EVENT: ACI Beauty Spring/Summer 2015 Preview – Paul & Joe Beaute, Ceramic Glaze & Ardell Lashes #ACIBeautySS15

In addition to Guerlain So Particular and various fashion shows, I also had the pleasure of attending the ACI Beauty Spring/Summer 2015 Preview. ACI is a distributor of various beauty brands such as Stila, China Glaze, Clean, Cargo, St. Tropez, and more. The event featured an Ardell lash station, Ceramic Glaze mani appointments, and a Paul & Joe presentation. 

Paul & Joe Beaute 

Combine a French fashion label with Japanese beauty technologies and what do you get? Paul & Joe Beaute, daintily packaged products that perform with prowess.  ‎Artistic Beauty Director & Global Make-up Artist for the brand, Craig-Ryan French (who has worked on the sets of the SAW series and Defiance) walked event attendees through the history of the brand and a few of Paul and Joe’s classic products. Some standouts were the lipsticks, blushes and eyeshadows with interchangeable packaging with fun prints and the orange blossom scented primers and foundations. Paul & Joe is FINALLY available in Canada at select Shoppers Drug Mart stores - Hillcrest Mall (Richmond Hill, ON), Robson & Burrard (Vancouver, BC), Richmond Centre (Richmond, BC), Chinook Centre (Calgary, AB). 

Ceramic Glaze

Ceramic Glaze is China Glaze’s sister brand available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart. Made from the same technologies as China Glaze, the line includes 23 colours from brights and neons to classic nudes. Polishes are formulated with clay adhesives and plasticizers that dries quickly and results in long-lasting polish that also hardens nails. Above are photos for the Stunning Soiree and Spring Bloom collections. 

Ardell Lashes

I’ve heard of Ardell Lashes but haven’t yet tried them out. If you’re not familiar with the brand, Ardell offers a massive selection of false eyelashes. At the event, I had the #110 style applied on me. The pair was quite natural, surprisingly comfortable but still made my eyes pop. 

All in all, a ton of new beauty things to get me excited. I’ve already dipped my fingers into a few Paul & Joe products and I’ll be slowly swatching up ALL of the polishes. Is there anything here that’s piquing your interest?  

Press samples featured. 

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MAKE UP FOR EVER Pro Sculpting Duo #2 in Golden

Contouring, highlighting and sculpting seem to be all the rage in the makeup world. To keep up with the trends, Make Up For Ever has launched its own Pro Sculpting Duos ($45), two sets of contour and highlighting powders that are weightless, blendable, and formulated with the same talc-free, gel-powder formula as the Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows. 

My skin tone is the awkward space between light and medium, which means that the bronzing powder is a tad too orange but the golden highlight is perfection. The Pro Sculpting Duos are available in two shades #1 (Pink Beige) and #2 (Golden). I presume the contour in the Pink Beige Duo would be perfect for my current complexion, while the #2 contour will suit me better in the summer. 

Personally, the matte contour shade seems more like a bronzer because of the strong warm undertone.   The highlight is super gorgeous and all-out shimmery golden glow. Both shades blend beautifully on the face and they last on the face until the second you feel like taking them off. 

Furthermore, MUFE doesn't mention this but the contour and highlight shades can both be used as eyeshadows. In addition to being a sculpting duo, it also works flawlessly as an eyeshadow duo. 

CONTOUR- across the hairline, below the cheekbone, around the jawline, all over the eyelids as eye shadow // HIGHLIGHT - on the cupids bow, above the cheekbones and on the bridge of the nose, in the inner eye corner as eye shadow

Hopefully, in the photo above, you can pick up on the gorgeousness that is the golden highlight. All in all, the MUFE Pro Sculpting Duo #2 in Golden is a beautiful product. But what I need from Make Up For Ever is this - a Pro Sculpting Duo #3 with the light/cool undertone contour powder and the golden highlight. 

What do you think of the MUFE Pro Sculpting Duo? Would you go for pink beige or golden? 

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EVENT: #GUERLAINSoParticular

Did you know that Guerlain manufactured and sold the first lipstick (1936) and bronzer (1984)? This is just one of the many things I learned about Guerlain when I took a trip to the Guerlain Boutique & Institute at 110 Bloor Street West in Yorkville last week. The event was modelled after what is known as "Journée Particulière", a yearly event at which Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy brands (Dior, Kenzo, Make Up For Ever, Benefit, Fresh, etc) open their doors to journalists. 

Guerlain Terracotta and Jolie Teint 

The Guerlain Canada team introduced Guerlain outlining what makes the brand so special. One aspect of the brand is its three values: 

1. Beauty - a tribute to women and the sharing of beauty as a way of life exhibited in guerilla's packaging details and refined, luxurious products
2. Creative Audacity  - as the first brand to launch lipsticks (Rouge Automatique), bronzers (Terracotta), and illuminators (Meteorites Pearls), the brand has displayed its ability to take risks. 
3. Know-how - a transmission of craft from generation to generation. Much of notoriety of the Guerlain brand comes from its heritage. All products sold around the world are made in France. Furthermore, each product requires skill and expertise to produce. For example, only four people are trained to hand-pick a specific number of pearls that go into the Guerlain Meteorites. 

Without a doubt, Guerlain is a luxurious brand with years of history behind it, as well as a cult-like following. There was a ton of information to absorb and it was unfortunate that I only got about an hour to hang out at the store, but I will most certainly be back to browse the beauty that is the Guerlain Boutique. 

For more on Guerlain, see my most recent reviews for the brand here. 

Are you a fan of Guerlian? 

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SST Signature Series Cosmetics - BB Cream, Eyeshadow Sticks and Hydrating Lipstick

Introducing SST Signature Series Cosmetics... SST stands for Sharon Sharpe-Titus, a Canadian model turned make-up-artist. The line has a focus on "quality ingredients free of harsh chemicals...brining together exceptional colours and elegant textures." Not knowing anything about SST, I was curious to try four items from their line...

L to R - Hydrating Lipstick in #XOXO, Power Stay Shadow Stick in Water Lily and #OMG!, Tinted Prime and Moisture Kick BB Cream in Skin Tone

First off, could we please ditch the hashtag names. I've seen it from CoverGirl (here) and it's a bit juvenile. From a marketing perspective, I don't think any makeup brand really wants to limit their audience to 14 year-old girls. 

Silly names aside, the packaging is simple and nondescript - matte black with gold writing, which I can appreciate. Now onto the products... 

// SST Black Label Tinted Primer and Moisture Kick in Skintone ($47.94)

Formulated with Vitamin E, Hyaluronic acid, red seaweed extract, this product claims to minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines, as well as reduce redness. The "Skin Tone" shade is basically colourless and the product feels like a light moisturizer on my face. The product has a strong scent that I can't put my finger on, however this wears away within 5-10 minutes. As for results, the cream ever so slightly evens out my discolouration and minimizes pores but the effect is almost unnoticeable. The BB Cream can be worn underneath makeup and is also available in "Light". Overall, I'm not a fan, as the Tinted Primer doesn't have the oil-reducing, pore minimizing, or coverage properties that I expect in something like this. 

// SST Power Stay Shadow Sticks in Water Lily and #OMG ($33.90 each) 

Water Lily is a shimmery off-white pink-cream shade and #OMG is a medium brown. The Power Stay Shadow sticks are super creamy, soft, and blendable and the shadows set to a long-lasting 7-8 hour hold on the eyelids. The pencil format makes application super easy and blending can be done with either a brush or fingertips. My only issue with this product is the pencils aren't retractable. 

// SST Hydrating Lipstick in #XOXO ($23.94)

The SST Hydrating Lipsticks contain Grapeseed Oil,  Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E. The lipstick doesn't feel particularly hydrating but doesn't dry out the lips either. SST says that this smells of a "light" vanilla scent. For me, it's a little strong. #XOXO is your standard rosy-pink that's great for everyday and lasts a good 4-5 hours on me. The SST Hydrating Lipstick is a nice colour and decent formula but nothing to write home about. 

On the whole, SST is a brand that's new to me. I would ditch the tinted primer/BB cream as well as the lipstick, as you can find better products for the price. The Power Stay eyeshadow sticks are quite impressive as neutral bases or worn on their own but I'm on the fence given their inability to twist-up and the $30+ price tag. 

Have you tried SST? 

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World MasterCard Fashion Week F/W 2015 - the Good & the Bad

3 beauty events, 4 fashion shows, and 1 awards show on top of my 45 hour work week.  I’m not really sure how I did it but I did. Perhaps going to 8 events in 5 days might be what it’s like to be a full-time “real” blogger. 

World MasterCard Fashion Week (aka Toronto Fashion Week aka the Canadian Collections) happens twice a year – March for Fall/Winter of the current year and September for Spring/Summer of the following year – and showcases some of Canada’s most renowned designers. 

This was my first experience at World MasterCard Fashion Week – the good, the bad and the ugly. If you want to see photos of the shows check out my WMCFW – womenswear and WMCFW – menswear posts. 

Generally

bad: rude people butting in line, 3-inch heels, street style photographers outside (it’s like paparazzi and I’m camera shy when I’m not in the comfort of my room), expensive food, the cold weather and lack of heating in the tent

good: attending my first fashion week, wifi, seeing people I know and not feeling like a loner, free coffee from Kreuig, Maybelline Rebel Blooms Lipsticks and thank goodness for weekends and sleep

Missing the VAWK show (from Sunny Fong of Project Runway Canada)

bad: Leaving a Guerlain event too early, taking a taxi to get from Yorkville to David Pecaut Square and missing the show by a few minutes

ugly: Avoiding the 5-piece Subway-inspired capsule collection. That’s Subway…THE FOOD. Cucumber-print dresses, etc. (see here) 

The Studio (flat seating) 

bad: Sitting in the back row in the studio trying to catch glimpses of the show between two people’s heads. They should really let the short people sit on the ground in front of the first row...I wouldn’t mind

good: Sitting in the front row of the studio (so close you could touch the clothes) and the lighting in the studio

The Runway (levelled seating)  

bad: lighting too harsh to take photos from afar

good: levelled seating and elbow room

Meeting Queen Mary (Adelaide Kane) and the Leith (Jonathan Keltz) from the CW show Reign 

bad: being shy, sweaty and awkward (as per usual) and feeling like a teenage fan girl for even watching the show, not seeing the Prince of Conde 

good: learning that Reign features Alexander McQueen gowns

Sillies at the #fashionmagawards after party with @charcharb1nk 👫😊

A photo posted by stephanie lau (@stephh_lau) on Mar 28, 2015 at 5:17am PDT

The Fashion Magazine Awards (#FashionMagAwards)

bad: having to leave early from being pooped out from the rest of the week 

good: watching re-caps of the shows I missed, taking photo booth photos with my boyfriend and some really good catering from Toben Food By Design 

All in all a great experience. I would do it again...but perhaps I'll pack fewer events into the week and be more choosy about the shows I attend. Next time I will…wear flats, bring snacks, invite a +1 ALL the shows and get more sleep. 

Did you attend World MasterCard Fashion Week (or have you previously)? How was your experience?

Check out my other fashion week posts: 


WMC Fashion Week – The Experience 

WMC Fashion Week – Menswear Recap

WMC Fashion Week – Womenswear Recap

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World MasterCard Fashion Week F/W 2015 - Malorie Urbanovitch & Mikael D // womenswear

I had the pleasure of attending 4 shows at World MasterCard Fashion Week for the Fall/Winter 2015 season. Two of the shows were womenswear designers. Here's a quick recap of the shows: 

Malorie Urbanovitch – Wednesday, March 25, 2015

In a few words, I would describe the Malorie Urbanovitch Fall/Winter Collection as "hip grandma-chic" - knits in quirky colour combos (orange/blue/brown) and green fringe-embellished dresses. Classic silhouettes with a twist = wardrobe goals. The makeup was stellar too – a clean face and vibrant blue on the inner corner of the eyes. This was my first and favourite show of the week. 

(source link)

Mikael D. – Friday, March 27, 2015

Jaw-drops, gasps and standing ovations, the Mikael D. show suitably titled “Mythical China” not only had Chinese drum performers and acrobats but enchanting gowns and ornate cocktail dresses. I couldn’t take any photos because the moment was too pretty to capture (I was also sitting to far back). Mikael D. was flawless closing show for World MasterCard Fashion Week.

Check out my other fashion week posts: 

WMC Fashion Week – The Experience 

WMC Fashion Week – Menswear Recap

WMC Fashion Week – Womenswear Recap

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World MasterCard Fashion Week F/W 2015 - Jaan Choxi, Klaxon Howl & 3.Paradis // menswear

World MasterCard Fashion Week has come and gone. A little fur and some tailored suits, pleated pants, and semi-creepy ready-to-wear, here's my little recap of three of the Fall/Winter 2015 menswear shows! 

Jaan Choxi – Friday, March 27, 2015

I didn’t personally attend this show, but I had Charles attend and take photos for me. Jaan Choxi is a Toronto-based luxury menswear designer which debuted at World MasterCard Fashion Week at this particular show. Charles let me know that the pants were too tight on the models, but some of the pieces were quite swoon-worthy and well-tailored. Can I have the fur-collared jacket in XXXS, please? 

Vintage militaria-inspired runway from @klaxonhowl #wmcfw #tcfw15 #madeincanada

A video posted by stephanie lau (@stephh_lau) on Mar 25, 2015 at 5:48pm PDT

Left (source link), Right (source link)

Klaxon Howl - Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Matt Robinson is known for collections inspired by vintage militaria, workwear and sportswear from the early to mid-20^th century. Overall, I found the Fall/Winter 2015 collection to be a bit dreary. I’m not a huge fan of pleated pants and the muted b-rown and grey fabrics didn’t have much wow-factor. I did, however, like individual pieces such as the bags, hats and jackets. I also took note that the models wear their jackets the same way as my boyfriend (the hip-ness is too real). 

#wmcfashionweek day 5 - @3paradis #wmcfw #tcfw15 #madeincanada

A photo posted by stephanie lau (@stephh_lau) on Mar 27, 2015 at 5:08pm PDT

3.Paradis – Friday, March 27, 2015

A unique pairing of two designers Emeric Tchatchoua and Raymond Cheung from Paris and Hong Kong respectively, 3.Paradis is a luxury ready-to-wear men’s label. Insane asylum-inspired music and accessories of the 0.4 Placebo collection made for a cohesive and artistic show.

Check out my other fashion week posts: 

WMC Fashion Week – The Experience 

WMC Fashion Week – Menswear Recap

WMC Fashion Week – Womenswear Recap

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