Ion Foot Cleanse

Why am I showing you a picture of my un-pedicured feet...because its a before shot of a recent Ion Foot Cleanse. So the images are a tad gross but its pretty cool to wait on the results of your foot cleanse. Basically, an Ion Foot Bath Cleanse is a detox thru your feet. In little than 30 minutes (bring a magazine) you'll watch the water turn from clear to soup-looking murky water. Salt is added to warm water & that beige attachment you see in the water is an ion cartridge which acts to draw out toxins in the body. The end result is based on the colour of your water which signifies the area of the body that has the most toxins.
Colour of Water:
Yellow/Green = bladder, kidney, urinary tract, female/prostate area
Orange = joints
Brown = liver, tabacco, cellular debris
Black = liver
Dark Green = gallbladder
White Foam = lymphatic system
White Cheese-Like particles = yeast
Black Flecks = heavy metals
Red Flecks = blood-clot material

Not the prettiest picture but you get the idea. Perhaps your skeptical on this Ion Foot Cleanse but I did feel great after the session and relaxed. On a recommendation I had this treatment at:
The Rising Sun
10330 Yonge Street
Richmond Hill
Have you ever had an Ion Foot Cleanse?

Travel Tuesday {New York}

New York! New York! By air only a little over a hour from Toronto, one of my favourite destinations, New York offers everything I love about a city. Great shopping, great food, great entertainment, and great people!

What is your favourite city?

84th Annual Academy Awards {beauty faves}

Nothing completes a glamorous look without a bit of makeup. And what better event than the 84th Annual Academy Awards to get inspired. The selection I chose was based on the different age groups and how makeup works for each perfectly. Be it a nude shade of lipstick, or a more powerful lip paired with a smokey eye, the key is finding the right balance.

Meryl Streep

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Michelle Williams

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Angelina Jolie

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Natalie Portman

Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Gwyneth Paltrow

Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images

What is your favourite makeup combination for a glamorous night out?

I love a nude lip paired with a nude/slate smokey eye.

all in the Wedding details...

So excited that I received my Wedding pictures this weekend! Yay...look for the final posts on Bonita Bride for all the details. Here are just a few of the little details & being that this is Beauty Parler here are a girl's favourite beauty and fashion shots.

(photography: Renaissance Studios,

makeup: Joy Of Makeup,

hair: Eva Therese Studios)

Ralph Lauren Ready-to-Wear Fall 2012 {NYFW}

This Fall, Downtown Abbey (a British television series circa WWI) is the influence for Ralph Lauren's Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear collection which opened on the runway with the show's theme song. A take on feminine menswear progresses into a 1920's opulent Great Gatsby glam.

images via style.com

video snippet courtesy of vidicom

the office view {Travel Tuesday}

For me the best views are from the plane hence why when I travel for pleasure I always try to get the window seat. Also, the window seat makes for a good head rest.

What is your favourite seat, window or aisle?

Toronto

over Alaska

Hong Kong 

as good as the view gets, there's a permanent haze over the city

over Argentina

New York City

Happy Valentine's Day {Travel Tuesday}

For the last few months I've attempted to give you a glimpse into my career, no not blogging...that's a hobby, but my job as a Flight Attendant. The job that pays for my beauty habit! Yeah or hmmm addiction, could buying all this makeup actually be a problem? Well, if your reading this blog perhaps we are all beauty junkies. Anyhow, that's not today's blog post topic (yes denial...) but let me keep on track. Travel! Every Tuesday (or a Thursday) I try to post images of my travels but its also important to note that being a flight attendant is not always glamour. Long days, short layovers, jet-lagged, lack of sleep, oh the list can go on but of course I love it! But this also means being away from your loved ones, especially on special Holidays, ok so I wouldn't consider Valentine's Day a holiday as my husband and I don't really celebrate. But this year it was a bit different, perhaps because it was the first year we are husband and wife, and are separated literally by an ocean away. Me in London for work and him in the U.S for work. So, what did I do...treated myself to sugar since my sweetie was so far away, excuses.

went window shopping

cute heart shorts from Joseph

stopped by TopShop

XOXO sweater

and of course what's a day in London without stopping into SuperDrugs

picked up:

Nivea Daily Cleansing Wipes for less than £2

Max Factor had a promotion 2 for 3:

Second Skin Foundation in 045 Warm Almond, due to bad store lighting this shade is a tad too dark (hate that) guess I'll have to mix with a moisturizer or another bad drugstore lighting mishap, but really nice formulation

Max Factor Xperience Volumising Mascara in shade Black, an old favourite

and Xperience Sheer Gloss Lip Balm in shade 08 Pink Opal, gorgeous sheer nude lips wished I'd picked up the other two shades

What did you do for Valentine's Day? Do you even care about Vday? 

a slow move...

It seems like only yesterday I was planning the Big Day, October 15 2011, the Wedding! This time last year the Wedding planning was underway but before the big day a Bridal Shower was in the works. This weekend I finally had a chance to take out all my wonderful gifts I received back in August....for all the details from the shower read my post here. Why so long to finally open the boxes...well Mr & Mrs recently bought our first starter home so these dishes were just waiting for a home.

Primer Worthy! {Make Up Forever HD Microperfecting Primer}

Why a Primer? A primer provides a base for the rest of your makeup, especially foundation. As it smooths out your skin, makeup lasts longer, and keeps oily skin matte or dry skin dewy. The formulation and primer shade also influence the outcome. Pick the primer suitable for your skin type and also the shade to counteract your skin concerns.
Shades:
Green-cancels out redness, good for those with Rosacea
Light Purple/Mauve-sallow undertones
Pink-brightens & counteracts sallow undertones
Those are the most common primer shades found but other brands such as Make Up Forever have many other shades along with the above. Make Up Forever HD Perfecting Primer is one of the best primers I've tried so far. I tried the Neutral shade in the travel size which was part of the Make Up Forever HD Complexion Starter Kit (great value by the way), amazing!!
First, my primer needs might be different than yours. Using a primer daily is not part of my beauty regime, however, I do like using primer for long work days and special events. Also, primers tend to be very slippery, silicone based, and feel mask like. The Make Up Forever HD Perfecting Primer is oil-free and although it does contain silicone (that's how you get that smooth flawless finish therefore necessary in primers) it doesn't feel like a typical primer. Its texture is more like a moisturizer, a light lotion. Which gives me that dewy makeup effect after applying my foundation. A great base for dehydrating Winters, as it adds moisture and in Summer doesn't allow your foundation to slide off in heat. For hotter weather I use it alone as moisturizer under foundation.
It truly is an amazing product and no I don't get paid to write this (read my disclaimer at bottom of my blog page). I want my readers to make smart beauty product choices and if my reviews can help you that makes me a happy beauty junkie.
The travel size Make Up Forever HD Perfecting Primer can be found at:
Sephora
What do you look for in a primer? And do you use colour primers? Name your favourite primers.
(image:Sephora)

Nicole Scherzinger is the new Herbal Essences Global Brand Ambassador

This Summer look out for Nicole Scherzinger as the new Herbal Essences' Hair Girl, officially the Global Brand Ambassador.  Scherzinger will star in Herbal Essences upcoming TV and print campaign which will be featured starting August 2012.

“I’m honored to partner with Herbal Essences, because it’s a brand I like and admire for its celebration of self expression and for encouraging women like me to have fun with their look!,” Scherzinger announced.

If only I could get my hair that shiny and gorgeous!
(P&G, energiPR)

January Beauty Favourites {monthly edition}

January Beauty Faves by beautyparler on polyvore.com

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microperfecting Primer
One of the nicest feeling primers I've used, a nice light lotion that doesn't feel like a primer. No silicone-feel to it which I like. Doesn't feel like anything on your skin, breathable.

Vichy LiftActiv Derm Source Serum 10 - Youth Enhancing Serum
Nice light liquidy serum that absorbs nicely into skin, as my skin gets more dehydrating in Winter I like using serums under moisturizers to add that extra hydration + this has a new ingredient, Rhamnose, which targets wrinkles. Figure can't hurt to start the anti-aging routine (I did turn 35 last month *smiling* I'm not worried yet)

Giovanni Cosmetics Wellness Shampoo w/ Chinese Botanicals
One thing I hate about Canadian Winters (although this year can't complain as weather has been fantastic) is the cold dehydrating effect on skin & hair. This equals flakes, and I happened to see this at the grocery store & threw it in my cart. Glad I did as this is sulfate-free (trying that route at the moment), washes hair well & doesn't strip my hair. 

SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense
I introduced this product into my skincare routine towards the end of January but within the last couple of weeks could already see improvement in my pores.  Looking at the ingredients & having used Salicylic Acid before at higher concentrations I was skeptical that at 1.5% I'd see a difference, it must be the rest of the ingredients and formulation that makes this a winner! It does smell very "sterile", I use this once a day at night every other night.  I will keep you updated with further results.

Lise Watier Aquarella Bronzing Powder Duo
I do love bronzers!! And this new Lise Watier bronzer is my new fave. Natural looking glow, I don't turn into a oompa loompa.

MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Cleanser
For years MyChelle is a skincare line that I've been wanting to try but for some reason kept on forgetting to order. I remember hearing raves about this line on Makeupalley.com & finally I got my hands on the MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Cleanser (now I want to try their whole skincare line). If you're interested in all natural skincare products highly suggest this line. No sulfates, good natural fruit & essential oils in products.

Marcelle BB Cream Beauty Balm
Marcelle has done their BB Cream research and hit-the-nail with this product! Feels and acts just like the Asian market BB Creams. Kudos! I know...I know... I'll do a whole post on BB Creams very soon. Keep your eyes open  for this one!

Virgin Organic Argan Oil
While strolling the beauty aisle at Winners (a discount store in Canada) I found Herbaflor Virgin Organic Argan Oil, 100% argan nut oil no added fragrance or silicones. I've been using this in my hair & after the above serums as I didn't want to add too many ingredients to my skincare routine as I was worried would be product overload. My skin has reacted well with Argan oil on the face. As a hair product just as great!


What were your favourite products last month? Anyone else use oils as part of their skincare routine? You can easily do a search online to see which ones are beneficial for which skintypes. Back in 2008 I wrote a post about the Oil Cleansing Method and links to beneficial oils, post here.

from Runway to Real-life {Interior Design & Chanel Fall 2012}

Using the runway as your source for interior design inspirations...obviously my love for beauty and fashion is apparent but ever since I got my first home my mindset has been home decorating. But how can I incorporate my first love with what is becoming my second love, decorating. Easy, fashion and makeup shades inspire my choices in home accessories and paint colour.

Chanel Pre-Fall 2012 via

via H&H

makeup shades as inspirational paint shades

via Chanel Pre-Fall 2012

via H&H

Where do you get your home design ideas from?