Notable Reads of the Week, Vol. 8

Does the Moon affect your beauty sleep?

Last night I didn't sleep well and this morning when I got up at 6:00 a.m., I went to the kitchen and staring at me through the window was the Moon, descending slowly, making it's exit before the rising of the Sun.

Another bad night because of the full Moon? My dark circles would like to think so.

Many people do believe the Earth's satellite has incidences not only on our sleeping patterns but on our moods as well and from what I've observed through the years I would say, women do so more than men. Up until 15 years ago I never gave the Moon a second thought whenever I had bad night or was feeling wacky but looking back on it now, I think I started to blame the Moon because of stories told by friends and co-workers.

1878 Astronomy plate. Similar pictures & prints, here.

Countless myths and legends are associated to the Moon. Horror stories, love stories have been written, many of them transposed to the big screen leaving us with the idea that the Moon can affect human behaviour in some ways. After all, lunacy, lunatic, words derived from the Latin name of the Moon, Luna, show us that historically the Moon has influenced men.

If you are among those who believe the Moon can influence people in any way, you may want to read this article:

Moon Myths: The Truth About Lunar Effects On You
By Robert Roy Britt for Live Science

What do you think?


What caught my attention this week...

Nail Polish Sales Hit $768 million in 2012
By Huff Post Style Canada. Talk about an explosion. Nail art has never been so popular. What was regarded as tacky not so long ago has now gone mainstream.

Avon tipped to disappear in 2013...
By Michelle Yeomans for Cosmetics design USA. Is the giant really going down? No points of sale and huge product turnover make it hard to build customer fidelity. Through the years they have had novel products but if they don't become top sellers from the get go they are discontinued so it's no wonder so many women give up.

7 Things Nobody Ever Tells You About Aging
By Valerie Monroe for O The Oprah Magazine. Facial hair, ears and nose growing? Interesting read.

Weight Loss in a Bottle?
By Natalie Stevens for Women's Life & Health. Can 2 supplements really make a difference? Apparently yes... Really? *

DIY Homemade Jewelry Cleaner (No Scrubbing!)
By Pretty Gossip. Vinegar, baking soda and salt are among the few items you'll need to clean your jewelry without any strong chemicals.


For your viewing enjoyment...

Les chats Ninjas! (Ninja Cats!)

Have a great week everyone!

*Update: As some may notice one of the links I posted was in fact an advertisement. I'm truly sorry about this. I wasn't sure so thank you Vanessa for pointing it out.

Hopefully my Intense Debate problems will be settled soon and I will finally be able to respond to comments.

M.A.C. Rebel Romance

Revel in the spirit of red this Valentine's Day with M.A.C.'s online-exclusive selection of shades. for every love-obsessed, passionate rebel.    M.A.C. website

Valentine's Day is coming soon! Need a few new shades to get in the mood? M.A.C. has thought of that. Here are their suggestions...

For lips...

MAC Red, Rebel and Diva

For nails...

Russian Red, Dark Angel and Vintage Vamp

I must say that I'm really liking the combination of MAC Red and Vintage Vamp. In this spotlight, M.A.C. is also promoting their Waterproof Powerpoint Eye Pencil as well as their Haute & Naughty Lash Two in One mascara. It lets you choose between natural or full of drama lashes.

So, kissable lips, temptress nails and beautifull long lashes! Perfect for your Valentine!

Lipsticks are $18.00, Nail Lacquers $19.00, Powerpoint Eye Pencil $18.00 and Naughty Lash mascara $23.50. Available online here.

Screen captures from M.A.C. website.

Dry Winter Skin / Head to Toe Care

During the past few weeks I've compiled a list of tips and products to help you keep good skin this Winter. Contrary to last year, this time around in the North East, we've been hit with frigid temperatures and depending how you protect yourself from them when you go out and/or the way your living spaces are heated, you may be in need of some extra help.

These have already been posted but I thought it would be a good idea to have them all in one place.

Hiver (Winter), Alfons Mucha (1860-1939)

In these entries you will notice some repeats. This means that you don't need an arsenal of product. A few basics and you'll be set. You may even have some of them on hand and this translates into less spending. Always a good thing. :)

It's Cold! Emergency Skin Care.

Dry Hands!

Dry Winter Skin? Start With A Gentle Cleanser.

Winter Dryness Help / Body Skin 

Give Your Feet Some Love!


If you want to know more about Alfons Maria Mucha, one of the great Art Nouveau artists, click here.

Dry Hands!

What's with our hands in Winter? Dry skin, cuticles cracking... Not a nice look. If you're like me, the second thing I notice when meeting someone after their face, their smile is, their hands. I'm not obsessed, far from it but in the case of women, I tend to look at their nails, especially if they wear nail polish. I like it when I see colors I wouldn't dare wear myself. So yes I notice hands. Also let's not forget, dry hands do look older and we don't want that.


Here is what I do, my tips...

Start with a gentle, non stripping soap, especially in the kitchen. The ones I like...

Savon de Marseille
I don't use anti-bacterial soaps nor do I go for liquid soaps in Winter. Like most everybody I have used them but most of them where being too harsh after a while. Savon de Marseille has several options, the basic olive oil is quite nice to have and has barely any fragrance to it. You can find it in health food stores as well as some drugstores.

For the bathroom I alternate between the following...

Dove Beauty Bar
Scented or not, gentle and almost creamy. I had stepped away from this for years until I rediscovered it last Summer. Non stripping and so inexpensive. Review here.

Avène Cold Cream bar
I received one as a gift with purchase and fell in love with it. Feels very creamy and is extra gentle on skin.


Keep them moisturized...

For moisture, I keep a bottle of almond oil in the kitchen next to the sink. A few drops on the back of my hands is all it takes to keep them moisturized when I'm at home cooking or doing chores. If my hands get wet they don't get slimy like they would with a hand cream and my food doesn't taste weird. Any oil will do for this. If like me you alternate between evoo and canola oil for cooking and don't want an extra bottle on your counter, they will do nicely. Simply use what you have.

Hand creams I like, Caudalie for daytime. This one penetrates quickly without leaving a greasy feel and the fragrance is not overwhelming. For night, Avène Cold Cream and if on any particular night my hands are extra dry, I layer it over a few drops of argan oil. For cuticles, unrefined shea butter or Dior Crème Abricot are favorites of mine.

And no, it's not necessary to spend a fortune on hand creams. You could go for Nivea, Neutrogena, Vaseline or any other drugstore brand of your choice and simply layer over a few drops of oil as mentioned.


The power of gloves...

Rubber gloves to protect your hands when doing the dishes.
Cotton gloves when you want really help to keep the moisture in at night.
Warm gloves when you go outside. Protecting them from the cold is a must.

Gloves are also to be considered to help prevent the proliferation of germs like cold, flu and any other nasty bugs out there. Wearing them reminds us not to touch our face.


A bit of history...

Apparently this brand was quite popular. I was looking for an old image to feature here and I stumbled on this one by accident. Apparently well know, I had never seen it before. Want to know more about it? Click here.

Pacquins Ladies Hand Cream (1942)

Makeup For Ever, Christina Ricci & the Makeup Bag Remix Tour

It seems like this year almost every cosmetic company is in collaboration with someone. The latest, Makeup For Ever and Christina Ricci. It seems the actrice has designed a makeup bag for the upcoming Makeup Bag Remix Tour, planned by the French brand.

Such a great idea!

This tour is meant to help educate and show beginners how to do their makeup with what is already in their own makeup bags. Brilliant! I'm sure many will end up buying a few new items but the idea of educating young women makes this initiative a very positive one.

Christina Ricci's design 

Picture and information from Glam
For more information about Makeup For Ever' Makeup Bag Remix Tour see their facebook page

Inès de La Fressange or Julianna Margulies?

OeDansLo, a French blog I stumbled upon this morning posted a rather interesting and very well written article about L'Oréal's new Revitalift TR 10 BB Cream. It got me thinking about...

Who do you identify with the most?

L'Oréal Paris has pretty much always been known for their celebrity spokespersons. Top models, like Claudia Schiffer and actresses like Cybill Shepherd have praised the qualities of the French giant's products for a while now. Does it make us identify with the brand? In all honesty, I don't think so. Still they are careful in their choices and have a famous face for every market. Case and point, Inès de La Fressange for the French market and Julianna Margulies for the UK and North American markets.

Noticeable differences between the two television commercials...

In her spot for the French market, de La Fressange looks almost perfect. Quite a feat for the 55 years old ex muse of Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld. Almost all her flaws have been erased, except for a few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. She looks perfect! Too perfect in fact. A sign that the product really works? I think not. Will the commercial encourage French women to purchase the cream? Possible, especially since so many would like to identify with her. She is after all a perfect "Parisienne"!

Inès de La Fressange for L'Oréal

In the commercial starring Julianna Margulies, aimed at the English speaking market, we see the actress in a more natural light. We see some flaws. Is that what they are? No. We see a beautiful 46 years old woman who, we would be inclined to think, took good care of her skin. There may have been some touch ups here and there but still, the star of The Good Wife looks much more natural.

Julianna Margulies for L'Oréal

Why the differences? Is it that French women put more belief in "the power" of creams than the rest of us? Are we facing more unrealistic claims? L'Oréal has been known for this. It was not so long ago that one of their ads for Lancôme featuring a Julia Roberts supposedly enjoying the effects of Teint Miracle, was banned due to outrageous airbrushing done by Interpublic Group of Cos.' Gotham based in New York.

Julia Roberts

They want stars but apparently even they are not good enough. They want us to believe that we can look 30 even if we are 45 by simply using a cream or a foundation. What is so wrong with Julia Robert's face that they have to erase everything that contributes to her beauty and personality? To make her appear more appealing? She became famous because she was/is so expressive so why no laugh lines?

Was this ban the reason for the turnaround and the more natural looking Margulies? Could be but if it is, why a perfect looking de La Fressange?

A few wrinkles? Well guess what, sooner or later we will all have them. Why not show us more images reflecting reality?

"Allons-nous vers un peu plus de réalisme peu à peu ? Zéro défaut n’existe pas ! Même pour les plus belles d’entre nous  – personne n’est épargné par l’apparition des rides ou l’existence de quelques imperfections … On peut les réduire, les dissimuler, mais pas les supprimer à moins de passer par des soins « esthétiques ». Aussi, en laisser visibles quelqu’unes rend plus humaines les égéries, actrices, supermodels et plus attachantes, plus proches de nous – Le rêve n’est pas effacé ; il demeure bel et bien – et nous déculpabilise. C’est un point essentiel."          OeDansLo

Are we going towards more realism? Zero flaws doesn't exist! Even among the most beautiful - no one escapes the apparition of wrinkles or the existence of a few imperfections ... We can reduce, hide but not eliminate them unless we for more intrusive measures. Also, leaving a few imperfections makes these beauty ambassadors more human, more endearing and closer to us - The dream is not erased; it remains and  makes us stop feeling guilty. It's an essential point.

To read OeDansLo's complete article, click here.

It's Cold! Emergency Skin Care.

Love Canada in Winter... Not!!!

These days we're in a cold spell and what this means is that a few adjustments have to be made so that your skin won't end up paying the price.

Emergency care if you are taken by surprise

This happened to me two years ago. For some reason my facial skin got super extra dry. This was quite a surprise to me since I've always had combination skin that was more on the oily than dry side. I think what happened was a combination of stress and extreme cold. Our home heating system wasn't working properly and we ended up spending a few days at 19 degrees Celsius in the house. Not too comfy!

At night...

Get a milk cleanser or even unscented baby oil to remove your makeup. These will be less drying and you can simply finish off with a damp washcloth.

Kick it up a notch with your facial moisturizer. For this you don't need to go out and buy a super expensive cream. You can simply boost the one you already have with a few drops of oil. Again, baby oil can be used as well as argan, almond or even extra virgin olive oil. Any you have available. Just be careful if you are clog prone not to use too much.

On extra cold nights, petroleum jelly or Aquaphor can be used on damp skin. Yes, on your face.

In the morning...

On those frigid mornings you could consider using your night cream under your sunscreen for better protection against the cold. I personally find that foundation on those days doesn't work so well so I usually skip. By doing so, it gives you the possibility to use a barrier cream or something like Elizabeth Arden's Height Hour Cream before you go out. Note that petroleum jelly and Aquaphor can also do the job. You can wait to get to work before applying your powder and blush and it won't look too bad if you have to use one of these options again when you return home. If you were to wear foundation, well, it would be a mess.

The importance of a good sunscreen...

Ever noticed how sunny it is on those extra cold days? Unless your head is completely covered, you need to apply a good sunscreen. The reflection of UV rays on surfaces but especially on snow can play tricks on you so it's really important. Look into Bioderma, Avène, La Roche Posay, Ombrelle or Shiseido if you have oily skin. These all offer brilliant protection.

To help keep the moisture in...

You may want to consider something with hyaluronic acid which would help retain moisture. Two products to consider, the first Dormer 211 Hand & Face cream available in drugstores for about $13.00. The other, Hydraluron available at Shoppers Drug Mart for around $30.00. You can read about it on Daly Beauty here.

Finally to help avoid dry skin at home, a warm mist humidifier in your bedroom at night may make a big difference. They range from $30.00 to $60.00 and can be found in drugstores.

Finally...

These are the kind of days and nights where it feels good to warm up your hands holding a nice cup of hot chocolate.

Recipe for Double Hot Chocolate, here.

Notable Reads of the Week, vol. 7

Trying to improve... What in the world was I thinking?

Wanting to make my site as user friendly as possible, wanting to share, I put my foot right in it!

Now this got the best of me this week. I wanted to improve my comments section by installing Intense Debate Notification so that other bloggers could leave links to their latest posts. I love the idea of sharing and I know that this here blog is not visited by bloggers alone. Some of you prefer not to leave comments and I totally respect that, I don't always leave them myself. Still I know that sometimes reading one blog leads to another and another and so on. There is such a wealth of great beauty information out there and I'm humbled by the fact that some outstanding ladies visit and leave comments. By having access to their latest entries it enables everyone to get great info.

I installed Intense Debate the night before my blog anniversary this week.

The problem now it that sometimes I can reply to comments and sometimes I cant. What the heck???

I can't reply on my own blog???

I received several lovely congratulatory comments about my anniversary and wanted to respond to all but apparently there's something wrong.

I am not a happy blogger!

This morning I tried to remove it as per the instructions on the Intense Debate website, but by doing so I ended up removing the entire comments section. Brilliant! I had to reinstate the version with Intense Debate.

Argh!!!

So for now I'm stuck! I will try to make the time to figure it out. If only I had known about DISQUS which was mentioned to me by Olivia from The Unknown Beauty Blog I might have had less problems. Little note, go have a look at her header, it's something else, those eyes...

Please continue to leave comments for I enjoy them and more than appreciate your feedback. I will try to figure this out this week and hopefully I will be able to save all of them. This is just so sad for me. Why oh why did I do this? Sometimes it is clearly better to leave things as they are.


What caught my attention this week...

MAC Archie's Girls
By British Beauty Blogger. Now this is exciting! This new collection by M.A.C. is fun and brings back so many memories. My favorite was Betty by the way. Even if you're not a M.A.C. enthusiast, do pay Jane a visit at least to see her header. She's been transformed into an Archie's Girl herself. I must admit that I'm quite envious.

Givenchy Le Rouge Complete Line-Up Swatches
Quick Look at Givenchy Le Vernis & Écrin Privé Quad Swatches
By Mostly Sunny. Not only are the presentation of both the lipstick and the nail polishes stunning but so are the colors. The Quad, simply stunning!

Reviews & Swatches: Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipsticks
By The London Beauty Review. A new line of lipstick from this French line. I don't know if they are available in Canada at the moment but I know that I will definitely try at least one.

Not My Grandma's Perfume: Balenciaga's Florabotanica
By Lipstick Rules. A nice and honest review of the new fragrance. Now I really want to try it, plus the presentation is stunning.

Now in Canada!! No Bleeding Lips Secret Liner
By Mom's Makeup Stash, a very interesting product that could come in handy especially for those new bright colored lipsticks.


About memories...

Christian Dior - Eau Sauvage (Vintage Perfume)
By The Non Blond. The fragrance my husband used to wear when we first met. It may well have contributed in the attraction since I've always enjoyed citrus. Well, that alone didn't seal the deal of course. I love seeing these old ads.

My Back Pages: Perfume in Beverly Clearly "Fifteen"
By Tinsel Creation. A look back at the Fifties and the images they projected and for some still do, in our minds. I didn't live them, I wasn't even born but I did get a glimpse through television. In this post, Jessica remembers a book.


Life lessons...

Isn't it Dee-Lightful: What Would You Do?
By Slice, written by Dee Brun, the Cocktail Deeva, the link to this article was tweeted by Jane Daly from Daly Beauty. Years ago I lived a similar situation in a drugstore and I ended up having an argument with the cashier... She didn't want me to pay the difference on an elderly lady's bill. If I remember correctly the amount was a few dollars. The lady was so uncomfortable and yet I could sens so grateful.

What business was it of the cashier to try to prevent me from helping out. It was almost as if she wanted to humiliate the older lady. I returned to the drugstore later that day (it was at walking distance to my house) to see the manager. I told him about the unpleasant incident. Was he really not happy about the behaviour of his employee, I don't know. Not long after, the young woman was no longer working there. I can only hope that she didn't lose her job but realized that she wasn't cut out to this type of work.

I have done it a few other times since, paying it forward, a few pennies, dollars or simply helping someone crossing the street. Think about it, it truly makes one feel good!


Words to live by...

I think I'll have a second cup, after all, it's Sunday!


Image from: The Stencilsmith

New NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder

Now this looks lovely!

As I've mentioned before, I rarely wear foundation. It seems I can't be bothered with it on a day to day basis but I always wear powder and I think I'm slowly developing an obsession to it. It's hard to find the perfect one, the one that will have just the right amount of shimmer to give a natural look. This new NARS just might do the trick.

From the website:

Product Story

Enhances the look of foundation without a trace of color and prolongs makeup wear. This invisible silky powder is infused with Photochromic Technology to diffuse light and adjust to new sources of light throughout the day. Fine lines, wrinkles and pores optically fade as skin is visibly smoothed. Soft, silky and luxurious to the touch, this weightless formula applies evenly and blends effortlessly. Ideal for touch-ups, it helps regulate shine and seamlessly sets foundation.Paraben-free. Fragrance-free. Non-Comedogenic.

Artist Tips

"Apply the Light Reflecting Setting Powder Loose with the Kabuki Botan Brush all over the face before picking up a bit on the Small Dome Brush #12 to set concealer on the inner corner of the eye and on the lashline. Use the Loose Powder Brush #1 to buff the skin for a lasting and polished finish."--Jane Richardson, International Makeup Stylist

Now I will have to make a special stop to sample this one. It's $39.00 but if it does give the finish it promises than I would say it's worth it.

Screen capture: NARS website

Rimmel London Match Perfection Concealer / Review

Rimmel London continues to surprise me. I purchased this concealer more for curiosity than need and on sale at $5.49 it was a steel.

It's a long tube with a brush at the end. When you squeeze it the product comes out through the brush tip that you can use for application. This reminds me of a Lancôme lipstick from years ago as well as an eye illuminator Avon used to make. I had to check with Tracy from Beauty Reflections on that one since I don't think all their products are on their website. She had never heard of it. This was about 3 years ago if I remember correctly.

Match Perfection is more a concealer than an illuminator although the light shade, Fair-Light the one I purchased, does give that effect on me without any shimmer. It spreads easily but you have to work quickly since it dries fast into a powdery finish. The great plus is that it's buildable without looking cakey and it doesn't set into fine lines This shade is perfect for me but I find that if I were to use it every day it could end up being slightly drying.

The only thing I didn't like about this product is the tube. It's huge for the quantity of product inside, 7 ml. I'd say it's about one fourth so you have to press it like crazy. Rimmel should definitely consider making it smaller.

Would I recommend this concealer? Yes!

For the price you can't miss. I think it would be great to hide blemishes since it's very light but at the same time gives good coverage. You could even consider having two colors for a perfect match.


Reviews:

MakeupAlley: 4.1 / 5 lippies for 179 reviews
Beauté-test: 3.2 / 5 stars for 17 reviews

Screen capture from Rimmel London website