Happy Anniversary L'Oréal Voluminous!

Has it really only been 20 years?!  I say "only" of course because I can remember when Voluminous first came out - which makes me feel old!  I have many fond memories of Voluminous - it has seen me through many a special occasion and crying jag (waterproof).  And although at times, I do cheat on it, I always return to it (with flowers and a big apology)!  And of course you have to love that there is a choice:

Voluminous Original for classic velvety volume - $9.95 - volumizing polymers build lashes to five times their natural thickness for a full and dramatic lash look.  Panthenol and Ceramide-R protect and condition lashes to leave them supple and soft and to resist clumping and flaking.  Also available in waterproof.  Comes in black, blackest black, black brown, carbon black.

Voluminous Carbon Black for maximum intensity - $9.95 - exclusive carbon black pigments are added to the classic formula to build lashes up to five times their natural thickness with two times the intensity of the classic black shade.  Also available in waterproof.  Comes in carbon black.

Extra Volume Collagen by Voluminous for extreme volume - $11.95 - enriched with Hydra-Collagen, a complex used for its volume-creating properties which instantly plump up the lashes.  The formula also features a patented association of ultra volume-increasing structuring waxes and soft waxes to create breathtaking volume that lasts all day with twelve times more impact, without any flakes, smudges or clumps. It has a brush that is twice as large as the classic mascara brush with soft bristles to catch the perfect amount of product and coat each lash.  Also available in waterproof.  Comes in black and blackest black.

Voluminous Million Lashes for lash-by-lash volume - $10.99 - the latest edition to the Voluminous family is extra-volumizing and creates defined lash-by-lash volume for intensified lashes.  The large elastomer "millionizer" brush is ultra-flexible and features a multitude of long and short bristles to separate and volumize every eyelash.  The tube also features a special wiper made from stretch material to wipe the brush free of clumps and ensure the perfect amount of mascara every time.  If you missed my review of this one, you can find it here.

How about you - do you have a favourite Voluminous or Voluminous memories you would like to share?

- Lisamarie -

Reader Tip - budget gloves for curly hair!

I love it when you guys send me tips like this - not having hair that is the least bit curly, I found this tip fascinating - I had to get her to send me a picture of what she was talking about because I just couldn't fathom it - here's Ruthie's tip, she wants to save you some $:

"I was at my hairstylist yesterday and she had these massive microfibre gloves that she got at her suppliers. ( She's petite and looked like she was missing the rest of her bear costume..lol) The point of these gloves are to help absorb the water as you crunch curly hair so as not to disturb the curl. I said I think you can get gloves at the $ store from the same material..sure enough I found some in the wintergear section..they have kids and adults..check the colours though..some colours seem to be softer than others..I picked the brown..I tried it this morning and it does exactly the same thing..yay..I picked up a pair for my stylist too. I think she said she paid 14.00 for hers..mine have the Dollarama label..lol..they are the matte type microfibre gloves..NOT the fuzzy shiny silky feeling things that would shine in the dark...I think my stylist will be returning hers to the supplier..."

Thanks a bunch Ruthie and our frugal readers thank you too!  

If anyone else has tips they want to share, we'd love it!

- Ruthie & Lisamarie -

Caramilk adds booze and makes visiting relatives almost bearable!

Chocolate, caramel and alcohol loves rejoice - our favourite candy bar just became for adults only (and teenagers who know where you hide the booze) - in liquid form!

It comes two ways: Caramilk Cream Liquor - 750ml - $27.95 - made with real cream, double distilled vodka and fortified with brandy.  I first tried this like you would Bailey's - straight, over ice - it smells wonderfully chocolaty but it tastes quite boozy - being a girly girl, I'm not so keen on that.  Second attempt - added to hot chocolate was much more successful and totally delicious!  I can also see adding this to cheesecake or really any cake!
Caramilk Cream Coolers - 4 x 270ml - $12.95 - you can drink these heated or cold but I actually preferred them at room temperature.  I also found these a lot less boozy tasting, so for drinking straight, these would be my choice out of the two! Also, made an amazing discovery - when I drank two of them, the people around me became a lot less annoying, I will be stocking up on these babies for Christmas!

Great for yourself or for a gift - available at the LCBO now! 

Any other alcoholic suggestions to get me through the holidays are welcome!

- Lisamarie -

Fragrance gifts from Balenciaga and Chloé that are good enough for even the pickiest mother in law!

Over the years I have bought a lot of Christmas gifts for my mother in law - most of which I have never seen again.  The only presents that seem to have escaped Goodwill are fragrance gifts and once I made that realization, it was the only thing I got her again!  Of course even with your best friend, fragrance can be a tricky thing, everyone has such different tastes so I stick to the classy, the classic and the pricey, at least this way if she tries to take it back she won't find out it came from the $19.99 section! 

Holt Renfrew is the place I go when looking for classy and here are a few finds:


Balenciaga Purse Spray - 15ml x 3 - $125 - perfect for travel (but hopefully not to visit me) it's luxurious looking and refillable!

Black Body Scrub - 150ml - $110 - do not write "this reminded me of your heart" on the gift card!
Perfumed Body Cream - 150ml - $110 - I love the glass jars that these come in, so elegant!

Chloé EDP Intense Collect'or - 50ml - $100 - sensual and feminine with pink pepper, sandalwood and tonka bean.  Available at exclusively at Holt Renfrew.

Love, Chloé - with top notes of orange blossom blended with pink pepper, heart notes of iris absolute, lilac, hyacinth, wisteria blossom and heliotropine and a base of powdery musks, talc and rice powder notes.

EDP 50ml - $90, EDP 75ml - $115, Shower Gel 200ml - $55, Body Lotion 200ml - $60

Available exclusively at Holt Renfrew now and at select The Bay and Murale stores in January.

- Lisamarie -

Buy a wallet, help kids affected by war or design a wallet and a difference! Contest!

SPRING Shoes and War Child  (a charity that works for children all over the world whose lives have been torn apart by conflict to mitigate poverty, provide education and to defend and fight for their rights.  www.warchild.ca) have once again joined forces with Simple Plan to help children affected by war. This time around, the band designed limited edition wallets along with world renowned artists Cyndi Lauper and Moby.
 
Each of these incredible artists came on board with SPRING to craft unique designs for the wallets. The one-of-a-kind items will serve as a creative way to raise awareness about War Child and gather funds to build schools in war affected countries.
 
Paper thin, yet virtually indestructible, the wallets are made up entirely of Tyvek, a synthetic material that consists of flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers. The 100% recyclable wallets will be sold for $5 in SPRING stores and on www.myspringshoes.com.
“We are extremely proud to once again team up with the amazing people at War Child to help out young children who suffer from the disastrous consequences of war” says Chuck Comeau, member of Simple Plan. “We hope that all our fans will join us and support this very important cause and change the lives of these children.”
 
To spread the word about the release of these unique wallets, SPRING is launching the “DESIGN THE DIFFERENCE” contest  - www.myspringshoes.com/difference. Create your very own War Child wallet design and then invite your social media networks to vote for it! Share your creation while raising awareness! Once the top five designs are revealed, the grand prize winner will be chosen by Simple Plan themselves! The winning wallet will be produced and sold in 2011.

Make sure you let us know if you enter and we will come vote for you!  And remember, if you are looking for a great Christmas present for Eminem, you can't go wrong with that Moby wallet!

- Lisamarie -

Barry M Nail Paint swatches - Mint Green and Shocking Pink - and if you're Canadian and want to buy them, read on!

New makeup lines are my crack - of course if you are in the UK, Barry M Cosmetics aren't new to you at all, but these nail paints were the first time I have ever laid my little paws on them, and like any good crack addict, now I want more!

The polish went on smoothly and two coats gave me great colour and coverage and so far, no chipping!

The line prides itself on being on the cutting edge of colour trends, and with such affordable pricing (it would be on par with Annabelle) you can also stay in style without breaking the bank!  Wouldn't it be nice to be able to stroll over to the local drugstore and buy it?!  Of course it would and Barry M agrees!  They have started a Facebook campaign - Get Barry M into Canada! - and need your support to make it happen!  Visit, like, tell your friends and comment!  What better cause it there than makeup?!

UK readers, feel free to regale us with the wonders of Barry M and everything that we are missing out on!

- Lisamarie -

Shine Busters! From Neutrogena, Lise Watier, Murale, The Body Shop and Boscia!

Even with all this cold weather one of the most frequent complaints I still hear from people is how shiny their skin always looks - so here's a roundup of products to help you combat the shine:

Neutrogena Deep Clean Shine Control Cleanser/Mask - 175ml - $8.99 - use as a cleanser or on your super-oily days, as a 3 minute mask or Daily Scrub - 124ml - $8.99 The Shine Control products have an oil-absorbing Rice Protein Technology that removes skin impurities and absorbs oil on the surface of the skin.  Even after rinsing, rice protein is deposited onto the skin to visibly control shine hour after hour as it repels water but grabs excess facial oil like a magnet throughout the day.  Both products are oil free and non-comedogenic.

Lise Watier Mineral Compact Powder - 10g - $35 - in 6 shades: neutre, natureal, beige pur, beige beige, bronze or caramel.  A fragrance, talc & paraben free powder that mattifies, corrects and evens out the skin.  Contains tourmaline, vitamin A & E and chamomile.  A clever plastic holder inside the compact holds 30 blotting papers giving you 2 different ways to be shine free!

Murale Fresh Faced Blotting Papers and Compact -  50 Sheets - $10 - if you are looking for pretty way to carry around your papers then you will love this compact from Murale!

The Body Shop Nature's Minerals Blotting Tissues - 65 Sheets - $10 - mineral-infused blotting papers that absorb excess oil and reduce shine.

Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens - 100 Sheets - $10 - they come in peppermint too if you are lucky enough to be able to get your hands on them!  Available at Sephora.

Share your beauty resolutions with Lise Watier and win a gift basket!

It's that time of the year when people start thinking about their 2011 resolutions - and what better ones to make then beauty resolutions?!  As long as you are making them, why not share them for a chance to win Lise Watier products!

From Friday December 24th, 2010 to Friday January 7th, 2011, visit the Lise Watier Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lisewatier and leave a comment on the "Share with us your 2011 Beauty Resolution, we will help you accomplish it!" post - the 3 people whose comments get the most number of "like's" will win gift baskets full of Lise Watier products worth $300, $200 and $100 along will a DVD with all the Lise Watier beauty looks and secrets!

Make sure you let us know if you enter, we will be sure and go and vote for you!

- Lisamarie -