Dermalogica Facemap Our Nation – Till June 30, 2015
My favourite skincare line, Dermalogica has launched their Facemap Our Nation program. Participating Dermalogica partners will be providing free facemapping for interested people.
Facemapping is a zone by zone approach to skin analysis that’s completed by a certified Dermalogica Skin Therapist. They will be able to answer all your skin care questions and give you a skin care regime tailored to your skin conditions. All I can say is once you go Dermalogica, you can never go back to what you have used before. I speak from experience as last year my lovely Skin Therapist put me on a heavy program to get my face in a good place after a year of playing beauty editor and trying all kinds of weird products. I’m back to my never using anything but Dermalogica stance.
Dermalogica Facemap Our Nation – Till June 30, 2015
Please visit FaceMapNation.com to find out more information on dates and places where you can find across the country to get your facemapped. You have till June 30, 2015 to take advantage of this great opportunity to learn more about your skin.
Follow the action on social media by following the hashtag #facemapnation
I figured that short lasting and under-performing was status quo in the natural deodorant world. I tried different brands and delivery methods over the years. eventually I learned that I didn’t have much of a choice and gave up searching. Then I stumbled on the holy grail when introduced to Leaves of Trees deodorant.
Leaves of Trees is a luxury skincare line based in Toronto that uses all organic products. Brand founder, Roohi Qureshi, MD uses her extensive background medicine and chemical engineering to choose the best natural fair-trade ingredients that produce healing benefits. Leaves of Trees products are formulated using a base of the highest quality unrefined argan oil sourced from a woman’s cooperative in Morocco. The argan nuts are crushed and then cold pressed by hand which results in a higher concentration of antioxidants which prevent and repair skin damage caused by free radicals. All products are handmade in small batches at the Leaves of Trees Flagship store at 177 Queen Street East. Products are free of artificial fragrances, colours and preservatives.
I attended the press preview at the Leaves of Trees flagship store and there was a lot of buzz about the deodorant. Of course my ears pricked up and I was desperate to get my hands on some. There were two types, Lavender Tangerine and Eucalyptus Mint. Luckily the generous gift bag included some of the deodorant for everyone to test out. I got the Lavender Tangerine one. The Leaves of Trees deodorant uses Roohi’s argan lotion formula so it’s also moisturizing. Kaolin clay absorbs moisture and sodium bicarbonate is a deodorizer.
The Leaves of Trees deodorant doesn’t come in stick or crystal form. It’s packaged in a very smart-looking aluminum tube and it has the consistency of thick clay mask. It sounds weird and you are probably thinking there is going to be this huge weird clay looking patch on my pits. I can assure you there isn’t anything to worry about. A small pea size amount of deodorant is all that is necessary and it’s rubbed on the arm pit like lotion. The deodorant is almost totally absorbed and isn’t noticeable at all. The scent isn’t overpowering which is very important to me as a perfume wearer. I hate cross contaminating smells and I always try to find the skin products that are unscented or with the least amount of fragrance in them.
The Leaves of Trees deodorant blew any previous biases I held against natural deodorants. It kept me surprisingly dry and more importantly smell free all damn day long. I never experienced this before and it blew my mind. I’m a convert and I’ve already reordered the Lavender Tangerine and Eucalyptus Mint online. I highly recommend this product for anyone who is finding their current natural deodorant routine lacking in effectiveness.
The Leaves of Trees line also included argan oil, butters, lip balms, lotions, scrubs and soaps. They also have a custom program for events like weddings and baby showers. The customer can choose Handmade soaps and skincare flavours wrapped in custom designed and personalized packaging. In my gift bag there was a custom sample for each person. Really smart and cute gift.
Holt Renfrew Bloor Street is having a Les 4 Ombres discovery event this week. Chanel specialists are available to answer all your questions about the collection. Also, the Chanel mascara vending machine is back until the end of next week. It’s super fun to play with; all you need to do is buy one of the Le Volume mascaras. Don’t worry; you won’t be disappointed as Chanel gets my mascara thumbs up.
It’s that time of year again and I want – I got is putting together massive Gift Guides of things I think would be perfect to give as gifts this season. The fifth edition of the Gift Guides is the one we’ve been waiting for Fashion, Beauty and Jewellery. This is a big one and I could go on for days with selections.
I want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Cabaret Vintage Flapper Dress
Who doesn’t love the 20s? It’s my favourite style era and I love these Vintage Style Flapper Dresses by Cabaret Vintage. They range in price from $195 to 350 and are available online or at the Queen Street location.
I want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Comrags Quartz Border Ed Tunic
It’s really unfortunate that I don’t own anything by Comrags yet (Note to self, remedy this in 2014). I love the Quartz Border Ed Tunic by Comrags for $335. It’s available online or at their Toronto location.
I want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Philip Sparks ShoesI want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Philip Sparks ShoesI want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Philip Sparks Shoes
Philip Sparks’s Footwear is amazing. I love every style with the tall boots being my absolute favourite. They range in price from $350 to $495 and are available at the Ossington location or online.
I want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Christopher Kane Sweatershirt
I finally bought my first pair of Abel Munoz shoes this year. I love Harlow Gold and Black which retails for $495 and is available online. If you are in Toronto you can book and appointment and buy the shoes in person.
SkinnI want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Lazypants
I’ve purchased sweatpants twice in my life since turning 20. They are just something I don’t wear outside the house. Sometimes, I do need something cute to wear when running to the corner store and the laundry room. I’d be totally happy to receive Green Camo Skinnies from Lazypants are perfect. I love camo print, they are slim fit and they aren’t the traditional grey colour. They retail for $118 and is available online or at TNT.
SkinnI want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Lancome
It’s not an I want – I got gift guide if I’m not telling you to get some Lancome mascara. The Holiday Makeup Collection by Lancôme contains:
– limited edition Hypnôse Star Étincelle for $33
РHypn̫se Velours Multi-Wear Eyeliner Patches for $28
This ultra-precious kit contains 3 pairs of eyeliner patches which can be reused up to 3 times, to enhance the shape of the eye and stretch out towards the outer corner for an incredible wide-eyed look.
– Vernis in Love nail polish in Étincelle d’Agent, Étincelle de Neige and Lovered for $16 each.
I’m in love with the nail polish this holiday Étincelle de Neige has a really beautiful effect. The holiday collection is available online or at your local Lancome Counter (try The Bay, Sephora or Holt Renfrew).
I want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Dean Davidson
No words are needed to describe the beauty that is Dean Davidson’s Spectrum Collar for $425. Available online and there is a select of merchandise available at Holt Renfew. It comes in several options for stones (Black Onyx, Lapis, White Topaz) and metal (Rose, Silver, Gold).
I want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Lancome Show False Lashes
There are still Hypnôse Show Lashes from Lancôme. Get you hands on these false lashes designed by Alber Elbaz for $35. Available online.
I want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Shay Lowe Jewellry Glorious Emerald Statement Necklace
Eyecatching statement jewellery is always a great gift and Shay Lowe’s Shay Lowe Jewellery Fall and Holiday Collection definitely fit the bill. I’m quite partial to the Glorious Emerald Statement Necklace which retails for $395 and is available for purchase online.
I want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Jenny Bird
Jenny Bird is such a sweet person. I purchased some earrings from her and she gifted me the Long Horn Tusk Earrings which were inspired by the beauty of elephant tusks. They are amazing and come in a Gold version too. $55USD available online.
I want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Marni
Marni Eau de Parfum is my favourite new perfume of the year. It’s exclusive to Holt Renfrew and retails for $125
I want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Dermalogica
Dermalogica – Stock up on their favourite products or introduce them to new ones with the Holiday Skin Sets. Sets start at $32 and can be purchased online or at a licensed retailer like Concepts. I want – I got’s Holiday Gift Guide – Pink Tartan
Pink Tartan makes a killer full skirt. I just love the Chrysanthemum Midi Skirt in Black for $325. You can order the skirt online or at the Pink Tartan shop in Yorkville.
When I received the collection from Revlon, l wasn’t even Sure I wanted to use them. They were too damn pretty. l got over myself though and picked my least favourite pair to test out. I’m still not sure that I’m going to use the other wraps yet. My main problems with nail wraps is that it takes me longer to apply than traditional polish. I have polish application down to a science now and nail wraps throw me off. My second issue is the finish on the nail edge. It’s always puckering and my design OCD goes freaking haywire. the Marchesa nail wraps don’t produce the puckered nail edge.
After the first nail l knew these would be a game changer. Application still took longer than regular polish but the finished edge made me very hopeful about the whole process. With other brands l’d stop application mid hand because I couldn’t stand the finish. Not with these babies. The only complaint I have about the wraps is that there should be more larger sizes in the package. I removed the wraps well before the expected 10 days they claim to last. IÂ guess if you aren’t hard on your hands they could last that long but my experience would put these at a week of wear before getting ugly.
So far I’ve only seen them for sale at Rexall but the press release says they are available at drugstores and mass retailers. They retail for $8.95 and are available for a limited time only.
Avocado from Mexico: Do it Yourself Beauty Meetup at Tips Nail Bar
It seemed like a random pairing: Avocados from Mexico and Tips Nail Bar. I wasn’t sure what was going on but l immediately replied to RSVP. Who doesn’t love a manicure from my friends at Tips.
Avocado from Mexico: Do it Yourself Beauty Meetup at Tips Nail Bar
What is this Avocados from Mexico organization? Well, the APEAM (Avocado Producers and Exporting Packers Association of Mexico) is a non-profit organization that represents the Mexican Hass avocado industry. Avocados from Mexico is the group’s media arm that spreads awareness about the benefits of Avocados.
Avocado from Mexico: Do it Yourself Beauty Meetup at Tips Nail Bar
Before the polish application we were treated to an avocado hand treatment. This was the first time I’ve ever used avocado topically. l typically eat avocado (Love Guacamole!) instead of spreading it on my skin. The hand treatment contained avocados provided by Avocados from Mexico, egg white, rolled oats and lemon juice. The mixture was spread all over my hands and it soaked for 20 minutes. l liked the hand treatment. My hands were quite dry before the treatment and the avocado really helped in adding moisture again. I’ll have to try this again the next time I make guacamole at home.
Avocado from Mexico: Do it Yourself Beauty Meetup at Tips Nail Bar
Janine Falcon of Beauty Geeks talked to us about other avocado beauty treatments like the classic avocado mask and new things like an avocado oil and brown sugar scrub. You can find some more beauty treatments on missavacado.ca.
Avocado from Mexico: Do it Yourself Beauty Meetup at Tips Nail BarAvocado from Mexico: Do it Yourself Beauty Meetup at Tips Nail Bar
I was so very excited to get my nails shaped. The timing of the event was perfect as my nails were long. Luckily, my girl Melissa was my manicurist. Another bonus was the CND Vinylux polish.
Avocado from Mexico: Do it Yourself Beauty Meetup at Tips Nail Bar
“VINYLUXâ„¢ is a breakthrough polish system that endures a week of fashion perfection…without a base coat! Exposure to natural light secures the patent-pending Pro-Light technology, creating an enduring, long-lasting polish. While ordinary polishes become brittle and deteriorate over time, VINYLUX dries naturally to a flawless finish and strengthens its resistance to chips over time.”
Avocado from Mexico: Do it Yourself Beauty Meetup at Tips Nail Bar
Melissa used a dark grey colour from Vinylux called Asphalt as the base and paired that with wisps of Chanel Azure to create a dragonfly wing effect. It’s a beautiful design that is quick and easy for the amateur nail artist to master. It doesn’t really show up in photos that well, but it’s a really cool effect. I can’t wait to see how CND Vinylux stands up to the wear and tear of the week. The topcoat looks and feels gel-like. It’s quick drying too. The finish is shiny but it still doesn’t come close to Marc Jacobs shine.
Avocados you can purchase everywhere but so far I’ve only seen CND Vinylux for sale at Tips Nail Bar or online at Nail Polish Canada.
Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer by Marc Jacobs Beauty
Marc Jacobs announced a beauty line earlier this year and the reaction was pretty massive. As a teaser, the press release included photos of of the packaging design. I was in love already. The design was so compelling. Black and silver dominated the packaging that played with long lines and curves. The design was simple but managed to capture a distinct, expensive look of its own. It didn’t matter what the product was like I would be buying some nail polish and mascara.
So fast forward to September and the collection is in Sephora stores. I’m on a mission to buy the Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer by Marc Jacobs Beauty. I spend an agonizing time figuring out which colours to buy. The selection of colours isn’t large and there are only 24 shades but man, they are gorgeous. I selected an army green called Nirvana and a metallic red called Desire Wine. Everyone asks me about the brush and if it was difficult to use. Thankfully, the rounded lid on the Nail Lacquer is just a cap. You pop it off and a regular brush is underneath, like Chanel or YSL bottles.
Marc Jacobs Beauty nail Lacquer gets thumbs up from me. It’s really, really good. The colours are very saturated and opaque. The formula is easy to work with and not too thick. The Lacquer dries flat like glass (similar to my favourite Chanel) and has the shiniest finish. It claims to have the shine of 30 coats. I can’t say that number is right but I couldn’t stop looking at my nails for days. I wore the lacquer for 5 days with minimal wear on the tips before I got bored and needed to change it up. I used three coats for my application because I’ve become a three coat junkie. You could get away with two coats no problem though.
Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer by Marc Jacobs Beauty is $22 and available at Sephora in Canada.
It’s Proenza Schouler day at I want – I got. I come bearing amazing news. Proenza Schouler and M·A·C Cosmetics are collaborating on a Spring Summer 2014 beauty collection. OMFG!!!!! This limited edition collection will have Ombre Face Powders, Lipsticks, Pro Longwear Eye Liners and Lip Pencils, Nail Lacquers, and a 129SE Powder Brush. The collection will be inspired by Jack and Lazaro’s previous collections. Look for the collection to hit stores and online everywhere April 2014.
Quote from James Gager, Creative Director, Senior Vice President, M·A·C Cosmetics:
“I have always respected Jack and Lazaro’s keen vision and point of view. We’ve worked together backstage creating beauty looks for their runway shows for many years and it has been fascinating to me watching them evolve. They have a very particular perspective on their makeup look each season. It has been a great experience collaborating with them to bring their beauty vision off the runway to our customers.”
Quote from Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler:
“Beauty has always played a huge role in what we do on the runway and M·A·C has been one of our biggest supporters. We wanted to create something that the Proenza Schouler woman could relate to off the runway, and the M·A·C brand is so deeply rooted in fashion that we knew they would understand our vision.” (source: Press Release)
I have a little feature in the Fall 2013 Toronto Life Stylebook. They approached me to discuss my beauty routine and what new products I’m looking forward to this fall. I give shout outs to some of my favourite beauty brands and retailers: Lancome, Chanel, Essie, Givenchy, Marni, Balenciaga, Philosophy, Concepts Salon & Spa and the Miraj Hammam Spa at The Shangri-La Hotel.
Anita Clarke by Judit GarcÃa-Talavera for the Toronto Life Stylebook
Judit GarcÃa-Talavera is an illustrator based in Barcelona, Spain. She is absolutely incredible and I’m not just saying that because she created a kick ass illustration of me. She’s worked with clients such as Marie Claire Spain, Telegraph’s Stella magazine, Bloomingdales, ELLE China, Teen Vogue, Gilt Group, ELLE Girl Japan, Harper’s Bazaar Spain, Stylesight, Rolling Stone Spain, Hennessy Cognac and Piaget. You can see all the rest of Judit’s work for the Fall 2013 Toronto Life Stylebook on her blog.
The Toronto Life Stylebook is in stores right now.
It’s been over a decade since I’ve shopped at The Body Shop. In university, I was obsessed with their fragrances and the colourful glycerin soaps. Other brands caught my eyes over the years and I moved away from The Body Shop. Fast forward to now and a package from The Body Shop arrives at my door.
They are launching a new product line called Honeymania. They have partnered with Beza Mar beekeepers in the remote Sheva rainforest in Ethiopian highlands to bring community fair trade honey to incorporate into the Honeymania product line. The beekeepers work with the bee’s natural cycle and use traditional techniques so that their use of the bees and the rainforest is sustainable. The hand harvested honey is food grade and it’s sold by luxury brands as table honey.
Launching in stores on October 7, 2013, Honeymania will feature Lip Balm, Soap, Shower Gel, Body Butter, Bubble Bath Melt, Body Scrub and Eau de Toilette. Each product has a delicate scent with notes of floral honey blossoms and sweet honey. The collection ranges in price from $4 to $20.
I didn’t have any intention of trying the Honeymania collection at first but then I ran out of moisturizer and body butter was sitting right there. I’ve never really liked heavy moisturizers like Body Butter because I prefer them to be light and quickly absorbed. Honey is one of my rare food dislikes. I don’t use it as a sweetener and never in tea. When honey is incorporated into foods I don’t mind. I’m not the biggest fan of the way honey smells either, too sickly sweet to me and that a big turn off.
Thankfully, Honeymania doesn’t smell sickly sweet. The press kit was right and the scent is delicate, not overpowering. Body Shop’s Body Butters are known for their hydration and this product continues with that heritage. The butter was easily absorbed into the skin quickly and wasn’t greasy. Those two features are a must when it comes to moisturizers. I hate greasy hands. I fell in love with the Honeymania Body Butter at the Greta Constantine pool party. A friend approached me at the bar and began commenting on my legs and how great they looked. He specifically mentioned that they gave off this great healthy glow. This was the first time I’ve ever heard this kind of compliment on my legs. It’s the Body Butter I exclaimed, I can’t believe it. I knew then I had a new product to add to my routine. That’s how easy it is to get my seal of approval, appeal to my vanity. 🙂
I also enjoy the Honeymania glycerin soap. It comes in a cute honeycomb shape that makes you want to keep it in your bathroom for years like a grandmother. The soap is also lightly scented which makes it really pleasant to use. Honeymania Body Butter is $20 and the soap is $4. The Honeymania collection is available online right now but you’ll have to wait a few weeks to see the products in store.
Anna Sui has some of the prettiest nail polish packaging on the market. I’d buy it for the packaging alone. The Anna Sui Nail Collection has 45 shades and styles. The Nail Colour N Collection comes in a black bodice shaped bottle. It comes with a more traditional nail polish brush for regular application. I attended an Anna Sui beauty preview and received a sample of Nail Colour N 402 which is a very dark red with some gold glitter. I really liked the formula, the brush and it stayed chip free for a week.
Anna Sui Nail Collection – Nail Colour NAnna Sui Nail Collection – Nail Art Colour N
The Nail Art Colour N Collection come in a black bodice shaped bottle with a ruffle dress for easy identification. It has a brush that is flat with short and firm hairs to allow for nail art applications. I haven’t tried the polish in this collection yet but it claims the solid shades only needs one coat and that the glimmer shades are very sparkly and shiny. I’m very curious to try this nail polish out because of the one coat claims and the brush. I’m a two coat minimum girl sometimes three depending on the shade. I just love rich, rich colour.
Anna Sui Nail Collection
Both the Nail Colour N and Nail Art Colour N collections are 3 Free, contain resins for a glossy finish and have Anna Sui’s signature tea rose scent. Rounding out the Anna Suit Nail collection is a base coat, top coat and nail treatment oil.
I received a number of swatch images from the preview and I’ve included them in the gallery below.
Nail Colour N, Nail Art Colour N, Base Coat and Top Coat all retail for $15. 34 colours from the collections are available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmaprix and Murale (in store and online). The full collection will be available at select Hudson’s Bay stores.
This campaign image for M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez collection is just breath taking. 70s supermodels Marisa Berenson, Jerry Hall and Pat Cleveland aka Antonio’s Girls look absolutely incredible here. Antonio Lopez is one of the great fashion illustrators and M∙A∙C has created a collection based on his work and muses. I’m absolutely in love with the packaging.
The legendary fashion illustrator’s vibrant energy, brazen attitude and love of life inspire a striking colour collection featuring: Eyes x 6 Palettes, Lips x 3 Palettes and Face Palettes perfect for highlighting natural tones and contours. Each palette displays the fiercely individual face of one of his muses, “Antonio’s Girls,†while each product’s packaging features a drawing by the artist, making these objets d’art to be treasured.
Available on September 12, 2013 at all M·A·C locations and www.maccosmetics.com
M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez
M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez Face $55
M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez
M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez Make up Bag $48 – Available at M∙A∙C stores only
M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez Powder Blush $46
M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez
M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez Lips $33
M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez Eyes $52
M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez
M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez Mirror $30
M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez
M∙A∙C x Antonio Lopez Tote $66.00 – available exclusively at www.maccosmetics.com
We invited a small group of people to enjoy brunch at Marben and get first access to the beauty goods before the public were invited. There were some great deals to be had as everything was priced at $2. All the proceeds went to the The Ride to Conquer Cancer.
Bloggers Beauty Brunch and SaleBloggers Beauty Brunch and Sale
Marben did an amazing job with brunch. It was visually stunning and tasted as good as it looked. I’m so impressed with the perfect service the team gave us. I can’t recommend them enough for private parties.
Bloggers Beauty Brunch and Sale
We had so much product. Initially, I was worried that there wouldn’t be enough. I was so wrong.
Bloggers Beauty Brunch and SaleBloggers Beauty Brunch and SaleBloggers Beauty Brunch and SaleBloggers Beauty Brunch and SaleBloggers Beauty Brunch and Sale
The event was very successful and we plan on doing another one in the near future. In the end we raised around $500 for The Ride to Conquer Cancer.
Lancôme x Alber Elbaz 2013
The teaser video for the Alber Elbaz x Lancôme makeup collaboration is out and I’m freaking out. I can’t wait to see what they come up with, it’s going to be amazing.
“Our job is to tell stories. It all starts there,†explains Alber Elbaz. “It all stems from the incredibly rounded and curvaceous mascara bottles. The moment I saw them I thought of women’s bodies. There’s something of Cinderella and her magical carriage in this idea of fairy-tale metamorphosis. The transition from the real to the surreal of course echoes make-up itself, and sparks the imagination. So I came to this idea of a fashion show where all you see are eyes in the front row, and the women gradually transform into bottles.â€
“Alber is a born storyteller,†emphasises Youcef S. Nabi, President of Lancôme. “The whole thing began with his story, which he told in the form of a short film. The stars of this film are the mascaras, just as he imagined them. I don’t think anyone has ever created a product quite that way before, and that’s what makes this collection so unique. Once again, a story that is genuine and infused with joy: pure Elbaz and pure Lancôme!â€
The limited edition Alber Elbaz x Lancôme is available on June 15, 2013. You can expect to see mascaras, palettes, eyeshadows and false lashes. This will be the first time Lancôme has created false lashes. They do mascara so well I’m very excited to see the results.
There are so many lovely things in the Chanel Summer 2013 makeup collection. Chanel Nail polish is always a must have for me but I never really though about Chanel mascara. I didn’t even know Chanel had mascara until I saw an email about Le Volume de Chanel mascara a few months ago. My catlike curiosity eventually got to me and I used a Hudson’s Bay gift card to buy the pricy mascara in black. Le Volume de Chanel didn’t disappoint and I loved its forumla and brush. When I saw the mascara colours for the Chanel summer 2013 collection I lost my shit. They were bright in a way that I usually isn’t associated with Chanel. Yellow (Zest), lime (Lime Light), aqua (Aqua Blue) and blue (Blue Note) aren’t colours you see very often and not in such a pigmented way. I made my way down to the Chanel counter at Holt Renfrew to get a look at them in person. I knew that I would buy Blue Note as I’ve been constantly searching for a better blue mascara than my current favourite Dior. For kicks I had the Chanel associate apply Lime Light to my eyes. The colour matched my vintage Adidas jacket and I was hooked. I didn’t try on Zest or Aqua Blue. Yellow seems like a good idea in theory but from the photos I’ve seen it looks little too costumey.
The mascara is really pigmented and it really coats the lashes, depositing rich colour everywhere. The mascara formula is long-lasting and waterproof. I’m a big fan of the summer 2013 Chanel mascara shades. Blue Note kills my former favourite Diorshow dead and stomps on its corpse. The vibrancy of the blue in the Chanel mascara is untouchable. Chanel mascara is pretty expensive at $36. I still highly recommend it if you are looking for bright, standout lashes.
I’m all about the NARS Cosmetics Nail Polish collaborations and this summer shoe designer Pierre Hardy brings his spring summer 2013 colour palette to NARS. There are twelve polishes in total but they are available in packages of two. The colours are complimentary. The Pierre Hardy x NARS Nail Polish collection is:
VERTEBRA (coral, dusty rose), ETHNO RUN (orange, navy)
Pierre Hardy x NARS Nail Polish Pairs
EASY WALKING (rose gold, camel), VENOMOUS (gunmetal, black) which is exclusive to narscosmetics.ca
The collection is available now at any NARS counters and online at narscosmetics.ca. Each duo retails for $32 and they come in a cute box with a little dustbag.
Way back in November I sat down with Trudi Loren who is the Vice President, Corporate Fragrance Development at Estèe Lauder Companies. She was in Toronto to introduce Marni’s first fragrance to members of the press. I’m a big fan of Marni and head designer Consuelo Castiglioni. I see her clothing in person at Holt Renfrew and I find myself coveting everything. I wanted to know if she could translate that feeling to a fragrance. Marni isn’t stereotypical feminine either, how would that translate into scent.
MARNI Fragrance Preview
Trudi starts with the origins of the fragrance. Consuelo had specific ideas for the fragrance when she met with Estèe Lauder perfumers. They tweaked her custom fragrance after numerous design cycles using their knowledge to take the fragrance to market and still be true to Consuelo vision of Marni. She was very involved in every step of the design process, treating it like editing a collection.
MARNI Fragrance Preview
The starting point was typically material: it was woods and spices and the incense that Consuelo wanted, somehow reminiscent the woody landscapes of her Swiss days in St Moritz. But that was just the initial input. Subtle contrast and sudden accents were what she was looking for. Consuelo worked intensively and extensively to arrive to the final olfactory narrative and its multifaceted subtleness. Her aim, always, is to avoid pre-conceived ideas. Typically, the perfume she had in mind was a bit masculine: woody and bitter. The addition of rose, smoothed and softened the scent, while pink peppercorn added an element of effervescent quirkiness, much like an accessory. The final result is unexpected. (source:press release)
MARNI Fragrance Preview
The fragrance contains many things I love like Bergamot, Cardamom and Cedarwood. Marni skews more masculine and androgynous scent which I really like. I have a few mens fragrances in my collection that I enjoy wearing. Top notes are Bergamot, Pepper, Ginger and Pink Peppercorn. Heart notes are Cardamom, Rose and Cinnamon Bark. Bottom notes are Patchouli, Incense, Vetiver and Cedarwood. At the preview I received a sample of the Marni fragrance and I’ve worn it a lot since then. I had an instant connection with this fragrance, it pushed all the right buttons for me. I enjoy wearing it day after day and I’m usually someone who likes to switch it up.
The Marni fragrance collection is available at Holt Renfrew.
Marni Eau De Parfum 120 ml: $175, Marni Eau De Parfum 65 ml: $125, Marni Body Lotion 200 ml: $62,Marni Shower Gel 200 ml: $52, Marni Body Crème 200 ml: $95, Marni Purse Spray 10 ml with Huggy Doll: $60
Guerlain is introducing a new permanent nail polish collection to its makeup line up. The collection features 10 shades as well as a Gel Top Coat and protective base. Gel top coats are going to be the next rage in the nail polish world. They claim to give a similar finish to a gel manicure without the need of the potentially cancer-causing UV lamps. What makes a gel top coat different is that it contains polymers or epoxy resin that provides the coverage, protection and finish. Julep, Deborah Lippman and Dior all have gel top coat products on the market.
Guerlain La Laque Couleur Nail Polish
At the preview, I got to see the nail polish in person and I indulged in a mini manicure. Guerlain impressed me. The polish is very opaque and there was 95% coverage in the first coat. I love that Guerlain has the wide and flat brush design like Dior’s nail polish. The wide brush makes applying polish so quick and easy. Some people prefer a thinner brush but I’d love all my polish brushes to wide and flat. Guerlain’s Gel Top Coat is great. My nails do have a gel manicure finish. They are super shiny and flat like glass. It’s the kind of manicure you stare at for hours saying “shiny” to yourself while rocking back and forth in a chair at the office.
Guerlain La Laque Couleur Nail Polish
The colour palette for the collection is pretty safe with a range of pinks and reds of various shades and a few neutrals. It’s influenced by 60s pin-up calendars. There are no crazy colours but they are beautiful. The polish is heavily pigmented resulting in rich colours that really pop when applied. The colour palette also matches their 10 iconic lipstick shades just match up the style numbers.
Guerlain La Laque Couleur Nail Polish
Guerlain La Laque Couleur Nail Polish retails for $25 each. You can buy Guerlain at their shop in Yorkville at 110 Bloor Street West or at Sephora.
The editorial shots for the MAC cosmetics are always great. The Year of the Snake collection shots are just so beautiful. I’m really enamoured with this beauty shot. Everything about it is just perfect.
MAC Year of the Snake
The snake-inspired collection is defined by a palette of vibrant shades and shimmering finishes. Beauty powder illuminates the skin, eye shadow creates striking contrasts and pigments intensify the effect. Zoom lash adds definition and powerpoint eye pencil defines a razor-sharp line. Lipsticks quiver with lustre and m·a·c’s exclusive packaging slithers with chic – featuring beauty powder, lipsticks and eye shadows embossed with a gorgeous snake design.
The collection is on sale now and is available at MAC stores and online. The Year of the Snake collection includes eye shadow, pigment, lipstick, eye pencil, beauty powder and mascara options. The price range is $18 – $29.
Silly me mixed up my dates and I missed the launch for the newest fragrance in the Les Exclusifs de Chanel collection. I was really excited about it because it would mean playtime at the beautiful Chanel fragrance bar in the Holt Renfrew Bloor Street store.
Les Exclusifs de CHANEL Collection
Les Exclusifs de CHANEL collection is a modern take on the fragrances created by Ernest Beaux, Chanel’s original nose and Coco Chanel in the 20s and 30s.
Les Exclusifs de CHANEL Collection – 1932
Chanel’s current nose, Jacques Polge launched the collection 2007 and has released more fragrances over the year. These fragrances all take inspiration from the history of the house and each one explores a singular theme.
Les Exclusifs de CHANEL Collection – Advert for Chanel Fragrances
CHANELÂ Comet Necklace, 1932Les Exclusifs de CHANEL Collection – 1932
In 2012, Jacques Polge creates the Bijoux de Diamants Collection inspired fragrance. 1932 includes top notes of Aldehydes, Bergamot, Neroli, middle notes of Carnation, Jasmine, Lilac, Rose, Ylang Ylang and base notes of Musk, Coumarin, Mulberry, Ambrette (Musk Mallow), Orris Root, Incense, Opoponax, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Vetiver.(source) I’m a fan of fruity, floral and woody fragrances so I do like 1932. Initially, it’s very floral smelling but after an hour it calms right down and the woodiness comes to the forefront.
Les Exclusifs de CHANEL Collection – Jacques Polge
1932 is available at select Chanel Boutiques and the Chanel Espaces Parfums in the Bloor Street, Vancouver and Montreal Holt Renfrew locations. The collection is $145.00 for 75ml and $240 for 200ml.
I’m in the current issue of Worn Journal. It’s been out since November but I’m only getting around to posting about it now. In June, I got an email from Serah-Marie asking if she could feature me in Worn’s hair issue. As you can imagine, I was a little perplexed at why I would be included. She explained that the piece would be feature on people with interesting hair styles. Accompanying the photos would be an interview with questions related to hair and identity. I said yes without question because it’s Worn Journal and it’s a great topic that my (lack of) hair could contribute to.
The talented Lainee Dee did my makeup before I ventured to the Worn Journal offices to meet the photographer, Brittany Lucas. I brought a few different outfits to choose from for the shoot but the final decision was the Smythe Warbler Tribute Blazer, earring by Eliza Kozurno and a leather Tshirt by Danier. It was late July when this photo was taken and it was roasting outside. With the leather and the blazer on I’m surprised my makeup isn’t’ running all over the place in this shot. Brittany and I went into the alley by the office and took a number of shots against different garage doors and using different angles and mostly stoic facial expressions. I’ve always said I’m terrible at the model scowl, this photo proves me wrong. Smiling comes so naturally to me but it’s nice to see I can do the complete opposite too. I’m pretty much in love with the photo. It turned out better than I could have ever dreamed. Lainee and Brittany did a fantastic job of making me look great. I’m giving myself a pat on the back for the kick ass styling 🙂
Now your probably curious about my interview. Well, you’ll have to grab yourself a copy of Worn Journal Issue 15 to read it. The issue is fantastic overall and you should probably buy a copy anyways. It’s available online at wornjournal.com or in person at a whole ton of places in the city and beyond.
Last week, Holt Renfrew invited me to private lunch for Emily Weiss and Nick Axelrod from the amazing beauty site, Into The Gloss. Emily is the Founder and Creative Director and Nick is the Editorial Director. I’m a fashion blogger that doesn’t really read fashion blogs but Into The Gloss is amazing. It’s full of great, well researched features on the beauty routines of industry players in the fashion scene. You can find profiles on people like Iman or Liya Kebede or even a random scientist. I love features on science nerds. We are out there!
Lunch with Into The Gloss at Holt Renfrew
Emily and Alex were in town to host the Holt Renfrew Powder Puff Party. Emily also curated a Skincare Renewal Guide for Holts showcasing her top choices of skincare products available at Holts. It’s really high/low with heavy hitters like La Prairie and La Mer. It was very informative because I never seen face cream for $475. However, It’s not all crazy, prices start at $20. There is something for different budgets.
And because people want to know, Emily and Alex are super nice and personable. Yes, Emily is as gorgeous in person as in photos. I don’t have a photo of Alex here but he is adorable too.
I’m so incredibly excited about the Lancôme and Alber Elbaz beauty collaboration. This is going to be massively successful.
“Alber Elbaz is, without a doubt, one of the world’s most influential fashion designers. But beyond that, he is also the most talented, explains Youcef S. Nabi, Lancôme President. His sense of luxury, his vision of femininity and that hint of audacity resonate perfectly with the new values of the Maison Lancôme. We are extremely proud and happy that, with us, he is set to channel his universe into the world of make-up for the very first time.â€(source: press email)
The collection will be available in June 2013. Check back for updates.
I’m in love with Layla Cosmetics Nail Polish. It’s a 60 year old Italian company whose founder is responsible for bring nail polish to Italy in the 30s. I’ve tried a couple Holo like polishes but the Layla polish really delivers the perfect Holographic effect. I haven’t tried Nfu Oh yet but I’ve heard it’s good too.
I purchased the charcoal/dark grey holographic called Flash Black. I figured I should get a neutral looking one to start. I really love the colour. Layla says you don’t need a base coat for this polish and that buffing your nails before application should be ok. Holographic polishes have a notorious reputation of being hard to apply so I purchased the Nfu Oh holographic base coat. It worked really well and suggest buying it when using these types of polishes.
The application was very easy but I allowed more time to dry between coats. You have to allow the base coat to dry completely first for best coverage. The photo shows two coats but I’d use three for total coverage. Add a top coat and you are done. The effect is beautiful and mesmerizing.
You can see swatches of the polish at The Polishaholic And swatches for the entire collection at Scrangie. You can purchase this and other Layla polishes on Nailpolishcanada.com. The price is $16. I’m obsessed and now going to get some more adventurous colours.
