Cute Makeup Tips

It's hard to restrain a makeup junkie when there are new products coming out everyday! The good thing is that the beauty industry always keeps you on your toes. And the bad? Well, it can be a little overwhelming sometimes! Round 4 is all about "tubular" lashes! Are you ready to put those gloves on? Gloves on your lashes that is!

My Lashes: stick straight, lacking volume and length
Mission: To find a volumizing, lengthening, smudge-free, non-clumping mascara.
Round 4: Tube mascaras that coat your lashes like gloves, creating voluminous, sky-high, smear-proof lashes!

Mascara: Too Faced Lash Injection Pin Point
Rating: 7 winks
Price: $19.50 USD
Special Feature: 3D polymers build waterproof tubes around each lash with a thin brush to get every lash creating voluminous, extremely defined, long lashes.

Smudge-factor: none
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: after 2 coats
Curl: moderate
Wand: Thin brush
For: Gals who have short lashes and need length as well as separation and definition.
Overall: I really like the thin brush. It gets to every lash without making a mess on my lids. The formula seems a lot richer than the original Lash Injection. You get great definition and length but not a lot of volume or lift. It took 3 coats to make my lashes really stand out. The formula is supposed to be the same as the original but I found this one did not flake or smudge. When you have a few coats on, it takes a little while to remove with warm water but it does come off really well leaving no residue behind.
Beauty Stash Worthy: I love the brush but I could either way. I prefer a mascara that can also give me lift and lots of volume.

Mascara: Kiss Me Mascara
Rating: 8 winks
Price: $29.95 CAD
Special Feature: Water-resistant tubes that wrap around each lash for natural volume and length.

Smudge-factor: none
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: natural
Curl: yes
Wand: Medium bristle
For: Gals who like a natural look to their lashes and those that need more length than volume.
Overall: Kiss Me Mascara is the pioneer of tube mascara technology and definitely deserves kudos for being innovative. This mascara is popular among many Hollywood starlets. The mascara promises to give you natural volume and length and delivers exactly that. It doesn't make you believe you'll have the same effect as faux lashes. However, since I like my lashes on the more dramatic side this wouldn't be my first choice of mascara. The upside is that Kiss Me Mascara carries Ultra Volume Mascara for gals who want extreme volume. If you do want more volume, keep applying more coats while the formula is still moist. The rule of thumb has always been to wait until the first coat dries. When you are happy with the look let it set for 1 minute without touching. I found the brush to apply a little messy which is a surprise since the brush isn't big. All in all, it gives great length and separation.
Beauty Stash Worthy: Since cheaper versions have come out that deliver both volume and length, I probably wouldn't go out and buy another one once I'm finished. But if I have the chance to try the Ultra Volume Mascara I might!

Mascara: L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Technology Mascara
Rating: 9.5 winks
Price: $14.95 CAD
Special Feature: 2-in-1 mascara with nourishing base coat and tube technology mascara to give your lashes salon-like extensions that wash off with warm water. Won't be available in Canada until January 2009!

Smudge-factor: none
Clump-factor: a little
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes!
Curl: yes
Wand: medium bristles - still able to get at hard-to-reach lashes
For: Gals who's lashes need extra nourishing and volume. Also for those that have sensitive eyes and don't want to use eye makeup remover.
Overall: Before CoverGirl LashBlast mascara came along, I was faithfully committed to L'Oreal Voluminous Water-proof mascara. Well, L'Oreal has won me back! I LOVE this mascara! It is amazing for its value. It may be a pricer drugstore mascara but it's still on the cheaper end of most high end brands. You get a 2 in 1: nourished, voluminous lashes. No smearing or flaking either. I applied a few coats and did notice a little clumping but it was easily combed out with a lash comb. I am able to get faux lashes like Lancome's Oscillation mascara, without nearly as many clumps. When I went to the launching of the mascara during L'Oreal Toronto Fashion Week, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! Eddie Maleterre, Official Makeup Artist for L’Oreal Paris in Canada and L’Oreal Fashion week’s Artistic Director, did a demonstration using Double Extend Beauty Tubes. Nothing difficult but it's always cool to see how another makeup artist applies mascara. I love the fact that I no longer have to use a water-proof eye makeup remover (saves me money)! It comes off so easily with gentle pressure and warm water!
Beauty Stash Worthy: Absolutely!

Pictures from the L'Oreal NRG Breakfast launch of L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara:
Have you tried any of these mascaras? Love them? Hate them?

Click for other reviews of Mascaras Battle It Out:
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3

Recreate this gorgeous day look for Spring! The NADA runway look was created by Eddie Maleterre - Official Makeup Artist for L’Oreal Paris in Canada and L’Oreal Fashionweek’s Artistic Director - and gives you a first hand look at the Official Mascara of L’Oreal Fashionweek - Double Extend Beauty Tubes. This innovative new mascara is available in Canada in January 2009! Stay tuned for my review and photos from the launch event!

I had the pleasure of attending the L'Oreal Paris NRG breakfast event at Toronto Fashion Week on Monday. It was for the unveiling of L'Oreal's newest mascara, Double Extend Beauty Tubes! It won't be available in Canada until January 2009. I'm very excited to give this mascara a test run so stay tuned for my review and for photos from the event!

Double Extend Beauty Tubes is featured in this tutorial for MANGO's runway look for Spring 2009 created by Eddie Maleterre – Official Makeup Artist for L’Oreal Paris in Canada and L’Oreal Fashion week’s Artistic Director. Check it out! Smoky eyes with a dash of pink shadow make this a gorgeous evening look for Spring!

www.lorealparis.ca

It's that Fabulous time of year again in Toronto as L'Oreal Fashion Week Spring 2009 descends on the hippest fashionistas! I won't be able to attend all the shows but will be attending the L'Oreal Paris NRG Breakfast on October 20th which I have a hunch will be the unveiling of L'Oreal's latest mascara! Stay tuned for that! I'll also be attending Alfred Sung's Bridal Show and the must-see Pink Tartan show both on October 20th. On the 23rd, I'll be on-site not to see the shows but doing makeup touch-ups on Ali De Bold, host of ChickChat TV!

Fashion Week Details:
When: October 20 - 25
Where: Nathan Phillips Square

For schedule or general information visit www.lorealfashionweek.ca.

Ali from Chick Advisor put together a cool and funny short video of L'Oreal Fashionweek Spring/Summer 2008 beauty trends with Eddie Maleterre and Eric Del Monaco. Check it out!

Photo: L'Oreal Paris head makeup artist Eddie Maleterre perfecting the African-inspired look for GSUS

Fashion week for me is all about the beauty trends. I also love being backstage amongst all the bustle and had a terrific time hanging out seeing everyone work their magic. We saw some creative makeup looks and learned a few hair tricks and saw a few tv personalities. L'Oreal Paris' head makeup artist Eddie Maleterre and L'Oreal's lead hairstylist for Fashion Week, Eric Del Monaco, gives us the scoop on Fall/Winter beauty trends.


Photo: Eddie showing the host of CosmoTV how to wear plums on the eyes for Fall

Eddie Maleterre:

Makeup Junkie: Fall/Winter is all about taking beauty risks and throwing out traditional makeup rules. Can you tell us about the two looks for Fall/Winter?
Eddie: There are two different makeup looks. For day it is bare skin, natural foundation, mascara, taupe on the eyes, lipstick in creamy beige. It is very natural and healthy. The second look plays with colour. Smoky eyes are very present in plum, lips are very present in cherry or dark cherry, and not too much blush.

MJ: What product would you suggest every woman have in their makeup bag for next season?
Eddie: L'Oreal Bare Naturale Foundation, very easy to use, skin is always perfect, it's also a mineral foundation. It's magic!

MJ: What is the most important beauty rule every woman should break next season?
Eddie: Play with colour and play with the makeup.


Photo: L'Oreal Fashion Week's lead hair stylist, Eric Del Monaco, doing a look on Slice.ca's L'Oreal Fashion Week correspondent Jamie. Tip: if you have long hair but want the illusion of a cute bob, pin your curls underneath with bobby pins!

Eric Del Monaco:

Makeup Junkie: I’m personally excited that the bob will make a return next season. What is it about the bob that women love or you love?
Eric: We've actually been doing a lot of it in the salon for Spring/Summer. What we're doing for Fall/Winter is sort of a carry over of the bob but we're taking the straight bob and giving it a little bit of a different edge. We're going to do it with a large barrel curling iron with some big huge rollers. So we're taking that beautiful sleek bob say for day wear and we're going to transform it into an evening glamorous wear for night time. It's very simple with some heat activating spray Hot Curls by L'Oreal and either big rollers or a curling iron and just plump it up with your fingers.

MJ: One solid colour is becoming very popular again. What inspired you to move away from highlights?
Eric: I think it's because we've been highlighting hair so much and so often that it's just time to give the hair a break maybe. Monotone colours are going to be very very strong and I think it's just going to be a time for the hair to repair itself a little bit.

MJ: To maintain long-lasting colour and beautiful shine what products do you suggest?
Eric: For colour treated hair that's very very important. A lot of woman make the mistake of spending a lot of money on colouring their hair and then they get a less expensive shampoo that strips the colour. It's so important that if you're hair is chemically treated that you get a shampoo for colour treated hair. I recommend the Colour Vive Pro from L'Oreal Paris for colour treated hair. It is also comes with a once a week deep conditioner.

Photo: Me (looking tired and hair flat!), Eric, and my friend Christine

MJ: Since next season is about breaking traditional beauty rules what is one rule every woman should break next season?
Eric: If you're traditionally wearing the same look for a long time get something new and try something different.





Thank you to Eric and Eddie for the fantastic interview! That wraps up my week! My feelings of this season were mixed, but of all the good and bad I loved ending the week on a beauty note. Mid-way during the week I remembered that the beauty and fashion industry can sometimes get ugly and that being nice doesn't get you anywhere. I was ready to release the inner "bitch" in me, but was reminded that it's just not me. I refuse to believe that you have to be ruthless and rude in this industry. There is room for decent and genuine people! Thank you to Margaret and Sonja for taking care of us backstage - it certainly made up for Wednesday's drama! I hope you enjoyed my coverage of Fashion Week and loved reading about the beauty trends! Until next season!

For more coverage on L'Oreal Fashion Week visit the official site here.
For more information on L'Oreal products visit here.
For beauty tutorials from Eddie Maleterre and Eric Del Monaco visit here.

After a disappointing Wednesday night, I was hoping that Thursday would be a better day and it was. I was happy to have the chance again to interview L'Oreal Paris' head makeup artist Eddie Maleterre and lead head hair stylist Eric Del Monaco for L'Oreal Fashion Week on Fall 2008 beauty trends. Beauty is taking on an all new meaning next season. Throw out traditional beauty rules and be inspired by "new-age" beauty looks that will mix a variety of styles and eras. First beauty rule to be broken: focusing on one area of the face. Instead, both eyes and lips will be the focal point next season. Lip liner will also be making a comeback, helping to define the natural curves of the lips creating full, plump lips.

The Trends:


Makeup - Luxurious, jewel-toned hues of plum, that are ultra-feminine and versatile. Muted earthy shades of taupe offer a contrast to the season's opulent hues of plum. Deep black will also be used to accentuate the eyes.

Hair - Rich, deep and monochromatic shades of brunette and blonde. A multi-faceted is created with these monochromatic shades causing subtle highlights to peek through. Must-have hairstyle for the season is a shiny bob that is worn one length or layered and ending either at the chin line or shoulder. Can be worn straight to give a more structured and dramatic look or curled to give a softer more romantic look.

The Look:


Audaciously Natural - Taupe shadow on the eyes, skin is naturally flawless, delicate rose on the cheekbones, naturally voluminous lashes, lips are plump and full using lip gloss in neutral tones. Hair is shiny and healthy in rich tones of brunette or blonde. Lots of texture, the hair is pulled back letting some wisps of hair romantically frame the face.

Naturally Audacious - Complexion pale and flawless with just a hint of blush, two rich-jeweled tones shades of plum are blended onto the lid, black liner lines her top and lower lash line, lashes are defined and lengthened, lip liner gives definition with creamy mauve lipstick to give the perfect pout. Hair is one solid colour, styled with a short texturized bob that ends slightly past the chin and features lots of big beautiful curls.

The Inspiration:


Hazy '50's and '60's inspired cat eye look. The structured and romantic hair styles of the big screen sirens of the 1920's and 1940's. Different eras brought together to bring women into the modernized "new-age" of beauty.

Charcoal greys and matte red lips dominated last Fall so it'll be a nice change to see plums make a return. Plum is such a versatile shade and enhances all eye colours. It'll be interesting to see if women will embrace the comeback of lip liner and make both the eyes and lips the focal point. I never like to limit myself so I'm always up for something different. For hair, I haven't had highlights in a long time and really love having one solid colour. My hair always looks shiny and healthy whereas when I had highlights it looked dry and faded.

Stay tuned for the continuation of Part 3 with my interview with Eddie and Eric and some great backstage photos!

Oh, the drama! This season at Fashion Week my experience was a little different than last season. Because of all the exposure Toronto has been getting from around the world, media passes were very limited and no I was not one of the lucky ones this time around which meant no reserved seat, no swag, and no access to the media lounge. Instead, I was given an Industry pass which was fine until I realized Wednesday that it really was no different than a General pass! The show I really wanted to see, Andy The-Ahn, was ridiculously packed. We got there well ahead of the scheduled time and still couldn't get in! There was room for 20 more people and with my luck 20 stopped at me and my friend. I should have changed my pass to Media when I was given the chance but I had no idea there was a possibility that we wouldn't get in to some shows. It seemed like the Industry line was always the last to be let in. Everything seemed really disorganized that night.

So, there we were at the front of the line watching Andy The-Ahn's show on a flat screen. I was not impressed because some people waiting in the General line were let in over us! I was fuming at that point. We were about to leave when we turned around and saw the long lineup waiting to get in David Dixon's show. We knew if we left our spot we'd definitely miss the next show. So we waited for over an hour until the next show in our heels. When the show was let out, everyone walked by us chatting about how amazing the show was - and it was. Amazing gowns, jewelry - gorgeous! The best part was when some bloggers I knew pretended they didn't see me and walked on by. "I'm not worthy" lol - whatever! Please...

We were pretty confident that we'd be one of the first to get into David Dixon since we were at the front of the line. Ha! Once again Industry was shafted and they even attempted to move Industry people to another line! I explained my frustrations to one of the girls who were all very nice, that we had been standing in line for over an hour and did not think it was right that some people in the General line were let in before us. I was so over it by that point, but finally they let us in and we "scored" some standing room at the edge of the bleachers.

The snowy background with the snow falling from the ceiling set the sombre mood. I loved the beautiful (I apologize for butchering the description!) tree prints on the elegant dresses and jackets.

My favourite accessories were the hats and belts.


The makeup was effortless: natural flawless skin, neutrals on the eyes, softly sculpted cheeks, and deep plum on the lips. Hair was loosely pulled back in a romantic up-do.

I haven't been a fan of plaid since the '90's but I just loved this chic trench in plum, grey and black.
I thought this was an interesting accessory: turtle-neck scarf draped over the dress (again I apologize for the description!). New trend?

The talented David Dixon. It was a fantastic show, but we were so ready to leave. My body was sore after standing for hours and I was still disappointed about missing Andy The-Anh. Oh well, c'est la vie! My whole experience was slightly tainted, but Part 3 definitely made up for it. Stay tuned for my feature on Fall beauty trends!

For more coverage on the shows, visit the official L'Oreal Fashion Week site here.

"Wear In The World" was the tagline for this season as it recognizes Toronto's growing exposure in the international market. Unfortunately I couldn't attend all the shows due to scheduling, but I made sure to make it out for Bustle and Joeffer Caoc Tuesday night!


Bustle is such a hot ticket event and always a favourite with Canada's fashionable. Bustle focuses mainly on menswear but has a few male inspired women's wear.

The women still come out for the show because Bustle is also known for having gorgeous male models!


I'm not going to pretend I know technical fashion jargon, but I really enjoyed the fitted suits with satin striping and great fall jackets. Bustle style has a very well-tailored look but with an element of fun.
Not a very good picture but it's the legendary host of Fashion Television Jeanne Beker at Bustle.

Blurry photo of supermodel, Stacey McKenzie, also one of the judges for Canada's Next Top Model struttin' her stuff.

Fantastic Bustle designer duo and love birds Shawn Hewson (judge on Project Runway Canada) and Ruth Promislow.

I remember a few years ago I met Joeffer Caoc and had no idea who he was. I was interning as a makeup artist at a photography studio when he and a stylist friend stopped by and I remember him being so unbelievably nice. I ran into him a few months later at Toronto's Pride parade event and I had forgotten his name. A few days later I saw him on Fashion Television! He was such a humble guy he never even bothered to tell me he was one of Canada's top designers! That's also when I realized I needed to learn more about Canada's fashion scene.

I was really glad to see his show on Tuesday. He's got an exquisite style and knows how to dress a woman.

My favourite pieces were the dresses and satin trench coats.

I loved the makeup! The skin was flawless with a bit of dewiness on the cheekbones. Cheeks were kept soft with a little contouring. Metallic deep blue was mixed with black on the eyes, giving a strong smoky effect. Lips were natural in a matte peachy-nude. The hair was beautifully styled in a relaxed up-do. Half the hair was sectioned up and then was pulled back into a soft bun.

Second from the right is actress Tara Spencer-Nairn from Canadian show Corner Gas front row.

My best friend, Christine, and I after the shows. Tuesday was a great night and I ran into some old friends and business contacts I hadn't seen in a while. Part 2 isn't so pleasant and full of drama lol. But stay tuned for Part 3 which will feature my interview with L'Oreal Paris makeup artis, Eddie Maleterre, and L'Oreal Paris hair stylist, Eric Del Monaco, about fall beauty trends! Also, later today I will be announcing the winner of my birthday give away so be on the lookout!

For more coverage on L'Oreal Fashionweek visit the official site here.

Fashion week in Toronto has begun! I'm looking forward to seeing some beautiful clothes, checking out the beauty/hair trends for Fall, mixing and mingling with the fashion crowd, bumping into some bloggers, and most of all hanging out with my best friend! She's a fashion week virgin and I'm breakin' her in! Stay tuned for my rundown of beauty trends and musings of the fashionable!

For more information on L'Oreal Fashion Week click here.