holiday

When I go abroad, I have to resist the temptation to pack cosmetics for every possible eventuality. That's all well and good when you know the weather isn't going to melt most of your makeup off your face! I'm off on a much-delayed honeymoon soon and have been turning to some trusty multi-taskers which are hot-weather appropriate and take up as little space as possible.

Cleansing oil is a fantastic space-saver - it cleanses the skin and removes makeup, even stubborn waterproof stuff, in one go. So no need for separate cleanser and makeup remover and cotton pads.

I love MAC Cleanse Off Oil, £15 for 150ml, not just because it dissolves even MAC's budge-proof waterproof eyeliners, but because 6 empties = a free lipstick.

A multi-use product can give you blusher, lip and eye colour in one stick. In hot weather, I tend to abandon any attempt at matte skin and embrace the glowy look, so a cream formula goes quite nicely.

NARS The Multiple, £27, is great for eyes, lips and cheeks. Or, the classic Benetint by Benefit, which gives a pretty rosy flush to lips and cheeks - available in a handy dual-ended tube with a clear lipgloss, at £14, for even more usage options in one package.

Urban Decay Cream Eyeshadow, £9.79, is the only eyeshadow I've found that stays put on my slightly oily lids without primer underneath. Perfect for hot evenings, and no need to take primer as well.

Waterproof mascara is a must, even if you're not going to wear it in the pool. Lancome Hypnose Waterproof, £19.50, has always served me well, being melt and smudge proof - unfortunately I've yet to find anything quite waterproof enough to survive a swim.

The shu uemura 2010 Christmas Collection is a collaboration with Japanese artist Aya Takano and she has done a great job of giving the collection the funky, urban feel that I love about shu!  Luckily she picked cute animals for the girls to kiss in the artwork, otherwise I might find it all a bit disturbing...
Reindeer Kiss xxxx Eye and Cheek Palette - $85 - inspired by the colours of a frosty winter land covered in crystalline snow that sparkles in the light.
Bowwow! Magic Queen Eye and Cheek Palette - $85 - a warm-toned palette for a peaceful holiday season.
Blush Tint - Miracle Cherry - $30 - a lightweight gel blush to instantly add a natural glow to your cheeks.
Lip Duo Tint & Gloss - Love Apricot - coral beige tint and apricot gloss with gold and silver glitter or Harmony Pink - girly pink tint and vibrant fuchsia gloss - $45 - enjoy the matte finish of the tint alone, or add gloss to amp up a shine!

Paint Crayon - Sparkly Purple  - dark purple with sparkly gold glitters - $30 - waterproof, long-lasting and creamy mechanical pencil allows you to draw a defined line that can be blended easily right after application.

High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Advanced Formula - $37 - shu uemura's signature cleansing oil.  A gentle formula for moisturized, balanced, petal-soft skin.  Cleanses gently and maintains the skin's moisture balance with Advanced HPO system, Asian botanical oils such as Camellia Oil and Ginger Root Oil.  Leaves skin feeling comfortably balanced and petal soft with a fresh and sensuous aroma.

Peace & Harmony Mini Brush Set - $85 - they're cute and pink, what more can I say?!
Magical Windfalls - $36 - easy-to-wear partial lashes in black with some pieces pre-decorated with glittery and shiny magical hear and star symbols for cute accent.
Premium False Eyelashes - $75 - a dreamy pair of cutomizable eyelashes!  With a variety of abracadabra symbol stickers enclosed, create your very own pair of lases for the festive season.

When picking up your A Tartan Tale pretties, don't forget that you can look pretty and feel pretty with one of the holiday charitable offerings...
'Tis Noble to Give Viva Glam Lip Bag - $43.50
Viva Glam Lipstick in Viva Glam V - neutral pink with pearl
Viva Glam Lipglass in Viva Glam V - neutral pink with pearl

proceeds go to the MAC AIDS Fund


This year MAC's special project for Kids Helping Kids is the MAC Sir Teddy

Sir Teddy - $18 or Sir Teddy with Clip - $14.50
Available at MAC Retail Stores only!

Tartan Tale cards - good for year round giving - were created by kids affected by HIV/AIDS with all proceeds going to the MAC AIDS Fund.

6 Kids Helping Kids Cards - $10 - set of 6 cards with envelopes
12 Kids Helping Kids Gift Cards  - $10 - set of 12 gift cards with envelopes

Along with the colour story releasing today is my favourite part of every one of their holiday collections - the kits!  Loving the tartan although I'm a little confused as to why they didn't include the Beauty Crazed pink & black...


6 Dashing Lassie Eye Shadows - $43.50
Once Upon a Time - metallic vanilla (veluxe pearl)
Bronze - copper penny (frost)
Buckwheat - frosty medium brown (frost)
A Dashing Lassie - metallic milk (frost)
Magical Mist - metallic taupe (lustre)
Showstopper - dark brown (matte)

6 Beauties Play it Cool Eye Shadows - $43.50
Heather Belles - dark charcoal/carbon (satin)
To the Ball - dusty lavender (satin)
Hold My Gaze - medium grey (frost)
Magic Moor - purple grape (veluxe pearl)
Altered State - blackened plum (veluxe pearl)
Silverwear - metallic lavender (frost)

6 Twists of Tartan Eye Shadows - $43.50
Vainglorious - metallic maroon (frost)
Rolled Gold - gold (lustre)
Lady's Prance - clay (matte)
High Spirits - shimmer avocado (frost)
Bows & Curtseys - metallic hunter green (satin)
Set To Dance - dark royal blue (matte)

6 Reelers & Rockers Eye Shadows - $43.50
Carbon - dark carbon (matte)
White Rabbit - shimmer white (frost)
Melt My Heart - metallic silver (veluxe pearl)
Gaelic Gold - metallic gold (veluxe pearl)
Crown & Sceptre - metallic copper (veluxe pearl)
Family Treasures - metallic bronze (veluxe pearl)


Happily Ever After Lip Kit - $27
Cheers All Around - bright candy pink (frost)
To Joy - medium pink (frost)
Endless Fun - sheer frost pink (gloss)


A Fabulous Fantasy Lip Kit - $27
Storybook Ending - raisin (lustre)
Imagine This - binky beige (amplified)
Heroic Tale - sparkle flesh tone (gloss)
A Triumphant Blush Face Kit - $45.50
Melba - soft coral peach (powder blush)
Peachtwist - golden peach (sheertone shimmer)
Smooth Harmony - neutral mid tan (beauty powder)
Hark the Heraldry Face Kit - $45.50
Dame - sophisticated blue/pink (powder blush)
Plum Foolery - faint dusty plum (sheertone shimmer)
Oh So Fair - pale pink (beauty powder)
Vain and Glorious Lip Bag - $43.50
Lustre Lipstick in Mellow Mood - sheer pink
Dazzleglass in Baby Sparks - sparkle baby pink
Lip Pencil in In Synch - light pink

Dazzle the Lads Lip Bag - $43.50
Cremesheen Lipstick in Timeless - medium rose
Dazzleglass in Moth to Flame - sheer neutral beige
Lip Pencil in Lingerie - dusty rose

Noble Knights Lash & Line Kit - $43.50
Fluidline in Blitz & Glitz - black
Pigment in Teal - bright metallic teal
Zoomblack
209 Brush


Violet My Love Lash & Line Kit - $43.50
Fluidline in Macroviolet - dark grape
Pigment in Violet - bright metallic purple
Zoomblack
209 Brush
Sweep Me Off My Feet Sweep & Define Brush Collection - $58
129SE, 190SE, 212SE, 227SE, 275SE


A Lady & Her Tricks Buff & Line Brush Collection - $58
168SE, 187SE, 209SE, 219SE, 252SE

She's Got It All Apply, Define & Line Brush Collection - $58
194SE, 204SE, 224SE, 266SE, 275SE

The holiday collection season really starts for me when MAC puts theirs out and I am loving everything this year!  I will definitely be running to my MAC counter tomorrow at lunch to check it all out in person - until then, admire the pretty pictures!

Lipstick - $16.50
Cut a Caper - mid-tone peachy pink (lustre)
The Faerie Glen - pale neutral pink (lustre)
Deepest Wish - deep creamy reddish brown (amplified)
Full Fuchsia - bright blue fuchsia (amplified)
Courting Lilac - sheer lilac mauve with soft gold pearl (glaze)

Dazzleglass Creme - $21.50
Radiant Jewels - dark sparkly magenta
Soft Dazzle - mid-tone peach pink with gold pearl
Passing Fancy - bright orange coral with soft pearl
Lightly Prancing - light peach with gold pearl
Gone Romancin' - mid-tone lavender with multi-dimensional pearl











Eye Shadow - $23.50
Golden Crown - light gold with bronze tartan striping
A Wish Come True - dirty mauve with bubblegum pink tartan striping
Follow Your Fantasy - mid-tone peach with chocolate tartan striping
Enviably Fun - grass green with dark green tartan striping
Semi-Precious - aubergine with chocolate tartan striping
Glamora Castle - dark grey with teal tartan striping

Pigment - $23.50
Later - black with transforming purple pearl (frost)
Moonlight Night - blackened teal with teal pearl (frost)
A Family Crest - blackened bronze with bronze pearl (frost)

Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner - $17.50
Petrol Blue - deep navy with pearl
Black Line - black with gold pearl
Undercurrent - teal with pearl
Black Swan - black with pearl
Lord It Up - bronze with pearl

Zoom Fast Black Lash - $16.50 - deepest black

Powder Blush - $22
Her Blooming Cheek - very bright iridescent blue pink (satin)
My Highland Honey - bright coral with soft gold pearl (satin)

Nail Lacquer - $15.50
Sly as a Fox - creamy mid-tone russet/burnt red (cream)
Style Clan - dark taupe with red pearl (frost)

It's cold enough outside now that I don't mind talking about the holidays - it sure is starting to feel like winter!  Which is good because a line I adore, La Mer has introduced their holiday offerings - love them !

The Lip Balm - $65 - goes glam for the holidays with a classy silver toned cap.  Fortified with a potent concentration of La Mer's original Miracle Broth, this balm will soften roughness on contact, relieve discomfort and help seriously dry lips.  Perfect for the lip balm addict on your shopping list!
The Essential Body Collection - $340 - La Mer's signature body treatments all together in one happy place:  The Body Refiner - 200ml, The Body Crème - 200ml, The Hand Treatment - 30ml, and The Lip Balm - 9g Anyone (including yourself) would be thrilled to receive this!
The Luxury Essentials - $505 - For someone you really like (like yourself), all the essentials of life in one place: Crème de la Mer - 30ml, The Eye Concentrate - 15ml and The Regenerating Serum - 9ml
The Hand Treatment - $100 - the perfect gift for those impossible to buy for people, who doesn't love an ultra luxe hand cream?!

Sets are available in limited quantities and you can find everything here at Holt Renfrew.

Nicole by OPI knows that the holidays are no time to be demure with your nails - turn your holiday nails up a notch (or two) with these festive hues!

Kiss Me at Midnight - dark red
Bring on the Tinsel - glitzy silver
Stuck in the Chimney- unforgettable red
Spark My Mistletoe - sparkles of red

Keep an eye out for my swatches next week!

Can't commit to just one or looking for a perfect stocking stuffer? Tinsel Tips has the three reds in mini sizes as well as jewel nail decals - all for only $10!

You can find the Holiday Magic collection starting in November at select Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Loblaws, Jean Coutu, Uniprix, Katz Group and London Drug stores across Canada.

If you are a crazy person (or as I like to think of it, super organized) you have already started your Christmas shopping and luckily companies like Jo Malone are making it easy for us by releasing their holiday collections! 

Jo Malone is my go-to store when I need a present to impress someone (mother-in-law) or don't know the person very well and just need to buy something beautiful that anyone would enjoy!  And they don't disappoint this holiday season although I sense a couple of this years presents won't be making it to anyone's stocking except mine...


Customised Fragrance Combining Collection - $380 - contains 2 x 100ml Cologne in the fragrances of your choice as well as 6 x 9ml Cologne in: Grapefruit, Lime Basil & Mandarin, Orange Blossom, Pomegranate Noir, Red Roses and Vanilla & Anise.  If you've never indulged in junior chemistry session with Jo Malone, it's not to be missed and this set is any perfume layerer's dream!

Deluxe Tea Box Candle Collection - $485 - three Deluxe Candles - in scents:  Eau De Cologne, Parma Violets and Sweet Almond Macaroon (which smells delicious!) are nestled in a beautifully textured cream-coloured box accompanied with a silver-plated wick trimmer and candle snuffer.
Coloured Travel Candle Collection with Farrow & Ball - $138 - if you were lusting after the Farrow & Ball candles when they came out, here is your chance to get your hands on a set of three:  Pomegranate Noir in Eating Room Red (No. 43), Wild Fig & Cassis in Pelt (No. 254) and Pine & Eucalyptus in Green Smoke (No. 47).

The Cologne Collection - $110 - another great gift for the lady who likes to layer!  Includes: Grapefruit, Lime Basil & Mandarin, Orange Blossom, Pomegranate Noir, Red Roses and Vanilla & Anise.
The Bath Oil Collection - $95 - elegant glass decanters contain oils which can be used singly or combined to make your own personal bath scent.  The collection includes: Grapefruit, Lime Basil & Mandarin, Orange Blossom, Pomegranate Nor, Red Roses and Vanilla & Anise.
The Candle Collection - $100 - if you are looking for a present for your favouite blogger, this is a good choice!  The collection includes: Grapefruit, Lime Basil & Mandarin, Nectarine Blossom & Honey, Orange Blossom, Pomegranate Noir and Wild Fig & Cassis.
The Amber & Lavender Fragrance Chronicle - $110 - the Amber & Lavender scent was originally designed as an anniverary gift from Jo Malone to her husband - now yours to discover with it's three accompanying accords: Swet Lemon, Spice Rose and Orient Amber.
And of course nothing says Christmas like the scent of Pine & Eucalyptus - and the collection is back:
Home Candle - $75, Luxury Candle - $400, Living Cologne - $138