Olistika Wellness Centre - Aromatherapy, Reflexology & Reiki

I'm a big believer in finding one's balance to help maintain their health and well being.  Whether that be through diet, exercise, meditation etc. I think it's important for people to be in tune w/ themselves, listen to what their bodies are telling them.

Now I'm not saying I don't believe in Western medicine or anything like that.  I personally like to take a combined approach to my own well being that uses practices from both holistic and western medicine.  

Recently, I got to experience a combination of Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Reiki at the newly opened Olistika Wellness Centre.    My treatments were with the owner Filippo and I have to say one thing I immediately noticed/sensed about Filippo was that I could tell he was a very gentle and sensitive person.  I could tell he genuinely does really care about people and their well being.  Once I sat down and talked w/ Filippo a bit before my treatments I could really see how passionate he was about this new endeavor and his career overall.  He also has a very relaxing and calm energy which is really a nice change from the sometimes chaotic city life I find myself surrounded in.  

Before the treatments Filippo asked about any medications I might be on or injuries/conditions to be aware of.  We talked about my on-going battle w/ acne and Filippo suggested I read his one blog post about his battle w/ teenage acne and let me tell you I can totally relate to how he felt back then because I too had really bad acne for a period of time in my teens as well so I know how it can really effect your mood, self esteem and outlook.  Filippo suggested I use lavender oil to spot treat the acne I currently have on my back and face.  Luckily, I didn't have to go out searching for lavender oil as Filippo actually made me a beautiful little aromatherapy care package that included: Olistika Mist - Lavender, Olistika Special Blend - Healer & Olistika Skin Body Blend - Winter.  All the ingredients in the products are organic, vegan and crafted by Filippo himself.  

Now on to the treatments!  

For the aromatherapy there was a choice between relaxing and energizing...I went w/ relaxing.  On top of the aroma-laced cloth that was gently placed over my face (which was relaxing not suffocating don't worry) I was also given headphones that played reiki music which really helped "zone me out" and relax me.  The aromatherapy was done in combination w/ the reflexology treatment which focused on my feet.  I was worried that I would be ticklish and squirmy but it's a firm sort of massage/pressure point treatment so no tickling.  In fact in some places it was actually kind of sensitive...like not painful but sensitive.  What's really interesting about it all is that different parts of the feet are suppose to connect w/ different parts of your body.  I didn't tell Filippo which side of my body I had back and leg problems on but on my left foot there was sensitivity in areas that were related to both my back and leg!  

The some of the benefits of reflexology are  it can release tension and improve circulation.  It can also help with things like anxiety, depression, chronic and acute pain, migraines, insomnia, high blood pressure and a multitude of other ailments.  

The reiki treatment is a completely different style of treatment and in fact there is very little touching in it in general besides a little bit of touching on the forehead and shoulders.  It it suppose to help gently balance you emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually by releasing blockages that you carry with you.  Reiki can be used to treat things like: life changes/transitions, traumas, loss, mental/physical fatigue, over worry, colds/flu, allergies and the list goes on.  

The reiki treatment itself was very interesting.  One stand out moment for the treatment for me was I actually had to stop it because of my acute back pain.  I can't lie flat on my back for long periods of time w/out getting a sharp and very uncomfortable pain in my back.  I had to sit up and I explained the situation.  Filippo then did some reiki treatment on the spot on my back which did involve him putting his hand on the spot but there wasn't any sort of massage or pressure really.  After a couple of mins I was able to lie down again and my back pain was much relieved in the area and we could finish with the treatment.  

One thing that Filippo does at the end of every session is sort of giving you a "reading".  He doesn't claim to be psychic or anything but he does feel he's a very intuitive person who gets "feelings" or "hunches" about things or even flashes images pertaining to the person.  So after the reiki session we talked about the different things he sensed or read about me during the treatment and some of it was very true or things I could definitely relate to or see about myself.  

So if you're interested/curious in holistic treatments I'd definitely look into Olistika and the services they provide.  Filippo is a very empathetic healer and you can tell he has a genuine passion for what he does.  He also offers group sessions and is a licensed holistic practitioner as well as Reiki Master Teacher Registered Practitioner.  

Chorus Supernatural Skin Care

A couple of mths ago the ppl at Chorus Supernatural Skin Care reached out to me about trying some
products from their line.  Whenever I'm asked to review a product - especially skin care related I like to really use the product for awhile so that I can provide a really honest opinion about the products and how they worked for me.

Well I've been using the products for a couple of mths now so I can honestly say I REALLY like them!  And one of the coolest things about the brand (at least to me) is that it's from Canada and manufactured in Richmond B.C.  I do like to support Canadian companies whenever possible so this was definitely a bonus w/ the brand.

Of course if the products themselves weren't good that wouldn't have mattered but thankfully they are! Also, important to a lot of ppl these days who are concerned about what they put on their skin or ingest into their bodies - Chorus is 100% natural source ingredients.  It's free from petro-chemicals, artificial fragrance and colour. Plus not only do they promise premium quality ingredients in their products but they are also some of the safest in the industry as rated by the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep website.

The 4 Key Ingredients that are the basis of everything they make are:

Lithia - A clean, untainted spring water that emerges high on a mountainside in the Rockies of British Columbia. This is some of the purest water on the planet, with a significant level of naturally occurring lithium.

Moor - A rare, nutrient-rich peat, created by the gradual transformation of herbs, plants & flowers that have been submerged beneath the Earth's surface for many thousands of years.

Seaweed - Hand-harvested giant kelp, from the cold, pristine waters off the northern tip of Vancouver Island. 

Clay - One of the most mineral-rich clays in the world, obtained from ancient volcanic caves and mountain slopes on the western shores of Vancouver Island.

 Because my skin is ALWAYS on the oily/combination side I tried out skincare specific to my skin concerns.

Facial Mask - The product is 100% organic and natural and consists purely of moor peat and water. Just mix a teaspoon of it w/ a couple of drops of water and rub onto the skin.  I really liked how soft it made my skin feel plus I find anything clay based really helps suck out some of the excess oil in my pores.  If you rub it into your skin when your washing it off you also get a nice, gentle exfoliation and it's not so drying that my skin felt tight or uncomfortable afterward.

 Cleansing Gel - It's a low foaming, hypoallergenic cleanser w/ key ingredients of moor, seaweed extract, tea tree oil, lavendar, lemongrass and ylang-ylang.  I LOVE how this product smells.  For a product that has not artificial fragrance this smells so good and I feel better knowing that the smell is from natural ingredients not chemicals.  It feels refreshing on the skin and just like the mask it doesn't make my skin feel tight or uncomfortable but it does a good job and cleansing it.

Clarify Moisturizer - Out of the 3 products I tried this is BY FAR my favourite of the 3!  It's oil free, lightly hydrating and great for acne prone adults (aka ME).  It absorbs excess oil, refines skin and reduces the appearance of enlarged pores.  It also creates a MATTE finish on the skin which for an oily person like me is a perfect starting canvas for my morning routine.  I really loved the way it made my skin feel - smooth and matte but again not tight or uncomfortable like it was over drying it. I'd definitely recommend this moisturizer to oily skin people!








All the products are very affordable in my opinion - especially considering the high quality ingredients involved.  All the products I tried came in under $23.00 Canadian/product.  You can buy them online and there is a growing number of retailers carrying the products.  If you look on their site you can see them.  Definitely a skincare brand I would recommend looking into!

I LOVE Overtone Haircare!

So for the last year I've been rocking various shades and degrees of alternative hair colours.  At first I was doing purple and with every hair appt. I was bleaching a bit more of my hair to achieve an all over purple look.

In February I decided to switch it up and go blue!  I've totally been loving the blue...I think even more than the purple!  The issue for anyone who chooses to dye their hair these unnatural and crazy colours is the upkeep and keeping the colour fresh and not faded.

When I first heard of Overtone Haircare I knew (or at least hoped) my fading hair colour worries would be over!  After debating for a mth or so about ordering it (it's not that cheap and w/ the shipping and exchange to Canada makes it even more pricey) I decided to take the plunge and order! Let me tell you I'm SO GLAD I did!  This product is AMAZING!!!  Seriously the difference it makes on my hair just using the Weekly Treatment Conditioner once made on my hair made me a believer!  I bought the complete system which includes the Daily Conditioner and the Weekly Treatment Conditioner.

So this product is designed primarily for ppl w/ the wild and crazy colours in their hair, you know - Blue, Orange, Purple, Pink, Teal etc.  But what's really awesome is the fact that you can combine colours to make your own custom colour for your hair.  Plus they have 3 different levels for each colour - Pastel, Vibrant & Extreme!  I'm using the Blue Extreme for anyone that's curious.

The best way to figure out what would work for you is to take their little quiz and it will let you know the best product to achieve or keep the colour you want/have.  You can even use this product on bleached hair alone (ie. you don't already have it dyed a crazy colour) and it will deposit colour so it doesn't just revive worn out colour it adds it too!  I'm actually going to try this w/ some blonde extension pieces that I have that I've been thinking of dying blue.

What I really love is how soft and silky it makes my hair feel after I've used it.  Unfortunately, all this bleaching to my hair has not been kind and I have a lot of breakage and dryness b/c my hair is naturally fine and thin and it was previously dyed black prior to my new found crazy colour routine. Plus it really helps cut down expensive trips to the salon to get your colour retouched and you can wash your hair in warm water!  No more cold showers!

I definitely recommend wearing gloves when you apply it to your hair.  It doesn't dye your hands like traditional colour but just to be on the safe side.  Also, it's vegan and cruelty free for all those people out there that are curious about that sort of thing!

Check out their FAQ section to answer any other questions you might have!

BEFORE & AFTER

Both pics are with natural light hitting the hair.  The After pic I had used the Daily Conditioner twice and the Weekly Treatment Conditioner once!

Christina's Engagement Shoot

Wow...not gonna lie I'm a little embarrassed to realize I haven't written a blog post in 2 mths!  Just goes to show how busy you can get sometimes w/ work!  It is wedding season after all and June/July have been pretty crazy for me...which I'm definitely not going to complain about b/c we all know there are those slow Winter mths when there is too much time!  Actually on an exciting note June was my highest grossing mth on record yet! The wedding business is definitely moving on the right track and I've almost doubled the number of staff wedding bookings this year!

Anyway, back to what this post is actually suppose to be about ;)  I met Christina back in January when she hired me to makeup and hair for her engagement party.  Right away I thought she was really awesome and I was hoping she'd hire me for her big day - which funny enough happens to be on my BIRTHDAY - Oct 15 2016.  You know if I'm going to work my birthday it means it has to be a bride I actually like lol!  This obviously shows what a planner Christina is as well b/c she's taking almost 2 years to plan the wedding of her dreams lol!  Even her engagement party at Wvrst had all sorts of special and thoughtful details to make it a bit different and unique.

Christina did hire me for her wedding - Yeah :)  And a couple of mths ago she hired me to do the makeup and hair for her engagement session - Double Yeah :)  When I say this girl is a planner you have no idea!  Originally she had a whole other engagement shoot session planned but literally the day before the shoot when she realized the weather wasn't going to co-operate she didn't reschedule the shoot like a lot of brides - no she went with it and literally planned a whole new shoot w/ new locations inside...and it was pretty friggin' awesome!  The girl had like 3 or 4 locations w/ look changes and everything lol!  This also shows that on her wedding day she'll be able to roll with the inevitable changes and switches that always seem to happen no matter what you do.

One of my fav things about Christina is that even though day to day she isn't necessarily a huge makeup person she loves to experiment for events.  For her engagement party we did a really vampy burgundy lip and for the engagement shoot we had fun w/ a teal green liner look and waved beachy hair which looked amazing w/ the flower crown she got from Coriander Girl!

Here's some of my fav pics from the shoot.  The location was Kitten and the Bear and even though I've never been there before I definitely want to try it now it looks so cute!  They also did some really cool stuff at Future Food Studio and comic book store too I think.  Really it was just the perfect locations to show off their mutual interests and loves!

Photos courtesy of All This Happiness

Can I just say they are the cutest together!  I met Daniele when I was getting her ready for the engagement party and just the way they look at each other and talk about one another...it's so cute!

What a gorgeous flower crown!

Atlantis Pavilions Wedding

Back in February on Valentine's Day actually I had the chance to work w/ an amazing group of girls and I'm so excited I got pictures from this awesome day because Nicole (the bride) looked stunning! Seriously, gorgeous!  Totally website worthy lol!  The group was so laid back and fun and we had a great time getting them ready at the Radisson on Queens Quay before the big event at Atlantis.

With the wedding being on Valentine's Day it could have been super cheesy but thankfully it wasn't and Nicole kept everything really classy and sophisticated.  I loved how the bridesmaids dresses went together but didn't completely match each other and even the bridesmaids themselves chose makeup and hair styles that really complimented them.  Two of them went w/ bold lips and updos while the other two went w/ more neutral lips and down hair...totally not planned but kinda cool how it all worked out like that lol.

Nicole doesn't wear a lot of makeup (like so many of my brides) so I really tried to keep it soft and natural.  Very glowy pink flushed cheeks, soft eye w/ a small winged liner, nude pink lip and airbrush foundation.  Really I just wanted to accentuate and enhance her natural beauty.  For her hair we added additional clip-in extensions that really made all the difference in styling!  I set her hair in the beginning of the appt. and when I took it out and styled it we got that big gorgeous Victoria Secret hair that so many woman want on their wedding day.  The important thing to remember is that the hair will settle and go down...plus it photographs differently than you think it looks.  So often my brides freak out a bit about the volume b/c they aren't use to it but it does go down and it only seems big b/c it's different.  In fact a lot of times what I've done is actually not even as big as the reference pics they've show me lol.

Thank you again to Damion Rae Photography for the beautiful pictures!  You guys did an awesome job capturing the day!

See how much fun Toronto Beauty Group clients have w/ us ;)  Love this pic of Jen and Alexandra!

Great group shot of the girls!

How do I pick which pics to put on my site!  So many great shots!

What a pretty group!

Love this shot!

Teosyal - Customizable Fillers For Your Face!

As I mentioned in my SilkPeel post the other day I would do a follow up post about my experience trying out the AMAZING fillers by Teosyal by Clarion Medical Technologies.  Again this procedure was performed at Dr. Cory Torgerson's office and this procedure was performed by the doctor himself.

Right from the beginning he consulted w/ me to find out my personal face/fine line concerns and then suggested the best course of action to get the results I was looking for.  I don't have a lot of wrinkles as I'm only in my early 30s but I did have some areas under my eyes and around my mouth that bugged me a bit.

I've personally always been of the mindset that it's good to keep on top of and start these things before they become really noticeable.  I like to think of it as preventative anti-aging care...much like the various creams and serums I use on my face.  I always figure if I start now and keep it subtle 1. It will prevent less wrinkles from forming in the future 2. It will never be a huge shock where someone will immediately go "Oh you've had work done" b/c it's small things over time and it's never a huge change

Dr. Torgerson explained to me about how as we age we lose volume in our face and cheeks and he also explained for around my mouth our it was necessarily about filling in the fine lines but lifting the cheek area using fillers so that they lines themselves would be lifted away.  He explained that a great way to use fillers is actually tear troughs...it's actually not one of the most popular or common places to use fillers yet but it's actually a great way to reduce dark circles and increase the volume under the eyes making them look less tired and sunken in.  I'll be totally honest this is the area I definitely experienced the biggest results and I can't believe it's not a more common/popular area to get fillers b/c I think dark circles really are one of the biggest skin concerns women have!  I also really appreciated his honesty and integrity when I asked about lip fillers and he explained he didn't really think it was necessary...I've never actually been that concerned w/ them but I just kind of wanted a professional's opinion on the matter.

A little bit about Teosyal b/c it's not necessarily that well known in North America right now (but I think that might change).  It's Europe's #1 Dermal Filler.  It's the purest filler on the market which results in less swelling.  Depending on the area injected the results can last anywhere from 6-18 mths. It also integrates naturally into the tissue, allowing for dynamic and natural expression (no frozen face lol).

So what's really amazing about the Teosyal fillers that Dr. Torgerson used on me is that unlike popular (and possibly more well known brands in North America right now) Juvederm or Restylane, Teosyal has several different customizable fillers depending on your face or aging concerns.  There are different fillers used for around the eyes vs. the lips vs. cheeks. etc.  I thought this was really cool b/c the areas are different w/ their own concerns and issues so it only makes sense for the filler to be slightly different in its formulation.

I think part of the reason fillers haven't become more popular in the tear trough area in Canada is that Teosyal Redensity II is actually the only dermal filler Health Canada has approved to treat tear trough hollows.  This specific formula has a subtle mix of cross-linked and non cross-linked hyaluronic acid and it's adapted to the fragile and challenging under-eye circles area.  There is little swelling and the results are immediate!  It's also blended w/ a complex of vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants and minerals to help restore the quality of the skin.

The Teosyal fillers also have lidocaine in them to help w/ comfort and pain for during and after the treatment.  They also have lidocaine free Teosyal for those w/ anesthetic sensitivities.  I personally found the procedures to be quite pain free...well a little prick but nothing I couldn't handle and it was all over quite quickly.  My face was a bit swollen/sensitive to the touch after and there was a bit of bruising but that's common and it went away.

Now on to some pictures!  I personally had 3 times of Teosyal fillers injected into my face.  A subtle amount of Ultimate in my cheeks to help with sagging and add lift to my upper cheeks.  Redensity II through my tear troughs which I talked about earlier.  And Kiss in the nasolabial folds.

This First picture although not the most flattering is my FAVOURITE b/c it actually shows the work with Half my Face DONE!  I'm pretty sure you can tell which side is done and which isn't lol!  Notice the subtle lift around the mouth and cheeks and definitely notice the huge difference under the eyes!  The one side that is treated has not large crease or dark circle!  Please excuse my skin a bit I did just have microdermabrasison right before this lol!

This picture shows a close up of the same eye Before and 2 wks Post Treatment.  Both No Makeup (other than a bit of mascara/brows in first pic).  Notice the reduction in darkness and the crease under the eye is dramatically reduced too!  It's just filled it and so much more refreshed! Also notice how improved my skin looks since the SilkPeel Facial ;)

This is a Before & After (1 wk post treatment).  I showed the first pic above w/ no makeup so that you didn't just think the difference was due to the awesome professional lighting at Dr. Torgerson's office and my equally awesome makeup skills ;)  Seriously he has his Before & After Picture taking skills down to a science lol!

The following 2 pics are Before & Afters taken in Dr. Torgerson's office w/ his awesome lighting...I actually think it's almost a bit too awesome because it covers up how bad my eyes looked in the Before pic so the results don't look quite as big as they actually were.  Plus again I didn't want you to think it was just the magic of good lighting and good makeup!

How Natural does it look!  Come on NO ONE would think anything unless I told them!

SilkPeel Facial - The Next Generation in Microdermabrasion

Recently I had the pleasure of experiencing a lovely procedure called a SilkPeel Facial at Dr. Cory Torgerson's office in Yorkville (Toronto).  I must say I cannot speak highly enough not only about Dr. Torgerson himself but his staff too!  Right away when you enter the office the receptionist offered me a coffee, tea or water and Vanessa the aesthetician performing the SilkPeel procedure was very friendly and informative about everything that was going on.

I'll give a little background about this procedure and exactly what it is.  SilkPeel Dermalinfusion by Clarion Medical Technologies is basically IMO the next generation in Microdermabrasion.  It's a non-evasive skin procedure that rejuvenates and exfoliates the skin leaving it glowing and refreshed afterwards.  You can totally do a treatment like this on your lunch hour and head back to work afterwards.  It's pain free - basically it feels like a cat running it's tongue over your face...and in a way kind of relaxing lol.  Like regular dermabrasion treatments a diamond tip wand is run over the skin helping to exfoliate damaged skin cells.

What's really awesome about the SilkPeel technology is the condition specific topical solutions that are also distributed onto and into the skin during the treatment.  With these specific solutions this procedure can help a multitude of skin concerns such as: acne, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, dull skin, dehydration etc.  It's completely non toxic, will not cause any sensitivity to sunlight and it's safe for all skin types!

There's 4 different solutions to choose from:

Clarifying Solution - For acne prone, blemished and oily skin.  It exfoliates, soothes and promotes cellular turn over.

Hydration Solution - For dry skin this solution hydrates, smoothes and gently exfoliates skin.

Vitamin C Solution - This detoxifying solution clarifies, hydrates, brightens and soothes the skin.

Lumixyl Solution - This solution is best for hyperpigmentation, discolouration and evening out skin tone

As anyone who reads this blog knows I suffer from acne (still as an adult ugh) so I of course chose the Clarifying Solution.  Immediately afterwards I noticed that my skin was very smooth and soft to the touch!  There was a bit of dryness for 1-2 days afterwards but nothing serious and all and I do find the overall appearance of my skin has improved w/ only 1 treatment...I can imagine the results would be even more impressive w/ multiple treatments.

SilkPeel can also be used in combination with laser and light based treatments for even greater results. There's also a SilkPeel Body system which can also help with cellulite, acne, sun spots, stretch marks, elasticity and rough or dry/dull skin!

During my treatment I made a little video for  you guys to see...as you can see during the treatment it does cause a bit of redness on the skin but that quickly subsides once the treatment is over with.

I would definitely recommend Dr. Torgerson's office not only for this procedure but also the multitude of other services he offers...you can also check out his Instagram and see some of the awesome Before & After shots from surgeries and other treatments.

Tomorrow I'll be sharing with you my even more amazing results from Teosyal Dermal Fillers...they were really impressive!

ESQIDO Lashes

So anyone that wears false lashes on the regular knows that Mink Lashes are the more luxurious and high end option compared to commonly found synthetic lashes so when ESQIDO false eyelashes asked me to try out some of their lashes I of course jumped at the opportunity!

Esqido were kind enough to send me two pairs of lashes:  Lashlorette and Voila Lash.  For the purposes of this review though I'm only going to talk about Lashlorette.

Voila Lash is a beautiful lash but it's VERY FULL and long...I can only imagine wearing this style for a club night or perhaps New Years Eve sort of thing...definitely not your "Go to dinner" or "Nice night out" lashes...at least on my eyes (just a bit to overwhelming to look natural.

Lashlorette on the other hand was a perfect "Night Out" lash.  Perfect amount of volume and length to add drama and definition to the eye w/out looking like a drag queen or just "too much".  As I've found w/ other mink lashes in the past Esqido lashes have a great curve to them and fall nicely on to the lash line making them very easy to apply.  And they are very light weight once on.

The great thing about mink lashes vs. synthetic is yes while they are more expensive w/ proper care you can get up to 25 uses from them.  So they are an investment but if you're spending $5-7 on a pair of synthetic Quo lashes from Shoppers that you only wear once if you wear these even for half the amount of times they say they'll actually work out to be cheaper.  And don't worry animal lovers all the mink is responsibly sourced during a natural molting/shedding cycle and they are sterilized and hypoallergenic.

One of the great things about Esqido's site is they offer a Lash Guide which asks several questions about your eyes, the occasion and your lash applying expertise to help suggest the best lash for you!

For my business purposes I do personally wish the bands on the lashes were clear not black and that they had shorter options (even the least voluminous option is still quite long).  My clients tend to be VERY natural people so even though I know how to rock a set of lashes like Lashlorette when I go out I think a lot of them would find something like that still WAY too dramatic for them.

Also when choosing a lash you have to look at the person's natural eye shape.  I personally don't have a lot of lid space therefore something like Voila Lash just sort of overwhelms my eye but someone w/ huge eyes and lots of lid space before the brow could totally pull of something like this.

Although I didn't try them out knowing my personal style and my clients I think Unforgettable and Little Black Lash would be great options!  I personally prefer the types where they enhance the eye but the average person might not even know they are fake.

They also have a PRO Makeup Artist Program so definitely something for the MUAs out there to check out!

All the pics are showing the Lashlorette Style...as you can see on my eyes they are very full and quite dramatic.  They pretty much reach my eyebrows...This is why I think anything bigger or fuller might just be a bit of overkill on my eyes.

Bomb City Beauty - Body Butter & Lip Balm

I was recently contacted by Starla - Bomb City Beauty creator to try out a couple of her organic and delicious smelling body butter and lip balm products and I'm so glad I did!  These things feel awesome on the skin and what makes it even better is that they are all natural, handmade  and good for you!

Bomb City Beauty originates from B.C. Canada and I'm all about helping out other Canadian companies and start ups...I think it's really important for us to try and support local and small businesses vs. always shopping for the big name brands.  If you're in Salmon Arm BC you can get the products straight from the source at Shuswap Health Foods and Bar but if you don't find yourself in Salmon Arm BC no worries Starla also has an Etsy page where you can buy her yummy products and she's working on a website too (she ships worldwide)!

I got to try out the Top Secret Strawberry Body Butter and the Strawberry Spark Lip Bomb...all the names have little references to bombs, spies or that sort of thing. As I mentioned before the products are all Organic, Made to Order, Homemade and Never Tested on Animals so you know you aren't getting something that has been sitting around on shelves for mths.

The body butter lists its ingredients as:  Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, Organic Fragrance Oils & H20...so nothing we can't pronounce and no chemicals or additives...just all good natural stuff.  It melts onto the skin really nicely and feels very moisturizing but not too oily..although I would leave a few minutes for it to absorb before you put your clothes on.

The lip bomb's ingredients are also kept simple and easy: Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Organic Strawberry Oil

Some of the other flavours of Lip Bomb include: Mint Explosion, Vanilla Fuse, Cinnamon Sizzle, Pineapple Pow, Licorice Wick, Mint Cocoa Charge & Orange Blast - $4.00/each

Other Body Butters: Chocolate Espionage, Peppermint Vendetta & Restraining Order (Fragrance Free) - 50ml @ $9.98 150ml @ $19.98

Definitely worth trying and they feel and smell delicious...I actually kind of want to eat them lol!

Yorkville Engagement Shoot

About a mth ago I did a trial w/ my one upcoming bride Katherine for her May wedding.  She had decided to schedule her engagement shoot the same day as the trial which I find can be a good thing as long as you don't mind having the same look for your shoot as your wedding.

Katherine wanted a grey black smokey eye and a fancy Kate Middleton inspired updo so I wanted to make sure it was okay for the shoot but she explained she was doing a fancy shoot in Yorkville so it actually all complimented itself perfectly.

Engagement shoots are the perfect time for couple's to get comfortable and practice in front of the camera as well as get to know their photographer.  It's also a great chance to see how makeup reads differently on camera than it does in real life.  The look you might have thought was super dramatic in person actually reads fairly natural on camera.

That's actually what Katherine decided after the shoot,  She realized she wanted the eye more intense and the lips brighter which I'm more than happy to accommodate on the day.  At the trial Katherine wasn't even sure she wanted to wear the fancy blue dress she had picked out for the shoot b/c she thought it might be a bit too much but I said you have fancy hair and makeup you have to have a fancy outfit...plus it's Yorkville!

I'm so glad she went w/ the dress b/c the pics are just gorgeous thanks to the awesome photography of Jessilynn Wong!  Very excited to work w/ her on Katherine's wedding in May b/c if these pics are any indication of things I know the wedding pics will be amazing!

The Importance of a Professional Makeup Artist for Corporate Shoots

 I do quite a bit of corporate work...I'd like to do more but overall with my experience I definitely say I understand the needs of corporate clients when it comes to makeup and hair.  Unfortunately, not everyone understands the value of hiring a professional makeup artist for their corporate head shot shoot or video production.

A lot of times people in the corporate world don't understand the difference using a professional artist will make in their pictures and videos.  It's not their fault.  Typically, their work is about business or numbers or computers etc. Not exactly the most beauty focused fields lol.  What exactly do they know about the benefits of hiring a professional makeup artist.  That's why it's up to us as professionals to help educate them.  In fact it actually holds a lot of the same principals and facts as to why brides should hire professionals are their day too!

I thought it might be smart to outline some of the important reasons and benefits as to why businesses should hire professional makeup artists for their photo or video needs.

Reasons to Hire a Professional Makeup Artist

1. Makeup Reads Differently On Camera - You may need more makeup than you typically wear day to day.  A lot of women think that the makeup they put on for work is perfectly fine for pictures or videos but the camera takes away about 30% of the makeup.  That's why you need to "up it" a bit but still look professional.  A makeup artist will know how to keep you looking like you while still enhancing your look enough that it will show up on camera.

2. They Use Professional Camera Friendly Products - I'm sure it's obvious to most but not all makeup is created equally.  A lot of consumer products are great for day to day use but they aren't necessarily "camera friendly" meaning they might create a flash back (white face) for pictures or just not be strong enough for film or pictures.  A professional makeup artist will know what products work for what situation and will have a kit stocked with camera quality products that they've tried and tested out so they know exactly how they react and what works best depending on the lighting, setting and type of picture or video you're working on.

3. They Will Be Available For Touch Ups - When you hire a professional they will typically be just off camera and ready in case you need a lip touch up, powder for shine or to fix fly away hairs.  Small things like this may not seem like a big deal at the time but they will be huge on camera and ultimately very distracting.

4. It's An Investment For Your Business - You are already investing so much into your pictures or video it only makes sense to make it the best you possibly can.  There is not point in investing all of this money into a project if you're not going to look your best in it.  If the star element of the picture or video doesn't look good it doesn't matter how much money was spent on the photographer/videographer or production value the project will ultimately look cheap and unpolished and I don't think anybody wants to have that as their last impression.

5. How Many People Will See These Pictures/Videos? - These pictures and videos will probably be around for a long time and hopefully be seen by thousands of people.  It's important that the impression you leave people with is a good one.  If you look disheveled or unpolished that's the impression you're going to leave clients or potential business contacts with.  If you're going to use these pictures or videos for several years it's only smart to make them look the best and most
professional you can.

6. You'll Feel More Confident - When you hire a professional makeup artist they come to you.  You don't have to worry about anything on the day with regards to your hair and makeup.  The convenience of it all can't be beat and it can be a very relaxing and pampering experience to get your hair and makeup done which in turn can raise your confidence and reduce your anxiety which will both show on camera.

7. Men Need Makeup Too! - This is actually a big one!  Most men don't realize the benefit of having their makeup done for photos or videos.  It's true that day to day the average man does not wear makeup and because of that a lot of men see it as something only women need for pictures or film but that's not true. As mentioned above the camera picks up small details and magnifies them.  A lot of men just like women have redness in their skin or dark circles under their eyes.  These sorts of things can make a man look tired or unpolished on camera.  Now of course the level of makeup needed on a man compared to a woman is very different but even just some concealing of redness or dark circles and a bit of powder foundation to reduce shine can make a a world of difference in photos.

8. It's More Affordable Than You Think - A lot of times budget and money are huge factors in this sort of thing but when you break it down the cost of hiring a professional makeup artist for your shoot or video is actually a small percentage of the total cost.  Plus if you think hiring a professional is expensive imagine the costs if you need to do a re-shoot because the first shoot wasn't good enough!

Now like any professional or business there are different levels of skill and quality.  It's important for people to do their research before hiring someone.  Like the saying goes - "You think a professional is expensive, try hiring an amateur" ;)