It’s officially spring, but damn does it still ever feel like winter here in Toronto!  There’s no snow on the ground (thank the lawd!) but the temps are still not nice enough to ditch the winter jacket.  However, this means that me donning a dark vampy lip isn’t such a crazy thing.  I got FACE atelier Lipstick in Revenge in a recent swag bag, so I thought I’d showcase it today in this look.

FACE atelier Lipstick in Revenge

Swatches (from left): MAC Arena, MAC Satin Taupe, MAC Coquette, MAC Brun, MAC All That Glitters

Get the Look

For the eyes, brighten your lids by patting on a low shimmer light peach (MAC Arena) eyeshadow.  Using a fluffy blending brush, lightly blend a dark shimmery taupe (MAC Satin Taupe) in the crease.  Apply more taupe to the outer corners of the eyes.  To define the eye further, take an angled liner brush with a matte medium taupe (MAC Coquette) and lightly draw on the crease line.  Soften the line with a blending brush.  Line the upper and lower lash lines softly with a dark cool brown eyeshadow (MAC Brun).  Highlight the inner corners and brow bone with a shimmery beige (MAC All That Glitters).  Add mascara (Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill).

For the face and cheeks, mix foundation (Cover FX Natural FX in M50) with a shimmery loose powder highlighter (MAC Gold Studio Finish Face Powder) and apply all over.  Spritz with a setting spray (MAC Fix+) for a dewy complexion.  Apply a mattifying blot powder (Cover FX Matte FX in Medium) to the T-zone only.  Add a healthy glow to the cheeks with a shimmery pink blush (Marcelle Pink Fusion Multi-colour Powder Blush).

For the lips, apply a dark red lipstick (FACE atelier Revenge) precisely with a lip brush.  Top off with a complementing lip gloss (CHANEL Fatale Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss).

Keep reading to see more pictures!

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Read the rest of Glossy Dark Red Lips with FACE atelier and CHANEL. (403 words)

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2011. | Permalink | 41 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Chanel, Cover FX, FACE atelier, Giorgio Armani, Looks, MAC, Makeup, Marcelle, Swatches | Tags: fotd, red lips

I was so excited to be invited to a Cover FX Hydrating Clinic that was held at The Bay on Queen Street on March 8.  The Cover FX team always puts on such fun blogger and media events, so I knew I was gonna be in for a treat!

Each session, called “Drench The Skin You’re In,” was one hour long.  I went in during my lunch break, because that’s what beauty obsessed people do instead of eating lunch.  True story: one time I met up with Michelle (Lipstick Rules) for “lunch” and we ended up shopping at Holt Renfrew and MAC.

Dehydrated Skin Tips From Jenny Frankel

There’s no denying that my skin has been incredibly dehydrated due to the sucky winter weather.  To begin the session, Jenny Frankel, Co-Creator of Cover FX, took my skin moisture level with a fancy shmancy tool that they use at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.  It basically concluded that my skin was dehydrated, and I agreed. Chances are that your skin is dehydrated, too. Good news: Jenny gave me some great tips for retaining moisture in your skin.

1. Ban Hot Baths. Hot water robs skin and washes away natural protective oils & moisture causing dry skin, so it’s best to take shorter showers in lukewarm water. This also means infrequent or skipping baths. Forego hot tubs as the hot temperature, combined with drying chemicals, is torture on dry skin. The same rule applies to face-washing: Wash face in lukewarm, never hot, water. If your skin turns red, the water is simply too hot.
2. Moisturize When Wet. Moisturizing skin care & foundation is the key to soft, supple skin. Apply moisturizing skincare when skin is slightly damp to trap moisture still on your skin. For best effect, pat skin dry instead of rubbing with your towel before application. Then follow with moisturizing foundation to boost & seal in moisture all day.
3. Identify Ingredients Wisely. Search non-comedogenic, emollient-rich ingredients such as silicones, oils, butters & humectants (glycerin, amino acids, hyaluronic acid) in your skincare and foundation products to keep moisture in and prevent TEWL (trans epidermal water loss).
4. Ditch Drying Soaps & Toners. Harsh soaps & frequent cleansing dry out skin by stripping away skins natural protective oils. The bubbling and foaming action removes the oils from the surface of the skin and dries it out. Look for milder fragrance free, soap free & alcohol free soaps & toners rich in glycerin and emollients.
5. Exfoliate Every Week. Moisturizer penetration is much more effective on properly exfoliated skin. Use a mild scrub on a dry skin (mix with lotion if its not moist enough). Massage a few minutes, then rinse.
6. Hoard the Humidifier. Dry air is probably the most common cause of dry skin, especially during the winter, as it draws moisture right out of the air. Cold, harsh weather and wind are outdoor causes, the bigger problem lies indoors with dry heat churned out by your furnace. Humidifiers get more moisture (up to 30%) in the air, which helps skin from drying out.
7. Hydrate for Your Health, Not Skin. Many people believe if they drink more water, they’ll hydrate skin. But this is a myth and you simply cannot significantly moisturize skin from the inside out. Dehydration does affect skin, but a normally hydrated person isn’t going to see major benefits by drinking even more water.
8. Seek a Specialist. Ask a beauty advisor or esthetician to analyze your skin type, troubleshoot your current skincare regimen, and give you advice on skincare and makeup products you should be using.
9. Layer of Love. As your skin condition changes, so should your skincare routine. Consider layering rich, oil based moisturizer and foundation to create all day protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture. A strong protective barrier also prevents toxins, pollutants, sensitizers, allergens, and irritants to enter the skin and cause red, sensitive, irritated skin.
10. Ask Medical Advice. The side effects of a number of medications dry out the skin, such as diuretics and retinoids. If you notice the onset of a dry skin problem after starting a medication, talk to your doctor for advice.

My Customized, Hydrating Foundation System Recommended by Derek Selby

When I sat in front of Derek Selby, National Retail Director of Cover FX and Cityline Guest Expert, he asked if my skin usually gets oily.  The answer was obvious; my T-zone was “extra radiant” and I forgot my ClearPrep FX that day.  He made some great suggestions to help hydrate my skin while still keeping the T-zone matte and fresh looking.

Primer: ClearPrep FX Matte Foundation Primer & Anti-acne Treatment, $39

No brainer here.  They already know how much I worship ClearPrep FX , also known as the best primer ever for oily skin types.

Foundation: SkinTint FX Moisturizing Treatment & Tint in M Light, $39 or Natural FX Water Based Foundation in M50, $37

I don’t have a lot of skin concerns save for some redness and dark circles.  This I can attribute to good genes and a solid natural skincare routine.  For running around everyday, I would probably reach for the SkinTint FX, which is their moisturizing tinted moisturizer with SPF 15.  SkinTint FX contains hyaluronic spheres to boost hydration and firmness.  On the other hand, Natural FX is their water-based, medium coverage foundation with SPF 15.  It has vitamin E and what they call a hydra-silicone technology, which is supposed to prevent the water in our skin from evaporating.

At my makeup consultation, Derek applied Natural FX (his personal favourite) on me lightly where I had redness.  He also patted it on using a synthetic concealer brush under my eyes and around the nose to up the coverage.  A really cool tip I learned: this foundation can be layered over setting powder if you want more coverage.  So, apply Natural FX, then Setting FX, then Natural FX again, and so forth.

Blotting Powder: Matte FX Oil Absorbing & Blotting Powder in Medium, $22

Even near the end of winter, my skin across my forehead and down the nose still gets very oily.  Applied on the T-zone only, this keeps the Natural FX’s radiance while keeping the oily areas matte.  I’m gonna go out to buy this ASAP, and I know once we get together, it will be love, sweet love.

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2011. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Cover FX, Makeup, Skincare | Tags: foundation, powder, tinted moisturizer

Last week I was invited to the launch party for Cover FX’s newest primer, EyePrep FX.  EyePrep FX is an eye primer for the eyelids and under eye area that is meant to intensify and keep eye make up in place, fill in fine lines, and combat darkness under the eyes.  I got one in my swag bag and it is deee-licious on the skin.  I of course will test it out for a few weeks before I post a review.

For now I am excited to tell you about a Cover FX treasure hunt that will be happening in select cities over Canada, US, and the UK!  Make sure to check the Cover FX Facebook page for clues.  Click to enlarge the poster below for more details!

Event Photos

Of course there were photos.  Why would I forget?

Swag bags

Lee Graff (President & Co-creator), Melissa (Social Media & Marketing Coordinator), Jenny Frankel (VP & Co-creator) talking about EyePrep FX

Melissa, Anjali (Rock That Look), Jill (Batting a Lash), Farah (Faces By Farah)

When events like these happen, local beauty bloggers get so excited to see one another and talk makeup for hours on end.  Read on for more photos from the event.

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Read the rest of Cover FX EyePrep FX Launch and Treasure Hunt! (283 words)

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2010. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Cover FX, Makeup, Sneak Peek | Tags: deals, primer

Whew!  I’m back with another FOTD.  I attended a friend’s wedding yesterday and this is the look I wore.  Thank goodness the hair was also cooperative.  Those are flat iron waves created by yours truly, thankyouverymuch!  I haven’t used my MAC Smoke & Diamonds (LE) eyeshadow in any FOTDs so I thought I’d pull it out of hiding for this look.  I just kind of winged it, but I really like how it turned out.

Don’t let the finished face fool you; this look was actually quick and easy!

Swatches (from left): MAC Smoke & Diamonds (LE), Annabelle B-Ray (LE), MAC Carbon, MAC Soft Brown, MAC Arena

Get the Look

For the eyes, fill in any sparse areas on your brows (Benefit Medium Brow Zings).  After priming your eyes (Too Faced Shadow Insurance), apply a light shimmery peach (MAC Arena) on the inner corners and under the brows.  Then, take a shimmery grey taupe (MAC Smoke & Diamonds, LE) all over the lid.  Take a matte navy (Annabelle B-Ray, LE) to the outer crease and outer V with a crease brush, and go over it slightly with a matte black (MAC Carbon).  Lightly blend above the crease with a matte warm brown (MAC Soft Brown).  Smudge the matte navy to the outer two-thirds of the lower lash line.  Line the upper lash line (MAC Blacktrack Fluidline) with a slight wing.  Line the upper and lower waterlines with a pencil dipped in gel liner (Urban Decay Zero dipped in MAC Blacktrack) for maximum staying power.  Apply mascara (CoverGirl LashBlast waterproof) to both upper and lower lashes.

For the face and cheeks, start by priming with a mattifying primer (CoverFX ClearPrep FX).  Apply foundation (FACE atelier Foundation #6 Honey), concealer (theBalm TimeBalm Medium), and powder (Marcelle Translucent Medium).  Sculpt the cheeks, temples, and jawline with a dark matte brown powder (MAKE UP FOR EVER #17 Espresso).  Then, add a pop of matte peachy pink to the apples of your cheeks (Pink Beauty Object of Affection).

For the lips, get your favourite neutral pink lipstick (MAC Viva Glam V) and top it off with a golden pink gloss (Smashbox Candid).

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Read the rest of FOTD: Subtle Smoky Eyes with Steely Blues. (387 words)

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2010. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Annabelle, Benefit, Cover FX, CoverGirl, FACE atelier, Looks, MAC, MAKE UP FOR EVER, Makeup, Marcelle, Smashbox, Swatches, theBalm, Too Faced, Urban Decay | Tags: fotd

10. MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Concealer #350.

When the weather is hot, my cream concealer just won’t do because of caking issues. Instead I have been using this great click pen liquid concealer by MAKE UP FOR EVER, and I really like this one. It takes care of dark circles without the need for setting powder. It dries completely without any stickiness, so it is excellent for minimal makeup summer days when I just don’t want to fuss with too many products.

9. Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge.

Sonia Kashuk is my #1 reason why I am annoyed that Target is still not in Canada.  The Sonia Kashuk blending sponge is an essential tool in my makeup bag for perfecting the skin on my face and under eye area.  Used wet with my MAC Fix+ Rose, about 10 swipes of my tinted moisturizer or foundation all over my face and I’m done.  Flip it over to the pointed side and blend out under eye concealer in a jiff.  It is really that easy.

8. MAC Eyeshadow in Arena.

Many a summer day my eye makeup was very minimal.  Some days eyeliner was not even used.  When I felt like putting on a “me but better” face, 9 times out of 10 I wore MAC Arena.  This shade is so versatile on my skin tone (about NC35 – NC37) because I can use it as a light lid colour or as a highlight.  If I am really pressed for time, I just highlight my eyes’ inner corners and brow bone and I instantly look more awake.

7. MAC Lipstick in Viva Glam V.

Here I am again, telling the world about my undying love for MAC Viva Glam V lipstick.  Seriously, if I were to have a BFF in lipstick form, Viva Glam V would be it.  The shimmery mauve is oh so easy to wear, and the Lustre finish makes it more comfortable to wear than other MAC formulas.  Oh, and did you know proceeds from all Viva Glam products go towards MAC AIDS fund to support those living with HIV and AIDS?  Now I won’t feel so bad getting backups of this amazing lipstick.

6. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free in Almond.

On days when I want to even out my skin tone more than usual, I reach for this instead of my usual foundation.  Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizers are well-known in the beauty universe, and rightly so.  This one provides a heavier coverage than your regular tinted moisturizers, so it covers your minor imperfections while still letting your skin show through.  I find the oil free formula is great for oily skin like mine and it has never broken me out.  This was a great buy!

5. MAC Hipness Blush.

This has become my default blush. The almost-matte coral is incredibly flattering on any complexion. It’s not the most pigmented blush I have, but it can be built up to a super intense colour when layered.  The nice thing about Hipness is that it works with a warm look as well as cool colours.  So if someone were to ask me which one blush I would take with me on a deserted island — obviously this someone is not in their right mind! — I would definitely pick my Hipness blush.  Because we’re tight like that.

4. Dior Addict Shine Eau de Toilette.

This is the latest addition (I almost typed addiction, ha!) to my small perfume collection.  I like to switch to a lighter scent in the summer months and this is what I’ve been wearing this scent all summer long.  I’m not fluent in perfume-speak, but it smells like a fresh floral on me.  It starts off more citrusy, but as it wears through the day, it begins to smell like a fresh field of flowers.  It is always a nice surprise whenever I catch a whiff of this scent.  It is summer in a bottle.

3. Annabelle Zebra Bronzing Powder in Haute Gold.

What a great bronzer and a great price!  Everyone I know who has used this — fair and tan — shares my love for this bronzer.  Fact: I totally cracked up when some Glitter Geek readers were fooled into thinking I wasn’t wearing bronzer in my original review.  I looked like I had naturally glowing skin like I’m not wearing any makeup. That is all.

2. Pure + simple All Natural SPF 30 for Oily/Impure Skin.

I don’t know why I haven’t yet posted a review on this, but it has seriously saved my face from those horrible itchy patches I got last summer.  It’s a physical sunscreen, which means that I look like a powder-face geisha after I put it on, but it works.  On most days I just wear my MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural (Medium Dark) over it and everything looks as it should.  Non-greasy and doesn’t smell revolting.  It can be found at Pure + simple spas in the Greater Toronto Area or online.

1. Cover FX ClearPrep FX Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment Gel.

My favourite primer continues to save my face from turning into a greaseball every day I wear it.  It is pricy, but if you have oily skin and think there is nothing out there that’ll help you, you should really give this ClearPrep FX a try.  And normal to dry skinned beauties, be not afraid! I didn’t find ClearPrep FX to be drying, either.  I tell everyone about it, so tell your friends!

Now That I’ve Shared Mine, What Are Your Go-To Products This Summer?

Disclosure: The bronzer was sent to me for review, and I bought everything else. Wow, that’s a lot of new products!

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2010. | Permalink | 38 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Annabelle, Cover FX, Dior, Laura Mercier, MAC, MAKE UP FOR EVER, Pure + simple, Sonia Kashuk | Tags: blush, bronzer, brushes, concealer, eyeshadow, lipstick, perfume, primer, sunscreen, tinted moisturizer

I was not a regular primer user. However, the combination of humidity + my oily skin has been a bit much for me to bear this summer. My blush always pulled a disappearing act around lunch time. That and the fact that you can use my cheeks and forehead as a mirror have made me realize that maybe I do, in fact, need to use a primer.

I glanced at my reflection in the bathroom mirror at 5:00 pm today.  We’re having another hot and humid day in Toronto.  I used to dread five o’clock, or shall I say shine o’clock where my skin is concerned.  But today’s different.  My skin was matte and fresh 9 hours after I applied my makeup.  It honestly looked like I just blotted with a Starbucks napkin and powdered my T-zone.

How could an oily-skinned lady be so fresh faced at the end of a work day?  My new weapon of choice is this: Cover FX Clearprep FX Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment ($39 for 30mL / 1 FL OZ).

Ingredients

It is chock-full of silicones, but is free of cruelty, parabens, oils, and fragrances.  My skin usually reacts really well to silicones (hello FACE atelier foundation!), but those who are concerned may want to try a sample at Sephora first.

No Exaggeration: It Changed My Life.

I first heard about Clearprep FX when MTV Canada Makeup Artist Lucky was raving about it on Twitter.  I am now a primer convert.  At first I thought maybe just any ol’ primer will do, and so I switched it out one day for the popular Smashbox primer.  While wearing the Smashbox, I was in shine city as usual at lunch.

Clearprep FX is the real deal, ladies and gents.  Although I can’t say much about it as an anti-acne treatment as my skin is currently acne free (hallelujah!), I am 100% behind its mattifying claims.  When my skin stays matte, my makeup stays on my face, not on my phone, and not on my clothes.  Oh, and did I mention the gigantor pores on my nose also disappeared when I wore this primer?  Clearprep FX rightfully earned a spot on our holy grail.  Rating: A+.

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2010. | Permalink | 23 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Cover FX, Makeup, Reviews | Tags: holy grail, matte, oily skin, primer

Dear Toronto readers, who here wants to receive a free full-size CoverFX concealer? Cover FX makes some of the best concealing products out there. Hello! Here’s some proof.  If you are in the Downtown core next Thursday, April 22, come out for the Cover FX Flash Mob! See more details of the event below. Is anyone else planning to go?

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2010. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Cover FX, Makeup | Tags: Toronto

Hi everyone! I’m blogging from Washington state, where we are visiting family. Today I wanted to take some time and talk about my makeup routine these days, and the products I use.

Summer’s all about the fresh, glowy skin; never heavy or overdone. This has been my routine lately. Super low maintenance look, which is a big deal for someone who likes dolling it up. I’m really enjoying the low key look though.

Super Natural…

1. On a clean face, start with sunscreen all over your face and neck. I use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100+ with Helioplex for maximum protection. If you can’t reapply sunscreen on your face during the day, you might as well go as high an SPF as you can to stay protected longer.
2. Once that’s dry, I conceal any unevenness or redness with COVER FX Total Coverage Cream Foundation SPF 30 with a concealer brush. Blend away with a stiff foundation brush.
3. Set your makeup with powder. My favourite right now is MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural for a natural finish.
4. For a pop of colour, I apply a peach blush like MAC Style on the apples of my cheeks.
5. To really make your makeup last with a natural glow, finish with MAC Fix+ (I use Fix+ Rose, Limited Edition) on a stippling brush and stipple on to the face.
6. Quickly fill your brows, curl your lashes, and swipe on some lipgloss!

This whole process shouldn’t really take more than 5 minutes.

Have More Time?

• Eyes: I am loving coppery-golden eyeshadow all over the lid, with grey liner smudged on the top and bottom lash lines. Finish off the eyes with your favourite mascara.
• Lips: Go bold and go orange! Lipstick will give you the most impact, but for those who are colour shy, use an orangey lip gloss instead.

I’ll post some face pictures some other time, but I hope you stay protected from the sun, have fun, and stay pretty!

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Cover FX, Looks, MAC, Makeup, Neutrogena | Tags: blush, fixer, foundation, powder

Hello everyody. You might be wondering where my face has been for the past weeks. Well I have been hiding. Why you say? Because of this:

Hello naked face. And I’m also sporting a pink eye under the sunglasses. Fan-freaking-tastic. Apparently I have a fungal infection from sun exposure. I got a cream from the doctor that’s treating it, but for the mean time, how am I supposed to show my face to the public?

This post will show you that you do not have to cake on so many products on your face to conceal flaws, even something as bad as what I have above! A concealer with a good colour match will do just fine.

Let’s see that again, shall we?

It is mostly on my right cheek, and also on the very top of my forehead.

After countless adventures to the MAC counter (I’m really starting to doubt MAC MA’s because they always match me too dark. And Studio Fix concealer = fail), Sephora (Kat Von D’s Tattoo Concealer, theBalm’s Time Balm, MUFE Full Coverage = not enough coverage, bad colour matches), and Sears counters (Lise Watier concealer palette was okay), I was really starting to despair. There has to be something that’ll hide this!

The lovely lady at the Lise Watier counter was nice enough to suggest Cover FX, carried by Shoppers Drug Mart. And if I’m not mistaken, it’s also at Sephora.

Funny enough, the first shade I picked out to try was… perfect. The cream foundation ($39) also doubles as a concealer, which is probably the only way I would ever use it.

Oh my god. I’m wearing the shade M80 (for MAC cross-reference, about NC42), and it is pretty much gone. Can you say HOLY FRICKIN GRAIL?

Then, set it with your favourite powder. I’m using MAC Skinfinish Natural in Medium Deep.

Loves it.

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Cover FX, MAC, Makeup, Reviews | Tags: foundation, holy grail, powder