nude BeachIf you like a totally effortless summer look, then Bobbi Brown’s Nude Beach collection is for you. The chic set of products totally works on enhancing your natural beauty instead of covering anything up. Think neutral pinks and bronzes that can work with or without a tan.

There are so many great products in the collection. They work so well with any skin tone that you’re going to find that they can work as staples all year round!

The Lipgloss Lip Tints ($22) come in four colours, with just one shimmer option.

BB Lipgloss Lip Tints

The colours are:

– Air Kiss

– Pink Cloud

– Bronzed Pink

– Naked

You also need to check out the Sheer Color Cheek Tint ($30) which gives you that J. Lo glow that works so well in the summer.

Those shades are:

– Nude Beach
– Summer Pink
– Sunlit Nude

Sunlit Nude is the perfect shimmery bronze that gives just a hint of tint to cheeks.

The Face and Body bronzing duo ($49) is enormous (the width is almost the size of a lipgloss), and has no orange tones in it.

Check out the collection at Bobbi Brown counters or at BobbiBrown.ca.

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