Shape's 2010 beauty awards

As we get closer to the end of the year, lots of "Best Buys" and "Top picks" lists are starting to make the rounds. I always find these lists interesting because it's a great way to discover new products or to see what's winning the hearts of beauty gals. It's also interesting to note the differences between winners chosen by the industry, by magazines and by consumers.

The September issue of Shape magazine features their top picks in beauty. For the full list of winners, please check out the magazine, but in the meantime, here are a few of their picks:

- Anti-Aging: Olay Regenerist Anti-Aging Eye Roller ($23 USD)
- Body Firming: Bliss FatGirlScrub ($38 USD)
- Lip Colour: MAC Cremesheen Glass Lip Gloss ($18 USD)
- Foundation: Revlon PhotoReady Makeup SPF 20 ($14 USD)
- Shampoo and Conditioner: Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair ($24 USD)
- Mood-Boosting Fragrance: Kim Kardashian Eau de Parfum ($35 USD for 1 oz)
- Nails - Best Colour: Essie Nail Polish in Angora Cardi ($8 USD)

Product Review: Lise Watier Feline Eyeliner HD

Reviewer: Cinnamon Kitten

Brand: Lise Watier
Name: : Feline Eyeliner HD
Size: 1.2 nl / 0.04 US fl oz
Price: $17.00 CAD

Launched this month, Lise Watier's Feline Eyeliner is a long-wear liquid eyeliner with a soft, skinny tip that provides an ultra smooth, mistake-proof and precise lining. Thanks to its capillary this liquid liner offers a continuous and regular colour-pay-off for an even, fine contour with just one stroke.

Its water-based ink dries quickly and holds color in place for an incomparably long time: no transfer, no fading. Dermatologically and ophtalmologically tested.

I usually don't like using liquid liner because I just don't have the steadiest of hands and liquid liners never go on well. So trying out Lise Water's new liquid liner was made easier because of it's marker-like application. I have tried liquid liner pens in the past, but haven't had much luck finding one that I liked.

To Purr About:
- without primer, this liquid liner stays on really well
- with primer, it's unmoveable - no smudging
- comes off easily with eye makeup remover (no pulling)
- easier to use than most other liquid liners I've tried
- ultra black colour stays strong after a day's wear

Claws Out:
- takes some practice to use

Final Comments:
This is my favourite liquid liner pen. The tip is ultra sharp so you can get a nice clean line and upsweep. But it's also soft so it didn't irritate my eye (I've tried ones in the past that were super sharp and seemed to scratch my eyelid). It stays put and very black all day long. Very little smudging or transfer and it dries super quickly. But, even with all it's staying power, it comes off very easily with eye-makeup remover, so you won't be tugging or pulling your skin, trying to remove this product.

It still takes some practice to get a nice, even line, but I've definitely been using this liner more often than other liquid liners I've tried in the past.

Rating (out of 5):




Disclosure: A free sample of this product was received by Cinnamon Kitten

image: press kit

NEW Product Collection: Essie 2010 Fall Collection

Brand: essie
Price: approx. $8 USD

The Essie Fall 2010 collection has 6 lovely, dark and lush shades.

Shades available:
- In Stitches: cheeky blush pink
- Limited Addiction: racy garnet red
- Sew Psyched: cashmere-soft sage pewter
- Merino Cool: sensuous autumn mulberry
- Velvet Voyeur: intense chocolate amethyst
- Little Brown Dress: beguiling black coffee

Available starting September 2010.

image: press release

Cinnamon Kitten's latest contest winners

Just a quick congratulations to the latest Cinnamon Kitten giveaway winners:

Skintimate gift basket

Congratulations to Huguette from New Brunswick, Canada who won the Skintimate gift basket, valued at $80 CAD, which included a super-soft pink sweater robe, Skintimate Moisturizing Cream Shave Extra Gentle with Vitamin E, Skintimate Moisturizing Cream Shave Dry Skin with Olive Butter and Schick Quattro for Women razors with dual conditioning strips with aloe and vitamin E.

The basket has already been put to practical use in Huguette's bathroom, turning into a lovely towel basket!


MD Merricone Cold Plasma

Congratulations to Isabella from British Columbia, Canada who won a jar of Perricone Cold Plasma, value $150 USD.

I've lined up some more fabulous prizes to give away here on Cinnamon Kitten, including:
- lip balms from Prairie Dawn Natural Lip Balm
- Eyedews Under Eye Treatment
- a virtual consultation with John Frieda Canadian Creative Consultant, Alain Larivée and a hair care fit basket from John Frieda

Watch for these giveaways in the coming month!

Prolonging the Urban Decay

I have a love/hate relationship with the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

While I absolutely LOVE the staying power of the primer and have yet to find a better product to help keep my eyeliner and eyeshadow in place, I hate the packaging.

The cute "genie bottle" packaging has a lot of curves to the design, which for anyone who's ever used the product, it means the primer is very difficult (read: impossible) to get out.

In recent years, they re-designed the wand so that instead of a straight applicator, the tip of the applicator is "bent", which, in theory, meant that you could be able to reach into the fat curvy parts and get more product out.

A few weeks ago, I reached the "end" of my bottle of primer, and for another week, did my best to scrape out any remaining product that I could with the applicator wand. After a few final days with next to nothing coming out, I cracked open the package (a messy process in itself) and managed to get out GOBS more primer, which I sealed up in a a little bottle. If you plan on doing this yourself, have something ready to store it in - the primer dries up really quickly when exposed to air.

Since I use very little primer each day, the amount that I salvaged after I couldn't get any more out the usual way is probably enough to last me a few more months! (I'm going to see exactly how much longer the extra primer I dug out lasts me)

So, beauty gals - what do you think? Should Urban Decay forego the cute bottle and come up with something that doesn't make us waste so much product (and spend more money) or is that part of their scheme? It seems like a total waste to me.

Have you used the UD Primer potion? Do you crack it open like I do? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

NEW Product: NARS Pure Matte Lipstick

Brand: NARS
Name: Pure Matte Lipstick
Size: n/a
Price: $25 USD


Finally, making its debut on September 1st, NARS Cosmetics introduces its Pure Matte Lipstick!

The newest edition to the NARS lip collection, the Pure Matte lipstick has a rich texture that glides on effortlessly, without drag, cakiness or resistance. In contrast to make other long-wearing, matte lipsticks, this one promises not to dry out your lips. Rich in antioxidants, including Vitamin E and Acai Oil, as well as containing Wild Mango Butter, Pure Matte nourishes and conditions lips.

Available in 6 deeply pigmented colors:
- Volga: deep aubergine
- Bangkok: soft rose
- Tonkin cinnamon plum
- Terre De Feu: black cherry
- Tashkent: nude beige
- Vesuvio: full-bodied red

image: press release

Welcome to our latest reviewer!

As regular readers of this blog know, most of the product reviews here are done by myself (Cinnamon Kitten) and my sister, Suziesaurus. We also get reviews from time to time from Guinea Husband (my husband) and ShellySuperstar.

I'd like to welcome another contributor to the group - Annabella!

Annabella is an American who went to England to study at the London College of Fashion for makeup artistry and ended up staying - she's been living there for 14 years.

From Annabella: "I've been obsessed with exfoliation and bath/body products from a young age. I'm always on a quest to find the roughest scrub possible and I especially love scrubs that have sand, salt, crushed minerals or anything that resembles aggregate. I'm also currently loving any face masks that contain volcanic mud. My favourites brands are Molton Brown, Dead Sea Magik, Hei Poa, and Aesop to name a few."

She runs a great blog that focuses on Skin Scrubs (a beauty product that I've re-discovered lately and fallen in love with) and has some pretty amazing reviews on some great scrubs.

I'm extremely happy to announce that she'll be sharing some of her scrub reviews here on Cinnamon Kitten! Welcome Annabella!

Estee Lauder Bonus Time at Holt Renfrew

Canadians - It's Estee Lauder Bonus Time!

Retailer: Holt Renfrew
Minimum amount you need to spend: $55.00 CAD (before taxes)
Duration: Sept. 10-19, 2010


What You Get:
- Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex, 5mL (deluxe supply)
- Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex, 15mL (ultra deluxe supply)
- Estée Lauder Signature Eyeshadow Exclusive Compact
- Bronze Goddess Soft-Matte Bronzer
- Estée Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Tender Rose
- 4 makeup brushes
- fashion tote

image: e-flyer

NEW Product Collection: MAC Fabulous Felines

Wow, how can a blog called Cinnamon KITTEN ignore MAC's latest collection - "Fabulous Felines"?!

There are THREE different sub-collections in the Fabulous Felines Collection and I'm in love with all of them. Which Kitten are you??? I must admit, that I almost fainted to find out that one of the collections is inspired by my favourite breed of cat - the Russian Blue. LOVELY.

BURMESE BEAUTY - A rich teak-olive colour collection for lips, cheeks and eyes that celebrates the well-cared-for, and exalts in her high-borne right to be spoiled.

LEOPARD LUXE - Looks for lips, cheeks and eyes in a tawny, exotic creme-golden colour palette that betrays both sensual vulnerability and spectacular power.

PALACE PEDIGREED - A collection of regal blues, plush greys and polished silver for lips, cheeks and eyes as haughty as its finely-favoured feline inspiration - the emerald-eyed, sable-riche Russian Blue.

Pigment, 4.5 g / 0.15 US oz, $23.50 CAD
A highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. Create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. Does not streak or cake. Easy to blend and long-lasting.
BURMESE BEAUTY:
- Antique Green (frost): turquoise green with green pearl
- Gold Stroke (frost): high frotsed tarnished gold
LEOPARD LUXE:
- Old Gold (frost): high frosted tarnished gold
- Lithe (frost): warm nude with gold pearl
PALACE PEDIGREED:
- Mauvement (frost): cool taupe with gold pearl
- Bloodline (frost): dark dirty browned purple

Eye-shadow x4, $43 CAD
BURMESE BEAUTY:
The well-bred browns, pale yellow and gold of this Eye Shadow quad reflect the pedigreed and sophisticated beauty of the Burmese. Features an irresistible limited-edition mix of Prized, Skintone 2, Burmese Beauty and Showstopper.
LEOPARD LUXE:
With camel, brown, gold, muted orange and a deliciously warm frosted black, this quad of Eye Shadow both purrs and roars...With limited edition shades of Wild by Nature, Style Predator, Notoriety, and Furiously Fabulous, all it needs is a high-style muse...You?
PALACE PEDIGREED:
A quad of Eye Shadows as cool and aristocratic as a true fabulously feline Russian Blue: the mauve/pink/grey and berry tones of Courtly, Palace Pedigreed, Quite Spoiled and Russian Blue. Limited edition.

Mineralize Blush, 3.5 g / 0.11 US oz, $25.00 CAD
Baked minerals refined into a powder formula to provide exceptionally sheer and lightweight application. Colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage. Veils and enhances the cheekbones with a luminous, pearlized shimmer.
BURMESE BEAUTY:
- The Soft Meow
LEOPARD LUXE:
- Utterly Game
PALACE PEDIGREED:
- Pet Me

Superslick Liquid Eye Liner, 1.8 ml / 0.06 US fl oz, $21 CAD
A liquid liner so slick it almost describes itself. Water-based, water resistant, quick and precise to apply. Dries in 15 seconds to provide a sleek, longwearing, wet-look, no-smudge line. The superior no-fuss, no-wobble application lies in the "magic tip" of the easy-to-control dip-stick applicator.
BURMESE BEAUTY:
- Desires & Devices: sparkling dark green
- Defiantly Feline: chocolate brown with soft pearl
- Treat Me Nice: emerald green with soft pearl
LEOPARD LUXE:
- Pure Show: bright yellow gold pearl
- Marked for Glamour: midtone grey with soft pearl
- On the Hunt: true black
PALACE PEDIGREED
- Nocturnal: bright silver pearl
- Smoky Heir: dark blue violet with soft pearl
- Signature Blue: dark navy with soft pearl

Lipstick, 3 g / 0.1 US oz, $17.50 CAD
Colour plus texture for the lips.
BURMESE BEAUTY:
- Liquid Lurex (dazzle): tarnished golden
- Pet Me, Please (frost): frosted light dirty mauve
- Kittenish (cremesheen): deep red berry
- To Pamper: creamy midtown taupe
LEOPARD LUXE:
- Out-Minxed (glaze): light yellow gold
- The Prowl (lustre): creamy dark chocolate
- Drive Me Wild (cremesheen): midtone warm coral with gold pearl
- Powerful: midtone bronze with dazzle multi-pearl
PALACE PEDIGREED
- Aristo-Cat (frost): midtone frosted purple mauve
- Cunning (frost): dark berry
- Of Royalty (cremesheen): light creamy blue pink
- Superior (dazzle): sheer lavender pink with dazzle pink pearl

Tinted Lipglass, 4.8 g / 0.17 US oz, $17.50 CAD
A unique lip gloss that can create a high gloss, glass-like finish or a subtle sheen. Designed to be worn on its own, over Lip Pencil or Lipstick, Tinted Lipglass is the perfect product for creating shine that lasts. It's pigmented, very shiny and can impart subtle or dramatic colour. It contains Jojoba Oil to help soften and condition the lips. Tinted Lipglass is packaged in a convenient bottle with a sponge tip applicator that provides a quick, smooth, even application.
BURMESE BEAUTY:
- Spree: pink champagned taupe
- Jealous: light dirty green with pearl
- Fancy Cat: dark dirty brown with pearl
LEOPARD LUXE:
- A Quiet Roar: pale white gold
- Schemer: midtone yellow camel with red and gold pearl
- Wildly Refined: midtone coral with gold pearl
PALACE PEDIGREED
- Best of Breed: light dirty blue with pearl
- Lap of Luxury: dark eggplant with pearl
- Docile: dirty lavender with pearl

Cremestick Liner, 0.25 g / 0.009 US oz
A creamy, highly pigmented, retractable lip liner. Lightweight and smooth to apply: very long-lasting. Use as outline or as a "fill." Helps prevent feathering and bleeding.
BURMESE BEAUTY:
- Velvetella
LEOPARD LUXE:
- Creamola
PALACE PEDIGREED:
- Beurre

image: maccosmetics.com

Clinique Bonus Time at The Bay

Canadians - It's Clinique Bonus Time!

Retailer: The Bay

Duration: September 14 - October 2, 2010

Minimum amount you need to spend: $26.50 CAD (before taxes)


What You Get:
- High Impact Mascara in Black

- High Impact Lip Colour SPF 15 in Extreme Pink

- Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad

- All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage

- Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

- 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula

- cosmetics bag

image: e-flyer

NEW Product: benefit magic ink

Brand: benefit
Name: magic ink
Size: 2.5 mL / 0.08 US fl oz
Price: $20.00 USD

A jet-black liquid eyeliner that adds drama to your eyes. The eyeliner is non-irritating, promises to be smudge-proof and glides on with a ultra-thin brush so that you can create an ultra-thin line or thick, bold lines.

image: benefitcosmetics.com

NEW Product Collection: Old Spice Fresh Collection

Brand: Old Spice
Name: Fresh Collection (anti-perspirant/deodorant)
Size: 73 g
Price: approximately $4.99 CAD

On the heels of its insanely popular Old Spice campaign (Ladies, you know what I'm talking about!), Old Spice is introducing its Fresh Collection of Anti-Perspirant/Deodorants.

The Old Spice Fresh Collection is a new line of anti-perspirant/deodorants that combine great wetness protection with a blend of light fragrances that are subtle and not overpowering.

Not only will guys experience the scent when they first apply the product, they’ll also get a second whiff of fragrance when they begin to sweat. This is Old Spice’s first-ever line of destination-inspired scents, providing a world of freshness coming from four of the freshest places on earth:

Fiji: Smells like palm trees, sunshine and freedom
Matterhorn: Smells like ice, wind and freedom
Cyprus: Smells like limes, an ocean breeze and freedom
Denali: Smells like wilderness, open air and freedom

Hmmm...honestly, I don't know if I know what any of those smell like (what does "ice, wind and freedom" smell like?

To be more specific:

Fiji:
Top Notes: Bergamot, Blood Orange, Kalamanzi
Middle Notes: Refreshing Juniper, Cardamom, Lavender, Watery Herbal Blend, Lotus
Base Notes: Warm Woods, Amber, Coconut, Sweet Musk

Matterhorn:
Top Notes: Lavender, Pear, Pineapple, Sparkling Citrus, Leafy Greens
Middle Notes: Icy Mint, Lily of the Valley, Orangeflower Blossom, Jasmine, Rose
Base Notes: Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Musk, Amber

Cyprus:
Top Notes: Zesty Lime, Lavender, Crisp Pear, Pineapple, Dewy Botanicals
Middle Notes: Lily of the Valley, Orangeflower Blossom, Jasmine, Rose
Base Notes: Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Musk, Amber

Denali:
Top Notes: Fresh Air, Mandarin Splash, Crisp Fruits, Spearmint, Fresh-cut Cilantro
Middle Notes: Fresh Spices, Rosemary, Armoise, Lavender, Licorice, Freesia
Base Notes: Creamy Vanilla, Rich Amber, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Sweet Musk

Giveaway: MD Perricone Cold Plasma

MD Perricone has generously given me a full size jar of their award-winning Cold Plasma (worth $150 USD) to give away to one lucky winner!

Boasting the latest in neuropeptides skin care science, Cold Plasma addresses the 10 most visible signs of aging (based on a 4-week consumer-use study):
- wrinkles
- enlarged pores
- dryness
- discoloration
- loss of firmness
- redness
- uneven skin tone
- impurities
- loss of smoothness
- loss of radiance

It's free of parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, fragrances and fillers and is compatible with all skin types.

Chosen as:
- 1 of 25 products that you can't live without in 2010 by Marie Claire Magazine
- Most Innovative Product by QVC - QStar Award
- Breakthrough Product, Prestige Skincare by Women's Wear Daily

So, excited to get your hands on Cold Plasma and try it for yourself?

To enter:
- Leave a comment on this post telling me which MD Perricone product valued at $150 or less you would want/need and why. Don't forget to leave an email address where I can reach you if you win!

Notes:
- The contest is open to Canadian and US residents only.
- Contest ends Wednesday, September 15, 2010.
- Winner will be contacted via e-mail and announced on this blog shortly after.

NEW Product: CARGO 3: Triple Threat Mascara

Brand: CARGO
Name: 3: Triple Threat Mascara
Size: n/a
Price: $20 USD/CAD

New for Fall 2010, Cargo in introducing the 3: Triple Threat Mascara. This mascara promises to lengthen, thicken and curl, all at once.

This mascara has a formula that combines the latest technology in pigments and styling polymers with a special brush that separates, elongates, stretches and curls the lashes. It's also loaded with anti-oxidants and 11 amino acids essential for follicle health, so your lashes will look and feel great.

The 3: Triple Threat Mascara also features:
- a moisture retention barrier to lock in essential vitamins and conditioners that
promote healthy lashes
- a fixing film tp help create a long-lasting, rub-resistant barrier that won’t smudge
- jet black pigment to help make lashes look visibly defined
- free of parabens, alcohol and fragrance

image: press release

NEW Product Line: Lise Watier Bleu Bold

(From the press release) "For the Fall 2010 collection, Lise Watier was inspired by the purest and most celestial of colours: blue in all of its permutations, blue in all of its splendour.

Denim blue, slate blue, cobalt blue… every shade has been called forth to create a clean, joyful, bold look. Recalling the brash 80s but pared-down for this new decade, the BLEU BOLD palette lends itself to every whim and mood."

I LOVE blue - it's my favourite colour, so I was excited to check out this new collection.


Palette Bleu Bold Eyeshadows, $38 CAD
The season's palette revolves around the collection's "star" colour, blue. 5 pressed shadows with rich pigments: denim blue, slate blue, charcoal, ecru white and dark brown, encased in an elegant snakeskin-patterned compact. A combination of neutral yet intense shades, enhanced by an ultra-soft texture and superbly smooth finish. Available from August to October, 2010.

Bleu Bold Smokey Kohl Liner, $18.00 CAD
Timelessly stylish, the smoky eye has a new trick up its sleeve: the Smokey Kohl Liner. With its practical pencil format and creamy texture (easy to blend with a fingertip!), even inexperienced users will be able to achieve the perfect smoky eye. Formulated with a specialty wax (which procures a rich, opaque finish with the very first application), light oils and vivid pigments, the Smokey Kohl Liner glides on softly for a full, deep line. Long lasting and comfortable, it offers an intense matte finish, without smudging or dripping. Available from August to October, 2010.
- Black: deep black
- Blue: cobalt blue

Divine Lash & Line Duo, $20.00 CAD
Back by popular demand, Divine Lash & Line Duo returns this fall… and it’s here to stay! Doing double-duty as both mascara and eyeliner, its innovative applicator features an eyeliner brush for a precise liner application and ridges on the stem, like a mascara, to delicately coat the lashes with sparkling glitter. Now available in 3 twinkling shades, in perfect harmony with the season’s
tonalities.
- Bleu
- Prune
- Champagne

Hydra Shine Lip Stain, $20.00 CAD
A product inspired by the colourfast qualities of markers, the ultimate in long-wear lip colour: a lip stain that colours the lips with precision, making a lasting impression on your mouth. Less than 3 months after its launch, Hydra Shine Lip Stain has successfully made its mark on the Canadian market. To complement its fall collection, Lise Watier unveils 4 new stylish shades. Penetrates so quickly, so smoothly into the lips that it’s virtually imperceptible to the touch. Lips
are light as a feather, as if they were bare.
- Nude (limited edition)
- Corail (limited edition)
- Baie
- Rose Orchidee

images: press release

Product Review: Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick

Reviewer: Cinnamon Kitten

Brand: Rimmel
Name: : Moisture Renew Lipstick
Size: 0.14 oz / 4 g
Price: approx. $7 CAD

Shade Tried: #700 Nude Delight

I'm loving the nude lip look lately but I find that many good nude shades are quite drying. If they're not matte, then the nude shade doesn't offer enough coverage. I've had some luck in finding good nude shades lately (NARS is one of my favourites) so I was excited to find out that Rimmel had a nice nude colour coming out in its Moisture Renew Lipstick.

From the press release: "hydrates lips with polypeptides, hyaluronic acid and natural collagen ingredients, while vitamin A, C and E nourish lips, leaving them with a smoother surface for better colour wear.

To Purr About:
- really nice nude colour
- good coverage - the colour really covered my lips
- it has a matte finish, but isn't drying at all (like many matte lipsticks often are)
- leaves lips lightly moisturized
- goes on smoothly

Claws Out:
- none really

Final Comments:
I love this lipstick. It gives my lips a great nude colour and has a matte finish, but without the dry feeling and goes on quite smoothly. THe main problem I usually have with nude shades is that my lips are naturally quite dark, so it takes a lot of lipstick to cover my natural lip colour, but this one only took one layer, which was pretty amazing.

I've been a fan of Rimmel since they came to Canada, so I wasn't surprised with this lipstick and how nice it was. The price is a great selling point - great lipstick for a great price. Can't beat that!

Rating (out of 5):




Disclosure: A free sample of this product was received by Cinnamon Kitten

image: press kit