Beauty Favorites: NARS Cosmetics

~ happy #makeupmonday everyone!! today's beauty favorites is the incomparable NARS Cosmetics . Francois Nars's eponymous lines carries some of the most recognizably-named products. if you walk into any store that sells NARS and say, "i'd like Orgasm, Laguna, Copacabana and Dolce Vita" i promise, all the beauty advisors would know exactly which line you were asking for. NARS has something for everyone. whether you're a minimalist or prefer a full coverage type of makeup, you'll find something at the NARS counter. and the beauty of it is, the line works for a wide demographic, ranging anywhere from a 15 year old's first black eyeliner to a more mature client who might want a long-wearing product. we both use the line on ourselves and on our clients and have likely spent much more money than we needed to on the various palette's for eyes and cheeks from sephora {please stop making palettes...they take all our monies}. check out our favorites below, you'll be sure to fall in as much obsession as we are ~

~ Larger Than Life Long Wear Eye Pencil {$25} comes in 17 different shades for your {and our} indecisive minds.  rich, creamy color that glides on smoothly with a completely budgeproof finish. Incomparable 12-hour wear with no smearing and no caking. deeply dramatic shades named for the most iconic streets in the world. the twist up packaging means no need for a pencil sharpener!

~ Velvet Matte Lip Pencil {$26} a lipstick combined with the convenience of a pencil in a jumbo crayon design! use it as an all over color or as a lip pencil when paired with another lip product.  enriched with vitamin e and a blend of silicone's to give lips a smooth, non-drying finish for hours.  check out one of our favorite shades, and the color you get in your Sephora BDay Gift, Cruella!

~ Sheer Lipstick in Dolce Vita {$27} is SBDgirl Tarah Kostenko's go to lipstick for her bridal clients or when she's creating a natural makeup look for herself or on camera. this sheer soft rose brings out the natural color of any clients lip. NARS patented blend of of conditioners and antioxidants hydrate while providing translucent color. grab yours in any one of their 15 shades

~ The Multiple in Copacabana {$39} is a multi-use product that can add just the right amount of radiance to any area of the face and body. when The Multiple first made it's appearance on the cosmetics market, it had already wowed makeup artists backstage at the world's fashion week's. on counter, it can sometimes confuse clients as to what it's for, this was before the days of beauty vloggers and beauty bloggers, but it's an easy solve, it's for anything you want it for! use it along cheek bones, under brow bones and on to of the cupid's bow for an incomparable glow, mixed with body oil for an all over shimmer on arms and legs in the summer, as a cream eyeshadow....the possibilities are endless!

~ Bronzing Powder in Laguna {$39} is a cult favorite for a reason.  one of the first neutralizing bronzing powders, Laguna never looks orange on any skin tone.  beautiful for an all over warmth, as an eyeshadow or to naturally contour the face, this award winning bronzer is a must for any makeup kit

~ Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder {$36} this paraben free, and fragrance free pressed powder is a colorless dream for setting your complexion makeup. the nice thing about colorless powders is that you never need to update your color throughout the year.  this powder incorporates NARS photochromic technology which diffuses light and adjusts to different light sources throughout the day, making fine lines disappear and pores look invisible.  unlike other colorless, light reflecting powders you can reapply this throughout the day to absorb shine with out what we makeup artists like to call flash back {when the powder shows white on the skin in flash photography}

~ Body Glow {$59} is the a cult classic and one of the first luxury body oil's on the market. it's rich, chocolate shimmer gives the skin a beautiful (never orange) warm glow and the lightweight Monoï de Tahiti oil is composed of pure coconut extract macerated with the bud of the tiare flower {Tahitian gardenia}, which infuses the oil with nutrients as well as a delicate, natural fragrance. not only does your skin look fantastic but you smell like everyone's dream vacation! nothing better than that

~ And God Created the Woman Palette {$59} is a personal favorite of SBDgirl Oz Zandiyeh.  A staple in her makeup bag, this new take on a neutral palette gives you a ton of options to play with.  along with their award winning eye makeup primer (for crease free, long wear) you also get the signaature blending brush to press and blend to perfection! pick your up today online or at your nearest Sephora

 

~ check out all the NARS Cosmetic products listed here at your local Sephora, or Holt Renfrew in Canada.  go online if one of these stores isn't available to you and for all our artist friends, check out their artistry discount program!

Beauty Favorites: Stila Cosmetics

~ it's a gloomy looking wednesday and what better way to get over #humpday blues by talking about some makeup?? we're back with another #beautyfavorites and today we're talking Stila Cosmetics. stila has been a favorite of both of ours for a long time, i'd venture to say since the beginnings of the brand! the fun colors, yet simplistic nature of the brand is really what appeals to us. some of our favorites are really staples that everyone should have in their kit as they're extremely versatile and really universal in their usage. we also love how the brand revamps and re-introduces their favorites with stronger, better formulations. Sarah Lucero, the brand's international makeup artist, collaborates with some of our favorites designers {Alice and Olivia, Rebecca Minkoff} for NYFW and seeing how she puts together the various looks is always inspiring! check out our favorites down below!!

~ Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer is a cult favorite and an SBDgirl one as well, an oil free formula with SPF 20 and hyaluronic acid, this lightweight tint blurs fine lines, increases elasticity and hydration.  sheer coverage that's perfect for days off, or anytime you want to showcase your beautiful skin! 

~ Field of Florals Convertible Color Dual Lip and Cheek Palette is every makeup artists DREAM! we live for our palettes (of all kinds) because it condenses our kits (so we can carry more lol) or allows us to multitask with just one product.  Stila's Convertible Cheek colors have been our favorite cream cheek colors for years, but packing all the colors into one convenient palette gets us excited in a way we just cannot describe and only other beauty addicts (like yourselves) can relate to.  each of the 12 shades is inspired by a flower can double as lip, eye or cheek and is a steal at $49. 

~ Kitten Eye Shadow is another one of those award winning Stila products that can be used in multiple ways, it's wet and dry use texture gives it an intense or sheer look depending on how you use it.  great on the inner corner of eyes to brighten darkness, or along the cheek bones as a highlighter. 

~ Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eye Shadow is one of those products that us makeup artists used to have to create from scratch when we wanted to get an intense light reflecting quality.  gone are the days we have to mix glitter, and shimmer pigments with shadows or creams in order to get that varnished finish! with 13 shades you can create some serious drama, perfect for a night out, party or use it as a liner for a more natural finish. a little goes a long way with these and you can layer up for a dramatic effect. $32 each and it comes with a mixing try and waterproof and crease proof sealing liquid.

~ Stay All Day Liquid Liner in Black is a MUST if you like to have good control and precision when doing your cat eye or winged liner.  we all have our strengths as makeup artists and even the winged liner can intimidate us. not with this felt tip pen! it's tip is longer and thinner than most we've tried so getting that perfect tip to your cat eye is a breeze. it also allows you to tight line your eyes as well (especially if you've dropped the hope of ever creating a cat eye but still like the saturated look of a liquid liner) by applying it underneath your upper lash line, giving your lashes added fullness without looking like eye liner. the shelf life of this bad boy is also surprising, we use ours everyday and it lasts any where from 4-6 months depending on how we're using it. it comes in 15 shades and is $20 each. 

~ Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick is another one of those long lasting liquid lipsticks that can be easily mistaken for a gloss (due to it's packaging) but there is no mistaking it for a gloss once you've opened the tube!  so color saturated you don't need a lip liner before hand, you can get THAT precise with it.  some of our favorite colors are Beso (the perfect red) Bellisima (the best nude/pink) Carina ( the coral that looks good on everyone) and Fiore (magenta/fushia). 9 classic shades and 5 new spring 2015 shades to choose from at $22 a pop. 

~ we could go on and on about our Stila love, it's just a fun line to play with but one that has serious pigment payoff, great textures and delivers on it's promises.  explore and share your stila favs with us, find yours at select Shopper's Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques, select Sephora's and online! 

Hair Favorites: Bumble and Bumble

~ summer is so close, we can smell it {bobbi brown beach helps put us in a summer mind set also}. if there is one thing that we don't want to do but kind of have to, is our hair during the hot summer days. fortunately, there is a bevy of products from Bumble and Bumble that help give us easy, breezy, beach waves, gorgeous textured strands and Sienna Miller's tousled, i-dont-brush-my-hair-ever hair. we're sharing 4 of our favorite easy-to-use texture products, each providing a different type of result that is quick and simple and gets you out the door quick~

~ Bumble and Bumble's Surf line debuted a few years ago and has quickly become a must have for effortless beach waves ever since. the Surf Infusion offers yummy ingredients like coconut and passion fruit oils along with their signature salt blend that's part of the entire line of Surf products, giving you a softer hold but equally as much volume and movement as the ever popular Surf Spray.  great for dry and coarse types of hair, make sure to shake really vigorously to blend the bi-phase formula and apply from ends to mid hair length evenly onto dam or dry hair.  style hair to your preference and let dry, if you like more volume all over, try diffusing. for more volume at the roots, add a few spritz of Surf Spray

~ and this brings us to the classic Surf Spray! this is our go to favorite for gorgeous waves and texture with more hold than the Surf Infusion.  this salt infused spray adds body and a light hold with a matte finish (instead of the shine finish of the Surf Infusion).  to use: work through dam or dry hair, let dry naturally or with a diffuser for maximum volume.  if you want more definition, apply Grooming Cream throughout your strands

~ Bumble and Bumble Texture is known as a Hair(un)dressing Cream and for being a Cosmetic Exectutive Women Award Winner.  giving hair an undone-yet-done quality with a hint of hold and a shine free finish, it's the perfect product to recreate or (  if your lucky enough ) maintain that sexy, rumpled i-just-woke-up-but-my-hair-looks-amazing style. to use: work through damp hair (not dry) starting with a small amount and adding as needed. let it sit for a minute and work through, tousling as desired.  apply at your roots as well for an extra lift or diffuse for all over volume

~ Bumble and Bumble Dry Spun Thickening Spray is definitely an SBDGirl Must Have for it's lightweight, oil absorbing matte finish.  this spray is like a cross between a hairspray and a dry shampoo.  it's great for all hair types and textures, but especially fine hair. it's also great on color treated hair as well. use anytime you want to add more volume, or if your hair is looking a little limp and lifeless. to use: on dry hair after heat styling, shake well and hold the can 10 inches away from any area you want more volume or texture

~ that concludes our current round up of our favorite beach inspired, tousled wave producing products from one of our favorite hair lines! if you're wondering where to find Bumble and Bumble products, look no further than their online website, where they have a convenient auto-replenishment system.  around town, they can be found at any high-end salons and spas (Pony Hair Salon, Mardecus Hair Salon, Style Lab Headquarters), as well as Sephora

Happy Styling!

Beauty Favorites: Benefit Cosmetics

~ happy #makeupmonday beauties and welcome back to our beauty favorites series! we hope you are all enjoying your long weekend! its been a nice, quiet, family-filled one for us. today we're sharing our beauty favorites from Benefit Cosmetics. Benefit has been a brand favorite of ours since we were first introduced to it in our younger beauty junkie years. cute packaging, adorably named and most importantly, products that work beautifully. you'll find Benefit in every bloggers, every IT-girl, every makeup artists makeup bag. the products work flawlessly on different mediums, whether for everyday or for photoshoots. if we're honest, we'd share the entire line with you all, that how much we love it! we've selected a few of our current favorites, ones we're using at the moment and ones that are perfect for summer weather also! 

~ Gimme Brow is a quick way to get your #browgamestrong. a gel-like fiber that adheres to the brow, making them appear fuller with just a swipe of product. the best part is that it's long-lasting and waterproof! perfect for beach days!

~ Fake Up is an ultra-hydrating, crease-proof concealer perfect for hiding the dark circles of last nights shenanigans. the easy-to-use twist up makes its a great on-the-go addition to your makeup kit!

~ Stay Don't Stray is a long-wearing primer for concealer and eyeshadows which makes it a must have for hot summer days! a small dab on your lid and under your eyes and your shadows and concealers won't budge!

~ Roller Lash makes curling your lashes fool-proof. with its "Hook'n'Roll" brush feature, even the straightest of lashes experience lift and curl for a gorgeously sexy wide-eyed look!

~ Bad Gal has been a favorite for a long, long time. we're all about volume and drama for our nights out and this mascara doesn't disappoint. we love to combine it with our other mascara favorites for seriously insane looking lashes

~ POREfessional is a pore-minimizing primer that helps smooth out the skin texture before application of concealer, foundation or tinted moisturizer. a small dab before makeup application or a little touch here or there to mattify skin during the day. the best part is how translucent it is!

~ Posie Tint is a poppy-colored cheek & lip tint that is long wearing with just the right pop of color perfect for spring and summer. we love how so little product can provide such a gorgeous color to our cheeks!

~ HOOLA has always been a favorite bronzer of ours. its matte with no sparkles allowing it to look so natural but most importantly, it has no orange undertone to it causing it to look fake {which is THE worst when it comes to bronzer}. and since we're advocate of healthy sun, its the best way to fake a gorgeous looking tan!

~ as we said, we could go on and on and on but we hope you enjoy the few selects we've chosen. you can pick up your #benefitfavorites at any Sephora or Shopper's Drug Mark Beauty Boutiques ~

xoxo

Hair Favorites: Dry Shampoo

~ dry shampoo is a busy girl's lifesaver! a miracle hair product that allows us to forgo a morning shower when we hit the snooze button too many times but still walk out the door looking fresh. dry shampoo not only lets you go an extra day without washing your hair, it also give your hair a boost of volume and it smells super sexy! both of us lead busy lives and there are more occasions that we'd care to admit where we've not had time for a shower and we've needed a quick fix. luckily for us, doing what we do as makeup artists, we work with super savvy hair stylists and have access to some of the best hair products available. we've put together a few of our favorites, tried and tested on ourselves and on our clients. if you're a dry shampoo newbie, these suggested products will absolutely help guide you along with your first dry shampoo purchase and soon you'll be part of the dry shampoo crew!! #dryshampoocrew

~ let's face it every woman should have a dry shampoo in their hair arsenal.  no matter what your hair length, type or texture we all get the lazy now and again or just want super crazy, Texas inspired volume! there is no shame, and as most come in handy aerosol sprays they also couldn't be any easier to use

~ Batiste is every on-set hair stylist's friend, sure we love our expensive labels but nothing beats a tried and true ( and inexpensive!) favorite.  pick your product by hair color, hair type and preferred fragrance.  if you're not a fan of the classic sent or white color, then you have a choice of  blonde/brunette or auburn.  don't like that classic scent? why not try out cherry, vanilla or tropical? if you're not sure where to start, pick up a bottle of this favorite at your local Shopper's Drug Mart/London Drugs or grocery store in the styling section and let us know what you think!

~ Stila's Hair Refresher comes in 2 different scents and both with the classic white of a traditional hair powder.  it's also a sift top instead of a spray, so it's better applied by massaging it into the roots of the hair in sections.  Jade Blossom is a green tea, floral scent and Creme Bouquet is a warm amber, vanilla.  both are made with cornstarch, silk powder, and tapioca. pick yours up online as it's hard to find in stores in Canada. 

~ Nexxus Youth Renewal Dry Shampoo is an aerosol spray like Batiste and also comes in a tropical scent, but with slightly different ingredients: aluminum starch, silica, argan oil, keratin and wheat protein.  the presence of argan oil and keratin leads us to assume it would retain more of the hair's natural oils or ultimately help restore moisture while still absorbing excess oil and adding volume.

~ Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is one of our favorites for it's unique scent, more like an expensive perfume, as well as it's finish.  it doesn't add a crunchy texture to the hair like some dry shampoo/texturizing sprays can because it's application is not as "wet". Oribe also states that it's the patented polymers in it's formula that absorb oil while also not stripping hair of it's natural oils.  as it's the most expensive on our list, it helpfully comes in a smaller purse size spray if you want to try it out before spending your hard earned cash. find it online and at Holt Renfrew Vancouver, Pony Salon in gastown, Style Lab Headquarters and many other high end salons.

~ Bumble and Bumble Dry Spun Spray was one of the first hybrid dry shampoos/hair spray products we tried and subsequently fell in love with.  i mean who doesn't like a 2 for 1?  talk about MAJOR volume! you get some LIFT with this product, meant to be sprayed into the roots of hair and/or throughout as a styling product.  it's application is slightly more wet, so the finish is crunchier but can be brushed out if preferred.  find this product and more at most high end salons such as Pony Salon in Gastown, Mardecus Hair Studio in Maple Ridge, Holt Renfrew Vancouver and your local Sephora.

~ Aveeno Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo is another drug store favorite, this affordable dry shampoo is also an aerosol spray, but infused with Aveeno's Active Natural Seaweed Extract which is meant to retain hair's natural moisture.  designed by hairstylist Patrick Melville, this product can be found at Shopper's Drug Mart, London Drugs or your local grocery store in the hair care isle.

~ lastly we wanted to leave you with some instructional uses for all of these lovely products!  with all products we suggest applying in 1 inch by 1 inch sections.  if you're after some crazy volume, make sure to backcomb each section, but especially the back after applying your product.  when applying the aerosol sprays, hold the can 8-10 inches away from the scalp and massage any excess into the roots ( so you don't get left with grey areas). when using the traditional powder {Stila Hair Refresher} sifter, pour a small amount onto your finger tips and massage into the roots of your hair in small circular motions.  have fun experimenting with your new brands of dry shampoos and show us your volume with the hashtag #dryshampoocrew

Beauty Favorites: Maybelline

~ its Makeup Monday and we're starting a new series of beauty favorites, sharing our most loved products used on ourselves and in our kits from our favorites brands. first up: Maybelline. #bornwithit has always been a recognizable slogan. the no frills and gimmicks makeup line has maintained it's success throughout the years by being affordable and appealing on a variety of trends, whether fresh off the runway {Maybelline sponsors Toronto Fashion Week} or simply by carrying products that help maintain a flawless looking face. with celebrity makeup artist Grace Lee at the helm, showcasing the adaptability of Maybelline products, the brand has comes become a staple in makeup bags and kits everywhere ~

~ Baby Lips has long been a favorite of makeup artists and models alike, with an array of styles  {dr.rescue, crystal, electro} and shades to give just a hint of color while providing a balm like texture with ingredients such as honey and shea butter. grab your favorite Baby Lips style at your local Shoppers Drug Mart or London Drugs 

~ Color Sensational Lip Color is THE lip product when you want bold color with a full shine! the pure pigment in this statement lip product along with the moisturizing power of honey nectar, lanolin and castor oil make it a favorite when looking to make an elegant lip statement

~ with matte lips being such an in demand texture both on  and off the runway, these Bold Matte Color Sensational lipsticks are perfect when you want bold color with a no slip, long wearing finish.  with 20 shades to choose from and 3 essential oils {honey, sesame seed oil and kaolin} blended in with pure pigments you're sure to find the perfect color

~ next up is 24hr Color Tattoo Cream Gel Shadow, an absolute staple in many artists kit for their long wearing texture both as a shadow and as a base for shadow.  this line comes in several textures now, such as 24 HR Color Tattoo Leather Shadow {a matte finish} 24HR Color Tattoo Metal {a metallic or frost texture} and a variety of gorgeous shades. wear them alone as shadow for a natural but long wearing look, or under shadow as a base to intensify color and or shine! 

~ Fit Me! Concealer {and the entire Fit Me! line of products} has had such success since it's launch due in part to it's variety of shades {6, most drugstore brands have less} and realistic undertones.  this concealer contains no oils or waxes, and with it's liquid texture it's lightweight and gives a natural matte finish.  check out the other much loved and awarded Fit Me! products in the line: Fit Me! Foundation, Fit Me! Pressed Powder, Fit Me! Blush and Fit Me! Bronzer 

~ even if you don't currently own any Maybelline products {we hope that changes after this post!}, chances are you started out with one of their cult mascaras. Colossal Volume Mascara in Black is one of our absolute favorites for full, thick lashes! delivering 9x the volume of their regular mascara (with collagen formula) it will take those tiny lashes to the extreme.  we recommend at least 2-3 coats per eye to start volumizing, but you can coat your lashes until you get your desired result. this formula comes in washable, waterproof and 3 different shades but we will always recommend the classic black!

~ Great Lash Mascara is THE cult classic mascara {40 years of popularity don't lie} and the first one most beginning makeup artists check out.  this mascara is a great choice for natural looking lashes and now comes in several different brush styles as well as waterproof

~ Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser is one of those amazing products that can give you the results of a more expensive one {think Benefit Porefessional, Clinique Pore Minimizer}, and we LOVE that. beloved for it's skin smoothing, pore erasing and oil absorbing results, dab a small amount anywhere you want to control oil or erase pores. we also love it around the outside of the lip line if your lipstick has a tendency to bleed into any fine lines

~ that rounds up our Maybelline Favorites for #MakeupMonday! stay tuned for next week's brand favorite must haves, and stay fabulous
xoxo

Beauty Favorites: {Drug Store Favorites}

~ there's something to be said for being a savvy beauty junkie. it doesn't always mean having the most expensive products in your makeup kit. Rather, it means knowing what products are investment pieces and which ones you can save on.

~ being makeup artists, we go through A LOT of product. there are certain make up items that we are always replenishing and sometimes it just doesn't make sense spending so much on items that you go through so quickly and frequently. we practice this philosophy with our personal make up kits also. absolutely there are items that we will spending some of our hard-earned money on and feel no remorse or guilt whatsoever {we're looking at you Tom Ford lipsticks} but there are some things we just can't bring ourselves to spend all those dolla bills on for the following reasons:
1. we don't use them too often {like foundation ~ Oz is a tinted moisturizer kinda girl} 2. the lifetime of the product just isn't worth it {most mascaras because we go thru them so fast} 3. trendy items {certain shades of lipsticks or eyeliners are only popular for so long, no sense in spending so much money if they're only being used a few times} and lastly, 4. tried, tested and true {these products are just as good as their luxury counterparts!}

~ we've chosen 6 of our favorite drug store products that we think you'll love just as much, starting off with Oz's selects.
we would love to hear your favorites also in the comment section!!

1. Maybelline Baby Lips ~ i probably have 10 of these in all my coats and purses. they're so hydrating and impart a hint of color that can actually be used in lieu of lipstick or gloss. as an added bonus, they visibly renew the texture of your lips leaving behind super soft lips

2. Cover Girl Full Lash Bloom ~ mascara is something i thru a lot! i'm a minimalist when it comes to my every day makeup routine
3. L'Oreal Infalliable Gel Lacquer Liner 24 Hour ~ this gel liner is amazing. ah-may-zing. it glides on super smooth without tugging at your skin, the brush gives you a lot of control with flexibility {for those winged eyeliner days} and it stays. like on. for a very long time. it is also a favorite of many a celebrity make up artists
4. L'Oreal True Match Concealer ~ i don't know about you but i like my makeup application to be quick and foolproof but have me looking beauteous. this easy to use concealer that blends in seamlessly with color match perfection is a great on-the-go product to have for quick, cell-phone camera touch ups
5. Eco Tools Brushes ~ i'll be honest with you, i like fancy brushes. they bring me lots of joy when i use them on myself and my clients. i came across these brushes by accident: i went to a makeup gig not realizing that i had misplaced my brushes in a different kit {fortunately it was a friend and i got there super early and we were close to London Drugs}. while i could have easily done a full makeup with my hands and fingers {fashion makeup artist yo!} i do hold myself to a level of professional decorum. my salvation: eco tools brushes. they are really nice. really nice. and trust a makeup artist when they tell you if brushes are the bomb.com or not. these beauties are now my mainstay personal brushes
6. Revlon Colorstay Foundation ~ if and when i wear foundation {very rarely if ever} i like a foundation that works with my combination skin, gives me a decent amount of coverage, but most importantly, stays on my face. fortunately, this one does all of that and doesn't make me feel like my skin is caked on with makeup {yes, i am a makeup artist who doesn't like to wear foundation. we do exist}

Tarah's selects are coming up and she's a glam girl so be sure to check back soon!

xoxo

Glam at the 2015 Grammy's

- excuse us for being away for a moment, we have been working on some fun Love Day ideas! however, we took a break to indulge in some 2015 Grammy's action and the glitterati did not disappoint. the ladies pulled out their glam squads and took their red carpet action up a notch if you ask us. below is our picks for the best glam of the night:

Madonna

~ say what you will about her outfits, her men ( boys), or her music, but you can't deny that her makeup artist @ginabrookebeauty slays her glam on every red carpet.  never without her Chantecaille Rose de Mai Hydrating Mist, she also incorporated the brands Future Skin foundation and new for Spring 2015 The Glacier Eye Shadow Trio (which we will be picking up for ourselves after seeing it!). the Madonnator sported a rose lip, her signature porcelain skin, strong brows and bold cat eye liner with the most gorgeous shade of gold glitter shadow

Katy Perry

~this girls makeup is on point at every event thanks to her beauty boy @byjakebailey.  as a Cover Girl spokesperson he incorporated a few signature products into her look for the Grammy's, such as Cover Girl's newest addition to their mascara family: Full Lash Bloom Mascara.  a few of our other picks to complete her look are Cover Girl's Bombshell Intensity Liner and Notice Me Nudes Eyeshadow Quad. shine on Miss Katy, shine on

Kim Kardashian- West

~ now this pick may be frowned upon by some of you, but there is no denying @makeupbymario talent for bringing out the best in Mrs. West's features with his signature glam.  using Anastasia Beverly Hills shadows on her eyes in a mix of golds, greens and browns, Tom Ford Gloss in Naked, and his custom highlighter Eye M Glam by Giella.  this gives Kim a fantastic glow with out being overly shiny, and a wonderful take on  modern mermaid colors

Skin Care Favorites: {2014}

~ i mentioned in my 2014 beauty favorites post that i had upped my skin care game this year. i've definitely noticed changes in my skin and while i've been fortunate to have very little change, i have no doubt that one day i'll wake up and see some things i don't really want to see. proactive is the name of the game. i've been making sure to step out of my usual comfort zone and brands and try some newer products. that's worked out really well for me thus far and i've been very happy with what i've added to my skin care routine. being a beauty blogger and editor, i make sure to do a bit of research and test all the products before purchasing and i encourage that you do that also. the last thing you want is to buy something that doesn't work for you. also, read the packaging. when i first tried the glam glow, it began to tingle and i was worried my skin was reacting to it. it wasn't until i read the packaging and it said: tingling and exfoliating mud mask. even beauty editors have not so bright moments. anyhoo, the following are some of the newer products i tried out this year and have added to my every day. i broke it down for morning/evening and specialty. there are other products i use also but these are the newest and freshest. i look forward to upping my skin care game even more in 2015. sheet masks. going to buy some more sheet masks ~

Day: 

Fresh Soy Facial Cleanser 

Eminence Stone Crop Hydrating Mist 

Josie Maran Light Argan Oil

Kiehl's Super Fluid UV Defense Sunscreen 

Evening: 

Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream 

Tarte Fresh Eyes Make Up Remover Wipes 

Josie Maran High Infinity Intensive Creamy Oil

Specialty: 

Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask 

Glam Glow Youth Mud Tingling and Exfoliating Mud Mask 

Clarisonic Mia 2 

Jenna Hipp Essential Nail & Hand Cream

Top 10 Beauty Favorites: {2014}

~ 2014 has been quite a year, with ups and down {as to be expected} but a trail of glittery things has made for an overall pleasant year. i made too many visits to sephora {VIB Red yo!} and was fortunate to have a lot of support sent my way from various beauty lines {perks of being a makeup artist/beauty blogger/beauty editor}. i put together 10 of beauty favorites from 2014. i tried a lot of new products things year, from hair to skin and beauty. the biggest change for me was trying out bolder lip colors. that was a step and i'm glad i took it. i also developed a mild obsession with roller balls {they're so perfect-sized for all my handbags and clutches} and upped my skin care game {post coming soon}. i hope your year was full of pretty things and that 2015 is just as beautiful ~

1. NARS Laguna Bronzer
2. NARS Cruella Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
3. Benefit Fake Up in Shade 2
4. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Black
5. Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiore
6. Essie Nail Polish in Head Mistress
7. Dolce by Dolce & Gabbana Roller Ball
8. NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette
9. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette
10. Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Deep

xoxo

Oz

{Merry Christmas !!}

~ wishing you lots of joy and quality time with your families and loved ones! we hope Santa treated you your hearts desires, whatever they may be. sending you all lots of love and happiness ~

xoxo

12 Days of {Giveaways}: Day 1

~ It's the most wonderful time of the year and we want to share our love of beauty|style|pretty things with you all with 12 days of giveaways! entering is easy and you can submit 3 entries per giveaway. 1-follow us on Instagram @stylexbeautydept 2-follow us on Twitter @SBDgirls and 3- Follow us on Pinterest @sbdgirls. be sure to let the randomizer below each image know where you've entered! we will then randomly select a winner of each giveaway and notify you via either twitter or instagram. good luck to everyone and thank you for being so amazing and helping us grow our blog to what we envision it to be!~

xoxo Oz & Tarah

 ~first giveaway: Erno Lazlo Hand Cream x Deborah Lippman Nail Polish x Bauble Bar Gold Bracelet~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Miraj Hammam Spa

~ spa services are divine. any kind of spa service. tarah and i have experienced our fair share of spa services yet when we got an email asking us to attend and experience a Hammam and Gommage service at Miraj Hammam in Vancouver, neither of us knew what it entailed ~

~Miraj Hammam is a spa located on Granville and 6th in Vancouver, BC, that practices cleansing and healing for the body and soul based on Middle Eastern treatments. Mirja has been in this prime location for 15 years and most recently opened up in the Shangri-La in Toronto. The service that we were experiencing was Hammam and Gommage: a steam and exfoliation treatment that ended with a Oriental massage {15 minute relaxation massage}. i, for one, was very excited about the steam and exfoliation treatment. i'd been trying to find time for a scrub for a long time and this treatment could not have come sooner!~

~upon arriving we were escorted into the change work and told to strip down and wear only the sarong they had provided for us. {miraj hammam is primarily a women's only spa but they do have days designated for men and couples} tarah and i were both hesitant at first but when in rome (or in the middle east)~

~Veronica, our esthetician, grabbed us and walked us into a room. this was our first surprise. the room was so full of steam, it was almost impossible to see each other. after a few seconds of gathering our bearings, Veronica explained that we would be sitting in steam for 15 minutes and provided us with some water and left us to bask in the warmth of the steam room. we started to sweat instantly. like sweat, a lot. {note to self for next treatment..do not wear makeup, bring a hair tie and a change of undergarments} but all was good and fine because the scrub was coming! all i could think of was, i wish i had brought my facial exfoliant in with me, my skin would look amazeballs. Veronica came in and grabbed us one at a time for our exfoliation treatment.  we laid faced down on what we found out was Jerusalem gold marble as Veronica exfoliated our bodies neck to pinky toes using black Moroccan soap. it was a vigorous scrub down and once it was done, my skin literally squeaked clean. best.thing.ever. i was escorted back into the steam room while Tarah had her scrub down and then we were asked to dry ourselves off before going in for a Oriental relaxation massage ~

  now, i've never had a massage outside of esthetics school as a student so it isn't something i partake in too often, but let me tell you, it was so relaxing that afterwards, as I awaited Tarah in the Sultana Lounge, i could barely keep myself sitting up. all i wanted to do was sleep amongst the plush silk cushions atop the velvet beds. once Tarah returned from her massage, we were treated to some Middle Eastern tea and a sweet cake, both different and tasty, a wonderful way to end our experience~

 ~ we were both so pleased by the overall experience that we were just counting the days to when we could plan to return with friends and steam our skin clean of all impurities. this spa is an absolute must visit in Vancouver for a unique and old world spa experience ~

xoxo
Oz

*sponsored post, thanks the Mirja Hammam for having us*

Current Prettiness

~ i love fall/winter. it is definitely my favorite season for beauty, fashion, decor, pretty much everything. it is also the season where i likely spend the most money. y'all know how i feel about scarves. adding to that obsession is leopard, red lips, jeweled everything and so much more. i recently added a few pretty things to my closet/jewelry box/makeup kit and i am obsessed with them all. see below for my current prettiness ~

       

 1. Nars Cruella Velvet Matte Lipstick ~ this is a gorgeous scarlet red lipstick pencil that pairs perfectly with the glimmering gold and silver lids of fall/winter and winged liner 

        2. Olive + Piper Lucy Crystal Collar ~ i got this a while back and have worn it a few times and get so many compliments on it. it's the perfect accessory for almost any outfit, dress, even a basic t-shirt. i'm looking forward to wearing it to many cocktail parties this holiday season 

        3. Nars Virtual Domination Cheek Palette ~ i'm a nars-oholic. i have more nars palettes than a girl should own but i regret nothing and love each of them madly. i find that palettes make life easier: for application, for transport and for organization 

        4. Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Spray ~ i'm a sucker for a good perfume and admit to being one of those girls who sprays way more perfume than is acceptable before leaving the house. in an effort to not cause my girlfriends to choke on my perfume bathed body, i have begun purchasing rollerballs ~ small, portable versions of perfumes. the dolce one is my newest addition, so sweet and feminine smelling but very gentle, not overpowering at all, exactly how i like my perfumes 

       5. Clare Vivier Leopard Clutch ~ this, my friends, is my absolutely favorite new purchases. i've had my eyes out for a versatile leopard clutch for a long time now. i kept missing out on the J. Crew and Zara ones. they're so popular they get snatched up within hours, it seems, of being out. this Clare V. is just as popular and a bit pricier. I got mine through Piperlime and had to wait three months before it was available for shipping but it was so worth it. it is the perfect size for everything i would want to carry with me while carrying a clutch, it's soft and smooth, flexible and it doesn't fuzz or come apart like other leopard clutches i've had in the past. j'adore so hard.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

French Girl Beauty

~ bonjour beauties. it's makeup monday and who better to teach us about makeup and hair than french girls? i can across this article on vogue.com and needed to share it with you all. i subscribe to a very similar beauty philosophy for my own everyday beauty: minimalism at its finest with an emphasis on looking like the best version of myself by accentuating, not covering up. i've linked a few of my favorites products to achieve my everyday beauty look. give the article and read and share your everyday beauty essentials with us!

Style x Beauty Dept

YSL Touché Eclat
Nars Blush in Nico
Nars Eyeshadow in Abyssinia
Make Up For Ever Smokey Extravagant Mascara
Nars Larger than Life Eyeliner
MAC Ruby Woo
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso
Bumble and Bumble Texture Hair (Un) Dressing Creme



xoxo
Oz

{Makeup Bag Diaries}: Leah Elliston from SmudgeStyle

~ we're back for another {Makeup Bag Diaries} with local fashion, beauty blogger and makeup artist extraordinaire Leah Elliston from SmudgeStyle. i work with Leah, teaching at Blanche Macdonald and the lady is always put together, looking oh so lovely. Leah carries her everyday beauty essentials in a bright yellow Michael Kors makeup bag {no longer available, similar with beauty products here} and the beauty goodies inside are what luxury beauty product dreams are made from. check out her everyday beauty favorites down below and be sure to follow Leah at: www.smudgestyle.com and instagram: @smudgestyle

MAC blot powder in medium dark
MAKE UP FOR EVER kabuki brush {similar}
 Tom Ford lipstick in ginger
YSL rouge pur couture #1
YSL rouge volupte #9
 Giorgio Armani lip maestro 202
Maybelline master kajal in onxy rush
Province apothecary lip balm
Elizabeth Arden 8 hour Cream Skin Protectant

Leah's beauty advice:

"I always have a few bright lipsticks with me because a pop of colour on the lips is the quickest way to glam up your face"

{Makeup Bag Diaries} : Aleesha Harris from Covet and Acquire

~its makeup monday and we are happy to share with you local style and beauty blogger Aleesha Harris's makeup favorites. Aleesha's day-to-day look is usually centered around a light eye, strong brow and bold lip {our favorite}. being a beauty and style blogger, Aleesha's makeup drawer resembles ours: a mountain of miscellaneous products. to keep her everyday go-to's neat and tidy, she uses a Louis Vuitton pouchette. this mini bag full of beauty goodies helps Aleesha get to and from her office to beauty and fashion events quickly without having to carry around a bulky bag. check out her favorite must haves below and be sure to follow Aleesha's blog : Covet & Acquire and instagram: @aleesha_h

Aleesha always has at least two Nivea Pearly Shine but like all other beauty bloggers, she's always carrying a zillion lipsticks. Like Aleesha says, "girl's gotta have options". Her favorite red lipsticks: NARS Cinematic in Short Circuit {limited, part of the Guy Bourdain collection~ similar color here}and Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lipstick in Rouge 01. for an extra boost, Aleesha likes to swipe on some GOSH prime'n'set Primer and Mattifying Setting powder followed by a brow touch up with MAC Pro LongWear Brow Set in Quiet Brown. Finishing her makeup with her absolute favorite mascara, Bourjois Paris Volume 1 Second pulls together her every day look. some beauty advice from Aleesha:

"I always carry OPI Wipe-Off! acetone-free lacquer remover wipes because there is nothing worse than sporting a seriously rundown manicure"

xoxo

Soft Hands

~i'm obsessed with hand creams. soft hands are important to me. i really dislike the feeling of dry hands. maybe it's because i use my hands for so much: makeup, typing, writing, reading, eating; pretty much everything. i'm always on the lookout for good hand creams and have a few favorites that i constantly replenish like the ones below. they need to be non-greasy, nice smelling, nourishing and just feel good on the hands ~

Jenna Hipp Essential Nail & Hand Cream
L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream

xoxo
Oz

{Makeup Bag Diaries}

~ tarah and i are always asked what we use as personal makeup given we have large quantities of makeup in our kits. what we use for fashion, bridal and beauty makeup in our kits doesn't always translate to our personal use but for the most part, we are both guilty of pulling from our kits to use on ourselves. we decided to start a series called {Makeup Bag Diaries} showcasing the personal makeup bags of ourselves and some of our favorite local bloggers. this is a little peek at my personal makeup. click the links below to see the brands i love and adore. we hope you enjoy all the beauty!

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9 {similar}


xoxo
Oz

ps. be sure to check out our makeup websites: Oz {www.ozzandiyeh.com}, Tarah {www.tarahkostenko.com}

Fall Skincare Favorites

~ the first day of fall is just the best. tarah and i are both big fans of fall weather as evidenced by our sweater post last week. we live in vancouver, otherwise known as raincouver so you can trust that we understand sweater weather and layering. always layering. as much as we love fall, we don't love what it does to our skin. we both believe in preventative measures so why not begin your new skin regimen on the first day of fall? even f.scott fitzgerald said, "life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall". while it's not cold enough to complete revamp your skin care choices, adding a few newer items is definitely worth it~

1. EOS Pomegranate Raspberry lip balm ~ i've been a fan of these lip balm balls ever since a girlfriend of mine gifted me one at christmas. small and compact, delicious flavors and super moisturizing. you can find them almost anywhere now, shoppers drug mart, chapters and target

 2. Kiehl's Creme du Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter ~ kiehl's is a brand i've been using for many, many years. i love that they change it up often enough that my skin doesn't get too comfortable using the same products over and over. as a makeup artist, the creme du corps lotion is a staple in my kit. unscented, non-sticky, quick drying, everything that i need from a body lotion for glowing skin. the body butter is a new addition to my home care regimen. my skin gets super dry the instant the weather starts to cool down so i wanted to try something a little richer in hopes that i wouldn't have to layer so many products and oils. this body butter is divine. DIVINE. i've always been a fan of the body shop body butters (satsuma is the best smelling EVER), this one is richer, not sticky and dries super quick while leaving my skin feeling soft and touchable ;-)

3. Eminence Organics Stone Crop Mist ~ i started using Eminence while i was an esthetics student almost ten years ago. a huge fan of their philosophy because skin care being pure and organic, not filled with chemicals we can't even pronounce, makes me feel good about using their products on my face. the stone crop line as a whole is wonderful. super hydrating and good for all skin types. the mist, however, is other level. definite top shelf material. super nourishing and it smells like freshness. i've already noticed a difference in the texture of my skin over two months. i picked mine up from CurliQue on Robson

4. Tata Harper Replenishing Nutrient Complex ~ i've been using facial oils for about two years now. having tried tarte maracuja oil and josie maran argan oil and having been satisfied with both, i'm always on the lookout for newer facial oils. the tata harper is on my wish list of products to get. what excites me the most is the lightweight texture. oils can feel heavy but this one is light to touch and replenishes..thats the key word: replenish. as a sidebar, local #girlboss Darcy is vancity's own Eco Diva Beauty and knows all about organic beauty brands that are amazing for your skin. be sure to check it out!

xoxo
Oz
@stylexbeautydept