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Showing posts with label stila. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stila. Show all posts

Fall Beauty Trend 2011: Brow How

Photo Source: Style.com Alexander Wang F/W 2011

Move over bright lips and smokey eyes, in-your-face brows are this season's star. A nice, full brow never goes out of style for me though. Full brows help frame your face while thin brows just age you. Seen at Alexander Wang the full brow is bold, dark and a bit extreme especially when the rest of the face is bare. Here are some star products and key tips to achieving a full yet natural brow!


Stila All Day Waterproof Brow Color in Medium ($27 CAD): Where have you been all my life?? Because my hair is so dark, I tend to use shadows as my brow colour because I can never find anything to match properly. They are either too heavy, too dark, too grey, or have a reddish undertone.

Stila's brow colour is waterproof and seriously stays on until I take my makeup off. I got to test this while it was still hot out and humid out. The results: perfectly full brows that didn't fade or melt in the heat. I was a little skeptical when I saw the shade because it looks like a soft brown-black. But when I applied it to my brows, it actually looked like my brow colour. It really blended in nicely which I was really surprised about. The soft point allows you to mimic the way your brows naturally grow. Apply gently using upward strokes. Use it to fill in all over or just in sparse areas.

Avon Brow Gel in Clear ($6 USD): When left natural, my brows are coarse, straight, bushy, and long. It's just a hairy mess. I need to pluck, cut and use a gel to keep these puppies in place. Avon has a great, inexpensive brow gel in Clear that keeps my brows feeling soft yet locks them in. I love brow gels because they just enhance the overall shape of your brows and make everything look neat and in place. Use a brow gel to finish the brows after you've filled them in. 

Are you hot on the brow trend? What are your go-to brow products? 

Products were sent for editorial consideration and I truly love them.

Summer Beauty Review: It's A Coral Kind Of Summer!


This summer has been all about the corals. My lips have been rockin' everything from orange corals to pink corals. Here are some of my favourite picks this season! (Will have to update with swatches - still no memory card! :()

(Counter clockwise)

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Mega Melon ($19 CAD): These chubby sticks bring me back to my kindergarten days when I used to rub crayons on my lips for colour. These balms will drench your lips with moisture. Love the colour pay off too. I was expecting it to be sheer, but the colour payoff is similar to a glossy lipstick. Mega Melon is a beautiful shade just right for bronzy summer skin. It leans more orange than pink so it gives the skin some warmth. I also love the twist-up feature. I hate sharpening gloss pencils - just too messy. Available in 8 shades.

Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Nahema ($35 USD): Luxury in a lipstick tube. Guerlain's signature gold casing and interesting packaging screams luxury. This is the first time my lips have ever been touched by Guerlain and unfortunately I'm in love. The texture is unbelievably creamy. For a long-lasting lip colour, it doesn't dry out your lips and keeps them hydrated. I love the flip-top applicator. No need to take off the cap - just push up and your lipstick pops out. And isn't luxury all about convenience? Nahema is a bright coral sheen. It has a nice mix of both cool and warm undertones so it will work for many skin tones. If you love collecting uber chic and luxurious lipsticks this is one to add to the collection! Available at Sephora.

Revolution Organics Freedom Gloss in Vibe ($26 CAD): You all know my love affair with Revolution Organics so I'm sure it's no surprise I'm featuring the brand again. Vibe is described as "fresh warm peach", but it looks more like a flat orange in the tube. Before trying it I wasn't too keen on this shade, but once it was on my lips I fell in love. There is a slight shimmer and it has beautiful undertones of coral and peach. With the Freedom Glosses, you never feel like you're wearing a gloss. I never have to apply a lip conditioner before applying these glosses. They contain organic plant proteins, oils and shea butter that moisturize and heal the lips. 

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bolero ($24 USD): New for summer, Bolero is described as "pink cantaloupe". The bright pink swatch on the website is deceiving. Do go to the counter and test this out. I'm featuring this not because I'm totally in love with it, but I think it's an interesting shade for summer.

What I love: 
  • The matte texture is a nice alternative to the usual glossy lips for summer. When you wear shimmer on the eyes and face it's important to keep one area non-shimmery. A matte lip is the perfect compliment.

  • It accentuates your tan. This shade will look different on everyone. On paler skin, more of the pink undertones will come out. On bronzy skin, it will look edgy and you'll look more golden. Reminds me of day glo lip balms with sunblock. Deeper skin tones should be wary though - it might make you look ashy. 

What I hate:
  • The matte texture. My lips can get extremely dry and chapped. The combination of this texture and shade just accentuated the dryness even more. But with a little lip balm, it wore pretty good but settled into my lines. 

  • You have to sharpen the pencil.

Stila Convertible Color in Petunia ($25 USD): Petunia is such a pretty pinky coral shade. It looks amazing with a bit of bronzer and really perks up the skin. The finish is creamy and gives the skin a lovely glow. It'll never look overdone because it melts right into the skin. The shade is highly pigmented yet it's very easy to blend. You can wear them on the lips, but I find it dries mine out too much. But it works great as a base for glosses. If your skin needs a good pick-me-up or you're in a rush these are perfect, but don't expect it to last in humid sticky weather! Tip: Make it last a little longer with translucent powder or a powder blush in a similar shade.

Have you tried any of these lovely corals? What colours have you been wearing a lot of this summer?

Products were sent for editorial consideration and I truly love them.

Spring Beauty Review: Get Glowing With Stila's Spring Collection!


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.

www.stilacosmetics.com

Products were sent for editorial consideration and I really love them!

I Heart You. Which One Are You? Flirty? Girly? Or Seductive?


Valentine's Day is fast approaching! How many of you really celebrate V-Day? For me, the only thing I love about it is the heart-shaped chocolates! My husband and I don't go all out like we used to now that we're married - not to say that we don't have any romance - but we don't need one day to show how much we love each other because we show each other everyday. Go ahead and gag but we really do! I do, however, love to make it fun for my son. So, it will be heart-shaped cookies and cupcakes for him (who am I kidding - and for me too!).

If you still love wooing your special someone or looking to lock hearts, you'll need to decide if you want to look flirty, girly or seductive (or all 3)!


Flirty Girl


A flutter of the lashes can get any guy all hot and bothered! However, you might not get the same reaction if your lashes are close to non-existent. Give your lashes a boost with some flirty falsies. Right now, I am loving Ardell's #110 Demi Black lashes. They are similar to my go-to Quo #803's. I think feathery looking lashes are super sexy and flirty and also really natural looking. The separated style also makes it ideal for creating a customized look. Cut in half and just add to the corners for a Marilyn-esque vibe. The separation of the lashes also allow your individual lashes to mix in with the fake lashes.

For a step-by-step on how to apply lashes check out a past post here

Girly Girl:


Nothing makes a gal look more girly than a youthful pink flush on the cheeks. I really love Kristen Bell's pink cheeks in this photo. It just looks so fresh and pretty.

Benefit Posietint swatch

I love to layer liquid and cream blushes underneath a powder blush. Your blush lasts longer and pumps up a sheer blush. Benefit Posietint is lovely pink liquid blush that gives a sheer girly flush. On my skin tone, I have to apply a few layers for it to show, but I love the soft pink glow it leaves on my cheeks. If you're going to be doing a little smoochin', it also doubles as a lip tint so kiss away!

Benefit Posietint and Stila Custom Color Blush on top

When I want the colour to be stronger, I love to layer Stila's Custom Color Blush on top of Posietint. Stila claims that this blush is a one-colour-suits-all by customizing the perfect shade of pink based on your skin's pH. I was skeptical but at IMATS Toronto the bright pink caught my eye and had to have it. I've only tried it on my skin tone so I don't know if it really creates the perfect pink on everyone but I love the shade of pink it makes on me! Word of caution: the blush is highly pigmented so start with a light application and wait a few minutes before applying another layer. I found that it would go brighter after adjusting to my skin.

Seductive Girl:


With red, pouty lips like these it'll be hard for him to focus on anything else. When I wear a red lip, I instantly feel more confident and sexy. If you've never worn a red lip before, but are contemplating taking the plunge this V-Day you might want to work your way up to full bold lip.

mark. Gloss Gorgeous Lip Stain in Lolli

My lips are typically on the drier side and most long-lasting lip colours can be a bit drying. I adore mark. by Avon Gloss Gorgeous Lip Stains because it brings the best of both worlds together: lip stain and gloss! Can't get any more perfect than that! These fabulous lip pens apply sheer at first but layer a few more swipes and you get full-colour glossy goodness! Lolli is a juicy red that works for all skin tones. After the shine wears off, you'll still have a beautiful stain left on your lips. What's even more to love? The $10 price tag! I snatched up all 4 shades and love 'em! 

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Always Red

This one is for all you gals who love to get a rise out of people. Sephora's Cream Lip Stains are serrrrrious! Full, bold, rich colour that won't budge. Always Red is a beautiful matte true red. I definitely recommend lining the lips first and applying the cream stain with a lip brush for precise application. The wand can get a little messy - clown lips are not pretty. Dab excess colour off with a tissue and your colour will not kiss off all night.

Combine the red lips, pink girly cheeks, and flirty lashes for true glamour this V-Day or go for some hot come-hither smokey eyes! Happy Valentine's Day!

Ardell Lashes and Sephora Cream Lip Stains were sent for editorial consideration.

Beauty Feature: Makeup Junkie Holiday Gift Picks

"One for you, two for me", might be your shopping mantra this holiday season! The beauty goodies that come out for the holidays are always packaged so pretty -it's hard not to buy one for yourself.

Makeup Junkie wants to make your shopping a little easier which is why we've listed some must-have items that we were lucky enough to sample! Whether you're shopping for a gal pal or sister, make all her beauty-full wishes come true with these unforgettable gifts!

1. Julie Hewett Lip Lush Trio ($49 USD): These gorgeous gifts are for the glam girl in mind. Julie Hewett has to be one of my all time favourite makeup lines! Created by celebrity makeup artist, Julie Hewett, this line is truly for the makeup lover who loves beautiful packaging and wants to achieve the perfect red-carpet look.

Trio includes three best-selling glosses: harlow (sparks of red and gold), mimi (perfect sheer pink), and nude (24k gold shimmer).

2. Julie Hewett 6-pc Noir Collection ($100 USD): Imagine unwrapping this on Christmas day? Julie Hewett lipsticks are in heavy rotation in my makeup bag. This collection features the 6 original noir shades: belle, coco, femme, nude, rouge and sin.

Packaged in a luxe gold tube, these lipsticks are a special treat on the lips. Infused with the essence of rosebud and camellia oils, your lips feel hydrated and colour is long-lasting.

3. Benefit Celebutante Personal Stylist Kit ($34 USD): Benefit Cosmetics is known for creating pretty palettes fit for Hollywood’s elite. This A-lister kit includes everything for creating that perfect red-carpet ready look! I love all the mini size products - perfect for stashing in those small holiday clutches!

4. M.A.C. Miracles Happen Viva Glam Lip Kit ($27 CDN): Feel good beauty is always a great gift! M.A.C.'s best-selling Viva Glam lippies are included in this sleek dotted-design compact. Every cent goes towards M.A.C. Aids Fund for men, women, and children living with aids.

5. Kat Von D True Romance Eye Shadow Palette in True Love ($44 CDN): Kat Von D’s tattoo-inspired eye shadow palette is for the fashionista who likes to be creative with her makeup. The shades are ultra edgy and highly pigmented. You can create so many looks with this fab palette!

6. The Sartorialist by Scott Shuman ($31 CDN): I don't know any makeup junkie that isn't a fashion lover. “The Satorialist” is the must-have coffee table book for fashion lovers everywhere. Scott Shuman's street images of real people with personal style have inspired many people around the globe.

7. Stila The Makeup Player ($69.90 USD): Save this one for your "bestie" or for yourself! Awarded Beauty Innovation of the Year, The Makeup Player includes: Pro artist makeup case to stash your fave Stila products, One Step Makeup, Eye shadow trio, Convertible Color, #7 brush Eye shadow brush, Lip Glaze, and Beautytube DVD & instruction card.

8. Alicia Silverstone by ecoTools Train Case ($19 USD): We all have a friend that's lucky enough to jet-set all around the world! Animal and environmental activist, Alicia Silverstone, has teamed up with, ecoTools, to create a gorgeous line of eco-friendly traveling bags made with a natural hemp material featuring a floral design. The large compartment will hold all her beauty staples and comes with a handy removable clear case!

9. Zoya Holiday Color Lock Set ($7.50 USD): DIY mani's are always in especially in this economy. This mini set has all the essentials for the perfect manicure: Zoya Remove, Armour Top Coat, Anchor Base Coat, and HurryUp Speed Dry Drops.

10. OPI Mini Merries ($14.95 CDN): Accessorize your gal pal's tips in the hottest shades for the holiday. OPI lovers will squeal over this sample set of 4: Comet Loves Cupid (classic red), All A-Bordeaux the Sled! (luscious Wine), Holiday Glow (charcoal grey with silver) and Shim-merry Chic (glimmery bronze).

11. Tarte Three Carats Mini Cheek Stain Set ($25 USD): Diamond-inspired makeup are a girl's best friend! I adore these mini cheek stains for the flirty glow they leave on your skin. I especially love using the bronze shimmery shade as a highlighter! Tarte products are good for the skin and contain no parabens, phthlates, and other toxic chemicals.

12. Tarte Crown Jewels Lipgloss Multi-Gift Set ($39 USD): This is one stocking stuffer that is a sure winner! The geniuses at Tarte know that girls love their gloss. This set comes with 3-boxed sets of glosses to be gifted anyway you want! Their sample sizes are much bigger than last holiday's gloss set too. What was that beauty mantra again??

What are your hot items for gift giving this holiday? Makeup Junkie wants to know!

Beauty Feature: Mascara's Battle It Out Round 5!

Back in October of 2008, Makeup Junkie tested and reviewed 10 must-have mascaras and we had a blast doing it! We've gone and tested more mascaras just in time for the hot, sweaty, summer season. If you've been searching for the perfect mascara and don't want to dish out a lot of money to do it, read on because we've got you covered! (Results may vary and can perform differently on everyone.)

Mascara: Stila Convertible Mascara
Rating: 9.5 winks
Price: $22 USD
Special Feature: Innovative polymer formula encases each lash with smudge-proof, water-resistant tubes. Double-ended brush: large brush volumizes and defines while thinner brush defines the lower and harder-to-reach lashes.
Smudge-factor: none!!
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: Definitely
Wand: Medium and thin brush
For: Gals who want everything out of a mascara with extra definition.
Overall: I've never tried any mascaras from Stila and was pleasantly surprised that this mascara performed so amazingly! You get it all plus it's one of the few mascaras that didn't smudge or smear after a long day at work. I would have given it a perfect 10, but washing the "mascara tubes" can get a little messy. Expect to invest an extra 5 minutes cleaning the tubes off.

Mascara: Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara
Rating: 6.5 winks
Price: $24 USD
Special Feature: Waterproof version of the cult classic, Dior Diorshow Mascara. Big fat wand for big fat lashes.
Smudge-factor: yes, very smudgy - boo!
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: extreme
Wand: Big fat brush
For: Gals who want big volume, dramatic lashes, and don't normally smudge.
Overall: I was sadly disappointed in this must-have cult fave. Big voluminous lashes - check. Smudgy-smeared mess - check! I figured the water-proof version would not smudge but I couldn't be anymore wrong. I really loved how dramatically long and full my lashes looked but hated the smeary mess it made throughout the day. I found the big fat brush quickly coated my lashes but it was hard not to get the mascara all over my lids. The icing on the cake - the high price tag. All in all, gals who don't have a problem with smearing will love the big faux lash effect but you can probably get the same effect for cheaper.

Mascara: Flirt! Lash-A-Delic in Groovy Blue
Rating: 8 winks
Price: $14 USD
Special Feature: Buildable colour and definition.
Smudge-factor: no
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: natural volume but buildable
Wand: medium wand
For: Gals who want electric colour and fun, bold lashes.
Overall: Love! Adding a bright colour on the lashes adds an element of surprise. It's unexpected and gives a fun twist on your everyday makeup. Groovy Blue is bold but really makes brown eyes pop! If wearing blue on its own is too bright for you, swipe this over your favourite black mascara to tone down the blue. You'll love the volume, lift, and definition this mascara gives you - and not to mention the hot pink packaging! Also available in Boogie Brown and Mod Black.

Mascara: Benefit BADgal Waterproof Mascara
Rating: 6.5 winks
Price: $19 USD
Special Feature: Waterproof version of the best-selling original, BADgal Mascara. Waterproof and smudge-proof formula that gives you the same voluminous effect as the original.
Smudge-factor: yes!
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: medium wand not like the original fat brush
For: Gals who want lushes lashes while singin' in the rain. Good for those who don't have a problem with smudging.
Overall: Another mascara I had high hopes for. I definitely preferred this brush over the original one because it was easier to coat each lash without the mess. I also liked the lift and volume it gave. I did NOT like the smeary mess it made. It's not fun walking around thinking you look great only to discover hours later that you have mascara smeared all over your bottom lash line. I guess I'm just not one of the lucky ones who don't have smudging issues!


Mascara: CARGO blu_ray Mascara
Rating: 7 winks
Price: $20 USD
Special Feature: Comb-like brush allows for extra definition and a natural finish. Made for high-definition film.
Smudge-factor: a little
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: natural but buildable
Wand: comb-like wand
For: Gals who want extra definition and natural volume.
Overall: You can expect good lift and no clumping with this mascara. The comb-like brush also allows you to get right to the root and those hard-to-reach lashes. If you like a natural finish then this mascara is great, but if you want more volume you can add a few more coats. But if volume is what you want then just go with a volumizing mascara. The mascara smeared a little but surprisingly not as bad as the waterproof brands. While it gave good lift on first application, my lashes did start to droop throughout the day. Bottom line, for those who have naturally voluminous lashes and just want a natural finish and extra definition, then this mascara gets the job done.

Mascara: Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascara
Rating: 7.5 winks
Price: $22 USD
Special Feature: A multi-effect volume mascara that is formulated with hard waxes and synthetic polymers. Creamy formula conditions lashes.
Smudge-factor: a little
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: medium wand
For: Gals who love volume and want to reapply without the clumps.
Overall: I am a huge fan of Anastasia's brow line and was excited to try this mascara. The mascara gave instant volume and lift from the first swipe. I was able to reapply more mascara for extra volume without clumping. It smeared just a bit on the outer corner but nothing too noticeable. All in all, it's a good mascara but you can probably get the same results with a cheaper brand.


Mascara: CoverGirl LashBlast Luxe Mascara
Rating: 7 winks
Price: $8.99 CDN
Special Feature: Blackest-black formula, now tinted with luxe shimmers. Giant luxe brush helps blast lashes to their biggest, boldest and most beautifully shimmering.
Smudge-factor: a little
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: fat wand
For: Gals who loved the original LashBlast mascara but want to give their eyes more attention with some shimma'.
Overall: I'm a huge fan of the original LashBlast waterproof formula, however, while it gives you the same big volume, I found the shimmer really subtle. What's the point of a shimmer mascara if you can barely see it? I applied a few more coats and was able to see it shimmer in the right light. It's kind of gimmicky but fun for perking up those lashes for a night time event.

Mascara: Maybelline Lash Stiletto
Rating: 6.5 winks
Price: $9.29 CDN
Special Feature: Elastic formula stretches lashes up to 70% visibly longer in one step. Pro Vitamin B-5 and silk protein strengthen and condition for hi-gloss black-patent shine.
Smudge-factor: a lot
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: wand is tapered at the end
For: Gals who want sky-high length and glossy shine.
Overall: This mascara gave good lift and length but nothing extreme compared to other lengthening mascaras. I found the length of my lashes to look the exact same compared to that of a volumizing mascara. I did like the wet glossy finish it gave my lashes but hated how much it smeared and smudged. The tapered brush made coating each lash really easy but overall didn't win me over.

Mascara: Kiehl's Marvelous Mineral Mascara
Rating: 7.5 winks
Price: $16.50 USD
Special Feature: Mineral pigments add natura rich colour. Anacia Senegal thickens for length and volume.
Smudge-factor: none
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: natural
Volume: natural
Wand: medium
For: Gals who are looking for something all natural for the lashes in every way - natural finish and natural ingredients.
Overall: I like the natural ingredient factor, however, the finish was too natural for my almost non-existent lashes. This is great for the "no-makeup-makeup-look" when going to the gym when you just want a little definition. The volume is buildable but it took several coats before I was satisfied with the volume. At least there are no clumps! Amazingly, it did not smudge. Not sure if that has anything to do with the mineral pigment possibly working like a stain on the lashes.

Mascara: Lise Watier 24 Hrs Glam Mascara
Rating: 4.5 winks
Price: $20 CDN
Special Feature: Elastic polymer formula and Flexi-QueenTM brush surrounds each lash with 3D waterproof film for 24 hour glamourous look. Waterproof and resists sweat, humidity and tears.
Smudge-factor: none but it did flake
Clump-factor: very clumpy
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: medium
For: Gals who want glamourous volume all day and all night.
Overall: Do not attempt a 2nd coat if you want to avoid a clumpy, spidery-mess. It's no joke when they say it's elastic. When I applied a 2nd coat the elastic fibers stuck to each other. It was like stringy cheese! It would also pull some of the first coat off which was very annoying. When I attempted to comb the clumps out, I ended up taking the mascara off instead and had to reapply in some areas. There was no smudging but the mascara did flake a lot. While the lift and volume lasted all day, my lashes looked like a mess.

To view previous mascara reviews click Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and Round 4!

What's #1 on your mascara list? Have you tried any of these? Makeup Junkie wants to know!

Spring Beauty Trend: Let Those Eyes Shine!

Give your eyes something to flutter about this Spring! Spring shadows are all about barely-there-shimmers to bright fun hues in sheer washes of colour. Put away the matte shadows this season because it's time to make those eyes shine!

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Flyin' Down To.., Samba-dy Loves Me, and Sippin' n Dippin' ($22 CDN): Crease-free, wear-resistant shadow is exactly what you need as the tempterature starts to rise (please rise soon!). I love Benefit's Cream Shadow/Liners and this season the three shimmery shades did not disappoint. L-R: Flyin' Down To... is a pretty orchid shimmer, a lovely choice to enhance hazel or green eyes. I've fallen in love this season with Samba-dy Loves Me, so appropriately named. The soft champagne-gold shimmer is such a great everyday neutral that brightens up the eye instantly. This is one colour that looks great with any shade of lip colour! Sippin' n Dippin' a metallic gold with peach undertones. If you have a lot of yellow in your skin already I would stay clear as it will make you look more sallow. Or else mix it with a contrasting shade to counteract.

Stila Precious Pearl Palette ($40 USD): Stila knows how to make a gal happy! Pretty makeup and pearls will make any girl feel fabulous. The lovely mother of pearl compact features six silky smooth iridescent eye shadows all infused with genuine crushed pearl. Pearl minimizes fine lines and leaves your skin looking youthful and radiant. It also contains healthy minerals and proteins which nourish the skin leaving it smooth and soft. All shades are highly pigmented and can be combined with one another for endless looks. The shadow colours are absolutely gorgeous and absolutely a must-have for Spring!

Urban Decay Cream Shadow in Whipped, Weeds, and Moonshine ($17 USD): If you're an Urban Decay fan then these gel-based cream shadows will be one to add to the list of faves! These weightless, silicone-based shadows will not budge all day and provide rich, blendable colour. Whipped is a golden-peach with gold micro-glitter. Weeds is a vibrant olive green with silver glitter. Moonshine is a pale silver with silver glitter. I also love the tube packaging and wand applicator. So transportable and easy to apply in a pinch! The only one drawback for me: I found the glitter finish a little strong for day and had to wipe off most of it which ended up all over my cheeks. If you're young and love glitter then you'll love it but if you're almost knockin' on 30 (ahem) save the glitter for the evening.

Have you tried these eye shadows? Love 'em? Hate 'em?

Spring 2009 Beauty Trend: Gloss Me Up!

Lip stains and lipsticks are everywhere this Spring but sexy, shiny gloss isn't going anywhere! Gloss junkies everywhere can relax, pull out your wands and apply and reapply! Pucker up for some of Spring's hottest glosses in shimmering berries to pearly pinks!

Stila Pearl Shimmer Gloss (Limited Edition, $22 USD): The pearly finish on these glosses are just fabulous and not to mention ultra-moisturizing! Created with genuine crushed pearl, the minerals and proteins in pearl nourish the skin and leave lips looking smooth and soft, while the subtle shimmer in pearl minimizes the appearance of fine lines.The one drawback is the shine and glossy finish aren't very long-lasting, but I found the pearly texture left a nice shimmery stain on the lips. I really love how moisturizing and non-sticky it feels on the lips. You'll love how pouty the shimmering pearl makes your lips look and the gorgeous colours. Pearlescent Pink (left, shimmering pale pink) is the perfect hue of soft pink for Spring! Looks amazing on its own or as a highlight over a deeper shade. Ocean Current (right, shimmering deep berry) will look amazing on any skin tone. The pearly finish makes it wearable for any time of the day. Also available in South Sea Coral (shimmering soft peach) and Stila's #1 selling eyeshadow in Pearl Kitten (shimmering warm pink champagne)!

Kiehl's Lip Gloss in Pink Rider ($14.50 USD): I am in love with practically all the shades from Kiehl's Lip Gloss line but one of my favourites for the season is Pink Rider. This medium shimmering pink is so pretty and sheer. These non-sticky glosses give your lips high shine which surprisingly lasts for more than a few hours. They also contain natural extracts like Mango, Grape Seed, Rose Hips, Apricot Kernal and antioxidants that hydrate and restore suppleness to the lips. These glosses feel like a balm and have a slanted tip applicator like a balm. Easy to throw in your bag for quick touch-ups throughout the day. Did I mention the sweet scent is addictive?

Prescriptives Tint Balm in Smoothie ($14.50 USD): Sometimes a gal just likes a little lip chap with a tint of colour and sweet flavour. Smoothie is a sheer soft pink but turned clear on me once it absorbed into my lips. The balm did keep my lips moisturized and while it wasn't tacky my hair did stick to my lips in the wind. The flavour smells like strawberries with an after-taste of waxiness which turned me off after a while. I do like the squeeze-tube packaging with slanted-tip applicator. You can swipe these babies on easily even on the bumpiest of car rides!

Bobbi Brown Lip Compact (Limited Edition, $25 CDN): Nothing looks more feminine than barely-there whisper pink lips. Blushed pink lips were Bobbi Brown's answer to this season's soft, sparkly eye. These compacts come with a clear protective cover and can be popped out out if its compact and inserted into the brand's Customizable Palettes. Baby Glitter Lip Gloss (left, soft pink with glitter) looks more clear than anything else with a pretty shimmery finish. Where on its own when you just want some fabulous shine or place over top of your fave lippie. Blush Pink Creamy Lip Colour (right, pale nude pink) is extremely creamy with a shiny gloss-like finish. It is THE nude pink and a perfect compliment to a smokey eye. The only drawback - the protective cover is great but interferes when you're trying to dab your finger in it. Oh, and you have to dab your finger in it - may or may not bother you.

Smashbox Muse Lip Paints in Artiste ($21 USD): Bring out the inner "artiste" in you with Muse Lip Paints. These creamy lip glosses were inspired by layering colours and creating your own custom colour. I get the concept, but isn't that what us gloss junkies do anyway? Sure, they come in pretty colours and provide sexy shine but I don't think the new packaging and name make these Lip Paints any different. Artiste, a creamy berry, gives the look of "just bitten" lips. The texture was a bit tacky, but the colour and shine lasted longer than a normal gloss.

M.A.C. Hello Kitty Lipglass in Nice to be Nice (Limited Edition, $16.50 CDN): Move over pink, orange is sizzling it up this season! M.A.C.'s latest Hello Kitty craze is causing quite a ruckus! I have to say, out of all the collections this is by far my favourite from M.A.C.! I grew up obsessed with Hello Kitty and I think M.A.C. has done a fabulous job recreating this iconic kitty. Nice to be Nice, an intense sheer bright orange with pearl, gives the lips a warm pop of colour. It's a nice change from the season's pinks and berries. The packaging is just adorable and definitely a collector's item. Prrrr, me likes!

Coach Signature Lip Gloss ($22 USD): We all know Coach makes great hand bags but who knew they would make amazing glosses! Packaged in their signature Coach logo, these glosses are chic and ready to impress. These glosses pack on the shine and colour. I love Peony, a pearly peachy-pink. This shade looks great paired with a smokey eye or against bronzey skin with peachy-pink cheeks. Freesia, a gorgeous cranberry with gold shimmer, looks amazing with a subtle gold eye and bronzey cheeks.

Have you tried any of these glosses? Love 'em? Hate 'em?

Holiday Look: Statement Lips


Ring in the New Year in a bold way! Nothing makes a statement like a kiss-me-red pout. Whether it's a siren red or a deep burgundy, there is a shade and texture for every gal!

1. Stila Paint Your Pout Red - The Talking Palette ($45 USD): Where would a makeup junkie be without Stila's fabulous talking palettes? With a press of the button and step-by-step instructions, all makeup newbies will be able to achieve the perfect red pout! This handy palette contains a lip primer, 3 red lip colour shades, and a lip brush! Custom blend for the perfect shade or wear each on their own. Dab on the lips as a stain for the day and layer on thicker for bold night time lips. I love how long-lasting the lip colours are and the primer helps prevent bleeding and feathering. Just throw this compact palette in your favourite clutch for touch-ups before the clock strikes 12!


2. Urban Decay Lipstick in Gash ($22 USD): It may not be the prettiest name but Gash is a sexy blood red! I LOVE this lipstick! This full-coverage lipstick with sheen goes on rich and smooth. I always get compliments when I wear this lipstick. It's a lovely deep shade and looks amazing with a gold or bronze eye. The packaging is just another fabulous element to these lipsticks. The tubes are made from purple metal and pierced with a mini gunmetal dagger which is used to twist the lipstick up and down. Embossed in the actual lipstick is the Urban Decay logo and a little dagger. Every eye will be drawn to this lipstick and your lips!


3. Tarte Berry Couture Rise and Shine Berrylicious Lipstain ($35 USD): If you're worried about your lip colour leaving its mark, stick to a lipstain that will last you sip after sip or smooch after smooch! This has been one of my go-to lippies for a day of shopping or a holiday party. I just love the deep wine stain it leaves on my lips. The berry lip plumping gloss is a perfect compliment but I like to use the shimmering deep mauve gloss from Tarte's Purse Your Lips over it instead. My lips can't handle the stinging sensation of a plumping gloss! Give your cheeks the same berrylicious flush as your lips with the Cheek Stain! The combo together looks so pretty and polished. The best part of Tarte products are that they are all natural so you can feel good about slicking these lovelies on!


4. Face Atelier Lip Glaze in Shiraz ($20 CAD): Still unsure if a bold lip is for you? Go shiny and sheer in a beautiful deep burgundy like Shiraz. Face Atelier Lip Glazes are super shiny like glass with a moisturizing finish. The frosted slanted tube makes the application a breeze! The colour is sheer but still noticeable. I found the gloss lasted for a while and left a nice stain on my lips after the shine had worn off. To prevent a gloss from bleeding, I like to use an invisible lip liner!

For tips on how to wear red lips check out our Makeup Junkie Holiday Makeup 101: Red Lips post!

Makeup Junkie Readers' Beauty Stash Awards 2008 - Best In Bath & Body!

Makeup Junkie has reached the end of our Makeup Junkie Readers' Beauty Stash Awards 2008 surveys with one last survey: Best In Bath & Body! I know, finally right? Well, your input on the best beauty buys for 2008 is important and we appreciate all you Makeup Junkies that have participated! The results will be posted towards the end of December so stay tuned!

Here are the contest details:

To vote visit: Best In Bath & Body 2008
Start: December 5, 2008
End: December 12, 2008 12 pm
Give Away: 1 lucky winner will win 2 must-have palettes from Stila and 1 Bobbi Brown lip palette! Stila palettes: Day to Night Talking Palette and Smokey Eye Talking Palette in "The Emeralds". Bobbi Brown lip palette: Bobbi Brown Basics Lip Palette. These fabulous palettes will come in handy for those after-work holiday parties!
Announced: Winner will be randomly chosen on December 12, after 12:30 pm! Good luck!

Makeup Junkie Holiday Gift Guide 2008: The Gift of Gloss!


Every gal, naughty or nice, will love a little dose (or a lot) of sexy gloss on the lips this holiday season! Shine sheer or shine high with some of these festive glossy must-haves!

Benefit's Peace, Love and Glossiness makes the perfect Christmas gift of gloss this holiday season! Lip gloss fanatics and Makeup Junkies will love the set of 3 gloss duos that contain 6 of Benefit’s most popular lips glosses with such irresistable names: 1. My people, Your people, 2. Talk To My Agent, 3. 24K, 4. Who Does Your Work?, 5. Magic, and 6. Kiss You.

Shine-on with Smart Packaging
I test ran the lip glosses this week wearing it from my daytime job to a night out. I did touch up mid-day after lunch to keep the lips looking glossy-fresh. The shine of one application was just right for an all-day look and perfectly suitable for a corporate office, where you may want to ensure co-workers are not distracted by over-glossed and gooey lips. What's great is that you can easily change up your look for evening with any of the alternate glosses in the set, and all you have to carry is one tube for 2 different looks! Well, unless of course you’re a super junkie and want all 6 glosses handy!! (Guilty as charged).

Stick factor
The glosses have just the right amount of stick to give a great shine, keep the product where it belongs, and not catch your hair as it blows in the wind! The downside of not being too sticky is that a midday touch-up is likely necessary, as the product will tend to wear away sooner than an overly sticky gloss.

Smell
It does have a slight fragrance-y smell that was initially noticeable. I tend to use products without fragrance (as a personal preference), but overall the smell was negligible and not unpleasant.

Benefit's Peace, Love & Glossiness set is limited edition only and at a steal of price of $30 for the six glosses, it's surely not going to stay on store shelves very long! It definitely makes a great gift, but be careful when buying it that you don’t end up keeping it for yourself!

Available at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart or online at www.benefitcosmetics.com


If you can't get enough of Smashbox's original Lip Enhancing Gloss then you'll love the holiday collection Rapture Lip Gloss Set ($29 USD)! These award-winning glosses are ultra moisturizing and coat the lips with the right amount of shine and colour.

This party-girl gloss set includes three best-selling shades and three holiday exclusives (L-R): Illume, Radiant, Candid, Ravishing, Lovely, and Stunning. The glosses have a medium stick factor. There's just enough to keep your colour and shine on longer. All the colours are just gorgeous and can be worn separately or layered together for a custom shade. The colours glow with sheer colour which is why they are perfect for both day and night. My faves: Candid, a pearly pinky-peach with gold shimmer, and Lovely, a bright pink.

Exclusive to Sephora, Stila's Shine On Gift of Glaze ($28 USD) will have you swooning! The combination of high shine and ultra shimmer give your lips the poutiness they deserve. Your lips will look naturally plump without the painful stinging "sensation". My only complaint? The click pen style applicator isn't my favourite after using it more because it can be a little messy. You also end up wasting the product with too many clicks. Aside from that, the long-lasting beautiful colours and shine will have you hooked!

There isn't one colour in this set that isn't apart of my beauty stash! The set features four top-selling shades and two new colours. L-R: Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Apricot, Grapefruit, Gumdrop (New!), and Raisin (New!). I had assumed Vanilla would look almost clear on me but the pearly nude is more than barely-there! Brown Sugar is a gorgeous warm golden nude, slightly darker than Vanilla. This is a flattering shade on all skin tones and is wearable any time of the day. Apricot, a melon-nectarine and an old fave, looks like my lips but better. Grapefruit, a frosted pink, is the prettiest soft pink on the lips! Gumdrop, vibrant pink, will perk you up and brighten up any look. Raisin, a shimmering golden plum and another new fave, is the perfect shade for those festive evening cocktails. Stila Shine On Gift of Glaze will be another glossy set you might keep for yourself!

Forget giving this one away! Tarte Purse Your Lips Limited Edition Lipgloss Clutch ($39 USD) is definitely one you should keep for yourself! The stunning gold and deep purple clutch comes with 9 mini Tarte Vitamin-Infused lipglosses! These limited edition shades are infused with the Tarte t5 super fruit complex, which is a proprietary blend of the five most active superfruits: goji, acai, maracuja, acerola, and pomegranate. Not only do these pretty lippies look great but they are good for you inside and out!

Top Row: shell with silver glitter, coral with pearly pink finish, golden brown shimmer, golden plum, sheer soft pink, candy pink. Bottom Row: raspberry-red with gold and pink flecks, cranberry-gold, and true red. I'm in love with all the colours! The glosses don't have names and aren't apart of the original line. I love the balm-like texture, sheer but noticeable colour, and the soft sweet scent. The colour is lasting but the shine wears off after a few hours. You can definitely blend and layer but each colour is as sweet on their own. The little clutch is just adorable and would look great with any outfit! It's big enough to hold your keys, some money/credit card, your cell, and a few of these mini glosses. They are pint size, but with 9 glosses to choose from it'll be a while before you use all these lippies! Sorry gals, this one is for me! :)

Know someone with a sweet tooth? Then she'll love Jaqua Lip Frosting Trio ($24 USD)! Jaqua, a beautifully packaged, true fragranced, and highly effective bath and beauty products were created by the Jaqua sisters, who began the line to fulfill their beauty needs that weren't being met. I am a sucker for anything sugary, sweet and yummy smelling!

The set of 3 Lip Whips contain: Cocoa Buttercream Frosting Lip Whip, the popular Pink Buttercream Frosting Lip Whip, and Raspberry Buttercream Frosting. I've become a huge fan of these glosses not only for their sweet-smelling scents and flavour, but for the hydrating formula containing Vitamin E and other nourishing ingredients. Seriously, I was surprised after eating a dinner and watching a movie how moisturized my lips felt and how lasting the colour was. All 3 colours are gorgeous but my faves are Pink Buttercream Frosting and Raspberry Buttercream Frosting. Pink Buttercream is a pinky-gold shade that gives a subtle finish on its own or adds beautiful shimmer layered over lipstick. Raspberry Buttercream Frosting looks fantastic on its own and will make you look hot on those cold nights out. Also looks lovely mixed with Pink Buttercream Frosting. Your girlfriends trying to lose a few pounds won't feel guilty indulging in these sweet treats!

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who has the glossiest lips of all?" You will with Too Faced Mirror Mirror Mini Lip Gloss Set ($21 USD)! This is for a gal who loves A LOT of shine and not a whole lot of colour. These glossies are super shiny and very moisturizing. They make the lips look like glass! They don't settle into your fine lines and give the appearance of plump lips. Each gloss has a different subtle scent and the most up-lifting, good-for-the-ego, names!

L-R: I'm Perfect (sheer beige), I Know You Want Me! (clear), Damn I'm Hot! (sheer red), Don't Hate Me... (sheer pink). The colours don't really show up on me but I love the high-shine finish. My favourite is the clear shade because it looks great on its own and can be layered over top of your favourite lip colour. The shiny gloss finish will make you look radiant even when you don't feel your most radiant. Grab the spotlight this holiday season with this sexy set of glosses!

Dress up those lips with a little glitter and shine! Bobbi Brown's limited-edition Glitter Lip Gloss ($25 CAD) will have your lips twinkling under the mistletoe! Infused with light-reflecting flecks of glitter, these glosses deliver high-shine and come in 6 fabulous shades. Can't decide on a shade? Why not get all 6 in Bobbi Brown's new 6 Pan Custom Palette!

This Glitter Lip Gloss in Rave is stunning deep chocolate plum with golden flecks. I love this gloss because it's different than any of the glosses I own. This also looks hot layered over a plum or pink lipstick! The glitter particles are very fine so it doesn't feel grainy on your lips. You can be sure with the thicker texture that your colour and glittery shine will last for hours. I'd probably avoid this though on those windy nights or you'll have to deal with sticky hair. But rockin' this lovely shade is worth it!

The smell of ginger bread cookies automatically makes me think of Christmas. Dionis, a bath and body company that uses 90-95% natural ingredients, has come out with a limited-edition Ginger Mint Lip Gloss ($4.99 USD). This yummy ginger-mint scent will have you dreaming of Christmas cookies! It is non-sticky and extremely hydrating, keeping lips soft and smooth.

I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer pop of red shimmer it left on my lips. The colour isn't so heavy you'd feel uncomfortable wearing it during the day, but layer on another coat and you've got ultra shiny lips with a bit more punch! For the price, this gloss is a steal! You can buy for every friend or family member without breaking the bank!

Have you tried any of these glosses? Love 'em? Hate 'em?