Lipstick Powder N Paint

In May 2008, Lancôme launched its men’s skincare line: Lancôme Men. I had the pleasure of testing the following products:

• The Ultimate Cleansing Gel
• The High Definition Shave Foam
• The Renergy 3D Firming Cream
• The Age Fight Yeux Perfecting Gel

In clinical studies conducted with 365 men of varying age, Lancôme produced some telling conclusions about men, and the way their skin performs in relation to women’s. Men’s skin is physically different from women’s: oilier, thicker, and warmer because it contains more blood vessels. Just consider the fact that us guys shave off our surface oils every morning, which causes micro-inflammation and a dehydration. Women don’t do that - or do they?

So guys, please think twice before you use your spouse’s face cream. Lancôme knows what the male skin requires and that is probably not her face products.

Whilst staying in Montreal at the funky Opus Hotel, I was able to get intimate with the Lancôme Men’s skincare line. These are my stories. (Imagine the “doink doink” sound from the Law and Order Series)

Renergy 3D
When I opened up the jet black container and looked inside for the first time, I was impressed. The white cream was glossy and smelt very pleasant. After shaving, I applied this product and felt a difference right away. My skin felt hydrated and soft.

There is an invisible network of micro-particles that are tightening to give the effect of 25,000 micro-lifts and that’s just one of the dimensions of the “3D”. The other two dimensions are firming and erasing wrinkles which are both desirable.

Age Fight Yeux
Skin around the eyes is different than the rest of your face and requires special care. I have never used an eye product and was unsure if I really wanted to. After applying Age Fight Yeux, the ultra-light fluid disappeared immediately into my skin and didn’t leave an unattractive, makeup-like sheen. By wearing it inconjuction with the Renergy 3D, I created an impenetrable moisturizing barrier, perfect for blocking the Montreal winds.

High Definition Shave Foam
Simple is good, and this is a simply good product. The rich foam softened and prepared my beard for shaving, and I found the woody citrus scent appealing - and so did my wife! It is masculine, fresh, and discrete.

Ultimate Cleansing Gel
Every morning and evening for the past month, I have religiously used the Ultimate Cleansing Gel, and have noticed an improvement in the condition of my skin. The non-drying gel helps prevents blemishes and rinses-off easily so not to dry out my skin. I am left with clean, clear skin.

I continue to enjoy these products and know that all of my facial needs are being met, to protect, maintain and enhance all of the assets around my smile.

Lancôme
www.lancome.ca www.lancome.com
Available at Nordstrom and Holt Renfrew

- Faisal Mirza

Does your lip gloss or lipstick contain SPF? An estimated 3,500 new cases of skin cancer of the lips are diagnosed each year - pretty scary huh?

Several beauty brands are realizing the need to include SPF in their lip products and we thank them for that. There are now many fantastic glosses and lipsticks that contain SPF 15 on the market. Here are my top picks:

Aveda Lip Tint SPF 15
Enjoy sheer, shimmering, conditioning colour in 8 shades, whilst protecting those lips. This tint contains avocado and mango, babassu, jojoba and olive oils for top conditioning power.

Ellen’s colour choice: 250 Apricot from the Peaches family.
Aveda.com

Bobbi Brown SPF 15 Lip Shine
Vitamins E and C soothe, hydrate, and work to minimize chapping of your lips, and SPF 15 protects to them. Lip Shine adds colour and shine with conditioning benefits that work even after colour is removed.

Ellen’s colour choice: For bee stung lips, try Claret - a rosy red.
Bobbibrowncosmetics.com

Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF 15
Available in a range of 18 glistening shades, Clinque’s Long Last Glosswear will provide you with mouth-watering colour for up to 8 hours.

Ellen’s colour choice: Juicy Apple provides
Clinique.ca Clinique.com

Kiehl’s Lip Balm SPF 15
This balm will help to keep your lips soft and supple, and also provides a pretty hint of colour. With an SPF 15, your pouter is protected from those nasty UVA and UVB rays.

Ellen’s colour choice: Hue 58B - a sheer gloss with cooler red tones.
Kiehls.com

Tarte 24/7 Lip Sheer SPF 15
Add just a touch of soft colour with these mango and cocoa butter glosses. Who knew sun protection could look so good?

Ellen’s colour choice: Champagne Brunch is that perfect sheer nude for everyday wear.
Tartecosmetics.com

Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster SPF 15 Lip Gloss
This product is a lip treatment and gloss all-in-one. Add an instant dose of moisture, infused with one of Trish’s 7 lip-enhancing colours, to create your perfect pout.

Ellen’s colour choice: Add a pop of colour with Brightening Pink.
Trishmcevoy.com

Lancôme Le Rouge Absolu Reshaping & Replenishing LipColour SPF 15
This advanced lip colour provides six-hour care with continuous moisture and protective vitamin E. Choose from an array of absolutely luxurious shades with a lustrous pearl or satin cream finish.

Ellen’s colour choice: Peachy-orange is hot for Spring so I recommend Lancôme’s Pêche.
Lancome.ca Lancome.com

Sephora’s own brand was originally launched in France in 1994, and now occupies a large section in each Sephora store. What I really like about their products is the quality, that they are extremely affordable, and each item is available in a wide range of fun and fashionable colours. Here are the latest offerings from Sephora that will rock your eyes and make your lips pop:

Sun Disk
Give your face and body that sun-kissed glow with a powder brush and this powder. Say no to sunbathing and yes to bronzer.

Colorful Mat Mono Eyeshadow
Enriched with green tea to soothe the delicate eye area, these matte shadows can be layered for added intensity. Available in nine pretty, sheer shades.

Atomic Volume Maximum Volume Mascara
Quite the mouthful! Sephora has developed an innovative tubular brush applicator with a lash-lengthening comb that separates lashes for a full, sexy flutter. In addition to providing you with mega-volume, this mascara will condition lashes, keeping them pretty and healthy.

Lush Flush
If you’re a fan of lip and cheek stains, you need to try Lush Flush. This Red Wine Extract formula provides a natural flushed look, and is loaded with anti-oxidants to help protect skin from environmental pollutants and free radicals. All this for only $10.

Maniac Long Wearing Lipstick
I will only wear lipstick if it is hydrating to my lips. Why wear a product if it isn’t going to improve the look and feel of the body part it is applied to? Sephora’s new Maniac lipstick has my lips looking and feeling great, and each shade is long-lasting too. Available in 16 shades.

Ultra-Shine Lip Gloss
Shimmering colour in 24 shades that is perfect for that glossy pout. Every lipgloss addict needs to add this to their makeup bag.

Have you ever purchased a Sephora Brand product?

Sephora
www.sephora.com

- Ellen Mirza

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Jane Ip, creator of Jeanne Lottie. Jane was warm, bubbly and excited to share her first fragrance, Diamant Rose with me.

As an avid collector of fragrances, Jane was always secretly disappointed that she could never find that perfect, beautiful scent in an equally beautiful bottle. It was always bottle or scent. Jane decided that that was just not good enough and decided to create a special fragrance that women would enjoy wearing and also love seeing on their boudoir.

Created and designed in France, and made in Canada, Diamant Rose has a floral lightness that fuses with hardy exotica, such as jasmine, tuberose, bitter orange, jasmine, sandalwood and musk. The refillable vintage-inspired, pink handbag-shaped bottle is as much a collectible as it is decorative.

“Women are all like pink diamonds - natural, beautiful, strong and precious,” says the Canadian designer. “And my fragrance evokes the very same qualities”.

Available exclusively at Sears Canada.