Cute Makeup Tips

Aww shucks, you love us and we really, really love you Sephora! Us Canadian girls have sure embraced Sephora ever since it launched in Canada. Some of you call it your mecca for beauty and some of you call it home. Thank you Sephora for dedicating a palette especially for us Canadian beauty junkies! 

I was expecting the Sephora Loves Canada Minibag ($15 USD) palette to be the typical blockbuster size, but in fact it's the exact opposite. It's a lil' mini one and adorable to boot! It's a purse-friendly size that you can tote with you for touch-ups throughout the day or for an evening makeup change. To top it off, you can hold it by the red handles like a shopping bag - makes you want to shop doesn't it?

In the past, Sephora's shadows haven't really impressed me much. I always found that they weren't pigmented enough and faded quite quickly. I was pleasantly surprised that these shadows were silky soft and highly pigmented. The palette contains great basic neutrals that are perfect for day and can add drama for night. There's a good mix of shimmery, matte, and satin shadows as well. Not only can this palette work for everyday, but I can see a lot of brides reaching for this one especially if they will be doing their own makeup.

When you slide out the right side, a shimmering neutral blush is added to compliment your neutral eyes. It adds a soft hint of colour and leaves a beautiful glow on the skin. This also works great as a highlighter. Sephora blushes are actually really good. I've tried a few in the past and they are always silky smooth and highly pigmented.

I love all the hidden compartments. Slide out the left side and 4 neutral shades from light to dark finish off your look. From left to right, the first shade is a frosty champagne, shimmering beige, shimmering pink-brown, and shimmering plum. The glosses are sheer and feel smooth to the touch. They don't last very long, but you can apply these over your favourite lipstick for longer wear.

Overall, it's a collector's item that is fabulous for when you're on-the-go and it makes a great gift for that special makeup junkie in your life (could be you)!

Have you tried this palette? Love it? Hate it? Want it?

Vasanti's spring/summer collection is making me fall in love with colour this season! Yes, these two items have quickly made a home in my kit. Vasanti certainly doesn't skimp on quality or pigment making their products makeup artist worthy!

Vasanti Silky Eye Shadow Duo in Mount Rushmore ($20 CAD): Alright, it's time to gush over how much I adore this silky duo of goodness! Texture - amazing. It's silky-soft and applies like butta'. It blends beautifully onto the skin. I love the combination of a satin-frost finish with a matte shadow. It makes it wearable for anytime of the day and photographs wonderfully. Now, let me gush over the colour combo! The silver infused taupe with the deep purple make this one hot smokey eye perfect for spring! This duo will definitely take you into fall and winter. For day, you can apply the taupe shade all over the lid and use a damp angled brush to line the eyes with the purple. I actually used this on a mother-of-the-bride last week and she loved it! This is the perfect duo to enhance brown, green or hazel eyes! At $20 a duo, this really is affordable for such a well-pigmented palette. New shades available in Colosseum, Lake Louise, and Statue of Liberty.

Vasanti Vitamin E Infused Lipshine in Caribbean ($15 CAD): These glosses are super hydrating and give the lips unbelievable shine. Caribbean is a sheer hot pink. If you're trying to ease into the bright lip trend, using a sheer gloss is the way to go. My lips have some colour to them so the hot pink doesn't really translate. I wish it would have been a little more pigmented, but it looks gorgeous over a hot pink lip stain. New shades available in Caspian, Red Sea, and The North Sea.

Have you tried Vasanti's new spring/summer collection? Love it? Hate it? Want it? 

Polpettina takes the stage!

Tokidoki has launched a limited edition Cromatico Eyeshadow Palette – Polpettina, named after one of its super cute branded characters.

As always with tokidoki, the case and packaging are very cute and colourful, inspired by the company’s Soda Shop collection print. The case is two tiered with four complimentary, micronized eye shadow colours on top, and an adorable collectable Polpettina charm on the bottom. 

The four eye shadow colours include LA Gun (dark bluish iridescent grey), Polpettina (matte pink), Candy Cane (iridescent white) and Adios (matte black). With the use of rice lipids as an ingredient, this shadow boasts it’ll hydrate your lids while gliding on smoothly and blending evenly.

Once applied, the colours are very bold and the incredibly fine powder – almost creamy – blends remarkably well. I created a bold yet flirty smoky eye with these shades. Since my eye lids are pretty inset, I usually have a difficult time with shadows staying put but this product battled the odds and did a pretty good job. As usual, I found that it stays put even longer with the use of a lid primer.

The Polpettina clip charm is definitely a cute little bonus to add to your cellphone, key chain, or the end of a zipper.

This product can be purchased at Sephora for $25 – which is a little on the pricier end for four small shadows, but the quality makes it worth the buy. 

What did you think of this product? Have you tried any other products from the tokidoki Soda Shop collection?

I love me a good pink lipstick. What can I say? I'm a girly-girl at heart. I own a range of pinks from soft to bold, but it's the bold pink lippies that are taking over my beauty stash. You can definitely say my lips are ready for Spring's bold lip trend!

Here are just a few of my favourite bold pinks that I switch between. They are all very similar, but the undertones vary from cool to warm and red to magenta with textures ranging from matte to creamy. I love them all!

Top to bottom: 

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in PK 369 ($24 USD): I believe this shade was an LE, but a new one was released PK356. These lipsticks are super juicy on the lips and the colour stays on allll day - no joke. It has a creamy finish, but it lasts even through eating a meal. I love the cool undertones in it too. This a shade that just makes your face come alive. 

Borghese B Moisture Lip Colour in Primale Pink ($24 USD): This is my first time trying anything from Borghese. I love the creamy finish and how plump it makes my lips look. The shade on me looks neon pink with warm undertones if that's possible. Looks amazing with just a bit of bronzer on the cheeks and bronze shadow. 

YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Le Fuchsia ($30 USD): This is hands down one of my favourite lipsticks! It's shocking, luxurious, and rich - I love you long time! To read a full review click here.

Lancome L'Absolu Rouge in Fast Kisses ($35 CAD, LE Mark Fast): Another favourite, I fell in love with this lippie at first swipe. Too bad it's a LE though! For a full review click here.

Tarte LipSurgence Natural Matte Lip Tint in Lively ($28 CAD): Tarte is one of my all-time eco-friendly lines that doesn't skimp on quality or pigmentation. If you love a matte lip, you'll want to get your hands on one of these lil' chubbies! For a full review click here.

Julie Hewett Icon of Beauty Lipstick in Scarlett ($22.50 USD): Julie Hewett is not as known in Canada, but should be! I love their line of lippies. Named after Hollywood starlet, Scarlett, this is a red-carpet worthy shade! For a full review click here.

Have you tried any of these lippies? What bold pinks are overflowing your beauty stash right now?

As spring graces us with its presence, love is in the air! Maybe that’s what Reese Witherspoon was

thinking when she recently launched her new fragrance “Love to the Fullest”, exclusively for Avon.

“Love to the Fullest” has a very fresh scent, with black cherry, sandstone, and evening primrose notes.

It’s a very versatile perfume as it isn’t too strong or musty. Throughout the day, I noticed it every now

and then, but it definitely wasn’t overpowering.

With a seafoam green colour theme, the bottle and packaging are relatively plain, and not as eye

catching as many other fragrance bottles are these days.

This eau de toilette spray is exclusively available through Avon retailing at $25 USD for 1.7 fl. oz. It’s just one

of three in Witherspoon’s Expressions Collection. The other two fragrances are called “Live Without

Regrets” and “Laugh Often” which are set to launch separately later this year.

Have you tried this fragrance? Love it? Hate it? Want it? 

http://avon.com/

by Brooke
 
Product was sent for editorial consideration.

Trends come and go so if you're hesitant to try some of this season's bright hues, Joe Fresh's beauty products will get you Spring ready under $10! With Joe Fresh's clean, clear packaging and great pigmentation their beauty line really is a steal. Their seasonal collections are always on trend and right off the runway thanks to Joe Fresh's resident celebrity makeup artist, Simone Otis. Let me gush over some of my new favourites!

 Cactus cream shadow no flash

1. Joe Fresh Cream Eye Shadow in Cactus: I've been on a khaki green shadow kick lately. It's almost a neutral with a bit more colour. You can wear a nude lip with it or something a bit bolder like a berry or red lip. Long-wearing cream shadows are usually my go-to everyday shadow. They are quick and easy to apply. Joe Fresh cream shadows are certainly creamy and offer a sheer wash of colour, however, if you don't layer with a primer and powder shadow, aren't long-lasting. On its own with just primer, I found it creased a bit and the colour started to fade. My lids are a bit drier than most, so if you're oily it may not work for you. But I love layering a khaki powder shadow over top with a bit of brown in the crease. It stayed on a lot better and didn't crease. Looks gorgeous with a peach or rosy pink cheek too. I just think this shade is so fresh for spring and at $6 a pop you really can't go wrong!

2. Joe Fresh Cream Blush in Bloom: I LOVE cream blushes on their own or underneath a powder blush. My skin is often dry so a creamy texture helps give my skin a youthful glow. Joe's cream blush in Bloom has become one of my favourite must-have blushes! I've been using this blush for the past week now! I was really surprised by how well pigmented and long-lasting it was. It really does last all day and the texture is creamy but not dewy. It almost dries to a stain finish but still makes your skin look radiant. Bloom in the pan looks like a bright fuschia but on the skin looks azalea pink. It's gives the skin the perfect flush of colour. I also love using this on the lips with a bit of balm or gloss. Bloom is a definite must-have for spring! At $8, I will be picking up more shades - next on the list is Melon!

3. Joe Fresh Nail Polish in Tin: Wouldn't this silver metallic look amazing with spring's crisp whites?? I'm already a big fan of Joe Fresh polishes - Storm is one of my beauty crushes! Tin is a brighter and cleaner silver than other ones I own. I have similar tones but in more gunmetal or smokey silvers. There are many other fantastic must-have shades from Joe, but this is one of my faves! $4 a bottle is amazing but 3 for $10 is a no brainer! I will definitely picking up more of spring's hot shades!

4. Joe Fresh Cream Lipstick in Nude: Bright lips are everywhere but so are bold hues on the eyes. Nothing looks better and is more appropriate than the perfect nude lip. New for spring, Nude is a definite must-have shade. On it's own, it is a beautiful nude-pink on my lips but if you mix with a peach pencil or gloss can be nude-peach too so it's very versatile. I love this shade with the Cactus cream shadow! The texture goes on creamy, but I did find that the lipstick did sink into my fine lines and accentuated chapped skin. So, if your lips are dry make sure you give your lips a good exfoliation. I have to layer a gloss over it. Oh, and $6 for a lipstick is crazy!! The packaging is very similar to Shu Uemura's so you get the cool packaging for a steal. 

5. Joe Fresh Pop Gloss in Petunia and Flamingo: Scared to venture into the the bright lip territory? Joe Fresh's new Pop Glosses offer amazing shine and a sheer tint of colour so your lips will surely not feel overwhelmed with colour. Even with my already naturally pigmented lips, I can still see a little of the colour. Petunia, pictured on the top, is a fun violet-pink. I love layering this over top of the Bloom cream blush. It gives the lips the most perfect kiss of pink. Flamingo in the tube looks like a coral-red but when applied is a gorgeous pink with coral undertones. I love layering this over the Nude lipstick - gives the look of a nude lip with coral undertones!

This is me wearing the Joe Fresh beauty products :) Fresh and pretty for spring! 

Have you tried Joe Fresh's spring collection? What are your favourites? 

(WARNING: A lengthy but informative post if I do say so myself!)

I know, this season isn't about the neutrals. You want to see bright, bold and shocking right? As I mentioned in past posts, my makeup can be quite boring for a makeup artist. I love a neutral eye because it works for day and you can wear it with a bright lip. No matter what the trends, my neutrals are a staple and never go out of style!

I'm quite old school when it comes to makeup. I love learning new techniques, but I've always steered clear of airbrush makeup. I've always found that the products I use and my makeup technique has a similar effect to airbrushing. I've also heard from other makeup artists that airbrushing really isn't that much faster than doing it manually.

The beauty world was all abuzz when TEMPTU's Airbrush Makeup System was made available to consumers in Sephora. I was intrigued but not enough to buy it. So, when I got the chance to test it out I definitely jumped on the chance.

The basic Airbrush System is $225 USD. Depending on the bundle that you get the prices range. I was sent the System and Face Kit Airbrush Makeup System, a complete set with the airbrush, compressor, 2 foundations, one blush, one highlighter, and DVD instructional video for $345 USD. My foundation match was Warm Beige which matched me with Soft Peach Blush and Gold Highlighter. The pods range from $30 USD to $55 USD (2 foundations come in a package). With daily use the foundation lasts for a month or more and the blush and highlighter for 2 months or more.

This is me wearing the complete system plus other products I'll be featuring in this post. Overall, the system was really easy to use. You can adjust the dial for more or less product. For sheer coverage, you have to hold farther away and for fuller coverage you can apply closer to the face. To make it smooth and blended, you have to apply in a circular motion. I couldn't really tell if my face was being covered when I held the airbrush farther away so I decided to go in closer. The above picture are the results. I found the finish to be really flawless and well blended. On areas like my eyes and under eyes, I did have to blend with my fingers a bit. It felt weightless on the skin and lasted all day long, no fading or sliding. It also applies beautifully over a primer. Warm Beige also matched me really well but I imagine once summer hits I'll have to get a darker shade.

The Soft Peach blush applied really sheer so it took a few layers to get my desired intensity. No matter how strong I went, the blush always looked blended and never left any harsh lines. The Gold Highlighter gave my cheekbones a gorgeous glow that didn't leave me looking overly shiny. Overall, I'm really hooked and think I may convert to airbrushing at least for foundations. However, it seems a bit much for me to apply if I'm just running some errands, but for a night out or a wedding I will definitely be using. The kit itself is really light-weight and easy to transport. Now I want to actually try doing this on one of my clients! Any volunteers? LOL Hopefully I'll get the same effects.

M.A.C.'s Greasepaint Stick in French Quarter ($21 CAD, LE) isn't new for Spring - it's actually from the Venomous Villain collection - but it's new for me this season! During a taping of a special Blogger episode of CityLine, each audience member was given CityLine's makeup artist, Tracy Peart's, favourite makeup products. Ever since that show, I've been using it whenever I get the chance. I'm so in love with this pencil/shadestick and wish it wasn't a LE. I'm wearing it underneath my shadow in the above picture but here is a closer swatch.

It's a gorgeous black-brown with a gold pearl finish. It glides on easily and blends out to the most perfect smokey eye. You can also wear it as an eyeliner but if you want an easy smokey eye all you need is this stick. It's long-wearing and didn't smear on me which was a surprise.

I have a love/hate relationship with NARS' spring shadow trio in Calanque ($45 USD). The top shade is a gold infused platinum with silver flecks, middle shade is a light matte caramel, and the bottom shade is a rich antique bronze infused with gold. In the photo of myself, I used the middle shade as a base and on my brow bone. I was actually surprised at how light it applied on my skin because in the palette itself it appears much darker. I don't find the finish matte at all and has a more pearl/frost finish. I like using it to highlight the eyes. I love the darkest shade and applied this over top of French Quarter, on the bottom lash line and into the crease. The top shade is a question mark. It's too glittery for my liking and has a lot of fall-out. I think this would have been better as a duo as the middle and bottom shades are very wearable. For the price, you're better off finding a dupe in a duo or single shadow. However, I do find myself reaching for this palette quite frequently and I just recently used it during a bridal trial!

When it comes to fake lashes, I have my favourites and know what works. I was really impressed with the style and make of Revlon's fake lashes. In the photo, I'm wearing Revlon's Fantasy Lengths in Intensifying ($6 CAD). It's a nice blend of feathery volume and length. To make it look more natural on my eye shape, I cut the lashes in half and applied only to the outer corner. I also applied the lashes underneath my lash line rather than on top. I learned this technique back when I was working at M.A.C. - the lash line is less visible and looks more like your natural lashes. Since I was going out (I can't remember for what), I didn't take a chance with the glue and used my go-to Duo. I'll have to do a separate review on Revlon's glue.

These two lippies are from M.A.C.'s Quite Cute Collection available this Thursday April 7! I don't usually use a lip liner on myself unless it's a bright or bold lip, but for the sake of testing the pencil Naked Lip Pencil ($15.50 CAD) was part of the lippie of the day.

My smokey eye is what I consider a "subtle" smokey eye. It's not overly dramatic so I could have went for more colour on the lips, but I wanted to keep the look easy and effortless especially for day. Naked is described as a light neutral. It's a bright peachy shade which looked pretty stark against my skin tone. To tone it down, M.A.C.'s Plushglass in Fashion Fanatic, a creamy pale pink worked perfectly. On its own, Fashion Fanatic is pretty much clear on my lips, but when you pair it over a pink or peach lipstick the pink tones really come out. I haven't worn a Plushglass in a while and back in the day I could have sworn it had a minty tingling effect. I'm probably wrong but that's the reason I stopped wearing it. I actually love the way it feels on the lips - it's moisturizing and just hugs the lips not to mention plumps 'em up! The lippie I'm really lemming for from the collection is Candy Yum-Yum, a matte neon pink but seriously - how many bright pink lippies can a girl have?? Never enough right?!

What is your look for Spring? Are you a neutral girl or like to mix it up once in a while? Have you tried any of these products? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Want 'em?

I got slushied! Well at least my nails did. Just when I thought I couldn’t love Global’s hit series “GLEE” anymore, Sephora – in conjunction with OPI – comes out with a limited edition nail collection. Needlesstosay, my inner Gleek was very excited to try this product line out!

The collection is comprised of three nail appliqués, seven nail colours and six piece mini kit – all with clever names that reference the show.

I tried “Slushied” which as you can see is a bright, matte blue. It went on really easily and dried relatively quickly, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from OPI. Even though it’s opaque, it’s still got a nice sheen to it. Definitely a fun, playful look!

Other nail colours include:

•    Diva-in-Training: Step aside Rachel Berry. The next solo is yours with this poppy pink hue
•    Hell to the No: This purple shade might as well be considered liquid-pizzazz
•    Mash-Up: Whether your style is sporty or goth, this pearlescent green gray pulls it all together for a pitch-perfect look
•    Who Let the Dorks Out?: Express your individuality and inner-Gleek with this statement peacock green
•    Miss Bossy Pants: A rich raspberry as show stopping as Rachel herself
•    Gleek Out: A glittery lime green that will have everyone singing your praises

When you purchase the mini kit, you’ll get three exclusive colours:

•    Celibacy Club: Even if it's only part of the show, express your inner angel with this glimmering, diamond top coat
•    Express Yourself to Yourself: Even more entertaining than Sue Sylvester in a music video, this coral shimmer shade will have people talking
•    Sue vs. Shue: Stay a step ahead of the rivalry with this rebellious navy blue

Think you can't wear Spring's bold hues this season? Check out my monthly beauty features on The Style Glossy! Check out my beauty tips on how to make Spring's bright shades work for you!

The softer sides of green are drawing me in and is now this season's "it" colour of the moment for me. I'm loving all versions in teal, mint green, and now this more muted sage shade from O.P.I's Pirates of Caribbean collection called Stranger Tides.

Stranger Tides is not a shocking shade for spring, but it's a new neutral without being so neutral. On my skin tone, it looks more natural but I imagine on someone more fairer it would stand out a lot more. I love this shade especially since it's one I definitely don't own already. The only thing I find with this cream collection is that you need to apply 3 coats to cover evenly (maybe it's just the way I apply it). Otherwise, it's a lovely shade to add to your spring collection! 

Have you tried this O.P.I. shade? Love it? Hate it? Want it? 

To see my review of Mermaid's Tears click here.

Available May 2011 and retails for $10.95 CAD.

Are you a Stila girl? My first purchase at Sephora back in the day was Stila's classic click pen gloss in Apricot and Seashell eyeshadow that came in the cardboard packaging. It's been a while since I last purchased anything from Stila but the Spring collection is drawing me back! 

Stila Kitten All Over Shimmer Duo in Kitten ($29 CAD): Stila's best-selling shadow, Kitten, now comes in a multi-purpose all over shimmer! The duo includes a pale iridescent pink and Kitten, a glowing gold. I love that it has two different shades and comes in such a sleek compact. This has been my go-to shimmer powder in my kit. The finish leaves your skin with a natural, luminous glow that gives you that healthy J-Lo glow. And the fact that you can use it as a shadow and a highlighter is a bonus!

Stila Eye Shadow Trio in Ethereal ($26 CAD): If you love shimmery shadows then you will love these trios. These lovely shadows can be worn wet or dry. Even when worn dry the pigment is pretty strong. This trio is also a no-brainer even for a makeup novice. It includes a light base shade (light pinky tan with shimmer), a medium lid shade (light mauve grey with silver shimmer), and a dark shade (dark brown with gold pearl) that can be used as a liner. But of course you can mix up the shadows any way you like. This is quite a shimmery palette so I would off-set it with a matte shadow in the crease especially if you'll be photographed. Ethereal pulls out the warmer tones in my skin which can make me look more sallow. To make it work for me, I use a cooler toned dark purple or dark brown. The sleek packaging also makes it kit friendly which I love! Ethereal is a new one for Spring and is also available in Gilded.

Stila Coconut Crush Lip & Cheek Stain ($29 CAD): Being on-the-go all the time, I really appreciate multi-functional products that really work. There are a lot of products out there that claim to work on all areas of the face but skimp out on long-lasting pigment or just don't work on the eyes. I've always kind of passed by Stila's lip & cheek stains but have always wanted to try them. I have a lot of cheek stains, but have never found a bronzy shade that didn't look blotchy or streaky. The rose-gold tones in this bronze gel-stain makes it really wearable as a blush. The gel texture blends lovely onto the skin and isn't sticky but offers a nice dewy glow that stays on all day. I love layering a powder blush over top for some dimension or for lasting wear. I don't usually gravitate towards bronze shades on the lips, but the rose undertone really perks it up. It lasts a bit longer than a full-colour lipstick but I found once I ate anything oily it would come right off (oil does remove makeup!). The click-style pen applicator is super portable and easy to use! Now I want to try the other shades!

Have you tried Stila's spring collection? Love it? Hate it? Want it?

Stila's Spring collection is available now at various Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques.

In case you missed the Spring beauty forecast, bold colour is everywhere this season! For my everyday, my makeup is pretty boring and this coming from a makeup artist. Bronzy brown lids, mascara, concealer, pink or peach blush, bronzer, and a pink or peach lipstick or gloss are pretty much what I wear during the week. Before child (B.C.), I relished being in my 20's and loved wearing bright bolds on the eyes. But After Child (A.C.), I've become quite the plain jane simply because it's quick and I don't want to stand out too much in the crowd of moms wearing sweats at my kid's school.

When I first opened Shu Uemura's pretty new spring palette, Morphorium, it awakened the youthful silly girl that is still in me. I am in love with the bright purple and blue shades! I may not sport these during the day but I'll at least consider these hues when going out on the weekend now.

Shu Uemura's makeup never skimps on pigment. What you see is what you get. During a recent wedding, I had the chance to pull out this palette to create a purple smokey eye. I was so excited because I much prefer applying bold colours on other people plus I don't get to do too many evening weddings and this look was very appropriate.

All the shades with the exception of the deep purple have a shimmery finish. The bronze shade is actually a cream that you can use as a base. The chartreuse-gold was a bit more glittery and grainy than the other shades. I used this sparingly as a highlighter only in the inner corner of the eyes. The Shu Uemura ad uses the vivid blue shade as the focal of the look all over the lid and the deep purple as an accent in the crease to add dimension. At the wedding, I used the deep purple all over the lid and into the crease and added dimension with a black shadow and liner to give it a smokey effect. I used the sheer pinky-peach blush with silver shimmer to compliment the eyes. It gives the cheeks a very pretty glow. I finished the look with a soft pink lipstick and gloss.

I love the presentation of Shu Uemura's palettes. They are always so colourful with an artistic finish. This latest one is definitely spring in a palette, however, at $69 USD is pretty pricey. It also comes in a neutral palette called Sunset Gold but I'm sure most of you already have a lot of these shades. To be honest, although all the shades work beautifully together the deep purple is the only shade I'd actually use. If that's the case, you may want to just purchase a single shadow in this shade at a much cheaper cost. 

Have you tried Morphorium Blue Palette? Love it? Hate it? Want it?

Finally, a green that I actually love! If you've read my blog in the past then you know green nails and I do not mix. Over the past years, bright day-glo shades have dominated the nail scene for spring. I'm actually loving the softer side of nails this season. I tend to gravitate to more bold, bright or deep hues but this season pastels have my heart!

O.P.I's Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a beautiful, serene collection with a bit of edge. The collection comes with Silver Shatter which gives it that spackle, shatter effect that you're seeing everywhere now. I have a few favourites from the collection I'll be sharing, but for now lets gush over Mermaid's Tears!

I really heart this shade. It's been a while since I've fallen in love with a nail polish! Mermaid's Tears is a lovely pastel teal green. It really compliments my skin tone. I did find the first coat to be a tad streaky and I had to apply 3 coats to really get a full coat. Other than that I loved it! O.P.I.'s nail brushes are hands down the best for my wide nail beds.

What nail collections are you looking forward to? What do you think of the "shatter" nail trend?

Available May 2011 and retails for $10.95 CAD.

Spring is looking pretty! Clinique has partnered with Michelle Smith, renowned fashion designer of women's fashion and accessories, Milly, to create this positively pretty palette for Spring! The colours and print of the little sash bag were designed in a signature print from her collection. The print was inspired by a couture 1960's print.

Clinique Milly Pretty In Prints Palette (Limited Edition, $43 CAD) is a wearable palette for many skin tones but leans more towards warm skin tones. I was actually surprised by the strong pigment and long-lasting finish. The eye shades have a pearly finish all except the rich brown that is a matte. This has become one of my favourite palettes of neutrals to use on myself and my bridal clients. Since it's not frosty it doesn't look too shiny on the eyes and photographs nicely. You can create so many looks with this palette from subtle to dramatic. 

The Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Precious Posy is a very pretty pink with peachy-gold undertones. It reminds me of NARS Orgasm blush. It's not too shimmery and leaves a gorgeous glow on the skin.

The Long-Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Milly Pink (LE) does have a long-lasting shine. I was surprised how shiny my lips were after hours of wear. It doesn't feel too sticky and adds incredible moisture to my dry lips. The pink shade is pretty sheer and doesn't really show up on my lips. If you don't have a lot of colour on your lips and have fair-medium skin it will appear as a soft pink, otherwise use it over your favourite lipstick for lots of juicy shine! 

Overall, I love the packaging with the print on the compact and the little bag you can throw all the products in. If you love neutrals with a splash of pink this is a great basic palette to have! 

Available on counters Spring 2011. 

Are glosses taking on a new form? Are you loving these chubby lil' sticks of colour that many brands are carrying now? Don't worry - wand glosses aren't going anywhere but I'm loving glossy pencils. They are super portable and so easy to apply.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils now come in a gloss form! The Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils ($30 CAD) comes in 6 beautifully glazed shades just in time for Spring. They glide on smoothly, are light-weight and emollient with a slightly tacky texture. These chub-sticks leave your lips looking sensuously luminous.They offer a nice shine and pigment - the more you apply the shinier and stronger the colour is. The pigment doesn't last as long as a lipstick but for sure lasts longer than your regular gloss.You want a multi-tasking lippie? Use this to line your lips then fill in the entire lip! Can be worn alone or with over top of your favourite lipstick. One minor downside? The smell is a little off - smells a little waxy but doesn't last. 

Baroque is a beautiful raspberry sorbet shade. It's bold but the softer side of bold just perfect for Spring. I lovely the shimmer and the deepness of the raspberry. Wear with minimal eye makeup, bronzer on the cheeks, and this lippie for a fresh yet sexy look this season. Hopi will be your new favourite neutral for Spring! Love this honey beige hue - it's a nude that won't leave you looking dead and will compliment this season's bright pops of colour on the eyes. 

Check out some of the stunning stills and the short film created to celebrate the launch of Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils featuring Canadian model, Heather Marks. Makeup is so fresh and beautiful! Directed by Ruth Hogben. 

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencils are available on counters now nationwide. Have you tried these gloss pencils? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Want 'em? What's your favourite shade?

Eye primers are essential period, but even more so if you want to wear the bright hues of Spring this season. Despite Kat Von D's choices in men (Jesse James? Really? Really!), her love for permanent designs gave me an idea that her eye primer would be anything less than amazing.

The High Voltage Eye Primer ($20 CAD) is very light-weight and has a silky smooth texture. It feels really great on the eye. Your eye makeup stays on all day without creasing. You have to apply with a wand applicator which works fine when swiping across the eye, but I prefer squeeze tubes since you know when the product is finished.

The primers come in 3 shades: Skin (universal neutral beige), Smoky (sultry deep grey), and new for Spring, Stellar (pink beige pearl). I prefer my primers to be either colourless or nude with no shimmer. Stellar has a soft shimmer so it's not too shiny under other shadows. I do find the shade a little light for my colouring but underneath a shadow it's not noticeable. It definitely helps intensify the colour though. When I'm in a rush, I like swiping a little on as a quick shadow. Overall, it's not a primer I would normally reach for because of the shimmer and the shade, but I'm interested in trying the other 2 shades. 

Have you tried Kat Von D's eye primers? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Want 'em?

Spring is around the corner - I can feel it in my bones! I don't know about you but I'm so ready to shed my puffy winter coats and mits all for something breezy, Spring-y, and sexy. To ease the drag of this cold, grey winter I've been turning to my Spring makeup collections. To kick-off Makeup Junkie Spring faves, I'm getting pretty with Hello Kitty for Sephora!

When I was between the ages of 7-10, I was obsessed with Hello Kitty. My BFF is still obsessed and she's in her mid 30's! Every time I see anything Hello Kitty, it makes me feel all fuzzy and warm. I feel like a kid again. So, when Sephora announced they were launching an exclusive Hello Kitty beauty line I was ecstatic. Even if you're not a fan, you can't help but love this cute kitty face!

Hello Kitty Charmmy Kohl Eyeliner Kit ($28 USD): This set of pencils in a reusable tin set reminds me of a pencil crayon set I had when I was in school. I had assumed that all the Hello Kitty products would be all cuteness and little quality but I'm really happy I was wrong! These kohl pencils are highly pigmented and has a smooth, velvety glide. It doesn't tug or pull at the skin. The pencils have exceptional staying power, but I did find it smudged a tad on my bottom lash line. However, the colour didn't fade at all. 

I adore the range of shades in this kit. There is something for everyone. You have a mix of neutral and really fun, bold shades. This Spring is definitely about playing with pretty colours so go with it and have fun!

Hello Kitty Charmmy Eyeshadow Stick in Teacup ($16 USD): I LOVE makeup products that make my life easier. I haven't used shadow sticks in while, but with a new baby on the way I will probably be stocking up on more of these quick sticks. Hello Kitty's version reminds me of M.A.C.'s Shadesticks which were a staple in my kit. These shade sticks apply a gorgeous pearlescent finish that brightens up the eyes. I love the smooth and easy-to-blend texture - no need for brushes! These are fab for layering underneath a powder shadow for intensity and dimension. With an eye primer, the shade stick didn't budge one bit but without one I did notice it crease and fade a tiny bit towards the end of the day. 

The collection again offers a wide range of shades so you'll be sure to find something you love. Seriously, Teacup was made for me! This shade of bronzey-brown goodness is usually my go-to everyday shade. I have been using this almost exclusively ever since I received it. It looks great paired with a bold lip, pinky or a muted peachy lip. To have it in a shade stick is a woman-on-the-go's dream! Just swipe on and you're out the door. You can apply as sheer or as heavy as you want - a definite must have from the Hello Kitty collection!

The Hello Kitty line is sweet and good for you. Products contain powerful extracts of strawberry, apple, and grape seed to hydrate and soften skin. They are packed with powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals, and improve skin's elasticity and youthfulness.

Hello Kitty for Sephora is now available at Sephora locations worldwide.

I know, we've all said it - we're so over you Winter! Spring cannot come fast enough! Thankfully, the buzz of Spring beauty trends and sneak peeks of Spring makeup collections have been keeping me warm. Back in December, I was invited to the M.A.C. Master Class featuring Spring trends. What a great way to forget the cold even if just for a few hours! 

M.A.C. Senior Artist, Jane McKay (left), and M.A.C. Trainer, Ricky Boudreau (Right), taught us makeup artists and bloggers a thing or two about Spring trends straight from the runways. 

Four major trends ruled the runways: 

Pictured above, Jane is demonstrating the Pop-Classic look. I loved this look and loved the technique. I would never think of using a brown base (Fluidline) under a bright blue shadow like Freshwater. It gave the eyes beautiful depth. 

The look consisted of complimentary colours - blue on the eyes and orange lips. 

Jane winged out the shadow to the temples which gave this bold look an edgier finish. She used Typographic on the bottom lash line mixed with Freshwater shadow for more depth. She sculpted the cheekbones with Bronzer in Golden and brought it up to the temples. This would be perfect for a night out, but if having bold eyes and lips seems too much for you try lining the eyes with a vibrant blue liner with a glossy orange lip!

Ricky demonstrated the Terra-Copper trend which was equally as gorgeous. It's all about dewy skin in monochromatic shades of bronze. To give the skin a dewy sheen, Strobe Cream and Care Blends Essential Oil is a must. When I got home, I did a little happy dance when I found that I did have the Care Blends! Love using this at night - in the morning my skin is baby soft. 

To enhance the model's glow even more, Gold Setting Powder was used as well. A certain blogger went absolutely ga-ga over this powder (she goes by the name GlitterGeek). 

Spring and summer are looking bold! And although Raw-Fined seems innocent and natural, it's actually a bold trend for someone that can't leave the house without makeup. If you're someone that loves to play with colour then you will adore all the Spring launches this season! 

M.A.C. Fluidline in Siahi ($18 CAD): Excuse my dry hands! Grrr, winter! A coloured liner is a great way to transition into the bold brights of Spring! Siahi is from M.A.C.'s Mickey Contractor collection. This deep turquoise teal is a must this season and because the shade is deeper, it's perfect for a day look. Just sweep on a neutral shadow and line the eyes with this liner for a subtle pop of colour. I forgot how much I miss Fluidline! The gel formula just glides smoothly onto the eye. I also love using this as a shadow base. For a bold smokey eye, apply this shade all over the lid, line the eyes with a black liner, and add a few coats of mascara. 

M.A.C. Lipstick in Style Curve ($17.50 CAD): I've been on the bright pink lip bandwagon for a while now but one shade I'm starting to love are violets and purples on the lips. This swatch is of Style Curve which is from the Stylishly Yours collection. My review is a few launches too late, but it was this lipstick that got me loving violets on the lips. It is a bright clean violet that I love on my skin tone. Looking ahead to Spring, M.A.C. is launching a line of Sheen Supreme Lipsticks due out March 3rd and they have a purple pictured above that looks amazing called Quite The Thing! I'd say so!

What Spring trends and makeup collections are you looking forward to?