Paint Me Over

by Henna
http://www.canadianbeauty.com
If you weren't a fan of Benefit's Benetint because the colour didn't work for you, you're now in luck. There's a new version of the popular stain out called Posie Tint which is a pretty pink colour that will probably look more natural on most people.

The formula is more of a gel than the regular Benetint, and I found it to be really easy to work with. It didn't dry too fast, and I actually found that I had better results when I took my time and worked with it. It's really a nice pink colour that's neutral and great on lips and cheeks!

by Henna
www.canadianbeauty.com
I'm a huge huge fan of glycolic acid and other ingredients that help speed up your skin's natural exfoliation. They really make your skin clearer and more luminous and in the long term, they can even help you look younger by exfoliating your wrinkles away!

So, I had to try Neostrata's Exuviance Skin Healthy Home Resurfacing Peel.

This is an amazing at-home system. The ingredients actually work because they're at the right pH (Neostrata is known for that) and after I used this system I really did have clearer skin!

I hate to say that the system is ultra-easy to use but if you don't use glycolic products on a regular basis, you will find this to be a little irritating on your skin. The peel system uses a combination of glycolic and lactic acids and really works. A week after my first application, I saw that my skin was peeling which I found was a little disconcerting because I wasn't expecting that to happen! However, I checked with a skin care specialist and he told me that the peeling was regular and it meant that the peel really worked!

You can really use this peel anywhere. I had overly tanned feet, and I used the peel a few times on them to get rid of that tan, I used the peel on my arms (which were also overly tan) and of course, I've used it on my face. All areas had great results, and this is definitely a product that I'm going to keep on hand at all times and use throughout the year. It's much cheaper than a peel in a doctor's office, not as effective, but it's almost there and you will have good results.

by Henna Singh
www.canadianbeauty.com
You've already heard about Anastasia, I'm sure. She's the eyebrow specialist to the stars, and has done the eyebrows of everyone from J. Lo to Madonna. Any star in L.A. wouldn't settle for less, and there's no reason that you have to either, since not only does Anastasia take public appointments, but she also has her own line of brow products out.

Before moving any further, let me say that you can purchase Anastasia products at Sephora or the Anastasia website.

I've been checking out the 5 piece Anastasia brow kit and I absolutely love it. Before I had this kit, I had never tried a brow powder, but it's pretty amazing. I thought that it would flake on to my face or make my eyebrows look fake, but it really doesn't!The stiff angled brush is perfect for smoothing the powder on and it's absolutely great at filling in any sparse spots. I topped it off with the Brow Gel and ended up with smooth brows that stayed in place all day without any smearing or moving about. The tweezers are excellent too and really grab hairs without much work.

Aside from the brow gel and the brow powder, I love the Brow Filler that you see below. The colour on each end has more of a paste-like consistency and instantly sticks to your skin not to your hair so that it doesn't at all look obvious. If I was on vacation and wanted to take something that's quick, this would most definitely be my choice.

The Anastasia line is pretty basic, but it's good. All the products are of really high quality and they do what they say! If you're on the lookout for great items to help you look more groomed, you should give her line a perusal.

But you know what, you don't have to take my word for it. I've added a mini goody bag of Anastasia products to the giveaway I'm having and one lucky contest entrant will win it. If you haven't entered already, do it now!

by Olga Barsky
When it comes to wicked style that’s raw and feminine at the same time, Kat Von D is at the top of her game. The unorthodox tatted beauty stole the show – literally – when she made the move from co-star on reality hit series MIAMI INK to opening up her very own shop in LA INK.

If Kat wasn’t a tattoo artist, she’d be a make-up artist, and claims to be a borderline obsessive compulsive beauty product hoarder. She can now pack even more make-up into her closet (yes…she’s got an entire closet full) as she’s launched her very own KAT VON D limited edition collection at Sephora.

Our favourite item is the Kat Eye Brush Set, which contains five make-up brushes decorated with silver stenciled roses inspired by her favourite tat. The kit includes a brow brush, angled eye shadow brush, smudge brush, blending brush, and flat eyeliner brush.

The rest of the collection encompasses key products like shadows, lipsticks, and liquid liners, which complete Kat’s 15-minute signature look.

Most importantly, Kat’s sex kitten persona would not be complete without a strong red lip. Easier said than done. Please make sure that like Kat, you are in fact wearing the lip colour – not the other way around. To make our lives a little bit easier, Kat has created four lipsticks that come in different shades of crimson - from the subtle and rosy hued Lolita to all-eyes-on-YOU Love Lipstick in Underage Red; how raunchy and mildly inappropriate!

As soon as we’re done with Kat’s pucker, we make our way towards her dreamy eyes. Kat begins by liberally applying brown Leather shadow, found in the Beethoven Palette, to the lid. She then applies black Lucifer shadow overtop, concentrating on the crease and around the lash line, before taking a minute to blend the two.

Next, Kat dusts a pale yellow shade with shimmer underneath the brow, and into the corner of the eye. Once all the shadow is in place, its time to line the top and bottom lids with glittery black liner – appropriately called Black Metal Love – which Kat flicks at the outer corners.

Finishing off the look are Kat’s perfectly groomed, super dramatic arched brows, which she fills in with black Lucifer shadow using a slanted brow brush. And voila!

by Henna
www.canadianbeauty.com

It seems that I can't do anything these days - take the bus, read my favourite website, or head out to a pub without seeing or hearing about the new Sex and the City movie that's coming out.  Like everyone else, I loved the show and its heroine Sarah J.P., though Maxim named her the world's "unsexiest" woman.  Of course, her husband and most of the rest of the world doesn't agree and if you don't believe me, check out this pretty picture.  

She's not at all fake, and S.J.P.'s makeup artist does know how to play up her best features - her cheekbones and the angular planes of her face.  You too can get her look but just know that it probably looks better in pictures than it does in person. 

No worries.  You're going to need black eyeliner, a neutral eyeshadow in a gold or bronze colour, Benefit's Rush Hour, and Stila's Contouring Trio. 

Start by applying the eyeshadow all over your eyelid.  We're not going to get fancy here, so just blend it on, and then use the black eyeliner to line all the way around the eye, starting from the inside corners and working out.  If you're good with the liner, try to make it thicker on the outside of your eye and thinner on the inside.  Finish off with mascara. 

Take Benefit's Rush Hour and apply it on the lips.  Because it's a cheek product too, dab it on the very top of your cheekbones and blend downwards so that your cheek has colour on it but not any towards the nose.  Set the blush with a sheer powder. 

Finally, take your Stila Contouring Trio and a cheek brush (I like Billy B.'s Brush #1).  Dip the brush into the darkest colour in the palette, suck your cheeks in and blend in an up-and-down motion following the hollow of your cheeks.  Take some of the same colour and blend on to your temples.  Use the lightest shimmery colour to highlight your brow bone, the bridge of your nose and your chin.  

The key to contouring is that you shouldn't be able to see it - it just works, so the less product you use the better. 

You're done! And in case you're wondering what Sarah Jessica's response to Maxim's article about her was: she basically said that although it angered her, not having fake boobs and lips didn't mean that she couldn't be sexy. 

by Henna
www.canadianbeauty.com

How is it that when we sit around and talk about movies, Pulp Fiction still makes an appearance in the conversation? And of course, someone has to mention how smokin' Uma Thurman looks in the movie and that fact is undeniable.

How to get her look? This one is so easy, but it requires some... long-term changes. Namely getting blue contacts if you don't already have blue eyes, dying your hair black, and cutting it shoulder-length with bangs that are just above the eyebrow and straight across.

Next step: make sure you've powdered your nose so that your skin is matte, wear a clean lengthening mascara, like L'Oreal Telescopic, and a nice red lipstick, such as Dior Rouge Dior Replenishing Lipcolor in Red Premier.

Details, of course, are everything, and in the movie, Uma Thurman's character also wears dark red nail polish - my current favourite is L'Oreal Nail Polish in Stroke of Midnight.

You are now ready for your $5 shake.

by Henna
www.canadianbeauty.com

Call Me!

Or don’t, it’s cool, whatever, I’ll still be in rapture, despite you having a heart of glass.

Had enough?  I’m sure you have, but the point is that the ’80’s are back, and what better way to welcome their return than to channel our favourite ’80’s star: Blondie!

I mean look at her - perfect brows, luminous skin, and those cheekbones!  I want it all.  I think the best I can do, though, it copy her makeup and that’s cool, because like I said, ’80’s makeup is back again.  Blondie’s known for her blonde hair but I don’t think that I can in good conscience tell you to bleach your hair so that it’s fried and straw-like.  But! You can get her look without having blonde hair.

We start with the reddish lipstick.  Why do I say reddish?  Because if you want this look to be en pointe, then make sure that you pick a colour that’s reddish-orange.  Try Sephora Lip Attitude in Capricious Red 14.  It’s got shimmer in it and has a glossy finish which helps update the look and makes the lipstick look not overly orange.

The eyes need lots of eyeshadow.  What colour, you ask?  Blondie wore a dark smoky grey, but instead of overdoing it, I would say to go for a silvery grey instead.  Try using Clinique Color Surge Eyeshadow Duo in Blackberry Frost.  Take the darkest colour and put it on all over the eyelid, leaving just half an inch to your eyebrow.  Then take the lighter colour and highlight the brow softly.  Take your favourite black liner, and line mostly the outer corner of the eyes.  Smudge the liner softly making sure that it’s thicker on the outer eye.  Put mascara on the top and bottom lashes, and you’re done!

The Blondie look is really simple, it’s just all about the execution.

by Henna
www.canadianbeauty.com
Don’t hate us, y’alls, but we love us some Cashmere Mafia. Maybe love is a strong word. Let's just say that if it happens to be on TV, we don’t change the channel.

Our favourite character is this girl, and truth be told we had to google her name: Bonnie Somerville. We decided that we would show you a look of hers from the show, and it turns out that she wears a lot of red lipstick. We know you have some Russian Red stashed somewhere, so instead we picked a look that was a little more subdued.

The focus here is on Somerville’s eyes. Instead of picking a black liner, pick one that’s coloured. We adore Estee Lauder’s Artist’s Pencil in Newport Blue which has a handy little smudger on the end so that you can make your liner look like hers. Line the top and bottom lashes, smudge, and then line again.

When it comes to mascara, try Clinique’s Lash Power mascara. It defines and lengthens your lashes and will hold up to any crying you may be doing (Somerville cries sometimes on the show). Lash Power is major - it can be wash off with just a bit of rubbing, no soap needed.

No matter what your complexion, to complete this look you have to follow up with a blush, and make this one peachy. We suggest MAC’s new Blush in Hipness and then pick a nude lipgloss or lipstick: CoverGirl TruShine Lipcolor in Powderpink Shine is perfect and gives you the best of both worlds.

Finish your look by curling your hair. It doesn’t have to be blonde, but part your hair deeply on one side, grab your 1” curling iron and go to town making sure that the curls go the same way.

It’s nice to know that our love of Cashmere Mafia is good for something!

By Henna
www.canadianbeauty.com

Since The Other Boleyn Girl just opened, it makes sense that there's going to be a ton of publicity around Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman. If you're looking for inspiration in the movie, though, don't bother. I'm pretty sure that both actresses just wear foundation and concealer for the whole shooting - nary a defined lip or fake lash to be seen.

The cover they shot for W Magazine? Whole 'nother story!

This look is not for the meek, but it is super-easy to do provided you have all the right tools.

So: apply foundation and concealer as needed. You're going to skip the blush or bronzer today since you've already got a lot going on in terms of colour. Fix up your brows using the Brow Finisher - people will be looking at your eyes which means that brows need to be in top conditioner. See Scar Jo? You think she leaves the house looking like Madonna's daughter? Of course not.

Go on to apply the Primer Potion. Use just a dot on each eye and blend with your fingers. Go on to put a thick line of eyeliner under and on top of each eye. Take your Q-tip and smudge it a little. Make sure that the ends is smudge upward towards your eyebrow so that your eyes look wider.

Finally, apply your Outlast Lipcolor. Make sure it's totally dry before putting a top-coat on. Wear this look with confidence - you are officially wearing the hippest makeup look for the spring.

By Henna
www.canadianbeauty.com

When Dragonette announced some North American dates a little while ago, I knew that I had to talk about Martina Sorbara's look. She is a style icon in the making. She's unique and not afraid to try new things. While the rest of her band might be in suits jackets and vests, Martina's the one in the crazy outfits and bright pink lipstick.

To get the look that she's sporting in this picture, I have to take a look at MAC's N Collection. It's got all the neutrals you need. For the eyelids, use Modest Tone which will give you a clean tan lid. Instead of the usual black liner, opt for brown like Martina has. MAC's Technakohl in BrownBorder goes on creamy but dries to a stay-put finish so it won't smudge when you use it to line the lower lashline. Lips need to be neutral. Try CoverGirl Trushine Lipcolor in Powderpink shine. Don't forget the mascara.

But you're not done yet. Do you really think Martina would leave the house without adding some punch to her look? Nails need to be painted something vibrant. Martina's matched hers to her dress and you could do something similar or match your nails with the modern neutral: navy blue. OPI Russian Navy is beautiful or L'Oreal Paris Stroke of Midnight. Now you're ready to hit the stage.