A Heavy Heart & Soggy Shoes - Your guide to beating the winter blues

It feels like just yesterday that we were donning bathing suits, and planning our summer escapes. I know I spent a healthy few months of summer laying in the sun, being a negligent blogger.  Now only a few weeks into fall, the clouds have rolled in.  I've been told it's official-they're here to stay.  Just because the rain is plentiful doesn't mean your anxiety over it has to be.  A few fall and winter must haves which will keep you looking and feeling fabulous:

Gumboots.  In this weather, they are an absolute MUST.  I am preferential to Hunter wellies, made from the same rubber found in car tires.  They're durable, and have already outlasted my bargain boots I've purchased in the past.  I'm all too willing to dive deep into my pockets for dry socks and toes.  If you prefer a more affordable option, Army & Navy has basic rubber boots for a fraction of the Hunter's price. 

 
Winter white.  Gone is the "no white after labour day" rule.  The right white, off-white, or cream can liven up the dullest of complexions.  Be it a knit, jacket, or trousers, keep the white in your wardrobe's rotation this season.

Taming the animal on your head.  Countless blog posts could be devoted to such a topic.  The humidity in our beautiful city can trigger many women and men to end up looking like frizzy unkempt versions of themselves for up to half the year!

"I love what this rain and humidity does to my hair" SAID NO ONE EVER.

If you're concerned about your head of hair rebelling while out in the rain-try the following:

• Flat Iron.  Instead of simply blow-dry styling your hair, run a ceramic flat iron over it also.  The ceramic iron and higher level of heat help lock in the style.
• Strong hold hair spray.  Although hair spray can be drying and damaging to hair, the right one can also protect your style from falling flat.
• Deep conditioning treatment / oil.  With the use of added products and harsh heat tools potentially damaging hair, it's important to take measures to keep hair as hydrated and as healthy as possible.  Use a treatment, leave in conditioner, or oil once a week if you notice your hair becoming dry or damaged.

As the weather changes, so does our skin.  Drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, and moisturizing are a few easy ways to tend to the largest organ we have.  If your skin needs some added pampering, try Vida Spas, with multiple locations to spoil you rotten.  If that's not an option, check out some of my DIY beauty tips.  With ingredients found around the house, you can give your skin the pick-me-up it needs to leave you rejuvenated and radiant.  

What are your fall and winter must haves?  Fuzzy slippers, Bailey's and hot chocolate, maybe a Snuggy?  I'll take all three ;) 

XO

T

Beauty Blogs - Bright Idea or Bust?

I can't help but notice the many other beauty blogs are available on the internet.  Combine that with the in-house blogs spun from almost every makeup line in existence, and there's a lot of beautiful content to navigate through.

Blogs such as Friends with Benefit (Benefit Cosmetics in-house blog) have a wide following.  The brand's theme is evident throughout the blog, without feeling like blatant product pushing or advertising.  In maintaining a certain level of integrity, Benefit gains trust and respect as a valued brand within the beauty industry.

Makeup lines that choose to extend their brand through a blog can reap the benefits (no pun intended!), and should consider the following when building a blog:

1) Giving your brand a strong voice.  Benefit is positioned as a youthful, fun, and fresh company.  Their blog maintains this through images, videos, and an individual writing style unique to the company.

2) Consumer engagement.  The option to comment on blogs, or have Q & A sessions further a brand's image as approachable and easy to connect with.

3) The use of multi-media and links.  This could include how-to videos, clips from backstage at photo shoots or fashion shows, and links to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc....

Provided makeup lines put some time and energy into building blogs which reflect their company's voice, they will be able extend their brand power and reach consumers on a whole other level.

MAC Cosmetics on Facebook - The Ultimate Beauty Creeping

Due to the wonders of modern technology, rainy days allow me to shop and browse beauty from the comfort of my couch.  With an afternoon of too much time on my hands, I decided to sneak a peak at MAC Cosmetics on Facebook.  I don't tend to spend much time on corporate or company Facebook pages (even if they are beauty related), but needed a beauty fix immediately.  I found it, at MAC's official Facebook page.

 
Their page has 3,511,890 "likes", and 45,576 people are "talking about this".  High numbers aside, MAC's Facebook page is surprisingly informative.  They feature links to helpful videos offering beauty tips, as well as live chats with MAC Pro Artists.  Their photo albums are divine, and offer a sneak peek into backstage fashion shows this season from Paris, Tokyo, Sydney, and Dubai-just to name a few!

MAC's Facebook page allows outside posts, videos, and pictures relating to the line, so makeup artists take note-your work could even be featured! MAC engages with their followers, and responds to questions posted on links and photos. They also offer contests and giveaways, including a trip to Paris!

One downside to their site is the inconsistency in updating content. New content doesn't appear every day, or even every second day. Truthfully, that didn't bother me much. I was too busy ogling photo albums of fashion shows, and models painted in rainbow colors. Thanks to the MAC Cosmetics Facebook page, I now have an even longer shopping list.

Would you "like" your favorite beauty brand on Facebook just to be able to enter their contests?  I'd say a free trip to Paris is reason enough for me!

XO

T

Blo Me Dry - Blo Dry Bar gets mixed reviews

After too many days struggling with my poor mangled locks, I think I've had enough. We've both reached our breaking point (quite literally) and are seeking relief.

I have decided hair salvation should come in the form of a refreshing visit to Blo, the Vancouver-based salon franchise known for its quick 30 minute style sessions for $35.  No cuts, no color, just wash, blow, go.  I wanted to do some research however, before opening my wallet to "blowers" who are not all certified hair stylists.

I decided to use some basic social media testing skills to see what local Vancouverites really thought of Blo Blow Dry Bars. I included all three locations in my test (the locations being Yaletown, South Granville, and Four Seasons) and used a 3 point rating system. +1 is a positive review, 0 is a neutral review, and -1 is a negative review. Based on Yelp reviews, Blo's scores are somewhat mixed, with positive reviews slightly outweighing negative ones. 

Out of ten reviews I read, six were extremely positive, and earned a +1 on the rating scale.

"I felt absolutely beautiful for my wedding, as did my bridesmaids and the moms.  We all got so many compliments on our hair, and the photos looked amazing.  Thanks for being a part of my special day Blo!" -Erin H.

One was fairly neutral, 0 on my rating scale.  

"Liked the pink and white decor at the Granville location.  Had a newbie stylist, so needless to say not the best hair I've got.  Customer service is good.  Would recommend to try, but make sure you get an seasoned stylist." -Amy P.

And three Blo reviews were extremely negative, -1 hands down.

"Blo is a great concept and was very good until it was sold to new owners. Now all the good stylists are gone and the service is awful. Some stylists are so bad they rip and tear the hair. Pay a few dollars more and go to a salon where stylists are properly trained and skilled. Blo now has high turnover with minimal training. Most have never worked with hair before." -Ali A.

All in all, more positive reviews than negative.  While I was slightly scared off by the painful-sounding negative reviews, for $35 it could be worth trying for a night out!  Stay tuned for my personal review after my visit!

Xo

T

Shopping, Shoes, and Scentsational Perfumes

Thursday, June 21st ~ 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Lord's Shoes: 2932 South Granville St

Lord's Shoes will be donating 10% of all proceeds to Beauty Night Society, and will be closed for a "Private Shopper Experience" for ticket-holders.

Smell This! Aromatherapy will be providing custom perfume creations for all attendees, thanks to their mobile scent-bar.  

Enjoy a luxurious night out with the ladies, while you shop for shoes, create your own perfume, and change the lives of women and children living in poverty.

Tickets are $25, and can be purchased at Lord's Shoes, and Smell This! Aromatherapy, or at http://beautynightscentbar.eventbrite.com/.  50% of ticket price goes to Beauty Night Society.

About Beauty Night Society: Beauty Night Society builds self esteem and changes lives of women and youth living in poverty through 3 streams of programming: Wellness, life skills development and makeovers.  The not for profit organization serves seniors, mothers and children, and survival sex workers in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.  In 11 years, Beauty Night Society has given over 16,000 life makeovers thanks to over 500 volunteers.  

Caroline MacGillivray, founder of Beauty Night Society says, "The makeover is a great way to re-introduce healthy touch in a non-threatening way and build relationships based on trust with the participants."

About Smell This! Aromatherapy: All products are made with natural, plant based ingredients, and are free from parabens and other chemicals.  Approved by PETA, Smell This! only conducts business with ethical environmentally conscious growers and suppliers.

Links:

Lord's Shoes

Smell This! Aromatherapy

Beauty Night Society

Beauty Night's Scent Bar - Online Ticket Sales

@ Carlie Wong's Couture Collection Fashion Show

Vancity Beauty is happy to announce that the week-end was spent being fashionable.  Or at least, admiring those more fashionable than I, in hopes that it would rub off!  I had the privilege of attending Carlie Wong's latest fashion show, a debut of her couture and bridal collections, at the Vancouver Urban Winery. Hosted by ET Canada's Erin Cebula, and sponsored in part by Studio Cloud 30, all attendees were treated to the musical talents of founder and recording artist Warren Dean Flandez between the two shows.  With proceeds from the event being donated to F Cancer, it was well worth rallying and getting dolled up despite the exhaustion suffered at the hands of a long work week and an lengthy battle with the flu.

The sole reason I was included in this fabulous event one may ask?  Facebook.  My entire invitation, purchase, and RSVP was done online, as were many others.  The sheer volume of attendees at Friday night's fashion show was staggering, and the Vancouver Urban Winery had to be pushing capacity.  The beauty of Facebook, letting me see who else was going to the show, who'd been invited, the reminders coming in on my newsfeed-all so convenient and appreciated.  So thanks Facebook, for actually getting me off the couch and interacting face to face for once!  I'm sure if anyone else could thank Facebook, it would be Carlie Wong herself.  The excitement surrounding her latest collection, as well as the success of her debut couture show, could be in part thanks to the savvy social media marketing behind it!

Carlie Wong was featured as a contestant on 2007's Project Runway Canada.  She has since been featured in the pages of Elle, Flare, and Lou Lou, and her creations have graced red carpets at both the Juno and Gemini Awards.

Photo Credits: Norm Lee Photography, Ed Ng Photography

Sugar and Spice... So Very Nice!!! Top Ten Home Beauty Must Haves

Although most people would prefer a day at the spa rather than emptying their refrigerator and pantry, there are many ways to maintain a beauty regime at home without painfully denting your wallet.  From pampering scrubs and facials to fighting pimples and dry skin-most of what you need is already well within your reach.

Aspirin.  This painkiller does wonders for the skin, and is great as a refining mask, or a spot treatment for pimples.  Fill a shot glass 3/4 full of Aspirin tablets, and pour in water almost to the top, leaving roughly half a centimeter to spare.  Wait for the Aspirin to dissolve, and pour in jojoba or olive oil to fill the shot glass.  Stir, and apply! Leave on for ten minutes, and rinse thoroughly.

Oatmeal.  An oatmeal bath can soothe the itchiest of skin, and is gentle enough for babies and children.  (Though remember-baths for babies only need 1/3 the amount of oatmeal)  In a food processor or blender, grind one cup of oats (quick oats or steel cut, either will do the trick) until fine and powdery.  Add to bathwater the same way you would bubble bath, ensuring there are no clumps in the bottom.  Soak for roughly twenty minutes, and pat dry.

Anti-Perspirant.  Though technically not a beauty tip, anti-perspirants are your best friend if you have a bug bite.  The alluminum helps combat the itch, and can quickly aid in reducing redness. 

Coconut Oil.  This miracle product is a must have for both the kitchen and bathroom.  There's literally not much you can't do with coconut oil.  It's a great moisturizer for the face and body, can be used on dry hair to tame frizz, thickly applied to hair as a hydrating mask, and if you have any left over-make yourself a stir fry!

Tea Tree Oil.  This anti-bacterial oil is a great blemish buster, and will even out oily skin tones.  Dab on a few drops to imperfections before bed, and wake in the morning with reduced redness and swelling.

Sugar & Coffee Grounds.  Both delicious and useful, mix 1 cup of used coffee grounds with 1/2 cup of sugar, add 2 tbsp. olive oil, and you have an exfoliant good enough to eat! The caffeine stimulates collagen, which keeps skin looking youthful.

Beer.  If your hair is in need of a pick-me up, look no further than the malt and hops found in beer. Shampoo and rinse hair, then pour in a bottle or can of beer, massage, and rinse away.  You may wish to set the beer aside to warm to room temperature, to make for a more comfortable rinse!  You'll be left with shiny hair, full of body!  If you don't believe me, just ask Catherine Zeta-Jones, famous for announcing that she washes her hair with beer and honey.

Preparation H.  The cream originally intended for hemorrhoids can be used for reducing puffiness around the eye area.  Gently dab a small amount around the eye area, carefully avoiding the eyes themselves.  Puffiness around the eye area can often be attributed to a sodium-heavy diet.  Try reducing your salt intake, and drinking more water.

Vaseline.  Run out of mascara?  Mix a little Vaseline with dark eyeshadow, curl lashes, and apply with a Q-tip.  Do your legs need a bronze summer glow?  Mix a small amount of Vaseline with your favorite shimmer powder or bronzer-and voila!  You can also mix Vaseline with a colored eye shadow or blush for a great tinted lip gloss.  The sheerer you want your lip color to be, the less powder and more Vaseline you mix.  Vaseline has been one of my best kept secrets, but the cat's out of the bag.

Did I miss anything?  Do you have any beauty tips or tricks using common household ingredients?  The next time you go into your fridge for a snack, think twice-your hair or skin could use one too!

XO

T