Lancôme Holiday 2013 - Rose Étincelle Highlighter and Étincelle de Neige Vernis in Love nail polish

Lancôme's Holiday 2013 collection is a small one, but it sure as heck doesn't lack for impact. "Inspired by twinkling lights and wintery whites", the sparkle of the season is the defining feature for all the items.

The stand-out piece is, of course, the Rose Étincelle Highlighter.

It is, without a doubt, a stunner. A shimmery silver-pink stunner, with the classic Lancôme rose design. Looking at it from the side, it makes me think of freshly fallen snow. You know, the kind that sparkles like diamonds, when the air is super-crisp and the sun is shining.

The top layer is extra-frosty with silver micro-glitter, which can be brushed away to reveal the pink-hued shade beneath. (Note: The glitter will be EVERYWHERE for a little while. It's the most tenacious fairy dust ever. You can see in the picture below that I wan't able to get rid of it all and it kept sprinkling the casing.)

The exterior packaging looks like the basic black Lancôme casing, but at the right angle, it actually reveals the iconic Lancôme rose. It's a small detail, one that might escape notice, but it's that kind of special touch that elevates a beauty product. At least in my eyes.

(Apologies for the slight fuzziness of the picture, it was really difficult to capture the rose design otherwise.)

The texture is lovely - soft and dense, it can be applied quite opaquely if you wish, or as a soft silvery pink haze with a soft brush. It works well for highlighting anything, be it the inner corner of the eye, on the cheekbone, the collarbones.

Without the sparkly top layer, it's still quite heavy on the shimmer and so something I would reserve for evening looks (though if I could get away with looking like a fairy princess for work, I would wear this like spackle, I kid you not). Worn at night, though, it is exquisite and would work well for both holiday and New Year's Eve looks.

The other item in the collection that I was sent to try is the Vernis in Love in Étincelle de Neige.

This is so intensely pretty! It picks up again on that sparkly, fresh snow effect. Like crushed diamonds coating my nails. A ton of off-white shimmer that flashes teeny blue and pink and yellow glimmers at certain angles (which was absolutely impossible to capture in a picture).

It's beautiful as is, but if you don't like the textured feel, several layers of top coat can be added (which will only increase the insane sparkle factor). Personally I like the 'bare' look. It's also quite opaque, so while you can layer it over another polish, I think it works best on its own. Here I did two coats.

The application was smooth and easy, and the flat but curved brush is perfect for my nail bed. It took a little bit of elbow grease to get off, but worth it because...

...I was very pleasantly surprised by how long this lasted on my nails - a full WEEK. For me, that's unheard of. When I got some wear at the tip, I even tried chipping it off and couldn't get much. I only wish it came in a larger size, as the bottle is only 6ml. I think I'm going to need a back-up bottle (or twelve), and I'm going to have to track down the Étincelle d'Argent, which appears to be sold out on the website.

Availability: At www.lancome.ca, as well as The Bay, and select Pharmaprix/SDM and Murale locations. Price is  52$ CAD for the highlighter, 16$ for the nail polish.

Pros: Great texture and pigmentation, variable with application method, on the highlighter. Gorgeous packaging and design. Nail polish is opaque and very resistant to chipping. Both are insanely pretty and perfectly suit the inspiration of "twinkling lights and merry whites".

Cons: The glitter on the highlighter is a bit messy initially. The nail polish takes a bit of work to remove, and is smaller than the average nail polish bottle.

Have you guys tried any of these? I was really stunned by how much I loved the nail polish.

(These items were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated. All opinions are my own.)

OPI Holiday 2013 Mariah Carey - The Look: My Favorite Ornament, Visions of Love, I Snow You Love Me

The OPI Holiday collections are always a fun mix of the classic (lots of red and burgundy shades) and the bling-tastic (glitter....glitter as far as the eye can see). This year is no different, and as the collection was inspired by Mariah Carey, the reds seem all that more saturated, and the shimmers all that more sparkly.

I had a chance to try three shades from the collection that are also sold as a three-pack gift set of full-size bottles called The Look: My Favorite Ornament (champagne glitter), Visions of Love (rich burgundy) and I Snow You Love Me (holographic confetti).

My Favorite Ornament - This is, BY FAR, one of my favourite glitters. It is incredibly saturated with champagne gold glitter, so much so that a single coat is almost enough. (I'm wearing two on the pictures below.) Yet it doesn't feel thick or clumpy. The glitter is just that fine and dense. Application was easy as well, I just made sure my first coat was dry. This can by worn with or without a topcoat, depending on your preference, but if you like a traditionally glossy finish you'll need to do several layers. I did just one coat here, to emphasize the sparkle.

It doesn't look too dimensional in the bottle, but applied to the nails it has an almost holographic depth. Under light, it's like looking at millions of teeny tiny diamonds. It glows.

Utterly gorgeous.

(Wear time was surprisingly good too, three days without a chip, which for me is equal to probably a week on anyone else.)

Visions of Love: This is a blackened burgundy. At one coat it looks like merlot, with two it's vampy and rich. At three, like I have in these pictures, it's near black. This is not an innovative shade, but a well-done classic, with a smooth, medium texture, a glossy finish and generally good application. The slightest tendency to pool a bit at the cuticles, but not in a way that stands out for a shade like this.

It also makes for a great base for...

I Snow You Love Me: Round holographic confetti in a fairly thick clear base. I love the way these catch the light and transform a classic shade into something funky. Unlike a lot of chunky glitters, this lies flat and smooth to the nail.

The biggest challenge for a shade like this getting an even distribution of the confetti on the nail. I did have to go fishing, and rested the confetti I caught on the inner lip of the bottle. Once I had a few collected that way, I could pick them up with the brush. It's a bit of work, but the effect is fun, especially if you're only going to do an accent nail. It can be a discreet and office-friendly way of adding some holiday cheer to your manicure.

Availability: Currently at Trade Secrets and salons in Canada, as well as at www.nailpolishcanada.com. The suggested retail price for the The Look is 24.95$ CAD, and prices for individual bottles of the Holiday collection are about 8.95$ CAD.

Pros: Gorgeous, glowing glitter on My Favorite Ornament, and easy to apply. Good wear. Well-done classic for Visions of Love. Beautiful, well-behaved holographic confetti. Good variety of shades in the pack, classic to vivacious.

Cons: Getting the confetti applied evenly takes some work, especially if you are looking for a particular placement. Thicker base can make edges look a bit gloopy if you're not careful.

(Items provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated. All opinions are my own.)

Benefit Brow Bar at Sephora and Gimme Brow Review

Several weeks ago I had the chance to be at the opening of the Benefit Brow Bar at the Sephora in Quartier Dix30 in Brossard. This was one of the very first Brow Bars that opened in Canada, and Benefit threw a nice shin-dig (slightly less raucous than a hootenanny) to celebrate the event. There were delicious pink cupcakes and, perhaps more importantly, demonstrations of the services that are now being offered in select Sephoras across the country. :P

The Brow Bar station, right next to the Benefit gondola.

The services range from tweezing or waxing (eyebrows and lip) to eyebrow tinting, and are performed by a Sephora cast member that has been trained by Benefit in their system, and certified as an arch expert. During quiet periods, they can possibly accommodate walk-ins (assuming the specialist is in), but it's always best to book an appointment. 

This is a paid service, so of course there is no pressure to purchase anything. (Though what I love about Sephora is that the cast members - and many of the LVMH-owned brand reps - aren't beholden to quotas or commission, so it's the most enjoyable makeup consultation you're likely to have.)

A list of services, translated:
brow waxing 23$
brow tweezing 23$
brow tinting 20$
brow waxing and tinting 36$
lip waxing 14$
brow and lip waxing 32$
brow waxing and tinting, and lip waxing 45$

My eyebrows were actually in pretty good shape, so I had a "dry" run through of the process, as the expert explained the process she would use to find and define my natural brow shape and arch, and how she would then use either wax or tweezers to shape and refine it.

I really love that they offer brow tinting as well! One of the easiest things you can do to look more youthful and alive is to lightly darken your eyebrows. Hair colour fades with age (at the same time that skin becomes more dull) and it's that lack of contrast that can look particularly aging. And of course if you dye your hair a wildly different colour, a good brow tint helps sooooo in making the shade look more like your own.

They use a gentle brow dye that lasts a few weeks before fading gently away.

Prepping the brow dye.

The lovely and stunningly photogenic Cynthia Dulude from Maquillage Cynthia was the blogger guinea pig for the brow tinting process, which she pronounced a success! (And by the by, do check out her youtube channel - she is a pro MUA and has some fantastic tutorials and reviews.)

Cynthia Dulude, getting her brow on.

I didn't get my brows done, but I was indeed wowed by the bar. :P

I also had a chance to meet Rema Gouyez (the Benefit Digital Marketing Coordinator) in person, and she is indeed as sweet, funny and generous as you would imagine from her tweets and The Burgundy Book blog. And DEAR LORD can the woman wear a punchy lip, or what??

And what Montreal event would be complete without these ladies?? Gorgeous and fashionable as always: Chloé Dumont from The Fashion Red Fox and Katia from Lapiz of Luxury.

A fantastic time was had, and thank you again to Benefit and Rema for the evening!

Along with a first-hand experience of the Brow Bar, I also had the chance to try one of Benefit's star products: Gimme Brow.

Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Deep

This is essentially a lightweight fiber gel that adds both colour and volume to the brow hairs. Like a mascara, it builds on the hairs you already have to create a fuller, more filled-in effect. It also helps to groom them into place, but the texture is natural, not crunchy-stiff. If you have significant gaps, you will still need to fill with your choice of pen, pencil or powder, but otherwise this is a fast, easy way to add some fullness and definition. I love that the brush is small and pointed, which really gives a lot of control and precision, and that the gel isn't thick or stiff, which, again, helps to keep the effect natural looking.

Gimme Brow currently only comes in two shades (Light/Medium and Medium/Deep), and both lean a little ashy - which is excellent for most eyebrows.

My brows aren't especially wimpy, and they generally have a good shape. I am prone to some sparseness and "spikiness" at the inner corner, however, and Gimme Brow fills in and tames those hairs without ever looking overdone. The effect is clean and polished, though if your preference if for a thicker look, you can of course build it up a lot more than I do.

I find myself reaching for Gimme Brow with the same frequency I do mascara. Both are in the same business of making a face look more "done", with minimum effort. My laziness + high-performing product = AWESOMENESS. Well worth the 26$ CAD.

Natural brows, brushed more or less into place.
Other makeup: Lancome Teint Visionnaire foundation.

Gimme Brow applied lightly to the inner two thirds of the brows.
Other makeup: Lancome Teint Visionnaire foundation.

So! Have any of you tried out the Brow Bar services? Or Gimme Brow? 

Thoughts? Feelings? Haikus?

(Item provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated. All opinions are my own.)

Giorgio Armani Kaleidoscope Collection Fall 2013 - Scarabeo Face and Eye Palette #2 Venomous Green

There are so makeup products that have you at hello. The Scarabeo Face and Eye Palette from Giorgio Armani's Fall collection was just such an item. I stopped by the Neiman Marcus at Garden State Plaze on my drive back from New York earlier this fall, intending to stretch my legs and poke around for a few minutes. I ended up at the Giorgio Armani counter, trying to avoid the slightly-too-aggressive SA by taking great interest in one of the displays, when this beautiful palette caught my eye.

I was actually, literally, knocked a step back. It was just that beautiful. I felt like I was looking at the makeup equivalent of a mermaid, all golden green and pink shimmers. I knew I had to have it, no questions asked. (I identify strongly with my Pisces sign, and when something gives a Pisces the mermaid vibe, you GET IT.)

In retrospect, I probably should have at least asked for the price, because 88$ is quite a bit, even for something that went straight to my beauty soul like this did.

The top portion is a blush in the shade Light Pink. I don't think the name really captures the colour - it's more of a warm pink with a very subtle undertone of plum. Just enough to make this a little duskier than hues of this nature usually are. There is a fine golden shimmer that doesn't look sparkly one applied. It creates a beautiful glow, but can emphasize pores and texture if you bring it too far forward on your face. Applied to the cheekbones, it does double-duty as a blush and highlighter.

It also has an incredibly fine-milled, smooth texture that has incredible payoff yet blends out like a cream product might. Due to the super time texture, tapping of your brush is necessary, or you'll wind up with way more than you need loaded onto the bristles.

The blush is, simply put, amazing.

I wish I could be as loving towards the eyeshadows, but as gorgeous as they are, they were not quite the perfection I was expecting.

Copper Wood (brown shade on the left): This is a dark bark brown shade, with pale bronze and almost olive shimmer. It super finely-milled silky and a touch dry. It has intense pigmentation but a tendency to get very powdery when applied with a brush, with a fair bit of debris cascading down on the face during application. Because of that fine texture and tendency to powder, it also sheers out easily. When a deep shade like this does that, the effect can look murky and dirty. It does much better when applied with a sponge tip, or when the brush is lightly sprayed with water or fixative. Otherwise you just have to be very carefully when applying and blending.

Iridescent Jade (middle green shade): This looks like a metallic apple green in the pan, but that top layer is deceptive. It's actually jade green shimmer, with a teeny bit of paler iridescence. Again, it is beautifully pigmented, with a super fine, super smooth texture. It doesn't have the same issues with dryness or powderiness that Copper Wood does, but it is equally susceptible to sheering out. Because of the vividness of the shade, it doesn't look murky but it can look faded. If you want to keep that brightness, you do need to apply with a packing brush, and be very careful about blending out any edges.

Sea Green (green-gray shade on the right): This is a pale silvery green, that applies more silver than it looks in the pan. It is fine, smooth and soft, and a sheerer than the other two shades. It's a gorgeous shade to use on the inner corner, or over Iridescent Jade to make it more luminous. Again, it shares that same propensity for sheering out, though in a highlight shade that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The wear time is not fantastic unless used over a primer. I found they faded after about 4-5 hours without one, but stayed looking good for 8 hours with one.

Overall, I have to say that I am still in love with this palette - but it's a crazy, irrational love. The blush is sublime, but the eyeshadows, while beautiful, are problematic. For this price point, it really should be flawless.

Availability: Currently still at Saks, possibly other counters. Price is 88$ USD, 95$ CAD.

Pros: Stunning colour range, blush is a less obvious version of pink and the eyeshadows work well together. Blush has a lovely sheen that works as a highlighter, and blends suberbly. Texture on everything is incredibly smooth and fine.

Cons: Blush can emphasize texture and pores due to the sheen. Eyeshadows are all so fine that they need to be applied carefully (and ideally over a primer), or risk over blending, looking dusty or faded. Copper Wood shade is prone to powderiness and fallout, best used wet or with a sponge applicator.

(I purchased this item. Post is not sponsored or compensated. All opinions are my own.)

Skincare Heroes - #1 Bioderma Sensibio H2O Solution Micellaire and Sensibio AR Creme Anti-Rougeurs

As I've mentioned before, I'm investing a lot of time this year in expanding my skincare horizons. As I've been testing left and right, I've found myself returning back to several key products, and, on occasion, integrating some of the new items into my closet of all-star, hero products. I thought I would start a series devoted to these - the tried and true, as well as the new heavy hitters.

The first one is a duo I've been using for years: Bioderma Sensibio AR Creme Anti-Rougeurs and Bioderma Sensibio H2O Solution Micellaire.

(Not this particular set, obviously, since I've gone through bottles of these. This Bioderma Solution Micellaire was actually sent to me so I could try the fancy flip-top version. Verdict? Fancy flip-top is awesome. Especially for my crack-of-dawn morning routine.)

The Bioderma Sensibio H2OSolution Micellaire is, of course, YouTube Famous. It has been touted by every beauty guru on the planet, and for good reason. It is a gentle and effective. I generally go in for a good oil cleanse in the evenings, but when it comes to quickly removing makeup, cleaning my skin in the morning, or touching up makeup mistakes - absolutely nothing beats this. (For heavier eye makeup I've found that soaking a cotton pad and letting it rest over my eyes is key to dissolving everything and incurring a minimum of tugging.)

I've used it for years, and it's the first staple to go into my skin prep kit if I'm working on someone else. Nothing is 100% hypoallergenic, but this comes pretty close. I can feel secure using it on almost anyone.

The Bioderma Sensibio Creme Anti-Rougeurs is my stand-by from when I was dealing with a lot of redness in my skin. Undiagnosed rosacea, chemical irritation, acne irritation - who knows? I was red, I was miserable, and this cream was the only thing that appeased it and made my skin calmer and less florid, especially over time. I don't need to use it daily now, but it's my standard for when my skin is acting up.

It's not heavily moisturizing and, in fact, has a really nice texture for oilier skin - very nice to use on clients with acne-prone skin that have obvious redness and irritation, since it will soothe and hydrate just enough. On myself,  I'll sometimes use it in place of moisturizer in the heavier summer months.

What about you guys? Have you fallen on the Bioderma bandwagon? What are your must-have skin saviours?

(One of the items was provided by the brand/PR for review, the other I purchased. This post is not sponsored or compensated. All opinions are my own.)

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fall 2013 Polishes - Chop Chop Copper and Currant Trend

Sally Hansen has released several awesome new collections for the Fall season, including the Triple Shine series (which, er, I may have indulged in just this past weekend) and the Fuzzy Coat collection. Liz over at Beauty Reductionista did a great review of the Designer collection for the Complete Salon Manicure line as well. I had the opportunity to try out a few of the limited fall shades from their Insta-Dri line - my first ever, actually!

These are Chop Chop Copper and Currant Trend:

Chop Chop Copper is a pale bronze foil with gold and pink micro glitter. I included a blurred picture because my iPhone camera refuses to pick up the subtle and totally incredible shimmer. It's beautiful as is, but when it catches the light, it's nuts.

It is on the sheerer side, so you'll have to layer it on for maximum impact. This is three coats.

As promised, it does dry faster than the average polish but I was still better off applying a quick-dry topcoat. My Pisces klutziness will not be outmatched, and I still had dings when I went without a topcoat.

Currant Trend is a super intense red violet shimmer, with hot pink and indigo micro-shimmer. The base colour is vivid but the shimmer subdued in natural light, but picks up a lot more in sunlight. Again, I included a blurred picture to show off that multi-dimensional shimmer.

I found this to have a really good formula, giving great coverage at two coats, which is what I'm wearing here.

The brush for these is fairly wide, with a rounded tip. It worked well - not my absolute favourite, but not problematic.

Overall I'm really pleased with my first foray into the Insta-Dri line. I do wish they dried rock hard faster, but that's my inability to avoid knocking into things speaking. I think for the average person, the drying time would be more than adequate.

Availability: These were a Fall release, with distribution across drugstores and other mass retailers. Prices vary, though 4.95$ is the suggested price.

Pros: Really awesome colours and multi-dimensional shimmer. Quick drying time, about 60 seconds for a touchable level of hardness. Currant Trend had a lovely, opaque formula.

Cons: Chop Chop Copper was on the sheerer side, which required at minimum 3 coats to achieve bottle depth. If you're ding-prone, a quick-dry topcoat is still necessary.

(These items were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated. All opinions are my own.)