Anna Sui Beauty Livens Up Drugstore Shelves

Upon hearing that Anna Sui‘s beauty line would be sold in Shopper’s Drug Mart as of May, I shrieked with glee like a little girl. Most likely because Anna Sui’s line of cosmetics and skincare brings out the girl in me with its fun, glam, rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic and sigh-inducing rose scent. Until now the makeup range was only available at Sears locations making it a tad difficult to get my sweet Sui beauty fix.

Backstage at Anna Sui's Spring 2010 Runway Show

The Spring collection couldn’t be a better way to introduce the New York designer’s makeup collection to drugstores. New for the season is Moisture Rich Fluid Foundation and Moisture Rich Powder Foundation refill. The fluid foundation comes in a rose shaped bottle and gives a poreless smooth finish that promises “beautiful doll skin.” There are also new shades of the Liquid Eye Color that deliver high-pigment pay-off. My favourite shade is #250 a soft metallic purple that’s in trend with this season’s pastel lids. New fiery shades of the Lip Gloss range from baby orange to nude beige and my favourite #309, which is a bright glittery candy pink with a touch of red.

Anna Sui Moisture Rich Fluid Foundation $38

Anna Sui Moisture Rich Powder Foundation $33, Foundation Case $16

Anna Sui Liquid Eye Color in #050 (platinum white) and #350 (lady pink), $23 each

Anna Sui Lip Gloss in #604 (baby orange with aurora red flame), $22

But the highlight from the new collection is the new range of Lip Rouges that come in 4 different variations. Glossy provides a rich high-shine; Dazzle gives your pout a sparkling finish; Vivid comes in super bold colours such as Neon Pink, Deco Orange and even Super Black; and Tint delivers a slight tint to enhance your natural lip colour. With so many choices, my Shopper’s Optimum card is going to be very happy!

Anna Sui Lip Rouge Tint in #350 (baby pink), $25

— Jodi Goulart

Go Blonder

Every time I go to the salon to get my roots touched-up I have the urge to go blonder. It all started with blonde highlights in university then I went to blonde-from-the-box and now my colour is salon perfected. For the past few years I’ve been a beige blonde with platinum highlights but the desire to keep going lighter is always there. I’ve been told by colourists that my hair may not survive the stress of more bleach so I’ve found a much better alternative.

One of the First Blonde Bombshells Marilyn Monroe

John Frieda’s Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Tone-Restoring Shampoo and Conditioner are must-haves for any highlighted or colour-treated blonde. They both neutralize dreaded brassiness and yellow tones while working to brighten blonde without the use of ammonia or peroxide. I started using the shampoo and conditioner after a salon trip and after one month my hair still has that freshly-coloured shine. Also available in the John Frieda Sheer Blonde collection is the Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo and Conditioner made for natural, highlighted or colour-treated blondes that contain a natural lightening complex that gradually lightens for an all-over sun-kissed look.

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Tone-Restoring Shampoo, $12.99 at drugstores

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Tone-Restoring Conditioner, $12.99 at drugstores

— Jodi Goulart

Pulp Fiction Vixens: The Second Chapter

In my previous “Pulp Fiction Vixens” post, I focused on the femme fatales on the Christian Dior Spring runway and how to achieve their pastel lids and bright red lips. Now I’ve turned my attention to the cropped trenchcoats, lace slip skirts, bodycon lace dresses and bustiers that these dangerous dames strutted in. The outfits inspired images of film noir femmes  and pulp fiction damsels who, after brawling with bad boys, throw on their trenchcoats — over their lingerie of course — and flee the scene with smoking gun in hand. Look below for the runway looks and pieces to help dress the part of Dior’s vixens. With Topshop now shipping to Canada and the Canadian dollar close to parity with the U.S. dollar it’s never been a better time to shop!

Christian Dior Spring 2010

Topshop Cropped Swing Trench Coat $135 U.S.

Topshop Zip Lace Slip Skirt $70 U.S.

Christian Dior Spring 2010 Runway

H&M Bustier $39.95

Topshop Scallop Lace Bodycon Tunic $80 U.S.

— Jodi Goulart

Picture Perfect

With wedding season now in full swing, it’s time to start thinking about how to accessorize your cute cocktail dress. You’ve got the peep-toe pumps, the vintage clasp clutch and the feather clip for your hair, but something’s missing… After a winter spent in hibernation your skin is most likely lacklustre. A couple of years ago I was a bridesmaid for a best friend and I brought along Benefit‘s  Hollywood Glo Body Lustre to give my arms, shoulders, back and decollete a slight shimmer. The rest of the bridesmaids liked it so much they all smoothed it on.

Benefit "Take a Picture it Lasts Longer" Body Balm, $32 at Sephora and Shopper's Drug Mart

Now that Hollywood Glo is no longer, there’s another body balm on the block: Bathina “Take a Picture it Lasts Longer” Body Balm. This new version is much like Hollywood Glo in that it’s a silky and glimmering smooth-on balm in the heavenly Maybe Baby signature scent, but unlike my first favourite, Bathina feels lighter on my skin and provides more of a sheer golden-pink finish, which is perfect for my fair complexion. Now you’ll have everything you need for the wedding, just try not to outshine the bride in the pictures.

— Jodi Goulart

Pulp Fiction Vixens

On Christian Dior’s Spring 2010 runway, the models looked ripped from the pages of a Hard Case Crime pulp novel. I could just see the titles that these femme fatales would inspire: Blonde With A Bullet, Black Widow, The Bride Said Die and Vegas Vixens. The Lauren Bacall waves, bright red lips and pastel lids in shades of lilac, tangerine and Robin egg blue made for a striking , sweetly seductive look. I found a bevy of beauty products to help you get this look (below). Check in next week for clothing that will help you dress the part of Dior’s film noir vixens.

Christian Dior Spring 2010

Christian Dior Spring 2010

Eyes:

• Maybelline Eye Studio Eye Shadow in Purple Icon, $11.99 at drugstores and mass retailers
• Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow in Fancy Pansy, $22 at Shopper’s Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques and Sephora
• Maybelline Eye Studio Marbled Eye Shadow in Navy Narcissist, $8.99 at drugstores and mass retailers
• Tarina Tarantino Eye Dream Hypershadow in Peacock Pearl, $19 at Sephora

Face:

• Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Powder available in 8 shades, $32 at Sephora
• Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Pure, an all-over powder with microsparkle for eyes and cheeks, $19 at Sephora

Lips:

• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Creme in Cha Cha Cherry, $9.50 at drugstores
• Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Diva Red, $6.99 at drugstores

— Jodi Goulart

What A Doll!

If you’re a Canadian girl like me then you’re probably not very familiar with Tarina Tarantino, but you will be very soon thanks to a new beauty range by the American accessories designer available exclusively at Sephora. Tarantino is best known for her ultra girly jewelry and accessories that don’t shy away from colourful crystals, big bows and chunky Lucite beads, hearts and skulls. She’s given Hello Kitty, Barbie, The Wizard Of Oz and now Alice In Wonderland her hyper cute touch.

Tarina Tarantino And Her Signature Fuchsia Locks

Now the pink-haired Tarantino has waved her sparkly wand and created a beauty collection. I’m sure it was much more difficult than that, it’s just so easy to imagine her flitting around with a tiara and wand. Tarina Tarantino Beauty borrows from the designers inspirations, which range from ’60s cinema and psychedelic art to nostalgic fashion influences including Victoriana and glam rock. The colour-saturated collection includes eyeshadow, liner, mascara, primer, blush, lipgloss, powder and even a spray-on shimmer dust, and much more.

Tarina Tarantino Gem Gloss $19. Available in 12 shades.

Tarina Tarantino Kapinki Brush $38

Tarina Tarantino Conditioning Lip Sheen $22. Available in 12 shades.

Tarina Tarantino will debut her beauty collection this upcoming Tuesday, March 16 at Sephora Eaton Centre in Toronto. From 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. you can meet Tarantino, get a makeover and receive an autographed collection book when you purchase an item from the collection.

— Jodi Goulart

Juicy Fruit

On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I was swept away by the palm trees, warm temps and abundance of Hawaiian goodies. The dried mangoes and pineapples and chocolate-covered macadamia nuts made my sweet tooth salivate ,all while making me think of fruity and tropical-inspired lotions, body washes and fragrances. Here are some of my picks to get you smelling sweet and in the mood for sunny weather — no margaritas required, though they don’t hurt.

"Sunny Skies," Rolf Armstrong 1953

Bath & Body Works’ Tahiti Island Mimosa collection includes a Body Lotion and Body Wash that contain the Tahitian Tamanoi blend of Tamanu nut, which helps skin soothe and heal itself, and Monoi oil, which provides moisture for thirsty skin. The Fragrance Mist is a softly sweet exotic floral.

Bath & Body Works Tahiti Island Mimosa Fragrance Mist $16.50, Body Lotion $14.50 and Body Wash $16.50

Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Girls are back at it again after a Winter collection of fragrances with the new limited-edition Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties range. All of the girls are wearing adorable swimwear, polished toes and Plumeria and Hibiscus flowers in their hair. Each fragrance is new and all are florals, except for Lil’ Angel, which is a citrus gourmand, and my favourite G, which is a creamy musk.

Harajuku Lovers Limited Edition Sunshine Cuties, $32 each at drug stores, Sephora and Sears

The Body Shop and Sephora both have new bath and body collections that are refreshing and citrusy instead of overly sweet. Sephora’s is the Pink Grapefruit Sorbet Bath & Body Collection that includes a body lotion, bubble bath, bath gel and scrub. Body Shop has just launched its new Sweet Lemon range that includes a Body Butter, Scrub, Lotion, Shower Gel, Lip Butter, Soap and even a lemon shaped bath pom pom. The products range in price from $3 to $20.

Sephora Pink Grapefruit Sorbet Bath & Body Collection, from $16 - $21

The Body Shop Sweet Lemon Shower Gel $13

And because our lips deserve a fruity treat there’s Rimmel’s new line of Royal Gloss lipglosses in 10 delectable translucent shades. They’re packed with Vitamins A, C and E and smell like mouth-watering candy. See my favourite shades below.

Rimmel Royal Gloss in Candy Rush, $6.99 at select drug and mass retailers

Rimmel Royal Gloss in Pink Taffy, $6.99 at select drug and mass retailers

— Jodi Goulart

Freshly Squeezed

Spring accessories are starting to crop up in stores and the big, bright and fruity finds are perfect for a modern-day Carmen Miranda. Known as the “Brazilian Bombshell,” Miranda became a film icon in the  ’40s known for her singing, dancing and colourful costumes, which included a headdress of fruit.

Carmen Miranda

I couldn’t help but think of “the lady in the tutti-frutti hat” at the sight of cherries, bananas, pineapples and apples cropping up on tote bags, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. The tutti frutti accessories have me longing for a tropical trip and also realizing that I’m probably not getting enough Vitamin C in my diet. Look below for some of my freshly-picked favourites.

Forever 21 Sweet Fruit Earring Set $4.80

Aldo Follin Charm Bracelet $15

Forever 21 Sparkly Pineapple Earrings $5.80

Aldo Wexell Tote $25

— Jodi Goulart

Photo Finished

I have no problem admitting that I’m envious of Scarlett Johansson. Her curvy pin-up girl figure, raspy voice, wavy locks and husband Ryan Reynolds make me a little green. But what gets me most is her flawless skin! Her makeup always looks impeccable and not in an overly-done way. In an effort to look polished for my own close-up in the light of day as opposed to on a red carpet, I tried the following products with impressive results.

Scarlett Johansson As The Face Of Mango

First I tried L’Oreal‘s new line of Go 360 Degrees Clean Deep Facial Cleansers. For my sensitive skin, the Deep Facial Lotion Cleanser For Sensitive Skin that is both soap- and fragrance free worked wonders. Thanks to the Scrublet, a flexible silicone disc with tiny bristles that clean and exfoliate, I got a deep-down clean. Whereas many cleansers can leave traces of makeup and dirt on my face, I was not only squeaky clean but my skin was also super soft.

L'Oreal Go 360 Degrees Clean Deep Facial Lotion Cleanser For Sensitive Skin, $11.99 at mass market retailers and drug stores

I’m not one to wear full-face makeup, instead I apply and then blend foundation on the darker and sometimes red skin around the sides of my nose, mouth and on my chin. I applied a more than usual amount of Revlon‘s new PhotoReady Makeup on my trouble areas to get the full experience and then finished with the PhotoReady Powder. This line of makeup, which also includes a Translucent Finisher powder, promises to deliver flawless skin whether you’re under indoor fluorescent lighting or outdoor sunlight. I was impressed with the coverage and how long my makeup both looked and felt fresh until the end of the day. It’s on ScarJo!

Revlon PhotoReady Makeup, Powder and Translucent Finisher, $18.95 each at mass market retailers and drug stores

— Jodi Goulart

Take A Piece Of My Heart

I’ve never been one to shy away from cutesy details on clothing and accessories like hearts and bows. Luella, a designer who always puts ladylike and traditional English tailoring through a cheeky punk wringer, gave feminine details her signature spin on the Spring 2010 runway. The fun, feminine and quirky collection featured big bows in shades of lemon, bright orange and lipstick red adorned on bouffant hairstyles. I tracked down small bow pins at Forever 21 that you can use to dress up your hair.

Minnie Mouse Bows At Luella Spring 2010

Forever 21 Satin Grosgrain Bow Pins $1.50

Forever 21 Satin Grosgrain Bow Pins $1.50

One of my favourite highlights of the collection were the heart-shaped cut-out details on the front of dresses. I found a cute-as-pie gingham print dress at Fred Flare with the heart detail on the back of the dress.

True Love At Luella Spring 2010

Gingham "I Heart You!" Dress available in black or red, $54 U.S. at Fred Flare.com

Gingham "I Heart You!" Dress available in black or red, $54 U.S. at Fred Flare.com

— Jodi Goulart