SugarShock

it's oh so quiet...

2009-11-05T15:21:00Z

Sorry for the dearth of posts of late, dear readers. Fact is, I've accepted a new position in the beauty sphere (which I'm quite excited about and hope to share details about soon). But in the meantime, things will be very quiet around here because SugarShock Beauty will be going on indefinite hiatus. So yes, the news is bittersweet, but, onwards and upwards, as they say! You've no idea how much I've enjoyed sharing beauty scoops and product finds with you over the last couple of...(read more)

liquid gold: vasanti magic liner

2009-10-30T14:55:00Z

Eyeshadow color range is seemingly endless, but eyeliner colors just haven't kept pace, which poses quite the conundrum for those among the colored-eyeliner-loving set (myself included). So when I spy a particularly fab shade of metallic purple or cobalt blue shadow, I'll dip my brush into water and then into the powder, pulling the old "liquid-eyeliner-in-a-pinch trick". But "in a pinch" is the operative phrase here, because let's face it, water doesn't have much...(read more)

shadowboxing: cargo mediterannean nights and hands of hope palettes

2009-10-29T14:42:00Z

Beauty fiends like myself anxiously await the holiday season to see what kinds of gorgeousness the beauty brands will unleash upon us. Each season, the brands seem to one-up themselves by showcasing ever-showy baubles, palettes and trinkets – each one seemingly prettier than the last. And Cargo has wowed me with their newest holiday palettes, Mediterranean Nights and Hands of Hope. The shadows and bronzers, themselves ornamentally embossed, come packaged in chic black boxes with gold imprint that...(read more)

skin fix: mama mio boob tube

2009-10-28T14:35:00Z

Now, usually I steer clear of any beauty creams specifically designed for the girls, in the belief that that area will do well enough on its own, thank you very much. But lately, I've started to notice the effects of neglect in this region (read: the force of gravity), and in the name of prevention, have decided that my pair might just deserve some extra special attention beyond my typical body moisturizer. Behold the cheekily named cult product Boob Tube by Mama Mio, a rich decollete cream designed...(read more)

too faced lashlight puts lashes under the spotlight

2009-10-27T14:19:00Z

We've seen light-up lipglosses before, which come equipped with mini flashlights for touching up in the dark. And now comes Too Faced Lashlight , a mascara with an LED-lighted wand that shines a light on each and every lash for precise application. I'm not sure why you'd need this, unless, of course, you're a vampire and daylight makeup application is a no-no (and, for those of us who aren't creatures of the night, the idea of applying mascara in the dark would be sheer insanity...(read more)

styleshock: evan rachel wood at fashion group international's night of stars

2009-10-26T01:36:00Z

Bravo Evan Rachel Wood. It looks like you've finally found your stride, style-wise. For a while there, you were looking like Dita Von Teese's 'Mini Me,' and that was, well, more than a little creepy (considering both of you have dated and/or married the Dark Lord himself, Marilyn Manson). Well, we both know that little dalliance didn't really work out, but it surely put you in line to join the cast of True Blood and sink your teeth into the coveted role of Vampire Queen Sophie...(read more)

fixation: kat von d true romance eyeshadow palette in true love

2009-10-23T19:22:00Z

I kind of love Kat Von D's "stickin-it-to-the-man" sense of style (read: tattoos-a-plenty and full-throttle makeup), which appeals to my inner goth-rebel. Those same sensibilities show up in her makeup line for Sephora, and her newest holiday palette offering, the True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in True Love , is about breakin' all the rules when it comes to beauty and eyeshadow pairings. While most palettes give us either "cool" or "warm" shades – (and never...(read more)

gold star: YSL beauty your lovely duo lip colour palette

2009-10-22T14:33:00Z

"Hello, gorgeous!" Those were my precise words when I spied this luxe, shiny bauble that's the pièce de résistance from YSL's Holiday 2009 collection. The Lovely Duo Lip Colour Palette houses two ultra-moisturizing, looks-good-on-everyone lipcolors - one a subtle soft-pink lipstick and the other a super-sheer, shimmery peach gloss. But let's be real here, gals; this is really about the compact, and what a piece of loveliness it is. Inspired by the luggage tags found on YSL handbags...(read more)

master of disguise: makeup forever HD invisible cover concealer

2009-10-21T14:33:00Z

A girl can never have too many concealers. And sometimes, what works to cover a spot (think: thick, opaque spackle) is too heavy for around the eye area. Your eyes, after all, are the place where most people look when they're talking to you, so you want them to see your eyes, not your makeup, right? Well, Makeup Forever's HD Invisible Cover Concealer solves that conundrum, as it's practically undetectable to the naked eye. Seriously - you dab it on with the ingenious soft silicone applicator...(read more)

skin fix: dermalogica daily microfoliant

2009-10-20T15:07:00Z

Ask a beauty editor, in Canada at least, which skincare product they can't live without and chances are, it's this unassuming little tower of power from skincare brand Dermalogica called the Daily Microfoliant . When I first entered the beauty magazine scene a few years ago and encountered this famed skin elixir, I was honestly a little bewildered, unsure of how to use this strange powder exfoliant that was said to smooth many a tired complexion. But then, after trying the rice-based Microfoliant...(read more)

styleshock: christina ricci at spike tv scream awards 2009

2009-10-19T20:37:00Z

I did a double-take when I first saw Christina Ricci's red-carpet look from the recent Spike TV Scream Awards. At first, I thought her hair was pulled back into an updo, giving the effect of short hair. But upon further inspection , it appears that she has, in fact, gone for the chop. While she's always been on the shorter end of the hair spectrum, not many people can pull off a full-on crop. Christina, however, has the amazing bone structure to pull it off and she oozes class and simple...(read more)

beauty to go: benefit celebutante personal stylist kit

2009-10-19T15:29:00Z

Packing my makeup bag for an overnight trip, or even just for lugging to the gym, can be a recipe for a beauty meltdown. Invariably, my instincts for editing things down to the essentials go by the wayside and, rather than stick to my daily beauty products, I'll sit and mull over every single product in my (mammoth) arsenal, weighing its pros and cons. The result: A bag full of items that I really didn't need to bring (Will I really wear that teal eyeliner? Not likely). Benefit's Celebutante...(read more)

this just in: coco rocha is the new face of rimmel london

2009-10-16T15:42:00Z

Like most beauty/fashion aficionadas, I love me some Coco Rocha. Her versatility and chameleon-like haircolour changes and penchant for doing an Irish jig on the runway are totally refreshing in the modelling world (which tends to be known for bland, cookie-cutter Eastern Europeans devoid of personality). So I was thrilled to hear that she's been scooped up as the new face of Rimmel London, joining fellow models Kate Moss and Lily Cole. Another new face to watch? Georgia May Jagger, the love...(read more)

luxe for less: dove deep moisture nourishing body wash with nutrium moisture

2009-10-16T14:41:00Z

I busted out the winter coat this week to combat the uncharacteristically winter-like weather up here in Canadaland (even though winter's start date is actually more than two months away). That means I'm not only swathing myself in a wearable sleeping-bag, but also stocking up my arsenal of protective bodycare products to defend my skin against chilly winds. Usually, I don't give much thought to body washes, other than looking for anything that says "creamy" or "moisturizing"...(read more)

fragrance notes: the body shop love etc. eau de parfum

2009-10-15T16:00:00Z

I was ready to pass off The Body Shop's Love Etc. as just another flaky, fruity/floral girly scent. (Chalk it up to the tween-esque, heart-covered box). But when I found out the fragrance was created by none other than Dominique Ropion, the renowned perfumer behind Givenchy Very Irresistible, Burberry the Beat, and a roster of fragrances for Frederic Malle, I knew I was in for something special. And it is. Call me addicted, if you will. This perfume is a bit deceiving because you might think...(read more)