Bridal Beauty Fix: The Joy of Makeup

If you're getting married in the Toronto/GTA area this year and are still looking for a Toronto/GTA bridal makeup artist check out The Joy of Makeup to view my services, rates, contact info and portfolio. For any brides getting married I also have some great beauty tips, Joy Approved beauty product reviews, and some hair and makeup inspirations! Visit the official blog to read up on the latest

Random Beauty Quote

A random photo from my flickr collection for a random post.  Really, I just wanted to see something lovely and bright this dreary January!Wow--the end of the week is almost upon us.  I'm going to round out this crazy, time-strapped week with a quick quote from an anonymous source:"It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.”Nice, right?I'll be back next week

Beauty Review: Nubar Marabout Nail Polish

Spring is calling my name, but my nails are still clinging to Fall & Winter's deep moody shades. Have you heard of Nubar Nail Lacquers? If not, then you must! I had heard about this brand through other beauty blogs and I can't believe I've waited this long to try it. I'm really impressed with the quality of these polishes!Nubar's creator, Noubar Abrahamian, set out to design a line of polishes

You Could Be The Face of ELF

Ok, my lovely ladies!  One of you could be the next face of e.l.f.!  If you think you have what it takes, keep reading:For the second year in a row, e.l.f. Cosmetics will be spearheading a spokesmodel search – Beauty At All Ages 2011- turning to its own loyal customers to fill the role as the new face of the brand for 2011. The exciting, interactive opportunity will kick-off on January 18th and

Get Lippy for Your Valentine

So...Valentine's Day is almost here.  Yikes.  that means my birthday is almost here too!  Do you have plans yet for Valentine's Day (or should I say Valentine's Night?!)?  I do!  You're going to be sooo jealous when I tell you this, but my Valentine's Day plan includes working late.  Boy, do I know how to live or what?My husband and I have been together forever, so we don't make special plans on

Fun Blue & Purple Makeup

Products Used:Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Liner in ElectricMAC eye shadows:Electric Eel (bright blue)Indian Ink (matte darker purple)Moon's Reflection (light blue frost)Parfait Amour (bright medium purple frost)Blanc Type (matte light cream)MAC Fluidline in BlacktrackCovergirl Lashblast mascaraBenefit Prrrowl (glitter mascara topcoat)MAC powder blush in PrismMAC lipglass in Strange Potionnot shown in

Healers Touch

Just a simple little look for this week - for all those of you who like something wearable :) I'm off to a short trip to Barcelona and Sevilla tomorrow, so my time is a little short and we'll move on straight to the pics:Lashes courtesy of www.kkcenterhk.comProduct ListMAC Bare Canvas, Fyrinnae Healers Touch, Fyrinnae First Prize, Pure Luxe Seashore, u.m.a. gel eyeliner, ES lashes, CG Lash Blast,

I Need More Time!

I love the beach in the Winter.  Photo by me!Good Morning and Happy Monday!Wow--I feel like 2011 is flying by.  It seems like every weekend is super busy, and this last weekend was no exception.  I was at the beach with the Mister and made myself unplug--from my email, twitter, facebook, etc. Also, since I was at the beach, the last thing I worried about was my makeup.  When I was packing for my

Beauty Trends 2011: Baby, it's cold outside! Warm up with M.A.C. Spring trends!

I know, we've all said it - we're so over you Winter! Spring cannot come fast enough! Thankfully, the buzz of Spring beauty trends and sneak peeks of Spring makeup collections have been keeping me warm. Back in December, I was invited to the M.A.C. Master Class featuring Spring trends. What a great way to forget the cold even if just for a few hours! M.A.C. Senior Artist, Jane McKay (left), and

Get BOOTiful...and Get Savings!

I've been clipping coupons like a crazy woman lately.  I guess after the holidays, money feels tight and I don't want to spend more than I have to.  Sound familiar?  If you're looking for good deals, here's a coupon from Boots.  Take it to your nearest Target and pick up something good.  They have lots of kick-ass products to select from!It’s time to get BOOTiful! Beauty brand Boots is offering

Hello, Sephora

I love, love, love this.  If you haven't been by your local, friendly Sephora, you're missing out!  They're unveiling their new big collection: the Hello Kitty line.I'm a grown-up and should know better, but I do love me some Hello Kitty.  Combining Hello Kitty and Sephora to make some super cute products?  Freaking genius!  Here's a link to everything Hello Kitty related at the makeup mecca. 

Glee-ful Nails

Yesterday, I told you that OPI is heading south to Texas.  Well, Sephora by OPI is hoping on the Glee bandwagon with their Gleek Chic Collection.  Here's the scoop:Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products has teamed up with Sephora Americas to develop an exclusive collection of nail colours and prints for the ultimate pop culture phenomenon – GLEE. The “Sephora by OPI goes Gleek Chic” collection

OPI has GTT

Ugh.  I just don't know how I feel about this.For its newest line of nail colors, OPI has gone to Texas (g.t.t.) with their new Texas line.Really?  Texas?  OPI usually draws inspiration from far off lands with a rich heritage. But for Spring/Summer 2011, I guess they're playing the recession card and are staying state-side.  But of all states to pick from, why on earth would they select Texas? 

Golden Globe Darlings

How many of you caught the red carpet coverage of the Golden Globes last night? How many of you actually watched the awards show? For most award shows, the only thing I look forward to is the red carpet coverage but since Ricky Gervais was hosting I just had to watch the whole show! Again ,he was hilarious with his unforgiving digs at the celebrities and was just true to himself through and

Gold Leaf

I've been wanting to recreate this look for some months, but had some difficulties in procuring the necessary gold leaf. Via Facebook I got some advice to use gold foil for nail art, and this is what I did! The lashes are again courtesy of http://kkcenterhk.com/ , they are by ES and come in packs of 10 pairs each. They are actually meant to be worn on the upper lid, but I cut them into shape and

How to Make Powder Foundation Look Natural

Powder foundation is quick and easy, but sometimes an overly-powdered look is really not what I go for... Ok, actually an overly-powdered look is something I never go for. Remembering a few easy tricks and adding in a few crucial steps to your powder foundation routine can actually make it look extremely natural. No one will ever know your flawless skin came from a compact. I won't tell if you

January Giveaway at Free Beauty Events

Every month, I remind you to visit the Free Beauty Events website for the latest in demos and giveaways. This month, for example, L’Oreal will demonstrating their True Match lines at select Rite Aids around the country as well as handing out coupons and samples. This information is available for free on the Free Beauty Events site. You can enter your zip code to find out what makeover, gift with

Beauty Review: Sensitive Skin? Eczema? Then You Need Diane Lai!

 Has the cold winter weather left your skin feeling dry and itchy? Do you find every skincare product you try makes your sensitive skin irritated and blotchy? Or do you suffer from eczema? My son developed eczema at the age of one and ever since it's been a constant battle until now. I had tried avoiding topical steroid creams such as hydrocortisone but creams from Aveeno or Jergens Baby would

Beauty Product of the Week: Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer

What is it? Stila's Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 is "A lightweight, tinted moisturizer infused with a hint of shimmer and a protective SPF 15.  This multipurpose beautifier does triple duty: It acts as your moisturizer, sunscreen, and luminizer to provide sheer coverage that makes skin appear flawless, and its super hydrating ingredients and protective SPF 15 will keep your skin

Beauty News: Makeup Junkie Has A New Sister Site!

I'm excited to announce the new launch of my personal website, The Joy of Makeup! At the new Makeup Junkie sister site you will be able to view all my makeup work, services and rates, latest makeup jobs or events, and beauty tips. I also have a dedicated blog on the site which I will occasionally be updating with new work, makeup 101's, and beauty tips so be sure to visit!I'm very excited about

Winter Woes: Not-So Perfect Fingernails

Out of the way, buster!  I'm the one in need of a manicure!Every Winter, I seem to deal with two nail problems: 1) peeling, messed fingernails and 2) stained nails thanks to wearing dark nail polish.  So how can I beat these two problems?PEELING NAILSCold, dry weather is a beast...and it seems to do extra damage to our lovely little fingernails.  Like dry skin, the best bet is to add as much

Tiffany's Everyday Smokey Eye Makeup: Easy, Flattering, Natural

Products Used:Smashbox Photofinish Lid PrimerStila Eye Kajal in Tigers Eye (dark flat brown)MAC eye shadows:Woodwinked (shimmery, light, golden bronze)Handwritten (matte dark brown)Bronze (...bronze)Ricepaper (light yellow-cream with a sheen)MAC Fluidline in Dipdown (dark flat brown)Diorshow Blackout mascaraNARS blush in Madly (natural tan with a hint of rose)MAC lipglass in Pink Lemonade (bright

Smooth Operator

Shaving is a pain.  Not only do you risk injury, but you're probably also coating your legs in some iffy chemicals when you use normal run-of-the-mill shave creams, foams, and gels.I recently tried a few products from Pacific Shaving Company and, though they didn't make shaving the most pleasurable moment of my day, they were a nice change of pace.  Pacific Shaving Company makes both an all

Velvet Blue

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by http://kkcenterhk.com/ and asked if I wanted to test some of their false lashes. They have a huge selection (and I mean HUGE!) of all types of lashes, from subtle to outrageous, and I was thrilled to be able to pick some of them! I will definitely order again from them, as falsies are some of my favourite things to play with :)! The first lashes I tried are

Beauty Resolution 2011: A Bright and Daring Future Ahead!

When a new year begins, we’re encouraged to make a resolution. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sworn to eat better or exercise more often for my New Year’s resolution, and of course, broken it! This year I decided to take a different course of action. Why not try something fun this time around? My 2011 New Year’s resolution: be more daring and creative when it comes to beauty.Dare to be

First Post of the New Year With A New Makeup Junkie Contributor!

Happy New Year! Yes, we're 10 days into the new year and I'll admit - I needed an extra week to recover from the busy yet blissful holiday. Plus, it didn't help that I was feeling a little under the weather but I'm back and looking forward to another year full of beauty! To kick off the first post of the New Year I'm excited to introduce a new Makeup Junkie contributor! Meet Brooke. She's a young

Age-Busting Tips from Women's Health

For many of us, a new year means undergoing a lot of personal assessments.  We think about ways we want to improve our bodies, our finances, our lives, and our looks.  Even if we're not planning huge changes, we often want, at least, to rejuvenate our looks for a fresh, new start. The first step is to kick signs of aging—many that can be surprisingly unexpected. Women’s Health magazine highlights

Beauty Quote to Start the Year

This is a time when people are thinking of ways to transform themselves.  The start of a new year gives us a blank slate--a chance to hit the reset button and begin anew.  As I wind down the first crazy week of this new  year, I leave you with some words of wisdom from American writer and poet,  Maya Angelou:“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone

Winter Woes: Dry Skin

Now that the holidays are over, we're headed into the bleaker period of Winter.  The days are shorter, nights darker.  The air outside is cold and biting, and inside too dry and static-y thanks to forced hot air.  It's a time when skin is dry, dry, dry.  Lips crack, cheeks turn red as they get whipped with icy winter winds, and let's not even get started on the condition of our feet and hands. 

Easy Red Lips Tutorial

Products Used/Mentioned in Video:EOS Lip balmAny type of foundation or concealer (I used Nars Sheer Glow)MAC Lipliner in CherryMAC Lipliner in StripdownMAC Lipstick in Russian RedMAC Lustreglass in VenetianLoreal Endless LipsticksSigma Lip Brush

New Year: Time to Take Stock

Now that we're into a new year, it's a really good time to take stock of what you have lurking in your cosmetics bag.  If you're like me, you probably got some new things this holiday season...and you most likely have old, crappy products in the depths of your stash.It's time to shed some light on what you have: to dump the old stuff and to see what you're missing.  It shouldn't take too long. 

New Year, New You?

Happy 2011!  Wow...I can't believe that we're at the start of another new year.  I had good intentions last month to do some "Best Of" type posts for 2010, but it never happened.  Life got a bit too busy for me, what with the holidays and all.  And now, a "Best of 2010" feels a bit past it's prime.  It's a new year; let's move forward.So...today's my first day back at the office in two weeks.  It

Mint Bubbles

Happy new year everyone!!I've been sick for the whole of last week and only today I felt adequate again to getting my brushes out. This time I tried to copy a digital look I came across a few weeks ago. This is the original (source: renderosity.org):My version:Unfortunately my mint colour is less intense, but I didn't bring anything brighter coloured with me :(How to achieve it:1. Prep your lids