Voted "Best Foundation 2008" in O Magazine, Prescriptives AnyWear Multi-Purpose Makeup Stick SPF 15 ($35 USD) is phenomenal and two are included in each set! This little stick is so compact you can throw into your purse for quick touch-ups. When it comes to foundation, the quicker the application the better. Use this oil-free stick to conceal blemishes, cover dark circles or for all over. This velvety smooth formula feels like butta'. The light-weight texture is buildable and offers flawless coverage. I love how my skin looks and I've been getting many compliments since using it. :)
I'm usually weary of products with an SPF because I'm allergic to it. When I first tried it, the skin around my nose and eyes broke out into a rash. I was pretty upset over it because I really liked it. I soon realized after that my skin had broken out from some eye patches I was testing out. I'm happy to report that I've been using the foundation stick every day and my skin is looking fabulous!
Have you tried Prescriptives AnyWear Multi-Purpose Makeup Stick SPF 15? Love it? Hate it?
www.prescriptives.com
Makeup Obsession: Prescriptives AnyWear Multi-Purpose Makeup Stick SPF 15
Makeup Obsession: C.O. Bigelow's Lip Tints
It's no secret that I have a healthy addiction to lip balms especially if they've got a lil' colour. I'm really excited because the mecca for yummy scented bath and body products, Bath and Body Works, has made its way to Canada (stay tuned for details on the grand opening event)! No longer do us Canadians have to go across the border or have relatives send care packages with our favourite BBW products.
One of my must-have products from BBW are C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tints ($7.50 USD). Cinnamint Mentha Lip Shine is one of my favourite clear glosses to swipe on. The flavours are so intense and irresistible! I got to try the lip tints and I'm in love! I adore how it feels like a balm but gives you the high shine of a gloss. Infused with Peppermint Oil, your breath feels fresh. These squeezable tubes are portable and small enough to fit the whole collection into your purse! The slanted applicator makes a no-look-no-mirror application easy.
Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint, Bare Mint: This soft shimmery pinky-beige gloss is lovely for every day or paired with Fall's dramatic eyes. I haven't worn a nude gloss in a long time but this has become my new fave!
Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint, Coral Mint: When I squeezed this out I was pleasantly surprised. I expected a flat coral but instead got a pretty peachy-coral with a pearly finish. Seriously, so gorgeous!
Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint, Plum Mint: Plum can brighten and flatter just about most skin tones. Plum Mint gives your lips enough colour yet is still neutral enough to compliment any look.
Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint, Violet Mint: This gorgeous violet with a pearl finish is just so pretty on. Looks lovely against luminous skin.
www.bathandbodyworks.com
Available at Bath and Body Works and now in select locations across Canada: Erin Mills Town Center, Mississauga, ON, Stone Road Mall, Guelph, ON, White Oaks Mall, London, ON, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Alberta, Yorkdale, Toronto, ON. Opening October 2008: Fairview Mall, Willowdale, ON.
Makeup Obsession: Neon Glow of The '80's
Summer is almost over and the '80's (the most fashionable decade lol) has come and gone. But this summer season proved that our obsession of the neon glows of the '80's is still here. From neon greens to neon yellows, these glaring brights came in shoes, purses, clothes and makeup. To bring back these fun shades makeup brands like Three Custom Color Specialists created Light Brights Lipstick which came in the brightest and most wearable shades. I am a HUGE fan and you can read my review here. Then Three Custom did the next best thing - they followed up their popular Light Brights with Light Brights High Shine Gloss!
Packaged in Three Custom Color’s signature sleek tubes with a wand, Light Brights High Shine Lip Glosses are outrageously bright colors with moisturizing, sheer coverage with a hearty dose of sexy gloss - perfect for hot summer days and nights! I say, it's not just for summer but anytime you want a sheer pop of colour on the lips.
Light Brights High Shine Gloss in Area and Palladium ($18.50 USD): Area is a juicy tangerine. The glosses are much sheerer than the lipstick and definitely wearable for anytime of the day. This shade would look great with a smoky or heavily lined eyes in black. The colour is soft but adds some warmth to the lips. Palladium is a hot pink and my favourite! This colour is so gorgeous on and you can actually see it. It's much sheerer than the lipstick but the colour payoff is excellent. It's the kind of pink that makes your teeth look white. The glosses are ultra moisturizing and the shine is super sexy! I'm obsessed with these glosses and swipe it on every chance I get!
Sure, Fall is all about dark noir but I'm sure you'll be seeing a return of the '80's neon glow next Spring/Summer!
www.threecustom.com
Makeup Obsession: Liquid Liner
Every woman loves the look of a well defined, crisp liquid liner a la Angelina Jolie. Getting that perfect look however can be somewhat frustrating with the vast liquid liners out there promising the perfect line which only disappoint due to their awful tip applicators. One liquid liner that rises to the challenge would be Lancôme’s Artliner. It is much thinner than most applicators and makes for easy application even amongst the novices. This incredibly precise felt tip applicator is perfect for achieving that Fall liner look which nicely complements the season’s very berry lip. Artliner comes in five beautiful colours to match your desired look. Don’t be afraid to pair liquid liner with false lashes this fall for sultry evening eyes. Catwalks near and far oozed with sexiness and no better way to get that look then with false lashes! For lashes we turn nowhere but MAC. The perfect accessory to your liner look would be either the MAC # 3 lashes or the #7’s. For the more cat eye look opt for the #36 lashes or the #20 half lashes. Be sure to use the Duo Adhesive sold at MAC because that is by far the best lash glue on the market. This surgical adhesive stands up to tears and leaves lashes intact all night.
Makeup Obsession: Creamy, Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils
I always had a hard time working with pencil eyeliners. Often, the line would end up too thick, uneven and tugged like crazy on my poor, delicate eyelids. For the longest time, I stuck to gel liners and liquid liners, finding that they gave me more control and had much more colour payoff. About a year or two ago, I was looking for a bright blue eyeliner to pair with a bronze eye and on a whim, decided to go with those shiny new Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils. I heard the formulation allowed the pencil do to just what the name suggested- glide on smoothly. Even better, it was supposedly waterproof. I was still skeptical, but Electric was the exact colour I was looking for, so it was worth a try. When the little, bright teal pencil arrived, I tried it on immediately and fell in love. 
I later found out that Make Up For Ever offers a similar type of pencil. Like the Urban Decay pencil, it had this super smooth consistency that allows it to glide on your eyelid like butter. The colour payoff is amazing and true to its claim, it actually is waterproof and lasts all day. A few of those found a home in my beauty arsenal. These miracle eyeliners reunited me with pencil eyeliners, allowing us to put our differences aside and start what would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
The only downside of the Urban Decay and Make Up For Ever eyeliners were the price. At $16 US/$18 CDN a pop, they did not make my wallet happy. Thankfully, the great goddess Sephora heard my concerns and it wasn't long before Sephora Flashy Liners made their way into Sephora stores across North America. In 10 gorgeous shades, no less! The Flashy Liners, only $8 US/$10 CDN each, work just as beautifully as their more expensive counterparts at almost half the price! Flashy Blue is rather similar to Urban Decay's Electric and Flashy Copper and Flashy Brown look gorgeous on tanned skin. I own 8 of the 10 available colours and love every one of them.
Makeup Obsession: Cargo blu_ray Collection
With the zillions of beauty products out there, I still manage to get obsessed over products. Some obsessions are fleeting but others quickly become staples in my makeup stash. Back in January when Cargo's blu_ray collection launched, I was intrigued but very skeptical. You can read about it here. Then in February at a Sephora grand opening I got to play around with it but only on my hand. The powder looked chalky, the blush didn't show, and the gloss quad seemed like any other gloss. I concluded that it was just a lot of hype.
It is rare that I'll gush about a product after I've already written it off. Well now I'm obsessed with the entire blu_ray collection! I've been using it on myself, on Ali for ChickChat TV, and on a few brides and the results are flawless. The hi-def collection is designed to make you look flawless in any light, from your office to the bright summer light. The line was created for makeup artists working in television and film where every flaw is magnified and heavy coverage would be too noticeable. Blu_ray gives you natural, flawless coverage for everyday wear using Photochromatic pigments (automatically colour corrects makeup to be consistent in any lighting) and optical blurring (fills in lines and wrinkles, reflects light to camouflage imperfections without glitter or shine). 
Cargo blu_ray High Definition Mattifier ($24 USD): This has become my makeup primer of choice. This oil-free mattifier refines pores, minimizes fine lines, and mattifies the skin! Sometimes this is all I need (besides my under eye concealer) when I leave the house. My skin looks so flawless and feels so smooth after I apply it. The texture feels like silicone so the makeup just glides on. I've tried many primers that claim to mattify the skin but this is the only one that truly does. My Smashbox Photo Finish Primer is pretty good but I do find at the end of the day my nose ends up shiny. Cargo's HD mattifier keeps my skin shine-free and my makeup on all day. You can also use this in place of a translucent setting powder - just apply over your makeup for a shine-free finish! Less products to use at home and on set!
Cargo blu_ray Pressed Powder ($30 USD): When I introduce this powder to clients I jokingly brag about how it's HD. They "ooohhh" and "awww" and laugh it off but when they see the results they really "ohhh" and "awww". The first time I had tried it, I patted the powder onto my hand with my finger. The neutral beige powder looked chalky on my skin tone and I decided it wasn't worth all the hype. Now that I've had the chance to really work with it using my lovely brushes, the results are just gorgeous. Every time I wear it, my skin looks like it's been photoshopped! The skin looks soft and youthful thanks to the optical blurring and the Photochromatic pigments make you look flawless when photographed in natural light or flash. It also colour corrects redness without applying heavy correctors. If you want a radiant, natural finish without shine or shimmer this powder is it!
Cargo blu_ray Blush/Highlighter and HD Blush in Peach ($28 USD): The original universally flattering pinky-peach shade is a blush and highlighter in one. The velvelty formula is oil-free and contains the same properties as the pressed powder giving you the same flawless, radiant effect. I love using this shade on brides because it gives the "blushing bride" effect.
Beauty scoop: Launching this September a new shade in Peach will join the original! This soft peach shade warms up the skin giving you a healthy glow. I especially love layering this over top of bronzer (good tip for darker skin tones). Both shades are neutral and work with any look. These two shades are all that I've been wearing lately! But I won't be giving up my other blushes just yet ;)
Cargo blu_ray Lip Gloss ($29 USD): Sometimes a gloss is a gloss and that's exactly what I thought about Cargo's HD version when it first launched. I never really gave it a fair chance since I didn't dare try it on my lips at the Sephora store. Now that I've been able to wear it on my lips and have others try it, I do see the difference compared to other glosses. Transparent pearl pigments provide an even colour payoff at any angle (just turn your head from side-to-side) and hyaluronic acid spheres and a peptide chain plump lips and smooth out lines. The quad includes a sheer plum, sheer peachy-pink, sheer rose, sheer golden beige and each can be worn on their own or mixed together for a custom colour. The texture feels like a lip balm and has a subtle minty flavour. The shades are pretty sheer so they look very natural and wearable for everyday but if you'll be taking photos or going out in the evening I'd use a lip liner to bump up the colour. I like to use the lighter shades over top of the darker ones to give the lips a nice highlight. Your lips will look great any time especially in photos or on camera. I hope they come out with another quad with some reds or bright pinks!
Beauty Scoop: Cargo blu_ray Concealer ($28 USD): This won't hit the market until this September but I got the inside scoop on this fabulous product! Water-proof, water-resistant, and wrinkle fighting, this concealer does it all! This pen style with sponge-tip applicator contains light -diffusing pigments that provide flawless coverage while looking completely natural. If you're looking for less expensive and painful alternative to Botox, this HD concealer contains Visilox which studies show is an excellent alternative. It brightens, lightens, and tightens! I'm still unsure if more shades will be launched because I find it's a little too light for the rest of my face. It's perfect for my under eye area though. For hard to cover areas, use your finger to build coverage by pressing and patting the product.
Beauty Scoop: Cargo blu_ray Polishing Cloths ($15 USD): We all know if your skin isn't up to par, your makeup just won't look right. These cloths are the ultimate skin primer, made of nano-scale fibers (thinner than human hair), exfoliate the skin's surface for gorgeous, glowing skin. Use these cloths 1-2 times a week with your favourite cleaner, scrubbing each section in a circular motion. You can literally see dirt, dry skin, black heads, and white heads slough off your face onto the cloth! It's gentle enough for sensitive skin. The bonus - these cloths are reusable! Be on the lookout come September when these cloths launch!
What's your latest beauty obsession? Have you tried Cargo's blu_ray collection? Love it? Hate it? Happy shopping!
www.cargocosmetics.com
Makeup Obsession: Luscious Lips with C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shines
Do you use C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine? What’s your fave flavour?
P.S. Sometimes you can get them super cheap from Bath & Body Works, $5US each, love it!
Makeup Obsession: Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup Oil Free SPF 15
It never fails, you read every beauty article on the next best foundation only to run to the nearest store to purchase it, use it, and be disappointed by it. Foundation is the number one key makeup product that determines just how fantastic the rest of your makeup will look. Picking a great foundation is like picking out the finest wine. You can’t rush into it and you can’t just go for the cheapest thing. After all, we spend so much money on our clothes, our hair, our shoes, yet when looking for foundations we gasp at anything over 20 dollars.
I have recently become obsessed with a foundation by Hourglass called Veil Fluid Foundation. Never before has a foundation done what it’s actually been set out to do-make your skin look absolutely flawless! Now before I tell you the price of the foundation you need to know how amazing it is. I know many of you reading this are notorious for doing what we’re told never do-you pick your face. I too am guilty of this and therefore need a good foundation to make me look picture perfect (post picking). This foundation covers so well and does not look thick and mask like at all! It comes in 7 shades with good colour tones however does not go dark enough for a much deeper skin tone. Tyra Banks could wear it but Naomi Campbell may not find her shade. Nonetheless, for those who do find their shade they will be completely hooked!! It lasts all day and gives a natural slightly dewy look to the skin. Its best applied with a brush however don’t get sold on buying the specified brush, it’s not the greatest. This foundation is best applied with the MAC #187 Brush or MAC #190 brush. And now, to drop the bomb- its $60. This may seem like a lot of money but just think about the new shoes you just bought that probably only go with one outfit, which you can only wear once because everyone will remember that outfit! In other words, you will use it more than those shoes which probably cost ten times the price!! Here are the quick facts about the foundation:
- Formulated with Matrixyl to stimulate the production of collagen and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
- Skin Tightener ST improves skin's texture and promotes younger looking skin.
- Advanced silicone creates a flawless finish.
- Oil, fragrance and paraben free, SPF 15.
Its sold at Sephora and before purchasing it I strongly recommend you get a few samples. You definitely want to make sure that you’re getting the right shade. Wear it for a few days and wait for the compliments to roll in. It will just confirm that $60 is a small price to pay for flawless skin.
