Bottled Youth

Majority of women are on the hunt for that perfect anti-age, overnight cream that is full of highly active ingredients and formulated to be ultra moisturizing; however we all know these products are not the cheapest. (For you women who are not, we envy you). But hey, do we not all deserve a little treat even in these cash-tight times? Beauty Muse thinks so, too! Clinique's Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector ($44.50, sephora.com) helps get the job done. It is a powerful serum that gives skin a second chance against lines, wrinkles, and sun damage (we like second chances). In just four weeks, this product delivers a clear reduction in lines and wrinkles while improving skin's overall texture. At 12 weeks, its noticeable wrinkle-reducing power comes extraordinarily close to the profound wrinkle repairing results of a dermatological laser procedure. In case you aren't sold just yet, Clinique guarantees impressive results. (SOLD!) Another thing worth knowing? It is proven to deliver 63 percent of the visible wrinkle-reducing power of a laser procedure at 12 weeks, while helping to visibly repair UV damage and boosts natural collagen levels and cellular repair.

All Dressed Up and Ready for a ...Blow?? (Blow-Dry People!)

From experience, I know the difficulty and straightforwardly, total aggravation and great displeasure of doing my own hair (make-up however, I love so I never have complaints in this department). Moving along here, I recently discovered the sudden increase of blow-dry bars across the GTA and find the idea utterly brilliant! You walk-in, get your hair wash & blown dry by experts, and you're off! One thing you need to look out for at these places are more-than-unfair prices (some blows are beyond my pocketbook). This is when I discovered Do My Hair - Blow Dry & Make-Up Bar (domyhair.ca). In about 35 mins, you get your tresses blown dry (curled, pinned, straight-you name it, they do it), which is ideal for post-gym, pre-dinner date, night out, meeting,or simply homeward bound to the couch (and some pizza with a glass of wine-mmm...I'm salivating). Okay back on track! What do they do? Do My Hair brings the New York style luxury to Toronto with their blow dry and makeup bar - their main focus is convenience. What makes them so unique and sets them apart from other blow-dry bars is they offer make-up! (Such a brilliant idea). Beyond the gorgeous ambiance, you get a relaxing, welcoming and comfortable environment with stylists and make-up artists who know exactly what they are doing: these people are the real deal of the industry. (And of course, myself being a very harsh critic in the make-up department, I can confidently say they are amazing).

Their core philosophy is simple:
-Gorgeous Blow Out. DONE.
-Fabulous Fresh Face. DONE.

They are located mid-town so it's the perfect spot: they in the in the middle of everything! Whether you're venturing downtown for the night or staying up-town... Check them out-you'll be so thankful and grateful you did (don't worry- I won't need any thanking later).

Marley Approved: Vegan Makeup?

For all you vegans out there, you can now happily know there is make-up especially for you! "Vegan cosmetics are formulated without any ingredients derived from animal sources, including materials that come indirectly from an animal, like honey," explains Wende Zomnir, co-creator of Urban Decay Cosmetics (www.urbandecay.com). They are cruelty-free cosmetics, which are free of animal ingredients and testing. From eye shadows to pencils, from glitter to foundation, and from lashes to lip stuff: they've got everything covered! (For full details and lists of their animal-free products, be on the lookout for Marley's purple paw on their website, which certifies that the product is vegan).

It's a Tool Party!

Japonesque (www.japonesque.com) is the professionals choice for exclusive, top-quality, make-up brushes, (and tools, palettes and accessories). Several of their original products have become industry standards and are often seen in the magical hands of make-up gods such as Bobbi Brown, Francois Nars and Vincent Longo. Professional long handle brushes are made of excellent quality, uncompromising materials and high-class craftsmanship. Their brushes feature precision shaped heads for perfect application, hand-crafted of high-tech synthetics or lavish natural bristles. Each professional brush features a long, sturdy wood handle for superior leverage and control-- designed to create professional results with every use.

Beauty Muse Top 3 Brush Favourites:

Are You in the Mood?

Colour us happy (or our mood for that matter) with In the Mood Colour Changing Nail Polish ($8/bottle, www.themoodpolish.com). We have now immersed ourselves into the fun and unusual world of nail polishes that alters with our moods. These playful nail polishes change colour based on your body temperature, mood, the heat of your date...or, of course, the chill of its disaster! (We are routing for the former.) The change in temperature triggers the polish to go from, for example, blue to green or purple to pink. Amuse yourself by guessing what shade your charmingly bi-polar nail polish will be at any given moment! (And yes, they DO actually work!)

Backstage Beauty: Spring 2011

Runways this spring fashions are giving us some much needed optimism with the amount of colour being splattered all over! From painted lips all the way down to bright, lacquered toes-- colour was the main attraction for this upcoming spring no matter where you decide to place it. Take a look at Beauty Muse's top 3 trends for beauty for spring 2011:

Beauty Muse Look: Spill the Greens

A great way to play with colour but still have a dramatic effect is with greens. It looks amazing on every eye colour as you simply need to adjust the tone and pigment of it: you can stay safe with a subtle lime, or play dangerously with a forest green. Feeling a little on the wild side, we went with a deep green and smoked it up with a carbon black. Happy Monday!

GET THE LOOK (applied in this order):
Foundation: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Make-Up in Honey 320
Concealer: Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer in Beige 40
Powder: Chanel Soft Pressed Powder in Peche Tendre
Lid: Make-Up Forever Eye Shadow in Peacock Green 80
Outer 1/3: MAC Eyeshadow in Carbon: apply with flat brush to outer 1/3 and blend in towards lid colour
Crease: (w/ a Blender Brush) Make-Up Forever Eye Shadow in Iridescent Green + MAC Carbon
Highlight: Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color in Lingerie
Mascara: MAC # 20 + MAC Zoomlash in Black
Blush: MAC Mineralize Blush Duo in Band of Roses
Lips: MAC VIVA GLAM Lipstick in VI + L'Ancome Juicy Tubes in Dreamsicle

Ticking Time Balm

This portable pot of exceptionally smooth & blendable anti-wrinkle concealer easily masks dark circles and imperfections and protects your delicate eye area from environmental stresses. TimeBalm Concealer by the Balm ($18, sephora.com) is packed with beneficial ingredients like vitamins A, C, and E, soybean oil, panthenol, linoleic acid and phospholipids to help you look stunning around the clock. It is great for daytime, nighttime, or even bedtime-- so you wake up looking fabulously fresh. TimeBalm even includes a handy sponge that fits neatly into the pot for go-anywhere touch-ups, or dot on with fingertips for easy application.

Beauty Muse Tip: apply concealer either off the back of your hand (think art palette) or with your fingers; the warmth from our bodies allows the make-up to blend easily.

Beauty Muse Look: Plum Perfect

With purple covering the lids of everyone from Scarlett Johansson to Alexis Bledel, I decided to pair this trend with a charcoal grey to smoke it up a bit and add some intensity to the eye. The purple in this look is more of a deeper plum versus lavender; it is not only fantastic for an evening out, but perfect for fall!

Beauty Muse Tip: purple is amazing because it complements all skin tones! Remember, purples range from soft lavenders to intense plum and everywhere inbetween so don't limit yourself to one tone.

 

GET THE LOOK (applied in this order):
Foundation: Armani Luminous Foundation #7
Lid: Chanel Ombre Essentielle in Mahogany
Outer 1/3: FaceAtelier Kohl Liner in Charcoal
-Apply to outer 1/3 of eye with soft, feather strokes.
-With a flat brush, pull the colour in towards the eye and blend into crease until totally blended out
Crease: Chanel Ombre Essentielle in Mahogany + MAC Eyeshadow in Silver Ring
Highlight: Laura Mercier in Pearl
Liner: FaceAtelier Kohl Liner in Charcoal (top, bottom & tarsal plate [inner])
Lashes: MAC #20
Mascara: Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill in Black
Blush: MAC Flirt & Tease

Whiplash

Bobbi Brown's Everything Mascara ($22, bobbibrown.com) is an everyday essential for lashes, and does everything you need it to: it amazingly lengthens, thickens and defines your lashes in one quick application. The best part? No flaking, smearing, smudging or clumping. A quick swipe of this mascara and you get defined, brighter and eyes that are instantly opened. Furthermore, it is an easy way to pull your look together immediately. This innovative all-in-one formula is a Bobbi Brown favourite, especially because it has special conditioning and strengthening ingredients for beautiful, soft, luscious lashes that we all lust over.

Dew It Up

Although this season there has been a huge obsession and return to '90's mattified skin on the runways, we still love our dewy, radiant skin; it looks healthy, glowing, and simply divine. Have you been wondered how to achieve this airbrushed-looking, pure-sunshine skin beyond those hot, summer days or post workout (or lack thereof)? It's all in your foundation! (And yes, ignore the myths that you need to toss your powder to keep the dew; powder is still do here). Blend into your foundation (or tinted moisturizer) a scintillatingly sheer liquid foundation- it is a weightless fluid that makes your skin appear refreshed, gleaming and healthy-looking. Different products have different undertones: specks of gold, peach, pink and champagne shimmer softly diffuse light, melting into the skin to allow your true beauty shine through (take note from Ms. Blake Lively). Here are Beauty Muse’s Top 3 Picks:

Get Perfect Arches

Eyebrows are the first thing people will notice about your face, even if it's unconsciously; they are among women's most overlooked and underrated features. Having a well groomed brow will bring the attention to your eyes and even more importantly, serve as a frame for the entire face. Even if you're not at all big on make-up or beauty cosmetics, maintaining your brows are essential. With hundreds of products on the market aimed towards brows and their maintenance, below, Beauty Muse has narrowed down our favourite products for your arches:

1. Waxes/Gel: Anastasia Brow Ex-Press ($38, sephora.com), available in 2 colours (blonde & brunette)
This palette is the supreme travel kit for creating perfect, Hollywood eyebrows anywhere. It contains everything you need to achieve the perfect brows:
-4 perfect brow stencils created by Anastasia to suit a range of brow shapes and styles (stencil results vary from different face structures and hair growth);
-2 brow powders in your colour range to blend the most natural brow color to your own;
-an angled brush for precise application;
- cream highlighter to apply along to advance and accentuate the eyes;
- wax cream to keep those brows in place all day long.

2. Pencil: Diorshow Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Pencil ($28, sephora.com), universal shade
This ultra-fine pencil is the supreme tool to define, fill, and shape your brows to excellence. Perfectly tamed brows are the key to that finishing touch look of refinement. This pencil comes in a universal shade (that flatters everybody) with a superfine tip that helps create a naturally clean and polished look for women of every skin tone and hair color.

3. Tools: Slant Tweezers- Tweezerman ($20, sephora.com)
It is no wonder these babies have been named "Best of Beauty" (for the 8th year in a row!) in the tool department for brows. All major make-up artists and estheticians recommend this amazing brow-shaping tool and we couldn't agree more: they are ideal for removing even the most stubborn of hairs. They are also great because for those small hairs, use the pointy side, and for the thicker, broader hairs, the angled side is best (for general tweezing): this tool is what you need to achieve true precision for your (eyebrow) hair removal.

4. Kits: Anastasia: The Kit for Perfect Brows and Eyes ($75, sephora.com)
Anastasia (known for her amazing brow ex-press), has updated her kit to include products enhancing brows, eyes and skin! Use these expert tools to shape a pair of gorgeous arches to emphasize your face brilliantly, or to preserve your salon brow at home. It now includes:
- Cooling Eye Brightener: a soft cream-serum mixture that helps to cool, tone, soften, and de-puff around the eye area, especially after tweezing
- Mini Lash Lifting Mascara (along with the original brow items) - Brow Powder Duo, Stencils, Precision Tweezers
- Clear Brow Gel, Matte Camille Highlighter

3 Steps to Amazing Arches

This season, bold arches just about stole the show on the runways this fall, and stars are swapping their pencil thin brows for a fuller, more natural look too (Ahem! Beyonce, Meghan Fox and Jennifer Connelly). Brows are so vital because they frame the face and add an instant, natural-looking refinement. Keep yours expertly groomed and exquisitely shaped with a few easy-to-use tools, and quick, simple steps to get your own pair of perfect arches. To find out how to shape and pencil your way to the perfect pair, check out Beauty Muse’s 3 key steps:

1. Shape them: if your brows are naturally thick (firstly, lucky you!) but maintenance is somewhat easy. Make sure you focus on keeping your brows manicured: about every few weeks, devote some time to regular upkeep, ideally by a professional, then continue this shape at home and keep them clean and in-check, ideally with a pair of tweezers.

3. Tint them: When you dye your hair a drastic colour, it is crucial you follow suit with your brows to complement your hair, and further emphasize your brows. However, this is not a DIY experiment: make sure you go to a salon and have a professional dye your arches. Blondes should stick to deeper tones (too light brows look pale, thus draining out the face; brunettes generally should go slightly lighter to soften the features).

2. Fill them: With the right products (and a little practice), everyone can create this seasons look of full brows. The trick is the correct colouring; remember, blondes should go about 2 shades darker than their natural brow hair colour, and brunettes should go one to two shades lighter. Using feather strokes fill in holes, gaps and create the shape of a perfectly arched brow, using any products intended for brows (waxes, shadows, pencils--the list goes on). No need to worry if yours aren't perfectly symmetrical (no ones are!). Beauty Muse tip to remember: brows aren't meant to be identical twins, just sisters. 

Don't Sweat It

Since super-matte, '90s-like skin is in for fall, Boscia Blotting Linens ($10, sephora.com) are a godsend. For just ten big ones, you get one hundred handy blotting sheets for easy touch-ups. They are especially wonderful because they absorb excess oil and eliminate shine without removing or disrupting your make-up. They are 100% linen-based, preservative-free and keeps everyone looking matte and gorgeous all day long, as they are ideal for all skin types (even for us sensitive ones). All you need to do is softly dab the linen sheet against the oily areas of your face whenever you need a little "revver-upper". They are even amazing for lipstick blotting too!

Oil-Shmoil: The Right Foundation for You

Do you have over-productive sebaceous glands (just a fancy word for "oily"), which are responsible for oily skin? Don't fret; the good news is this skin type is normally slower to show fine lines, wrinkles and discolouration. However, the disadvantage can be recurrent breakouts, large pores and a greasy appearance, but this "problem" per se, can be managed with the right make-up products for your skin type. Let's talk foundation. The most suitable foundations for oily skin are oil-free foundations that provide matte finish, sheer and good coverage. People with oily skin find it hard to have it last all-day or eliminate the shine that inevitably pops through --the wrong foundation choice can create patches from the make-up and become darker as the day goes on, slide right off and emit an oily-shine. Check out these Muse Top 3 foundation choices for oily skin to combat these issues:

Fierce & Fearless: Bobbi Brown Black Velvet 2010

When one thinks of Bobbi Brown, you inevitably think of pretty, natural and flawless make-up, but this season Ms. Brown takes it up a notch with the fierce and fearless Black Velvet 2010 collection. The secret? She mixes deep berries, cherries and maple tones with black to give a vampy gothic-feel, with a translucent texture. The result is strong and powerful and totally wearable. There is not a more perfect time than now to wear these sultry hues, especially because they are huge this season!

"Yes, sooty lids and goth lips look great on the runway--but how do you make them work for real life? By infusing plum, cherry and maple tones with black and giving them a translucent texture, I created shades that are strong, powerful and a little shocking--but also wearable and sophisticated."- Bobbi Brown

Glitz and Glamour for Rodarte

Designer/sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte have showcased a side to them we’ve never really seen before for their Spring/Summer 2011 collection at New York fashion week (in beauty, that is). Over the past few shows, the makeup consisted of deep, gray or red lips, ghostly-pale complexions and wool hair nets; however there was a slight turn in direction this time by make-up artist James Kaliardos (for MAC cosmetics): neatly pinned back hair and neutral bronze faces, iridescent golden cheekbones, frosted, lemon lips and bright yellow and lashes were all an unexpected, big surprise to onlookers. However, the gold colour palette-faces complemented the designers' line extremely well.. Very natural, soft, and youthful: quite comparable to late-sixties/early-seventies style of healthy, sunkissed faces. And if you thought all the blond--haired models were a coincidence, you thought wrong: the artistic director knew the contrast of makeup and hair would be beautiful. True artistry.

Zoe Saldana Beauty Faves!

Lash Rage

Healthy, shiny, full, voluminous, thick and long; these are words all women would love to have attributed to their lashes, but we all know this is nearly impossible to attain, so why not fake it? Whether false, extensions or enhancers, lashes are what everyone is talking about and are a HUGE trend this fall. Why not enjoy greatest fringe benefits with fabulous and chic falsies? Soft and natural, dark and dramatic, or gleaming and glittery: there is a pair of lashes out there to meet everyone's needs and desires. 

Designer Beauty: Purple Reigns

Weather it's on your lids, lips or cheeks one this is for sure this season: it's a purple haze! And the best thing about purples is they flatter and complement ALL skin tones. From shimmering, soft lavenders, to deep, intense plums, this Fall, purple was the IT colour for beauty and stole the show on the runways...

What's Your Philosophy?

"Where there is hope there can be faith, where there is faith miracles can occur."

This is the philosophy behind the cult-favourite company Philosophy. Another beauty product added to their roster of perfection is their Hope in a Jar ($38, www.sephora.com). Although it was a heavy price tag, it is a moisturizer wanted by all because it gently hydrates and exfoliates all while protecting the skin is definitely worth every last penny. It is a 99.9% oil-free, deeply hydrating, lightweight cream intended to smooth the complexion while reducing the appearance of wrinkles and discoloration. This make-up artist must-have provides soft, healthy, glowing results. But wait, there's more?! This adored formula has antioxidants that guard skin against environmental damage and provides nonstop exfoliation to keep unevenness to a minimum (and is an Oprah favorite!) And finally, a mixture of yeast-derived beta glucan helps the skin's natural defense system and improves repair capabilities. Now the only think left to think about is keeping Hope alive...

Visit St. Tropez... Via a Bottle

As one of the original tanning companies, St.Tropez has spent many years at the forefront of sunless tanning. Every day their expert advice team works with the world's biggest stars so they’re at the cutting edge of what's hot (and not), what works and tricks to use that make all the difference. One of their top products includes this Self Tan Bronzing Mousse ($43.95): it is a ridiculously lightweight, easy-to-apply, velvety mousse that provides the ultra-even all-over (sunless) tan you have always wanted. Infused with conditioning Aloe Vera and long-term colour, you'll have a perfectly natural looking, streak-free tan that dries in an instant. And one of the best parts? There isn't that self-tanner smell lingering on your skin hours later as their innovative Aromaguard fragrance technology eliminates this aroma by at least of 70%, in its place leaving a beautiful delicate, refreshing scent.

What's Your Eye-Q?

Since 1963, Andrea has provided retail and professional customers with distinctive and high quality body, face, eye and nail-care products. What to check out? Their Eye Q's Corrector Sticks-- they rapidly and accurately retouch any eye makeup blunders: eye-liner too thick? Mascara mistake? Eye shadow too heavy? Not to worry, these 100% cotton swabs are pre-moisturized with an oil-free and fragrance-free cleanser. This gentle formula leaves absolutely no greasy residue and is perfect for contact lens wearers. They're great for allergy sufferers, after unexpected tears, or on hot summer days and mild enough to protect and care for your delicate eye area.

Purify Your Skin

While working as a makeup artist in Hollywood in the late 1950's, Shu Uemura discovered Unmask, an oil-based cleanser used on set. Applying heavy stage makeup multiple times daily, actresses often developed sensitive skin from severe make-up removers. Uemura saw that the cleansing oil removed make-up gently, yet effectively, while maintaining the skin’s natural level of moisture. The secret to this Skin Purifier Cleansing Oil Enriched is to protect the skin's delicate moisture balance while removing makeup and impurities in one single step. Blending rich botanical oils, like avocado and jojoba, with natural phyto ingredients, cleansing oils are formulated in six varieties for perfect, gentle cleansing specific to skins daily needs. Once mixed with water, the cleansing oil encapsulates hydrophilic residue, such as dirt and sweat, gently lifting both types of impurities from the pores at the same time. No wonder it is Shu Uemura’s number 1 cleansing oil!

Mist on Freshness

Does your skin ever get the icky, dehydrated feeling from that dry or overheated office air? Or how about those days when you are running errands and are, for the most part, just hot? Evian has a Mineral Water Spray ($10/5oz, www.sephora.com) that tones, refreshes and moisturizes your skin with one quick spritz! It removes sweat, harmful salt and chlorine, and immediately eases and rehydrates sun-burned or wind-chapped skin. This cool neutral pH moisturizing mist rehydrates your skin, refreshes your make-up for those long days (that seem never-ending) and keeps you looking oh-so fresh. It brings you a natural, handy way to revive and revitalize your complexion.

Directions: Use the several times a day (for the face, start at the neck and move slowly upwards). Leave a few minutes and softly pat.

Traveling? On the go? Hitting the gym? Evian has you covered with their spray to-go: a duo of travel-size hydrating facial sprays. It's the cheapest and fastest skin refreshener you'll ever get! Start spraying...

YSL Fall 2010: Rock & Baroque

YSL does it once again this season! Their Fall/Winter 2010 Rock & Baroque make-up collection is extreme on vivid and striking style. How do they do it? Easy! They pair metallic, jewel-toned eye shadows with two-toned bold, velvet lips, flawless skin and deep, intense nails. They play up the theatrical life of women: extreme, colourful, passionate. "There are no rules. She is after all, the YSL Woman!"

Reliving the Lipstick Era

An enormous actually massive, runway trend this past Fall was a change from glossy lips to lipstick-lips. The current formulas vary from sheer to super-solid and topped off with colour, shine and hydration. The main colours painting the runways? Reds, purples, and berries. Let’s pay some much needed lip service ladies!

Pretty Smokin'

I was totally in love and inspired by make-up in the September issue of InStyle with their spread on Freida Pinto, "Pretty Romantic". Here is my take on this dramatic, yet soft and subtle smoky eye: perfect for Fall and those quickly approaching (do I dare say it?) Holiday parties. Have fun and enjoy!

(NOTE: In the first picture shown, I applied 4 false individual lashes to my left eye so you can compare the difference & effect to the eyes with and without them).

   

GET THE LOOK (applied in this order):
Foundation: Giorgio Armani Silk Luminous in #8
Concealer: Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer in Dark
Powder: Make-Up Forever HD
Lid: Chanel Soft Touch Eye Shadow in Black Star
Crease: MAC EyeShadow in Copperplate + Omega
Liner: TOP: MAC Kohl Liner in Smolder; BOTTOM: Chanel Soft Touch Eye Shadow in Platine
Highlight: Chanel Soft Touch Eye Shadow in Vanilla
Mascara: Maybelline Great Lash in Black; FALSE: QUO Individual lashes (medium length)
Lipstick: MAC Lipstick in Nude
Blush: MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty

Special Cleansing Gel

Dermalogica, the number one choice of skin care professionals and consumers worldwide, has been dedicated to delivering skin health results through education, innovation, and professional recommendation for over 25 years. Truly understanding your skin is the first step towards a lifetime of skin health, therefore they have created a Special Cleansing Gel ($33, www.dermalogica.com) for all skin types. It is a concentrated soap-free formula that washes away impurities without stripping or drying the skin or disturbing the skin's natural moisture balance. (Quillaja Saponaria is a naturally-foaming extract that lightly removes impurities and excess oils while Balm Mint & Lavender restore, cool and calm). Contains no artificial fragrance or colour.

Beauty Muse Look: True Blue

One of fall's biggest trend last year was ICY BLUE shadows! You can either go all blue or mix it up with a colour that complements (like a warm gold!). Whichever road you decide to take, the outcome will still remain icy and cool with a little bit of heat!

GET THE LOOK (applied in this order):
Lid: Make-up Forever Mettalic Navy Blue Iridescent 81
Crease: MAC in Winkle
Highlight: Make-Up Forever Metallic Light Beige 125
Liner: TOP: Anabelle Smoothliner in Meteorite (and on tarsal plate); BOTTOM: MAC Amber Lights
Mascara: Stila Major Lash Mascara in Black

Beauty Muse Look: Seeing Green

Add a pop of colour to your makeup routine with a little green!

GET THE LOOK (applied in this order):
Lid: Sephora Collection in Python Bag 45
Crease: MAC Brule + Sephora Python Bag 45 (equal ratio of each)
Highlight: MAC in Brule
Liner: TOP & BOTTOM: (Lightly) wet an angle brush with water and dip into Python Bag 45
(keep it to one side so you don't ruin the entire shadow), and apply to eyelash line as if it were an eyeliner
Mascara: Lancome Hypnose in brown