Steal: JoeFresh Mascara

Mascara is an essential tool, even if you don't wear much make-up at all. I'm not loyal to one type of mascara or even one brand. I'm of the theory that all mascaras are basically the same formula and that it's the brush that makes the main difference. Everyone's lashes are different so one brush and formula won't necessarily get the same effect on two different sets of lashes.

I featured a number of JoeFresh Beauty products a few posts ago (Part One here and Part Two here) but just recently picked up one of their black mascaras on a recent shopping trip.

JoeFresh, like many drugstore/inexpensive brands, does not offer testers for most of their products. Their lip products have testers but none of the foundations, powders, eyeshadows, pencils or mascaras. When will these companies figure out that people will be more likely to buy if you've got a good product AND you're able to test it before buying? People are just going to open the product for sale if you have no testers and it's messy and unappealing to look at a display with curled plastic and broken product. And there's my rant.

The JoeFresh mascaras come in brown and black and costs $6 CDN a tube, which makes it one of the most (if not the most) inexpensive mascaras available in Canada. This is a STEAL!

It's also got a great, thick brush that holds lots of product, which is a thicker, drier formula. The downside to this is that it needs to be blotted quite a bit on a tissue before you can apply it to remove the clumps. But if you do this, it goes on quite well. It's a good formula, not too wet (too wet mascara can destroy the curl of your lashes) and the brush is the type that you can really get into your lashes without getting it all over your eyelids.

Here is my before and after. My lashes have been curled and combed prior to putting on the mascara, and I applied it to both top and bottom lashes. This is approximately how much mascara I'd wear on an average workday. I am wearing only base and concealer otherwise.

It's inexpensive but it nicely lengthen and thickens my lashes; it isn't overly messy (if you blot the brush well before applying); the formula isn't overly dry or wet; it doesn't flake. I don't think I've been this impressed by a mascara for a long, long time. Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash is a recent favourite of mine, but considering it's about three times more expensive than the JoeFresh mascara...well, that's a no brainer.

JoeFresh Beauty products are available at Loblaws stores, Canadian Superstores and JoeFresh locations. For a list of locations, click here.

C

JoeFresh Beauty Reviewed Part Two

Welcome to Part Two of my JoeFresh Beauty review. In this post I will review a JoeFresh Beauty Lip Stain, Lipgloss and Matte Lipstick. (Part One in which I reviewed a JoeFresh Beauty Cheek Tint and two eyeshadows can be found here.) All swatches done on NW20 skin tone.

First up is the Lip Stain. I bought it in Candy, which is also the name of the JoeFresh Lipgloss I happened to pick up on a separate shopping trip but as you'll see they're not really the same colour at all. OK, so lack of inspiration on JoeFresh's creative department on selecting unique names. With that being said, I do think the name Candy fits both products!

I quite like the packaging of the Lip Stains. They're chubby little felt-tip pens that feel solid in your hand. The felt tip distributes the stain well, although I do have issues with how the product flows.

Lip Stain in Candy (overcast day natural light)
Swatch (overcast day natural light)

Swatch (unnatural light with flash)

The downside to the Lip Stains is the application process. I have not run out of mine yet, but it does take some time for the product to seep out of the felt tip almost as if you're at the end of the tube. It's good that it doesn't pour out because that would be a MESS but they could certainly find a happy medium between the two extremes. I find I really have to press and massage the felt tip in order to get a good amount of product on my lips.

That being said, I quite like the colour of Candy. It's a bright pinky-purple that enhances the natural shade of my lips. I like to wear it topped with lip balm or under a lip gloss.

*I did the lip stain swatch, then rubbed off as much as I could before swatching the lipstick and the gloss. Look for the lip stain swatch next to the lipstick and gloss swatches in the below photos - this stuff STAYS on!

And here's the Lip Gloss called Candy. See, they're quite different shades! Candy lipgloss is an opaque, very shiny bright pink gloss. Despite the intensity of the shade and how opaque it is, it goes on quite sheer if you want it to.

Lipgloss in Candy (overcast day natural light)

Swatch (overcast day natural light)
*note the lip stain swatch still visible after being scrubbed at with a wet wipe
Swatch (unnatural light with flash)
*note the lip stain swatch still visible after being scrubbed at with a wet wipe

Candy the lipgloss is packaged in very thick, clear plastic tube. I don't know why I like the thickness of it so much, but there's something satisfying about not worrying if it'll slip out of your hands or snapping in two. It feels like it might withstand a hurricane - that's how solid and sturdy it is. The applicator is a brush, which isn't my favourite way of applying lipgloss especially since more inexpensive brands tend to use longer bristled brushes. It's harder to get an accurate application with these brushes, especially when the gloss is opaque and needs to be applied with as much accuracy as a lipstick. Often I find that the bristles can get bent in different directions making it even more difficult to apply with accuracy.

There's a mildly sweet scent, something like cotton candy, to the gloss, nothing remarkable but not unpleasant. Texture-wise it's smooth, sticky, glossy and basically everything you want a gloss to be. I like the brightness of the colour and the shine. It lasts a good length of time on my lips, nothing overly remarkable. Overall this isn't the best gloss I've ever tried but it's not bad and certainly not bad for the price. I'm more fond of the colour than anything else about it.

And finally we come to the Matte Lipstick in Bordeaux (apropos because of the wine-aux I'm becoming lately!). Housed in a thick, white tube, this is one great-looking lipstick.

Lipstick in Bordeaux (overcast day natural light)

Swatch (overcast day natural light)
*note the lip stain swatch still visible after being scrubbed at with a wet wipe

Swatch (unnatural light with flash)
*note the lip stain swatch still visible after being scrubbed at with a wet wipe

As you can see, the lipstick swatches lighter than it looks in the tube and it's a lovely, rich deep pink - brighter than a real Bordeaux (more like a Rose) but it's definitely not misnamed either.

Since this is a matte lipstick, it starts out mildly creamy in texture and then mellows to a drier matte finish. It's great to use for a stained look - simply apply with your fingers or dab gently on moisturized lips and then blot and blot some more until you're left with a stained effect. It can be difficult to wear matte lipsticks if you're a lip goop junkie like me who can't go long without something slick coating my lips for long.

Just like with Candy the lipgloss, it's the colour over the quality that makes me like this lipstick. It's a bold, lovely shade, perfect for fall and I can't wait to wear it on Saturday to my friend's Mad Men inspired anniversary/re-wedding party! (You can see it being worn here.)

Summary: Overall I like the JoeFresh Beauty products I've tried. I'm a sucker for their clothes and while the make-up doesn't quite match up, it's certainly no slouch in the inexpensive beauty product category. Check it out at a Loblaws, JoeFresh or Canadian Superstore near you!

C.

JoeFresh Beauty Reviewed Part One

JoeFresh, in the few years since its inception, has become one of my go-to stores. It's the brainchild of Joe Mimran, who was behind such such fashion lines as Alfred Sung and Club Monaco. The clothes are well-made, very chic, extremely inexpensive and new styles come in every week. The clothes are very very cute, and reminiscent of what Club Monaco used to be (for a fraction of the price).

In spring 2009, JoeFresh introduced a line of beauty products with the same chic and affordable branding. JoeFresh Beauty is available in a few JoeFresh stores but in most Loblaws and Canadian Superstores and includes foundation, concealer, powder, brushes, blush, eyeshadows, eyeliners, lipstick, lip gloss, stains, tints, lipliners and a variety of accessories including manicure sets and blotting paper.

I decided to buy a few products I was interested in and do a review for you. Here's my stash (all swatches done on NW20 skin tone):

Top L - R: Cheek Tint in Pink Rose ($4), Matte Lipstick in Bordeaux ($6)
Centre L - R: Eyeshadow in Bronze, Eyeshadow in Midnight (both $4)
Lipgloss in Candy ($8)
Lip Stain in Candy ($6)

I'll start with the Cheek Tint, the first product I bought and I've got to say outright that I LOVE THIS STUFF. It's become the blush product I reach for every morning more often than not.

Cheek Tint in Pink Rose (natural light)Swatch (overcast day natural light)Swatch (unnatural light with flash)

The texture of the cheek tint is creamy and smooth and it goes on easily. It's quite sheer and can be used for a natural flush or built up for a more intense look. For best results, I recommend using your fingers to apply it and building until you get the look you want. Because it's so sheer, you can top it with other colours for a variety of looks and textures.

*The cheek tints are teeny enough to toss in your purse for touch-ups during the day or for a quick hint of colour if someone tells you you look tired or ill (I get that ALOT).

On to the eyeshadows:

Eyeshadow in Bronze (natural light)

Swatch (natural light)

Swatch (unnatural light with flash)

Bronze is a medium toned metallic cool brown with a creamy, smooth finish. It goes on a bit heavily but is the type of colour and texture that could be quickly smudged across the lids with your fingers if you were in a hurry or for a messy, sexy effect. I love eyeshadows like this, it's very easy to look sultry with a creamy metallic soft brown like this.

Eyeshadow in Midnight

Swatch (overcast day natural light)

Swatch (unnatural light with flash)

Midnight is a mid-toned cool grey with a hint of blue. Compared to Bronze, it's got a somewhat subtler sheen, light sparkle and is a touch more powdery and matte. I would imagine that JoeFresh Beauty's more matte eyeshadows would be similar but like the Bronze, Midnight has a smooth, creamy texture and goes on quite well, less heavily than Bronze. I've worn it along my upper lashline smudged up to the crease for a smoky daytime look and it could be obviously used for a more dramatic smoky eye.

*One downside to the JoeFresh Beauty line is that there aren't testers for all the products. Lipsticks - yes, cheek tints - yes, but not for the lip glosses? Not for the foundation? That's one way the JoeFresh line is a bit too cheap. I haven't seen a JoeFresh Beauty display where there's not opened products.

Stay tuned for part two of my JoeFresh Beauty Review where I'll tell you all about the lipgloss, lip stain and lipstick I bought!

C.

A Rockin' But Ladylike FOTD

One of my very favourite make-up looks is liquid eyeliner. How could it not be? It was a staple in the beauty looks of every beauty icon from Cleopatra to Marilyn Monroe. It can be difficult to master the technique, but it's definitely worth it to keep trying. Like wearing a red lipstick it's a very simple way to make you feel sexy, powerful and feminine (and that's just to start with).

Here's a look that's quickly become one of my favourites. It features the basic lined eye shape and a lip colour (this FOTD shows it with two different colours) with minimal other make-up but it's a very pretty, retro-inspired, modern look.


The eyes are the focal point of this look. I lined my upper lids with a black liner, extending it out past the outer corner of my eye and topped it with a bold shade of eyeshadow. You could use any liquid or cream eyeliner in any colour but if you have a basic black, you can create any colour you like by topping it with any eyeshadow colour. Experiment with it and get creative or keep it simple and leave it at basic black. It's still a gorgeous look.

In this case I used MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack topped with MAC Deep Truth. I swept Blacktrack along my lashline with an angle brush (MAC Fluidlines dry quickly so you have to work quickly). Once it had dried, I used another angle brush to press MAC Deep Truth on top of the liner. For a bit more oomph, I smudged a small amount of Bare Escentuals Rockstar shadow beneath my lower lashes.

L-R: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack, MAC Deep Truth, Bare Escentuals Rockstar

I used two different lip colours for this FOTD to show how you can make it look more retro or more contemporary. The cherry red shade I'm wearing in the top photo is L'Oreal Juicestick in Cherry Freeze and the coral shade in the other two photos is MAC Costa Chic - from the MAC Euristocrats II collection.

L-R: L'Oreal Juicestick in Cherry Freeze and MAC Costa Chic

I had curled my lashes before lining my eyes (it helps to guide your eyeliner line) and applied mascara afterwards on my top lashes only. My cheeks are a combination of soft, shimmery pinks and corals - Benefit Dandelion and a GOSH Precious Powder Pearl highlighter. I could definitely gone bolder with my cheek colour, but I liked the soft effect I got with these two shades.

C.

MAC: Make-Up Art Cosmetics - Marilyn Minter

In Total: 9 pieces (4 Glitters, 4 Pigments, 1 Clear Gloss)

Please note that all colour descriptions are my own.

Swatches taken in natural light on NW20 skin tone.

L-R: Heritage Rouge, Cocomotion, Push the Edge, Brash & Bold, Reflects Copper, Reflects Rust, Fuchsia, Gold

Glitter:
Gold - True Gold Glitter
Fuchsia - Royal Purple Glitter
Reflects Copper - Saffron Fine Glitter
Reflects Rust - Pink-Red Fine Glitter

Glitter from L-R: Reflects Copper, Reflects Rust, Fuchsia, Gold

Pigments:
Push the Edge - Deep Royal Purple (Frost)
Cocomotion - True Gold (Frost)
Brash & Bold - Bright Fuchsia (Frost)
Heritage Rouge - Warm Plum-Burgundy (Frost)

Pigments from L-R: Heritage Rouge, Cocomotion, Push the Edge, Brash & Bold

Gloss:
Clear Gloss

I LOVED this collection and continue to love it more and more the more I look at it. I'm a big fan of MAC pigments because I'm a sucker for loose powder eyeshadows and these are a big bang for your buck.

The Glitters is perhaps the only MAC product that is so tempting to buy but once you're home you're not sure how to use it. They advise about using these near your eyes, so these are best for your hair, body and fingernails.

It is difficult to resist buying this whole collection, regardless of how you'd use it in reality - the colour and textures are divine.

Marilyn Minter is a photographer, and the one artist of the three feature in Fall 09 whose aesthetic I believe best fits the MAC philosophy. Minter's photographs are stylized messy glamour and highly erotic as a result. Stilettos, smudged eyeliner, wet skin - she loves highlighting imperfections and "mistakes" - so her collection is one that you can play with. It's nearly impossible to not be at least a little messy with the Pigments and the Glitters.

Cocomotion and Heritage Rouge Pigments are great basic colours for any season and any make-up stash and they're my must haves from this collection. Push the Edge is a lustworthy colour with depth and Brash & Bold is a intense, dramatic fuchsia that may scare most away but is definitely sparking my creative juices. Pinks can be a tough colour to wear but always remember that black can save you whether it be in an eyeliner or a shadow.

The Glitters, as I said, are more of a specialty item. Don't be surprised if you buy one and never use it! That being said, the Reflects Glitters are more wearable (being of a finer consistency) than the regular Glitters and the colours are intense and gorgeous!

C.

MAC: Make-Up Art Cosmetics - Maira Kalman

As I sit down to write this, my first post for Beauty Squared, I am tempted to tell you a little about myself. But that will come later for both Jill and myself and you'll get to know us both little by little by what we write anyway. So welcome to Beauty Squared! I hope you enjoy it and stay a little while.

Since MAC's latest collection - the Make-Up Art Cosmetics Fall '09 as seen by three distinctive artists Richard Phillips, Maira Kalman and Marilyn Minter - is so extensive (35 pieces!) Jill and I choose to divide the task of reviewing them. She reviewed the Richard Phillips collection and I chose the Maira Kalman and the Marilyn Minter collections.

What's possibly the most exciting thing about this Fall '09 collection (released August 27 in North America) is that there's something for everyone. For more classic looks, neutral shades and basics for any make-up collection there's Richard Phillip's glamourous lips, cheeks and eye collection. For those of us with a penchant for daring, drama and sizzle, there are the two smaller, bolder colour collections done by Marilyn Minter and Maira Kalman.

I will review Maira Kalman's here and Marilyn Minter's in another post.

In total: 11 pieces (6 eyeshadows and 5 Technacolour Liners)

Please note that all colour descriptions are my own.

Eyeshadows:
Crest the Wave - Soft Buttery Yellow (Frost)
Off the Page - True Orange-Rust (Frost)
Maira's Mood - Salmony Pink (Satin)
Haunting - Pale Turquoise (Satin)
Purple Shower - Cool Pink With a Touch of Purple (Satin)
Violet Trance - Blue Purple (Matte)

All swatches taken in indoor lighting on NW20 skin tone

Top Row L-R: Crest the Wave, Off the Page, Haunting
Bottom Row L-R: Violet Trance, Purple Shower, Maira's Mood

Technacolour Liners:
Colour Matters - Acid Yellowy Green
Obviously Orange - True Orange-Rust
Artistic License - Pale Turquoise
Full of Fuchsia - Cool Pink With a Touch of Purple
Graphblack - Rich Black

L-R: Colour Matters, Full of Fuchsia, Artistic License, Obviously Orange

All pieces are Limited Edition (LE) except for Graphblack Technacolour Liner.

Maira Kalman is an artist, designer (fabrics, accessories and sets) and writer whose aesthetic can be described as childlike, bold, whimsical and giggly yet sophisticated. Her collection is all about vibrant and joyful colours, certainly colours to play with.

To me, this is the most "artistic" collection of the three, with colours you wouldn't normally expect to find in any make-up line except MAC's. These are not colours that are meant to blend in. To be honest, my first instinct upon seeing the colours was that they were extraordinary shades but I had no idea how to use them. But once you get past the boldness of the colours and see the textures and sheens of the shadows, you can see how they could be used.

These are not colours that you want to wear all at once, but pairing one or two of them with a sophisticated eye look - I would wear them say along or on top of a liquid liner or blended into a smoky eye - would be dramatic and fun without being over-the-top. As you can see in the swatches, the colours may be bright, but they go on lightly so they will easily blend with darker, more neutral colours. For Fall I would pair any of them with a soft medium grey, layering the bolder shade over the grey for subtle oomph. Of course for full-colour impact you will want to use an eye primer!

C.