Silver Lining / Summer & Fall Beauty Goods

This weekend was my sister in law's wedding. I carefully packed my bags, excited at the idea of wearing my new BCBG dress, my epic new necklace… my sky high heels… That is until, my husband forgot my luggage and I was left 150 miles away from clean underwear and my new goods. No deodorant, people! No shoes for the wedding! I’m convinced this is a girl’s worst fashion nightmare…

I guess there are worst things than having to buy new makeup, shoes and undies… Here are my go-to beauty products – all fresh and new!

Foundation: Cover FX, pressed mineral powder foundation with SPF 10  & Giorgio Armani’s Maestro Skin Perfector / Eye Shadow: I swapped my classic Naked Palette 2 for Lancôme’s Colour Design in Gris Fatal / Mascara: Guerlain’s Maxi lash / Eyeliner: Smashbox’s Limitless Liquid Liner Pen in black

Hey you! Homes, clothes and some Stikki

Peeps, I haven’t been in touch in forevaaa! Life has been too hectic/crazy/amazing to sit down... here’s a short recap: Hubby and I bought our first home. Wait, that totally deserved more exclamation points... let me start over: Hubby and I bought our first home!!!!!!! It’s a done friggin’ deal. Can you believe it? After months and months of searching, we fell in love. The move in date is August and although that seems quite far away, I know time will fly.

I’ve also been blessed with some epic girl-time and you know what that means! Shopping! Below, you’ll find a few of my fave new purchases.

Vero Moda’s kakhi jacket with faux leather sleeves ... if it's got faux leather sleeves, I'm buying it. Period. / Kate Spade Winking Georgie clutch (it ACTUALLY winks... hello awesomeness!) / My fave conditioner by Kiehl’s / Rebelle Rouge Coco Shine by Chanel / Lemon coloured iPad cover by Coach / Art geek alert! I purchased Urban Outfitter’s Curtis Kulig iPhone cover. This totally kills my street cred, but I think it’s worth the risk.

 

And since I appear to be on a spending roll (guys, guys, this didn’t all happen in one day... I haven’t written in a while, remember?) I also purchased this awesome new silkscreen print by the Montreal artist Stikki Peaches. For those following my Instagram, you know I’m a fan. Come on ladies! Batman and James Bond rolled into one? Printed on crinkled kraft paper? Ohhh... so badass I couldn’t resist. Being an art historian has its perks, so I was able to purchase this print before its release date... it should be available soon by clicking HERE.

 

Stikki Peaches’ BatBond (edition of 50) soon available at Station 16.

 

How have you been?

 

Burgundy Nails

As any fashion aficionado knows, this season is all about deep shades of reds. Personally, I have fallen hard for burgundy nails as they are classic with a punky edge. Danina totally turned me on to Essie’s Bahama Mama (shown below)... I tell you, that girl knows where it’s at!

 

 

To keep this look on trend, I think it’s best to keep your nails short. Remember that once dried, the colour will appear much darker than in the bottle. Let me know which one you are planning on using!

 

1. Deborah Lippmann Good Girl Gone Bad / 2. Dior Graphic Berry / 3. Chanel Vamp / 4. YSL La Laque Couture Fuchsia Cubiste / 5. Essie Bahama Mama / 6. Sephora by OPI Beauty Junkie

 

 

Review: Giorgio Armani’s Maestro Skin Perfector

I’m not sure what this says about my willpower, but most of what goes on my “Currently Craving” posts becomes mine. My latest purchase? Giorgio Armani’s Maestro Skin Perfector, which was described by The Beauty Editor as blowing “BB Creams out of the water.” Sold!

 

 

I, for one, never jumped on the BB cream wagon. I’m not a fan of its greasy finish... In my opinion, Armani’s Maestro Skin Perfector does what BB only hopes to achieve... but for a whooping 68 CAN$. Ouch.

 

Once you get your hands on this product (bite the bullet and doooo it), shake the bottle, place two or three drops on your fingers and simply let them glide on your face. I’m telling you: it’s like giving yourself a massage with fairy dust! It’s by far the lightest foundation on the market. It goes on smooth, like thin fluid oil... Now, if the word “oil” just made you cringe with visions of breaking out, relax. Maestro is noncomedogenic, which means that it won’t block pores. Your skin will feel nourished and soft (oh sooo soft!). As for coverage, I’d be lying if I said it was a one stop shop. I won’t be giving up by Boi-ing Benefit concealor (to camouflage a late night outing) or even my faithful Cover FX to powder my nose. But here’s what I will guarantee: if you try this product, you’ll get a gorgeous glow, long lasting coverage and incredible comfort!

Let me know if you’ve tried it or if you have a new fave product!

 

 

 

The Essentials for your Evening Bag

Have you ever gone out with your girlfriends and been asked: “Can I put my ID in your purse? I have no more room in mine.” Yes, we have all been there. I was once an offender myself. That is until I became smart about purchasing cute evening bags that are actually functional.

Here is a picture of my favourite Kate Spade camel clutch, which I received on my 30th birthday.

 

If your clutch does not fit all your needs, i.e your cash, your ID, your makeup, your cell phone, your keys and some form of candy or breath mint: please buy another bag! ...Now, you might have read “candy” and thought “I don’t need candy in my bag,” oh but you do. We women tend to get hungry at unexpected moments. And when we do, we get complain-y. Be a sport, and start chewing on a piece of gum or pass one along when you see a friend start to fade. Please share this wisdom with all the women in your life!

Sunny Disposition

Oh yeah... Did I mention that I’m the luckiest girl alive and that I recently spent a week in the heavenly state of California? Truth be told, I’ve never travelled as much as this year – I feel both giddy and blessed at the idea. Since fall/winter has so quickly washed over Montreal, it was fun to pack my summer brights before storing them for good and feel the sun on my snow-white skin once again.

 

1. I dare you to name one other tree that can brighten up your day like a palm tree / 2. Welcome to California! Wearing my silver bangles on the plane and my summery Isabelle May bracelet / 3. On trend with Song nail polish by Butter London / 4. Hubby and I’s first stop: yup, In-n-Out! I couldn’t wait to take a bite of my burger before snapping this shot.

Currently Craving: Andy & NARS

Hell yeah! Once in a while, I’m bamboozled by pure genius. That's right: I said PURE GENIUS! PartyMixTape readers, feast your eyes on NARS’ new collection inspired by the great pop icon Andy Warhol! Beauty and art rolled into one… Oh dear, this is going to be an expensive weekend! Happy Friday!

 

 

Andy Warhol , Shot Sage Blue Marilyn, 1964

 

Currently Craving: Armani’s Maestro Skin Perfector

 

Remember when I felt like a rock star for interviewing Michelle from BeautyEditor.ca? At the time, I asked her about upcoming must-have fall products. She mentioned a few eyeliners and mascaras, and ended with this infuriating teaser: “The last product is a new foundation but I'm not sure that I'm allowed to mention the brand or the concept yet. All I will say is that it's like nothing you've seen before, and it blows BB Creams out of the water.” Try as I might, she would not spill the beans. Well today, SHE HAS, describing it as “FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!”

 

The must-have beauty item I’m picking up this weekend is Giorgio Armani’s Maestro Skin Perfector. In the words of Linda Cantello, Make-up Artist for Giorgio Armani Cosmetics: “It’s not a foundation, it’s a complexion perfector. A whole new generation of make-up that feels incredible, looks invisible and makes skin appear luminous every time. Anyone can wear it.”  Will you be giving it a try?

Update: Check out the review by clicking HERE!

Should My Nails Match My Makeup?

Here’s a brand new question posted on PMT’s facebook page: "I just purchased new nail polish by Essie: Merino Cool. Now my question is... does my makeup need to be in similar tones?"

Well, my dear, I’m glad you asked. In short: no. There are no rules! I tend to paint my nails on Sunday afternoon (right smack in the middle of doing chores... “Oh, soooorry... No, I can’t help you fold the laundry... my nails are drying...”  Evil, I know). I chose my nail polish in function of my mood (...and trends). Your everyday makeup should also reflect your mood and improve your complexion. If the shades found in Merino Cool aren’t suitable for your skin tone, don’t force it! Your fingers are nowhere near your face, so you don’t need to worry about them clashing. However, if you feel more comfortable with the uniformity of matching makeup and nails, the easiest colours to pull off are orchid and red (both super hot trends this fall).  Here are two different options for you to rock your new nail polish:

 

 

 

To Match?

1. Kate Von D’s Shade Shifter Eyeshadow in On The Road / 2. Essie’s Merino Cool / 3. Rouge Shine Lipstick no. 43 by Sephora / 4. NARS Illuminator in Copacabana, a glistening pearl shade / 5. Revlon’s lip gloss in Lilac Pastelle

 

Or to Mix?

1. Kate Von D Tattoo Liner / 2. bareMinerals eye shadow duo The Phenomenon, combining Azure Iris and Golden Iris / 3. Creamy Lip Colour by Bobbi Brown in Pink Ballet / 4. MAC’s new Light Dirty Rose Beige / 5. Essie’s Merino Cool

 

Top 10: Fall Edition

Yesterday afternoon, Montreal was hit with torrential downpours. This morning, the city woke up to a beautiful crisp fall morning. Hubby and I will walk downtown to breathe in the change of season... and I’ll be stocking up on a few beauty essentials. You’ve read my “Top 10” beauty posts, but here is September’s updated version:

 

1. FOUNDATION: Cover FX, pressed mineral powder foundation with SPF 10 / 2. LIPSTICK: Orange Flip by Revlon. I often layer mine with Artdeco’s pale pink Lip Brillance #64 / 3. BROW PENCIL: Lancôme's all-in-one essential for natural-looking brows: Le Crayon Poudre / 4. CONCEALER: The miraculous Boi-ing by Benefit / 5. PRIMER: It’s smooth sailing with Make Up For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer / 6. EYELINER: I can’t live without eyeliner and Stila’s has proven the test of time / 7. MASCARA: Artdeco All-in-one Mascara. I have it in black and blue, layering both shades / 8. NAIL POLISH: Geranium by Essie is a great “in between seasons” shade / 9. EYE CREAM: Kiehl's creamy eye treatment with avocado... now that I’m 30, I’m realizing that eye cream is not a luxury purchase. Pout. / 10. DRY SHAMPOO: The best of the best is Oscar Blandi's dry shampoo.

 

The September Issue

I love Glamour Magazine. And this month, my excitement was even greater than usual when I realized it was time for the most amazing of all issues: the September Issue.

For the magazine’s first ever “full-on fashion issue”, Glamour got the help of Victoria Beckham (by the way, how awesome was it to see the Spice Girls reunited at the London 2012 Closing Ceremonies?).  After a thorough read, I feel ready to make a fashionable transition into fall.

All images via

Here are a few things I learned:

1.  It’s totally OK to wear black at a wedding (not yours!). This is good, since I’m going to one this weekend and was a bit nervous about my black (but oh-so-chic) Calvin Klein dress.
2.  Necklaces shaped like a fake collar are very trendy these days. Not so sure about that one…I’ll ask Emily to do some research and write a post about it. Stay tuned!
3. Purple and oxblood (or Chianti, as Glamour prefers to call it) are THE colours of the season.
4. And, finally, when asked if they would rather have a lifetime supply of Louboutins or one amazing night with Ryan Gosling, 68% of women surveyed by the magazine said they would choose the shoes. I, personally, would pick Ryan (who needs that many Louboutins?)

Life According to my Pinterest

Since Emily often shares with you her latest obsessions in the form of her recent Pinterest posts, I was inspired to do the same. Here’s what I’ve been pinning lately:

My own Freudian analysis of this tells me three things: I love turquoise, I’m craving a little bit of luxury, and I wish I were anywhere but the office – preferably in an exotic location, it seems!

On a side note, I hear that NGOs are starting to use Pinterest as a way of raising awareness for their causes. Have you noticed all the neat infographics that are starting to pop up?

Image added to Pinterest by The Girl Effect

Best Hair Products

I have thin hair but lots of it. It neither wants to be straight nor curly. It loves to frizz and poof like an uncurly afro. Best hair ever! Ya, right. A girl needs to find the right products for her hair type, because living with bad hair is just not possible. I’ve searched long and hard and now present to you my three favourite hair products:

1. FIRST APPLY MYSTIC OIL TO WET HAIR: L’Oréal’s Mystic Oil is similar to BioSilk or Moroccanoil. I simply prefer Mystic’s smell and texture. Enriched with a blend of avocado and grape seed oil, this lightweight oil pampers all hair types. The formula will leave your hair looking healthy. 2. CURL YOUR HAIR WITH A CURLING IRON: Once you’ve created loose curls, apply John Frieda’s Dream Curl Spray. I like to spray the product into my hands and gently blend it to my hair – but if you want a “crunchier” look, spray away. This product will give you a beach-curl-effect, and in my case, keeps curls bouncy. 3. FINISH OFF WITH: Bed Head’s Spoil Me Defrizzer. This product is a must to keep hair shiny and frizz free. Spray it after, before, later: whenever, you’ll love it! 

Are You Ready for Blue Lashes?

When I asked Michelle from BeautyEditor.ca what upcoming trend she was excited about, she mentioned the vibrant blue lashes we saw from Stella McCartney during this year's Fashion Week.

Image via

I’ve been coveting blue mascara ever since Yves Saint Laurent came out with his coloured wands, but never felt ready to take the plunge. So I did my research hoping to find out which brand was used to create this runway look. It turns out that makeup artist Pat McGrath covered each models’ lashes with dark black mascara, followed by several coats of a custom-made electric blue gel pigment.

Beware that blue mascaras are much more subtle than the look offered by Stella McCartney. Here’s what Sephora customers are saying about my suggestions:   1. Buxom Lash Mascara Special Effects Blue Noir “I was hoping for a little more blue than black, and this is more of a black with a hint of blue.” / 2. Yves Saint Laurent, Effet Faux Cils in Sea Black “It looks a lot more natural on me in the daytime than black.” / 3. Sephora Collection, Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara in Blue “I was hoping for a nice electric blue pop on my blonde lashes. Nope. It's blue, if you're up close.” / 4. Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash mascara in Dark Blue “This blue is a nice, smoky shade, suitable for daily wear.” / 5. Givenchy, Eye Fly Lash Extender Mascara in Fly in Blue “I was really impressed with the color.” / 6. Dior, Diorshow Mascara in Azure Blue “I was so excited when I got this; the blue is just incredible on the brush... too bad it doesn't follow through on the lashes.”

If you are dead set on rocking Stella’s runway look, might I suggest simply brushing electric blue eye shadow to your still-wet mascara? You will be able to layer the pigment until you reach a satisfactory pop of colour! Enjoy & let me know!

 

Fall Beauty Trend: Deep Orchid

Is it too early to talk about fall trends? I think not. Brace yourselves ladies, because this fall will be all about bold purples, earthy browns... and unexpected pops of colour... but that’s for later this week! What’s great about deep shades of orchid is that you can easily carry them from summer date-night to fall day-time. Some of you will be daring enough to rock a vampy pout – others will stick to lighter shades of violet and mulberry. Here are a few suggestions so that you can stock up early on this upcoming trend.

1. Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural in purple / 2. NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Sugarland / 3. Thakoon for NARS in Rotin Jot / 4. Make Up For Ever Powder Blush in Lavender (would you dare?) / 5. BADgal Plum Mascara / 6. Cult-classic Black Orchid lipstick by Tom Ford (How handsome is Tom Ford?) / 7. Dior nail polish in Les Violets Hypnotiques / 8. Black Orchid Voile de Fleur fragrance by Tom Ford / 9. Sephora’s Colorful Duo Eyeshadow in Gorgeous Pink

Aimee Blaut from Harper's Bazaar  touching up her Tom Ford lipstick in Black Orchid (image via)

Interview with BeautyEditor.ca

Every woman has a source of beauty insight. It may be a colleague, friend or magazine… Mine is Michelle from BeautyEditor.ca. Michelle is fun, witty and knows her stuff! Ever wonder what’s in a beauty editor’s makeup bag? Ever wish you could ask them about their beauty routine? PartyMixtape has got you covered! In the following interview, Michelle reveals the upcoming trends and products you are guaranteed to be lusting over this fall!

The lovely Michelle from BEAUTYEDITOR.ca

How did you start in the beauty industry?

Like just about everyone in the industry I started with an internship — I was at a magazine called The Look (published by St. Joseph Media), which ended up folding in 2006. After my internship finished I was lucky enough to land a beauty editor job at the same magazine, where I stayed for two years. When The Look ceased publication I moved over to ELLE Canada, where I was beauty and health editor and later, contributing editor. For the past few years I've been a free agent, writing for magazines such as ELLE Canada, FLARE, Canadian Living, Chatelaine and FASHION, and then spending the rest of the time on BEAUTYEDITOR.ca.

What inspired you to create BeautyEditor.ca?

I started the site on a whim shortly after I left ELLE Canada. I realized that I had acquired a ton of beauty "knowledge" over the years from this somewhat bizarre career where you spend your time testing the dozens of products that land on your desk every week, swanning about at swanky media launches and interviewing all the top dermatologists, makeup artists and hair experts. I was just bursting with insider stuff to share—but the problem in magazines is that you always have space constraints. So all these great tips were going to waste! I also felt like the magazine "voice" for beauty information was so formal (and often intimidating), and that there was an opportunity to approach the topic in a much more casual, fun, conversational way.

As a beauty editor, you are constantly discovering new trends. Are there any new products and trends that you are excited about?

Always! In products, there are three newbies that I'm super excited about right now. Anastasia just came out with Lash Genius, which is a clear topcoat that turns any mascara waterproof. It's fantastic. A couple of companies are coming out with three-pronged eyeliners. I believe the one from Too Faced is already out, and another brand will launch next month. What these do is let you create a thicker-looking lash line by stamping the three dots right at the base of your lashes. The last product is a new foundation but I'm not sure that I'm allowed to mention the brand or the concept yet. All I will say is that it's like nothing you've seen before, and it blows BB Creams out of the water. In terms of fall trends, I'm loving all the dramatic eye looks. Probably my two favourites were the electric blue lashes at Stella McCartney and liner at Anna Sui. I still haven't really embraced the dark, Gothic lipstick thing—but it's going to be big, so I'll probably come around.

1. Anastasia’s Lash Genius

2. Too Faced 3 Ways Lash Lining Tool

3. Blue lashes are trending. Try Dior’s version!

What are three of your daily reads?

I check a ton of beauty sites and magazines but because I'm so immersed in the topic I usually just skim the content. Probably the one I enjoy the most is Glamour's beauty blog—for my site it's all about the headlines and I find Glamour does such a great job of writing them. They always suck me in to wanting to read the posts. Aside from that my guilty pleasures are Crazy Days and Nights and Get Off My Internets. The former is a gossip site that has wicked blind item reveals, and the latter basically just calls out bloggers on the internet for their narcissistic behaviour. It's hilarious (and keeps me in line!).

What is your daily beauty routine like?

If I'm at home writing, I'll apply a series of masks instead of putting on makeup. For events I'll put in some more effort, although I'm still pretty low-key (read: lazy). Always sunscreen, and then I spend the majority of time on whatever combo of BB Cream/primer/concealer/foundation/powder that I feel like that day. Then just mascara, nude eyeshadow, sometimes liner, blush and a lip gloss or lipstick. Because I am paranoid about my hair colour fading, I usually just let it dry naturally and spray in a ton of dry shampoo to give it texture.

Three must have products for the summer:

1. I can't live without SkinCeuticals sunscreen — it's the best mineral one out there and doesn't leave a white cast or make you greasy.

2. Bright nail polish. My pick of the season is Camera by Essie—a pinky coral.

3. That mascara-waterproofing product I mentioned above... it's called Lash Genius by Anastasia.

1. Camera nail polish by Essie

2. SkinCeuticals sunscreen

What is the best purchase you ever made?

I finally got on board the Retin-A train this year after years of interviewing dermatologists and hearing them tell me it's the gold standard for anti-aging. I'll let you know how that goes in five or 10 years, but for now I've noticed better skin texture and cleaner pores—so that's something!

What do you keep in your makeup bag?

At home I have waaaay too many products to fit in just one makeup bag (it's a real problem), but in my purse I carry fragrance, concealer, stick blush, a nail file, a hair brush/mirror compact, blotting papers and about 40 different types of lip products. (How they all get in there I don't know!)

Which modern day icons do you look up to?

I love Emma Stone for her beauty risk-taking. She always gets it right without looking overdone. Olivia Wilde is great too. For hair, I have a special place in my heart for the strawberry blondes, so I'm always saving pics of Amy Adams (and now this C-lister called Holland Roden) to take to my hairdresser.

Are the most expensive products better than the more affordable ones?

It really depends. Everyone should have an antioxidant serum in their skincare regimen, and they don't come cheap. I also think foundation, fragrance and high-quality hair tools are worth splurging on. Most other categories have perfectly fine drugstore offerings... so it's really a matter of prioritizing based on your needs. Will the Tom Ford lipstick be nicer to use than the Rimmel one? Of course. But nobody's going to know it's Tom Ford when you're walking down the street!

What are some of the biggest mistakes you see women doing?

I really wish women would get over the blonde highlight thing. It's so dated-looking now to have such obvious streaks with an ashy base. It's far more flattering for most people to do a darker, warmer all-over colour on their base with subtle, tone-on-tone highlights. I also think women wear too much makeup in general when they go out at night. When the outfit is sexy, your makeup shouldn't be over the top as well.

Name your top three songs:

Well according to my iTunes here are three that have received some of the most plays:

Tenderness by General Public (cheesy I know)

Ice Skating Girl (Linus Loves Remix) by Rekindle (I heard this in Anthropologie and Shazam'ed it)

Teenage Dream by Katy Perry (the pinnacle of her oeuvre, right??)