TIFF 2018 starts with a (relaxing) vengence at Essentials Lounge 9!

credit: Ryan Emberley

It's TIFF-time again and the best thing about it... the chance that you will spot cute celebrity boys wandering around Toronto - making it very important to be prepared and look your best at all times!  This was made much easier thanks to this year's Essentials Lounge and all of the fabulous products on offer there including...

Get hair to rival Kit's with:

Design.Me Puff.Me Shampoo and Conditioner - 300ml - $22 - intensely volumizes hair with its weightless, sulfate and gluten free formula while offering hair rich hydration and luscious shine. The duo also builds barriers against breakage, offers heat protection up to 160C, frizz control, detangling and age-defying properties while improving the natural texture of your hair to keep locks looking healthy from the root, up - and all of these benefits without any build-up or residue.

Design.Me Hold.Me Three Ways Hairspray - 330ml - $22 - a unique adjustable hairspray that offers three levels of support - with just a little twist, modify the hold from light, medium and strong in a long-lasting, flake-free formula that includes shine, UV protection and volume.

Available at Trade Secrets and select salons across Canada - check out https://designmehair.com/salon-locator/ to find one near you.

Smell memorable for Brad with:

DKNY Stories - 100ml EDP - $119 - a fragrance of striking contrasts with a modern feminine edge that inspires new stories every time you wear it, like the city itself. An oriental floral with fresh top notes of pink pepper and pink guava mousse; a captivating floral heart of black iris; and a warm and sensual base of vanilla, sandalwood and amber.

Available at Hudson's Bay stores across Canada.

Get a complexion that glows for Ryan with:

GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment - 50g - $75 - an advanced clearing treatment that helps fight common skin concerns with Activated-X charcoal, a super absorbent carbon, to attract toxins and dirt from the deepest and toughest areas for super clear super poreless skin.

What makes it awesomely gross/cool is you can visibly see your pore congestion pull-out and  encapsulate within the mask as it sits on your face for immediate and amazing results in just one use.

Available at Sephora and select Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada.

Easily chase George wearing:


Keds x Rifle Paper Co. Champion Sneakers - Meadow Print in Rose or Blue - $75 or Kickstart Sneakers in Navy with Blue Meadow Print Laces or Cream with Meadow Print Rose Laces - $90 - canvas uppers and rubber soles for everyday wear that look great and feel super comfortable!

Find Canadian outlets to purchase or buy online at https://www.keds.com/CA.

Perfect your complexion for Matt with:

Smashbox Studio Skin Hydrating Foundation - 30ml - $46 - in 40 shades of high-performing liquid foundation that evens out skin tone while never settling into pores and lines and lasts 24 hours!

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada.

Warm up Robert with:


Tuckshop Trading Company Toronto Bandit Crewneck - $115 - in white, pink, navy or grey or True North Surf Society Sweatshirt - $98 - in white, pink, navy or grey.

Available at tuckshopco.com.

De-stress Matthew with:

This Works Stress Check Roll On - 8ml - $36 - a day time de-stresser that keeps you feeling calm yet refreshed and invigorated, with 100% natural essential oils of lavender (in a calming yet non-drowsy form) and eucalyptus. Less stress during the day makes it easier for you to get your beauty sleep!

Available at Sephora stores across Canada.

Sweeten up Jake with:

Green And Black's Chocolate - $4.25 - available in 10 unique flavours made with hand-selected, ethically sourced cocoa beans for a truly premium chocolate experience.

Available at stores across Canada including Walmart and Bulk Barn.

- Lisamarie -

TIFF 2017 made bearable thanks to the Essentials Lounge 8!

Celebrity hunting is hard work, don't let anyone tell you different - but it's made a bit easier after some pampering time at this year's Essentials Lounge 8 - George Clooney won't be able to resist me now!

First they got me smelling great for George with Michael Kors latest offering, Sexy Ruby (100ml EDP - $135) - a modern chypre scent inspired by the unique link between seduction, strength and glamour - where fantasy meets femininity and a woman is her sexiest.

Chasing George will be so much easier in a pair of the new Keds x Rifle Paper Co kicks! The bright orange Triple Decker Birch slip ons ($90) make me happy just looking at them!

SkinCeuticals got me glowing with a quickie peel and a re-introduction to C E Ferulic (30ml - $170) - a daytime vitamin C serum that delivers advanced environmental protection and improves the appearance of lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness and brightens skin's complexion. Available at SkinCeuticals.ca and select medi-spas and dermatologists.

I admired the Tweezerman Rose Gold collection and scored a pair of personalized tweezers that are also pink - my husband won't be able to get away with stealing mine anymore! Available at tweezerman.ca.

Dior made me totally kissable by hooking me up with their new Addict Lipstick ($35) - a breakthrough creation of a lipstick that boasts a hydra-gel core with a top coat effect for sensational mirror shine. Concentrated in the shape of a CD at the center, the ultra-moisturizing soft core runs the full length of the stick - I love the Must-Have shade, a raspberry pink shimmer! Available at Dior counters across Canada.

L'Oréal was showing off their latest collection of super moisturizing hair products - Ever Creme - with a Deep Nourish Shampoo ($8.97), Conditioner ($8.97) and Renourishing Butter ($12.96) - for locks George will be dying to run his fingers through! Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

And so you don't get blinded by the bright lights of Hollywood and forget where you came from, Tuck Shop Trading Company was on hand to remind us with their Wool Ball Caps ($48) bearing the name of Toronto neighbourhoods in the authentic, exclusive Toronto subway font! Available for retail at Tuck Shop Trading Co. (1226 Yonge St.) or online at TuckShopCo.com.

And if I don't track George down, I'll be able to deliciously eat my feelings thanks to Green & Black’s organic chocolate bars (100g - $4.25) are made with hand-selected, ethically sourced cocoa beans for a truly premium chocolate experience. Available in 10 unique flavours.

But don't worry George, I haven't given up yet!

- Lisamarie -

Accessorize with colour from Keds for Kate Spade, Banana Republic, Avon and Sephora!

Casual becomes a lot less boring with:

Keds for Kate Spade - $89.95 - with canvas, cork or leather uppers - depending on the shoe, lace-up closures and rubber soles in all kinds of colourful options. I am especially taken with the lemon ones!

Available in Canada at The Shoe Company and online at www.theshoecompany.com.

Make a colourful statement with:


Banana Republic Catalina Flutter Necklace - $110 - with turquoise glass and acrylic stones.

Available at Banana Republic stores and online at www.bananarepublic.ca.

Carry your colour with:


Avon Sabrina Collection Bag - $44.99 - faux leather, fully lined and available in pink and black - with 3 roomy interior compartments - a magnetic snap-close centre and 2 zip close outer sections as well as a cellphone slip and zip pockets and snap-close expandable sides - with padded double handles for comfortable wear.

Avon Sabrina Wristlet - $19.99 - faux leather, fully lined and available in pink and black - with 1 zip and 4 slip pockets, 3 card slots and a secure zip-close.

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

Or apply your colour with colour with:

Sephora Carnavale Makeup Sponges - $10 - A set of four soft and absorbent foundation sponges for flawless makeup application in brilliant summery colors with a triangular shape is ideal for achieving smooth, even coverage.

Available at Sephora and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -