All posts filed under: Geekiviews

bamjamz sleep and lounge wear Bella Donna

geekiviews: bamjamz sleep and lounge wear

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bamjamz send me a tank top in the Sweet Dreamz print from their new line of sleep/lounge wear for review. The line consists of tanks, tunics, shorts, leggings, tshirts and pants. I was interested because bamjamz is Toronto based and they use bamboo fabric. I’m a big fan of bamboo. bamjamzâ„¢ is the latest concept from GUATS Soft Goodsâ„¢ founders Brad Rudin and Adrian Kraizel, that has redefined the concept of “pyjamas” through a fun, sexy and adventurous concept designed to fit the lifestyle of the modern woman – urban, active and spiritual. Made from the softest, coziest bamboo stretch blend fabric, bamjamzâ„¢ delivers a new dimension in natural comfort and performance. This remarkable sustainable and easy to care for fabric breathes, regulates temperature, wicks moisture, controls odour and is hypoallergenic. Sourced from organic and FSC certified bamboo, bamjamzâ„¢ is an all-Canadian collection, having been created in Toronto, designed by Vancouver’s Carol Fergusson and manufactured in Vancouver, with fabric knitted in Montreal. Bamboo is a soft fabric and it’s one of the reasons why I …

geekiviews: Lancome Absolue Precious Cells Advanced Regenerating and Replenishing Cream and Genifique Eye Youth Activating Eye Concentrate

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I’ve been using the two Lancome skincare products I received from L’Oreal Canada religiously since I returned from India. The products have ridiculously long names, Absolue Precious Cells Advanced Regenerating and Replenishing Cream and Genifique Eye Youth Activating Eye Concentrate. I wonder about the names of products are created at beauty companies. not only do these products have ridiculously long names, they have big media kits also. The Absolue Precious Cells media kit was the largest I’ve seen for one product. Absolue Precious Cells is a skincare product geared for the woman in her 50s which uses a proprietary formula to “restore the stem cell environment and re-trigger the skin’s self-regenerative potential.” The media kit talks provides background information on epidermal stem cells. Lancome uses adult skin stem cells for anyone that is concerned. The results of Lancome’s quest to find the perfect combination of ingredients that create an atmosphere that allows epidermal skin stem cells to regenerate is detailed in the media kit. It’s fairly scientific for a media kit, I was a bit …

geekiviews: Jean Leggings by Joe’s Jeans

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I received a package containing a pair of Zip Ankle Jean Legging in Black by Joe’s Jeans from Holt Renfrew PR just before Christmas. Jean Leggings were never something I would have tried before this package arrived. I hate to say it, I’ve drunk the koolaid, I like them. When I pulled them out of the magenta bag, they looked a little small. I’ve come to realize that you need to buy them smaller than you think. They are denim and do stretch a bit. They are comfortable, it was the first thing that surprised me. They are like wearing non-denim leggings. The fabric is stretchy and soft. The zippers on the side make it easy to put on and remove. I checked out the stash at Holt’s. They have a ton of different styles included distressed denim, acid wash and  tie dye. The price range is $116 – $140. The pair I have are $128. I thought it was hilarious that the distressed denim ones cost $140 even though from a production standpoint I …

geekiviews: Test Driving Shu Uemura False Eyelashes

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I went to the Toronto Meets Tokyo Shu Uemura event at Holt Renfrew a couple weekends ago. I was treated to a make up application that included Shu Uemura lashes. I was going to find out why these lashes are so raved about. TORONTO MEETS TOKYO shu uemura will come to life this Saturday at Holt Renfrew; our principal makeup artist Taca Ozawa will be there to complete artistic makeup for the women who dare to try! Lashes application will be offered, as well as sketches done by a Japanese Manga Artist. The event will take place in the centre court at Holt Renfrew, with models dressed in kimonos and made up with artistic makeup. Taca Ozawa wasn’t my makeup artist. Stupid me didn’t ask/remember her name because I loved what she did. I chose something pretty simple for lashes. The Luxe Black style were huge but not over the top. I didn’t feel like feathers or sparkles at the time. Inspired by the mink false eyelashes custom-ordered by celebrities, this synthetic version features a …

geekiviews: Nippies by Bristols 6

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I received a package containing Nippies by Bristols 6 of various styles from rock-it promotions the other day. Nippies are exactly what you think they are, nipple covers. A few years ago, I had tried a couple brands but never liked the result which was puckering. I decided to give these a shot because maybe someone improved on what was happening then. I was right. Bristol 6 has made some nice ones. The first time I wore a pair of plain black heart shaped Nippies. I decided to leave the black lace heart ones at home. You couldn’t see them in the dress. I was more worrying about having a wardrobe malfunction with my one shouldered dress. Proof is in the photo as I wore them to Bloor Street Entertains. I totally forgot I was wearing them and there was no puckering. I also received some silver star shaped Nippies. One was a matte finish and the other was sparkly. I tried the matte finish ones and I liked these better than the heart shaped …

geekiviews: A Single Man by Tom Ford

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So, I saw A Single Man last night. I’m not going to go into a huge review of the movie but I liked it overall. Tom Ford fans obviously will be flocking to see it. It does seem like a long Tom Ford commercial, not that it’s a bad thing necessarily. I was really curious to see Tom Ford’s debut. I wanted to see the expression of his aesthetic on film. The movie is shot beautifully. Tom does have a great eye for directing. However, I do think he could use an editor big time. Some shots were a little tedious and a few snips would have been beneficial. A friend of mine actually left halfway through the movie because she felt it was more about the imagery than the story. I can see her point, but every time the movie started to seem tedious, that is exactly when Tom would bring some humour into the situation. I really enjoyed that snap back to reality and it kept me from feeling “New Moon” about the …

geekiviews: Lancome Ôscillation Powerbooster

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Someone asked me if my eyelashes were fake on Saturday at Shinan’s Boldface Names Party. I knew I had to get my but in gear and post about the Lancome Ôscillation Powerbooster. It’s a godsend. My lovely friends at L’Oreal Canada send me a sample of Lancome Ôscillation Powerbooster. I’m not a fan of primers in general. My Double Extend Beauty Tube experience didn’t change my mind about primers either.  However, a primer based on Ôscillation technology had me instantly interested. I’m a big, big fan of Ôscillation by Lancôme. I was excited about a primer with the same type of application. The idea of primer amplifying the already amazing effect of the mascara AMAZING. The combo of the Ôscillation powerbooster and mascara is amazing. My lashes are thicker and longer. I usually get a comment or two about how long and curved my lashes are when I use them together. I also use the powerbooster as a primer for my Benefit Badgal Plum mascara. The plum colour pops more with the primer on.  It …

geekiviews: OVO by Cirque du Soleil

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Thanks to Alison from Cossette I was given a set of four tickets to the new Cirque du Soleil production, OVO. A pair of tickets were for me and guest and the other pair were for a reader contest. I decided to do a quick twitter contest to decide the three winners that would attend the show with me. It was pretty successful and I might incorporate more twitter contests in the future. OVO is a headlong rush into a colourful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects’ home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion. When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It’s love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – …

geekiviews: Flora by Gucci

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I received the Flora by Gucci Eau du Toilette in a swag bag from an event. I can’t remember which one (If any friends out there remember what event, please comment!). I like floral based perfumes, so I thought I would give it a shot. Turns out I like it. It’s sweet smelling; a mixture of fruit and flowers at first. It finishes with a heavy base. I don’t normally like patchouli but it works for me in this combination. It’s a girl’s fragrance and nowhere near the androgynous zone. It’s very strong and you have to remember that when applying. I do find myself reaching for this perfume a lot in the morning. Flora’s olfactory pyramid is composed around the floral theme, with top notes of citrus and peony, a heart of rose and osmanthus — a Chinese flower with a distinct floral fruit and leather aroma — and sandalwood and patchouli on the base. Giannini and the P&G fragrance team developed the scent with Firmenich. This is Gucci’s second perfume geared to the …

geekiviews: Equmen Compression Clothing

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So, I was shopping with a male friend who decided to buy an Equmen Core Precision Undershirt. It’s goes by the male girdle when people are being snarky. The buzz about these types of products has increased in the last year and I was dying to get access to a user of the product. Regular readers know I’m a fan of shapewear. It’s not about losing a lot of inches, but smoothing to leave clean lines. I had a feeling that the men’s version is similar in principle. I learned a bit more about the marketing from the website. There were three things the Men of the World need that Equmen delivers according to the website. The weight angle: I WANT TO LOOK AND FEEL SLIMMER Look and feel more fit with style. Equmen’s CORE PRECISION UNDERSHIRT will help to trim and tone your physique for a more tailored look. Streamlines Torso. Targeted compression wraps around core to trim stomach and smooth love handles. Straightens Posture. Pulls the shoulders back to deliver a taller, more …

geekiviews: PunkMedics, Vegan Skincare with Edge

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I review the odd skincare or beauty product on the site, so it was nice to get pitched from a Canadian based company. The thing that makes PunkMedics different is that all it’s product are vegan. They carry a range of products from skincare, lipcare, piercing & tattoo care and even roadrash care. PunkMedics is also an sustainable company and you can read about their practices on the website. PunkMedics is a Canadian based company that manufactures, wholesales and retails a fun line of vegan skin care products with edge. Our products are made of natural plant and botanical ingredients from organic sources. They are 100% vegan (contain no animal by-products) and not tested on animals. They are free from parabens, sulphates, petroleum by-products and GMO materials. I first heard of Toronto based PunkMedics through twitter. Owner, Badur Ramji, offered to send me the Vegan Sample Pack which I used on my FDJ press junket trip. It contained a Body Wash, Conditioning Shampoo, Leave in Conditioner, Facial Cleanser and Body Lotion. The only thing I …

geekiviews: Lancôme Paris Perfecting and Setting Mineral Powder

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Lancôme Paris Perfecting and Setting Mineral Powder My friends at Lancôme Canada sent me two of the latest additions to their makeup line, Skin-Transforming Mineral Powder Foundation and Perfecting and Setting Mineral Powder. Ageless Minérale, the brand’s first brightening mineral foundation that brushes away the signs of aging. Ageless Minérale includes White Sapphire Complex, the newest innovation from the Lancôme Laboratories. The complex is comprised of a special combination of ingredients including Bismuth Oxychloride, Mica, Alumina, Aloe and Vitamin E. Working in conjunction, these ingredients help blur wrinkles, cover imperfections and visibly erase pores and lines. The SPF 21 keeps skin protected from the sun’s harmful rays. The ultra-fine loose Mineral Powder Foundation can be used alone or with the Setting And Perfecting Mineral Powder, which gently absorbs excess oil and further minimizes imperfections for a shine-free, soft-focus finish. Talc-free and never cakey, the powders wear beautifully for hours without irritating the skin. The modern packaging features a sliding cap ensuring an easy and clean application. Used with the ultra luxurious Powder Foundation Brush, the …

geekiviews: Vitaminwater

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I know. You are thinking what does Vitaminwater have to do with fashion. It has nothing to do with fashion and it has everything to do with an interesting pitch I received from Environics. They sent me a couple of bottle of Vitaminwater. It’s the not first time I’ve tried it. I’m pretty indifferent to it as a beverage. Most times I’ve heard of anyone drinking it, they had been drinking heavily the night before. So when I received the package from Environics I laughed out loud when I discovered their pitch, Vitaminwater, hangover cure. It’s perfect and about damn time. It’s a better tasting Gatorade which has been touted as a hangover remedy by many people I know. The pitch also included some Canadian hangover stats which I found amusing. fast facts and stats never say never? according to a recent survey, 47% of canadians won’t give up drinking even if it means we’ll be hugging the porcelain god the next day. open bars and two-four (maybe it has something to do with the …

geekiviews: Cosabella Never Say Never Thongs

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At the Innovators’ Ball I managed to get a gift box of Never Say Never thongs by Cosabella from one of the dancers. The gift box had 4 different coloured thongs in it. I was very pleased with myself and all I had to do was dance for them. Prior to this stroke of luck, I bought 2 pairs of Cosabelle Soire Lowrider Thongs. I heard things about them being amazing and that people swear by them, yadda, yadda. The Soire’s were okay. I wasn’t raving about them and I wasn’t blown away either. However, the Never Say Never thongs are the most comfortable thong I’ve ever worn. I love it when you forget your are wearing a piece of clothing. That is how these thongs felt. I’m impressed with the quality of the material and stitching. The range of colours are a treat too. They are a little pricier than most but I’ve found they hold up excellent after a trip through the washer and dryer. image: takemorephotos.com

geekiviews: Nikon S230

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Strategic Ampersand provided me with a Nikon S230 to evaluate for two weeks. I’m never really pleased with the performance of point and shoot cameras but it’s the cruel bargain I have made with myself. A digital SLR is just too big to carry around to events and that trumps any idea I have about owning one. I like something small and compact. I use a Pentax right now and I have a bit of a love hate relationship with it. I hate it more than my old Pentax. I broke my old Pentax but we had a great relationship. I was able to take consistently good pictures with the camera and I haven’t been able to replicate that feeling with the new Pentax. I was hoping the Nikon S230 might return me to those carefree days of great photos. The big claim to fame for the S230 is the 3 inch touch screen. I’m usually not a touch screen fan but I was curious to see what the technology was like. Some of the …

geekiviews: J.R. Watkins Lip Tint

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My good friends at Brill Communications also send me some J.R. Watkins Lip Tint. Basically J.R. Watkins Lip Tint is their famous lip balm infused with colour. The result is something that feels and applies like a lip balm but gives your lips a nice shade. Each tint is formulated with 100% natural beeswax and Shea butter. There are four shades to choose from: Tickled Pink, Strike-a-rose, Simply Mauve-lous and Berry Charming. Tickled Pink and Strike-a-rose were much too pink for my complexion and I stuck with the Simply Mauve-lous and Berry Charming. I really like that the Lip Tint acts like a lip balm and lipstick. I like a hint of colour on my lips and don’t wear much lipstick because I find it’s too much for me. You can layer the colour on as much as you like with the Lip Tint and I like that. The fact that it’s a lip balm means that your lips are keep moist and aren’t drying out. Available for $5.99 at various retailers in the city.

geekiviews: Nailene Nail Accessories

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My good friends at Brill Communications decided to send me some samples of Nailene. I couldn’t bring myself to use them and this is the first geekiviews post I’m making without trying the product. I have to admit, I’ve always been a little frightened of artificial nails. I put it out there on twitter that I was afraid of artificial nails and had a couple people reply back with horror stories. I also read the instructions and the removal of the nails which involves soaking in acetone. I really didn’t want to go through it. The artificial nails themselves are not tacky. They are in the french manicure style which is always classic and not obnoxious. I will overlook the nail art that was included with the Toenail set. I had no idea there was artificial toenails too. A friend of mine, who is way more into this beauty stuff, told me that Nailene is the best brand of at home artificial nail kits. She had these tips for creating the perfect set of nails. …

geekiviews: LG TE365 Neon Mobile Phone

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During LG Fashion Week I had the opportunity to test out one of LG’s new mobile phones the LG TE365 Neon. I love playing with gadgets so I accepted. A full QWERTY keypad for fast texting, quick access to your favourite social network sites, and threaded SMS keeps you in touch wherever and whenever you want. It also comes with a 2.0MP camera, a music player that supports 4GB of music, and a trim design that easily slips into any pocket or purse. Dimensions :101.6 x 50.8 x 16.8mm Weight :08 grams (3.65oz) Battery Life Talk Time :Up to 4 hours, Standby Time :Up to 250 hours Camera :2.0 megapixel Digital Camera Messaging Type :QWERTY keypad for text entry Ringer Type :64-chord polyphonic ringer Voice Recording and Memo :Yes Scheduler/Calendar :Yes I’m a Blackberry user so going to a plain messaging phone is always a step down for me. However, the phone itself is compact and small. The slide out keyboard felt pretty sturdy and not flimsy. The screen was a good size and the …

geekiviews: High Voltage Tattoo

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I don’t know what went through my head when I agreed to review the new Kat Von D book High Voltage Tattoo. I don’t really know much about her besides the fact that she was on reality tv and is a tattoo artist. I didn’t watch her shows, they aren’t my thing. Typical rock/stripper chick is what I labelled her prior to reading this book. I’ve discovered that she’s a talented artist. I’ve discovered that I kinda like her. The book features a short bio, history of her career in the tattoo world, a tattoo map of her body and representative examples of the genre using examples of her work on her clients and friends. Some of my favourite things in the book are: The presentation of the book. It fits in perfectly with her style down to the font. Her tattoo map is pretty detailed and impressive it hard for me to imagine getting one tattoo let alone the number of ones Kat has to warrent such an in depth analysis. She sets the …

geekiviews: The Arc Mouse by Microsoft

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The nerd in me is all excited about the Arcâ„¢ Mouse I received Microsoft and Highroad Communications. It’s product that combines fashion/style and technology that would be fitting of a debut at LG Fashion Week. It’s an interesting departure for Microsoft; I don’t know them as a style conscious company on the level of LG or Apple. However, this mouse is making me change my mind. It’s lovely and I don’t usually say that about technology. Features of the mouse include 2.4 GHz – 30 ft. Wireless Range, Folds For Portability, Micro-Transceiver snaps into the bottom of the mouse and the ambidextrous design makes it comfortable either way. It also has a little pouch for carrying. I immediately plugged it into my work machine. It worked without having to install any software. I had my Eee PC out at lunch and it was plug and play with that. My Eee PC runs Linux and I didn’t have to install anything. I was so pleased. It opens up to become a fullsized mouse that is very …

geekiviews: Mineral Flowers skincare

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I received a package containing Mineral Flowers skincare items from my friends at Brill Communications. Mineral Flowers is a link of skincare that incorporates minerals from The Dead Sea. Mineral Flowers delivers an unmatched spa-like treatments in the comforts of your own home. Ingredients such as Calcium to strengthen cell membranes and relieve pain, Bromine which heals skin diseases and helps relieve psoriasis and Zinc that clears skin and is a key ingredient in the production of collagen. Each product contains antioxidants such as green tea and ginkgo biloba, therapeutic essential oils and organic ingredients microalgae aka: seaweed and vitamin rich fruit and vegetable extracts; resulting in a pure way to pamper your skin, with every product paraben free, guaranteed. There are two products a hand moisturizer and body & massage lotion. They come in five different scents: Lavender, Citrus Blossom, Jasmine, Chamomile and Almond Blossom. I’m a big fan of the Almond Blossom Citrus Blossom and Chamomile scents. They aren’t overpowering or sickly smelling. I wasn’t a fan of the Jasmine scent, it was …

geekiviews: Lancome Pink Irreverence Spring 2009

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Before the holiday break I was send a package that contained the new Lancome Pink Irreverence Spring 2009 collection. I really did squeal when I opened the package, black and pink OMG. This is the first collection with the new make-up Artistic Director, Aaron De Mey. This collection is cantered on a radical duo of strong colours: pure fuchsia, in homage to the emblematic rose, and sparkling black, inspired by the volcanic sands of Piha Beach in New Zealand, from where Aaron De Mey originates. “I love opposites and extremes, the clash of colours and textures”, explains Aaron De Mey. “I chose this vibrant fuchsia as a tribute to the Lancôme rose. As for Piha Black, apart from the black-sanded beaches where I grew up, this colour also echoes a multitude of references which have influenced my work: the punk culture of London in the 70s, the smoky eyes of Marlene Dietrich who created her own black by burning a cork …” Price list from left to right in above photo: Le Vernis – Piha …

geekiviews: Diorshow Mascara

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Diorshow Mascara You might remember my last run in with blue mascara. I bought the Cargo stuff in April and I promptly threw it out in the fall. I was left without for a few months and decided to give the Diorshow Mascara in Blue Azure a shot. I had received a tester of some kind of Dior mascara at a fashion event and loved it. Things I like about Diorshow The colour. It’s a great blue that’s not too bright The brush is massive It’s waterproof It doesn’t flake Things I don’t like It took 3 coats to achieve the look in the above picture It wasn’t easy putting the mascara on. You really had to wiggle that brush to get the product on the lashes. I really want Ôscillation by Lancôme to come in blue. Overall, I like the product and it produces quality results even though those results are difficult to achieve. If the Ôscillation comes out with Blue it’s all over for Diorshow; it lengthens and curls without the need of …

geekiviews: Cromwell and Cruthers Shaving Oil

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This edition of geekiviews features a guest blogger, The Grumpy Owl. He’s a guy and the Cromwell and Cruthers Shaving Oil is for men. So it made sense that he review it instead of me. I hate oiling up my body. It’s the sort of the thing that one should have a person for. Preferably young, buxom and foreign. So, when Geekigirl gave me a plastic vial of Cromwell and Cruthers Shaving Oil, I viewed the product with some trepidation. Oil is bad enough but shaving is worse. The last time I combined the two, I spent an entire weekend cleaning hair, blood and assorted perfumes from my sheets. It was not an experience I was looking to repeat. But geekigirl quickly explained that I was to use this product to shave myself. Specifically, my face. While alone. I might not like oil or shaving but I do love my face. So I decided to give this shaving oil a whirl. Having used it for the past few weeks, I now feel competent to review …

geekiviews: Vera Wang Look

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I went to the launch of Vera Wang’s new perfume, Look. It was sponsored by Fashion Magazine and held at Panorama. It was a fun event and I spent time with friends and enjoyed the view. That’s me in the picture at the bar. Yup, the mustard tights. Love them! The skirt was a present from the owner of Print Vintage. It was originally a halter top dress that was unwearable. She couldn’t sell it and gave it to me one day when I was buying a dress. I got my handy sewing friend Danielle (finalfashion.ca) to turn it into a skirt. It’s pretty kick ass. There was a large ice sculpture display for the launch to show off the glass prism characteristics of the bottle. The ad campaign doesn’t bother me and that’s a very rare thing for perfume. Coty developed the fragrance. I’m by no means a perfume expert so I’ll let them describe it for you: Look was created in cooperation with Firmenich. It introduces notes of mandarin, watery greens, litchi and …