BLACK MAGIC • BOSCIA LUMINIZING BLACK MASK

With the month of witchery upon us it was only appropriate to detox my skin with something I like to refer to as 'black magic', Boscia's Luminizing Black Mask. For months I've heard of the wonders that this little black tube delivers, but the thought of waiting 30 minutes for it to dry always led me to another product. However, with my skin looking more lackluster than usual – Toronto water, I blame you – I decided to set aside the time and slather this jet black mask on.

The Luminizing Black Mask ($42 CAD) is a peel-off mask that helps 'boost skin clarity and minimize the appearance of pores by removing dirt and impurities, absorbing excess oil and revealing a healthy, glowing complexion'. Formulated with a Calcium Montmorillonite Clay – oh you fancy, huh – this mask contains over 67 minerals alongside a slew of natural ingredients to ensure your skin always looks it's best.  The inclusion of the Calcium Montmorillonite Clay is what gives this mask it's 'squid ink' appearance, which slowly dries over the course of 30 minutes to a look/feel that I can only describe as latex… comfortable latex that is. But then came time to peel it off. Be warned: do not get this mask in your eyebrows during the application, I repeat, keep this mask AWAY from all hair! After nearly losing an eyebrow, and some minor redness forming on my cheeks from peeling the mask was off, it was time to bask in the results. My skin, albeit slightly red, was left glowing for miles – I swear my crush in the building across the street was blinded – and felt so smooth that I purposely cancelled all my plans so that I could sit bare face all evening. However, there are a few things to consider before purchasing this mask: it requires quite a thick layer of product, it will feel like you are ripping a bandaid off of your face and those with sensitive skin may experience a burning sensation. But those who live by the motto 'beauty is pain' will feel quite at home with it (guilty).

And for on the go touch ups I've been reaching for the Boscia Pore Purifying Black Strips ($35 CAD). These strips are simple to use, deliver similar 'magical' results to the mask, and provide a tingling, cooling sensation that wakes my skin & I right up!

AM¥     XO

STELLA MCARTNE¥ x SALL¥ HANSEN B¥ MADELINE POOLE

One great aspect of a fashion show – aside from the clothing, of course – is the makeup and nails that are used to complete the 'look'. Madeline Poole, Global Colour Ambassador for Sally Hansen, knows everything there is to know when creating a statement nail and, she has a knack for creating nail art that is inspired by the collection. She created a coolly minimalist, matte nude nail for Stella McCartney’s Summer 2015 show. Then, inspired by the fluidity and trendy prints seen in the collection, which can only be described as an abstract take on cheetah print, Madeline created two fashion-forward manicures that are screaming to be re-created.

“There were a few dresses in the collection that had a mixture of prints – I was really attracted to this spotted animal pattern. To me it looks like moth wings, mimicking leopard spots. I love to layer colours organically and not fuss with straight lines so that the design I came up with is really expressive and easy to recreate with a casual dab,” says Poole.

The Stella Summer 2015 Inspired Nail Looks by Madeline Poole – The Shades:

·         The background is Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Designer in "Himalaya"

·         The red is Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in "All Fired Up"

·         The navy is Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in "Dark Huemoor"

·         The yellow is Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in "Mellow Yellow"

·         The black is Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in "Black Out"

Have you ever been inspired to mimic a print that you’ve seen on the runway? 

AM¥     XO

TORONTO PHOTO DIAR¥... #1

From lush ivy walls to rainbow-coloured macarons to cotton-candy skies, this city has it all. And now that Vogue has named my neighbourhood, West Queen West, as one of the Coolest Neighbourhoods in the world I figured I should begin to photograph my time here  – forgive me for the lack of photos for Sept. as this idea came to me half way through the month. 

The highlights: 

– Attending the opening of The Power Plant's Fall Exhibition ft. the works of Julia Dault, Pedro Cabrita Reis and Shelagh Keeley

– Eating mountains of blueberry pancakes at School Bakery Café 

– Playing copious amounts of free PacMan at Get Well (drunk)
– Getting a bossy new hair cut & colour thanks to Anne-Marie at Coupe Bizarre (funniest conversation I have ever had at a Salon – left crying in a great way)

– Attending the launch party for the 'Steal The Look' app by Wet n Wild

– Strawberry margarita macarons at Nadège Patisserie 

– Endless nights researching the 'puss-ificiation' of men with my roommate thanks to Bravo's new show The Singles Project. 

AMY    XO

WET N WILD GIVEAWA¥ [CLOSED]

This giveaway is open until 10/10/14 and, due to shipping costs, will only be open to Canadian and US citizens –  sorry guys :(. There are however 2 prizes up for grabs. The first is the Eye Set consisting of 10 eye products that are able to create a multitude of looks – I reviewed two of the Color Icon Palettes earlier, to read click here. The second prize is the Lip set also consisting of 10 lip products, and just like the eye shadows they are pigmented and so easy to work with. The winners will be chosen at random using Rafflecopter – and the first winner chosen will have their choice of set. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AMY     XO

WET N WILD • COMFORT ZONE & TUNNEL VISION

 COMFORT ZONE

 TUNNEL VISION

Last week I attended a party hosted by Wet n Wild to celebrate the launch of their new app called 'Steal The Look'. The app allows you to do just that, simply take a photo of a makeup look that you want to re-create and the app promptly delivers a list of Wet n Wild products that can be used to 'steal' the original look. Pretty cool, right? After playing around with the app and a few magazine clippings, I headed to the makeover station where I was reminded why I love Wet n Wild so much – their eyeshadow palettes. There aren't many brands out there that offer high performance cosmetics at a cost that even a 12 year old could afford, and yet Wet n Wild proves that it's possible with their Color Icon Collection. I snagged 2 of these palettes while at the party – Comfort Zone ($5), an earth-toned palette comprised of 8 shadows and Tunnel Vision ($4), a 5 shadow palette perfect for creating a dramatic smoky eye. Both palette's are stunning, containing highly pigmented shadows that are smooth and easy to work with – well, with the exception of 1 slightly chalky shadow. 

Comfort Zone is so versatile, even coming with a guide on how to achieve 4 different neutral eyes on the back of the palette – although I'm proof that more looks can be created. The highlight of this palette is the Definer in Column 2, it's a brown shadow with a teal duo-chrome that is almost as good as MAC's Club, I drool a little every time I look at it. And I'll just announce this quietly... it's quickly becoming my Holy Grail palette – sorry Naked2 :|. Tunnel Vision on the other hand represents a very specific type of palette to me, and ironically I guess that it's true 'Tunnel Vision', but it's the palette I'll reach for when I want that classic dramatic smoky eye. The silvers are simply to die for and I love the subtle glitter in the Crease shade, but there are a few shadows on my naughty list from this palette. Albeit beautiful, the Crease shade is slightly chalky, as you can tell from the swatch, making it difficult to work with and is too similar to the Definer shade. What this palette really needs is a true black to replace the Definer shade – but I know all of you beauty junkies have a true black shadow in your repertoire so who cares. 

And since you are dying to try them out now that you've seen the swatches I'm about to make it a whole lot easier with a Giveaway that contains these and a slew of other Wet n Wild products, separated into a eye and lip prize! Simply click here to enter (Ends 10/10/14).

AM¥     XO