Style Flash! Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani Sheer #614

Giorgio Armani is well known for his chic clean lines and is known to be one of the worlds most influential fashion designers.  But clothing is not the only thing he excels in, he also does cosmetics very well! 

One of Giorgio's latest 2014 cosmetic collection is called Effetto Nudo, which is described as both feminine and captivating, reinvented in modern romanticism. 

This collection boasts beautiful tones of nude and sheer luminous color! Sounds amazing right?!

One of the more captivating colours that caught my eye is #614: Plum nude.  This is a deep nude mauvy plum tone that will compliment any skin tone!  

Keep your eyes open for this in January 2014!! 

Pantone 2014 Color of the year!

So exciting!  Pantone has announced their 2014 color of the year and it is......Radiant Orchid!! 

Radiant orchid is described as “An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”

This colour could only mean a bright and beautiful 2014! 

Pantone talks about these colors and what they mean for beauty and fashion:
 
Radiant Orchid for Fashion
Radiant Orchid’s rosy undertones radiate on the skin, producing a healthy glow when worn by both men and women. A dazzling attention-getter, Radiant Orchid permeated the runways during the spring 2014 fashion shows and is already making its way onto the red carpet. Fashion designers featured in the PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2014, including Emerson by Jackie Fraser-Swan, Juicy Couture and Yoana Baraschi, are incorporating Radiant Orchid into their spring collections and variations of this hue will carry into men’s and women’s clothing and accessories throughout next year.
 
Radiant Orchid for Beauty
A modern and surprisingly versatile shade, Radiant Orchid enlivens the skin, making all who wear it feel more healthy and energetic. Blending both cool and warm undertones, purple is an appealing hue for distinctive combinations and flattering to many hair, eye and skin tones.

These colors have already been seen on the runways from Salvatore Ferragamo, Max Mara, Missoni and even Gucci has an orchid colored bag out.

This is a win for beauty lovers everywhere as this color is flattering for most skin tones.  
 
Have fun with the orchid lipsticks, blush and eye shadows everyone!!

Cream Foundation. Good for all skin types!

When thinking about what type of foundation you want to buy, most people tend to go towards liquid or powder formulas.  But what about the cream foundations?  They provide great coverage but people tend to be afraid to go in this direction. 

Why is it good and how can I use it? It's good because it provides you with a full coverage finish.    Believe it or not, mixing a cream foundation with a primer is a sure fire way to ensure the application is flawless!  Just mix a bit of primer with a bit of foundation and apply.  It will be light, full coverage and stay on all day!

If you're oily, use a damp sponge or Beauty Blender.  This ensures that you are picking up only the pigment and not the oils from the product.  Stipple it on for an airbrushed finish.   Finish it off with a lose or pressed finishing powder.

If you're dry, simply use a foundation brush (synthetic fiber brushes work well for this.  My favorite is the MAC 193) and buff it into your skin using circular movements.

 

 

Gluten Free, Natural makeup products

 If you're one of those people who react to everything and anything you put on your skin, you might want to try switching to natural products. One of the best I've tried to date is by a brand called True Natural. True Natural carries a high end line called Lavera as well as a more affordable line called Benecos. Both lines carry a wide variety of makeup and skin care products. You can find these products at The Big Carrot as well as Natures Emporium. Check out their website for full ingredient listings.

Stay tuned for more posts about these products!

Heat protection hair products

As a self proclaimed "Curly Girl",  I'm always on a mission to find good products for my over processed, over worked hair.   Since I straighten my hair regularly, I've always been good about using a heat protector spray.  For years I've used Chi Iron Guard and have LOVED it!!  It's helped maintain the health of my hair as well as protected it against the humidity which is a nightmare to any curly or wavy girls. 
Since moving, Chi has been harder to get a hold of since it's not sold everywhere so I started to try different products that are easier to get my hands on.  The first one I tried was TRESemme vitamin enriched heat tamer spray.  I was NOT a fan of this one.  I didn't  like how it made my hair feel dry after blowdrying and I didn't feel like it protected against the elements of nature. 
The second one I tried was L'Oreal Elnett Satin. I loved the scent of this one as well as the creaminess of the formula.  When put to the test, it truly didn't hold up.  I didn't like the texture of my hair after blowdrying it and it didn't prevent my hair from getting frizzy. 

So the conclusion of this post is that I will be going back to my Chi Iron Guard no matter how far I have to drive to get it. 

I had the opportunity to collaborate with Graeme at Enchanted Forrest Productions on a makeup tutorial video.  Have a look at how I created a dramatic smokey eye.  

 

 

Fall beauty must-have's

For most of us beauty obsessed girls, a new season means another reason to stock up on more makeup! 
Let's talk fall/winter 2013 2014 beauty.  If there's one thing fashion week teaches us, it's what's going to be hot for the upcoming seasons.  This years New York fashion week has taught us the following:

Brows - It's all about the brows for the season. Bushy/groomed/ thick/ thin, doesn't matter! More emphasis will be on the brows. This was very evident at Versace and Victoria Beckham's runway shows. 

Wine coloured lips- It looked like wine stained lips were the trend on the runways.  Lanvin and Vera Wang featured these amazing bold looks that brought a richness and bold feminity to their shows.

Purple shadow- Let's be careful with this ladies!  Purple shadow seems to be all the rage for fall and when done right, can really make any outfit pop!  Jason Wu showed us how to do it right!

Smokey eye- Seems like the smokey eye is always in style but you can definintely expect it to stick around for another few seasons!   Cavalli and Marc Jacobs were definitley spotlighting the smokey eye for their shows. 

Toners - Necessary or not?

There's really no yes or no answer to this one.  Toners can be beneficial if used correctly.  When you wash your face, there's bound to be a little residue left over.  Toners can help remove that residue and dead skin cells.  The best way to use a toner and ensure it's benefitting your skin is to apply it on moist skin. When you apply a product on moist skin, it helps the product penetrate your skin more rapidly.  Same goes for moisturizers etc. 
The moral of this story is that if you plan on using a toner, use one with good ingredients.  Avoid toners with alcohol, even if you have oily skin.  Pictured are some great toners if you plan on trying one as part of your skin care regimen.

Diva nails!!

So OPI has teamed up with none other than the amazing Mariah Carey to create 8 diva-licious colors, 4 of which are liquid sand polishes. So what is liquid sand?  It's a super textured polish infused with glitter that dries matte. 
The colors are amazing.  My faves are Anti-Bleak, a super rich purple and A Butterfly Moment, which is a pretty soft pink shade with a touch of gold shimmer.

Spring trend alert!

So being that it’s exceptionally cold out, it’s only right that we talk spring! Here are some trends to look out for and even start shopping for this spring.
Black and white: As seen on the runways of Marc Jacobs and Celine fashion shows, it looks like we’re going to go back to basics with black and white contrast pieces.
On the flip side, it looks like pattern and texture mixing will be all the rage.
Frills!! According to such designers as Balenciaga and Gucci, ruffles will be big...literally. From ruffled necklines to hemlines, stock up on some feminine frills!
Lightweight fabrics: Materials such as chiffon and organza are going to continue to be a big trend. Don’t put those chiffon tops away too quickly, you can still rock them throughout the spring at least!!

Just a few trends to look out for this spring!

green with envy

So I'm a little late with this post but earlier this month Pantone announced their 2013 colour of the year. This year, the title went to Emerald green. Here's what Pantone had to say about Emrald:

Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. Also the color of growth, renewal and prosperity, no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity.

Product review

Kat Von D Lock-it Tattoo Foundation.

The promise: A high-pigment foundation for full coverage with a long-lasting, beautiful finish.

Review: so I've been wearing this foundation all week and I'm sold! If you have acne scars, discolouration or any other skin problems, this foundation will be your best friend! It's light, highly pigmented and very well priced at $41 a bottle.