Beauty Review: My Oscar Hits and Misses for 2007

My favourite part of Oscar night is the pre-show where they get to talk about what the celebrities are wearing. Who cares what movie goes home with the Oscar (ok, I do care a little bit) - all I want to know is who they are wearing! Here are my picks for 2007:


1. Ryan Phillipe who?? Reese Witherspoon was my ultimate favourite! I love every shade of purple especially this deep eggplant colour (Nina Ricci you rock!) and I love the way the bottom fades to a lighter shade or purple. The colour looked exquisite against her skin tone. Her hair and makeup went beautifully together. She was perfect from head to toe!



2. Jenny from the block was no where to be seen tonight but a more elegant Jennifer Lopez was. I thought she looked more glamorous tonight than any other time I've seen her. I loved the detailing around her shoulders and the empire waist. Her hair and makeup was reminiscent of old Hollywood style. Her worst accessory? Marc Anthony!



3. Cameron Diaz finally brought the sexy back tonight. Her last red carpet look at the Golden Globes was just overdone; her hair was too dark, her makeup was too much and too bright, and her dress screamed ballerina-bride-to-be! Sometimes less is more and tonight she proved that understated elegance can be sexy too!








4. I love old Hollywood glamour and Rachel Weiz was it down to a t. Her red lips were the perfect choice for her porcelain skin and champagne/silver dress.









5. I thought Queen Latifah was a show stopper in this black number. You can never go wrong with a little black dress. I loved her sultry eyes and her honey/caramel hair.








6. Lately I've been a big fan of Jennifer Hudson. Her makeup always looks gorgeous especially tonight. And I loved her wavy hair off to one side. I thought the brown dress looked beautiful against her skin but it wasn't one of my favourites. I wasn't really feeling her little gold metallic jacket. I know, metallics are a hot spring trend but I thought the dress could've done without it.



Misses:






1. I get Kirsten Dundst loves her vintage looks but does vintage have to look so frumpy and matronly? Did her makeup artist, stylist, and hair stylist decide to take the day off today??







2. I loved Isla Fisher in Wedding Crashers and I think her fiance is hilarious. However, her look tonight screamed porn star trying to be elegant. I don't know why but maybe that's the wrong description. Her hair and pushed up breasts just looked too much like Dynasty?? The one thing I liked about her look was the emerald green colour. I love jewel tones. Am I wrong but didn't Renee Zellwegger wear the same dress to the Golden Globes??


That rounds out my list for 2007. Let me know who your favourites were!

Make-Up Junkie in Canada Now on MySpace!

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Weekend Beauty Reads

Hoochie Coochie?? Visit Yummy 411 to get the 411 on this new fragrance!

I was cruising the Makeup Girl blog and read her post about Palacinka.com. It's a site dedicated to reviewing beauty products for all women of colour. Check it out! It's a fantastic site with honest reviews.

Want blissfully soft feet? Visit Product Girl to find the secret.

I think every girl I know including myself is obsessed with mascara and finding the ONE that will give the most fullest, lushest, and longest lashes possible. Check out Makeup Minute to read about why we love mascara so much!

Blogdorf Goodman is interviewed by Makeup Bag. Check out how she began her blog.

Lipstick, Powder, n' Paint tells us the secret to Bombshell Bargains!

Don't miss out on Blogdorf Goodman's 40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brand Reviews! She's on day 3 now - can't wait to see the next 36 days of review. What a genius idea!

Check out Beauty Junkie's exclusive interviews with model-turned-actress, Amber Valletta, and Bianca Alexander, Director of Makeup Artistry for MAC!

And last but not least Beauty Addict dishes on CEW's (Cosmetic Executive Women) beauty nominees for the year and will give us the inside scoop on some new products!

What's in My Makeup Bag?

This is what's in my makeup bag. Tell me what's in yours!

Beauty Review: MAC's Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation

I was so eager to try out MAC's new Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation mainly because I love the pump dispenser. Today I tested it out on my friend who was looking for a new foundation. It applies really smoothly and has a beautiful luminous finish, but it does not bode well with people who have oily skin or problematic skin. The dewiness of the foundation made her skin feel wet and oilier and did not sit nicely on her. If you have broken skin or bumpiness due to acne it will not blend smoothly onto your face. If you have close to perfect skin or it's extremely dry and want a dewy fresh finish (much more subtle than the Hyper Real foundation) then this is a great foundation for you. It has lots of good vitamins to help nourish and condition the skin and lets not forget the SPF 15.

My friend decided to stick with her Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15. Hey, if it ain't broken don't fix it. Sometimes you just have to stick with what you know. If anyone else has tried the new foundation I'd love to hear what you thought! Happy shopping!

Beauty News: I Love MAC's Back-to-MAC Recycling Program!

While away on maternity leave I was told by my co-workers that the recycling program had changed late last year! Most of you MAC addicts may already know but some of you may not. I was delighted to hear that if you bring back any 6 containers to a MAC Store (not counter) you have a choice of receiving a lipstick, Lipglass or Lustreglass, or any eyeshadow! How amazing is that??

Since employees are not entitled to the recycling program, I gathered up all my empties today (24 in total - I actually had over a 100 recyclables but brought them in on different occasions) and took my friend from yesterday with me to the MAC store today and let her pick out some free products for herself. She was ecstatic as you can imagine. She chose Surreal (bluish green with gold shimmer) and Vex (pale green duochrome with pink opalescent shimmer) eyeshadows. Surreal is a great spring/summer colour and looks beautiful against bronzed skin. Vex is one of my all time favourite bases. It just seems to go with everything. She also decided to go with a Lustreglass in Beaux (warm beige brown), a great neutral. Well, she decided that she didn't need anymore (how could you not need more??) make-up and let me choose the last product for myself even though I'm not supposed to (shhh!). I decided to go with a Lipglass in Underage (pale pink). I had been wanting a pale pink gloss for my kit (and for myself!) and Underage was the perfect choice. As seen in the Spring 2007 Fashion Week, pale pink is the new nude! If you're looking for a gloss to go with your smokey eye, Underage is just the right gloss.

So, all you MAC addicts don't forget to recycle all your containers (glass and plastic) and get some free make-up in exchange! I think all make-up companies should adopt this program, don't you? The MAC site hasn't been updated with the new information, but if you need more info visit a MAC store closest to you.

Beauty Review: Sephora Is My Candy Store!

Yesterday I met up with a friend who was in need of some new makeup colours because she had been using the same makeup for the past few years. She was in the mood for anything green. I swear, I applied every shade of green from every makeup brand in Sephora! The good thing about Sephora is that there's a variety of makeup brands to choose from and the bad thing is that there's a variety of makeup brands to choose from! We started off at Lorac and she loved the shadows but then we'd move on to another brand and she'd love those shadows too. So, I suggested we try everything and narrow it down before deciding. Well, we were in there for approximately 3 hrs - not impossible right??

The winners ended up being Smashbox's single eyeshadows in JPEG (chartreuse shimmer) and Green Room (deep grass green). I used JPEG as her lid colour and smudged Green Room into her lash line and outer crease. The shadows were so velvety soft and blended easily with the sponge applicator. She wanted a little more drama for the evening so I then used Sephora's Slim liner in Black 91 on her lash line and smudged it for a smokier effect. She was already wearing a nice neutral blush from M.A.C. in Cubic. We finished the look off with Lorac's new Mocktails in Guava Tiki (sheer peachy pink). The gloss was nice and smooth, not sticky at all and it gave the perfect amount of colour. The gloss smelled so good it made you almost want to eat it! I had to hold back from buying the gloss for myself because I have way too many glosses!

The 3 hrs in Sephora was well worth it and my friend ended up leaving with a bag full of makeup and a whole new makeover. I did end up buying Murad's Soothing Lip Therapy for myself (I couldn't leave empty handed). My Cocoa Butter Lip Care Stick from Body Shop hasn't been cutting it lately. It's been making my lips more chapped. I think I might be slightly allergic to the cocoa butter :( I've been wanting to try Murad's lip balm and I'm liking it so far. I only have to apply a few times during the day versus every half hour and my chapped lips have disappeared! The smell is okay (sweeter version of petroleum jelly), nothing yummy smelling like what I usually gravitate towards. But as long as my lips are smooth and healthy that's all that matters to me!

Beauty Review: Beauty Products Resurrected

For the past few months I've been doing the same make-up look a). because I don't have time to try a new look everyday and b) because it's been working for me. I've been using Benefit's Rush Hour on my lips and cheeks and swiping Nars' Stolen Kisses gloss over top. I simply love both products and get compliments every time I wear them.


Over the weekend, I had a client come in to get her make-up done for her birthday and I used products on her that I hadn't used on myself in a long time. I almost forgot I had them! Yesterday it was so nice and sunny (finally!) out and I decided I wanted to give my make-up a little more colour and radiance. I applied my Benefit bronzer in Hoola
to my cheeks, forehead, nose and chin.




I then dabbed on Tarte's cheek stain in Tipsy on the apples of my cheeks. I forgot how much I loved the sheer coral-pink flush it gave me and the yummy apricot scent.








On my lips I decided I wanted a nice juicy colour so I swiped on Benefit's Benetint Pocket Pal tint and gloss and instead of using the clear gloss it comes with I applied M.A.C.'s Lipgelee in Dewy Jube. My lips looked a luscious cheery red.





On the eyes, I kept it simple using Nars' Cream Eyeshadow in Corfu as a base and applied M.A.C.'s limited edition Mineralize SkinFinish in Shimpagne on the center of the eye and in the inner corner. I also used it to highlight my cheekbones and under eye to give me a beautiful glow. I finished the look off with tons of mascara.

It was fun digging up old favourites and switching up my look for a change. It's almost like having something new again. Try going through your make-up kit and find products that you can revive and make new again!

Beauty News: Britney Goes Bald??!!

What is going through that bald head of Britney Spears these days?? It doesn't seem like she has her kids on her mind. Why is she giving the judge more of a reason to take her kids away? First it was the bald eagle flashes of her coming out of the car with her attention seeking friend Paris, then it was the many drunken nights out dancing with just her bra on, and now she's finding her inner Sinead O'Connor?? I'm a mother and I'm all for having a good time out with your friends, sipping a few martinis, and having some good laughs but lets not lose control of ourselves. There are a few celebrities that have gone bald but it was always for a movie role. Maybe Britney is preparing for a new role? I think NOT! The only role she's playing is in the sad life of Britney Spears. I bet Justin and Kevin are sitting back enjoying her wild escapades and thinking "Thank god I got out when I did!" Please get some help Britney and trying staying in rehab for more than a day!

Fashion Week Fall 2007 Trends

Some people have been asking me why I haven't posted anything about the Fall 2007 make-up trends like every other popular beauty blog out there and here's the reason why. It's a freezing -9 degrees outside but with the wind chill it feels like -18!! I don't want to even think about fall or winter when this winter has just begun. I just want sunny blue skies, bronzy skin, a breeze in my hair, and cute wedge sandals.

Okay, I won't disappoint so I'll let you in on my favourites for Fall 2007. A lot of the looks were pretty but nothing new and I'm quite tired of seeing the pale dead look especially for fall/winter. We're pale as it during the cold months and we don't need to look paler people! And the winners are:

Top Row L-R: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Chado Ralph Rucci, Donna Karan, Diane Von Furstenberg, Proenza Schuler
Bottom Row L-R: Peter Som, Zac Posen, Vera Wang, Derek Lam, Tuleh


To see more from Fashion Week Fall 2007 visit Style.com.

Blog Snobs

I'm fairly new to this whole blogging thing, but is it just me or is there snobbery amongst the beauty blog community?? I only thought cliques only happened in the real world but apparently it happens in the world of blogging as well. I know some do not do it intentionally, but I've come across some bloggers (who will remain nameless) who choose not to list you on their site for whatever reason. Is there harm in adding a fellow blogger to your list? I think not and I take it as a compliment that someone would want to be added to my list. It's really quite sad because we're all writing about one thing we all have in common and that's beauty products!

Before I started my own blog, I read these blogs almost on a daily basis (still do read them). And if it weren't for their readers they wouldn't be where they are today. I notice a big difference now between just being a reader and a fan compared to being a fellow blogger. When you're a reader, the bloggers are so greatful to you but when you're a blogger it's like you're the enemy. The reason I started this blog is because I love to write and I love beauty products. I've had many customers tell me their beauty concerns and I thought this would be a great way to answer their beauty questions. Anyways, I thank those that have added me to their site and I will continue to be a faithful reader. And I know many of my readers will enjoy your site as well!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to all my fellow make-up junkies! Thank you to all my beautynistas that take a moment out of their day to spend it on my blog. I truly appreciate it and hope you will keep coming back for more! Smooches!! xoxo

Beauty News: Barbie Loves MAC is in Stores Now!

Everyone's been awaiting the arrival of the Barbie Loves MAC makeup line and it's finally arrived! And I just adore the make-up in the advertisements! Oh those eyes, those lips and they look like real Barbie dolls. All the packaging has the cool Barbie silhouette even on the blushes and eye shadows themselves. It makes you not want to use them. The colours come in bright fuchsia pinks, minty greens, and some neutrals. These are a definite collector's collection and I'm sure they'll selling out fast as we speak! You can even purchase an actual Barbie doll which epitomizes a true MAC girl. Check out the cool line at the nearest MAC store.

Beauty News: Body Shop and MTV Join Together in the Fight Against AIDS

Body Shop and MTV have come together and created a new fragrance that will help save lives. The wonderful fruity scent called Rougeberry MTV Eau de Toilette is in stores now and proceeds from the sale will go towards raising awareness and stopping the spread of HIV and AIDS. I love feel good beauty products because you don't have to feel guilty about buying them! Go out and purchase this scent for yourself or as a gift and know that you'll be saving many lives around the world. I know I'll be picking one up! For more information visit The Body Shop.

Grammy Beauties!

My picks for the best looks of the night are:


1. Christina Aguilera's look has evolved quite a lot since her "Dirrrty" days and has softened into an updated '50's bombshell. I wasn't really a fan of her orangey tan, but I thought her '50's inspired make-up was soft and beautiful.


2. Scarlett Johansson is one of my favourite actresses and is such a classic beauty. Her smokey eyes, glowing cheeks, and soft lips went perfect with her flowing hair and simple but elegant black dress.


3. It's Beyonce - need I say more! When does she not look good??


4. Okay, you guys may think I'm crazy but I actually was diggin' Pink's rocker chic look with the blond spiked hair, smokey black cat eyes, and the soft pink lips. She didn't look like everyone else at the show which was nice to see for a change.


5. I thought Jennifer Hudson's make-up looked absolutely radiant. The gold, bronze, and chocolate hues looked amazing on her skin. It wasn't too over-the-top and just the perfect amount to compliment her sexy red dress.


6. Gone is her Barbie blond hair and bubbly personality. Hillary Duff is all grown up and looking great for being newly single. Her wavy chestnut hair and dark eyes looked edgy and fresh. I guess after getting her heart broken by bad boy Joel Madden she needed a tougher new look.


I guess that rounds out my list. An honourable mention I guess would be my all time favourite Nelly Furtado. I thought her make-up was great but I wasn't really a fan of the hair and the dress. I think she should have either went simple with the hair or worn a simple dress with her wavy hair or just not have worn that dress at all!

Let me know who your favourites were!

Express Yourself!

The club scene in London isn't just about dancing and getting wasted. It's about expressing yourself by outdoing your fellow club goers by wearing the most outrageous outfit, going beyond the shimmery shadow and pale gloss, and forgetting the straightener and throwing on a bright pink wig. At club Boombox in London, the scenesters are primarily made up of young designers, student fashionistas, and drag queens. When I read this article on Style.com and saw the pictures, I almost wanted to book the next flight to London and head to Boombox. It's a make-up artist's dream to be in a room full of creativity, originality, and life which is why celebrity make-up artist Pat McGrath (oh how I worship her!) frequents the club for inspiration and brings along her digital camera to snap shots. The make-up for me is fantastic! It's all about vivid colours painted on the face like a work of art and lots of faux lashes. It's fun and carefree just the way make-up should be. It looks effortless and not at all over the top because each one carries it so well.

I think Toronto could learn a thing or two from London's club kids. Isn't everyone tired of the overly tanned bodies, crunchy gelled hair, and the attitudes? I say instead of letting our cleavage express ourselves why not try an eyeshadow in a vibrant hue with some sparkle or put some fake lashes on the top and the bottom next time you go out. It's always nice to change it up once in a while. I used to get tired of hearing my customers ask me to do the "JLo" look on them. I'll admit for a long time I was addicted to the look but there are other looks out there! Remember: make-up is supposed to be fun and it always washes off!

Beauty Icon of the Month: Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe, classic beauty, pin-up girl, actress, temptress, her ultra girly wispy voice, and that smile. Her platinum blond bombshell hair, with wavy locks, porcelain skin, the perfect red pout, and those sultry playful eyes. Marilyn's look has transcended through the times and to this day her look is always being recreated. Her look and her personality exuded everything a woman is or wishes to be: sensual, confident, strong, and flirty. Since Valentine's Day, a day of love, intimacy, and seduction, is just around the corner I thought Marilyn would be the perfect choice for February. She's always been a favourite icon of mine and although she's gone I don't think she'll ever be forgotten.

To recreate her look for Valentine's Day use a velvety matte foundation, shimmery shadow in silver or pale gold, black liquid liner, a voluminous mascara with some fake lashes for some extra flirtiness, perfectly arched brows, bronzer or a soft pink blush on the cheeks, an opalescent highlighter on cheekbones, and a lipstick, gloss, or stain in red. Skip the liner for a softer effect (be sure to use a lip primer to prevent lip colour from bleeding or feathering).

If red isn't your thing, try a pink lip paired with taupe or bronze shadow.

Product Submissions

If you have a fabulous product(s) you would like featured on Makeup Junkie, have a beauty crisis, or just want to say hi please send an email to joy[at]makeupjunkie[dot]ca. Please note, products submitted are for editorial consideration and a review is not guaranteed. If we like it, we'll review it. There will be the occasional negative review if a product has received too much hype.

Products that are featured on the site are samples from PR companies unless otherwise stated. However, Makeup Junkie opinions are always honest and real.

Thank you!

Beauty Review: I'm in Love!

A few posts ago I had said I'm still searching for the perfect mascara. Well, I think I've found it and I've fallen in love! Benefit's Get Bent Mascara has an angled brush to give your lashes the curl and lift it needs. The mascara actually lifts my lashes and gives me volume. I can apply a few coats and it doesn't get too clumpy. The angle of the brush is perfect since a lot of make-up artists bend it that way when applying mascara to customers or models. It's just easier to get to the root of the lash which is important for the lift and it holds all day. For a little more drama in the evening, I swipe on a couple coats just to the outer part of the lash.



Another product I have fallen in love with is Sally Hansen's 18 Hour Cracked Heel Creme. My feet have been so dry lately mostly due to the weather and carrying a 20+ lbs baby around the house. I tried the creme last night and I swear to god within minutes my heels were so soft and smooth. I've seen a noticeable difference and my feet no longer feel like sand paper! This is a foot creme I recommend all year round especially now that sandal season is coming up again (not fast enough though!).

Make-up Junkie in Canada Wants to Hear What You Have to Say!

Make-up Junkie wants to hear what you have to say. Let me know what you like about the site or what you don't like. If there's a product you want featured or you have questions about let me know and I'll feature it on my site. Are you having trouble applying your make-up or finding the right shade? I'll answer all your questions. Do you have a beauty tip or secret you want to share with the world? You can be a beauty expert too. Leave me a comment and let me know what you're thinking. I look forward to hearing from you!

Dove's Done It Again!

Dove's Campaign For Real Beauty has come up with another genius campaign to add to their collection of thought provoking and think-twice-about-yourself advertisements. We all remember the courageous women that dared to show off their curves, but now women over 40 years old are not only showing off their curves but are proudly posing nude for the cameras and the millions of people that will be seeing these ads. The Oprah Show had all the women that posed for Dove's Ageless Beauty campaign on her show including 64 year old Mary, a mother of 3 and a grandmother of 1, who's picture was chosen to be put up on a huge billboard in Times Square. Beauty definitely has no age and I commend and admire these strong women for baring it all!

Ebay Auction Photo Shoot

T-B: Sophie and Larry (winner and stylist), Sophie, Larry, and Pearl (photographer), Sophie and Pearl

Ebay has these great packages you can bid for such as the "Professional Fashion Shoot Package" which I did the make-up for yesterday. All the money from the auction goes to support the March of Dimes which is a wonderful organization for saving babies! As a new mother I understand how important this is and I was happy to be apart of the whole experience.

Sophie from Montreal was the winner (it was actually a great gift from a friend of hers). Her day started out with a shopping spree at Preloved's Toronto's Boutique (such a great line - Sophie was given her outfit for free!) and Winners. After all the wonderful shopping she was driven to the studio where she got her hair/make-up done and worked the camera at her fashion shoot. She was a true natural and full of energy. The shoot was a lot of fun (although everyone was tired from the night before...too much partying? I wouldn't know about that anymore! haha) and it was a great team. I was able to take some pictures from the shoot, but I can't wait to see the final images!

Team:
Ebay Coordinator: Lori Isber
Hair/Wardrobe Stylist: Larry Chavana and Tosh James
Make-up: Me
Photographer: Pearl Chu
Creative Direction: Karen Isber (ICON model)

Beauty News: More from the Green Carpet Series Fashion Show!

I'm the one in the back with the bangs! hehe

I was forwarded more pictures from the fashion show. It was a great success and raised a lot of money and awareness for Green Carpet and WWF. I was glad to be apart of the show. On February 12 at 7:30 pm on MTV E2 they will be airing some footage from the fashion show. Don't miss it!

Weekend Beauty Reads

It's that time again! Happy Reading!

Check out Beauty Addict for the list of shows she'll be covering for Fashion Week Fall 2007. Can't wait to hear the inside scoop on the latest beauty trends! You lucky girl!

Beauty Snob has a new site and features the best of the best in concealers Cle de Peau.

Don't miss Bag Snob, Beauty Snob's sister website, for her awesome interview with Carine Roitfield Editor of French Vogue.

Oh how lucky the ladies of Bag Trends are to be getting first dibs on the latest bag trends for Fall 2007! Party it up ladies and can't wait for your fabulous finds!

Bon Bons in the Bath has another yummy treat for the skin. Check out her review on Carol's Daughter's new Lemon Ginger Mint Manicure in a Jar. It leaves your dry hands feeling oh-so-soft. I think I'll have to try it out!

Oh Valentine, Won't You Be Mine?

It's count down to V-day but who really cares right?? You don't have to be in love to enjoy Valentine's day and it's no longer a day just for lovers. If you have a love even better, but if you don't love yourself and treat yourself to something wonderful like M.A.C.'s new Valentine Vanity. It's a great little kit stocked with all the best eye and lip colours to snag you anyone your heart desires!

Hot Spring Colours in a Palette!

Too Faced has come out with yet another one of their adorable Quickie Chronicles Palette. The palette is called The Future Lovers and includes vibrant hues of green, royal purples and pink. The lip colours are out of this world hence the outer galaxy theme. It's definitely for the woman who's not afraid to be different and dares to be noticed!

Green Carpet Featured on ET Canada

ET Canada had a little segment about the Green Carpet Series fashion show last night. I didn't manage to get in any of the shots but it was cool to see the models that we did strut their stuff on the runway. Pretty awesome!