Rachel Sin Spring 2013: backstage beauty

The perfect definition of Rachel Sin's Spring 2013 collection; clean, structural, and functional. No surprise, the Carleton University architecture grad Rachel Sin has combined her two passions into her self-titled fashion line. The makeup backstage also shared similar elements; clean graphic lines. The makeup and hair was inspired by the hit series Mad Men. Maybelline's lead makeup artist, Grace Lee, applies a retro winged eyeliner but with a modern take. The rest of the face is left nude, minimal and matte. 

makeup all Maybelline:

Eye studio Master Precise Ink Pen in shade Black

NEW! Rocket Volum' Mascara (release date Jan 2013)

Dream Bouncy Blush in shade Peach Satin

Baby Lips in shade Quenched (a clear lip balm)

NEW! Colour Sensational Lipcolour in shade Whispers (release date Jan 2013)

a model with designer Rachel Sin

hair by Jorge Joao for Redken:

a modern take on a retro-do

(runway image: photographer Raymond Chow of Canada Wears)

Do you think you can rock the modern version of the winged eyeliner?

(backstage images by photographer: Michelle Culligan of JC MC Photography) 

Whitney Linen Spring 2013: backstage beauty

A clothing line created solely of raw linen and lined in silk, Whitney Linen has taken one of the oldest fabrics to new couture dimensions. Designers, Whitney Westwood and Franciska Veress, spoke to my friend and assistant Michelle Culligan backstage prior to the show. The mood for the collection was fun, sexy and sophisticated! And by the photographs Michelle took, this was definitely achieved. Although I wasn't able to attend the show due to illness the images convey it all. Michelle and I both agree was one of our favourite shows of World Mastercard Fashion Week in Toronto. 

Let's go backstage where the magic begins with Maybelline's lead makeup artist, Grace Lee.

makeup artist Grace Lee with model

Makeup all Maybelline:

Dream Fresh 3-in-1 BB Cream

Dream Bouncy in shade Coffee Cake

Eyestudio Colour Tattoo 24H in shade Bad to the Bronze

Eye Studio Master Drama in shade Bold Brown

Great Lash Clear Brow Mascara

hair by Redken team: lead hair stylist Jorge Joao

the designer Franciska stated that this was one of her favourite pieces

What do you think of the Whitney Linen Spring 2013 Collection?

(images: photographer Michelle Culligan of JC MC Photography)

Laura Siegel Spring 2013: backstage beauty

The fashion curtain in Toronto for Spring 2013 has closed. These last few weeks have been busy in the fashion and beauty realm; the Collections, an alternative more affordable platform for emerging fashion designers to showcase their work and the mega World MasterCard® Fashion Week.

Let's backtrack to the Collections, where I was invited by MAC Cosmetics backstage.

As Laura Siegel's Spring 2013 collection featured soft muted colours with hints of pink.  Head makeup artist Melissa Gibson wanted to infuse a pop of colour by using a strong bright pink on eyes. The rest of the makeup was minimal, a nude lip and face using MAC Face & Body Foundation. Thus, the focus was on the eyes using only one shade MAC Pigment in Fuchsia swept around the eyes and mixed with MAC Lash Mixing Medium as mascara.

the tips of models' nails were painted with the multi-purpose MAC Pigment in the same shade Fuchsia

The Aveda team was responsible for creating the hair for the Laura Siegel show. The mood; loose textured braids to mimic having been to the desert.  

(above image: photographer Anthony James)

That is a wrap from backstage, hope you enjoyed the backstage beauty perspective. More to come from Fashion Week.

Are you daring enough to wear a bright monotone shade on your lids and lashes? 

(images: property of beautyparler.ca except for collage created with polyvore.com)

Sherway Mall is getting a Make-Over! {Local Event}

The 41 year old mall Sherway Gardens, is getting a little something done! A little as in $350 million, the revitalization and expansion will take approximately 45 months to complete and will commence January 2013 . An additional 210,000 square feet of retail space and a remerchandising of an existing 90,000 square feet. Whew! Now that's a make-over.

“Sherway Gardens is one of our best-performing shopping centres, and this revitalization will amplify everything that has made it such a favourite with shoppers,” said Clive Baxter, Cadillac Fairview’s Senior Vice President, Ontario Portfolio. “By making room for new best-in-classretailers and enhancing our overall shopping and dining environments, we are extending the mall’s appeal to the increasingly affluent, discerning shopper that Sherway Gardens attracts.”

The expansion will also include the first Nordstorm department store in the Greater Toronto area.  An expansion of Harry Rosen and Sporting Life's flagship store. Recent openings include Tiffany & Co., and Forever 21 slated to open November 2012.

Also, four full service restaurants;

“Food is going to play a much more important role, helping to establish and extend the Sherway Gardens experience as an attractive dining destination, day or night,” said Andy Traynor, General Manager, Sherway Gardens. “We are making room for four new full-service restaurants, while literally elevating the prominence of our food court,” he said, referring to its relocation within the mall.

The best part is, I'm only a 15 minute drive away.

Anyone else in the Toronto area shop at Sherway Gardens?

(resource: MaverickPR)

go from Sick to Fabulous: beauty {reviews}

Weather have you singing the blues? Or have you got the sick bug? Which ever the reason, this time of year can have us looking pale and tired looking. Its the transition of Seasons, my skin turns paler and my under-eye circles look darker. And having been sick for the last few days just made matters worse. Of course, the beauty department helped me look better!

from Sick to Fabulous by beautyparler featuring a lip care

Physicians Formula CashmereWear Ultra Smoothing Blush in shade Rose
Just the right amount of pink to give my cheeks a healthy-looking flush.

Collection Cosmetics Lasting Perfection Concealer in Medium
I keep raving about this concealer because it works. Read review here!

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in shade #15 Pudgy Peony (NEW shade)
Love this chubby pencil! Easy to apply, moisturizing, great sheer colour. This colour is great as it's bright rosy/pink, adds the right amount of colour to your face overall.

Perricone MD No Foundation, Foundation SPF 30
Another favourite from the past! If it works use it. Read review here!

Ellis Faas Compact Powder in shade medium (s402)
First, if you haven't heard of this amazing brand here's a review of a few of their products. This powder is luxury; feels fantastic on skin. Doesn't cake and skin looks naturally soft.

Mary Kay Limited Edition Nail Lacquer in shade Radiant Red
Colour on the nails always brightens my mood. This limited-edition red is the perfect deep Red for the upcoming Holidays.

Vichy Aqualia Antiox Moisturizer
I'm actually at the bottom of the jar! This is a staple of mine. Just the right amount of hydration for my combination skin type. Feels lightweight under makeup and great for evening too.

Marcelle — Xtension Plus Mascara
Another past favourite! Seriously, I get compliments on my lashes every time I wear this. Thick, lush lashes, doesn't clump. Glam!

Maybelline Define-A-Brow Eyebrow Pencil
Inexpensive, eyebrow pencil, and it lasts all day. Another review from the past!


What are your makeup staples when you're sick?

Trick or Treat: Slutty Halloween Costumes

As I'm sitting here on my couch with a Cup of Noodles in my hand and looking ghoulish from being sick it got me thinking, Halloween costumes. So, I googled "Halloween Costumes"...well I'm no prude but why are all the costumes sexually driven. Do women use this night of dressing-up as an excuse to dress slutty? These costumes must sell, as every year I see them at costume stores. Sure, its fun to be sexy but when does it go over board and become slutty? One stereotype is the slutty flight attendant; since I actually am a flight attendant I can attest that after a long flight the last thing I look like is anywhere near sexy or slutty. If anything I might look a bit dowdy. But yes, I get it, playing off the stereotypes of certain jobs is part of the fun of dressing-up.

Halloween Costumes by beautyparler on Polyvore

But is this the right message for young women to be sending out? What are your thoughts?

A LUSHalloween {beauty treats}

LUSH is one of the only stores I actually go into for Halloween goodies. Mainly, because of their limited-edition Pumpkin soaps...in love.  In all honestly, I don't really get into the Halloween spirit. When I was younger I'd create the best costumes and loved doing my ghoulish makeup looks. Not so much anymore. However, the LUSH limited-edition Halloween products all contain scents I love; spices, cinnamon, lavender, and spearmint.

LUSH Pumpkin Soap: already listed as out-of-stock on their website run to your nearest LUSH as these cute soaps sell out quickly. Pumpkin pie has nothing on this pumpkin! Scents such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and spearmint.
$6.95 cdn

LUSH Twilight Shower Gel: new this Halloween is the Twilight Shower Gel, same scent as the popular Twilight Bath Bombs LUSH created the shower gel version. This purple gel is the perfect lavender and sweet smell for a relaxing bath after a long day at work. A little lathers alot!
starting at $9.95 cdn

the Jacko, bath fizzer $5.95 cdn

What are your favourite scents this time of year?

(images: LUSH.ca, beautyparler.ca)

Going Grey? {Haircare}

going grey? by beautyparler featuring clairol

That strand of grey hair sticking out among the rest of your colour screams out, "I'm here! I'm here!". Yes, I am starting to go grey. However, in my case its skipped the whole grey stage and has gone straight to white. But my white strands are shy, all hiding beneath the crown area. I also have a thick white streak that started in my 20's, just appeared. The white streak, no I am not a witch, is common also know as Poliosis, a lack of pigment.
As my hair hasn't exactly turned salt and pepper, I asked the experts for advice. Which products are the best for greying hair and common grey hair issues.
My hairdresser Eva Therese from Eva Therese Studios:

(photographer: Cynthia Bugala)

Q: Is grey/white hair harder to dye?

The level of difficulty in colouring grey/ white hair depends on a variety of factors. Grey, white or salt & pepper all have a variety of colour challenges. Hair that is 80-100% grey/white takes colour exactly as it is on the swatch, without the factor of the underlying pigment. This means a client has the ability to have any colour that is suitable, which may have not been so easy when their hair had pigment. Some clients have grey/white hairs that have become increasingly coarse with pigment loss, and colourists are able to formulate for this. In extreme cases where even with correct formulation and timing colour doesn’t take, colourists can pre-soften the hair so the colour absorbs and coverage can be achieved. Hair that is partially grey also has to be formulated so that the colour takes on both pigmented and non-pigmented hair strands, but usually this results in a nice colour because it reflects variation that is present in natural hair colour.

Q:  Is grey/white hair thicker? As the few strands I have feel thick & stronger than no pigmented hair.

Hair tends to take on a coarser texture when it loses its protein/pigment. It is not actually thicker, but the change in texture gives it that feeling. This tends to happen more frequently in clients that have a thicker or curly texture of hair pre colour loss.

Q: Any specialty haircare products for grey/white hair? If one chooses not to dye their hair i.e there's blue/violet shampoo right?

Yes, various factors such as smoking, medication, sun exposure, and some styling products can leave grey/white hair with an unwanted yellow tone. Violet based toners and shampoos can correct this issue by neutralizing the yellow tone. If the hair is very dry, I recommend a violet conditioner instead of the shampoo. I like AG professional violet conditioner.
The violet shampoo should be used only once a week, and left on for a few minutes. It tends to dry out the hair, and doesn’t need to be used for every wash. My favourite is Shimmer Lights Shampoo for blonde & silver hair by Clairol Professional. It has a very strong Violet tone and works very effectively.

Q: Do many of your clients dye their hair purposely to cover-up white? 

Grey hair is the predominant reason clients see me for hair colour. Women under sixty and many over just don’t like white hair for various reasons. They may feel it prematurely ages them, has an unflattering tone, is very patchy or it may also be right around the temples of face where they can see it every time they look in the mirror. 
Some of my clients have made attempts to go au natural, to see if the grey/white they have is flattering. Some have decided to start colouring again, and some we are able to take them light enough with colour that the transition is a bit easier and they have stuck with it. 
Most clients that are au natural went white very early, and with a very structured and flattering hair cut look amazing.
Natural highlights around the face are a great way to disguise grey, and prevent the skunk stripe down the middle look when roots start to show.

Thank you Eva!

Next, I asked my chic Parisian friend who has gone completely au natural, Karine Paoletti. Her tips on going grey! I know, gorgeous right? Completely unfair, French woman always look so effortless fabulous.

Q: How old were you when you started to go grey? And why the decision to go "au natural"?

Dont remember exactly..it came really early but after 30...lets say 33? it became obvious. It did not bother me..I'm quite spontaneous and being myself is part of my personality..and grey hair when you are still quite young is unusual..I like to be different and I love grey!!!

Q: Any special haircare products you use to care for you hair?

Not really, but grey hair has a different texture ...you need to care for it as is more dry ...conditioner..nourishing mask which I'm not using as much. 

Q: Would you ever consider dying your hair?

I dyed it once cause I wanted a big change..then I had to wait one year to get my real colour..which I missed..since then I'll sometimes use products that make the white/grey darker..it stays 2/3 weeks maximum..but still grey is here....

grey & sexy

Merci, Karine!

For products specifically geared towards greying hair.
Eva's picks;
Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo
AG Sterling Silver Toning Conditioner
from my beauty insider experts;
Matrix Care So Silver Shampoo
L'Oréal Professional Série Expert Age Supreme

Have you started to go Grey? Share your stories.

(images: cannot be used without permission)

the drogerie markt in Germany: Travel Tuesday

Germany is a country I love to browse the beauty section at the local DM-drogerie markt (Drug Store). Although, I can't read German or speak the language I have a pretty good understanding of how beauty products are displayed, sort-of, figuring out which products are what can be fun but time consuming. Otherwise, that's what images are for on packing. The DM workers either think I'm a terrible reader or I'm shop-lifting...either way I only hope the products I buy are actually what they are intended for.

I look for products not sold in North America or German-made products that are cheaper than in North America

love these Garnier haircare products, not available in North America

a little haul, which included a couple of household items:

detergent pen (for stains)

laundry sheets, for washer

hand-cream

mascara

toothpaste

hair-serum

lipbalm

body wash

facial cleanser

Went into a department store & saw these cute toys:

not real, cool right?

And time for a pretzel! yummy...

How do you shop while travelling? And what items do you like to buy?

(all images are the property of beautyparler.ca)