Showing posts with label spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spring. Show all posts

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Beauty Squared Round-Up - Sunday, April 26, 2015

Hello lovelies! It's time for our weekly round-up. And I feel like I should add a note about the lack of posts lately. Both Beauty Squared ladies have been very busy lately and blogging has proven challenging, but we're aiming to bring you some posts very soon. Stay tuned! In the meantime, we'll keep bringing you this weekly round-up, so you can see what the internet is talking about where it comes to beauty and skincare and haircare. 

Let's go!


  • Keratosis Pilaris is a skin condition that's getting a fair bit of buzz lately, mainly because it seems to be something many people have but didn't realize it was an actual condition and could be treated. I actually just realized that Keratosis Pilaris is what I have on my upper arms, after about 20 years of being embarrassed by the red, bumpy skin there. If you've got patches of skin that look a bit like chicken skin, it might be Keratosis Pilaris.
  • Blackheads are better known than Keratosis Pilaris, but they're no less problematic. If you have them, you'll want to read this article that explains what they are, what causes them and how you get rid of them.
  • From one beauty issue to another (and another). Dark undereye circles are something most of us deal with, and there really isn't a whole lot than be done about them apart from trying to avoid them if they're caused by dehydration, lack of sleep, etc or concealing them. Here are some tips to minimize their appearance from treatment to concealing.
  • It's that time of year when many of us are turning into sun worshippers after a long, cold winter but forgetting that even when it's not that hot, it can burn our skin. You really should be wearing sunscreen on any exposed skin during all seasons of the year, but if you're not fastidious like that and occasionally get too much sun, here's how to cover up sunburn without irritating the damaged skin any further.
  • If you kind of like the look of a bit of sunburn on your face but would rather not burn your flesh to get the effect, here's how to do it with makeup.
  • Here's a fresh, bright way to wear colourful eyeliner this season.
  • Red lipstick is typically a winter/fall trend, but you don't have to stop wearing it when the weather warms up. Here's how to wear red lipstick in the spring and summer.
  • Fashion Magazine's Beauty Panel talks about how they groom their eyebrows. Lots of tips here!
  • Have you tried Nudestix? They're a new line of versatile cosmetic pencils with a view on simple, natural looks. Learn about the teenagers behind the line.
  • Temptalia's review of yet another nude eyeshadow palette, this one containing five very wearable matte shades from Becca.
  • MUA Lisa Eldridge talks about the beauty tricks she uses while travelling.
  • We all want to save money. Buzzfeed has a post on doing so with your beauty products.
  •  Beyonce's MUA Sir John Barnett has been tapped as L'Oreal Paris' new celebrity makeup artist. Here he talks about his new role for L'Oreal, his techniques and shares some secrets.
  • Time for some hair talk!
    • How to fight frizz, no matter your hair type. 
    • Sideburns for women? Yup, have a read. 
    • Waking up with perfect hair. Yes, it's apparently possible. 
    • Are you an unnatural redhead? Do you emphasize your natural red with a bit of colour? You'll want to read this about how to keep your red from fading. 

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Beauty Squared Round-Up for April 5, 2015

Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Happy Sunday! Happy whatever-else-you-are-or-feel-like-celebrating today!

If you're looking for suggestions, how about celebrating this week's Beauty Squared Round-Up?


  • Is there anything better than being able to make your own skin care from ingredients in your fridge and pantry? This way you know exactly what goes into what you're putting on your face, you can make it yourself, it's completely natural and fresh, it's inexpensive, and you don't need to leave the house!
  • Beauty oils are having a moment lately, but they have been around for thousands of years. Here's everything you should know about using beauty oils on your hair and skin.
  • Spring is here (looks out window, sees snow falling). No really, it is. Close the curtains and stay inside today. Here are some runway-inspired and spring-inspired eye makeup looks to try.
  • Here are some more runway beauty tips (including manicures) from New York Fashion Week for you. They don't have to wait until fall.
  • Is blush a bit of a challenge for you? Trust, you're not the only one who might struggle with how and wear to apply it. Here's a post that shows you how to wear blush four ways - two fairly standards, and two a little more unconventional. Who knows, they might work on you!
  • Fashion Magazine's Beauty Panel shares their tips for handling a bad hair day.
  • Thinking of growing out your bangs? Bookmark this link.
  • Someday you'll be able to reorder your favourite items, including beauty products, through the touch of a button. An Amazon Dash Button, programmed by you for automatic reorders.
  • Artist Donald Robertson has teamed up with Smashbox Cosmetics to design the packaging for a limited release of matte lipsticks and gel eyeliners.
  • If you have been watching CBC's Schitt's Creek (POP in the U.S.), starring Catherine O'Hara, Annie Murphy, Dan Levy and Eugene Levy, you've probably noticed Catherine's amazing style. Her personal make-up artist for the shoot was Lucky Bromhead and 29Secrets.com talked to Lucky about what it's like to be Lucky, what it was like to be on set for Schitt's Creek, and what she thinks should be in everyone's makeup kit.
  • If you'll be in London this summer, you might want to check out the Warpaint: Alexander McQueen and Make-Up, the satellite exhibit for the V&A's McQueen exhibit. 

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Beauty Squared Round-Up - April 13, 2014

Hello lovelies! It's time for our weekly round-up of the most clickable, most interesting, most shareable beauty-related links... Let's dig in.


  • Skin finishes - luminous, matte and dewy - what is the difference, and how to get them. Spring time is the time to think skin.
  • Speaking of skin, one of the latest (and oddest-titled) makeup trends is the "toddler glow". It's a makeup application technique that gives you that extremely youthful glow that yes, toddlers have.
  • Bright eyeshadow colours for spring. Here's how to wear it so it isn't scary.
  • Photos and swatches of the Proenza Schouler-MAC collection over on the Makeup and Beauty Blog.
  • The best long-wearing lip products according to Allure, including MAC, Stila, OCC, Revlon and Wet & Wild.
  • New beauty brand alert: NUDESTIX - all crayon (chubby stick) makeup for eyes, cheeks, lips and nails (?!) - launching at Space NK stores in May.
  • Leandra Medine, aka Manrepeller, on why she doesn't wear makeup.
  • A print ad for Chanel's new foundation features a lovely model with a disturbing neck, courtesy of Photoshop.
  • National Geographic has a wonderful photo essay for their 125th anniversary issue. In it they look at what Americans will look like in 2050 - a striking and stunning mixing pot of features, skintones and hair colours. (It's a Nerve link, but it's safe for work as long as you don't explore any of the links on the page...)

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Beauty Squared Round-Up - March 23, 2014

Hello readers! We hope that you're enjoying your weekends. Spring is definitely in the air!


  • Beauty picks from the always-radiant Cate Blanchett and some cheaper but just-as-effective versions. 
  • The Muse shares some of her picks for spring, from Laura Mercier, Bath and Body Works, Clinique and Etude House. 
  • If you like electric-pastel nail colours, take a look at OCC's Plastic Passion Nail Lacquers.
  • Do you struggle to keep your brows looking their best? Anastasia Beverly Hills may have something you need. Click through to learn more.
  • Check out this kinda-genius Etsy idea: a makeup/docking station. You can use it for watching YouTube tutorials while putting on makeup. 
  • The seven most common makeup blunders and how to prevent/fix them. 
  • Makeup can make us look older, especially if we have dry skin or aging skin. Here are some makeup tips for looking younger.
  • Dry skin? Winter-dehydrated skin? Here are some heavy-duty moisturizers for you.
  • Runway inspiration for spring's pink lips, from nude and natural to bubblegum to bold and bright.
  • An earlier Beauty Squared post looked at Illamasqua's Sculpting Powder Duo - for contouring and highlighting. You can read it here. But here is why so many find contouring and highlighting so fascinating and/or so tricky to master. Do not use these celebrities as inspiration if you're looking into trying contouring and highlighting. 

Thursday, April 28, 2011

MAC Fashion Flower Preview


BLOOM BRIGHTLY WITH A STYLISH FUSION OF THE FLORAL AND THE FASHIONABLE IN A SUMMER COLOUR COLLECTION THAT EVOKES THE COOL SIDE OF THE HOTTEST SEASON. FASHIONFLOWER GIRLS ARE FREE TO BE, EACH ONE WITH A CULTIVATED CONNECTION TO THE GREENHOUSE AND THE FASHION HOUSE. UNFOLDING AND FLOURISHING, THESE PERENNIAL PRIMA DONNAS EMBRACE THE GROWING TREND OF CHEEKS AND EYES LIGHTLY DUSTED WITH DAISY-DEBOSSED BEAUTY POWDER AND SHADOWS. THEIR CONFIDENCE STEMS FROM PETAL-LIGHT LASHES THAT SPROUT DRAMATICALLY WITH STUDIO FIX BOLDBLACK LASH, DEWY LIPS THAT SPARKLE SWEETLY IN BUDDING BEAUTY LIPGELÉE AND SUMMER SHOWER, A SOFTLY SHEER AQUA BLUE LIPSTICK. EVER HIP, JOIN THESE RARE BLOSSOMS AND SUCCUMB HORTI-CULTURALLY TO A BOUQUET THAT’S EQUAL PARTS FLEUR AND COUTURE.




MAC Beauty Powder in Alpha Girl ($30 CDN/$25 US)
Soft peachy pink with gold nuances

MAC Beauty Powder in Light Sunshine ($30 CDN/$25 US)
Pastel neutral pink with soft gold and pink sparkles

MAC Eyeshadow in Aqua ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Aqua blue (matte)

MAC Eyeshadow in Bows & Curtseys ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Metallic hunter green (satin)

MAC Eyeshadow in Free To Be ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Bright true coral (matte)

MAC Eyeshadow in Fresh Daisy ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Frosty white yellow (frost)

MAC Eyeshadow in Groundcover ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Mid-tone warm grey (matte)

MAC Eyeshadow in Lucky Green ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Frosted mid-tone lime (veluxe pearl)

MAC Lip Gelée in Budding Beauty ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Pale coral dazzle gelée

MAC Lip Gelée in Fashionflower ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Pale pink dazzle gelée

MAC Lip Gelée in Now In Season ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Pale yellow dazzle gelée

MAC Lipstick in Ever Hip ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Bright creamy coral (cremesheen)

MAC Lipstick in Growing Trend ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Mid-tone taupe nude (amplified)

MAC Lipstick in Mlle ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Light white pink (glaze)

MAC Lipstick in Summer Shower ($17.50 CDN/$14.50 US)
Light aqua (glaze)

MAC Penultimate Eyeliner Rapidblack ($21 CDN/$17.50 US)
True black

MAC Studio Fix Boldblack Lash ($17 CDN/$14 US)
Deep intense black


MAC's latest collection is full of more pretty spring pastels but with a touch of hunter green, coral and warm grey. Happy spring shopping!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

MAC Wonder Woman Preview



Just when the fate of the world is careening toward disaster, cue theme music! It’s Wonder Woman! She Kicks Sass! Her mission: Collaborate with M∙A∙C to fight the supervillains of the world – criminally outdated colour, evil, un-dimensional skin finish, the disasters that drain drama – with that famous spin, a double-cuff of her wicked wrist bracelets and shazam! M∙A∙C Spring Colour 2011is the feminine force (with a dash of comic fun) that saves the day! No nemesis can match the stamina, agility and speed of her SUPER-SIZEDMineralize Skinfinish, bold Eye Shadow quads, Pigment, Opulash, Lipsticks and OVERSIZED Lipglass, JUMBO-BIG Powder Blush and Penultimate Eye Liner, Nail Lacquer and Lash for this larger-than-life transformation! Our Artists work wonders every day – now with the help of one of entertainment history’s most exciting feminist figures…Since 1944, Wonder Woman is the original incarnation of what makes women forever wonderful!  

No one understands the importance of a bag of tricks quite like our M∙A∙C Spring 2010 heroine! Her legendary bracelets were made from remnants of the Goddess Athena’s all-powerful shield, to award her The Sign of the Champion…In that same spirit of fantasy and wonder, M∙A∙C creates a vivid collection of accessories that are sure to bring you a sense of feminine infallibility, totally peerless power – you ARE Wonder Woman if you want to be. Bright, bold, superhuman designs in Makeup Bags – from raging Red to Bulletproof Blue, Utility Belt Brush Sets that Superman secretly covets, and exclusively online, the WW T-shirt and Invincible Mirror to make your mission – kaboom! – complete.


Available in North American MAC stores on February 10, 2011!













Bulletproof Blue Makeup Bag ($36 CDN/$30 US)
Red Makeup Bag ($36 CDN/$30 US)


Invincible Mirror ($24 CDN/$20 US)



Eye Quad in Valiant ($48 CDN/$40 US)
Valiant (light lime with yellow pearl (frost))
Spinning Transformation (deep olive bronze with yellow pearl (frost))
Diana Undercover (dark forest green (satin))
Manila Paper (pale frost white gold (veluxe pearl))


Eye Quad in Lady Justice ($48 CDN/$40 US)
Lady Justice (bright silver with white pearl (frost))
Insurmountable (dirty blue grey (veluxe pearl))
Bold Babe (deep metal blue with white pearl (frost))
Deep Truth (true dark blue (frost)


Lipglass in Athena's Kiss ($23.50 CDN/$19.50 US)
Bright blue fuchsia


Lipglass in Emancipation ($23.50 CDN/$19.50 US)
Pale neutral pink


Lipglass in Secret Identity ($23.50 CDN/$19.50 US)
Mid-tone copper with soft pearl




Lipglass in Wonder Woman ($23.50 CDN/$19.50 US)
Bright red with soft pearl


Lipstick in Heroine ($18.50 CDN/$15.50 US)
Brown bronze (frost)


Lipstick in Marquise d' ($18.50 CDN/$15.50 US)
Sandy cream peach (lustre)


Lipstick in Russian Red ($18.50 CDN/$15.50 US)
Intense blueish-red


Lipstick in Spitfire ($18.50 CDN/$15.50 US)
Bright creamy magenta (satin)


Mineralize Skinfinish in Golden Lariat ($42 CDN/$35 US)
True coral with fine gold shimmer/Soft suntanned bronze/Soft gold with fine shimmer




Mineralize Skinfinish in Pink Power ($42 CDN/$35 US)
Peachy rose with pink shimmer/Soft rosy bronze/Soft shell pink with fine shimmer




Nail lacquer in Obey Me ($16.50 CDN/$14 US)
True red


Nail Lacquer in Spirit of Truth ($16.50 CDN/$14 US)
Navy blue


Opulash Mascara in Army of Amazons ($18 CDN/$15 US)
Green




Opulash Mascara in Black ($18 CDN/$15 US)
Black


Opulash Mascara in Themyscira ($18 CDN/$15 US)
Blue


Opulash Mascara in Victorious ($18 CDN/$15 US)
Purple


Penultimate Eyeliner in Rapidblack ($22 CDN/$18.50 US)
Black


Pigment in Bright Fuchsia ($25 CDN/$21 US)
Bright magenta


Pigment in Marine Ultra ($25 CDN/$21 US)
Vivid marine blue


Powder Blush Duo in Amazon Princess ($29 CDN/$24 US)
Bright yellow pink/Deep blue pink with gold pearl (satin)


Powder Blush Duo in Mighty Aphrodite ($29 CDN/$24 US)
Warm peach coral with gold pearl/Bright coral pink with gold pearl (satin/frost)




Reflects Glitter in Reflects Bronze ($25 CDN/$21 US)
Sparkling rich gold


Reflects Glitter in Reflects Pearl ($25 CDN/$21 US)
White glitter with a pearl shine


Utility Belt Eye Brush Set ($59.50 CDN/$49.50 US)


Utility Belt Face Brush Set ($59.50 CDN/$49.50 US)

C.