Fall Beauty Review 2011: Chanel Why Do I Love You So? Let Me Count The Ways...


You had me at Chanel. Whether it's the clothes, bags (my dream purse!), shoes, or makeup the iconic brand instantly commands your complete adoration. Since the makeup is the only thing my fingers can grasp, hold, and afford (and barely at that!), I shall swoon over this utterly beautiful collection Illusions D'Ombres De Chanel. This is definitely one of the must-haves of the season. Fall in love with shimmering rich shades and creamy textures in the most gorgeous colours.


Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eye Shadow ($36 USD): When the fall or winter season rolls around we immediately think smoky eye, but too much smoke during the day might still feel/look out of place. If you love sporting a smoky eye, but can't stand the stares at 8 in the morning on the subway, you will LOVE these long-wearing shadow/liners from Chanel. It's a gel-formula, but the texture is very much like a creamy, spongey mousse if that makes sense. It's ultra soft to the touch and applies so easily to the eye. They make for a quick smoky eye because you can quickly apply with a flat brush or finger, smudge in a black liner, add mascara and you have a sexy yet subtle eye you can wear during the day. You can also wear layer underneath a powder shadow for more depth. It also lasts longer too. On its own and with a primer, it wears really well all day without fading or creasing.

I received Illusoire (smoky purple-lavender with grey-silver undertones), Emerveille (soft peachy champagne with brown undertones), and Epatant (smoky khaki green). All have a shimmery finish. Depending on how much colour you want to show, the shadow can be a simple wash to intensely smoky. Emerveille can be worn as an everyday base or as a highlighter on medium-dark skin tones. My favourite is Illusoire by far though. On my skin tone, the purple shows more and makes my brown eyes pretty. Epatant, however, is definitely this season's "it" shade. I love this shade as well because the khaki undertones make it a very wearable neutral.

Each shadow comes with a handy little shadow/liner brush that was designed specifically for this shadow. I prefer to use this brush to line the eyes rather than as a shadow brush because it's pretty tiny.

Overall, I'm a big fan especially since I love anything I can just rub on the eye quickly and have it still look amazing. If time is not your friend, these shadows will be! Available in 6 shades. 

Chanel Le Vernis in Graphite ($25 USD): How can a brand command such a hefty price tag on a nail polish? Chanel is a trendsetter which explains why fashionistas and beauty lovers everywhere bite their nails in anticipation for the shade of the season. Graphite looks silvery from the bottle but when you apply it looks more khaki green with gold and silver flecks. It's such a fantastic shade that just sparkles! Available in 3 shades.

Have you tried Chanel's fall 2011 collection? Love it? Hate it? Want it? What were your favourites?


Products were sent for editorial consideration and I truly love them.

Beauty Review: Hello Kitty Apple Balm and Liquid Nail Art


Hello Kitty is Pretty in Pink!

It’s difficult not to like anything Hello Kitty. It really brings out the inner child in me so I was really
excited to try out these super cute products!

The first I tried was the Hello Kitty Apple Balm. The consistency is perfect in my opinion – thick enough
to stay put for a couple hours, glossy and really soothes your pout. In its adorable apple shaped bottle, it
looks like it’s meant to be a simple coloured gloss. Much to my surprise, it actually contains strawberry,
grape seed and apple extracts which are rich in polyphenols, vitamin C, and other antioxidant
properties.

The colour is rich for a gloss and it definitely hydrated my lips. It’s a great daytime product, especially as
the weather starts to cool off and our lips need a little more TLC.


The second Hello Kitty product I tried was the Liquid Nail Art in Pink Sprinkles. The bottle is shaped
like Hello Kitty and the colour makes it look super girly. This lacquer is formulated without toluene,
formaldehyde, or DBP which is a plus. It also comes in a variety of other pastel shades.

Application was a breeze, and since the base colour is clear, it can be applied quickly without worrying
about staying in the lines. It dried relatively quickly, and since one coat wasn’t enough in the sparkle
factor for me, I applied a second coat and it looked much better.

This product claims that it is anti-chip, and is sure to last a long time. However, on my nails it started
chipping the next day which is a little disappointing considering the price point. It was cute while it
lasted!


  • Apple Balm - 0.22 oz for $9
  • Liquid Nail Art - 0.304 oz for $10
 Have you tried any Hello Kitty products yet? How do you feel about sparkly polish?


by Brooke

Products were sent for editorial consideration.

Beauty Review: What's round, cute, and keeps your lips smooth? eos Organic Lip Balm!


I'm kind of late getting on the eos (evolution of smooth) bandwagon. How did I not try these lovely lip balmies before?? I think I will have to end things with my beloved Korres Guava Lip Butter - I know, the horror! There are just too many reasons why eos is better. Don't get me wrong - Korres Lip Butter is amazing - but eos is 100% all natural and organic, free of petrolatum and parabens, is much more affordable at $3.29 USD, and comes in this adorable round sphere that you glide on your lips rather than finger dipping.

I have the Honeysuckle Honeydew flavour which is so yummy! My lips always feel incredibly smooth and stay chapped-free for hours. If you're a lip balm junkie like me this is definitely one to hoard! 

Have you tried eos Organic Lip Balm Sphere? Love it? Hate it? Want it? 


Product was sent for editorial consideration and I truly love it.

Fall Beauty Review: Lash Love Ardell #318


Lash love alert! Ardell #318's Lash Accents  have quickly become my favourite pair of falsies. As a makeup artist, half lashes make my job that much easier. For the longest while I was using a feathery pair from Quo and I was always cutting them in half to fit my clients eye. With Ardell's new half lashes, you just apply the glue and position on the outer edge and it's done! The results are gorgeous - naturally full lashes. The feathery finish makes it very voluminous and natural looking. Your eyes will stand out without looking over the top. No one will ever know you're wearing a pair of faux lashes and that's what you want right?

Here is one of my gorgeous bridesmaid I used these lash lovlies on! Don't her eyes look amazing?? I'll be stocking my kit with more #318's! Here's a great site to buy in bulk: www.madamemadeline.com.


Have you tried Ardell's #318's? What are your favourite pair of falsies? 


Product was sent for editorial consideration and I truly love them.

Fall Beauty Trend 2011: Brow How

Photo Source: Style.com Alexander Wang F/W 2011

Move over bright lips and smokey eyes, in-your-face brows are this season's star. A nice, full brow never goes out of style for me though. Full brows help frame your face while thin brows just age you. Seen at Alexander Wang the full brow is bold, dark and a bit extreme especially when the rest of the face is bare. Here are some star products and key tips to achieving a full yet natural brow!


Stila All Day Waterproof Brow Color in Medium ($27 CAD): Where have you been all my life?? Because my hair is so dark, I tend to use shadows as my brow colour because I can never find anything to match properly. They are either too heavy, too dark, too grey, or have a reddish undertone.

Stila's brow colour is waterproof and seriously stays on until I take my makeup off. I got to test this while it was still hot out and humid out. The results: perfectly full brows that didn't fade or melt in the heat. I was a little skeptical when I saw the shade because it looks like a soft brown-black. But when I applied it to my brows, it actually looked like my brow colour. It really blended in nicely which I was really surprised about. The soft point allows you to mimic the way your brows naturally grow. Apply gently using upward strokes. Use it to fill in all over or just in sparse areas.

Avon Brow Gel in Clear ($6 USD): When left natural, my brows are coarse, straight, bushy, and long. It's just a hairy mess. I need to pluck, cut and use a gel to keep these puppies in place. Avon has a great, inexpensive brow gel in Clear that keeps my brows feeling soft yet locks them in. I love brow gels because they just enhance the overall shape of your brows and make everything look neat and in place. Use a brow gel to finish the brows after you've filled them in. 

Are you hot on the brow trend? What are your go-to brow products? 

Products were sent for editorial consideration and I truly love them.

Best of the Emmy's 2011


Best in Red: Red was clearly the colour of the night. After the 5th red dress I was kind of bored of the fashion choices. However, Lea Michelle in Marchesa and Kate Winslet in Elie Saab wore the red dress the best. The other red dresses had too much going on. The overall design of the Marchesa dress was simple, but the embellished shoulders and bare back added that elegant chic touch. Kate's dress hugged her curves beautifully and the deep v was just enough to make her stand out. 

Photo Source: justjared.com

Best Makeup: Glee star, Diane Aragon, knows how to rock a smokey eye. I thought the majority of women wore pretty yet simple makeup. Diane wasn't scared to step out of the neutrals and wore a blue smokey eye. It was also super hot on the red carpet, but you'd never know just by looking at Diane's makeup. No shine or melting makeup!


Best in Black: Choosing a black dress can be seen as playing it safe. Evan Rachel Wood's Elie Saab dress was anything but. If you're going to wear black why not add some sparkle? I love the embroidery on this dress and love the way Elie Saab dresses hug the body.

Photo Source: justjared.com

Best Emmy Moment: Melissa McCarthy winning her first emmy for Best Actress in a Comedy (Mike & Molly) was the moment of the night. Amy Poehler (love her!) walked up to the stage after her name was announced and all the nominees after followed suit. It was such a Miss America moment and was just hilarious to watch. Melissa McCarthy is such a doll and definitely deserved to win.

What were your "Best" choices of the night?

Get the Look: Madge TIFF Red Carpet Glamour

Photo Source: justjared.com

It is TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) madness in Toronto which means Fall is just around the corner!

Madge may be a diva but she knows how to rock red carpet glamour! Always a classic look, her 1940's makeup style is big again for the fall season.

Get the Look: 


Clockwise: 

Lancome Les Oeillades Eye and Brow Palette in Blondette Fatale ($54 CAD): French style is all about timeless and classic style. Nothing says timeless than this eye and brow palette in neutral tones. The palette features two matte shadow and 2 shimmery shades. I love this palette for its versatility and no-brainer application. 

For this look, apply the lighter shimmery tones across the lid and to highlight. Sculpt the eyes with the medium matte tone. Dampen an angled liner brush with water or a transforming liquid for longer wear and use the dark matte shade to line your eyes. To give it a dramatic flirty effect, wing out the liner. Don't forget to fill your brows in! Brows are back for fall (but full brows never go out of style). Use the same palette to fill in your brows with a brow brush. Use soft strokes to give you a natural feather effect.

Lancome Art Liner in Noir ($37 CAD): Lancome's Art Liner has received rave reviews. If you really want the eyes to stand out and add some serious drama liquid liners in a deep black will do the trick. I like lining the eyes with a powder shadow as a guide and then applying a liquid liner on top. Saves you from making a mess and starting over. 

Lancome Le French Touch Absolu in Saint-Honore ($40 CAD): LOVE the gold casing of this lipstick! It's reminiscent of the luxe packaging from the '40's. You'll love the compact size also. Don't worry, it's small on the outside, but regular size lipstick on the inside. Saint-Honore is a pure red that is totally glam and was inspired by the first true red Lancome created called "Shaker" back in 1945.

To get the perfect pout, line the lips with a red lip liner and fill in all over. With a lip brush, apply the lipstick. Blot with a tissue and reapply lipstick again. For a stain effect, press into the lips with your finger.


Lancome Maison Lancome Long-Lasting Blush (LE, $48 CAD): Love. This gorgeous blush deserves to be showcased on its own. Thank you Aaron De May and Lancome for giving me Paris in a compact. I don't even want to use this because the detail is so beautiful! Embossed in the blush is the streetlight lamp and cobblestone outside of the historical Lancome Maison 29 Faubourg Saint-Honore. The soft rose with a bit of gold softly brightens and contours the face, perfect when paired with bold lips. This is a definite collector's item! If you dare to use, swirl colours all together or use shades separately to add colour and sculpt.

Who are your favourite TIFF beauties? Have you tried Lancome's fall collection? Love it? Hate it? Want it?


Products were submitted for editorial consideration and I truly love them.