Strengthen your nails with Nail Tek, Sally Hansen, Avon and Witchcraft!

Nail Tek Strong & Healthy Nails - $37 - Available in 4 formulations for every type of nail to help strengthen, protect and reinforce your nails with their uniquely combined formulations of protein conditioners - each kit contains: Foundation Ridge Filling Base Coat -15ml, Strengthener - 15ml (specific to the nail type) and a Swarovski Crystal Nail File

Strong & Healthy Kit: This kit is designed for natural nails that are in excellent condition, and only require maintenance to keep them strong and healthy looking.

Soft & Peeling Kit: This kit is designed to treat weak, thin, soft or peeling nails. This unique protein formulation seals the layers of the nail together, to reinforce and thicken the nails while promoting strength and flexibility.

Dry & Brittle Kit: This kit is designed for nails that are hand, dry and brittle which require extra conditioning. This formulation replenishes the natural moisture content of the nail to regain the healthy balance necessary to resist stress and prevent breaking.

Difficult Kit: This kit is a highly effective treatment designed for nails resistant to conventional strengtheners. This concentrated formulation provides the extra strength necessary to correct severe nail weakness.

Available from The Shopping Channel - www.theshoppingchannel.com

 Sally Hansen Nail Nutrition Green Tea + Banboo Nail Strengthener - 13.3ml - $10.99 - bonds and seals weak nail layers to resist breaking.

Avon Nail Experts Mineral Fix - 12ml - $6.99 - micro-particle, mineral-enriched formula fills in tiny cracks in reinforce and revive damaged nails to help them feel stronger, more durable and look rejuvenated.

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

Witchcraft Nail Hardener - 10ml - $10.49 - enhances nail growth while protecting and sealing the nail surface to prevent chipping, cracking, splitting and peeling.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... TIGI Catwalk Transforming Dry Shampoo

TIGI Catwalk Session Series Transforming Dry Shampoo - 250ml - $21 - not only does the formulation refresh your hair in an instant by absorbing oil, it also creates texture and volume with a matte lightweight finish. Contains a blend of rose and sandalwood extracts to condition the hair and keep it feeling soft and silky.

You might have noticed I write about dry shampoo quite a lot - one might even think that I never actually wash my hair with water...

I swear I do but in the winter especially I try to only wash it every other day to help avoid drying it out. For fine haired girls such as myself this is a problem though because it tends to look really sad and limp on the in-between days.

Enter dry shampoo - and I have to say out of all the brands I have tried, this TIGI Catwalk is one of my favourites - not only does it add the promised volume and texture, it does it without any powdery white mess - I can spray as much of this as I want into my hair and it doesn't show at all!

An added benefit to using a dry shampoo instead of washing with water is avoiding water will extend the life of your colour - as a redhead this is huge as red tends to fade super fast!

Available at salons - check out www.tigihaircare.com to find one near you or pop into your local Trade Secrets - www.tradesecrets.com - they also carry it.

- Lisamarie -

New and Notable at Shoppers Drug Mart - Maybelline, L'Oréal and Revlon!

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24 HR Cream Gel Shadow - $9.99 - in 10 shades: too cool, fierce & tangy, audacious asphalt, painted purple, bad to the bronze, pomegranate punk, tough as taupe, tenacious teal, bold gold and edgy emerald - have a new ink technology for smooth and saturated colour with the longest lasting intensity with a 24 hour crease-proof wear that keeps colour vibrant and set without fading.

The pigmentation really is amazing and long-lasting - one colour that I had forgotten about swatching on my wrist was still there when I got home - it took waterproof makeup remover to budge it too!

Maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner - $10.99 - offers the most accurate liquid liner yet, allowing for the most meticulous application possible thanks to its 0.4 mm tip with no drying, skipping, mess or excess and an ink technology that keeps pigments super-saturated for strong intense colour and long wearing polymers within the formula that are water resistant.

Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara - $10.99 - for instant lash extensions with no flakes and a brush that reaches each lash from different angles for optimal fibre placement.

Maybelline SuperStay 14H Lipstick - $11.49 - in 20 shades: Perpetual Peony, Ultimate Blush, Pout on Pink, Fuchsia Forever, Eternal Rose, Beige For Good, Never Ending Nude, Ceaseless Caramel, Consistently Truffle, Lasting Chestnut, Til Mauve Do Us Part, Ravishing Rouge, Enduring Ruby, Timeless Crimson, Continuous Cranberry, Keep Me Coral, Infinite Iris, Please Stay Plum, Wine and Forever and Endless Raisin.

Myabelline SuperStay 10H Stain Gloss - $9.99 - in 10 shades: Cool Coral, Mauve Dream, Luscious Lilac, Pleasing Plum, Refreshing Red, Ruby Indulgence, Pink Flush, Berry Heavenly, Blissful Brown, Fresh Fuchsia - no more need for multiple products to get longwear colour and shine - this hybrid offers a lasting formula that glides on for an ultra lightweight layer of rich, shiny colour that won't dry out!

Stay tuned for swatches from both of these!

L'Oréal Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer - $18.99 - infused with pure perfecting Liquid Light Technology to instantly boosts skin's luminosity and enlighten skin with a subtle glow for a lively and lit from within complexion. Can be used alone for a fresh dewy look, under or mixed with any foundation for an all over luminous finish, or dab on key areas as a highlighter.

L'Oréal Magic Lumi Concealer - $13.99 - in 3 shades: light, fair and medium - with a formula that contains Haloxyl, an efficient active ingredient that enhances the luminosity of the skin and visibly decreases dark circles.

L'Oréal Magic Smooth Souffle Blush - $17.99 - in 4 shades: Celestial, Cherubic, Angelic and Plume - with a luxurious, ultra-blendable, air-whipped texture that melts onto skin for an instant, seamless flush of colour and a natural, healthy looking complexion.

The texture is really nice on these so I am hoping they will come out with more shades - I didn't really like any of them with my complexion.

 L'Oréal Colour Rich Balm SPF 15 - $11.49 - in 8 shades: Pink Satin, Tender Mauve, Heavenly Berry, Caramel Comfort, Nourishing Nude, Caring Coral, Rose Elixir and Plush Plumprovides 8 hours of hydration and gentle colour to leave lips unbelievably smooth and conditioned - with argan oil to provide moisture; shea butter to nourish and protect lips; vitamin E to protect against free radicals; and muscat rose oil, which in omega 3 and omega 6.

L'Oréal Colour Riche Lip Liner - $12.49 - in 12 shades: All About Pink, Forever Rose, Eternal Mauve, Lasting Plum, Truly Burgundy, More Chocolate, Nudes For Life, Toffee To Be, Au Naturale, Timeless Coral, Beyond Pink and Always Red

Revlon PhotoReady Airbrush Mousse Makeup - 37.7g - $19.99 - in 8 shades: Vanilla, Shell, Nude, Natural Beige, Medium Beige, Golden Beige, Rich Ginger and Caramel

After my last experience with PhotoReady Foundation I'm glad that I tried this out before buying - I liked the super like texture but unfortunately, it contains the same sparkle that made me dislike the original! At least I saved 20 bucks...

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer - $13.99 - in 6 shades: fair, light, light medium, medium, medium deep and deep

Revlon PhotoReady Eye Primer + Brightener - $14.99

Revlon PhotoReady Sculpting Blush Palette - $17.49 - a contour/blush/highlighter in 4 shade combinations: Neutral, Berry, Pink and Peach

I like the idea of this in theory but I just know that I would never bother with contouring or highlighting so half of the palette would remain unused. 

Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume Mascara - $11.49 - magnifies and multiplies lashes

- Lisamarie -

Two great charitable initiatives from The Body Shop - Celebrity Bag for Life and Words of Hope

The Body Shop in collaboration with Tamara Mellon, OBE has designed an exclusive limited edition bag to support the innocent victims of child sex trafficking globally. Known as The STOP bag, the reusable cotton bag features personalized handprints of celebrities including: Nicole Kidman, Jamie Oliver, Mark Ronson, Mira Sorvino and  Piers Morgan, who have all pledged their support for the campaign.

Profits from the sale of the bag will benefit Beyond Borders and the Somaly Mam Foundation - which works to eradicate human trafficking, liberate its victims, and empower survivors so they can create and sustain lives of dignity. It also supports survivor rescue, shelter, and rehabilitation programs globally with a special focus on Southeast Asia, where the trafficking of women and girls, some as young as five, is a widespread practice.

The bag is available now and will retail for $10.00. Approximately $2.00 from every purchase will be donated to both campaign partners.

The STOP bag is printed with full colour, signed handprints on a raw, 100% Community Fair Trade cotton fabric sourced from India and features a fuschia trim and shoulder strap, so you can shop with a splash of color and the knowledge that you are contributing to a worthy cause this winter.

And while you are picking up your bag check out the “Words of Hope” postcard campaign. Canadians from coast tocoast are being encouraged to write messages of encouragement to survivors of sex trafficking, now living in shelters in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos supported by the Somaly Mam Foundation. These survivors have endured circumstances that most of us cannot even imagine in our worst nightmares. As they begin to rebuild their lives and their self esteem,“Words of Hope” offers these brave young women expression of compassion and kindness – simple virtues missing from their lives for far too long.

“Words of Hope” postcards are available at all The Body Shop store locations for $1 throughout January. The sale price of the postcards will be donated to the Somaly Mam Foundation. At the end of the month, The Body Shop will forward the inspirational postcards signed in-store by Canadians to the Somaly Mam Foundation. The Body Shop is also encouraging its Fans to post “Words of Hope” messages and illustrations on The Body Shop Canada Facebook page - www.facebook.com/thebodyshopcanada to help raise awareness and spread the powerful message.

- Lisamarie -

Lancôme spring collection le vernis - Green Almond, Rose Tangerine and Rose Macaron swatches!

The Lancôme La Roseraie des Délices Spring 2012 collection is filled with drool-worthy items but I must admit, I am most taken with the nail polishes - such pretty pastel wonderful that just scream spring!

Green Almond - mint green cream

Rose Tangerine - peach cream

Rose Macaron - pink cream

I'm sad to say that I just got an update and it appears that the polishes are no longer going to be offered with the spring collection so I'm afraid that admiring my fingers are the closest you will get to it!

- Lisamarie -

MAC Naturally

If you like your makeup soft, pretty and more natural looking than this new collection will be right up your alley. I'm not much of a nature girl but even I can't help but eye those mineralize powders and blushes...

Mineralize Skinfinish - $33.50
Redhead - gold to salmon pink degrade
Blonde - soft Pink to rose degrade

Mineralize Blush - $26.50
Subtle Breeze - blue pink
Fresh Honey - warm apricot
Early Morning  - peachy pink

Mineralize Eyeshadow - $24
Daylight  - peach with dirty blue lavender veining
In The Sun - gold with violet veining
Summer Haze - palest gold with deeper gold veining
Cloudy Afternoon - cream with gold, grey and pink veining
Twilight Falls - cool brown with bronze veining

Eye Pencil - $17
Ebony - soft black
Coffee - muted brown

Zoom Fast Black Lash  - $18
Carbon black

Lipstick - $17.50
A Perfect Day -lLight neutral pink (amplified)
Beach Sand - light tan (cremesheen)
Sweet Sunrise - light neutral peach pink (lustre)
Pillow Talk - mid-tone rosy nude (cremesheen)

Lipglass - $17.50
The Wee Coquette - naked neutral pink
Fresh Air - light pink
Naked Space - creamy mid-tone nude peach
Hot Spell - bronze with multicoloured pearl

Brushes
187 Duo Fibre Face - $50.50
286 Duo Fibre Tapered Blending - $36.50

Available January 5th at counters and online at www.maccosmetics.com

- Lisamarie -

New year - new you with Rodial, Bodylogix and femMED!

Looking to lose a little weight for the New Year? Their are products to help you with everything from fluid retention, detoxing to dieting - here are a few products to check out:


Rodial Crash Diet - 150ml - $90 - a body gel that promotes drainage, helps reduce fluid retention and helps break up stubborn fat build-up with quick results when used as part of a weight loss program with scientific proven results when used twice daily for 2 weeks.

Available at Murale and The Bay.

When doing a detox or taking diet supplements I like to go with something natural like:


Bodylogix Detox Flush - $24.99 - this 100% extremely gentle, all-natural bulk-forming and stimulant formula is offered in vegetable capsules that can be taken before bedtime.

What's also great is that every purchase of a Bodylogix product includes a free customized online personal trainer and nutritionist.

Available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart.

femMED Weight Management - $29.95 - an effective 100% natural solution for healthy weight loss, offers relief from occasional constipation and helps to normalize blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It contains Glucomannan which helps improve feelings of fullness and helps stabilize blood sugar levels, which in turn helps to reduce cravings and appetite and is free of fillers, artificial flavours, colours, sweeteners and preservatives and are delivered in vegetable capsules.

Available at major retailers across Canada and online at www.femmed.com

- Lisamarie -

Make Up For Ever gives you a perfect complexion and then gives you a chance to show it off with their contest!

Make Up For Ever has introduced the new HD Complexion Starter Kit - $89 - which contains four must-have products to help you achieve naturally flawless skin in three simple steps: Prep, Cover and Finish.

Included in the kit are:

HD Microperfecting Primer #0 - 15ml - with a lightweight, oil-free formula that contains biotechnologically engineered Silica Micro Beads that refract both man-made and natural light to veil imperfections giving you a "soft focus" effect to the skin. As well it contains nourishing ingredients that act as moisturizers to protect skin from dryness to provide a well-balanced canvas for foundation application.

HD Invisible Cover Foundation - 30ml - in your choice of 26 unique shades that are guaranteed to match all skin tones, from the lightest to the deepest. With medium to full coverage that invisibly covers all imperfections and an oil-free formula that neutralizes shine while nourishing the skin and protecting it from dryness. It also has the Silica Micro Beads to refract both man-made and natural light to veil imperfections.

HD Microfinish Powder - 5g - and Kabuki Brush - a universally flattering, invisible finish powder that contains ultra-fine, spherical micro-particles made of 100% Mineral Silica Powder that allows natural and artificial light to reflect off of them to soften and ultimately mask lines and imperfections for a perfect, radiant complexion. You will also appreciate that it is completely talc and paraben free. The Kabuki Brush has soft yet firm nylon fibers that evenly distribute the powder for a flawless application.

Available at Sephora stores across Canada.

And, if you're worried about picking a foundation shade sight unseen, MUFE is also launching an interactive shade finder tool to help women find their perfect foundation match online. You can find the tool here if you want to try it out: www.hd.makeupforeverusa.com/shadefinder.


And now that you look perfect, Make Up For Ever is hosting its first ever open casting call to find the model for their next Unretouched ad campaign. Create your own picture-perfect make up look and then submit it for consideration via: www.hd.makeupforeverusa.com. All finalists’ photos will be posted on Facebook and the winner will be flown to NYC for a professional photo shoot in late February.

Be sure to remember that you knew me when...

- Lisamarie -