We need more after-work shindigs sprinkled throughout the year, I’m thinking. How about a monthly After-Work-Party Day?
A shimmering anticipation hovers in the cubicle air when there’s an after-five fête to look forward to. We catch up with chummy co-workers, enjoy a delightful drink or two (non-alcohlic or not), nibble tasty snacks, enjoy a meal we didn’t have to cook or clean up after, join in some laughs, maybe some dancing…
And we have an opportunity to fancy up some, wear something a little out-of-the-office, and really highlight our best features with a drama boost. Emphasize pretty eyes with liner, softlight cheekbones with a warm glow, play up lips with colour…
Here, let makeup pros Paul Venoit, Chase Aston and Carmindy tell you how to put on the beauty glitz in minutes so you can get out there and enjoy your evenings.
Image courtesy of Clinique, featuring the Clinique Blackberry Bloom Holiday collection.
Nuts Crème de Parfum is a different name for a line of fragrances, yes? Don’t let the name stop you. Nuts is a range of little pots of travel-friendly solid scents formulated with natural and organic ingredients in a moisturizing base of sweet almond oil and beeswax.
About half the collection is all-natural and certified organic (they include the above from left: Organic Vanilla Rêve, Organic Rose de Rosée and Organic Forest Terre), and the jars are made from Canadian birch. When creating the scents, The Cream Perfume Company looked to the expertise of international perfumers and artisans in Grasse, France.
I’m partial to Mimosa Bouquet, a light, pretty floral with notes of orange blossom, mimosa, gardenia and musk. It’s not from Premium Organic part of the line, but I don’t mind. I like it. At least 80% natural, the scents that aren’t marked organic are still made with pure essential and fragrance oils in the base blend of sweet almond oil and beeswax.
The line makes me think of an easy, yoga-riffic lifestyle, cheerful weekend brunches and clear, sunny mornings. What’s nuts about that?
Each solid perfume retails at $20. The line is available in natural health stores across Canada, and at Kaponga.com in the US.
Images courtesy of The Cream Perfume Company.
Want something Colin and Justin have laid hands on? (Okay, so they’re not quite Canadian, but we love ’em — let’s just adopt ’em.) The devilish design duo was among the crew of Canadian personalities who stopped by the Kiehl’s Queen St. W store in Toronto yesterday to participate in a World AIDS Day show of support. Along with folks such as recording artist Sarah Slean, “eTalk” co-host Ben Mulroney, “Canadian Idol” judge Jake Gold, “Corner Gas” actor Tara Spencer-Nairn, and several members of the “Degrassi” cast, Colin and Justin each autographed an oversize quilt square and made their mark with red-painted hands.
Part of a global campaign to benefit AIDS research, the quilt square will be incorporated in a larger “Kiehl’s Commitment to Community” quilt sewn by New York fashion designer Derek Lam. The finished piece will be auctioned off to raise funds for Youth AIDS.
While you wait for your quilt, pick up a limited-edition Lip Balm #1 ($8) for yourself and include one in a Kiehl’s holiday gift box for… okay, yourself. From each red-ribbon balm sale in Canada, $1 will be donated to the Canadian AIDS society. It’s another way you can have a hand in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Plus, Balm #1 is aces at hydrating and protecting winter-pained lips (Balm SPF 15 is too).
Years ago I decided I wanted to be in all my photos with my pals so some kind orderly can eventually show doddering, 94-year-old me that at one point I had friends. I’m not good at asking for help, so instead of having other people point and shoot for me, I started taking them myself — and fell in love with the composition. For some reason, most folks stand 20 feet (6 metres) away when they’re taking pictures of people. Unless I’m stalking you or are keen to record what you’re wearing, I’m all about clear shots of shining eyes and big, happy smiles.
Thanks to Facebook (and press interviews in which I disconcert many by insisting on taking my own shots), for better or worse I seem to have become known for such photos. In fact, I’m often asked how I get them to turn out so surprisingly well. Here’s how:
1) Stand next to your subject, heads as close together as possible so the camera doesn’t split its focus or focus on some random object behind and between your heads.
2) Hold the camera in one hand, trigger finger positioned to depress the button, and extend your arm out, somewhat elevated, and angled toward what might be the centre point between you and your pal. I’m right handed, so I hold my camera upside down with my thumb on the snap button; doesn’t matter that the flash is thus “upside down” too.
3) Do not lean away from the camera — you’ll give you and your pal double chins. Bad. Instead stand straight and look up at the camera mostly with your eyes rather than tilt your face way up, or both of you should lean forward a bit, chins slightly out and down.
4) Wait until you hear your camera’s yep-I’m-focussed beep before pressing the button.
5) Take several shots — people are surprisingly patient when they understand you really want them to look fabulous in your photos. (It’s okay to care how you look, too — I have the dorkiest bangs in these photos, and it pains me some that I didn’t think to check ’em.)
I’m tickled that I have actual how-to photos to show you. At a recent shindig, my dear friend Alexis thought it would be fun to take shots of me taking my own shots with friends Tammy and Jacq. Thanks, Alexis — you were right! Fun!
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My friend Lesa Hannah, Beauty Editor at Fashion Magazine, is a kindred spirit. Our conversations are littered with beauty references, industry news, and geek-outs about fave stuff new and old. We talk about other things too, such as our same-recipe-different-chefs heritage (our mums are Toishan Chinese and our fathers are Brits), her beautiful daughter Isla and my beautiful nieces Erin and Lauren, our admirenvy over the word prowess of clever beauty writers (we love Lucky mag’s Jean Godfrey June), and earnest look-yer-best fixits we want to prescribe for folks in need…. Uh, yeah, we’re both beauty obsessed, so much so that Lesa’s husband, John, laughs at how much of our girlie chat is beautybeautybeauty.
One of the things I love about Lesa is her sometimes hilarious beauty tough-love approach. I’d give you an example, but she’ll tell you herself in her regular Beauty Closet Confidential blog at FashionMagazine.com. In her first official post, she talks good brow at the spiffy new Benefit Brow Bar at Holt Renfrew in Toronto. Click on over to enjoy a browse.
Image courtesy of Benefit Cosmetics.
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F is for Fragrance: Sniff Out Holiday Fragrance Deals
28 November 08
She begged and begged, so again I let the staff write a headline. Sniff? Oy. Let’s move on.
Seriously, this is the best time of year to stock up on your fave scents. Gifts with purchase, neat-o gift sets and brilliant pricing that in essence means you’re getting accompanying fragranced shower gels and lotions free… who needs Santa?
Calvin Klein Secret Obsession, Prada Intense, Harajuku Lovers, Vera Wang Princess and Daisy Marc Jacobs are available in Canada at Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora stores and department stores, and in the US at Sephora and department stores.
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Take the Waters: VitaminWater for Busybusybusy Times
27 November 08
Used to be the answer to “how are you” was “great,” or the more low-key Canadian “okay, thanks.” Ask the question these days and the answer is “crazed,” “insanely busy,” and “omigodoverwhelmedwhyareyouwastingtimewithstupidquestions.”
It’s a good time to try glacéau VitaminWater. I first heard of it when my friend Laura wondered how much I could bring back in my overnight case when I was heading to NYC on a press jaunt. I was no help to her, but that’s water under the bridge now that it’s crossed the border.
The range includes vitamin-infused flavours formulated to boost healing, immune support and tranquility. I’m no nutritionist (sheesh), so I can’t speak to how effective they are. Apparently, each 591 mL VW bottle contains 26 g of sugar/carbs, 40 to 100 percent of the daily recommended Vitamin C intake, and 20 to 40 percent of the daily recommended b vitamins. And they all contain electrolytes, which I don’t yet fully understand (hydration boosters?). Hit vitaminwatercanada.ca for details.
I first tried the stuff in the haze of navigating a new career lifestyle sans standard schedule. The kiwi-strawberry “Focus” actually seemed to help on mornings that arrived before I could get to the sleep part of the previous day. (I don’t love berry-esque drinks, but VW flavours are refreshingly light.) Of course it could all be about the power of the jaunty suggestion, but I still choose VW over a 250 mL glass of orange juice, which contains 23g of sugar. And in these omigodcrazed days, I’ll take the Rescue waters for tranquility, thanks. Tranquil = beauty right about now.
Wonder if Clive-O and Dan-C need restocking on their lemonade and fruit punch flavours?
glacéau VitaminWater retails for $1.99 CAN/$1.39 US wherever lots of beverages are sold.
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Good Going: Quo’s Beauty on the Go Palette for Eyes and Lips
25 November 08
I’m a sucker for a compact makeup palette. Creative packaging, neat rows of colour, wee inset pots of shadows and lip colour, sometimes with blush, eye pencils and teensy mascaras… so many possibilities for pretty.
The Quo Beauty on the Go palette ($15 CAN) is a simple two-parter for eyes and lips. The top section is a slide-apart shadow quad of pale shimmery pink highlight, mid-tone coppery gold and shimmery grey, and matte dark brown. The sub compartment holds lip shades of wine, plum, gold and peach.
I’m a geek, so I’m enjoying the way this versatile little kit is organized. The pale pink and gold shadows with either of the first two lip colours deliver a fresh-faced look; the lighter lip colours balance the smokey eye you’ll get from the shimmery grey and matte chocolate shadows. Of course if you like a monochromatic look, wear the pale pink and gold shadow with the gold or peach lip colour. For big drama, go for smokey eyes with wine or plum lips.
Price is another thing I love about makeup palettes, especially this one. Just $15 for four shadows and four lip colours all in smart portable packaging complete with a generous mirror? You’ll have to do the math yourself — I’m busy geeking out over all the pretty stuff.
Quo Cosmetics are available at Shoppers Drug Mart.
Image courtesy of Quo Cosmetics.
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Permanent hair reduction and removal at home? With a DIY light-pulse unit called Silk’n? For less $$ than a series of on-site treatments?
If you live in Toronto or the GTA, tomorrow evening offers a chance to learn more at a seminar headed by well-known cosmetic plastic surgeon Dr. Stephen Mulholland. On the agenda:
• how home hair removal rivals clinical results at a fraction of the time/cost
• results from Silk’n clinical studies
• results and experiences from product testers
• a live Silk’n product demonstration
• a 100% rebate opportunity and your Silk’n free
The seminar will take place at:
The Park Hyatt Hotel
4 Avenue Road, Toronto, ON
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
7:15 pm to 9:00 pm
For details call 905-707-6787 x 204 or 1 877 DO SILKN (367- 4556).
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Another Monday — Yay: Enter to WIN Sanctuary Spa Body Treats
24 November 08
If your bathroom (or heck, living room) looks like this, stop reading right this minute and call me — I’m coming over for an extended stay. I know, you’re hestitating because you don’t know me terribly well, but I can assure you I’ll be a terrific guest. In fact, you’ll marvel at my brilliant ability to lounge all day in my bathrobe.
Tell you what — I’ll bring you the perfect hostess gift. How about a lovely basket of richly fragranced Sanctuary Spa treats? Of course you know all about The Sanctuary, Covent Garden, a well-known day spa in London, England. Looks a lot like your bathroom (or living room). Sanctuary’s Creamy Body Wash, Foaming Shower Mousse, Body Scrub, Body Moisture Spray, Crème Soufflé and Body Butter will fit right in to your bodycare stash, yes? (I bet the Soufflé is already your fave on account of its wonderful floofy texture, lasting hydration and floral scent. And the Body Moisture Spray, a light body oil with sweet almond oil, jojoba and vitamin E — awesome, right?)
Now I can’t let on that I have this prize saved for you — my staff will freak (she’s all play-by-the-rules… sheesh). So here’s how we’re going to set this up:
ENTER TO WIN almost $80 CAN worth of Sanctuary Spa body treats by clicking on “Subscribe in a reader” on the right side of this screen, following the instructions, then sending an e.mail to imabeautygeek@gmail.com to let me know you’ve signed up (thank you!). If you’re already a subscriber (you’re so cool if you are), please e.mail imabeautygeek@gmail.com to enter as well. It’s a good time to be a resident of Canada — this is a Canada-only offer. (I feel bad about that. Unfortunately customs can be a real killjoy when it comes to shipping prizes overseas. Pooh.) The contest closes on Monday December 1st; I’ll send you an e.mail to confirm your win. Genius, yes?
Thanks for playing along — a little Sanctuary time is so worth it.
Sanctuary Spa products retail for $11.99 to $19.99 and are available in Canada at Rexall Pharma Plus, Roulston’s, and at select Loblaws, Superstores, Zehrs and Fortinos.
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In every girl’s life there are disconcerting times when she simply cannot have what she wants exactly when and how she wants it — a concierge, world peace, a carb-fueled metabolism, Daniel Craig, a Bueno lifestyle…
In such cases, a girl might shrug and resolve to live vicariously through others. So get thee to Saturday’s one-day Holiday Bazaar at the Spoke Club in Toronto and embrace your handsome, much-coveted, limited-edition leather Jessica Jensen clutch — *sigh*. Swoon over shiny cuff bangles from Daniel Espinosa and luxury footwear from chic boutique george C, scope out bags and jewelry by Jenny Bird, and stock up on fragrant Diptyque and Penhaligon’s gift sets from Noor.
Do it for me. *grin*
Details of the Spoke Bazaar are here.
Want a not-the-mall shopping experience? If you live in Toronto, you might like to check out the luxury holiday bazaar tomorrow, Saturday November 21st, at the exclusive Spoke Club on King. Details below — part of the proceeds will benefit the Arts for Children of Toronto, a community program for disadvantaged children.
F is for Fruits & Passion: Fragrant Canadian Gifts with a Habitat-for-Humanity Help-Out
21 November 08
One of my favourite scents is the Sanguinelli Orange & Fennel collection of Cucina products from Fruits & Passion. If you want me to do dishes, you need to have the Sanguinelli Orange & Fennel biodegradeable dish detergent as well as the hand soap and lotion for me to use. I realize this next bit is a hazardous admission, but the stuff makes washing dishes almost a soul-satisfying experience for me. (FYI, the Cucina Hand Care Duo is $22; a Basket Gift Set, above left, is $60.)
Fruits & Passion is a Canadian company with boutiques all over the world — Europe, Asia (including Manila, Nikki!), the Middle East and Africa. Each holiday season, the company does some Canadian good with a dedicated festive purchase-with-purchase offering. This year, with every $10 you spend you can buy a deliciously scented Fruits & Passion Grapefruit-Guava Foaming Bath (above, middle) for $8.50. Proceeds from that add-on sale will benefit Habitat for Humanity Canada, which has over the last five years received more than $179,000 from F&P.
The holiday range includes a $5 fragrance discovery set, a $16 scented De-Icing Salt (yes!), a $39 gourmet candle set, and a number of gift sets for him and for her.
See how spending $10 at Fruits & Passion is a cinch? Easier than getting me to do dishes.
Visit Fruits-Passion.com for more information.
Images courtesy of Fruits & Passion.
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I love a wristlet. Sometimes all you need is something small and swingy that fits your wallet, cel phone, keys and a purse hook. Brunch, drinks with the girls, dinner… snap.
This sweet, made-to-order wristlet by Canadian Lisa Murdin caught my attention with its Alexander Henry Yui Kokeshi Pink cotton fabric. (I’m a sucker for anything Asian inspired — maybe because I’m Asian inspired?) Fully lined, it has an interior pocket to keep things sorted and a detachable strap. And at $22 US, it’s a delightful, budget-friendly giftie. Maybe for you.
Or maybe for me?
Available at LMcreation on Etsy.com.
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Primp My Ride: Benefit Primpcess Glamorous Eye Primping Kit
19 November 08
The most common bit of career advice floating about is “do what you love, do what makes you happy.” Clearly, Jane and Jean Ford, the twins behind the Benefit brand, have done just that. The delight they get from their work is evident in the work itself.
Take their holiday Primpcess Glamorous Eye Primping Kit ($38 CAN/$34 US), an exuberantly cheery, flirty-girl box of makeup to make eyes pop. Even if you’ve woken up on the wrong side of good morning, you just can’t maintain a grumpy-pants mood while following “You’re such a primpcess” step-by-steps, dipping into the kit’s pot of Boi-ing concealer, or getting ziggy with a mini BADgal Lash mascara. Plus it’s a cinch to toss into a travel bag — an on-the-fly beauty wink, a “primp my ride,” if you will.
And if you’re in a party frame of mind, it’ll tickle your fancy mood, yes?
Kahani was so taken with Primpcess that she had it sent from the US to her home in Malaysia; here’s her throrough review on So Loverly. And see what fellow Canadian Joy David-Tilberg says about Benefit’s holiday Peace, Love & Glossiness lip gloss set ($30) in her review of glossy gifts at Makeup Junkie.
Benefit Cosmetics are available at Holt Renfrew, Sephora boutiques, Sephora.com, Murale (Place d’Orleans in Ottawa), and Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques in Canada; and in the US at Sephora.com and BenefitCosmetics.com.
Image courtesy of Benefit Cosmetics.
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Winter Itch: Skincare Suggestions to Stop the Scratchfest
18 November 08
Apologies for the headline. “Scratchfest” — sheesh. Promised the staff she could write a headline (it’s fewer words than a post) and this was the best of the submissions. *sigh*
Skin’s been asking for special treatment lately. It’s not fond of crappy cold temps and drier air. I’m thinking, though, this time of year is kind of fun in beauty world — lots of lovely lotions and creams and body butters to try. Some are luxurious, some are all about fragrance, and some are surprisingly good for so little $.
St. Ives Collagen Elastin Body Moisturizer is one of those good-for-so-little-$ deals. A barely-scented straight-up lotion, it hydrates so effectively that even folks with eczema find some relief when they use it. Kinda rocks at under $7 for 600 mLs.
For more Stop-the-Scratchfest suggestions, visit Winter Skin Savers from today’s Metro newspaper.
St. Ives is available at drugstores and mass retailers.
Image courtesy of St. Ives
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If you’re a neutrals girl (most of us are), makeup for your holiday shindig can be as easy as polishing your day look with a golden sheen on cheekbones and gold or rich red on lips.
Keep makeup simple with a shimmering nude or soft gold shade on lids and a deep brown or black shade in a fine line along the base of your upper lashes. Up the drama with black waterproof liner along the inner upper rims and smudged up into the base of lashes. Curl lashes, add a couple of coats of black mascara, and dust cheeks with rosy blush.
Highlight cheekbones (décolleté and shoulders, too) with a light sweep of shimmery gold, such as Chanel Poudre Précieuse Or ($66 CAN/$75 US), and finish with Chanel Glossimer lipgloss ($30 CAN/$26 US) in Gold Shine for subtle glam, or Red Shine if you’re feeling sassy.
Actually, go with sassy. Sassy’s hot for holiday fun. Just ask Clive-O — and Daniel-C. *grin*
The Chanel Holiday 2008 collection is available at all Chanel beauty counters.
Image courtesy of Chanel.
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The number one beauty question searched online and asked of makeup artists is “What makeup is best for my eye colour?” Of course it’s the top question asked of Carmindy, makeup artist for TLC’s “What Not to Wear.” The following is her answer, in an excerpt from the book Get Positively Beautiful: The Ultimate Guide to Looking and Feeling Gorgeous by Carmindy. Copyright © 2008 by Carmindy. Reprinted by permission of Center Street, a division of Hachette Book Group USA, Inc., New York, NY. All rights reserved.
“Opposites attract” is my motto when enhancing eyes to look vividly alive. By choosing shadows, liners and mascaras that contrast with your eye colour, you turn up the voltage of your irises for an electrifying beauty. Whether your peepers are blue, green, brown, or hazel, using opposing makeup colours will always make them “pop.” Read the rest of this entry »
One of the things I love about my clever friend Liza Herz is her ability to put things into context. A former film publicist turned freelance writer, she gives her subjects an easy framework to which readers can relate. She’s a sponge for information, believes beauty stuff should spark excitement, knows the best places to shop in Paris and New York, and can spot understated quality luxury accessories at a glance. And like me she’s a geek for odd details, like a subtle redesign of the handles on her favourite Williams Sonoma cookware.
I haven’t yet read The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own by Nina Garcia, but Liza (pronounced Leeza) has. You’ll find her take — in context — on Canada.com.
