Spring 2011 Beauty Trend #2: Braids are Back!

As we said "aurevoir" to Paris for spring 2011 RTW fashion shows, we recognized some prominent beauty trends leading the runways. Beauty Trend #2: Braids are Back! Amoung our favorites were the braids of Alexander McQueen, Emilio Ungaro, Alexander Wang, and Hermes. The runways were loaded with braids getting all sorts of styles and twists. At Alexander McQueen, the twisted tresses looked like fabulous baskets: models wearing messy yet intricately woven braids, parted into two pigtails, whereas at Mr. Ungaro, the look was a high-fashion milk-maid style, with a sexy, wet, high-shine braided headband created by hairstylist Guido Palau, inspired a German/Austrian girl who is "all grown up". On the opposite end of the spectrum, Alexander Wang kept it big, bold and full of body: nothing short of a sexual deity, and finally, Hermes carried us into the Wild Wild West with its intertwined braids: the ribbon from the scarves were interlaced with the braid at the base of the neck and secured with a clear rubber band. Giddy Up...

Spring 2011 Beauty Trend #1: Bleached Brows

All over the runways they were screaming, "bye, bye brows!" With this past fall and its emphasis on ample arches (who cam blame them?!), there seemed to have been a shift into spring: bleached eyebrows, and we're talkin' practically nonexistent, were all over the runways in Paris for spring 2011. They first emerged this summer in Givenchy's Fall/Winter ad in which Adriana Lima sported the blocked out babies; she must have started a trend, because all along the runways for this upcoming spring 2011, models were almost naked (in the brow department, of course). Models gliding for Valentino, Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, and Yves Saint Laurent all were brow-less for spring-- at Marc Jacobs, Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent, the ladies all cat-walked with a barely-there brow, whereas Pat McGrath for Valentino kept it somewhat visible but still very toned down. This created a clean look, giving the models' faces a necessary bit of edge, amping up their lashes and allowed their other features shine right through.

Work It Out: Cold Plasma Body

If there was a way in which we could have toned and defined skin without hitting up the gym 3 times a week, we're sure we would all jump on the bandwagon... But wait, with Cold Plasma Body ($95/8oz, sephora.com) by Perricone MD, this ultimate dream could become our reality (could it be true?!) It is a marvelous multi-functional, all-over body lotion designed to define, tone, and hydrate the skin. Made with the ground-breaking Cold Plasma technology, this formula helps to reduce wrinkles and the "shapeless" look of skin with DMAE. It delivers outstanding hydrating, plumping, and smoothing benefits with Sodium Hyaluronate and minimizes the appearance of cellulite by applying concentrated levels of caffeine. Imagine our arms and legs beautifully defined and contoured, and the appearance of cellulite and dimpled skin on thighs, buttocks, and arms is improved? SOLD. What is this "Cold Plasma technology" anyways? It is an advanced, innovative treatment from Dr. Perricone formulated to address the 10 most visible signs of aging and reveal dazzling, supple, healthy looking skin. Another important fact to know? (Tell me more!) It works wonderfully with dry, dehydrated, or rough skin that shows loss of elasticity and cellulite and is great for the decolletage (or in plain English, "neck") area. If you aren't quite sold yet, we are going to get all scientific on you and show you some research results and numbers, then you'll be wow-ed:

Consumer Use Studies:- 92% felt the appearance of skin on their body was firmer and tighter
- 82% saw improvement in cellulite or dimpled skin on their thighs
- 90% saw improvement in the appearance of loose, flabby skin on their upper arms
- 90% saw a decrease in the appearance of stretch marks on their body
- 87% saw a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles and "crepey" skin on their body
- 92% noticed their skin felt soft, supple and drenched with moisture

BOWWOW! by Shu Uemura

What do you get when you mix an iconic beauty brand like Shu Uemura + Japanese pop artist Aya Takano? BOWWOW! Magic Queen Palette ($85, Holt Renfrew). (Check out their full colection online at shueumura.com) What is it anyway? A pressed eye shadow/cream eye shadow-liner/glow on blush, in which you can only bet the final result will fly off shelves before the blink of an eye (obviously embellished with a fabulous faux pair from Shu's collection). It is a warm-toned color palette for a peaceful holiday season--oh bah-humbug: we just love Christmas! "Feel relaxed, curled up in the magic queen's cozy home that is redolent with the fresh pine scent of her enormous Christmas tree filled with luxurious decor of silver, gold and bronze." This limited edition eye & cheek palette is complete with a mix of three pressed eyeshadows (silver, gold and bronze), one cream aqua-green cream colour eyeshadow/eye liner, a gold-iridescent cream highlighter and a peach-coloured blush, in addition to two applicator brushes. All of this gloriousness is jam packed into a bright pink compact, decorated with cherries, stars, hearts and a blue-haired, doe-eyed superwoman. We know what some of you may be thinking, with this kind of a treat, it must be Christmas already... (Check out their full colection online at shueumura.com)

The MAGIC Potion

What's all this Magic talk? Prescriptives Magic is exactly what its name reads: magical. It is an Illuminating Cream Compact ($40, neimanmarcus.com) that reflects light to blur fine lines and imperfections while not clogging our pores; it instantly imparts an image of perfection. This illuminating cream compact has a three-dimensional holographic pigment that plays with light to create flawless looking skin. These light-diffusing properties visually correct uneven skin tone, redness, and discolouration, leaving you with flawless-looking skin. What makes it even more magical is that it's ideal for all skin tones, all skin types, and all ages. (Told you it's magical!) What sets Prescriptives Magic apart from others is that the formula uses light to provide flawless-looking skin by means of optic technology. There are so many ways this amazing product can be used: apply with (warm) fingers, sponge, or foundation brush as a highlight or even mix it with your moisturizer or foundation for an added (magical) glow!

Good as Gold

With summer long and delayed, yet very welcomed arrival, this means more warmth to our skin! Never encouraging basking in the sun with less than SPF 60 on, we simply mean using the benefits of bronzer! And YSL's Poudre de Soleil ($48, ysl.com) from their Solaris collection will be your new, ideal partner in crime this fall and upcoming winter (heck, for all seasons). Thanks to the Ampli Light + complex, it boosts the natural radiance of the complexion and conceals small imperfections. Its outstanding formula guarantees optimal comfort and a long-lasting finish. It's also amazing because it is more of a matte-type bronzer versus the entirely frosted versions and it even has an spf of 12. Very finely milled, smooth to the touch, and easy to blend on the face, no wonder it was 2008 Allure Best of Beauty Editors' Choice Award Winner in 2008 for Best Bronzer.

Line Them Up

The classical black-lined eye was reinvented last season, with new interpretations, styles, and application techniques pushing way beyond the (black) line (pun intended). Take Zac Posen, where make-up artist Stephanie Marais created a "melting" look or the day-old make-up look with smudged liner over the entire eye area. On the other hand, Giambattista Valli's models rocked a 60's-type liner, except modernized to fit the current times. Whereas Peter Philips, for Chanel, replicated a pattern on boots (in their collection) on the eye, applying specks of eyeliner to create the similar pattern, Blumarine kept the liner classic and traditional. Depending on how you feel that day, the line can definitely be drawn to match accordingly. Go ahead, get artsy!

Soft as Silk

Although the cold, chilly days of fall and winter are behind us, our hands can still feel dry and chapped in the warmer months. What does this mean for the health of your hands? Exfoliation is the answer to removing dead skin cells and exposing new, supple skin to keep your hands looking and feeling their best. Exfoliating on a regular basis (we recommend 2-3 times a week) will remove dry, flaky cells to allow fresh, silky skin to surface. Here is Beauty Muse's favourite hand-duo routine so your hands don't have to feel the blues of winter (hey, one less body part is progress!)

Sephora by OPI Hand Scrub ($8, sephora.com): it is an exfoliating scrub that smoothes and renews hands in an instant. It smoothes away rough skin and calluses to leave skin renewed, velvety-soft, and receptive to moisture. Natural sugar crystals and alpha hydroxyl acids softly abolish dry, tough, flaky skin and leave you in silky-hand heaven! It is also for feet and your body, and unlike salt scrubs, sugar scrubs don-t sting during use.

Camillen 60 Schrunden Cream ($20, purespa.com): a cream with oil on the basis of purest white Vaseline of the very highest quality, it offers intensive skin care. It contains ingredients from the ethereal oil of the camomile, a highly active combination of vitamins A and E as well as carrot oil, which are ideal for the treatment of irritated, rough and chapped skin and effectively rejuvenates mature as well as dry and scaly skin.

Break the (Beauty) Habits

We all are guilty of following a pre-set beauty routine (or at least one of the following routines); however, if you can disentangle yourself from these beauty ruts by advancing your go-to routines, you will ultimately reinvent yourself. FLARE helps us to discover this renewed version of ourselves by experimenting with make-up: new techniques, methods, colours, applicators, products: all of these little (but huge) things can help you experiment with different beauty styles to expose yourself to something new. Get this: you might actually like it! (And we are not expecting you to go to unrealistic extremes here, just subtle changes). In this instance, change is good.

Beauty Routine #1: You use the same eyeliner everyday (and night).
Change It: Try a kohl eye pencil! Not only is it much easier to use than liquid liners (with a softer effect), if gives a more diffused, sultry and smokey look. Apply the liner along your lashline and smudge it with a sponge/applicator.
Beauty Muse Pick: Sephora Collection Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner ($12, sephora.com): comes in a rainbow of colours with a smudge-tip for easy smudging and blending.

Beauty Routine #2: You've worn the same lipstick since 1999 (and still have back-up in your make-up bag, "just in case").
Change It: We know not everyone has the confidence or even likeability to dark lips to just intensify the colour and go on with their day. Instead, why not try different shades that are within the same colour family as your favourite lipstick? (If you like blue-based reds, try a brown-based or orange-based red). Also, try to change up the consistency of the lipstick: move from sheer to matte.
Beauty Muse Pick: Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Lip Creme Lip Colour ($30, chanel.com)

Beauty Routine #3: You are addicted to purples because you've read it enhances green eyes and you refuse swipe your lids with anything else because "purple is for green eyes and that is that".
Change It: Although purple does enhance green eyes, maybe try a different shade of the colour: loving lavender? Try a plum. Furthermore, try a new application technique: cover your lids in an earth-tone shadow, and line your lash lines (top and bottom) with the purple you know and love. This will not only enhance your eyes, but offer an updated version of eyeliner. Also, burnt reds totally intensify green lids! Experiment with colour, you may like it.
Beauty Muse Picks: Make Up Forever Eye Shadow in Plum 39 ($19, sephora.com); MAC Eyeshadow in Coppering ($14.50, maccosmetics.ca) 

Beauty Routine #4: You apply concealer, foundation and powder to your face daily no matter where you are going or what you are doing .
Change it: While this process does have amazing results, it is not always necessary. A great new trend in make-up is tinted moisturizer! They offer coverage, while often having a spf, leaving your skin dewy and healthy looking all day long. Also, opt for a cream-based blush or a cheek stain to bring some healthy glow back into your skin. Remember: the trio is not always necessary.
Beauty Muse Picks: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer ($42, sephora.com); Josie Maran Cream Blush ($22, sephora.com)



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: