Fragrant Friday - Calvin Klein Euphoria Eau de Toilette

Calvin Klein Fragrances introduces Euphoria Eau de Toilette, a fresh and intoxicating addition to the Euphoria pillar of fragrances that evokes the tender strength of youthfulness and sensuality:

 

Calvin Klein Euphoria - 100ml EDT - $124 - a sweet, fruity gourmand with top notes of sparkling Mirabelle plum, pink pepper and wild raspberry leaf; heart notes of radiant orchid accord, responsibly grown and Fair Trade certified rose essence and guava blossom; and base notes of addictive vanilla accord, crystal amber and cashmeran.

 

The fragrance comes in a renewed transparent glass version of the iconic bottle, revealing the delicate, morning dew-inspired pink shade of the scent.

 

A lot of Euphoria versions have come and gone over the years and I have loved them all - this one is no different! It has a lightness to it that feels very young and fresh with the amber and vanilla notes peeking through to give it some sex appeal - I have been wearing it to the office and have gotten so many compliments - even from a stranger in the elevator - so this one is officially in my spring rotation!

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca.

 

- Lisamarie -

Thoughtful Beauty Choices made easy at Shoppers Drug Mart!

Shoppers Drug Mart is now making it easier to find products formulated without certain ingredients or are more mindful of our planet thanks to:

 

Thoughtful Choices at Shoppers Drug Mart - a lineup of beauty, hair and body products that must meet at least one of the following two criteria:

1. No animal testing and formulated without the following ingredients: parabens, phthalates, SLS, SLES, triclosan, formaldehyde, formaldehyde releasing agents or hydroquinone; and/or

2. Be mindful of our planet with the packaging containing a minimum of 30% recycled content; and/or has fully recyclable outer packaging; and/or has a refillable solution

You might be surprised by how many products there are are doing good - a few of my new faves:

Naturally Serious After-Dark Natural Peptide Sleeping Cream - 50ml - $45 - helps you fake a good night’s sleep and help transform skin’s appearance overnight with flaxseed peptide - to help lift and firm the look of skin while smoothing the look of fine lines and wrinkles and apple extract - to pull in moisture as you sleep to give skin a hydrated and luminous look.

Evio Beauty Hemp & Peppermint Lip Serum - 10ml - $22 - a deeply moisturizing treatment with a soft oil balm texture that keeps lips supple and hydrated with a formula high in omegas 3, 6, and 9 to repair the skin barrier and form a seal over lips to keep moisture in and antioxidants and natural fatty acids to nourish and protect skin. Comes in a clear and 2 tinted formulas for a natural or perfectly polished look!

QUO Beauty 50% Plant Based Blending Sponge - $10 - offers all the benefits of your favourite Quo Beauty blending sponge but with half the plastic! This revolutionary sponge contains 50% naturally sourced plant-based material that blends your favourite liquid foundations and powders to an impeccable finish.

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada - just keep an eye out for the Thoughtful Choices logo and discover lots of new and new-to-you products that will make you feel good about your beauty routine and online at shoppersdrugmart.ca/shopthoughtfulchoices.

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Paco Rabanne Invictus Victory Elixir

Discover the newest addition to the Paco Rabanne collection, the pinnacle of intensity from Invictus, a rich, powerful, long-lasting, potent elixir blending spicy woods and biting freshness for the epic achiever:

 

Paco Rabanne Invictus Victory Elixir - 100ml Parfum Intense - $145, 200ml Parfum Intense - $193 - a precious ambery, woody, and spicy elixir with top notes of aromatic lavandin from Provence, green cardamom and black pepper; heart notes of dark, mysterious incense and woody Indonesian patchouli; and magnetic base notes of tonka bean liqueur and vanilla bean sourced from Madagascar. 

 

It smells spicy and a bit sweet which is exactly how I like my men to smell and I also like the trophy shaped lacquered gradient of black to dark blue bottle, very snazzy looking on the dresser!

 

Available now at Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora, Hudson's Bay, Jean Coutu and London Drugs stores across Canada.

 

- Lisamarie -

Eye Love Wednesday - Trinny London Eye2Eye Eye Shade Warrior Queen Collection

Whether you are looking to simplify your makeup routine or always on the lookout for the latest and greatest in cream eyeshadow you need to check out...

 

Trinny London Eye2Eye Eye Shade - $32 -  in a range of 32 moisture-enriched eye shades from neutral to smoky to vibrant. 

 

Too many to choose from and you can't decide? There is a shade finder that will help you find the perfect shade or they have cleverly put Eye Shades together in 4 collections of 4 complementary colours - of which I especially like:

 

Warrior Queen

Virtue - soft shell champagne

Queen - rose infused copper gold

Victory - neutral antique gold

Desire - soft satin heather brown 

 

Mix the different shades together for any level of smokiness or drama, or use individually for a perfect wash of colour. I especially like Victory as a wash with Desire along the top lashline as a liner - for a perfectly polished look with minimal effort - and when I'm feeling especially energetic I also add a touch of Virtue to each inner corner for a highlighting eye opening effect!

 

You can apply with a brush but if you are doing a wash, your finger is actually the perfect applicator. And unless you have super dry eyelids I would recommend using a primer underneath. I have oily lids and when I didn't use a primer the colour was in my crease by lunch.

Available online at https://trinnylondon.com/ca - and yes, they do deliver to Canada!

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Nina Ricci Nina Nature

Immerse yourself in nature and instantly be transported to the great outdoors with a new fresh and clean fragrance from Nina Ricci:

 

Nina Nature - 50ml EDT - $92 -  a green floral fragrance with zesty top notes of natural apple extract and Italian Lemon; sweet floral heart notes of  lily of the valley and jasmine; and a warm base of white musk and vanilla. 

 

It's a wonderful spring scent - fresh and green - a little floral and a little sweet.

 

And true to the nature theme, the vegan formula contains ingredients that are sustainably sourced and 91% natural origin - no animal testing or animal-derived materials.

 

Along with an opaline light green version of the iconic Nina apple-shaped bottle that perfectly captures the smooth freshness of the fragrance within.

 

Available now for a limited time at Shoppers Drug Mart, Hudson's Bay, Jean Coutu, Brunet, Familiprix and Uniprix stores across Canada. 

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Gucci Éternité De Beauté 24 Hour Full Coverage Luminous Matte Finish Foundation!

Full coverage foundation that doesn't look mask-like? Yes please!

Gucci Éternité De Beauté 24 Hour Full Coverage Luminous Matte Finish Foundation - 30ml - $88 - in an astoundingly vast selection of 40 shades offering cool, neutral, warm and olive undertones:

 

Fair: 110C, 120N, 130W, 140W, 160N, 170W, 180W

Fair Medium: 205C, 210N, 220W, 230W, 260W, 265C, 270N, 275C,

Medium: 305N, 310N, 320W, 330W, 340W, 360W, 370O, 380N

Medium Deep: 410N, 420N, 430N, 440N, 450O, 460O, 470C, 480N

Deep: 510N, 520C, 530O, 540N, 550N, 560O, 570N, 580C

 

The formula contains hyaluronic acid and black rose oil - to boost and maintain skin hydration; and bamboo powder - to absorb shine all day long as well as combines high-affinity skin powders and coated pigments with a high-performance polymer technology that lets the skin breathe while delivering all day wear that won't budge, fade or sweat off for up to 24 hours. 

 

First off I love that it dispenses from a pump bottle, I am of the firm belief that all foundations should come in a pump, it really is the easiest way to control how much you use! I am also pleased that it was so easy to find a shade light enough for me - they also seem to have a good selection of darker shades which I also understand to be difficult to find a good selection of in many brands.

 

The price... well $88 ain't cheap but I do maintain that if there is one thing to spend your money on when it comes to makeup, it's foundation - it's the literal base of your whole look and great foundation will look like you aren't wearing any and have flawless skin - bad foundation will just look like you are wearing bad foundation and nobody wants that.

A few things to keep in mind: when they say full coverage it's no joke, if you are looking for something sheer this is not the formula for you! Also, they recommend using one pump per application but honestly unless you have a giant face, you won't need that much - a little goes a long way and I am able to cover my whole face with half a pump. A tip: if you like to switch things up and sometimes want a sheerer look without having to keep multiple foundations on hand, just mix a tiny bit with your moisturizer for a tint that will help even things out. And finally, there is a scent to the product - I quite like scented products but I know that some people don't or are sensitive to them so keep that in mind!

Available at Sephora stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Marc Jacobs Daisy Paradise

Continuing the Daisy legacy, the new Daisy Paradise are a novel, seasonal twist on the classic Daisy scent that  captures the free-spirited allure of a sunset walk through a field of blooming flowers in an extraordinary landscape. 

Each fragrance features unique pink and purple hued notes that evoke the comforting feeling of the warm sun touching the earth. The scent comes in 3 versions:

 

Marc Jacobs Daisy Paradise- 50ml EDT - $114 - with notes of poppy natureprint​ , oak chips​ and ambrox super - if you are in search of a spring fragrance, this would be a great one to check out, it really does smell like flowers and sunshine and of course the packaging is beautiful!

As well as:

​ Daisy Paradise Eau so Fresh - pink pepper, lavender​ and attar mitti natureprint​; and

Daisy Paradise Love - iris , patchouli​, sorbetto​

 

Available for a limited time at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca.

 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - enjoy an embarrassment of scent choices with Solinotes!

Solinotes offers so many options in fragrance that it really makes it soooo  easy to find the scent that suits you and your mood whatever it might happen to be that season/month/day or even minute!

 

With 19 choices with everything from sweet to floral to fruity, with each fragrance being designed around a key note:

 

Almond: A sweet scent for a surprising and delicious moment of well-being. A Floriental with notes of sweet almond, composed like a cloud, for a soothing effect.

Cherry Blossom: A fragrance that leaves a languorous trail of sensuous sensations. In the garden of delights, this scent as gentle as a spring day exudes myriad notes of Citrus, Rose, Cherry, Blackcurrant, Raspberry and more. The Musk base will stimulate the senses, accentuated by invigorating Lemon, Mandarin and Cardamom notes.

 

Cotton Blossom: The fragrance of Cotton Flower is like wearing a cozy fluffy blanket. Its pure and delicate scent wraps around you for an instant sense of well-being. Floral top notes of Bergamot and Rice Powder flow over mid notes of Violet, Jasmine and Rosebud that are gentle and soothing. A cloud of Musk and Vanilla at the base brings a touch of innocence.

 

Fig Blossom: A trail of woody and fruity notes that conjure up the Mediterranean coast. Its fleshy clusters of hundreds of tiny flowers make Fig a popular aroma among perfumers. A sensual and delicate fragrance bursting with sunshine that blooms profusely in summer.

 

Freesia: A luminous fragrance with fruity notes to let your happiness burst forth. Freesia and Jasmine caress you with their harmonious nuances for a revitalizing effect. 

Iris: A flower which is a symbol of prestige. An extraordinary aromatic treasure that is a harmonious blend of zesty Mandarin and powdery Iris and Violet notes. A mysterious flower named after a goddess, smooth and sensual to reveal its contrasts between seductive Musk and precious Tonka Bean.

 

Jasmine Blossom: One of the two “queens of flowers” in perfumery, generous and romantic, Jasmine has enhanced feminine beauty since ancient times. A light and seductive fragrance accentuated by a floral trail imbued with notes of intense cedar and warming amber. Sensual and timeless.

 

Magnolia: A poetic and elegant white floral perfume with solar accents. Magnolia is an olfactory journey to soft, mellow spring days. Its white, pink and cream blooms embody sensuality and femininity. A heady heart of Arabian Jasmine enhances the accord of notes and infuses Magnolia with an intense power of attraction. 

 

Musk: A fragrance with body and soul, feminine and captivating. Musk in its raw state is the scent of virility, ambery and sensual without overdoing it, striking the perfect balance of spicy and sweet. This fragrance refreshed on the top by Lemon and Bergamot accents enhanced by notes of Jasmine and Rose is as glamorous and enveloping as you’d expect.

 

Orange Blossom: This fragrance instantly transports you to the shade of Orange Blossom in bloom. A bright and radiant perfume that reveals the full magic of Orange Blossom. A heady heart of Water Jasmine and Rose lends a sweet, tender touch. A blend of Honey and Musk creates a gourmand and captivating base.

 

Pink Grapefruit: A refreshing and zesty fragrance bursting with sunshine. This perfume bursting with passionate energy dazzles on the skin to reflect your own sparkling personality. With top notes of citrus, Pomelo is a soft fusion of fruity – Melon, Blood Orange, Grapefruit – and floral – Jasmine, Iris, Musk – aromas. Base notes of Cedar and Vetiver bring depth and intense woodiness.

 

Pomegranate: An emphatically feminine fragrance bursting with energy and exotic sensations. Tangy and dynamic green notes are sure to unveil the more sparkling aspects of your personality. Intense, spicy and incredibly juicy, Pomegranate is the summer classic with a twist of freshness. Sandalwood brings a warm and powerful base.

 

Rose: A love story in a fragrance, romantic of course, tender obviously and poetic naturally, Rose can also be resolutely modern and contemporary that is at once sparking and fresh.

 

Tiare: Inhaling the irresistible Tiare flower takes you to the heart of Tahiti. Its intoxicating solar notes tell a story of exotic climes, white sandy beaches and the vibrant colours of the ocean. Its soothing and nourishing properties easily transport you to the Pacific. A base of Vanilla and Rosewood vie for attention to bring gourmand and elegant harmony.

 

Tonka Bean: With a range of scents which has a smooth and intoxicating aroma with powdery, vanilla notes. Sun-ripened gems from the tropics of the Caribbean, Tonka Beans bring accords of Mandarin Flower and Vanilla wrapped around a core of velvet. Unrivaled for its versatility, Tonka Bean successfully marries woody notes with the sensual notes of Musk and Amber.

 

Vanilla: They don’t come any more sensual than vanilla with its floral and exotic facets that never fail to bring a smooth and gourmand feel. The subtle spicy base will soon whisk you off to the islands of the Indian ocean and the splendor of Madagascar.

 

White Tea: An intimate and discreet fragrance that beckons relaxation. Its delicate and fresh character has made it much sought-after in perfumery. Notes of Cardamom and Bergamot bring light and warmth. At its base, Musk is blended with the peachy-apricot aromas of Osmanthus.

 

Ylang: A unique, sensual fragrance with notes of exotic flowers. Ylang-ylang has the power to transport us, in a single inhalation, to a faraway tropical paradise. Breathe in the scents of islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans, notes of Jasmine and Peach Flower over a delicate base of Vanilla and Orange Blossom for softness and light.

 

Yuzu: A fusion of wild Mandarin and zesty Lemon. Citrus and Yuzu are the tonic duo that promise energy and refreshment when you need it most. With zesty notes, a touch of zing, white flower petals and eau fraiche, Yuzu oozes energy and elegance. 

The vegan formulas are clean with only essential ingredients: alcohol from natural origins (except for the body mist which is water based and alcohol free), perfume, a little bit of water and that's all! 

 

My favourites are Tonka and Yuzu - which are wonderful on their own but also layer nicely together - I can be sweet, fruity or sweet/fruity depending on the day!

 

Available as a: 250ml Body Mist - $16 or 50ml EDP - $28 - available now at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca.

- Lisamarie -