Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat

I recently got a sample of the Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat at Sephora and I have to say my nail ritual has changed. For anyone like me who loves their nails to look polished but doesn’t really have the time to wait for them to fully dry or wants to do gel nail treatments or just likes the opportunity to change them to suit their their mood, this is your solution. The Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat actually cures on the nails in 5 minutes with no UV light needed using a new scientific processes where the nails won’t even smudge after the 5 minutes. You can go about your day while having amazing shiny nails, with no wait time. The polymer also helps fix any brush stroke mistakes you may have made with your polish, could this really get any better? As an added bonus it is a ‘4-free’ formulation, meaning no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene or DBP. This is definitely a new must have in my cosmetic bag.

I got a little held up last year keeping this site up to date as work was a little nuts. That being said I am going to be much more focused on keeping the updates and posts more frequent. A few things I discovered in 2012 that I felt I had to share are some of my new must haves that I can’t seem to survive without. So here they are:

 

 

Giorgio Armani Maestro Eraser

 

 

This is a concealer skin treatment hybrid and it is amazing and the new direction of cosmetics. This concealer contains ingredients that help treat the dark circles as well. It blends beautifully and as always I am a big fan of any products that performs multitasking. You can find it at Holt Renfrew and at some Sephora‘s here in Canada as well as all better departments stores in the US.

 

 

Becca Beach Tint

 

 

This Beach Tint from Becca is great as a lip and cheek water-resistant tint. Becca has finally returned to Canada with Sephora and this is one of my favorite products I use everyday. The colour can be applied in layers to decide on the intensity and natural looking so great even for makeup newbies.

 

 

 

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy

 

 

I have always been a huge fan of Fresh beauty products. This Advanced Therapy from their Sugar lip line is unbelievable. It provides so much moisture than the previous ones and is absolutely a must have in anyone’s bag during the winter months. I have to say my lips seem to be finally surviving this winter thanks to this product. I never leave home without it.

Chanel’s Fall/Winter 2013 Runway Nail Colour

Every season Chanel‘s Peter Philips, Creative Director of Chanel make up, creates polish colours to complement the collection that creates an absolute frenzy with fashion and make up fans. These trend setting colours sell out and have even been found on eBay for 3x their retail price, Chanel Jade anyone? This fall 2012 Le Vernis shade is no exception. For this fall look Peter only created one Le Vernis shade for the runway to complement the incredible make up that included crystal eyebrows and wardrobe, “Frenzy” is a stunning greyish taupe that is bound to create a frenzy this fall. I predict seeing it on many nails when it is released.

Bumble and Bumble Pin Tin

As all my friends know especially the ones who are hair and makeup artists, I am completely challenged when trying to do my hair. I have had them text me step by step instructions for when I have had to do my own hair for events. But now things have changed. I picked up the Bumble and Bumble Pin Tin the other day, which is in stores just in time for the holidays, and I am officially in love. This pin tin has 4 different styles of hair pins and are stored by type and size, it also comes with a few step by step instructions. I can honestly say I attempted one of the styles and I succeeded and got a ton of compliments at two separate fashion events. I also love the fact that they are white as they become part of the style. Plus I love how organized they stay. A definite recommendation.

Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Primer

Smashbox cosmetics is a company that is extremely well known especially for their primers. The original primer has garnered a cult following. Now there is a new addition to the family and I have to say I am pretty excited about it. The Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Primer is a primer that provides amazing hydration to the skin yet is still oil free. Something that has been hard to find. This is a great item to have in your makeup bags for this upcoming fall and winter when the heat gets turned on and your skin starts drying out. Try it, I definitely recommend it. And bonus…it’s paraben free!

L’Oreal Paris New Hair Care Collection

So I admit I am a total product junkie. It may be a result that I continually get bored of my natural hair colour so I do things like dye it red or dark brunette, and when the upkeep becomes too much I strip it out and go back to my natural hue of blonde. But from all that torture my hair is just not as great as it used to be, say bye bye to natural waves and healthy shine. Well I have been scouring high and low to find products to try and revive my hair instead of chopping it all off and starting fresh. So when L’Oreal started advertising their new hair care line I thought I may try it. When I saw it on sale in my local drug store I bought every piece from the Total Repair 5 Collection; shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, overnight treatment, leave in detangler treatment; junkie, I know…Anyways to my surprise for the first time ever my hair has taken to all the claims and actually looks healthier, feels softer, has more body and has more shine! I felt I had to share as I know many of us are obsessed with finding the perfect product. Well as of right now this one comes pretty close and it is at a much more affordable price than the professional brands. I will definitely recommend this particular collection and I have a feeling the other ones in it will be just as great.

Dedicated Post:

Burberry Beauty

I am definitely a make-up junkie…there really is no question. But I have to admit my newest cosmetic obsession really does deserve it. Burberry Beauty is really what I feel so many woman were looking in the beauty market. It is makeup for women, not makeup artists. It was the brain child of Christopher Bailey as he felt there wasn’t any makeup out there that reflected his Burberry girl. With colours named like Trench, Khaki, Almond, Cameo, you can truly see the Burberry influence. The colours are incredibly wearable and soo easy to use, and it it gives a great fresh faced look.

I also love the packaging with the iconic plaid all over it.

Shadows:

These sheer shadows can be applied with your finger or a brush. The colours are amazing. Some of my favourites are Khaki, Gold Trench, Almond and Trench.

Lip Gloss:

This gloss is absolutely amazing. There is great colour coverage, but absolutely noooo stickiness, so hello windy days, as there were will be no hair caught in the gloss or leaving those dreaded gloss lines on your face!

Lipstick:

This lipstick actually feels hydrating on your lips. I love how if you apply it and slighlty blot it with your finger you get a great stained appearance. And can I just say how much I love the packaging. It is so sleek and sophisticated AND there is a magnet in the cap which prevents it from falling off in your purse….Genius!

Foundation:

This foundation is absolutely incredible. I have been one to preach them amazing qualities of Gorgio Armani, but I must admit as much as I still love the Armani foundation, this one has surpassed it in my loves. There are uv filters in it, so you need to shake it up before you use it, but the colours and texture on the skin are incredible. One pump is truly all you need for coverage. I find I don’t even need to use concealer anymore with it. This is a definite recommend to anyone, and they have a great range of colours to choose from.

 

Currently in Canada Burberry Beauty is exclusive to Holt Renfrew Bloor Street in Toronto and Vancouver, you can order it from them from where ever your are, or you can also shop online at Nordstrom since they now ship to Canada.

Dedicated Post:

Chanel Fall Nail Polish Colours

So every season Chanel always seems to come up with the best nail colour trend defining colours, Le Vernis Nail Colours have always been on every fashionista and fashion and beauty editor’s nails and wish lists. Will we ever forget Black Satin, Noir Cermaic, Jade, Particular, or Nouvelle Vague? Well this fall they have quite a few colours up for grabs, some of them very limited and very hard to get your hands on, and one that has now, so I have been told, been added to their line-up, just like Black Satin was. Here are the shades that I am truly lusting after….

Paradoxal

This is an incredible dark grey with an iridescent violet in it…definitely looks incredible on the nails, and if it is any indicator, even though it is no longer limited edition, they still can’t keep it in stock and there are wait lists.

Black Velvet

This is an amazing velvety black with more of a matte finish. One word of warning this limited edition shade definitely needs a base coat, it grips your nails like I have never seen before. I love the velvety matte finish, I feel that is a fresh take on the normal shiny black we have been seeing everywhere.

Les Khakis

These three shades were limited edition shades created for Vogue’s Fashion Night Out and they were launched at the Chanel in SOHO. So many people were lusting after them in other cities, that some Chanel counters got them, though I can tell you there was a definite wait list for them – I was one of them on it! I have to admit, I love all three shades:

This one looks a little more green in real life. I absolutely love it, it is a nice warm shade that really flatters many people and makes a great every day colour.

This is a more pinky brown version of particular. It is a colour that I can see all ages loving and is incredibly sophisticated.

This one is probably my absolute favourite of all the fall shades. It is the perfect Khaki green, is more cool toned then the other two shades in Les Khakis. It is most likely going to be my go to colour for the whole fall season. I absolutely love it!

Chanel has definitely done it again as Peter Philips has been creating some incredible colours that women are going nuts for. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for Spring 2011!