New York City Ballet by OPI – Spring 2012

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Henna

Spring is here with OPI, who has partnered with the New York City Ballet to bring 5 new SoftShades for Spring.  The collection features five sheer shades lightly tinged in hues of beige, pink, white, lilac and gray, as well as a silver sparkly lacquer. With various sized glitter particles, this hue can be worn alone or layered over any of the other colors for added shine and dimension.

The new colours are:

Barre My Soul
This sheer beige is gorgeous, and that’s the “naked” truth.

You Callin’ Me a Lyre?

This ascending pink hits all the right notes.

Don’t Touch My Tutu!
Hands off this wispy white — it’s all mine!

Care to Danse?
This lilac is up-to-the-minuet in fashion.

My Pointe Exactly
See? This gorgeous sheer gray has been right all along!

Pirouette My Whistle
Drink up! This silver sparkle is just what you need.

They will be available April 2012 for $10.95 each.

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Marc Jacobs Splash 2012 – Tropical

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Henna

You may not agree, but I’m glad that Marc Jacobs now has the Splash fragrances in a smaller size. In the past years, I found that no matter how much I loved the smell of the Splash (Cucumber, and Rain were winners for me), I just couldn’t use up the whole bottle in the summer before I went to my fall/winter scents! The older bottles were 300 ml and filled with cologne, and these are eau de toilettes.

This season, the size of the bottle is 100ml and Rain is joined by Kumquat and Hibiscus scents.

Both are light yet long-lasting, and both are floral at their base.

The Hibiscus has a notes of raspberry, mandarin, and peony at its opening, with hibiscus, tiare, and freesia rounding out the base. Appaently, there are also woods and musk, in the drydown, but I couldn’t really smell them, and the fragrance was a fresh floral from start to finish for me.

Kumquat has opening notes that are more citrusy, of course, including those of tangerine, bergamot, orange zest, kumquat, and then jasmine, tiger orchid, woods and cedar. The scent starts out as a sweet citrus but then turns floral after a couple of hours.

I have to say that I liked the light breezy nature of both and both are very wearable fragrances. Rain is unisex, and would suit men or women.

Each retails for $49 at Holt Renfrew!

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MAC In Extra Dimension Collection

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Henna

MAC’s In Extra Dimension products are basically a version of Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Gelee products (see the eyeshadows and bronzer).

Both formulae are a hybrid of gel, powder, and water so that you get the blending power of a liquid, but in a compact that’s easy to carry and work with. Both products are very highly pigmented and so are easy to work with and apply. You can use your fingers or a synthetic brush to apply, and they just stick to the skin without any fall-out or flaking.

The difference is that the MAC products seem to be slightly drier, but it doesn’t really impact the product too much. I really liked the Extra Dimension Skinfinishes because they are the perfect highlighters. They just glide on to the skin and you can layer them for high impact highlighting. The Extra Dimension shadows are great too, but the only reason that you would switch to them over regular shadows is that they’re very pigmented.

The Extra Dimension Skinfinish colours are:

WHISPER OF GIlT – LIGHT, SOFT WHITE GOlD WITH SHIMMERY SHEEN
SUPERB SOFT pEACHY NUDE WITH MUlTI-DIMENSIONAL SHIMMER
GlORIFY COPPER WITH GOLDEN SHIMMER
$33.50 CDN

Extra Dimension Eyeshadow colours:

WARM THUNDER – DIRTY SILVER GREY (METALLIC)
BLUE ORBIT – LIGHT IRIDESCENT PURPLE (METALLIC)
GRAND GALAXY – DIRTY MID TONE VIOLET (METALLIC)
LUNAR – ROYAL BLUE (METALLIC)
HAVANA – DIRTY COPPER BROWN (METALLIC)
SWEET HEAT – BRIGHT PEACH CHAMPAGNE (METALLIC)
MODERN PEWTER – DIRTY OLIVE GOLD (METALLIC)
RICH CORE – DIRTY AUBERGINE (METALLIC)
DARK DARE – CHARCOAL BLACK (GLOW)
YOUNG VENUS – PALE WHITE PINK (METALLIC)
$24.00 CDN

Available at MAC counters.

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Viktor and Rolf Spicebomb Review

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Henna

With the immense success of Flowerbomb (which didn’t smell like flowers), this spring, Viktor and Rolf have launched a new scent for men called Spicebomb. I’ll cut to the chase and say that it doesn’t smell like spices, but it does stay true to the spirit of Flowerbomb.

The notes for Spicebomb include bergamot and grapefruit to open, and then finish with tobacco, leather, and pink pepper. There are also musk notes, and a sweet cherry almond which seems to want to take center stage. I do smell some vanilla (is it tonka bean?) in this and I don’t like that, but that was the case with Flowerbomb too, which had a distinct amber finish that overwhelmed the rose.

Like Flowerbomb, Spicebomb has sweet notes that overwhelm any other ones that are in the fragrance. I found that this made the scent less pleasing – men’s scents should be clean and fresh, and this is anything but. On the flip side, I don’t mind if they are smoky and intense, but this doesn’t go that far either. The scent is meant to be edgy – and it’s different, that’s for sure. Spicebomb smells like nothing else on the market, and men who are tired of the same old same old will love it, but I’m not so sure that the women in their lives will love it too.

All said and done, I will say that the scent is very well reviewed and received, so I am definitely in the minority when I say that I don’t like it. David Lackie and Natalie Atkinson of the National Post gave it 3 and 3.5 stars out of 4 respectively. Bois de Jasmin gave it 5/5, and Now Smell This likes it too. I still find it too sweet and not spicy enough, so I stand by my review.

Pick it up at The Bay: $75 for 50 ml, $99 for 90 ml.

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Clarins Spring 2012 – Colour Breeze

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Henna

It’s not too late to take a look at Clarins’ Spring 2012 collection, rightly called Colour Breeze.

The collection includes probably the most wearable of spring colour quartets called Mineral Ombre Blue Sky. The shades are pretty and subtle, with enough grey in them to not make you look like you should be at the circus. I especially love that they included the dark pewter-teal to line the lids with because it definitely makes all the other colours pop.

The Powder Tone Blush is more of a powder than a blush. The hint of colour is nice but totally unnecessary.

The Instant Light Blush is one of a kind. It has just enough shimmer and pigment that it makes your cheeks look as if light is hitting them. You can blend this on top of makeup without spreading everything all about, and the bright pink is wearable for almost all skin tones but those that are very dark.

Overall, this is a collection that has enough colour to up the ante on your normal makeup, but not too much that you won’t reach for these products.

Check out the rest at Clarins counters!

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Ciate Paint Pots Review and Swatch

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Henna

There’s going to be a time when Ciate isn’t going to be autocorrected in my iPhone, because the nail polish brand is going to be that popular. I’m that bowled over by this brand.

Ciate Paint Pots are a nail polish brand from England and their claim to fame is doing Adele’s manicure for the Grammy’s. The brand is going to be at Sephora stores later this year, so get used to hearing about it. Not only is it going to be everywhere, but the formula is to die for, so people are going to be talking about it.

Ciate’s formula is thick, rich, and full of pigment. I tried the polish in a colour called Knickerbockerglory, which is a fuschia pink that verges on red. It is really bright and pretty! The colour goes on without any streaking and just one coat is enough to give you full coverage. I, of course, put on two coats, but I assure you that I could have gotten away with just one.

The polish lasts and lasts and looks super pretty and shiny.

Right now, if you want to get your hands on Ciate Paint Pots, check them out on eBeauty.ca. At $14 each, these cost more than your usual OPI polish but I think that the formula and wear make it worth it.

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Lancome O de L’Orangerie Review

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Henna

Newest to the Lancome O series, is O de l’Orangerie. With a burst of fresh citrus mixed with cedar, benzoin, and then finally jasmine, this is one of the most unisex fragrances I’ve ever smelled. Because it is so intensely citrusy and bubbly, the scent really reminds me of male scents.

The citrus isn’t very much orange, so much as a general blend of citrus. The cedar comes in right at the beginning, and the very middle and base has hints of jasmine in it.

Overall, this is a lovely spring/summer scent that’s light, fresh, but long-wearing. Pick it up at Lancome counters April 2012 for $54.

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Chanel Spring/Summer 2012 Nail Polishes

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Henna

Last week, I went to @HoltRenfrew to get a Chanel manicure, and it was the perfect time to check out their Spring 2012 nail polish collection. The three colours offered are April, May, and June, a concept I think is so cute. The April is a deeper berry colour but something that eases you out of winter, May is a bright pink, and June is a peachy orange that’s fresh. Of course, I went with June because it’s unlike anything I’ve seen before and I don’t own a colour like that!

All the colours are creams, which I love, and two coats gives you opaque coverage. Lovely, really.

At the Holt’s I went to, June was totally sold out, there was one more of May, and two bottles of April left. However, they did say that they were going to get a shipment of more polishes, so if you haven’t gotten your hands on these yet, all hope is not lost.

What do you think?

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MAC By Request

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Henna

Is there a particular MAC product that you miss and wish you had back?  Well maybe it’s on the list for the new MAC By Request Collection.  Starting today, you can vote on which products from past collections you want to come back.  18 popular lipsticks, lipglasses and eye shadows have been selected from past collections; the three shades with the most votes from each category will come back as an online exclusive, limited edition collection.

Voting opens to all Facebook fans March 12-30.  The collection will be available online in North America in August and internationally Fall 2012.

Here’s what you can vote on and the collection the products are from:

Lipstick:

3N as seen in N Collection (January 2008)
Candy Yum Yum as seen in Quite Cute (April 2011)
Eden Rocks as seen in Eden Rocks (May 2001)
Moxie as seen in Retro Matte Lipsticks (September 1999)
Rocker as seen in Time Rocker (Fall 1999)
Shitaki as seen in Cuisine (March 2001)

 

Lipglass:

2N as seen in N Collection (January 2008)
Bait as seen in Lure (June 2006)
Cult of Cherry as seen in Cult of Cherry (September 2008)
Emancipation as seen in Wonder Woman (February 2011)
Flash of Flesh as seen in M·A·C D’Bohemia (May 2005)
Icescape as seen in Love Lace (December 2009)

 

Eye Shadow:

Cool Heat as seen in Cool Heat – June 2008
Guacamole as seen in Salsabelle (May 2005)
Heavenly Bliss as seen in Eden Rocks (May 2001)
Jeté as seen in Danse (January 2006)
Moth Brown as seen in Madame B. (March 2005)
Solar White as seen in Cool Heat (June 2008)

What will you be voting for?  I know my picks are the 3N lipstick and the 2N lipglass because they’re the perfect neutral colours.

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Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum by Jimmy Choo

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Henna

Latest this March is Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum by Jimmy Choo.  What perfume has to do with shoes, I have no clue, but I suppose it’s an aspirational lifestyle they’re selling.  If you can’t afford the shoes, get the perfume, and you’ll almost be as stylist as Carrie on Sex and the City.

I found the perfume to be a mix of fruits and patchouli with some citrus right at the beginning.  The perfume is definitely strong and meant for those that have personalities to match.  I wouldn’t wear it, but I know people who would.  The drydown is nicer than the initial scent.  It’s a bit muskier and heady, just slightly sweet.  The great thing is that the pear doesn’t last as long as the toffee which is nice.

The bottle is to die.  Heavy glass that reminds one of Murano glass, it’ll look pretty on the vanity no matter what the juice inside is. It reminds me of the Viktor and Rolf bottle which was super pretty as well.

Available for $73 for 60ml eau de parfum, at Holt Renfrew, The Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques and Murale.

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