Cute Makeup Tips

Photo Courtesy of Elaine from TorontoBeautyReviews. 

If there is one product I've been obsessed with this summer it has to be blush and the punchier the colour the better! During the hot humid days, I tend to wear less on the eyes and more on the cheeks and lips. Finding a blush that can hold up to the humidity in the past has been a challenge but not anymore!





Products were sent for editorial consideration.

The Makeup Junkie team was in full force at the Canadian Makeup Show this past weekend. In its newer and bigger home at The Better Living Center, makeup professionals and enthusiasts flocked to the show in hopes of learning the ins and outs of the industry plus score some pretty sweet deals on some of the top makeup brands in the world.

One of my highlights of the show was catching up with the adorable and inspiring Michael DeVellis, founder of The Powder Group! Some of my writers and I volunteered to help out at The Powder Group booth which was an amazing experience for all of us. Makeup artists crowded the booth for a chance to chat with Michael for advice and many signed up for a subscription to his industry must-have, On Makeup Magazine.

Also featured at The Powder Group booth were the infamous Powder Group Clear Soft Packs that sold out quickly and a new limited edition makeup collection, 9x9 Artists which writer, Nicole, is so gracefully showcasing in the photo above.

A makeup show wouldn't be complete without some incredibly wicked makeup artistry! The photo above is the makeup works of some talented artists from Make Up For Ever. This model was so fi-errrce (my inner Tyra coming out)!

It was all about gore and fantasy over at Obsessive Compulsive!



Of course, Nicole and I did have some time to go and peruse the different booths. I didn't do as much damage as I had intended to because we were able to come away with some awesome freebies! Stay tuned for reviews on the Make Up For Ever Dany's Pouch and Flap Velcro Pouch, The Powder Group Clear Soft Packs, 9x9 Artists Makeup and Nail line, Crown Brush, aDesign brushes, Face Atelier Lip Glazes and Powder Eye Pencil (I also had the pleasure of finally meeting founder and CEO of Face Atelier, Debbie Bondar!), and makeup artist cult favourite, Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre!

I love events like this where people who have a common love can come together and connect in one place. It was such great fun meeting new people, learning their stories, and chatting with old friends and co-workers. I definitely look forward to it next year and have no doubt it will be much bigger! Thank you to Michael DeVellis for being so amazing and taking care of us Makeup Junkies! And thank you to that special reader who visited me at the booth to tell me she was a big fan of Makeup Junkie! It's always nice to meet our readers!

To read more about the CMS visit Makeup Junkie writer, Rhia's site for her write up!

I always had a hard time working with pencil eyeliners. Often, the line would end up too thick, uneven and tugged like crazy on my poor, delicate eyelids. For the longest time, I stuck to gel liners and liquid liners, finding that they gave me more control and had much more colour payoff. About a year or two ago, I was looking for a bright blue eyeliner to pair with a bronze eye and on a whim, decided to go with those shiny new Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils. I heard the formulation allowed the pencil do to just what the name suggested- glide on smoothly. Even better, it was supposedly waterproof. I was still skeptical, but Electric was the exact colour I was looking for, so it was worth a try. When the little, bright teal pencil arrived, I tried it on immediately and fell in love.



I later found out that Make Up For Ever offers a similar type of pencil. Like the Urban Decay pencil, it had this super smooth consistency that allows it to glide on your eyelid like butter. The colour payoff is amazing and true to its claim, it actually is waterproof and lasts all day. A few of those found a home in my beauty arsenal. These miracle eyeliners reunited me with pencil eyeliners, allowing us to put our differences aside and start what would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.


The only downside of the Urban Decay and Make Up For Ever eyeliners were the price. At $16 US/$18 CDN a pop, they did not make my wallet happy. Thankfully, the great goddess Sephora heard my concerns and it wasn't long before Sephora Flashy Liners made their way into Sephora stores across North America. In 10 gorgeous shades, no less! The Flashy Liners, only $8 US/$10 CDN each, work just as beautifully as their more expensive counterparts at almost half the price! Flashy Blue is rather similar to Urban Decay's Electric and Flashy Copper and Flashy Brown look gorgeous on tanned skin. I own 8 of the 10 available colours and love every one of them.

This is the final installment of the three part beauty trilogy about my quest to bring only one medium sized makeup bag full of product with me on a five week trip away from home (and away from my makeup stash!) The quest was not an easy one, but I managed to slay my indecisiveness and select my makeup must-haves for the next five weeks. You already know my picks for eyes and lips, here are my necessities for the face.

1 Blush and 1 Bronzer Mascaraholic picks: Cargo Bronzer in Medium ($26 CAD) and Cargo Blush in The Big Easy ($26 CAD) The idea of using the same colour blush everyday will be a hard one to get accustomed to, but I only have so much space! The Big Easy is a flattering peachy pink that gives you the right amount of glow and Cargo's famed Bronzer in Medium provides a sun-kissed look without being muddy or orange like most bronzers. Hate shimmer? Cargo offers a matte version that looks just as great!

Foundation, Concealers & Face Powders Mascaraholic picks: Everyday Minerals Foundation ($12 US), Everyday Minerals Mint Concealer ($8 US) & MUFE High Definition Microfinish Powder ($32 CAD) Everyday Minerals Intensive Foundation in Light Neutral is my perfect summer foundation. Liquid foundations either melt off or clog my pores in the summer and Bare Escentuals Mineral Makeup was way too shiny and made me itchy. Everyday Minerals provides me with great coverage, lasts pretty well on my oily summer skin and best of all, doesn't break me out! Plus, mineral makeup has built-in sun protection because the titanium dioxide defends skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays. Still, that's no excuse to skip your daily sunscreen, especially if you're going to be out in the sun all day! The Mint concealer, worn under the foundation, masks the redness on my nose and cheeks without making me look like a martian. MUFE's Microfinish Powder keeps shine at bay and provides a lovely, soft focus finish!

Primers & Etc. Mascaraholic picks: Urban Decay Primer Potion ($18 CAD), Tarte Clean Slate ($38 CAD) and Korres Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream SPF 30 ($40 CAD) Does the eyeshadow you apply every morning fall victim to oily lids and crease like no tomorrow within an hour? Then you and I have something in common, my friend. Urban Decay Primer Potion saved my eyes from looking like an oily, gross mess! It keeps my eyeshadow from creasing, makes the colours more vibrant and helps eyeshadow last all day! Tarte Clean Slate does the same thing for my face (almost). The clear primer smooths out my skin and makes my pores less noticeable, plus it helps with mattifying and making my mineral makeup last longer. And the most important product of all, sunscreen. I wear it religiously and refuse to leave the house without it. I tried a sample of Korres' sunscreen in Sephora's Sun Safety kit last year and loved it so much that I bought a full size tube. It doesn't make me too shiny and it doesn't break me out. Smells great too! (If you don't want to spend $40 on the sunscreen, I just noticed that the Summer Essentials Kit has a full size sunscreen plus a cooling gel and body scrub for $28.21 CAD! Seems like a way better deal, huh?)

Now that I've shared my picks for eyes, lips and face, what do you think? Am I overdoing it? Am I underdoing it?

There comes a point in every makeup junkie's life where they have to spend some time away from their beauty arsenal. Packing for a vacation or an extended trip away from home is never an easy task. Most women have a hard time deciding what clothes to bring. Me? I can't decide which products to bring! Next week, I'll be hopping on a plane and flying away to study in another glorious part of Canada for five whole weeks. Picking out a handful of products for a one or two week trip, while difficult, is manageable. But how am I supposed to know what I'll be in the mood for three weeks from now? Four weeks from now? Looking through my stash, I'm met with a plethora of options, with each lipstick, shadow and blush screaming "Take me! Take me with you!" and while I hate for any of my makeup products to feel unloved and ignored, taking them all with me simply isn't possible (unless my airline changes their policy to allow three checked suitcases).

My challenge? Fitting everything I need into one, medium sized makeup bag. There are numerous things I need to take into account - I'll need to have appropriate colours for both day and night-time looks, items must be summer-friendly and be able to stand up to hot, humid weather (products with SPF are plus) and lastly, I want to incorporate some fun, summer trends into my everyday look. I went deep into my beauty closet and after an hour of deliberation, I emerged with my final choices for my trip. I only picked what I considered to be absolute necessities (and every makeup junkie has quite a few!)

This adventure in beauty will be a trilogy. Up first are my picks for eye makeup. Coming soon to this very blog will be the lip products followed by cheek and face products that made the cut.

2 Eyeshadow Palettes: Colours and Neutrals
Mascaraholic picks: Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box ($43 CAD) and MAC Eyeshadows in Ricepaper, Goldmine, Woodwinked and Mulch ($16.50 CAD each)
The Urban Decay palette is chock full of beautiful, pigmented colours. If you bring an eyeliner brush, the brighter shades double as eyeliner which is perfect for giving a neutral eye a pop of colour. The MAC shadows (which I keep in a quad) work together to make a beautiful gold or bronze neutral eye. Increase the intensity of Mulch in the crease and outer corner of the eyes for a smokey eye that you can wear in the evening. Ricepaper and Scratch (from the Urban Decay Palette) look great on the inner corners of the eye, especially on mornings after a late night of studying (or partying).

3 Eyeliners: Black and Peachy-Nude
Mascaraholic picks: Stila Smudge Pot in Black ($25 CAD), MUFE Aqua Eyes in Mat Black 0L ($18.50 CAD) and Tarte Rest Assured Brightening Wand ($25 CAD)
I love colourful eyeliner as much as the next beauty junkie, but on this trip, my Urban Decay palette has me covered. I use the Smudge Pot, which is a gel liner similar to MAC's Fluidliners to line my eyes and MUFE's Aqua Eyes is the only liner I have encountered that stays put on my lower and upper waterline. Tarte's Brightening Wand is my secret to looking wide awake at early morning lectures. On one end is a peachy nude eyeliner that looks much more natural than white eyeliner for lining your lower waterline. The other end holds a creamy pink highlighter for dabbing on the inner corner of your eyes. I prefer to use it on my cheeks for a well-rested glow.

1 Mascara: Black
Mascaraholic picks: Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! ($26 CAD)
I cannot rave enough about this mascara. It provides me with lush, thick, glossy lashes and it never clumps or flakes. Last year, Tarte had a waterproof version of this and I really wish I bought more than one tube because it was fantastic and perfect for the summer. However, the original is still fabulous. I tend to alternate between two to three mascaras at any given time (after all, I am a mascaraholic) and Light, Camera, Lashes is the sole mascara that I always have in rotation. That's how much I love it.

What are your vacation necessities? Would you bring more eye products? Less?

Hayden Panettiere, actress and singer, has graced the cover of many magazines this year. Not only does she star in the popular series Heroes she is also the current face of fashion brand Candie's. She always looks gorgeous no matter what she’s up to and she’s definitely following the summer trend of natural, glowing makeup. Here’s how you can achieve a look like hers:


1. Face: Skip the foundation and go for something a little lighter like a tinted moisturizer. There are tons on the market but my fave right now is Dior’s HydrAction Deep Hydration Skin Tint. Not only does it even out skin tone and correct imperfections, it contains SPF 20 to help protect against the sun. Only problem, it comes in 4 shades which may make it difficult to find your perfect match. In that case, try Stila’s Sheer Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 Oil Free, which is slightly sheerer but has a higher SPF, perfect for those of you who are sensitive to the sun.

2. Cheeks: For a pretty glow try NARS blush in Torrid, it’s very similar to the ever popular Orgasm but is a little more on the coral side and the gold flecks really stand out. Apply to the apples of your cheeks for that fresh, sun-kissed look.

3. Eyes: Using the new Lancome Brazilian Earth Colors palette, designed by top model Daria Werbowy (who is from Mississauga!), you can achieve a natural but defined eye. Apply the taupe shadow to the full lid and contour with the darkest brown in the crease, don’t go too high on the brow bone as this look is meant to be as natural as possible. Highlight the eyes with the shimmery yellow on the inner corners and on the bottom lash line for extra sparkle. Line the eyes with a dark liner, Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Liner in Star Black or Pearly Brown are great options because they are water and sweat resistant. Last step is to apply a few coats of your fave mascara, Dior Diorshow Mascara always does the trick.

4. Lips: Finish off the look with a glossy gloss, try a champagne nude colour like Sephora Ultra-Shine Lip Gloss in Silver Toupe 17.

by Shiv

Ahh, Spring is in the air and Summer is just around the corner! Part 1 of Beauty 101: Beauty Prep For Summer, was all about keeping your skin looking flawless from head to toe. This post gives you the scoop on some hot beauty products for Spring and Summer that my makeup bag can't live without!

Three Custom products are quickly taking over my makeup stash! Is your makeup routine in need of some colour? Check out reviews from my new favourites Light Brights lipstick, Miami Glamour collection and the free mascara you receive when you purchase Poppy Lip and Cheek Stain and Peacock eye shadow! Click here for details on the promo. Ends April 30th! To read my reviews click here.

Exotic beauties don't fret because there is a makeup line that was created with you in mind! Vasanti Cosmetics caters to every woman from fair to deep dark and their informative site makes picking the right colours easy. Last week I began Part 1 of my reviews and you can check out Part 2 featuring the Manhattan 24/7 Eye Colour Palette and Tinted Lip Balm in Bahamas, a natural plum brown! Pretty! Click here for more.I wasn't really a fan of plumping glosses until now. Lise Watier Plumpissimo glosses are available in 6 beautiful hues for Spring and Summer! The line also features La Base, a plumping anti-aging Lip Primer with collagen micro-spheres. Click here to read more!

Loose Lips New York features some Spring/Summer must-haves that will get you noticed in all the right ways! One of my favourite products from the line I reviewed last year was Indelible Gel Liner in Black Cherry. Since the gel liners were such a hit, Loose Lips New York has come out with Indelible Creme Eye Shadow, another new favourite! Click here to read more.

A while ago I wrote about Make Up For Ever's Aqua Eyes liner being just kind of "meh" for me. Well, I've given it another try and have changed my tune! Click here to read more.

What are your must-haves for Spring/Summer? Have you tried any of my must-haves from the list? Love it? Hate it? Happy shopping!

The black little liner is a definite must-have in anyone's beauty stash. It's classic, versatile, and goes with anything. My expectations for Make Up For Ever's Aqua Eyes was pretty high and I really didn't have any doubts about its performance. I'm a huge fan of the line already. I was really excited to receive this free sample with my Sephora Beauty Insider card. Aqua Eyes can be used as an eyeliner or eyeshadow. I tried it on its own to see what the staying power was like and also applied it in the waterline.



The Good:
The pencil applied smoothly and didn't tug or pull at my eye. It lasted through some rolling around in the snow and a shower, but the colour wasn't as strong as when it was first applied.

The Bad:
Aqua Eyes sadly smudged on my bottom lash line and disappeared right away on my waterline (although I don't find a lot of liners that stay on the waterline).

I layered it underneath some black powder eyeshadow for a smoky eye and it did stay put - no smudging and lasted throughout the night. It was really easy to blend as an eyeshadow and intensified the powder shadow even more.

Overall, it didn't wow me like I thought it would. To me, it seemed like any other liner. It lives up to its water-proof claim but the colour does fade a bit. As for the smudging, my under eye area is usually prone to that and I always have to apply a powder shadow over a pencil liner. It isn't a must-have for me but it's not a bad one either. It's just kind of meh... What do you think of this liner and how did it work for you? Love to hear about it! Happy shopping!

Ahhhhh! I'm still coming down from my high after attending the beauty event at the new Sephora store on Bloor Street! On my way there, I realized way too late that I had left my camera at home!! Unfortunately, I cannot share any pictures from the event - boo. As soon as I got home, I took some pictures of my stash which I cannot way to share with you!

I was really nervous but extremely ecstatic to have the chance to go. The event was to introduce Sephora to Canada and to announce the openings of more locations in Quebec at Fairview, Point Claire and Les Promenades, St. Bruno, as well as Ottawa, Rideau Centre and Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket, Ontario; scheduled for late Spring, early Summer 2008! Sephora plans to make its mark in the Canadian market which I don't think will be too hard a task!

"Canada is a very important focus for us in 2008 and beyond," says Marie-Christine Marchives, VP Canada. "The client response we have had to our newly opened stores in Alberta and Ontario has far exceeded our expectations and we are very excited about our future,"

Interesting facts about Sephora:

• founded in France in 1969 and acquired by Paris-based LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton in 1997
• Sephora.com launced in 1999 and is the world's top beauty website
  
• carries 13 000 products from more than 200 brands including the Sephora collection
• first beauty retailer to employ the unique open-sell philosophy, encouraging customers to touch, play and try everything
• Sephora's cast members are rigorously trained in an intense Sephora educational program focused on skincare, hair care, and general beauty
• customers can now register for the new client loyalty program, Beauty Insider (I signed up yesterday!) which entitles you to special information on events and must-have items, exclusive samples, Insider-only products, birthday gifts and an all-access pass to personalized beauty
  

As soon as I checked in, I received my badge and a shopping basket with a gift card and press release. I wasn't sure if I should just start shopping but I saw some other women shopping away so I followed suit! The store is huge - it has to be bigger than the Eaton Center location. I really liked the layout because they had some makeup lines displayed against the walls where only fragrances would usually be (camera would have come in handy!). I had no idea who would be there and when I arrived, I was kind of overwhelmed to be amongst many beauty and fashion editors and some well-known makeup artists including Sephora Canada's own Pro Makeup Artist, Ali Lando. I spotted Susie Sheffman, Fashion Director of Fashion Magazine. I was really happy to run into a makeup artist friend named, Sandra, from agency Judy Inc.! I also ran into celebrity makeup artist, Tony Masciangelo from the Plutino Group agency, who I assisted a few years ago for Fashion Magazine.

I had a hard time deciding prior to what goodies I would pick up. A lot of the newer launches really didn't impress me. I was really curious to try out Cargo's Blu_ray collection and the only thing that I thought worth getting was the mattifier but I'm still trying to finish the M.A.C. one I have. The blush colour was barely visible on my skin and the pressed powder was coloured which went on chalky. It may be great for my fairer skinned clients though, but I prefer to use colourless powders. The glosses were nice but seemed no different than a non "high-def" gloss. I don't know, too much hype? I may have to give it another test. The next thing I tried out was Stila's Cherry Crush Lip and Cheek Stain. It was nice and is great it has all those added skin benefits but it didn't make me want it that bad probably since I have so many stains including Benefit's Benetint Pocket Pal that has a similar colour. I also tried Stila's Face Contouring Palette that I've been lusting after but my friend Sandra talked me out of it. Plus, I didn't really like the highlighter it came with - the shimmer had a crumbly texture. She convinced me to save my money and get Make Up For Ever's Compact Modellers (in Canada only carried at Sears and artist discount only applies there) which is cheaper with a makeup artist discount. I love Nars but the Spring collection was just ok. I already had similar colours. I also tried Benefit's Thrrrob and I don't know if it was just the lighting but came on a pale chalky pink on me?? Anyone with a similar skin tone as me or darker try it? Was it fine for you?

Ok, so lets get to the good stuff already! I figured I'd get one product from the lines I liked and focus on Spring/Summer hues. I picked up Sephora's Detail Lash Curler to get at those small lashes or to create a flirty effect, Sephora's Flashy Liner Waterproof in Flashy Blue (vivid turquoise) for a fun pop of colour for Spring, Nars Lipstick in Dolce Vita (sheer dusty rose) because it's a cult classic and I've always wanted it, Urban Decay's Deluxe Eyeshadow in Scratch (shimmering silver pink) because the colour is so pretty and the packaging is funky and psychedelic, Cargo's Eyeshadow Palette Mozambique because it's a must-have for the kit and is a great mix of neutrals with pops of colour (aquamarine, amethyst, topaz, quartz and sand), Rosebud Salve because I ran out and is a great inexpensive multi-purpose balm, and Tarte's new Double Dose Gloss in Go Go Goji (sheer sparkling blush pink - looks like a pinky/peach) because I'm tired of glosses that are too sheer and it's good for you! I think I want to get them all but the $30 price may scare some of you but I'm used to Nars so prices don't phase me haha. I also received a sample size of Make Up For Ever's Aqua Eyes Waterproof liner in Mat Black free with my Beauty Insider card! I'll be doing separate reviews for each of them later this week!

Stay tuned for more reviews (yesterday was like Christmas!) of Billy B. Beauty's travel brush collection, eye lash curler and lash/brow separator, the anticipated On Makeup Magazine from The Powder Group, and my new nail polish faves from NYC (my fuchsia pink tips were adored last night!). Oh and next week I'll be announcing my first ever beauty give away! It's a good one!