April Picks

Here are a few stand-out products for the month of April:
I'm just about finished my Glissandra products & I'm still loving the serum, as the warmer weather slowly reaches Canada, the serum is moisturizing enough now that I don't really reach for any other nighttime moisturizers.
Warmer weather also means I'm more prone to clogged pores, here's my plan of attack...BHA!!
Neutrogena Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 treatment (review to come)
CLEAR by Paula's Choice: Normalizing Cleanser and Acne Fighting Treatment with 2.5 benzoyl peroxide (note: I've never been able to use benzoyl peroxide & I'm only using this as a spot treatment sparingly as I wanted to see my skin's reaction, first time ever that I've not had any bad reaction) Review to come
Neutrogena NX Retinol Serum (excellent retinol product, review to come)
Milani Cosmetics Mineral Blush in Luminous (great dupe for NARS Orgasm, gorgeous pinky/peach with shimmer blush)
Annabelle Volumelip Plumping Gloss in Sweet Tweet (very pretty milky/pink gloss)
Almay Cosmetics Brow pencil in Dark Blonde (great dupe for MAC brow pencil in Lingering)
Mary Kay limited-edition Cheek Glaze in pomegranate
What were your faves from April?

(image:polyvore.com)

a new Girl in town {Mai Beauty}

Mai Beauty is a fresh new Canadian cosmetic company created by 26 year old Maija Reisenauer. She started as a perfumer and started Mai Beauty out of her want to create cosmetics free of harmful chemicals, preservatives, and PETA certified. Her inspiration for the look of the products, the starlets of the Silver Screen era. Mai Beauty lipsticks and glosses are mineral-based and paraben-free! I found the lipsticks to be moisturizing, pigmented, long-lasting and fragrance-free. As for the lipgloss, non-sticky, high-gloss, moisturizing and a slight scent but not offensive. Being the young perfumer that Maija is, she also created two signature fragrances: Sweet and Spice.The perfume oils I received came in both scents but consist of 5 perfume oil vials in each category, sweet and spice, that are meant to be worn alone or combined to suit your own needs.

Overall, Mai Beauty has started off on the right foot. Start off small and build from there, I hope in the near future eyeshadows and foundations will be created.

On my Mai Beauty wishlist: lipsticks in Eva and Andee.

To purchase go online to Mai Beauty, $1 from each purchase goes to PETA.

(images: are not to be reproduced without my permission)

snake ring {a little something}

Yesterday, I found this cute silver snake ring at Winners and I had to buy it. Winners is a name brand discounted merchandise store in Canada, like a TJ Maxx or Marshalls found in the U.S.
Appropriately, in Chinese astrology my animal sign is a snake. I love that the ring is also feminine looking.
What's your Chinese horoscope animal sign? Check here! I have no affiliation with that site, just wanted to make it easier for you to check.

Tweezerman teams up with Benefit Cosmetics

There are new tweezers in town! I've owned my Tweezerman tweezer for years and its still like new. Worth the price and investment. But now Tweezerman has teamed up with Benefit Cosmetics and I'm loving the prints on these two tweezers:
Tweezerman for benefit pointed slant® tweezer $42 cdn

Tweezerman for benefit slant® tweezer $32 cdn

Also available are Tweezerman for Benefit Brow Shaping Brush & ProCurler.

Items are available in Canada at Holt Renfrew in April 2010 & Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutique and Murale locations in May 2010.

Do you tweeze your eyebrows? If so, what are your favourite tweezers?

(images: benefitcosmetics.com)

a Lise Watier event

Yesterday night I had the fortunate opportunity to be invited to a Lise Watier event held in Toronto at Panorama, if your ever in Toronto, Ontario Panorama is a must-see lounge on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre. Check out the view of the CN Tower.

Lise Watier, pictured in the 2nd pic, is founder and president of Lise Watier Cosmetics, recently she launched the Lise Watier Foundation which supports organizations which come to the aid of women in need across the country. Lise Watier Cosmetics will dedicate 100% of the revenues from the sale of the new ROUGE PLUMPISSIMO lipstick in Rose Tendresse. Other news, Leah Miller, popular television host and well-known personality in Canada will join Mitsou, another popular Canadian personality, as the national beauty ambassador for the brand. Starting in May Miller will be the face for several major product launches.

In my gift bag yesterday I received the New Lash Booster Duo, available in May, the Neon Love eyeshadow quad, the Rouge plumpissimo lipstick in Rose Tendresse. All in a day's life of a beauty blogger!

Just Spray it {Salon Grafix Invisible Dry Spray Shampoo review}

No water required! Salon Grafix Invisible Dry Spray Shampoo is your quick fix for days you don't have time to wash your hair. I for one don't wash my hair everyday because I have dry hair and if I was to wash daily it would just feel fried. So having an option where I can dry spray on shampoo is great. Of course with my job I also don't have the luxury of carting all my hair products and professional dryer everywhere I go so this product is great for travel. How does it work:

• shake & spray roots by section or layers
• wait one minute to dry brush hair
• basically the dry spray shampoo soaks up any oiliness at the scalp & leaves your hair refreshed
• also smells great too (like hair spray-in a good way)
• no white residue left behind

My Tip:

I actually like using this when I want to wear a messy teased at the crown ponytail. Instead of hairspray this gives a natural fresh-looking light hold.

Price $7.99 US & sold at most drug-stores & mass merchandise stores.

(image: salongrafix.com)

Inside that Counts {Genuine Health dermalipid review + giveaway}

Skincare junkies listen-up...do you take care of your insides? What's the point of spending money on skincare products that only work on the outside if you neglect what you put inside. OK so perhaps some of you already drink your required 8 glasses of water per day, eat healthy nutritious foods, work-out, etc...but you can use a push or two. I know with my job its not always easy to do the above and with the dehydrating environment I work in Genuine Health has come up with the right solution for me. Co-workers take note, you'll like these hydrating capsules! Moisture, repair, and protect your skin from the inside with Genuine Health's Dermalipid capsules. From their site:

• Locks in moisture from within – as opposed to merely covering up dry skin
• Repairs and replenishes the 1st layer of the skin with a research-based Hydrabond™ formula of borage oil, squalane (from olive oil), all-natural ceramides and phosphatidylserine
• Helps reduce skin roughness, scaling, redness and itching
• Helps slow damage caused by harmful pollution and UV exposure
• Is completely natural and safe

However, its not just for those with dehydrated/dry skin its good for all skintypes. Better news is that you can win your own sample of Genuine Health Dermalipid (60 softgels). Here are the rules, only one winner will be chosen using random.org:

1. must live in Canada/US
2. follow genuine health on twitter or join their facebook group
3. do you take vitamins &/or other supplements, let me know?

I also take a multi-vitamin and ginkgo biloba for my migranes, used to take Omega 3's but now I replaced it with the Dermalipid. Next I want to try Genuine Health's Perfect Skin or Healthy Skin + Greens, I've heard great things about these products from bloggers final fashion & galaDarling.
GOODLUCK, last day to enter is April 30th!

WINNER is.....

#3 Huguette E., CONGRATS & email me your address!

winner was chosen using random.org
(image: genuinehealth.com, Disclaimer: products provided for review)

Take Cover {Cover FX-local events}

Get your own Cover FX concealer, full-size!
(image:coverfx.com)

Who wants to get Naked? {LUSH}

Silly, not naked as in strip your clothes off naked! Geez, this is a family friendly blog (sometimes). Naked meaning over 70% of LUSH products are “naked” (that’s lingo for unpackaged), solid and preservative-free, which is better for you and the environment. LUSH saved more than 21 tons of plastic in 2009!
To celebrate Earth Day, LUSH is launching a limited edition Naked Kit which will house six of LUSH’s most popular solid, unpackaged and preservative-free offerings in a biodegradable box:
-you choose the two solid products from a pre-selected list
This is what I'm picking:
(1) Coal Face facial cleanser
(2) Vitamin E toner tab
(3) kit comes with; Mini-Squeaky Green shampoo bar,  Mini Buffy Body Butter, Therapy Massage Bar,  Sexy Peel Soap
All for $20 cdn, not bad right?
What would you pick from the LUSH Naked Kit?
(image: lush.ca)

Burt who? Yup he's real...Burt's Bees

Its true Burt from Burt's Bees is real and he wants to remind you all to celebrate Earth Day's 40th! A little about the co-founder, Burt was a photo-journalist turned beekeeper, whose beeswax became the stuff of beauty miracles. That was 25 years ago, but his belief that beauty should be both people and earth friendly remains strong today. He even still lives in Maine in a converted turkey coop! How cool is that?
He wants you to find your Earth friendly "inner Burt" at Find your Burt.
This Earth Day, April 22, Disney will release the film Oceans, with every Burt’s Bees/Oceans lip balm Burt’s Bees Canada will make a donation to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to protect our rivers, lakes and oceans.
How will you celebrate Earth Day on April 22?
(image: burtsbees.ca)

Blush Pretty Beauty Board recap {local events}

Yesterday I got to schmooze with other beauty junkies at Blush Pretty's Beauty Board event, this was my second event. What a great time I had and I also got a manicure gratis! Now that's how you get to a woman's heart, offer free mani, a filled to the brim loot bag, and martinis. Maybe not in that order but hey who cares...good times. I also got to meet other great beauty aficionados! Brands we got to play with & a few included in the loot bag:

COVERGIRL
Olay
Cake Beauty
Dermaglow
Heiko
DaLish Cosmetics (I bought a lipstick in shade Coral, gorgeous for Spring)
Upper Canada Soap Company
North American Soap Co.
SoU
Mai Beauty (a future post to come)
Cheeky Monkey Cosmetics
Mary Kay
Consonant Products
Principessa

Mary Kay cheek glaze in pomegranate & lip nectar in coconut

Cheeky Monkey nailpolish in Get Wet (llove the names of the nailpolishes)

excuse the greasy hands look, it was from the "quick dry" drops that actually dry your nail polish quickly & moisturizes the cuticles, dries up quick

Thanks to Stephanie from Blush Pretty for the invite!

Hana-the Goddess of all flat irons {review+giveaway}

This month of April has been the most giveaways I've had and its all thanks to my readers! Merci! But there's one more giveaway and this is the one you want to enter.
For the last 7 years or more my beloved CHI flat iron has performed well but I was in need of something newer, thus when the folks at Misikko offered one of their best flat irons I was in. I received the Hana Elite 1.5" Ceramic flat iron with tourmaline, what I refer to as my hair Goddess tool. Unlike my older flat iron this one has an adjustable heat setting 140-450° F and is wider 1.5" which cuts my styling time. Other features:

• 100% solid ceramic plates
• tourmaline infused which aids in heat protection
• heats-up quickly & LED light will blink when heated
• safe to use on damp and/or dry hair
• came with a heat proof storage pouch (good for travel)
• heat proof silicone mat & tin box
• also came with Hana Shine Shield thermal protectant

One of my favourite features is the smooth ceramic plates (although my old CHI flat iron was also ceramic) the Hana seems to grip the hair as you pass the plates through thus allowing me to gently pull my hair taut. If you don't want smooth straight hair the size of these plates also allow you to create full big waves.
Honestly, I'm in love with my Hana (in case you didn't notice).
Also, Misikko offers great discounted prices (flat irons tend to be expensive in Canada so these prices are very good) if the Hana Elite is not in your price range they do offer many other options such as the Babyliss flat iron at very affordable prices. Thank you Misikko for making my hair happy!
For info & to purchase check out
http://www.misikko.com/
Onto the giveaway!!!! One lucky reader will win their own Hana flat iron!
Rules:

• Only open to US & Canada (due to the voltage and plug)
• Follow misikko on twitter
• Blog about this giveaway (for an extra entry)
• Join Misikko newsletter (for an extra 3 entries)
• Leave a comment letting me know if you've done the above
• enter before April 30th midnight

GOODLUCK!
Winner chosen using random.org is.....
Hether78!!!
Congratulations! email me your address.

Will you be in New York City...{Sex & the City Hotspot tour giveaway}

Find your own Mr. Big...if your planning on visiting New York city anytime soon I have one gift certificate for two (so bring a friend) for the Sex and the City Hotspots tour, runs daily & the tickets will never expire so you can use them next time your in the city!

Tour Length is 3.5 hours & highlights include;

• have a cupcake at the bakery where Carrie & Miranda ate cupcakes
• drink a cosmo at "Scout", the bar owned by Aidan
• visit the church where Samantha meets "The Friar"
• see the furniture store where Aidan designed his pieces
• shop at the store where Charlotte bought her "Rabbit"
• stop at Buddakan, where Carrie & Big's wedding rehearsal dinner took place
• see locations from the Sex and the City movies

For more information about ScreenTours visit their site, they are also having a Sex and the City 2 Movie package night on the opening of the movie on May 28.

Giveaway details & rules:

• one gift certificate (for the Sex and the City Hotspots tour) which entitles you & a friend (one prize) value $84 USD
• you must be planning on visiting New York City in the near future
• open internationally
• one entry per person
• deadline April 23, 2010
• to enter leave an answer in the comment section; "Which Sex and the City character do you identify with most (if any)?". My answer is; Charlotte!

GOODLUCK!

Winner is...Her Name was Lola!

(images: screentours.com, sexandthecitymovie.com)

Zara {Spring/Summer'10}

The years that I worked at Zara my favourite memories are of shipment days, twice a week it was like Christmas opening up those boxes....

I love bangs...debating if I should cut them

(images: zara.com)

Pretty in Pink for a cause {Moroccanoil}

Almost a year ago I wrote about MoroccanOil hair oil and today I'm here to write about their fantastic shampoo & conditioner. Seriously, its one of the best smelling hair products out there! The Moroccanoil Moisture Repair and Conditioner leave your hair shiny, healthy looking and smoother. Safe to use on coloured hair, no sulfates, no phosphates, paraban-free and enriched with keratin. Also, their products are not tested on animals nor do they contain animal ingredients.

Moroccanoil has released a Mother's Day Breast Cancer promo and will be donating $15,000(USD) to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). The promotional kit includes:

• re-usable beach bag with the pink ribbon logo
• Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo 500ml
• Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner 500ml
• Moroccanoil Treatment 25ml
• Moroccanoil Professional Paddle Brush

Suggested retail price $88 CDN

Available in Salons April-May 2010 or/and for more info visit www.moroccanoil.com

Makes a perfect Mother's Day gift (or gift for yourself).

(image: moroccanoil.com)

get your own Beauty Fix

What could be better than inputting your skincare needs and getting personalized product matches! BeautyFix does all the work for you with the help of their panel of beauty experts, favourite seasonal products are matched to your profile, and there's other member benefits too. Basically, as a beautyfix member each season you choose 8 products from the pre- selected product page for a low price receive the full size products with free shipping.

If your planning on joining I have a promo code (not linked to my account) that entitles you to $30 off of $49.99, which means that all of the above would come out to $19.99+ free shipping. Use code BFIX1
edit: seems to be working only for US destinations, sorry for all other international mailing address' including Canada.

Anyone else heard of beautyfix.com? Or do you know of any other beauty memberships similar to this one?

(disclaimer: no financial compensation was paid for this post nor am I affliated with such website)

a box full of Spring {LUSH}

When I received my latest LUSH treats I couldn't help but smile because it was an overcast rainy day here in Toronto and this box was like opening a box full of Spring. And although Easter has passed I thought I'd share this picture of my Spring treats with you!

Inside the box (clockwise from top);

Dorothy Bubble Bar-smells so good, ylang & figs!

Hippy Chick bath bomb- grapefruit fresh, bergamot & frankincense!

Fluffy Egg bath bomb-marshmallow, candy floss, and jelly bean sweetness!

These are all limited-edition & you might be able to find them in-stores if you rush over to LUSH. Travel tip: I love carrying the bath bombs in my luggage as fresheners, my clothes stay smelling clean!

Click! {Revlon PhotoReady Makeup review}

One of the newest foundations to hit your drugstore shelves is Revlon's Photo Ready Makeup. I've been wanting to try this foundation and finally bought it last week. Firstly, I had a hard time choosing a shade because most drugstores don't offer testers. I settled on 004 Nude and although its not an exact match, its a bit peachy, I can make it work. After reading mixed reviews on the net I'll admit its not my favourite drugstore foundation however its not the worst either. Basically, if you could only afford one foundation your better off with Revlon Color Stay (very good) but if you already own an army of foundations (like me) its an OK option.
Pros;

• oil-free
• SPF20
• fragrance-free
• matte-finish but not cakey, due to the formula being a tad shimmery
• light-medium coverage
• feels like I'm not wearing any foundation

Contrary to other reviews there is shimmer but not in an Edward Cullen glistening way, perhaps in my shade not as detectable!
Cons;

• if your skin is flakey, has acne scars, or dry forget it! This foundation will only accentuate it.
• price, I'd prefer spending a bit more for a mid-priced foundation
• edit: just saw this cheaper (& not on sale) for $5 cheaper than what I paid so the price is very reasonable
• not long-lasting, tends to fade by the end of the day

not my favourite foundation for photos, unlike the title suggests.
Overall, the pros vs cons argument wins & I might purchase again if on sale but would get a different shade.
Anyone else try Revlon Photo Ready foundation? Thoughts?
(image: revlon.com)

down to basics {Jessica Simpson}

No makeup, No retouching and No regrets! Jessica Simpson graces the May 2010 cover of Marie Claire magazine au naturel (almost). Promoting her new VH1 reality documentary series, Price of Beauty. Where Simpson travels around the world discovering other cultural ideals of beauty. Going bare-faced is a great marketing tool on Simpson's part in bringing attention to her new show, and I like it! For a star who has garnered such harsh criticism in the past for wearing "mom jeans", c'mon people just 'cause she gained a few pounds, its fantastic to see her take the challenge with this Marie Claire cover.

I don't have anything to prove anymore. What other people think of me is not my business. -Jessica Simpson

(images: marieclaire.com)

the Beauty Board: Spring cleaning {events}

If your in the Toronto area & are available April 18 bring your makeup bag & get that old thing cleaned out! Discover new beauty items, play around with makeup, meet new friends that share your passion for makeup & skincare. This event is being hosted by Blush Pretty & for more info visit:

the beauty board to purchase tickets (not many left)

I plan to attend so hopefully I'll get to meet some of you!

See you there!

xoxo

Monica

Let's get down to business {Jan Marini BioGlycolic Cleanser review}

This plain clinical looking bottle might just what your skin needs. Jan Marini BioGlycolic Facial Cleanser, if you have clogged pores, blackheads, or/and you want smooth skin this cleanser in combination with other beneficial products (i.e BHA's, etc...) might be that extra push your skincare regime needs. None of your moisturizers, serums, or other skincare items are going to work no matter how expensive they are if your pores are full of gunk. I'm not going to lie here I actually experienced purging (nothing too bad) but I had expected a bit since other reviews on the net had mentioned this. I've been wanting to try this cleanser after reading reviews on makeupalley.com (where 87% of reviewers would purchase again). This is not your typical cleanser;

• soap-free
• non-foaming
• apply to dry skin & rinse
• contains 12% glycolic acid with a PH balance of 3.2 (non-irritating)

I've been using this as my morning cleanser as I wouldn't consider it to be my main makeup remover cleanser, think of it more as a treatment product. Would definitely purchase this product & can't wait to try other Jan Marini Skincare items in the future. Retail price $29 US

Where to buy:

in Canada jmsrcanada.com

in the US myJanMarini.com

Who else has heard of or tried Jan Marini skincare products?

(image:JanMarini.com)

disclaimer: read bottom of blog (do I even have to post this readers, you know where I stand:)

Get your Gliss On {Glissandra™ 3-Step Skincare review}

What's the best compliment one can receive? Wow, you've got great skin! Although lately I've been feeling exhausted (and currently with a cold) I didn't think much of the way my skin looked. However, those around me sure noticed, "your skin looks great!". Explanation Glissandra, a 3-step anti-aging skincare system which I've been using for a good two months. Glissandra skincare was developed with more than 17 years of research, made from the antioxidant rich Schisandra berry, this system definitely helped with my dehydrated skin. I've complained in the past that my skin tends to be dehydrated, blame it on my flight attendant job, thus Glissandra has been my companion on all my flights lately.
What I love about the products;
-non-greasy, light feel, skin is hydrated, gentle-no irritation, hypoallergenic, lines look softer around the eyes (really the only place I can say I have "laugh lines"), product will last because all you need is a little & its packed with great ingredients
What I didn't love but not a biggie:
-has a scent which kind of reminds me of beeswax candles (not an artificial smell more like an all natural fragrance but with usage I hardly notice it now)
-no separate SPF, would like a day cream with sun protection
-depending on your budget can be pricey
Overall, after hearing such great compliments on my skin I will definitely continue to use these products and I'm just so happy that my skin looks healthy and radiant.
Also, Glissandra is having a Mother's Day offer, Buy the Serum and Face Cream get the Eye Cream free! For more info on that offer click here. There's also a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee.
For more info & to purchase check out Glissandra.com
(image: glissandra.com)
Disclaimer: no financial compensation was paid to review above products, review based on my own experience, products were generously offered but not influenced in review outcome

GIVEAWAY! nuNAAT Karite Special Hair Care

Who wants sexy, soft, healthy hair for Spring? A few weeks ago I posted about nuNAAT Karite Special haircare and they are offering one of my lucky readers the entire Karite Special haircare line!! You'll get:

Karite Creamy Shampoo

Karite Conditioner

Karite Intensive Mask

Karite Anti-Frizz

Karite Combing Cream

This awesome giveaway is open to Canada & US readers only (sorry to all the rest)! Deadline is April 17 midnight!

Rules:

-Just leave your name in the comment section

-Tell me about a bad hair day experience

-Winner will be chosen using random.org

Thank you for entering & Goodluck!

WINNER is BADFISH!! Congratulations & email me your address:)

Winner was chosen using random.org

(image:nuNAAT.com)

big bunny

Have a great Easter weekend...

(image: Harper's Bazaar US March 2009 photographed by Peter Lindbergh)