Saying I have an addiction to lip gloss and lip balm is putting it lightly. VERY lightly.

In fact, after spending last Sunday afternoon decluttering my makeup bins – a chore that took most of the afternoon and tested all of my husband’s patience – I was able to whittle down the pile to the “bare essentials”… you know, the stuff I need on a daily basis.

My name is Lena and I’m addicted to lip stuff.

You’ll notice that I don’t actually own any lipstick (sooo 1994) but instead, have hoarded every shiny, sparkly, goopy, glorious lip gloss and lip balm known to mankind (I have a separate drawer for my 32 Lip Smackers and “occasional” glosses). It actually took all my strength to dispose of about 20 additional products, but as my husband so eloquently put it: “Either they go or I go. Get all that sh*t out of here NOW.” (more…)

Note: The following giveaway open to Canadian residents only.

Update: Thanks to everyone who requested a sample of the NEW Hydro Silk razor – all 50 have been allocated. BUT, here’s your chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card!

Since us Northern gals love our leggings, stockings, knee-high boots and various other cold weather add-ons, I feel completely justified in asking this question: how many of y’all have shaved your legs this year?

(What? It’s WINTER, and we’re only 23 days into 2012… so… nobody?)

Frost season is definitely a good time to skip the razor and slack on beauty routines. So when I was contacted by Schick to test out their NEW Hydro Silk disposable razor, I felt good that the product would indeed be reviewed under rigorous conditions… as in, my legs haven’t seen a razor since the quote “Luke, I am your father” was uttered. Well, not quite that long, but you get my drift. (more…)

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

You know how some posts write themselves? Here we go: Chocolate.

(And I’m out.)

Seriously though, if there’s one thing every gal desires, it’s the decadent, sensuous and indulgent taste of chocolate. In fact, given the choice of eating chocolate or doing the deed, 70% of women responded that they’d rather curl up with Mr. Lindt than Mr. Right. Since my husband sometimes reads my blog, I won’t tell you which side I’m on. And the fact that I’m not telling you is very telling, isn’t it?

The Body Shop must be very in tune with our love for the sweet stuff, because just in time for Valentine’s Day and Easter, their new Chocomania bath and body range is here! The products will be available February 6th, so consider this your sneak peek!

(more…)

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

Goedenavond! (That’s “Good Evening” in Dutch! …. I think.)

So why do I have Holland on my mind? It’s all thanks to OPI’s NEW Holland Collection for Spring/Summer 2012. And since it won’t be in stores until February 8th, consider this your sneak peek!

Now I don’t know about you, but winter has barely begun and I’m already OVER it. Instead of dull blues and bleak grays, I’d much rather dream about electric brights, pretty pinks and glistening purples. And it just so happens that all these luscious hues appear in OPI’s Holland Collection.

Also très cool: the colours were inspired by the country’s range of stunning shades – vivid tulips, windmill-dotted hillsides and bustling canals. (There’s even a shade named after their famous clogs!) The collection’s twelve (12) shades offer a mixture of sophisticated neutrals and highly-pigmented brights. In two words: zeer ontzagwekkend (super awesome).

“Holland has a very unique, vibrant beauty to match its open-minded nature,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “Spring is the season of color, and the Holland Collection provides an array of pink, coral and orange hues that capture this energy. The bright lacquers are married with neutrals in new variations like red clay and sea green.” (more…)

Before the holidays, I had the enviable opportunity to check out some of the hottest products from Sephora’s Holiday 2011 Collection. Besides the Sephora by OPI Holiday Mini Blockbuster Set, which I labelled my most favourite stocking stuffer of the season, I also was able to get my hands on:

Sephora Color Wand for Lips
Sephora Collector’s Edition I.T. Brush Set 
NARS Danmari All About Cheeks Palette
… and more.

I’ll try to squeeze in a few reviews before long – especially the NARS palette (heaven!!!) – but for the moment, I want you to run to your nearest Sephora for the Ultra Shine Mini Lip Gloss Set. A $67 value, it’s on sale for just $11.00! (Online; in-store $17)

So why exactly do I love this set? Simply put, it marries the best of sparkle, shine and moisturizing goodness, all in convenient, easy to tote packaging. Think of it as “lip balm meets dazzle gloss”.

And while the set is obviously suited to holiday soirees, I can easily picture myself wearing these shades all year round, especially since I tend to prefer shiny puckers over matte or creme shades (sooo boring).

Here’s what you need to know:
This collection of mini lip glosses (four of which are only available in this set) makes lips shiny, moist, and soft. Its range of gloss effects includes multi-holigraphic shimmer, sheer high-shine, smooth shimmer, and creamy comfort. (more…)

I did it! I found the PERFECT gift for every hard-to-shop-for gal on your holiday list.

(Totally awesomesauce, I promise.)

It’s the Sephora by OPI Holiday Mini Blockbuster Set!

Now tell me this: which girl is going to refuse a collection of the hottest, trendiest and most sought-after nail colours around? None that I know! Even if she’s not the type to paint her fingernails, every self-respecting woman needs colour on her toes, right? Right. This collection offers a wide spectrum of shades that are longwearing, chip-resistant and as always, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Toluene and Formaldehyde-free.

In other words: pure, unadulterated joy. (more…)

“Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian.”

(more…)

The following giveaway is now CLOSED.

*EDIT* 
Great news folks! When The Shopping Channel saw the great response from readers weighing in – and noticed that quite a few were drooling over the palette – they graciously offered an Urban Decay Naked Palette for giveaway! (Value $58) This item is currently SOLD OUT at TSC, so enter for your chance to win! Scroll down for the giveaway… Good Luck!

Original Post:

I’d like to think of myself as a shopping connoisseur. Both online and in-store, I have a knack for finding the best deals – frankly, if it’s not on sale, I don’t buy it.

(Except groceries – we all have to eat!)

However, The Shopping Channel (TSC) throws me for a loop.

First, the products are showcased on television around the clock. Like, “it’s 3 o’clock in the morning and I have insomnia oh look what’s on the TV they’re selling curling irons” around the clock. Second, for the longest time, the products were only purchased over the phone. Third, in your average morning, you can conceivably see everything from makeup to coffee makers to yard tools. Kind of like taking Sears and throwing it into a blender.

So if you’re strictly an in-store kind of shopper, it can be intimidating. And for the last few years, I paid The Shopping Channel no mind.

Recently, however, I’ve discovered that if you visit their online store, not only does it make perfect sense, but there are DEALS TO BE HAD. Like, seriously awesome deals. Especially in beauty.

Urban Decay! Juice Beauty! Pur Minerals! Elizabeth Grant!

Available in a wide selection of best sellers, exclusive sets and must-haves… at discounted prices exclusive to The Shopping Channel. I know, awesome. (more…)

Since I’m all about full disclosure, you should know: Initially, I was less than excited to review this line.

It’s  Weleda, for Pete’s sake! They’re not showy, sexy or stocked at the most pretentious cosmetics counters. And they certainly don’t make a thousand promises about how my life will change for the better. Come to think of it, there’s no “pitch” at all, other than the fact that the products have been a trusted, customer favourite for decades.

That’s it? Decades of satisfied customers? Pfft.

So in the absence of glitz and glamour, I agreed to try out  pieces from Weleda’s Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Care, aimed at targeting first lines, renewing elasticity and increasing moisture. I received the Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Lotion and Wild Rose Smoothing Night Cream for review. (more…)