L'Oreal Colour Caresse by Colour Riche Swatches

Is it me or have you seen a lot of brands coming out with new lip products within the past 6 months! L'oreal Colour Caresse by Colour Riche was one of my favourite products of 2012!

I was asked on twitter if I could swatch some of the other colours.

Let me know which one is your favourite!

Suggested retail for each lipstick is around $12.99. Look out for my Color Riche Caresse Shine Stain Lip Colors swatches later this month.

Buy it now:
Canada
USA

Redken Smooth Lock + Giveaway!

Right now the cold weather in Canada is taking a toll on me. As a Beauty Blogger, thankfully I have the tools to nurse my skin & hair back to health (I'll share some other products with you in another post). Right now, my issue is how dry my hair is. I'm happy that I had the opportunity to try out the new smooth lock line from Redken.

NEW Smooth Lock, Redken’s latest haircare innovation, includes an exclusive semi-permanent salon service that seals in frizz-free manageability and smoothness that last up to 10 shampoos! At home, heat-activated formulas deeply nourish and protect to extend the service results by 3 shampoos**! Unfortunately Smooth Lock is not recommended for bleached or chemically relaxed hair.

Canadians! 

What is your current situation?

Redken can help!

Do you need volume? Is your hair fine? Or bleached?

Redken is giving one lucky Spiced Beauty Reader the opportunity to cure 
their hair woes this Winter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Bio Sculpture Gel Nails Experience

I try my best to be up on the latest nail art and innovations.
On December 1, I had the opportunity to try out Bio Sculpture Gel Nails.

Bio Sculpture Gel is a one component nail treatment that strengthens and promotes the growth of natural nails. Applied onto a prepared nail our product cures under a UVA light, leaving the nail strong but flexible with a natural glossy finish.

Whenever it gets cold, my nails start to chip. I will admit, I do not take enough care as I should to prevent breakage. As you can see here my nails are REALLY uneven. Before my appointment, I cut my nails down to a manageable length.

I decided to get sculpted gel extensions added to my nails and I loved the outcome.

I've never had any type of process done to my nails before but it was safe!

No dust or horrible smelling chemicals needed.

Does that look sooo natural!

My favourite part about the process was how there were no drills! That was my biggest fear.. 

I didn't want my nails to be filed down so thin that they would lose their strength. 

It's hard to explain but people who have had acrylics done know exactly what I'm talking about.

After the extensions were applied, we started the colour process. Non-chip Nail Colour Gel was applied to each nail. The colours come in pot as seen above. I was surprised to know that they have OVER 100 colours to choose from!

Finished Outcome!

I'm all about the crazy nails and so was my nail tech. Sooo we had a little fun!

I got a lot of compliments on my crazy marble nail. Can you believe she did it free hand!

No water or decals. That's talent!

Experience:
I loved the shine and durability of the nails. I work with my hands a lot and things which would usually break a nail.. didn't! A huge selling point for me would be how natural looking the extensions were. She had a mix that looked like my natural nail colour.

My only con would be the length that I got. I choose the length- so I'm not blaming anyone for what happened to some of the nails. Just like with my natural nails when they get to long they start to break at the sides. That happened to three of nails because my natural nails grow like weeds! Nobodies fault but myself. I totally tried to push the boundries. Next time, I'll stick to a comfortable length.

I should also add that they sell the matching nail polish for any colour you get! So once your gel colour starts to grow out add your "same"colour polish over it and it will look just like new!

Interested in getting Bio Sculpture nails? Contact Bio Sculpture Customer Service at: 1-877-424-6435 ext 80 for a salon anywhere in Canada which does it.

Top 10 Best Products of 2012

This has been a GREAT year for new collections!
As a Canadian Beauty Blogger, I'm blessed to have had the opportunity to try out

  these products and share them with you.

Let's get started!

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB in Deep 
Deep brown girls rejoice! There was an amazing BB cream made for us this year!
I can never express how excited I was to finally be apart of this movement.

Annabelle Cosmetics TWISTUP Retractable Lipstick Crayons in Royale

There is a great Canadian product which I actually finished within a month.

No sharpener needed!

 L'oreal Colour Caresse- Violet Chiffon
LOVE at first swatch.

Perfect color for EVERY skin tone!

Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips

These are a life saver!

Probably one of the best nail strips I've tried.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams
Pigmented, long lasting, waterproof & creamy!
Get every color if you can!

Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Colors 

If you haven't tried Mary Kay, you're missing out!

It's such a great line that has something for everyone.

I'm always amazed how pigmented and silky their shadows are.

Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder

I've said this once and I'll say it again: This is liquid gold!

One the best highlighters I own!

Givenchy: Noir Couture 4 in 1 Mascara
This an amazing high-end mascara which does everything it claims.

Intense volume, strong curl, infinite length, and complete lash care.

Sephora + Pantone Universe Foiled Waterproof Eyeliners

Another waterproof gem!

I love these because they are small enough to fit in my purse. 

OPI Bond-ettes Limited Edition Mini Lacquer Set 

Another great collection by OPI!

Why is it my favourite? Just check out the swatches!

There were so many other products that deserve attention but these were my favourites.

Let me know if you you tried any of these products before!

Save your lips with Polysporin’s Visible Lip Health- Day & Night

New Years Eve is a few days away!
Are you ready? 

I know that not everyone is going to dive in for that midnight kiss- some people may just be going out with a group of friends. Either way your lips should be ready for any close up.

Whether it's with another pair of lips or a camera!

Are you looking for something to improve lip heath in a short amount of time?
Check out Polysporin’s Visible Lip Health- Day & Night products!

Both Products:

• Clinically shown to restore visibly healthier lips in 3 Days+
• The emollient and vitamin enriched formula replenishes essential lipids, and locks in moisture
• Reduces the signs and symptoms of dryness, such as scaling and chapping

Back to kissing- Did you know..?
Seventy-seven per cent of Canadians feel an emotional impact if they have chapped lips.

I know when my lips are chapped, I feel really self conscious. I wonder if anyone noticed or how long it was chapped for.

More Chapped lips stats:
Women are more likely than men to feel uncomfortable (75% vs. 63%), embarrassed (15% vs. 10%), and frustrated (13% vs. 9%). Similarly, Canadians between the ages of 18 and 44 are more likely to feel embarrassed than those over the age of 45 (18% vs. 8%). In each case (excluded the feeling of helplessness), those who have avoided kissing due to chapped lips and those who would kiss more if they had softer or healthier lips are more likely than others to have felt a negative emotional impact.

So far I've been wearing both of these Polysporin’s Visible Lip Health products and loving it. Fifteen Centimeters of snow has landed in Ontario last night. With the extra cold, I know that my lips will be prone to chapping. The number one way to avoid flaky lips is to hydrate them! My favourite thing about the daytime formula is how quickly it absorbs moisture into my lips.

Will you be going in for that midnight kiss?

Happy Holidays + My Hourglass Cosmetics Look

Happy Holiday everyone!

I hope that your days are filled with happiness and hopefully you got everything that you wanted!

My Christmas look was very simple! The emphasis was on my eyes & lips. 

Products used:
Calligraphy Liquid Eye Liner C$37.00
Color:  Ebony Black
A moisturizing water- and smudge-proof felt-tip liquid liner that contours and lines the eyes with precision.

Superficial Lash C$35.00
Color:  Carbon - rich black 
A lengthening, volumizing mascara.

Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipstick C$35.00
Color:  Raven-Vibrant Orange Red  
A lustrous, cream formula lipstick that hydrates and softens lips.

Happy Holidays!

Make Up For Ever All Eyes On You Set + Holiday Look

One of my top five favourite beauty brands has to be Make Up For Ever. They have something for EVERY skin tone. Plus their products are vibrant and always pigmented. I was lucky to get my hands on a Limited Edition All Eyes On You Set.

 A limited-edition set of MAKE UP FOR EVER’s essential products to transform your look from soft shimmer to dramatic glamour.

The set comes with:

• HD High Definition Powder
• Aqua Cream in 16 Pink Beige (pinky beige shimmer)
• Aqua Eyes in Mat Black 0L (black)
• Aqua Eyes in Dark Grey 21L (dark metallic grey) 
• Smoky Lash Extra Black Mascara

I had a holiday work at lunch and I had no idea what look to do. I decided to try out their directions Soft Shimmer Look! It's the perfect option for someone like me who doesn't a lot of wear makeup to work.

The Look:

Directions:

• Apply Aqua Cream #16 across the eyelid from the inner to the outer corner.
• Using Aqua Eyes #21L, line the upper lash line and smudge to soften.
• Apply Smoky Lash mascara to the top lashes in a zigzag motion.
• Finish with HD Microfinish Powder.

I did almost everything above but I added a few modifications. Just to define my eye a bit more I used Aqua Eyes in Mat Black 0L (black) to line my top and bottom lid. I then applied Aqua Cream #16 on my lips and added a clear gloss over it. I finished of the look with the Make Up For Ever HD foundation in 178.

I'll be 100% honest and tell you that I never wear pink eye shadows. I don't like how it looks on my skin tone but Aqua Cream #16 looked great on me. It kinda reminded me of a rose gold more than a pinky beige shimmer.

This set is sold at Sephora and is originally $65 but now it's currently on sale for $50!

Every Girl Needs a Great Blazer!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Express Canada for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Take a look in your closet, how many blazers do you own?

Would you believe that I own over twenty different blazers!
YES.. you heard me correctly!

I understand that twenty may be excessive to some but I'm a strong believer that every girl should at least own one great blazer. Whether it's cropped, boyfriend or tailored cut.
A good blazer is perfect to throw on to jazz up any outfit.

Have you ever walked into a store and found a blazer that fit you like a glove!
That's how I felt when I walked into Express Canada.

I found a blazer that didn't need to be cut or tailored and also complimented my skin tone.
I know that this this cheesy but I honestly feel like this blazer was made for me!

This picture was taken right after my movie date with my boyfriend.

Adding a deep coloured wine blazer was the perfect item I needed to break up my all black outfit.
It was definitely the focal point of my outfit.

My favourite thing about the jacket is the different colored lapel, material and length.
I can admit it, I'm short. I didn't need to cuff this blazer a lot because the arm length was perfect.

If I wore this blazer out for New Years Eve, I would pair it with a cute sequin dress!

It's hard to see but I wore these awesome Covered Wedge Bootie which is also from Express.
I love this shoe because it has a hidden 2" wedge heel. It zips at the side and has a skid resistant outsole.

Perfect for the Canadian winters!

Are you looking for outfit inspiration for the holidays and still need some assistance picking out a gift?

Check out Express holiday catalog & gift guide.

Sephora Collection Holiday Gift Guide 2012

We all know that Sephora is the go-to place for beauty, skin care, hair.. etc. Sometimes I walk in and I don't even know where to start! Well I'm going to point you in the right direction.  I've always been a fan of Sephora brand products. They are like the hidden gems of Sephora.

Check out my top 6 picks for Christmas.

Number One:

Glided Trio Brush Set $10.00

• Small powder brush 
• Shadow brush 
• Liner brush.

Add a splash of gleaming gold to your makeup collection with this set of travel-friendly brushes. The dazzling gold handles are easy to hold and the crackle case promises to protect the set while you travel.

Number Two:

Houndstooth Mirror $12.00

A compact mirror adorned with a soft and shimmery houndstooth pattern.

Number Three:
Houndstooth Manicure Set $24.00

Sweet and sassy, this gold manicure kit features a vibrant gold textured case and
contains all the tools you need for flawless nails all season long.

Number Four:
Brush Wand $14.00

• Crease brush 
• Smudge brush
• Eyeliner brush 

This stackable brush set is the perfect all-in-one solution for women on the go. The sleek, stylish component holds four interchangeable brush tips that magnetically snap into the handle for easy,

precise application. Leave your full brush set at home.

Number Five:
Jumbo Liner 12HR Wear Waterproof Set $36.00

• Taupe
• Khaki
• Black
• Purple Glitter
• White Glitter

Use these ultra-pigmented jumbo eye pencils as eyeliner or blend out color in place of eye shadow for a stunning finish. The beautiful, high-payoff shades promise long wear for all-night glamour.

Number Six:
3D Palette $29.00

This limited edition palette features eight highly pigmented eyeshadows in the must- have shades that take you from day to night, all housed in a fashion forward gift box. Use the double-ended brush for precise application and create endless beauty looks. 

Everything here gets the Spiced Beauty seal of approval!

Which item is your favourite?