Giorgio Armani Beauty | Orient Excess Palette

The limited edition Orient Excess Palette (CAN $98.00) from the Giorgio Armani Beauty Holiday 2014 Collection, draws its inspiration from the Far East snowy steppes, featuring a blue lacquered compact that holds an evanescent face powder in the upper pan, with a trio of lush eyeshadows on the lower level. Sweetening the deal, this palette also comes with a matching luxurious midnight blue velvet pouch, complete with silver hardware. Clever, Mr. Armani … making it so easy for us ladies to be party-ready.

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Orient Excess Palette with Velvet Pouch

Orient Excess Palette face powder, limited edition | With a star constellation pattern embossed on its surface, this luminous face powder is so exquisitely and finely milled, that it almost disappears into the skin. Meant to impart a “Winter glow” (those words make me think of Imperial Russia, palaces, and moonlit carriage rides … so different from the “Winter Windburn” I’ve often experienced here), this porcelain shade actually applies quite translucently and can be easily buffed into the skin as a finishing touch. I detect the slightest hint of pale peach that lends this powder a bit of warmth, making it wearable for fair-medium complexions as well, although darker skinned types might find this shade a touch ashy. While there is no detectable shimmer, there does seem to be the most subtle gleam (but you really need to be angled properly and in the right lighting to actually catch it), which makes this powder ideal for those looking for an understated highlighter. Staying power is hard to judge (as is trying to capture this shade in photos – the swatches below were applied with a very heavy hand) due to its ultra-fine texture, but I experience no oxidation throughout the wearing.

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Orient Excess Palette, face powder

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Orient Excess Palette, face powder swatches

Orient Excess Palette eyeshadows, limited edition | With the face powder drawing inspiration from a snowy landscape, the colours and textures of this trio of eyeshadows are influenced by luxurious animal pelts, namely: mink, chinchilla, and sable. Developed with the “Fur Colour Pearls” technology (laughter at the name aside) – or pearls of various shapes and sizes (almost microscopic, of course), all three shades bear an incredibly soft texture, unbelievable pigmentation, complex shiny/matte/iridescent gleam, and absolutely sublime blendability. Applying these eyeshadows with a damp brush not only yields a deeper look to each shade, but significantly enhances their internal shimmer. I was actually unprepared for how saturated each colour applies, and so I caution you to start with a light hand and add more as needed. There’s such a depth and lush richness of tone to each shade that makes them multi-faceted and almost 3-dimensional, that I totally get the whole wild animal connection – these are fiercely beautiful eye shadows. Staying power on primed lids: perfection, lasting intact until removed.

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Orient Excess Palette, eyeshadow trio

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Orient Excess Palette, eyeshadow trio swatched dry

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Orient Excess Palette, eyeshadow trio swatched damp

My first thought upon laying eyes on the face powder portion of the Orient Excess Palette, was “how beautiful” followed by “but it’s so white”. That quickly changed to “how beautiful & how wearable” once I began playing around with it – although on my skin tone, I prefer applying this powder mainly to the high planes of my face (tops of cheekbones, forehead, cupid’s bow), as opposed to all over. The eyeshadows of this palette have got to be some of the absolute best powder eyeshadows I’ve ever come across and have colours that definitely transcend the seasons. Seriously, I can’t extoll their virtues enough – they need to be seen & experienced in person. The crowning touch is the stunning little blue velvet pouch with its old-world glamour, perfect for the party/holiday circuit and will guarantee to garner as much attention as the palette itself. In my opinion, this is one of the rare holiday/limited edition gift sets that you should not pass up on – fair warning.

Available now, but limited edition. Find more information by visiting www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

NUDESTIX | #GILTYLOVE Holiday Kit

December 16, 2014

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting the awesome girls (and their mom) behind one of the beauty world’s up-and-coming brands, NUDESTIX™ (read previous review here), where I was not only able to sit down and chat with them all, but also get the scoop on some of their upcoming launches (reviews coming).

As someone who has been obsessed with beauty from a young age (as in: from the womb, to hear my mother tell it) I love it when I’m introduced to a product that happens to not only work (and beautifully at that), but that looks good … for me, it’s all about the details.

The limited edition #GILTYLOVE Holiday Kit, (CAN $55.00 – an $84.00 value) from NUDESTIX™ comes with three of their best-selling Magnetic Eye Color pencils in Gilt, Twilight, and Night (with an included sharpener), in the brand’s signature tin case (that also holds a full-sized mirror on the inner lid) that’s been given a new – and collectible – look by Toronto live, pop, & abstract artist Jessica Gorlicky.

What makes these pencils so incredible, apart from their cast-iron staying power and how ridiculously easy they are to use, is primarily the founders behind the brand; both Taylor and Ally are girls that truly epitomize their ‘Go Nude But Better’ motto and have translated that into an ever-growing range of products that are designed to do just that: help you look your best, in as natural and fuss-free way possible. Add to the equation my new-found obsession with beauty pencils, and we definitely have a winning formula here.

With Taylor (to my left) and Ally (on my right)

With super-mom & total beauty, Jenny Frankel

NUDESTIX™ | #GILTYLOVE Holiday Kit

Gilt Magnetic Eye Color | A warm gold hue – this lustrous colour shows just enough pink in its base that will make it workable on fair complexions as well. This is perfect worn as a light wash along the mobile lid to brighten the entire eye area, or go ahead and add some quick drama by applying Gilt more opaquely along the lower lash line. Tip: makes a fabulous highlighter for the cupid’s bow of the lips, provided you blend it out well.

NUDESTIX™ | Gilt Magnetic Eye Color

Night Magnetic Eye Color | A deep midnight black hue when worn thickly/opaque, but that can also be blended out for a smokier finish (you do need to work quickly, because once the colour sets, any blending is out of the question). Not all black pencils are made equal, so the seriously intense ebony pigmentation of Night makes this one of the most standout black eye shades I own. Tip: works incredibly well applied to the waterline/lower inner lash line – mega staying & non-smudging power when worn this way.

NUDESTIX™ | Night Magnetic Eye Color

Twilight Magnetic Eye Color | Much like black, taupe is the other colour that should be an absolute staple in your makeup drawer, and Twilight is that perfect mix of both cool and warm tones that makes it so totally wearable by all complexions across the spectrum. For a unique and lighter take on a smokey eye, apply this shade along the lid then lightly smudge it all in — finish off by adding more and deepening the outer edges and along the lash line. Easy-peasy.

NUDESTIX™ | Twilight Magnetic Eye Color

Ordinarily, I steer clear of pre-packaged beauty sets, but I happily make an exception for this NUDESTIX™ #GILTYLOVE Holiday Kit. I love how well-curated the selection of shades are, making them useful as well as wearable, while the impressive staying power of these pencils is unlike anything I’ve come across before; seriously, I even tested them while showering, and they did.not.budge. One last bonus: tell me this trio wouldn’t make an absolutely awesome Christmas stocking stuffer? Just passing along an idea …

Available now through select Sephora and Space NK stores/online, find more information on the brand by visiting www.nudestix.com

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Urban Decay | Vice 3 Eyeshadow Palette

December 12, 2014

Product sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Having a vice is not always a bad thing; case in point is Vice 3 (CAN $70.00), the latest eyeshadow palette to be released from Urban Decay, which contains 20 never-before-seen shades (fun fact: 50 new hues were created — 20 made the cut) in a slim metal compact that also comes with a dual-ended synthetic fibre eyeshadow brush, AND a matching zippered fabric sleeve. Not too shabby, huh?

Created with Urban Decay‘s Pigment Infusion System™, this is a proprietary blend of ingredients that lends these shades “velvety texture, rich colour, serious staying power and blendability”. The slim profile metal tin bears a mirror-like surface with a hypnotic colour wash and lime/green/neon jewel-like raised lettering in the middle, while the inside lid actually holds a full-sized mirror. The matching zippered fabric case is not only perfect for storing the palette, but also makes for a cool-looking makeup bag. The included synthetic fibre dual ended brush works surprisingly quite well, although I always prefer using my own brushes with all eyeshadows.

With the entire array of colours clearly depicted on the back cover of the box, it should be stated that the colours of the photo do NOT do these shades true justice, as they are so much more intense, vibrant, and rich when viewed in person.

The majority of textures fall towards the shimmery side, with only 2 true matte shades, a few satin-mattes, some pearl, and even a few micro-glitter, although what Urban Decay calls micro-glitter seems to me more of a reflective (and even close to duo chrome-like) sheen, definitely far from the chunky variety one usually associates with that term. The shades have been arranged vertically in user-friendly colour groupings (5 columns) but we all know by now that there are no rules when it comes to eyeshadow: let your imagination be your guide – mix & match at will. All are highly saturated pigment-wise and display excellent blendability, with overall staying power (on primed lids) lasting easily 9 hours + before any fading; the darkest shades all wear like iron – truly outstanding.

Urban Decay | Vice 3 Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay | Vice 3 Eyeshadow Palette, dual-ended brush

Urban Decay | Vice 3 Eyeshadow Palette

Truth – light Barbie-skin pink, matte
Undone – nude/tan, satin/matte with subtle tonal floating pearl (huh?)
Downfall – light brown/camel, matte
DTF – taupe/mink brown, matte with subtle floating pearl

Dragon – emerald, metallic shimmer
Freeze – teal, metallic shimmer with multidimensional micro-glitter (which I don’t see)
Heroine – blackened navy, satin/matte with subtle floating tonal pearl
Brokedown – gold/bronze brown, metallic shimmer & gold micro-glitter (LOVE)

Vanity – smoky violet, metallic shimmer & multidimensional micro-glitter
Lucky – gleaming copper, metallic
Reign – milk chocolate, pearlized satin
Bobby Dazzle – icy white with a golden gleam, metallic & pale gold micro-glitter

Alien – true pink, pearlized satin with a subtle peach/gold shift
Alchemy – berry, satin
Bondage – blackened burgundy, shimmer
Sonic – fiery copper/pink shift, metallic (unbelievable pigmentation)

Last Sin – champagne-nude, shimmer with silver micro-glitter
Angel – light taupe, satin shimmer (& silver micro-glitter)
Defy – smoky grey-brown, satin/matte
Revolver – soft black, satin & subtle blue iridescence

I’ve never been a fan of large eyeshadow palettes, probably because of the potential for shades to transfer into each other, but every now & then I’ll make exceptions. Having made their stamp in the world of beauty with their Naked palettes (and all the accompanying spin-offs), Urban Decay has upped the ante with the introduction of this new formulation, and what makes the Vice 3 palette so interesting (at least, to me), is the wide range of colours – from subtle & understated, vibrant & jewel-like, to smoky & sultry, enabling you to create a variety of looks with literally just one palette. Plus, it makes a really awesome Christmas gift, no?

Available now but limited edition, find more information by visiting www.urbandecay.com

Uniprix | Nail Polish Beauty Calendar

December 9, 2014

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Tis the season … and for fans of beauty products, that usually means a plethora of gift sets flooding the market – and while some of these sets can be total duds, every once in a while something fun comes along: enter the Nail Polish Beauty Calendar from Québec drugstore retailer, Uniprix.

At (CAN) $39.99, this advent calendar holds 24-6ml bottles of nail polish in a range of colours – from bold & vibrant, edgy, neutral & sophisticated, as well as a variety of finishes (shimmer, crème, holographic, glitter). The best part (as well as hardest, at least for me) is opening up each daily door to find the treasure within – I’m so tempted to jump ahead and see what’s next!

Perfect for grown up beauty fans, as well as budding nailistas, the Beauty Calendar nail polishes are free from formaldehydes, parabens, Toluene, camphor, sulphates, synthetic pigments and fragrance, while the colours they come in transcend the seasons, turning this into the gift that keeps on giving, wouldn’t you agree?

Available now for the holidays (while supply lasts), find more information by visiting www.uniprix.com

Holt Renfrew x Rebecca Minkoff Beauty Bag

December 9, 2014

This year, Holt Renfrew has teamed up with designer Rebecca Minkoff, to create 2 versions of their coveted Beauty Bag: one in gunmetal (seen here), and the other in gold. Released each year as a limited edition item, this bag retails for CAN $50.00 (valued at more than $125.00) and makes for a fabulous – as well as practical – gift, as you not only get the oversized beauty bag, but also a matching smaller travel sized-bag, amazing beauty samples AND a $25.00 voucher that can be applied towards future beauty purchases.

The gunmetal Beauty Bag I was sent, bears a rich & lustrous pewter brilliance, a small silver-coloured lock charm (with quite a nice heft to it, I might add) that doubles as a zipper pull, a matching loop to carry it by, and sports four small “feet” on the underside to protect the bottom from touching any surface it’s placed upon. Measuring 10″ x 7″ x 4.75″ (at its widest point), the bag is generously sized, bears an inside zip pocket for smaller items, as well as being fully lined in a Rebecca Minkoff pattern. The smaller matching bag measures 6.5″ x 2″ x 2″ and is perfect for holding liners, travel-sized brushes, or other small/narrow beauty items.

Sweetening the deal, are the deluxe-sized beauty samples: a well-curated selection of skincare, fragrance, haircare, and beauty products that were personally selected by Rebecca Minkoff, and make for a great introduction to brands/products you’ve never tried before, as well as excellent travel essentials. I’m personally really looking forward to trying out the RéVive Glycolic Renewal Peel, having heard so many great things about it. And who says no to a $25.00 beauty voucher?