Katy Perry Tutorial Request

For her 25th birthday party Katy Perry had a Willie Wonka themed party. Here is the makeup look, aaaaand nail design, that she donned for the occasion. LoVe the coral cheeks and understated lips!!!!! You don't see that often from this chica =).

Coming Soon

Just like it says, here are some things that are coming soon!!!

UPDATE: M.A.C. Rodarte Collection Controversy

Eerie campaign shot for Rodarte's M.A.C. Collection
Photo courtesy of Stylelist.com

UPDATE: M.A.C. will be donating $100 000 to a non-profit organization in Juarez and will be changing the product names. It's clear the beauty blogging community has a voice. We love beauty but we will never stand for exploitation or discrimination all in the name to be edgy or to make a fast buck.

Has M.A.C. done enough? If the Rodarte collection was made to bring awareness of Juarez and to donate proceeds to Juarez charities from the get-go there would be no controversy. The apologies and efforts seem too after-the-fact. As someone commented on this post, the upside is that we are all aware of the help that Juarez needs. Has Rodarte done enough? I don't think so. Why aren't they offering to give a portion of their clothing sales to a Juarez charity?

What I do commend M.A.C. for is that they are not too big of a company to listen to their consumers. If you do plan to buy from the Rodarte collection, at least you'll know part of the proceeds are going to help the women of Juarez. Another reader left a comment saying she'd rather donate her money directly to a charity. I agree. If you're looking to donate visit this site for a list of charities in Juarez:
http://www.charity-charities.org/Mexico-charities/Juarez.html

Original Post: 

There has been much buzz over the controversy of M.A.C.'s  Rodarte collection and the designer's questionable inspiration of a little town in Mexico called Juarez. The history of Juarez was news to me and  I was unfamiliar with the background of the town until I read it on Vex in The City. I had heard about the collaboration between M.A.C. and the Rodarte sister designers, Laura and Kate Mullevy, launching this Fall but didn't clue into the controversy that surrounds it. 

Juarez, known as a factory town in Mexico, is notorious for the disappearance of hundreds of women between the ages of 12 and 22 who have been raped and murdered on their way to work, with little help from the police leaving most cases unsolved. It's disturbing and horrific, leaving me more sad than inspired. 

It's difficult to look at this campaign shot of a ghostly model who is rail thin, and with eyes that stare back at you with nothing but emptiness. I can't look at her without getting goose bumps and not in the good way. Seeing this picture does not make me want to run out and buy the collection. And after reading some of the names of the products, all I could think was "Really??". No, I will not be swiping on my shadow called "Sleepwalker" only to be reminded of the women and children who were raped and murdered for this "inspiration".

Either M.A.C. and the Rodarte designers are absolutely insensitive or this is all apart of a brilliant marketing plan to make M.A.C. look like heroes, making this a sell-out collection. Style List almost seems to sugar coat the situation praising M.A.C. for issuing a statement saying a portion of the proceeds from the collection will go to those in need in Juarez. Fabulous, now that sh*t has hit the fan. Was the real purpose of the collection to recognize the hardships of these women and to be inspire us M.A.C. addicts to help? Really. I think these women have been exploited enough. Sometimes bad publicity is just bad publicity.

For all you die-hard M.A.C. fans, how do you feel about the Rodarte collection? Will the Juarez controversy deter you from buying this collection? Or do you love M.A.C. so much you've just got to have it? To read Vex in The City's insightful post click here. To read more from Style List click here.

My Fragrance For Summer

I am in LoVe with this scent for Summer time. It is from Lacoste and is called Touch of Spring. I usually wear Victoria's Secret, Angel for winter then go right into PINK or Love Spell for summer months. Then THIS bad boy took over in the "most used" category some time ago. I have always been more into light, airy on the border of being a bit citrusy but NO musty smells for me!!! Having said that however, I always seem to be behind someone in line or at church that is a fan of the musty.....blah. What's your scent this season? Musty fans, don't shy away. Let us know what you like too!!! =)

Guest Review: Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup

I was very excited to find out about the new Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup from Clinique. A foundation that does the acne control job at the same time sounds like a perfect solution to my acne-prone skin.

What it is: A oil-free liquid foundation with 0.5% Salicylic Acid to help treating and preventing breakouts on dry combination to oily skin, retails $24.50/ CAD30 for 1oz/ 30ml.

What it offers:

- Texture: Light weight and dries quickly.

- Coverage: Medium.

- Colours: 8 shades available, a good selection for different skin tones.

How it performs: I received "02 Fresh Ivory" which is a bit lighter than my match shade, but for testing purpose, I did use it on my face without mixing it with any darker foundation.

The goods:

- The formula is light and oil-free, a big plus, especially during the summer months. The foundation is semi matte when dries. It did not break me out.

- The wear is pretty good, as it lasts until I come home at the end of the day to wash it off.

- It can also be used on the affected areas only as a cover-up/ treatment liquid during the day.

The not-so-goods:

- It is not a full coverage foundation, i.e. I still have to use concealer on top of it. I expect a foundation with acne treatment property would provide more coverage, as often enough, we have acne scars and old spots to cover.

- The liquid is hard to blend at times as it dies quickly. I would suggest to get a bit of product at a time and blend it out completely before getting more product.

- It does oxidize a bit, which works on my benefit in this case as the shade is a bit light on me (Later in the day, it looks like a better match for me). Keep this in mind.

- The low dose of salicylic acid is good to treat rarely occasional breakouts but not for skin with more serious acne problem or higher frequency of breakouts.

The bads:

- The foundation flakes - around my nose and mouth, and on my cheeks. It is not pretty.

Note that I always use a moisturizer and a primer before any foundation, and do not notice any dryness on my face prior to application. Dabbing more moisturizer on top did not help, I tried.

Summary: This foundation works great as a convenient fix for those with light acne problem on normal skin but is not a good solution for combination/ dry skin as it intensifies the dryness.

www.clinique.ca 

Have you tried this foundation? Love it? Hate it? Want it?

About Anh

If you a loyal follower of Anh's blog, Sparkled Beauty, then you'll know she has a love for anything with sparkles! Like most of my encounters with fellow beauty bloggers, I "met" Anh on Twitter. When we finally met in person at the Girls Night In at LIFT in April, it was like meeting an old friend. Be sure to check out Anh's blog for her awesome makeup hauls and product reviews! Thanks Anh!

Blemishes Be Gone!!!

*CAUTION* Scary images below! If you have just eaten, I recommend you wait at least an hour!!!!! I had a bad reaction to something but wanted to show you how to cover up blemishes really well. We all need it now and then right? =)

Summer Faves: Eyes

In the summer time I generally don't wear too much shadow for fear of having them smudge or crease on me. However, this season's stay put formulas give me reason to reach for the hottest summer hues!

1. Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion in Eden ($18 USD): The original UD primer is an absolute staple in my kit and when Eden came out I was definitely intrigued. A primer/shadow in one? Right up my alley. I received a sample to test out and decided to wear it alone as a shadow. 

Left side blended, right side not blended

On me, this "tawny matte hue" shows up more like a bone shade on me. A little goes a long way. With too much on, I felt it almost lightened my eye area too much making it look ashy against my skin tone. Definitely use sparingly. The primer does have a brightening affect as it lightens the eye area and reduces redness on the lids. Underneath a shadow, it is as long-wearing and crease-proof as the original. All in all, I prefer the original over Eden but it works great when a little amount is used.

2. M.A.C. To The Beach Shadow in Firecracker ($17.50 CAD): I know, this is so last 2 collections ago! M.A.C. is known for launching so many collections a month so even though this is the summer collection, it seems so passe! Nevertheless, Firecracker is still a must-have summer shade.

Firecracker is a warm, burnt orange-coral shade. The colour looks delish against bronzey skin. It's a bold shade but the warmth of the hue makes it so wearable for summer. Pair this with golds and bronze or smut it up with black khol rimmed eyes. Balance the shade with peachy, bronze or coral cheeks and a light gloss.

3. YSL Fard Lumiere Aquaresistant in Golden Sands ($35 CAD): Luxury in a pot. It's like sweeping real gold over your lids. I received Golden Sands to sample and fell in love with the high-shine shimmer. When I first opened it, I thought the shadow had a glitter finish. Thankfully, it doesn't but has strong shimmer pigments. For day, apply a small amount for a sheer luminous finish. To make it wearable for the office, mix with a matte shadow. But for night, layer the shimmer on! The more your layer, the more intense the pigment and shine. This light-weight, water-proof formula has a nice cooling effect and seriously does not budge. Sweat, swim, dance - this shadow isn't going anywhere!

4. Everyday Minerals Loose Pigment Shadow in Mall Punk ($2.50 USD): I don't usually gravitate towards loose pigment shadows but Mall Punk has become one of my everyday go-to shadows. It's actually a warmer pink in person and pretty much looks delicious when paired with peachy, bronze and pinks. This shade gives the eyes a luminous glow. I need about 2-3 layers until I'm happy with the intensity of the shade but when applied wet one swipe is all it takes. When applied with a primer, it lasts all day with no touch-ups! 

5. CARGO Cosmetics Color Eye Shadow Palette in Tahiti ($28 CAD/US): The price point of these gorgeous palettes are a steal! The Tahiti palette is definitely one to have this summer. These shades ranging from olive gold to bright teal are one of this season's hottest trends. I'll be honest, I haven't worn these colours in a while. But with my basic work wardrobe, I've been inspired to wear more colour! To make it more wearable for day, mix 2 shades together one lighter and one darker and smudge a little liner into the lash line. Since these shadows have a metallic finish, opt for a more matte blush and go for a creamy lip than high gloss. The shadows are highly pigmented and only took one swipe for the colour to show. The texture is velvety-smooth and doesn't budge. As a sucker for packaging, I adore all the different designs on each palette!

6. Milani INFINITE Liquid Liner in Infinite ($5.99 USD): Milani Cosmetics has definitely opened up my eyes to drugstore brands. I am in LOVE with these liners. The black shade is my go-to liner on brides when covering up falsies. Infinite is a bright ocean blue and is the perfect shade when you want just a pop of colour on the eyes. Whether you're a fan of bright colours or not you have to admit this shade is fieerrrce! Pair this with a neutral eye, peachy cheeks and lips this summer. I find the brush firm enough to work with but I'm also used to applying liner. If you have unsteady hands, I recommend using a thin angled brush. These liners are budge proof so after it sets it is hard to remove. Use a powder shadow in a similar shade as your guideline the apply the liner over top.

Have you tried these must-haves for the summer? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Want 'em?