Link Love 30/07/11

Musicalhouses shows you an awesome Bird of Paradise/sunset inspired eye look using the Sleek Curacao Palette - possibly the brightest eye look ever!

Beauty's Bad Habit shows gorgeous eyeshadow swatches of her first love in indie cosmetics, the fabulous Fyrinnae Cosmetics.

You know that cooling sensation when you bite into a peppermint patty? Well it's the same thing when you use the Chantecaille Aquablush in Charming. The Pink Sith explains.

At theNotice, Rae reviews a Benefit BADgal waterproof liner and decides that if bad girls all have to wear BADgal... she'd rather just be good. 

Check out the new Too Faced Matte Eye Shadow Collection from Too Faced. Gouldylox has swatches and details. 

Addicted to Beauty is still dreaming about the crazy hair extravaganza that was the L’Oreal Professionnel Colour Trophy 2011 .

Phyrra's Independent Spotlight for the month of July is One Hand Washes the Other.

Check out Smashinbeauty's Return to Paradise review and swatches.

Tracy at Beauty Reflections wishes Tarte For True Blood Natural Cheek Stain was Hellmouth worthy! 

The Beauty Spot tested out the new Rimmel Vinyl Max Lipgloss. See how it worked out!

Have you ever considered Juvederm? Read about the experience of Marcia at Beauty Info Zone to learn whether Juvederm is something that would work for you.

Love bright eye shadows for summer? Make sure to keep lips subtle with this fabulous nude lipstick at Makeup, Beauty and More. 

Do you need to perk up your under eye area? Pammy Blogs Beauty's Cover-It Concealer Review series continues with a review of this under eye treatment/primer by Per-fekt.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed swatches Chanel nail polish to prove that all greys are not created equal!

Read the MAC and Sigma brushes dupe guide at Handmade Reviews.

Take a trip to St-Tropez! Nicole from Lipstick and Luxury swatches this limited-edition luxurious nail polish from Dior.

What type of results REALLY come from having a Brazilian Keratin Treatment?  Check out  Socialite Dreams for the results of the KeraStraight treatment at Ulta.

Please Excuse the Interruption to Your Regularly Scheduled Programming

I am fleeing the dreariness of Vancouver's rain plagued summer once again. All will be quiet on the blog front for the next 10 days, but in the meantime I have posted a handful of new entries on my personal blog here. 

Talk to you all soon!

ps I will be checking Facebook and Twitter periodically if you want to say hello :)

If Women Are From Venus, Then You Need This

My postman knocks twice. I don't know if he is aware that he does that or if he does it because of the iconic move title. Nevertheless, when I heard that brisk double knock I went running with anticipation because a very special package was scheduled to arrive. And arrive it did in all of its cute pink boxed glory! 

Barefoot Venus is a Canadian company run by two sisters who are committed to using the finest of products to pamper women. Their product philosophy is "feel angelic, smell heavenly, and be adventurous, adoring, stylish or seductive, capricious but perfectly you. Feel good about yourself and your place in the world. Let your confidence and beauty radiate and inspire."

Using products like this makes me wish blogs had a smelling app. You are just going to have take my word for it that these are the yummiest smelling soaps and lotions that I have ever tried. I received the following products:

Vanilla Shake Soap Seduction and S.O.S Lotion

For the die hard vanilla fans like me, this is heaven.

S.O.S Lotion-Coconut Kiss

"If you love pina coladas....." That is what I sing every time I slather this lotion on. 

Lemon Freckle Body Lotion

Smells like my grandmother's decadent lemon pound cake with a perfect balance of citrus and vanilla sweetness. 

Nutmeg & Ginger Body Lotion

My favourite season is autumn and this lotion is autumn and Thanksgiving in a bottle. Delicious spicy and sweet scents make me long for gingerbread, apple cider, and crackling fires. This lotion is quickly becoming a favourite.

What I Love

-Best quality natural products that care for your skin while making you smell irresistible

-Packaging that you will want to display all over your bathroom or vanity because it is so cute and playfully feminine

-Hydrating without any oily residue

-Lotions absorb quickly into the skin so you feel smooth but not sticky

-Soaps are fragrant and the scent lingers for hours

-Soaps lather well so you are not wasting product

-Full and travel sizes available so you can take your favourite scent with you everywhere

What I Don't Love

-That I didn't know about this product line sooner!

I have been finding every excuse to use these products since they arrived. My fear is that if I order the bath products I won't want to get out and will end up a wrinkled raisin! I will absolutely be purchasing the full sizes of the Lemon Freckly and the Nutmeg & Ginger lotions because I just can't get enough.

Grade: A+

COUPON CODE FOR MY READERS: 

Enter the code PERFECT at checkout and you will receive 20% off of your purchase. Offer expires August 31. 

**Products were sent by Barefoot Venus for review purposes. All opinions are my own.**

Looking Through Rose Coloured Palettes With Dior

Sometimes it is the products I love the most that take me the longest time to write about. I hightailed it to the Bay  the minute the Dior Summer 2011 Electric Tropics hit the counters months ago, but am finally getting around to posting about my two favourite purchases. Initially I told myself, "Lydia, you can buy one eye shadow quint. ONE. They look similar so pick ONE." That resolve was short lived. 

Admittedly the Rosy Nude and Rosy Tan palettes look similar in their packaging but on my skin tone, one is more daytime and the other is more evening. So I bought both. Completely justified...AHEM!

Daytime: Rosy Nude #534

Evening: Rosy Tan #754

I have never been let down by a Dior quint which is why I continually invest in them. When you purchase a Dior quint you know that your are getting high quality pigments, sophisticated finishes, blendable and multi-functional colours, and endless combinations. Unfortunately, that cannot be said for many other high end makeup houses. If you took away all of my other eyeshadows and left me with just my Dior quints, I would still be able to create innumerable looks and be happy....But just so we're clear, I'm not getting rid of my other palettes any time soon.

Grade: A-

Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Bronze Palette Has Me Dreaming of Grand Bazaar's In Turkey

"Inspired by collections..." are tricky-either they can be too literal of an interpretation or too vague to make any connections. Tarino Tarantino's Sparklicity Bronze Palette is spot-on from its luxurious packaging to the the colour range:

"Influenced by soaring Moorish architecture and dusty Turkish horizons, Sparklicity Bronze conjures up images of sun drenched vistas and regal exoticism. Dazzling geometric tiling from the famed Topkapi Palace inspires this sophisticated update of summer colors. Shimmering neutrals, misty golds, and soft oasis blue lure you eastward on this elegant voyage." —XOXO, Tarina Tarantino, jewelry designer and makeup artist

PROS

• intricate palette design feels and looks luxurious
• versatile neutrals mixed with vibrant and rich colours
• full sized shadows (same standard size as the individual shades)
• palette structure is solid (traveled in my suitcase to and from Mexico and remained completely intact) 
• shadows are soft and smooth void of chunky glitter but still have a lovely shimmer

CONS

• some of the shadows-specifically the lighter shades-can apply a little chalky or dusty so a primer is recommended

Grade: B

Link Love for 16/07/11

Read a thorough and honest review of Sigma's new eyeshadow palettes in Dare, Bare, and Flare at Handmade Reviews!

At Musing on Beauty, Mariella has been trying the new Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation and reviews it in depth.

Musicalhouses shows you summer's hottest offering - Benefit Cha Cha Tint!

The jury’s still out on whether a certain new lash curler looks incredibly intriguing or… incredibly gynaecological, but the real question is: are you ready to start a Revolution with Urban Decay?

Looking for a new blush? Check out my Swatches and Review on Chanel Joues Contraste Blush!

Beauty's Bad Habit shares her technique for using Fyrinnae's infamous Pixie Epoxy eyeshadow base.

You can achieve the perfect summer glow with just one product... shimmer! Steal My Heart Lovee.com shares her thoughts on Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks.

Amy Antoinette shares her top tips for transforming hay fever eyes!

Want the scoop on Urban Decay's new Fall Collection? Well, Krasey Beauty has it all, from information to product pics!

Kelly from Gouldylox has a very bad day. Luckily some MacGyvering with beauty products saves the day!

Miss Beauty Nerd goes to the Big Apple and gets her eyebrows threaded at Blink Brow Bar inside Henri Bendel.

Madame B Fatale introduces her boyfriend to Gillette's new razor and skincare products.

Tired of the regular crackle nail look? Jenn over at Spiced Beauty spices it up with a tri-color mani!

If you like bright colours you'll want to check out the latest find from Lisamarie at Beauty Crazed - SleekMakeUP Caribbean collection - and you'll be relieved to know that the swatches are not on her arm!

Makeup, Beauty and More shows some love for the Wet n Wild Color Icon Trio in I'm Getting Sunburned.

Lauren from Lovelaughlauren shows us some fab makeup brushes for less than £20!


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The Pretty Exclusive shows you beautiful swatches of Geek Chic Cosmetic's N7 Collection & Geek Love Duo, AND has a giveaway to win them all!

Pammy Blogs Beauty is giving away Clinical Organics "Try Me" Packs to two lucky winners! Visit Pammy Blogs Beauty for more details and to enter.

Oh Mr Golden Sun, Please Shine Down On Me

I just returned from a week in the sun on the Mayan Riviera and the only reason I am not burned like crispy bacon is because of my hat and my obsessive sunscreen applications. Last year I returned from my trip looking like a cherry tomato with psoriasis-even after cowering in the shade-so I was determined to put on my armor and laugh in the sun's rays this year. 

I took a risk and brought 4 new sunscreens with me to test their efficacy in the extreme heat and humidity of the Mayan Riviera. Thanks to these products, I came back without a single splotch of redness or peeling. Sure I don't look like I went anywhere because of my complete lack of tan, but 20-30 years from now I won't be lamenting about irresponsible sun tanning practices giving me premature wrinkles, and I'm okay with that. 

Body

Coppertone ultraGuard Continuous Spray SPF 70+

• broad spectrum protection UVA/UVB
• waterproof
• goes on clear (albeit shiny until it dries) and no rubbing is required
• quick and even application
• no hassle applying to sand covered feet

Face (cream)

Clinique Sun SPF 50 Face Cream

• water and sweat resistant
• oil free and non-acnegenic 
• worn either under moisturizer or in place of your moisturizer
• can be mixed with foundation to make a tinted sunscreen
• antioxidants to shield from environmental aggressors
• broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection

Face (spray)

Dermalogica Waterblock Solar Spray SPF 30

• water resistant up to 80 minutes
• full spectrum protection
• alcohol free
• perfect for touching up your face protection during the day and can be applied over makeup
• dry feeling spray 
• looks oily when first applied but dries very quickly to an undetectable finish
• 
  

Lips

Twist and Pout Lip Moisturizer SPF 20

• UVA/UVB Protection
• not only protects your lips, but leaves them silky smooth and glossed
• soft enough that it can be applied with a lip brush or fingers
• clips to my beach bag, keys, or purse
• adorable packaging that has something for everyone-from the sporty and minimalist to the girly and flamboyant (I have the purple one pictured above)
• smells and tastes delicious

I will 100% be repurchasing this products and making them permanent members of my arsenal. 

Fragrance of the Month: D&G 3 L'Imperatrice

A part of the D&G Anthology Collection, L'Imperatrice is a lovely melange of sweet fruits balanced by an floral and organic base. 

Top notes: rhubarb, kiwi, red currant

Middle notes: pink cyclamen, watermelon, jasmine

Base notes: musk, sandalwood, grapefruit wood

It is the only fragrance in the collection that attracted my nose because it doesn't have too much of anything. It settles very nicely into the skin for a soft and sophisticated day fragrance. I was surprised that I liked it so much because I'm usually not a fan of fruity florals, but this is an exception because it is light and  feminine. Also, because it dries to be quite subtle, this fragrance is ideal for layering with other scents to add complexity. This is an easy fragrance that I will be using a lot this summer. 

June 2011 Favourites

Some things old, some things new, some things borrowed, and D&G Light Blue.

Face and Cheeks

Vancouver has been under a cover of perpetual rain and gloom for months. My summer project may be building an ark if it doesn't let up soon. Consequently, my skin is Vitamin D deficient and is not looking its finest for the summer months, so I have been taking extra care on achieving a healthy and radiant complexion. 

-Vichy Dermablend Corrective Foundation (review to come)
-Vichy Dermablend Ultra Corrective Cream Stick (review to come)
-Cover FX Cream Foundation (review to come)
-NARS Luster Blush
-Dior Aurora Natural Glow
-Chanel Bronze Rose Soleil Tan
-NARS Copacabana Multiple

Eyes

-LORAC TANtalEYES Palette (review to come)
-LORAC Little Black Palette (review to come)
-L'Oreal Color Infallible Waterproof Eyeshadows (review to come)

Lips

-Tarte Lipsurgence Lip Stain
-Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss
-Dior Addict in Pink Cherie

Perfume

-D&G L'Imperatrice
-Dolce Gabbana Light Blue

Bronze Goddess Series: Best Powder Bronzers of 2011

In my opinion, powder bronzer is the easiest, nearly fool proof, way of achieving a flattering sun kissed glow minus the damaging affects of the sun. With a few strategic swipes of a brush my pasty skin is awakened and brought back to the land of the living. I am very selective when picking a bronzer because my skin picks up any orange undertones, and Jerseylicious is not a look I want to rock. I have my go-to-never-fail-me bronzers (Annabelle Zebra Bronzer, Soleil Tan de Chanel, and Rimmel Natural Tan), but you know how beauty bloggers are with new products! 

Favourite Summer 2011 Collection Bronzers

Chanel Bronze Rose Soleil from Les Fleurs D'Ete

Why I Love It:

• no orange in sight
• silky smooth texture make it a dream to blend over the skin
• soft pigmentation gives a natural glow to the skin and is buildable
• Can be worn as a contour, bronzer, or blush

(left to right: each strip swatched individually with swatch of all four blended together at the end)

Dior Aurora from Electric Tropics Collection

Why I Love It:

• the bronzer to wear when you want to look healthy, not necessarily tanned
• rosy and peach hues mixed with tan iridescence gives beautiful radiance to the skin
• can be worn as a blush or bronzer or as blush with another bronzer
• it is oh so pretty to look at

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Link Love for 02/07/11

Are you a fan of NARS blushes? If so, do you own the shade Mata Hari? At Steal My Heart Lovee.com she shares her review.

Kelly from Gouldylox Reviews shares her first ever makeup tutorial. Part drinking game, part smoky eye, it's easy to do and isn't so over the top you can't wear it to work.

Madame B Fatale shows us her bright eye look using some gorgeous colours!

Musicalhouses swatches the Illamasqua Powder Blushers! Do you prefer the bright, bold blush shades, or the easily wearable, pretty-in-pink shades?

At theNotice, Rae reviews a cult-favourite MAC eyeliner - but isn't feeling the love. Find out why this popular product was such a letdown!

Phyrra falls in love with the Too Faced Eye Love palette and tells you where you can find it.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed begins her fall lemmings early with pictures of the Lancôme St-Honoré Fall 2011 Collection - come add to the drool puddle!

Don't forget My Lips But Better's travel must-haves when packing your bag this summer!

Prime Beauty gets in touch with her Inner Flowerchild while falling in love with BECCA's new Mineral Powder Blushes.

Lauren has been going crazy for coral! Check out her latest lipstick additions!

Want a sneak peek at MAC's latest collection, Semi-Precious? Well, Krasey Beauty has pics and swatches, to ooh and ahh over!

Tracy, at Beauty Reflections, discovers an unexpected gem in MAC Prep+Prime Vibrancy Eye Primer and is really glad she decided to try it!

Fleurissante has found a way to the perfect brows with Le Sourcil de Chanel.

Claire swatches OPI Serene Grand Slam Rally Pretty Pink Set over at The Beauty Scoop!

Erin shows you an easy way to create rainbow eyeliner at the Pretty Exclusive.

If you like highlighters, especially at this time of year, Vesna from Beauty addict blog has a few suggestions for you!


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