Free Lunch with Mani-Pedi this Thursday at Elmwood Spa Toronto

Toronto Ladies if you can be spontaneous then this is a good deal for you that I just had to share.
This Thursday take the day off and enjoy complimentary Light Lunch from the Juice Bar with your manicure & pedicure appointment at Elmwood Spa.

Thursday April 15 - 11:00 to 5:00 only

ElmLine Essential Manicure/Pedicure Combo with complimentary Light Lunch from the Juice Bar for $102

Includes Water Therapies (use of pool, whirlpool, steam room). Light lunch is fresh-made sandwich & power drink - eat in or to go reg.$15.

Promo Code: LMEFL

Conditions apply. Please ask a Guest Services Representative for details. Offers are for one-guest during one-appointment on specified day and time. Offer not available to guests with current appointments on these dates; not available as a gift card or in combination with any other offers. If you are already visiting the spa on these days add on these services to complete your spa experience! Once booked, cancellation of a Last Minute Appointment will be charged at 50% of the regular price to the credit card number on file.

Book Now 416-977-6751

Ive been to this spa and trust me you're going to want to take advantage of the water therapy!

Enjoy ;)

Vasanti's 2010 Spring Collection is here!

Vasanti Cosmetic's 2010 Spring Collection is here, with its pretty and very wearable shades its sure to be flying off the shelves this Spring. The collection includes The Hamptons Eye Colour Palette, Swiss Alps Blush and 2 sophisticated shades of lipstick Sweden & Denmark.

The Hamptons Eye Colour Palette ($40) is said to be inspired by the celebrated New York countryside, this five-colour palette embodies the beauty, culture and style of Hampton vacationers. The palette includes neutrals like soft beige, peachy pink, deep brown, periwinkle grey and an intense rich navy.


Their Swiss Alps Blush ($15) is a soft, plummy shade that works with all skin tones. It has a hint of shimmer for subtle highlighting.



The Ultra Luxe Lipsticks ($15) in this collection include Sweden Lipstick is the perfect nude pink that flatters all skin tones without looking too girly or chalky and Denmark Lipstick a rich, sophisticated, cranberry magenta shade super fun and helps to really brighten those lips.



I have personally been testing out this collection for a few weeks now and really enjoy every single product in it. I wear The Hamptons palette shadows in different combination all the time. My favorite being Peach on the lid, Brown on the crease, Denim to darken in the outer V, Vanilla on the brow done and silver in the tear duct area to open up the eye.

Swiss alps is such a flattering shade that can be applied heavy or light. It gives you that rosy look without being over powering or gaudy.

The Ultra Luxe Lipsticks are rich, creamy and best of all moisturizing. I wear them all the time and love the texture.

Below you can see the swatches from the collection.


Ive always been a fan of Vasanti's products but this spring collection hit the mark for me. I wear Sweden almost every day as it really is the perfect nude for me, Denmark when I'm feeling fun or for a night out, Swiss Alps to bring color to my cheeks and The Hamptons Palette simply because I love neutrals and it can take me from day to night in 1 palette.

The collection is now out in stores and is available online and I would recommend it to anyone looking for some fun yet classic colors for spring.

Have you tried Vasanti's spring collection?
Do you have a favorite Vasanti product?

I'd love to hear from you :)


* These products were sent by vasanti cosmetics for consideration however all reviews are based on my honest opinions.

Tip of the day: Make your scented creams last longer!

I have a favorite scented body cream (fig & brown Sugar from bath & body works) that was discontinued (I believe they brought it back now though) so when I found the last 2 bottles in the store I snapped them up. I wanted to find a way to make them last longer since at the time I thought I would never see this beloved scent again.

I came up with a solution. I simply added a bit my fav scented lotion to a larger portion of unscented lotion, mixed together and voila! I covered my entire body with this scented lotion but only really using 1/3 of what I would have other wise!

I know this seems super easy but I had never thought of it until I was in a bind so I thought I would share :)

Now you can make your favorite scented lotions go a long long way!
Oh and it will cost you less too as you wont have to repurchase as often :)

Sunday Feature: You Go Girl! Starring Actress Carla Collins!

If you haven't been keeping up with my Sunday Feature these last couple weeks let me explain exactly what it is. Every Sunday I will be featuring a blogger, artist, photographer, makeup artist, socialite or all around awesome person on my blog in a feature I like to call "You Go Girl!" or in some cases "You Go Boy!".

This week Ill be featuring an all around awesome person, an award-winning comedian, actress, television host, writer & blonde babe Ms Carla Collins!

For those of you who may not be familiar with Carla's background let me fill you in. She's an amazing stand-up comic who has been hailed by the press as “Canada’s Tina Fey”. She is also a freelance writer for Inside Entertainment and a reality star in her documentary series entitled “Carlawoood”, not to mention a regular at The Laugh Factory in LA.

I'm very lucky to have been able to interview this very busy woman about her life, career and of course beauty, here's what Carla had to say.

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So Carla tell us a little about who are you & why are you so fabulous?

Well, I’m a Taurus and a part-time Kabbalist. When Madonna began practicing Kabbalah, she took on her Hebrew name Ester and last week I took on my Hebrew drag queen name “Yum Yum Kippur”. I’m half Irish and half French Canadian so I do a lot of drinking and fighting but I’m also one hell of a tap dancer. I work in television and comedy but secretly want to be an international supermodel who, by night, works in a covert operative seeking to rid the world of global warming, crime, Ed Hardy hoodies and trans fats.I’m fabulous because I rescue dogs but never force them to wear embarrassing outfits.

Where can we find you on the world wide web?

You can find me at www.carlacollins.com . I’m also on the Facetube and the Youbook but haven’t shown my tweets yet.

We know that you are from Canada (yay!) but where do you call home these days?

I now live next to Barbie and Tony Danza in Malibu, California but I will always call Canada home.

What one beauty product would you recommend and why?

There are so many to choose from, especially because I can sometimes wear more make-up than Lady Ga Ga. I think if I can only choose one, I’d have to go with water…drink it, bath in it, spritz it on your face and shirt for that “I work in a naughty carwash look”.

I also found an awesome beauty product that I discovered this year and I swear by…the Envy Pillow…no more sleep lines! Plus I dig anything that makes you look good while you sleep…

Your favorite beauty treatment is?

I have to go with full body massages executed by a beautiful and eager buff boy working to put himself through med school.

Who would you say have been some of your favorite celebs/people to work with?

I have been blessed to work with many wonderful people. My favorite directors have been Jerry Zucker (“Airplane!” “The Naked Gun”) and Paul Kilback, the director of season one of “Carlawood”. Eric McCormick is a sweetheart and Jeff Foxworthy is an incredibly intelligent man. Joan Rivers is a riot and Christine Bentley was a wonderful mentor to me at CTV. Ed the Sock is quite the lady killer. My writing partner Paul Schmidt is like a brother to me and my publicist Stacy Hess is one of my best friends. I also really enjoy working with my hubby Tyrone Power. It just doesn’t get any better than working with brilliant, funny people you love and trust…magical!

You're in a huge rush, what one beauty product do you grab?

I grab a whimsical hat…and sunglasses.

Seriously, if I’m just walking the dogs I grab Bare Minerals Mineral Veil with SPF and a sassy Chanel gloss.

Tattooed makeup, yay or nay?

Sure, do what you like, it’s your face. I did the eyebrow tattoo thing in the past but it’s not permanent

Do you have a favorite guru/mentor?

Gotta go with my mom on this one. I adore her and she’s always been my mentor. We are best friends and she is incredibly supportive. Sometimes I refer to her as my “birth mother” just to mess with her.

I also admire Lucille Ball, Mae West, Carol Burnett and Wanda Sykes.

As far as a spiritual guru goes, I trust my psychic colon therapist and nutritionist Eloise and my yoga teacher.

Do you have a favorite makeup artist?

In LA, I love my girl Ashley Baclesse and in Toronto Sue Upton. They are both rock stars and gifted magicians. I wish they lived with me so I could always look fabulous…right now I’ll have to settle for the purse-size fan I carry around with me so that I always look wind swept .

Are there any makeup or beauty faux pas you really cant stand?

Chicks who draw a thick, over-the-lips brown line around their mouth. It looks like a poor woman’s chalk outline as if she were announcing to the world that her lips have just died and that CSI should come investigate her face immediately.

Also, the “Jersey Shore” orange tan many people seem to be sporting these days. It looks like a renegade bag of Cheetos spilled and started having a massive orgy on their chest. Why would you want to walk around with your skin the color of that horrible zit cover-up that was around when I was a kid. It didn’t match anyone’s skin tone and just made your zit more neon and noticeable from the moon.

Dudes who wear eyeliner, like that fella from “Twilight”. Sorry he just looks like a giant EuroDouche. Unless you’re the lead singer of The Cure, you shouldn’t wear guyliner.

Bright red or dark lipstick on your teeth or coffee cup…that just screams Grandma Millie to me.

Are you guilty of any yourself?

I’ve been guilty of every possible beauty faux-pas you can imagine. Big hair has been my biggest sin. Your hair should never be as wide as it is long and require a zoning permit.

Favorite career highlight & why?

I think my favorite career highlight so far was seeing someone reading my new book “Angels, Vampires and Douche Bags” on the plane last week. I am really proud of this book which is the world’s first comedic/motivational tome! Writing a book has always been a dream of mine and seeing it out in the wild was a big thrill.

What can people expect from Carla Collins in the future?

In the future you can expect to see me sporting a sexy Kevlar jumpsuit with a pair of high heeled hover boots.

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I have been a long time fan of Carla Collins and was so please to be able to go see her perform at a Women of Baycrest event in February. She was hilarious and had everyone in the place laughing up a storm. I also got a signed copy of Carla's new book entitled "Angels, Vampires and Douche Bags” which is my current read.

Thank you so much Carla for taking time out of your busy schedule to share some beauty tips, humor and career highlights with my readers.

Easy Homemade Orange and Yogurt Mask

This super easy homemade Orange & Yogurt mask will help to cleanse & nourish your skin. The orange is full of Vitamin C which our body needs and loves. This combo can also help to whitening & lightening your complexion in less than fifteen days.

Orange Yogurt Mask

Ingredients Needed:

• 1 tsp plain yogurt

• The juice of 1/4 of an orange

Step one: Mix both ingredients in a small bowel mix well.

Step two:Dip fingers into mixture and smooth onto face. The sensation is both cool and relaxing.

Step three:Leave on for a five minutes and then rinse.

Step four:Moisturize your skin and don't forget to apply your sunscreen cream/lotion because Orange contains AHAs(Alpha Hydroxy Acids) which can make your skin photosensitive.

If you are feeling sluggish, this is the perfect mask for you!

Important Notice: Wash your makeup brushes!

In my last post I talked about makeup expiration dates and its importance, today its all about our makeup brushes!


Ok ladies fess up, when was the last time you gave your makeup brushes a good wash?
Its very important to keep your makeup brushes clean and sanitary because they can accumulate tons of bacteria too.

Did you know that dirty makeup brushes can cause acne? The oil on our face & the old makeup can get trapped in the bristles of your brushes & cause bacteria to grow, which can cause skin problems such as acne.

I often get asked how often should I clean my brushes?
The answer is if you are using your brushes on other people then they need to be washed right after. If you are an MUA & are working on multiple people then a good cleaning with 99% alcohol in between clients is a good way to keep brush sanitary.

If your brushes are strictly for your face only then a deep clean every 1-2 weeks is fine. If you use a brush cleaner such as MAC's Brush Cleaner in between you can stretch that out to every 2-3 weeks.

Here is how I deep clean my makeup brushes.
Step one: Pour some baby shampoo in the palm of your hand, add a small amount of water.
Step two: Swirl your brushes back and forth into a lather
Step three: Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear
Step four: pat dry & lay flat to dry (never dry brushes vertically)

I use Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo because its very gentle on the brushes. You can choose a mild conditioner after you shampoo if you would like, this will help keep the brushes soft. I don't do this step too often as I find the baby shampoo leaves them soft enough. Of course there are several methods of cleaning brushes out there, this just happens to be what works for me :)



Don't forget your other beauty tools while your at it!
Eyelash curlers & pencil sharpeners can be cleaned using a swab saturated with 99% rubbing alcohol. Clean pencil sharpeners often to prevent bacteria being redistributed onto your lip and eye pencils.

Are you guilty of not washing your brushes as often as you should?
Do you have another method you would like to share?

I hope this serves as a reminder to some of you who think washing your brushes once a year or not at all is ok! Yikes!

Great makeup starts with clean beauty tools so we need to take care of them so that they can take care of us!

Is it time to Spring Clean-up your makeup bag?

Although you may think your gloss from 3 years ago is fine because it "looks" ok, chances are its time to let that baby go! Makeup doesn't last forever no matter how new it looks.

I have clients and friends who often tell me they keep mascaras and other makeup items way past their due date so I thought Id put together a guideline to help know when its time to say bye bye.

• Mascara: 3-6 Months.
• Oil-Free Foundation: 12 Months
  
• Cream Foundation: 12 Months
• Concealer: 12-18 Months
• Powder: 18 Months
• Blush & Bronzer: 18 Months
• Cream Blush: 12-18 Months
• Eye shadow: 18 Months
• Eyeliner: 18 Months
• Liquid Eyeliner: 6 Months
• Lipstick/Lip Gloss: 18 Months
• Lipliner: 12 Months
• Nail Polish: 12 Months
• Perfume: 2-3 years also if stored in a cool, dry place
• Sunscreen: 2-3 years, but also has an expiration date on the label.

Here are some warning signs your makeup is ready to hit the trash.
Foundation: Warning signs = thickening, altered color, or change in odor
Concealer: Warning signs = color change or thickening
Brush, Face powder, Eye-shadow: Warning signs = texture change when applying, dryness or change in color
Mascara:Warning signs = Change in odor, texture, or color
Pencils: (for eyes or lips):Warning signs = Change in odor, texture, or color
Lipstick:Warning signs = taste or odor change, stickiness
Perfume:Warning signs = If the smell starts to change

This is just a guideline. I would say eye products such as mascara and liner follow the above guideline. Other items use your judgment, if your polish is separated, your glossy is goopy and your cream shadows have hardened get rid of it!

The last thing you want is to put the bacteria that has possibly developed on old makeup onto your face right?!

I hope this info helps some of you... if you have any other guidelines or tips to share please feel free to comment below.

How to go from Frizz to Silky Smooth with the Ping Ceramic Flat Iron

How to go from Frizzy to Silky Smooth with the help of the Ping Ceramic Flat Iron.

What you will need:
Ping Ceramic Flat Iron, Any Blow dryer,ABBA Pure Moisture shampoo & conditioner, Argan Oil, large tooth comb, hair clips.

Step one: Wash hair with ABBA Pure Moisture shampoo & conditioner
Step two: Towel dry and apply small amount of Argan Oil (Moroccan oil treatment) throughout hair.
Step three: Use large tooth comb to detangle hair and comb out.
Step four: Blow dry hair upside down, using fingers. Dry completely.
Step five: Split hair in half horizontally and clip top half.
Step six: Take small 1"-2" sections and run the Ping Digital Ceramic Versatile Flat Iron over the section. Repeat if necessary and continue around bottom half until section is done. Clip bottom out of way and repeat same process on top section.

Results:
Before:


After:


To achieve a flipped out front section as seen below take small section place Ping Ceramic Flat Iron near roots, turn iron 90° away from face and slowly pull down.



Add a little hairspray to the front and you're ready to go!

Thoughts:
ABBA Pure Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner is probably one of my most favorite items to use when washing my hair. It smells like mint which I love and deeply hydrates my locks. They retail on fabove.ca for $16.95 & $18.95.

The Argan Oil is something I have wanted to try for a long time. It is derived from Moroccan Argan trees and is an oil treatment that provides shine, smoothness, frizz control, color protection and is alcohol free. I have been using it after every shower for a week now and really enjoy it. It doesn't leave my hair feeling greasy at all and instantly absorbs into my hair. It retails on fabove.ca for $19.95 which is $10 less than I saw it in stores for.

Because I have a lot of hair (as you can see above) and because my hair has a wave/curl to it I find it sometimes difficult to get the finish I want with some flat irons. Normally I use a 2" because I have longer hair but because the 1.5"Ping Ceramic Flat Iron heats all the way up to 220°c/428°f it works really well for my hair. I really like that I have the ability to curl out the front section of my hair with this iron, and although I haven't quite mastered the technique of curling my whole head with a flat iron bit I'm going to work on it because I'm sure its ME and not the iron! It retails on fabove.ca and is on sale for $139.95 (reg. $250.00).


If you are looking for a great site to get all your hair care needs I suggest taking a look at fabove.ca. They have a wide selection of products at a very competitive price and have unbelievable customer service.


* These products were sent by fabove.ca for consideration however all reviews are based on my honest opinions.

Sunday Feature: You Go Girl! Starring MTV's MUA Lucky B!

This week on You Go Girl! we will be featuring MTV Canada's key makeup artist Lucky B!

Not only does she help beautify the MTV crew but shes also worked on celebrities such as Audrina Patridge (the hills), Lenny Kravitz, The Backstreet Boys and Cyndi Lauper just to name a few.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Lucky for my You Go Girl! feature and this is what she had to say.
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So who are you and why are you so fab?

My name is Lucky (yes, that's my real parent-given name), I'm a makeup artist, and I'm fab because i can talk a blue streak, i do a job that i love to bits, i have a stupid ability to remember useless pop culture facts and song lyrics, am constantly inspired by those around me, and you are featuring me on your blog... which is pretty fab.

Where can we find you on the world wide web?
Very soon you'll be able to find me here: http://www.mtv.ca/fora/ or on twitter: http://twitter.com/luckymakeup

What one beauty product would you recommend to my readers and why?

A good cleanser, exfoliant and moisturizer. The best you can afford. Your skin is the foundation upon which any good makeup is built. Other products I'm in love with lately are MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish powders (they are gorgeous in real life and on HDTV), Dior's Glossy pencils (for those who like a bit of oomph to their lip shape when wearing a gloss), MAC's Lip Markers (a longwear lip stain), and Klorane Dry Shampoo (to keep your fringe from getting stringy on in-between or humid days). I'm also a huge advocate of MAC Paints if your eyeshadow tends to crease up. Oops! That wasn't one... told you I talk a blue streak.

Have you ever lost or broken a beauty item you wish you still had today?

My Grandmother had a beautiful art deco gold packaged lipstick. It had a little clasp-lever thing that pushed the lipstick up. The lipstick was red (of course) and smelled like mothballs, it was so old. So I pulled out the old lipstick and carefully re-inserted another bullet that fit perfectly. I had it from in my teen years and i lost it somewhere along the line in my 20's. I wish I still had that!!!

You're in a huge rush, what one beauty product do you grab?

Red lipstick.

Tattooed makeup, yay or nay?

Love tattoos, hate tattooed makeup. I'm half Asian so i understand the tedium of having to draw your eyebrows on every day, but makeup trends change so often... it tends to "date" your look. Also, tattoo ink changes colour over time, so your black eyebrows soon become navy blue, and your pink lipliner becomes a murky orangey colour. And then there you are, using makeup to correct a colour gone wrong anyway. Each to their own, i suppose - but it's not something I'd recommend.

What are your thoughts on fake eyelashes?

I call fake eyelashes "push-up bras for your eyes". I freaking love them. I use the heck out of MAC eyelashes. Quo has some decent ones as well. I may or may not have just spent waaay too much money on some Shu Uemera lashes...

Who would you say are some favorite celeb clients?

I would say that every celeb client has been an experience that I've walked away from with a smile on my face. People always ask me, "Who's been the biggest b*tch?" and I have to disappoint them with a boring answer every time. I've had so many great experiences. Some faves have been Liv Tyler (sooo sweet and beyond beautiful) , Cyndi Lauper (unbelievably youthful, so generous and funny), Bono & The Edge (Bono sang to me and The Edge told me tales of his childhood) , Jully Black (such a powerhouse), Jeff Goldblum (from another planet...in a good way), Zooey Deschanel (we traded coral nail polishes), Peaches (so creative and open to trying anything with makeup), Elvis Costello (such a charming gentleman), of course all of the MTV hosts I work with everyday (they keep me laughing and inspired)... honestly, I could go on and on. As any makeup artist knows, it's not just about beautifying the face, it's about revealing the spirit. I've been so fortunate.

Are there any makeup or beauty faux pas you really really cant stand?
As I said before, makeup trends change so quickly. It's the beauty of our industry. The second I say "I can't stand those dark lipliner/light lipstick Oreo Cookie lips" they will be back in style. Mark my words!! It really depends on the person and how they work it. Makeup is about personal expression and i actually like seeing people break the rules sometimes. One thing that i ... well, let's say I notice... is eyebrows. I don't care if they are bushy and natural or pencil-thin (depending on your look) but please manipulate them in a way that is complimentary to the rest of your face.

Do you have a favorite beauty guru/mentor?

Oh boy. So many. I think everyone right now is being inspired by Billy B and his amazing work with Lady Gaga. Francis Hathaway taught me more than I can articulate. I worked with her for a few weeks and would watch her do makeup, then barrage her with questions afterward. Melissa Gibson (MAC Senior Artist) is a dear friend and has been a mentor for me in so many ways.

Was there a product you bought due to blog/youtube/word of mouth hype that you just weren't please with once you tried?

All those "lip plumping" products are such a lark. That said, I like the feel of them on my lips and the textures of many of the glosses. The tingly sensation makes me imagine my lips really are bigger. Like how Spanx make you feel like you are skinnier!

Favorite place in the world and why?
Currently, it's in my bed with a good DVD, or having a backyard BBQ with good friends. I treasure my days off, they are rather few lately!! Otherwise, I adore Thailand... I'm dying to go back. I love travel.

What can people expect from your future beauty blog on MTV's Fora site?

I've tried to write about makeup in an easy, accessible way. Something people can actually get a bit of useful information out of. I'm looking at a demographic that has quite a large range, so writing in a way that will appeal to all of them has been a challenge! I'm touching on basics as well as trend, accompanied by how-to photos. The site itself looks really amazing and I think it will be really fun to spend some time perusing the Fora site! There are so many talented writers and personalities participating in this project, it's really exciting. I would love feedback though, or ideas for future articles!

Any last words or advice?

Love what you do. Give everything you've got. Treat people as you would have them treat you. Touching people's faces is one of the most intimate things you can do... they should trust you and feel that your energy is good. Sounds corny, but it all comes back.

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Lucky is sweet, friendly and uber talented. If you don't know who she is get to know her and her work because shes definitely one to watch!

Do you bite your nails?

Looking for a simple and easy homemade solution to nail biting?
Try dipping your fingernails in pure Vanilla Extract... Allow the extract to set on your nails for a few minutes, then wipe them off. The alcohol content in this extract is usually somewhere around 35%

It may smell lovely but it tastes horrible!


If you have any tips to prevent nail biting feel free to share them in the comments :)

Hope this helps!

The Balmshell Ladies throw a Balm Party!!

Last night the ladies at Balmshell Cosmetics threw a intimate party for some of Toronto's beauty bloggers and youtubers at their very pink and very cool offices downtown. There were drinks provided by Girls Night Out Wines and yummy cupcakes and cookies provided by Pretty Sweet Boutique as well as pink smarties, balloons and lip gloss all over!





It was great to get to mingle with the Balmshell ladies, Jennifer Lees and Fiona Lees, Karyn Johnson & the beautiful Adrienne (the only brunette in the bunch!) as well as with some familiar and new faces of the blogger community.


This is what happens when a bunch of picture happy bloggers get together...paparazzi!!


Me and the lovely Karyn Johnson


Of course I had to get in on the Balmshell fun!


Of course we didn't leave without a Balmshell goody bag!


They let us choose which lip gloss and cheek stain we wanted. I picked Beach Patrol gloss and Gossip Greta stain.



I had a blast as always with the ladies who are full of energy and always smiling. It was so nice seeing some of my TBB girls again and meeting some new faces. Thanks again to the girls at Balmshell, the bartender and only male and to Monkey & Hercules the 2 cutest yorkies ever!

I'm wearing the cheek stain today and love it! If you haven't checked out Balmshell Cosmetics yet you should, the products are amazing!!