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.

Nails: Gelish Seafoam Green

I'm slowly adding more pastels colours into my wardrobe. I had some nail issues for a bit but now they are back to healthy. I decided it would be a good time to try a gel polish to grow out my nails to my ideal length. I went to the salon and they used Gelish Seafoam green on my nails. 

To spice up my nails the nail tech did a funky design on my accent nail. 

Love!

What colour should I try next?

The Red Bow: Hello Kitty Love

Hi my name is Jennifer and I'm a Hello Kitty fan!

I think it started in my early 20's. 

I remember going to NYC and visiting a store in China Town which was full of Hello Kitty stuff! 

I started with mirrors- to phone cases to t-shirts and much more.

I usually get my HK stufff from ebay but now I have a new favourite shop!

The Red Bow

Based in Toronto Canada, The Red Bow's concept came from lifelong Hello Kitty fan - Karen, who now in her 30's continues to search for those unique Hello Kitty items to add to her growing collection. Each and every product in The Red Bow online shoppe is selected by Karen, the Owner and a "Red Bow Luxist" herself. A collection of everyday luxuries to rare pieces, The Red Bow follows the Sanrio philosopy of "Small Gift, Big Smile®" and hopes to inspire more Red Bow Luxists to add a little piece of Hello KItty luxury to their lives.

I was sent their press kit which included some really cute Hello Kitty goodies!

• HK BIG BOW MAKE-UP BAG ($14.95 CAD)
• DEMETER SANRIO 'HELLO KITTY' MINI COLOGNE SPLASH ($6.00 CAD)
• CLASSIC KITTY NAIL ART STICKERS ($6.95 CAN)
• HELLO KITTY JUICY POP TUBES (WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER THIS YEAR)

There are a lot of really cute iphone cases, sparkly clutches and lovely accessories on the site!

Are you a Hello Kitty fan?

Gifts for Mom: Bath & Body Works + Event

What do you get for a mom that has everything?

Anything that smells good!

My pick is Bath & Body Works Rome Honeysuckle Amore Fragrance!

Take a romantic stroll through the cobblestone streets of Italy's most glamorous city with pink honeysuckle, golden peach & cyprus woods immersed in our exclusive hydrating formula. Skin-softening Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E deliver all-day moisture, for the perfect everyday lotion.

If you want to add on to the package try the 2 in 1 Superfruit Body Scrub and Wash,
Bronze Shimmer Fizz Body Mousse or Shimmer mist.

If you're mom doesn't like rose, let her pick our her own scent at the Bath & Body Works Mother's Day event taking place May 6-11 at the Eaton Centre, Sherway Gardens, Vaughan Mills and Yorkdale mall.

Skin Care: Eucerin, Simple & Olay

I love Summer skin! It's always golden and evenly toned.

 A lot of people don't know that after a day in the sun you need to put back the moisture into your skin.

Hydration is key! 

I also exfoliate and tone (time to time) but this post will be 

about my current favourite moisturizer and cleansers.

Eucerin DermatoCLEAN Mild Cleansing Lotion($11.76 CAN):
The Mild Cleansing Lotion with its very effective yet extra mild nature-derived cleansing complex removes make-up effectively & protects the skin from drying out.

Why I like it:

• Removes makeup dirt & oil.
• Moisturizing.
• Fragrance-free.

Simple Foaming Cleanser ($7.99 to $10.00 CAN):
Our Foaming Cleanser is a perfect blend of skin-loving ingredients and Pro-Vitamin B5 to remove impurities and remaining traces of makeup. Your skin will feel cleansed, refreshed and moisturized. Perfect even for sensitive skin.

Why I like it:

• It's foamy.
• Has vitamins which are good for the skin.
• Noncomedogenic.

Olay Fresh Effects Long Live Moisture! Satin Finish Lotion ($14.99 US):
Fresh and feather-light, get the rich hydration of a lotion but with the lightweight feel of a gel. Now your skin is soft and smooth for up to 24 hours.

Why I Like it:

• It's light.
• Doesn't make me oily.
• A little goes a long way.

If you see any of these products in store, try them out!

Have you tried anything from these brands?

Summer Make up: Annabelle Cosmetics, Make up For Ever & Mark Cosmetics

I love summer makeup. It's so natural and dewy! Plus it doesn't take a lot of effort.

It's all about the BB cream. Why? Because it has good things such as SPF to shield your skin from UV rays. I will be honest there is a fine line between oily and dewy skin. If you find yourself on the oily side carry blotting paper with you. My favourites are from The Body Shop & Hard Candy.

To top of the skin I add a light rosy cheek using a cream blush. On my lips I tried out a new Mark Glossworks lipgloss. I will be reviewing it soon. It kind of applies like a liquid lipstick and it contains SPF15.

I try to use some waterproof products on my eyes. Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes makes a gorgeous gold eyeliner in “Gold 9L” that I used on my inner corners. It’s doesn't budge or smudge! I finished off the look by using Annabelle Cosmetics Expandable Mascara on my lashes.

This look was featured in Fashion Magazine's Beauty Panel Challenge