Guiltless Goodies: Leona Lewis glitters in InStyle

Hi all!

InStyle magazine’s December issue featured one of my favourite singers – British vocal powerhouse Leona Lewis – in the season’s sparkliest make-up. As if you couldn’t tell from my recent posts, glitter and sparkle is super in this season, and it certainly makes it easy to feel festive.

See below for the three different colour-themed looks that Leona sported and my ‘kind’ versions of the products the magazine recommended to create each look (I sourced totally different products that still would create the same make-up effect because, to be frank, at least three out of the four products listed for each look were tested on animals).

You don't have to be cruel to be kind,

GiGi

Ultra-Violet Femme

How to do it: Makeup artist Mariel Barrera blended silver shadow over Lewis’ lids and creases and purple on her brow bones and near the tear ducts. “The purple balances out the intensity of the silver and creates a subtle highlight,” Berrera explains. Next, she applied black eyeliner inside the lower rims of eyes before swiping lashes with three coats of mascara. She finished with bronze blush and frosty pink lipstick.

1. Black eyeliner – mark Eyemarker Color On Line in Jet, $5.50, meetmark.com

2. Eyeshadow – Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadow in Wild Orchids, $6.50, drugstores

3. Black mascara – Too Faced Lashlight Mascara, $25, toofaced.com

4. Frosty pink lipstick – Make Up For Ever Glossy Full Pastel Mauve #9, $19, makeupforever.com

5. Bronze blush – Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin 2-in-1 Bronzer & Blush, $14, drugstores

Golden Girl

How to do it: To give skin a high-watt glow, Barrera swirled a dime-size amount of liquid highlighter onto Lewis’s temples, cheeks and jawline. “Always avoid the T-zone when using shimmer,” says Barrera. “It will keep you from looking too shiny.” Next, Barrera brushed a light-reflecting powder over Lewis’ entire face “to set the highlighter and even out her skin tone.” Then she used a gold face highlighter as an eye shadow, blending it over Lewis’ lids, with extra emphasis under brow bones and at the inner corners of eyes. To complete the look, Barrera used her fingers to apply a dab of shimmery bronze gloss on lips.

1. Highlighter – Chantecaille Lumiere de Rose highlighter, $36, chantecaille.com (InStyle’s original pick)

2. Light-reflecting powder – BeneFit box o’ powder in dallas, $28, benefitcosmetics.com

3. Gold highlighter – e.l.f. Brightening Eye Color in Butternut, $1.50, drugstores

4. Bronze lip gloss – Almay Ideal lipgloss in Coffee Shimmer, $6, drugstores

Berry Pretty

How to do it: Because lips were the focus, Barrera used neutral shadows to subtly accent Lewis’ eyes. She blended gold over lids, champagne under brow bones, and bronze under lower lash lines. “I didn’t want the lips to beg for attention, so I chose a semi-sheer brick colour instead of a true red,” says Barrera, who used a small stiff brush to apply. To make lips a bit more festive, she added a touch of silver-flecked gloss to the middle of Lewis’ lips. “When you keep the gloss in the middle, it makes lips look fuller,” says Barrera. She finished the look with a light dusting of apricot blush.

1. Neutral eye colours – Wet ‘n’ Wild MegaEyes Eyeshadow Trios in Egyptian Sands, $3, drugstores

2. Berry lipstick – N.Y.C. ultra last lipwear in Red Flame, $1.99, newyorkcolor.com

3. Blush - Rockstar Cosmetics Camera Ready Blush in Fantasia, $14 from myrockstarcosmetics.com

4. Silver-flecked gloss – Smashbox Lip Enhancing gloss in Radiant, $18, sephora.com (InStyle’s original pick)

Guiltless Goodies: SELF's seasonal sparkly suggestions

Hi all:

SELF Magazine's December issue featured all that sparkles in both clothing and make-up. I previously posted on the clothing, but here is the make-up feature - thankfully, the majority of products featured in this editorial are cruelty-free, so there is a fantastic range of sparkly, glittery cosmetics here for both body and face! For full feature, click here.

You don't have to be cruel to be kind,

GiGi

BODY
AVON Spotlight Moisturizing Shimmer Gel, $10

This gel is a clear winner, with see-through sparkle and a delicate floral scent.

NYX Cosmetics Glitter Gel, $4

Feeling festive? Gild yourself with NYX's glitter gel. Smooth one pump into palms, then spread evenly over your arms, legs and neck.

Soap & Glory Glow Lotion, $10

Brighten pale skin with rose-coloured body highlighter Soap & Glory Glow Lotion. Spray on right after moisturizing; rub in a circular motion to blend.

Victoria's Secret Garden Holiday Shimmering Powder Puff in Sparkling Sugared Pear, $8

Gold-flecked shimmering powder imparts a heavenly halo effect and aroma.

HAIR

Organix Smoothing Shea Butter Liquid Glass Serum, $7

Go from lacklustre to glossy in an instant with the silk protein and avocado oil in Organix's serum.

Ultra-thin gold Revlon headband, $6 (comes in a 2-pack with a silver band as well)

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Prettify any style by adding a bit of bling.

MAKE-UP

Revlon DoubleTwist Mascara, $9

Chose a volumizing formula with a wide wand such as this mascara to cover every lash - from inner to outer corners- with a single swipe. (You'll use less, so it's economical, too). Comb out clumps, then cover lower lashes with clear mascara to avoid raccoon eyes.

Sephora Glitter Pot in Silver, $8

Swipe a wet eyeliner brush into the ultra-fine glitter pot. Brush across lids to achieve eye-catching allure.

Mark Mini Mark It Stick for Eyes eyeliner and shadow in Gold Opal, $8

For golden, smoky eyes, line lids with this supersoft eyeliner and eyeshadow and lightly smudge.

Femme Couture Mineral Effects Baked Eye Colour in Pure Platinum, $7

Chemical-free Femme Couture eye shadow goes on sheer; layering creates an opaque effect.

Mehron Metallic Powder, $8

Accessorize eyes with silvery metallic powder.

Smudgeproof e.l.f. Liquid Eyeshadow in Sexy Silver, $1

This eyeshadow glides on easily while the noncreasing finish equals that of pricier brands.

Hard Candy Lash Tinsel Glitter Mascara in Gold Digger, $6

If sparkly shadow seems a bit much, dazzle them with a swipe of Hard Candy glitter mascara.

Guiltless Goodies: H20 refreshes the face with these beauty boosters!

Full feature in October 2009 issue of FITNESS magazine (www.fitnessmagazine.com).

Hi all:

In the October 2009 issue of FITNESS magazine the mag's beauty editors focused on H20-quenching beauty products that do wonders for your face. Guiltless & Glamorous weeded through the picks to reveal the cruelty-free options that you can feel guiltless about adding to your make-up bag!

You don't have to be cruel to be kind,

GiGi

In the Clear - Add a drop of cleanser to Mark Berry Grand Exfoliating Beads ($9, meetmark.com). The fine fruit seeds and rice powder buff skin.

Tester says: "It's perfect for blackhead zones like the nose, especially after a sweat session." - Leah Wyar, beauty director

Make-up Multitasker - Powder lids with Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner ($10.95, drugstores) or apply it with a wet brush to your lash line.

Tester says: "The many colours offer a new look every day." - Cassie Chellis, Cedar Grove, New Jersey

Solid Choice - Bye-bye, bulky bottles! Each Lush Shampoo Bar ($9.45 each, lushusa.com) is packed with nourishing essential oils and lasts for 70 washes. Rub onto damp strands and rinse.

Tester says: "It foams up like liquid shampoo, plus it leaves hair soft." - Irma Villasana, Provo, Utah

For more on Lush's cruelty-free policies see post "Caring Companies: LUSH comes up clean".

Guiltless Goodies: FITNESS award winners - the 'safe' products

Read full feature at www.fitnessmagazine.com


Hi all!

Here are the details of the products that passed GiGi's safety test!

You don't have to be cruel to be kind,

GiGi

Face Finds:
BEST SERUM - Estee Lauder item removed because company tests on animals.

BEST MOISTURIZER - Philosophy Divine Illumination, $85, qvc.com - This antiager contains light-reflecting mica for instant radiance. "It gave a dewy glow without too much shine," says Judi Roode of Wrentham, Massachusetts. Over time, ingredients like niacinamide work to wipe out wrinkles.

BEST MAKEUP REMOVER - Wet N Wild Eye Makeup Remover, $1.99, drugstores - Oil-free and enriched with aloe vera, this gentle formula whisks away waterproof mascara from lids and lashes. Bonus: "I love that it comes in a small, easy-to-pack bottle," says Abigail Oesterling of Butler, Pennsylvania.

Complexion Correctors:
BEST PORE MINIMIZER - Boscia Skin Perfecting Primer, $28, sephora.com - Pores look larger when they're filled with oil, which temporarily stretches them. This gel is made with peppermint and vitamin B5, which absorb sebum, leaving a "matte surface that lasted all day," says Cassandra TenBrink of Goodrich, Michigan.

BEST MASK - Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Mask, $35, clarins.com - Hyaluronic acid helps prevent moisture loss, restoring your glow, while sorbier, a tree-bud extract, boosts circulation, helping sun-damaged skin look even more vibrant. It can even bolster your budget: "It softened my skin so much, I was able to use less night cream and save money," says Izabela Szabo of Chicago.

BEST SKIN REFRESHER - HydroPeptide Polish and Plump Peel, $68, hydropeptide.com - In this two-step treatment, peptides reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while lactic acid and vitamin C whisk away dullness. "It left my skin smoother and visibly brighter," says Susan Payment of Colorado Springs.

Best Base:
BEST NAIL POLISH - Essie Spring 2009 Color Collection, $8 per bottle, essie.com - Finally - a one-minute manicure. These shades looked perfect with just one quick coat. "My usual polishes chip within days," says Andrea Woodward of Omaha. "This one lasted nearly a week."

BEST EYE DEFINER - N.Y.C. New York Color Metro Quartet, $3.99, drugstores - This smart eye quad, smaller than a credit card, clears up the what-goes-where confusion. The four long-lasting powders - designed for lids, creases, brow bones and lash lines - "come with how-to-apply instructions, making them oops-proof," Warren says.

BEST BLUSH - Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Blush & Highlighter, $11.95, drugstores - This palette works several ways. Blend the five waves of color for a sun-kissed glow. Or "use them separately as highlighter or even an eye shadow," says Alina Yakovenko of Vancouver, Washington.

Body and Sun Standouts:
BEST CLEANSER - Nivea item removed as Nivea is owned by Beiersdorf, who do test on animals.

BEST FOOT FIXER - Sephora Super Foot Scrub, $22, sephora.com - Get silky spa-pedicure soles at home. The sugar scrub, paired with its brushlike applicator, makes it a cinch to slough off dead, dry skin from heels and toes. "It's instant callus control in a bottle," says Daphne LaSalle of Altus, Oklahoma.

BEST EVERYDAY FACE PROTECTOR - Murad Oil Control Mattifier SPF 15, $39.50, murad.com - This broad-spectrum UVA/UVB shield is infused with willow-bark and argan extracts, which reduce oil production all day. Plus, "it's a great primer for makeup," says Caitlyn Beacham of Oklahoma City.

BEST SCRUB - C.O. Bigelow Lemon & Pomegranate Body Scrub, $15, bathandbodyworks.com - Skin-brightening lemon extract and pomegranate, a super-antioxidant, join forces in this cream exfoliator, which "leaves skin looking radiant from neck to toe," says dermatologist tester Hema Sundaram, M.D.

Hair Helpers:
BEST SHAMPOO - Nexxus Dualiste Color Protection + Volume Shampoo, $11.99, nexxus.com for info - This wash coats hair with shine-inducing ginseng and flaxseed oil. And its hydrophobic formula prevents water from sinking into the shaft and washing away dye. "It also removed all traces of styling product," says Caron Gross of Hagerstown, Maryland.

Workout Bag Winners:
BEST PALETTE - Smashbox Cosmetics Beauty Guru Palette, $47, smashbox.com - This houses three swiveling tiers, packed with 10 makeup must-haves, from bronzer to gloss. "It has everything I need, including a mirror," says Bobbi Wessels of Jacksonville, North Carolina.

BEST CLEANSING WIPES - mark Make It Go Away Makeup Remover Wipes, $8, meetmark.com - Use these cloths before hitting the gym to wipe away potentially pore-clogging foundation, and afterward to erase sweat and oil "They left my face feeling refreshed," says Aronda Dent of Stafford, Virginia.

Guiltless Goodies: AVON beauty buys are Bargain Buys!

Hi all!

AVON's make-up items are one of its best-kept secrets. However, with spokesmodels like Lauren Conrad (for its mark line) and Reese Witherspoon, its make-up probably won't be secret for long. It always surprises me because, at the prices you pay for it, I always expect it to be fairly low-quality. And yet, as I said before, the brow pencil is one of my make-up bag must-haves (I included it below in case anyone was curious).

See my fave picks from the newest catalogue below. I haven't tried all of these but some of them look too cool not to feature!

You don't have to be cruel to be kind,

GiGi

This eyeshadow glides on cool with a smooth applicator but lasts for hours. Looks super cool! The shades are beautiful too - try Waterfall for a crisp blue or Bronze for a flattering-for-every-eye-colour shade.

Perfect Wear Extra-lasting Powder Eyeshadow, in bronze, champagne, coral beat, mocha, pearl, soft mint, steel, sunshine and waterfall, $8, Avon.com

I'm not one of those people who ever really looks for a mascara to thicken or curl my lashes - thicken? What's the point? I never understood that. And as for curling - well, isn't that what eyelash curlers are for? No, I always want them to make them unbelievably long. And that's something this mascara claims to do (it says they can look up to 65% longer) - but please note, I haven't tried this one myself...YET...

Astonishing lengths mascara in brown, brown-black or black, $7.50, AVON.com

These next two products make at-home manicures a breeze...though note that the corrector pen doesn't last too long. I LOVE the smell of the quick dry spray though, don't ask me why! (It works great too!)

Nail Experts liquid freeze quick dry spray, $6, Avon.com

Nail Experts Neat Nails nail enamel corrector pen, $6, Avon.com

Back on the topic of mascara, this new Avon product (I haven't tried it) looks perfect for those rushed morning mascara jobs which leave more of it on your eyelids than your eyelashes...

MistakeProof Mascara, $9.50, Avon.com

I just thought these were a great idea - you can never have too many nail files lying around and how cute are they for gift tags for the holiday season? Plus, at this introductory price they really could be gift tags...

Gift tag nail files, $0.99 each for a limited time (regularly $1.99), Avon.com

And saving my favourite product for last, it is my can't-live-without brow liner. It sounds like such a simple product but it's actually remarkably hard to find a brow liner that will give you an accurate shade while not being too heavy or too light. Obviously-drawn-on or filled-in brows are never a good look. This one gives just the right amount of pigment. Myself, I use the dark brown shade but there are lighter and darker shades for those who need them. Heck, at this low price, buy all shades and experiment till you find your best match. Maybe it's blending two together?

Ultra Luxury brow liner in blonde, light golden brown, dark brown and soft black, $5, Avon.com