Canadian Beauty News: January 19, 2007

Lets start this week's edition of Canadian Beauty News by talking about Black (or dark) nail polish. Chanel's introduction of Ceramic Noir pretty much seals the deal - this trend is around for another season.

A full six months after the trend began, Canadian Retailers are saying: "Hey! You know what we need to stock? Black nail polish!!!" The result is that we are (finally!) spoilt for choice when it comes to picking that perfect shade of black. Why choose plain black when you can have OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark which is a lovely eggplant colour. Some stores (Trade Secrets, for example) are even carrying the whole OPI Deliciously Darks collection, which also includes Black Onyx (a black shade) and Espresso (a beautiful purply brown colour - my favourite from the collection). I've even seen Essie's Wicked (sort of like Chanel's Vamp or Rouge Noir) in some stores as well as an array of dark shades from other brands (including Orly). If you haven't been able to find some dark polish yet, chances are that you will be able to get some now so go out and grab it while you can.

Black lacquer marks the return of nail polish. How many of us just didn't bother with nail polish at all because it chipped so easily? It was so much easier to just get a french manicure because you couldn't see it growing in. All that has now changed. Turns out, when there's a fashion statement to be made, we can be bothered with topcoats and base coats. Black nail polish isn't just a polish. It's a fashion accessory as essential as your purse or boots. Black nail polish is ubiquitous now - forget about the celebs or university kids; dark lacquer is seen on everyone from bank tellers to school teachers to high level professionals. If they can pull it off, you can pull it off. Just don't forget the primer and topcoat. Oh, and this is not a look for long nails. Going black is daring enough - the last thing we want to see is black talons.

Noir Ceramic also marks another trend: metallics which are in for spring. But don't go rifling through your 80's makeup for that silver eyeliner just yet. The key is to blend it into your everyday look. Bronze eyeshadow or a blush with gold in it will do the trick and keep your look updated.

In other news, this Saturday new Cargo products will finally be available in Canada! The best of the new products is a portable version of Cargo's popular (and absolutely not sticky) lip glosses. Aptly titled PurseGloss, this cult favorite can now be taken everywhere you go. I got a sneak peak of these glosses and my personal favourite was Montreal which even had the Cargo representative oohing and ahhing as I tried it on.

Cargo is a Canadian brand which helps explain why their colours are always spot-on. Multiculturalism is an integral part of Canada's national identity, and I'm sure that the creators and developers of Cargo colours are subconsciously inspired by that fact. The result is that they make foundations and concealers for all skin tones. Definitely check out their amazing line of blushes which include matte and shimmery colours. There's something for everyone. Even their bronzers come in skin-true shades and have become hits with makeup artists. Saturday will also see the launch of their new SuedeBlush which has just the right amount of shimmer and leaves your skin with a lovely glow.

Cargo is also pledging a commitment to the environment and is launching a series of lipsticks that are available in biodegradable containers. Now usually when I think biodegradable, I think icky cardboard containers which decompose in your purse or a steamy bathroom. Well, these are completely different. The containers actually look and feel like plastic! I almost couldn't believe that they were environmentally friendly. It turns out that the containers are made out of corn and decompose in 47 days if they're left in a compost! Cargo is the only company that makes these containers and they're hoping to inspire other brands to do the same. Oh and the colours? Five of the lipstick shades are designed by celebrities, including one by Evangeline Lilly!

You can buy Cargo Cosmetics at select Bay stores or at Sephora.

Another new debut is Giorgio Armani Beauty's spring 2007 line which is focused on berries. The winner of this collection is the berry lip palette. Unlike most palettes, this one does not feature glosses or lipsticks. The products are actually more like stains that feel super-comfortable on your lips. As you can see from the picture, the palette features a reddish colour, a medium pink, and a white. When I first saw it I didn't think it would work for me but I let the makeup artist do his thing. It turns out that the colours are beautiful. The red goes on quite sheer and the white layered on top adds more depth to the colour and just a hint of shimmer. I should have guessed that the palette would be wearable - Armani always delivers perfection. The new eye shadow colours are nice too and feature shimmery beiges and taupes that are signals of the metallic trend and happen to work well on a variety of skin tones.

Giorgio Armani cosmetics can be found at Holt Renfrew stores nationwide.

Did you know that Sephora stores have skin consultants who are trained to diagnose skin problems? You can make an appointment with one of these consultants and they will help you choose products that match the needs of your skin. Just call your local Sephora store and tell them that you'd like to make an appointment!

As a final note, I should say that most new collections at Sephora and your local department store aren't in yet but will be launched in the first couple of weeks of February.