Tis' the Season for Red

      It seems though when the holidays are upon us, every woman pulls out the red lip stick, red nail polish, and red outfits for the occasion. When I think of winter and the holidays, I think GLAM! Nothing screams glamour more so than beautiful red lips and perfectly manicured nails dipped in red polish.

      Red Carpet by Dior, Dior Addict, is a beautiful example of a great red lipstick. Not only does it provide long lasting colour, it also moisturizes the lips preventing it from drying or cracking. Shanghai Express by Nars is also an excellent choice. Keep in mind that especially when using such a vibrant colour, ALWAYS apply a lip liner first to prevent any "bleeding" that may occur especially common with red lipsticks. I found that Cruella or Dragon Girl by Nars Velvet Matte Lip Liner worked great! All these products can be found at your local Sephora.

 

        As for nails, I always look for quality in a product over the cost of it because a colour like red due to its deep pigments can leave a stain on the nails. Spirit Child by Sparitual is from their latest collection "Wilde". I always love the quality of their nail lacquers. Carmen by Zoya is another great colour and has always been one of Zoya's top sellers. Both product lines maintain longevity and also do not contain any harsh ingredients that may harm the body which surprisingly most others do. Remember, before you apply, give your nails a little buff and file before you polish. Always apply a base coat, 2 layers of colour, and a final top coat to lock in the colour and provide a smoother and more crisp polish. Nothing looks worse than applying a colour like red onto non-manicured nails. Finish off with a little cuticle oil to add hydration and shine to your nails.

   Now that you are already to go, enjoy the holiday festivities!

My Favorite Beauty Product Right now!

Fresh did it right again! On my recent trip to New York, I picked up Fresh`s new Tinted Lipcare Product.  It offers SPF coverage,  it nourishes, repairs, and protects the lips.

I tried the Sugar Honey Tinted Lip Treatment which has a wonderful smell. It applies easy and doesn`t have a sticky feeling to it.  I am not one to wear lip gloss or lipstick a lot, but I find myself reapplying it all the time as it is not heavy or overpowering.

It has a nude tone to it and it looks very natural, as it provides a very soft color and shine to your lips. The color is so versatile that it would look good on anyone.

Fresh`s site offers the following information.

 

`` Sugar, a natural humectant, ensures long-lasting moisture, while hydrating meadowfoam and black currant seed oils condition the lips. It is further enriched with antioxidant-rich vitamins to defend against wrinkle-causing free radicals and provides year-round protection from damaging UVA/ UVB rays. The versatile formula also allows for buildable coverage to customize a sheer or rich honey hue and is the perfect partner to the best-selling Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15.
I love this product so much that I am asking for the three Fresh Mini Sugar Kissing Trio, (an exclusive from Sephora), for Christmas so I can try all of the tints....stay tuned!!!!

(The set retails for approx $32 in Canada or $28 and the lipcare full version retails for approx. $30)

Laser... Worth Trying!

     I can honestly say, I used to wax my entire body at least once a month and most of the time, it hurt so much and could get messy! I think I can speak for most women out there that I hate any kind of body hair!

     For the longest while, I kept hearing about laser air removal and being an esthetician, I was always skeptical about the idea of laser and it's potential harm on the body. I always wondered how any kind of technology could get rid of unwanted hair permanently without causing any damaging to the body but being as curious as I was, I had to try it out. After doing years of procrastinating, researching the best locations through testimonials and credibility, I decided to go to Evropa Laser Clinic.

    When I went in for the treatment, I must admit, I was scared and nervous about how painful this might be but I found the receptionist and technician to be EXTREMELY knowledgeable and made me feel very comfortable. I needed this considering the location I had to decide was quite intimate. As for the pain, I'm not going to lie and say it wasn't painful but there were definitely areas that were a little more sensitive than others. It feels like a bunch of tiny pin pricks. Mind you, there were a lot of areas where I couldn't feel a thing! All I can say though is that all the discomfort of the actual procedure was worth the results!

    After one treatment, the hair fell out and hardly any even grew back! The hair that did grow back after one treat was extremely thin and sparse. Apparently, the amount of treatments you need to permanently get rid of the hair is between 6-8 treatments depending on the type of hair and your skin type. I am at 4 treatments and can say NOTHING has grown back yet. I definitely recommend laser to ANYONE that waxes regularly and is looking for long term results. It's a little pricey but in the end, it saves you a lot of time, pain and money. My only recommendation is, do your research before you actually do it! Evropa is a great clinic and I would love to refer anyone interested. The pricing there is very reasonable as well.

Time for Vitamin D????

Getting the winterblues? I hate the cold, wind, and the darkness that winter brings!

What I hate most about it is how pale and white and dry my skin gets. In my younger days I used to tan both indoors and outdoors a lot, but I am unfortunately starting to see the effects of this on my skin.

While I am not a anti-tanner, I do believe in tanning in moderation and topping up your color with a self tanner such as Sephora-branded Tinted Self-Tanning Body Mist.  It is easy to apply and provides all over coverage that you can see while you are applying it. It also doesn`t have that sticky feeling that most self-tanners have.  And unlike most products sold at Sephora it is relatively cheap @ $14.00!

Need something to help lock in the moisture and prevent dry skin?

Try Bliss Lemon and Sage Body Butter. This product provides maximum moisture and prevents cracked skin. You should definetly use this at least once a day after you shower or bathe!

Skip the Chip!

   As a professional manicurist and nail lacquer junkie, there is nothing I absolutely hate more than CHIPPED NAIL POLISH! I think I can surely speak for every woman out there that we would love to have a manicure and polish that lasts longer than a couple of hours!

   Ladies, there is a solution! Either skip the polish and just go with the "natural and clear" look which let's be honest, we won't, resort to gel overlays and acrylics which I and many others have found to be extremely harsh on our nails OR, explore the many wonders of the new technology of gel lacquers.

   Gel lacquers use the same U.V technology where it has to be cured in order to set however, it applies just like any regular nail polish, it isn't thick (depending on the manicurist), it does not require over excessive buffing of the nail bed which in turn thins out your nails exponentially, and most important of all, IT LASTS! All of my clients have said their applications usually lasts 2-4 weeks without any chips. Just regrowth. I've been applying my own since the beginning of 2011 and cannot go back to regular polish. This technology is doing so well that there are more exciting colours coming out all the time! My favourite at the moment would have to be CND Shellac's "Hotski to Tchotchke" and "Purple Purple". It's quick to apply, and the hottest product to hit the spa industry. OPI Axxium "The Colour to Watch" is also one of my favourites. As far is which soak off gel lacquer brand is the best? I saw between, Axxium, Nubar's Gelicure, Nail Harmony's Gelish and the most well known of them all, Shellac, I really think it depends on the manicurist's application. All brands have great qualities and variety of colours.

Tip: Always make sure to refresh your manicure with cuticle oil daily. Cuticle oil keeps your polish looking fresh and your nails and cuticles hydrated. It is absolutely essential to maintain your manicure and costs just cents a day! One of my favourites would be CND Solar Oil  or SpaRitual's Cuti-Cocktail. Both can be found at high end salons and spas.

Try it! You won't regret it!

Smooth Flawless Complexion without Streaks!

Sick of the thickness and heaviness of foundation but love the coverage?
Try Dior`s Airflash foundation. This product has been on the market for awhile and has become extremely popular.  I first tried it while getting my make-up done at a Dior make-up counter because I was looking for something new and haven`t switched since.

It goes on as a spray and provides all over coverage. It works best using a big round brush.  First spray the foundation on the brush and then spread all over your face in circular motions. It creates a very good light coverage for during the day.  If you want to have full coverage, then simply sweep the brush over a second time. It also has something in it that makes your skin`s finish look glowing and flawless without the heavy feeling that foundation often brings.
The product can be found at your local Sephora counter or at any deparment store that carries Dior products. Although it is a little on the pricey side ($60), it is a must have for beauty junkies!

Luscious Lips Worth Plumping For!

     From Angelina Jolie's lips to Scarlet Johansson's luscious puckers, it seems as though every woman is in the market for fuller and plumper lips. I thought I would take it to the spas and cosmetic stores to see what worked the best!





     I noticed that a lot of spas and salons were offering "lip enhancing" treatments where they would exfoliate your lips, apply a mask, and finish with a lip plumping serum. This is a great treatment for rejuvenating your lips and softening those lines. As we all know, exfoliating helps to stimulate your blood flow and gets rid of all those dead cells and build up. It provides a smoother and softer base for your lip sticks and gloss. I found a great one at Sephora from Fresh called Brown Sugar Lip Polish ($22.50). It uses a blend of essential oils, shea butter, and brown sugar crystals to buff away dead cells as well as hydrating your lips.



    As for serums that actually plump your lips, I tried a great one from Too Faced called Lip Injection ($27.00). After one application on my lips, I noticed a great tingling sensation on my lips and they appeared fuller instantly. Used in conjunction with an exfoliant, the results were phenomenal! If you are looking for a lip enhancer that is non surgical and offers instant results, I definitely recommend both products or take a trip to the spa and get the full treatment! You probably won't get Angelina or Scarlet's pout, but will still reap the benefits of a great lip treatment from home or the spa and get excellent results!