October 30, 2010

Learn tips and tricks for your eye makeup with Style Eyes by Taylor Chang-Babaian!

This is the time of year that I start thinking about gift ideas - you won't find it surprising that most of the presents I give are beauty related but sometimes I have no idea what sort of makeup someone prefers so instead I give beauty books!

Style Eyes by Taylor Chang-Babaian - $17.95 - ISBN: 978-0-399-53596-3 - this is makeup artist Taylor Chang-Babaian's second book.  Her first book, Asian Faces, focused on makeup for Asian women. Style Eyes is for women of all ethnicities and focuses on what most of us find the most challenging - eye makeup!

This book is helpful whether you are a beginner or a pro - there are tips and tricks for everyone.  The step-by-step instructions are excellent and easy to understand and there are very detailed how-tos for different eye shapes and lids which I think is something that many people find confusing.  The most informative part for me was the tutorial on applying false eyelashes - which I now might finally be able to do with her help!

Style Eyes also covers how to identify and use common eye makeup products and tools, eyebrow grooming, looks for day to evening and the best looks for every age and situation, from wearing glasses to achieving an eyelift and earsing lines without surgery.

The photography by Albert Sanchez is beautiful - and it's a good thing there are lots of pretty pictures since I am planning on giving it to Christelle for Christmas and we know how she feels about too much reading...

- Lisamarie -

October 29, 2010

Have you been waiting for the NARS Bento Box!?

Is it just me or do any of you also find the idea of having to get on a waiting list to BUY something crazy?!  I understand that making something hard to get makes it more desirable - the capitalist side of me gets that - but the socialist side of me thinks that if you have the money you should just be able to just buy it, and they should just keep making them until everyone that wants one, has one! Rant over!

NARS has caught on to what video game console makers have known for years - the best way to build up demand for something is to not make enough!  Send out a few and watch the people fight over them!  Or in the case of beauty products, make a few and watch what people will pay for them on Ebay!
Bento Box Set - $125 - a limited edition set of two Kabuki cups that were hand-poured with a new exclusive-to-NARS lipstick formula in highly pigmented shades containing Vitamin E.  Housed in a handmade bento box, the set also comes with a Kabuki lip brush, designed for precise application by dipping the brush into the cup and blending until desired coverage is achieved.

It will be available Monday at Holt Renfrew and at www.narscosmetics.com - you can get on the wait list at www.narscosmetics.com/bento - you won't have to fight me for one, I'm not on the list!  I'd be curious to know if any of you are or what your general opinion of beauty wait lists are!

- Lisamarie -

shu uemura Holiday 2010 - Abracadabra Fantasy - discover the magical powers of makeup!

The shu uemura 2010 Christmas Collection is a collaboration with Japanese artist Aya Takano and she has done a great job of giving the collection the funky, urban feel that I love about shu!  Luckily she picked cute animals for the girls to kiss in the artwork, otherwise I might find it all a bit disturbing...
Reindeer Kiss xxxx Eye and Cheek Palette - $85 - inspired by the colours of a frosty winter land covered in crystalline snow that sparkles in the light.
Bowwow! Magic Queen Eye and Cheek Palette - $85 - a warm-toned palette for a peaceful holiday season.
Blush Tint - Miracle Cherry - $30 - a lightweight gel blush to instantly add a natural glow to your cheeks.
Lip Duo Tint & Gloss - Love Apricot - coral beige tint and apricot gloss with gold and silver glitter or Harmony Pink - girly pink tint and vibrant fuchsia gloss - $45 - enjoy the matte finish of the tint alone, or add gloss to amp up a shine!

Paint Crayon - Sparkly Purple  - dark purple with sparkly gold glitters - $30 - waterproof, long-lasting and creamy mechanical pencil allows you to draw a defined line that can be blended easily right after application.

High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Advanced Formula - $37 - shu uemura's signature cleansing oil.  A gentle formula for moisturized, balanced, petal-soft skin.  Cleanses gently and maintains the skin's moisture balance with Advanced HPO system, Asian botanical oils such as Camellia Oil and Ginger Root Oil.  Leaves skin feeling comfortably balanced and petal soft with a fresh and sensuous aroma.

Peace & Harmony Mini Brush Set - $85 - they're cute and pink, what more can I say?!
Magical Windfalls - $36 - easy-to-wear partial lashes in black with some pieces pre-decorated with glittery and shiny magical hear and star symbols for cute accent.
Premium False Eyelashes - $75 - a dreamy pair of cutomizable eyelashes!  With a variety of abracadabra symbol stickers enclosed, create your very own pair of lases for the festive season.

You can score yourself this collection now at Holt Renfrew!

- Lisamarie -

Christy Turlington Burns slated to be the latest Avon lady!

October 2011 will bring a new fragrance from Avon -Step Into Sexy - It's a fragrance for the woman who aspires to be her most sensual self and was inspired by the transformative power of slipping on a pair of beautiful high heels.  (The fragrance inspired by actually trying to walk in high heels is still under development, tentatively called "Owwww!")

Model and activist, Christy Turlington Burns has been tapped to be the face of the latest fragrance due to her timeless look and classic appeal. A dedicated advocate for women's health, Turlington Burns shares Avon's values and longstanding commitment to improving the lives of women on a global level.

Christy Turlington Burns is the latest in a line of famous face to join the Avon family alongside the likes of Fergie, Reese Witherspoon and Salma Hayek.





- Lisamarie -

Brighten your hands with La Roche-Posay and Avon!

Nothing has the ability to make you feel older then looking down at your hands and seeing brown spots! Of course your hands get the most sun exposure and few people remember to apply sunscreen there so that doesn't ease the problem.  There is help!  Just keep in mind that if you are going to go to all the trouble of banishing the brown spots, you will have to remember your sunscreen or they will return!

La Roche-Posay Mela-D Hands - 50ml - $18 - fragrance and paraben free, it contains Kojic Acid + LHA to help slough off dark, dead cells on the skin surface to promote a brighter and more even skin tone.  I love the feel of this cream and how quickly it absorbs! I do have a couple of freckles on my hands which are still there, a little lighter but still there - but I do think my hands look brighter and more evenly toned and it's a good moisturizer.  I think if I really wanted the freckles gone I would need to use this for much longer!


Avon Anew Clinical Luminosity Pro Brightening Hand Cream SPF 15 - 75g - $15 - formulated with injectable-grade L-Aspartic acid to help inhibit pigment production and reduce the look of dark spots as well as visibly retexturizes skin's appearance for younger-looking hands.Dramatically reduces the look of creepiness and fine lines in just one week.  I think having the sunscreen built into the cream makes all the difference with seeing results - it's so easy to forget and not having it undoes all the work of applying a lightening cream.  It does take a little extra rubbing for it to absorb because of it though.
Available from your Avon rep 1-800-265-AVON or online at www.avon.ca

- Lisamarie -

October 28, 2010

Make Up For Ever makes Halloween easy!

Make Up For Ever Tricks & Treats - $46 - Not everyone can have Christelle's naturally green complexion that lends itself so well to Halloween - the rest of us count on clever little kits like this one from Make Up For Ever that contains the 4 essential products to turn you into the ultimate Genie, Kitten and/or Fairy.

Included in the kit: 
Aqua Cream - a highly pigmented, waterproof cream colour to highlight your eyes and cheeks.  Formulated with mother-of-pearl particles, it gives rich colour with a luminous finish in just one application.
Aqua Eyes - a long lasting, waterproof eye liner that won't smudge or fade so you can party the night away!
It can be used to apply a defined line or smudged for a smoky look.
Glitter - to add multi-dimensional sparkle
Faux Lashes - for added drama
Get the look application steps and face charts are included on the back of each box to help you create the Halloween look of your choice like a pro - choose your favourite character or try them all!

Available at select Sephora stores or at www.sephora.com

- Lisamarie -

Perfumania's Kim Kardashian Fragrance Giveaway!

Perfumania, the largest fragrance retailer in the US (and YES, they ship to Canada), has been busy revamping their website. The site has been redesigned in its entirety, to provide you with a more functional, personalized and simplified shopping experience. In addition, the site will also be offering social media capabilities, allowing you to link weekly deals and fragrances to your Facebook and Twitter!


To celebrate the re-launch, Perfumania will also be featuring an exciting “What’s Your Favorite Fragrance?” sweepstakes  through November 5. Users can simply register an account, submit the name of their favorite fragrance, and be automatically entered to win their favorite fragrance and a LED 46” TV!

Some additional site features include:  more ways to search, faster shopping and checkout as well as product recommendations.


You can visit the newly designed Perfumania.com website at www.perfumania.com

My good friend Kim Kardashian has also been busy since visiting me in Toronto - Tune in to NBC’s The Apprentice on Thursday, November 11 to catch a Perfumania-themed episode featuring Kim Kardashian. But you know I don't like y'all buying things, so how about winning Kim's fragrance instead?

To celebrate the Perfumania.com relaunch they have kindly offered one of our readers a bottle of the Kim Kardashian fragrance, a nifty bag and a $25 Perfumania Gift Card!

Want in?  Of course you do!  This contest is open to US and Canadian residents. All you have to do is join Beauty Crazed as a follower if you aren't one already.  You can either do it through Google or through Networked Blogs on Facebook - you can find both signups on the right hand side of the Beauty Crazed site.  Once you belong to our crazy family just leave a reply to this post letting us know you want in and what fragrance from the revamped Perfumania site is tempting you the most! If you give the contest link a tweet and/or post it on your blog, there's an extra entry in it for you! Including an e-mail address would be extra helpful and you can write it like this - info(at)beautycrazed(dot)ca - so the bots can't find you but we can.  If you prefer not to leave your info on a public post, please leave a post saying you want to enter and then e-mail us your info - info@beautycrazed.ca, please put "Perfumania Contest" in the subject line.  Winner to be decided by random drawing and you have until November 12th to enter. 

- Lisamarie -

MAC 'Tis Noble to Give spreads the true meaning of the holiday season!

When picking up your A Tartan Tale pretties, don't forget that you can look pretty and feel pretty with one of the holiday charitable offerings...
'Tis Noble to Give Viva Glam Lip Bag - $43.50
Viva Glam Lipstick in Viva Glam V - neutral pink with pearl
Viva Glam Lipglass in Viva Glam V - neutral pink with pearl

proceeds go to the MAC AIDS Fund


This year MAC's special project for Kids Helping Kids is the MAC Sir Teddy

Sir Teddy - $18 or Sir Teddy with Clip - $14.50
Available at MAC Retail Stores only!

Tartan Tale cards - good for year round giving - were created by kids affected by HIV/AIDS with all proceeds going to the MAC AIDS Fund.

6 Kids Helping Kids Cards - $10 - set of 6 cards with envelopes
12 Kids Helping Kids Gift Cards  - $10 - set of 12 gift cards with envelopes

- Lisamarie -

MAC A Tartan Tale has my two favourite things - plaid and palettes!

Along with the colour story releasing today is my favourite part of every one of their holiday collections - the kits!  Loving the tartan although I'm a little confused as to why they didn't include the Beauty Crazed pink & black...


6 Dashing Lassie Eye Shadows - $43.50
Once Upon a Time - metallic vanilla (veluxe pearl)
Bronze - copper penny (frost)
Buckwheat - frosty medium brown (frost)
A Dashing Lassie - metallic milk (frost)
Magical Mist - metallic taupe (lustre)
Showstopper - dark brown (matte)

6 Beauties Play it Cool Eye Shadows - $43.50
Heather Belles - dark charcoal/carbon (satin)
To the Ball - dusty lavender (satin)
Hold My Gaze - medium grey (frost)
Magic Moor - purple grape (veluxe pearl)
Altered State - blackened plum (veluxe pearl)
Silverwear - metallic lavender (frost)

6 Twists of Tartan Eye Shadows - $43.50
Vainglorious - metallic maroon (frost)
Rolled Gold - gold (lustre)
Lady's Prance - clay (matte)
High Spirits - shimmer avocado (frost)
Bows & Curtseys - metallic hunter green (satin)
Set To Dance - dark royal blue (matte)

6 Reelers & Rockers Eye Shadows - $43.50
Carbon - dark carbon (matte)
White Rabbit - shimmer white (frost)
Melt My Heart - metallic silver (veluxe pearl)
Gaelic Gold - metallic gold (veluxe pearl)
Crown & Sceptre - metallic copper (veluxe pearl)
Family Treasures - metallic bronze (veluxe pearl)


Happily Ever After Lip Kit - $27
Cheers All Around - bright candy pink (frost)
To Joy - medium pink (frost)
Endless Fun - sheer frost pink (gloss)


A Fabulous Fantasy Lip Kit - $27
Storybook Ending - raisin (lustre)
Imagine This - binky beige (amplified)
Heroic Tale - sparkle flesh tone (gloss)
A Triumphant Blush Face Kit - $45.50
Melba - soft coral peach (powder blush)
Peachtwist - golden peach (sheertone shimmer)
Smooth Harmony - neutral mid tan (beauty powder)
Hark the Heraldry Face Kit - $45.50
Dame - sophisticated blue/pink (powder blush)
Plum Foolery - faint dusty plum (sheertone shimmer)
Oh So Fair - pale pink (beauty powder)
Vain and Glorious Lip Bag - $43.50
Lustre Lipstick in Mellow Mood - sheer pink
Dazzleglass in Baby Sparks - sparkle baby pink
Lip Pencil in In Synch - light pink

Dazzle the Lads Lip Bag - $43.50
Cremesheen Lipstick in Timeless - medium rose
Dazzleglass in Moth to Flame - sheer neutral beige
Lip Pencil in Lingerie - dusty rose

Noble Knights Lash & Line Kit - $43.50
Fluidline in Blitz & Glitz - black
Pigment in Teal - bright metallic teal
Zoomblack
209 Brush


Violet My Love Lash & Line Kit - $43.50
Fluidline in Macroviolet - dark grape
Pigment in Violet - bright metallic purple
Zoomblack
209 Brush
Sweep Me Off My Feet Sweep & Define Brush Collection - $58
129SE, 190SE, 212SE, 227SE, 275SE


A Lady & Her Tricks Buff & Line Brush Collection - $58
168SE, 187SE, 209SE, 219SE, 252SE

She's Got It All Apply, Define & Line Brush Collection - $58
194SE, 204SE, 224SE, 266SE, 275SE

How will I ever decide?!  Now confess, what did you get/have your eye on?

- Lisamarie -

October 27, 2010

MAC has A Tartan Tale to tell for Holiday 2010!

The holiday collection season really starts for me when MAC puts theirs out and I am loving everything this year!  I will definitely be running to my MAC counter tomorrow at lunch to check it all out in person - until then, admire the pretty pictures!

Lipstick - $16.50
Cut a Caper - mid-tone peachy pink (lustre)
The Faerie Glen - pale neutral pink (lustre)
Deepest Wish - deep creamy reddish brown (amplified)
Full Fuchsia - bright blue fuchsia (amplified)
Courting Lilac - sheer lilac mauve with soft gold pearl (glaze)

Dazzleglass Creme - $21.50
Radiant Jewels - dark sparkly magenta
Soft Dazzle - mid-tone peach pink with gold pearl
Passing Fancy - bright orange coral with soft pearl
Lightly Prancing - light peach with gold pearl
Gone Romancin' - mid-tone lavender with multi-dimensional pearl











Eye Shadow - $23.50
Golden Crown - light gold with bronze tartan striping
A Wish Come True - dirty mauve with bubblegum pink tartan striping
Follow Your Fantasy - mid-tone peach with chocolate tartan striping
Enviably Fun - grass green with dark green tartan striping
Semi-Precious - aubergine with chocolate tartan striping
Glamora Castle - dark grey with teal tartan striping

Pigment - $23.50
Later - black with transforming purple pearl (frost)
Moonlight Night - blackened teal with teal pearl (frost)
A Family Crest - blackened bronze with bronze pearl (frost)

Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner - $17.50
Petrol Blue - deep navy with pearl
Black Line - black with gold pearl
Undercurrent - teal with pearl
Black Swan - black with pearl
Lord It Up - bronze with pearl

Zoom Fast Black Lash - $16.50 - deepest black

Powder Blush - $22
Her Blooming Cheek - very bright iridescent blue pink (satin)
My Highland Honey - bright coral with soft gold pearl (satin)

Nail Lacquer - $15.50
Sly as a Fox - creamy mid-tone russet/burnt red (cream)
Style Clan - dark taupe with red pearl (frost)














What's on your MAC Tartan Tale wish list?

- Lisamarie -

Don't miss the Marcelle Warehouse Sale!

I'm so jealous! Quebec ladies mark your calendars next week for the Marcelle Fall 2010 warehouse sale which will be held on November 4, 5, 6 and 7.  It will take place, as usual, at their head office located at 9200 Côte-de-Liesse Road, in Lachine

Opening hours are as follows:
Thursday, November 4:    4 pm to 8pm
Friday, November 5:          4 pm to 8 pm
Saturday, November 6:     9 am to 4 pm
Sunday, November 7:        9 am to 4 pm

You do not need a special card or invitation to attend - the sale is open to everyone!

Feel free to pick up something for your favourite blogger (and get something pretty for yourself too)!

- Lisamarie -

La Mer has great gift ideas for Holiday 2010!

It's cold enough outside now that I don't mind talking about the holidays - it sure is starting to feel like winter!  Which is good because a line I adore, La Mer has introduced their holiday offerings - love them !

The Lip Balm - $65 - goes glam for the holidays with a classy silver toned cap.  Fortified with a potent concentration of La Mer's original Miracle Broth, this balm will soften roughness on contact, relieve discomfort and help seriously dry lips.  Perfect for the lip balm addict on your shopping list!
The Essential Body Collection - $340 - La Mer's signature body treatments all together in one happy place:  The Body Refiner - 200ml, The Body Crème - 200ml, The Hand Treatment - 30ml, and The Lip Balm - 9g Anyone (including yourself) would be thrilled to receive this!
The Luxury Essentials - $505 - For someone you really like (like yourself), all the essentials of life in one place: Crème de la Mer - 30ml, The Eye Concentrate - 15ml and The Regenerating Serum - 9ml
The Hand Treatment - $100 - the perfect gift for those impossible to buy for people, who doesn't love an ultra luxe hand cream?!

Sets are available in limited quantities and you can find everything here at Holt Renfrew.

- Lisamarie -

Bring warmth and happiness to a woman in need and give your clothes a new lease on life at Jacob!

Nothing makes me happier then the opportunity to combine my love for shopping with charity!  Jacob and Jacob Lingerie has launched a new campaign, in collaboration with Goodwill in Ontario and Western Canada and Renaissance in Quebec and the Maritimes - "Give your clothes a new lease on life" to do just that!  To help meet their goal of collecting 50,000 articles of clothing before December 24th, Jacob wants you to go through your closet and bring in the clothes you aren't wearing - in return they will give you a 25% discount on any regular priced Jacob or Jacob Lingerie item for every article of clothing donated - everyone wins!

Here's what else you can do to help - for every "Like" that Jacob receives on their Facebook page until December 24th, the company will donate an extra article of clothing, up to a maximum of 10,000 new clothes.  Facebook subscribers will also be able to follow the development of clothing donations at: www.facebook.com/boutiquejacob

What are you waiting for, get shopping!

- Lisamarie -

Nicole by OPI Holiday Magic Collection

Nicole by OPI knows that the holidays are no time to be demure with your nails - turn your holiday nails up a notch (or two) with these festive hues!

Kiss Me at Midnight - dark red
Bring on the Tinsel - glitzy silver
Stuck in the Chimney- unforgettable red
Spark My Mistletoe - sparkles of red

Keep an eye out for my swatches next week!

Can't commit to just one or looking for a perfect stocking stuffer? Tinsel Tips has the three reds in mini sizes as well as jewel nail decals - all for only $10!

You can find the Holiday Magic collection starting in November at select Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Loblaws, Jean Coutu, Uniprix, Katz Group and London Drug stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

October 26, 2010

LUSH celebrates the Day of the Dead!

To gives things a bit of Mexican flavour, LUSH has introduced new products that pay homage to the Day of the Dead celebration:

Calavera Bath Bomb - $5.95 - Spanish for "skull", Calavera's fragrance is inspired by traditional Mexican cooking and celebrations with lime oil and Mexican marigold petals.



 
Lady Catrina Soap - $5.95 - yes, that is a hat!  This soap is inspired by the lady Catrina, an iconic image for the Day of the Dead celebrations.  It has the same fragrance as the Calavera bath bomb that is fresh, zesty and uplifting!

Calacas Shower Jelly - $4.95 - Calacas is Spanish for skeleton represented by these colourful dancing jelly skulls.  In three colours: orange, green and jello , each one is scented with the invigorating scent of lime and neroli and infused with aloe vera gel to soften your skin.

- Lisamarie -