Battery Operated Beauty

Ready to take your beauty regimen into the 21st century? The latest buzz is all around vibrating, oscilating and electrically powered buffing beauty tools. Vibrating mascaras promise to mimic a makeup artist's technique of wiggling the brush back and forth across the lash line, coating every inch of every lash. Lancome's power foundation vibrating powder claims to create an airbrushed effect on the skin thanks to its micro vibrating application puff, and exfoliating has gotten an upgrade thanks to neutrogena's wave micro cleansing tool. Batteries included!
(from left: Maybelline's pulse perfection vibrating mascara $18.99, Lancome oscilation powerfoundation $65.00, Lancome oscilation powerboost $39.00, Neutrogena Wave $16.99, Estee Lauder turbolash mascara $36.00)

Mature Beauty

Mature skin has needs all of its own, and not all makeup is suitable for all ages, I've learned this the hard way in my career as a makeup artist. So what do we do? how can we create beautiful glowing skin, well defined features, and a supple, smooth textured finish while avoiding the pitfalls associated with mature skin. read on for just that...

Ombre Eclat

Your typical spring highlight trends are getting turned on their heads this season for something far more striking and experimental- enter the ombre effect, a french term usually associated with fading tones in fabric. We saw it at Proenza Schouler, on Drew Barrymore, various fashionistas, and its even cropped up on the heroine of an upcoming video game. Three things are necessary to pull off this look, the necessary pre lightened locks, a kick ass color technician, and some major courage. I recently added a pink tone to my bleached out hair, and after some experimenting both in the salon and at home, I have now achieved a very interesting silvery pearlized effect. Come spring we will certainly be seeing this trend more an more, will you dare to try it out?

Tight Lining

Want to achieve an eyeliner look, without looking like your actually wearing eyeliner? Better put, want to fool everyone into thinking you have perfectly defined eyes, and super thick lashes, all without an obvious lined look? Here is Beau Nelson to teach us how to "Tightline", rather than eye line.

Pulitzer Prize

My favourite piece from M.A.C's latest collection, "MAC in Lilly Land" is this gorgeous three hued pearlmatte eyeshadow. Inspired by designer Lilly Pulitzer's floral motif and retro modern color sensibilities, mac has created three distinct eye shadows in both shimmer and matte textures, that when blended create a fantastic soft pearl highlight finish. This will be perfect for the summer, so grab one now, cuz they wont be here when the warm weather is!

Alice At The Beauty Counter

Personally I can hardly wait for Tim Burton's version of Alice in Wonderland this spring. The makeup design alone is enough to make me giddy with anticipation. Clearly I'm not the only one, both Urban Decay and O.P.I. are releasing limited edition products to tie in with the movie. Urban Decay's book of shadows, contains 16 of the brands best selling shadows, 2 eye liners, and a bottle of their famous primer potion. O.P.I. is offering 4 cleverly named nail polishes, such as "mad as a hatter" a dark plum lacquer with rainbow glitter.

Burberry Beauty

The House of Burberry has announced their plan to enter into the world of cosmetics with a line of makeup sometime this summer. About 100 products will constitute the first launch: everything from skincare to complexion, and color. No specifics have been given yet, but expect Burberry's signature plaid to feature in the package design. Chances are, for us Canadians, the line will only be carried in Toronto, though no final decisions have been made.

She Is Coming

Though I can't count myself among Christina Aguilera's biggest fans, this new promo video for her upcoming album certainly has me intrigued. She has apparently been working on a new electronic album with the likes of Goldfrapp and Ladytron, the fruits of this colaboration should be very exciting indeed. Perhaps Lady Gaga has some competition in the pop art category? I'm confident the music will be better, but image seems to be Gaga's thing, does Xtina stand a chance?

The Next Big Thing

V magazine celebrates full figured beauty in its next issue, with a photo spread shot by acclaimed photog Solve Sundsbo. Perhaps a reaction to the recession, as consumers have less, are we attracted to those who appear to have more? Or are we simply craving an alternative version of glamour to the slender, gangly girls that have dominated fashion in recent history? Read on for a few more unabashedly curvy, sexy, and glamorous shots.

Paris Je t'aime

After over a ten year hiatus from the world of fragrance, the house of Balenciaga returns with an olfactory offering simply named "Balenciaga Paris". Described as a "chypre floral with accentuated violet" , it is truly an modern urban floral with tradtional metal nuances. Created by world renouned nose Olivier Polge and Balenciaga creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere, it seeks to blend tradtion with a modern sensibility. Violet leaves and carnation provide the floral notes, and are anchored by redistilled woods such as cedar and patchouli. The campaign, shot by Steven Meisel, features songstress and actress Charlotte Gainsbourg. The 50ml size retails at $110 cad, and is available at Holt Renfrew and select Bay locations.

Smokey Eyes, A la Alba

Jessica Alba wore one of my favourite versions of the smokey eye to the people's choice awards this past wednesday. This is a look I often find myself doing on clients (though usually with a softer lip), as it is super flattering and very sexy. If you want to recreate the look for yourself, read on for a quick tutorial on how to do so.

Think Pink

For an instantly uplifting and ultra feminizing effect, pink is the ultimate shade this season and moving into spring. Milky, baby doll pink, and bright fuschia are the hottest shades around. Pink has the ability to really brighten and add life to the complexion, in a bold but still approachable way. Just make sure you don't wear more than two pieces of pink at a time! The most flattering way to wear this trend- try coordinating cheeks and lips in similar tones of pink and finish the look with a coat of black mascara. From left: Smashbox lip enhancing lipgloss in pout$22.00, Micheal Kors for Estee Lauder blush in sunset pink,Guerlain Divonora bubble blush in rose bubble gum, $41.80, O.P.I nail lacquer in thats hot! pink

British Beauty

Lily Cole (born 19 May 1988 in Torquy Devon) is an English model and actress whose career was launched by a chance encounter with photographer Steven Miesel in London. Cole has featured in several well known publications including cover appearances on V and four different language version of Vogue, as well as modelling for high street retailer Marks and Spencer and cosmetics chain Rimmel. You can watch her in action in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Here are few more of my favorite shots of Lily:

A Rococo Dream

I had the pleasure of watching Terry Gilliam's newest masterpiece The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus last weekend. It is an absolute feast for the eyes, though at times the plot is meandering and less than engaging. I do highly recommend watching it, as some of the imagery is unlike anything you have seen before, the performances are top notch, and model Lily Cole has no problem holding her own with actors far more experienced.

Tabula Rasa

Need a little help starting the new year with a fresh clean slate? Here are five of the best makeup removers on the market to help you wash away a few of those sins.

1. Clinique take the day off makeup remover for lids, lashes and lips $21.50, 2. Shu Uemura skin purifying cleansing beauty oil $35.20, 3. Korres jasmine eye makeup remover $25.00 4.Lancome bi-facil instant cleanser for sensitive eyes $34.00 5. Aveda pure comfort eye makeup remover $23.00