World Mastercard Toronto Fashion Week Backstage Beauty Recap

It's been a while since Makeup Junkie has covered fashion week in Toronto, but we're back thanks to my brilliant makeup artist friend and writer, Marlene Gordon! She did an amazing job repping for MJ and covering all the backstage beauty. Thank you Marlene for being awesome!!

Check out what she had to say of backstage beauty at Toronto Fashion week!

There was no shortage of super hydrated, dewy skin backstage at the World Mastercard SS 2013 Toronto Fashion Week collections. This lustrous skin was seen at Joe Fresh, Pink Tartan, Arthur Mendoça and VAWK. Lead make-up artist for Maybelline New York Canada, Grace Lee used BB cream to prep the skin and Baby Lips(yes, lip balm) to impart a glow. This was sometimes mixed with Colour Tattoo cream shadow in Barely Branded. The result, sheer luminous skin!

Backstage at Joe Fresh

Maybelline Spokesmodel, Charlotte Free, backstage at Pink Tartan

Bold lip colour is here to stay! Seen at Joe Fresh, Korhani and Lucian Matis. At Joe Fresh, Lee used Vibrant Mandarin Vivid lip colour set with a bit of translucent powder for a "chalk-like look". For Matis it was a custom blend of Electric Orange and On Fire red.

Joe Fresh

Fire orange-red lips as seen backstage at Lucian Matis.

Glowing skin and bold lips at Arthur Mendoca 

Bright lips at Korhani.

I love when make-up artists get inspiration from unconventional places, such as left over material from a recent renovation. Lee used electrical tape, cut into little quarter-moon shapes and placed it on the model's eyelids. She envisioned it glinting as the model walked down the runway, and that it did!

Electrical tape used on lids as seen at VAWK.

No mascara was used. The skin was sheer and dewy, a little contouring with a darker FIT me powder and Maybelline's sheer Colour Whisper was dabbed on the lips.

The second look for Vawk used Master Duo liquid liner to create a "double liner" look. Contouring again with a darker powder and sheer Colour Whisper on the lips.

Backstage at VAWK.

Besides all the amazing hair and makeup that was seen at fashion week, a MAJOR highlight was the legendary supermodel, Pat Cleveland, who opened the show for Pink Tartan! 

I am loving the beauty trends for Spring. Many pretty things to look forward to! And did you know Maybelline makeup could look so good? I think it has a little something to do with makeup genius, Grace Lee and the amazing backstage team! 

Lead Artist, Grace Lee, posing with Charlotte Free.

What were your favourite looks? 

Beauty Review: TIGI Cosmetics

If you've recently ventured into your local Trade Secrets store you've probably come across a display of new cosmetics called TIGI Cosmetics. TIGI is not a new brand. They are famous for their haircair products. I got to try out some of their stuff check out my new discoveries below!

TIGI Creme Foundation

"This silky, blendable formula leaves skin looking smooth and soft"

Suggested Retail Price: $30.00 

I'm not really into cream foundations but I think I will make it an exception this time around. To my surprise TIGI's Creme Foundation felt light and silky on my face and managed to cover up all my flaws, especially my pesky blemishes!  I really liked that it didn't feel heavy or cakey. I was also able to use this without a concealer! TIGI claims that you don't need to use a powder after use but I felt that I needed the powder. It does have a bit of a shine and I like my t-zone to look a little more matte. I would say that the coverage is medium but can be buildable for full coverage. This foundation comes in 4 shades which can be a little tricky to find your exact match.  One might find this annoying as you may end up having to buy two of these in different shades to get a color that most suits your skin tone. I tried on light but I think as summer draws near I may have to grab another one in Medium.  Other than the color matching issue, if you're into flawless medium to full coverage foundation then this is something I would recommend.  

TIGI Perfect Lipliner

"Glides on smooth for a perfectly lined lip. Use smudge tip to blend a softer line"

Suggested Retail Price: $17.00 

If there's on thing that is a must when it comes to lipliners it's the consistency of the pencil. I hate it when I'm lining my lips and I can't seem to fill them in properly because my pencil is too tough and tugging on my lips. TIGI's Perfect Lipliner is a dream! It's so soft and smooth that you get the perfect line everytime! The liner comes with a smudge tip on the other end but I never found the need to use it. I would just smudge with my finger or smudge my lips together. If you're a makeup artist like myself you probably won't find any use for that anyway. As far lasting power goes I would say it did help my lipstick stay on for quite a while. But not any longer than any other lipliner though. I would say that this lip liner is best for those who like easy application.

TIGI Perfect Lip Liner in Kiss

TIGI Decadent Lipstick

"Smooth application that is luxurious and longwearing"

Suggested Retail Price: $19.00 

I'm a lipstick junkie so I know a good lipstick when I see one. But is TIGI Decadent Lipstick one of them? I'd have to say yes and no. Yes because it really is smooth and creamy. It glides on nicely and feels moisturizing on the lips. The pigmentation on this lipstick is pretty good too! One thing I'd like to mention about this lipstick is it's big fat bulky packaging. It's not something you can carry around in a lipstick case. I guess I'm a fan or more sleeker lipstick packaging.  As for longwearing I'd have to say it's not. It didn't last any longer than any of the MAC lipsticks that I own. So if you want a longer lasting lipstick I'd say use a lipliner under this. I think because it is so creamy it can easily smudge off so be careful!

TIGI Decadent Lipstick in Loyalty

TIGI Luxe Lipgloss

"A scrumptious lip experience"
Suggested Retail Price: $19.00 

I know a lot of people aren't fans of sticky lipgloss. I'm sad to say that this is one of them. The color and the finish look amazing on but I can't help but feel the tackiness on my lips when I'm talking or pressing my lips together. So if you're just into the look of the lipsgloss your lips you might like this. Oh and it smells really yummy too, kinda like a sweet vanilla.

TIGI Luxe Lipgloss in Superstar

Now let's talking packaging. This is yet another one of their lip products with big bulky packaging! Don't let this gloss fool you, you don't get as much product in it as it seems! While the color and finish is beautiful I think I could manage to find another lipgloss where I could get more bang for my buck!

Such big packaging with so little product!

Have you tried any TIGI Cosmetics? What do you think of them? Makeup Junkie would like to know!

TIGI Cosmetics are sold only in professional salons

Also available at Trade Secrets in Canada

www.tigihaircare.com

www.tradesecrets.ca

By Donna Marie

www.makeupbydonnamarie.blogspot.com

First Post of the New Year With A New Makeup Junkie Contributor!

Happy New Year! Yes, we're 10 days into the new year and I'll admit - I needed an extra week to recover from the busy yet blissful holiday. Plus, it didn't help that I was feeling a little under the weather but I'm back and looking forward to another year full of beauty! To kick off the first post of the New Year I'm excited to introduce a new Makeup Junkie contributor! 

Meet Brooke. She's a young, beautiful gal who will be bringing some fresh, new content to Makeup Junkie! She's the only one here that has some true journalism credentials. Her love of writing and classic beauty style is a Makeup Junkie fit! 

Brooke's beauty must-haves? 

Chi Flat Iron, A&G hair products like Liquid Varnish and Fastfood, Shwarzkopf Osis Dust it, and tons of Loreal Double Extend Mascara! Brooke’s friends and family say that her look just wouldn’t be the same without long black lashes.

No wonder she's got fab hair and gorgeously long lashes! Welcome Brooke! Stay tuned for her first post!

Beauty News: Shu Uemura Opens New Location in Toronto!

If you haven’t already heard, Shu Uemura opened its third counter in Canada at the Holt Renfrew on Bloor St. and Makeup Junkie was there to get the inside scoop!

Let us introduce you to Mr. Shu Uemura, one of the greatest makeup artists of our time, and his philosophy behind the Shu Uemura brand. “Beautiful makeup starts with beautiful skin.” With the company's philosophy of ‘nature, science and art', this theme is evident throughout the line. We have known Shu Uemura for the eyelash curler (which we swear by – this product should be a staple in any woman’s makeup case), but we were unfamiliar with some of the other products Shu Uemura had to offer.

The Holt Renfrew staff were most enthusiastic about the Cleansing Oil (shown above), another star product the brand is known for. Just apply on a dry face and it will gently rub off any makeup. Our Makeup Junkie staff have tried it for several days now and have fallen in love with the Cleansing Oil. More products to be excited about is a new skin care line launching this Fall called Red Juvenus. The line consists of 5 rejuvenating skin care products which will help correct the first signs of ageing (pictured below). After trying some of the products, our writers found that it immediately made their skin feel more supple and re-vitalized.

A favourite among us Makeup Junkies was their Tokyo Lash Bar. We loved the displays of the brand's fake lashes, ranging from natural to fantasy to theatrical.

Makeup Junkie also had a chance to speak with Taca Ozawa, the new principle makeup artist in Canada. He was very helpful and informative showing us different products from the UV Under Base SPF 10 (mousse-like tinted primer good underneath foundation, minimizes pores and gives skin a healthy glow) to the blush (with good pigmentation that only a little is required) to the eyeshadows and lipsticks (a wide range of colours and long-lasting pigment). He even demonstrated on one of our writers, Donna, the "Shu Uemura way" of applying blush.

All you need to do is take one side of your blush brush and dip it into your blush. Next, starting at the top of the cheek bone, stroke your brush forward only once in one fluid motion. Then sweep up to the temple using the clean side of the brush. And then 3 small strokes downward and forward to blend.

Our writers left with a new found love of the Shu Uemura brand. It was through Mr. Shu Uemura's passion of wanting to be the "most advanced makeup artist in the world", that the line has inspired so many makeup lovers and makeup artists around the world. Discover and experience the new counter until July 12th, and you will receive a complimentary application of Shu Uemura's bestselling luxe brown eyelashes with a minimum purchase of $45. Spaces are limited so be sure to book an appointment!

www.shuuemura.com
www.holtrenfrew.com

by Donna De Leon and Mae Atiga
Photos courtesy of Donna De Leon