Benefit Posie Tint

If you weren't a fan of Benefit's Benetint because the colour didn't work for you, you're now in luck. There's a new version of the popular stain out called Posie Tint which is a pretty pink colour that will probably look more natural on most people.

The formula is more of a gel than the regular Benetint, and I found it to be really easy to work with. It didn't dry too fast, and I actually found that I had better results when I took my time and worked with it. It's really a nice pink colour that's neutral and great on lips and cheeks!

Mineral Power!

The mineral makeup frenzy continues with Maybelline's offering in this new category of makeup - they call theirs Mineral Power!

There are a bunch of great products in this life - a blush, a pressed powder, as well as a liquid and powder foundation. I'll start by saying that the colours are fantastic - they look natural, the blend well, and they're not at all ashy or grey, so if that's something that you've had trouble with in the past, then you can leave those worries at the door for this foundation.


Lets start with the liquid foundation - this was my favourite product because it looked so natural. It's definitely for dry or normal skin because though the initial application is matte, it does get oily pretty quickly if you've got oily skin. The finish is light and I think it's perfect for minimizing flaws.

There's also a concealer in this line and it's fantastic. It's a matte finish and because it's not overly thick, it looks quite natural. It's perfect for concealing spots and dark circles.
The blush, like so many mineral blushes, is "luminous" which means that it has shimmer in it.
Once again, the colours are fantastic. The blush has a lot of pigment in it and the ratio of shimmer and colour is absolutely perfect.

Finally, the finishing veil. This setting powder is light and airy and again comes in colours that really match a wide variety of skin tones and look amazingly natural.

What I love about this powder is that it's not hard like some drugstore setting powders. It does take away topical shine and lasts a decent amount of time.

Overall - this mineral makeup line is very affordable and has some products that are excellent. If you've been having a hard time finding mineral makeup colours that match your skin, then you can rest easy knowing that you'll find something in this line.

MAC Beauty Powder Blush - Pictures!

MAC launched a new set of blushes recently - significant because they already have a large range of blushes. How are these different? Well, the shimmer in the new Beauty Powder Blushes isn't as fine as the shimmer in some of MAC's other blushes. I find that it's more noticeable and really gives a nice sheen to the cheek. The shimmer is comparable to that in Nars blushes, so if you've used those, you know what I'm talking about.

Here are pictures of three of the colours.

Secret Blush

Shy Beauty
Eversun

Shy Beauty is a lovely peach with gold shimmer. It would be nice for everyday and is hard to mess up. Eversun is a bronze colour that once could use as a light bronzer year round.

As always there are a ton of colours to choose from so you can indeed find one that works with your complexion. Blushes retail for $17.50 U.S./$22.00 CDN.

Department Store vs. Drugstore: Sculpting Blushes

Cheekbones are all the rage these days. What else could be responsible for the launch of coutouring products on the market this year. There's one by Stila, MAC, Laura Gellar, and finally two that seem very similar: Covergirl Instant Cheekbones Contouring Blush (now called TruCheeks Blush) and Clinique Limited Edition Blush Powder.

I chose to compare these two because they're both have 3 colours that are supposed to work together. I also own both of them. So which one should you choose?

The colours for both the blushes are similar - Clinique offers 2 shade ranges, while CoverGirl offers 6 in a new range. Both have a highlighting colour, a medium cheek colour, and dark one meant to be used in the crease.

The key to using the kit is to use a light hand when applying the crease colour because too much can make it very obvious what it is you're trying to do. You don't want to draw attention to your jaw... you want to draw attention to your cheekbones where you're going to apply a touch of the highlighter.

So which one did I like better? In this case, I have to go with the department store brand - the Clinique. I just found the CoverGirl version way too shimmery and couldn't get it to look natural. The Clinique one worked perfectly for me, and I even liked the brush that it came with! I could make the look subtle and the powders were sheer. The CoverGirl blush was also a little crumbly and sometimes I couldn't help but pick up too much product.

Stila Cherry Crush Lip and Cheek Stain

Today I am wearing Stila Cherry Crush Cheek and Lip Stain. I like it. I think this is the best stain formula that I have ever encountered. It's thick and doesn't run, and it contains enough pigment to seriously stain! A tiny dab was enough for my cheeks and the brush made it so easy for me to smooth this over my lips just like a gloss. Once the stain was dry, it was difficult enough to take off also!

I hope that they expand the colours that this stain is available in. Right now you can only get it in a bright pinky-red colour, but I'm thinking that a dusky rose or a plummy pink would be nice as well. If you haven't liked a stain before, you should try this. I love it.

Reader Question - Blush!

Here's part of an email I received from a reader:

I'm 35 yrs old and have yet to find the perfect blush for me.I usually stick to drugstore products,but am never really happy with the shade or quality of the product.

I've decided to go with either a Nars or Mac sheertone blusher,but I'm not sure what shade to use.

I have dark brown hair,hazel-green eyes,freckles,and light skin.I'm told that I'm a "cool" when it comes to makeup.

I find pink shades look better than peach ones on my skin and I like the look of a healthy glow.

Can you please give me some suggestions for colours from the mac sheertone and nars?

I'm ready to splurge on a great blusher and would love your input.

Thanks so much!

My answer:

I'm glad that you are ready to go for a department store blush, but before you do, I want to point you towards the L'Oreal Bare Naturale Blush line because those products are very good and reasonably priced. I've tried 2 of the colours and they were wonderful because they had just the right amount of pigment. If you want to reconsider the drugstore, I highly recommend them.

But when it comes to department store, MAC and Nars are both good. I personally love the Sheertone blushes. They are virtually goof-proof. The Nars blush doesn't come in as many colours and the blushes are more pigmented which makes them tougher to work with. Try MAC Sheertone in Pink Swoon or MAC Sheertone in Pinch Me (this one is a peachy pink). Both are great colours.

Let me know how it goes!!

Coastal Scents Blush

A little while ago, I told you about Coastal Scents Mineral Makeup which was finely milled and natural looking.

Coastal Scents also has blush - the quality is still good and the colours are nice, but I am finding that the blush has a little too much shimmer for my tastes and I would use this more as a highlighter than a blush.

Check out the entire Coastal Scents line at their website.

Thrrrrob by Benefit

I got my hands on the newest Benefit blush - Thrrrob!



This is a sheer bright pink blush that can be built up in intensity, and I really think that it's one of those that would work on a variety of skin tones. It's also perfect for those people who just want a hint of blush to brighten their face, and don't want rosy cheeks. Personally, I've kicked my Nars Desire blush to the curb while I keep picking this up. I also use it on top of bronzer to make a new colour and I love the way it looks.

The blush does have some shimmer in it but once on your skin the blush is definitely not as shimmery as it first seems. I absolutely love this product, and it's the perfect shade for Spring!

Lancome Cream Blush

How do I keep running into cream blushes wherever I go? Lancome now has their own version and if you've avoided cream blushes before, then this is definitely for you. It's soft and highly pigmented, and stays on your cheeks for a long time. I found that when I used this, I didn't even need to apply powder afterwards which is perfect because it looks so natural. I have to say that there are some great colours offered in the line - more than the traditional pinks - which means that there are good shades for highlighting and good shades for really defining your features.

The full range of colours is available at department store counters.

Bobbi Brown Raspberry Collection

Bobbi Brown's Raspberry Collection is now on counters everywhere. The highlights (for me, at least) are the Pot Rouges and Lip Crayons. Lets start with the former:

The Pot Rouge is not a new product, but the new colours are fab - they are more vibrant than most of the other ones. The formulation rivals that of my favourite cream blush, MAC Blushcreme, but these seem to set to a more matte finish. They are very highly pigmented, which is a must for cream blushes. This means that they look good on even dark skin tones and you are not piling product on your skin.

The Bobbi Brown Lip Crayons are similarly fabulous. They are creamy glossy lipsticks.

My only concern is that when you sharpen them you inadvertently waste some of the product as the pencil is shaped into a point. Still - if you need something that can double as a liner, then this is an excellent way to go. I did not find the crayon to be drying at all and thank goodness, it comes with a sharpener.

Pink Beauty

Pink Beauty Cosmetics is a new collection of makeup that will be hitting Holt Renfrew counters very soon - they already have some of the glosses in store.

The line is limited but awesome. This is fool-proof makeup, so if you're one of those readers who is reading this blog so that you can get some help figuring makeup out (I know you're out there!) get thee to a Holt's counter, and try this makeup out.

The product formulations are sheer, and that includes the lipsticks and glosses. What this means is that it's almost impossible to make a mistake with this makeup. Everything in this line goes together, and it's easy to look done but not like you're wearing a ton of product.

My favourite product is the Cream Radiance Rouge - it is a fantastic cream blush that's not at all greasy. The colour I'm showing above is Delight which is a "dusty rose". It is perfect for light to medium skin tones. It goes on quite sheer and blends very easily so that it looks natural! I like a lot of blush, so I put this on top of powder for an extra punch of colour and staying power. It lasted beautifully.

I am going to be introducing every teenager I know to this line, because I think that it's especially perfect for beginners and those who are looking for fool-proof makeup.

Benefit Thrrrob

I was just on the Benefit website and they are introducing a new blush called Thrrrob in the new year. Here is what the copy on the Benefit website states:

"Turn on the flush, turn up the rush... with thrrrob, our new "turned on" face powder. This pulse-racing pink powder simulates the natural flush you get when your heart races. With accompanying brush, lay it on light across cheekbones, forehead and chin. Then sit back & let the excitement begin! It's a turn on!"

I'm confused - it seems that when you get more physical activity, and perhaps when your face gets warmer, this blush gets more pink. But isn't that exactly when you don't want to draw attention to your face? Plus, how are we to try this on in stores and see whether the colour works for us or not if the results aren't immediate?

I'll say this much: Benefit knows how to create hype and I'm going to try this blush when it hits the shelves.

Bobbi Brown Cream Blush Stick

If you're looking for a cream blush that's not that pigmented, and comes in natural colours, try the Bobbi Brown Cream Blush Stick. It's not as pigmented as the MAC cream blush but that means that it's a lot harder to make a mistake too. Available wherever Bobbi Brown products are sold.

L'Oreal Bare Naturale Blush

I've been using the L'Oreal Bare Naturale Blush all last week and I really like it! When I saw this blush in the store, I examined it closely and thought that there was a bit too much shimmer in it. When actually wearing it though, I've realized that the shimmer doesn't show up that much on the skin, and even in the brightest light your cheeks aren't shimmery.

Plus, all the colours are sheer and pretty so it's hard to go wrong with this blush. It's available at drugstores everywhere.

Benefit's Packaging

Dear Benefit,

I love your products, I really really do. I've reviewed quite a few of them, and I wear the Dallas blush all the time.

But goodness gracious I am sick to death of your horrible packaging.

I get that many people love it. It's unique, and cute, and for many people that is better than a boring compact from a regular makeup counter. But if I'm buying a $30 blush, I want a good mirror in the compact, I'd love something I can just pop into my purse, and for heaven's sake give me a blush compact that's big enough to swirl my brush in! Plus, cardboard? Make your compacts using other materials please. Something sturdy so that I don't have to be scared to store it in the bathroom with my other makeup. I love the colour of my Dallas blush, but this useless box has got to go.
And I'm really not asking for a lot - know how I know? Because I get that whenever I buy another brand of expensive blush.

And now you've come out with Powder Pop! What a brilliant idea - all your great face powders in one little box, so that the user can choose whether to bronze, blush, or brighten. When I saw this, I loved it and wanted it. And then I looked closer. Though this box is larger than the regular Benefit blush/bronzer boxes, because there are 3 powders instead of 1, each individual compartment is quite small.
What that means is that there's almost no way that I can swirl my blush brush in the powders. No way, I tried it and each time putting the brush in these boxes was awkward and annoying. I mean, I get what you're trying to do here - the whole concept harks back to your original square-shaped powder boxes. It's cute but just not functional! Why not go the way of Dior and put the three colours together in one rectangular compact or the way of Bobbi Brown and have a nice large palette? Why this?

Benefit, you have great products but horrible packaging.

Sincerely,

Canadian Beauty Blog,
a Benefit user

Blush-N-Brighten

I know, I know, yet another blush. But I can't help it! I love blush and it's one of those products that can make you look more awake, fresh, and pretty all with the swish of a brush.

My newest find: Laura Geller's Blush-N-Brighten.

The marbling effect that so many makeup brands tout is a little over-hyped, and in my opinion this is mainly done so that the product looks pretty. All in all, nothing wrong with that.

But this blush has the perfect amount of shimmer, warmth, and pink. That means that it'll not only warm up your skin, but do it with a certain amount of subtlety. This is just the second Laura Geller product I've reviewed, but so far, I am very impressed with her line.

You can get Laura Geller's products at Sephora.

Worth the Hype? Nars Blush

Perhaps one of the questions that I get asked most is "should I get Nars blush?" Nars blush in Orgasm is perhaps the most hyped product in the beauty world. It makes every editor's "must have" list and every magazine's "best of" list. Add that to the fact that the packaging is unfailingly chic - a clean black box with a huge mirror inside and sparse white font that makes it a great addition to any makeup bag. Plus, Nars used to be a brand you couldn't find everywhere - the ubiquitousness of Sephora has changed all that, but the hype remains.

My acquisition of the Nars Orgasm blush is what inspired the "Worth the Hype" series, actually.

I just got two new Nars blushes - Orgasm and Sin, pictured below. Orgasm is a pretty peachy pink, while Sin is a berry colour. Both blushes have a little bit of shimmer in them but are not overly shiny.

Orgasm has been said to work on every skin tone. I don't normally buy peach blushes, but I really wanted to see if this was as good as everyone says it is. I had tried it in stores, but would this blush work for me at home?

So, I tried it for a week, and the first time I wore it, I really liked it. I can see why makeup artists love it so much - it's sheer and because of that, it's hard to make a mistake with it. I would say that if you have no clue what colour blush will work on you and just want something to wake your face up a little, go for the Orgasm. It is virtually goof-proof.

But I like the Sin colour more. I'm just a berry blush kinda gal, and Sin looks really pretty on me.

So is Nars blush worth the hype? I would say yes and no. If you've always wanted a Nars blush but have been holding back, go ahead and indulge yourself. But know that almost every single makeup line has equally good blushes, and if you're worrying about making a mistake, you could get yourself a blush from the MAC Sheertone Blush line. Those blushes are also sheer, and the range has something for everyone.

But Nars blushes are nice and I like them a lot. They're not too powdery so you never get too much product which means that you can layer colour up slowly and get the perfect amount. After loving the Sin, I really want a Nars blush that doesn't have any shimmer in it. I know that they're sheer enough that even the brightest colour will look natural and I guess that's why they're so hyped.

Canadian Beauty News: September 14, 2007

Gosh, it's been a very busy week for me, and this week for Canadian Beauty News, we're going to hold off talking about products for just a minute - instead there are some thoughts and tips that have been percolating in my head for a while so I'm going to share them with you folks.

Still with me?

Good, here's your reward: I'm having a contest on Monday and this one is going to be best EVER. EVER!!!

Also: Emmy's on Sunday! Usually I skip the shows, but the Office is nominated and I love the cast so I'll be watching for sure.

In other news: I'm still using Lancome's Courbe Virtuose and I still love it! Really, it's a nice mascara that doesn't smudge or flake and the curl it provides holds all day. Also, I notice that it comes off so easily with just water. You rub your fingers over your lashes a little and you can just smooth it off. It comes off looking like wet plastic or rubber. Pretty cool and oh so easy. Anywho, the mascara is now available everywhere and you can also get it at Lancome's website.

Other things: they say that blush is one of those things that is universal and that any colour blush will go with every colour eye makeup and lipgloss. Well, not true, my friends. I have found that a coral blush looks so off with a cool-toned lipstick so keep that in mind.

Hmm, what else?

Oh yes, in the coming weeks you'll notice more posts about organic makeup and skincare products!! Yes, The Canadian Beauty Blog is going green... well greenish. Obviously, I'm never going to go full-out organic, but I've discovered some amazing organic products recently that I was very impressed with!

And that's it for this week. More deets about the contest tomorrow and of course on Monday.

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

The Bobbi Brown Makeup Facelift

I recently stopped by the Bobbi Brown counter and checked out her Makeup Facelift. Let me tell you, the key to the facelift is the bright bright blush. Sure, it goes on a little strong and it takes some time to get used to but it instantly wakes up your face and makes you look alive and well. The key to pulling it off, as told to me by the makeup artist, is to dust a tiny bit on the bridge of your nose too - this makes the blush look more natural rather than if you only put it on the apples of your cheeks. I tried the rest of the line as well but to me, it was the blush that made the most difference.

Using the blush really does give you a full Bobbi Brown makeover. All the makeup artists were wearing a nice bright colour and it's the signature Bobbi Brown look for this season. Check it out for yourself and you'll see what the difference is.

Also, I'd like to say that the experience that I have at that counter is always amazing. The makeup artists are so friendly, they know what they're doing, and they never ever pressure you into buying a product. If you go in there for just one thing, then they'll help you find it instead of distracting you with the newest extras that you may not need. The Bobbi Brown counter is the one I'd recommend to anyone who wants a makeover or a makeup lesson. Keep that in mind if you're going back-to-school or looking to refresh your makeup bag.

Canadian Beauty News: May 11, 2007

The sun is out and shining and with the great weather come great new products and events!

Toronto - Global Capital of Style?

A couple of nights ago, I went to the Press Party for Toronto Week of Style. Happening in a couple of weeks, the week will feature fashion shows and styles aimed more at the public than the buyers of stores. The week is hosted by the Style Council of Canada and the shows are grouped by theme rather than designer. Bambumoda, for example, will showcase the trends coming up in the next 4 or 5 years, while Fashion Fringe will be more about undiscovered talent from all over the world. There will also be a Denim show, a show for swimwear, for lingerie, and best of all, one for pop culture.

I have to say that the best part of the whole event is that bloggers are given the same amount of respect as the rest of the media. Great seats, personalized attention, and complete lack of snobbery were features of the press party and made me glad that I had gone. This is likely the first of many posts that I'll write covering the event, so stay tuned!

Oh, and associated with Toronto Week of Style, is a campaign that says that Toronto is the Global Capital of Style. Is it? What do you think?

New Products from Duwop!

Duwop has expanded its product line and those products are finally in stores this week.

Lets begin with the E-lix-r-stix. Basically a pen filled with a gloss that tastes sort of like a cookie. These have a runny consistency sort of like Cargo's Purse Gloss but also go on smooth and semi-sheer. They come in 4 great colours that look natural on. I tried, I liked!

Next comes Blushbooster, meant to be layered on top of regular blush to add shine or... I don't know, layer on more blush? Really, I don't know why they'd call this Blush booster when it's pretty much just a regular blush. It comes in nice colours, has a smidge of shimmer (not too much), and goes on smoothly. It's not so sheer that you have to layer on tons to get good colour payoff, but it's not ultra-bright either.

Finally, there's Duwop Realipstick which is a nice normal glossy lipstick that comes in neutral tones only.

Overall, the new products add to Duwop's reputation of having products that provide a natural look. The products they offer are good and if you want lipsticks or blushes that look natural on your skin, and if you want a line that offers everyday basics in flattering colours, then Duwop is the line for you.

Laura Gellar Now IN

I know that there are those of you out there that may have had an eye on Laura Gellar products that have until now only been sold online or on TSC. Well, Sephora now has a truncated version of the line available - they have her most popular products in! The Spackle Trio, and Lip and Eye Spackle Duo are both in stores.

I also spotted the Bronze-N-Brighten, though for the life of me, I can't figure out why this is so popular. I'm not saying that it's not a good bronzer and that it won't brighten up your skin. I am just not wowed by the whole marbled compact marketing campaign. Look, once your swirl your brush in (or run your finger through) the compact, you basically end up with a shimmery pinkish bronze that you then dust on your face. Well, wouldn't putting that pinkish bronze shade (already blended, I mean) in a compact be a better idea because it would give you more consistent colour? Why the marbling? Oh, and don't even bother telling me that I can pick out just the pink or the brown and use them as eye shadows - who would actually do that? Anyway, perhaps you will like the pinky-bronze colour that this compact yields and let me know if you do. The powder itself is smooth and easy to apply.

New Estee Lauder Collection!

Listen up - Tom Ford has designed his final collection for Estee Lauder and Holt Renfrew is now taking advance orders for it!

The collection is called Azuree Soleil and has a range of pinky-plummy colours, called Soiree, and then a range of more bronze shades, called Bronzee. As can be expected from Estee Lauder, the formulations are amazing.

If you've been looking for a highlighter that's not too shimmery, you must check out The Face Sheen which goes on so smoothly and has just the right amount of shimmer and gloss.

Tom Ford has also created a new scent to go with the collection - it's called Tom Ford Azuree Soleil. Finally, a summer fragrance that doesn't smell like suntan oil or a margarita. The Estee Lauder website says that there are notes of Sandalwood, Gardenia petals, Coconuts, and Orange Blossom, among other things, but I couldn't recognize any of those when I smell it. To me, it just smells of the ocean and it's a nice pleasing scent - not too fresh and not too warm.

Great Beauty Reads

Ageless in Los Angeles talks about new Prom beauty.

All Lacquered Up tells us about the chemicals in nail polishes.

Pretty By Nature tells us about PhytoOrganics - a hair care line from Nexxus.


Alrighty, well that's all for this week. Have a wonderful weekend!