Archive for » February, 2009 «

Review: CoverGirl Exact Eyelights Eye Brightening Mascara
Friday, February 27th, 2009 | Author:

My beauty philosophy is: cheap doesn’t always mean low quality. There are a few drugstore cosmetics I use every now and then – after all, many of the products are manufactured by the same companies that also produce department store brands. And to be honest, drugstore cosmetics have come a long way – the ingredients are much more skin-friendly, they have nicer packaging and more popular spokesmodels.

Running out of my Hypnose, I had to find another mascara, but when I saw the ad from CoverGirl promoting the new Exact Eyelights Eye Brightening Mascara, I was excited about it. It’s been a long time since I was this excited about a drugstore brand!

The product claims that it contains light-reflecting metallics to brighten the eyes. I tried Black Pearl since I have brown eyes. It costs me only CAD$6.99 – a steal – considering I was paying $29.00 for Lancome’s Hypnose.



Category: Makeup Product Reviews  | Tags: , , , , , ,  | 3 Comments
Showdown: Rose Fragranced Body Creams and Butters
Thursday, February 26th, 2009 | Author:

I love anything rose scented – but it has to smell natural. Having very dry skin, I also need something rich but not too greasy, something that will hydrate for a long time. Having tried almost all rose-scented body creams available, I can give fellow rose-lovers a good run-down of all rose-scented body creams and lotions I am currently using or have tried:



Category: Aromatherapy Associates Brand, L'Occitane, REN, Skin, Hair & Body Care Product Reviews, The Body Shop  | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
New: M.A.C.’s Hello Kitty Collection
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 | Author:

Maybe this is the new trend – for cosmetics to remind us how we were as children. From Barbies to Hello Kitty, 2009 is all about reliving those precious childhood moments!



Category: M.A.C.  | Tags: , ,  | One Comment
Playtime Just Got Prettier: Barbie Loves Stila!
Thursday, February 19th, 2009 | Author:

By now you must have heard – Barbie turns 50 this year! What better way to celebrate her birthday than to have a major cosmetics brand create a cute makeup collection as a tribute?

Each paint can in this collection features a famed Barbie look from the past five decades and all the beauty essentials needed to make it all yours:



Category: Stila Brand  | Tags: , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
Exotic Paradise Collection by Guerlain
Thursday, February 19th, 2009 | Author:

I love Guerlain’s new Spring collection – aptly titled Exotic Paradise, the collection is fun, fresh and very colorful – all in a good way without looking like a clown. Thank God for Guerlain for bringing some wearable fun colors to the market!

Ombre Eclat Eyeshadow Palette in Paradise Exotique is the featured item of the collection Рan eyeshadow quad with four radiant and bronzy hues that can be used alone or mixed together. Each shadow is etched with a bird of paradise and is tucked in a famous compact designed by Herv̩ Van der Straeten. Each of the colors is highly wearable on all skin tones (as seen on model), and I am sure that mixing them would be just as fun as well.



Category: Guerlain  | Tags: , , ,  | Leave a Comment
Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup
Thursday, February 19th, 2009 | Author:

I am having a major Dior moment. When Dior hired Monica Bellucci to be its spokesperson, I find myself unable to resist the temptation to buy its products. With a face and body like that, Bellucci could sell anything!

The latest Dior product of interest is Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup SPF15, a mineral fluid foundation that actually improves your skin over time. This new foundation is made with 100% mineralized pigments, meaning no artificial colorants and dyes, and nearly 40% mineralized micro-droplets of water, it gives a light coverage as it evens out skin tone without appearing cakey or mask-like.



Category: Dior News  | Tags: , , , , ,  | 2 Comments
Le Soin Noir by Givenchy: the $360 cream
Friday, February 13th, 2009 | Author:

Pretty soon, SKII will feel like a mid price range brand! Continuing the expensive creams trend is Givenchy’s Le Soin Noir, which retails at US$360.00 for 1.7 oz.

What justifies the hefty price tag, you ask? The selling point is Black Algae Sap concentrate. It is supposedly very precious, and can restore communication between the skin’s cells. Givenchy’s researchers have developed a method to infuse this potion with a rare black algae extract to help maintain and prolong cellular longevity. Parched skin drinks in the hydration it needs—leaving your complexion firm, glowing, and even-toned.



Category: Givenchy  | Tags: , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
Mirage Spring Mode: 2009 Spring Collection by Shu Uemura
Thursday, February 12th, 2009 | Author:

One of the best cosmetics brands on the planet is Shu Uemura. The legendary pioneer Japanese makeup artist had been in business for decades, since the days of Marilyn Monroe, with his world famous Cleansing Oil (which Marilyn once gave a nice comment on how well it worked), high quality brushes, super photo friendly foundations for use on screen, and amazing point makeup. It is a pity that he passed on last year at the age of 79, but he left a tremendous legacy in the beauty world.



Category: Makeup By Shu Uemura  | Tags: , , ,  | 2 Comments
Spring 2009 Collection by Laneige: Art Play
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 | Author:

The new Spring collection of Laneige makeup is one of the most exciting so far – its collaboration with famous artist Klaus Haapaniemi over the packaging design on the limited edition Art Play collection will for sure wow fans!

The colors in this collection (continuing the Snow Crystal theme) are not pinks or fuchsias, but rather, lavender. The most attractive item in this collection is Art Play Dual Face, a highlighting cream that adds shimmer to your face to play up your bone structure.



Category: AmorePacific Company  | Tags: , , , , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
What’s New: Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder & Spring Collection
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 | Author:

Ladies plagued by sensitive, red skin can seek relief from Clinique’s new Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder! While Benefit has a similar product (Buff Dust) that will buffer the redness, this one will supposedly provide a more skin soothing relief than just superficial skintone correction.

What it is:

“Unique mineral treatment measurably reduces redness on contact. It’s lab-certified. Under its care and cover, visible redness and broken capillaries virtually disappear—instantly and for hours. Patent-pending formula helps skin “keep its cool.” Oil-free, talc-free. With anti-bacterial brush. Appropriate for skins with mild-to-moderate persistent or reactive redness.”



Category: Clinique  | Tags: , , ,  | Leave a Comment
Roseflower makeup: 2009 Spring Collection by The Body Shop
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 | Author:

I haven’t used The Body Shop products since my student days, but this collection is very attractive to me, mostly because I love the scent of roses! The Body Shop has come a long way since Lady Di’s days. The makeup is trendy and well priced, sort of mid-range, so it’s not too cheap to be dismissed and not too expensive to be unattainable, a very good starting point for most people.



Category: The Body Shop  | Tags: , , ,  | Leave a Comment
Spring 2009 Collection by Maquillage
Friday, February 06th, 2009 | Author:

Maquillage, perhaps the most successful and popular makeup brand from Shiseido, continues its strong marketing campaign by using successful actresses and models. Absent from the 2009 lineup is my personal favorite, Misaki Ito, but I am pleasantly surprised to see Taiwanese model Pace Wu joining the team.



Category: Makeup by Shiseido  | Tags: , , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
Blossoming Pink: Jill Stuart 2009 Spring Collection
Wednesday, February 04th, 2009 | Author:

Continuing the floral trend is Kose’s star brand Jill Stuart. The new 2009 Spring collection called Blossoming Pink contains lots of corals, plums and pinks. The gorgeous packaging aside, the quality of Jill Stuart cosmetics will meet all your expectations, since it is produced by Kose.



Category: Jill Stuart Beauty  | Tags: , ,  | Leave a Comment
Spring Translucence: Spring 2009 Collection by RMK
Wednesday, February 04th, 2009 | Author:

Inspired by the beauties of the wild flowerbed, RMK brings the translucent and delicate gradation of colours from the spring bloom to life with the new 2009S/S “Spring Translucence”. The look is a fresh, light and very Spring look, natural yet fun.

The key item of the collection is RMK Translucent Cheeks & Eyes, a multi-purpose little compact.



Category: rmk  | Tags: ,  | Leave a Comment
Fuchsia Now: Spring 2009 Collection by Estee Lauder
Monday, February 02nd, 2009 | Author:

Why I love the Spring collections so much is that there are so many possibilities! While Bobbi Brown and Dior are sporting a light, blushed pink look, Estee Lauder’s new collection is all about a bolder, more vibrant look — fuchsia.



Category: Estee Lauder  | Tags: , ,  | One Comment
Now Widely Available: Nutritious Makeup By Estee Lauder
Monday, February 02nd, 2009 | Author:

Just 2 weeks after my post about Estee Lauder’s Nutritious line not being widely available in North America, the makeup line has now become available on esteelauder.com! Even though only 2 items (foundation and loose powder) are available, it is an encouraging sign.

The Vita-Mineral Makeup (both formulas) is an invisible, natural makeup that is oil free, gentle (even on sensitive skin), fragrance free, non-acnegenic, and powered by pomegranate (which is the main selling point of this line). It also contains Vitamins A, C and E, which, combined with pomegranate, becomes a super potent anti-oxidant cocktail.

Both formulas come with an SPF15 and are mineral-based. As makeup, what more can you ask for?



Category: Estee Lauder  | Tags: , , , ,  | Leave a Comment
New 2009 TV commercial for Etude House
Sunday, February 01st, 2009 | Author:


Category: Brand and Product Commercials  | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,  | 2 Comments