Summer Faves: Face

Summer time fun is no fun when your makeup is melting off your face or looks caked on. Here are a few face savers that have been in heavy rotation in my kit! 

1. Make Up For Ever HD Complexion Travel Kit ($34 CDN): If you want to achieve an HD ready face on and off camera this is the kit for you. Set includes 3 best-sellers: HD Elixir, HD Microperfecting Primer, and HD Microfinish Powder. 

The Exlir is a gel serum designed to boost the skin's moisture by 520% in 15 minutes. I really love this serum. My skin is pretty sensitive and without a moisturizer feels really tight. I tried the serum without a moisturizer and my skin felt well hydrated. Only a small amount is needed to cover the face.

The HD Microperfecting Primer is fantastic! It has an oil-free formula that glides onto the skin. My skin feels so smooth with the combination of the Elixir and primer. Makeup blended perfectly onto the skin and lasted all day. It has become one of my new favourite primers!

The HD Microfinish Powder is made with 100% mineral Silica powder. I love the soft focus effect it gives your skin. It works for all skin-tones and definitely helps the staying power of the makeup. Overall, it's a great sample kit if you've been wanting to try these products.

2. freshMinerals Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 ($25 USD): Absolutely loving this tinted moisturizer for many reasons. This all-natural mineral tinted moisturizer gives the skin a beautiful healthy glow and protects your skin from the sun. It's tinted but it definitely gives the skin good coverage and it's water-proof. However, if you have a blemish or pimple it won't be enough to cover it. My favourite feature is the twist top foundation brush. I've used similar products and the brush always made a mess. When you squeeze the tube an excess amount doesn't spurt out. You get just enough and the on and off twist top prevents messes and wasting product. There are 5 shades to choose from - I'm Sand and works great from my bronzy skin.

3. Benefit POREfessional ($34 CDN): If you suffer from big pores suffer no more! I am so loving the silky smooth balm that instantly minimizes the appearance of pores and primes the skin. It is oil-free, extremely lightweight, and can be used over and under your makeup. Makeup just glides on effortlessly and keeps your makeup looking flawless all day. It's also great at mattifying the skin. Available July 2010. 

4. LUSH Colour Supplement ($13.95 CDN): LUSH has makeup?? This mineral-oil free multi-purpose base can be used in many different ways. This base offers full coverage but if you prefer a lighter coverage mix with your favourite moisturizer for a lighter, dewier finish. It also works amazing as a concealer. Made with red rose petal infusion to calm redness and glycerine to help retain moisture, it gives the skin a beautiful finish. It is available in 4 shades: Light Pink Colour (lightest shade and most versatile), Dark Pink Colour (darkest), Light Yellow (pale or ivory skins), Dark Yellow (olive and yellow skins). The Dark Yellow works great for my skin tone. The only downside is that since it is an all-natural vegan product, the shelf-life of this is about a year and since it comes in a jar you'd have to use a spatula to avoid contamination. And beware, it may melt! 

5. Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Roller ($19.99 CDN): I'll be honest, I was prepared to be disappointed by this product. I've tried tinted under-eye products before and all have been a complete fail. I was pleasantly surprised by the coverage and how the mineral pigments instantly brightened my death circles! The cool feel of the roller ball also soothed my puffy tired eyes. The combination of the caffeine gel formula and the roller ball help energize and stimulate circulation. The lemon essence is known for its clarifying properties and brightens the eye area. I was afraid it would alter the colour of my concealer but it didn't. In fact, I ended up using less concealer! The shade is a shimmering beige and is supposed to be a universal shade. It says that it offers "flawless coverage for most skin tones" so it probably is too light for you dark-skinned beauties, however, may work underneath your concealer or foundation. Available August 2010. 

6. Cover FX Conceal FX ($27 CDN): The lovely team over at Cover FX held a flash mob outside Toronto's Eaton Center back in April. After the crazy mob of people died down, I luckily went home with a full-size sample of their popular Conceal FX! It erases under eye circles, blemishes, sun damage, redness, tattoos, birth marks, and even moles. I love how opaque yet emollient the concealer is. I've been finding my Benefit Erase Paste is a little too creamy for this humid weather, but Conceal FX doesn't feel heavy and stays put. It is also water-proof and HD friendly. This is a must-have concealer! 

7. Skindinavia No More Shine Makeup Finish ($12.50-57 USD): I haven't actually been using this on myself because I don't really have a problem with excess oil. Instead, I've been using it on my brides at bridal trials to see how well this spray actually works. I sprayed this on prior to foundation then once again after all the makeup had been applied. The verdict? There's no question the makeup lasts longer, but my brides did notice the shine creep up after 3 or 4 hours versus the 16 hours that it claims to do. However, the amount of oil and shine that appeared was a lot less and kept the shine at bay a couple more hours longer than without. But even with a bit of oil, the makeup did not smear or melt off. Only touch-ups required was a little blotting. If you have oily skin I'd recommend trying the smallest size before committing to a full size bottle. Overall, my brides were happy with the results! 

Have you tried any of these products? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Want 'em? What must-have face products have you been using for the hot weather?

Beauty Feature: Last Minute Father's Day Gift!

If you're rushing around Sunday morning looking for a last minute Father's Day gift, LUSH has you covered! Pop in and create your own custom gift. No time for that? Quickly pick up a ready-wrapped gift like Shave the Planet ($29.95). The set includes Shave the Planet shaving cream for a smooth shave, Cosmetic Lad moisturizer to sooth sensitive skin, and Bamboo soap to tone and leave skin smelling like the rain forest, plus a Business Time massage bar (a winner with the hubby!) all packaged in the coolest super hero wrapping paper! Happy Father's Day!

www.lush.ca

Makeup Junkie After Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Valentine's Day is one day out of the year where young and old show their love for one another whether it be through their actions or fabulous gifts. Although you may find yourself a slave to commercial holidays, we all know that showing your love should be all year round. The other day at work, a bunch of us women all agreed that we'd rather our significant others do something special on any other day than Valentine's. Why? Because it seems more genuine, it's not expected, and makes the loving all the more special. And even though we say this, deep down we're secretly hoping to be spoiled silly like the little girly-girls we are! So, whether you like to do things in an unconventional way or you just forgot to get something for your Valentine here are some great after Valentine's Day gifts from Lush!

Lush True Love Gift (Limited Edition, $42.95 CDN): Nothing says true love than a heart shaped box full of yummy-smelling bath bombs and massage bars! This lovely gift includes an aphrodisiac Sex Bomb and Vanilla Fountain bath bombs, Soft Couer massage bar, honey and toffee-scented Honey I Washed the Kids Soap, white chocolate Honey Trap Lip Balm, and a Melting Marshmellow Moments bath melt.

Lush Hello Sailor (Limited Edition, $12.95 CDN): Get hot and steamy with this shower-friendly gift set. The set includes Rub Rub Rub sea salt shower scrub and a peppermint-infused Too Drunk emotibomb that will energize you all night long! Oh, and don't forget the cute temporary tat for your cute sailor!

For more great gift ideas visit www.lush.ca!

Beauty Feature: Winter Skin Savers - Moisturizers

There are many beauty products I can't live without and my face moisturizer is definitely at the top of the list. When your skin is dry and patchy, your makeup just won't look right no matter how much concealer you pile on. The key to less makeup on your skin is cleansing and moisturizing your face on a daily basis. Get healthy, radiant skin this winter with these skin-saving moisturizers!

Whether you're hitting the slopes or making snow angels this winter, protect your skin with Kiehl's super-hydrating Ultra Facial Cream ($31 CAD). This light-weight moisturizer gives your skin continous water replenishment all day long. With ingredients like Anarcticine, a Glycoprotein extracted from microorganisms sourced from sea glaciers, and Imperata Cylindrica, a plant found in the Australian desert that retains water in dry conditions, this skin saver is meant to protect your skin and keep you looking soft and supple in cold temperatures. With the light texture your skin will feel comfortable, never heavy or greasy. I expected the cream to go on thick, but even without the richness like other creams I've tried, my skin stayed beautifully moisturized and flake-free all day long! Ultra Facial Cream is a definite must-have this winter, perfect for both day and night!

Do dry, sensitive skin have you singing the winter blues? Your skin will feel heavenly with LUSH Celestial Moisturizer ($21.95 CAD). This totally vegan, all natural moisturizer has a mixed blend of vanilla, almond milk and dove orchid to calm and hydrate irritated skin from city pollution or harsh weather conditions. A little goes a long way with this rich cream so use sparingly to avoid feeling greasy on the skin. This works wonders on those days when my face is sensitive, dehydrated and red. I love applying Celestial Moisturizer before I go to bed so my skin can soak in all the moisture and repair itself overnight. I wake up with a soft, smooth complexion every morning! You'll love the subtle vanilla-almond scent as well! Indeed a special treat for the skin this winter!

Bulky skin care products can make packing for those winter getaways a challenge. All you need for cleansing and moisturizing is Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè (24-Hour Miracle Cream, $25 USD). A cult classic among makeup artists everywhere, you will find this wonder cream in many makeup kits used backstage on models when washing and moisturizing the face isn't an option. I was excited to get my hands on this cream at the Canadian Makeup Show after having gone so many years without it! This rich moisturizer nourishes and repairs the skin without a heavy texture. It also leaves a soft, dewy finish and primes the skin perfectly for makeup application. You can even use it to calm irritated skin after shaving! Throw this cream in your travel bag and you're good-to-go!

The winter weather may be a special treat for oily skin types, but oily skin can get dry too. The Body Deli Flash Flood Light Facial Emulsion ($36 USD) is an oil-free light moisturizer excellent for acne/blemish treatment. It works double-time also hydrating parched skin. Salicylic acid and their proprietary blend of Silica, Sulphur, Maganezium and Copper act as a benzol peroxide alternative to help heal and clear up blemishes without drying out the skin. Your skin will be left feeling clean, fresh and blemish-free!

Have you tried these products? Love 'em? Hate 'em?