Beauty Squared Round-Up for January 4, 2015

Hello and a Happy New Year to you! How has 2015 been treating you so far?

Here's this week's round-up of beauty-ful links. 

• Let's start with some look backs at 2014 with Temptalia's favourite products of 2014 and her least favourite products of 2014.
  
• Tracey of Beauty Reflections names her favourite products of 2014.
  
• Beauty trends from 2014 that Glamour magazine are looking forward to moving on from.
  
• Beautezine's favourite product launches from 2014.
    
• Some beauty resolutions for the new year that should be easy to keep.
  
• Thinking of cutting your hair shorter in the new year? Check out the #cleartheshoulders Instagram hashtag for inspiration.
  
• No-shampoo regimes. Here's what you need to know.
  
• The latest trend in skincare is facial oils. What are they and why should you be using them?
  
• You've heard of the Clarisonic, right? No? Read on.
  
• Are you a redhead? Here's how to wear bright lipstick.
  
• Think gel eyeliner is just about the cat eye flick? Think again.
  
• Looking for a new foundation? Here are some that won't dent your bank account.
  
• Got pimples? Here are some masks and treatments that can help.
  
• The power of perfume.
  
• We've all had favourite beauty products get discontinued. We're not alone. Some women go pretty far in trying to get their favourites even after they've been discontinued.
  

Catherine's Favourite Fragrances

It's my birthday today, so I thought I'd share some of my favourite perfumes with you. and because it's my birthday, allow me a little bit of a rant, with the disclaimer that I get it, and I respect you, those with allergies and sensitivities. 

Does anyone else notice how wearing perfume is becoming a bit like being a smoker? More and more, public spaces like public transit and offices are becoming scent-free, or at the very least, a space where I don't feel comfortable wearing perfume or even scented-products in my hair or on my skin because someone might be offended or be physically uncomfortable standing near me. I feel that eventually, smokers and perfume wearers will be standing outside together or holed up in their homes, spritzing and misting and inhaling. It seems weird to me that perfume is still a multi-million dollar business. Is it just me?

But as I mentioned, I also feel for those who have allergies or are sensitive to fragrances. I do not wear perfume to the office anymore, and I am hyper-aware of my perfume when I do wear it out in public. 

I like to wear perfume. I don't think that I overdo it when I do, but who knows, since we stop smelling our own fragrance shortly after we apply it. I feel like it's a luxury, an element of grooming, an extension of who I am. It can make me feel differently, depending on the fragrance, just like styling my hair can or wearing a certain makeup look can. 

OK, so with that being said, here are my favourite fragrances.

Stella. As in Stella McCartney. Her first fragrance, released in 2003 is called Stella (on the left in the photo below). Stella is a feminine fragrance with notes of rose, peony, mandarin, rose absolute, and amber. This was a scent that made me rethink my distaste of the smell of rose. It's a sexy, feminine, sensual fragrance that smells modern and not like your grandma's rose soap.

L to R: Stella and Stella In Two Peony

Stella in Two Peony was released in 2006 paired with Stella in Two Amber. They were designed to be purchased individually and worn together or separately. Stella in Two Peony is hands down my favourite fragrance. Of course, it (and Stella in Two Amber) was a limited release and is no longer available. I wear it infrequently because I only have two bottles of it. I want it to last as long as possible.

Stella in Two Peony's top notes are peony and rose, with pepper, cedar, patchouli and amber. Like Stella, it's sexy and sensual, but not quite as overly feminine. God, I love this perfume. Years ago I found a bottle at Winners and snapped it up. You can still find bottles online but it's pretty pricey since it hasn't been made for almost ten years.

Agent Provocateur Eau Emotionnelle

Agent Provocateur is a luxury line of lingerie. Very sexy, edgy lingerie. I wish I could A) afford it and B) fit into it (they don't make a wide range of sizes). But I can wear their perfume!

Eau Emotionnelle is the eau de toilette version of the signature Agent Provocateur fragrance. It is a tamer version of the original fragrance, containing the same rose and spice (saffron, coriander) with jasmine, magnolia, ylang ylang, gardenia, vetiver, amber and musk but blended with wild rosemary, lie de vin, pink pepper, white tea and osmanthus.

It's an overtly sexy, feminine fragrance that definitely makes a statement, just like the lingerie. I love the torn fishnet print on the egg-shaped bottle. I love it and wear it when I want to feel very sexy.

L to R: Vanille Bourbon and Fresh Strawberry Flowers

This Vanille Bourbon fragrance I bought at Sephora years and years ago when it first opened in Toronto. It doesn't have any brand name on it, and I don't remember what the brand was. Sephora stopped carrying it shortly after I bought it. Doing some Internet research, I suspect that it's Laurence Dumont. This is a very sweet, very warm fragrance as you might imagine from the name. It's vanilla-based and has that caramelly bourbon kick to it as well. It feels like a warm bourbon-caramel-vanilla dessert with whipped cream in front of a fireplace. It smells delicious.

Fresh's Strawberry Flowers eau de parfum is another limited edition fragrance. Unlike the other four fragrances in this post, it's not an overtly sexy. Strawberry Flowers smells pretty much like it sounds - fresh, green and sweet. It's a daytime, springtime, sparkling scent. But what I like about it is that it still has depth. It's got notes of mandarin, yuzu, white peach, mountain strawberries, freesia, orange blossom, osmanthus, orris, mush and white woods. I've repurchased this fragrance twice. I wear it during the day and it makes me feel flirty.

I guess the plus side of not being able to wear my fragrances much these days means they'll last a long, long time?

Are any of these your favourites? Share yours in the comments below!

C.

Tokyo Milk Marque Deposee Dark Salted Caramel Bee Balm and Jasmine Lip Balm Review and Photos

Tokyo Milk is a line created by perfumer and designer Margot Elena. I've seen their perfumes, soaps and lip products over the years here and there, and admired the packaging and scents. But I've never bought anything. But recently, while in line at Sephora, I was tempted by the Tokyo Milk Dark lip balms. I chose the Salted Caramel one because, are you kidding? It smells unbelievable.

The lip balms, part of the Femme Fatale Collection are conditioning lip balms, made with bee balm and jasmine. From the Tokyo Milk website: 

Sweet temptation is beckoning. Remarkably uncommon essences infused in to a smooth, luscious balm. Elicit a kiss with lips tamed by a lush, silky blend of sweet Jasmine & Bee Balm laced with crushed extracts of hydrating Aloe Leaf & Vitamin E. Femme fatale incarnate. A supple seduction.

Not for the faint of heart: An unexpected mixture of fragrance & flavor. A remarkable lip elixir for a remarkably uncommon experience.

Flavor Notes: Sweet Cream, Sea Salt, Caramelized Sugar, Toasted Vanilla Bean

That's right. Not only does this lip balm smell divine, it tastes good too. 

This balm is thick, meaning you will have trouble applying it too heavily. It softens under the heat of your fingers and lips while you apply it. It stays well once applied since it's thick and let me tell you, it smells delicious.

If you're not into strong fragrances this is probably not the product line for you. I've applied this and had people ask "What smells so good?" not knowing it was my lip balm. It's that strong. 

There is a sweetness to it as well, but it's not so much so that I want to eat it off my lips. 

And it does an excellent job of keeping my lips smooth and soft since it stays on so well. It's also well-priced for the amount of product you get. I paid $8 for 0.7 oz. To compare, an EOS lip balm is .25 oz and costs $6. 

I would definitely buy it again. 

If Salted Caramel doesn't do it for you, you can also get the Dark lip balms in:

• Clove Cigarette (crushed clove, lavender rose, Saigon cinnamon, vanilla bean)
• La Vie En Rose (rosewater, sweet orange, peach, Tahitian vanilla)
• Coco Noir (dark rum, maraschino cherry, sweet milk, cacao bean)
• Absinthe (anise, mineral salt, citrus peel, crushed herbs)
• Cherry Bourbon (cherry brandy, whiskey, aged wood, clove)
• Dead Sexy (ebony wood, warm vanilla, citrus peel, rosewater)
• Smoked Salt (smoked sea salt, burnt sugar, molasses, vanilla bean)

For more information on Tokyo Milk, the Femme Fatale collection, and the Toyko Milk Dark lip balms, visit: http://www.tokyo-milk.com/t/femme-fatale

You can also buy them on Sephora.com here.  

Grade: A

C. 

MAC Turquatic Preview

Modern girls (and boys) who like to make waves, the ones who’ve become addicted to Turquatic, M·A·C’s sensual sea-spray of a fragrance, bracing with Anemone, Lotus, Orris, and a curious waft of Corsican Blue Cedar from the shore, will love this: we’ve completely recreated and expanded the look of Turquatic with new, evocative packaging to satisfy that legion of mesmerizing mermaids who want more. Just look! A sleek NEW rollerball option, as well as the debut of our larger 50 ml size, artfully reimagined in glass and a folding carton to make it all the more chic. Like Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus,” Turquatic has become a NEW M·A·C Classic.    

M·A·C Turquatic 

Available August 11, 2011 in the permanent collection.

Turquatic Rollerball
$24 CDN/$20 US

Turquatic 50 mL
$59.50 CDN/$49.50 US

Turquatic 20 mL
$24 CDN/$20 US

July Luxe Box

My July Luxe Box! I signed up for Luxe Box a few months ago and this is the second one I've received. You can read about and see the first here. If you want to sign up for Luxe Box, check out their website http://www.loosebutton.com/!

I admit, there is something about a lovely wrapped gift arriving, even if I bought it for myself. And not knowing what's inside is even better. Here's what was inside my July Luxe Box.



L-R: Stella in Two fragrance sample, Essie nailpolish in Silken Cord, Proclaim Hair Oil Treatment
and Trucco Eyeliner in Ivy (bottom)

Stella in Two is my favourite fragrance, hand's down. For some reason I thought it was Limited Edition so when I spotted a bottle at Winners I snapped it up. It's not available with the other Stella fragrances at Sephora, so it's not exactly readily-available. Regardless, I was thrilled to get a little sample I can carry in my purse!


Essie nailpolish in Silken Cord

Essie is becoming my go-to brand of polish so I'm always happy to have a new shade. This is a creamy tomatoey-red shade that is great for summer pedicures. 

Proclaim Hair Oil Treatment

Proclaim is an argan oil-based hair oil that promises to reduce frizz and add lots of shine. Argan oil is fantastic.

Trucco Eyeliner in Ivy

Ivy is a dark forest green eyeliner that goes on easily and blends nicely. This is a great shade too.

Can't wait to see what's in my August Luxe Box!

What was in your Luxe Box?

C.

Thierry Mugler's Womanity Review

Thierry Mugler has done it again. With the release of his latest fragrance, Womanity, he's intrigued our noses once again. You've heard (and probably owned) the extremely popular Angel, originally released in 1992 and the tantalizing Alien. Mugler's first fragrance, Angel was the first gourmand fragrance and blended chocolate and praline with patchouli to create that almost irresistible scent you can smell on every third woman you pass on the street and was widely copied. Alien, which followed in 1995 has been nowhere near as popular as Angel, but I preferred it's amber, menthol, casmerean wood and amber blend to it's predecessor. Both are bold fragrances, stand-outs on your department store's counters and now comes Womanity.

Womanity, released in August 2010 combines the salty, sea taste-scent of caviar with the warmth of leather, sweet fig and the pink side of citrus - lemonade, grapefruit. It's another gourmand fragrance particularly considering technology had to be developed in order to capture the salty, savoury essence of caviar. 

Back of the box
Womanity, a woody, sweet and savoury Eau de Parfum.
Womanity, a refillable and ecologically-responsible fragrance (see inside packaging)
Womanity, a fragrance, a bond, an energy shared by all women. 

Looking inside the box.

Each bottle comes with a code, to be used in the interactive element of Womanity's promotion.

The interactive aspect of Womanity comes when you go to www.womanity.com. Developed as "an interactive platform which is an expressive space built on the natural bonds existing between all women". You can read more about the website here or check it out yourself since it's now been up and running for a few months.

Opened box.

Interior of the box, detailing the refillable bottle.

Womanity Eau de Parfum and carrying bag.

The carrying bag is provided as protection in storage, travel or bringing your bottle back to be refilled. This refillable bottle option has existed for the Mugler fragrances since Angel's release in 1992. Once you're finished your fragrance, you can bring it or send it in for refilling, saving you money (on purchasing a whole new bottle, packaging, etc) and of course, it's more ecologically-responsible.

Womanity bottle

The bottle itself, like those of Angel and Alien is a covetable item, regardless of what you think of the fragrance inside. There is a ring attached to the bottle by a chain that acts as a lid and prevents the spray from being deployed, although it doesn't have a top.

Womanity's bottle is designed with a nod to Art Deco and the imagery from Fritz Lang's Metropolis and I personally love it for that reason. It's a striking and beautiful bottle (despite my dislike of pink). 

The bottle I have is the smallest size available but the larger bottles have more metal detail as seen below. 

I like Womanity, although I do not love it. It's a bold fragrance and perhaps overly bright for my personal tastes. I don't like my fragrance to scream my presence and I feel like Womanity is a bit too over-bearing. Still, it's an intriguing scent and I have been wearing it. It fits with the other fragrances I wear and I do have favourite fragrances that contain leather, salty and citrus fragrances. There's something that's keeping me from loving it, however. 

If you like Alien and/or Angel, you should definitely check Womanity out, if you haven't already. It's definitely going to appeal to many.

What do you think? Have you tested Womanity? Do you love it? Hate it? Do you love the bottle?

Tell us!

C,

LUSTING: Marc Jacobs Lola Perfume Cocktail Ring

A few months ago I lusted after Marc Jacobs' new fragrance, Lola and particularly after the bottle! No more lusting for me as now I can get a Lola cocktail ring with that same gorgeous bold, sculptural and ribbony blossom from the top of the perfume bottle.

Lusting!

C.

LUSTING: Marc Jacobs Lola

Oh I'm drooling...

I own Marc Jacobs first fragrance Daisy in solid form in one of those delightful limited edition cocktail rings and now look at the gorgeousness that is this perfume bottle? It contains Marc Jacobs' new fragrance Lola, which I've tried a sample of and love, but what I want to know is can I wear that gorgeous blossom on top of the bottle?

Here's what Sephora has to say about Lola:

This warm floral bouquet conveys the free spirit of today's sexy, modern girl - she is playful, cool, and flirtatious. The long-lasting, day-and-night scent opens with pink peppercorn, pear, and ruby red grapefruit. Blooming midnotes of rose, fuschia peony, and geranium make a feminine statement. Layers of vanilla, warm tonka bean, and creamy musk create a sensous drydown.

This is the type of lively feminine fragrance that nearly anyone can pull off. Sultry, citrusy and feminine but without being in your face.

LUSTLUSTLUSTLUSTLUST...

Lusting.

C.

LUSTING: STELLANUDE

The genetically gifted and enviously named, Stella McCartney has a new fragrance out called STELLANUDE and if this new fragrance is anything like her previous ones - Stella, Stella in Two or Stella Sheer - I will be head over heels in love with it.

The notes as listed by Sephora are: Moroccan Rose, Grapefruit, White Peony, Pink Pepper, Precious Vanilla, Grey Amber and Musk.

C.