VEET - Get You Skin Ready For Summer GIVEAWAY!

I haven't done a Giveaway in awhile so when the ppl at VEET reached out to me to do a new Giveaway I thought of course I'd LOVE to give my fans and readers some free swag ;)

Although, you wouldn't know it by the weather we've had lately Summer is on it's way (I hope) and that means pulling out the bikinis, short skirts and short...and time to take care of any unwanted body hair that we may have been using this past Winter to keep us warm lol!

So here's the deets - this Giveaway is open to CANADIANS only...sorry my friends from far away...and 1 lucky person will get all this AWESOME stuff mailed to them from the lovely ppl at Veet!

·         VEET Precision Wax and Care (for the face): $16.99

·         VEET Underarm Hair Removal Kit: $8.49

·         VEET Easy-Wax Electrical Roll on Kit (for legs and arms): $29.99

·         VEET Easy-Wax Electrical Roll on Kit refills for arms and legs: $27.98

·         VEET Hydro'Restor Hair Removal Cream (for arms and legs): $16.99

Total value: $100.44

That's enough hair removal products to keep you and your friends hair free-care free ALL Summer long!

I actually had the chance to try a couple of their new products a couple of weeks ago and I can say they are good!

First I tried the Veet Precision Wax & Care (for the face) - Great for eyebrows, chin, lip, side burns...anywhere there's unwanted hair.  The easy to use tube allows for a precise amount of wax exactly where you need it and it comes w/ a precision spatula to make sure you don't get the wax anywhere you don't want.  Plus I really liked that the fabric strips are reusable and it came w/ an aftercare cream which is great b/c the face area can be a little sensitive when it comes to waxing.

Next up was the Veet Underarm Hair Removal Kit.  I personally feel like I have to shave under my arms EVERY day so when a product says it lasts longer than shaving I'm up for trying it out.  You only have to leave the cream on for 5 mins (although I'll be honest I always have to leave it on a

little longer) and don't worry you can put your arms down during those 5 mins...don't have to hold them over your head ;)  Plus the kit comes w/ a spatula to remove the cream and hair and a finishing cream.

So what are you waiting for ENTER NOW!

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Lioness Deluxe SPA'rty!

Last Fri. I had the pleasure of attending the Lioness Deluxe SPA'rty networking event and I have to Lioness Woman's Club  is a community established to bring together entrepreneurial, business and professional women for the purposes of networking, collaborating and socializing - yeah woman power! I must say these women really know how to put together a good event!

This particular event was a "Spa Themed" evening and the dress code called for "Bohemian" sophisticated style - fun!  It was a great turn out and it was fun to see and meet some many other women w/ similar interests and ideas.  The event featured some inspiring speakers and business woman in the community as well as some very yummy yummy food and beverages ...which I of course took full advantage of ;)

Another great thing about the event was there were also a number of vendors and business women present that worked or had companies in the beauty industry...obviously interesting and educational for a beauty professional like myself ;)

I took the chance to walk around the venue and talk to a lot of the booths but I thought I'd share w/ you a couple of my favs!

Wellness Oasis - A company focusing on beauty and home products that are organic, non-toxic, natural and cruelty-free.  I'm especially enjoying my Hawaiian Ruby Guava Perfume Solid that I picked up there for under $10.  Smells so fruity (which I love) and it's tiny enough to fit in my makeup bag and to take it on the go!

DerMedix Laser Clinic - They specialize in laser hair removal, peels, body contouring, acne treatments, microdermabrasion etc. but the thing I actually found the most interesting about them was a makeup product I've never heard about!

Lycogel - a foundation and concealer system that is okay to use on your skin post treatment!  One of the most annoying things about getting skin treatments (esp. for makeup girls like myself) is that you're not suppose to wear any makeup for at least 24 hrs post treatment...well anyone who has had a peel knows that's hard b/c often your face looks like a red tomato and the thing you want to do most is put on some makeup before you go out in public!  Lycogel is a foundation that you can wear immediately post treatment! It helps promote skin repair, reduces pain, great for sensitive skin, hypoallergenic, lasts all day, water and transfer resistant, has SPF 30 and a bunch of other benefits!  I don't know about you but this sounds like a pretty cool foundation product that I'd like to try out!

The last booth that really caught my attention was actually this Jewelry booth set up by the Lioness Club themselves.  This isn't even usually something that would necessarily catch my attention at a beauty event but I really liked a lot of their pieces...and I have to admit they are actually IMO really affordable!  You can actually buy them directly from the Lioness website and I definitely suggest checking them out b/c they had some really stunning, statement necklace pieces!

Here's some pics from the event!  Thanks again Lioness Club for reaching out to me for such a fun event!

Perfume Solids - I got the Guava one (pink box) :)

Bridal Beauties

So I haven't put up any updates about weddings I've done in the past while so I thought now would be a good chance since I just got some pics recently from a couple of my February brides...yes February is still a somewhat popular time to get married believe it or not ;)  Maybe not quite as busy as June...but I still average 3-4 wedding a mth even in the Winter mths.

So here are a couple of my February weddings!

Emily actually happened to get married on the day we had that HUGE snowstorm in Toronto back in Feb...not sure if you all can remember that far back lol!  It was a Fri wedding and even w/ the blizzard outside the door I was so impressed w/ how calm and relaxed Emily was.  Her and her family were such a pleasure to work w/ and I loved the soft bridal hair and makeup that I created for Emily! Pictures courtesy of Carly Wade.

Andrea's wedding was actually the day after Emily's wedding...thankfully the storm and nasty weather had died down by then.  This was actually one of the rare weddings where I got to Just Makeup...not Hair!  That almost never happens...there's lots of weddings where I just do hair but very few where I just have to do makeup!  Andrea was having her wedding at one of my fav venues in the city - The Berkeley Church and I'm very happy to see the renovated the upstairs and put in some proper mirrors, lights and counter space...although I will be honest they still need to work on the outlet situation lol.  Andrea, like Emily was a very relaxed bride...my fav type of bride and she wanted a soft makeup look w/ a slight winged liner.  For her bridesmaids she let them wear their own choice of dress...it just had to be red and what was fun for me is that they were both willing to do a red lip too (you all know how I love a red lip ;) )!  Being that both their dresses were different and different shades of red I chose a different lip colour for each of them that matched their dress and complimented their features!  Photos courtesy of 360 Photography

I'm always telling ppl to snap shots when I make the bride do the "fish face" for contouring...I think it's funny she actually sent me this pic lol! FYI this does get blended out I don't leave streaks on the face like that of course ;)

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View The Vibe - Tastemaker

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a new website called View The Vibe to do a little interview piece about me and some of my favourite makeup products and trends for the upcoming season.  I always love to do these interview pieces and I'm still flattered and shocked to be honest when anyone actually reaches out to me and even cares to know my opinion on things...I'm not being modest here I'm dead serious lol!

So anyway here's the interview here if you want to check it out.  I think my fav. part might be that they refer to me as a "bodacious brunette" lol.

Also check the site out if you're looking for restaurant reviews, spa guides and all sorts of upcoming events happening in the always eclectic and busy city that is Toronto.

I think one of my fav. parts of the site is that you can search for restaurant suggestions depending on the people you're going with, taste you're craving or vibe you're feeling...cool way to search.  

Clarisonic Spa Package Giveaway for CANADIANS!

For years now one of the biggest things in skincare has been the revolutionary Clarisonic brush.  Pretty much every teen, girl, woman etc. has at least heard about the fancy skincare brush that removes dirt and impurities 6x better than washing w/ your hands plus helps w/ the signs of aging and helps kick oil and dirt to the curb.

Well Clarisonic has finally launched it's own website in Canada...not quite sure what took them so long ;) and to celebrate they are having an Awesome Giveaway just for CANADIANS!  Yeah..this is exciting since so many giveaways are just for our neighbours in the US.

One lucky Winner will win a Revolutionary Spa Experience for YOU and 3 of your Friends!  A Value of $2000!

I don't actually know what this "spa experience" includes but who cares, it's a giveaway and who doesn't want a spa experience for them and their friend!

Follow the link here to ENTER!

Plumping, Lengthening & Conditioning with EnvyDerm

A few wks back I was sent a couple of products from EvnyDerm to review.  Their primary focus is Lips & Eyes and more specifically plumping, lengthening and conditioning.  They only have 5 products to their brand right now which I kind of like.  I hate when a brand tries to be good at everything instead of targeting a specific market and making the best product they can in that market.

With that said here's what they sent me and here's what I thought!

First up:

Lip Voluminzing & Conditioning Plumper

A nice lipgloss that comes in a variety of colours.  I received Lola - a shimmer true pink.  It's a nice sheer colour for girls that don't like a lot of colour or want just a hint of pink...but I'll be honest for me I like something w/ a bit more punch.  Anyone who reads this blog knows I do LOVE my bright lips ;)

That being said I will say it's a nice, smooth gloss, doesn't leave lips feeling sticky which is probably the #1 complaint a lot of women (and men ;) ) have about gloss.  Also, I did feel like my lips looked slightly fuller and smoother after I put it on.  A mega plus is that I got these results w/out the burning or stinging that is common w/ a lot of lip plumpers I've tried in the past...personally I don't mind the stinging but I know it's a big turn off for a lot of women so in that case this lip gloss is definitely a winner!  Plus it's infused w/ moisturizing oils and vitamins to nourish the lips and peptides and tripeptides to boost collagen in the lips for fuller, smoother lips instantly but also long term results in as little as 4 wks w/ continuous use.

Next Up:

Eyelash Enhancement & Conditioning Volume Mascara

Now I'll be straight up - I'm a VERY picky mascara girl!  It's near impossible to get me to waiver from my L'oreal Voluminous Mascara.  So what do I think about this mascara...well on the plus side I do notice my lashes are softer, longer and more conditioned...not dry or brittle and it doesn't clump or flake.  But I'll be honest as a volumizing mascara it definitely needs some improvement.  Even after two coats it just wasn't doing the job for me...I have long, straight lashes naturally but much like my hair they need VOLUME!!!  So while this mascara was good for conditioning and lash definition I was only using it for a first coat and then I'd go in w/ two coats of my trusted L'oreal Voluminous Mascara to get the real volume I desired.

I'd definitely be interested in trying Nighttime Serum for eyelashes and brows...as I'm always interested in the prospect of something that might fill in the sparse areas of my brows!

Fruits & Passion - A+ For Marketing!

I get a lot of deliveries to my apt...some are products to review, some are products I've bought for my kit...some are just clothes I've ordered online ;)  So a couple of wks ago when I got a large box and the ONLY thing in it was a bag of grapefruit w/ a note that said to type #pompelmo in Twitter to say I was confused and intrigued would be an understatement lol!

A few days later I got my answer w/ a very nice box of goodies from Fruits & Passion  in the form of a really nice hand cream and hand soap...both of course in infused w/ the subtle fragrance of Grapefruit (or Pompelmo if we're getting fancy ;) ).

The hand cream has quickly become a staple in my purse for when my hands need that on the go moisturizing.  It's rich and creamy but doesn't leave my hands feeling greasy or too slippery like a lot of hand lotions out there.  The not so secret ingredient in both the soap and cream is olive oil.  A great, natural emollient for the skin.

The biodegradable soap comes in a beautiful recyclable glass container (so it's not hurting the environment) and it's the perfect addition to place right near your kitchen sink...or at least that's where I'm keeping it.

I love how perfect and light both products.  Perfect for Summer w/ the accents of green cucumber, pink lemonade and grapefruit...makes me want to sit on a patio and enjoy some Summer sun right now!