January 31, 2011

A smart phone, a friend and a visit to Kiehl's will net you a free moisturizer!

If I only had a smart phone (or a friend) I would be all over this one, I hear this moisturizer is wonderful (and free makes it even more wonderful)!  This deal is on the Kiehl's Canada Facebook page - you can find it at: http://www.facebook.com/KiehlsCanada?v=app_147040908687999

- Lisamarie -

Givenchy Naivement Couture Spring-Summer 2011 Collection!

Givenchy is one of the brands whose collections I most look forward to - the colours are always right on trend, the quality is amazing and the packaging is so luxe!  The model for this campaign kind of scares me though - it looks like she used bad self tanner to make herself an eye mask - I don't think I'll be copying this look...
Blush Gelée - Candide Pink - $36 - Limited Edition - jelly blush - the texture of this one sounds cool (and delicious) I am looking forward to playing with it!
Le Prisme Yeux Quatuor - 78 Candide Garden - brown and orange tones with a spring green - $62 - Limited Edition
Rouge Interdit - 50 Candide Tangerine - vivid acid orange - $31 - Limited Edition
Rouge Interdit Shine - 27 Candide Nude - $31 - Limited Edition
Magic Khol - 15 Coffee - $25 - Regular Product
Vernis Please! - 173 Candide Peach - milky pink - $18 - Limited Edition

Repromoted items from the regular collection:
Mister Light - 02 Mister Milk - $37
Le Prisme Visage - 3 Peach Plumetis - $49
Phemonem'Eyes - 2 Brown - $32
Phenomen'Eyes Effet Extension - 01 Extension Black - $32
Le Prisme Yeux Mono - 10 Smart Nude - $32
Magic Khol - 1 Black - $25
Gloss Interdit - 3 Coral Frenzy - $18

On counters February 2nd and I can hardly wait!  Any must have for you from this collection?

- Lisamarie -

Essie wants you to have a French Affair in Spring 2011!

Inspired by the beaches of St. Tropez, the spring collection is romantic, elegant yet flirty!

French Affair - a feminine pink shade that is reminiscent of the clouds over the Riviera at sunrise.
Nice is Nice - a whimsical lavender evocative of a sunset on the beach.
Coat Azure - a true blue like the famous Blue Coast.
Sand Tropez - a subtle sandy grey that is sure to be the newest neutral
Topless and Barefoot - a subtle demure pink
Kisses and Bisses -  a barely there colour with sheer sparkles.  Layer it over your favourite colour to instantly add frosting or under it to create a shimmer effect!

Available February at Shoppers Drug Mart and salons.

- Lisamarie -

January 29, 2011

Valentine's Day at LUSH!

I adore the seasonal offerings from LUSH and this year's Valentine's Day selection is no different!

The Frog Prince Bath Bomb - $4.95 - dissolves to reveal your very own Prince Charming while enveloping you in scents of jasmine, sandalwood, rose and neroli.
It's Raining Men Shower Gel - $8.95 - $24.95 - if only!  better yet, raining Firemen!  Until then console yourself with this honey and tropical flower scented gel.
Love Birds Soap - $5.95 - sensual jasmine and vanilla scented soap to leave you (and a friend) soft, moist and delicately scented.
Ex Factor Bath Bomb - $4.95 - if you don't have a date for V-Day, he's available and ready to melt at your command! Ylang Ylang and vanilla are what you have in store for scent and a bath sure sounds a lot better then a crowded restaurant!
Be Mine - $44.95 - everything you need to perfect yourself for the big day or to gift to the lady in your life! contains: Melting Marshmallow Moment bath melt, It’s Raining Men shower gel, Sex Bomb bath bomb, Sugar Babe sugar scrub, Soft Coeur massage bar, Lust solid perfume.

- Lisamarie -

29/01/11 Link Love

Rachel finds out if a body lotion can be energizing with Liz Earle.
Makeup Morsels finally tries out those famous Urban Decay Liners.
Looking for a similar powder to the Magic Cool Powder from MAC? Look no further - Sleek Makeup have one for half the price!
Check out Audrey Dao's review of Zoya's Spring 2011 Intimate Collection along with photos and swatches!
Daily Polish shows off sneak pictures of China Glaze's Holiday 2011 Collection Let It Snow!
Phyrra tells you about Shadow Transformation. She compares four products from Fyrinnae, Hi-Fi, Sobe Botanicals, and Medusa's Makeup. See which one comes out on top!
Kelly of Gouldylox Reviews finds a new love at the drugstore. It's quickly becoming a foundation favorite!
What do you do when your bosses go on leave? Why, wear crazy turquoise fishnet nails to work of course - Musicalhouses did it!
Retrodiva shares her five favorite tinted moisturizers that can be used even on oily skin.
One palette; how many looks can The Lip Print create? It's a Palette Challenge!
Sarah from IHeartCosmetics bypasses Bella Bamba and goes straight for Benefit's Prrrowl and Magic Ink.
Jo at Music and Makeup finally had a play with MAC Club eyeshadow and liked the results!
Are China Glaze Channelesque and China Glaze Below Deck dupes or not? Check out this post at Beauty addict's blog to find out!
Big pores? You need this! Hellcandy shares her love for Benefit's Porefessional.
Craving the new Make Up For Ever Lab Shine lip glosses? Well, you're in luck because Krasey Beauty has swatches of the full collection!
Mz. More of The Glamorous Gleam tries out OPI Shatter Nail Polish. Is it all it's "cracked" up to be? Jenn over at Spiced beauty puts on her best glam face using BarryM Cosmetics!
theNotice chats about the new love in her life - that is, Clarins Rouge Hydra Nude lipsticks. Will you be picking up a tube before they're sold out?
Amy Antoinette reviews ELF's Studio Line blushes. It’s all about glowing skin and pink hues this spring!
Anita reviews (almost) the entire Guerlain spring collection over at Pleasureflush.
***
Beauty Crazed wants to solve your winter hair woes with $200 worth of Marc Anthony products! So enter the contest already!
Start the new year with a new you. Win a La Mav anti-age skin care pack and enjoy your new skin. Help Cindy celebrate the one year anniversary of Prime Beauty. At this celebration the presents are for you!
Come by Jeweled Thumb to read a review of the Eyeko My Coral Crush Peachy Keen blush and also win one! Enter now to be one of the 2 lucky winners!
Socialite Dreams is hosting a giveaway of socialite approved goodies!

January 28, 2011

Lancome Ultra Lavande Spring 2011 - be still my purple heart!

I have been drooling over this collection since before the holidays so I am thrilled that it will finally be in the stores soon - how I will ever choose what to buy is another dilemma altogether!
Butterflies Fever Blush - 01 Glowy Ballerine - $48 - Limited Edition
Ombre Absolue Minérale Eye Shadow Palette - A60 Ultra-Lavande Cold Harmony or A70 Ultra-Lavande Warm Harmony - $54 - Limited Edition
Le French Touch Absolu - 308 Lily Rose, 310 Daisy Rose or 312 Berry Rose - $40 - Limited Edition
Color Fever Gloss Natural Origin - 383 Beige Ballerine or 385 Lavande Ballerine - $31 - Limited Edition
Le Vernis - 359 Lavande or 004 Disco Silver - $16 - Limited Edition
Ombre Magnétique - 01D Disco Gold - $47 - Limited Edition
Ink Artliner - 05 Ultra-Lavande - $38 - Limited Edition
Crayon Khol Naturel - 01 Ballerina Pink or 03 Ultra-Lavande - $28 - Limited Edition

Available February in Department Stores, (some items at) Select Pharmacies and at www.lancome.ca

So help me out here ladies, out of all of this wonderfulness - what do I really NEED?!

- Lisamarie -

Daisy Eau So Fresh by Marc Jacobs has me thinking spring!

Along with spring makeup comes spring fragrances and the new offering from Daisy by Marc Jacobs - Eau So Fresh has totally got me yearning for spring days!  I love the bottle - it's just a big ball of girly pastel wonderfulness!

Described as a bright, floral, fruity fragrance, it has top notes of ruby red grapefruit, raspberry, green leaves and pear; middle notes of violet, wild rose, apple blossom, lychee and jasmine petals; and base notes of musks, plum and cedarwood.

I remember when Daisy first came out, I loved the bottle and was all set to buy it until I smelled it and it was just too floral!  I don't care for florals and I usually find that fragrances described as "floral fruity" are usually too much floral and not enough fruit for my taste but to my delight, Eau So Fresh smells very fruity on me with minimal floral so I'm very excited to have found a new spring scent!


75ml EDT - $85, 125ml EDT - $110, 150ml Body Lotion - $45

And before you start thinking that Daisy Eau So Fresh looks all sweet and innocent, check out the ad, I mean the girl is straddling a horse with a giant bottle in her lap - subliminal much?!

Available in February at Holt Renfrew and in March at The Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharma Prix, London Drugs, Jean Coutu and Sephora.

- Lisamarie -

January 27, 2011

Exposed Envy is eliminating fashion faux pas one bra strap at a time! Contest!

You may recall hearing me bitch and moan about woman who walk around with their bra straps showing - not such a problem right now with everyone bundled up but spring isn't so far away and the same old dilemma of what to wear under a tank top will rear it's ugly head again.  My solution to the issue has been to buy a bra in the same colour as the tank, but that can get expensive so just buying the straps makes total sense to me - I've looked before but all I've ever found are the clear straps!  Enter Exposed Envy - they recognized the problem and can deliver on my less pricey solution - decorative bra straps - they have prints, sparkles, crystals (some even have matching bracelets), beads and any colour straps you can think of to attach to your favourite bra!

I love the entire concept and I especially love that they aren't trying to hose their Canadian clients with overinflated shipping charges - they ship to Canada for $5! You can check out all the different styles and options at www.exposedenvy.com

Love the idea too and want to win the fancy ones in the picture including the matching bracelet?  Well read on!

Up for grabs are the elegant rhinestone bra straps with matching bracelet pictured - value of $51. Jet black and crystal rhinestones are set in a two tone pattern to create a stylish decorative bra strap. The straps are fully adjustable and attach to any strapless bra or convertible bra. The matching contemporary bracelet completes the set. 

This contest is open to Canada and the US and it's very easy to enter, just leave a comment letting us know that you follow (if you aren't a follower you can sign up through Google or Facebook - signups are in the right sidebar)

1 entry for following and leaving a comment answering the question - what is your biggest fashion pet peeve? - Please also let us know if you are entering from Canada or the US and leave us an e-mail - you can write it info at beautycrazed dot ca - so the bots can't find you but we can!

And for extra entries you can do one, some or all of the following:
1 entry for following Exposed Envy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/exposedenvy 
1 entry for tweeting the contest

1 entry for "liking" Exposed Envy on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Exposed-Envy-Fashion-Accessories/119443871441442
3 entries if you post this contest as a post or on the sidebar of your blog

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 your info to info@beautycrazed.ca, please put "Exposed Envy Contest" in the subject line.  Winner to be decided by random drawing and you have until February 18th to enter.



- Lisamarie -

Herbal Essences wants to transform your shower into a hair paradise!

Being a celebrity stylist is a tough gig, sometimes it involves battling LA traffic during the Golden Globes to make sure Rumor Willis has just the right shade of red in her hair for the awards show, sometimes it means hanging out with Leighton Meester making sure she is Herbal Essences Brand Ambassador worthy and other times it just means you give interviews to beauty journalists who are really, really hoping that you give away some secret celebrity tidbit that they in turn can sell for thousands of dollars to the tabloids...

Charles Baker Strahan, Herbal Essences North American celebrity stylist got a week full of all of that last week and I have no doubt that the highlight of it all was not styling celebrities for the Golden Globes but rather getting the chance to share some of his hair (not celebrity, dammit) secrets for me to pass on to all of you.

He's hanging out in Los Angeles right now so I knew he was just the person to give us advice for cold weather hair care!  His biggest tip was to make sure our hair is getting lots of moisture, not only is the cold air stripping it away but our hair is also taking a beating due to all the artificial heating indoors!  When our hair has enough moisture not only does it feel soft and silky it also looks shiny and smooth - as we all know, there is nothing worse then winter flyaways!

We also discussed the reformulated Herbal Essences collection which contains a water-activated silkening technology to give your hair the soft and shiny look we all crave and we agreed that the best part of the new formulas is the smell!

And then Charles had to dash off to his next fabulous event in sunny LA and I was left here in cold, snowy Toronto sniffing (yummm) a bottle of shampoo for solace...

So here's what's in the reformulated collection:
Hello Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner - infused with extracts of Hawaiian coconut and orchid
Long-Term Relationship Shampoo and Conditioner - infused with extracts of red raspberries and Brazilian silk
None of Your Frizzness Shampoo and Conditioner - infused with extracts of mandarin creme and pearl - this is the one that I've been using, the scent is amazing and my frizziness is much better after using!
Totally Twisted Shampoo and Conditioner - infused with extracts of wild cherry twist and jewel orchid
Touchably Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner - infused with extracts of pink lily and Asian silk
Body Envy Shampoo - infused with extracts of passion flower sunrise and pearl

Available now at your usual haunts for around $3.99 for 300ml.
- Lisamarie -

January 26, 2011

Nicole by OPI Shoppers Drug Mart exclusives!

Launching next month are 13 new shades exclusive to Shoppers Drug Mart:

Brilliant Idea - glittery lime
Daffy Dill - lime-green
I’m a Pool for Love - deep, dark grape
Iceberg Lotus - shiny bright green
Make a Comet-ment - silver-glitter
Shell Me the Truth - glowing peach
You’re S-teal the One - green-blue
Nicole’s Nickel - deep silver glitter
Sensational Scarlet - sensational red
Such a Go-Glitter - blue glitter
Call Me Classy - red
The Grape Debate - the best purple ever
Twist of Fate - gold

I love that there are so many glittery colours which are perfect for layering but I have no idea how I will ever decide between them all!

- Lisamarie -

Tweezerman and Betsey Johnson team up to make beautiful tweezer babies!

What happens when Tweezerman and Betsey Johnson get together and have a baby?  Why very funky looking tweezers of course! Babes, Roses or my personal favourite - Skulls adorn these slant tweezers, which almost look too adorable to use!  But you should use them, and if you don't already have Tweezerman tweezers in your arsenal you are in for a treat - I have had my Tweezerman tweezers for over 4 years now and they still work as well as the day I bought them - they were a replacement for another pair that were also Tweezerman and still worked just fine but I couldn't resist the BCA pink ones so I replaced them and passed the old pair on!  And don't think I'm not tempted to do that again for these ones!

Pick up your very own Betsey Johnson Tweezerman tweezers at your local Sephora for $33!

What do you think of these, are you a Tweezerman and/or Betsey Johnson fan already?

- Lisamarie -

January 25, 2011

Skyn Iceland - Icelandic Relief Eye Cream - cooling relief for common complaints!

Skyn Iceland is the only skincare line designed to treat the effects of  stress on the skin and they feel that the most stubborn complexion problems are caused by accumulated chronic stress.  They can't help you with the stress in your life, but they can address and alleviate the visible effects of stress on skin!

My newest eye cream love is their Icelandic Relief Eye Cream - 14g - $49.50 - triple-acting eye cream combats three major issues: deep under-eye lines, dark circles and puffiness, due to stress-related oxygen and nutrient depletion.  It contains: Vitamin K - to help increase circulation and lighten dark circles; Rice peptides - to help destroy the enzymes that break down collagen and elastin in the skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles; Orange peel - to help reduce puffiness; Iclandic kelp - to revitalize skin and help fight inflammation; Cotton powder - to act as an optical diffusier, filling fine lines and wrinkles and brightening the eye area for a refreshed appearance; Biospheric Complex - a proprietary blend that delivers the unmatched purity and vital nutrients of Iceland's natural resources (water - mineral-rich Icelandic glacial water, earth - indigenous Arctic berries and air - oxgenated liposomes, butterfly bush and thyme extracts) to restore and rebalance stressed-out skin; and Angelica archangelica - an Icelandic botanical and a relative of ginseng which has been proven to be highly effective in preventing infection and protecting against numberous environmental stressors.

I love how cool it feels when I apply it which makes me feel like it is getting to work right away on the puffiness and I also appreciate how it is free of all the stuff I like to avoid: parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, petrolatum, phthalates, formaldehyde and paraffin.  After having used it for a few weeks now I feel like my eye area does look more refreshed!  I don't get really dark circles but I don't even have the slight ones anymore and my eyes don't seem as puffy first thing in the morning, and by mid-morning, the puffiness is totally gone.

You can find Skyn Iceland products at Sephora, Victoria's Secret Direct, Murale, skynICELAND.com and www.theshoppingchannel.com.  And if you tune in to The Shopping Channel tomorrow at 11am, 3pm, 6pm and 11pm they will be featuring the products which is a great way to learn more about them!

I plan on trying more products from this line, if anyone has any recommendations for ones I shouldn't miss, let me know!

- Lisamarie -

OPI Texas Collection swatches - Guy Meets Gal-veston and Austin-tatious Turquoise!

You may remember me telling you about the 2011 Spring OPI Texas Collection and here are a couple of colours that I am loving from it:  Guy Meets Gal-veston - coral and Austin-tatious Turquoise - blue-green with shimmer are 2 of the shades with the new semi-transparent sorbet finish.
I found I got more of the "sorbet finish" with the coral coloured one because it doesn't have the shimmer that the turquoise one does.  You can click on the pictures if you want to see them bigger and that will give you a better idea of the effect.  They both make me want to go on vacation someplace warm!

I still have a couple more colours to swatch so check back in a week or two for those!  And let me know what you think of these colours!

- Lisamarie -

January 24, 2011

Test driving Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara!

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara - $28.50 - is the latest Sumptuous mascara offering and promises "over-the-top mega-volume lashes with zero-clumping".  

It has a mousse like formula with a blend of light-weight gels, polymers, waxes and pigments to create volume without clumping and a blend of hybrid powders to maximize extreme volume.  The brush is also new – a big brush in a new shape that provides all the thickening of a brush with the definition of a comb.  

And to give you beautiful, healthy lashes it's enriched with Vitamin B5 and Rosemary

Available at counters now in Extreme Black, Extreme Brown, Extreme Indigo and Extreme Violet

   


Here's the before and after - as you can see my lashes are naturally light and fine, really I just look like an albino bunny without mascara - this is a close up to give you an idea of the volume
And here's a picture to give you an idea of the length results - I combed them out a bit from the first picture! 

I don't generally wear thickening mascaras because I usually find the brush so big that it's tricky to use - this brush was a little bigger then regular brushes but not huge and ungainly so I was able to deal.  Normally I would comb out my lashes like I did in the second picture for a less dramatic work look and leave them be when I am going out - the one thing I did find when I combed this mascara is it flakes - not a huge amount but enough to be annoying.  I didn't find that it flaked anymore during the day with regular wear so this was probably just a by-product of combing the mascara when it was already dry.

Has anyone else tried it and what did you think of it?! 

- Lisamarie -

Is there anything Heidi Klum doesn't have? Including a new fragrance in the works called Shine!

As a devotee of Project Runway, I am delighted to hear that Heidi is partnering with Coty to develop a new fragrance called Heidi Klum Shine expected to launch fall of this year!  No word on what Shine will smell like but I have faith that Heidi has come up with something good!  Really, is there anything the girl can't do - she has a husband to serenade her (my husband calls Seal, "Hope for men everywhere" I assume on account that he landed Heidi), a passel of kids, a European cosmetic gig, a bunch of TV shows and a line of active wear, I'm exhausted just listing her accomplishments!

I'll get back to you with deets when I hear and I am actually liking the dress she is wearing in this picture, it's kind of strange but really compelling!

- Lisamarie -

January 22, 2011

Chanel is making your N°5 portable!


Chanel understand that today's woman is always on the run but doesn't want to be without her favourite fragrance which inspired them to create these three "purse jewels" around N°5!

Eau de Parfum - Limited Edition - 3 x 20ml - $115.00
Eau Première - Limited Edition - 3 x 20ml - $115.00
Eau de Toilette - Regular Collection - 3 x 20ml - $ 84.00

Available January 24th at Chanel Beauty Counters.

- Lisamarie -

January 21, 2011

shu uemura spring/summer 2010 Morphorium!

You should make a point of finding your way to Holt Renfrew soon to check out the spring/summer collection from shu uemura, it is sooooooo pretty!  It is meant to take you to the mystique beauty of a tropical rainforest, all I know is that it has taken me to my happy place!
Morphorium Blue Eye & Cheek Palette - $85 - Limited Edition - with vivid blue, rich purple and acid green shadows, a light brown cream eyeshadow to use as a base or shading colour and the prettiest pink blush, this palette makes me squee!
Sunset Gold Eye & Cheek Palette - $85 - Limited Edition - with deep brown, gold and white shadows, a pink beige cream eyeshadow to use as a base or shading colour and a peach blush.  Although I really love the blue palette, this one would probably be more practical for everyday use. Practical makeup?  I know, crazy talk!
Shine Mystique Eye Color - $36 - Khaki Silver - Limited Edition - I don't know why the picture is showing so teal green, the actual colour is much more olive green.  It's described as an olive, khaki and silver reflection.  The first and new "Metamorphose pearls" in loose powder type eye colour create an outstanding "colour-traveling" effect for ultra-luminous reflection with extraordinary shine.
Painting Liner - $29 - ME Purple - luscious purple with a soft shimmer, ME Brown - rich brown-purple with a delicate shine - a long-wearing eyeliner with intensive colour and creamy texture which is waterproof and smudge proof.

Rouge Unlimited - $31 - PK 335 - soft pink with a moist finish, PK 348 - warm apricot with a moist finish

If you have seen the collection online already you will notice that Canada doesn't seem to have gotten everything that is available - we got shorted a couple of lipsticks, the nail polish and the funky looking green and purple lashes.  I don't know if those items will be on counter here or if you will have to order them if you are really jonesing for them!  So don't leave us hanging, has anyone laid eyes on it yet and/or are you planning on?

- Lisamarie -