February 28, 2013

Take a powder with Clarins, Sephora and mark.!

Clarins Poudre Multi-Eclat - $47 - a loose, mineral based powder that offers a silky-smooth feel that is fine and lightweight with a light-optimizing complex that instantly captures, diffuses and magnifies the light for a soft-focus effect which instantly minimizes fine lines and small imperfections.
Sephora Smoothing Translucent Setting Powder - $19 - a velvety smooth, translucent powder that sets and mattifies your foundation and creates a flawless complexion on all skin types and skintones. With a smart-dose compact that delivers the perfect amount of powder for each application, ensuring a visibly even complexion and a non-drying, breathable formula that leaves the skin soft, without being tight.
mark. Set Thing Right Loose Perfecting Powder - $16 - in 3 shades: Light, Medium and Deep -  a long-wearing, oil-free powder that keeps foundation in place and gives skin a smooth, even appearance while controlling oil and helping to create a soft focus effect.

Available from your Avon rep - 1-800-265-AVON or online at www.avon.ca.

Beat your winter doldrums with a pink gloss from Smashbox, Avon or Sephora!

Nothing perks up a dull winter complexion or makes you hopeful for spring quite like a pink gloss - whether you prefer your pinks bright and punchy or sweet and demure there is a pink to suit everyone!

Here are a few that I'm loving right now:
Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Adore Me - $22 - part of the Smashbox spring Love Me collection - it is such a pretty pink with just a hint of shimmer and super moisturizing!

Available now at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora.
Avon Ultra Color Rich Brilliance Lip Gloss in Pink Icicle - $7.99 - with a high-shine pearl finish that adds moisture, dazzling colour and sheer to medium coverage. Also comes in 7 other shades: Brilliant Ruby, Illuminate, Bordeaux Glow, Mocha Splendor, Vermillion, North Star and Plum Riches

Available from your Avon rep - 1-800-265-AVON or online at www.avon.ca.
Sephora Glossy Gloss in Pink Macaroon - $12 - one of 32 shades including several other pinks with both glitters and shimmers - I like this one because it adds lots of shine and a bit of colour which makes it great to wear alone with a smoky eye or layered over a lipstick to add drama!

Available at Sephora and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

February 27, 2013

Eye Love Wednesday - L'Oréal Colour Riche Eye Shadow Quads

I love it when cosmetic companies understand that putting together colours that co-ordinate is way too complicated and do the work for me as is the case with:

L'Oréal Colour Riche Eye Shadow Quads - $11.99 - in 20 shades with fun names: Good Luck Charm, Cupa Joe, Snooze Addict, Skinny Jeans, Perfume ID, Army Brat, Neon Skirt, What Happens In Vegas, Shopping Spree, Sultry Seductress, Black Pump, Rose For Romance, Stacked Heels, Because I'm Worth it!, Sophisticated Angel, Cookies & Cream, Hollywood Icon, Blue Haute Couture, So Over It! and Love To Hate Me.

Each quad contains expertly harmonized colours made up of micro-milled pigments to create an irreplaceable silk texture on the skin with powder pigments suspended in a crystal-clear base that ensures the colour stays rich and smooth and never chalky or powdery.

- Lisamarie -

Beautiful skin during and after menopause thanks to Vichy Neovadiol Magistral!

As if all the other crap that goes along with menopause wasn't bad enough it can also literally suck the life out of your skin making it look dull, sluggish and tired. Want to recuperate its density, softness, comfort and radiance? Then you need:

Vichy Neovadiol Magistral - 50ml - $55 - specially formulated for mature skin in advanced or post-menopause with a rich formula of omega 3,6 and 9 fatty acids capable of reconstructing all layers of the skin all while  providing intense nutrition, firming contours and smoothing wrinkles.

Suitable for all skin types even the most sensitive ones, it's paraben-free, hypoallergenic and enriched with Vichy Thermal Spa Water.

Available now in drugstores and be sure to check out the blog Vichy has specially dedicated for mature women - www.beautifulatmyage.ca.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... John Frieda Luxurious Volume - Fine to Full Blow Out Spray!

You know how perfect your hair looks when you get it professionally blown out? When I came across a product that promised me salon results I was rightfully skeptical - I mean have you ever been able to make your hair look as full and bouncy as they do at the hairdressers? I sure haven't - and I think this is something that is even more of a challenge when your hair is fine so there isn't as much volume to work with to start off! That is until I tried:

John Frieda Luxurious Volume - Fine to Full Blow Out Spray - 120ml - $14.99 - creates all-over fullness for the look of a salon-quality blowout thanks to a patented heat-activated Kao polymer technology that spreads easily throughout the hair when activated by the heat of a blog dryer transforming fine hair to appear noticeably fuller, smoother and softer. With a lightweight formula that creates lift at the roots and natural-looking fullness for the look and feel of more hair.

Even though I still can't quite get the hang of that round brush rolling thing that my hairdresser does for volume, I can still see a big difference between how smooth and full my hair looks when I use this spray and when I don't!

One of several new products in the revamped John Frieda Luxurious Volume line which also includes:

John Frieda Luxurious Volume - Touchably Full Shampoo - 250ml - $10.49 - with a lightweight formula perfect for those with fine, flat hair that gently cleanses and detangles as it applies volume boosters and then rinses clean without stripping hair.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume - Touchably Full Conditioner - 250ml - $10.49 - applies volume-building technology with enhanced detangling properties and is formulated to enhance body and shine while also adding grip to fine, flat hair without the product feel.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume - Root Booster Blow-Dry Lotion - 175ml - $10.49 - an ultra-lightweight, alcohol free spray lotion with a targeted spray nozzle to lift fine hair at the roots for extra crown volume that's touchably soft and lasts all day. Formulated with a targeted lifting complex that provides heat protection polymers and panthenol to help protect and strengthen hair while styling.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume - Volume Building Mousse - 110g - $10.49 - a rich, lightweight mousse that creates thickness by wrapping strands and boosting volume from root to tip for lush, soft hair and thickening technology with a unique polymer blend that increases hair diameter and lifts at the root for weightless, non-stick, all day volume and panthenol, to strengthen hair, enabling it to lift at the roots for increased volume.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume - All-Day Hold Hairspray - 283g  - $10.49 - with a lightweight, water-free formula that offers extra hold and body crucial to naturally full styles, helping hair look natural and stay full and uplifted all day. Formulated with a high-hold polymer to lock in style fast for fullness and volume that lasts all day and silicone to combat over-drying and provide humidity resistance that prevents styles from falling flat.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume - Volume Refresher Dry Shampoo - ml - $10.49 - formulated to absorb oil and greasy build-up that weighs hair down, adding texture to fine hair and lifting strands from the roots to increase fullness. With a water-free formula that delivers a high-powered boost for increased fullness and lift without ruining the style and fast oil absorption for middle-of-the-day style refreshment leaving hair feeling soft and smelling fresh without any visible white build-up.

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

February 26, 2013

Get Naked with Emma Stone and Revlon!

Love Emma Stone's luminous complexion and wonder how she does it? Wonder no longer - she gets naked - Revlon Nearly Naked that is!

Revlon Nearly Naked is a new line of foundation and powder that aims to put an end to heavy, cakey makeup. The foundation is super light in order to effortlessly blend with your skin, harmonizing the two in order to restore your natural glow and provide an even fresh complexion. While the powder has a silky soft texture that blends seamlessly with your skin providing natural coverage and evening out your skin while minimizing the appearance of imperfections.

If you love Emma's look here you can get it too with the Nearly Naked Foundation and Powder in the shade that matches you best; PhotoReady Primer + Shadow in Metropolitan and ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait.


I was recently invited to get naked too and how could I say no - especially when I realized that Emma and I wear the same foundation (Vanilla) and powder (Light) shade. The foundation feels so light on you would swear you aren't wearing any. If you have any blemishes or spots you are trying to cover, you will have to add a dab of concealer on top though as it's a light coverage formula (obviously) and the powder works great to eliminate shine and even out the tone.

I'm very impressed at the range of shades the foundation comes in - 16 - and runs the gamut from very light to deep - which you don't often find in a drugstore line. It also contains a blend of green tea, black tea, oatmeal and jojoba to help maintain your skin's glow, making it look naturally perfect - so go ahead and get naked at your local drug or mass merchandiser right now!

- Lisamarie -

Beautiful blues for the nails from Quo by Orly, Elizabeth Arden, CoverGirl and Avon!

When it comes to polish preference - blue is my colour of choice - it's just such a happy colour! Check out the blues that are cheering me up these days:
Quo by Orly in Prepster - $10 - one of 5 new core shades just introduced - love the shimmer!
Elizabeth Arden Nail Lacquer Duo in Teal Blossom - $22 - part of the spring New York in Bloom collection with a colour on one end and a clear gel-like top coat on the other!
Covergirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Mint Mojito - $8.49 - part of their new line of polishes that last up to seven days with no top coat required!
Avon Speed Dry+ Nail Enamel in Fast Time Teal - $6.99 - one of 26 hot new shades with an improved formula with volcanic rock that makes nails feel harder, offers full coverage with a high-shine finish and goes from wet to dry in 30 seconds!

Available from your Avon rep - 1-800-265-AVON or online at www.avon.ca.

- Lisamarie -

February 25, 2013

Mascara Monday - Dress your lashes in the L'Oréal Voluminous collection!

Be sure to check out your whatever favourite place is to buy L'Oréal Voluminous Mascara over the next couple of weeks where you will find a special in-store "Dress Your Lashes" promotion that will showcase how you can build your own ultimate lash wardrobe with 4 Voluminous top sellers.

And while of course they look great on the models featured in the promotion: Freida Pinto, LiyaKebede, Doutzen Kroes and Claudia Schiffer - I thought you might like to see them all on a non-super model - and since Voluminous has been my go-to mascara for years, who better then me?!
Voluminous Original Mascara - $9.95 - for iconic volume and a classic lash look - even though I stray, I always come back to it!
Voluminous Power 24H Mascara - $11.99 - extra volume and 24 hour hold - great for that extra volume look!
Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara - $10.99 - perfectly polished and perfectly defined volume with zero clumps.
Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara - $9.95 - offers an outrageous false-lash effect with incredible volume and length - I love how feathery this one makes my lashes look!

- Lisamarie -

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate

Age, stress, pollution and sun exposure are no friends of your skin and if you're over the age of 25, you probably could use a little help repairing the damage they've caused. Help can be found in the form of:

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate - 30ml - $85 - rich in 20 plant extracts, it reactivates the 5 vital functions: hydration - for softness and comfort, nutrition - for suppleness and tone, oxygenation - for radiance and luminosity, protection - for the protection of fine lines and wrinkles and regeneration - for firmness and elasticity - on which skin's youth and beauty depend.

After the very first application you can look forward to skin that is radiant, toned, smooth and comfortable and after 4 weeks your skin will be firmer, wrinkles will be reduced and your complexion will appear more even and pores less visible.

The serum feels very light so it's perfect for layering under your usual cream but I don't find that it absorbs right away, so I wait a minute to apply my moisturizer or otherwise I find it doesn't apply smoothly as there is almost a tacky residue to the serum before it absorbs completely. And as with all Clarins products, it smells great!

Available now at Clarins counters across Canada.

- Lisamarie -


Dry cuticles are quenched with essie, Revlon, Avon and Quo by Orly!

essie Apricot Cuticle Oil - $11.99 - natural oils provide nourishing moisture for smoother, softer, more supple cuticles while helping to strengthen and nourish them. And of course the apricot oil means it smells amazing!

Available at drugstores and salons.
Revlon Cuticle Softener - $6.50 - upon application, hydrating micro gel beads burst onto cuticles delivering instant softening benefits for healthy, hang-nail free cuticles.

Available at drugstores and mass-market retailers across Canada.
Avon Nail Experts Green Tea Cuticle Serum - $6.99 - instantly softens cuticles with green tea leaf extract, aloe leaf juice and panthenol.

Available from your Avon rep - 1-800-265-AVON or online at www.avon.ca.
Quo by Orly Intensive Conditioning Nail and Cuticle Oil - $10 -nourishes and hydrates cuticles and nails with a rich blend of argan oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E.

Available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart.

- Lisamarie -

February 23, 2013

Cleansing cloths that make cleanup easy from Neutrogena, Olay and Aveeno!

Now that I am again working full time, I'm finding that I have so much less free time so anything I can do to save a little is welcome! On top of that there is the sheer weariness at the end of a long day that might tempt me to do bad things like go to bed without washing my face so thank heaven for cleansing cloths - so easy to use, I can clean my face in bed! Here's what's hiding in my nightstand right now:

Neutrogena Make-Up Remover Hydrating Cleansing Cloths - 25 cloths - $9.99 - cleanse deep into pores, gently clearing away dirt, oil, pollutants and makeup, even waterproof mascara with a unique blend of emollients, glycerin and skin-soothing cucumber and aloe extracts to leave skin feeling soft and supple.
Olay Clean & Mild Make-Up Remover Cloths - 20 cloths - $6.99 - contains aloe vera to gently lift away dirt and make-up, including waterproof mascara - to leave skin clean, soft and smooth.
Aveeno Ultra-Calming Gentle Make-Up Removing Wipes - 25 cloths - $10.99 - these super-soft oil-free and non-comedogenic wipes calm and soothe dry, sensitive skin and improve the appearance of redness and blotchiness while gently removing dirt, oil and makeup - even waterproof mascara.

All of these are available at food, drug and mass merchandisers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Stranded on a desert island... with London MakeUP Girl!

It's London MakeUp Girl's turn to visit the Beauty Spotlight Desert Island, and she thought this would be easy peasy lemon squeezy as she likes a minimalist routine.

It actually turned out to be difficult difficult lemon difficult. Read on to find out what made the trip...

February 22, 2013

Fragrant Friday - Guess Girl

Guess has a new fragrance described as youthful, flirty and extra- sexy - I don't know how I feel about youth being extra-sexy so I'm going to tell myself they mean this for the extra-sexy young-at-heart!

Guess Girl - 30ml EDT - $45, 50ml EDT - $60, 100ml EDT - $75, 200ml Body Cream - $25 - with top notes of raspberry nectar, melon and bergamot mist; heart notes of Brazilian paradise orchid, Provence acacia flower and lily; and base notes of Australian sandalwood and Madagascar vanilla.

I had high hopes for it due to the fruity top notes and vanilla base note but it's one of those fragrances that just wants to smell like the floral heart notes on me! I do love the bottle though - it's so pink and girly and very me!

Available now at Sears and major drugstores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

February 21, 2013

Quo Cosmetics Spring 2013 Collection

Inspired by the shimmer of iridescent pearls - Quo has a spring collection that offers both soft hues and pops of colour - with pearl-inspired packaging that looks just as pretty as what's inside!
Grace and Glamour Beauty Box - $20 - in 3 collections: Exotic Charm, Fluid Elegance and Sensual Enigma - each include 2 blushes, 12 eyeshadows and 4 lip colours for a multitude of looks!
Pearl Eye Liner - $8 - in 4 shades: Patina, Amethyst, Ice Pink and Platinum - offer subtle pearl and metallic perfect for accenting the eyes and creating unique looks!
Take A Brow Eyebrow Palette - $10 - includes 2 powder brow shades along with a wax to help tame - use the shades separately or combine to create a custom shade just for you1
Blushing Pearl Cheek Palette - $16 - in two colour combos: Endless Allure and Timeless Radiance - includes a cream blush perfect for layering under the 2 blush trios also included or wear any of them alone.
Pearl Kisses Lip Gloss - $10 - in 4 shades: Delicate Plum, Mauve Magic, Neverending Nude and Passionate Pink that offer a touch of colour and pearly shimmer but the best part has to be the removable pearl and shoe charm which makes it just the cutest thing ever!
Touch Of Pearl Brush Set - $55 - Limited Edition -  features 9 brushes including: foundation, concealer, blush, powder, all over shadow, crease blender, shadow smudger, liner/brow and lip with custom white handles, rose metal ferrules, and unique bristles containing real pearls along with a deluxe cosmetic bag to store and protect your brushes and makeup.

Available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart in March.

- Lisamarie -

Get voluminous hair from a mousse with Marc Anthony, Moroccanoil and Garnier!

If you're looking for volume and texture and have fine to medium textured hair then you can't go wrong with a volumizing mousse. If you're like me and haven't really had much to do with a mousse since the 80's and remember them as making your hair ook and feel hard and crunchy then you're in for a treat - they've come a long way baby! These days all they add is lift and shine and here are a few that fit the bill:

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Volumizing Mousse - 250ml - 9.99 -a light and airy whip that lifts each strand for extra volume while nourishing as you style thanks to a duo of argan oil and keratin to boost strength and infuse moisture as you style, UV protectors to keep the sun and other elements from damaging your locks and grape seed oil to add rich silky lustre. Whether wearing your hair straight, wavy or curly, expect fuller, bouncier hair with extra hydration, shine and flexible hold!
Moroccanoil Volumizing Mousse - 250ml - $28 -transforms limp,lifeless locks into full-bodies, natural-looking styles with lift and movement that lasts. Specially designed for fine to medium textured hair, it offers a boost of body, leaving hair soft, shiny and manageable with a weightless formula that provides flexible control without any sticky residue, flaking or buildup.The mousse features a weightless flexible polymer which provides instant volume, maximum lift and a special "memory factor" for hair that holds its shape and styles that last longer and is infused with argan oil to provide shine, manageability and extra hydration for fuller, more voluminous hair - enrich it with added conditioners and you get hair that looks and feels healthy, silky, shiny and static-free.

Available at fine salons and spas - check out www.moroccanoil.com to fine one near you.
Garnier Fructis Sky-Hi Volume Mousse - 187g - $5.49 - with a formula containing cotton flower - a plant well known for expanding once combined with water for volume that lasts up to 24 hours with a lightweight formula that doesn't feel hard or sticky.

- Lisamarie -

Fave lips and tips from Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2013 Collection - with swatches!

Soft glossy lips and a pop of green on the nails are exactly my kind of thing so it's no wonder that I love the Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2013 collection!
Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in Peche Cerra-Colla
Volupte Sheer Candy Glossy Balm in Tasty Raspberry
La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer in Jade Imperial

- Lisamarie -

February 20, 2013

Eye Love Wednesday - Make Up For Ever Technicolor Palette

Make Up For Ever Technicolor Palette - $50 - features 8 bold, saturated colours in: Black, Yellow, Apple Green, Turquoise, Lilac, White, Espresso and Beige - that can be mixed and matched to create highly pigmented, long-lasting looks that reflect any style or mood. All contained in a mirrored compact with two round brushes and two step-by-step tutorials.

Looking at these colours can be a little intimidating and you might think they are too crazy for you to be able to wear on a regular basis but I have been doing some experimenting and have discovered that when applied with a light hand they easily lend themselves to a sheer colour wash - my preferred way to wear eyeshadow, mostly because I'm lazy! The green is gorgeous worn as a wash and strangely, so is the yellow, I thought it would be too 80's Boy George-ish but it actually adds a nice brightness without making it look like a healing bruise or anything weird like that. Of course if you want it bold you can have that too just apply more liberally!

Available now at Sephora and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Breathe life into your skin with The Ultimate Facial from Caryl Baker Visage

You know how they say that you learn something new everyday? Well last week I found out that Visage does facials - I knew that they sold makeup and did eye brow shaping but for some reason I was totally unaware of the extensive amount of facial services they offer - including the latest and greatest - The Ultimate Facial - which is a 60 minute treatment that combines the use of deeply hydrating collagen and cell boosting pure oxygen for a facial that will have your skin looking and feeling soft and rejuvenated.

My Ultimate Facial was performed by the lovely Zarina at the Scarborough Town Centre location. She started me off with Phase One Microdermabrasion - ($35) - an exfoliation treatment that you can get prior to any facial service that acts as a skin-smoothing treatment to remove dead skin cells and to allow treatment products to better penetrate the skin.

This was followed by the usual cleansing and massaging and then a Collagen Mask - which is a sheet mask and if you haven't tried once of these before they can make you feel a little mummy-ish! The mask helps to promote collagen production, skin firmness and elasticity as well as helps diminish fine line and rehydrate the skin to keep it looking soft, smooth and more youthful.

The mask is followed by the oxygen treatment where they basically blow pure oxygen into your skin - it's a little chilly and smells weird but it's doing lots of great things for your skin so I sucked it up. As Zarina explained it to me, the oxygen helps stimulate collagen and elastin growth, lighten and brighten the appearance of the skin and fade pigmentation naturally, improves rosacea, acne, all forms of dermatitis, maintains moisture and nutrient levels resulting in a supple, youthful appearance - keeping the skin naturally hydrated and as an added benefit, helped the ingredients from the collagen mask absorb deeper. Whatever is did my skin looked plump and glowing by the end of my session!

With any facial Visage offers a complimentary makeup application which is great if you are going out or back to work but I was just going home and I love the perfectly clean skin feeling you get right after a facial so I left au natural.

If you think The Ultimate Facial sounds wonderful too, this is the time to try it - until February 24 it's being offered at the special price of $79.50 (regular price: $150). As well there is the option of specially priced pre-paid packages.

Check out www.carylbakervisage.com for a location near you.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... The Body Shop Absinthe Purifying Hand Cream!

The Body Shop Absinthe Purifying Hand Cream - 100ml - $20 - part of the new line that contains absinthe extract, yes that very same ingredient that was once thought to drive people crazy, has made it to a kick-ass hand cream along with community fair trade shea butter.

What makes it different (and better) then any other hand cream that I've tried lately is how my hands feel after applying - I should preface this by saying that one of my very favourite hand creams is The Body Shop Hemp one which is amazingly moisturizing but so greasy that I only use it at night, never during the day because it ends up leaving snail trails everywhere! On the other hand (hands), the Absinthe cream soaks right in and leaves my hands feeling fresh - which I realize is a weird way to describe a hand cream benefit but entirely accurate - as well as moisturized but not in a way like I just put cream on because there is none of the usual filmy feeling that is found with most creams.

And if that all wasn't enough, it also smells great with notes of bergamot, petit grain and neroli!

If you have the kind of job/life (fish monger, massage parlour worker etc.) that leaves you with stinky hands you'll be happy to know that not only does the line moisturize and purify, it also conceals odour!

Also available in the new Absinthe line is a Purifying Hand Butter - 100ml - $20, Purifying Hand Gel - 60ml - $2 and Purifying Hand Wash - 250ml - $10.

Available now in-store and online at www.thebodyshop.ca.

- Lisamarie -