Chanel Cote d’Azur Collection

Debuting at the Chanel Cruise Collection 2010 – 2011 fashion show in Saint Tropez on May 11th, Peter Philips, Global Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, was inspired by the location to create a playful collection that flirts with the sun. “Effortless, natural beauty, relaxed girls who are enjoying their holidays. That was the main idea behind the look for this show. And we added a touch of playfulness by applying a pastel baby blue nail polish”, says Peter Philips.

In Chanel Collection Cote d’Azur, lips are adorned with Rouge Coco Hydrating Crème Lip Colour in four soft, summery shades: Perlé, Chintz, Taffeta Rose and Sari Doré. The playful spirit is accentuated down to the fingertips with the pastel blue lacquer, Le Vernis Nail Colour in Riva.

Le Vernis (Limited Edition)
• Riva

Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Colour  (Limited Edition)
• Perle
• Taffeta Rose
• Sari Dore
• Chintz

Available now! Good luck trying to get your hands on the Le Vernis....

MAC Cosmetics Pink 4 Friday

It’s a Monster collaboration: Pink 4 Friday by M·A·C Cosmetics and Nicki Minaj. The Trinidadian hip-hop diva has personally designed a LIMITED EDITION M·A·C Lipstick, Pink Friday, to celebrate the release of her highly anticipated debut album of the same name. Putting her trademark barbz glamour twist on a bright, creamy pink satin formula, Nicki says, “M·A·C’s Pink Nouveau was my favourite lipstick for years, but it’s all about Pink Friday!”

Nicki’s exclusive shade will only be available for purchase four Fridays beginning Friday, November 26, 2010, while supplies last, ONLY at www.maccosmetics.com

Available FRIDAYS November 26, December 3, December 10, and December 17, 2010

Dior - DiorShow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum

What it promises to do: Dior's first lash primer that combs, curls, and coats each lash to create a smooth, even mascara base, while acting as a nourishing serum treatment that promotes long-term lash growth, strength, and vitality. (Sephora Website)

What else you need to know: "Diorshow Maximizer is this season's most innovative, must-have product. Apply as a primer serum base under mascara for intensely curled, thickened, and lengthened lashes and also on its own as a deep conditioner for lashes at night." -Sephora Pro Beauty Team Member, Nathalie Bechard (Sephora Website)


Research Results: The Dior Innovation Center has tested Diorshow Maximizer for efficiency and found amazing results after only 8 weeks use: + 52% Volume, +38% Length, + 73% Curl
Studies also showed that lashes were more resilient, protected, and revitalized. (Sephora Website)



My take...

I love it! As a primer, I think it is amazing. It lengthens my lashes and boosts volume. I use it right before I apply my regular mascara which is Maybelline Colossal Lash (love!) and I get long, lush lashes! However, I don't use it everyday to be able to comment on whether or not it is a good lash conditioner. From what I have heard from others, it seems work great as well. The best part is the price! Other lash conditioners are about $60 and up, but Dior's is approximately $30, which is the average price of a Dior mascara.

Have you tried this? If so, do you love it or hate it?

MAC Cosmetics Stylishly Yours Collection

Lipstick ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)

Style Curve Bright violet purple (Cremesheen) (Limited Edition)
Something New Creamy bright blue pink (Amplified Creme) (Limited Edition)
Neon Orange Bright clean orange (Amplified Creme) (Permanent at PRO)
Cockney Sheer yellow red with multi-dimensional pearl (Lustre) (Permanent now) (Repromote from Euristocrats, ’09)

Lipglass ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)

Clear Clear (Permanent)

Pigment ($19.50 U.S. / $23.50 CDN)

Madly Personal Bright pink (Limited Edition)
New Fixation Bright fuchsia red with soft pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)
Follow Your Fancy Bright coral with pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)
Violet Violet with pink pearl (Frost) (Permanent)
Cream Colour Bases, Fluidlines, oh my!

Cream Colour Base ($16.50 U.S. / $19.50 CDN)

Tickle Me Pink Poppy creamy bright pink (Limited Edition)
Movie Star Mid-toned blue red (Limited Edition)
Madly Magenta Magenta purple (Permanent at PRO)
Virgin Isle Clean, bright coral red (Permanent)

Fluidline ($15.00 / $18.00 CDN)

Dark Diversion Blackened plum (Limited Edition)
Blacktrack Flat black (Permanent)

Beauty Powder ($25.00 / $30.00 CDN)

Too Chic Soft peachy cream with fine shimmer (Limited Edition)
Play It Proper Pastel soft pink with sparkles (Limited Edition)

Brush ($17.50 U.S. / $20.50 CDN)

209 Angled brow brush (Permanent)

Available December 26!

MAC Cosmetics Cham-Pale Collection

Lipstick
• Flustered Frosted, pale bronze (Frost) (Limited Edition)
• Quiet, Please Sheer frosty pale beige (Lustre) (Limited Edition) (Repromote from Red She Said, ’08)
• Tanarama Soft pale golden beige with gold metallic shimmer (Frost) (Permanent)
• Gel Sheer pale gold (Frost) (Permanent)
Lipgelees
• Bubble Lounge Sparkly pink peach (Limited Edition)
• Straight to the Head Sparkly brown bronze (Limited Edition)
• Sin-tillation Sparkly pale icy pink (Limited Edition)
• Luxure Off-white with pink pearl (Limited Edition)
Caviar Dreams Eyeshadow Quad
• Brule Soft muted creamy beige (Satin) (Permanent)
• Et Tu, Bouquet? Frosted pale pink gold (Frost) (Repromote from A Rose Romance, ’09)
• Caviar Dreams Mid-tone frosted pewter (Frost) (Limited Edition)
• Retrospeck Beached blonde (Lustre) (Permanent)
Paint Pot
• Chilled on Ice Frosted white gold (Limited Edition)
• Vintage Selection Frosted mid-tone peach (Limited Edition)
• Dangerous Cuvee Frosted cool grey (Limited Edition)
• Let Me Pop Frosted light copper (Limited Edition)
Eye Kohl
• I Get No Kick Metallic nude (Limited Edition) (Repromote)
Kohl Power
Feline Black (Limited Edition) (Repromote)
Chromagraphic Pencil
• NC15/NW20 Flesh tone NC15/NW20 shade (Permanent at PRO)
• NW25/NC30 Flesh tone NW25/NC30 shade (Permanent at PRO)
Studio Fix Lash
• Black Fix (Permanent)
Special Reserve Highlight Powder
• Chez Chez Lame Soft gold with silver shimmer (Limited Edition)
• Rose Ole Soft pink with gold shimmer (Limited Edition)
Nail Lacquer
• Soiree Sparkly light bronze gold (Frost) (Limited Edition)
• Very Important Platinum Mid-tone platinum (Frost/Metallic) (Limited Edition)
Complete Comfort Creme (Permanent in U.S., Limited Edition in Asia)
Calms and soothes irritated skin immediately and over time and relieves sensitive skin while diminishing the appearance of redness, irritation and blotchiness. Over time, the gentle, soothing formula helps reduce the appearance of broken capillaries and helps even out skin tone. It contains algae extracts that visibly reduce redness and blotchiness on the skin, both immediately and over time. Kukui nut oil provides moisturization and emollience, while kola seed extract acts as an anti-irritant to help soothe irritated skin. It contains wheat germ and barley extracts that help strengthen the skin’s natural lipid barrier over time. It moisturizes and softens the skin immediately and over time and improves skin tone over time. It’s derm- and ophth-tested, non-acnegenic and suitable for all skint types, including sensitive skin.
Additional Products
• Fix+ Lavender (Limited Edition)
• Lip Conditioner SPF 15 Lavender (Limited Edition)
• Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 Lavender in Calm Mode Light neutral beige (Limited Edition)

This collection will be launched December 26th!

Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Blow Dry Perfector

My good friend Anita told me about the Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Blow Dry Perfector and the minute she told me about it I was intrigued. I don't have extremely unmanageable hair, it has a bit of a wave and some frizz, but with a 15 minute blow dry and a 10 minute straighten I am all good...I do get a little frizzy as the day goes by, but it's nothing I worry about too much. But I have always dreamed of stepping out of the shower with stick straight hair (I know this is possible with the Japanese and Brazilian treatments but I'm also not willing to fork out $300+ for something that will grow out). This seemed like the next best thing. So of course, as any product junkie would do, I headed straight to Shoppers Drug Mart to see if it was available in Canada and guess what? I got the last one! For $15.50 my dream would soon come true! Until I read the package...it promises to give you smooth, frizz free, more manageable hair for up to 7 shampoos, but you are still required to use a heated styling tool (blowdryer and/or straightener) after every wash. Well, if it could save me even 15 minutes every morning, I figured why not try it out....and by try it out I mean disregard all of the warnings on the label and endure the awful smell of the first step (think a mix of Nair and hair dye). So I followed the instructions (minus using the Fructis Sleek and Shine shampoo and conditioner, I already have 4 different bottles of shampoo in my shower, I definitely don't need one more) and hoped for the best. I got used to the smell, and the cream from the second step made everything better. I noticed as I was getting ready to do the final step, the blow dry, that my hair did have less frizz in the towel-dried state than it does normally....exciting! During and after my blow dry I noticed that my hair was extremely soft, and it felt more manageable....but it was no miracle. After finishing my blow dry I still had those irritating wavy lumps that needed to be straightened out...so on I went to my best friend, my straightening iron. I'll admit it, the straightener glided over my hair and it fell straight, but I'm still not totally convinced...it looks like it always does after a good blow dry and straightening...But I did get a few compliments at work that day - somebody actually said "wow, your hair looks really straight today!". And it was still frizz free at 10 pm! Hmmm....let's see what happens over the next few shampoos.....well guys, nothing happened. Ok, my hair was softer, but a bit of the initial smell came back after the first shampoo and I really don't see a big difference. And after the second shampoo my hair was totally and utterly normal.  I started using some of the leftover cream, and I like it, which may mean that the real key to this whole "schpeal" is actually a heat activated styling cream.

My recommendations: 1) if you like to try out new products instead of just reading reviews, give it a try and see for yourself. It did not damage my hair at all so you don't have to worry about that, but it also did not perform any miracles; 2) keep the second step (heat activated cream) and use it again and again until it runs out, it's a very nourishing cream and I'm convinced that it's the reason my hair was so soft...maybe Fructis has another product just like the cream which can be purchased on its own, or you can try KMS Flat Out, which I personally like a lot...so go forth and experiment ladies! Good luck! But don't expect any miracles!

Would I purchase this product again: Probably not. It's a lot of extra work and doesn't give you the results promised. For those extra 20 minutes you could just give yourself a really good blowdry and make it last for two days, or for an extra $10 you could get a professional blowout.

Before

After

Thank you to my bestie Sarah for writing this post!

MAC Cosmetics and Mickey Contractor Collection

This is a collaboration between MAC and its Director of Makeup Artistry for India, Mickey Contractor.

Lipstick ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)
Yash Deep neutral (Matte) (Limited Edition)
Gulabi Bright fuchsia (Amplified) (Limited Edition)
Mehr Mid-tone blue pink (Matte) (Limited Edition)
Mocha Peachy yellow-brown (Satin) (Permanent)

Lipglass ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)
Flesh Mid-tone nude brown (Frost) (Limited Edition)
Lust Soft muted pink (Frost) (Permanent)

Eyeshadow ($14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN)
Athma (Description unknown) (Limited Edition)
Jaan Light neutral with soft gold pearl (Lustre) (Limited Edition)
Vivah Brown with gold pearl (Lustre) (Limited Edition)
Folie Reddish-plum brown (Satin) (Permanent)
Carbon Matte black (Matte) (Permanent)
Oomph Forest green with soft gold pearl (Veluxe Pearl) (Limited Edition)
Marvel Deep purple with soft pink pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)
Rani Bright fuchsia with soft pink pearl (Frost) (Limited Edition)
Saffron Deep coral caramel (Satin) (Limited Edition)

Fluidline ($15.00 U.S. / $18.00 CDN)
Siahi Deep turquoise blue (Limited Edition)
Ivy Bright green (Limited Edition)

Blush ($18.50 U.S. / $21.50 CDN)
Gana Bright white gold (Frost) (Limited Edition)
Sur Mid-tone rose brown (Satin) (Limited Edition)

Studio Fix Fluid Foundation ($26.00 U.S. / $30.00 CDN)
NC41, NC43.5, NC44.5 (Limited Edition)

Moisturecover Concealer ($16.50 U.S. / $19.50 CDN)
NC23, NC43, NC44, NC45.5 (Limited Edition)

Moisturecover Double-End Concealer ($21.00 U.S . / $24.50 CDN)
Coral Corrector/Yellow Corrector (Limited Edition)

Collection will be available January 6, 2011