Happy New Year!!

Wishing Everyone a Happy, Safe, Glorious, Fabulous, Memorable and Prosperous New Year!

Post-Party T-L-C

A long night out of partying can be very stressful to your face, skin, and hair. Makeup, booze, smoking, screaming, dancing, and even that after-hours burger, are all different stress factors for your body. You can literally feel it when you wake up the next morning (or afternoon.)

If you want to show your mug some extra TLC here are some ways to gain it's sparkle back.

Hydrate your skin using Avène Eau Thermale/Thermal Spring Water. Shake the can, spray it where you want (I suggest your face and neck), wait for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, and then dab it off with a towel. After you've wiped it off, slather some cream on for extra hydration. Your skin will feel supple and refreshed.


Give yourself an at-home facial. Take a trip to the pharmacy and buy yourself a couple of those $3.00 packets of at-home facial kits. They have a myriad of different kinds including, Detoxifying, Purifying, Hyrdrating, etc. Find the right one that's best for your face, and enjoy those 15 minutes of peace looking like a sea creature. It's SO worth it.

There's nothing as invigorating as a good clean scrub! All the leftovers of last night's escapade are still on your face and hair --c'mon, get your mind out of the gutter! I literally mean: grime, germs, leftover makeup, smoke, etc. can still be lingering in your pores, in your hair, hands, and your feet are probably hurting something awful as well. So hop in the shower, and exfoliate every inch of your body. (If showering after your facial, make sure to scrub all the residue off but be gentle to your skin, you don't want to traumatize it even more.) While shampooing and conditioning your hair, massage your head with your fingertips, it will relax you and increase the blood flow to your scalp.

Moisturize from heat-to-toe. As soon as you're out of the shower make sure to treat your skin to moisturizing cream. The best cream has the least amount of perfume in it, as perfume can dry out your skin. I find that Aveeno has the gentlest cream for my skin, and I actually feel hydrated after using it. Using mint lip balm will also cure the cracks and dryness of your lips that is caused by lots of yelling and the use of lipstick or gloss. If you don't mind using oil on your face, try a few drops of Argan or Coconut oil. It will definitely leave you looking supple and radiant.

Floss and brush your teeth, clean your nails, brush your hair and take a nap. (Don't worry about blow-drying your hair, if you don't have anywhere to go, then you don't need to blow-dry.) A fresh mouth, clean nails, brushed hair, and a power nap are sure ways to make you feel like your fabulous self again.

Drink loads of water, and stay away from coffee. It will only dehydrate you more. Alcohol is a killer to your insides and saps the water from your body. The day after a party is definitely for re-hydrating the water that was swindled from you by booze. Take a couple of Aspirins if necessary as well.

After you've gone through these steps, the best way to enjoy the rest of your day is in your pj's, eating some fettuccine, and watching a good movie.

New Year's Eve, Glam-Glitz-Gloss!

New Year's Eve; the last day in 2011. Why not celebrate the year and go out with a bang!? Whether you're staying in, or hitting the town, these 4 ideas will make a lovely NYE look that will be remembered until next year!

The Cat-Eye - A modern take on the classic Vaudeville Vamp that will definitely turn heads.

Be sure to sweep a clean even line along the lashes. Bright pink or red lipstick are essential to this look. If you want to add a little extra for the party apply highlighter on your cheek bones and eyebrow bones.

Smokey Eyes

This is a really popular look on the red carpet, and if done well, the wearer looks sexy and mysterious. For New Year's Eve, try a smokey look with blues, grays, purples or browns. I would strongly advise against using all black shadow and I can tell you with certainty that by the end of the night you will look like a runny, bruised mess! If you're unfamiliar with how to do it, please visit YouTube, they have TONS of videos on how to do this look.


Foiled Eye
The Foiled Eye look is super shimmery and sexy look that is perfect for New Year's Eve. There are many different variations, colours and brands you could use, but they all have one thing in common. Shimmer! Bare Escentuals sells a kit with eye shadow shimmer and a tutorial if you're interested. But if you already have shimmer at home and just want to try it out, I would again suggest going to YouTube to see some how-to videos.

Natural & Feminine 

There is nothing more alluring than to see a fresh face at a party. You will definitely stick out at New Year's if you skip the dark colours and stick to the neutral pinks, golds, and browns. Chihuahua by NARS is a really beautiful and natural pink lip gloss. For added glitz, try using a pink-toned highlighter or cream blush.

Burberry Eau de Parfum

As well as being a makeup lover, I am also totally obsessed with perfume! I can't get enough of it! The one company that really stands out to me as the leader in perfume is Burberry. All their scents are clean, fresh, sophisticated and feminine, much like their clothing line. Not all of their perfume is created equal but here is my take on some of their top sellers.

Burberry Weekend has a light powdery scent that reminds me a little bit of bubble bath. The citrusy, floral, powdery combination is probably better suited for the younger crowd, but it's still a pleasant scent for all to enjoy.

When I was in the elevator leaving work one day, a women walked in and I was hit with the most wonderful smell. It smelled like jasmine and citrus and it reminded me of my grandmother's house. I asked her right away what she was wearing and she told me it was Burberry London. Already being a Burberry fan, I wasn't surprised that that fantastic smell belonged to them, so I went out and bought a bottle the very next day. Unfortunately what they say about perfume smelling different on different people is true, and it doesn't smell as good on me as it did her. But still, I put it on from time to time and it is quite pleasant regardless. It is more of a mature scent as it is very floral, and quite feminine.

I just got Burberry Body for Christmas this year and again, I was pleasantly surprised. The first thing you smell is definitely Freesia, but when it quiets down you get hints of rose and vanilla. All in all a mixture of floral, powder, and a slight hint of musk make this a very charming and inviting smell.

And last but not least, the pièce de résistence, Burberry Classic. This is by far my all-time favorite perfume ever. The smell is super classy, sophisticated and timeless. It has a perfect mixture of spice, musk, wood, vanilla, citrus and jasmine. I get compliments all the time when wearing it, and was myself even asked in the elevator, "hmm what are you wearing?" If you've not had the pleasure of experiencing this smell, go to the closest perfume stand and take a sample, I swear you will go back for more!

Keep It Simple Stupid!

Wanna look great but keep your makeup simple? Here are some easy ways!

Hydrate your face with tinted or regular moisturizer. It will keep your skin looking supple and fresh, and will also act as a primer for the rest of your makeup. While the cream is still soaking into your skin, sweep some bronzer over your cheekbones, nose, forehead, and chin. After that, find a neutral, matte (or shimmer if you wish) eye shadow. Brush it in the crease of your eyelid to shape your eyes and wake up your look. Curl your eyelashes, apply a few coats of mascara and you're done!











Make sure your eyebrows are trimmed, shaped, and if necessary, filled in. Eyebrows can either make or break your look so make sure you take good care of them and don't over-pluck!

5 Random Tips

1- Keep your face cream in the fridge. It will last longer and be extra soothing when you apply it to your face.
2- Prime your lips with regular lip balm before applying lipstick or gloss. The balm will soothe out the cracks, fill in the lines and will add a creamier texture to your lipstick or gloss.
3- Want a quick homemade exfoliating remedy? Take a half a cup of Epsom salts, 1-2 tablespoons of almond or Argan oil, and a splash of rose water, shake it all up in a jar, and scrub over the troubled area. It's best to do this while you're in the shower.
4- Wrap wet hair in a bun and leave it over night. You will find your hair in a wavy and voluminous coif the next morning. If you have short hair you may want to do one bun on the top of your head and one on the bottom to even out the fun!
5- Looking for a new perfume idea? Citrus is always a welcome smell, whether you're a man or a woman. It positively exudes freshness! Steer clear of the Pine-Sol though! Marc Jacobs has a great line of colognes/perfumes out, and they are really cheap! I have a bottle myself and it smells SO good, and it's called "Lemon." Pretty simple right? L'Occitane also has a great scent out called Verbena Harvest if you're looking for a Paraben/Sulfate free solution, and are willing to spend a little more.

Estée Lauder DayWear Sheer Tint Release

I've used this product for a year now and I can honestly say that it is one of the best purchases I've made.

What is it? Basically, it is a tinted moisturizer.
What does it do? It creates an even skin tone all over your face while moisturizing your skin and creating a healthy glow.
Why do I use it? I've chosen this product as the king of tinted moisturizers because not only does it have SPF 15 in it, but you do not need to worry about getting the right shade for your skin as it comes out a bluish colour and dries to match the colour your natural skin tone (but a bit darker of course). Also, the need for thick and cakey foundation or cover-up is eliminated. (You should only ever use tinted moisturizer if you don't have problem skin. Foundation and cover-up is overused by women who really don't need it.)

Simply put a small amount on the tip of your finger and dab it on your cheeks, nose, chin and forehead and rub it in. Make sure to blend it in to your hair and jaw line. Don't worry if it comes out a little dark, once it has dried it will be much lighter.

I suggest not using this product so much on a hot summer day as the humidity will cause the cream to suffocate your pores.

*It is a bit pricey, at about $50+ a bottle, but like I said, one bottle has lasted me almost an entire year.

Yu-Be Skincare

Other than Argan Oil, and regular hand cream there is a different product out there that I would recommend to anyone who needs help with a particularly difficult dry patch of skin, like psoriasis or eczema for example.

I know someone who always gets dry patches under their nose during the winter and no matter how much regular cream or oil they would use, it would still not go away. I got a tiny tube of this Yu-Be product as a sample from Sephora last year and it was seriously the only thing that would cure it!

If you're having a rough time with some dry skin, try Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream. Unfortunately, these products are not available in stores in Canada, they only sell them on Sephora's website. http://www.sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml?brandId=Yu-Be.

It seems to be available almost everywhere else in the world in stores.
Here is a list of their locations: http://www.yu-be.com/retailers/

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Instant Facelift

Want a quick pick-me-up for your face?

Press upwards towards the ceiling on the arch of your eyebrows with your fingers for at least 15 seconds and you will give yourself an instant eye lift. It doesn't last forever but if you want to look awake and poised for a while it will definitely do the trick!

How to Beat the Winter Itch

It's that time of year where we're all stuck inside, cozied up to the fireplace or heater, covered from head-to-toe in woolly clothing, and dreaming of a tropical beach somewhere. For the majority of people in Canada and Northern States, this is a yearly reality that we all face. And unless you have superpowers you will suffer from the infamous winter itch where the air is so dry,  your hands, lips, back, legs, face, nose, and even hair suffer from the lack of humidity and the abundance of dry heated air. Don't despair, there are ways to bring your skin back to normal. Please see some tips below.

1- Get yourself a humidifier. In fact, get yourself 3 humidifiers. The added moisture in the air will fight the dryness your warm heaters are filling your home with. Not only will the humidity be good for your skin, but it will be easier to breath, and your plants will love it too!

This is the brand I have at home, it's by Honeywell, and it certainly does the job! Don't forget to change the filters at least once a month as well.

Here is a Sears Buying Guide for Humidifiers.
http://www.sears.ca/content/resource-centre/buying-guides/humidifiers





2- Buy yourself some plants. Household plants filter, oxygenate and humidify the air, relieve stress and headaches, and can literally make you happy in such a gloomy season. At home I have a lemon plant, a little Christmas shrub, a fig, a Poinsettia, a Peace Lily and MANY more. Watering them and caring for them is a huge stress-reliever. Stress shows on your face. So get yourself a plant, care for it, and keep on smiling. http://www.mastersinhealthcare.com/blog/2011/15-fabulous-health-benefits-of-house-plants/


3- Protect yourself from the elements. Limit your exposure to wind and direct sunlight as much as possible. I'm not suggesting you become a hermit for six months, but it is really important that you cover up with a scarf, hat, and gloves. Also, wear lip balm at all times to shield your lips from harsh winds, and get some with sunscreen in it before you venture out of the house. Remember, sunny days are the coldest in the winter. Lip balm will also prevent you from licking your lips which dries out your lips as well. I prefer Blistex Medicated Lip Balm for it's Sunscreen and Burt's Honeybees for the soothing mint quality.

4- Eat and drink well. Foods such as oatmeal and avocado are good for your skin and supply awesome health benefits to your body. Oatmeal is packed with many healthy ingredients including Vitamin E. Avocados are rich in antioxidants as well as Vitamin E that help prevent the signs of aging. Eating richly dark fruits and vegetables are very good for your internal system which will reflect outwardly too (pomegranite, blueberries, etc). Drinking Green Tea is also good as it has a myriad of health benefits. It increases your metabolism, is rich in antioxidants, and most importantly for this post, it will help keep you warm! And last but not least, WATER is probably the most important thing you could provide for your body. Not only does it hydrate your insides, you can really feel the difference in your skin if you're running low on water. Thirst and dehydration are the absolute opposite of what you'd want to feel in the winter months. So drink up!

5- Cream. Cream. Cream. This is the most important thing for preventing cracked, itchy, flaky, uncomfortable winter skin. As soon as you're out of the shower, hydrate the hell out of every inch on your body. Trust me, it's important. Focus on your calves and shins, feet, entire back (lower back especially), your face and hands. These are the areas that dry out the most. You can even use coconut or olive oil if you want! Try not to get cream with any acids in them, like Hyaluronic Acid, as it will dry out the skin more than it will hydrate it. Keep cream in your purse, on your bedside table, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, at work, everywhere. Because not only is the winter air drying out your hands, but so is soap, hand-sanitizer and perfume. If you feel like giving yourself an extra hydra-boost, buy yourself some latex gloves and pump each glove with cream. Keep your hands in the gloves for 10-20 mins for a relaxing and hydrating experiences.

If anyone else has any tips on How to Beat the Winter Itch please comment below!

Yves Saint Laurent: Touche Éclat

This magic little wand is something I consider an essential for your makeup kit. I mentioned before that I apply it under my eyes, the tip of my nose and on the crest of my upper lip. I also sometimes colour in my laugh lines and the outer corners of my eyes.

What does the Touche Eclat do for you? Well, using the right shade, and in the right places on your face can help eliminate the signs of fatigue, and make your skin look radiant. If you know you're going to be out for the whole day, take the tube with you in your purse and reapply in the middle of the day for an instant refresher!

The most important thing is getting the right shade!
There are many different shades available, so choose wisely! Please refer to the colour scale taken from Sephora.com below and match your skin tone to the description provided.

1 Luminous Radiance  (for fair to light complexions with pink undertones)

2 Luminous Ivory (for fair to light complexions with yellow undertones)

3 Light Peach  (for medium complexions with peachy undertones)

4 Luminous Toffee (for deep complexions with neutral undertones)

5 Luminous Honey  (for medium complexions with olive and golden undertones)

6 Luminous Amber  (for deep complexions with red undertones)

8 Radiant Silk  (for light to medium complexions with yellow or golden undertones)

If you can't decide between two different colours, and you're willing to take a gamble, take the lighter one. We're trying to create areas of light, not spots of dark.
OR
Go to your local department store to the Yves St-Laurent counter and ask them to help you find the right shade.

Here is a How-To video:

Argan Oil

So... my friend Ena just asked me where she could find herself a bottle of Argan oil.

But first... what is Argan oil and what does it do?

In a nutshell, Argan oil is made from an Argan tree grown in Morocco. It has wonderful health and beauty benefits. It's good for your hair, stretchmarks, wrinkles, dry skin and you can even eat it! Please refer to Wikipedia for more details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argan_oil

Anyways I first heard about Moroccan Oil Shampoo last year and how it was all the rage in Hollywood.

I was curious so I bought myself some no-name Argan Oil shampoo and tried it out.(Argan oil and

Moroccan Oil are the same thing)

Although the difference was subtle I did feel that my hair was cleaner, and shinier. And don't worry, it wasn't oily. So I went to my local organic health-food store and bought myself a bottle of pure oil. It was a bit pricey (about $50) but it has lasted me for almost 7 months and I've used it quite a bit. I always use it on my face after I've gotten out of the shower. I've even put a few drops in my regular shampoo bottle!

Josie Maran's full line of cosmetics is based on Argan oil. Yesterday I bought an Argan Oil Multi-Purpose Stick from Sephora which I used on the rough patches on my hands and my cheeks, which have gotten really dry since Winter finally decided to show up. I would suggest checking out her products. Seems like she donates a lot of her proceeds to various Moroccan women organizations. (Although I think a lot of companies do as well. Only women are responsible for supplying the world's Argan Oil today.) http://www.josiemarancosmetics.com/

So, where to buy, Ena?

-Natural Health Food Stores (they will mostly likely only have the pure oil)

-Sephora or Josie Maran Cosmetics

-Most Hair Salons (they will only have the hair products)

Let me know if you have any questions!

Bronzer Basics

I hope this post will minimize at least a sliver of a percent of the misuse of bronzer.

A) Bronzer was not created to make you look like you've just come back from a 2 week Caribbean Cruise.

B) Bronzer was not made to turn your face orange whilst the rest of your body is Canadian-Winter white!

C) Bronzer was not created to make you look like George Hamilton and Donatella Versace's love child.

Please note that although these "people" are orange, it is definitely not from bronzer, but from centuries of tanning bed use.

DO:

1- MATTE. The powder takes away shine and contours your face more naturally. Shimmer bronzer should only go on your cheekbones to catch the light. If you've already planned to use highlighter in that area, then don't do both.

2- YELLOW. When you're making your next trip to the beauty counter for bronzer, choose a brown that has more of a yellow undertone. It is the closest to a natural sun-kissed look you can get.

3- CONTOUR. Use the shape of your face to your advantage and

take advantage of the shape of your face! Concentrate the bronzer on the contour of your face, under the jaw, right under your cheekbone, the bridge of your nose, the bones above your temple, your chin, and the apples of your cheeks. Every face has a different shape, play with shadows!

4- BLUSH. I know it sounds like I'm asking you to layer on the powder. Trust me, if done correctly, this will look gorgeous. After you've bronzed (subtly!!) take a peach or dusty rose cream blush and blot the apples of your cheeks. Spread it out over your cheekbones to create a natural and very flattering colour to your face. The cream blush also acts as a highlighter and will catch the light and make your skin look luscious and healthy.

DON'T: (pretty much explained above but I will reiterate)

1- SHIMMER your entire face, it doesn't look right.

2- OVER DO IT. Please don't cake it on! Your neck and face skin have to be somewhat close on the colour-scale.

3- DO IT WRONG. Using a bronzer that is too dark or too orange shows that you have not read this blog.

What I Use:

Rimmel SunShimmer in Medium Matte. It has the perfect amount of yellow and the perfect amount of Matte. In fact I'm sure I could go even lighter but I try not to use to much of it.

My Routine:

-After I've moisturized my face, I apply Yves St-Laurent Touche Eclat #2 under and in the corner of my eyes, the tip of my nose, and the peak of my upper lip. The cream creates a nice base for the rest of my makeup, and the Touche Eclat wakes up my face and catches the light in a very nice way.

-I apply the blush to a small blush brush and go over my cheekbones, forehead/temple bones, eyebrow bones, under my jaw, the apples of my cheeks, and do one slight sweep over the rest of my face and neck.

-At that point I put on mascara, let it dry for a few minutes, finish my eye makeup, then get back to my face (more on my eye routine later)-

-I don't do this every day but when I want to add a little extra glam to my face I dab Benefit High Beam on the apples of my cheeks and along my cheekbones and eyebrow bones. After I rub it in, and when the makeup is still a little wet, I rub the rest of the bronzer on my brush on my cheek bones to set in the makeup, then two dabs on each cheek with my dusty rose blush from Annabelle that I do not know the name of. It creates a beautiful sun-kissed-with-a-cherry-on-top look that exudes health and cheerfulness!

One last thing. I know you've heard this time and time again, but seriously ladies. LESS IS MORE. After you've done your makeup go into another room. Preferably one that has similar lighting to where you're going to be showing off your face. If it looks like you've put on too much, rub it in with your hands or a tissue, but not too much!

This Week's Spotlight: Freida Pinto

Miss Freida Pinto, Summer 2011.

This spotlight is dedicated to the absolutely gorgeous, flawless, oh-my-god-she's-so-pretty-I-hate-her, Freida Pinto. I chose this picture for the angle the photo was taken, and the shadow she chose for her eyes.

As you can see, her beautiful amber-lit brown eyes are wonderfully complimented by the shimmery blue eye shadow on her top lid. From what I can tell, a little extra oomph is given with a subtle sweep of silver on the bottom lid. As well it seems that an amber-bronze liner has been applied to her bottom water line, which makes her eyes pop even more! The only visible black liner I can see is maybe a tiny little bit on the top lid or in the TOP water line (DO NOT try this if you've had 3 cups of coffee and you're in a rush to get to work... it's slow and steady people!)

Top it all off with her creamy caramel complexion, a touch of dewy-rose on the apples of her cheeks, and her Au-Naturelle lip-gloss and you've got yourself one enviable Hot Mumbai Mama!

Girls: Even though she seems to be absolutely perfect, take a look at her forehead and you'll see some imperfections not hidden very well with some concealer that is clearly not the right colour for her skin.

Here are some wonderful blue pallets for all you brown-eyed gals out there!