Beauty Fix Weekend Reads: The Beauty Blog Network

Take some time to read some beautiful blogs this weekend!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic reconsiders blonde hair after some great color advice from Brad Johns!

Tousled, textured hair is the top tress trend for Spring 2008! StyleBell shows you how to create Beachy Waves with your flat iron.

The Makeup Divas Beauty Blog is blown away by these ProSilk Hair Products!

Beauty Anonymous brings you Anna Sui Beach Collection for Summer 2008!

The Muse shows you the solution to eyeshadow fall out woes with a review of Shadow Shields!

SugarShock Beauty is channelling fashion muse of the moment Amy Winehouse – (in a subtle way, we promise!) – with Stila's new liquid eyeliner.

Beauty and Personal Grooming shares some DIY Antiwrinkle face masks

A Touch of Blusher can't live without this foundation.

Beauty Blogging Junkie tells you how to channel the look of your fave The Hills girl here.

Mischo Beauty shares her best tips on how to prepare for a bikini wax and what to expect!

The Daily Cookie reviews a dupe for the popular MAC 187 blush brush for a fraction of the price!

Product Girl is having her first giveaway. Enter to win a Philosophy Breakfast in Bed Shower Gel Set from now until Monday night!

Makeup Moxie reviews Cargo Blu-Ray High Definition Mascara.

Glossypink reveals her favorite eyeshadow of all time!

Just when you thought SPF 15 was safe, The Beauty Bug makes you think again, and tells you why you should up your dosage of SPF!

Spoiled Pretty hearts her T3 hair dryer. But what's the one thing she would add to it? Find out what extra would push her head over heels...

Savvy Skin realizes her skin care obsession is ruining her career!

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog shows you how to get Mariah Carey's look with MAC Heatherette Beauty Powder.

The Beauty of Life finally figures out how to banish undereye circles for good! Check out her two miracle products!

Beauty Review: I Heart Billy B.'s Paint Brush Collection!

I heart Billy B. and ever since I met him back in November I became more obsessed with his work and now I'm obsessed with his brushes! He's the type of person many makeup artists aspire to be but the truth of the matter is that there can only be one Billy B. Having been a professional makeup artist for over twenty years, Billy B. was never really happy with the brushes that were available on the market. He realized early on that well designed brushes were essential for beautiful makeup and decided to create his very own collection of professional brushes, billybBeauty "Paintbrush" Collection. He carefully designed each brush specifically for its individual function and paid close attention to the handle, length and weight. For anyone that carries brushes around the weight is important whether you drag around a makeup kit or a purse. The brushes are a range of high quality blends of both natural and synthetic hair.

I heard about his amazing brush collection through the buzz of the beauty world and was dying to get my hands on them. I had expected to receive his eyelash curler and lip brush but was super stoked when low and behold, there laid his Essential Paint Brush Collection (includes 8 brushes) at the bottom of the box! From the little happy dance I did, you would have thought I won the lottery! First up, the brush roll.

billybBEAUTY Brush Roll is probably the smallest brush roll I've ever seen. You'd think this was a travel set but it's not! It's so compact you can fit it in any purse or toiletry bag. The brush roll was specifically designed to fit his 8 essential brushes. It's very chic all in black with nylon lining and is machine washable. The brush roll can be purchased separately ($19 USD) or with the billybBEAUTY Essential Paint Brush Collection ($189 USD) where it is included. Love it!

Paint Brush two ($30 USD) is used to apply foundation and its defined shape allows you to apply makeup in harder to reach places. The hair feels like a blend of natural and synthetic but mostly natural. Most foundation brushes I've used are all synthetic. I wasn't really sure I liked the natural hair because it seemed to absorb too much of the foundation but when I swiped it on my skin the foundation applied evenly and the coverage almost looked buffed on. The effect looked more natural not like when you apply foundation with a synthetic brush which can look heavier. I never really thought about the length or weight of the handle until I tried this brush. I can really tell the difference. My hand seemed more steady and controlled making for a quicker application. The brush is also feather light!

Paint Brush three ($39 USD) is a powder/blush brush and the narrower width is perfect for applying blush and powder only where you need it. I always found with bigger blush brushes that my blush covered too much of my face causing some colour to go on my cheekbone and below the hollows. I started using a contour brush for its smaller shape and buffed the colour onto my cheeks. Now that I have this brush I don't use the contour brush anymore for blush. This applies right on my cheeks and blends perfectly! Smaller handle is also a plus!

Paint Brush four ($29 USD) is a multi-use brush and is perfect for blush, powder and contouring. I love multi-use products! I really love this brush for precise contouring. I have a couple contouring brushes but the size of this one is just perfect. It's smaller shape allows for perfect lines giving definition to the cheekbones, jaw, chin, forehead, and nose. I also love to use this brush for highlighting.

Paint Brush eight ($24 USD) is a soft, fluffy but firm eyeshadow brush used to apply shadow all over the lid and in the crease. The firmness picks up the shadow and delivers a lot of pigment and the fluffy rounded shape is perfect for blending. I also used this brush to apply shadow wet and it applied smoothly and evenly.

Paint Brush ten ($16 USD) is an eyeliner brush that was created with the perfect density and length for ultimate control to create that perfect "professionally applied" liquid eyeliner look. I usually prefer a firm angled brush to apply powder, cream or liquid eyeliner but I was pleasantly surprised by ten's performance. I thought it was going to be too flimsy to apply liner but it was the exact opposite. I tried it with all three types of liners and each time I was able to define my eyes flawlessly. It's so easy to wing out the liner with this brush. Its firm, thin hairs allows you to go create a thin or thick line with ease. It's also the perfect brush for covering up the base of fake lashes. This little brush also picks up a lot of product so a little goes a long way. Great little brush for detailing as well i.e. body painting, sfx.

Paint Brush eleven ($19 USD) is a stiff angled brush for defining the brows. It delivers the perfect amount of colour to the brows and is great for lining and smudging liner into the lash line. I also find with the smaller handle, filling brows in doesn't seem so awkward like it does with a longer handle. The shorter handle gives me steady control and allows me to mimic a drawing motion.

Paint Brush twelve ($26 USD) has got to be my favourite brush from this collection and of all the brushes I've ever used (and I have a lot!). When I first saw it, I was a little confused by it because I didn't really understand how to use it. This brush is soft yet firm and is angled. I started playing around with it and realized it could be used in many ways! It was fantastic for smudging liner into the lash line, creating definition in the crease and outer crease, blending, and creating the ultimate smoky eye! I went on Billy B.'s site after and read that it was made to do all these things lol. It just goes to show you how well designed this brush is because you don't need to read about it before using it. The shape naturally guides you! A definite must-have!

billybBEAUTY's Lightweight Aluminum, Lidless, Retractable Lip Brush ($18 USD) is the first of its kind - that I know of anyway. This lip brush is amazingly convenient because instead of a cap you have to pull off or just a retractable feature, it has a top lid that opens when the lip brush is extended. Once its been retracted, the top lid shuts closed protecting your brush from dirt and bacteria! I always hated how dirt always got stuck on my brush. The hair is again I think a mixture of mostly natural and synthetic hair. It's kind of fluffy so I'm not sure how well it would define a smaller pout. The brush also applies lip colour naturally so you're able to build to your desired intensity. However, when I'm in a rush I do prefer a synthetic brush because it picks up more product plus cleans easier. But overall, the design is a winner!

billybBEAUTY Lash/Brow Groomer's ($19 USD) perfect compact size is all you really need for defining your brows and lashes. The two in one feature makes it convenient for travel and takes up less room in your makeup bag. The brow groomer is great for brushing unruly brows into shape but can also be used to separate your lashes. It gives a feathery effect. I love the lash comb because the thin "bristles" define each lash and de-clumps with ease and no mess. Just be careful you don't poke your eye with this because even though the ends are rounded it's still kind of sharp!

Overall, I'm extremely happy with billybBEAUTY Essential Paint Brush Collection! I carry it around with me just because I can! It's so compact and lightweight! I hate how professional brush handles are so long and the travel sizes aren't usually the same quality. I definitely want to get the rest of the collection - its a must for any makeup artist or makeup aficionado. His line will soon be available in Toronto at Holt Renfrew and he'll be making an appearance April 29 (12pm - 5pm)! Woohoo! The price of his brushes are very reasonable especially for the quality you're getting. I think the most expensive brush is $39 (USD) - not bad at all! Once you try his brushes you will see a difference in performance compared to other brands. I found a new love! Thanks Billy B.!

Stay tuned for a review of his eyelash curler. I haven't tested it out yet because it doesn't fit my eyes! It's curved unbelievably and made to fit smaller eyes. It's too bad but it's great if you're a makeup artist - Shu Uemera for wider eyes and Billy B. for smaller! Happy shopping!

For more information on Billy B. click here and for more on his Paint Brush Collection click here.

Beauty Fix Weekend Reads: TotalBeauty.com

What's everyone up to this weekend? Well, if you have a moment take some time to read some beautiful blogs from around the TotalBeauty.com world!

Lilan from The Daily Cookie has found a new love in MAC Heatherette!

Mischo Beauty shares her best tips on how to prepare for a bikini wax and what to expect!

Jennifer and Christine from Beauty in Real Life are having a giveaway! Click here to take you there!

May is declared National toss your makeup month. What is your tossing habits? Check out Casual Lavish and give your thoughts.

The Beauty of Life finally figures out how to banish undereye circles for good! Check out her two miracle products!

Dealing with those pesky ingrown hairs with Daily Dose of Coffee.

Laurie from Beauty's Spot has a coveted moment's peace with Exhale Massage

Joy from Makeup Junkie gives us the scoop on Fall/Winter beauty trends from Toronto L'Oreal Fashion Week !

Got 10 minutes? Beauty411 reviews Clairol Perfect 10 haircolor and tells you how your haircolor can go from drab to fab!

Kathryn from Budget Beauty Love gives us the lowdown on Cosmetic Outlets.

The Muse discusses Aube's Early Summer Collection of Limited Edition Frutina Glosses and does a mini review of last year's releases!

Discover how pineapple and papaya reveal more radiant skin at A Mom in Red High Heels! Also, enter for your chance to win the product!

Beauty Scoop: Sephora Brand Spring/Summer Launches!

Sephora Brand has many must-have beauty goodies coming out for Spring and Summer! Happy shopping!


Sephora Brand Lush Flush Wine Lip & Cheek Stain ($12)

Tint lips and cheeks with this unique long-lasting stain that mimics a flushed look. Easy to apply and blend, the gel-based formula has a cooling sensation when applied on the skin’s surface.

Sephora Brand Atomic Volume Mascara ($19) – Bat those lashes! With a maximum volume formula and patented brush with rubber bristle technology; this mascara creates the ultimate eye opening drama.

Summer Bronzed Blockbuster ($35) – 24 eyeshadows, 12 lipglosses, 2 blushes, a highlighter and 5 mini brushes make this slim palette perfect for bronzed beauty on the go.

Safari Clear Bag ($6) – With jungle inspired trim, this bag makes it easy to find the beauty product you’re looking for, without digging around.

Safari 3 in 1 Bag ($45) – Three removable pouches in one large bag ensures your beauty regimen is organized. A clear zip pocket keeps essentials on hand.

Safari Pocket Brush Set ($22) – This pocket-sized set contains brush essentials for all those last-minute touch-ups.

Sephora’s NEW Safari Collection will be available in May 2008 at Sephora stores (Calgary, Chinook and Market Mall, Edmonton, West Edmonton Mall, Mississauga, Square One, Scarborough, Town Center, Toronto, Bloor Street, Eaton Center, Yorkdale, Promenade St-Bruno, Fairview Pointe-Claire, Rideau Center, Newmarket) or by calling 1-877-SEPHORA.

Beauty Icon of The Month: Gwen Stefani Chameleon of Style

Ever since No Doubt was introduced to the world, I have always been slightly obsessed with Gwen Stefani. And it seems the rest of the world is too since she's on the March cover of V Magazine (how fierce does she look in V?? love it!) and graces the cover of Flare in April.

Love her music (although Sweet Escape was not my favourite album) and love her unique sounding voice, but its her flawless style and her ability to transform whether it be retro 1950's glamour, avant-garde, bohemian, or rasta/hip-hop inspired. Her platinum hair, flawless porcelain skin, black liquid liner and bold red lips is absolutely Gwen. It's her signature look but I also love seeing her softer more natural side sans liner and red lips.

And how she manages to look amazing while being a mommy with another one on the way, wife, singer-songwriter, business woman with her own clothing line, perfume, shoes, and accessories makes me look lazy (we all know she probably has a village of people helping her!). I love the picture of their stylish family playing in the park, Gwen looking pregnant and gorgeous in her tribal-inspired dress. Whatever Gwen is doing she has definitely made her mark as a beauty icon by taking fashion/beauty risks and staying true to who she is (she ain't no holla back girl!).

images: V Magazine, Flare Magazine, and People.com

L'Oreal Toronto Fashion Week: Fall/Winter 2008 Beauty Trends Part 3 Cont'd!

Photo: L'Oreal Paris head makeup artist Eddie Maleterre perfecting the African-inspired look for GSUS

Fashion week for me is all about the beauty trends. I also love being backstage amongst all the bustle and had a terrific time hanging out seeing everyone work their magic. We saw some creative makeup looks and learned a few hair tricks and saw a few tv personalities. L'Oreal Paris' head makeup artist Eddie Maleterre and L'Oreal's lead hairstylist for Fashion Week, Eric Del Monaco, gives us the scoop on Fall/Winter beauty trends.

Photo: Eddie showing the host of CosmoTV how to wear plums on the eyes for Fall

Eddie Maleterre:

Photo: Makeup look for designer Nada Youssif

Makeup Junkie: Fall/Winter is all about taking beauty risks and throwing out traditional makeup rules. Can you tell us about the two looks for Fall/Winter?
Eddie: There are two different makeup looks. For day it is bare skin, natural foundation, mascara, taupe on the eyes, lipstick in creamy beige. It is very natural and healthy. The second look plays with colour. Smoky eyes are very present in plum, lips are very present in cherry or dark cherry, and not too much blush.

Photo: Eddie's makeup table - I need to try some HIP shadows. The pigments were amazing!

MJ: What product would you suggest every woman have in their makeup bag for next season?
Eddie: L'Oreal Bare Naturale Foundation, very easy to use, skin is always perfect, it's also a mineral foundation. It's magic!

MJ: What is the most important beauty rule every woman should break next season?
Eddie: Play with colour and play with the makeup.

Photo: L'Oreal Fashion Week's lead hair stylist, Eric Del Monaco, doing a look on Slice.ca's L'Oreal Fashion Week correspondent Jamie. Tip: if you have long hair but want the illusion of a cute bob, pin your curls underneath with bobby pins!

Eric Del Monaco:

Makeup Junkie: I’m personally excited that the bob will make a return next season. What is it about the bob that women love or you love?
Eric: We've actually been doing a lot of it in the salon for Spring/Summer. What we're doing for Fall/Winter is sort of a carry over of the bob but we're taking the straight bob and giving it a little bit of a different edge. We're going to do it with a large barrel curling iron with some big huge rollers. So we're taking that beautiful sleek bob say for day wear and we're going to transform it into an evening glamorous wear for night time. It's very simple with some heat activating spray Hot Curls by L'Oreal and either big rollers or a curling iron and just plump it up with your fingers.

MJ: One solid colour is becoming very popular again. What inspired you to move away from highlights?
Eric: I think it's because we've been highlighting hair so much and so often that it's just time to give the hair a break maybe. Monotone colours are going to be very very strong and I think it's just going to be a time for the hair to repair itself a little bit.

MJ: To maintain long-lasting colour and beautiful shine what products do you suggest?
Eric: For colour treated hair that's very very important. A lot of woman make the mistake of spending a lot of money on colouring their hair and then they get a less expensive shampoo that strips the colour. It's so important that if you're hair is chemically treated that you get a shampoo for colour treated hair. I recommend the Colour Vive Pro from L'Oreal Paris for colour treated hair. It is also comes with a once a week deep conditioner.

Photo: Me (looking tired and hair flat!), Eric, and my friend Christine

MJ: Since next season is about breaking traditional beauty rules what is one rule every woman should break next season?
Eric: If you're traditionally wearing the same look for a long time get something new and try something different.

The backstage buzz

Canada's Next Top Model Cycle 1, Rebecca Hardy



Much Music VJ Search Winner, Tim Deegan, getting touched up to strut his stuff for GSUS

Model getting her African-inspired look for GSUS

The finished look

More of the African-inspired look

This was my favourite of all the African-inspired looks for GSUS. It's not wearable for day but cool nonetheless!

Thank you to Eric and Eddie for the fantastic interview! That wraps up my week! My feelings of this season were mixed, but of all the good and bad I loved ending the week on a beauty note. Mid-way during the week I remembered that the beauty and fashion industry can sometimes get ugly and that being nice doesn't get you anywhere. I was ready to release the inner "bitch" in me, but was reminded that it's just not me. I refuse to believe that you have to be ruthless and rude in this industry. There is room for decent and genuine people! Thank you to Margaret and Sonja for taking care of us backstage - it certainly made up for Wednesday's drama! I hope you enjoyed my coverage of Fashion Week and loved reading about the beauty trends! Until next season!

For more coverage on L'Oreal Fashion Week visit the official site here.
For more information on L'Oreal products visit here.
For beauty tutorials from Eddie Maleterre and Eric Del Monaco visit here.

Chick Beauty 101: Bright Hues of Spring Work for Day and Night!

Want to know how you can wear the bright hues of Spring for day and night? Check out my makeup tutorial on Chick Lit called Chick Beauty 101: Bright Hues of Spring Work for Day and Night! Thank you to Michelle, Chick Advisor member, for being my wonderful model!

L'Oreal Toronto Fashion Week: Fall/Winter 2008 Beauty Trends Part 3!

After a disappointing Wednesday night, I was hoping that Thursday would be a better day and it was. I was happy to have the chance again to interview L'Oreal Paris' head makeup artist Eddie Maleterre and lead head hair stylist Eric Del Monaco for L'Oreal Fashion Week on Fall 2008 beauty trends. Beauty is taking on an all new meaning next season. Throw out traditional beauty rules and be inspired by "new-age" beauty looks that will mix a variety of styles and eras. First beauty rule to be broken: focusing on one area of the face. Instead, both eyes and lips will be the focal point next season. Lip liner will also be making a comeback, helping to define the natural curves of the lips creating full, plump lips.

The Trends:


Makeup - Luxurious, jewel-toned hues of plum, that are ultra-feminine and versatile. Muted earthy shades of taupe offer a contrast to the season's opulent hues of plum. Deep black will also be used to accentuate the eyes.

Hair - Rich, deep and monochromatic shades of brunette and blonde. A multi-faceted is created with these monochromatic shades causing subtle highlights to peek through. Must-have hairstyle for the season is a shiny bob that is worn one length or layered and ending either at the chin line or shoulder. Can be worn straight to give a more structured and dramatic look or curled to give a softer more romantic look.

The Look:


Audaciously Natural - Taupe shadow on the eyes, skin is naturally flawless, delicate rose on the cheekbones, naturally voluminous lashes, lips are plump and full using lip gloss in neutral tones. Hair is shiny and healthy in rich tones of brunette or blonde. Lots of texture, the hair is pulled back letting some wisps of hair romantically frame the face.

Naturally Audacious - Complexion pale and flawless with just a hint of blush, two rich-jeweled tones shades of plum are blended onto the lid, black liner lines her top and lower lash line, lashes are defined and lengthened, lip liner gives definition with creamy mauve lipstick to give the perfect pout. Hair is one solid colour, styled with a short texturized bob that ends slightly past the chin and features lots of big beautiful curls.

The Inspiration:


Hazy '50's and '60's inspired cat eye look. The structured and romantic hair styles of the big screen sirens of the 1920's and 1940's. Different eras brought together to bring women into the modernized "new-age" of beauty.

Charcoal greys and matte red lips dominated last Fall so it'll be a nice change to see plums make a return. Plum is such a versatile shade and enhances all eye colours. It'll be interesting to see if women will embrace the comeback of lip liner and make both the eyes and lips the focal point. I never like to limit myself so I'm always up for something different. For hair, I haven't had highlights in a long time and really love having one solid colour. My hair always looks shiny and healthy whereas when I had highlights it looked dry and faded.

Stay tuned for the continuation of Part 3 with my interview with Eddie and Eric and some great backstage photos!

Beauty Fix Weekend Reads: The Beauty Blog Network

Happy Easter everyone! If you have a free moment during the long weekend check out some beautiful reads from The Beauty Blog Network!

SugarShock thinks she may have found her signature scent, and as it turns out, it's the perfect perfume for spring.

The Makeup Divas reviews Mac Fafi Lipsticks.

The Daily Cookie brings you the scoop behind Danity Kane's Welcome to the Dollhouse album cover photoshoot. Check out her exclusive Q&A with makeup artist JJ Jacobucci!

Beauty Anonymous brings you Chanel Limited-edition Highlighting Powders Duo!

A Touch of Blusher picks the top 10 spring 2008 collections.

Mischo Beauty shares a lesson on sun damage and the importance of using sunscreen.

Temtpalia has a weekend getaway you're bound to enjoy at the Pacific Palms Resort & Spa.

Raging Rouge gets her drink on in the only way a pregnant woman can... with tarte Cheek Stain in Tipsy.

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic shows you how to recreate Stila's look from Wayne Lee Fall 2008!

The Beauty of Life finds a way to keep her skin sparkling with Bliss Steep Clean!

Cybelesays checks out the latest in organic fragrances with a new favorite from Tsi~La

Stylish Opinion finds any reason, any reason at all, to try out caffeinated soap.

The Beauty Blog Network interviews new member Mischo Beauty.

Elke shares her fav drugstore beauty products.

Beauty and Personal Grooming tells you to cover your gray with touch-up sticks.

Sure you’re in love with your flat iron, but are your strands silky straight and FLAT? StyleBell shows you how to "http://stylebell.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/hairstyle-how-to-volumizing-straight-strands/ ">Volumize Straight Strands.

Beauty Blogging Junkie has fallen for the crazy spatula-like applicator and holographic shine of this lip gloss by Thierry Mugler

The Muse http://www.beautybloggingjunkie.com/2008/03/plexi-gloss-me-thierry.html >Hauls Heatherette! Check out her first impressions on this new MAC Collection!.

Ever thought about changing your hair because someone else says you should? Mystical Beauty's Musings tells you why you shouldn't in Cutting Long Hair

Savvy Skin realizes most of her favorite skin care and beauty items are Old-School Beauty products.

marina from makeup loves me meets the heatherette boys (pictures included!) and checks out their collaboration with MAC.

Makeup Moxie has a tragic love affair with Sue Devitt Microquatic Lash Line Enhancer

Glossypink has found the pale pink lipstick of her dreams!

Face Candy looks at the new Guerlain Terracotta goodies.

Toya tried the tarte health couture collection and she's feeling healthy, beautiful, and oh so couture!

Product Girl takes a peak at Creative Scentualization's Perfumers Palette.

Pursebuzz.com tries a new look with Heatherette Pigments, check out the video tutorial here!

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog gives you swatches of Chanel's new summer makeup collection, woot!

Spoiled Pretty has found the definitive eyebrow kit. Find out what it is!

Don't miss your chance to enter All Lacquered Up's Sally Hansen Giveaway. You could be one of three winners to receive the Tracey Reese for Sally Hansen Salon line collection.

Beauty Banter gives you a Girls Guide To Concealers... filled with tips and tricks from the makeup pros!

Tag! You're It Courtesy of Yummy 411 and The Beauty of Life!

I love this game! Thank you Kia over at Yummy 411 and Jamie at The Beauty of Life for tagging me! Here are my 5 must-NOT have items and 5 makeup crimes!

My 5 Must-NOT Have Items:

1. Benefit's Eye Bright Pencil. I got some flack for this from a reader saying I wasn't applying the pencil properly. I disagree and hate this product! It may be great for fair skinned people but looked chalky and grey on me. Plus, it gave me a reaction.
2. Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation. I thought I would love this product from some of the good reviews I read, but it made me look too shiny and caused my skin to break out into an itch.
3. M.A.C.'s Tinted Lipglass. I'll probably get flack for this too but I hate these glosses. They are so sticky and the only glosses that give me a crusty white line in my inner lips. My lips always get seriously chapped too. My lips don't have a problem with M.A.C.'s Lip Gelee's or lipsticks though.
4. Philosophy's Hope In A Jar. I haven't done a review on my site yet but I was seriously disappointed with this cult classic moisturizer! It left my skin feeling tight, dry, and smelly - the scent of sweaty socks made me gag. Most women love it but sadly not me!
5. Non-water proof mascara. For me, water-proof is the only mascara that seems to make my lashes curl and doesn't smear. It's hard for me to try different mascaras because most of the time I end up being disappointed. I'd like to dish out money for some higher end brands but once I find a mascara that works I usually stick with it.

My 5 Biggest Makeup Crimes:

1. Sleeping with makeup on! This is the #1 golden rule in beauty and I'm guilty of breaking it once in a while. It's just from pure laziness plus I'm a night hawk and the last thing I want to do late at night is take off my makeup. But I know, I should practice what I preach!
2. Using face wipes to clean my brushes. Don't worry - I only do this with my personal brushes that I use daily! lol Sometimes I'll go up to 2 weeks without washing them (gross!) so I'll use my face wipes and swipe my brush back and forth on it. It's better than nothing right?
3. Peeling my nail polish off. My poor nails. Once the polish starts chipping, I can't help but peel it off or scratch it off with my nails. I end up with nail polish chippings all over myself!
4. Sleeping with fake lashes. So bad I know! I'd love to wear lashes everyday but they're so time consuming at times. I've slept with them on in hopes it'll stay on the next day. Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. I find the strips stay on better than individuals. My poor lashes. No wonder I don't have any!
5. Not drinking enough water. I have not stuck with one of my new year's resolutions to drink up to 8 glasses of water a day. I am seriously lacking and barely manage one! I'm surprised my skin doesn't look/feel like sand paper! I've cut down on my coffee consumption so hopefully that'll help...

Hmm, I'm wondering if that's too much information! lol Now you know my secret beauty bads. It was fun though! Tag, you're it: Ali from Chick Advisor, Sarah from Spa On A Budget, Puckered, Ellen from Lipstick, Powder, 'N Paint, and Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog, and The Life of A Lady Bug! Enjoy!

Beauty Fix Weekend Reads: TotalBeauty.com!

Happy Easter Everyone! If you have some free time over the long weekend read some beautiful reads from around the TotalBeauty.com world!

The Daily Cookie gives us a sneak peak at the highly anticipated Heatherette Collection from M.A.C.!

A Mom In Red Heels makes the LA news during fashion week!

Talking Makeup gives us the 411 on The Warren Tricomi Mini Flat Iron!

Fifty-Centhead makes me drool with Chanel's safari inspired summer collection!

Casual Lavish gives us her standard tossing makeup list and I'm right with her! Will anyone else be doing some Spring makeup cleaning in May?

Budget Beauty Love gives us a pretty eye tutorial with Wet 'n Wild's I-Sparkle!

Jamie from The Beauty of Life is making me wish we had Victoria's Secret in Canada! Check out the awesome gift bag with beauty samples she received!

The Beauty's Spot features the LA Times spotlight on TotalBeauty.com's bloggers that covered Fashion Week! Bloggers in the news is fantastic!

Steeping Beauty tells us how we can win a year's supply of Kiehl's products! I'm there!

Beauty411 tells us why M.A.C.'s Beauty Powder Blushes are a must-have for Spring! She also tells us why M.A.C.'s Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation is not for sensitive skin. Thank you!

Makeup2beauty tells us why makeup artist Linda Mason is the queen of color and gives us the details on Linda Mason's new book Eye Candy, 50 Easy Looks for Glam Lids and Luscious Lashes.

Beauty In Real Life tells us why Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme gets the thumbs down.

Have a beautiful weekend!

L'Oreal Toronto Fashion Week: Wear In The World Part 2

Oh, the drama! This season at Fashion Week my experience was a little different than last season. Because of all the exposure Toronto has been getting from around the world, media passes were very limited and no I was not one of the lucky ones this time around which meant no reserved seat, no swag, and no access to the media lounge. Instead, I was given an Industry pass which was fine until I realized Wednesday that it really was no different than a General pass! The show I really wanted to see, Andy The-Ahn, was ridiculously packed. We got there well ahead of the scheduled time and still couldn't get in! There was room for 20 more people and with my luck 20 stopped at me and my friend. I should have changed my pass to Media when I was given the chance but I had no idea there was a possibility that we wouldn't get in to some shows. It seemed like the Industry line was always the last to be let in. Everything seemed really disorganized that night.

So, there we were at the front of the line watching Andy The-Ahn's show on a flat screen. I was not impressed because some people waiting in the General line were let in over us! I was fuming at that point. We were about to leave when we turned around and saw the long lineup waiting to get in David Dixon's show. We knew if we left our spot we'd definitely miss the next show. So we waited for over an hour until the next show in our heels. When the show was let out, everyone walked by us chatting about how amazing the show was - and it was. Amazing gowns, jewelry - gorgeous! The best part was when some bloggers I knew pretended they didn't see me and walked on by. "I'm not worthy" lol - whatever! Please...

We were pretty confident that we'd be one of the first to get into David Dixon since we were at the front of the line. Ha! Once again Industry was shafted and they even attempted to move Industry people to another line! I explained my frustrations to one of the girls who were all very nice, that we had been standing in line for over an hour and did not think it was right that some people in the General line were let in before us. I was so over it by that point, but finally they let us in and we "scored" some standing room at the edge of the bleachers.

The snowy background with the snow falling from the ceiling set the sombre mood. I loved the beautiful (I apologize for butchering the description!) tree prints on the elegant dresses and jackets.

My favourite accessories were the hats and belts.


The makeup was effortless: natural flawless skin, neutrals on the eyes, softly sculpted cheeks, and deep plum on the lips. Hair was loosely pulled back in a romantic up-do.

I haven't been a fan of plaid since the '90's but I just loved this chic trench in plum, grey and black.
I thought this was an interesting accessory: turtle-neck scarf draped over the dress (again I apologize for the description!). New trend?

The talented David Dixon. It was a fantastic show, but we were so ready to leave. My body was sore after standing for hours and I was still disappointed about missing Andy The-Anh. Oh well, c'est la vie! My whole experience was slightly tainted, but Part 3 definitely made up for it. Stay tuned for my feature on Fall beauty trends!

For more coverage on the shows, visit the official L'Oreal Fashion Week site here.