19 last minute beauty gifts under $40 [and a few splurges]

If you haven't noticed, there are only 7 more days until Christmas (yay!), but if you've left your shopping for the beauty gal on your list to the last minute, I've got a few suggestions to help you get that list crossed off and stay within your budget!

1. The Original beautyblender [$25, Sephora]

2. Smashbox On the Rocks Always Sharp Liner Set [$39, Sephora]

3. Korres Body Blockbuster Set [$25, Shoppers Drug Mart]

4. Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy Mini Fragrance Duo [$23, Sephora]

5. Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette [$34, Beauty Boutique]

6. Sephora Collection Gold Star Dual Boar Brush [$19, Sephora]

7.  Smashbox Try it Kit Best Sellers [$21, Shoppers Drug Mart]

8. Ciaté Very Colourfoil Manicure Set [$9.50 on sale!, Hudson's Bay]

9. Josie Maran Argan Skincare Ritual Set [$30, Sephora]

10. Givenchy Le Vernis Black Glittering Nail Lacquer & Top Coat [$24, Sephora]

11. Smashbox Be Legendary Lipgloss Set [$33, Shoppers Drug Mart]

12. Peter Thomas Roth Mini Mask Magic Kit [$25, Sephora]

For the Stocking:

13. EOS Lip Balm [$3.50, Target]

14. L'Occitane Hand Cream [$10, Sephora]

15. Bite Beauty Lush Lip Wipes [$12, Sephora]

16. LUSH Santa's Lip Scrub [$9, LUSH]

Splurges:

17. Guerlain Meteorites Light Revealing Pearls of Powder [$65, Beauty Boutique]

18. M.A.C. Objects of Affection Lipglass Collection [$42, M.A.C.]

19. Christian Louboutin Rouge Louboutin Nail Polish [$50 US, christianlouboutin.com]

Happy Gift Giving!! 

loose pigments: how and why you should try them

Since I've started working at MAC I've gotten to experiment with all kinds of products, and one product that I'm currently loving is loose pigments. Even though they are mainly used as eyeshadow, loose pigments have a wide variety of uses on the face. You can mix with a clear gloss for a custom lip colour, dust on the contours of the face to highlight, or combine with a mixing medium for a very pigmented eyeshadow application.

How to Use:

I like MAC's fix+ as a mixing medium, and to use as an eyeshadow spray a little bit of fix+ on a palette or old CD, dip your brush in the fix+ (just to dampen, not soak), then dip it in the pigment. Mix it around on the back of your hand and then apply to your eye for the desired look.

Here's a recent eye look using MAC's loose pigment in "Heritage Rouge":

Get This Look:

-MAC loose pigment in "Heritage Rouge" [crease]
-Maybelline The NUDES eyeshadow palette [lid + transition crease]
-MAC shadow in "White Frost" [tearduct]
-Revlon liquid eye pen in "Blackest Black"
-MAC pearlglide eyeliner in "Almost Noir" [undereye]
-Lancome Doll Lashes Mascara
-Ardell "Demi Wispies" false lashes
-MAC fix+


And don't forget to use an eyeshadow primer with all eye looks! This is a very important step that keeps shadow in place for 12+ hours.  I like Urban Decay's "Shadow Primer Potion".

becca ever-matte primer... ain't nobody got time for shine

So last week I paid a visit to the shiny new Sephora location at the mall near me. Until now I would have to drive 45 MINUTES to the closest Sephora store, so you can imagine my delight when this one, a mere 10 minute drive, opened a week ago. As I browsed the familiar racks, anything and everything caught my eye, but I did have one purchase to make. Last time I was at Sephora, I cashed in 100 beauty points and received a tiny sample of Becca's Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector. It was amazing. I not only used it on myself (total t-zone shine face), but also when I was on set with Cineplex. For film & TV shine is a no-no, and this miracle primer worked so well, it cut my blotting and powdering in half. If anyone has ever had to deal with a shiny face mid-day (the struggle is real), you NEED TO GET THIS. It's not cheap (retails for $44 for 40 ml), but is so worth it.

My girls with combo skin - what other primers or products do you love for shine? Tell me in the comments!

"fall" in love with this season's best makeup trends.

Fall has got to be my favourite season. there's just something about the chill in the air, the pumpkin-spiced everything, and the sweater/knee-boot combo that feels so comforting. And of course the change in makeup! Summer is a time of bright pink lips and bronzer, so when fall rolls around I love to experiment with new products and darker hues.

Here are my 3 favourite fall makeup trends you should try!

1] metallic eye

To achieve this look, apply a wash of eyeshadow over the entire eyelid in a hue like soft silver, champagne, olive green, bronze or plum.

LD Picks: urban decay eyeshadow in "sin" $18 / L'oreal HIP studio secrets metallic shadow duo in "shocked" $9

2] bright eyeliner

Bright or coloured eyeliner can be tricky to pull off, so what i like to do is apply my normal black or brown eyeliner, and then apply a thin line of the coloured eyeliner right above it.

LD Picks: MAC fluidline gel liner in "waveline" $19 / Almay intense i-color eyeliner in "purple amethyst" $10

3] deep plum/burgundy mouth

This one is my fave! Pick a hue as deep and dark as you can handle, and bonus points if it's a matte finish [PRO TIP: if you can't find a matte shade you love, take a lip liner and colour your entire lip with it to achieve a matte lip colour]

LD Picks: Covergirl lip perfection lipstick in "Entwined" $9 /MAC lipliner in "Vino" $19

bride featured on The Wedding Co. blog!

A beautiful bride and her bridesmaids I had the pleasure of working on in August have been featured on The Wedding Co.'s blog! Check out the pictures of her rustic and romantic day at Ravine Winery.

http://www.theweddingco.com/olive-photo/

"claudine" book trailer [video]

The book trailer for love story and erotic novel "Claudine" I worked on a while back has just been released! Published by Penguin Canada, Claudine is now available at Chapters/Indigo, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. Check it out here: http://youtu.be/RKj4vfYLPnA

*Makeup and Hair by: Lianne Mascia

the cream of the (blush) crop

{ hello darlings! sorry for the delay in posts, life has been crazy lately! to get back into the swing of things, I have put together a little fact sheet all about cream blush inspired by a friend's recent inquiry. }

I was recently asked about cream blush and if it's worth possibly ditching powder blush for. A lot of women don't know much about cream blush, or how to use it, so read on if you'd like to get the skinny on powder blush's long lost sister!

What is it?
Cream blush is a creamy blush product that gives a light, almost dewy finish.

Who is it best for?
Because of it's creamy texture, cream blush is best for dry or aging skin. Sometimes applying a powder product over very dry skin can make the skin appear even drier, and accentuate dry spots, so a cream blush works wonders to combat this and give the cheeks a nice glowy colour!

How is it Applied?

Cream blush is best applied over "active" foundation (meaning skin that has not been powdered), as applying it on heavily powdered skin will result in a streaky uneven application. You can't apply cream blush with your traditional blush brush, so use your two middle fingers to deposit colour on the apples of your cheeks and blend. You may also use a cosmetic sponge to blend product, or remove some if you have applied too much. 

Best/Worst Picks 

One of the best cream blushes money can buy is by NARS - the formula is really nice and they have a great colour selection. ["penny lane" was a fav colour but sadly it's been discontinued *tear*] For a drugstore price, Revlon cream blush is a great option! 

One of the WORST blushes money can buy is Maybelline Dream Bouncy blush...  Avoid at all costs!!

Is it the Cream of the Crop?

My answer is NO. I am an avid fan of powder blush because I like a good amount of colour with a matte, long lasting finish. Cream blush does not last as long, and can actually slide around/melt away on oily skin, or during the summer months when it's hot! Cream blush definitely has it's place in your makeup bag, for those times you are going for a very sheer, natural look, however I would never abandon my beloved powder blush for it!










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