Brain Spam

Use your munchies for good

2010-11-12T10:57:00.004-05:00

Hey dudes and dudettes, check out this cool initiative of Cadbury's:

Every time you have a Caramilk or Diary Milk bar, Maynards candy, Dentyne, Stride or Trident gum, and Halls, you can help send a bike to a kid in Africa!

Simply enter the UPC code at the The Bicycle Factory website, and watch that code transform into a virtual bike part. 100 bike parts equals a complete bicycle, to be sent to Ghana, where it will help a child get to and from school! They need our help to reach their 5000-bicycle target!

How neat is that! And YES, I am hereby giving you permission to go buy and consume lotsa chocolate and candy. It's for a good cause! And you only have until November 14th to do it, so get on it already!

Sugary kisses,
~G

Product Review: Dentaburst

2010-08-23T19:46:00.000-05:00

Dudes, have I ever been on the run! I spent a large portion of the summer either travelling, or frantically trying to finish up work before travelling some more. All that dashing about has made me realize just how much I adore these:

DentaBursts! They are these hilarious little finger-gloves that you slip onto your index finger, with which you can then mime brushing your teeth. The nubbly fabric helps remove plaque, and the whole thing's coated in a light minty powder to help freshen up that kisser. Post-lunch meetings, redeye flights, impromptu sleepovers... whatever your occasion, DentaBursts have got you (or at least your mouth) covered.

These handy things come pre-packaged each in their own credit-card sized pouch, and slip discreetly into the smallest of pockets or clutches. Sure, it's no replacement for actually brushing your teeth, but believe me, when you are the only one to step off that overnight bus-ride with clean-feeling teeth, you won't mind one bit.

You can find DentaBursts at Target or RiteAid (will update when I find a Candian source), and they come in both Mint and Cinnamon. Keep 'em in your desk, your purse, your car... you never know when you might need one!

Moving Tips (aka: In which I sound like I work for Glad)

2010-05-21T01:09:00.003-05:00

I hate moving. I mean, I really, really HATE moving. As you savvy readers may have sussed, I have a lot of crap. A lot of beauty product crap, to be sure, but my hoarding tendancies don't stop there. Books, cookware, barware, clothes, shoes... I just have a lot of stuff. So you can imagine that packing up all my crap just to schlupp it somewhere else and unpack it again is definitely on my list of least-favourite-things-to-do.

Incredibly, for someone who hates moving, I've moved an average of once a year for the past 5 years. They (the wise folks??) say that there are lessons to be had amidst adversity, so I thought I'd pass on some of the little tricks I've learned during my myriad of moves that have made life just a little bit easier.

1. Plastic wrap is your friend.
Most of us have those little cutlery organizers. A smaller subset of us have trays and mini-cubbies full of makeup. What is the point of taking out the contents of these containers to pack them up in boxes, only to have to unpack them again hours later? THERE IS NO POINT. Instead, just wrap up those suckers in plastic wrap, as though you were shrinkwrapping the damn thing. Then, chuck the whole thing in a cardboard box. When you get to your new place, just cut through the plastic, and... TADA! Your cutlery/makeup/art brushes/extensive button collection is all ready to go into its new home. Cutlery is one of those things you'll need right away after a move, and it's just such a relief to have it all ready to go, instead of sorting through a shoebox of knives and spoons.

2. Garbage bags may seem ghetto, but they are actually ghetto fabulous.
You have a lot of clothes, yes? Much of it on hangers? Along the same lines as the last tip, why take all your jackets and blouses and dresses off their hangers, only to have to re-hang them all at your new place? Instead, gather 6-10 hangers (depending on the bulk) with the clothes on them, and use masking tape to tape all the 'stems' (the straight bit just under the hook) of the hangers together. Once that's done, just slip a garbage bag over the bundle, poking a hole at the bottom of the bag so that the hanger can go through. Basically you are fashioning yourself a big dry-cleaning bag. Tie up the ends of the bag (at the bottom of the clothes, so that nothing falls out), and you're good to go. The bagged bundles take up much less space than boxes, and once you're at your new place, all you need to do is tear away the bags and tape, and your closet is up and running. Obviously, this isn't the best idea for cross-country moves, but if your stuff will only be spending like an hour in a moving truck, this trick will do just fine.

3. Giant ziploc bags are both comical and efficient.
Have you guys seen these things? You can find them at WalMart or sometimes Canadian Tire. They are amay-to-the-zing. Exactly as advertised, these are huge-ass ziploc bags. But instead of Chex Mix or whatever, you put your neatly-folded up clothes into them. Each bag will hold about a drawer's full of clothes (depending on the size of your drawers, of course). First and foremost, gimungous bags are funny, and if you're going to make your friends help you schlepp your shit across town, you should at least also make them laugh. Secondly, unlike big bulky boxes, clear bags mean you'll see what's in each bag more quickly, without labelling. They also fit a lot better/easier into whatever nooks and crannies you find in your moving truck. And finally, once you've settled into your new place, the huge ziplocs double as laundry bags too. Genius.

4. Regular-sized ziploc bags are less hilarious, but still efficient. Like the Germans.
So, you guys know to store the nuts and bolts and screws from your dismantled furniture in a small ziploc, and to tape that bag to part of the furniture, right? Of course you do. What is it, amature hour here?

5. Mark very very clearly the box that contains the corkscrew / bottle opener.
Trust me, you may well find yourself casually hurling your umpteenth box marked "Kitchen Misc." at the wall after you've spent 30 mins searching for these objects. This also applies to a lesser degree to the shower curtain and toilet paper.

6. Throw money at the problem if you can.
Having moved both with the help of my wonderful long-suffering friends and by hiring movers, I can tell you that the latter is like 8-bajillion times better (p < .01). Seriously, I don't know how I can ever go back. But, if you can't, or don't want to drop the cash, be sure to cultivate as many friendships as possible with people who are easily swayed by promises of food and alcohol. (See also: making friends in grad school.)

No matter what, moving sucks balls. But, with these tips, hopefully your move can go a bit smoother than it might have. At the very least, you should be able to crack into that bottle of wine earlier. (Yes, I realize you haven't unpacked the box with your stemware yet. Why are you looking at me like this is a problem? Wine bottles are just like big beer bottles, after all!)

Michael Kors would throw a slushie at that.

2010-04-15T20:00:00.001-05:00

So! The return of Glee happened. Is it any surprise that I am a huge Gleek? I think not. And of course, my fave character is Kurt.

I mean, just look at this boy. Perfection.

But during the half-season 'premier', this happened:

Um, what is this shapeless monstrosity? Is he hiding a neck-brace under there? Have the writers decided to take Kurt in an geriatric-fending-off-pneumonia direction?

Fortunately, Glee's costume designer Lou Eyrich explains:

"It's a turtleneck scarf by Michael Kors. I think we got it at Barney's. [...] It's such a delicious piece, but it wasn't worn right. I wasn't on set that day, so it was worn wrong. It was wrapped twice, but it's supposed to wrap once and then the ends hang down in front."

Whew! I can only imagine the professionalism and focus Chris Colfer had to muster to endure the entire scene accessorized like that.

Product Review: The Body Shop Vitamin E Serum

2010-03-26T11:46:00.001-05:00

Hi folks! After a week of blessedly balmy spring-like weather, we're getting hit with some chilly, depressing winds today. But this cold snap DID remind me that I wanted to talk about my new skin-saviour, The Body Shop's Vitamin E Serum. (See? I told you there was a reason I kept harping on about Body Shop sales!)

Normally I'm not much for serums. I mean, I love them and all their luxe goodness, but I don't tend to see them as a necessary part of a skincare routine. Well that all changed when my skin started flipping out for no reason last month. Red splotches, irritation, dryness... and don't even get me started on how difficult it was to put on SPF in the morning (yeeowtch!). I was baffled... I hadn't changed anything, wasn't trying new makeup, my makeup brushes were clean... and yet there I was. I even started breaking out a bit (which rarely happens anymore). I switched up my moisturizers... stopped using silica powder... I even bought a new "sensitive-skin" night cream, but nothing worked.

Then I remembered that I had tried TBS' Vit. E serum a while back (when my skin was normal), and how soft and supple it made my face. So I dashed out in a hurry to buy another bottle, and God, it's like a cool drink of water. Within days (like, overnight, really), it soothed the red splotches and irritation, and started to take care of the dry flakes. I still need to use moisturizer over it (the new one I bought from Nivea seems to be working well), but now I can bear to wear sunscreen again. Plus, my skin's stopped breaking out, which is a big relief.

For $20 CAD, this baby's a bargain. (Of course, it's even better when there's a sale!) The airless pump is sanitary, and a tube lasts about 2 months for me with daily and nightly use. It sinks in fast, with a light, clean, slightly floral scent that I like. This isn't your fancy-ass, peptide-collagen-transfolipid-speed-of-light kind of serum. But for adding a soothing boost of moisture to your skin, you can't ask for much more!

Quickie PSA: Body Shop 1/2 off and a good cause

2010-03-13T15:45:00.000-05:00

Okay, I know it sounds like I'm just constantly telling you about Body Shop sales. Like I'm getting daily PR emails from them or something. But truly, I happened to stumble upon this great deal today (plus, I don't even have a contact at TBS!).

Buy a paper bag for $5, and get 50% off on everything you purchase that can fit in the bag (sets excluded)! What a deal. I stocked up on some skincare items and a Nut butter (because, obvs). Plus, $2 from every bag sold goes towards helping stop sex trafficking of children and youths.

Incidentally, they have a skin care promo on right now, where if you buy 2 items, you get the 3rd free. Not sure if the 2 promos can be combined -- I did buy 2 skin care items, but I didn't see the deal until after I got home, and the sales person didn't mention anything at the till. But it's worth asking!

Hop to it! This deal is only good for TODAY, March 13th!

Product Review: Dove Bar

2010-03-08T11:35:00.000-05:00

aka: In which Dove totally saves the heck out of my skin.

You guys ever go through a time when nothing seems to go right? Those things that you thought were so steadfast and reliable fail you, and when you try to fix it, everything just seems to screw up more?

Well I have. Just recently, in fact. Of course, I am talking about my skin here. For weeks (months?) I'd been battling these weird dry itchy patches on my torso. (Hot image, I know). They recur from time to time, for no discernible reason. It might be mild eczema, or just the frustratingly vague "contact dermatitis". I don't know, it's never bothered me enough to go get it diagnosed. I don't know what triggers it... it usually appears on my neck or torso, and it can happen during any season. I haven't changed my skincare routine or even laundry detergent recently. But when these patches flare up, they're super irritating, never mind the gross scaly appearance and feel. Ugh!

Anyway. Because these incidents don't seem to be tied to any changes in my skincare routine, I never bothered changing my showergel to try stop the irritation. I mean, I'd used the same stuff for months without problem, so why should I switch? Luckily for me, the kind folks at Dove decided to send me a Dove Bar to try out.

An unassuming looking little thing, right? In the age of fancy body washes which promise to exfoliate, and moisturize, and turn back the hands of time, and make your skin glow like Jennifer Garner's (as if!), it's easy to forget about the plain ol' "beauty bar". But maybe it's time we gave it another look!

Dove's big claim is that the Dove Bar doesn't leave the filmy soap scum on your skin that regular soap does. Well, as someone who doesn't typically use regular soap, I didn't think this was a big deal. But maybe "soap scum" is code for "irritating weirdness", because ever since I've started using the Dove Bar, my annoyingly itchy skin has started to fade! I've been ultra lazy lately, and haven't been moisturizing much. But despite this, my skin is feeling remarkably normal, and those itchy patches seem to have gone into remission. Could Dove Bar be the secret weapon against irritated skin?

Okay folks, let's be good critical thinkers here. It *could* be the case that the skin irritation would have stopped on its own, and that the Dove Bar had nothing to do with it. After all, in the past, the patches do eventually disappear on their own. On the other hand, I've been using fancy moisturizers and healing oils on the dry patches, and no permanent relief happened until I started using Dove. And, the Classic bar I've been using isn't even the Sensitive Skin (fragrance-free) one, which would presumably be even more soothing for problem areas.

Personally, if the shoe ain't broke, I'm not going to fix it. That is to say, the Dove Bar is going to be my "gentle" cleanser of choice now unless some other problem crops up. Sure, it's not fancy or incredibly indulgent, but it works. I'd even be willing to use it on my face in a pinch, which is something I would have hesitated to do with my old body washes. (Incidentally, bar soap doesn't count as a "liquid" during air travel, which makes it a great choice for the travel toilettries kit.)

And bonus? It's really affordable, and the bar makes my bathroom smell nice even when I'm not using it. So yeah, that's pretty much a no-brainer for me. Good for the wallet, and for the skin!

Split Pea Soup: Great for tastebuds, not so much for hair.

2010-03-07T10:21:00.001-05:00

Dude. So I'm basically a carnivore, right? I love veggies and carbs and all, but when it comes down to it, nothing wins me over like protein. (Unless it's cheese. Or kittens. But the latter not for eating, obviously.) So when I come across a recipe that is mostly made up of not-meat, and I'm raving about it, you guys should know that it is SERIOUS.

These days, my main obsession is split pea soup. Made with smoked ham, it's basically the best thing ever. It's silky and creamy and decadent, but the ingredients are surprisingly healhty. Best of all, if you've got a slow cooker, you just chuck everything in it, and let it bubble away. It's a no-fuss way to make your whole apartment smell absolutely mouthwatering. (Okay, so I guess there was one fussy moment when I got pea gunk in my hair. But I'm naturally super klutzy, and also I'd been drinking a lot of Cava. So for a normal sober person, it's not at all fussy.)

I found this recipe on Food and Whine, which is a lovely (Canadian!) food blog with lots of other recipes I'll be exploring. The only change I made was to subsitute some chicken broth in for the water.

This serves about 4 as an entree (serve with a nice salad and toast points, maybe) or 6 as an appetizer.

Ingredients:
- 1 (16 oz./450 grams) pkg. dried green or yellow split peas, rinsed
1 meaty hambone or 2 ham (pork) hocks (or you could use 2 cups of diced ham, in a pinch.) [Edit: smoked ham is the best!]
- 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 ribs of celery plus leaves, chopped
- 1 or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, or 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
- 1 tsp. seasoned salt or kosher salt (or to taste) [Go easy on the salt if you're using chicken bouillon]
- 1/2 tsp. (about 20 grinds) fresh pepper
- 3 cups chicken broth or bouillon
- 3 cups hot water

Instructions:

Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the order given in the ingredient list. Pour in hot water and bouillon. (Note: if you have a smaller slow cooker and all the water won't fit, pour in what will fit then add the rest later as it cooks and liquid is absorbed by the peas). Do not stir the ingredients. [You can also cook this on stove-top. Just put everything in a pot, bring to a boil, then reduce to a strong simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours. I like it better in the slow cooker (the flavour seems richer) but it's tasty either way.]

Cover and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours (for best results) or on low for 8 to 10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off bone. Remove bones and bay leaf. Mash peas to thicken more, if desired. Serve garnished with croutons. [I did not do this, I just put it in my mouth as soon as it cooled enough. Could also shred some cheddar on it, or serve with toast points or tortilla chips] This soup freezes well. [Really, it does. I couldn't tell the difference after thawing and reheating. Amazing.]

This is the kind of soup that makes one happy about chilly weather. It's healthy, easy, and satisfying. What more could you want? Try it now!!!

On confidence.

2010-02-17T01:07:00.002-05:00

This is a quote from actress Gabourney Sidibe, on where she gets her confidence:

"It came from me. One day I decided that I was beautiful, and so I carried out my life as if I was a beautiful girl. I wear colors that I really like, I wear makeup that makes me feel pretty, and it really helps. It doesn’t have anything to do with how the world perceives you. What matters is what you see."

I haven't seen Precious. I had no idea who Gabourney Sidibe was until I saw her at the awards shows. I still don't know anything about her, and really have no opinion of her.

Beauty is subjective, but only to a point. Excellence can be defined by many things, but I'll bet we can all roughly agree on which people excel in their fields. Talent is fairly easily recognized; you can only fake it so much. The hard truth is, we are not all model-gorgeous, we cannot all win Nobel prizes, and we aren't always going to be great at what we want to do, no matter how hard we try.

But. Does it matter? Even if the best we can be is far from the best, it is still OUR best. Shouldn't we treat ourselves with as much love and respect as we lavish on the beautiful, successful, and talented?

So wear your 'special-occasion' outfit. Break out the company-only cutlery and stemware. Spend an extra 5 minutes perfecting your hairstyle or lipstick or whatever. Why not? You just might end up feeling lovelier, acting cleverer, being kinder.

No one can rob you of these feelings. Only you can allow them to be taken.

Thanks, Gabourney.

Product Review: MAC Cremesheen Lipstick

2010-02-08T07:26:00.000-05:00

Guys, gather 'round, actor announcement! I love MAC's Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme in Your Coffee! I love it so much that I wanna take it behind a middle school and get it ... um, on my lips.*

Okay, remember my last MAC lipstick and how much I loved it? Well it's still great and all, but I've discovered the shade is a titch toooo dark and it is just a little toooo drying to wear regularly. And because of my short attention span, if I don't wear it regularly, I pretty much don't wear it at all. But this, my friends, this is the real deal.

First, the colour. It, like MAC Fast Play, is a pink-brown midtoned neutral. But it is a little more pink/mauve than Fast Play, and a hair lighter. Combined with the slightly less pigmented finish, it means that it goes on more subtly, but still classes up my act so much so that I feel I should wear ridiculously wide-brimmed hats to some garden parties or something. (AKA: I feel all lady-like and stuff.) It goes great with lots of different looks, save for the smokiest of eyes, perhaps.

But the colour's not all. The Cremesheen formula is just gorgeous. Pigmented and matte enough to feel like real lipstick - because hello, I have like 8 similarly toned sheer & shiny lipglosses, and that's just the ones in my purse right now. But with a slight sheen to it, so your lips look hydrated and soft. It also feels substantially nicer than the Amplified Cream formula... I can wear it all day in comfort, though I do need to put on a little extra balm at night-time. It also lasts a good amount of time, and when it does wear, it wears evenly (no gross crusty ring around the outside of the lips).

So yeah. I know it's not like a hot Spring release or whatever, but a good neutral lippie is worth a thousand flash-in-the-pan trends, no?

*30 Rock? Anyone? Bueller?

Awesome tip: Customize your gel eyeliner!

2010-02-03T23:08:00.007-05:00

Hey you gorgeous gals! Know what I think is one of the hottest things to wear on your lids these days? A vibrantly-dark-but-shimmery smokey eye. (I also think hyphens are hot, obvs.) And what easier way to achieve this than with some lusciously pigmented gel eye liners in various yummy shades? Just sweep it on, blend in a bit of shadow, and Bob's yer (expertly made-up) uncle.

But of course, some of us (ahem) don't actually have a real income with which to buy a plethora of gel liners, and even if we did would rather avoid the accusatory gaze of certain significant others for buying yet ANOTHER cosmetic item (hey buddy, me and the shiny pretty things are a package deal, capiche?).

However! Because I'm so smart that I decided to go to graduate school and will never get out(HA!), I stumbled across a trick the other day:

... equals TEH AWESOME! Seriously. Just dig out a teeeny tiny clump of your black (or grey, or brown, whatevs) gel liner with your slanted liner brush, and put it on the back of your hand. Then, take another brush and pick up a good amount of a shimmery loose eyeshadow (like a MAC pigment, or loose mineral shadow). Tap the shadow brush so that the powder falls over the liner that's on your hand, then use your slanted brush to blend blend blend. Soon, you will have a smear of custom-created gel liner that you can use to add quick and easy drama to your eyes! So awesome.

The best part is that you can use whatever colour strikes your fancy. I'm thinking that it's probably most effective to use a light iridescent shade, since the dark liner will deepen the colour considerably. But hey, go nuts and experiment. I'm thinking glitter (cosmetic-grade, of course) would be hot too.

And, let's face it, this is the only way I'll ever come close to finishing that jar of liner. Or an eyeshadow, for that matter.

What do you think, bellas? Cool trick? Old news?

PSA: 3 for $30 at The Body Shop Canada!! Today only!!

2009-11-27T16:48:00.005-05:00

Sorry for the exclaimation marks, dudes!!

But seriously, I flipped my lid when I saw this deal at a recent trip to the US, and now they are hosting the sale in Canada too! Today only (Friday Nov 27), you can get ANY 3 items for $30 (excluding gift sets). Amazing! And if you happen to spend over $100, you might as well get their Love Your Body savings card. It costs $10, but since you save 10% off your purchase when you buy the card, it's free if you spend over $100 in a single purchase. And then you get a yummy 10% savings on any Body Shop purchase for the following year, plus a sweet birthday gift.

I swear they're not paying me to say this, but get yer butts down to a Body Shop! Surely you can pick out a few Body Butters and Shower Gels to use as stocking stuffers if nothing else. Me, I went with 4 Body Butters (Olive, Nut, Strawberry, and Africa Spa Hand & Foot Balm), plus a Vitamin C serum (double duties as a primer!) and a bottle of their new-ish Moroccan Rose perfume (which I may need a backup of, I love so much). And now, though I've got papers and abstracts to write, and credit card bills to pay, I'm itching to go shopping AGAIN.

[EDIT: Oh yeah, get the Kabuki brush people! It is such a luxe thing, and an incredible steal at what works out to be just $10.]

Hurray, the sweet-ass American deals are finally spreading up north! But don't sit here reading, dash quickly to your nearest (Canadian) Body Shop, this deal is good for in-store purchases only, and will be gone, gone, GONE come tomorrow!

PS: Bonus PSA - all Old Navy jeans are just $20 tomorrow only. Diva-fit skinny legs will be MINE!

Show your boots who's boss

2009-10-19T01:50:00.007-05:00

Dudes, it's frickin' freezing around here. We should not be spending a good chunk of October on the minus side of the thermometer. If I wanted to wear Winter clothes during the Fall, I wouldn't have left Calgary, duh!

Ah well. Griping aside, one of the absolute bestest parts about Fall is that I get to wear boots again and not look like a crazy person. These past seasons with the short booties? Were the fashion equivalent of an embolism for me. Hated them! Even the mid-calf ones, I dislike. The point of lovely sleek boots is to elongate those gams, not chop 'em off at the shins! Anyway, with the recent trend towards boots that hit just below, or even over, the knee, I am sighing happy gurgling sighs of pleasure and delight and vindication. (Yes, I totally dig the dominatrix-esque over-the-knee look. No I don't have attachment issues.)

I have a sort of problem with boots, in that I buy them by the bucketful. But, alas, buckets are decidedly NOT the way to properly store boots. How then, to deal with these lovely creations, that when not being worn, flop maddeningly over your shoe racks?

Well, in seasons past, my general method was to:
1) Remove boots from feet.
2) Leave on floor, tops of boots in a mishappen heap.
3) Step all over the tops trying to leave the house.
4) Trip.
5) Curse loudly.
6) Fling boots at wall.
7) Hang head in remorse for being a boot (and wall-finish) abuser.

But this year? This year is different, my friends. I read the single most amazing home-organization tip of the year:

Roll up a magazine, and stuff it inside your unworn boot! The boot leg stays nicely in shape, and you can finally fit your boots neatly on your shoe rack! It is frickin' genius!

And now, my lovely darling tall boots are all lined up like the shiny treasures they are. I was so inspired by this bout of tidyness that I even sprayed weatherproofing stuff on all my shoes. Plus, I save so much time when leaving the house now, what with the not tripping and cursing and wiping shoe marks off my calves and the walls. Who knew those old issues of ~~The National Enquirer~~ The New Yorker would come in so handy?

Product Review: Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor

2009-10-04T14:55:00.004-05:00

Hey guys and dolls, how's it going? Can't believe it's October already. Seriously, the thought of this being my Supposed-Last-Year-of-Grad-School makes me want to cry hysterically and vomit. Vomit hysterically? Yeah, pretty much. There's so much work left that it seems impossible to fit it all in. So in typical Glitterati fashion, I turn back to frivolous things as cosmetics and fashion and getting-drunk-in-the-afternoons* as ways of escape.

As you may have noticed, the makeup posts (okay, posts in general) have been sorely lacking. Part of this can be attributed to what I call the "product plateau". This occurs when I have accumulated so much makeup, in so many shades, formulas, and textures, that I am drained of the slightest desire to purchase anything else. Sure, I'll buy some foundation and concealer when I run out, but I stick to the tried-and-true, and so am not inclined to post about these favourites again. 'Tis a sad sad day indeed when a self-proclaimed beauty junkie goes to the drugstore to buy conditioner, and actually leaves with just conditioner.

Fortunately for me, and the North American economy, Fall has arrived! As chilly rain sweeps through the days, I am again inspired to spend my hard-earned dollars on all things vain and unnecessary. God bless the September issues.

True to self, the first thing I was drawn towards was lipstick. Sure, I have a gadzillion rich berry/vampy lip colours already, but c'mon, that was so 2 years ago. When I saw that Maybelline had launched a mass-market knock-off of Lancome's ColorFever lipsticks, I knew one had to be mine.

Maybelline's Colour Sensation lipsticks bear a similar chic casing to their pricier sisters -- a shiny metal tube encased in a clear Lucite cap. Unlike the Lancome lippies though, the jewel-toned caps of Color Sensation lipsticks match the color-family of the lipstick within. Red lippies get a red cap, plums get a purple cap, neutrals get an amber cap, and pinks get a fuschia cap. Cute, yes?

To celebrate the season, I picked up a tube in Plum Perfect. Swiped on directly from the tube, it's a dark, intense, blue-tinged plum. Like a dark, seductive wine. I'd wear it this way if I was in a Scorch-The-Earth mood, or if I was feeling a bit punky. However, pat a finger over your lips repeatedly, and the shade softens into a sophisticated stain. Still rich and still a "statement" colour, but elegant enough so that you could easily wear it to work. It leaves a nice clean line, and doesn't seem to bleed or feather much either. Truly perfect for Fall and Winter.

Like the Colour Fever lipsticks, Color Sensational Lipcolour is a relatively moisturizing lippie. Because it's not gel-based, it's less smooth and smooshy than Maybelline's Moisture Extreme lipsticks. But, because it's not gel-based, it also lasts a heck of a lot longer. Still, I think most ladies will want to put a nice moisturizing lipbalm underneath.

Sidebar: I've heard that some people find these lipsticks to have a really unpleasant, waxy smell to them. I don't find this to be a problem with my tube -- it has a mild lipsticky smell to it -- slightly waxy, I suppose, but not really scented at all. However, I smelled some other colours in the store, and the neutral shades do seem prone to this. So, sniff before you shell out, I guess.

Congrats to Maybelline for this solid effort. At $9 or $10 CAD, it's on the pricey side for a drugstore lipstick, but it is a quality product. I would not hesitate to get it again on sale, smell issues notwithstanding.

But most of all, it's just nice to break out of a makeup rut a little, you know?

* Not really.**
** Okay, yes really. Do as I say, not as I do, folks.

Foods I need to make, like ASAP

2009-08-11T21:30:00.001-05:00

The title pretty much says it all guys. I don't know if this is a known fact, but I am basically obsessed with food blogs. In fact, I read as many, if not more, food blogs than I do makeup ones. (Scandalous, I know!)

Anyway, here are a list of recipes that I am just itching to make:

Smitten Kitchen's Lighter Airy Pound Cake. Deb is pretty much my go-to girl for anything baked or dessert-y, and I've been dreaming about delicious pound cake for, like, months. Besides, nothing says "hi, I'm a good neighbour / tenant" than the gift of freshly-baked goods. I must make this, as soon as it is tolerable to bake things (it feels like 40 Celsius here!)

Also from Smitten Kitchen: Cantaloupe Salsa (because mango salsa is so 3 seasons ago). Okay, I lied, I already made this. In addition to being freakin' delicious, it goes equally well on oven-baked BBQ chicken (Baste chicken breasts -- bone in, please -- w/ BBQ sauce. Bake at 350F until done.) as it does on leftover BBQ chicken on a green salad. Goodness gracious.

Not Eating Out In New York's Feta Tahini Dip. I love Tahini to unhealthy states. Normally, I just use it for my quick and easy Hummus (1 can of chickpeas [white beans are also a delicious option], a couple generous TBS lemon juice, about 3-4 cloves garlic, 2-3 TBS tahini, salt & cayenne pepper to taste). But Feta AND Tahini, together at last? Be still my racing heart.

Roasted Zucchini & Rainbow Chard, also from NEOINY. Despite my meat-loving tendencies, I also have a fondness for greens. Swiss Chard, with its pretty emerald and ruby hues, appeals to me. A cool friend introduced me to the joys of raw zucchini, and suddenly I just can't get enough. So this recipe (though the zucchini is cooked) looks absolutely divine. Toothy crunchy zuke, wilted chard, and capers? Cannot be bad. I think this would go awesome with some crispy pan-fried tofu slices too!

Chimichurri sauce, a la Simply Recipes. Seriously, rare steak (recipe here) & parsley & garlic & OMG this cannot go wrong. Incidentally (and again, contrary to the title of this post), I made this tonight to great reception. Must do again. So so good!

Okay, so while I sweat up a storm trying to make these things, maybe, out of heat-sympathy, you should also try these recipes! They sound truly amazing, and definitely worth turning on the oven for!

Raspberry Jelly

2009-08-06T21:48:00.006-05:00

Hey friends, super quick review today. Tonight. Whatever.

If you're into the nail polish scene, chances are good you've heard about China Glaze's Summer Days releases. A collection of polishes chock full of their signature glass-fleck sparkle? Sure to make polish afficionados everywhere drool with desire.

(Wow, this is not the most helpful photo. For better, obsession-inducing photos of the whole Summer Days collection in action, check out Michelle's post at All Lacquered Up.)

For the past couple of days, I've been wearing Raspberry Festival from Summer Days. It's a bright, happy and pretty clear red with pink glitter suspended in it. I would have thought the base colour would have been more pink/purple, given the name, but's it's more of a cherry red. I loves me some purple, so I can't help but be a wee bit disappointed, but it Raspberry Festival really is a great colour in its own right. The sparkle is just so pretty, and the jelly-ness of the base makes it look like lucite, or melted cherry cough drops on my nails. (I've quickly developed a weakness for jellies... they are just so shiny and cool and awesome!) There's a cool pink/light purple flash coming from the sparkle that keeps it interesting. Definitely a fun lighthearted colour for summer!

Application was pretty good... thinner than usual China Glazes, but also runny. For a Big 3 Free forumlation, I'd say it's an A-. As for wear... I put on some Revlon's ColorStay Always On topcoat (for iron-like protection), then layered Essie's Good To Go (for speed drying) over top. I've had it on for 2 full days now and there's just a teeeeny tiny bit of chippage (looks more like tipwear, really) on my dominant hand. China Glaze doesn't always last very long on me, so I'm happy with this.

If you're into reds, you should definitely check this out! The jelly-sparkle combo is really quite addictive!

OFF with their heads! Their blood-sucking heads!

2009-07-08T11:49:00.005-05:00

Hey guys! I just got back from a surprisingly fun trip to Manitoba... Winnipeg is a actually a cool city, who knew?! Last time I spent a few days in Winnipeg was when I was a wee tween, camping with my family. The most memorable thing about that trip (other than the sight of my parents actually pitching tents and sleeping on the ground) was the size of the mosquitos in the place. Massive! They could give horseflies a run for their money.

Knowing that my bare arms and legs would constitute a tasty feast for those blood suckers, I thoughtfully brought along a trusty can of OFF! Smooth & Dry insect repllent.

I first used this stuff last summer, on a kayaking trip. (Which was ludicrous, by the way. Go ahead and try imagining me on a kayak. Hilarious, right?) Not only did Smooth & Dry keep the bugs off, it lived up to its name. No weird sticky-feeling film here... the aerosol spray deposited the repellent evenly, and then I pretty much forgot about it. There's a fruity scent to the spray, which, although it does smell a bit fake, is leaps and bounds better than the DEET stank. As time went on, the fruit smell faded a bit, and you could detect the typical bug-spray smell, but overall, using Soft & Dry was a much nicer experience than I've come to expect from bug sprays.

So did I avoid being mosquito food during my Winnipeg trip? Well, for some reason, the spray part of the can got all effed up. It slowly leaked in my luggage (I had thought to put it in a ziploc bag, thankfully), and by the time I used it, the spray had stopped working all together. I tried running it under hot water, but nada. On the first day, I managed to dribble some out and smoosh it on my legs -- not elegant, perhaps, but still effective. The 2nd day, I didn't feel like bothering with it, and my laziness was rewarded with several itchy bites around my ankles.

I'm not sure if the can was just too old, or if several trips on a plane somehow mucked up the mechanism. But it did work great on the first round, and I'll be sure to pick up another can before the summer's out -- that is, until they finally figure out how to make a truly scent-and-texture-free bug spray. I hear it will be based on pheremones of people who never get bitten!

Green with awesomeness

2009-06-15T17:14:00.008-05:00

Hey you guys, how's it going? As you have probably noticed, I have been a total slacker when it comes to posting. Part of it is because... well, I'm a slacker. But another reason was that I was just getting kind of bored. I mean, don't get me wrong, I will probably love, wear, and hoard makeup until the day I die. But I guess my attention span is too short to keep talking about it exclusively.

So I'm going to try a new spin. Or maybe an old spin. This blog (waaaaay back in the day) originally started as a "whatever I feel like posting about" blog, and I'm going to give that concept another try. Don't worry, product lovers, I'm sure there will still be lots of posts on makeup (because let's face it, my life is not THAT interesting). But I also foresee a lot more talk about food, health, fitness, food, TV shows, food, movies, fashion, food... I think you get the drift. Hopefully you guys will come turn this proverbial page with me and enjoy the ride! (Also the mixed metaphors!)

In light of this new M.O., now might be a good time to rave about one of my new favourite things: The Green Monster.

Do I mean:

?

No, I don't mean monsters that go OM NOM NOM. But rather a drink that makes ME go OM NOM NOM. A green monster is a term affectionately bestowed upon a fruit smoothie that has spinach or some other green vegetable involved. Sounds horrific, right? Notttt!

In fact, aside from the vibrant (and I think, really really cool) green hue of the smoothie, you can barely tell there is anything wacky in there at all. Honest! I like spinach anyway, so maybe I'm a wee bit biased, but dozens of others have sworn that there is no spinach taste in these smoothies, and see it as a great way to "sneak" some veggies into kids and loved one's diets. (I have some issues with 'sneaking' food into people, but that's another post. For this purpose, I can agree that more veggies = good thing)

It is so delicious, and so quick and easy to make (even just using my little immersion blender) that I have had 1 a day for the past 3 days. Plus, it keeps me full for at least a couple of hours, so it's a great breakfast or midday snack. Other Green Monster advocates claim that after regularly monster-mashing it up, their skin looks nicer and they have tonnes more energy. Which, hey, for a person who would sleep 10+ hours every night if she could, sure sounds appealing.

This smoothie is infinitely adaptable: just throw in about 2 cups or more of spinach into whatever fruit smoothie you're feeling. But for kicks, here is my recipe:

- 1 frozen banana, cut into 4 or 5 chunks. (Non-frozen ones work too)
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1 cup Silk soymilk (I usually cut this with a bit of water)
- apx. 2 cups washed spinach, snipped up a bit with scissors (to make things easier for my poor immersion blender)

Throw everything but the spinach into your blender (or, if using an immersion blender, into a tall, wide glass. My blender came with a smoothie-making cup, so I use that. Just be sure to use something safe for your immersion blender.) Blend blend blend until smooth.

Add spinach. Blend some more, until the spinach only shows up as little flecks. Your drink should be a lovely, creamy, slightly frothy blue-tinged green at this point.

Drink it up!

This makes about 2 cups. Aside from the virtuous feeling of eating 2 whole cups of dark leafy greens, plus getting all the lovely vitamins and antioxidants and iron and calcium, it just tastes damn good. Like, I could easily drink this as my dessert good. And the whole thing is only about 250 calories! (For comparison, if this were a smoothie you got at the mall, 250 cals would be about 2/3 of a "small" smootie...)

So if you've got some spinach waiting to be used up, and have some fruit hanging around, why not give these a shot? Let me know how it goes, I'd love to hear of new and tasty combinations. But for now, I need to go buy more spinach. I've already blown through the bunch I bought on Saturday!

Product Review: Eco Tools Travel Kabuki Brush

2009-04-22T16:25:00.001-05:00

OMG you guys, is everyone drowning in exams/grading/spring cleaning/filing tax returns/fearing layoffs around here or what! April has traditionally been a crazy time in my life -- since my parents are both accountants, my Aprils of Yore have been filled with 10pm dinners and sneaking in from the bar* at 2am trying not to make noise, not realizing my parents weren't even home from work yet.

But lately, all my craziness seems to have been stuffed inside a suit case. In that I've been traveling rather a lot. And while I generally love traveling, I don't like not having my *stuff* around me. You can imagine that being the person I am, and writing the blog I write, I have approximately a metric crapload of beauty *stuff* that I consider "essential". And while travel versions are all fine in theory, I secretly hate that they are so inferior to the real deal. Short stubby makeup brushes that poke and scratch? Who cares if you fit in my carry-on clutch if you're going to make makeup application such a painful, tedious process?

Thank goodness there's EcoTools. I'd hear that they came out with a retractable kabuki brush a while back, but due to the EcoTools shortage in Toronto, I had to wait until a Buffalo trip to pick one up. But oh boy is it ever worth the wait!

Housed in a cute, neat, aluminum shell, this kabuki is both compact and luxurious. It feels just as good as my regular Lumiere kabuki, with soft, dense, gentle bristles that are perhaps just a titch "floppier" than Lumiere's. No perceptible difference in performance though -- mineral powder glides on smoothly and effortlessly, and when I'm ready to pack up and go, the bristles slide neatly into their case. No dusty brushes, no bent hairs. Love!

Aside from the awesome functionality, EcoTools have come to be known for their environmentally-minded practices (the aluminum casing is recycled) and great value (an amazing kabuki for $8 USD!!!!). The low price tag doesn't come with a low-class look though... this brush would look as much at home sitting on your vanity next to your Chanel and Dior goodies as it does in your travel makeup case (they also have a full travel set that looks to be of good quality). And the eco-mindedness makes it appropriate for, oh, I dunno, an Earth Day makeup splurge or something. ;)

EcoTools can be found at drugstores & discount department stores everywhere in the US, and at London Drugs in Canada. [EDIT: Thanks to reader E, who noticed that Zellers in Ontario carries EcoTools. I've also seen them in Wal*Mart in the past little while. Selection tends to be a bit picked over, but they're definitely there, hooray!] Check out their website for a full list of retailers.

* Actually untrue. I was (am) a nerd, so if anything, during Aprils of Yore I was sneaking in from late-night cramming sessions or frenetic data analysis. The bar trips happened in March and May!

Best PSA Ever: Sephora 15% OFF Coupon!!!

2009-04-17T16:39:00.005-05:00

Hello lovelies, here's a sweet deal to kick start your weekends! If you're a Beauty Insider at Sephora, you can get 15% off your entire purchase until April 21, 2009! They never do sales like this! Awesome!!

This offer is good for in-store purchases only for us Canadians, but for those in the US, you can get the discount for both online and in-store purchases.

For an in-store purchase, all you need to do is print off that coupon above and present it with your Beauty Insider card (your registered email address will probably work too). For an online purchase, you have to enter a code at checkout. Check your emails to see if Sephora's sent you your own code. If not, one lucky reader can use mine: BD2T9CB5. The email code seems to only work once, so shop fast, my friends!

The in-store coupon, as far as I know, can be used on multiple purchases, though I have not personally tried this. Everyone gets the same in-store coupon bar code, so we can all use that one! You do need to have signed up for the Beauty Insider program prior to April 14, 2009 though.

Whoooeeee! Best Friday present ever!

Product Review: Cover Girl Lash Blast Luxe Mascara

2009-04-16T07:43:00.001-05:00

They say a girl can never have too much shimmer in her life. And well, not to be a snot, but obviously that is untrue. Frosty 90's shimmer is rarely a good thing. Shimmer lotion spackled on so thickly it rubs all over your fancy little black party dress making you look like you had a run-in with a deodorant stick -- also not good. Shimmery* sequined tights a la Jason Meyer's atrocity on the Project Runway Canada finale? *Shudder*

But generally speaking, a little shimmer is a good thing. It adds depth, interest, and sparkle. It's fun and girly! So a little shimmer should help pretty much any product, right? This must have been what the folks at Cover Girl were thinking when they came up with Lash Blast Luxe Mascara. Shimmer in a mascara? Why not? People luuurve shimmer. Right?

Well, maybe it's just me, but the shimmer in Lash Blast Luxe does absolutely nada. I got the blue shade (it's called the very dramatic Black Royale), which, as far as I can tell, is a black base with blue shimmer. Once it's on the lashes though, I can barely see the shimmer at all. I certainly can't tell if it 'brightens' my eyes or whatever. If I look super closely, I can tell something's there, but it sort of just looks like I was messy when applying my shimmer eye shadow and got some on my lashes. Hmm.

Despite the shimmer having little-to-undesirable effects, I actually quite liked the forumla. It seems a bit drier than the original Lash Blast, which means that while it didn't create quite as much volume for me, it was much better at getting that soft feathery look. A bit softer than the regular Lash Blast, but also easier to deal with (Lash Blast original got a little clumpy sometimes, and my lashes would stick together). It stays on well, is smudge free, and I can wear it with contacts on no problem.

So would I recommend this? Well, if you love Lash Blast already, then you probably don't need this. But if the original Lash Blast was a bit too wet for you, or if you haven't tried Lash Blast and like the idea of having (barely-perceptible) shimmer in your mascara, then go ahead and grab a tube. It's definitely not a bad product, just don't go expecting Liza-Minelli-crossed-with-Vegas-showgirl lashes from this!

* Okay, technically I guess that's more "sparkly" or "blingy". It was horrific however you slice it. Also, I totally want the Jessica Biffi Winner's dress now! Oh to have $100 extra. Or $400 extra, so I can get it in all those colours. Mmmm... sherbet-y.

Product Review: Ms. Manicure & Ms. Pedicure

2009-04-07T10:06:00.003-05:00

Hey, did you hear it's a recession out there? No kidding, huh. Even being the news-shy person that I am (I prefer the Emu Approach to dealing with depressing/alarming world events, i.e., stick my head in the sand until it's all over), I can't ignore the fact that everyone's trying to tighten the purse strings. But I've always believed that you don't have to spend a lot of money to look and feel good, and Ms. Manicure and Ms. Pedicure are here to prove my case.

These adorable new lines offer a plethora of manicure and pedicure essentials that equips you with everything you need to give your hands and feet the pampering they deserve, and lets you save your pennies at the same time. I took the Handy Dandy Mani manicure kit with me when I went away on vacation, and it truly was just the handiest thing. This cute fold up, zip-up case comes with a (are you ready for this*?):

Nail clipper, cuticle clipper, scissors, tweezers, orange wood sticks, nail file (durable and *much* better than those orange emery boards), 4-surface nail finishing doohickey, and a nail brush.

Phew! There's lots of room on the other side to hold a bunch of your favourite polishes and treatments too ('cuz you KNOW I can't go away for a week without bringing at least 4 polish shades with me. Obsession, I has it. But not the CK kind. Um, anyway...). Normally when I travel, that stuff is just chucked in a plastic bag, and I just pray and hope things won't knock around and explode. With this kit, everything is kept orderly and neat, and I can tuck it in securely between my shirts and shoes in my luggage. Oh, and did I mention the entire thing is only $10 US? TEN BUCKS! I've spent more than that on coffee in a week!

I also got to try some of their pedicure accessories too. I love the Smoothy Groovy (a pumice stone/scrub combo) -- perfect for use in the shower, or to achieve a Pedicure in a Hurry. The heel cream is surprisingly good too. I honestly wasn't expecting much out of a $3 product, but it out-performs some of the higher-end drugstore creams I've tried. Creamy, sinks in pretty quickly for a foot cream, and has a subtle herbal/mint smell that isn't overpowering or stingingly fake (here's looking at you, Calgon!). And the bottle will last for months.

Effective, economical, and pink... doesn't get much better than this! Seriously, if you are a nail-polish kind of girl, pick up a manicure or pedicure kit before your next trip, or even just to keep your tools organized at home. I personally think that the kits would make really cute bridesmaid or shower gifts as well... fill 'em with your friend's favourite polish goodies, maybe throw in a cuticle balm or a spa gift certificate... it's a present that is endlessly customizable. Plus, if you're a control-freak kind of bride, this can be a "subtle" way of telling your bridesmaids which colours you want them to wear on your big day!

US readers can find these lines... well, everywhere. Check out their website for a list of retailers, but I've definitely seen them at Tar-jay. My fellow Canadians, I bemoan the fact that I haven't spotted them here, but hopefully WalMart will start carrying them soon. You lucky Brit babes can find the lines at Boots and Superdrug (I think it's such a great fit for Superdrug's decor... so pink!) Final tidbit: these fabulous tools are brought to you by the same folks who make EcoTools. Remember how much I loved their stuff? I freakin' luuurve this company! Also, look out for a new review on EcoTools later this week!

* 90's and/or Bring It On flashback, anyone?

Product Review: MAC Cream Color Base and Paint Pot

2009-03-26T01:56:00.001-05:00

The Boy wanted to take a jaunt down to Buffalo a couple weekends ago to pick up some kicks (how balla), and of course you know I can't turn down a US shopping spree. Especially if it involves a trip to the Cosmetics Company Outlet store!

For those of you who don't know, CCO is the outlet store for all of Estee Lauder's brands. This means they'll stock products from Clinique, Bobbi Brown, MAC, and various other brands, including Estee Lauder, of course. While the colours aren't the most current (you won't find the Hello Kitty release there for a few months yet!), the prices are good, the choices are plentiful, and everything has a tester. So basically, I'm like a kid in a candy store there.

This last trip, I picked up a trio of MAC products: 2 cream color bases and a paint pot. The cream colour bases is a soft creamy product meant to be used all over the face. Hush is a neutral-warm pinky-beige shade, and it's great for a subtle shimmer on the eyes, or as a highlighter. Improper Copper is a bit more bold, and leaves a soft golden-bronze tint wherever you apply it. I love it on my lips topped with gloss, it's such a happy, peachy, summery colour! Almost a nude lip shade for me, but a bit sexier. There's a very fine but apparent shimmer in it, so it leaves a gleaming finish, but not it's not so frosty that one looks like a drag queen from the 90's. Can't wait for summer to arrive so I can use it as a subtle, shimmery bronzer!

While the formula is nice and smooth on these cream color bases, the staying power on my lids isn't terrific. It's really not that bad, but after 4 hours or so of wear, I'll start to see some creasing. If you're looking for a die-hard kind of eye colour, you must check out MAC's Paint Pots. The shade I got, Greenstroke, is a murky silvery blue-tinged green that can be worn either smokey or bright. It's got a bit of a futuristic feel to it. I used it on St. Patrick's day under some shimmery teal shadow for a bright-eyed look. Fun for a day out shopping, but probably not the best for work (fortunately I work at a place where your boss never notices -- never mind cares -- what you look like). I can't wait to try it as a smokey eye, smudged up with some black liner and maybe a touch of grey shadow. Paint Pots are a bit tricky to apply, because you have to blend fast before it sets, and you'll want to use a light hand to start, as they are pretty pigmented. But once it's on, this stuff will last and last and last, so no worries about touch-ups while you're traipsing all over town looking like your fierce bad-ass self.

Okay lovelies, I have lots more to talk about, but it will have to wait until after I'm back from a conference in sunny California. If you're jealous, maybe it will help to know that it's probably the most boring part of California. But hey, I'm never one to turn down sunshine & warmth!

Twittery doo!

2009-03-20T17:02:00.004-05:00

Hey lovelies, so I finally got on board the Twitter train. I don't know exactly how it all works yet, but Tina Fey, Christopher Walken, and President Obama all have accounts, so I'm pretty sure it's awesome.

You can see my Twitter updates on the sidebar (scroll down a bit). I'll figure out how to make it prettier later, but for now, you too can be privy to random thoughts from my brain! And since I'm so slooooow with reviews these days, I'll probably be "tweeting"
about beauty products too. (I like how I am so un-hip that I need to put "tweet" in "quotes".)

If you want to make me really happy, you could even follow me on Twitter, so I feel loved and everything. Just click the "Follow Me on Twitter" link (you'll need a Twitter account, I promise it's super fun and will take over your life!). Or not, whatevs, but do check it out. Over there! On the sidebar! Mmmmm-kay?

Love you lots, and real reviews coming next week for serious! Including a mini MAC haul from the America!

~G

You too can be modern-day Mad Men! Or maybe Mad Women.

2009-03-10T12:05:00.006-05:00

Hey folks! Just wanted to pop in and tell you about a cool contest that Dove is having. Known for their creative ads and innovative "Real Beauty" campaign, Dove has received accolades from all over the blog world and from the mainstream media for their marketing savvy. And now, you can be a part of it!

From Dove:

Dove has teamed up with TNT’s newest original series, TRUST ME, for a unique integration and consumer promotion. Dove Hair Care will be featured as a top client at the fictional Rothman, Greene & Moore advertising agency on tomorrow’s show (Tuesday, March 10 at 10 p.m. EST/9 p.m. CST [EDIT: That's tonight!]), where the characters will be developing new campaign ideas for Dove Therapy System Conditioners.

Dove and TRUST ME are giving viewers the chance to play the role of a creative director for the RG&M Dove campaign at: http://www.bethecreativedirector.com. Viewers can vote on the final Dove campaign concepts and enter the “Be the Creative Director” sweepstakes for a chance to win the grand prize – a $50,000 Bonus Check, a trip for two to New York, a consultation with Dove celebrity hair stylist Gretta Monahan, and an iMac computer and software package! Second and third prize will receive Dove Hair Care products.

Holy jeepers, lookit 'em prizes! And all the "work" that's needed is basically to sit there and watch television. Can't get much easier than that. You can enter the contest through the link above, and check out the video below for a sneak peek of what's to come on the show. (Hey, it's Will, from Will & Grace! And that Ed guy, from... um, Ed.)

Speaking of sneak peeks, my fave chanteuse Emilie-Claire Barlow's new CD drops today, I'm so excited!! (Okay, never using the word "drops" to refer to a jazz CD again...) Emilie Claire will be giving a special performance on Jazz FM tonight at 7:00pm Eastern Time. If you're in the GTA, you can tune into 91.1FM, or you can stream the broadcast at www.jazz.fm (just click the "Listen Live" box). I can't wait!

Product Review: Sephora by OPI Nail Polish Remover & Zoya Remove +

2009-03-09T07:49:00.005-05:00

Lately, I can't seem to stop playing with nail polish. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get on this particular bandwagon... after all, I've become at least briefly obsessed with pretty much every other type of cosmetic product on the market. I usually had polish on my toes, but living in Canada means that those little piggies are usually covered up inside thick socks and big boots, and so there wasn't too much to get excited about.

As for my fingernails, I didn't wear polish on them up until now because I had the worst application skills. Still do, actually. Copious amounts of natural clumsiness combined with copious amounts of hand-shaking caffeine meant that any polish job was a messy, splotchy affair. Yes, I could clean up afterwards with Q-Tips and remover, but my Sally Hansen removers would dry out my cuticles horribly, so that by the end of it, I had crooked polish on raggedy white cuticles. Attractive, no?

This all changed when Sephora introduced their Sephora by OPI nail care line. The now famous Metro Chic was the shade that drew me in (fodder for another post), but along with it, I also tried the $OPI Nail Color Remover and my mind was blown. A polish remover that smells nice (really nice... not that fake lemony "nice") AND doesn't dry out my skin atrociously?! Where have you been all my life???

The Sephora by OPI remover is gentle enough for repeated use but strong enough to take off even glitter-packed polish with minimal scrubbing. And though it smells alcohol-y in the bottle, once it's on your hands, it morphs into a fresh, happy scent.

I thought this had to be the absolute best remover on earth, until I got a free mini bottle of Zoya's Remove+ along with a nail polish order. (The cute flippy bottle pictured is the full-size... the mini is a slim bottle with a screw-top cap. Very convenient for travel.) Remove never has that strong astringent smell at all... rather, it's all lavendery goodness from the get-go. Very spa-like. I think it's even gentler on cuticles than Sephora's remover, but it is perhaps a bit less effective on hard-to-remove lacquers. On typical polishes though, both are just peachy... a couple of quick swipes and you're good to go.

These removers have definitely changed my (beauty routine) life. Plus now I don't feel awful for doing my nails when The Boy is around, because I'm not totally stinking up the apartment. Of course, the Sephora remover is very pricey at $12 CAD for 4oz. Zoya Remove is pricier than your average drug-store fare too, but you can find it online for less and buy even cheaper in bulk. So worth it.

This is how addictions get started, people!

Sephora by OPI Nail Color Remover
Zoya Remove+ (and at various e-tailers)

Product Review: William Sonoma Pure & Green Collection, Ruby Grapefruit Ylang Ylang Hand Cream

2009-01-12T13:19:00.003-05:00

Hi friends! So in my last post, I mentioned the virtues of moisturizing one's hands daily. If you've decided to take this to heart, then you need to hop over to your closest William Sonoma to check out their Pure & Green line of hand creams. Yes, I know William Sonoma is more known for its bakeware than beauty products, but seriously, this line is so delicious it would be perfectly at home sitting on a shelf in Sephora!

Being a lover of all things Pink Grapefruit, of course I zoned in on the Pink Grapefruit Ylang Ylang scent. It's zippy, sweet, and refreshing... just as it should be. The Ylang Ylang is pretty subtle, and I can only detect it in the form of a slight floral warmth. The cream feels great on the skin, and while it is not the most moisturizing product I've ever tried, the mix of shea butter, olive oil and glycerine certainly does a good job of leaving hands soft to the touch. It absorbs fairly quickly as well.

Other favourite scents in the line are the Wasabi Green Tea (amazing, unique and refreshing), Herbes de Provence Sweet Orange (bracing but sweet), and Olive Oil Coriander (comforting, with the bright green Coriander smell I love). Each of these scents come in a hand cream, hand soap, dishwashing detergent, and scented candle so you can put this scentual bliss in every room of your house.

The selection is dwindling though, because these are on sale right now for 50% off! The hand cream is only $7 CAD, where it normally is $15 for a 473 mL bottle. I hope this doesn't mean they are discontinuing the line... better go stock up while you can! These yummy scents almost (almost!) make me forget all the snow and cold that's happening outside!

Product Review: Body Shop Mineral Makeup

2009-01-08T01:09:00.007-05:00

Hello guys and dolls! Welcome to 2009, I hope it's off to a great start for you! With a New Year comes all sorts of resolutions and promises. Some of them are ambitious and noble ("Will volunteer at homeless shelter once a week!"), and some are perhaps less lofty, but no less important ("Will use hand cream daily!" -- hey, scaly dry hands are no joke).

Typically though, our resolutions fall somewhere in between, and often have to do with improving our bodies. Whether it be to eat better or exercise more, getting healthier is high on many priority lists. As for me? You can count me in for both. Not because I'm keen on resolutions (I'm not), but because a) it's always a good idea to eat more veggies, and b) I'm going to Cuba in 6 weeks, have bought a white bikini, and dammit, I want to look decent in it!

But this is not a diet and exercise blog, worthy and interesting though those topics may be. This is a makeup blog, and if you're like me (unfit, vain, and yet motivated), you might too be wrestling with an all-important question: How do I look pretty post-workout?

Okay, okay. Obviously I'm not advocating a face full of products while you're working out. But what about after the fact? That fresh-faced glow (neon, in my case) from your cardio session might be good enough for some, but for me (see again: unfit and vain), I have to at least put foundation and concealer on before I head out into the real world.

Since I pretty much exclusively use mineral foundation, this is problematic. Those sifter jars can be a messy affair, and dumping powder all over the gym change-room is not my idea of a good start to the day. But with the Body Shop's ingenious new Nature's Minerals makeup, my worries are over!

You can't see it in the photo, but one of the best aspects of this new line of mineral makeup is the packaging. Instead of the usual "salt & pepper" type sifters that let powder out whenever the jar is jostled, these babies come with a mesh sifter that only releases powder when you tap it. This means there won't be a pile of powder waiting for you when you open your jar, threatening to spill everywhere. Rather, you just tap out the amount you need -- no fuss, no mess!

This travel-friendly packaging makes Nature's Minerals an ideal product to take to the gym (or on any trip, really). The foundation offers sheer, natural looking matte coverage, which is just enough to get me home after a workout. Shade 03 is just about right for my warm skin tone. The coverage can be built up a bit, but if you're looking for a medium or higher coverage, it might not be enough.

The line also offers blushes and eye shadows. The blush shade I got, Golden Terracotta, is a warm bronzey pink. It is very pigmented -- so much so that it's too dark for my medium-light skin in the wintertime. With a light hand, it would be great for a summer glow. I received the shadow in Pink Opal. It is described as a pale pink, but on me it shows up more as a medium pink. It's a nice, neutral pink with subtle shimmer... no chalkiness or overly cool tones. I can't wait for the line to launch in Canada so that I can check out the other colours!

Look, dragging yourself to the gym is not the easiest thing, whether it be at 6am or after a long day at work. And if you've got the willpower to do it, why not have flawless skin afterward, to go along with that exercise-induced endorphin rush?

Lippie Product Reviews: Sephora Lip Stain, Urban Decay Lip Envy, Prestige LightShine Sheer Gloss Liner

2008-12-23T03:53:00.000-05:00

Oh hey, it's almost Christmas! Which means it's almost New Year's, and I know what's on everyone's mind during this festive season: Holiday Makeup that Lasts!

Oh alright, maybe makeup isn't at the absolute top of your priority list. But when you're running around doing that last minute holiday shopping, or up to your elbows in turkey stuffing and cookie batter, it'd be nice not to have to worry that your lipstick is bleeding.

For lipcolour that is sure to last through canapes and cocktails, a lipstain is your best bet. Remembering the good things I'd heard about Urban Decay's old lip stains that came in marker form (now discontinued), I picked up their Lip Envy stain in Envy. Let me just say, that was a mistake! I guess it went on easily enough, though it felt kind of drying. The colour was just way too harsh... a deep vampy red. Normally I don't shy away from reds, but this was just too goth, and not at all festive. It emphasized dry flakes too. To its credit, the colour was incredibly rich and pigmented, but I ended up returning it.

I had much better luck with Sephora's Lush Flush Wine Lip and Cheek stain. A sheerer gel-based version, 1 coat leaves your lips with a light tint of cool pinky red. Apply more to build a deeper colour. It's not a red exactly, it's got a bit too much pink for that. But still, a nice holiday colour, and the formula lets you play with it a bit before it sets. I've never used it on cheeks, but if you like cheek stains and use a light hand, this looks like it'd be a handy multi-tasker. As with all lip stains, if your lips are not in perfect condition (and whose is in this wretched winter weather?), it will go on a bit patchy. I've had good results applying the stain with the sponge tip, then using a q-tip to blend more accurately.

Finally, I must tell you about the neatest drugstore find! Prestige has a new lip liner out called a Sheer Gloss Liner. Unlike a normal liner which deposits solid heavy colour, the Sheer Gloss Liners draw a semi-opaque line that goes on smooth. The formula is hard to describe... it's not a gel exactly... maybe more like a soft wax? This liner was designed such that you can wear this under lipgloss to up the staying power, while still maintaining that sheer, see-through look. It's also got a light, pleasant vanilla scent. Personally, I love just using this on its own! It's a softer look than lipstick, but it stays on so much better and manages to feel smooth and non-drying. I nave it in Hibiscus, which is a cheery, neutral-cool light red, but I definitely need to pick up more shades!

Well that's it for now lovelies, as you can see it is 4am and I'm exhausted from Christmas shopping, cleaning, and packing. I hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday season, and that Santa's kind to you!

Breast Cancer Awareness Contest Winner!

2008-12-02T23:19:00.001-05:00

Okay, here's the news I know you've all been waiting for. The winner of the draw for this lovely bottle of Donna Karan Cashmere Mist .....

.... is none other than my good friend, Cowgirl Warrior! Her support of our Comment for a Cure Fundraiser and her generous donation to the Canadian Cancer Society meant so much to me. Thank you, Cowgirl Warrior, and thank you to ALL of you who commented and donated! Through your combined efforts and donations, we have raised a total of $51 for the Canadian Cancer Society. It may be a small step, but it's a step in the right direction! :)

Thank you again for all your comments and support during this campaign, and I look forward to doing it again next year!

PSA & Review: Shopper's Sale on Revlon ColorStay Top Coat, + Soap & Glory

2008-11-26T15:24:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! A quick post today to tell you about Shopper's Drug Mart's sale on Revlon's ColourStay Top Coat. Only $4 a pop, compared to the regular $7 or $8, a total steal! In the states, this Top Coat appears to be mostly sold in a set along with a coloured polish (more on that below), but for once, we Canadians have the advantage and can buy it separately.

This topcoat is thick, but dries quickly enough under OPI's Drip Dry (another awesome product that deserves a post of its own). It's perhaps not the shiniest top coat... it gives moree the glossiness of hard plastic than the bright shine of vinyl or crystal, but I like the look. It somehow manages to hide my polish mistakes... minor bubbles or dragging (from me not being patient enough to wait for the 1st coat of colour to dry) are disguised. The best part is that it makes my nail colour last and last.... I am NOT a gentle person when it comes to my hands (basically because I am a klutz), and this stuff actually allows me to keep colour on for more than a day without looking like a Derelicte reject.

Given my newfound obsession with nail colour, my bottle of Color Stay Top Coat is about 2/3 gone, so I'll definitely have to stock up.

A note on the actual coloured polishes in this line: While the wear is no doubt great, I found it impossible to do a manicure with the shade I got (Always Vintage). The polish is thick, goopy, and stringy, even from a brand-new bottle. It's ok for doing toes, since I can use my dominant hand for everything, and you don't have to be as precise. But nails? No way I can pull that off. If you have better polishing skills than I do, you may find them ok to use, but I think a lot of people have experienced similar issues with this line. Plus, it stinks something fierce.

Speaking of things that stink... it looks like Shoppers will start carrying Soap & Glory stuff! I saw some on a recent trip to the States, and was charmed by the packaging and cute names. I bought the travel sized version of Great Shakes Hand Cream, but while it felt really nice, I was appalled by the strong, sickly scent. It is headachingly cloying and sweet, like the strawberry+patchouli scent that is Miss Dior Cherie. (Which I hate, but if you love it, you will probably love Great Shakes.) Still, I haven't given hope for the rest of the line, and am glad we're finally getting access to it! Look out for Soap & Glory at your friendly neighbourhood Shoppers!

Product Review: Garnier Light Daily Moisturizer

2008-11-25T17:18:00.002-05:00

Only 5 more days to get chances to win a bottle of Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist! A simple $5 donation using the widget on the sidebar gets you 10 chances to win! What could be better than wrapping yourself in this cuddly sweater scent, knowing that you supported the Canadian Cancer Society?

Baby, it's cold outside! Or, at least it was last week. Frickin' freezing, actually, undeniably heralding the arrival of our Canadian winter. Which is why I was so grateful for my super-duper-special delivery, all the way from Asia!

So, you may have heard me proclaim the virtues of Garnier's Light Daily Moisturizer. I'd fallen in love with it on a trip to Hong Kong, but since it's only available in Asia, I had to settle for a boring Neutrogena moisturizer when I ran out of the good stuff last spring. Neutrogena was alright for summer, but it wouldn't cut the cake now that it's cold and dry and miserable. So I finally bit the bullet and bought a couple jars of Garnier Light off EBay. And, oooh, lemme tell ya, it's like comin' home.

The "Light" line's main feature is "Fairness + dark spots prevention" (mmmm, Engrish), and the ads claim that regular use of their products will lighten your skin-tone by 2 shades, through the gentle exfoliating power of lemon essence, the mysterious and potentially euphemistic properties of "Long Dan", and the ... um, sunshine-y goodness of vitamin C.

While I think this "2 shades lighter" business is totally subjective and completely unprovable, I must admit that my skin does somehow look brighter and clearer after using the cream again. Not "clear" in reference to acne or anything, just.... clear. Clear like a crisp cool morning. Clear like the tone of a pure bell chime. Clear, unlike over-extended and dubious metaphors.

Right. So in addition to the brightening aspect, this is just a really great moisturizer in general. The white cream is comforting and soothing, and moisturizes without stickiness. The soft lemony scent is refreshing, and it doesn't sting around the eye area (unless I really get it in there). It's gentle, doesn't cause irritation or breakouts, and for my slightly dry skin, it's a great daily cream for any season.

The problem of getting your hands on this great product remains a pain in the butt. Sasa.com carries the entire Light line, but unless you happen to be buying a bunch of other stuff too, you'll have to pay shipping. The shipping charges are reasonable if you live in the States ($6), but not if you live in Canada -- $18 for standard shipping??? Um, no. (If you are in the market though, Sasa also has Fiberwig mascara for much cheaper than Sephora's $22.)

The other option is to go through EBay (I found a pretty good deal), or beg a kind friend who lives in Asia to send this to you. The in-store cost in Hong Kong worked out to about $15 CAD for a jar, which lasts 3-4 months. But I'd pay $20 for it if I could only find it in a store here!

Anyway, the line offers a plethora of products, from cleanser to moisturizing "milk" (a super light moisturizer, I guess?) to spot treatments and various masks. I have tried the Dark Spot Corrector Pen without much success, and have heard that the eye cream is ineffective, though I have not tried it myself. I might be tempted into trying out some of the masks, or the "intensive" products if I get bored, but in the meantime, I'm plenty happy with the truly awesome and delicious moisturizing cream!

Product Review: MAC Nail Lacquer Nightfall

2008-11-23T13:07:00.003-05:00

"Christian said he'd call the next day, but in boy time, that meant Thursday. So, you can imagine my astonishment to hear from him while I was packing Daddy up."
(10 points to anyone who can identify the quote!)

Right, so I must be operating on Boy Time, since 'tomorrow' turned into like 5 days later. But nail polish this good is worth the wait!

I've never really been a nail polish person. Sure, I'll throw some on my toes if I'm wearing sandals, but on my actual finger nails? Couldn't be arsed. Until recently, when I randomly decided to go for a manicure, and ended up loving how glossy and shiny and rich my nails looked. I was hooked!

Of course, applying nail polish at home was a whole different story. I don't have the steadiest hands (caffeine diet, anyone?) and my first attempts ended up looking like those of a 5-year old with Parkinson's. But with patience, practice, and a ready supply of remover-soaked Q-Tips, I eventually managed to have nails I could be seen out in public with.

So, while I'm totally not a polish expert, I've since tried my hand (har!) at a good handful of nail lacquers. One that I'm totally loving is Nightfall, by MAC.

I had originally wanted a flat gunmetal grey, which is apparently impossible to find in stores in Canada. Nightfall is actually darker than that... a deep charcoal. But since it's a frost, the shimmer in it lightens up the shade enough that it's passable. (Rest assured though, this is not that Sally Hansen metallic dragon-lady frost of the 90's. Due to its depth of colour, it just shows up as a dark glossy colour with some shimmer.)

After wearing it for a day, I ended up loving this colour. Less harsh than black, you might think this looks really punk, but on short nails, it's really chic. I've been wearing it to work all week and I haven't felt weird or anything. (Granted, I don't exactly have an office job, but still.)

One of the best things about this formula is how well it wears. I've had it on literally a week, and other than some tip-wear (I spend my whole life typing, so this is pretty much unavoidable), it's stayed on like iron. Like silky glossy iron. Aside from one small chip that was easily fixed, I haven't even had to put on more top-coat or anything. Amazing! The application is also a breeze... smooth, pigmented even with 1 coat (though I do 2), and no tugging or streaking. Luscious.

At $13 CAD a bottle, it's not the cheapest. But the easy application, long wear, and gorgeous colour make it worthwhile. Plus, I think the bottle is a bit bigger than your typical polish. Sadly, MAC doesn't have that many shades, and are not likely to expand much in the future, according to the SA. This is understandable... their forte is their makeup. But Nightfall is definitely a winner... a perfect match for this season's grey and purple clothing, and would even carry you over into Christmas and New Years to put a bit of edge on your little black dress!

SYTYCD Canada, the inside scoop!

2008-11-18T21:29:00.001-05:00

Remember that you still have a chance to win a bottle of Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist! For every dollar you donate to the Canadian Cancer Society using the widget on the left until November 30th, 2008, you'll get 2 chances to win the prize!

Howdy, bloggerinas! Sorry I've been away so long, seeing a live So You Think You Can Dance taping affected me so that I've been recuperating for the past week and a half.

Okay, not really. I've just been busy. But being part of the Live! Studio! Audience! really was a lot of fun. Yeah, there was a lot of standing around, and I felt too old by about 7 years, but they had a comic-type-guy come out while we were standing around, getting various audience members to be ridiculous on stage, and other such tomfoolery. Good times.

Yup, that very well could be the heads of me and Ex-Roommie up in there. Yup, entirely possible. Or it's just some randoms, I can't tell.

And of course, there was the show! Tre Armstrong and Lara (poor Lara!) look even lovelier in person, and Nico... well, Nico is just... sigh. He's so... tall and so... grrrrr! Leah Miller calls everyone "sweetie", but not sarcastically. I know I like to give her crap for not being Cat Deely, but that girl was wearing a frickin' pink spandex dress last week, folks. And she looked tight, so mad respect to her for that. Another person I like to rip is Natalli, for her sometimes overly sexed up routines. But after seeing her 6...no, make that her 8-pack from like 30 feet away, I take it all back. If you've got a stomach like that, you've earned the right to show it off wherever and whenever you want.

Tamina and Jesse were both in the audience cheering for their friends, and Jesse at least was great about posing for fan photos. (Tamina might have been too, I wasn't paying much attention). Nice to see that these dancers really are as tight-knit and supportive of each other as they appear to be!

The one negative thing about seeing a live results show is that on TV, after they announce the loser, the show just ends. In real life, you get to watch the eliminated dancers look crushed for a whole 10 minutes afterwards (until you, the audience-sheep, are ushered out, that is). The "losers" cry, the winners cry, Leah cries, and Rex... well, he just keeps chewing his damn gum like the queen he is. But really, it's very, very heartwrenching. (Incidentally, I did NOT agree with the choices... I thought Francis' solo was awesome, and that Danny and Allie should have been the ones to get cut.)

Francis looked SO disappointed and verklempt... everyone kept hugging him. Lara got an extra long hug from Miles (just the friendly kind), and Lisa had those strong silent tears streaming down her face.

In fact, I think Lisa might be the nicest person ever... she came up and hugged 2 fans (not us, sadly) at the end of the show, even though the stage manager types yelled at her not to. She kept saying "I know, I'm sorry, I just have to!" while hugging those 2 girls. What a doll!

Alrighty, I just wanted to pop in and say hi. Turn in tomorrow for my first nail polish review ever!

So I think I can dance. Or WATCH dancing, at least.

2008-11-06T11:57:00.001-05:00

Hey guys and dolls, super news! Ex-Roomie and I are going to be in the live! studio! audience!!! for So You Think You Can Dance Canada tonight! Wheee!

So yes, it's a results show, which is not as fun as if it were a performance show, but hey I'll take what I can get. From last night, I really don't know who's going to go home. NOT Nico and Arrasay of course, because my mortal soul would just shrivel up and die. God they're hot. But everyone's so good... who knows?

That's right, Arrasay, you TAKE that jacket off!

Personally, I would not care if Izaak, Allie, or Natalli went home. Actually, come to think of it, I don't really care about any of the guys other than Nico (because he's hot). Miles can stay so we can watch him continue to have dance-sex with Lara (though I disliked their routine this week... ballroom in no shoes + Lara's fakey fake expression were just too much for me).

And was it me, or was Lisa dancing on an injured ankle? I thought their hip hop routine was decidedly NOT hot, and I especially expected more from Lisa*.

But really, the dancing bit is only half the reason why we watch the show... there are clothes and makeup, people! Despite my earlier rant about Leah, I must admit that she looks much better now that she's deflated her 'do. Girlfriend needs to realize that knee-length sheaths and sleek hair is for the win:

Black & Green 1-shoulder flower dress: Dolce & Gabanna. Of course.
Tan & Brown Sheath: Hervé Leger

and that thigh-high flouncy things is for the ham. Thank goodness she straightened her hair in that 2nd one... can you imagine how French-Poodle-craptastic she would have looked in that dress if she had big curles?

Green Polka Dot: Lida Baday
The... um, tutu thing: Stella McCartney top & Betsy Johnson skirt

Anyway.

Very excited about tonight!! Naturally, I would love to see Arrasay and Nico do their thing in person**, but that would mean they're dancing for their lives, and we certainly don't want that. But oh, just to be a part of it all! Keep an eye out for me, lovelies, unless of course you don't know what I look like, in which case just keep an eye out for glimpses of Nico's abs. The are some serious abs.

* I almost had a Lisa-sighting on Halloween! Word is that she popped by the bar where our department was having our Halloween party, decided it was lame, and left, all before I even showed up. Not that I blame her, that place is ghe-tto (which is exactly why we chose it), but I wish she'd stayed long enough for me to see her.

**Actually, I would like to see Nico do his thing in my bed, but you know.

Comments for a Cure Wrap Up

2008-11-02T22:03:00.002-05:00

Thanks to all you readers for commenting over the past week! I received 26 comments during the run of the campaign, so I will be donating $26 to the Canadian Cancer Society. (Okay, so one of those comments was actually spam, and I deleted it, but it counts anyway! =D) Thanks again for all your help!

And of course, those of you who commented for the giveaway have been entered into the draw for that bottle of Donna Karan Cashmere Mist. The commenting part of the contest is now closed, but you can still get more chances to win! Just click on that widget on the sidebar and donate a few (or more!) dollars to the Canadian Cancer Society. Each dollar you donate until November 30th counts as TWO entries into the draw! A mere $10 donation gets you 20 entries; totally a deal!

I'll announce the winner of the giveaway as well as the total amount of money raised on December 1st. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming .... again, my heartfelt thanks to all of you who commented, it means a lot that you readers care about this cause.

Product Review: Cover Girl Wetslicks Fruit Spritzers Lipgloss

2008-10-31T10:22:00.002-05:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Today is the last day for Comment for a Cure! For every comment left on this blog until midnight tonight (the witching hour!), I will donate $1 to the Canadian Cancer Society, to a limit of $50. ALSO, your comment enters you into the draw to win this lovely bottle of Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist!

There are lots of reasons to buy a drugstore lipgloss these days. There's that big bad recession thing, of course. Even in more abundant times, we often want to pinch our pennies in the "frivolous spending" department to save up for bigger and better things. But for me? The best reason to buy a cheapie lipgloss is that it's just really really terrific.

I'm not sure that I had ever tried a Cover Girl gloss prior to this. I think it had something to do with the name... "Wetslicks". Sounds like seal skin, or oil spills, or um... something really X-rated. Not exactly appealing things to think about as you're applying goop to your lips.

Even when they came out with the Fruit Spritzers, even with the alluring fruity scent and the ANTM-hawking, I somehow resisted. Until I tried it during one sleepless, late-night drugstore amble (anyone else do that?).

Needless to say, I was really impressed! The shade I picked up, Raspberry Splash, is a sheer cool pink, with a really attractive "watery" quality that I like. The feel is anything but watery though, it's just right - not too sticky and thick, but not so thin it feels like it's going to run all over the place. Pretty moisturizing too! Strangely, it smells nothing like Raspberry, but rather exactly like Hubba Bubba Watermelon bubble gum, which I LOVED as a kid. So this is a-ok by me!

I liked this gloss so much that I picked up another 3 shades whilst on a Binge Shopping trip in Buffalo NY. (Don't knock Buffalo. It has a Target AND outlets!) Guava Splash is equally awesome - it is a very slightly peachy pink... paler and warmer than Raspberry, and gives what I call a "baby lips" effect. Really innocent and soft, and the scent is pretty much the same watermelon-y yumminess.

Berry Splash was just ok. (I think either this or Guava Spalsh is the pink shade pictured above) There's more cool shimmer in this one, so it leaves my lips kind of frosty. You have to work a bit to blend the colour in, otherwise the frost sits unevenly. Still, not a bad choice for certain looks. Scent is some vague but pleasant combo of watermelon and berry.

Fig Spalsh was a big disappointment. It looks like a pale caramel in the tube, and I had high hopes for it both in the colour (perfect subtle nude???) and the scent (figgy deliciousness???) departments. Sadly, this shade is just way too frosty/pale and hard to blend on me. If I use a very thin layer, it is not too bad, but generally it gives me what I call "90's lips". And the scent is this weird chocolatey thing, which I'm not into.

Oh well, so they're not all perfect, but overall these Spritzers are a great buy. Lasting power is med-low, but hey, they cost $5 and are fun to apply, so I'm not complaining. Always happy to find a deal!

Bwahahaha

2008-10-28T22:54:00.001-05:00

Okay okay, I'm working on an actual review for you folks (crazy, I know!) to go up tomorrow, but I've also been taking advantage of this hard-to-come-by down time by catching up on this season's Gossip Girl.

I've obviously got a lot more catching up to do, but I just wanna say:

"What's this? Chuck's date and Blair's date are mother and son? And Nate and Blair are ex's? And Nate and the mother are in a book club?! Now there's a novel plot twist."

Brilliant! God I love Kristen Bell. And Gossip Girl. And downtime.

Alright, back to reviewing. See you tomorrow!

Still Looking for a Halloween Costume?

2008-10-28T16:28:00.002-05:00

This ad might give you a few ideas. NSFW, depending on where you work, due to rather copious swearing.

Comment for a Cure is still on! For every comment left on this blog until Halloween, I will donate $1 to the Canadian Cancer Society, to a limit of $50. ALSO, your comment enters you into the draw to win this lovely bottle of Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist. It's sexy to comment!

BBNBCA BBN_BCA BBNC4AC BBN_C4AC BBNCONTEST BBN_CONTEST

Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign Update & a GIVEAWAY!

2008-10-27T00:35:00.003-05:00

Hey folks! 2 quick things:

First, I've decided to extend my Comments for a Cure campaign until the end of the month. That means, for every comment made on this blog until October 31st, I will donate $1 to the Canadian Cancer Society, up to a limit of $50. Please note that you don't have to pay a cent to participate in this. Just comment, and *I'll* donate. Easy peasy! My heartfelt thanks to those who have already commented, and please feel free to leave some more comments, because...

Second, and possibly more exciting: I will be running a giveaway for a gorgeous, limited edition bottle of Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist perfume! Full review to come, but this soft and warm scent is perfect for cooler weather... it's really like wrapping yourself in a cozy sweater. Wanna win? There are 2 ways:

1. Make a comment on this blog between now and October 31st. Each comment you make will count as one chance to win! (Limit of one comment per poster per day please)

2. Donate to the Canadian Cancer Society before November 30th by using the ChipIn widget on the sidebar. ChipIn is a secure way to donate -- all you need is a PayPal account or an American credit card. The money gets transferred to me at the end of the campaign, and I'll post the receipt from my donation at the beginning of December. Every dollar you donate counts as TWO chances to win, and of course, there is no limit to how much you can donate! So, if you comment every day between now and October 31st, plus donate $20 for example, you'd have 45 entries in the draw (5 from the comments, and 40 from the donation)!

I will do the draw and announce the winner on December 1st. Due to shipping issues, this contest is only open to Canadian and US readers. Sorry to the folks abroad, it doesn't mean I love you any less!

Hopefully all this isn't too confusing, but I really want to continue to support the cause, even into November. While it is absolutely wonderful that so many bloggers and companies focus on Breast Cancer Awareness during October, our fight against this disease doesn't end when we take down the Halloween decorations. I've seen too many friends and colleagues battle this illness, and I believe that with our efforts, a cure can and will be found.

So yes, I hope there will be lots of comments over the next week, and lots of donations! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments. A great contest for a great prize, all for a great cause!

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Pink Product Review: Clinique Buttershine in Ribbon Pink

2008-10-24T00:04:00.005-05:00

The Comments for a Cure Campaign continues! Please leave a comment -- for every comment made until the end of October, I will donate $1 to the Canadian Cancer Society, up to a cap of $50. I extended the campaign since so far, I've raised a very impressive ONE dollar. Seriously people, help me out! ;)

So, unless you've been hiding out under a rock lately, you will know that the economy is suffering on a global scale. So much so, for some countries, that the underside of a rock actually seems to be a pretty good place to take cover until all this kufuffle settles down.

But in reality, life must go on, and part of life (mine, at least) involves makeup. And if you're going to be buying makeup during these tough times, then you might as well do some good with your consumer dollar, right? Of course, there's a slew of lovely "Pink" products to choose from, but if you're looking to get the biggest donation-bang for your buck, then look no further than Clinique's Buttershine Lipstick in Ribbon Pink.

A whopping $10 out of the purchase price of $16 goes towards the Breast Cancer Awareness Research Foundation. That's 62.5% of the sale price!

Other equally-important reasons to love this Limited Edition lipstick is how great it feels on. It's not as "smushy" as a lipbalm, but it glides on nicely, with no oily or goopy feeling. It lasts pretty much as long as a regular lipstick, but feels much more moisturizing -- even after the colour's gone, my lips feel soft and smooth.

And of course... the shade! A light-medium pink that's sheer enough to work on most skintones, Ribbon Pink packs a sparkly punch! The micro-glitter is plentiful, but not gritty, and adds great sparkle to your lips. If you're really not a sparkle-lip kind of girl, you might want to check out Estée Lauder's lip trios instead (I know I will... tomorrow!), but me, I love the sparkles. It ain't no gaudy disco glitter either... from a distance, it just looks like a nice natural shine. Here, see for yourself:

Bare Lips on Left, wearing Pink Ribbon on Rigth. Pretty!

I could definitely see putting this over a peachy lip pencil, or used to tone down a too-dark shade as well. Finally, if all that wasn't enough for you, it comes in the most darling silver case, with a magnetized closure, mirror, and pink ribbon within (of course!). Smooth glossy lip colour for a good cause... you can't lose!

For a detailed breakdown of where your "Pink" dollars go, check out Jazmin's list at Makeup Moxie. It's not surfing just a great beauty blog, it's *education*. ;)

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Pink Product Review: Jo Malone Red Roses

2008-10-22T09:31:00.002-05:00

Today is the first day of the Comments for a Cure Campaign at Brain Spam! Please leave a comment -- for every comment made between today and Friday October 24th, I will donate $1 to the Canadian Cancer Society, up to a cap of $50. Help me reach my goal and join the fight against Cancer!

Having just gone through The Summer Of Weddings, I have amassed a fair amount of wedding-related advice. The obvious one (don't wear white!) is a no-brainer, but a more subtle etiquette tip stuck out at me: Don't wear red.

Whether you choose to accept this advice or not is clearly a personal choice, but the advice-giver says that red is too eye-catching, too dramatic and passionate, and too strong. Weddings are purportedly about romance rather than drama, about a comforting, gentle love rather than a fiery, passionate one. And so, to reflect the romantic theme, one should stick with pinks if one wants to wear something in the red-family (either on the body or on the lips!).

Okay, so that might be the case for weddings, but when it comes to cancer awareness, I say we need to add a splash of Red to the Pink campaign. In the fight against cancer, yes we need compassion and understanding, but we also need the fire. We need to be dramatic and bold and attention-getting, to tell our friends and loved ones that they CAN and SHOULD take care of themselves. (Put down that cigarette! Do your monthly self breast-exams!) We need that passion, devotion, and strength if we are going to end this disease that strikes 1 out of 8 American women.

To me, Jo Malone's Red Roses cologne is a perfect combination of Pink and Red. It is the most realistic scent depiction of a real rose that I have smelled. It starts off supple and lush, with a jammy, greenish toothsome-ness, as if you'd stuck your nose in a big bouquet of freshly-cut roses with plump petals. The sweetness of the rose is balanced by a slight but bracing spiciness, reminiscent of lemon verbena (probably the lemon and spearmint notes coming through). As it dries down further, a touch of cream is apparent, with the slightest suggestion of water droplets sprinkled on petals, but it mostly stays true to the rose. Near the base of the fragrance, there is a salty earthiness that I don't detect often in floral scents, but somehow fits perfectly here.

Red Roses is a fresh and young scent -- there's no overpowering musk or sickly sweet powder associated with it. But, it has a headiness, assertiveness, and composure that usually isn't present in fragrances marketed toward younger crowds. It is at once girlish and womanly, and I could imagine myself wearing it at a day in the park or for a romantic night out with equal ease. Indeed, it might last all the way from a day at the park to a big night out -- this fragrance, despite being labeled a cologne, lasts longer than any other floral I've tried. I can still detect traces of it lingering on my coat collar days after first wearing it. I cannot imagine needing more than 2 spritzes in the morning to last you through the day, and so the 100mL bottle will last for years and years and years.

The matching bath oil in the line smells pretty much identical to the cologne. I find it works tremendously as a post-shower moisturizer, especially on the legs. It is silky, non-sticky, and leaves my sheets deliciously scented if I put it on before bed.

So if you love a beautiful rose, and want to envelope yourself in its sensuous fragrance, Jo Malone Red Roses is a beautiful candidate. Because it is relatively straight forward, I imagine it will be easily paired with other scents to create endless combinations. Plus, you'll be doing some good: Jo Malone will donate $15,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in connection with the North American sales of Red Roses Cologne and Bath Oil. So get some Red into your Pink Month, and when your friends and coworkers ask you what alluring scent you're wearing, be sure to take a minute to tell them about the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign!

Check out other blogs participating in the Comments for a Cure today: All Lacquered Up, Makeup Makes Me Happy, Mystical Beauty, and see my last post for other blogs participating in the campaign!

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-17T01:24:00.003-05:00

Oh wow, blink twice and already we're half way into October! I've been crazily trying to prepare for what may well be the most un-fun conference ever, but I do want to take a minute to talk about Breast Cancer Awareness month. As some of you may know, the members of the created a campaign last year, both to raise funds for various cancer charities, and to raise awareness about cancer prevention and treatment. It was such a success that we're doing it again this year!

I'm excited to participate -- not only will I be writing some pink-related posts, I'll also be doing the Comments for a Cure fundraiser. For every comment left on this blog on October 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, I'll be donating $1 to the Canadian Cancer Society, up to a limit of $50. (That's Wed, Thurs, and Fri next week!) Plus, there's going to be a contest for a great prize! So please stop by on those days to comment about the Pink campaign, share stories about how cancer's touched your lives, or just say 'hi'!

Of course, the best part is that the whole BBN is involved in this! Check out the "Think Pink" widget on the sidebar for links to Breast Cancer Awareness-related posts by network members, and do stop by the blogs below and drop a comment on their fundraising days. Every comment is another step in the fight against cancer!

The Beauty Blog Network Blog - Oct 15-30th

Makeup Junkie - Oct 20-22

Mystical Beauty's Musings - October 21-23

All Laquered Up - Oct 22-24

Sarah's Surprises - October 28-30

Beauty Junkie in SF - all October, on Pink posts

Christina Loves... - all October

Makeup Moxie's Beauty Blog - all October

Mischo Beauty - all October

Temptalia - all October (she has a huge goal of $1000! Let's help her make it happen!)

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Another Lumiere Sale!

2008-10-10T06:45:00.000-05:00

Hey, quickie post here. Lumiere is having another sale! The store will be closing down for the rest of October and will open in November with some cool new stuff, but for today only, ALL full sized eyeshadows are only $3 (regular $6), and all blushes, radiances, bronzers, and all over colours are just $5 for the 4g size (regular $9). What a deal.

And, just in case some shades will be made unavailable with the new opening, it would be wise to stock up now, no? Let's stimulate the economy, people. :)

SYTYCD: Real-time!

2008-10-08T19:12:00.012-05:00

Okay, so it's the first "real" episode of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and it's so so hot that I must post. In real-time, because I"m too tired to write a real post!

8:10 - First up: Arrasay and Nico. Yay! Arrasay is my 2nd favourite ... she's so damn cute, and then she dances and it's just a firecracker of sexiness, but she manages to be fun and sassy at the same time. It's a Latin number, which of course is no problem for Cuban-trained Arrasay. Nico holds his own, though it's hard to stop watching Arrasay. Not too enraptured with the guys on this show, but Nico is probably my favourite. Because he's hot. And French.

8:15 - Oh hey! I can actually VOTE instead of just ranting and raving in this SYTYCD! Nifty! I think this pairing (Arrasico?) will do well, because everyone loves those movies about the sweet cheerleader who hooks up with the sensitive bad boy, where she brings a beam of sunshine into his solitary world, and he sheds his tough demeanor to show her his tender and protective side. Right? Right?? Oh, just me? Ok then.

8:20 - Natalli & Kevin. Oh, Natalli. I don't *really* have a problem with her, I mean she is obviously fierce. But her dancing is kinda... I don't know, overly sexualized? Also a bit spastic. Like a ratings play. They have to do Hip Hop... this should be no problem for Natalie based on her slammin' hip-hop/latin solo...

8:23 - Holy crap, it's like MJ in his early days up there.

8:23 - Kevin is not sharp. Natalie is. Oh look, she's sticking out her butt. How unpredictable.

8:24 - Haha, Leah just called them out for dressing like sluts. Luther just compared them to cartoon mice?? Mmm kay. Blah blah blah "technically imperfect, but Natalli's bod is so slammin' we weren't even looking" blah blah.

8:25 - Tre thinks they did not "kill it", but they did "hit it". "I'm not gonna hate, I'm gonna participate, and congratulate." Wow.

8:25 - Jean-Marc is baffled by Kevin's ice-blue eyeshadow, which sparkles past his temple and right into his hair. Okay, maybe that was just me again. Anyway, it's all very Blades of Glory.

8:27 - AHHHHH! Bre! My total total fave! Whitby represent!! Francis is... French? I don't really remember him, but whatever, BRE!!!! Even her nails are hot.

8:30 - Bre looks like Aunt Becky, but blonde and sparkly. And not on that godawful new 90210 show. Wheee, spinny lift! Weird to see sharp reaches in waltzes, but hey, the song is kind of strange too.

8:30 - OMG! Dance-makeout! God Leah is annoying.

8:31 - Luther you are a booooo suck-face. Your MOM's just kinda ~here~. Okay, fine, the dance really wasn't *that* great. But Blake's "you feel like a natural...grandmother" line was harsh, esp since we know that he probably starts every morning by belting out "Natural Woman" into his hairbrush.

8:32 - Tre feels the same as me about the lack of smooth in smooth-waltz. Whatever, I'm so voting for Bre and her strange FoodTV Chef-looking partner.

8:37 - Why are all ballerinas named Allie? Oh well, Calgary woot! At least I don't hate her like I hated that Jessie girl from The Season of Benji. This Danny dude sure likes jumping on other dudes.

8:39 - Jive! I miss Benji. Apparently man-humper is good a jive, good for him.

8:40 - I love how they put Allie in a tutu even though it's Jive. They do look cute together.

8:41 - Oh those were some painful looking lifts. Allie looks confused during the last part.

8:42 - Please, please Leah, do NOT wear Allie's skirt. I think we've seen quite enough of your legs.

8:42 - Luther totally wants Allie. Or he has a mouse fetish, I don't know. Really? Fave performance so far??? Huh.

8:43 - DON'T TAKE THE SKIRT. Stupid Leah.

8:45 - Hey wait! This is shot in Toronto. I live in Toronto. How do I get in on some live-audience action?

8:50 - Who is this Kaitlyn girl paired with Issak? I have no idea. Haha, they're too young to know what Broadway is.

8:51 - Issak, you totally go around slapping random ass back home in Prince George, don't even lie. And note to choreo guy: it's illegal in some places for these kids to "get to know each others' bodies more".

8:53 - The ass-grab looked decidedly uncomfortable. What is with all this ass-gesturing? I've seen Chicago and there wasn't this much ass in the whole movie. WHAT is Issak doing, breasfeeding?

8:54 - Tre: "I don't see your full reality yet". Huh?

8:56 - Commercial break. Does anyone know if drinking expired almond milk will make you sick? Guess we're about to find out.

9:01 - I am kind of scared of Lisa, but also want to maybe have a beer with her. Or have her teach me about the gym, girlfriend is ripped. Vasson is French and cute. So many French!

9:03 - Why do contemporary dancers always have one pant leg rolled up?

9:04 - I LOVE Lisa's dress!!!(Also her trend-sensitive grey dance pants) Emily Rossum sings? I thought she was an actress. But the dancing... OMG! They are pretty much fan-frickin-AWESOME.

9:05 - Oooh, I just got goosebumps a little. That was really really really good. And it made Luther "get it".

9:07 - Yes Tre, I did inhale during the performance. Thank you for pointing that out.

9:13 - Who is Lara? She looks about 30, and looks just like Christine Taylor, actually. Oh Miles is the Justin Timberlake wannabe! And they get disco, nice.

9:15: - Yay, white Go-Go boots! LOVE her outfit. And the sparkles. And the hair.

9:16: - Heeheee! Disco hands! Keep that groove train rollin'!

9:18 - Kiss?? What kiss? Where was this kiss? I missed a kiss? God I wish I had TiVo.

9:19 - Oh my, that is a nice lil hip thing that Miles does, isn't it. They do make a rather gorgeous (and flexible) couple.

9:20 - Oh. My. God. Romina is in a tacky plastic French Maid outfit. This can't be good.

9:27 - Romina totally looks like Nelly Furtado, so it is surprising that she does not hip the hop. Her booty roll is bombastic though.

9:28 - Oh wow, did she just grap his *nipple*?? On another note, we now know that Leah is desperate and trampy. Know even more, I mean.

9:30 - Blake is really fond of the phrase "pull up". If I ever have a SYTYCD Canada marathon party, that will totally be the trigger phrase for the drinking game. (Of course there would be shots and a drinking game at my SYTYCD party, what kind of person do you think I am?!)

9:37 - Tamina is ridiculous, she looks all of 12 years old. But she is so cute and so fun you can't help but like her. Joey (more Calgary yay!) is the embodiment of a contemporary boy. He's got contemporary eyes!

9:39 - Tamina has some nice kicks, for being a girl from the booty-shaking section of the dance world. Her hands bother me though. And that crotch-mashing hip shake was totally not Tango.

9:40 - Leah. These outfits are for DANCING. Unless you are going to take up semi-professional dancing, that just makes you whorish if you wear them.

9:42 - Poor hands-in-pockets Joey. I have the same problem, I never know where to put my hands. It's either pockets or hip, so I perpetually look either shy and defensive or really indignant.

9:43: - Oh darlin' Tamina. "Well we did our best." So cute.

9:43 - Oh my god, the Clover Leaf Energy Zone is either the stupidest or most brilliant thing ever. I loved the random "let's grab our 1.5 seconds of fame" dance troupe doing their carefully-rehearsed choreography. Hilarious!

9:47 - Caroline is another girl I don't remember. Oh boo hoo, she does not have the "best body for dance"... what does that mean? Donyelle had twice the booty you did and look how far she got. Jesse looks like he's throwin' down some kung fu on the dance floor.

9:49 - Hee hee! There are not enough orangne suits in the world. Woah Jesse, that was a weak jump.

9:50 - Oh god, this looks like a hot mess. The strip-tease didn't help.

9:53 - Wow, the judges are being pretty generous. I really didn't think it was that entertaining, but then I've never been asked to dance jazz-pop while wearing an afro, so what do I know.

9:55 - Could they possibly cram any more corporate sponsorship into this? Not only did Leah have to mention Roger's name, she had to spout off their tag line too? Way to whore-out. (But hey, if that's what makes this show possible, then so be it.)

Okay, and that's a wrap! Aren't you glad I don't do this normally? Editing and concentration are the only things that shelter you guys from the inane ramblings that go on in my head. Don't worry, I won't make this a regular thing. But I will toddle off now to vote! Catch ya later!

Product Review: Vichy Dermablend Concealer

2008-10-01T00:54:00.003-05:00

So as I sit here, awake at 2am despite the fact that I have to get up in 5 hours, my thoughts naturally turn to concealer. This past summer's been so busy (and cash-poor) that when I ran out of my beloved Cinema Secrets concealer, I had to make do with drugstore brands. (Nice to see Cinema Secrets get some love in Allure's "Best Of" list, this year, by the way) But, to my delight, I came across a fantastic, high-coverage, easily blendable concealer at Shopper's, and it is totally shameful that I call myself a beauty blogger and yet I have waited this long to share it with you all.

Nonetheless, they say better late than never, and here it is: Vichy Dermablend Concealer!

Vichy Dermablend is a gel-cream type of product, and feels almost like a thick-ish silicone primer. On the skin, this translates to the product gliding on beautifully... there's no tugging happening here! Its silky application means that you can apply really sheer layers to cover red areas, but also build up coverage for dark circles.

Ya know how makeup artists are always saying "just apply concealer where necessary and skip the foundation for a fresh-faced look"? I don't know about you, but upon reading that, I promptly go "pfffft" and move along... with most concealers, you end up getting a freaky and patchy-faced look, unless you've also got foundation on. But Dermablend does it right: Just stipple it into your skin with a good concealer brush and it blends pretty much seamlessly. It is even more skin-like than Cinema Secrets, due in large part to the fact that it's in liquid form.

Despite all its good points, Dermablend still didn't give enough coverage for me to use on its own. I think I might have just picked a shade that was a hair too dark (they do have like 12 shades to choose from, which is awesome), but I've achieved great results by layering Maybelline's Age Rewind concealer over top. In fact, I've since bought another little tub of Cinema Secrets, and dare I say it, I think I may even like the Dermablend+Age Rewind combo better! [EDIT: I lied, Dermablend comes in 6 shades. Which is still pretty good.]

(Incidentally, it seems like they may have reformulated the Cinema Secrets concealer... it seems thicker now, and since when was it scented? Of course, the store also didn't have my exact shade for some reason, so I had to pick the next closest one, which could be throwing everything off. Still, I'm pretty sure there was no scent in it before...)

So okay, I should say that despite being available at the drugstore, this concealer demands practically department-store prices. But, for the $23 it costs, you will get months and months of use, and it is at least comparable, if not better than many department store brands. The needle-nose tube is hygenic and doesn't waste product, plus I got mine on sale for like $16, so keep an eye out for that.

But really, the best way to deal with dark circles is to not get them in the first place, so it's off to bed for me! If you've also been bit by the irresponsible-sleeping-habits bug, do hop over to your local Shopper's and check out the Dermablend line.

Product Review: Annabelle Eyeshadow

2008-09-28T22:53:00.000-05:00

Hey folks! This will be a random sort of post... I had a big fun-and-funnel-cake filled day at Canada's Wonderland today, so I am kinda pooped, not to mention a bit queasy still from all the sugar and spinning.

But some things cannot wait! There are often times when I bemoan my Canadian status, in the sense that there are so many great drugstore lines (e.g., Max Factor, Neutrogena, etc) that just aren't available up here. But sometimes, the tables turn and it is WE that have awesome brands that can only be had from the Great White North. Quebec-based Annabelle Cosmetics is definitely one of these, and my Canadian lovelies, this one's for you!

I've tried their blushes (ok, but not too exciting) and lip glosses (great texture and shine, but somewhat limited colour selection). But the real standouts are their eye shadows... smooth, silky shades with good colour payoff (no chalkiness here) that blend well and stay put. Some people even draw favourable comparisons to MAC shadows... what more could you ask for?

I have Annabelle shadows in just 3 shades so far... Gleam (pictured) is a pretty, neutral (almost cool) shimmery light-to-midtone champagne shade, perfect as a base or highlight. Suedine (pictured)is a gorgeous neutral-warm taupe, perfect for creating a softly smokey eye. It's not really as dark or red as it looks. Cloud is a shimmery light silvery taupe, cooler than Suedine, but great as a highlight shade for said soft smokey eye.

I've also tried a couple of eyeshadow duo's from Annabelle, but they didn't really appeal... not sure if I just picked the wrong shades, or if the quality is actually not as good. They also shatter relatively easily, which is not good for my clumsy self. But the single shadows! They are winners.

Oh, and what handy timing! Shopper's Drug Mart is having a sale on these! $2.99 for select types of Annabelle shadows, eye liners, and lip liners (oh, yeah, the lip liners are nice too! Love the metallic ones... Berry Bijou is so creamy it's almost lipstick). Even at the regular price of around $6, the single shadows are a steal, and with a good mix of easy-going shades and trendy pops of more vibrant colours, I will for sure be stocking up! The sale is only on until Friday Oct 3, so get on down and check it out!

Awesome Sale! 25% off ANY Lumiere Cosmetics Purchase

2008-09-24T01:58:00.001-05:00

Hey folks! If you've been a long-time reader of this blog, you'll know that I am a huge fan of Lumiere Cosmetics. And if you're also a fan, or you're looking to try out some new mineral makeup, then there's no better time to act, because Lumiere is offering a 25% discount on their entire inventory*! Lumiere's prices are very reasonable to begin with, so this extra discount adds up to a really fantastic deal.

While I'm super thrilled about the deals, the reason behind the sale is bittersweet: The owner of Lumiere, Kim, recently lost her beloved dog Bruno. Bruno was a rescue pup from the Humane Society, and had been a gentle and loving companion to Kim and her kids for the past 8 years. Bruno will be greatly missed and fondly remembered, and Kim is paying tribute to his memory by donating 10% of all profits during this sale period to her local Humane Society, so that other pets like Bruno can continue to be adopted into loving homes.

Having dealt with Kim on several occasions, I can say that she is the nicest person, and her dedication to her customers amazes me every time I deal with her. I'm so sorry for her loss, but so appreciative that she is taking time and effort to do good deeds with her business, even during what must be a difficult time for her. Please support her endeavour (and the Humane Society!) by checking out the Lumiere website... you're sure to find something you'll like!

As for me? Predictably, I had trouble cutting down the huge list of things I wanted. I'm stocking up on their Luminess mineral foundation, which gives light coverage and a beautifully glowy (not sparkly) finish. As well, I've fallen hard for Sweet Cherub silk blush: it is this gorgeous, slightly shimmery nude-pink that looks angelic and innocent, and unlike any other blush I've tried.

I'm also getting a truckload of eyeshadow samples (seriously, these little containers last FOREVER), and I'm looking forward to testing out their mini-lip gloss sampler as well (so cute! 6 shades! your choice! only like $11!).

Another favourite is Lumiere's Silk Radiance in Island Sands -- a light dusting of it adds a soft-focus glow... it's like carrying around your own personal supply of flattering lighting! In my books, it's essential for a romantic date or a fun night out on the town. Or weddingns. Or photos. Or mornings after you've stayed up all night blogging and your face looks as blah as you feel. I think you get the point.

Oh, and I can't believe I've never given it a proper review, but Lumiere happens to make the best Kabuki brush I've ever tried, forever and ever amen. I couldn't imagine applying mineral foundation without it: kitten-soft, but dense and firm enough to do the job right, this thing has yet to shed 1 hair, and I've been using it daily for over a year. Plus, it's only $16, which means only $12 with the discount! Crappy drug-sore kabukis cost more than that... if I didn't already have 2, I'd buy another one. (Have I mentioned how much I love this brush??)

Okay, that's enough out of me for now. Get on over to the website and place your order already! The sale is only on until Friday September 26th, so don't miss out!

* Minimum purchase of $10. Which is laughable, since I could easily spend 10x that amount on their stuff.

Product Review: Laura Geller Lip Shiner

2008-09-08T23:02:00.003-05:00

Arrgh! Is there anything more frustrating (at least in the world of makeup) than finding your perfect shade of something, only to see it discontinued? Especially when that item is crucial to the classic look that is the Nude Lip. I'm talking, of course, about my favourite nude lip gloss, Beige Théoric by Bourjois (aka: The Gloss That Cured My Nude Lip Phobia). I was finally running out of my little purse-sized version, so I decided to pop into Sephora to pick up a full-sized gloss. But to my (astonished) chagrin, they were discontinuing the Bourjois line! I couldn't believe it... Bourjois seemed to be well-liked brand, and at a pretty reasonable price-point. What gives???

Anyway, I immediately began swatching like a crazy person, looking for a duplicate shade. Sadly, nothing matched exactly. Oh there were close ones: Vincent Longo's Perfect Shine Lip Gloss in Dolce was lovely, with a great texture, but didn't have enough warmth or pink. Stila's Lip Glaze Mocha was too cool and dark. The darker shade of Soho in Cargo's Lipgloss Duo was also close, but I'd heard not-great things about the lasting power, plus the tin was bound to get super goopy in my purse.

Sephora's Ultra-Shine Lip Gloss in Beige (#20) had nearly the same effect as Beige Theoric -- even though it was a few shades paler, it was also much sheerer, so the end result was similar. But, I hesitated to spend $17 on a gloss with such a low colour payoff. I allllmost went for Lorac's Plumping Gloss in Missie -- the shade was almost dead on (a teeeeny bit too peach/brown, but whatevs), but at the last minute decided against it due to all the sparkle and the plumping factor (it seemed to irritate a little, but that could have been because I'd been rubbing gloss on and off my lips for the past hour).

Okay, yes, I know, high maintenance much? But I swear, there's a happy ending here. While I didn't end up finding an exact dupe of Beige Theoric, I did come across a totally fantastic gloss. Remember the Creme de Gloss by Christian Dior that I practically faintned over? Well, Laura Gellers Lip Shiners totally mimic the texture and look of those glosses, at about half the price!

The gel-based formula feels super creamy and moist, just like Creme de Gloss. It's maybe just the slightest bit tackier, but leaps and bounds better than most glosses. And just like Creme de Gloss, it leaves a nice amount of pigment, and the shine comes from the super-fine shimmer in the formula, rather than entirely from the gloss itself. This means that even after your morning cup of coffee, you'll still have a bit of nice gleam on your kisser.

I could probably do without the burnt-caramel scent in the gloss ... it's not really unpleasant; sort of like crème brûlée. It's just not really my thing. Fortunately, the scent disappears pretty much immediately, so it's not bothersome at all. Most of the shades are all shimmery, but not frosty (they also have a clear shade), and there are 9 easy-going colours to choose from. I ended up grabbing Bermuda Sand, which is a gorgeous golden/bronzed pink shade. No, it's not the same as Beige Théoric, but it's awesome. It's not quite a nude shade for me, but it tones down my pigmented lips, and would bring a bit of fresh colour to the typical smokey-eye/nude lip look.

And the best part? At just $17 CAD a pop, I can afford to indulge in several chic tubes of this plush gloss without massive amounts of spendy guilt. Which is more than I can say about anything by Christian Dior.

Oh, and as for the saga for My Perfect Nude Gloss... I ended up hopping online to to buy my coveted and endangered gloss. Strawberrynet.com has a whole bunch of Bourjois goodies in stock (some discounted!), and will ship anywhere for free. Naturally, I stockpiled a bit, just in case. If you prefer to do your bargain shopping IRL, I found that L'Oreal's Made For Me Naturals in Dune, Maybelline's Moisture Extreme in Nude Blush, and Annabelle's Le Gloss Stick in the nude shade (sorry, can't remember the name) are all decent.

So I guess the moral of the story is that a: Laura Geller's Lip Shiners totally rock, and b: there really is a nude lipcolour out there for everyone. I should know... I've tried them all!

Product.... Review? Clairol Natural Instincts

2008-08-14T13:36:00.000-05:00

From the archives: A couple summers ago, I decided to take out my highlights by going over them with a semi-permanent colour. I had... shall we say "interesting" results. Even though this is an old post, it still gets some comments, so I think it's worthy of another mention. I've actually toyed with using Natural Instincts again (in a lighter shade, of course), since it did leave my hair really really shiny, but I've yet to take the plunge. For now...

Ok, fine, so maybe I was overreacting a bit. The hair is dark, but it's not that dark. The freshly dyed hair, still wet from the shower, combined with the late hour and the long black nightgown sort of made me feel like I should wear lots of eyeliner and draw pentagrams everywhere. But today, after a good night's sleep and some berry lipgloss, things don't seem quite so bad.

Let's start at the start, shall we? Because I'm so indie and cool*, I apparently like to do the opposite of what the seasonal hair trends are. In the winter, when everyone's going dark, I get highlights. When the sun comes out and people go lighter, I have manic compulsions to take out all my highlights and go monotone. The many highlights I'd had from months past were getting kinda freaky. Plus, there were hella roots, which is never a good look. So after months of saying that I wanted to cover my streaks, I finally took the plunge.

A very capable stylist once told me that the best way to grow out highlights was to use a semi-permanent rinse in a shade close to your natural (or base) colour and apply it all over your head. Because of its low peroxide levels, the rinse won't lift your natural colour, but it will cover any lighter strands. As it's not a permanent dye, the colour will eventually fade and wash out gradually, but your highlights will still grab on to a tiny bit of the darker hue. After 3 or 4 weeks, repeat the process. By the 3rd time, your highlights should be close enough to your base colour so that roots are not noticeable. This repeated dyeing shouldn't be too harsh for your hair, since you're not bleaching or lifing any colour.

Sounds good in theory, right? So yesterday, off I go to pick up a box of semi-permanent dye. The only one I could find at the drugstore was Clairol's Natural Instincts, which made brand selection pretty darn straight forward.

The Hazelnut shade is described as a medium brown, and I chose it because it was fairly neutral. I didn't want to go with too warm of a shade since I didn't want it to deposit with a red tinge, and I feared that a really cool shade would make things look ashy. And I like Hazelnut coffee and Hazelnut chocolate and Hazelnut ice-cream, so it seemed like the right choice for me.

The process was fairly simple: pour the developer into the dye, then shake the bottle like you're channeling pre-crazy Tom Cruise in Cocktail (I miss you, pre-crazy Tom!). After it's thickened, squeeze the product from the pointed spout onto your hair, starting at the roots and working down.

10 minutes later (or up to 20 min if your hair is resistant), you're supposed to rinse the dye away to discover your great new colour.

So what went wrong? Maybe I should have followed instructions and not left it on for 20 minutes (what? I thought my hair was 'resistant'. It is not.). Or maybe I should have picked a lighter shade. Because somehow, the dye made my BASE colour darker than before. WTF? My base IS black, how could it get any darker?

As it turns out, most of my hair was probably an "off-black" (is that even a term?) to begin with. Between the highlighting and the sun and the 14 years of hard mountain water I'd been subjecting my hair to, my natural colour had faded. And so, now not only were my highlights covered, my overall colour was darkened, leading to my mild-to-medium-rare freak out last night.

In all honesty, it's not that bad. It's more the shock than anything. The highlights are still visible, albeit much darker than before. The ends of my hair seemed to absorb more colour, which is not a surprise since the ends are always drier. Besides, this shade is technically much closer to the one with which I was born, and if Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh, and eleventy bajillion people in China can look good in it, so can I.

Generally speaking, Clairol Natural Instincts did its job. The colour was darker than expected, but it did do a beautiful job of covering highlights -- they are toned down, but still kind of visible, which helps break up the solid colour. And, the best thing is that my hair is now shinier than I have ever seen it. It feels really silky and healthy too. The darker shade (great for hiding split ends!), minus the brassy highlights, plus the kick-ass conditioner they include in the box, make me want to toss my locks around and say things like "daaaahling". So that's really cool. Also, my hair looks longer for some reason. That could be the fumes from the dye talking though.

Obviously, I can't tell yet how this will wash out, but I think I'll use a clarifying shampoo tonight to see if I can lighten the colour just a tad. I think it's safe to go outside without scaring the children; the dogs didn't seem to think I was Satan Incarnate when they saw me this morning.

So, if you're looking to grow out your highlights gracefully, using a semi-permanent colour like Natural Instincts is definitely an option. I would pick a shade or 2 lighter than you think you'd like to end up. This way, the change is more gradual and you won't be tempted into melodramatic 2AM hystrics. If it doesn't end up as dark as you'd like, you can always wait a bit and re-do it with the darker shade.

Besides, new hair colour means I simply must go makeup shopping to tweak my colour palette, right?

Oh, PS: I am wearing a luscious Tarte mascara and bronzer today, which I am testing out so that I can review them for Meg's Makeup! Stay tuned for more details!

* Read: perpetually confused

[EDIT: Oh, for those of you who hate your new semi-permanent colour and want to get it out, please go see the Left Brain's enormously helpful tip in the comments here Who knew a good ol' head soak was the answer?]

Product Review: Anna Sui Secret Wish Perfume

2008-07-26T01:48:00.001-05:00

Hey, you know how I was a bit obsessed with Bond No. 9's Scent of Peace? That charmingly joyful blend of blackberries, florals, and woods? Well, the obsession has not faded: I have literally taken out my little sample vial and shoved it under the noses of friends at school, dinner, weddings, funerals, with the demand that they "must smell this". (Okay, maybe not at funerals. Yet.)

The general consensus is that everyone just luuuhhhves it, but then they get sticker shock when they hear the price. Still, we smitten girls dreamily spend the rest of the day/evening sniffing our wrists: unable to get enough of it, and fighting the urge to throw good sense to the wind and just buy a bottle already. (Fact: it is very hard to smell pretty when they've cut off your water and electricity)

So what's a girl to do? Seduced by the scent, but unable to finance it? Look for duplicates, of course.

There's a lot of talk on the internets about how Scent of Peace smells just like Dolce & Gabanna's Light Blue. Personally, I don't see (smell?) the resemblance. Sure, they're both kind of fruity and light, but Light Blue has a sharp sour note to it that I don't like. But, with a bit more research, I came upon a tip that Scent of Peace is a dead-ringer for this perfume:

Anna Sui's Secret Wish. (NOT Secret Wish Magic Romance, which is something else entirely.) Apparently sold in Victoria's Secret stores (which we don't have in Canada), the list of notes sounded about right: lemon, melon and apricot-scented flowers, pineapple, black current, white cedarwood, amber. (Although, what the heck are apricot-scented flowers? Is it apricot, or flowers? Why not just call it "apricot flowers"? Ridiculous.) So, off I went to the Anna Sui counter at Sears to take a sniff.

Verdict? A winner! It's not really as good as the Scent of Peace, of course. It's too sweet to be a real dupe, but it's very close. And, about 10x cheaper, especially if you buy it off eBay. Due to my woeful financial state, I've forbidden myself from even purchasing *that*, but once the Funding Fairy comes in September, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be picking up a bottle.

Product Review: Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Butter & Lip Butter

2008-06-28T11:13:00.000-05:00

From the archives. Just wanted to mention that I still love this butter, plus The Body Shop recently lowered the Canadian prices by a couple bucks, to reflect how well our dollar is doing. Still a splurge, but at least they tried!

A few quick words about the Body Shop's new Pink Grapefruit stuff. I am already addicted to the shower gel in this line, so I was super excited to see that they were coming out with the corresponding body and lip butters.

First, the Body Butter: MMMMMMM! The consistency is similar to many of the other body butters (perhaps a tiny bit lighter and more gel like), but the smell! It's incredible -- they've captured the sweetness of pink grapefruit, and balanced it out perfectly with a salty tang. Yes, you read right, SALTY. It's subtle, but it totally sets the scent apart from the millions of other pink grapefruit products out there. It is as refreshing and zippy and summery as a Seabreeze, and The Boy goes "Oh my god you smell so good" without fail whenever I use it. Total winner.

I wish I loved the Pink Grapefruit Lip Butter as much. I really wanted to love this. The scent is sweetly delicious, and the texture is much much creamier than Lip Butters of yore. They must've changed the formulation -- gone is the crumbly dry mess that used to be the lip butters. The new and improved version is smooth and almost whipped.

Sadly, this tends to leave a milky, white/pink look to the lips. While this might be a good thing for those looking to rock the Surfer-Girl chic, for the rest of us it is an unfortunate side effect. Also, this means you'll have to make sure your lips are already smooth before applying, otherwise the balm will emphasize any dry flakes. Moisturizing power is mediocre -- again, better than before, but not great, especially considering how plush the body butters are. Still, the scent is quite yummy, and for that alone I will use up my little tub.

To offset all this awesomeness, the Body Shop has raised the prices for their Body Butters YET AGAIN. They're now $20 CAD a pop, up from a price increase to $19 less than a year ago. But with the Pink Grapefruit, Strawberry, and trusty Nut butters crowding the top of my need-to-have-it list, I'd better keep my eye out for those 2 for $30 sales! Bastards.

Not Makeup: SYTYCD, Real Time!

2008-05-29T19:36:00.002-05:00

Holy CRAP. So, I'm hardly one to go gaga over this emo, rolling-around-on-the-ground, Mia Michaels-esque contemporary dancing. (Said with utmost respect, of course) But YOWZA did you guys SEE this Brandon Bryant guy on So You Think You Can Dance? First, he looks like he's all of 5'8", but he's allll muscle. All of it. Everywhere. He's also gayer than a birdcage full of glitter*, all wearin' Chuck Bass scarves and talkin' bout his mama slappin' him upside the head for underage auditioning in Season 1.

And then he gets on stage, and it's like.... Spartacus. Doing ballet. Gracefully like he's on skates or something. This dude is like sweaty Roman soldiers doing battle-pirouettes on ice. It looks like he has perfect control over every single, plentiful, muscle in his body. He's just so JACKED! Total goosebumps!

And then he gets off stage and he's super gay again! Yaaayyyy! Super gayyyy!

Could Brandon be my new SYTYCD fave? He certainly looks like he'd have the technique to kill at other styles of dance. (And the technique to kill a bunch of Navy SEALS, for that matter.) Besides, he's already won "Star Search", and in fact was a finalist with David Archuleta, and look how far THAT kid got.

But let's not forget our resident Oscar the Grouch. Granted the "this is for you, Mom!" storyline might have swayed me, but I loved Markus Shields. He looks so thug, like Snoop Dog with the 'do rag and the long floppy limbs. I guess his style IS hip hop, but it's also so lyrical and flowy and just plain nice. They should definitely put him on the show, if for no other reason than to show how the magic of Mia Michael's choreography can break down stony walls and to let his manly emotions burst forth!

The rest of them were pretty unmemorable (well, Claire Callaway's extreme skinny-ness scared me, I guess). Fortunately, Nigel kept me entertained: "You look camouflage up in the dictionary, and you can't find it!" Oh Nigel.

2 other thoughts: 1) Cat hugs a lot of sweaty people. I wonder how much hand sanitizer she goes through in a day. 2) By the look of it, they cast (um, sorry, "put through to Vegas") one of the Wayan brothers. (He's the guy that ran into the door, at the end of the episode.) WTF??

And finally, to end all this randomness, Benji should totally do some DC Swing! It'd be haawwwt.

Oh, my phone's ringing, gotta jet! What about you, any favourite dancers so far?

* I don't know, that seems pretty gay, doncha think?

Product Review: Malibu Secret

2008-05-27T14:37:00.003-05:00

Anti-aging seems to be all the rage these days. Of course, there has always been the countless anti-wrinkle products, but fighting the signs of time no longer seems to be the exclusive territory of face-creams. Dove has a Pro-Age line for aging hair, scientists claim grapefruit scents make you smell younger, and food and beverage companies tout the anti-oxidant (read: anti-aging) properties of their offerings.

Well why should your face, hair, nose, and stomach have all the fun? There's like 95% of skin on our bodies that's not on our faces... why shouldn't it get some pampering?

Clearly, the mother-and-son team behind Malibu Secret* had the same idea.

Malibu Secret is a cream that takes some of those good-for-you (and expensive!) active ingredients in higher end anti-aging facial creams and puts them in something designed specifically for the rest o' your bod. After all, if they make your face look smooth, even-toned, and glowing, shouldn't it do the same for your arms, legs, and whatever body parts you'd like to show off? Some of these fancy ingredients include Thymulen 4 (French patented!), Bois 11, and Dermox SRC. Okay, so I don't actually know what any of these things do, but they sound impressive! You can read more about the ingredients here. Oh, and it's paraben free, which is always nice.

I can't really speak to whether Malibu Secret makes my limbs look younger (mostly because my limbs haven't changed that much over the years), but I really love Malibu Secret for its soothing and moisturizing properties. I had a spot of difficult eczema-ish irritation near my collar-bone, which is not exactly picturesque (hello, wedding season!). I'd tried everything I had (face creams too!) and nothing worked. But after a few days of using Malibu Secret, I could see a real improvement, and with 2 weeks of use, the irritation cleared up completely.

This soothing ability was extra-surprising, since the product has a fairly prominent scent. It's very beachy... floral and coconut, with a hint of suntan lotion. If you like coconut scents, you will LOVE this. I'm not much of a coconut fan, but I found the scent pleasant enough.

Thick and moisturizing, but quick to sink in... this generous tube (over 200 mL) is a great summery treat for the skin. Shimmy a bit of this over your shoulders and your legs and you'll feel ready for those patios and clubs in no time! You can order from their website, or find them at these fine Canadian retailers

BC: Beautilicious (South Surrey)
AB: Pink Door (Camrose), Smashing Cosmetica (Banff)
ON: Cosmetique (Hamilton)
Que: Abe & Mary's (Montreal)

If you'd like to see Malibu Secret in your favourite store, just leave a comment below or email the company!

* They look like beautiful TV people. Seriously! Also, the packaging is hilarious... if you look closely, you will see the words "I Love You" scrawled in the sand across the front of the bottle!

Tighten Your Wallet and/or Your Belt

2008-04-27T14:22:00.000-05:00

Hey folks! So, you know how it's all hot and sunny out? And you know how the need for caffeine strikes grad-student-bloggers who stay up way too late drinking way too much beer while watching their hockey team (who hasn't won the Stanley Cup in way too many years) let in waaayyyyy too many goals to lose yet another series ... um, where was I? Right: Coffee. Need it. And when the temperatures are on the rise, the desire for something cold, delicious, and Starbucks kicks in.

Yeah, but that lush-lookin' frap has over 300 calories, and that's WITHOUT the whip. And not that I'm one to obsess over these kinds of things, but the idea of consuming a meal's worth of calories* in one drink on a regular basis is a bit disconcerting (Grande ain't just a drink size, people). Besides, these babies are like $4-something a pop, and at my typical rate of coffee consumption, I'd go broke in no time.

So today, while standing in line at Starbucks, I pondered: I want coffee. Just like my regular brewed coffee, but... cold. How does one make hot coffee cold? With ice, you say? And what's this on the menu... "Brewed Iced Coffee"?? And it only costs a bit more than the regular coffee? How have I never thought to order this before?!?!

Even if you are a sugar freak like me, and put in 2 shots of flavoured syrup PLUS sweetener, with a dash of skim, it still all comes to just about 150 calories for the Grande size. At $2.68 for all that, I am a happy camper. A happy, caffeinated, cool-as-a-cucumber camper. Sugar-free syrup would put you at 110 calories, and if you're feeling especially frugal, you can skip the syrup and just use sweetener -- it dissolves better than sugar, and you don't really taste the "fake-sugar" aftertaste much due to the coffee-ness and cold-ness of it all.

Yes, okay, so it doesn't look as sexy as the Vanilla Frap. But pour some milk into that baby, watch it billow out in silky clouds, and tell me that it doesn't make you feel like a coffee artiste.

And since this is a beauty blog and all... in beauty-related wallet-friendly news, my favourite go-to conditioner, Thermasilk, is long gone. It's been replaced by ThermaShine in the Sunsilk line. While it's not 100% the same, it's pretty darn close (even the scent!). I just don't get excited about it in the same way though... I think the blue/lilac colour is throwing me off. I did pick up another bottle the other day when I ran out, so obviously it's good enough. And it's cheap and easily available, which is always good. (That's what she said.)

*To be honest, I can never finish one of those anyway. It's just too much -- makes me too full. Plus, they're either too cold to start, or too warm and gross and separated by the time it's liquid enough to really drink. I am a sucker for their whipped cream though!

Product Review: The Body Shop Brazil Nut Body Scrub & Africa Spa Body Balm

2008-04-17T10:41:00.000-05:00

Hey guys and dolls! Not to be harping on a Body Shop theme or anything, but talking about that Q&A yesterday reminded me that I wanted to review their Brazil Nut Body Scrub. Apparently, in some parts of the world, Spring has been sprung for weeks, and you lovely ladies out there have been frolicking in the sunshine and whatnot. But for those of us in Canada (ok, non-BC Canada) and the Eastern parts of the US, the sun has only recently been peeking out from grey skies, and those chilly winds have just begun to calm down.

And so, all of a sudden, I must deal with the dilemma of scaley elbows paired with short-sleeved shirts. My skirts are a-begging to be worn, but my legs are all "Hell no lady, not 'til you get some heavy-duty moisture on us!" What to do when faced with such dermatological unpleasantries and... um, limbs that yell at you?

Scrub and Moisturize!

Let me be the first to say that I hated the Body Shop scrubs of yore. The ones that were in the scent of the Body Butters? They were greasy and oily and sloppy and leaky and just plain not good. But things have changed, my friends! The Brazil Nut Body Scrub, once a sugary hot mess, is now full of creamy, scrubby goodness.

Replacing the sugar granules with crushed walnut shells gives you greater exfoliating power, while the luscious creamy base feels silky and soft. A thin layer of moisture is left on the skin after you rinse off, helping you achieve that healthy, supple glow. And the scent! It's not exactly the same as the Brazil Nut Butter itself, but it is very close, and it's leaps and bounds better than the old one, which had this burnt-sugar and plasticky scent.

To really indulge, I like to slather on some Africa Spa Rich Body Balm after I hop out of the shower. It's fairly light for such a moisturizing product, so it's good for use in the summer (although it does feel a wee bit sticky sometimes). I love this soothing scent (always have), and the $25 price tag doesn't seem so bad now that the regular butters are $22 a pop. (Not that I'm bitter or anything.)

If you have super dry skin and don't mind splurging even more, the thicker Hand and Foot Honey Butter is amazing as an all-over moisturizer. Cute-Helpful-Salesgirl also suggested the Africa Spa Salt Scrub, but I was already sold on the Brazil Nut Butter Scrub. Next time and next paycheque, Salesgirl!

Diligently using these products will banish that scaley, itchy, leftover-Winter skin, leaving you and your gorgeous epidermis to burst forth like... um, some terribly cute animal into some terribly cute springtime scene. And if you've been turned off by some of TBS' products in the past, hop on over there and take another look. Some great classics are still lovely as ever, and some former-losers have been transformed into all-around winners!

Ask the Body Shop!

2008-04-16T12:05:00.007-05:00

Hey y'all! Some of you may know that I used to work at The Body Shop back in the day. I loved the job... learned a lot, and made some lifelong friends. It was a blast! One thing I remember especially was watching the training videos for the then-newly released makeup line. I loved The Body Shop's head makeup artist, Chase Aston, both for his helpful tips ("bend the mascar wand when applying to another person's lashes") and for his lurrrvely accent. So when I got the opportunity to ask Chase some of my most burning beauty questions, I jumped at the chance. Here are my questions, and his answers, for your viewing pleasure!

Glitterati: Wedding season is upon us, and with it brings a whole lot of photo ops. Do you have any tips on how to look your best in photographs? (For brides and guests!)

Chase: Here's the secret to looking amazing in your wedding photos: add some special touches that you would not normally wear everyday. Visit your nearest The Body Shop store wearing your normal everyday make-up, and speak to a consultant about trying a new look for a special occasion. Ask her to demonstrate The Body Shop Spring Bloom collection on you and/or any other products to create a look for that special day.

Glitterati: Over the past few seasons, we've seen a lot of striking looks on the runways: from the return of lipstick, to all-over-neutrals, to bold 'n bright eyeliner. What beauty trends have inspired you the most? What trends or looks do you forecast being influential in the upcoming seasons?

Chase: When working on creating color trend collections, I work closely with The Body Shop product development team. The inspiration comes from art, color trends, fashion and the environment. The team liases with trend forecasters, then we discuss new formulations, textures and innovative trends and products. Once we have assimilated all this information, myself and the team then start laying down shades and formulations, that are trend led, innovative and also suit most our global customers. The Body Shop sells in over 52 countries, so it is a very tall order, but very exciting, always.

A trend that I believe will be influential in the upcoming seasons are a near-nude mouth. It catches light for an instant plumping effect and appears ethereal when part of a dewy, monochromatic face. It can be paired with creamy neutrals on eyes and liquid foundation on skin.

My fave Body Shop products for achieving these looks? For a flawless photo-ready complexion, consider applying your liquid foundation with a foundation brush. Yes, it takes more time, but you get a smooth, perfect finish, and you actually end up using less foundation. It's also very easy to stipple on extra product on problem areas, so you get coverage without masky-ness. The Body Shop's foundation brush is nicely weighted, with soft-yet-firm bristles, and at only $20.50, it costs less than other brushes of similar quality.

Since weddings are all about chatting and laughing and drinking and eating, I find that a lip stain lets me do all that without worrying about how my lips look. The Body Shop makes a lightweight gel version in a slightly-cool red. It goes on sheerly for a boost of healthy-looking colour, perfect for Spring. Double-duties as a cheek stain too!

As for the perfect nude mouth... I truly don't believe that there is one nude lipstick that is flattering for all. You simply have to get out there and try on a bunch of colours to see what works best for you. But to acheive an innocent, ethereal look, I cannot wait to try on the new Blushing Daisies Powder. Aside from the adorable compact, the shimmering shades (in Light Pink, for my skintone) look like it would be perfect for creating a multi-faceted, angelic glow. The Marula oil in the formulation keeps it silky soft and non-drying, and the different shades in the compact can be used in varying intensities all over the face for that chic monochromatic look that Chase describes (check out the link above for tips).

Many thanks to the Beauty Blog Network and Chase Aston for making this Q&A possible! Be sure to check back in the next couple of days to see what other beauty bloggers had to ask Chase!

Photos courtesy of The Body Shop and Metropolis Japan

Product Review: Eco Tools

2008-04-11T11:01:00.007-05:00

As the Glitterati comes crawling back... Sorry guys, I know it's been ages. I hate when life gets in the way of blogging! If you're still here, thanks for your patience and understanding!

Everyone's going Green these days. From grocery stores to cosmetic companies, CEOs are getting the hint: caring about Mother Earth is cool, and it'll also get you a cool chunk of change if you cash in on the trend.

Not to be overly cynical... there are many excellent companies out there who truly wish to minimize their ecological footprint. And if they make dependable, affordable products that are friendlier to the environment, why not buy from them?

Introducing: EcoTools. Launched just a couple of months ago, this company produces bath and beauty accessories made out of renewable & sustainable materials like bamboo, ramie, and recycled plastic. But concerns of the conscience aside, does using these nature-friendly materials result in a better product?

Well, I suppose it depends what you're looking for. I had the chance recently to try the EcoTools line, and I must say that I'm pretty impressed*. The brushes are much softer than any other that I've tried in the drugs-store price range (and softer than some that are much pricier!). The large powder brush is especially lovely -- it's like sweeping your face with a kitten wearing feathers (minus the claws and the allergies). The "floppier" bristles leave just a perfect whisper of loose powder, invisibly setting your makeup. Great for applying all-over shimmer too.

Since the brush handles are made of light-weight bamboo, you might find that the balance / feel is a bit different than what you're used to. But if you're like me and schlepp your brushes (alll your brushes) everywhere with you, then the lighter load will be heartily welcomed.

Another clever product from the line is the Bamboo and Loofa Facial Buffs. Just dampen it and squirt your favourite cleanser on there... one side gently exfoliates your skin (it feels like a rougher face towel), and the other side is covered in terry cloth for cleansing. I leave one in my office drawer; it's great to brighten those post all-nighter complexions. Much more convenient and much less waste than the disposable buffing pads.

And speaking of refreshing, but gentle exfoliation, I really like EcoTools' Ramie Bath & Shower Mitt. Unlike its plasticky brethren, this bath mitt won't rub you raw. It's perfect for those... ahem, more delicate areas that you normally wouldn't go near with an abrasive scrub or loofah.

So if you're looking for brushes and accessories that are environmentally-friendly and wallet-friendly, do give Eco Tools a try. If you're in the US, you can find the line at select Walgreens, K-Mart, and Ulta. Or, you check out their other goodies and place orders from the EcoTools website.

* Even before knowing the impossibly low prices... the largest powder brush is only $8!

Product Review: Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener

2008-03-03T12:04:00.002-05:00

Hey guys and dolls! Sorry I've been so MIA recently... it's been an unholy convergence of marking, course work, and a whole lot of birthdays (What happened 9 months ago? Gotta love that festive season baby-makin' spirit!)

If you've been similarly busy and the activity of sleeping has become "optional" in your ever growing list of priorities, you might be tempted to try Smashbox's new Photo Op Under Eye Brightener.

Smashbox make up artists have apparently raved about this... saying that it's a photoshoot staple, and that it almost eliminates the need for concealer. And given Smashbox's primo status as the Reigning Producer Of All Things Primer, I couldn't resist buying the little tube.

Sadly, my sleep-deprived friends, Photo Op was a total bust. If this eliminates the need for concealer for you, then you probably didn't need much concealing in the first place.

This slightly shimmery apricot-tinged liquid is far too thin and non-pigmented to do any good. It does add a slight gleam or reflectiveness to the under-eye area, but it doesn't really aid in the concealing. I've used this both under and over concealer, and still... nada.

The only thing Photo Op does well is make the undereye area feel nice and smooth. So, if you have a great concealer that just doesn't blend well enough, you might find this product helpful. But if you're looking to actually conceal/brighten, just go pick up Maybelline's Age Rewind from the drugstore. It's got both a concealing end and a highlighting end. And while Age Rewind doesn't feel quite as nice, it at least does something. Oh, and it's also less than half the price!

If, like me, you are now stuck with this stuff, one thing I have found that helps it go on more potently is to use the slightly dried product that collects in the threads of the screw-on top.(Helpfully, the tube gets a bit messy/leaky over time.) The drier product gives a bit more coverage. Still not anywhere near sufficient to conceal circles, but it helps a bit. You can also dot it on your undereye area and let it sit for a bit before you start blending for a similar effect.

Or you could just use it as a nice highlighter. A nice, tiny, $20 tube of highlighter.

Brief Review: Every Man Jack Gift Set

2008-02-13T14:45:00.007-05:00

Uh-oh. Valentine's is less than 12 hours away. Were you lost in a fog of chocolate-induced romance, forgetting to snag your guy a great gift? Or maybe you've just run out of time and/or ideas?

Well lucky for you, Every Man Jack has assembled a manly gift pack just in time for the big event. Even luckier, it's available at Target, which is open late tonight and early tomorrow!

Perfectly straddling the line between macho and metro, this kit has all the essentials to get your man lookin' fine. It comes with a Hydrating Shave Gel, Post-Shave Lotion, and Cedarwood-scented body wash and body-bars. The shave gel and post-shave lotion are both fragrance free, and everything in the line is paraben-free. Plus, it's all packaged in a classy looking faux-wood grain box. Definitely a step up from Old Spice!

I've got my own guy testing out some of Every Man Jack's offerings, and his tentative verdict is that everything seems great, but he won't commit to a full review until he's tried it a few more times. (Are we a match made in heaven? Or has he just been overly influenced by my blog-talk? Let's go with the former.) He's been using the shave gel and lotion for a couple of days, and I can at least verify that his skin feels much smoother and more moisturized.

But since I can't keep my hands off fun new products, even if they're not meant for the fairer sex, I nabbed some of the Citrus Scrub that he got. The salt scrub is of a light-to-medium scrubbiness, and the fact that it's mixed in with a shower gel means you cleanse and exfoliate in one zippy step. The scent is very invigorating: it's a lot like the Body Shop's Satsuma scent, but slightly less sweet. A bit deeper, and more unisex. If the Cedarwood line smells as good as the Citrus Scrub, then it'll be a surefire hit.

Look out for a guest post soon by the male guinea pig. And if you are looking to get this for a lucky man in your life, rest assured that the entire kit will only set you back $16 USD!

Product Review: French Kiss Gum & MAC Rougette Mattene Lipstick

2008-02-11T19:46:00.000-05:00

Hello lovelies! Hope you're all doing well? I'm feeling a bit feverish over here... I'd like to say that it's "love's light burning upon my brow" or something equally poetic. Or that I'm all frenzied with excitement over my upcoming super duper awesome Boston trip. I LOVE Boston! (Any Bostonian readers? Would love your rec's about what to do/see/eat/drink while I'm there!)

Alas, I think it's just the normal kind of fever.

Anyway, enough about being sick... today's post is all about stuff that might get you a little action on Valentine's Day.

I was watching this ridiculous show on TV last night. It's called Keys to the VIP, and the premise is that 2 or 3 guys are tossed in a random nightclub and given insane "assignments", through which they prove how they are the ultimate playa.

It is completely preposterous. For example, one assignment demanded that the guys pick up a girl after insulting her by offering a piece of gum for her bad breath. No joke. One guy was stupidly good-looking, and the other had a hot Aussie accent, so they actually managed to pull it off. Mere mortal men might have more trouble though, and thus might need to rely on a prop like this:

French Kiss Gum. Created by Dr. Harold Katz, breath guru to the stars (who knew?) and the man behind Therabreath, just pulling this little packet out of your pocket is bound to create a stir.

This sugar-free gum promises to fight bad breath better and for longer than regular gum. I put it to the test one day by eating a big hot dog loaded up with mustard and onions immediately before a meeting with my supervisor. He didn't faint or start crying or demand that I leave his office, so I must assume the gum worked.

Seriously, while I don't know that this works that much better than traditional gum, I do enjoy the flavour. It's a sweet berry with a tiny bit of spice to it (think Christmas rather than Cayenne). I like that there's no tell-tale "I'm-trying-to-hide-my-coffee-breath-with-mint-gum" scent, although I would have liked the taste to last a bit longer. (Note: according to the website, the gum's bad-breath fighting abilities continue even after the flavour's gone) Plus, it's a heck of a lot cuter than pack of Juicy Fruit.

I did propose to a male friend that he try to pick up girls at bars by offering them a little French Kiss, and he promptly went into a very exaggerated and gay impression of how (badly) that would go. Right. So if butch gum is more your thing, don't worry, Dr. Katz has got you covered too. GUY GUM, I kid you not. ("Now with chain-link fencing in every package!")

As for the action-getting lipstick? One night, when I was mad at my usually-wonderful boyfriend over some silly thing, he walked in, stopped in his tracks and said "I know you're mad and you probably don't want to hear this right now... but that lipstick is really f-ing hot."*

The culprit? MAC's Mattene lipstick in Rougette. I've already raved a little bit about it, even calling it the "PS Kiss of pinks". But a lippie this good deserves a full review.

The swatch from the MAC site is close, but not 100% accurate... it's bit less purpley and bright than that. Rougette is a medium-dark, rich, cool raspberry pink. This semi-matte formula is really lovely... smooth and velvety with that trademark vanilla MAC scent. It's comfortable on, but I like to prep with a good lipbalm since I have dry lips.

Wear it with minimal makeup, a white shirt and blue jeans for a celeb-style casual look. Or wink at the 80's and do it up with big full lashes and a little black dress for a night on the town (easy on the smokey eye though... the look is fun, not trampy). You could even pair this with work clothes if you work in a not-too-conservative office, and if you keep the rest of your look restrained.

The Mattenes are limited edition, but Rougette and some other shades are still available on the MAC website.

Despite this Valentine's themed review though, I would not recommend kissing while wearing this, unless you love the smeary-faced look (hello Lucy Liu in Cashmere Mafia!). But ain't it nice to know that a little lipstick could help get you there?

* Men, if you're reading this, that is wrong. We ALWAYS want to hear it! ;)

Fashion Week!

2008-02-07T10:21:00.001-05:00

Hey guys, you know what's better than having like 60 cm of snow fall in your town in 1 week?* Well, most things. But I for one, would've been all in favour of ditching all this slush and salt on the roads (my boots!!! my pants!!!) for Fashion Week!

Alas, I was stuck here at home, but fortunately I got to live vicariously through the lucky bloggers from the Beauty Blog Network who are at the tents. Check out the new Fashion Week widget on the sidebar, to get all caught up on the most recent Fashion Week related posts from BBN members. You'll get both runway and backstage coverage, and maybe even some celeb-artist interviews!

As for me, it's time to battle the elements and attempt to go outside. Maybe I can pretend that the treacherous sidewalks are a runway challenge, a la America's Next Top Model...

* Er, not having tornadoes rip through your home, like in some parts of the US, I suppose.

Product Review: Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship

2008-02-07T10:18:00.000-05:00

Ahhhhhhh!

That, my friends, is the sound of a certain blogger last night, sitting back, eating junky take-out, and watching "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" (those 2 are so gonna get it on in real life any day now)... just chillin' after a crazy few days. It's amazing how much half a bottle of wine can relax a girl...

It felt goooood.

But yes, I've been so busy that February's snuck up on me! All of a sudden, it's all Valentine's this and major-freak-snowstorms that (Ontario readers, you know what I'm talkin' about). Needless to say, I'm not yet in a very Valentine-y mood, and I only have a week to get in gear!

One sure-fire way to get me in the spirit is to break out the Cupid themed items. Give me a plush red sweater and some frilly pink-and-white confection and I'm ready to sling heart-tipped arrows with the best of 'em.

To appropriately pretty-up your bathroom, you could scatter rose petals in your tub. Me, I prefer a more functional solution (who has time for a bath, anyway?) -- check out Herbal Essences' newest release, Long Term Relationship.

This new combo is meant to protect long hair from breakage and frazzled split ends. The pearly pink shampoo builds a nice creamy lather, while the conditioner (also pink!) is thicker than normal, and coats strands without dripping off like some thinner conditioners can. The warm Red Raspberry scent has a hint of amber or musk... it totally reminds me of a body spray that Victoria's Secret or Bath and Body Works might have.

My favourite part about this new line though might actually be the packaging! I love how the sleek, crimson, curvy bottles sort of fit together. They're like a couple of Cupid's Bows. Or... like... soulmates. (Sigh!) It's vaguely sexy, and with the words "Long Term Relationship" scrawled right on the bottle, it's the perfect not-so-subliminal message, which is why I leave it in my boyfriend's bathroom, along with a bridal magazine flipped open to an ad for a Tiffany's promise ring, and some card stock samples for potential wedding invitations. (I kid, I kid!)

There's also a leave-in-conditioner / heat protector in the line, and I'm pleased to report that it smells just like the original Herbal Essences that I used to love. (You know the smell: it was a totally organic experience!) It might be a bit thick for fine hair, but it's perfect for my heavy, straight hair ... a quick pump leaves my hair softer and smelling divine, and provides a welcome barrier against the nasty winter winds we've been having.

The best part is that all three combined will set you back less than the cost of a dozen roses, leaving plenty of room in your budget for a nice bottle of Chianti and a romantic movie rental, just in case Freudian packaging isn't quite enough to put you in the right mood.

Product Review: Imju Fiberwig Mascara

2008-01-31T09:05:00.000-05:00

aka: "Baby, I'm so imju you..."

Right, so that plan (see last post) didn't work out. Along with some birthday festivities (fun!) and some car problems (horrible! I think it's over for the poor Glitter-mobile...) and some concert action (Michael Bublé = delicious!), there simply wasn't time for posting.

But through all of that, my lashes stayed pretty, thanks to Imju's Fiberwig Mascara.

Promising a theatrical falsies-like effect, Imju Fiberwig deposits little fibers onto the tips of your lashes, adding length and colour in one step. I really wish they hadn't mentioned the "falsies" factor though -- while this mascara provides good length, separation, and a nice glossy black colour, it doesn't do much for volume. So those looking for full, fluttery, fat lashes will be disappointed.

I do love this mascara for an everyday look though. It's what I had wanted Clinique's Long and Pretty Lashes to be. (Instead, that one gave me long, pretty, smeary lashes.) Imju's Fiberwig does not smear. Ever. I have partied and slept and cried in this stuff and it just doesn't smear. If you get it wet and start rubbing at it, it will flake off a bit, but that's it. Perfect for conferences or important meetings where you want something on your lashes, but simply cannot have smudging.

So yes, Fiberwig, I'm totally into you. And at under $13 (plus ship) on Sasa.com, I think I can see you in my future.

Terrible!

2008-01-22T09:58:00.000-05:00

Oh my gosh, it's been a month since I've posted! That is terrible. For anyone who's wondering, yes, I did make it back alive from Asia (barely), but I'm all caught up in school-stuff right now. (Anyone who is taking or have taken graduate statistics knows my pain.)

Plus, I've been busy writing an article for the February issue of The Beauty Ideal! Have you heard? The Beauty Blog Network has its own magazine now! Written and edited by your favourite beauty bloggers, it's bound to be a hit. Check out the January issue if you haven't done so already. The February issue looks like it's going to be great... as mentioned, it will feature some work from yours truly, and there'll be a list of the 100 Top Products of last year, as chosen by Beauty Blog Network members. What was my pick? I guess you'll have to wait and see! :)

I'm sorry again for the non-posting, but don't you worry my pretties, even if the writing has been sparse, the beauty exploration has not stopped. Come back soon, I'll do my absolute darndest to get a post up for the end of the week.

Stay warm and stay beautiful!

Pefect Presents: Last minute books & music

2007-12-21T01:34:00.000-05:00

Naughty thing! Have you left your Christmas shopping to the very last minute and are now in a frantic rush for something cool but quick? Or maybe your giftee just isn't (*gasp*!) that into beauty products. Here's a few more ideas then... because Amazon.com and chapters.indigo.ca are always open!

Because beauty has many faces...

Forsaken, by Lana Slezic

Toronto-born photo-journalist Lana Slezic takes you through the daily lives of women in Afganistan with her poignant and beautiful photos. You may have seen her work in a recent issue of Allure. From the striking images of female police officers to prostitutes who must hide their faces for fear of death by relatives trying to maintain family honour, this book is a stunning visual journey.

Make-up for the Ears:

If we are to speak of Christmas CDs, of course I must mention the Toronto based and now-international jazz sensation, Emilie-Claire Barlow. Her 2006 release "Winter Wonderland" (my raving review here) is a lovely addition to any holiday soundtrack. Her latest release, "The Very Thought Of You" (pictured) is at times lush and subdued, while clipping along at foot-tapping body-swaying tempos at others. Clear, bell-like vocals, crisp enunciation, and fresh interpretations of the standards set this album apart from the masses!

To switch gears completely, I am also newly addicted to Dragonette's first CD, "Galore". Half the band are Canadian (they live in the UK now), and they play dirty, groovy, euro-electro pop with a rock edge. You can't help but want to dance when you hear it. They've been described as what would happen if Gwen Stefani fronted The Killers. I say, yes, but have them do it all under the tutelage of Kylie Minogue. True, not all their songs are absolutely stunning, but there are enough solid tunes on there to make this CD a good gift.

Okay! That's all there will be out of me until after the New Year, when I am back to internetted civilization. I hope you all have a wonderfully merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years, full of good friends, good food, and great memories! Stay safe, and I'll see you all in 2008!

This review was posted for me by the ever-fabulous Ex-Roomie, who is kindly administering the blog while I am gallivanting around Asia. I will respond to comments and emails when I get back. Promise!

Bond No. 9 New York -- Awe-Inspiring Gift Sets

2007-12-20T13:03:00.000-05:00

Hey friends! Woooo-eee, it's getting close, just 5 more sleeps until Christmas! If you've been salivating over the other Bond fragrances I've reviewed, or if you just can't decide, this post is for you. Perhpas you really really want to knock the socks off of a very special fragrance-lover in your life. Or maybe you want your giftee to completely forget the fact that her present is late! Whatever the reason, here is the most decadent gift set of all

The Bond I Love New York Double-Decker Sampler Box

Oh my. Would you just look at that thing. 12 "Downtown" fragrances, in mini (50 mL) Superstar bottles, all in one cleanly luxurious 2-layer box.

I see (starting from the middle of the top layer, clockwise) Scent of Peace, Chinatown, Fire Island, and Westside. I see The Hamptons and Bryant Park. I see Wall Street, Nuits de Noho (?), and Coney Island. I see Bleecker Street, and 2 more lovelies hiding under there unseen. I see a gift that will inspire speechlessness followed by hysterics. I may even see fainting. I also see a $1600 USD price tag. (Hey, art and decadence doesn't come cheap! Besides, isn't that the definition of a great gift? Something they'll love, but would never get for themselves?)

No doubt, the double decker set is the height of luxury. For those of you who want the variety, but can't quite afford the price tag, consider the Bond Bon Bon Box, or the Perfumista Blending Box, each at $250.

The Bon Bon Box features 18 fragrances in 6 mL refillable spray bottles. Each bottle is gorgeously wrapped in metallic foil, and are presented like the most sumptuous candy box you have ever laid eyes on (except enjoying these won't ruin your diet!). Included scents are: Chelsea Flowers, Chinatown, Wall Street, New Haarlem, Park Avenue, So New York, Riverside Drive, Fashion Avenue, Broadway Nite, West Broadway, Chez Bond, Hamptons, Eau de Noho, Nuits de Noho, Central Park, Madison Soiree, Little Italy, and of course, Eau de NY.

The Perfumista Blending Box includes all the scents in the Bon Bon Box, except for So New York and Riverside Drive, in 1/4 oz. refillable spray bottles. Packaged in a similarly gorgeous way, it includes an empty bottle to allow for custom blending. Either of these sets will keep any fragrance lover happily occupied until next Christmas!

If you're in New York, you can purchase Bond goodies at one of Bond's 4 boutiques. Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols, Harrod's of London, and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong are also retailers. As for the rest of us, we can order through the Bond website.

This review was posted for me by the ever-fabulous Ex-Roomie, who is kindly administering the blog while I am gallivanting around Asia. I will respond to comments and emails when I get back. Promise!

Perfect Presents: Makeup Train Case

2007-12-19T12:46:00.000-05:00

Dudes, I have been searching for a makeup storage solution for so long. As it is, I have shadows, blushes, and lip glosses (so! many! lipglosses!) tucked away in every drawer, nook, and cranny it seems. Aside from the general displeasing clutter, it means I don't go through my collection nearly enough, and what's the point of having 14 different pink glosses if I only wear 2 of them?

If a makeup lover in your life faces the same dilemma, then you must consider getting them a train case.

Perfect For: Your friend who's bathroom overfloweth with product; Your friend who despises that her bathroom overfloweths with her roommate's products.

Why it's Perfect: It'll store and organize all her treasured products, and put an end to those "WHERE is my poppy pink cream blush/violet shimmer gloss/glitter eyeliner" mornings. Which is a happy thing for everyone involved!

Yes, you could spend $90 at Sephora on the Metro Train Case (pictured). However, if your gift-giving budget is lower than that (or if you're buying it for yourself and you would actually like to have money left over with which to buy the cosmetics that would go in the case), good ol' WalMart has a very respectable, comparable version, for just $40 CAD.

With 2 tiers (2 on each side, 4 trays total) and a deeper center compartment, the train case lets you see all your cosmetics at a glance. As well, it has brush holders on the inside lid of the case, so you can keep your tools neat and stray-powder free. Oh, and it comes with like a gazillion different products inside. They're those "Colour Company" type of cosmetics... probably not the best quality. But, you can always donate the loot to a kid's dress-up trunk or a local children's / amateur theatre.

But of course, the one from WalMart only comes in brushed silver and black leather-look. Sephora's got 'em in PINK! ;)

This review was posted for me by the ever-fabulous Ex-Roomie, who is kindly administering the blog while I am gallivanting around Asia. I will respond to comments and emails when I get back. Promise!

Perfect Presents: Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Silver Factory Perfume

2007-12-18T13:01:00.000-05:00

The last 2 Bond No. 9 fragrances I reviewed were pretty easy to like, and while incredibly well done, they're not revolutionary. If you're looking for something really out of the ordinary, then you simply must check out Bond's latest release.

Andy Warhol Silver Factory:

Perfect For: The perfumista; the soul sista; the art freak; and the very devout (or those who just want to smell devout).

Why it's Perfect: This smooth sweet incense scent is not your typical perfume. Its slight strangeness is sure to appeal to that fragrance connoisseur who's always looking to excite their nose with something new and unexpected. Nothing says "groovy" more than incense, and Bond's concoction is hip, not head-shop. Finally, it just smells... church-y to me! Read on!

In a fitting homage to Warhol, who covered the walls of his New York studio (aka: "The Factory") with aluminum foil and silver paint, Bond packages Silver Factory in an aluminum-look bottle. The bold graphic colours mirror those used in his pop-art, and the fragrance is labeled "Perfume Concentrate", both as a wink to his immediately recognizable Campbell's Soup Cans painting, as well as to indicate the higher percentage of perfume oils within. The packaging alone should make any Warhol fan smile!

But what about the actual scent? The listed notes are: Incense, Wood Resin, Amber, Jasmine, Iris, Violet, and Cedarwood. To me, this starts out sharp and piney, but it calms down quickly to smooth glowing incense. Being a child of the 80's, the only times I really ever smelled incense were at Catholic churches, and so it is unsuprising that this smells church-y to me. However, it is not super smokey. Rather, it is like being near the altar after a special mass, where incense was burned from a censer. The lingering smell of incense mingles with the scent of the flowers and metal vases and candle holders still on the altar. It is the memory of mass, rather than the mass itself. It also reminds me of a church piano, for some reason.

Despite my own associations, I don't think this is any high and pious perfume. The metallic note ("molten silver", what a gorgeous description!) brings a coldness to the otherwise warm incense and amber, making it surprisingly wearable, even for a typically aquatic-fruit-florals girl like myself. As it dries down (we're talking like 10 hours later, this is potent!), the scent softens further, and I get more of the florals, in an almost soapy incarnation. So different from most perfumes where the drydown has the heavier notes. Certainly one of the most interesting scents I've ever come across, I feel like I need to get to know Silver Factory more!

If you're in New York, you can purchase Silver Factory at one of Bond's 4 boutiques. Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols, Harrod's of London, and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong are also retailers. As for the rest of us, we can order through the Bond website.

This review was posted for me by the ever-fabulous Ex-Roomie, who is kindly administering the blog while I am gallivanting around Asia. I will respond to comments and emails when I get back. Promise!

Perfect Presents: Pretty Palettes!

2007-12-17T13:24:00.000-05:00

Being who I am, and writing the blog that I write, I obviously think that makeup is amongst the best of the best gifts one could receive. My friend Cowgirl Warrior once gave me a gift bag full of lip balms and lip glosses (it was one of those Secret Santa deals), and it was one of the most memorable, most joyful gifts ever!

However, I understand that everyone is not as makeup-obsessed as I, and might find it a bit strange to receive an assortment of different cosmetics (you people are missing out, I say!). Cosmetics companies have caught on, and always release a plethora of shining, shimmering palettes around this time of year. It's still makeup, but feels more... complete, somehow. It's the gift of gorgeous, and it's practically already wrapped!

Half the fun is picking amongst the many many many sets available, but 2 in particular caught my eye.

Too Faced Lights, Camera, Glamour!

Perfect For: The make-up adventuress; The Hollywood starlet on a budget

Why it's Perfect: Too Faced's Lights, Camera, Glamour! palette struck me as being the most bang for your beauty buck. You get 8 eye shadows, powder eyeliner, brow powder, 2 blushes, a bronzer, a shimmer powder, foundation powder,and 6 lip glosses, all for just $40 USD (I can't remember if it was $50 or $60 CAD, sorry!).

The shades look nice and wearable, and the cute box it comes in looks like a mini Hollywood make-up kit, complete with an actual lighted mirror! The blush and bronzer shades are meant to be swirled together for a pretty, multi-faceted look. You can use the shimmer shades the same way, or just pick up one shade with an eyeshadow brush for more precise application. All in all, lots of great products for a reasonable price, in one of the more creative presentations this year!

Urban Decay Urban Survival Kit

Perfect For: The girl on the go; The simplistic stunner

Why it's Perfect: The Urban Survival kit, while not being as expansive as Too Faced's, seems like the kit you'd be most likely to actually use in your day-to-day life. It contains a mini version of the cult favourite Eyeshadow Primer Potion (it really works!), a mini Lip Envy in Greedy (a berry liquid lip stain), a mini XXX Shine gloss in Naked (a natural nude shade), 4 shadows, and mascara and liner.

The shadow primer and lip stain means that you just set it, and forget it! (Well, as it applies to your makeup, at least.) Perfect for the busy gal who doesn't have the time or patience for touch ups. The shimmery shadows can be applied sheerly for a natural day look, or with more intensity for the evening, and the shades pretty much go with everything. Great basic colours from some of Urban Decay's star products, for a cool $50 CAD. Looks like a sound make-up buy to me!

Of course, you can always just go with the tried and true Sephora gift card. But make it a little something special, won't you? Attach it to a lovely lip balm, or a mini perfume bottle, or even to a basket of cookies. Elevates the gift of gift card from "I didn't have time to shop for you" to "You're so wonderful that you deserve to pamper yourself in exactly the way you please"!

This review was posted for me by the ever-fabulous Ex-Roomie, who is kindly administering the blog while I am gallivanting around Asia. I will respond to comments and emails when I get back. Promise!

The Weekly Beauty Read

2007-12-17T09:12:00.000-05:00

Hello! This last weekend before Christmas is bound to be a madhouse, so take a break from the outside world, curl up with a cuppa, and enjoy these quality reads from around the blogosphere!

Elke looks back at her first trip to NY and how it changed her.

Temptalia shares nine beauty-themed gift guides for all your friends and family for the holiday season!

Savvy Skin has a Freeze 24/7 Review And Contest

SugarShock is craving beauty treats that smell good enough to eat.

makeup loves me is giving away two limited edition prescriptives illuminator all over face color bricks! head on over to leave a comment and win!

A Touch of Blusher loves lilac!

Do you want MARC JACOBS fragrance sets for a steal? Kyle at Face Candy has the scoop.

The Muse Battles Dry Winter Skin with a Review of Philosophy's Microdelivery Wash!

Beauty Anonymous reviews Roxy Fragrance and Delicate Shower Gel

Because good things come in small packages, Makeup Moxie's got the ultimate guide to beauty stocking stuffers that are almost too pretty to part with.

Beauty and Personality Grooming - Chilblains:a skin affliction that occurs in winter

All Lacquered Up previews the spring polish collections from Chanel, China Glaze, CND and Zoya

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic tries out Max Factor's Vivid Impact Highlighting Mascara for something fun

This review was posted for me by the ever-fabulous Ex-Roomie, who is kindly administering the blog while I am gallivanting around Asia. I will respond to comments and emails when I get back. Promise!

Perfect Presents: Stocking Stuffers!

2007-12-16T13:22:00.000-05:00

I have several friends who swear that the stockings are the best part of Christmas. (I am certain they mean aside from the spirit of love and generosity and gratitude and all that) I can kind of see their point... opening up your stocking is like getting surprise present after surprise present, and the usually-copious amounts of chocolate in there don't hurt none neither!

But of course, some of the best treats don't play havoc with your blood sugar levels. Here are some of my top picks for stocking stuffing, sure to delight your favourite beauty junkie on Christmas morning!

Bourjois Kisses From Paris mini-lipgloss set. I've written about these cute mini glosses before, and now Bourjois is offering them as a set for the holidays, with a keychain instead of the cell phone lanyard (hooray!). In flattering shades of pink and beige, these glosses are smooth, long-lasting, and relatively non-sticky. And they come with itty-bitty brush applicators that are perfect for application.

If you can't get to a Sephora, I've seen similar glosses from Rimmel at Shopper's Drug Mart. They are sheerer than the normal Vinyl Lip glosses, but have the same nice texture. They don't have the outrageous orange scent, so if that's prevented you from enjoying Rimmel glosses before, give these mini's a try!

L'Oreal's also gotten on the palette bandwagon, but at a much cheaper price than you'd find at Sephora or Ulta. Released as part of the Star Secrets line, you too can look like Eva, or Andie, or Penelope with lip, eye, and cheek colours, all in one slim package. Apx. $17 CAD at drugstores.

You all know of my love for The Body Shop's Pink Grapefruit Body Butter. But it can get kind of pricey for a stocking stuffer. I am pleasantly surprised to report that the WalMart version of this stuff is actually pretty good! Not the body butter itself, which has this odd rubbery texture to it. But the hand lotion and regular lotion are decent, and while the scent is not quite as mouth-watering as the Body Shop's version, it is zippy and refreshing and delicious. Not bad for $2 for the mini/travel sizes!

Of course, I must give a shout-out to Crazy Rumours lipbalm. The Apple Spice flavour is especially festive. I finally tried the Orange Bergamot, and it's incredible! Perfect for keeping those cracked winter lips at bay.

Okay, I know this is not a beauty item per se, but it's so awesome it must have a mention: Jergen's Green Tea Handsoap. It smells INCREDIBLE. Fresh and uplifting and just how you'd want your handsoap to smell. The smell lingers a bit after using too. Who knew washing your hands could be this much fun??

Voluspa's Vervain Olive Leaf candles are a wonderful way to brighten up a room. The crisp bright lemony fragrance is grounded by a bit of earthiness. It awakens the senses and just makes a room seem cleaner and bigger. It comes in the depicted full size, but I prefer the little travel candle in a sleek black tin. Perfect for the frequent flyer, to make all those hotel rooms seem a little bit more homey. $10 at Chapters or Indigo stores (not online), and they come in several other scents as well.

Wow, I could go on for ages! I guess size really doesn't matter, little gifts can rock as much as big ones! :)

This review was posted for me by the ever-fabulous Ex-Roomie, who is kindly administering the blog while I am gallivanting around Asia. I will respond to comments and emails when I get back. Promise!

How do you pack for the holidays?

2007-12-15T09:17:00.000-05:00

It's getting to that time when everyone jets off to visit family and other loved ones for the holidays. I myself am off to Hong Kong, Singapore, and China (if everything's gone well, I'm already there!). While I love traveling, I hate packing. I'm terrible at it. And when it comes to cosmetics, I always want to take everything with me. With the new liquids restrictions, all I can say is "Thank goodness for mineral makeup!"

While I'm by no means a seasoned pro, I have found some tips and tricks to help streamline the process a bit. Here are mine... what about you? What do you bring in your little plastic baggie? Any travel tips that have saved your beauty butt?

I love re-using old HappyDerm bottles to store soaps and things -- the bottle is slim and has a locking pump dispenser, so I can put my cleanser in an empty bottle, plus take a bottle of the actual lotion on board with me in the plastic baggie, and there's still room for everything else I need (like about 7 lipglosses/balms. Actually.).

I think fragrance is a must, it's the perfect pick-me-up after a long flight. I prefer lighter scents over spicy or musky ones, if for nothing other than consideration for my fellow travelers. Of course, my choice of fragrance is constrained by the bottle size, so bug your favourite perfume counters -- they may have some itty bitty vials hiding behind there!

I don't bring my shampoos, lotions, body-wash etc. with me, or any styling products other than a the frizz-tamer. Those all go in checked luggage. My hair is just going to end up in a pony tail by the end of the flight anyway, so as long as it's smooth, I'm happy. I love the Frederic Fekkai Glossing Creme -- it has that nice fresh scent, which also helps perk up those locks (at least in my mind).

In checked luggage, I really just toss all the bottles in plastic bags and hope for the best! Sometimes I squeeze out any excess air from tubes of product if I can... makes a bit more room, and things seem a bit less likely to explode that way. Drug stores sell little empty bottles that let you pour your faves into travel-friendly sizes. Look for the kinds with screw on tops, and nozzles that actually snap into the top, as opposed to flip top caps and sports-drink style spouts, which are more likely to pop open or leak.

For those who must have their pomades, serums, and creams with them on the flight, I'd suggest popping into a Sephora or Body Shop. They both have those tiny sample containers that you can put liquids or creams into. In a pinch, old film canisters (washed & dried, of course) will do, but they are bigger and won't work for runny products. And for true minimalists, a couple Olay Daily Facials (wet or dry) are a good option to take instead of cleanser, and hand lotion or even a bit of lipbalm will serve as a temporary frizz-tamer.

See what I mean? With all this junk to take along, it's a wonder I get out the door at all! Can you sympathize, or are you just horrified by all this maintenance?

This review was posted for me by the ever-fabulous Ex-Roomie, who is kindly administering the blog while I am gallivanting around Asia. I will respond to comments and emails when I get back. Promise!

Perfect Presents: Bond No. 9 Scent of Peace Perfume, Christmas Edition

2007-12-14T23:15:00.000-05:00

The second of my Bond No. 9 holiday reviews (check out my post on West Side if you missed it) is very seasonal indeed. With all the talk about peace on earth and the glory of mankind and whatnot, it's only appropriate that you should smell the part!

Bond No. 9 The Scent of Peace (Special Edition Swarovsky-Encrusted bottle)

Perfect For: Pretty much anyone who likes perfume, and maybe even those who don't!

Why it's perfect: This uplifting fruity-woody scent is a sure-fire crowd pleaser, without smelling like every other perfume out there. And that bottle! With a Swarovski dove soaring high, it's bound to be the shining star of any dresser or vanity table!

The name of this scent begs the question: Just what does peace smell like? Well, according to Bond, The Scent of Peace is a brief splash of zingy grapefruit, followed by a warmish, clean blackcurrant. The floral heart (Lily of the Valley and Hedione*) and the base of musk and sandalwood are all subtle -- on me, this is a fruit fragrance, moutwatering and firm, without any adolescent sugary overtones. The woods and musk, while maintaining the clean quality of the scent, give it some depth and sophistication.

Delicious, refreshing, uplifting, and airy, even a friend who "doesn't usually like perfume" was enchanted by The Scent of Peace. This one might end up being my favourite Bond scent... it is a jus I could drink!

If you're in New York, you can purchase Scent of Peace at one of Bond's 4 boutiques. Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols, Harrod's of London, and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong are also retailers. As for the rest of us, we can order through the Bond website.

* I had always thought that hedione was an ingredient rather than a note, and I am embarassed to say I don't really know what it does. Regardless, it smells wonderful here, whatever it is!

This review was posted for me by the ever-fabulous Ex-Roomie, who is kindly administering the blog while I am gallivanting around Asia. I will respond to comments and emails when I get back. Promise!

Oh Noes!

2007-12-14T17:14:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

So apparently G and I should have thought this through a little better. I cannot actually post her posts, because I don't actually have her computer. Honestly intarwebs, what is your beef? It should not be this way...

In any case, I will post the bare bones text version of what our dear friend G has to say over the next little while. I apologize for the lack of pictures and fun and rainbows and sunshine. I tried...

[EDIT by G: Holy Crap! I'm so confused, I'm not sure what happened. That is probably due to the jet lag... by my calculations, it's like... 8-million in the morning in Toronto. Or something. I found some magical stolen wireless, so I will try to fix things where possible. But if not... yes, please pardon the technical difficulties! Thank you Ex-Roomie for trying, you are the awesome!]

I'm Leeeeaving On a Jet Plane!

2007-12-14T01:21:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm off! In less than 8 hours, I will be on a plane, flying far far away. It's exciting, but sad! Sad, because I've been told that I will have minimal internet access for the 3 weeks that I'll be gone. THREE WEEKS!!! Without internet! That is an eternity!

Ah well, maybe I'll come back a la Alanis from India, and be all removed from such needs of the flesh as "wireless" and "concealer". Yeah right.

Rest assured, lovely readers, that there will still be some fun posts to read while I'm gone. There's a whole stockpile waiting to be deployed, and the wonderful kind and generous Ex-Roomie has volunteered to be the blog administrator while I'm gone. Three Cheers for Ex-Roomie!

So I hope you all have happy weeks ahead! I'll see you in January!

Perfect Presents: Oral Fixation Mints

2007-12-13T09:19:00.000-05:00

They say true beauty comes from within, and I'm pretty sure they mean "from within your mouth". Make sure your breath is as pretty as your lipgloss with the happiest mints EVER, Oral Fixation Mints.

Perfect For: Your coworker with the chronic coffee breath; your friend who's trying to quit smoking or snacking (or both!); someone with whom you are about to make out.

Why it's Perfect: So stylish and delicious, no one could be offended by receiving these. They take longer to eat than M&M's, but are sugar-free. And did I mention the stylishness and the deliciousness???

These mints come in beautiful brushed metal tins, reminiscent of cigarette cases of yore. With gorgeous designs on the tins, each one is inlaid with a delicate printed paper reflecting the theme of each flavour.

Jasmints, delicate pale lavender mints stamped with a flower design, are mild and delicious, with a hint of floral flavour. Fabulous Fruit mints are bold, fuscia, heart-stamped, and fun. They are practically like candy, and the tropical flavours sparkle on your tongue. Classical Mints come in a steel-look tin, with a liner that looks like sheet music. The treble-clef stamped mint has a strong and ... well, classic peppermint flavour, and is perfect for the fashionable man or music-lover in your life.

You might think that these lovely little boxes of happiness might cost a small bundle. But you can build your own box of 12 flavours for only $30 (plus ship). That's less than $3 a tin! For a limited time, you can get 10% off a BYOB gift purchase by entering the code "giftyourfix" at checkout (details here). And in the spirit of the season, Oral Fixation will donate 10% from each BYOB purchase to Comedy Cures.

I can't stop eating these! They are seriously delicious, and addictive enough to take the place of any vices you may be trying to rid yourself of. The tins are even cooler in person, and pulling these out of my purse actually brighten my day a little (not to mention my breath!). They'd be wonderful as stocking stuffers, or as part of a bigger gift. I can't wait to try the Mimosa mints, and the Mojito mints, and Antioximints... and oh, I just want them all! You can order online as well as see the rest of the flavours on the Oral Fixation website.

For those of you looking for a local source, I've seen their "Sugar Free Tibet" (har!) mints sold at the Royal Ontario Museum gift shop. You can contact them to find out if there are retailers near you.

Perfect Presents: Bond No. 9 New York West Side Candle

2007-12-12T21:56:00.000-05:00

Hello you lovelies! Hope you all had a fabulous weekend full of shopping success (or peace and quiet if you're the type to have done all your Christmas shopping early). Yes, I know it's Wednesday already, but that the thrill of retail can follow me for days. If daydreaming about past and future purchases isn't working for ya and "hump-day" has got you down, I've got just the sight for sore eyes! Check out Bond No. 9 New York's Special Edition holiday offerings!

I'd heard so much about the Bond line, and I finally got the chance to try some recently. I seriously think they may have changed my life. Or at least my nose. I'd always thought of the Bond fragrances as being impossibly exclusive, deliberately crafted, and maybe a bit too sophisticated for me. After all, since I'm generally pretty happy with department store scents, I tended to associate "niche" fragrances with difficult, avant-garde, and even jarring notes that are hard to wear.

I could not have been more wrong.

The famous Bond "Superstar" bottles were meant to represent the shape of an exuberant human body, conveying the message that there is a Bond for everyone. And there truly is! From the fragrance-phobe to the connoisseur who's ~~seen~~ smelled it all, you're sure to find something just right in the Bond line. I'll be posting about 3 scents in particular that are just perfect for gift giving, as well as some gift sets over the next few days, so be sure to check back for more!

First up....

Bond No. 9 West Side Candle

Perfect For: Your casually elegant boss or gracious hostess. The girl that's as down with the indie circuit as she is with the opera scene; the one who mixes vintage finds with designer threads and carries it off with grace and insouciance.

Why it's Perfect: This rose scent is like no other -- rich, creamy, vanilla, and smooth, it is a fragrance that you just want to sink into. And for someone you might not know that well, the candle format lets your giftee envelope themselves with this delicious scent, without being quite as personal as a gift of perfume.

A totally different class than "typical" rose scents like Stella or Une Zeste de Rose (both lovely in their own right), West Side has none of that youthful floral springiness. While it is certainly not an old fashioned scent, its maturity comes from the masterful blending and effortless sophistication -- you can wear this to the most formal of balls or to your school picnic, and it wouldn't be out of place. Lasting power is phenomenal, I can still smell it 8 hours after application.

The top notes include Rose, Ylang Ylang, and Peony; Heart notes are Sandalwood and Amber; and it's all anchored to a base of Vanilla and Musk. The peony and rose weave harmoniously, and the softly sweet vanilla is present from the start. For me, this starts off powdery, and the florals don't come through until a little later on, along with a subtle new-leather-glove note. The musk drydown is genteel and restrained... I just get soft glowy rose-amber with more powdery woods. This is definitely a gourmand's rose ... I can't get enough!

If you're in New York, you can purchase West Side at one of Bond's 4 boutiques. Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols, Harrod's of London, and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong are also retailers. As for the rest of us, we can order through the Bond website.

Weekend Beauty Read

2007-12-09T12:53:00.000-05:00

Check out what the best of the beauty blogs had to offer this week!

Enter the giveaway for Milani Mineral Makeup at Bionic Beauty.

Kyle shows you the wonderful world of Chantecaille Gift Sets.

Beauty and Personality Grooming shares a few homemade hydrating masks

Mystical Beauty's Musings reviews the MAC Heirlooms:5 Basic Brush Set.

A multi-tasking cheek and lip color that actually works? Makeup Moxie reviews Sukicolor Cream Stain mineral makeup.

A Touch of Blusher previews YSL spring 2008 makeup collection.

SugarShock has found a hall-of-fame hand cream.

makeup loves me checks out the new orgasm products (by nars of course).

Beauty Anonymous reviews DHC Deep Cleansing Oil.

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog gives you 10 Ways to Winter-Proof Your Hair.

Savvy Skin presents Savvy Skin's Best Of Fall 2007

Vote for your favorite nail products of the year in the All Lacquered Up Fanatic's Favorites 2007

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic checks out the hype behind Kinerase and reviews the product.

Girl Gloss rounds up some luxury lip items for holiday gifts

The Muse shares her Lush UK Order Featuring Snowcake Shower Gel!

Come back next week for more Perfect Presents... these upcoming ones are incredible!!

Product Review: Dior Crème de Gloss

2007-12-06T06:14:00.000-05:00

Run... RUN, do not walk, to your nearest Sephora or Christian Dior counter. Because Dior's latest lipgloss is worth the workout.

Dior's Crème de Gloss is touted as a creamy lipstick in a gloss. The description from the Dior website, which is obviously and charmingly translated from French to English:

"Its soft and gentle texture as a cream, with the lightness and freshness of a gloss, gives to your lips a "cocooning effect", and offers, with its new ultra flexible applicator, a smooth comfortable film without sticky effect.

With all the wealth of a nectar, Crème de Gloss offers an absolute comfort, thanks to a concentrate of ultra-nourishing ingredients. Immediately smoothed, the smile is durably cared and shaped for perfect lips. Ultimate exploit, 6 hours after application, the hydration of your lips increases by 25%."

This creamy gloss is absolutely gorgeous. It feels AMAZING. (And yes, I have tried other Dior glosses and they're fine, but this knocks them out of the park.) It's a doe-foot applicator, but it's extra bendy, which makes it feel softer on the skin. The gloss is silky and luxurious, without even a suggestion of stickiness. I put it on when my lips were feeling kind of dry, and to my amazement, it felt nicer than some lip balms. A gloss that actually improved the condition of my lips. I couldn't stop smushing my lips together, it felt so good. (Oh yes, quite the sight in Sephora I was.)

I tried on Creamy Almond, the lightest shade, which is a somewhat frosty cool pink. Normally, a colour like that would go on chalky or streaky on me, but this applied like a dream. Crème de Gloss comes in 8 different shades, and they all look elegant and lovely. I'm in lust. I'm in love. Dare I say it? This is the BEST gloss I've ever put on my lips!

The price? Not so best. A cool $31 CAD. But I must have a "smile that is durably cared and shaped for perfect lips"! I simply must! Of course, I can't comment on staying power, but you can bet that I'll update this review as soon as I find that $30 Sephora gift card I have somewhere (xoxo, Ex-Roomie!). I've held on to that baby since last January, and clearly this is the sign I've been waiting for. Cha-ching!

Seriously, why are you still sitting there? Run! Run now! RUN!

Pefect Present: The Gap Lavender Tea Eau de Toilette

2007-12-05T14:36:00.000-05:00

Hello lovelies! Hope you've all been doing splendidly. Now that the ginormous stack of essays to mark is out of my life, I can finally announce the debut of my new and very exciting* series: Perfect Presents! With less than 3 weeks to go before Christmas (yikes!), these posts are designed to help you find that perfect holiday gift for those lucky people in your lives.

Without further ado, I present: Lavender Tea #362 perfume, by The Gap:

Who it's perfect for: Your most stressed out friend.
Why it's perfect: The soothing blend of lavender, green tea, and vanilla is the fragrance equivalent of a chill pill.

Trust The Gap to come out with a scent that's like pulling on a soft, well-worn pair of jeans. At first spray, the lavender is prominent, like nubby velvet with a subtle, slightly powdery vanilla. There's a tiny bit of spicy twigginess to it that keeps it from being boring and all dime-store-bath-salts. The green tea note isn't very obvious -- it's there in its popular aquatic-fresh form, and serves to lift the fragrance a little. I actually wish it were a bit more evident, as it's quite nice when I do get a whiff of it.

Being a person who is not generally fond of vanilla, the drydown could have ruined it all for me. It is indeed very prominent, but instead of a bakery sweet vanilla, it is dry-ish. Just like your favourite pair of jeans, this scent is not extremely feminine -- just clean and soft and cozy. I reach for it when I expect a hectic day at work, or when I want to feel calm and in control. It's oh-so-pleasant to catch lingering traces of it in my scarf when I snuggle into it against the cold winter winds.

I'd say this is definitely a fall/winter scent, but the giant bottle is sure to last into spring! But since it's simple enough to layer, I imagine it'd be brightened up easily with a citrusy perfume. Of course, it's great just the way it is, and its soft comfort may be just the tonic after battling the Christmas shopping crowds.

This new line of Eau de Toilettes include 5 other scents: Coconut Tuberose, Mandarn Jasmine, Velvet Bloom, Washed Cotton, and White Amber. On sale now at The Gap online for $21 USD, down from the regular $28. In Canada, it's currently on sale for $25.50 in stores.

* Well, *I'M* very excited about it anyway.

Good reads for cold times!

2007-11-30T03:56:00.001-05:00

Helloooo! Hope you're all having a great weekend. It's blustery and snowy right now, so I'm all cozied up inside with a cup of tea, and a stack of papers to mark. Oh what bliss!

So nothing too new to report from my end at the moment, but do enjoy these most fabulous posts from around the Beauty Blog Network this week.

Bionic Beauty reviews the new Milani Black Magic Eyeliner.

Christine at 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic discovers a quick way to moisturize her hands and feet.

Kyle at Face Candy, says YES to Carrots.

Jeni from Savvy Skin gives you an extensive Guide To Cure Acne.

A Touch of Blusher previews Anna Sui spring 2008 makeup collection.

Because it's nice to be a little naughty, Makeup Moxie taps into the Good Girl, Bad Girl Palette from Too Faced.

SugarShock has found the secret to looking fabulous in every photo: Smashbox Flawless Finish Skin Perfectors.

Beauty and Personality Grooming - Winter hair care.

Preview Chanel's Blue Satin Nail Polish before it releases on All Lacquered Up.

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog lists 43 makeup and non-makeup things she's thankful for this year.

Makeup Loves Me finds the perfect holiday gift for mom!

MAC Nail Lacquer and Fluidline Giveaway at Mystical Beauty's Musings.

Beauty and Fashion Tech looks at Beauty Accessories for Holiday Gifts

Elke tries the new Loreal Infalliable Lipcolor, over Thanksgiving Dinner.

Stylish Opinion finds a chocolate body scrub, good enough to eat!

Beauty Anonymous roundups 2007 Holiday Makeup Collection

Temptalia reviews MAC's THE STYLISTICS with in-depth detail, product photos, and swatches.

The Muse's Christmas List Take Two!

And finally, take a look at this thought-provoking post that Meg over at Faking Good Breeding wrote. Who do you get all gussied up and polished for? (Me? The children. Musn't scare the children....)

Well, I'm out for now, see you again next week!

Product Review: Rimmel Vinyl Lip lipgloss

2007-11-30T03:00:00.000-05:00

I have had a most exhausting week, and it's not close to being over yet. But it seems like everyone's in the same boat. Certainly those hard-working police officers who pulled me over on my way home from work yesterday were busy. Busy writing me a ticket for slowly rolling through a stop sign, 2 blocks from my house, at 5 in the frickin' morning*.

Seriously guys, I know you have a quota or whatever, but fuck off, ok? Way to take $100+ from a poor underfunded grad student** who wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed for a couple measly hours of sleep, before having to star it all over again. The only thing that puts any justice into the situation is that I was flying down the Gardiner at like 140 KM/H earlier that night. So I guess we'll just call this one karma. But they're still assholes.

Anyway, poor Kristen over at Beauty Addict has apparently also been having a hellish time at work, and recently wrote a post about the beauty routines that are the first to go when we're frantically busy. Me? Definitely the hair. Heck, even on a good day, I'll sometimes pull it up just to get it out of my face, so when I'm unshowered and un-conditioned? A big ol' un-glamorous bun it is. And let's not even talk about the eyebrows.

But even in my sleep deprivation, I need my lipgloss. One I have been reaching for a lot lately is Rimmel's Vinyl Lip in Snog.

Snog is the perfect shade for those brainless days. It's a medium goes-with-everything mauvey pink. Slightly on the cool side, but it's pretty neutral, and has only a whisper of shimmer. Just a shade deeper than my medium pigmented lips, this has enough colour to put some signs of life back on weary faces, but not so much that you have to, you know, match it with anything.

Texture wise, this is great. Really smooth and fluid with a medium thickness, and you could probably get by without using a lipbalm underneath. Lasting power leaves a little something to be desired, but hey, it's cheap enough at about $6 CAD. The only potentially off-putting thing would be the scent. It has this insanely candyish orange scent to it, as if you'd just licked an orange sucker and stuck it under your nose. Reminds me of Vicks Vitamin C Drops, or even a Mr. Sketch marker. Not a problem for me, as I love orange candy, and rather like the smell. It fades substantially as you wear it, but if you're not a fan of scented lip products, steer clear.

A great gloss for on the go, or if you just want a pretty, natural lip look. I may even wear it to traffic court, in an attempt to charm the bastards into letting me off sans demerit points.

* Yes, I came home from work at 5am. Like I said: exhausting.

** The Finns have it right, I say. According to their formula, the police might have even ended up paying ME!

Things That Do Not Suck

2007-11-26T02:17:00.000-05:00

Well now! I trust you have all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, if that's the kind of thing you and yours like to do around this time of year? Although we had our Canadian Thanksgiving way back in October, I took advantage of the occasion to have some Turducken. The only thing better than feasting on a bird at Thanksgiving? Feasting on THREE birds at once. And the only thing better than even that? OYSTER STUFFING. So yummy!

The only unfair thing is... while our friends south of the border get such marvellous things as Black Friday, I get... exams to mark. And essays. And presentations. And abstract submissions. This is going to be a crazy crazy week and a half, so I probably won't be around here much. But don't worry, I'll be back soon, and just in time to post a super-fab series on Perfect Presents, to get you all set for your holiday shopping!

Keeping with the theme of things that don't suck, I tried out a "recipe" for a white bean dip this weekend. I say "recipe" because it was mostly me throwing things together and hoping it would work, but it did, and it was super easy! Here is a photo of what it could look like, if I was a food blogger/artist:

What you'll need:

- 1 can White Kidney Beans (you could probably use any white bean, or dried beans if you want to go through all that soaking. Which I did not.)
- 1 TBS Olive Oil
- apx 3 strips of cooked bacon (I used the pre-cooked stuff, b/c this was all on a whim)
- 1 clove garlic, minced (If you don't love the bite of raw garlic, leave it out or use roasted garlic, or even garlic powder)
- 3 dashes of onion flakes
- Salt to taste

Throw all of that into a food processor, or my boyfriend's Magic Bullet in my case*, and whir until smooth. If you're trying to keep things low-fat, omit the olive oil and instead use a bit of water or chicken stock -- the point is just to thin the bean dip out a little until you get the consistency you like. And of course, you can omit the bacon if you want.

For being such a hack job, this turned out incredibly well. Really creamy and rich-tasting, but with relatively healthy ingredients, this is high fibre, high protein, and low in carbs and fat. Plus it took like, 10 minutes from start to finish**. If you have any fancy oils on hand, try blending them in for extra flavour goodness -- nutty, lemon, or cajun/tex-mex flavours would also be great. I can't wait to try this with a bottle of white truffle olive oil that I have sitting at home! Serve with pita chips, on baguette slices, crackers, or even spread on toast. By the end, you'll be just eating it by the spoonful like we were.

And finally, for things that are most definitely the opposite of sucky, the Weekly Beauty Read from the Beauty Blog Network!

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog interviews Paris Hilton and gets her top 5 beauty tips.

Bionic Beauty shares her mineral makeup look of the day: "Rockin' the Glow".

Lipsticks are Like Men: Makeup Moxie Reviews Guerlain KissKiss Lipstick.

Beauty and Fashion Tech has a list of makeup palettes that are perfect for holiday gifts.

The Muse shares her collection and reviews of Be Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful Perfumes.

Savvy Skin covets all of Oprah's Favorite Things 2007

Temptalia reviews MAC's Metal-X Collection with swatches!

Elke reviews the ColorPro stick on eye shadow stencils, with somewhat iffy results.

Stylish Opinion finds a new 'green' beauty skincare line, "Green By Nature".

The Beauty Blog Network welcomes newest member Scandalous Beauty to it's team.

Beauty Banter muses about the hot new trend: Cat Eyes... Who is wearing it and how you can achieve the look too!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic checks out Prescriptive's Holiday 2007 Sets

A Touch of Blusher can't live without this hand cream!

Beauty and Personality Grooming - Herbal after shampoo hair rinses

SugarShock finds a bath and shower gel that's worthy of Cleopatra.

Makeup Loves Me is seduced by sunsilk' get hairapy commercials, but not it's shampoos.

Scandalous Beauty delivers an exclusive interview with Celebrity Make-Up Artist Sam Fine!

Face Candy gets a new holiday look and reviews Marc Jacob's newest scent- Daisy.

*Good LORD does that ever sound sketchy. I promise you that link is totally SFW.
** Including the time it took to whack the blender cup in an attempt to get all the ingredients to reach the blade... stupid lying infomercials...

The THINGS THAT SUCK!!!! post

2007-11-21T21:27:00.000-05:00

Internets! I am feeling all sorts of spiteful and frustrated and vengeful as of late. Not cool! So instead of binge-drinking and making other dubious life choices, I have decided to try this sublimation thing and use this opportunity to rag on things I hate. Read on! Rant with me! (Or at me!) Scream into your pillow! It does a body good.

Maybelline Great Lash. WHY do people still use this? WHY? It's sloppy and wet and smears and feels heavy and doesn't even do much. WHY????

Patchouli. So many a scent has been ruined by the heavy patch. Like the new YSL Elle, with Coco Rocha looking so amazing in the ads. Wanted to love it, but can't! Same thing with all of the Pleasures perfumes, sooo nice on everyone else, but on me? Stinging dirty head-achy patchouli is all I smell after 15 mins. Arrgh!

Razors. You are telling me that in this day and age, when they can put monkeys on Mars and real boobies on burly men... you are telling me you can't make a frickin' razor blade that stays sharp for more than 2 weeks? This is a marketing scam to get us to buy more ridiculously priced refills, and there is nothing I can do about it unless I want to go all hippy and unshaven (um, no). Gah!

Scarlett Johansson. I know, you all love her. WELL I DON'T. Aside from her fame, she is a slightly mannish girl at whom I wouldn't look twice on the street, except maybe at her admittedly nice rack. Slapping on some bleach and red lipstick doesn't make you "Old Hollywood" -- news flash, those women were actually handsome. And didn't have moustaches. ScoJo's gotta go! My lovely Josh Hartnett has figured it out, Rihanna is much much hotter (even if the age difference is a bit creepy).

Silicon-based "mousse" foundations. What the hell is the point of giving me airbrushed-looking skin, just to break me out after 2 days? Why taunt me???

So-called "perfect for all skintones" lip liners. Mac Spice, Body Shop Beech, Rimmel Clover... I'm looking at all of you. You all turn completely muddy and/or orange on me, while everyone else clamours on about your perfection. Go on and make my lips feel like freak rejects, will you!

Jockey's strapless push-up bra. This devil left red welts on my skin after I accidentally wore it to bed. I'm not kidding, it scarred and took weeks to heal. I'd hate to imagine what their jock-straps do...

Overly smokey eyes on Asian girls. Okay, this is an odd one. But I really abhor when Asian (well, Oriental) girls try to do the full-on smokey eyes, with the black eyeliner all the way around the bottom and top lash lines. Ladies, most of us don't have much surface area to work with, and blending all that colour up to your eyebrows is a bad idea. Restraint is the key. Plus the super-duper eyeliner just makes you look trend-whorey and ... well, mean. Like how I am being right now. Har. Check it out:

Just... NO! I feel kind of bad posting these... some of them are real women, who I'm sure are just awesome people. But the eyes! Are dirty and smutty, and not in a good way. I even asked for an impartial guy's opinion about the girl on the top right (she's a model, so I didn't feel quite so bad), and while he neither agreed with "hot" nor "brothel girl from those Suzy Wong days", his diagnosis was "It looks like she has a black eye on the right". Attractive.

It's not entirely their fault... I've read dozens of articles, blogs, and books telling Asian women that we should use lots of dark smokey jewel tones and black eyeliner to enhance their "exotic shaped eyes". But have any of these advice-givers actually looked at girls in Asia? Those who actually do it right?

Okay, granted, these girls are movie stars or models or various other celebs. And maybe they didn't do their own makeup. But they look HOT. Their eyes are dramatic and sultry, but still clean.

So what's the difference? Keep the dark colours very close to the lashes! In the HOT photos, the darkness ends at the eyelid fold. Just like how you wouldn't blend past the crease and up the bottom of the browbone for Caucasian eyes, bringing dark colours past the fold is asking for trouble, unless you have a really large or round eye area.

That doesn't mean you can't use colour higher than the fold... just keep it light and sheer. You can go a bit bolder if the bottom lids are minimal, without heavy liner all the way around. However, if you're going to be doing a thicker or smudgier line on the bottom lashes, consider keeping the area above the fold as clean and naked-looking as possible. For an awesome guide on how to do an attractive smokey eye, check out this post from Makeup For Life, from whom I stole 2 of the above (hot) pics.

Of course, I have seen Asian girls look amazing in a whoppingly dark and gorgeous smokey eye. And yes, I'm very jealous. But generally, they are model-like (if not actual models), or performers of some sort for whom these larger-than-life looks are appropriate. For real life, please, please, don't cover up your natural gorgeousness with trashy eye makeup. Please!

Anyway. Finally... Gossip Girl Re-Runs. Fuckin' hell. Can't a girl get a break already?

Whew! That was quite the bitch-fest. I feel much better now. How about you? Agree? Incensed? Let it all out!

Product Review: Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil

2007-11-20T19:02:00.000-05:00

With the Christmas Season fast approaching, we're starting to see all sorts of holiday-flavoured items on store shelves. From Cranberry to Spiced Vanilla to scents ominously named "Christmas"*, it seems retailers are doing everything it takes to get us in the festive spirit, whether they have to cram it down our throats or up our noses!

Still, I can't say it doesn't work. All it takes is a whiff of cinnamon here, a nip of chocolate and oranges there... and before you know it, my bells too are a-jingling**.

Proof of this not-so-subtle influence at work? I was in the market for a new lipbalm the other day (because I lost that Palmer's one that I am most recently addicted to), and instead of going for the tried-and-true, I picked up a tube of Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm. What really got me was the promise of "pomegranate oil", and the pretty packaging. It seemed so cheerful and seasonal!

Well, despite its aesthetic merits, I'm afraid this lipbalm alone can't carry me through the holidays. Its glide is pretty smooth (none of that godawful grittiness that was in the Burt's Bees Honey lipbalm), but it feels a little bit waxy, and doesn't really sink in to dry skin as much as I'd like. It'll be ok to keep lips from getting dry, but if they're already dry, this balm won't do much. I certainly wouldn't call it "replenishing".

On the plus side, it has a very unique scent -- a sweet-tangy flavour, mixed with something spicy over top. Not quite cinnamon... anise maybe? Cloves? It was a bit strange at first, but after a few uses, I started to really like it. It's kind of refreshing in a slightly herbal, cider-y way... definitely a winter scent. The balm also imparts a slight rosy pink tinge to the lips -- not so noticeable that it looks like you're wearing gloss, but it does add a kick and sheen to your natural lip colour.

So if you're looking for a deep lush lipbalm to take away the winter flakes, keep lookin'. However, if you just want a basic, cheery holiday balm that isn't the peppermint/chocolate stuff that everyone else is hawking, give Burt's Bees pomegranate lipbalm a try.

* What does Christmas smell like anyway? Surprise puppies on Boxing Day? Reindeer hooves clicking on rooftop shingles? Accumulation of credit card debt?

** I have no idea what that's supposed to mean. I thought it might come to me after I finished the post, but... nope, still nothing.

The Weekend Beauty Read

2007-11-19T13:43:00.000-05:00

Were you super busy last week and missed reading the dish from the best of the beauty blogs? Here's what the Beauty Blog Network has been up to. Happy Monday!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic kicks off a week of reviewing Dr. Brandt's Skin Care!

All Lacquered Up's Nail Tip Of The Week - Pedi Socks

Bionic Beauty covers the freebies offered by Jergens Skincare and Lotions.

Does the LeSportsac Tokidoki Bag stand up to the rigorous testing of a day in the life of Makeup and Beauty Blog?

A Touch of Blusher declares, "This is the ONLY eyelash curler I ever need!"

Makeup Moxie reviews Shiseido Lip Gloss...and loves it!

Temptalia Reviews MAC's Of Beauty Collection with swatches and product photos!

Celebrity Makeup Artist Brett Freedman talks to Hello Dollface!

The Muse's First Impressions of Bare Minerals bareGold Pure Luxury Color Collection.

Savvy Skin says My Body Wash Clogged My Pores.

Beauty and Personality Grooming:Sandalwood as beauty aid.

SugarShock scores a flawless face with per-fekt skin perfecting gel.

Scandalous Beauty unveils a Smoky Eye Tutorial on location at the Make Up For Ever Boutique and Studio!

Makeup Loves Me meets her perfect red lipstick.