My Lipstick Obsession

I'm furiously scribbling notes on the Oscars and will hopefully post my favourite (and not-so-favourite) looks over the next couple of days, but in the meantime, I thought I'd share just how overboard I go with lip products.

Here's a photo of the lip sticks/glosses/balms that I have in my makeup bag or on my dresser right now. Since I'm not a makeup artist, nor do I work for a cosmetics company...I think this may be a little bit too much! If I counted correctly there's 57 items here!!!

Do you have a similar product obsession? What's your weakness?

image: Cinnamon Kitten

March Madness

Last night I was deciding which products to review in the next few weeks and decided that it was time to shine the spotlight on the more affordable products out there. Most of us, including me, rely mainly on these "cheap" goods in between the bigger splurges and many of them are just as good as their more expensive counterparts.

So for the entire month of March, all the products reviewed will cost less than $10 CAD. If you know of any products under 10 bucks that you'd like to review or would like me to review, post a comment or send me an email!

Product Review: Cargo Lip Gloss Duo

Cargo notes: "...our most popular product - with an unbeatable formulation, and two beautiful colors packaged side by side in each jumbo tin, you can achieve sheer, long-wearing and beautiful color every time. Professional make-up artists rave that Cargo's gloss is as good as it gets."

Well, that's quite a big claim for a lip gloss, even a jumbo-sized one. But after shelling out the $22 CAD to pick up the Cargo Lip Gloss Duo in Bora Bora, even I must admit that I can't stop admiring this gloss on my lips.

Both shades in Bora Bora complement my skin wonderfully, but it's not the colours that impress me (and with so many shade combos to choose from, I'm sure anyone can find something they like). It's the gloss itself. It's extremely lightweight, ultra-slick (no stickiness here!), delivers a powerful shine and a subtle hint of colour. After applying it, the gloss is so light that it actually feels like I'm not wearing any lip product at all.

My sister, who generally prefers glosses over lipsticks, was very skeptical when I mentioned the price. But after sneaking a bit of my Bora Bora, she's since been to Sephora to peruse the available shades for herself and has cursed me for introducing this product to her.

At $22 CAD, I know this isn't going to be a product I buy as often as I'd like to but it will definitely be a favourite indulgence whenever I can afford it!

image: sephora.com productreviewcargo

Product Review: Cake Satin Sugar

Not that I would ever condone skipping out on washing your hair, but there are days when a gal just doesn't have that extra time. And what can you do about the oily build-up? I asked myself that question last September. I work for a large film festival and for two weeks in the fall I'm at work from 8am-8pm and then working events until midnight for 14 days straight. So that leaves little time to pamper myself, but there's still pressure to look fabulous.

I heard about these magic products that keep you looking fresh even when you feel quite the opposite and decided to try Cake's Satin Sugar Hair & Body Refreshing Powder for darker hues ($18 CAD/USD for 1.7 oz).

Cake notes: "This is the must-have product for the girl on the go. The ultimate recipe for looking spectacular without the fuss. HAIR: Sprinkle this velvety powder into your hands and then run through your hair to refresh and renew between washing. Excess oil is absorbed leaving your tresses feeling fresh and fabulous. BODY: This luxurious blend will leave you smelling fresh, feeling clean and looking perfectly polished. This double-duty formula is talc-free and infused with calendula and chamomile to smooth and soften."

After a particularly gruelling day at work, I pulled my hair out of its ponytail, rubbed a small handful of powder through my hair and into my scalp, waited a few minutes and then glanced hopefully into the mirror. Voila! The greasiness was gone, my hair looked good and it smelled lovely. I was originally skeptical since the powder is quite light, but there wasn't a trace of it left anywhere.

No matter what, this product definitely doesn't replace a good hot soak in the tub, nor does it make your hair look exactly like it's been freshly washed. But if you're on the go and can't stop for a shower, this is a perfect solution to your troubles.

image: cakebeauty.com productreviewcake

Rimmel Lipstick Promotion

For my fellow lipstick-addicts - if you live in the Toronto area, PharmaPlus and Rexall drug stores are having a "Buy One, Get One Free" promotion on Rimmel Lasting Finish lipsticks. The lipsticks are available at select stores only and depending on which store you go to, you can save up to $5.49 CAD.

Of course, I had to go pick up a couple to add to my "collection". I chose a light, neutral shade Paradise and a darker, redder shade called Ballistic.

Better hurry - this deal ends on Feb. 23, 2007!

image: rimmellondon.com

Product Review: Jaqua Mint Chocolate Hand Creme

I love living in Canada, but there's no denying that winter in Canada is harsh. And my skin definitely pays the price for all those days in the bitter cold and wind.

So I'm always on the search for hand creams, body lotions, face moisturizers, body butters and any other product that promises soft, hydrated skin. However, I also want one that's quick-absorbing (nothing ickier than greasy hands), doesn't wash off an hour later and actually makes a difference to my skin.

Last Christmas I received a couple of products from a brand I had never heard of - Jaqua. One of the items was the Mint Chocolate Hand Creme ($8 USD for 2 oz). And now I'm officially addicted.

Jaqua notes: "This rich and thick hand Creme is filled with good-for-your skin ingredients such as meadowfoam seed oil, extracts of peppermint, cocoa, myrrh and rose hip, as well as vitamins A and E."

This fulfills everything I look for in a hand lotion - it's thick, absorbs very quickly, doesn't wash off 10 minutes later and my hands do feel instantly better after application. What Jaqua's brief product description doesn't mention is how heavenly this smells! It smells exactly mint chocolate chip ice cream and the smell lingers lightly for quite a long time. When you first put the lotion on the smell is quite obvious for about 10 minutes, but then fades into a very subtle scent that I can still smell after 2 hours.

Jaqua puts out a range of other yummy-smelling products that smell exactly like their food-counterparts (Mint Chocolate, Buttercream Frosting, Pina Colada, Passion Fruit Cocktail, to name a few). After I finish with Mint Chocolate, it may be time for some Pina Colada! :)

image: jaquabeauty.com productreviewjaqua

Scent Overload

Okay, pet peeve time - I just got my latest issue of Toronto Life Fashion magazine in the mail and as I was flipping through, my allergies started to go into overdrive. Why? Because there was, not one, not two, but THREE perfume samples amongst the pages.

Three perfume samples within the pages of 1 magazine just mixes everything together and none of them end up smelling very nice. The 3 products that were being advertised were Kenneth Cole's RSVP, Calvin Klein's euphoria blossom and Vera Wang's Princess. I doubt any of these brands would want their potential consumers to smell their scent mixed in with the other two. All that money for an ad that doesn't reflect the true fragrance of your product.

Normally I don't mind those perfume ad pages with their folded over scent samples, and I know that subscribers always have the option for "scent-free" issues. After this last issue, I actually might have to consider that option.

NEW Product: Smashbox O-GLOW

Tired of unnatural blushes and trying to figure out how to best apply them? Smashbox to the rescue! They've created a new product called O-GLOW, a special gel that supposedly reacts to your natural body chemistry to enhance your own natural blush.

Product Notes:
- silicone-based clear gel has a special complex that reacts to skin's moisture to create a natural circulation in your cheeks, producing a natural-looking flush that lasts for hours
- waterproof & fragrance-free
- full of antioxidants like vitamin C, pomengranate seed oil & marine plankton the lipstick outer casing is made out of a corn-derived polymer which is compostable

Available only at Sephora ($26 USD for 0.5 oz), O-GLOW looks like a promising product that would work on all skin tones. You'd never have to worry about applying it properly or on the right place since it will react to your own natural glowing blush.

image: sephora.com

Where Did My Money Go?

I popped by Sephora yesterday afternoon with a $100 gift card that I got for Christmas (love my husband!). Thirty minutes later I emerged with 3, count 'em - THREE items. And I had $19 left on the gift card! *sigh* Why must beauty be so expensive sometimes?

Anyhow, here's what I purchased:

After hearing so many rave reviews about this lip gloss and seeing it on everyone's must have lists, I finally broke down and bought my own - Cargo's Lip Gloss Duo in Bora Bora ($22 CAD). Watch for a product review later this week. Now I can add this to my growing collection of lip products.

If you don't know by now - this is my one weakness. Considering I'm not a makeup artist, I have a alarming amount of lip stuff. I did a quick count this morning and there are 20 lipsticks, 7 lip glosses and 3 lip balms on the top of my dresser. This doesn't include the ones I've stashed away in my makeup box for "later use" or the free samples that I've gotten that I've never used and are sitting in a box somewhere in my room.

The rest of my gift card went to tools: Sephora's Eyebrow Trimmer/Brush - one blade is a comb and the other blade is a blade for easy, even trimming ($22 CAD), and a cute travel case from Sephora ($32 CAD) that has separate slots for my brushes (with a protective flap) and a detachable makeup case.

As with all Sephora fans, I could have easily bought a lot more, but I'm still in the "post-Christmas cash crunch" so had to stick to what was on the card for now. Don't they ever have sales at that place? :)

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

images: sephora.com

Valentine's Day Beauty

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to heat things up! Whether you're spending the evening showing your special someone how lucky they are to have you, going on a date with a new potential love-of-your-life or simply hanging out with your very-worthy friends, here's a few beauty items to show cupid that you don't need his arrows - you're already too hot to handle!

Ralph Lauren Romance
A classic and sensual scent that has an essence of velvety woods, light florals and sexy musk. This has a become a personal favourite after I received it as a Valentine's gift several years ago.

Fusion Beauty LipFusion Color Shine in Sexy
Plump, flush lips just embodies SEXY. Get your own blushing smile with LipFusion in Sexy, a sheer soft red sheen that's sure to give you very kissable lips.

Nars Multiple Orgasm Set II
Nars Orgasm is an extemely popular shade that seems to complement all skin tones. This limited edition set features Nars Blush/Bronzer Duo in Orgasm/Laguna and a Lipgloss in Orgasm.

Bare Escentuals Tutorials - Lesson 1: Smoky Eye
Sexy isn't complete without a smoky eye. Just follow the simple instructions on the tip card and you'll soon be winking with smoldering, come-hither eyes. Set includes instructional card, eyeshadow in Skyline (a gray lilac), eye glimmer in Celestine (a shimmery pewter) and a double-ended eye brush.

Urban Decay Flavored Body Powder
A hint of shimmer and a delicate scent in a delicious, edible powder - can it get any sexier than that? Simply powder onto your skin with the ultra-chic leopard print puff. Comes in 3 yummy flavours - Cocoa, Honey and Marshmallow.

Valentine's Day is nice and all, but always remember - you don't need a specific date on a calendar to show someone you love them or to have a great girls night out! It's just a greeting card holiday, after all!

images: sephora.com

Cinnamon Kitten's Desert Island Beauty

Introducing a new (hopefully) recurring feature at Cinnamon Kitten - the Desert Island Beauty list! This is a list of the top 5 beauty products that you absolutely CANNOT live without if you were stuck on a desert island. Please note, this is different than a Top 5 List, which is a feature I'll hopefully also start soon (ie. Top 5 lipsticks, Top 5 foundations, etc).

Nickname: Cinnamon Kitten
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

If I were stuck on a desert island, the 5 beauty products I must have with me are:
- Rosebud Strawberry Lip Balm: Desert island means dry, chapped lips, so I must have my favourite lip balm - the ever popular Rosebud in yummy Strawberry. Not only a lip balm, the description states that it can also be used as a body moisturizer (gotta love double duty products!). Bonus: I can use the shiny tin to reflect sunlight in a makeshift signal beacon to passing planes.

- Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner in Blue Grey: Ok, I'm only human, so even if I'm stuck on a desert island, I still want at least one makeup product with me, and being Asian with very sparse, short eyelashes, I cannot live without my eyeliner. I know, I know, no girl should be caught without a lipstick, but my lips are naturally a deep shade of pink so the lip blam will do. I need my eyes!!! Bonus: I can use the eyeliner to write a note to stick in a bottle and toss it out to sea....

- Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner: I LOVE this toner and have been using it for years. It's alcohol-free, so it doesn't dry out my skin, it's cool and refreshing (perfect for that hot, island sun), it removes makeup and "other impurities" from skin, it tones and it soothes dry skin - what more can I ask for?

- Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15: I am stuck on a desert island, after all, and that means lots of sunshine. This moisturizer is quick-absorbing (so no sand grains will get stuck!), non-greasy and has a sunscreen. One word of warning - do NOT let this moisturizer get anywhere near your eyes - I accidentally got a little in there (usually I use eye cream) and it stings like hell!

- John Frieda Shine Release Moisturizing Shampoo in Chestnut to Espresso: I have very thick, coarse hair but this shampoo makes it soft, shiny and easy to manage. It definitely lives up to its name, and I definitely want this on the island with me!

Well, that's my Desert Island Beauty List - now it's your turn! What products would you want to have with you as you waited for your rescue plane?

E-mail your lists to cinnamonkitten@gmail.com! Please include your name (or nickname) and where you're from so that I can give you credit. All complete lists will be posted within a week of me receiving them.

images: sephora.com, neutrogena.com, johnfrieda.com

NEW Product: Barbie Loves M·A·C

Landing in stores on February 13, M·A·C's latest "icon" collection pays homage to the dream world of Barbie. This colour collection features various shades of pink in a huge variety of products. The powders are stamped with the ultra-cute "Barbie" profile (the one seen in the logo).

Here's the product scoop:

Liquidlast Liner ($20 CAD/$16.50 USD for 2.5 ml/0.084 oz)
- Classic Cream: white-gold
- Visionaire: clean, baby pink
- Point Black: true black

Loud Lash ($13 CAD/$11 USD)
- Noisy Black: pitched black

182 Buffer Brush ($55 CAD/$45 USD)

Beauty Powder ($26.50 CAD/$22 USD)
- Pearl Sunshine: Soft peach with pink pearl
- Pearl Blossom: Light, clean pink with silver pearl

Eye Shadow ($16.50 CAD/$14 USD)
- Playful: Bright clean pink (satin)
- Whistle: Pastel pink (veluxe pearl)
- Magic Dust: Soft white gold (frost)
- Mothbrown: Smoky charcoal brown with grey frost overlay (frost)
- Beautyburst: Rich reddish brown (satin)
- Springtime Skipper: Mid-tone minty green with gold pearl (veluxe pearl)

Lipstick ($16.50 CAD/$14 USD)
- Rocking Chick: Frosted fuchsia with blue pearl (frost)
- Real Doll: Light bubblegum pink (lustre)
- Style It Up: Light muted pink with subtle gold pearl (frost)
- Modern Ms.: Mid-tone brick red with silver pearl (frost)
- Sweet & Single: Neutral silvered plum with multicoloured pearl (lustre)

Lipglass ($16.50 CAD/$14 USD)
- Malibu Barbie: Frosted fuchsia with multicoloured pearl (frost)
- Sweetness: Light baby pink with multicoloured pearl (frost)
- Happening Gal: Mid-tone reddish plum with gold pearl (frost)
- Fashion Pack: Light neutral peach (cream)

Nail Lacquer ($12 CAD/$10 USD for 10ml /0.34 oz)
- Toast of the Town: Tarnished brown with green and red multidimensional pearl (pearl)
- Steamy: Hot 'n' steamy pink (cream)

Powder Blush ($21 CAD/17.50 USD)
- Fab: Mid-tone plum with gold pearl
- Don't Be Shy: Bright clean pink (satin)

Glimmershimmer ($20 CAD/16.50 USD)
- Fashion Leader: Rich reddish bronze
- Loves Pink: Mid-tone pink with gold pearl

Cremestick Pearl Liner ($16.50 CAD/$14 USD)
- Honey B.: Light neutral beige (pearl)
- Plum Royale: Mid-tone plum with bronze pearl (pearl)
- Cranapple: Vibrant red pink (pearl)

M·A·C and Barbie fans should plan to move fast if they want to nab up some of these cute products. Special collections from M·A·C, especially those with different packaging and embossed products, always sell out quickly. I'll be at the M·A·C counter early next week, grabbing up a few lip goodies (my personal weakness)!

You can take a peek at all the Barbie Loves M·A·C collection by clicking HERE.

image: maccosmetics.com

Clinique Bonus Time at The Bay!

Canadians - It's Clinique Bonus Time! This is the only time I buy my Clinique products, because I figure if I'm going to spend almost $40 on eye cream, I may as well wait until I can get some freebies at the same time.

Retailer: The Bay
Minimum amount you need to spend: $26.50 CAD
Time: February 7-25, 2007

What you get:
- a pastel striped bag with rope zipper-pull
- Rinse-Off Eye Makeup Solvent (sample size)
- Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (sample size)
- Different Lipstick in A Different Grape
- Different Lipstick in Think Bronze
- High Impact Mascara in Black (sample size)
- Deep Comfort Body Butter (sample size)

image: clinique.ca

NEW Product: Cargo PlantLove Botanical Lipstick

Popular cosmetic company Cargo recently launched their new PlantLove Botanical Lipstick, available exclusively at Sephora ($20 CAD/USD for 0.14 oz)

Product Notes:
- the lipstick outer casing is made out of a corn-derived polymer which is compostable
- the outer carton is made of flower paper embedded with real flower seeds. Simply moisten, plant, and wait for fabulous wild flowers to grow
- the lipstick is infused with Orchid Complex, meadowfoam seed oil, jojoba and shea butter; it doesn't contain any mineral oils or petroleums

Feel good about your beauty-addiction - $2 from every lipstick sold will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, an internationally acclaimed pediatric cancer research centre located in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Colour info:
- currently available in a dozen tempting shades
- Cargo continues its tradition of having hot celebs design their favourite shades - this line features 5 celebrity creations: Evangeline by Evangeline Lilly, Lindsay by Lindsay Lohan, Maria by Maria Menounos, Mariska by Mariska Hargitay and Sarah by Sarah Chalke (that's 2 Canadians!)
- 6 shades were inspired by eco-beautiful locations: Nahinni (Canada), Yakushima (Japan), Killarney (Ireland), Majella (Mediterranean region), Yellowstone (USA) and Sagarmatha (Himalayan highlands)

Hmmm, beautiful lipsticks that are environment friendly and hold the promise of blooming flowers? I guess it's time for yet ANOTHER trip Sephora!

image: sephora.com

Makeup for $1? Pinch Me!

I saw an ad for e.l.f. on another blog and just couldn't resist the idea that you can get makeup for $1 (USD)!!! This up-and-coming American company has already appeared on CNN and in magazines such as InStyle, Allure, Glamour, Seventeen, just to name a few.

So I checked out the website (www.eyeslipsface.com) and although their selection is very limited compared to most beauty lines, at $1, it's still a great bargain. Besides the basic eyeshadows, mascara, lipsticks, blushes, etc., they also sell brushes, various makeup tools and cosmetic cases (not $1).

Another interesting item is their customizable compact - called "e.lf. elements". It has magnetic spots for 4 colour refills and you're able to mix and match eyeshadows, lipsticks and blushes. The compact is $1 and so are the refills, so you can customize a few compacts for really cheap to suit your different needs (daytime, nightime, travel, etc).

The first negative thought I had as I was shopping was the fact that nowhere do they state how large their products are. Am I paying $1 for a sample size lipstick or a full-size one? Well, I decided to take the risk anyway. I bought a variety of their products - 2 eyeshadow refills, a lipstick refill, a blush refill, the customizable compact, "shine eraser" blotting sheets, a lip gloss and a plumping lip gloss. With a flat shipping cost of $5, my total came to $13 USD.

Canadian shoppers: e.l.f. ships to Canada, but there's a $2 extra shipping cost and the following disclaimer:

"Attention Canadian Residents: Any Canadian Order that has a value over $20 USD (not including shipping) will incur the following charges: $5.00 customs handling fee and a 6% GST Tax, as well as local Provincial taxes (where applicable). These charges will be due to your mail courrier upon delivery of the order."

Hopefully these products are full-size and of considerable quality because how great would it be to have discovered a place to get some fun pick-me-ups for $1?

I placed my order today and will post another entry when I get the items, along with some photos (and sizing information) and product reviews.

image: eyeslipsface.com