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 years. My readers are some of the coolest around.
Where shall you go to get your beauty fix from now on? Check out these SugarShock Beauty-approved sites.
The Canadian girls:
Beauty EditorBeauty GeeksI Heart BeautyLipstick Powder n PaintAnd of course, the classics:
Beauty AddictBella SugarBeauty Blogging JunkieYours in Beauty,
Kristen
xoxo
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 staying power, and if you're in a hurry, the above-mentioned process can seem entirely too fussy. So when I witnessed
Vasanti's Magic Liner, a special potion that turns powder shadow into liquid eyeliner, I had one of those "wish-I-would've-thought-of-it" moments. It's basically a clear gel paired with a liner brush, that, when met with powder eyeshadow, becomes a pigmented, smudge-proof eyeliner. Brilliant! The best part? Dip the brush back in the tube, and it comes out clean and ready to take on the next color.
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 look like something straight out of
Arabian Nights. The
Hands of Hope palette offers up nine iridescent eye shadows, each carved out with the Hamsa hand – a symbol of peace, hope and prosperity. And the colors are breathtaking: some vibrant (like the jewelled purple) and some neutral (like the gorgeous Gunmetal Grey), they're just right for eye-makeup-look experimentation around the holidays.
Next up, we have the
Mediterranean Nights palette, with four eyeshadows and two blush/bronzer duos inlaid with beautiful Middle Eastern-inspired patterns. This is the more neutral palette of the two, but no less beautiful. In fact, I had a hard time deciding which palette I liked more - they're both so stunning. Cargo shadows and bronzers are always top-notch: highly-pigmented, long-wearing, easily blendable and crease-free. These holiday gems are a prime chance to get extreme value for your money – (each are valued at roughly 100 bones, but priced around $30) – to treat yourself or to check off a couple of girlfriends on your gift-giving list this year.
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 for "owners of boobs of all ages". The gist? Think of it as the quality of facial skincare, but for your body. It's packed with pretty much every most-hyped skincare ingredient known to man: CoQ10, to help protect collagen and boost skin strength; shea butter to improve elasticity and improve skin tone; and a whole host of oils, including olive, sweet almond, evening primrose and avocado, to nourish and replenish moisture. Why I love it: Boob Tube has the loveliest botanical-ly scent and its rich texture melts into skin without feeling greasy. This product is such a joy to use that it's a constant reminder to treat this area with utmost care. And while I know that nothing can stop the downward sag, using Boob Tube will hopefully at least slow it down. I gifted it recently to a friend for her baby shower and this product was the talk of the party - all the ladies (most of whom were moms) wanted to know where to get it (you can find it at The Bay in Canada or online at
mamamio.com). Mama Mio is designed with moms in mind, but anyone can use it, because, really, none of us can escape the downward spiral of time.
For the month of October, Mama Mio is donating $1 from the sale of Boob Tube to support Breast Cancer Awareness.
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). So for me, Lashlight fits squarely in the category of "Things that make you go: hmmm". It did, however, bring to mind my beloved
Tweezlight, a nifty little gadget that's a tweezer fitted with a miniature flashlight, and that actually makes quick work of honing in on every stray brow hair that's ripe for the plucking. Sounds gimmicky, but Tweezlight is actually a pretty novel innovation.
But there was one feature about Lashlight that did capture my beauty imagination: the formula is said to contain millions of microscopic mirrors that bounce the light off of lashes for a bedazzling effect. So it could be worth checking out for that alone.
What do you think: Will you be trying the Lashlight?
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-Anne LeClerq. You're still channelling old Hollywood glam as Sophie, vamping it up with red lips and the like, but off-screen, I'm really loving your modern-girl beauty look. Your grey smokey eye is a refreshing take on the trend and it really brings out the steely-blue of your eyes. A lighter-than-usual lip, in a subtly shimmery rosy hue, keeps the look soft yet still glam. And while you've gone to the dark side again with your hair, the deep red hue really suits you and nicely off-sets your porcelain skin. Whatever is you're doing, keep it up, because playing Miss Sophie-Anne really agrees with you.
Image: Trueblood.net
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 the twain shall meet) – True Love gives us both in one slick black matte case, and they're meant to be mixed and matched. Now, you might not think that purple and gold would go well together, but Kat's picks, most of which have a hit of metallic to them, mesh together surprisingly well, giving a sort of edgy royalty effect. The stand-outs are Peanut, an iridescent champagne with tinges of silver; Benji, a creamy, highly pigmented coppery gold; and Cholita, a deep, dark burgundy purple with subtle shimmer. Now go forth and blend.
"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, this chunky – (and weighty, I might add) – golden, mirrored compact is engraved with YSL's signature art-deco-ish, heart-emblazoned logo. The Lovely Palette, which is also available in a silver version housing two eyeshadows, comes complete with a patent-leather cord so you can attach it to your handbag, belt or keyring for an extra hit of bling. Pull this baby out post-dinner, or whenever you need a lip touch-up, and makeup application becomes the ultimate indulgent experience. An accessory in itself, the Lovely Palette just screams chic. It's just a little bit of YSL for those of us who can't afford to splurge on a month's-worth-of-rent handbag or Trib Twos. Need I say more?
Get it now while supplies last - it's limited edition, but of course.
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 tip, blend a bit with the applicator (which ensures smooth coverage), and presto, the concealer disappears, taking dark circles along with it into some magical realm. The HD Invisible Cover Concealer has a wonderfully creamy texture too, and packed with Green Micro Algae, it revitalizes tired eyes, brightening along the way. Oh, and did I mention this concealer is packed with Gatuline In-Tense? (say what?) It's a plant-based uber skincare ingredient that lifts, firms and drenches parched undereye skin with moisture, so this concealer treats as it conceals, all while remaining gloriously undercover.
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 for myself, I became a believer. Unlike many exfoliators (of the so-called "mechanical" variety), the Daily Microfoliant has no visible granules, so it's not at all rough (read: no sandpaper-like feel here). Instead, when activated with water, the Microfoliant powder emulsifies and releases rice enzymes and salicylic acid to "micro-exfoliate" skin, smoothing and brightening all the way. It's also got a brightening complex infused within the formulation, with licorice and grapefruit extracts to help even skin tone. Meanwhile, a complex of green tea, gingko and colloidal oatmeal calms everything down, so skin is back to its normal self, but a brighter, more radiant self. It's so gentle, you can use it every day, hence the "Daily" moniker. Microfoliant is such a joy to use and delivers such great results, that I look forward to using it every morning - it's kind of like my own personal daily facialist, but in the convenience (and privacy) of my shower.
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 chic. But it also helps to follow the golden beauty rule of donning a shorter 'do: you need to amp up the makeup to bring forth the feminine vibe. Christina gets it just right with smoldering eyes that contrast a lighter-hued, soft champagne-y eyeshadow on the lids next to the slightly tougher, sexy edge of fully-rimmed black-lined eyes. And is that lipliner I spy her wearing? If you'll notice, there looks to be a deeper, rosier hue on the outside of her lips and a frostier, lighter pink in the centre. This could be just a visual trick for the red-carpet, since, from far away, the color blends together as one. But as
The Beauty Counter blog pointed out the other day about one Halle Berry, obvious lipliner á la En Vogue is on the way back.
What say you of Christina's new look?
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 Personal Stylist Kit is my saving grace because it does the thinking for me. Packed with many of Benefit's beauty hits, including the multi-tasking rose-tinted Lip & Cheek Stain Benetint, the bronzer-meets-blush Dallas Face Powder, uber-versatile Velvet Eyeshadows in satiny-pink Leggy and rosy-brown Dandy Brandy, High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer, a lipgloss and two lipsticks, along with a fluff shadow/talent brush – it's got pretty much every item I need to make up when I'm on-the-go. It's all packed in a chic, hot-pink, pencil-case-sized box that takes up very little space in your purse, gym or travel bag. What's more, the folks at Benefit having thought of everything, Celebutante also includes a handy-dandy little step-by-step lesson guide with key tips for how to use the products. Your personal stylist, if you will. Less thinking, more prettifying!
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-child of Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger, also joins the Rimmel roster and will appear with Coco in the 2010 campaigns. Kudos to Rimmel for breaking the mold and signing on models rather than celebs to rep the brand. Even though it was just
announced that Fergie is launching a fragrance with Avon, I have to wonder if this is a turning point in the celeb versus models showdown.
Are celebs on the way out? Celebs versus models: What do you think?
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", but I've found that the more hydrating a body wash claims to be, the heavier my skin feels. Luckily, there's some big news on the body wash front courtesy of Dove. With the Nutrium line of
Body Washes, they've found a way to infuse needed moisture into skin deep down – 10 surface layers deep – so it doesn't simply sit at the surface. The Dove Nutrium Body Wash gently cleanses, so you feel clean, but it doesn't wash away natural moisture; it actually replenishes with naturally-occurring lipids and soybean oil. Protective glycerin, a humectant, forms a kind of shield that helps hold in moisture. Post-shower, my skin feels fresh and hydrated but not cloaked in oil. And I don't skip the moisturizer afterwards – (body washes weren't made to replace body moisturizer) – but I find that my skin needs a little less nourishing cream/lotion than usual.
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 that, being called "Love" it would be rom-com-ish and a bit boring, like a bouquet of carnations for Valentine's Day. But Love Etc. is more like a bouquet of orchids, as it's pretty yet sexy, feminine yet sophisticated and sparkling but warm. The main notes of the scent are jasmine and vanilla, an ingredient which is actually also derived from a flower, the vanilla orchid. On their own, these notes can be heady at times and too sweet at others, but Love Etc. also combines pear, neroli and bergamot at the top, heliotrope, lily of the valley in the middle, and creamy musk and sandalwood at the base, creating a beautifully sensuous mix. Love Etc. is uplifting and it just puts me in a good mood when I wear it. I also adore the
Love Etc. Body Lotion, an intensely moisturizing, and very fragrant way to experience Love Etc. Layering it with the Eau de Parfum gives the scent immense staying power, too. What's more, this scent is the first ever to use community-traded alcohol based on organically-grown sugar cane from Ecuador. Just another reason to love this scent.
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