Beauty Reflections

The Blush Ban Has Lifted!

2012-06-03T10:00:00.000-06:00

So, it's June! That means my blush ban is OVER. DONE.

Can I say that I'm kind of happy that I can buy blush again? Actually, I think I'm ECSTATIC.

It's been a little rough not buying my favourite product for the past 5 months, but it needed to be done. I needed to take a step back. The ban also made me appreciate and rediscover some of the really great blushes I have in my collection. It also made me realize exactly what colours of blush work for me and which ones don't.

But there are a few that I am DYING to check out. Like the new Buxom Blushes that came out way at the beginning of the year. Or the new Estee Lauder Pure Colour Blushes. Or the new Korres Cheek Butters. NARS had a couple of colours that came out, so I'll probably check them out as well. That Giorgio Armani Face Palette I am so lemming for, and the Le Metier de Beaute Cheek Kaleidoscope-that thing is like a Blush Fiend's dream come true! And someday, somehow, I have to get a Tom Ford Blush. I just have to. I think my Blush Fiend Certificate will be revoked if I don't own one of them soon! I just have to find a willing fellow blush fiend across the border to assist me haha! Any volunteers? :)

But, I know I'll be more selective when I look at blush now thanks to the ban. I won't be buying blush with an all willy-nilly-take-them-all-home-attitude like I used to have. So probably a lot of these blushing beauties I'm lemming for won't make it home with me like they would have in the old days. Old days haha. That's funny.

I'm a leaner, meaner, pickier, better Blush Fiend now!

Have you been under a self-imposed buying ban? Did it change the way you buy products? Or not?

LUSH Cosmetics Acne Skin Savers

2012-06-02T13:00:00.000-06:00

Did you know that more than 50 percent of women in their 20s reported having acne and more than a quarter of women in their 40s? Having acne as a teen or an adult is really rough. I never had breakouts in my teen years, but now in my later years I get them. I find a lot of anti-aging products like retinol or glycolics break me out. Sigh. My poor daughter has had such trouble this past year. We've been trying a few things to get her skin back under control, including the Blue Light Acne Therapy that the guest post earlier today talked about.

Thankfully, LUSH Cosmetics has some effective products that are perfect for acne flare ups.

We've been testing these three products out:

Grease Lightning ($12.95)
This blend of herbs and essential oils helps soothe skin while it clears. The witch hazel, thyme, calming rosemary and antibacterial tea tree infusion creates a highly effective antiseptic that helps spots disappear lightning fast. Lavender oil regulates oil production, a big culprit in causing spots, and aloe vera works to calm aggravated skin. I find this works best if you put it on as soon as you feel a spot coming up. It really helps stop the spot from getting out of control.

Fresh Farmacy Facial Cleanser (Sold by weight, $9.75 for 3.5 oz)

This is a pale pink cleansing bar made for problematic skin that gets sore, red and blotchy. It gently cleanses with calming calamine, chamomile and soothing rose. Lavender and tea tree also help to banish pimple-forming bacteria. It's Vegan too! This one I've been using when my skin is irritated and breaking out and it's great. My skin gets really sensitive and rashy somedays, and that's when this cleanser works best. It can be drying though, so I only use it once a day, and only where my skin is irritated. It really smells of lavender which I love and a little goes a long way.

Herbalism Facial Cleanser (Sold by weight, $11.50 for 3.5 oz)

Detoxifying, purifying and exfoliating herbal facial cleanser that is formulated for oily, sensitive skin and decongests clogged pores. It contains China clay to remove excess oil, ground almonds and rice bran to exfoliate dead skin cells. Along with sage, an antibacterial, chamomile, to calm troubled skin and marigold, which soothes inflammation. This one is a Vegan product as well.

This is the weirdest cleanser I have ever seen! It's alien green!

And wow it smells pretty herbal too! How you use this is you take a small scoop of it and add water to make a paste and then apply that to your skin and rub. It's a mild exfoliant, so don't rub too hard! Now I know my skin can't handle daily exfoliation, so I've been using this 3 times a week and only where I get oily like my forehead, nose and chin. I think this would be too much for my cheeks to take, but if you have really oily skin with a lot of clogged pores, you should give it a try. It's helping my daughter's forehead where she has major congestion happening.

Have any of you tried these LUSH products? Did they work for you? What do you use when your skin is temperamental and breaking out?

Disclamer: I was sent this product to review by PR/Company. Love it or leave it, but my review and opinions are my own thoughts and words, thank you very much.

Guest Post: Dealing with Acne

2012-06-02T09:29:00.000-06:00

Happy Saturday Everyone!

I have a guest post for you today. My daughter has been having Blue Light Therapy for her acne, and it is really making a difference for her.

Dealing with Acne

Acne can be a distressing condition whenever it strikes, though it will normally strike when you are at your lowest. In addition to being common in our teenage years, acne can strike during or after pregnancy, during times of stress or as a result of medication or illness. There are a number of ways to deal with the problem, including creams, facial washes, and for more serious outbreaks, oral medication.

Help your Self Solutions

· Use a mild soap when washing and try to avoid washing affected areas more than twice a day. The redness and symptoms of acne can be made worse by frequent washing, which can also dry the skin.

· Don’t squeeze spots! This will only make things worse and spread the infection. Those who suffer from frequent bouts of acne probably don’t need this advice, but it’s worth remembering.

· When it comes to makeup, less is more. Too much makeup may hide the symptoms but will exacerbate the causes. Always completely remove makeup at the end of the day to avoid blocking the pores.

· Most doctors and experts suggest regular exercise. The exercise in itself will not clear up acne but is well known for lifting your mood. Stress is a big factor in acne, so in some senses it can contribute to your recovery. Getting out in the fresh air, and particularly the sun, is also good for your skin.

Potions, Lotions and other Treatments.

Most traditional treatments will not work immediately so don’t expect results straightaway. Normally several months will pass before many acne treatments reduce the appearance and strength of attacks.

· Creams and lotions available over the counter in pharmacies are based on the active ingredient ‘benzoyl peroxide’. This will help to clear dead skin away, which would otherwise block pores and it will also kill the bacteria that are responsible for infection. The main drawback to these medicines are that it can cause damage to your skin and also make skin more sensitive to UV light; long term use is not recommended and sun block should be used to help protect your skin in summer or on holiday.

· Antibiotic gels and creams are also available which will kill the bacteria causing the problem. For more extreme cases doctors may also prescribe antibiotic tablets. Antibiotics are not suitable for all sufferers of acne, and some pregnant women will be reluctant to take them.

Alternative Treatments

In addition to lotions or antibiotics, hormonal treatments may be used in some cases. There are also a range of treatments available that have also recently become available through clinics and dermatologists.

· Chemical peels have been shown to have some impact on acne. Chemicals are applied to the skin to encourage existing old skin to peel away. New skin will replace this and blocked pores can be avoided.

· Blue light acne therapy is a relatively new treatment and is used by dermatologists in both the US and UK. This simple treatment involves simply exposing the skin to ‘blue light’. This spectrum of light is beneficial to the skin, does not contain harmful UV rays and, like other treatments, kills the bacteria responsible for acne. This treatment has been shown to have positive results in short periods and reduce the strength of future outbreaks. Home treatment blue light therapy systems are now also available which add to the ease and simplicity of this treatment.

Blue light acne treatment has been shown to have rapid and radical effects. Alongside good general skin care it can help to reduce the effects and recurrence of attacks.

Author Bio

Carlo actively blogs for Tria Beauty – one of the UK’s leading providers of professional, light-based skincare solutions for use at home.

Another New Summer Lip I'm Loving: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Gloss In New Lover

2012-06-01T14:38:00.003-06:00

I have another new favourite summer lip look at the moment and it's NARS Velvet Matte Lip Gloss Pencil in New Lover.

NARS New Lover is a pink with gold shimmer-I think the colour looks like NARS Orgasm Blush in a lip product.

What makes this a great summer shade is the gold shimmer in it-it just looks like summer sunshine on your lips! And the shade looks good on any skin tone too! Since this is a velvet matte gloss, it lasts like nobody's business on my lips. I get a good 4-5 hours of wear when wearing this and that's amazing for a gloss. It's smooth and pretty opaque for a gloss stick, and moisturizing too.

In fact, I was wearing NARS Velvet Matte Lip Gloss In New Lover at Disneyland this last week and here's a FOTD pic I took in our hotel room, so excuse the horrible yellowish lighting and the tired look(see there's my purple under eye circles I keep telling you about!) Walking around Disneyland all day really tuckers you out, but it's so worth it!

I'm wearing Shiseido SPF55 Face sunscreen and the Estee Lauder BB Cream SPF35,

Becca Cheek Tint in Grapefruit, some waterproof eyeliner and mascara and that's it.

I think NARS Velvet Matte Lip Glosses are amazing and I plan on picking up more of them. I adore these and think they are so worth it.

Happy Weekend Everyone! Got any fun plans? Me and my tired legs miss Disneyland haha!

Sephora Collection Pro Lesson Palette In Natural Eye

2012-06-01T10:00:00.000-06:00

Looking for an easy to use eye shadow palette that gives you step-by-step instructions on how to use it? Then you should check out the Sephora Collection Pro Lesson Palette In Natural Eye.

This is a great palette for someone just starting out with makeup because you get illustrated instructions for two looks: one for day and another for night. Nice, hey?

The left side of the palette contains matte shades in Universal Beige n°8, Light Taupe and Dark Cocoa. The right side or night shades contain shimmery shades in Golden Beige, Medium Brown and Dark Brown.

The kit also includes an eye pencil in Chocolate.

Even though the matte shades are all named brown shades and look brown in the palette, they swatch more grey and cool toned on me, which is great because I prefer them that way to be honest.

Natural Nude shades + chocolate eye pencil

Smoky Nude shades +eye pencil in chocolate

The matte side of the palette is ok-not the best mattes I've tried, but not really bad either. The Universal Beige n°8 is the best-it's a really great light beige or ivory that everyone needs in their collection. The matte shadows do need a bit of work to blend, but I find most mattes need some elbow grease to blend anyways, unless they are Inglot mattes.
This side of the palette gives a really nice eye look that's perfect for daytime:

Natural Nude look with chocolate eyeliner on top lash line

This is the Smokey Nude look:

Smokey Nude look with chocolate eyeliner on top and bottom lash line

This side of the palette is really great! The shadows are smooth, pigmented and blend really easily.

With a primer, these eye shadows lasted well with some fading happening at the 6 hour mark. Not bad I say, because I have oilier-than-thou eyelids, so if you have normal eyelids they will probably last a lot longer on you.

The chocolate eye pencil is fantastic-really smooth, pigmented and creamy. Sephora's eye pencils are really great ones if you've never tried them. They are inexpensive and most of them work really well.

All in all, the Sephora Collection Pro Lesson Palette In Natural Eye is a perfect palette for a teen just starting out with makeup, or for a friend that's new to makeup or needs some-how shall I put this-a little help in the application department if you know what I mean? It would also make a great travel palette as well, as you can create many looks with just this one palette.

What do you guys think? I'll tell you this: after using this palette I'm really loving matte eye shadows now! Mattes give a really nice, clean look I think. I was never a huge matte fan, but I now want to add more to my collection! I hardly have any matte shadows, and you know what that means:

I have a new quest or makeup mission! Mattes Away!

What are some of you favourite matte shadows?

Disclamer: I was sent this product to review by PR/Company. Love it or leave it, but my review and opinions are my own thoughts and words, thank you very much.

Would You Trade The Dior 5 Couleurs Croisette Edition Aurora Eye Palette For Cookies?

2012-05-31T10:00:00.003-06:00

My daughter Marky has bright red hair so she wears warmer shades of makeup all the time. Last month she bought the Dior 5 Couleurs Croisette Edition Aurora Eye Palette. Not being a huge Dior eyeshadow fan, I ignored it. Easy enough.

Until I coloured my hair. Since I changed my hair colour, I've been wearing warmer shades-shades I used to shy away from.

I stole her Dior Aurora eye palette the other day. I like it! Who knew!

The shades in the Dior 5 Couleurs Croisette Edition Aurora Eye Palette are very warm indeed-and then there's that pink shade. Pink? In a palette filled with golds and coppers and orange? I mean usually if there's a pink in a palette like this it's a warm, really bright pink like the Guerlain Écrin 4 Couleurs Eye Shadow Palette.

It just looks so out of place in there to me-like it doesn't belong. But they stuck it smack dab in the middle of the palette, which means that Dior wasn't kidding when they put that light pink in there. I'm guessing Dior doesn't kid a lot haha!
And they weren't, because this palette was named after The Promenade de la Croisette, a prominent road in Cannes, France. The Croisette is known for the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, where the Cannes Film Festival is held.

You can totally see the colour inspiration from this picture:

Note to self: Must visit The Promenade de la Croisette someday. Holy wow.

The shadows are shimmery, but not over the top. They are finely milled, pigmented and blend like a dream!

I put the orange shade all over the lid and took the gold shade into the crease and blended out. The brown is on my bottom lash line and that unexpected pink is my inner corner highlight.

My only gripe with this palette is that all of the shades are shimmery. It would have been nice to have the light peachy shade be a matte, as I'm not a huge shimmery brow highlighter kind of gal. I wish Dior would consider putting one matte in the 5 Couleurs palettes, but then again it's probably better that they don't because I'd be wanting to buy them all.

Dior 5 Couleurs Croisette Edition Aurora Eye Palette was an unexpected hit for me! But Marky found out that I stole it from her and repossessed it last week.

I'll get it back soon though. All it will take is a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies and that palette will be mine. Makeup and cookies are rough addictions to have I tell you, especially if you can't bake your own cookies.

Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick PK 417 Is The Perfect Summer Pink Lipstick

2012-05-30T10:00:00.000-06:00

As the weather gets warmer, I like my pink lipsticks to get warmer in tone too. Warmer and brighter is what summer is all about, right?

I've never tried a Shiseido lipstick, so on the last Shopper's Redemption Event I decided to get one, as I've heard only good things about them.

The packaging is a gorgeous gun metal, almost purple shade with a bit of heft to it-and it is flower shaped too! Kind of neat!

This is Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick PK 417. The tip has a concave shape to hug your lips. I love when a lipstick hugs my lips-especially when it's as moisturizing as this one is!

Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipstick PK 417 is a sunny warm pink with really fine gold shimmer. It's sheer, but has great pigmentation for a sheer lipstick. The formula is superb-smooth, lightweight yet creamy and really moisturizing! This is a lipstick made for us dry lipped gals. And it lasts really well too for a moisturizing lipstick too-I get a good 3 hours of wear before having to touch up, and as it fades it leaves a stain on my lips.

I don't know why I've never tried Shiseido lipsticks before. I'm really loving lipsticks that feel lighter and weightless as the weather gets warmer, and Shiseido Perfect Rouge Lipsticks fit the bill! More of these are on my list for sure!

Do you love warmer, brighter shades of lipstick as the weather gets warmer too? Tell me some of your faves!

My First Anna Sui Product! Anna Sui Lip Gloss #450

2012-05-29T10:00:00.001-06:00

For the last Shopper's Optimum Redemption Event, I decided to research what stores carried what brands first. I was getting a little tired of having to redeem for the same brands all the time. I've seen some Shopper's in Calgary that carry Urban Decay and L'Occitane products, so I wondered if there were any in my neck of the woods that carried those brands or at least something different.

I found one that carried Anna Sui products! SCORE! Something different to try!!

One of the products I decided to get was a lipgloss. Anna Sui has to have some of the most gorgeous packaging ever in cosmetic land. This stuff is seriously art. Take a look at it:

Anna Sui Lip Glosses come with a doe-foot applicator.

There are no names to Anna Sui colours, just numbers. This shade is #450, and it's an amazing blue based red.

Anna Sui Lip Gloss #450 is really pigmented for a lip gloss! It's a little sticky, but not too bad and is pretty moisturizing. It has a slight rose scent, as do most of her products apparently. I can barely detect it, but I also love rose scents as you know. It has great lasting power for a gloss too. On me I get a good 2 hours before it starts to fade, and it fades to a pretty stain. It can travel a bit, so a lip liner might be needed depending on how "old" your lips are. Mine are starting to get to that age where the more pigmented a gloss is, the more likely a lip liner is needed. Getting old sucks guys.

But that's okay, as the extra liner step is something I don't mind since this colour is just so pretty! When you're a beauty junkie, you do what ya' gotta do if you love it, right? Right!

I know some Sears stores (as well as Shopper's Drug Marts obviously) carry Anna Sui as well in case you are wondering if the brand is available in your neck of the woods. I've tried three products so far which I'll be showing you, and so far I really like the brand!

Have you tried anything from Anna Sui Cosmetics before?

Summer Lips With Lise Watier!

2012-05-28T11:14:00.000-06:00

Time to start thinking about summer lips! There's nothing like a fun summer lipstick to brighten your day, and the Lise Watier 2012 Summer Sunset Collection has two products to choose from.

First there's the Duo Glam Rouge Infini Rose Ombré Glam, which is a really cool lip stain/lipstick combo.

On one side you have the lip stain which you put on first, and then the lipstick to top it off.

The lip stain is a really pretty rosy pink with some shimmer, and the lipstick is a paler rose. They pair wonderfully together.

just the lipstain

lipstain+lipstick

The Duo Glam Rouge Infini Rose Ombré Glam combo is supposed to last 8 hours and it might, but honestly it's way too drying for my lips to use together. I actually find the lipstick more drying than the lip stain, and I find the two together don't seem to mesh well, which is kind of weird since they were designed to. I do like the lip stain though-my lips tend to eat off lipstick so a lip stain really helps lipstick wear better on me, and the colour is pretty!

The next summer lip product is the Lise Watier Crystal Drops in Tangerine. There's also a fun bright pink shade called Dragon Fruit, and you can see swatches of it on Beautezine.

This is a jelly lip gloss and smells fruity, but not over powering at all. It's a grown up gloss and I really love it!

What I love about it is that it's not sticky at all and is really moisturizing. The colour payoff is rather sheer, but you can see a hint of colour on your lips when wearing it. This is a great way to wear orange on your lips and be on trend if you are scared of orange on your lips. It's a perfect gloss to use to top of a lipstick in the summer too, especially if your lipstick is rather drying.

I actually like wearing the Lise Watier Crystal Drops in Tangerine on top of the lip stain from the Duo Glam Rouge Infini Rose Ombré Glam like in the above photo. The combination lasts a few hours and is moisturizing too. Win, win!

You can find Lise Watier at Shopper's Drug Marts and online as well at www.lisewatier.com .

Disclamer: I was sent this product to review by PR/Company. Love it or leave it, but my review and opinions are my own thoughts and words, thank you very much.

The Style Glossy: The Key To Eye Health-Sunglasses

2012-05-27T11:00:00.000-06:00

As you know I am in California at the moment, and boy sunglasses are a necessity here I tell you! So I thought I'd share some tips on why they are so important.

The Style Glossy: Dressing Room

The Key to Eye Health: Sunglasses

By Shelley Levitt for The Style Glossy

Jennifer Lopez and Fergie are rocking Tom Ford aviator-style sunglasses. Jessica Alba and Julianne Moore sport square gold-tone frames from Chloe. And Jessica Simpson can be spotted running errands in oversized titanium frames from the vintage-inspired Dita Eyewear line.
Celebrities can offer inspiration on the season’s coolest sunglasses styles. And if you identify a star whose face shape is similar to yours -- an oval Julia Roberts, say, or a heart-shaped Reese Witherspoon -- you can glean suggestions on which shades might flatter your own face.
UV Damage and Your Eyes
Sunglasses are an essential tool in protecting your vision. Studies show that exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can harm the lens and cornea of the eye, leading to problems -- like cataracts and macular degeneration -- that can impair vision. And the thin skin around the eye and the eyelid itself are especially vulnerable to skin cancer and to sun-induced signs of aging. Dr. Gail Royal, an ophthalmologist, admits that she sometimes appeals to her patients’ vanity when she discusses the importance of proper sunglasses use. “I’ll point out that sunglasses will protect not just against basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas and melanoma,” she says, “but also against the formation of wrinkles like crow’s-feet and the unsightly thickening of the skin that can sometimes be caused by UV exposure.”
Here’s how to choose a pair of sunglasses that will safeguard your eyes.
Look for Complete UV Protection
Whether you spend $200 for a pair of designer sunglasses or buy one off the drugstore rack for $20, both can do an equally good job of blocking harmful ultraviolet rays. Look for a label or sticker that says the lenses block 99 or 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses with full protection might also say something like, “UV 400 protection.” Sunglass boutiques sometimes remove these labels or stickers for a more attractive display. Chances are, the shades provide full UV protection; just be sure to ask.
Colour Counts If You’re Behind the Wheel
It may seem logical that a darker lens would do a better job of blocking the sun’s harmful rays than a lighter lens, but that turns out not to be the case. The coating that blocks UV radiation is clear, so shades of any hue are equally effective at filtering those rays. Yellow- or rose-tinted lenses can, however, make it difficult to distinguish changes in traffic lights. Gray, green and brown lenses minimize colour distortion.
Focus on Fit
To block the light that hits your eye from the sides, choose wraparound frames. Your next best bet? Sunglasses with large lenses and wide temples. Whatever the style, frames should fit snugly on your nose and ears without pinching or rubbing, but not so close that your eyelashes hit the lens.
Choose Polarized Lenses If You Water-Ski, Surf or Fish
Polarized lenses reduce glare by filtering out the reflected light that bounces off water. Polarization, however, has nothing to do with UV light absorption, so check the label to make sure they provide maximum UV protection. Keep in mind that when you’re wearing polarized lenses, it may be difficult to read your cell phone, GPS device or a liquid-crystal display on a dashboard or an ATM machine.
Make Sunglasses a Daily Habit
Like sunscreen, sunglasses should be worn whenever you’re outdoors, year-round. “Just as we’ve learned that you can get a really nasty sunburn on an overcast, hazy day,” says Royal, “you’re exposing your eyes to damaging UV rays on these days too.” So, keep a pair of sunglasses in your purse, along with a small tube of sunblock and your favourite new coral, peach or pink lip gloss.

Shelley Levitt is the managing editor of The Style Glossy.

Beauty Confessions #15: What's Your Bad Beauty Habit?

2012-05-26T12:00:00.000-06:00

Bad Habits. We all have them. Nobody is perfect!

And when it comes to beauty, makeup, etc., there are A LOT of bad habits that some of us do, even though we KNOW they are bad, bad, bad. And more bad.

So, I figured it would be fun for us to fess up! Right? Right?

So, what's Tracy's Bad Beauty Habit?

Image from realbeauty.com

I pop. Not all zits mind you. I'm not totally nuts-just a bit squirrelly! Ok, maybe more than a bit. But I only do it to the ones that really hurt and are begging for it. I know, I know- you're not supposed to do that! But sometimes it just feels so much better when you pop, right? And what if it goes all Bill Murray/Osmosis Jones on me and explodes in public? Shudder. And besides, why am I still getting spots at MY age? Sigh.

I do try to be gentle and use one of these extractors so I don't do too much damage:

To help take of any scarring I use my Luminaze pigment corrector, or the Clinique Clinical Dark Spot corrector. Both of those work really well to correct the evidence left by my bad habit.

Ok, it's your turn! I can't be the only one with a bad beauty habit here.

Or can I? Please prove me wrong. Please.

Do you have a bad beauty habit?

Lise Watier Summer Sunset Eau de Toilette-Sunshine In A Bottle

2012-05-25T10:00:00.001-06:00

Lise Watier Summer Sunset Eau de Toilette is a limited edition fragrance that smells just like a warm, sunny, summer day to me: sunshine in a bottle!

The bottle is so cute and has the stripes of the makeup cases in the Summer Sunset Collection.

Here's the fragrance description from the website:
Top Notes: grapefruit blossoms, bergamot and luxurious red fruit
Middle Notes: jasmine, lily of the valley, honeysuckle and apple
The bottom notes are woody and musky.

I'm not a fan of really fruity fragrances, and luckily this one is more flowery than fruity on me. I can smell the grapefruit strongly at first, but that's ok because I like grapefruit a lot. I love eating them too. In fact when I was pregnant I craved grapefruit often and on those days I'd eat four of them. Yup-four of them. Yummmmmm! Grapefruit in fragrances smells fresh and clean to me and I like it in my summer scents.

After the grapefruit fades, Summer Sunset Eau de Toilette then turns into a lovely, sunny bouquet of flowers on me and pretty much stays that way until it fades about 4 hours later.

Lise Watier Summer Sunset Eau de Toilette is limited edition and will only be available this summer, so if this sounds like something you'd enjoy then head on over to Shopper's Drug Mart or wherever Lise Watier is sold and try it out! I mean, who wouldn't enjoy their own bit of sunshine in a bottle? Maybe a vampire wouldn't, but I don't think any of you are one of those. Right? :P

My Disneyland Nails: Sinful Colors Cinderella

2012-05-24T10:00:00.000-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, fellow Lipstick Bandit and Disney geek Danielle of Bloomin' Beauty was nice enough to help out my Burberry Makeup addiction and bought me a Burberry Summer Glow Face Powder. In the package, she sent me two surprises: a Tarte LipSurgence in Swanky, and this Sinful Colors Nail Polish in Cinderella.

Thank you so much Danielle!! You have the heart(and the gorgeous looks) of a Disney Princess!

It's so darn cute! A pale light blue with pink shimmer in it-so Disney Princess, but in a grown up kind of way as the shimmer is really fine and oh so pretty. I couldn't get the camera to pick up the shimmer very well, but it's there! And I am wearing it on my fingers and feeling very Disney Princess myself as I walk around Disneyland. Yes! Disneyland!! I am here!

If I see Cinderella, I'll be sure to show her my nails. I think she will like them! And I'll give her a hug from Danielle and me too. :)

Who's your favourite Disney Princess?

Smashbox Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadow Goes The Distance

2012-05-23T10:00:00.000-06:00

I love me a good cream eyeshadow, but it has to be able to meet my standards. I want it to be easy to blend out, be pigmented, and to last on my oily lids without creasing for more than 2 hours. That's not too much to ask for, right?

IN other words, I want my cream eye shadows to be able to go the distance, like Hercules:

Warning: Don't play that video if you cry easily. That song always gets me. ;)

Well, Smashbox has done it! They've come out with a cream shadow that goes the distance for me: Smashbox Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadow. It comes in eight gorgeous shades, but my eye was drawn to what else-the taupe shade called Gemstone. I tried to resist, I really did. I had the Sapphire shade in my hand, but that taupe addiction of mine is just too strong. I tell you this though: I am so going back for Sapphire because these are amazing!

Smashbox Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadow in Gemstone is a mauvey taupe which is my favourite kind of taupe. It has a bit of sliver glitter in it, but doesn't feel gritty.They are transfer, sweat, and humidity- resistant. The texture is really smooth and creamy much like the Benefit Creaseless Creams, and blends just as easily before it sets. It lasts all day on my oily eye lids even without a primer. I wore it on my last trip to Calgary and it was on my lids from 12:00 pm until I took it off at around 2:00 am. It goes the distance for sure!

I might get a lot of flack about this because I know a lot of people really love the Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream eye shadows, but the only one that I like is the Tough as Taupe shade. Honestly though, it doesn't last on my lids as long as this Smashbox one does. This also is smoother and easier to blend than Tough As Taupe. Also, the Maybelline ones that contain glitter I don't like at all. I find the glitter really gritty and it falls onto my face as the day goes by-the glitter in Gemstone is much finer and it stays put like glitter should.

Yup, for me this is a great cream eyeshadow. I am definitely going to get the Sapphire one. I seem to be craving navy lately, which isn't exactly a summer colour now, is it? Yup, story of my life. I never did pay attention to makeup rules anyways.

What's your favourite cream eyeshadow?

Deep Thoughts By Tracy: I'm A Beauty Product Freak Magnet

2012-05-22T09:55:00.000-06:00

Do you have one of those friends or family members that really weird stuff always happens to? My brother always has weird things happening to him. He's a freak magnet I tell ya'.

Well, I think I'm a beauty product freak magnet.

The other day, I pulled out my Ellis Faas Creamy Eyes to use as a base. I do love them because they really stay put on my oily lids. If you have one of these, you know it has a brush applicator and you twist up the product from the other end to dispense the cream into the brush applicator. I'm not a fan of the brush applicator, so when I twist up product, I brush it onto the back of my hand and then use a synthetic brush to apply the cream shadow onto my lid. As I twisted, something shiny caught my eye. And this small piece of metal popped out like a prairie gopher and stared at me and said: Why hello there beauty product freak magnet! I've been waiting to meet you!

WHY do these things always happen to me?

I'm kind of glad I didn't use the brush applicator straight onto my eye I tell ya. Knowing my luck I would have scratched my lid.

Maybe I'm meant to be the one that these freaky things happen to. Maybe this is my super power and these products seek me out, so that I can warn all of you about these sometimes dangerous happenstances.

Done.

NIP+FAB Giveaway Winner Announcement!

2012-05-22T08:00:00.000-06:00

The winner of the NIP+FAB Giveaway is:

HAPPY CHINADOLL!!

Yay!! Congratulations!!!

I've sent you an email so check your inbox!!

Thanks to everyone for entering and stay tuned for another great giveaway pretty soon!!

Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial Smells Like A Bed Of Roses!

2012-05-21T12:30:00.000-06:00

I don't know if you've noticed, but Korres has a new face cream and BOY DOES IT SMELL GOOD!

Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial is an overnight facial cream made to treat uneven skintone and dark spots for a brighter, more luminous complexion. It contains the Korres Phos Compound which is a proprietary blend including a brightening agent and stabilized vitamin C. Korres claims that after only 14 days you'll see skin that's brighter, more even-toned, and exceptionally radiant.

It contains 95 percent natural content and is suitable for all skin types:
Water (Eau), Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Triheptanoin, Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Glyceryl Stearate, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Lecithin, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax Polyglyceryl–3 Esters, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance (Parfum), Distarch Phosphate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane, Galactoarabinan, Xanthan Gum, Rosa Canina Flower Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates/C10–30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Sodium Gluceptate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder.

Wild Rose Oil is the star ingredient and it evens out skin tone, repairs fine lines, moistruizes, heals and softens skin while improving its texture. Also in there is Stabilized Vitamin C to brighten and help fade any hyperpigmentation.

The cream has a really cool texture-almost like whipped butter and it easily absorbs into the skin. You need very little so don't pile it on. But the best part is that IT SMELLS LIKE REAL ROSES IN A FLOWER GARDEN. I love the smell so much! It really lingers too which is great for me because I love it, but if you are sensitive to fragrances then this cream will probably bother you. Me-I keep sniffing my hands and I can still smell it on my face and it feels like I'm sleeping in a bed of roses! Man, I wish they'd make a body cream that smells like this! It's amazing!

Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial is pretty rich, even for my normal/dry skin. If I use it every night it tends to break me out a little, so I use it every other night and that works. My skin looks glowy and bright in the morning when I wake up and it seems to be helping to brighten it up. I love it and will continue to use it in my skin care regime.

You can find Korres at Sephora, Murale and at most Shopper's Drug Marts. Highly recommended!

Disclamer: I was sent this product to review by PR/Company. Love it or leave it, but my review and opinions are my own thoughts and words, thank you very much.

Annabelle Aqua Queen Summer 2012 Collection Hits Stores With A Biggy Splash Of Summer Colour!

2012-05-21T10:00:00.001-06:00

The Annabelle Aqua Queen Summer 2012 Collection is about to hit Canadian drugstores with a huge splash of colour!

The Biggy Bronzing Powder in Caribbean Sun is BIG. I get why it's called Biggy.

Here's a biggy close-up:

Five shimmery shades combine to give a sunny glow, but Caribbean Sun is biggy enough that you can dip your brush in whatever shades you love the most.

Swatched together you get a rosy, bronze shade. It's not hugely pigmented, which is good in this case since it is a shimmery bronzer. The more shimmery a bronzer is, the less pigmented I like it to be so that I can build up the shimmer intensity I choose. Does that make sense?

The Hawaiian Hues Eyeshadow Palette contains ten eyeshadows. I'd call that a biggy palette too.

The black shadow is matte, and the others range in shimmer quantity. No glitter though, just shimmer!

Some shades have great pigmentation, while others are just ok. The two purples are rather light in pigmentation as is the bright turquoise teal, but they are still useable. The best shades are the coppers and that shimmery teal-really smooth and great to use. The more shimmery the shade is, the better the pigmentation and the easier it is to blend.

Both have a suggested retail price of $12.95 CAN, which won't make a biggy dent in your wallet!

You should be able to find the Annabelle Aqua Queen Summer 2012 Collection in stores pretty soon! And it's limited edition, so you'd better hurry or you'll be biggy sad.

Ok, ok-that last use of biggy didn't work. But I think I should win some kind of award, no? Maybe a biggy award?

That was the last one. I promise. Cross my biggy heart. :)

Disclamer: I was sent this product to review by PR/Company. Love it or leave it, but my review and opinions are my own thoughts and words, thank you very much.

Life & Beauty Weekly: The Best Allergy-busting Foods

2012-05-20T12:00:00.000-06:00

Life & Beauty Weekly: Healthy You

The Best Allergy-busting Foods

By Dominique Andrews for Life & Beauty Weekly

If you’re among the millions of people who suffer from allergies, you know that relieving symptoms can be tricky and frustrating. You may think you’ve looked everywhere for relief, but have you tried your refrigerator?
An allergy is your body’s reaction to something you’ve eaten, touched or inhaled that it doesn’t like. To protect you, your immune system releases chemicals called histamines. The trouble is, these substances cause inflammation and lead to the coughing, sneezing and itchy eyes that can annoy you for days or weeks. Fortunately, eating the right foods can help you put up a good fight naturally.
“A person suffering from allergies can also experience gas, bloating, diarrhoea, sinus congestion, headaches and eczema,” says Nancy Metcalf, a registered holistic allergist and nutritionist at Nutrition & Allergy Solutions in Bowmanville, Ontario. “Raw foods have enzymes that help with digestion and inflammation, which is part of the allergic response,” Metcalf says. Try these heavy hitters to help you eat your way to allergy relief:
Yogurt
Yogurt regulates your immune system and keeps it stress-free. It contains probiotics (good bacteria), which “are important to help balance the gut flora and to help digestion,” says Metcalf. Studies show that probiotics have the potential to alleviate allergy symptoms such as eczema. Have a cup of fat-free or low-fat yogurt in the morning. If you can’t tolerate dairy products, Metcalf says you can get the same benefits from foods such as kefir, since the fermentation process pre-digests the proteins. Probiotics can also be found in a supplement form.
Sweet Bell Peppers
Vitamin C plays a crucial role in stimulating the immune system. It can also help reduce inflammation and lower the production of histamine, which causes allergy symptoms like watery eyes. But you don’t need to head for the fruit stand if you want to up your intake of this allergy-fighting vitamin -- pick peppers instead. Red and yellow varieties contain more than twice as much of the antioxidant as oranges and strawberries. For an easy way to incorporate these in your diet, try putting some pepper halves on the grill at your next barbecue.
Salmon
Omega-3 fatty acids are widely known for improving heart health, and Metcalf says that because omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties, they’re also an important nutrient for the skin and can help with conditions like eczema. Studies have shown that increased intake of omega-3s reduces rates of hay fever. Salmon is an excellent source of the essential acid. It’s also one of the best sources of vitamin D, which, because of its anti-inflammatory properties, can help lessen allergy symptoms, Metcalf says. One study even linked the onset of allergies in children to low vitamin D levels.
Spinach
Popeye had the right idea: Spinach is an allergy-fighting powerhouse. It contains a special combination of antioxidants, such as quercetin, that boost its anti-inflammatory value to unique levels. It also has high levels of zinc, which has been shown in studies to help combat allergies as well as asthma. Plus, it’s a good vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids. Try a spinach salad with peppers for lunch.
Cherries
Indulge in luscious cherries this summer: Plant pigments called anthocyanins are what give cherries their deep red colour, and they can also give you relief. A study in The Journal of Nutrition found that eating cherries daily may significantly reduce inflammation, which in turn can reduce allergy-related pain and discomfort. If you can’t find fresh cherries, look for frozen or dried varieties, or try cherry juice.

Beauty Blog Link Love 05/19/20

2012-05-19T10:16:00.005-06:00

K from Beautifully Addicted To gets in the mood for spring/summer with L'Oreal Color Riche Nail Polish in French Riviera.

Gratuitous puppy pics ahead! Check out Krasey Beauty's review of what's new from Scope!

Jenn from Spiced beauty helps you prep your underarms for Summer! (I promise, it's not as awkward as it sounds.)

Want a walk on the womanly wild side? Addicted to Beauty wonders if having a fox fur bikini wax is the way to go.

Love nails? Then you'll want to check out the latest trends from Nails Inc. Check out Hellcandy's post for a sneak peek at the latest and upcoming collections here.

Brace yourselves for a giveaway everyday in June 2012 hosted by Handmade Reviews.

It's that time of year again.
Beauty Info Zone has the tanning bases covered with Supergoop. Whether you want self-tanning or a new kind of SPF, you can learn about it on Beauty Info Zone.

Jenny has you covered for next Halloween with this spooky Ghost of Marie Antoinette FOTD at My Funny Valentine blog.

Mac's summer collection Hey Sailor is about to be released in the US, but it's been out in Europe for a while, so head over to Pleasureflush to check out what Anita has hauled from the collection by clicking here and here.

Miss Beauty Nerd hosts a spa party sponsored by Biore to test out their new skincare for combination skin. Cupcakes, facials and manicures... what more could a girl ask for?

Looking for the perfect pink for summer? Amy Antoinette reviews the beautiful new YSL La Laque Couture Rose Futuriste.

Makeup, Beauty and More reviews and swatches the butter LONDON Spring/Summer 2012 collection!

--- Do you like spring and the pretty things that come with it? Head over to Makeup Morsels for a chance to win 2 beautiful Senna blushes from the new Mod Muse collection.

Lise Watier Havana All Over Baked Bronzer Glows!

2012-05-18T10:00:00.000-06:00

The Lise Watier Summer 2012 Collection is all about bronzer and products that give you a bronze glow without the sun.

I have to say, as much I love my pale skin, I am loving walking around all tanned and glowy!

And the Lise Watier bronzer that is giving me that tanned glowy look is the Havana Baked Bronzer:

This is one big bronzer! With varying shades of bronze and gold and some fuchsia and light pink veining, the Lise Watier Havana All Over Baked Bronzer can be used on the body and face to give a really gorgeous look that reflects the light. This baby makes you glow!

This is more pigmented and more orange based on my skin than the Summer Sunset Bronzing Powder I showed you the other day, yet I can still use it to achieve a bronzed look.

Havana All Over Baked Bronzer, Sunset Bronzing Powder

The Lise Watier Havana All Over Baked Bronzer is smooth and blends really easily. The texture feels soft and buttery-really lovely!
It gives a really pretty all over tanned look when used with a big fluffy brush, and gives a really pretty bronze flush on the cheeks. I also used it as my eyeshadow and it works great!

Lise Watier Havana Baked Bronzer is the way to go if you want a really versatile bronzer you can use anywhere on your body. This is a bronzer that does it all!

Check it out at Shopper's Drug Mart, Murale and online at www.lisewatier.com.

Disclamer: I was sent this product to review by PR/Company. Love it or leave it, but my review and opinions are my own thoughts and words, thank you very much.

Lise Watier Crayon Jumbo Long Lasting Waterproof Eye Light Shadows Return For Summer!

2012-05-17T11:11:00.001-06:00

I don't know where I was last time the Lise Watier Crayon Jumbo Long Lasting Waterproof Eye Light Shadows were released, but I must have been out of the country. Had to be. Otherwise, I'd have to kick myself in the butt (just need to get the angle right) for missing out on them!

Back by popular demand, the Lise Watier Crayon Jumbo Long Lasting Waterproof Eye Light Shadows return in three gorgeous pearly shades for summer with the Summer Sunset Collection.

The one I've been loving is Peche Melba.

Peche Melba is a pearly peachy shade that glows!

And yup, it's definitely waterproof. I dunked my arm swatch under the tap and rubbed.
I do that to every waterproof claiming product. Make that claim, and I say challenge accepted!

See! Still there!

And it's creamy and blends like a dream! You know how most cream eyeshadow crayons set in like 5 seconds making it nearly impossible to blend out nicely? Not these Lise Watier Crayon! They are super creamy, so they are quite blendable for a decent amount of time so you don't have to blend at the speed of light. Which is good because lately I can't seem to move faster than turtle speed. Ok, maybe a bit faster than turtle. Maybe sloth speed. Wait-that's worse, right? What the heck is just a bit faster than a turtle? Anybody?

Anyways, here's how it looks on the eye:

With just mascara, it makes a lovely, easy every day eye look!

I find my finger works best to blend it out and on my oily eye lids, these actually last really well! I get easily 8 hours of wear without a primer, and it makes a great base for eyeshadows as well. In fact, I used it as the base for all of the eye looks I created using the Lise Watier Tropical Eye Palette.

I seriously love this Lise Watier Crayon Jumbo Long Lasting Waterproof Eye Light Shadow and will be picking up the other two shades Moonlight-a light lilac pink, and Sunshine-a light pearly gold. These are so good and well worth the $19 CAN. Find one at your local Lise Watier Counter at Shopper's Drug Mart, Murale and at www.lisewatier.com.

Disclamer: I was sent this product to review by PR/Company. Love it or leave it, but my review and opinions are my own thoughts and words, thank you very much.

Beauty Reflections Made A Top 10 Canadian Beauty Blog List

2012-05-17T10:30:00.000-06:00

Guys! I am so excited about this!!!

She Knows Canada has included Beauty Reflections in their Top 10 Canadian Beauty and Fashion Bloggers List!! My blog!! I can't believe it! So awesome I can't even speak!

You can see the article here!

Lise Watier Summer 2012-Summer Sunset Bronzing Powder Warms Up Cheeks For Summer

2012-05-16T13:00:00.000-06:00

Another limited edition product in the Lise Watier Summer Sunset Collection is the gorgeous Summer Sunset Bronzing Powder. It also comes in the same cute, colourful little purse clutch packaging as the Tropical Eyeshadow Palette I showed you earlier today.

Except this time the insides are different, but just as gorgeous!

The Lise Watier Summer Sunset Powder consists of five gorgeous shades including a champagne, a peach, a bright pink and two shades of bronze, one darker and one lighter. They blend together to give a gorgeous bronze glow on your face.

The powder glides on like silk and is buildable and feels so nice on. I like to swirl my brush in all the shades and apply that on my cheeks and forehead and jawline using the number three sweeping motion that I love using when applying bronzer. I then take my brush and squeeze the bristles together and just pick up the peach and pink shades and then apply them to my apples. Bronze + peach perfection!

wearing the Lise Watier Tropical Eye shadow Palette and
the Summer Sunset Bronzing Powder on the cheekz

Lise Watier has another great collection with Summer Sunset and it's available right now at Shopper's Drug Mart, Murale, and online at www.lisewatier.com . Check it out!

Disclamer: I was sent this product to review by PR/Company. Love it or leave it, but my review and opinions are my own thoughts and words, thank you very much.

Lise Watier Summer 2012 Summer Sunset Tropical Eyeshadow Palette Warms Up My Summer!

2012-05-16T10:00:00.000-06:00

Lise Watier has done it again! The new Summer 2012 Collection is called Summer Sunset and all of it is gorgeous!

Lise Watier's packaging is always so gorgeous and the summer collection is no exception. The Tropical Eyeshadow Palette comes in a little, colourful purse-like clutch that you can actually remove the eyeshadows from and use a wallet. Isn't that sweet?

As cute as the outside is, the inside is what counts, right?

Inside you'll find 5 strips of Lise Watier's long-wearing eyeshadows.

I'll admit when I opened up the Tropical Palette that it struck me as a rather odd selection of shades for a summer palette, but trust me this really works! I love how Lise Watier thinks outside of the box when they pick shades for their collections. The leafy green shade shimmers with gold and the dark brown gets warmed up with some red shimmer. The plummy burgundy is my FAVOURITE shade and pairs well the the peachy gold colour. The pale ivory is the least pigmented which is fine with me as it's a highlight shade and I like shimmery highlights to be subtle anyways. The other palette in the Summer Sunset Collection is cool toned with blues and purples and is called Paradis. You can see a review of it on BEAUTEZINE.

Honestly, when I swatched these shades I was a bit worried. They didn't feel as smooth and creamy as the Lise Wateir Spring 2012 Aquarella shadows were, and not as pigmented either. I thought they were going to be hard to work with, as they are a bit harder of a texture as opposed to other Lise Watier shadows I've tried as well.

Boy was I wrong. Again. I don't know why I ever doubt Lise Watier, as they always knock it out of the ballpark in my opinion! My eyeshadow brush has no problem picking up pigment and depositing it onto my lid at all. I get gorgeous, rich colour that blends like silky smooth goodness with absolutely no fallout whatsoever.

Here's a few looks I've worn this week using the Lise Watier Tropical Palette:

First just the plummy burgundy all over my lid and bottom lash line with the peachy gold in the inner eye:

Next. the plummy burgundy on the lid, the warm brown in the outer v and crease, the green on the bottom lash line:

The green all over the lid and blended into the crease, the peachy gold over the crease and the plummy brown as liner on the top and bottom lash line:

And my favourite, the plummy burgundy all over the lid blended out into the crease and on the bottom lash line, and a green liner on my waterline(I used Urban Decay Covet):

The Lise Watier Tropical Palette couldn't have come at a more perfect time for me. Since I've changed my hair colour, I'm noticing that I need to warm up my makeup a bit so this has been a godsend for me. I love it and have been wearing it every day since I got it last week.

Stay tuned as I'll be showing you more Lise Watier Summer 2012 Summer Sunset goodies!

You can find the Lise Watier Tropical Eyeshadow palette at Shopper's Drug Mart, Murale, and of course at www.lisewatier.com .

Disclamer: I was sent this product to review by PR/Company. Love it or leave it, but my review and opinions are my own thoughts and words, thank you very much.