I love a wristlet. Sometimes all you need is something small and swingy that fits your wallet, cel phone, keys and a purse hook. Brunch, drinks with the girls, dinner… snap.

This sweet, made-to-order wristlet by Canadian Lisa Murdin caught my attention with its Alexander Henry Yui Kokeshi Pink cotton fabric. (I’m a sucker for anything Asian inspired — maybe because I’m Asian inspired?) Fully lined, it has an interior pocket to keep things sorted and a detachable strap. And at $22 US, it’s a delightful, budget-friendly giftie. Maybe for you.

Or maybe for me?

Available at LMcreation on Etsy.com.

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The most common bit of career advice floating about is “do what you love, do what makes you happy.” Clearly, Jane and Jean Ford, the twins behind the Benefit brand, have done just that. The delight they get from their work is evident in the work itself.

Take their holiday Primpcess Glamorous Eye Primping Kit ($38 CAN/$34 US), an exuberantly cheery, flirty-girl box of makeup to make eyes pop. Even if you’ve woken up on the wrong side of good morning, you just can’t maintain a grumpy-pants mood while following “You’re such a primpcess” step-by-steps, dipping into the kit’s pot of Boi-ing concealer, or getting ziggy with a mini BADgal Lash mascara. Plus it’s a cinch to toss into a travel bag — an on-the-fly beauty wink, a “primp my ride,” if you will.

And if you’re in a party frame of mind, it’ll tickle your fancy mood, yes?

Kahani was so taken with Primpcess that she had it sent from the US to her home in Malaysia; here’s her throrough review on So Loverly. And see what fellow Canadian Joy David-Tilberg says about Benefit’s holiday Peace, Love & Glossiness lip gloss set ($30) in her review of glossy gifts at Makeup Junkie.

Benefit Cosmetics are available at Holt Renfrew, Sephora boutiques, Sephora.com, Murale (Place d’Orleans in Ottawa), and Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques in Canada; and in the US at Sephora.com and BenefitCosmetics.com.

Image courtesy of Benefit Cosmetics.

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Apologies for the headline. “Scratchfest” — sheesh. Promised the staff she could write a headline (it’s fewer words than a post) and this was the best of the submissions. *sigh*

Skin’s been asking for special treatment lately. It’s not fond of crappy cold temps and drier air. I’m thinking, though, this time of year is kind of fun in beauty world — lots of lovely lotions and creams and body butters to try. Some are luxurious, some are all about fragrance, and some are surprisingly good for so little $.

St. Ives Collagen Elastin Body Moisturizer is one of those good-for-so-little-$ deals. A barely-scented straight-up lotion, it hydrates so effectively that even folks with eczema find some relief when they use it. Kinda rocks at under $7 for 600 mLs.

For more Stop-the-Scratchfest suggestions, visit Winter Skin Savers, something I wrote for today’s Metro newspaper.

St. Ives is available at drugstores and mass retailers.

Image courtesy of St. Ives

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If you’re a neutrals girl (most of us are), makeup for your holiday shindig can be as easy as polishing an easy day look with a golden sheen on cheekbones and gold or rich red on lips.

Keep makeup simple with a shimmering nude or soft gold shade on lids and a deep brown or black shade in a fine line along the base of your upper lashes. Up the drama with black waterproof liner along the inner upper rims and smudged up into the base of lashes. Curl lashes, add a couple of coats of black mascara, and dust cheeks with rosy blush.

Highlight cheekbones (décolleté and shoulders, too) with a light sweep of shimmery gold, such as Chanel Poudre Précieuse Or ($66 CAN/$75 US), and finish with Chanel Glossimer lipgloss ($30 CAN/$26 US) in Gold Shine for subtle glam, or Red Shine if you’re feeling sassy.

Actually, go with sassy. Sassy’s hot for holiday fun. Just ask Clive-O — and Daniel-C. *grin*

The Chanel Holiday 2008 collection is available at all Chanel beauty counters.

Image courtesy of Chanel.

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The number one beauty question searched online and asked of makeup artists is “What makeup is best for my eye colour?” Of course it’s the top question asked of Carmindy, makeup artist for TLC’s “What Not to Wear.” The following is her answer, in an excerpt from the book Get Positively Beautiful: The Ultimate Guide to Looking and Feeling Gorgeous by Carmindy. Copyright © 2008 by Carmindy. Reprinted by permission of Center Street, a division of Hachette Book Group USA, Inc., New York, NY. All rights reserved.

“Opposites attract” is my motto when enhancing eyes to look vividly alive. By choosing shadows, liners and mascaras that contrast with your eye colour, you turn up the voltage of your irises for an electrifying beauty. Whether your peepers are blue, green, brown, or hazel, using opposing makeup colours will always make them “pop.”

Now remember, there are no hard-and-fast rules: the following are only suggestions to help you sensationalize your eyes. Play with this “opposites attract” idea, and pay attention to the compliments sure to follow!

Brown Eyes Play with deep shades of navy and sapphire smudged into the lash line for a subtle edge that is alluring but not over-the-top. When using blue eyeliner, follow with neutral lid colours like soft shimmering browns for a modern look.

Brown-eyed girls can also have fun with shades of green. Experiment with forest and emerald to discover what really sparkles on you.

Blue Eyes Smudge on shades of chocolate brown, taupe, or bronze to make the blue really come alive. Blue shadows compete with your natural colour, so play to the positive by skipping blue hues.

Green Eyes Try eyeliners or shadows in eggplant, purple, burgundy, lavender, or amythest. The contrast of colours will give you the sexiest emerald stare.

Hazel Eyes Hazel eyes look incredible when paired with green shadow. My personal favourite is a sparkling forest green applied across the lid and under the lash line. This shade deepens the brown tones while bringing up the green.

Photography by Peter Buckingham

If you’re a beauty geek and need to see a colour wheel to know what the opposites of your eye colour are, hit Pop Goes Your Eye Colour, an earlier Beautygeeks post.

Now see how easy your beauty can be when you know your best shades?

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One of the things I love about my clever friend Liza Herz is her ability to put things into context. A former film publicist turned freelance writer, she gives her subjects an easy framework to which readers can relate. She’s a sponge for information, believes beauty stuff should spark excitement, knows the best places to shop in Paris and New York, and can spot understated quality luxury accessories at a glance. And like me she’s a geek for odd details, like a subtle redesign of the handles on her favourite Williams Sonoma cookware.

I haven’t yet read The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own by Nina Garcia, but Liza (pronounced Leeza) has. You’ll find her take — in context — on Canada.com.

Gotta tell ya, my fave part of this post is the word widget. Widget, widget, widget!

Yep, I’m still a bit of a tech dork. Friends have been telling me for ages, “Geek, you need a search function on your site to make it easy to find stuff,” and for some reason I couldn’t figure it out. Well, I finally found the “search” widget in this set-up, just sitting there waiting for me to see it, and I’ve popped it in above the Geeking Day-by-Day bit. Actually don’t know how I missed it before. Too much beauty stuff on the brain, I guess. Sheesh.

So search away. I have nothing to hide. *grin*

Maybe you’re looking to try CARE by Stella McCartney, or you’re a fan and could do with travel-size samples of the designer’s entirely natural skincare line with ECOCERT-certified 100% organic active ingredients — either way, the gift-with-purchase coupon below might come in handy.

Did you catch the “Yes, I’d to receive further communications from Matchstick” box at the bottom of the coupon? Matchstick is a word-of-mouth marketing company that specializes in getting products into the hands of folks who like to talk about what they like — or not. Hit Matchstick.ca for more info. And just so you know, you don’t have to check off the box in order to get your gift with purchase. *grin*

Posted in acne-prone skin, beauty tips, CARE by Stella McCartney, dehydrated skin, dry skin, Made in Canada, oily skin, skin, skincare   Tagged: acne-prone skin, all skin types, CARE by Stella McCartney gift-with-purchase coupon, combination skin, dry skin, ECOCERT, Made in Canada, Matchstick, natural skincare, oily skin, organic ingredients, sensitive skin    ]]> http://imabeautygeek.com/2008/11/15/good-to-be-canuck-care-by-stella-mccartney-gwp-coupon-for-canadians/feed/ j9falcon caregwp http://imabeautygeek.com/2008/11/14/f-is-for-free-of-synthetics-n-stuff-care-by-stella-mccartney-100-natural-skincare/ http://imabeautygeek.com/2008/11/14/f-is-for-free-of-synthetics-n-stuff-care-by-stella-mccartney-100-natural-skincare/#comments Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:05:39 +0000 Janine Falcon http://beautygeeks.wordpress.com/?p=2232

Stella McCartney has always been about kindness to animals and planet. A longtime vegetarian, she uses no animal products in her clothing line, and as an enviro advocate is a fierce supporter of recycling and earth-friendly, responsible lifestyle alternatives. CARE by Stella McCartney, the skincare line she launched in 2007, is rooted in those principles.

Each formula is 100% natural — no petrochemicals, silicones, chemical preservatives, chemical fragrances, animal-derived ingredients, or endangered-plant ingredients, for that matter — and contains ECOCERT-certified organic active ingredients.

The antioxident-rich range includes a gentle cleansing milk, foaming purifying cleanser, toning floral water, moisturizing cream, moisturizing fluid and three serums designed to address specific skincare needs: calming, nourishing and anti-aging. The Toning Floral Water and Nourishing Elixir are completely organic; each of the other products is at least 50 percent organic.

All right, enough about the products. Let’s talk about me.

I’ve been using the Foaming Purifying Cleanser, Toning Floral Water, Moisturizing Fluid and Radiance & Youth Elixir.

The light, fresh natural fragrance of the cleanser got me first. Suddenly my black-and-white bathroom was a serene, upscale spa. A tiny, tragically understaffed spa, but serene and, when my eyes were closed, upscale.

Next came the refreshing Toning Floral Water. I like toner. Serums and moisturizer glide onto damp skin better than dry; I’m cool with that dampness coming from a 100-percent organic antioxidant spritz rather than tap water. With this toner in particular, I like the mist delivery — no need for a cotton pad.

One pump of serum is enough for the whole face when it’s applied over toner-misted skin. I chose the Radiance & Youth Elixir to try to offset my haphazard sleeping habits, which take a quick toll on my complexion these days (that’s a whole other post). I finished with the Moisturizing Fluid (again, just one pump does the trick), which is an appropriate consistency for my oily skin. And did my skin look happy and healthy? Yep. And it felt clean, calm, fresh and hydrated.

I’ve been using the regimen for a few weeks now and my skin’s still in a good mood. I augment with regular exfoliation and a glycolic-acid toner — past experience has taught me not to omit those steps unless I want my skin to throw a mean tantrum. Slightly better snooze habits over the last few weeks help, too, of course, but in an odd way, I attribute some of that to CARE. Using a line that’s all about chemical-free skin-and-planet health makes me try a little harder to get more regular sleep. Odd but true.

I’ve said before that I’m not entirely convinced that natural skincare is better for everyone. I still think it’s down to what each person’s skin can deal with or needs. But if natural and organic are what you’re after, you’ll find it — along with luxurious textures, fresh natural scents, and looks-fab-in-your-bathroom packaging — in CARE by Stella McCartney.

A prestige line, CARE is going to cost you some, but not quite as much as some other high-end designer brands. The cleansers and toner go for about $40 CAN/$35 US each, moisturizers hit at about $88 CAN/$76 US each, the elixirs are $74 CAN/$64 US per, and a newer Nourishing Night & Day Cream for drier complexions rings in at $90 CAN/$80 US.

CARE by Stella McCartney is available in Canada at Holt Renfrew and The Bay, and in the US at Sephora.

Image courtesy of YSL Beauté.

Need a reason to crack a grin when you see your desk? The folks at 3M Canada certainly think so. This quirky little Mary Jane tape dispenser makes its debut just in time for stocking-stuffer season. Available only in Canada at a slew of major retailers, such as Grand & Toy, Indigo, Staples, Wal-Mart, London Drugs and Pharmaplus, for about $15 CAN (roll of tape included), little MJ here is pretty much a holiday-season home run.

Want one for free? Beautygeeks is pleased to offer a chance to score one of five Scotch Shoe Tape Dispensers:

ENTER TO WIN by clicking on “Subscribe in a reader” on the right side of this screen, follow the instructions, then send an e.mail to imabeautygeek@gmail.com to let me know you’ve signed up (thank you!). If you’re already a subscriber, thanks so much and please e.mail imabeautygeek@gmail.com to enter as well. And yes, this contest is open to Beautygeeks’ international subscribers (yay!).

On Friday November 21st, five winning names will be chosen at random from all entries and notified via e.mail.

Hey Ma? Look! A shoe I can put on the table!

If an at-home teeth-bleaching kit or dental-office whitening procedure isn’t for you, you can still boost the brightness of your smile with makeup. Bold, blue-based red lip colour, such as Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Lipstick in Lotus Rouge (right) is the easiest fake-out. In fact red lipstick is the favourite trick of most white-teeth advertising. One I’ll never forget is the few-years-back commercial in which a little keener tyke tells his teacher her teeth are “ecru” (a colour I’ve always associated with old-lady shoes from the ’70s). In the before scenes, the teacher wears a neutral lip colour. In the final, beaming close-up, she’s rocking bright red lipstick and suddenly whiter teeth.

Whether you come by it naturally or get it from a tube, a darker complexion also throws teeth into whiter relief. For darker skin, deeper caramel or brown hues with blue undertones serve as natural nude lip shades and make teeth look bright, too. Cover Girl Wetslicks Amazemint Lipgloss in Toast-ed is one such example.

For get-the-look makeup tips, visit www.BestHealthMag.ca.

If you’re still thinking dramatic eye makeup is tricky to achieve, Chase Aston, international makeup artist for The Body Shop, says it ain’t so. Using The Body Shop holiday collection’s Sparkle Eye Palette 02 ($24.50), Aston, a master of the two-minute modern smokey eye, demonstrates (left to right):

1) Sweep silver shadow over lids from lashes to just above the crease. Line upper lashlines with The Body Shop Eye Definer pencil in Black ($11). “You don’t have to be terribly precise with this look,” says Aston.

2) With the Eyeshadow Blender Brush ($18), blend a fat line of the palette’s dark grey or dark blue shadow over the liner and (3) into a sideways vee on the outer corners of the lids.

4) Line the inner rim of the lower lashes with the Eye Definer Pencil in Black.

5) For more festive pop, line the upper lashlines with Sparkle liquid Eyeliner in Ocean Green ($15.50). Don’t stress trying to get that line done in one move — Aston used a series of short strokes along the base of the lashes.

6) Curl lashes and apply black mascara. Aston dusted Sparkle and Shimmer Powder Puff blush ($18) on cheeks, and finished by dabbing lips with The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain ($18) then Sparkle Lip Gloss 01 in Pink Sand ($16.50).

Tip: if you love sparkle, try Sparkle liquid Eyeliner in Starlight (silver) or Golden Sun all over the lid as a finishing touch. And take the clip out of your hair. *grin*

Click twice on any image to enlarge.
Model, Rhian Owen.

If you don’t have a gifted shutterbug in the family to document birthdays, holidays or just-because gatherings, a family session with a pro photographer could be the perfect holiday gift to beg from Santa.

Holly Sisson is a Toronto-based photog with an inspiring portfolio of engaging family portraits. These are her family-session tips.

1) Are there traits that make a photographer good at family sessions?
Patience and experience with children are key. Kids sometimes act up, but it shouldn’t be a problem — the photographer should be able to reassure parents that it’s okay, he or she understands. If a child is shy or just doesn’t want to participate, don’t force the issue. A photographer who understands kids will let the child approach in his or her own time.

2) What kind of questions should someone ask when looking for a photographer who is good with families?
I think the photographer’s portfolio speaks for itself. You can tell if the children are comfortable in the images. You definitely want a photographer who asks questions about the kids. There should be a consultation before the shoot to discuss the children, their personalities, traits, and whether there’s anything in particular that you think the photographer should know.

3) As the subjects of a session, how should a family prepare?
Think easy and fun. Wear clothing that you feel comfortable in. If the shoot is at your home, your child might like to change into a favourite outfit for individual shots. In terms of activities, think about things you normally do together so you can catch some of those moments during the shoot. You’re aiming to capture a point of time in your family’s life. That’s the beauty of photographs, their ability to take you back to a charming memory.

4) About how much does a session cost?
I can’t speak to what every photographer charges, but my rates range from $350 to $450 for a session. As for prints, my clients generally spend between $1500-2500. Definitely more then Wal-mart! But it’s custom photography, unique to each client.

If you’re now so inspired that you’ve decided you must have family prints to send out for the holidays, book now. Otherwise, start dropping hints or making real nice with Santa and his elves (it’s a great group gift).

You can reach Holly Sisson at HollySissonPhotography.com.

I know I’m not alone in finding mornings less and less appealing as daylight slacks off large by sleeping in, dragging its heels indifferently, sometimes barely showing its pasty face before it passes out again. My brain fights waking up so much I can hardly do the daily math: temperature + windchill × the TTC thermostat setting = X-number of layers. Ugh.

The scent of Trillium Butter Scrub in Clementine & Cream ($22 CAN) is like the sun rising in my shower. Bright, juicy and fresh, it’s an instant happy, a welcome start to a grey day. Sometimes all I do is open the jar and inhale. The scrub itself is a thick, natural blend of sea salt, sugar and oils. It leaves my tub a little slippy, but by that point I’m too content to mind, already looking forward to Trillium’s Crème Fraîche ($18 CAN), a 99-percent natural shea-and-mango-butter body cream that also comes in Clementine & Cream, Apricot & Oatmeal, or ooh, Grapefruit Grove (I’m obsessed with grapefruit fragrances).

If only delightful scents made me better at math, or the weather warmer. Well, at least they put me in such a good mood that math and the big chill trouble me just a little less.

Trillium Soaps and Candles are handmade in Nelson, BC, and available in boutiques and via www.trilliumsc.com.

Image courtesy of Trillium Soaps and Candles.

Alain Ménard’s younger sister Michèlle, a mother of three, was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 32. She’s been fighting the disease for seven years; her battle has included a mastectomy and continued chemotherapy.

Ménard and his wife Karen Clark are co-founders of Green Beaver Company, which makes natural and organic body-care products. In support of Ménard’s sister and other women dealing with breast cancer, they created For My Sister ($5.99), an natural, aluminum-free deodorant with sensitive-skin friendly aloe vera and chamomile, plus a fresh natural grapefruit scent. From sales of For My Sister, 100 percent of the profits will go to breast cancer research.

Do I need to say For My Sister is my natural deodorant of choice?

Green Beaver Company products are available at health food stores across Canada and online.

Image courtesy of Green Beaver Company.

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Secret Clinical Strength Antiperspirant is my antiperspirant of choice, but I’ve been conflicted about ’fessing up about that. In this time of blossoming green beauty, going aluminum-free for underarms is something folks are talking about.

Still, Secret Clinical Strength ($9.49 CAN/$7.99 US) works very well for me. I don’t think I have a major perspiration issue, but I like how comfy and secure I feel with this stuff on all day. And I’m tickled to realize I prefer the fragranced version. I’m usually all about unscented anti-perspirant, but the fragranced Secret Clinical Strength is special. In times of spritzing, the applied layer releases scent, which is incredibly reassuring.

The application direction for this is a bit different as well: apply at night, the label says. The idea is that you’re less likely to be perspiring much at bedtime (er… never mind), so you’d be applying to perfectly dry skin. Dry skin will allow the product to form a moisture barrier so effective that even showering in the a.m. won’t affect its keep-you-dry ability. Confession: I keep forgetting — I always apply in the a.m. after all. Works for me nonetheless.

That Clinical Strength works well brings me back to my dilemma. I kinda think I should go for a natural product, but sometimes I just want that worry-free efficacy I can’t always get with a natural deodorant formula. And I’m not the only person who struggles with this issue.

So I’m giving myself a break. I’ll use Secret Clinical Strength when keeping dry is super important. On days I’m less likely to be in a position to offend, I’ll go for the natural stick.

Actually, that give-yourself-a-break suggestion came from celeb makeup artist Joanna Schlip. An avid proponent of natural care, she uses natural and organic products as often as possible on her clients, the list of whom includes Christina Applegate and Ellen Pompeio. She understands, though, that small changes are key.

Works for me.

Secret Clinical Strength Antiperspirant is available in Powder Protection, Fresh and Light, Sport and Unscented, at mass retailers.

Image courtesy of Secret.

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Smashbox Arched Eyeliner Brush 21; Jet Set Eyeliner in Navy Blue; Wicked Lovely Duos in Sinful/Pure, Sexy/Demure; Cream Liner Trio and Loose Shimmer

A bonus of the freelance lifestyle is having a bit more time to spend with a variety of makeup artists when opportunities present themselves. I get to learn something, as I did when Smashbox set up their nifty swag trailer for the Toronto International Film Festival. (I’m yapping about this only now because I like so much in the Smashbox arsenal that I kept wanting to talk about everything all at once. Would have made for a rather long post — longer than this one. The staff objected, citing reader eye-exhaustion as a possible danger. Finally got her to back off when I promised to stick to just this collection for this post.)

Going in, I was already a fan of Jet Set waterproof cream eye liner ($27 CAN/$22 US). It’s wedding waterproof. But I learned more during an application with National Artist Trainer Melissa Janus:

1) Jet Set is easier to apply with the Smashbox Arched Eyeliner Brush 21 ($25 CAN/$20 US).
The arched eyeliner brush + Jet Set = love. Load up both sides of the brush, then put the lid back on the liner right away and tightly. You’ll have enough product on the brush to do both eyes and the pot of liner will last for ages. I left mine open a little too long a couple of times, back when I was using a straight-edge brush instead; all the liner dried up (or set completely) after only a few uses.

2) Blend Jet Set with shimmery eye shadow.
After lining lids in a series of a few short strokes, you have 60 seconds to apply and blend eye shadow over it with a brush. That’s a pretty good amount of time, so don’t panic or rush. If you’re new to cream liner, complete one eye before moving on to the other. Try either of the pretty and silky Eye Shadow Duos, in Sinful/Pure or Sexy/Demure ($28 CAN/$24 US).

3) Try Jet Set on the waterline.
The waterline is the inner rim of your lower lashlines. Line with Jet Set then swipe a fat line of eyeshadow at the base of the lashes, blending it into the edge of the liner. Major drama. A great change for me — my makeup is usually so light. With such striking makeup, I actually felt kinda hot! (Thanks, Melissa!)

A day or so later, I popped down to the film-fest shindig for which the Smashbox trailer was serving as the swag lounge. What a hot-spot. I never made it into the actual party. I was having too much fun in the trailer, catching up with organizer and Quadrant National Trainer Shawn Hlowatzki, and with the lovely Greg and Kelly May of Greg May Hair Architects (Greg does the best structured bobs ever). And of course I was watching the Smashbox artists at work (I really am a beauty geek). Along with a couple of things I promised I’d save for another post, I got to know the Cream Liner Trio and Loose Shimmer ($37 CAN/$32 US) — more fun and fresh textures to play with. And easy: with an eye shadow brush, layer any of the three cream liners all over the lid and along the lower lashes like eye shadow. Use another shadow brush to press the shimmer shadow over the liner. Hit the how-to video here (the actual how-to part starts about halfway through).

Happily, although Holiday Makeup is already out, the Smashbox Wicked Lovely Collection is still available at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora in Canada and via www.sephora.com. Not everything on the Smashbox website is available north of the Canada-US border; more info, Canadians can call 1-800-268-0959.

And hey, Wicked Lovely kinda fits the Hallowe’en timing, doesn’t it?

With Melissa Janus • Melissa’s work • after meeting the Cream Liner Trio and Loose Shimmer (over Navy Blue Jet Set) • Cream Liner Trio and Shimmer. (It’s weird to see a strip of your own face staring back at you from the screen. I deleted it, but the staff pointed out that in doing so I’d made it kinda hard to see what the makeup looked like. Getting a tad bossy, is the staff.)

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Want compliments every day? For just $12 CAN/US, you can guarantee yourself daily kudos on your cleverness, your style, and your Cup Couture Cupcoat, a reusable insulated thermal cup sleeve that keeps your hand comfy as it helps keep your coffee warm. You’ll also save the planet some, from discarded cardboard sleeves and double-cup waste.

Available in a variety of eyecatching, graphic fabrics, Cup Couture Cupcoats are sturdy, washable, and fit most 12-, 16- and 20-oz paper cups. I have a cheetah-print faux fur sleeve courtesy of my friend Jennifer Preiato, who sent Cupcoats out as promo gifts in holiday cards to her editor contacts a few years back when she was the PR manager at Canderm Pharma Inc. I’m not an animal-print type, but on my cup sleeve I love it: the pattern and colours conceal any evidence of coffee slops. It’s a beautiful thing.

I don’t know when I last mentioned to Jennifer that I use her gift all the time and that without fail it prompts a delighted comment or three. Certainly without fail I point out the name of the company as well as Canderm’s URL on the other side as I explain where I got it, rather like I’m doing now — and like I did earlier today when folks admired. *grin*

Thanks for the compliments-starter, Jen! It rather makes my every day. xo

Cup Couture Cupcoats are available at select coffee shops in the US and at cupcouture.com.

Images courtesy Cup Couture.

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My staff’s in an uproar again. She’s worried Obama supporters might find this post tricky. I say she has zip to worry about. Dressing like their fave celebs is how kids today say I love you. Plus, it made me laugh, and who doesn’t need a chuckle on a Monday a.m.?

This Office look is courtesy of Nicole Stamp, a Toronto-based writer/director/actor and tv-host. Hit pageslap.wordpress.com for her how-to. And remember to play nice with the other kids, even if several of them are Sarah Palin and John McCain.

It’s better to be a treater than a trickster.

For Beautygeeks Hallowe’en makeup how-tos of a more traditional kind, visit RelateMag.com.

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How did we let purple eye shadow disappear for so long? Must be leftover ’80s trauma. Bright pink and purple eye makeup worn with matching clothes can scar a person, it’s true. Thankfully makeup textures and fashion sense have improved considerably in the last couple of decades, as has the general approach to beauty. Beauty is much more personal, about enhancing the unique charm of your own features, looking your own best, not someone else’s. Sheer is key — if a colour is sheer, your own skintone becomes part of the colour, which of course means it’s more likely to work for you.

And this purple I love, Lancôme Color Design shimmer shadow in Drama ($19.50) is sheer — with a little extra fun: it’s iridescent. I don’t have to tell bold beauties how to wear it — bold beauties play without fear. More conservative types, though, you can wear this. Here’s how:

1) minimize dark shadows under your eyes and in the inner corners of your eyelids with a little concealer, and prep lids with a light layer of loose powder

2) sweep a wash of nude eye shadow over the lids to the browbones

3) highlight browbones and inner corners of eyes with shimmery white or champagne shadow

4) use an angled brush to apply a soft line of Drama shadow along your upper lashlines

5) curl your lashes and apply black mascara (if you have sparse lashes, line the inner rim of your upper lid right at the base of the lashes, with black or dark brown waterproof liner)

The result? A subtle wink of fun, eye-enhancing colour that makes folks wonder why they can’t look away from your pretty eyes. I call that Look-Again beauty. It’s the best kind.

For more pro makeup-artist tips on how to wear purple well, whatever your age or skin tone, visit Homemakers.com.

Lancôme is available at major department stores, select drugstores, Sephora and sephora.com.

Image courtesy of Lancôme.

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