Get Glam lashes for New Year's Eve

A few weeks ago Matchstick.ca (a marketing company) sent me an exclusive L’Oréal Paris Glam Kit which included;

2 x L’Oréal Paris European version Double Extension Beauty Tubes Mascara
1 x L’Oréal Paris Cosmetic Bag
1 x L’Oréal Paris Cosmetic Brush
1 x L’Oréal Paris Eye Shadow Quad in Grey
1 x Carbon Black Liquid Liner
1 x Guide to Smokey Eyes

According to L'Oreal:

How does it work?Unlike traditional mascaras that paint or coat your lashes with mascara formula, Double Extend® Beauty Tubes™ Technology forms lash-extending tubes that firmly attach to the tip of your lashes. Utilizing new ‘tubing technology’, Double Extend Beauty Tubes creates it’s dramatic affect through a two-step process. First a ulta-nourishing patented base coat with Ceramide R is applied to nourish the lashes, and provides a unique layer of protection that prepares lashes for Beauty Tubes. Next, the ultra-lengthening tube top coat sets to form lash-extending beauty tubes that lengthens lashes. When your night is over, Beauty Tubes can be removed easily with just warm water – no make-up remover or rubbing required!

Review

I have been using the Double Extension Beauty Tubes Mascara for almost a month now & have to admit it does "double" duty. My friends have asked me if I'm wearing false lashes therefore I recommend this mascara for those glamorous nights such as New Year's Eve.

Pros:

Glam lashes!

Does not flake or smear.

Does not irritate my eyes (I wear contact lenses)

Washes off easily (note: the 1st time washing this off it feels weird because this mascara literally becomes little tubes so at first it might seem like your lashes are coming off but its just the mascara. There's no need to wipe hard because it literally disintegrates.)

Cons:

Its a two step process, a base that acts as a primer & lash conditioner and a seperate mascara wand. Which for some does not mean a CON but I'd prefer one wand. Other than that I don't see any other flaws.

As for the other items in the kit:

L'Oreal Carbon Black "Lineur Intense" Liquid liner: I've used this liner in the past & would definetly repurchase as its a fool proof, easy to use felt tip liner. Lasts all day long & doesn't smear.

L'Oreal Wear Infinite Eyeshadow Quad in Smokey Eyes: This is an OK eyeshadow quad. If your just getting into makeup this would be an OK eyeshadow quad to play around with, especially if your just learning how to do a smokey eye. I found that it's not very pigmented.

L'Oreal makeup artiste travel brush set: very basic brushes, good for makeup beginners. Soft brushes, easy to work with, and they don't shed very easily.

"Matchstick is looking for feedback from anyone who may have seen my posting regarding L’Oreal Beauty Tubes. If you click on the link below and complete the survey, you will be helping them by donating $2.00 to Shelternet, so please Click Here to take their short feedback survey.
For every survey that is completed, Matchstick will make a $2 donation to Shelternet (shelternet.ca), which is a Web-based Women and Children’s Crisis Support Center that provides aid and financial support to locally based women’s shelters across Canada .
Your time and feedback is greatly appreciated". LINK

(photo credits: beautytubes.ca and matchstick.ca)

Wish me luck...I'm off to the mall

I've been been blogging for a year now & I've been reluctant to give too much information about myself away (to cyberspace that is). However, after being here (in cyberspace) I've come to meet quite a few blogger friends & realized that I've been holding back a bit. Thus, in 2009 perhaps I will become a little more open & share photos of myself. I've also come to the realization that some of my favourite bloggers are those that do share little personal tidbits into their own lives & I realize that I don't have to give out my Social Insurance number but a little info sprinkled here & there won't hurt.
So, getting back to the real purpose of my post I'm off to the mall....yes, the one-stop shopping mecca that everyone flocks to, to purchase random, generic gifts. How sad it sounds however I have two more gifts to buy & one of those gifts will be perfume (its on my mother's wish-list) & the other a shaving kit (of which is on my father's wish-list). I'm a Flight Attendant (personal tidbit alert) & I tend to buy gifts when I travel. You know, hard to find beauty and fashion items, however I do pick up treats especially one-of-a-kind items but my parents were the easiest to purchase for this year & considering that their purchases aren't exactly hard to find in Canada I've left it to the last minute because quite frankly I haven't had the time.
Therefore, I am off to the mall, wish me luck! I'm not terrified of the mall per say (because any fashionista knows that crowds in malls don't mean a thing especially during sales when we've mastered the art of grabbing that must-have Gucci clutch on clearance & upon clutching that beauty only to look up to 1000 eyes of vultures who are ready to perform a sacrifice, but with a snide smirk you proceed to the register with the pride of a gladiator). What I'm worried about is trying to find a parking spot! Holiday shoppers are the worst drivers....alas what I'd rather be doing is lying on my couch...
Bijoux,
Monica

(photo credit: a big thanks to Decor8 for posting that wonderful pic above & linking it to SheHitPauseStudios via etsy.com)

Thank you, Merci, Obrigada, Gracias, Grazie,.....

Dear Readers,

Its been one year since my first post, although I officially registered my blog in February'07 I didn't begin blogging until December. What was the wait...hmmm still not sure! Perhaps I was afraid of writers block but whatever the reason I have tried to continuously post about beauty and fashion. I basically post/review about subjects that I find interesting to me & try not to think about what the readers want to see or read (although I do take that into consideration) because not everyone has the same taste in fashion or beauty. That being said I would like to take this opportunity and THANK those who read my blog and I welcome those to come! Feel free to email me beauty.parler@yahoo.com

Cheers,

Monica

a.k.a beauty parler

Happy Holidays to all!

Which is your fave?

Bonjour ladies & gents,

Need your help! It's been almost a year since my first post & within the last year I've had several headers. Which is/has been your favourite?

Leave your answer in my comment section (top, middle, bottom)

Thank you!

CoverGirl has a new girl in town

Emmy award winner Ellen Degeneres has been chosen as the new CoverGirl for their new CG & Olay Simply Aging Foundation campaign to be released in January'09. The 50 year old has said that,"I'm thrilled to be a CoverGirl...I've been practicing in my bathroom mirror for years, now finally, you'll be able to see it." (credit)

What are your thoughts?

I think the ads look great.

(photo credit: covergirl.com)

Are you ready for your Holiday work party?

holidays by beautyparler



Its that time of year again! Yup, the (dreaded) Holiday work party...ok for some it might not be that bad. However, this is no excuse not to look gorgeous. Its the one time of year where your co-workers can actually see you in something different besides that blah office wear or uniform (depending on where you work). That being said a little overboard is good, except that rule doesn't apply at the open-bar. No need to ruin a gorgeous outfit with too many martinis & blabbing about office gossip (that was suppose to be hush, hush).
As for makeup I love Jessica Alba's look; red lips, black liner, a yellow/goldish eyeshadow (I love MAC's Chrome), a hint of blush, red nailpolish (to add a bit of colour & Holiday cheer).
If your looking for the perfect red lipstick here are a few of my faves <----click from my very 1st post!

And Enjoy! its on the company:)



(credits: style.com, polyvore.com)

What are you looking at?

You never know what you'll find when you follow other bloggers. A few posts back BirkinBagBeauty left me a comment (great way to find other bloggers is leave comments on other blogs), that's how I've been able to find some of my favourites. She blogged about Lochers, an online shop that sells the cutest, feminine, sweetest clothing and accessories but with a charming twist, the unexpected embroidered naughty messages are what I love about her pieces. For those times that you just want to ask that stranger who won't stop looking, "what are you looking at?" (click on her link to read the messages on the tee's below. I had quite the chuckle.)

Check out some of my favourite pieces (definitely adding these to my holiday wish-list):)

(images: lochers.com)

Louis & Madonna

“I just blurted out, ‘I think we should do Madonna,’” said Marc Jacobs in a meeting when brainstorming for Louis Vuitton's advertising campaign. (wwd.com) And thus that's how Madonna got the LV campaign coming out in February'09. Six pictures will show Madonna in a Parisian theme that mirrors Marc Jacobs Spring '09 collection.

What are your thoughts of the spread?

I like the direction the pics are going, a story, much better than past ads like the ads with Jennifer Lopez (anyone remember that ad? Where Lopez was feline looking.)

(credit: wwd.com)

Twilight zone

I'm officially in the Twilight zone! I finally got the chance & time to read the first two books by Stephenie Meyer, Twilight & New Moon. And can't wait to read the other two, Eclipse & Breaking Down. I will add that I read both books in four days! I'm not kidding I couldn't put them down! I'm a fast reader so it was no surprise to me that I actually read both books in such a short period of time (maybe that's why I haven't blogged these last few days). I will also add that I haven't read a novel in quite a long time because I just hadn't found any that caught my attention. However, I haven't seen the movie yet. But will add that sometimes reading a book that has been made into a movie can be quite disappointing. What you imagined the characters to look like, the scenes, and imagery don't usually add up to what you end up seeing on-screen. Therefore, I wonder if I'll like the movie as much as I loved reading the books. And to sum it all up I'm actually surprised at myself at how much I loved the books. A few months ago a co-worker of mine was obsessively reading Twilight, and she was so into the book I had to ask what she was reading. When she replied "oh! its about vampires!" I shrieked with laughter. And now I'm the one obsessively reading.
Anyhow, since its a beauty blog I decided to share with you a makeup breakdown of the movie's main characters, Isabella & Edward.

Isabella Swan
Makeup by Jeanne Van Phue:
Director Catherine Hardwicke wanted the characters as close to the descriptions of author Stephenie Meyer as possible. This meant Kristen Stewart had to wear brown contact lenses every day to achieve “large chocolate brown eyes,” explained Van Phue. The biggest challenge on the set was the rain. “We were outside all the time, and it rained the entire time we were there,” Van Phue said. “Most of the shots were exterior, and trying to fix make-up in the rain with wet face and wet brush was difficult.” The experience made her a convert to SK-II AirTouch make-up. “It goes on flawlessly—no smudges or streaks,” she said. “And I accidentally found out it was water resistant.” (makeup411)

Foundation
SK-II Air Touch Foundation in OP-3

Powder
M.A.C. Blot Powder/Pressed in Light

Blush
Visiora Compact Powder in PC 103

Eye Shadow
M.A.C. Eye Shadow in Blanc Type, Flute and Wedge

Mascara
Smashbox Limitless Lash Mascara in black waterproof

Lips
Smashbox Lip & Lid Primer and Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick in Good to Go (a plum/brown color)

Edward

Foundation
SK-II Air Touch Foundation in OP-1

Powder
M.A.C. Blot Powder/Pressed in Light

Lips
Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick in Ms. Behavin (a mulberry color)

For more makeup breakdowns click on makeup411.com

(credits: makeup411.com, summitentertaiment, twilightthemovie.com)