Dec 16, 2012

Just Say No To ORANGE!

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Everyone looks better with a healthy, sun-kissed glow.  Not everyone gets to live in Cali where that is an actual possibility.  So my philosophy is “fake it ’til you make it”,  with some limitations of course.  Spray tans and tanning beds are a no-no in my book (we’ve all seen Tan-Mom)!  Over the years I’ve tried many different bronzers promising not to turn my skin orange!  That didn’t happen…until today that is.  I have finally found a bronzer that truly warms up my skin tone and makes me look sun-kissed healthy.  Drum roll please….

Soleil Tan De Chanel is that product ($50 u.s.).  Firstly it comes in a beautifully packaged compact with the bronzer on one side and a small brush on the other, which is great if you want to take it with you for touch ups later on.  Though I have to tell you I find it lasts all day and I’ve never felt the need to reapply.  (I do however recommend using a real bronzer brush when applying).

With this bronzer a little goes a long way, swirl your brush in it, tap off the excess powder and brush it on your face where the sun normally hits.  You’re complexion is instantly warmed up, with a little blush on the apple of your cheeks and some mascara (see A Real Eye Opener)  you are good to go.  Ok some lipstick or gloss wouldn’t hurt either but that’s just my opinion…

I happen to have medium toned skin, some call it olive, I just know that come this time of year I need a little help in the “trying not to look grey” department.  My go to shade is #62 Terre Epice!  I am loving this bronzer so much that the need to go on holiday this year is more about relaxation and less about getting that perfect tan!

So I hope you enjoy this winter warm-up product and if you’re not going away this holiday season, no worries…Fake it ’til you make it..it’s what I do… 😉

xo Elisaterre epice

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Dec 9, 2012

TRUTHisBEAUT-E’s 1st Annual Top 10 List…

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You gotta start somewhere!

Tis the season to stuff stockings!  Making this TisB’s first Top 10 list!  Well actually,  since we’re a very multi-cultural blog here, our top 10 will really be our top 8.  Eight nights of Hanukkah, eight stockings to stuff, whatever you chose to do with these items someone is going to be getting some good loot this holiday season.  Let’s begin!

1.  Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy.  Winter time = chapped hands, this hand cream is the perfect stocking stuffer.  It comes in 3 sizes (all of which are stocking approved) and ranges from $7-$19.  It’s deeply moisturizing and not at all greasy.  My personal favorite is the Citron, Honey and Coriander.  I keep it in my purse at all times and it smells delicious, like a Lemon Grove in Italy.  Bellissimo!  citron_hand_therapy_25g

2.  Clinique Chubby Intense.  We all know I love a good chubby (and from feedback I’ve gotten, so do you all).  Clinique has recently introduced the Chubby Intense, same great formula, slightly deeper shades, same great price.  Not so sheer, definitely not opaque but truly beautiful.  ($19 wherever Clinique is sold).   Clinique-Chubby-Sticks-Intense

3.  Jo Malone Vitamin E Lip Conditioner.  Hands down the best lip balm there is out there.  I’ve been using it for the last 5 years at least and it cannot be beat, plus you can’t be smooching under the mistletoe with chapped lips. ($25 at neiman marcus, bloomingdales and jo malone boutiques throughout the world).  jm_L0LA01_lrg

4.  CHANEL Coco Noir.  For the scent lover this holiday season.  CHANEL’s newest fragrance doesn’t offer Brad Pitt as it’s spokesmen, but what it does do is reinvent the oriental fragrance with a modern twist.  Top notes of bergamot, Indonesian patchouli and sandalwood, will warm up this holiday season for the recipient and the gift giver.  ($98 – $130 at CHANEL cosmetic counters around the world).

 

coco-noir

5. YSL Pure Chromatics Eye Palette.  If you want to dazzle someone this holiday (yourself included) do it with YSL Pure Chromatics Eye Palette.  Of all the eye palettes available out there this one has the most staying power, the richest hues and is packaged ever so beautifully.  It can be used wet or dry and is quite simply spectacular.  ($55 in the U.S and $74 in Canada at Sephora.ca or Holt Renfrew).  YSL-Summer-2012-Pure-Chromatics-Eyshadow-Palette

6.  Tom Ford Lipstick  For a truly beautiful stocking stuffer inside and out, this lipstick is unbeatable.  Smooth texture, intense color and a hint of vanilla all presented in a beautiful gold and brown tube.  I’m partial to the Casablanca color, it’s a neutral color perfect for day or night, but if you’re looking for a radiant red to ring in the New Year, Cherry Lush is the way to go. ($48 at Neiman Marcus).  tom-ford-

7.  CHANEL Le Vernis Nail Colour  There is no better nail polish out there, believe me I’ve tried.  CHANEL has always been the trendsetter in the nail department.  Each season they come out with a color that everyone tries to duplicate.  They seem to dictate the “it” color of the moment.  For the Trendsetter on your gift list, this is the “IT” gift.  ($25-$26 wherever CHANEL cosmetics are sold)  chanel-particuliere-nail-vernis

8.   Lancome Absolue L’Extrait  If you really want to say “Happy” Holidays to someone this year, do it with Lancome’s Absolue L’Extrait.  This is the decadent gift of the list, at $350 it’s not cheap, but I assure you it’s worth every penny.  It’s a moisturizer that is powered with over 2 million cells from the Lancome rose which helps to regenerate the skin.  Skin looks firmer, more elastic and absolutely radiant.  This blog was started because I wanted women to take the time in the day to do something nice for themselves.  THIS IS that nice thing.  Each morning while I apply it I am transported to a European Rose Garden far, far away from my daily grind and THAT my friends, is priceless!  img-thing

So happy holidays to you and yours.  Whatever holiday you celebrate, may you do so in health and surrounded by much love….and hopefully fabulous products!  😉

xo Elisa

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Nov 28, 2012

In Good Company…

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Isabella, Juliette, Julia, Kate and Me of course!!!  NO my ego has not inflated to disproportionate size nor have I started experiencing delusions of grandeur, the one thing all five of us ladies have in common is Lancome Paris Cosmetics.  Just about everybody I know has used Lancome mascara at one time or another in their life or wore Tresor, but today I’m writing about a fairly new product to their skincare line, Genefique Yeux Light-Pearl.  It’s quite a mouthful to say (especially if you didn’t grow up in France or Canada), but it’s an absolute delight to the eyes.

Essentially it’s an anti-ageing eye serum, but it’s so much more than that.  Without going into too much detail, I’d recently undergone surgery and was recovering at home when I decided to break out the big guns.  Post anesthesia is not the “rockin’ look” you’d think it’d be, so I enlisted a little extra help from Lancome.  Before putting on my eye cream I apply the serum around my orbital bone and enjoy the cooling sensation the metallic, tear-shaped wand imparts on my skin.  It helped perk up my peepers by brightening my under-eye area and down-playing my puffiness.

Genefique Yeux Light Pearl is available where Lancome products are sold and retails for $68 u.s. and $85 Canadian.  It is also available for order online at Sephora.com and Lancome Paris.  Something to remember is Lancome is frequently known for giving out generous gifts with purchase throughout the year and with the holidays quickly approaching….I’m just saying…

So enjoy this holiday season in “good company!”

Happy shopping…xo Elisa

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Nov 21, 2012

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens….

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You see where I’m going with today’s post.  I intend to introduce you to 2 of my very “Favorite Things”.  Both are from a well-known, long-standing, very reputable company, however both are fairly new additions to their vast array of products!  Kiehls is the company I’m referring to and their Rosa Arctica line of products are the “bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens” that turn me into Julie Andrews!

Not too long ago Kiehls introduced us to their Rosa Arctica Moisturizer and it’s “Resurrection Flower” which when warmed between the fingers and applied to your skin activates a regeneration of your skin’s cells and really aids in the anti-ageing process.  This flower can survive without water for an extended period of time, so when it’s applied onto your skin it allows your skin to retain the moisture it needs to keep you looking young and hydrated (but definitely NOT oily).  If I hadn’t been using this product for a few years I never would believe what it could do, but I have and it does.  The only downfall was that they had not created a formula for the eyes…until now!  Finally the eye cream version is available and actually works magnificently!

I use the eye cream both day and night, whereas I save the moisturizer for my evening routine, after cleansing and toning.  It is really important to remember to warm the product up in your fingers first before applying it to your face (see “this could save your life…” post for application tips).  Both are available wherever Kiehls products are sold or at Kiehls.com and are priced at $46 (eye cream) and $60-$120 (moisturizer).

Also remember when trying new products, it can take up to 28 days for your skin to adapt.  Which is another reason I love shopping at Kiehls, they really stand by their products, if after some time you are not satisfied with the product they will take it back.  I am pretty certain you will love these two…I mean I haven’t started turning my drapes into clothing yet, but sometimes when it’s nice out, you can see me singing down the streets of Montreal…

“when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad…..”

Happy Shopping….xo Elisa

 

 

 

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Nov 7, 2012

This could save your life!!! (okay not really but…)

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I spend a lot of money on products, I mean a lot, (we don’t judge here, remember).  I certainly spend more than I should, but lucky for you that I do because this is how I’m able to bring you all the best of what’s out there  (oh the sacrifices I make so that you all can look fab)!

Today’s blog however is about 3 skin care practices that are often misused, abused and/or sometimes overlooked all together.  It’s one thing to have the best products out there at your disposal but it’s another to use them incorrectly and waste all of your hard-earned cash.  This is where I come in…

1.  Exfoliating your face.   All too often people complain about exfoliators being too harsh on their skin.  What you need to remember is that your face is not gyproc and the exfoliator is not sandpaper.  Gentle, upward circular motion is all it takes to do a great job.  You’re trying to brighten your complexion by removing it’s dull outer layer,  not strip it like you would  an old piece furniture.  (Ren Micro Polish Cleanser $30 at Sephora.com and Renskincare.com and Tracie Martyn’s Enzyme Exfoliate  $90 at Traciemartyn.com)  These are my two very favorite exfoliating products out there.

2.  Applying moisturizer to your face.  Essentially your goal is to keep your face hydrated and therefore delay the signs of aging.  In other words “do not pull and yank your face like you are fighting with it!”  When you pull your face you are stretching your skin, loose skin is not generally associated with young looking skin.  Moisturizing your face is a kind thing to do, therefore do it kindly, gently pat your moisturizer on, again in an upward, circular motion.  Some days can be rough, the 60 seconds you get during the day to moisturize your face may be the only good ones of that day…enjoy the moment!  (for my product recommendation see “All the leaves are brown…” )

3.  Washing your face at night.  I am told and find it very hard to believe that there are people out there who go to bed at night and do not wash their face.  This is the closest thing to blasphemy in my book (and sadly I am not joking)!  Whether you are at work, at school, at home, wherever you may be throughout the day, your face comes into contact with a lot of nasty stuff.  I don’t care if it’s a great aunt that pinched your cheeks or smokers outside your office building,  kisses from friends or your own hands that come into contact with your face, you must wash it before bedtime.  All you party animals out there that come home too late or dare I say too intoxicated to wash up before bed…unacceptable!  I am now going to make your lives much easier and well, quite frankly, cleaner.  Amore Pacific Treatment Cleansing Tissues  $40, are the easiest way to clean your face before bedtime.  They come in a great little box with 30 tissues (plus another 30 replacement pack) and all you have to do is swipe it all over your face.  It removes dirt, grime, makeup and leaves your face pillow ready.

So you’re welcome world…I sort of feel like a skin care super hero trying to save the universe one complexion at a time…;)

A girl can dream, can’t she?  xo Elisa


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Oct 30, 2012

All About Yves…

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Not the back-stabbing, steal your life, ingenue Eve, today we’re talking Yves St. Laurent.  I could easily go on a rant about YSL’s beautifully crafted clothing and accessories line, but today is reserved for gloss and gloss alone.  Yves St. Laurent Golden Gloss is and always has been my very favorite lip gloss out there.  With 27 different shades to choose from, finding one that will work for you won’t be a problem.  Each shade,  makes your lips radiate sophistication and glamour by way of  24 carat gold flecks that comprise 0.2% of this product, making this item  “worth its weight in gold”…literally.

At $30, this gloss is priced competitively, but none of its competitors come close with regards to texture, variety and scent.  I’m a scent oriented gal and this one is scented ever so slightly with a hint of mango.  Yummy and gorgeous, not bad for a lip gloss!  Unlike similar products that can be greasy and sticky,  YSL Golden Gloss nourishes your pout without leaving your lips stuck together.  As far as glosses go, this one is perfection!

Available at most department stores at the YSL cosmetic counter, online at yslbeautyus.com and at sephora.com, I promise you this gloss won’t disappoint.  I have what others call olive skin and it is most difficult to find a gloss that suits my skin tone without making me look like a pre-pubescent girl or a porn star…THIS is that gloss!

So happy shopping…Gloss on Glamour Gals…xo Elisa

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Oct 25, 2012

Scents….and Sensibility….

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With summer over, gone is the sunshine, the heat, the humidity and thankfully the odor of those that don’t shower often enough.  No need to worry, I’m not “going there…”

Today’s post is all about scents (the sensibility will come later, I promise).  I am fairly certain that most of you have a signature fragrance, not necessarily by choice, but by mere convenience.  Someone bought you a bottle of perfume once and that’s what you wear, or you smelled something amazing on someone else and now wear their fragrance.  Like with people, your relationship with a perfume depends on chemistry.  You don’t pick your friends because someone you know says, “this is my friend, she should be yours too.”  You have to get to know someone and see if your personalities click.  Perfume is not much different, it mixes with your body’s chemistry and really does react differently with each and every person who wears it.  Having said that, I seem to have dug myself into a bit of a hole!  Since this blog recommends products I love and use and my body chemistry is obviously different from yours, what do we do?

We do what all smart fashionistas do, we look to Tom Ford for the answer.  With his collection of 18 different scents, Tom Ford’s Private Blend Fragrances  have something for everyone.  My personal taste leans toward the warm, spicy, vanilla blend of the Tabacco Vanille, but I’ve also been known to wear the Noir de Noir.  The entire collection is rich and aromatic, and is meant to be enjoyed in the same way you’d appreciate a really, great cup of brewed coffee or a really fine wine.  These fragrances do not disappoint.

At this point in the blog I generally send you off on your next shopping expedition and hope you’ll be as pleased with the product as I am.  Today however I feel it is my responsibility to address the sensibility issue  I mentioned earlier on.  Much like make-up and other cosmetic products, perfume is meant to enhance your already beautiful self.  When applying perfume you needn’t douse yourself in it, simply spray it directly in front of you and walk through it.  If people know you’ve arrived before you’ve actually entered the room, you know you’ve over done it.

So here is where the fun stops, sometimes I have to be the heavy, it’s not what I enjoy but alas, such is a blogger’s life.  No one said smelling delicious would come cheap, but if you heed my “sensibility warning” above, you’ll go through a lot less perfume and have something that will smell truly unique and last a long time.  So here goes:   Tom Ford Private Blend Fragrances are available at neimanmarcus.com and at flagship Sephora stores throughout the globe, they retail from $205 – $495.  What with Christmas around the corner, this would make a decadent and extremely generous gift.

So smell pretty, happy shopping…and don’t hate me because I smell good…  🙂

xo Elisa

 

 

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Oct 20, 2012

Chance to win BIG…

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Hello loyal readers/goddesses of beauty…I have details of a contest that may interest you…Sephora is offering a variety of prizes, but most importantly you and two friends can win a trip to one of Canada’s Flagship Stores and $2500 in Sephora gift cards.  If this interests you, as it did me, here is the link to enter:  win.sephora.ca

Good luck y’all!  Gosh I really hope one of us wins…

Happy Weekend…xo Elisa

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Oct 18, 2012

A Hazy Shade of Winter…

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While everyone is putting their beach bags away, stuffing their swimsuits into drawers that won’t open again until next year, there remains one item that people often forget to leave out and actually use during the winter months.  Sunscreen is that item.  We all tend to think that with winter on its way sunscreen is a thing of season’s past.  That is just not the case, every dermatologist will tell you the importance sunscreen plays in preventing your skin from aging all too rapidly.  That doesn’t mean you can’t still look good while using it!  I am not referring to your beach day sunscreen that leaves your skin chalky white.   Todays products, of which there are 2, (I’m all about the choices these days) do double duty, they both have an SPF 15 (0r higher) and they both keep your skin from turning that horrid shade of Blah, that most skin turns during the winter months.

I am caucasian and yet come winter time I don’t turn pasty white like most, I get this ever so unflattering shade of gray, not so pretty.  Were it not for Amore Pacific Time Response Skin Renewal Foundation the last two winters I’d have turned 50 Shades of Gray (not in the good way I assure you).  Not only does this stuff smell amazing, it doesn’t clog your pores, stimulates skin cell renewal, decreases collagen loss for healthier, younger looking skin and most importantly it lights up your face so that you look like you have the worlds clearest complexion.  Not bad for curing the mid winter skin Blahs.  (available at neimanmarcus.com for $90).

Your second choice for SPF winter skin perfection is Giorgio Armani’s New Maestro Foundation.  This is new on the market, but as promised I’ve tested it and I have to say it’s pretty wonderful.  I am not a lover of foundation’s in general, they tend to clog my pores, feel very present on my face, like I’m wearing a second skin.  With Armani’s Maestro Foundation I felt nothing on my skin at all and my face looked great all day, 2 very big plusses in my book.  It comes in 12 different shades, so finding a match shouldn’t be a problem and you’ll find it at any Giorgio Armani Cosmetic counter for $62 u.s.  (neimanmarcus.com, saks.com).

I am quite certain you’ll find that both of today’s featured products will revolutionize your winter complexion.  Bye bye blahs…Hello gorgeous skin!

So this winter, treat your skin kindly, stay out of tanning booths, (orange is not the shade I was referring to in the title) and feel great.

“Look around, leaves are brown, there’s a patch of snow on the ground.”

xo Elisa

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Oct 11, 2012

In Lieu of Dairy Queen…

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So over the last few months I’ve taken up a healthier lifestyle, at least where food is concerned.  I’ve tried to cut down my intake and cut out my meals where the 3 main food groups were chocolate, ice cream and marshmallow fluff.  I am however a very reward oriented person and need some kind of “treat” at the end of the work week to make me feel gratified.  Some would call that reward a paycheck, but that doesn’t cut it for me literally and figuratively.  Dairy Queen (peanut buster parfait or Reese’s/banana blizzard) was my go to “prize,” but when that started to be my dinner of choice I knew I needed something else.  I finally got some much-needed discipline and rejoined the world of healthy eating.  This however left me rewardless (don’t get your kleenex out just yet, this story gets better), what else could I treat myself with other than food?

Which brings me to today’s reward-worthy product.  Josie Maran’s Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment is that product.  Once a week I treat myself to this absolutely delicious experience.  This is not your Mother’s Hot Oil Treatment!  This is a no fuss, no muss self heating oil that comes in this little easy to open ampoule that you empty into your hands and rub onto your ends after you’ve shampooed and conditioned your hair.  Leave it in for 3 minutes and BAM! gorgeous, soft, shiny, amazingly manageable hair.  It’s paraben free and cruelty free and most importantly has left me 20 lbs thinner…(well that’s because I turned to Hot Oil instead of Ice Cream).  I seriously look forward to this treatment all week-long.  My hair is stronger,  healthier and if you massage it into your scalp like I do, it gets shinier.  The warming sensation is a fun little bonus too.  I love this stuff!  When you purchase it, you get 5 ampoules that are resealable (though I use the whole thing) and every time I’ve bought it, there was a sample of Josie Maran’s Argan Oil Serum inside, a double bonus because I use that too as a frizz fighter.  FYI Josie Maran’s products are also featured at Sephora.com, this one will only set your back $36, which is really a little more than a dollar a treatment (not only do I blog, I have some mad math skills as well).

So treat yourself to something special this week and something that is really good for you too…but trust me, I haven’t completely broken up with Dairy Queen, we’re just seeing other people right now.

Enjoy and keep shining…xo Elisa

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