Current Obsession: EyeBoutique Shadow Shields


One thing I hate about smokey eyes is fallout! Especially with pigments or shimmery shadows. I've seen people go to all types of lengths like use tape or tissue to prevent fallout. That's way too much work (in my opinion). My solution is EyeBoutique Shadow Shields ($7.99 CAN) with you can get from Farleyco. I follow them on twitter and I see nothing but good comments about them.

Eliminate eye shadow fallout with hands-free, disposable, time-saving Shadow Shields. Apply these half moon shaped shields under the eye before applying eye makeup to catch any and all excess product that falls. When done, gently remove shield and say Hello… To Flawless Eye Makeup.

I love them because they curve to my eye shape plus they do exactly what they are suppose to: catch all excess shadow that falls out. Also the removal is easy, it did not pull my eye at all. Each package contains 14 shields.

*I used one for both eyes because I did not have a lot of fallout and the shield was not sticky.*

Application Tips:
Remove only top corners to apply. If more adhesion is needed, remove entire top strip
Application of shield doesn’t have to be directly on lash line- it can be applied under the bulge of the eye or wherever most comfortable.

When applying shield, allow backing to crease-it will form a small lip, helping to catch the fallout.


BIC Soleli® Shave & Trim + My H&M swimwear suggestions for your body type

I know I say this in every post but summer is coming! Vacation, pool parties & BBQs. 
You know that time for smooth legs and bikini area.

A recent survey of female adults by BIC® developing premium disposable shavers that meet the needs of women – reveals that nearly 50% of Canadian women hate bathing suit shopping (only 7% said they loved bathing suit shopping).*
I am in that 50% that hate it! 

To help women transition into the new season AND into bathing suits with confidence,  BIC® Soleli® has come out with a new product called the Shave and Trim. It's a 2-n-1 disposable shaver that allows women to groom all body parts, including the most sensitive spots, with one product.  

Bic has also partnered with Allison Ethier, Canadian Fitness Champion, Nutrition Consultant and Model to encourage all Canadian women to celebrate self-confidence and set their bathing suit


I decided to pair Allison's suggestions with some swimwear from my favourite retail store: H&M!



STRAIGHT
“Straight with very few curves, this body type is small all over and needs a swimsuit to add volume and curves to the waist, butt and hips. Great one piece options include cut-out sides, strapless with ruching at the top and moulded cups or inserts for added lift. For bikinis, look for a halter or V-shaped top and a bottom with fun side ties to add volume to the hips.”

My pick ($34.95):
Size 4 to 14
Fully lined, bandeau style swimsuit with an open back, a zip with a tooth-shaped pendant at the front, support panels, and a silicone trim at the top.


PEAR
“Pear shape body types have an overall smaller upper body and are larger on the bottom. To add balance and create a more symmetrical shape, ‘pin-up girl’ style onepiece swimsuits are a fantastic option; look for something with a plunging neckline or ruffles around the top to draw the eye upward. For two-piece swimsuits, a skirt-style bottom works well with a top of the same colour. Go for a darker shade for a slimming effect!”

My Pick ($14.95)
Sizes 4 to 14
Fully lined bikini bottoms with gathers at the sides.


CURVY/HOURGLASS 
“Curvy/hourglass shaped women are generally looking for support and coverage in a bathing suit. Try to avoid one-piece suits altogether as this tends to create a boxy look. Go for a top that has seaming under the bust; V-shape, halter or one-shoulder are all great options for added support. Darker bottoms in a solid colour or small pattern work to balance out your figure".

My Pick ($29.95)
Size 4 to 14
Lined, padded bikini top with beaded embroidery at the front, ties at the neck with beads on the ends, and a metal fastener at the back. Support panels at the sides and a silicone trim at the top.

ATHLETIC SHAPE
“For women with an athletic shape, look for a swimsuit that has more feminine cuts and details to balance out a less curvy figure. Anything with ruching, detail, and tapered bottoms in the back will give a curvier appearance.”

My Pick ($19.95)
Size 4 to 14
Lined triangle bikini top with moulded cups with extra padding, gathers at the front, and wide ties at the neck and back.






APPLE SHAPED
“Apple shaped women tend to hold weight in the mid-section, with thinner arms and legs. To add definition to the waist, a one-piece swimsuit with a cute belt is a great option. Also try colour blocking on the sides, which creates the look of a more defined waist. For two-piece suits, try a halter or deep V shape to bring the eye upward, with an empire bottom to accentuate the waistline.”

My pick ($34.95):
Sizes 4 to 14
Fully lined bandeau-style swimsuit with metal decorations, detachable ties at the neck and a silicone trim around the top.

Which swimwear pick was your favourite?

Stila: Limited Edition Festival Collection


Stila has come out with a limited edition Festival Collection. Now this is a collection worth getting your hands on!

Sooo many colours which are suitable for every skin tone! The star of the show are definitely the Countless Color pigments. Check out my swatches of the collection below!



Countless Color pigments ($29 CAN)
Introducing Stila’s NEW innovative Countless Color pigments in a beautiful and exclusive, first-to-market formula. Each pan is a breathtaking, one-of-a-kind piece of art, created with vibrant pigments and handmade using a proprietary pressing and baking process. Use your creativity and let your imagination run wild.

At first I wasn't sure what to think of them. I've never tried a product like this before. I swear it was love after first swatch! You can use each shade separately or swirl them together. The pigmentation is insane!

Left to right: 
Light Show + Finale




After Glow Lip Color ($ 23 CAN)
Dazzle by day and glow by night. Stila’s black light responsive lip color contains florescent pigments that are three times brighter than conventional colors, creating a vibrant pop of color in the sunlight. Once the sun goes down, black light sensitive pigments cause the product to glow when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light.


Another very unique product that I was very excited to try. The formula is creamy and I love the way that you can build up the colour.
Left to right:
Vivid Violet + Festive Fushia



Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner ($ 26 CAN)
This easy-glide, quick-dry precision liner stays in place all day - no smudges, feathering, or running. The thin, marker-like tip is easy to use, even for the least experienced and delivers any look, from a thin line to a bold, dramatic stroke. It goes on smoothly without skipping, smudging, or pulling, and stays in place until you say when!



I have never tried an eyeliner like this on my skin tone. I love the way it pops. This is the kind of liner I would wear if I was wearing a nude lipstick.


Which product are you excited to try?



Summer Makeup: Make up For Ever Aqua Creams

Summer is coming!
If you're like me it's hard to break away from the traditional black liners.

Time for me to play with more colour! Starting with the Make up For Ever aqua cream ($29.00) in 20 Intense Blue - bright blue sheen.

I love MUFE aqua creams because they are  versatile. You can use them alone, as a base or a liner.
Aqua Cream combines the highest-quality pigments with mother of pearl particles to give immediate rich color payoff with a luminous finish in just one application. Its long-lasting formulation will not crease or smudge under the most extreme conditions and its creamy and elastic texture allows for easy blending.
Ladies this product is perfect to add to your summer routine because it will last all day! 

The formula is very pigmented and a little bit goes a long way. 

I found out the hard way the first time I tried the creams and I had a whole bunch of product left over. Haha! 

I should also add that this product gives you some playing around time before it "sets". Which is good if you make any mistakes. You can clean it off quite easily. 

Have you tried any of the aqua creams before?



Wedding Makeup look with Marcelle & Annabelle Cosmetics


I'm thinking wayyyy ahead of myself. I'm not even engaged yet! Where is the ring K___?!?! Haha! I'm joking...or am I..

I needed products which were long lasting and smudge proof for this look. This was the perfect chance to show you two of my new favourites from Canadian brand- Marcelle & Annabelle Cosmetics!


Velvety Eye Shadow + Primer ($15.95 CAN )
Antioxidant / Waterproof / 12H+ Hold / Crease-Proof

This is the perfect product to wear alone or as a base.
Colour: Primer Rose

Roll-on Eyeshadow + Liner ($ 10.95 CAN)
Loose eyeshadow with roller ball application on one side and a liquid liner on the other.

You can control how much product you want with with applicator.
Brown eyes


Check out the rest of the products I used in the Wedding Day beauty challenge for Fashion Magazine's Beauty Panel here.



Toronto Premium Outlets is coming this Summer!

I love going on trips to USA to shop! Buffalo, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey are my favourites. I go for the deals but now a new outlet mall in Toronto is giving me a reason to stay!


Toronto Premium Outlets™ to Open August 1, 2013, Bringing Top Designers and 
Leading Brand Outlet Store to Canada

Savvy shoppers throughout the Greater Toronto Area are eagerly awaiting the opening of the country’s first upscale outlet center. Toronto Premium Outlets™, developed by Simon Property Group, the largest real estate company in the world, and Calloway Real Estate Investment Trust, will open on August 1, 2013. The new center will provide a truly unique shopping experience unlike any other in Canada and will herald the arrival of the first outlet stores for many designers and leading brands.

Toronto Premium Outlets™ will present a who’s who of top brands offering a wide range of high quality merchandise at savings of 25% to 65% every day. The center will be anchored by Hudson’s Bay Outlet. The collection of outlet stores will include:

· Banana Republic
· Bench
· Bose
· Brooks Brothers
· Coach
· Cole Haan*
· Columbia Sportswear*
· DKNY*
· Dynamite
· Eddie Bauer
· Gap Outlet
· Garage
· Guess
· Icebreaker*
· J. Crew
· Kate Spade New York*
· Lucky Brand Jeans
· Michael Kors
· Polo Ralph Lauren*
· Restoration Hardware*
· Ted Baker London*
· True Religion
· Zumiez

*First outlet store in Canada.Additional brands will be announced over the coming weeks.

Toronto Premium Outlets™, with easy access off Highway 401 at the Trafalgar Road interchange in Halton Hills, is conveniently close to Lester B Pearson, downtown Toronto and key areas in Southern Ontario. The center is Canada’s first Premium Outlet Center™. Simon’s well known brand of designer oriented outlet centers which include popular centers in the United States including Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in New York and Orlando Premium Outlets in Florida.


Stay up to date with Toronto Premium Outlets™ website at: www.premiumoutlets.com/toronto.

Which store are you excited for!

Beauty News: Clinique- Nail Enamel for sensitive skin

Check out these interesting facts:
Did you know a person touches their eyes on average 200 times a day? With all that comes in contact with hands and fingers throughout the day, there are many culprits that can irritate the eyes. Did you know that nail enamel can cause irritation and even contact dermatitis on the suspectibly thin skin around the eye?
Amongst the dermotological community, nail enamel is also considered a significant allergen source for periorbital dermatitis—a facial rash that develops around the lower and upper eyelids. People who suffer from these conditions often-times do not realize the connection between touching and rubbing the eye area, and fresh manicures.


Clinique has come out with a new polish line that caters sensitive skin users!
Six years in the making, Clinique introduces a pioneering innovation to the nail enamel industry: A Different Nail Enamel for Sensitive Skins is formulated to minimize skin sensitivity. It is Dermatologist tested, Ophthalmologist tested and appropriate for sensitive skins and sensitive eyes.

The finish is high-shine, long lasting and quick drying (SRP $18).
Colours from left to right:
70 and sunny
15 summer in the city
Pinkini
Grape ice
Hula skirt
Juiced up
Strappy sandals
Base+top coat

How cute is this nail studio that came with the PR package!!



Current Obsession: Garnier Soothing Gel-Cream with Peach Oil

Is anyone else going crazy trying to find all of their summer dresses! I feel like they have all disappeared. I know that most of you have checked out my Get Summer Ready: Hair Removal & Foot Care post. Now we need to add back in the hydration we lost from the cold winter. One of my favourite creams to use is the Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Soothing Gel-Cream with Peach Oil.
Intensive 7 Days Soothing Gel-Cream with Peach Oil provides amazing hydration in a new texture that is ultra-absorbent and ultra-fresh. Enriched with naturally-derived Mediterranean peach oil which contains essential nutrients, this hydrating gel-cream delivers its soothing properties to dry, sensitive skins. Its lightweight texture penetrates instantly.
This product is very similar to the Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Conditioning Lotion in Cocoa Butter but I find this product works well with hydrating really dry skin quickly because it's a gel-cream.


I should also add that it comes in two sizes 250 ml & 400 ml. The 400 ml is way to large for me to carry around daily. I got a small empty bottle from the dollar store and put some in so I can carry it in my purse.

Have you ever tried a gel-cream?

Canadian- Hawaiian Tropic Giveaway + Win a $50 Visa gift card!

The long weekend is coming! I see a lot of sun and BBQ's in my forecast. As a darker skin woman, I still know that sunscreen is needed. Overall it's important to cover all exposed parts of skin on your body regardless of your skin tone.

If you read my past Hawaiian Tropic® post, you would know that I love the Silk Hydration sunscreen line! The swirls are very moisturizing, it's non-greasy and I love the fact that it has shea butter in it.

Now they have a Silk Hydration™ After Sun moisturizer ($9.99 CAN)! First thing I noticed is how good it smells! It's infused with mango and shea butter plus it has aloe which is very cooling. After spending a long day in the sun nothing is better than applying an after sun moisturizer like this!

Top swatch:
Silk Hydration™ After Sun moisturizer
Bottom swatch:
The Silk Hydration™ sunscreen

Do you want to try the product for yourself + Win a $50 Visa Giftcard?
25 Spiced Beauty Canadian readers will get the opportunity to receive new Sunscreen and After Sun Moisturizer. After trying the product- submit your review to me for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card.

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO BE ELIGIBLE 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!



Summer Trends: Round Frames from Clearly Contacts

Back in January, I got my eyes checked again. My prescription changed. It still really low (I don't need glasses) but it's good for prolonged use. I have a square pair of frames but I wanted something new. 
Fresh and office appropriate! I decided to go with a round Derek Cardigan frames from Clearly Contacts.
Round frames are making a major comeback this summer in eyewear. This vintage-inspired look is a refreshing change that provides a new style direction. Whether you are ready to fully embrace perfectly round frames, or want a gradual transition with softer rounded shapes, Derek Cardigan, 7 for All Mankind and Kenneth Cole are just a few of the great brands that offer variations on this theme.
This was my first time getting glasses from the "internet". It's definitely a different experience. Don't get me wrong, I love going into the store and trying on different pairs... but if you know what suits you that really helps with the process. Clearly Contacts has a "Try on View" option which you can upload a picture of your self and then you can see how the frames work with your face shape. If you don't have a picture available, they have a bank of models of different genders and face types to try on the frames with. If you're not completely happy with your item, return it for FREE! Plus free shipping on any glasses over $99.

Make a bold statement with these Derek Cardigan 7012 Smoke eyeglasses. These round eyeglasses come in translucent dark grey acetate. To help show off your geek pride, the division and multiplication symbols are featured on the sides with the equal sign on the arms.  Not only do these frames have great style but are also incredibly comfortable with its flexible spring hinges.  
Do you wear glasses? If so, which frames do you wear.



MAC Ririwoo Love

If you follow me on IG or twitter you will know that I've been speaking about this lipstick nonstop since February! I'm so happy and lucky that I got my hands on one. After waiting in cue for almost 30 minutes and then waiting 5 days for it arrive- I was so happy when it turned up on my doorstep!
I had Ruby woo but I lost it recently (in other words it got lost in the pile of lipsticks I own). This is the perfect replacement. Its pigmented, long lasting and gorgeous. Plus it's designed by Rihanna herself! I think the Retro matte formula has to be one of my favourite MAC formulas of all time. It's dry- so if you don't like dry mattes this is not for you. On Mother's day I wore this lipstick all day and it didn't budge. I just use an oil based remover to take it off.

It's so gorgeous!

If you missed out on this lipstick, you will have the chance to get it in June! No word if it will be sold in stores yet.