Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick Review

There is something special about the way a great matte lipstick makes your pout appear lush, seductive and beautifully defined. A vivid lipstick free of distracting glitter and shine is show-stopping and Urban Decay’s new matte formula is smoking-hot! Available in eleven badass shades from pink, nude, purple, fuchsia, red and orange you can rock bright hues, classic faves or subtle pigments to match your mood, wardrobe and style.

Sometimes being fashionable can be painful and although we women wear it well and work those high heels the combination of comfort and glam is highly coveted. Although these bold beauties are matte you don’t have to worry about packing backup gloss for dry lip emergencies. The formula is creamy, rich and buttery for long-wear that doesn’t suck the moisture from lips or cause chapping. The luxurious suppleness allows for smooth application without any drag and the fabulous color hugs the contours of your lips for remarkable coverage and plump fullness.

The packaging is almost as good as what’s inside and the pearlescent black tubes are super trendy! They are designed to feel comfortable in your hand and protect the soft lipsticks from breakage.

Blackmail is the deepest color in the collection and although it isn’t for the timid the shade is quite unique.The pigment isn’t a true black, it is has a dark cherry undertone which gives it a subtle wine tinge and makes the shade more wearable. Although this vampy hue may not be for everyone it is quite trendy for fall.

Menace is described as a medium fuchsia pink but it is actually more of a bright pink that is great for all skin tones and seasons.

Aside from the velvety texture and just the right amount of hydration the pigmentation is insane! Just one swipe delivers intense color dispersed seamlessly to shape the lips and brighten the complexion. When wearing such vivacious color I like to prime my lips and use a liner for best results but the lipsticks provide a few hours of gorgeous wear.

Stark Naked is just as pigmented as the other shades but it is very neutral and flesh tone. I’m not sure if it is the perfect nude for my complexion but it does help dial down some of my bold eye makeup creations.

Tilt is a bright orange that effortlessly transitions from summer to fall!

I love a lipstick that nourishes especially in cooler weather and these chic tubes are loaded with lip loving ingredients to keep skin soft. The formula is enriched with avocado, olive and babassu oil for moisture, Malaysian shea butter to condition and vitamins C and E for a healthy dose of antioxidants.

The lipsticks retail for $26.00 each and you can pick them up at Sephora and select Shoppers Drug Mart locations.

Although I don’t care for the term “brows on fleek” I do like the sharp, defined look that has been on trend. Urban Decay has also released the Brow Tamer Flexible Hold Gel to help control even the unruliest brows for a well groomed, polished look. The precise mascara-like brush combs through each hair for a fuller effect and it gives you total control when filling in sparse areas without that stiff, sticky finish. Since my brows don't often stay put this product is definitely a staple in my makeup bag and the lightweight formula keeps hairs in place while sculpting. The gel comes in 5 shades including clear, taupe, natural brown, warm brown and dark. You can pick up your perfect shade for $24.00.

*Press samples featured

New from Avon: Outspoken Party by Fergie, Beyond Color Lipstick & Press-On Nails!

When I receive a new fragrance from Avon I just know it’s going to be good because they’ve been teaming up with fabulous celebs like Fergie and releasing trendy scents one after the other! I previously reviewed the first perfume in the collection called Outspoken and Avon has once again collaborated with the Black Eyes Peas bombshell to release Outspoken Party! This Fergalicious scent combines delicious notes of crème brûlée, fiery peony and luscious raspberry for a blend of delectable pink florals, juicy nectars and creamy gourmands. The purple liquid resembles a stylish elixir and the packaging is flirty and fun!

This scent is sweet as candy with a hint of seductive sandalwood for youthful edginess. It is a great fragrance for a fun night out when you crave something light, playful and a little delicious! You can also enhance the party girl vibe by using the body cream and for every perfume sold Avon will donate $5.00 to their foundation for breast cancer. The 50 ml bottle retails for $35.00 and the body cream is $15.00.

By now you know that I have a little... (okay maybe a HUGE) lip product obsession and the Beyond Color Lipstick collection has gained 10 vivacious new hues that will keep you stylish this fall. Whether you like subtle color or vivid, show-stopping pigments there is something for everyone and the formula is infused with jojoba and pomegranate extract to nourish, hydrate and protect.

(From left to right)- Bitten is my favorite color in the bunch, it is a bright pink with a gorgeous purple undertone that is perfect for autumn! In the Buff is a flesh tone nude which is idea for the days you decide to tone it down and Heat Wave is a bright seasonal shade because who doesn’t love orange for fall!?

These lightweight, rich lipsticks have a nice velvety texture, SPF 15 protection and caffeine to plump and voulmize your pout. The smooth, creamy texture glides on effortlessly with no drag and delivers a bold punch of pigment for full, beautiful coverage! I love that the satin finish has a touch of brilliant shine without being too glossy and the scent is very subtle and pleasant. The lipsticks retails for $12.00 each.

Press on nails were very popular this summer as beauty junkies decided to spend more time soaking up the sun and less time waiting for their polish to dry. Avon has jumped on the trend bandwagon and released a stunning range of artificial nails for quick, mess-free adhesion. Since these nails can be removed with just soap and water I’m assuming that they don’t last more than a few days especially with frequent hand washing but they can be filed to your desired shape and length.

I love the cute, stylish patterns! The black and white nails with the stripes and polka dots are my fave and if you want to get really creative you can mix and match designs for a more eclectic effect. I really wish these nails could fit me but they are too short and wide for my long, narrow nail beds. If they did work for me I would definitely rock them and they retail for just $12.00 per box.

You can pick up these great products at avon.ca and through independent consultants. 

*Press samples featured

L’Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil Review

When it comes to hair care nutritive oils can promote resiliency, restore damaged strands and improve texture so today I’m excited to share L’Oréal Professionnel's new secret weapon for a gorgeous, healthy mane! The exotic Mythic Oils are flowing with rich ingredients for soft, shiny hair and 24 hour anti-frizz and humidity protection.

The Nourishing blend is suitable for all hair types and it is my favorite in the collection! The beautiful glass bottles and golden packaging has a Moroccan, mystical vibe and the scent is warm, alluring and slightly sweet to make hair smell amazing. The formula is enriched with lush avocado oil to help with growth, increase body, delay aging and provide a glossy finish. It also contains rich grape seed oil to rejuvenate parched, brittle strands and fight free radicals.

When wearing my hair in its naturally curly state I like to apply the oil from ears to ends when it’s damp and freshly washed. It instantly makes my tresses feel incredibly soft and my curls look revived, bouncy and well formed. It also deeply nourishes and helps reduce poof to tame unruly strands and it works well with my other leave-ins or styling products. This hydrating oil transforms my hair by creating a layer of silky protection and it improves the appearance and texture of damaged ends without greasy build-up, thick film or residue. You can also apply the oil to the lengths of your hair to help detangle after shampooing and it adds glossy shine before or after blow drying without weighing down your strands.

If you want a little more glam the Shimmering Oil for hair and body is a great multipurpose product that provides brilliant shine and a touch of gold radiance. Although the formula has a gorgeous swirl of glittery particles, when applied to skin and hair the shimmer disperses well for a very subtle finish and a dewy, glimmering glow. The oil smells amazing and lightly scents the skin and hair with a sweet, slightly floral aroma. The mesmerizing gold dust is barely noticeable except for a beautiful, healthy sheen so you don’t have to worry about overdoing the glitz.

The gold formula is infused with a blend of magnolia flower which has stress reliving properties and conditions the skin for wonderful hydration. For day wear I apply a light layer because it isn’t a dry oil and at night I use a bit more after showering for intense moisture. It works well to eradicate dehydrated peeling skin, rough heels and cuticles and it helps heal dry over processed hair that has taken a beating under the heat of your styling tools. If you have oily or limp hair you may want to focus on the ends, avoid the roots and use a smaller amount but my thick, long mane just loves it!

The oils retail for $29.00 each and you can find salon listings at www.lorealprofessionnel.ca

*Press samples featured

Nuxe Skincare Review: Must-have products for youthful, radiant skin!

If you love the popular Nuxe Prodigieuse Dry Oil as much as I do then you will probably fall in love with the rest of this luxurious collection! Nuxe offers a fabulous variety of rich, skin conditioning products to help you achieve a youthful, hydrated complexion and today I am featuring some of my top picks to help get you on the road to radiant, supple skin!

First up is the Nuxellence Éclat Youth and Radiance Anti-Aging Cream that harnesses the power of potent plant extracts and hyaluronic acid. This silky cream forms a protective layer infused with subtle rose colored corrective pigments that instantly illuminates and provides long lasting moisture to energize and revitalize. The lightweight formula makes skin feel resilient, supple and dewy as it targets the cell’s core to help rejuvenate and diminish the signs of aging on all skin types. You can use the cream on its own or under daily moisturizer to boost the effectiveness of active ingredients for optimal radiance. It retails for $65.00.

For even more blemish correcting benefits the new Splendieuse Intense Anti-Dark Spot Serum with Porcelain rose, white crocus and vitamin C helps correct and reduce the appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tone. Dark spots can be caused by a variety of factors such as acne, hormones and sun damage and this concentrated formula helps reduce the size and color of all types of spots while limiting the appearance of new ones. The natural flower and cocoa extracts give the serum a sweet feminine scent and it deeply hydrates for a light, supple finish. It retails for $55.00.

Since fall is upon us and winter is just around the corner many women will be looking for products that abolish dryness and nourish parched, dehydrated skin. The Crème Fraîche de Beauté 24 Hour Soothing and Moisturizing Emulsion provides long lasting hydration without a greasy finish and helps boost the skin’s water reserves. Infused with a fabulous blend of white plant milks, white flowers, aloe, almond and rice powder it also helps calm sensitivity for a fresh, soft finish. Because it dries matte the cream works very well under makeup and has a pleasant botanical scent void of parabens. This moisturizer is suitable for both sensitive and oily skin and retails for $31.00.

I love a good micelle water to help refresh my complexion after a long day of wearing pore clogging makeup and I go through it quite fast! The Démaquillante Micellaire has a gentle cleansing formula infused with rose extract and is suitable for the face, lips and eyes to remove makeup in one easy step. The invigorating blend of witch hazel, floral water and hyaluronic acid soothes and captures water on the surface of the skin leaving your face moisturized and soft. Although it does lift off stubborn makeup and clear pores it is alcohol-free and doesn’t burn the eyes which I love! Made with 97.4% natural ingredients and no parabens this formula adds the finishing touch to my cleansing routine and wipes away leftover foundation, eye makeup residue, dirt and excess oil to prepare skin for moisturizer. It retails for $21.00 and works for all skin types.

Last but not least is a fabulous eye cream because who doesn’t want to look well rested even when they aren’t! I never go to bed without applying my eye treatments and the Crème Prodigieuse helps combat the signs of aging, reduce puffiness, and diminish the look of darkness while protecting the skin from daily environmental stress. It combines a powerful cocktail of hyaluronic acid for moisture, green coffee beans to smooth and re-energize, precious flowers and cocoa. It retails for $29.99.

Nuxe products are sold at The Bay, Pharma Plus, Shoppers Drug Mart and Murale.

*Press samples featured

Shu Uemura Vision of Beauty Haute Street Collection Review

Although fall is finally here the new Haute Street Beauty Collection by Shu Uemura is bringing bright color back to the forefront and making sure this season is just as gorgeous as the last! The packaging is sleeker than ever with mini compacts that pack a bold punch of pigment and double ended eye pencils to make those pretty peepers pop!

When it comes to stunning eye shadow Shu Uemura has you covered with two jaw-dropping limited edition eye shadow palettes to choose from. The Warm X Vibrant Eye shadow Palette includes a combination of subtle neutrals, a deep crease color and vivid hues for a variety of effects. I love that the brand combined pearlized shimmer shades with solid mattes so you can mix, match and blend textures. Matte hues, like the dark chocolate brown work well in the crease and are great for sculpting and contouring the shape of your eyes while the light mauve/purple highlights beautifully to accentuate. If you move to the other end of the spectrum there is a vibrant blast of pink, orange and yellow for a striking sunset-autumn vibe if you prefer something that matches the changing colors of the leaves.

The other palette in the collection- Cool X Chic features a matte black, matte lilac and shimmery purple/gray on one end and purple shimmer, blue shimmer and lime green shimmer on the other. Although there are only 6 shades the possibilities are vast! You can create smouldering smokey eyes, tone it down for something lighter or amp it up with the eye-catching peacock hues! This combination of color is inspired by concrete city scapes and the eclectic creations of street artists.

The texture of these eye shadows is luxuriously smooth and silky with a beautiful iridescent finish. To enhance the colors and bring out their true vibrancy a good primer works well but they hold up all day without fading or creasing. I like to pat the shadow on with a flat brush and layer to achieve my desired effect but you can go from sheer to full coverage with very little fall-out. The palettes are also refillable so you can pop the pigments out and customize to suit your mood, outfit or event. These beautiful hues definitely make a bold statement and they are easy to blend for a seamless gradient of color that flows expertly. The palettes retails for $90.00 each.

Shadow swatches

To compliment the palettes the brand has also created two jumbo, double sided eye pencils that can be used as base, liner or shadow. They are a bit large for the upper lash line but if you are careful it is totally doable and they look ravishing on the bottom lashes for an electrifying, rich outline. The pencils are smooth and blendable so you can smudge the color or draw dramatic graphic lines although they don’t seem to be waterproof so the pigment may fade or rub off with wear.

The formula is quite creamy so it glides on for easy application and when used under the shadows they can help increase the pigmentation of your entire look! The pencils retails for $30.00 each.

Pencil swatches

As someone who travels a lot I love that the eye shadow palettes are the ideal size for vacation and I appreciate a good 2-in-1 product! The Tint in Gelato Lip & Cheek Color comes in a tube that is loaded with high impact pigment. The lush, creamy texture transforms from thick to thin for a variety of finishes including intense dewy color and soft matte. The tints are available in four trendy hues and I have the shade- Street Rose which is a gorgeous pink! This versatile formula can be applied heavy for a bold effect, medium or sheer for a natural flush. It is also very easy to blend with a brush, fingers or sponge and I love matching my lip and cheek color for fluid continuity. The tints retail for $28.00 each and a little goes a long way!

You can find Shu Uemura at Holt Renfrew, Sephora, The Bay and online by clicking HERE.

*Press samples featured

Clarins Fall 2015 Collection: Makeup & Skincare

I’ve been spending the first few days of autumn enjoying the crisp cool weather, blue skies and rich, tantalizing color palettes. I have even started embracing sexy new trends as I slowly fizzle out of sunny summer hues. Clarins has released a beautiful collection of seasonal makeup to help you strut your stuff in style and some of the items are so coveted that they have sold out at many Clarin’s counters!

The Pretty Night Look Eye Shadow Palette contains five deep seductive shades that enhance all eyes to perfection! These colors are expertly matched to create a range of fabulous looks including mesmerizing smokey eyes for a fun night out. When you want to tone down the warm fall hues you can go lighter on the lids with the beautiful gold and subtly blend the bronze, smokey purple or black-brown in the crease. Whatever your mood the saturation is buildable and the colors are versatile enough for many pretty creations. The texture varies by shade but the shadows are non-creasing and long lasting without much fall-out.

I love that you can also use the deep pigments on the bottom lash line to sculpt and define the eyes and if you fade the outline the effect is sultry and alluring! The beige is a fabulous blending color and I use it to dim and transition shadow from the crease towards the brows. The pretty finishes range from matte to satin and glimmering shimmer which combine to create an interesting array of textures. The quality of the pigments is good but they look even better with primer and although the palette is small and less bulky the actual shadows are quite large and great for travel! If you hurry you can still get this beauty online at clarins.ca and thebay.ca for $39.00.

Nothing accentuates and beautifully shapes your pout like a stunning red lipstick and 742 Joli Rouge looks lovely on all complexions. This lush, smooth formula glides on in one easy swipe to deliver vivid, show-stopping color that is ravishing for day wear, evening and glam events.The formula has a light, pleasant scent, intense color and a great satin finish with just a hint of luminous shine. This full-coverage, vibrant red is enriched with mango butter and organic extract to keep lips moisturized and soft for up to 6 hours and the collection includes 25 trendsetting hues. The lipstick retails for $27.00.

If you decide to go with something more subtle the fall range also includes a great selection of neutral lip liners from nude fair, medium nude, nude rose and nude chocolate to match your favorite flesh tone lipstick or blend with any hue in your collection. The creamy texture glides on without any drag making it easy to define and contour your pout and the formula is infused with vitamin E. The liners retail for $26.00.

If you need a boost of moisture during the cooler months the limited edition Lovely Lip Balm is super cute and shaped like lipstick! The formula is enriched with a hydrating cocktail of plant extracts and cocoa butter to repair and nourish dry, chapped lips for a supple, glistening finish. The addition of organic red currant extract helps plump for a fuller appearance and the creamy irresistible texture melts into skin and cloaks lips in a light veil of moisture. Although the balm is clear it reacts to the pH of your lips to boost natural color and enhance radiance plus the sweet, fruity flavor and chic eco packaging is an added bonus! The balm retails for $15.00.

I have been using the serums from Clarins almost every night and they work well layered under my moisturizers or facial oils. The Supra Remodelling Serum works wonders for aging skin by lifting to visibly reduce wrinkles, redefine facial contour, reduce the look of double chin, replenish to decrease skin slackening and correct age spots. I don’t have wrinkles, fine lines or any visible signs of skin aging yet but preventative care is imperative and the serum also helps moisturize and correct color for a bright, vibrant complexion that looks fresh and revived. It retails for $135.00.

You can find Clarins products at The Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Clarin’s beauty counters and online by clicking HERE.

*Press samples featured 

Vacation Update: Istanbul, Dubrovnik, Montenegro & Munich!

As many of you know I love travelling as much as I love makeup...well maybe a bit more, so this Friday I am off on another exciting adventure!

Time sure does fly and this year my husband and I will be celebrating our sixth wedding anniversary in Istanbul Turkey, Dubrovnik Croatia a day trip to Montenegro and Munich Germany! Last year for our anniversary we spent a week in Hawaii which was very romantic and incredibly beautiful.

Dubrovnik

Photo from Google: 7-themes.com

It seems like just the other day (May to be exact) we were enjoying the South of France & the Italian Riviera but the travel bug has hit us again hard and we crave more! Oddly enough we found it difficult to decide where to go this time around and we went back and forth between the Maldives (my pick), China and Japan (his pick), Vienna, a Mediterranean cruise, Greece and even St. Barts. We were all over the map and at the last minute we put together this trip. I am totally dreading the 10 hour flight (I hope there isn’t any turbulence or I will definitely freak out) but I am excited to explore parts of the world I’ve never visited.

To check out my last vacation + photos click HERE and don’t forget to visit my travel page!

I still have a couple beauty events to attend this week and a ton of things to get done before we set off including packing (I'm not even close to finished), travel research, setting up transportation and transfers, booking tours and deciding on places of interest....I wish I had a few more days to prepare!

Over the last couple of weeks I have been working overtime to leave you with some great articles until I return and as always you can catch up with me on Twitter – @ericachristinad and Instagram- @diaryofatrendaholic as I post photos of my journey.

Have a fabulous weekend!