Clarins | Garden Escape Palette Spring 2015

Clarins breathes new life into this bitterly cold weather we’re having, with the release of the Garden Escape Palette (CAN $44.00, limited edition), part of the Spring 2015 collection of the same name. These mineral eyeshadows are as lovely to behold as they are to apply, and with their ability to be worn either dry or damp, your options are limitless. In fact, you don’t even need to wait for Spring to finally arrive; fake it with this little beauty.

The Garden Escape Palette comes encased in a scarlet velour sleeve, while the slim profile case bears a lovely chevron-like pattern on its surface. With 6 healthy-sized eyeshadows instead of the 4 or 5 we usually find with other luxury brands, there’s an infinite number of colour combinations available here (there’s even an included dual-ended applicator).

The lightest shades of the Garden Escape Palette yield the least amount of colour payoff, but what they lack in intensity they make up for in texture; smoothly applying and definitely buildable to a certain degree (wearing them damp naturally results in deeper colour). The darker of the two pink shades is warmer toned while the other pink hue is cool leaning – both can also double as facial highlighters (cheekbones, temples), giving them each some extra versatility. The three darker shades are simply spectacular, in terms of texture, application, and colour payoff. I experience absolutely no fallout of powdery kickback when swirling my brushes through any of these and lasting power obviously depends on whether the shades are worn dry or damp (in addition to primer layered on underneath), but regardless of the method you choose for application, expect your makeup to look intact until removal – no fading, creasing, or flaking. With its mix of both cool and warm hues, this palette will definitely suit most complexions across the board.

Clarins | Garden Escape Palette Spring 2015 & protective velour sleeve

Clarins | Garden Escape Palette Spring 2015, logo detail

Clarins | Garden Escape Palette Spring 2015

shade 1 – pearly white, lightly iridescent, medium colour payoff
shade 2 – pine green, satin finish, intense colour payoff
shade 3 – moss/jade green, satin finish, good colour payoff, buildable
shade 4 – peachy pink, lightly iridescent, medium colour payoff
shade 5 – icy pink, iridescent finish, light colour payoff, can double as a highlighter
shade 6 – soft taupe, satin finish, excellent colour payoff

Clarins | Garden Escape Palette Spring 2015

Clarins | Garden Escape Palette Spring 2015, swatched dry

Clarins | Garden Escape Palette Spring 2015, swatched damp

Clarins | Garden Escape Palette Spring 2015, swatched damp – alternate lighting

When a beauty item such as the Garden Escape Palette lands in my hands and upon finding out firsthand how absolutely lovely it is – in every sense of the word – it makes me wonder why I don’t have more Clarins eyeshadows in my arsenal. From a brand that continues to be on the leading edge of skincare innovations, I’m not surprised to find that they’ve infused their colour cosmetics with the same attention to detail and quality. Another huge plus is the price point, which happens to be significantly less than most luxury brands, without sacrificing any luxe features. Final verdict: so worth investing in.

Available now at all Clarins counters across Canada. Find more information on the brand by visiting clarins.ca

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil

February 11, 2015

A few weeks ago, I was invited to take part in the YSL x Google Glass experience (you can read about it here) and while that in itself was pretty amazing, for a beauty aficionado like myself, seeing the YSL Spring 2015 Collection up close and personal, was an even bigger thrill. The latest innovation from YSL Beauté and the first of its kind in the beauty world, is Volupté Tint-In-Oil (CAN $35.00, available in 8 shades), a unique new lip oil that is infused with tint that provides all the nourishing benefits of a balm, but with the beautifying effects of colour.

Housed in sleek chrome tubes belted with the YSL ‘Cassandre’ logo (this band also displays the colour of each individual shade for your convenience), the contents are kept cocooned away from light in order to preserve their integrity. The ‘bouche à bouche’ diamond-shaped & angled applicator with its soft texture and mini-reservoir at the centre, has been designed to help dispense a perfect hit of product in one simple swipe, almost making it intuitive in terms of application ease – no mirror required. Adding to the sensorial experience, is a delicious mango scent (although it reminds me more of watermelon candies), which is so uplifting mood-wise.

According to the brand, there are two facets to this unique new formula:

COLOUR LINK INF– USER

Although oil and tint naturally repel each other, YSL Beauté has conceived of a way for opposites to attract – compelling these two ingredients to work effectively as one. COLOUR LINK INF– USER is an ultra-stabilizing technology developed by YSL Beauté for its ability to disperse and homogeneously solubilize colour particles in oil to create a hybrid formula. The colour pigments are captured within the oils to dispense an ever-evolving burst of liquid lip colour. The oils slowly disappear but the pop of colour stays true.

5 PRECIOUS OILS

Apricot Kernel Oil, Macadamia Seed Oil, Coriander Fruit Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Passion Flower Oil

The precious Passion Flower has been well-documented as having invaluable nutritive properties. Historically cultivated in the Majorelle Garden in Morocco (a place so dear to M. Yves saint Laurent’s heart and one of his prime sources of inspiration), this flower blooms only in daylight and fades by nightfall, waiting for the energizing light of the sun to come again.

Another interesting feature of the Volupté Tint-In-Oil, is the ‘bitten-lips/stain’ effect they leave behind, a colour that will be unique to each and every user. The colour tint that is parcelled within the oils, awakens on contact with the lips and then proceeds to interact the the lip tone, in effect creating one’s own bespoke colour finish. The tint itself evolves with the wearing, becoming more vibrant minutes after initial application, enhancing your lips with a natural glow.

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil

From start to finish, it’s LOVE; to begin with, the packaging is über-elegant and just begs to be taken out in public. The applicator truly is goof-proof and as the Tint-In-Oil formula is not colour saturated, you really don’t need a mirror for application (as well, the tint of each shade does not stain surrounding skin, in the event you ‘colour outside the lines’, so to speak). The magic begins immediately upon application, starting with a rich nourishing sensation of the oil upon the lips, a feeling that’s neither oily, too slick, or sticky – just ultra comfortable and hydrating, and one that seems to fill in lip lines as well (my lips are quite lined, and I was amazed to see how diminished said lines appear). Within a few minutes, you can see and feel a few other changes; there’s a slight tingling I sense which is not unpleasant for me (anyone with sensitivities, should definitely test these out at a counter first) and then the colour begins intensifying. Lasting power is on par for a gloss (I get between 2.5 – 3.5 hours), although that is also affected by food, drink, etc. and even when the glossiness has faded, I am still left with a slight stain on my lips (intensity of stain will vary with each individual shade), along with a completely hydrated feel.

N°2 Oh So Gold – the lightest of the 3 shown, warm-leaning with a light apricot tint and iridescent gold shimmer (non-gritty)

N°4 I Rose You – carnation pink, perfect mix of cool & warm undertones making it wearable by a broad range of skintones, iridescent pink shimmer

N°5 Cherry My Chérie – lush true pink, the most intense of the 3, leaves behind a hint of shimmer along with tint upon the lips. According to my press sheet, this is the ‘Star Shade’ of this collection, iridescent pink shimmer

“Volupté Tint-In-Oil is ultra-comfortable with a soothing feeling on the lips. It’s more like a liquid lip balm than a gloss or a stain. It creates volume and erases texture on the lips with a beautiful shine.

It’s great for people who might be afraid of colour, as it’s super natural. Balms, glosses and stains generally tend to achieve only one effect rather than several effects together. Volupté Tint-In-Oil perfectly combines colour, shine, and absolute comfort”

Lloyd Simmonds, Creative Director Makeup YSL Beauté

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil swatches

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil, swatches after 10 minutes of wear (*Please note that the above swatch at left should be N°2 and not N°1)

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil N°2 Oh So Gold swatch

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil N°4 I Rose You swatch

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil N°5 Cherry My Chérie swatch

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil N°5 Cherry My Chérie swatch after 10 minutes of wear

Mark my words, you’re going to start seeing all brands – from luxury to mass market – begin releasing their own version of YSL Beauté’s Volupté Tint-In-Oil, although I sincerely doubt anyone can match the utter gorgeousness seen here. In general, I enjoy the convenience of using lipgloss, but reapplication is a chore and more often than not, my lips wind up feeling parched after it’s worn off. That being said, I experience none of these issues with any of these Tint-In-Oil shades, although N°2 Oh So Gold only left a mere whisper of a stain to my lips – perfect for fans of a more natural looking mouth. As pink lip shades fall out of my comfort zone, I was stunned by how much I loved the look of N°5 Cherry My Cherie; both upon application, and again with the stain it left behind – reminded me of the way my lips would look after devouring a pink PopSicle. Come to think of it, one reason I used to love those treats, was exactly because of the way they stained my lips – early signs of a budding beauty fiend, perhaps?

How perfect are these for Valentine’s Day? Even the applicator seems to be in on the theme! ♥

Available now at Sephora, Sephora.ca and The Bay stores throughout Canada.

Press samples provided for my unbiased consideration

Dior | Diorskin Nude Air Sérum de Teint

February 10, 2015

The latest innovation from Dior Beauty, Diorskin Nude Air Serum Foundation (CAN $53.00, available in 8 shades), is a medium coverage ‘light-as-air’ talc-free foundation, and loaded with volatile oils that evaporate almost immediately, leaving behind a weightless veil of pure pigment along the skin. According to the brand:

“For the first time in a foundation, Dior has introduced an innovative combination of plant oils, vitamins and minerals. Hyper-Oxygenated oil loaded with air bubbles, breathes vital energy into skin cells. Ideally stimulated from within, the skin breathes and becomes more beautiful. Cranberry oil – rich in essential fatty acids – provides the skin with the necessary antioxidants to help it glow, day after day. The complexion is velvety, imperceptibly even, and looks radiantly healthy”

Thanks to a slew of technological breakthroughs in the beauty industry just these past few years alone, foundation has come a long way; Dior has taken things to a whole new level with with their new Serum Foundation, a product that not only provides coverage, but leaves a flawless finish behind, and this with added skincare benefits plus SPF 25.

This may be Dior’s first Serum Foundation, but Giorgio Armani Beauty was the forerunner of this type of product, with the release of Maestro Fusion Makeup back in 2012. Even the bottle shapes and droppers are quite similar between the two powerhouse beauty brands, although the texture is where things start to take different paths (more details on this further down the post).

Other new releases in the Diorskin range, also include Nude Air Loose Powder (CAN $60.00, available in 4 shades) Nude Air Pressed Powder (CAN $59.00, available in 3 shades – review forthcoming), as well as Nude Air Tan Powder (CAN $59.99, available in 3 shades – review forthcoming), all products that are meant to impart that healthy glow ‘bonne mine’ effect, and further enhance the flawless look that begins with application of the Nude Air Serum Foundation.

Diorskin | Nude Air Sérum de Teint 020 Light Beige

Diorskin | Nude Air Sérum de Teint (6 of the 8 available shades are shown)

Diorskin | Nude Air Sérum de Teint 020 Light Beige

Diorskin Nude Air Sérum de Teint 020 Light Beige | The shade I was sent, 020 Light Beige, turns out to be quite the perfect match for my skintone at the moment (although I’ll probably have to get something deeper once the warmer weather hits), and even though I detect a slight pinkish hue to this shade which had me concerned about any clashing with my light yellow undertone, it instead serves to bring about a more brightened appearance to my skin. Before starting application, you do need to shake the contents of the bottle thoroughly to ensure that all components are properly mixed together. The fragrance is a not-unpleasant herbal/green scent that I’ve come to associate with most Dior foundations, although I do not detect any scent once the product is applied (still worth noting for those with sensitivities).

For initial application I prefer using Dior’s paddle-style foundation brush (reviewed), although you can also use your fingers; I just find the brush easier for spreading the product along the skin. After shaking the contents, I add about 4 drops of the Nude Air Serum Foundation into the palm of my hand, apply that to my face (don’t forget your neck, ears, and jawline) then if needed, I add another drop or two to areas that need a bit more coverage. While this foundation is not too layerable, you can build up some areas that require a touch more opacity – but don’t expect fully opaque coverage.

Alternately, and probably my favourite method of applying this type of dry-oil foundation, is by using a dual-fibre brush; I add about 4-5 drops of foundation to the back of my hand, lightly dab the brush through the product and then start by stippling that all over my face (to begin with), followed by sweeping the brush along the skin until the desired coverage has been achieved. This method yields an almost ‘air-brushed’ effect, and can pass muster even under the closest scrutiny.

Once applied, I sometimes go in with Dior’s flat-topped foundation brush (also reviewed) to buff it all in and give the most seamless, flawless-looking finish to the skin (you can also use a dry beauty sponge, or a dense-headed face brush – it all depends on what you already own and what you’re comfortable using). Once set, the resulting finish is not exactly matte, and definitely not dewy; there’s a natural-looking radiance to the skin, while the complexion is truly enhanced and very even-looking. Lasting power is excellent, and I’m able to get a full day’s wear (easily 10-12 hours), without any oxidation whatsoever (where the foundation colour begins to take on a yellowish cast) and neither do I notice any separation, as sometimes can happen around the nose area. My pores also seem a lot less noticeable and even though this is not touted as a mattifying product, I find that it does an excellent job at keeping any oiliness I usually get around the T-zone, to a minimum. Stated as being equally wearable for all skin types, my feeling is that the Nude Air Serum Foundation will be more suitable on those normal, combination, or oily skin, as this formulation has the potential to emphasize any dry patches on the face, which can be reduced to a certain degree by ensuring your skin is properly moisturized beforehand. Even if you do have dry skin, I still recommend giving it a test run at your local Dior counter just the same – it’s well worth looking into. Overall, there’s a subtle but absolutely gorgeous luminosity imparted to the complexion with this finish, and I love how even my skin looks without any of that heavy caked-on feeling at all.

Diorskin | Nude Air Sérum de Teint 020 Light Beige (click to enlarge for ingredients list)

Diorskin | Nude Air Sérum de Teint 020 Light Beige with dropper

Diorskin | Nude Air Sérum de Teint 020 Light Beige, applied

Diorskin | Nude Air Sérum de Teint 020 Light Beige, lightly blended

Diorskin | Nude Air Sérum de Teint 020 Light Beige, blended out

The following are all similar in formula to the Nude Air Serum Foundation (although not necessarily in colour/shade). As stated above, the Armani Maestro Fusion foundation was first out of the gate in this category, and has since gone on to spawn numerous versions from most brands across the board. During humid, hot weather, the Maestro foundation is a Godsend, as it keeps my skin oil-free throughout the wearing; the only issue is that it really doesn’t do well with any dry bits, catching & emphasizing them quite vividly. CHANEL’s Velvet Lumière has the most plush dry-down of them all, although I’m not that crazy about the strong scent (which eventually does fade) and how pink-tinged it is (this brand needs to include more yellow bases in their foundation ranges), as well as the fact that it’s the messiest to use, seeing as how there is no included applicator system. Fusion Ink from YSL is the closest in both texture and finish to the Diorskin Nude Air, and my only issue is that the shade I own is too dark for me to use now. Lastly, Maybelline’s Dream Wonder is great bang for the buck, providing a finish that may not be an exact duplicate, but damn close to its [much] pricier counterparts.

Quick comparison breakdown:

CHANEL Perfection Lumière Velvet (30 Beige) – (CAN $48.00/30 ml 1 fl.oz) No applicator, the strongest scented of the group, slightly more pigmented (which translates as deeper coverage), touch more of a velvety finish
GIORGIO ARMANI Maestro Fusion Makeup (6.5) SPF 15 – (CAN $68.00/30 ml 1 fl.oz) Dropper applicator, softest overall fragrance, driest finish, excellent mattifying properties
YSL Fusion Ink Foundation (B 40 Beige) SPF 18 – (CAN $64.00/25 ml 0.84 fl. oz) Spade shaped applicator, fragrance starts off a touch acrid but dries down more powdery, close in finish/texture as Nude Air (gives that same radiance)
Maybelline Dream Wonder Liquid Touch Foundation (40 Nude) – (CAN $14.99/20 ml) Spade shaped applicator, slightly more silicon-like in feel, thinner coverage but still well within the same finish as the rest, best price point

Diorskin Nude Air Sérum de Teint & applicator comparisons

Diorskin Nude Air Sérum de Teint 020 Light Beige & comparisons, applied

Diorskin Nude Air Sérum de Teint 020 Light Beige & comparisons, lightly blended

Diorskin Nude Air Sérum de Teint 020 Light Beige & comparisons, blended out

Even though I’ve tried out several other dry-oil foundations, there’s something almost magical about the Diorskin Nude Air Serum Foundation, as it meets al my criteria: a lightweight feel (I cannot stand the suffocating feel of heavy/opaque foundations), enough coverage to even out but one that still lets your skintone show through, mattifying (which also eliminates the need for excessive powdering to keep those pesky oils slicks at bay), and a flawless finish. If you like your foundations weightless, light-medium coverage, and have normal, combination or oil-prone skin, then look no further: this is the one. For those with drier skin or who prefer something that provides serious coverage, you might want to skip this and look instead to something a lot more emollient. Thank God for choices.

PS: With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Diorskin Nude Air has you covered – and I’m betting your sweetheart will surely be mesmerized by your flawless complexion, amongst other things.

Lauching at all Dior counters across Canada as of mid-february. Find more information on the brand at www.dior.com

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Essie | Spring 2015 Collection

February 9, 2015

Oh, Essie – you had me at Spring, and then these shades come into my life and just like that, it’s amore. The new Spring 2015 Collection from Essie (launching in March), draws inspiration from an abundantly flowering garden, filled with a profusion of colour to reawaken our senses – all of which have probably been in hibernation from this miserably cold Winter. This jolt of colour is so welcome right now, and ∗almost∗ makes the cold weather bearable. At least this collection makes Spring seem that much closer.

It must be said, that Essie listens to their fans/devotees/groupies/addicts (take your pick. Pick, get it? Couldn’t resist including a garden/flower references. Shamelessly cheesy, but cute, no?) and continues to improve the formula. All six crème shades of this collection (not one drop of shimmer in sight) are a total joy to work with, applying in an effortless and self-levelling way, with several that don’t even need more than 1 coat for full opacity. All the swatches below are with 2 coats of lacquer each, as well as added top coat.

Perennial Chic | Described as “tawny tulip”, I say it’s more of a dollskin pink (or even Band-Aid pink), a neutral hue that is nowhere near what I consider tawny. The formula is semi-sheer and there’s a touch of patchiness seen with application of the first coat – normal for this type of shade – although Perennial Chic definitely becomes fully opaque with a second layer. This is a warmer leaning nude (I detect hints of peach in the base) and a colour that should be fairly easy for most skin tones to pull off, although I’m personally on the fence with the way it looks on me.

Picked Perfect | Described as “antique almond peony”, the antique almond part is about right, although I’m not feeling peony – more milk chocolate latte, instead. The formula here is thicker than that of Perennial Chic, but that works in its favour as it stays exactly where placed without any migration into surrounding skin. Picked Perfect applies in an über-creamy way and can almost be opaque at 1 coat if you load up your brush just right – totally surprising & so welcome. An absolutely perfect nude.

Blossom Dandy | Essie sure has the baby blue/mint category down pat, and Blossom Dandy is poised to be one of the biggest hits of this collection. This shade is incredibly difficult to properly capture in pictures; described as “mint crème hydrangea”, I say it’s closer to baby aqua that leans more blue than green, but again, that depends on the light and angle you’re coming from. I found the formula to be excellent and had no patchy issues to deal with whatsoever (unlike Essie’s Mint Candy Apple which always seems to apply rather chalky on me). All I know, is that I’m bsolutely loving Blossom Dandy and its mix of cool and warm tones should make it a winner for all skin tones across the board.

Petal Pushers | Lord, I do love me a good grey and Petal Pushers is pushing ALL my buttons. The formula here has a jelly-esque feel; slightly springy, ridiculously glossy, and leaving that plush look behind. Described as a “smoky stone rose” (how utterly romantic – I love the imagery of that description), I detect hints of blue and some mauve-y purple in the base, which lend this colour depth and keep it from appearing flat and one-dimensional. Perfection, I tell you.

Flowerista | Described as a “passionate plum dahlia”, I would have to agree – except I’d also add magenta in there as well. The formula is beyond amazing and can literally be a one coat wonder (especially if you load your brush up right), with a perfect flow, density and coverage – as well as a high-gloss shine at the finish (you don’t even need top coat, it’s THAT shiny). Once again, capturing all the colour nuances here proved difficult, as Flowerista can appear more purplish at some angles/lighting, or more pink-tinted at others. Either way, it’s gorgeous. Best part? Non-staining upon removal.

Garden Variety | Let’s just take a collective moment to absorb the gorgeousness of this colour, shall we? Sigh. Described as an “exotic teal blue orchid”, Garden Variety is all that — and more. An intense turquoise hue in a hybrid crème-jelly formula, there is a perfect density, opacity, and flow seen upon application, while the glossy finish is nothing less than spectacular. I detect more blue tints in the base, although there are small hints of green that peek through at certain angles (and yes, you would not believe how hard it was to accurately capture the colour in photos here as well – my camera just would.not.cooperate), all of which make this shade universally wearable by all skin tones. While relatively non-staining upon removal (relative to something so pigment-saturated in this colour group), I would not recommend skipping base coat just the same. Love, love, love this shade. Love.

A floral-inspired collection for Spring – how original, right? And yet, somehow Essie has managed to take this ubiquitous theme, shake it up, and then inject some new life into it. It doesn’t hurt that each and every formula of each and every shade is just perfect and make application fun, instead of a chore. With the exception of Perennial Chic (although I am oddly attracted to it, even if I’m not that thrilled with how it looks on me. So weird, that), I adore them all, with a 3-way tie between Blossom Dandy, Petal Pushers, and Garden Variety vying for top spot while both Flowerista and Picked Perfect are not that far behind. Final verdict: this entire collection is 100% win and well worth investing in.

Press samples provided for my unbiased consideration

Urban Decay | Naked Illuminated in Aura

February 3, 2015

Urban Decay, the brand that has mastered the art of ‘naked-ness’, has recently released Aura Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body, a shimmery confection to help turn “faking it” into a good thing, and give you that patented ∗wink, wink∗ Naked glow – or just some strategically placed highlighting, if you prefer.

Aura Naked Illuminated (CAN $35.00)

The details: A rose-gold shimmery powder for face and body that is ‘baked on a terra cotta disc for 24 hours, then finished by hand – baking the powder gives it a high level of just-perfect shimmer and provides the colour payoff of a loose powder but with the convenience of a pressed powder‘. Generously sized and mounded for ease of use, the box is covered in a fabric that has a suede-like feel, closes securely with a magnetic clasp, bears a decent-sized mirror on the inner lid (along with a lovely marbleized pattern on the interior of the box) and has a separate compartment under the powder which houses a demi-lune synthetic haired brush.

What it does: This is an ultra-finely milled powder that is meant to be obvious; you can forget about any subtle highlighting here, as Aura is definitely an in-your-face type of product. But before dismissing this as “too damn sparkly”, I’m of the opinion that even shimmer-phobes can make this work – all you need is either a fan brush or a dual-fibred stippling brush, either of which can pick up a light amount of Aura’s fine powder quite easily (you don’t want to start with a lot), with the long & finer hairs that are typical of these types of brushes, and which effectively ‘trap’ the larger glitter/shimmer pieces. This method of application results in significantly less of the shimmery bits being deposited on your skin, a good tip to keep in mind if you own any other glittery face powders but have been avoiding using them for fear of the dreaded disco-ball effect.

My thoughts: I happen to be a bit of a highlighting fiend and love a touch of glow to my makeup look as I feel it opens & brightens up the face. That being said, the rose-gold colour of Aura works highly in its favour, as it provides a more natural-looking tone (sounds oxymoronic to describe shimmer as ‘natural-looking’, but that’s in comparison to cooler hued highlighters that can sometimes come off as too frosty). The powder itself is quite finely milled and magically does NOT seem to emphasize pores, and while the glitter pieces are visible, they are also the first to fade, all of which leaves the gorgeous glowy effect of the powder behind (TIP: you can also use a flat-topped kabuki style brush to buff Aura in and thus remove any large glitter pieces that way, as well as providing a more seamless look of this powder along the skin). Staying power was about right for this type of product, lasting about 8 hours before fading away.

Urban Decay | Aura Naked Illuminated

Peruse any beauty/fashion magazine, watch any red-carpet event/award show, or scroll through social media feeds, and you can’t help but be mesmerized by the artfully-placed glow certain makeup looks display, all courtesy of highlighting products. Cream, gel, and liquid highlighters are all perfect for giving a more subtle luminosity, but when a bit more emphasis is need, nothing works better than a light dusting of a powder as radiant as Aura. And while slightly more glittery than I usually prefer, it all still seems to nevertheless come together beautifully, most likely because of that gorgeous rose-gold base.

Available now at Sephora, Sephora.ca and select Shopper’s Drug Mart/Pharmaprix locations (Canada). Find more information via www.urbandecay.com