Are you mistletoe-ready?
With the holidays fast approaching, there’s no better time than the present to get started on your mistletoe regime. While I’ll be giving you tips to get kissable lips, peeptoe-ready toes and sparkly peepers in the coming weeks, let’s start off with the ultimate mistletoe lure – sexy fragrance and glowing skin. There’s also no better time than the present to get started on presents: win over $100 in products at the end of this post!

Sexy Scents
Fragrance is a way to set yourself apart from the crowd. No matter …

Have you ever wondered how to completely and utterly grasp the attention of beauty bloggers? The answer, apparently, is pretty simple! All you have to do is lure them to an event that promises sexy men, sexy music, sexy fragrance and sexy skin. Bam! Captive audience. Last week, I was lucky enough to attend Avon Girls’ Night at the Air Canada Centre, conveniently during the Mumford and Sons concert.
I knew I was in for a real treat when tickets arrived, hand-delivered, to the Marketing Magazine conference I was at for work.

After a few quick …

Glitter polish is probably one of my favourite things ever. It tends to cover in fewer coats than regular polish, is easy to apply and harder to chip and makes you feel like a fairy princess when you’re wearing it. Unfortunately, taking it off can be quite the arduous task. Fret not, I’ve discovered a nearly foolproof method to removing glitter polish without tearing your hair out.

My original obsession – OPI Mad as a Hatter [swatch courtesy of vampyvarnish.com]
How to remove glitter polish

Don’t paint glitter polish directly onto nails; use …

You walked into the party like you were walking on to a  yacht….
Whether we want to admit it or not, we’re all a little bit vain. I attended Vanity School, hosted by ilaika and v:space studios to learn beauty tips & tricks from some of the industry’s best. I can safely say that even I, the beauty junkie, learned something new from this event & emerged pampered.

 
Gafas Optical on Queen St. W. was transformed into a tiny beauty school, with stations set up amongst rows of gleaming, fashionable frames. Our …

I’m willing to bet you’re a dirty girl. Sure, you wash your face…but do you clean your makeup brushes? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Makeup brushes, especially if you use them every day, are the perfect home for dust, oil and bacteria. According to Catherine Marovich, director of Sephora Brand, “The best way to prevent acne is to wash your brushes”. It’s an oft-forgotten step that only takes a couple minutes to do and will result in silky smooth and clean brushes you can feel good about putting against your skin.
Step …

Hair SOS: What’s a girl to do when her hair’s dirty/frizzy/limp and she’s got to look presentable?
Answer: Why not try a fun bun?

The look, made hugely popular by Lauren Conrad of The Hills, is the perfect ‘do for both casual and formal events. While it’s the perfect way to look like you tried without actually trying, with a sparkly headband the bun is nighttime-ready and completely chic.
You’ll need:

 bobby pins
a strong hair elastic
a teasing comb

Start with hair that’s a bit dirty (between washes) or, for you curly girls like me, hair …

I’m a sucker for tiny, pretty things. That’s probably explains a) why I have a tiny puppy b) my insatiable appetite for beauty samples. There’s something about miniature beauty treats that makes me fall in love (maybe it’s the promise of falling in love & adding more full-sized goodies to my collection!).
Yesterday, my long-awaited Glymm Box arrived. They even managed to get a hint of pink to adorn the protective packaging!

Inside was the cutest, shiniest pink box I’ve ever seen.

Under layers of ribbon and tissue paper lay perfect high-end samples, …

The dog days aren’t over – they’re just beginning.
Summertime can be a catch-22 for beauty addicts. Summer is a great time to experiment with bright, fun colours but creeping temperatures usually result in sliding makeup.

[photo courtesy of doornail243 on flickr]
With a few easy swaps (and a few miracle products) it’s easy to summer-proof your beauty routine.

Show some skin. Switch your foundation out for a tinted moisturiser or mix a bit of foundation with your AM cream for a sheer look. Apply concealer only to spots that need it (like blemishes …

If you’re a friend, follow me on Twitter or peruse this blog on a regular basis, you probably know I’m a beauty junkie. I’ve got that coveted-yet-embarassing VIB status at Sephora and whoever found my lost Shoppers Optimum Card probably had a field day with the points. It’s no surprise that when I heard about Loose Button’s Luxe Box I knew I had to get my hands on one (or three…or five..).
A short while after signing up on the site’s waiting list, I received my first invitation to order. Being …

5 steps to cutting-edge newsprint nails