I’m functioning on rather less sleep than I should be. Again. Makes getting up ’n’ at ’em a bit of a trick, especially when we have a max of what feels like only four hours of daylight this time of year, even with the sweet warm reprive we’re enjoying. Does 6 pm feel a lot more like 10 pm to anyone else? So I need a big-time, high-energy bribe. Like a man. In my shower. Hello, Joe.
When Clive-O isn’t available, Joe Fresh is the rise’n’shine I need first thing. At the moment the candy-citrus zip of Fresh Lemon body wash, body polish and body balm ($4 CAN each for 250 mL/$6 CAN per 50 mL travel trio) is my reward for paying attention to my very rude alarm clock. And I’m practically swooning at the thought of sampling other facets of Joe’s shower sass — lime, nectarine, grapefruit, marine and pomegranate. Fresh indeed.
Joe Fresh Bath includes body mist and liquid hand soap ($4 CAN each); visit joe.ca for retail locations.
Yep, Monday’s here again. And you’re so glad to be back in the office after a glorious Fall weekend. *sigh*
Well, the at least the folks in the 3M Canada offices seem to be having fun, finding more ways to give consumers the slip. You may remember their little red Scotchtape shoe, then the Post-It Note dispensers designed by fashion types Brian Bailey, Wayne Clark and Marie Saint Pierre. Now they’re offering the refillable mini-purse Post-It Note dispenser, which should go nicely with your accessories habit (hey, I’m not judging). Fashioned after a croc-embossed frame bag, it’s weighted so you can quickly snag a sheet without having to hold the container in place.
If you’re a BeautyGeeks subscriber who lives in Canada, Monday just perked up: You could win one of these handy handbags (click here to subscribe to daily BeautyGeeks updates if you haven’t already). Just direct a POST-IT PURSE e.mail to imabeautygeek@gmail.com, with your name, age, address and telephone number. Worry not — your info will be used only to send you your prize if you win. Five names will be selected at random after Saturday November 14.
Like the Scotchtape shoe, the purse Post-It dispenser (about $15 CAN, including a 50-sheet pad) is available only in Canada. However rumour has it both items may make the retail trek south come Spring 2010.
So, happy Monday?
Post-It purse dispensers are available at retailers and office-supply stores including Staples, Wal-Mart and Chapters/Indigo (you may even find the little red tape caddy in stock). Image courtesy of 3-M.
If you haven’t heard of Dylan’s Candy Bar you can be forgiven. The exuberantly packaged high-end candy line by Dylan Lauren is fairly new to Canada and exclusive to Holt Renfrew. If you’re into fashion, though, you’ll already know Dylan is the daughter of Ralph Lauren, that her Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York City is a big sweet deal, and that she has fabulous hair to go with her natural, outdoorsy-girl good looks. [geek on]
If you’re a fan of sparkly happy-holidays windows and a fan of Canadian indie-favourite Feist (in whichever order), you’ll want to hit Holt Renfrew’s Bay-’n-Bloor location in Toronto tonight before 7pm. Feist has been tapped to perform at the 5th Annual Holiday Window Unveiling, which will also be attended by Holt’s president and CEO, Caryn Lerner, and hosts Rick Campanelli and Kim D’Eon of “ET Canada.” (You don’t need to know Feist is replacing “Glee” actress Kristin Chenoweth, who had to cancel due to illness, do you?)
While you’re at Holt’s, it’s a good night to shop: The United Way of Canada is the intended recipient of a percentage of the night’s sales. And I’m happy to be the intended recipient of your shopping. I’m helpful that way.
When I popped backstage to chat with the L’Oréal beauty team at Toronto’s recent LG Fashion Week, one cosmetic popped up in almost every look makeup director Eddie Maleterre and I discussed: the L’Oréal Wear Infinity Matte Eye Shadow Quad in 814 Earthscape ($10.95 CAN) was the hardest-working item in his kit.
A no-brainer for neutral eye makeup to pair with any colour lip, including red, the quad works for a variety of skintones. It also works for a variety of hair colours — whether you’re a blonde, redhead or brunette, one of these shades will work as brow powder either on its own or blended with another to create a match-your-hair hue. And on days you feel like minimal effort, just use an angled liner brush to apply the darkest shade as eyeliner along your upper lashlines, curl your lashes and finish with mascara.
Speaking of multi-purpose, pop over to BestHealthMag.com for more great multi-tasking beauty suggestions by my pal Kristen Vinakmens of SugarShockBeauty.com.
Available at drugstores and mass retailers. Image courtesy of L’Oréal Paris.
What is it about the American collegiate experience that makes even Canadians go gaga for a piece of it? I should have asked the eager lineup of shoppers awaiting the Square One, Missisauga opening of the Pink by Victoria Secret store last Thursday. But I didn’t have to. I’ve seen “Greek,” that shiny, perky, preppy, pretty-people ABC-family show about sorority and frat life shot in soft lighting. And sometimes I want to go to there. [geek on]
I’ve said this before (okay, using different words): blush is an underrated beauty must-do. The right shade and the right application adds pretty like no other cosmetic. Sheer pink, peachy pink or coral works for most complexions; you can also take inspiration from the colour you flush when you rush a shoe sale.
Sweep blush along cheekbones for sophisticated beauty, or onto the apples of your cheeks for look-young radiance. In this video, pro artist Sue Devitt shows an interesting application that takes a sheer blush higher up than you’d think for a fresh effect, and intensifies the glow with a gel-to-powder formula on top. Note, however: stop short of the undereye area if hollows or wrinklies have taken up residence there. And when it comes to Sue’s lip tip, you’ll want liner that matches the gloss. [geek on]
Well the staff’s still a bit freaked out. Last night marked the first P&G Awards evening to honour the beauty-and-fashion content creators in Canadian media (P&G Beauty Awards have been an industry highlight in the UK for the past five years). Held at The Carlu in downtown Toronto, the event featured Academy-Award-and-Golden-Globe-nominated Canadian screenwriter and actress Nia Vardalos (above, right) as delightful emcee, and presenters such as “FT” host Jeanne Beker, [geek on]
