Dior 5 Couleurs | 796 Cuir Cannage

One of 12 new 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes recently released by Dior (previously reviewed: Bar, Carré Bleu, Rose Tutu, Pied-de-Poule and Trafalgar), 796 Cuir Cannage is a gorgeous grouping of totally wearbable neutral hues. Even with the recent glut of similarly toned palettes flooding the market lately, 796 Cuir Cannage still manages to somehow stand out, and I’ll go on record as saying that the buttery texture of each shade definitely has something to do with that.

Dior 5 Couleurs | 796 Cuir Cannage

796 Cuir Cannage (CAN $61.00) | Each 5 Couleurs palette is created to be a ‘wardrobe for the eyes’, with the centre shade acting as the anchor. The top 2 lighter shades are perfect for casual and/or daytime wear, while the 2 deeper hued bottom shades add depth and drama. Just as Dior fashion spotlights a variety of textural effects, the same concept has been applied to the eyeshadow palettes, combining matte, satin, iridescent and occasionally glitter textures, depending on the palette chosen. The bottom label shows a small pictogram of the colours within, and even the included brushes are of decent enough quality to be used in emergency situations. As an added bonus, all 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes can be applied either dry or with a dampened brush to amp up the intensity. The shades of Cuir Cannage (clockwise, starting from the top left):

brown/mauve (satin) with subtle plum iridescence
parchment/bone (pearlized) with subtle grey/pink pearl
blackened brown (matte/satin hybrid)
warm bronze (satin/shimmer hybrid) with incredibly complex shimmer
camel (matte)

The texture of each shade is absolutely stellar – no chalkiness or powdery residue visible when swirling my brushes across any of them them. The top right shade is quite subtle on me, but is perfect to be used on the inner eye corner or as a brow bone highlighter. All are easily buildable, and there’s excellent colour saturation even with the first swipe. The darkest shade is surprisingly not as intense as what you see in the pan, and gives a sooty charcoal-like effect (perfect for creating a smokey eye look). I found that every single one of these hues not only compliments each other so perfectly – which translates as numerous colour combinations to play with – but all blend so easily as well. Staying power is excellent: over primed lids, I was able to get a minimum of 10 hours wear, without any signs of fading or creasing.

Dior 5 Couleurs | 796 Cuir Cannage

Dior 5 Couleurs | 796 Cuir Cannage (with flash)

Dior 5 Couleurs | 796 Cuir Cannage, swatched dry

Dior 5 Couleurs | 796 Cuir Cannage, swatched with a damp brush

I opted to compare 796 Cuir Cannage to other smaller similarly toned palettes in my collection (I didn’t bother with palettes that had more than 5 shades – that would have taken me weeks to go through it all), with 4 CHANEL quads showing the most promise. Apart from the difference in number of shades (5 vs 4), here are the breakdowns (click to enlarge):

CHANEL 226 Tissé Rivoli – closes in overall tone/colour, more shimmer, no mattes
CHANEL 234 Poésie – cooler leaning, significantly more shimmer, no mattes

Dior 5 Couleurs | 796 Cuir Cannage and comparsion swatches

CHANEL 34 Éclosion – overall more pink toned, sheerer textures
CHANEL 42 Séduction – darkest & shades similar, sheerer textures

Dior 5 Couleurs | 796 Cuir Cannage and comparsion swatches

In short, 796 Cuir Cannage is total love for me and an absolute must have, especially if you’re a fan of neutral shades, as I am. Everything is just right with this palette: from the colours of the shades and the many combinations you can create with just this one palette, to the textures and its portability – most useful when travelling and you don’t want to lug your entire vanity with you.

Available through all Dior counters nationwide. Find more information here.

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

LANCÔME | LIP LOVER #362 BORDEAUX TEMPO

October 27, 2014

There’s something about deep berry lip shades that just say ‘Fall’ to me, but with my colouring, it’s not always easy to pull them off. A highly pigmented lip gloss such as Lancôme’s Lip Lover in 362 Bordeaux Tempo, provides that intense colour I’m looking for in a lightweight yet highly moisturizing format, and with somewhat less commitment on my part, application-wise.

Lancôme Lip Lover | 362 Bordeaux Tempo

362 Bordeaux Tempo (CAN $29.00) | A rich oxblood hue with ultra fine shimmer that you can see in the tube, but which translates to the barest hint of shimmer once applied. This is a cooler leaning shade, but can still be worn equally well by those with warmer complexions (no need to fear it closing with your skin tone).

All Lip Lover tubes have a transparent panel so you can see the colour you’re getting, and bear a button in front for easy 1-click opening & closing and which also acts as a safety feature to prevent the cap from ever opening up on its own (and winding in the bottom of your purse/makeup bag/makeup drawer/etc). There is no discernible scent, and what little I do pick up, seems fairly neutral and pleasant. The wand is relatively short and bears a sponge applicator shaped flat on its sides (excellent for applying broader swipes of colour) and a rounded point at the tip for more precision work.

The formula is a mix of: balm, lipstick & gloss, with an ultra creamy and buttery soft texture that enables it to literally glide along the lips. The deep shade of 362 Bordeaux Tempo (as seen in the tube) applies initially slightly more translucent and at first swipe, you can clearly see its grape undertones. The shade is layer able to a certain degree, but don’t expect the opacity of a similarly coloured lipstick. Staying power is 2-pronged; when the majority of gloss has faded (around the 3.5 hour mark on me), I’m still left with colour on my lips along with a very quenched & moisturized feel. The secondary effect, is that the stain left behind in fact will most likely remain until removed – an impressive feature when considering that this is a gloss. Another bonus: with a colour this deep, I expected some feathering and bleeding into surrounding lip lines (which hit at about the 4-hour mark on me), and hardly noticeable overall.

Lancôme Lip Lover | 362 Bordeaux Tempo (1-click closure)

Lancôme Lip Lover | 362 Bordeaux Tempo

Lip gloss has come a long way from the Bonne Bell days of clear & flavoured roller-balls (anyone remember those?) and I must say that all brands have definitely stepped up their gloss game. The trend now is for this new type of format: basically, a liquid lip product that displays a high pigment level, is über-glossy as well as long-lasting, and delivers a highly moisturizing feel. Lancôme’s 362 Bordeaux Tempo scores high on all counts, and while not opaque per se, it still gives a gorgeous surge of colour – enough to satisfy most of my Fall lip cravings.

Available through all Lancôme counters nationwide , find more information here.

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

My Dermalogica skincare experience

October 27, 2014

This past August, I took part in a media event held at the Dermalogica flagship store in Montréal (reviewed here) where we were given a preview of their latest products and I was able to learn a bit more about this brand. A few weeks ago, I was invited back to personally experience their flagship ‘Dermalogica® Skin Treatment‘ (CAN $95.00/60 minutes) – a facial session that can be tailored and customized to suit each client’s individual needs. Let me also state here, that this was the first ‘real’ facial treatment I’ve had since my mid teens – and while I may have been a little anxious to start with, after this experience, I can honestly say that I am planning on making this a regular feature in my life.

Each Dermalogica® Skin Treatment includes:

professional double cleansing
exfoliation
high frequency or Galvanic modalities
extractions (as needed)
masque
toner
skin protection

You can also further customize this treatment with a Touch Therapy session (CAN $15.00/15 minutes), that can include:

pressure point: face
reflex point: foot
age reversal: face
stress relief: back
stress relief: scalp
stress relief: hand and arm

The store is located in the centre of historic Old Montréal, with a charmingly understated yet lovely minimalist storefront. Upon entering, I was warmly greeted and after taking a look through the full range of retail products available that are displayed on shelves along the store’s walls, Jessica, the technician who was to perform my treatment, came to introduce herself and I was then directed to fill out a short questionnaire prior to starting (mandatory).

The treatment takes place in a private room that sits one level above & overlooks the rest of the store, with fully screened privacy features and your choice of music to set the mood, as well as relaxing ambient lighting. After changing into the sarong-style robe provided (there’s a comfy leather chair placed for your convenience & hangers for clothing, as well as trays to place your jewelry in), I lay down on the treatment bed and opted to be ‘cocooned’ (where my arms were tucked into the sheets as well – optional, in the event you like your arms free).

Throughout the entire treatment, every step of the various procedures were thoroughly explained to me and Jessica made sure that my comfort level remained constant the entire time (even through the extraction process upon my nose and chin – which is so NOT fun, but what a major difference it ultimately made; those areas of my face were basically visible-pore-free for the first time in ages). Upon completion, I don’t know what I was expecting, but I was certainly unprepared to see my skin glowing and looking brighter & more vibrant than ever. Before leaving, Jessica sat down with me at the store’s ‘Skin Bar‘ (this is where you can try all the products on offer, before committing to any one particular item) and detailed what Dermalogica products I would get the most benefit from, in my case: exfoliating products. My treatment also included 2 full products of my choice (I need to confirm whether this is the standard practice; if so, it’s one amazing deal) and I left that day with the Daily Resurfacing Cleanser and the Daily Microfoliant (reviews to come).

Something tells me that a new addiction has just been created: the luxury facial.

A huge thank you to Dermalogica for providing me with this wonderful service

This December, I will have the pleasure – accompanied by the lovely Jessica of Westmount Fashionista (who also happens to be married to my nephew!) – of hosting a wonderful and informative private event at the Montréal Dermalogica store, where our guests will be given the opportunity to learn more about this brand and their amazing products, as well as leave with fabulous gifts … but not before enjoying the delectable goodies that will be provided! I will be updating with full details once everything is set – but believe me, this is an event that is NOT to be missed.

Dermalogica (Montréal), 132 rue McGill, Montréal, Qc H2Y 2E5 Tel: 514.871.3003 email: peausaine@dermalogica.ca for an appointment

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Eye & Brow Maestro N° 2 Wenge Wood

October 26, 2014

Giorgio Armani Beauty recently introduced their first ever eyeshadow cream product, Eye & Brow Maestro (CAN $39.00), available in 9 shades. With subtle hints of iridescence in all but one (N° 9 Gold, a light and slightly transparent golden hue), these are truly a multi-purpose product and can be worn on the eyes as either shadow or liner, used to fill in & colour the brows, and depending on the shade, the Eye & Brow Maestro can even be used as a sculpting product for the face. In a pinch, they can even be used along the hairline for those between-colouring occasions.

Inspired by backstage makeup and developed using ground-breaking as well as cutting-edge technology, here’s what Linda Cantello (International Make-Up Artist Giorgio Armani Beauty) has to say about the Eye & Brow Maestro:

“I wanted to offer women an innovative product inspired by my needs backstage at Giorgio Armani fashion shows, a product that does it all, that would be fast and faultless when applied, long lasting, and fault proof”

I was sent N° 2 Wenge Wood to try out (I did not receive the accompanying brush), a rather deep mousy brown hue, that surprisingly turned out to be a very good match for my brows (even though my hair colour is a pale icy blonde, I prefer to keep a deeper tone on my brows – this way, my face doesn’t appear washed out).

~~French actress Marion Cotillard, spokesperson for~~ Giorgio Armani Beauty with a look created using Eye & Brow Maestro

CORRECTION: The above model (who happens to look eerily like Marion Cotillard) is in fact Diane Moldivan, as pointed out to me by a couple of my keen-eyed readers!

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Eye & Brow Maestro

Working closely with experts from hair care laboratories, the Eye & Brow Maestro was created to look more like natural hair (the reason behind the subtle iridescence in the formula), as opposed to other brow products – whether pencil or creams – that look matte and therefore flat when applied.

A waterless and clay-based cream, the Eye & Brow Maestro contains waxes selected for their ‘different melting points, creating a texture similar to a mousse’, a silky resin with a patented new generation ‘elastic flex polymer’ that boasts a 20-hour hold claim (not sure if I’ll ever want to wear makeup THAT long to test that particular claim out), a blend of three volatile oils selected for their varying drying times and levels of pigment, as well as ‘glass and mica pearls’ which reproduce and mimic the natural shine of hair, as well as synthetic mica that are colourless, translucent pearlisers meant to boost the shine of the 9 shades.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Eye & Brow Maestro makeup brush

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Eye & Brow Maestro

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Eye & Brow Maestro: one product, 2 distinct looks

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Eye & Brow Maestro shade selection

N° 2 Wenge Wood (CAN $36.00) | A rich grey brown hue with mauve undertones in the base. The texture is dense but super creamy and the level of pigmentation is definitely high – a little goes a very long way, especially if using this shade along the brows. I can’t detect any discernible scent, which is a plus, especially for anyone with sensitivities (unfortunately, I’m unable to show ingredients, as my press sample came without packaging). This waterproof product bears a ‘dual-transformation’ texture: solid to liquid to solid; the solid cream apparently becomes liquid on application, then sets to a solid finish once the oils have evaporated. The cream part I can definitely attest to, although I can’t say I picked up on any liquid tendencies (perhaps the brand’s definition varies from mine), and with regards to it setting, you have a few minutes of play before it does dry down. I am able to blend it out easily before it does set without the need for excessive tugging or pulling along the skin, and this formula is also buildable, giving you layering options. Once dry, it literally stays put until removed (I prefer a dual-phase makeup remover such as the one by Neutrogena, to do the job).

As eyeshadow: for a more intense tone, I prefer using a flat synthetic haired brush for application, as the product stays at the surface level of the brush; there is a tendency for cream shadows to clump up when applied with natural haired brushes. For a smokey look, I follow up with a natural bristled blending brush to smooth out any harsh edges. Alternately, using your finger to dab and spread along the lids, yields a lighter wash of colour.

As liner: can be used in the same manner as any other cream or gel liner

As a brow shade: I prefer to use a stiff angled brow brush to lightly fill in any sparser areas, as well as provide shape and definition to my overall brow shape, then follow up with a spoolie brush to blend everything in and give a more natural-looking shape to my brows.

Face sculpting/contouring: I haven’t tried using the Eye & Brow Maestro in this capacity yet, so I can’t really comment, although my experience with this brand makes me feel confident that it should work amazing this way as well.

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Eye & Brow Maestro N° 2 Wenge Wood

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Eye & Brow Maestro N° 2 Wenge Wood swatches

backstage application of the Eye & Brow Maestro

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Eye & Brow Maestro

When I was younger, I had had lush, fuller brows that bordered on unibrow status. Then the 80’s and their pencil thin eyebrow shape hit – a trend that I embraced and now have come to deeply regret (RIP, full brows). Since your brows act as the ‘frame’ for the rest of your face, the sparse skinny brow look may work for an editorial shoot, but not in real life. To that end, I combat the issue with a variety of products – from pencils, eyeshadow, and even those specialized brow-mascaras, as rarely does one method give me that fully defined yet still natural look I aim for. The Brow & Eye Maestro is truly genius and one I’ve been turning to over and over again to shape and enhance my brows, with a minimum investment in time and labour. As a shadow, N° 2 Wenge Wood is superb and definitely a must for beauty lovers (yet another use: as a layering base for eyeshadow). As a brow shade, I suggest looking over the selection in person and the general rule of thumb is to go with a colour that’s a couple of degrees deeper than your hair tone.

Available now through Holt Renfrew and select The Bay stores (Canada). For more information, visit the website.

Press sample provided by Giorgio Armani Beauty for my consideration

CHANEL | ROUGE ALLURE GLOSS in Exotique, Sensible, Audace & Séduction

October 25, 2014

Set to replace the Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss format, CHANEL has just launched the new Rouge Allure Gloss (CAN $40.00 each). Here in Canada, we received 9 shades, with 8 staying in the permanent range (#20 Audace is limited edition). Surprisingly, there were no nudes represented, although I know that 10 shades have been released in the US (with #20 Audace listed as limited edition for that market as well), which does include a nude (see Sabrina of The Beauty Look Book’s review here).

CHANEL glosses have always ranked as some of my favourites – even those of the sheerer variety – for a number of reasons, starting from how well the applicator picks up just the right amount of product from the tube, their long-lasting yet non-sticky feel, the gorgeous gloss they all impart, and how soft my lips feel once the gloss has worn off.

This new format is a more than a worthy successor to CHANEL’s Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss. These glosses come in a large tube encased in the brand’s signature black lacquer and bear gold initialled caps with a colour-coded label on the bottom. The cap is the clickable pop-up type, similar to that found on CHANEL’s Rouge Allure Lipsticks; after clicking on the top, I advise allowing the cap to rise on its own, and for the first couple of times, remove the wand from the tube slowly, in order to avoid accidentally splattering any gloss (as I did) on surrounding surfaces.

The formula feels a touch thick, but applies smoothly and adheres well to lips, without emphasizing lip lines. Initially, I picked up on the signature CHANEL rose scent, but it appears to fade almost immediately. Bearing in mind that these are glosses, their pigment level is excellent, with wear time averaging about 3 hours on me for the lightest shades and approximately 5 hours with the deeper hues. The sponge applicator has a flat wide surface that’s perfect for larger areas of the lips, or turned along one of its sides for more precision work. With one swipe and then a quick press of the lips, you get a sheerer, more translucent wash of colour. Multiple passes deepen the hue, as well as provide more longevity. Either way, I did not experience any feathering or bleeding into surrounding lip lines – even with the darkest shades.

On the day these launched, my CHANEL counter had a fabulous promotion: with the purchase of 3 products, I also received a signature pochette in glossy red (that happens to be the perfect size for storing these glosses), as well as a luxe sample of #18 Séduction, which turned out to be a great way for me to fully test out one of the brighter shades in this range (and yes, I will be going back for the full size).

#12 Exotique – soft apricot
#15 Sensible – baby pink
#18 Séduction (large sample size) – berry red
#20 Audace (LE) – plum/raisin

*PS: This is my first post on my blog’s new look – Feel free to let me know how you like it!

CHANEL | Rouge Allure Gloss

CHANEL | Rouge Allure Gloss, pop-up closure feature

CHANEL | Rouge Allure Gloss

CHANEL | Rouge Allure Gloss #12 Exotique

CHANEL | Rouge Allure Gloss #15 Sensible

CHANEL | Rouge Allure Gloss #20 Audace (Limited Edition)

CHANEL | Rouge Allure Gloss (luxe sample size) #18 Séduction

Overall, I am absolutely in love with the CHANEL Rouge Allure Gloss formula, and as always, the brand has definitely delivered with regards to packaging and quality. My only complaint is that the shade range seems to be rather limited (for now), with a more than higher concentration of reds & pinks, than neutrals although I really do hope they come out with more colours soon – or at the very least, add a nude like #11 Sensuel to the Canadian lineup. Most definitely a luxury priced lip gloss, but I do recommend looking them over as you certainly get your money’s worth.