Today's Giveaway- Canadians WIN a 6 month Supply of Dial Soap Products!

Throughout the month of February I will be hosting a number of amazing giveaways here at FacesByFarah.com in honour of our brand new design! 

The giveaways will include everything from beauty to fashion to items for the home so be sure to check back daily and enter all the fabulous giveaways this month has to offer!

What's on the bill for today's giveaway?

A 6 Month Supply of Body Wash, Body Lotion & Hand Soap

(Open to Canadian Residents Only)

Whats Included:

• 3 Bottles of Dial NutriSkin Cherry Seed Oil & Min Ultra Hydrating Body Wash
• 3 Bottles of Dial NutriSkin Extra Dry Skin Replenishing Lotion
• 3 Bottles of Dial NutriSkin Cherry Seed Oil & Mint Hand Soap

Win It!

(Please wait for the below Rafflecoptor form to load to enter- may not load on ipad or phone)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*For Tweet about the giveaway option simply click the blue "Tweet" button. To verify, after you tweet copy and paste the url from Twitter.
* Only activated email subscriptions will count towards an entry

Be sure to check out ALL of this months fabulous Giveaways!

Karma's a B*tch But She Sure Smells Good Thanks To LUSH Cosmetics

What am I talking about? The Karma Collection By Lush Cosmetics of course!

Lush's Karma scent has got to be one of my favourites. I have used the perfume stick ($10.95) almost daily since I got it and I cant help but catch myself thinking throughout the day how much I love it.

Its scent is made up of amazing ingredients such as lemongrass, pine and orange oil and sinks into the skin leaving you smelling amazing for hours. I have to say I'm pretty impressed, I'm not usually into solid perfumes but this one is tiny, a little goes a long way and I love that I can pop it into my purse wherever I go and freshen up if I need to.

The Karma soap ($7.95) and bubble bar ($8.45) also pictured above are 2 forms of proven and classic lush products. The fact that they also come in this awesome scent... BONUS! The Karma scent can also be found in some of their other products like the bath melts ($6.95) and body lotions ($27.95)

I will say once I had read a review online that stated this perfume stick left an orange colour on the skin, so when testing this item I was sure to press it in to my skin to see if it was true. Well I'm happy to report its NOT true at all! I have never seen any colour left on my skin, in fact it melts on contact so nothing is left behind.

Its no secret I adore LUSH and its amazing products as you can see here by all my glowing reviews and so finding another scent I love from the brand is just another reason to shop there ;)

Lush products are available online or at a retail store near you.

Have you tried the Karma collection yet?
What are some of your must have Lush products?

* These products were sent by PR for consideration however all reviews are based on my own opinions.

My McCafe Visit In Search Of Equal! #cbias #equalcanada

My quest for Equal Sweetener has lead me to my local new McCafe McDonalds. It opened a few months ago and although I have visited the drive-thur Ive never actually been inside until today.

The hubby and I had a ton of xmas shopping to tackle today but before we took on the crowds (or lack there of at my local mall) we stopped at @McD_Canada for breakfast. As we entered we met a friendly man who gave us some coupons that were expiring that day - how sweet.

The lobby was decorated with a xmas tree and garland and it was seriously the most high-tech McDonalds I have ever seen. There were signs mentioning free WI-FI and tv screens everywhere with the news or the McCafe menu.

I had an egg McMuffin (no meat) and a McCafe Latte with sugar free vanilla syrup while the hubs had 3 hash browns, 2 breakfast burritos & a hot chocolate because he says he is a "growing boy".... oh and we also got free cinnamon bites with the coupon which we had only a bite of since it was so early.

I asked the cashier for Equal Sweetener she informed me that they didn't carry it but offered only 1 substitute instead... All the more reason for me to fill out the comment card online via their website info found on my receipt along with a chance to win $1000 of course ;)

 I have been a huge sweetener user for years but in the last few months Ive started slowing down my consumption of it but I wish restaurants would offer more selection in the way of sweeteners.

So the quest for Equal continues, until the next adventure......

For more information on Equal Sweeteners please check out Equal Canada on Facebook & their Twitter page @EqualCanada


This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias however all opinions are my own.

Pari Beauty Holiday Palettes Sneak Peek & Exclusive Discount

Since teaming up with Pari Beauty to host one of my Toronto Beauty Blogger events this year Ive really learned a lot about this up and coming brand. What started out as a brand dedicated to makeup artists has quickly spread to the retail market as the demand for high quality, ultra pigmented makeup has grown.

At our event we got a sneak peek and 2 of their holiday palettes and I'm so excited that I can finally share them with you all.

Pari Beauty's Limited Edition Tricks of the Trade & Black Tie Palettes

and of course my Buddha :)

Tricks of the Trade (left) includes:

• 8 Highly pigmented shadows
• 2 Ultra gloss lip colours
• 2 Silky soft blushers
• 1 Full size Precious Glow illuminating & intensifying eye primer
• 1 Duo mineral highlighter bronzer
• 1 Double ended makeup brush
• Large mirror

It even comes with an info card to explain how to use the kit.

Black Tie (right) includes:

• 10 Neutral & smokey eye shades
• Full size high shine lipgloss
• Holiday edition bronzer/contour powder
• Illuminating face highlighter
• Mirror & applicators

The kit comes wrapped in a unique 3 panel fold out palette which is great for travel.

The wonderful folks at Pari Beauty will be offering my readers an exclusive promo from now until December 30th you can get 15% off each of these palettes just by saying you saw it here ;).

Check out this exclusive pricing for Faces By Farah readers!

Tricks of the Trade Palette

Reg Price: $38.25 CAD

Discounted Price: $31.50 CAD

Retail Value: $150 CAD

Black Tie Palette 

Reg Price: $69 CAD 

Discounted Price: $58.65 CAD

Retail Value: $200 CAD

If you are interested in purchasing one or both of these limited edition Holiday Palettes please email me directly to arrange for your discount. The offer is NOT available in stores and only available through my site.

I will be gifting these amazing palettes to the makeup lovers on my list... will you?

My Curly Hair Secret Revealed!

I have been asked many many times how I curl my hair and what I use to do it and so I thought I'd share my current tool of choice the Corioliss Ceramic Curling Wand.

I got mine via the folks at Misikko a little while ago and have been using it quite often since. It arrived with a few accessories like the heat proof glove (which I never use because its too big for me) and the heat proof pad which is great and can come in very handy. I also got a cute Misikko sleep mask which I can use when I travel.

There is only 1 switch on or off. No fussing with different heat settings or dials which I actually like. Its incredibly simple to use and while you do need to be careful (the wand gets super hot) once you get the hang of it you can finish pretty fast.

How I curl my hair:

I always start off with a heat protectant spray on my hair then I grab 1-2" sections at a time and hold the iron with the wand pointing down. I always curl away from my face and its more flattering and gives you a nicer curl, hold for about 5-7 seconds and release. 

Its really that simple. 5-7 seconds per section and I'm done my long thick hair in 20 minutes. Just be sure you start with hair that is blow dried somewhat straight and completely dry.

There you have it my secret, its all in the tools ;)

Right now the Corioliss Ceramic Wand in on sale at Misikko.com for $99. It comes with the wand, Heat heat proof pad & glove and a travel pouch too. They also sell other amazing curling irons, flat irons like the Chi hair straightener and they even have the new Hana pro hair dryer.

Be sure to check out Misikko's Facebook and Twitter pages for more great hair styling tools & tips.

* This product was sent by the company for consideration however all reviews are based on my own opinions.

Vasanti Cosmetics Eye Wonder BONUS Pack - Limited Edition!

You know I really love a product when I continue to talk and talk and talk about it!

Vasanti has just come out with a Limited Edition Eye Wonder Bonus Pack that includes all kinds of goodies. For the price of the Eye Wonder alone $42 (worth every penny!) you will get a full size Long Lash Mascara ($16), a full size Pure Mineral Shimmer Powder ($14) and a deluxe sample size of their BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. Oh and I cannot forget the beautiful pink box it comes bundled in so pretty!

My surprise shimmer powder colour? Northern Lights *happy dance*

OK ladies that's a $82 value! I have tried, tested and approved all of these products and keep love them all.
This would make a great gift for a special lady in your life or perhaps just for yourself? Either way you better hurry because these sets wont last long and are only while quantities last ;)

Available online and in participating retailers where Vasanti is sold.

Im a Cougar in My Cougar Boots!

Can I tell you a secret?

I'm about to marry a man 5 years younger than me *gasp*. There are some who think its no big deal and then there are others who lovingly call me a cougar :) I don't know if Id consider myself a "cougar" BUT I do know one thing.... I love me some Cougar Boots!!

My friends over at Matchstick thought of me for their new campaign with Cougar Boots a Canadian company that makes products that are able to withstand even the harshest Canadian winters. Thank god for them because Ive been a cold toe sufferer every winter and Ive never been able to find a boot that actually keeps me warm.... Until now!

The boots arrived in this fun box which makes storing them in the summer easy!

The style I chose was called Mirage, it has a cute wedge and is made of both leather and suede.

I have to say I was really worried these wouldn't fit as I have a hard time with high boots thanks to my stupid...I mean sexy thick calves so when I tried these on and they didn't zip all the way up I wasn't shocked but not one to give up on such a fabulous boot I slouched them down a bit and stretched the "elastic" part on the back of the boot around and voila they zipped up!

So yes I have to wear them slightly slouchy but you know what? It works! Ive had so many compliments on them that I don't care that they don't go all the way up to my knees. If you do however want to see a good example of someone who's legs they do go up to check out my girl Lena's review.

This is how they look on moi... excuse the bad Blackberry pic.... not so bad huh?

These are seriously one of the most comfy boots I've ever tried on. There was no "breaking in" period required and even after hours and hours of running errands for the wedding my feet still felt great!

Check out some of the details on these babies. First the cute and stylish faux zipper detail at the front.

As I mentioned there is a little bit of elastic give at the back which comes in very handy for me and my sexy thick calves lol.

There is even a leather strap just to make it all that more stylish on the back on the ankle.

The inside is lined with polar plush fleece and these boots are waterproof so I'm pretty much covered for 3 out of 4 seasons here in Canada with these!!

I couldn't be happier with my new Cougar Boots! I would recommend them to anyone who's in the market for a quality pair of boots that will last you years!

Check out the Cougar Boot website for a location nearest you or to shop online!

* This product was sent by PR for consideration however all reviews are based on my own opinions.

Get Into The Halloween Spirit With LUSH!

LUSH’s limited edition Halloween and Day of the Dead products have arrived and this year they have online only exclusives as well as in store products to get you in the spirit!


Being a LONG time fan of LUSH, You can imagine my excitement when I opened the door and the delivery guy handed me this... 

I rushed to open it and found some of the Limited-Edition Halloween items you can get in stores! Woohoo!

Ive been obsessed with shower gels ever since our new master bathroom had a rain shower installed so I was so looking forward to trying the GHOST shower gel out. It smells amazing and has a slight pretty iridescent sheen to it.

GHOST SHOWER GEL

($17.95 for 250ml / $27.95 for 500ml)

Spiritually uplifting & shimmery

Made with rose and dove orchid infusions, this shower gel is translucent, lovely and only around for a moment before it disappears.

The Calavara Bath Bomb is something that's totally new to me. I'm not really a bath person BUT I have a very special young lady in my life who lives for LUSH's bath bombs and I know she will be so excited to try this one out. This too smells amazing and although a little messy when handling Ive heard great things about these bombs.

CALAVERA BATH BOMB ($5.95)

An explosion of vibrant colors to lift your spirits!

Calaveras are an iconic image for Mexican Day of the Deadcelebrations, and we at LUSH like to fill ours up with marigold petals and zesty lime oil to make your bath time festive, not frightening!

Lastly the Pumpkin Soap is not only fun but smells spicy and yummy just like pumpkin pie! It gives off an amazing fall feeling when smelling it and just like LUSH's other soaps you cant go wrong with this one!

PUMPKIN SOAP ($6.95)

Our spicy Fall soap warms you up when you're chilled to the bone

This limited edition soap is pumpkin-colored and shaped with a lovely and rejuvenating scent of cinnamon, good enough to eat.

If you are a LUSH fan like myself you know that limited editions don't last so head to your  local LUSH store or shop online in your pj's for these amazing Limited-Edition Halloween goodies!

* These products were sent by PR for consideration however all reviews are based on my own opinions.

Video: September's Luxe Box By Loose Buttons

Yup, I'm a wee bit late with this review/video but as the saying goes... better late than never!

 If you've spent any time on social media lately you've heard about a fab Canadian based company called Loose Button and their equally fab Luxe Boxes. Ever wondered what type of items the box consists of?

Below is a video explaining what was in my September Luxe Box and what I thought of it.



So what are your thoughts on Loose Button's Luxe Box?
Are you already a subscriber?

* This product was sent by PR for consideration however all reviews are based on my own opinions.
 

Vasanti Cosmetics NEW Fall/Winter Product Swatches

Vasanti Cosmetics have recently launched 3 NEW items for Fall/Winter 2011!

Here are your first look at swatches of the hot new items!

First up A new Ultra Luxe Lipstick With Peptide Technology shade called GREECE ($15) which is a neutral plum purple. 

(colour in pic isnt 100% accurate due to lighting its not as orange looking)

Then there is the Vitamin E Infused Lipshine shade named AEGEAN SEA ($15) which is the perfect nudey plum with a soft beautiful sparkle. As always with Vasanti Lipshines they smell amazing, are non-sticky and very moisturizing. This shade is sheer but can be built up.

(Top: Aegean Sea Lipshine, Bottom: Greece Lipstick)

Finally, Vasanti introduces a great new Silky Eyeshadow Duo MOUNT OLYMPUS ($20) to its line up. 
TOP SHADE: Champagne topaz highlighter can be used under the brow bone, inner corner of the eyes or on the entire eyelids. This unique shade has a twinkling of gold fleck that is picked up by light to add dimension.
BOTTOM SHADE: Coppery bronze gives sultry depth - perfect for the crease and the outer corners of the eyes.


This duo is one of my fav's for sure. Its totally colours I would wear and use on my clients because they go with all skin tones. The pigment is fantastic and the combination of both shades on the eye is stunning!

Vasanti's new items are right on point and on trend for the Fall/Winter season. I can't wait to show all my clients and friends the amazing new shades with the same amazing quality ;)

The above items are available at VasantiCosmetics.com, in select Shoppers Drug Marts & Rexall PharmaPlus' as well as on Amazon.com. Remember Vasanti's website ships Internationally so there is NO excuse not to get your hands on these gems!!!

WIN Shampoo, Conditioner & Hairspray from FINESSE

Ahhh Finesse... I remember you from when I was a young teen, WAY back when. You were good to me then and after seeing your New Clean & Simple line I wondered if you would be good to me now.

Well, you did not disappoint!

I started with the Hypoallergenic Shampoo for dry hair, which came out clear... I gave you points instantly for not adding un-natural colour, then came the Condition also for my poor dry hair. I let you sit and you worked your magic.

As I finished blow drying I noticed my hair felt soft and THICK... it had been a while since I last felt that so thank you Finesse for giving me my sexy (hair) back!!!

Sincerely
Thick Haired Gal Once Again

Finesse Clean & Simple line can be found in Canada at Loblaws, Wal-Mart and Zellers for $5.99

Do you want to bring your sexy (hair) back?

How you can win (mandatory):

• Tell us in the comments why you want to win this amazing Finesse trio!
• Leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you are the winner.

Bonus Entries: 

• Be a FacesByFarah.com GFC Blog Follower (1 entry)
• Follow FacesByFarah on Twitter (1 entry)
• "Like" FacesByFarah on Facebook (1 entry)
• Subscribe via email to the Faces By Farah Blog (top right of site) (1 entry)
• Blog, Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway and comment with the link (1 entry)
• You MUST leave a separate comment for each entry letting us know you have followed and where or it wont count.

Details:

• Open to Canadian Residents Only 
• Contest closes at 11:59pm on Aug 31st 2011 & winner will be chosen at random & announced soon after
• Winner will be contacted via email and have 48hrs to respond or a new winner will be drawn

Good luck!

WIN A Golden Ticket To The ShesConnected Conference!

Right on the heels of BlogHer comes one of this cities biggest and best conference!

This September 29th and 30th the 2nd Annual ShesConnected Conference will be held in Toronto.

I have been lucky enough to be one of the digital women chosen to attend and with the first 200 free spots being "by selection only" spots for this event are in high demand.

Well Ive got good news! Now you can WIN a ticket to the conference courtesy of Faces By Farah and ShesConnected by simply clicking the image below and telling us why you want to attend!


Ready, Set, GO!!

Check out my bobble head LOL love it!

*Giveaway is for ticket only. All other expenses (airfare, hotel, etc) are to be paid by the winner.

San Diego + Bloggers + BlogHer

This time last week I was basking in the perfect San Diego sun, walking, socializing and laughing with other like minded blogging women. It was my first time in San Diego and everyone I met felt the same way about the city... it was beautiful, clean and had the most ideal weather one could imagine {at least for the 5 days we were there!}.

As my previous post suggests this was my first time at BlogHer and going with the flow is the approach I took while there. Thursday night my amazing blogging buddies Lena, Tammi and myself went to the much talked about, invite only Mom Central Canadians party which was held on a rooftop patio of a nearby hotel.

This is where I saw one of my fav people Erica Ehm of YummyMummyClub.com. We chatted about her site and mine, our fav Vasanti products and how excited we were to be there. I also happen to see Lisa from HipUrbanGirl.com who always makes me smile with her bubbly self and a girl I had "heard" about in the blogging world way back in '05 but had never actually had the pleasure of meeting until that night Raymi from RaymiTheMinx.com who is just the most interesting, sweetest ball of fun!

The next morning was all about the BlogHer'11 expo hall aka swag hall! I will admit while half the booths were geared towards mommy bloggers or those that are at least moms I did happen to find my way to the Dove Chocolate booth where I sampled their new mini ice cream bars yum yum! We loaded up with bags that contained everything from toys to tupperware to vibrators {yes, I kid you not! With 3000 women at the conference I suppose it makes sense lol}

{Thank you Tammi for being our official photog!}

We took advantage of the photobooths and costumes!

Thanks T-Mobile for those flying monkey toys, my fiance has enjoyed hours of fun flying that thing from one end of our house to the other and laughing at the noise it makes!

At this point we quickly realized that comfy shoes were the way to go, so out went those cutesy ones and on came the flip flops! We walked and we walked and it eventually landed us at a great Mexican restaurant where under Lena's guidance we all had fish tacos, a first for me but I will tell you they did not disappoint!

While our days were spent networking, walking, and taking in the conference while our nights were spent party hoping, dancing and laughing!

 On our way to the SoftCup party hosted by Mario Lopez {whom we later met} in our pedi-cab.

Ill never forget waiting for Mr.Dimples himself to arrive with new pals Steph and Shelagh, sippin on coconut cocktails and talking about how great of a fit he was for the party we were at lol.

It was a fabulous weekend spent with fabulous people in one fabulous city! If you haven't had a chance to go to San Diego I would say GO! It was so pretty I'm actually thinking about working it in as a stop on our honeymoon!

I  loved my BlogHer experience so much that I'm entering this post into the Go Girlfriend contest to win a ticket to Blissdom Canada so I can not only see these {and more} amazing women again but also do it on my home turf!