FASHION Magazine

As a wedding photographer and makeup artist, Dallas Curow knows a thing or two about looking good in front of the camera—which is why we asked her to share her best beauty tips on how to photograph well. Be it a wedding you’re attending or other big event, you’ll want to use these tricks the next time you know you’ll be in the spotlight!

Wedding season is almost in full swing and even if you’re not heading down the aisle yourself, chances are high that many a camera will be pointed your way. Meaning: If there was ever a day want to know how to photograph well, someone’s wedding day is it. Aside from picking a flattering outfit and practicing your smile, the best way to ensure you’ll photograph well is through your makeup. But this doesn’t mean you need to turn to a professional makeup artist to get the job done. With just a few tricks and changes to your everyday beauty routine, you can ensure you look as spectacular in pictures as you do in-person. Follow the steps below and get ready to smile for the camera!

How do you curl your hair? From hot rollers to sock buns tricks, there’s a seemingly endless number of ways to make straight hair curly—and as someone with bone-straight hair, it feels like I’ve tried them all. After much trial and error, I’ve discovered that the technique with the most promise comes courtesy of a curling wand, that is, a curling iron without the clamp. However, one problem remains the same: the curls on one side of my head never seem to match the curls on the other. One side looks flawless and red carpet-ready while the other flips out awkwardly, falls in the wrong direction or just looks… bad.

In order to get to the bottom of my hair curling problems, I met up with Morgan Roy, creative director at the Aveda Institute Toronto. It turns out this hair curling issue comes down to dominant hand dexterity and the tendency to do what’s “more comfortable” first.

The ponytail is probably the first hairstyle you ever learned how to do, but chances are it’s one you still struggle with to this day. It should be simple: brush hair back, pull it all together, secure in place with an elastic. But oh, the variables! Hair texture, length and volume can all change the way a ponytail looks and how tricky it is to style. And just when you think you’ve pulled off the perfect ponytail, you let go of the elastic only to see ridges and bumps in your hair. What should have been smooth hair just looks like a mess.

So imagine my surprise when I discovered just how easy is is to fix these common ponytail errors. I met up with Morgan Roy, creative director at the Aveda Institute Toronto, to discuss the problematic ponytail and she shared some easy tricks on how to style one that’s bump-free.

Unless you have been blessed with shampoo commercial-worthy hair, you likely have to deal with frizzy flyaways on a daily basis. Nothing is more infuriating than spending 30 minutes blow drying your hair only to step back from the mirror and see the tell-tale fringe of baby hairs hanging between your part or flyaways standing at attention, ruining an otherwise sleek look. While smoothing serums and hair straighteners can help reduce some of the frizz, taming flyaways is actually one of the easiest things to do—once you learn the trick to it.

I met up with Morgan Roy, creative director at the Aveda Institute Toronto, to discuss common hair problems and go hands-on in order to fix them.

The results are in! You voted and we listened: From perfume and mascara to sunscreen and shampoo, we reveal the beauty products you voted top of the vanity in our 11th Annual Readers’ Choice Beauty Awards. This year more than 65 products make the cut across six categories, including nails, fragrance, makeup and hair. And as always, the Readers’ Choice Beauty Awards rewards products in a range of prices, allowing you to find favourite new products regardless of budget. Ready to see who made the cut? Pick a category below or read on to browse all the winners.

See the full backstage gallery from Sid Neigum Spring 2013! »

“It’s more about a mood than a theme,” said M.A.C makeup key Melissa Gibson of the beauty look for Sid Neigum’s Spring 2013 show. Featuring a strong eyebrow, smoky eyes and matte skin, Gibson referenced Helmut Newton and “Cindy Crawford in the ’90s” as inspiration. “It’s not just a heavy black smoky eye…there’s an edge to it, the fleck of grey metallic in there brightens it up for spring and summer.” To build this graphic-yet-soft look, she used a mix of three M.A.C eyeshadows–“Carbon,” “Print” and “Typographic” ($18 each, maccosmetics.com)—diffusing the pigment across the eye and blending out any straight lines. Fluidline eyeliner in “Blacktrack” ($18, maccosmetics.com) was also diffused at the lashline and lashes were curled and given two coats of mascara for extra drama. But it was two winged-out lines across the brows that completed the look, which was a last minute addition from Gibson: “At the end I threw on that eyebrow and that did it!”

See all the backstage pics from Chloé Comme Parris Spring 2013 »

It was dewy skin like we’ve never seen before for Chloé Comme Parris Spring 2013, where the theme was California’s Venice Beach and models looked like they’d just emerged from the water. “It’s all about layering different kinds of textures to create this really beautiful, metallic skin,” explained M.A.C makeup key Melissa Gibson. To start, she used M.A.C Cosmetics Mineralize Charged Water Face and Body Lotion ($40, maccosmetics.com) followed by Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer ($22, maccosmetics.com)—though dabbed only where necessary. The almost supernatural glow, however, came courtesy of Mineralize Skinfinish in “Soft and Gentle” ($34, maccosmetics.com) which Gibson generously applied with a brush “literally all over the face.”

Every week we take on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more and provide all the answers. This week, Beauty Fix is tackling questions about metallic eyeliner, neutral lipstick and moisturizer. Can you use the same lotion on your hands and feet? Want a moisturizer that doesn’t leave a sticky residue under your clothes? Read up for these answers and more! And in need of a beauty fix yourself? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

Read on for the full fix! »

By Lesa Hannah and Sarah Daniel

Our Fall/Winter 2012 beauty trend report covers the makeup, manicures and hairstyles you need to know, paired with the best new products. From the moody colours of Dark Shadows to Wild Side’s super saturated shades and groomed ponytails, we have all of fall’s top looks in one spectacular slideshow. Time to start browsing!

See all the beauty trends for fall »

JUMP TO A TREND: DARK SHADOWS | THIN EVIDENCE | FRENCH TIPS | BROW CONTINUUM | CHARACTER SKETCH | AIR FORCE | THE WILD SIDE | MATCHY MATCH | BANDS & BANGS

We’re still in a state of pre-summer bliss after a wonderful long weekend of almost unseasonably warm weather—and it’s safe to say that Beauty Fix readers are as well! This week we’re taking on questions that have everything to do with pre-summer prep: what the season’s best hairstyles are, a new eyeliner trick for summer, and how to pack for your vacation while still leaving lots of room for souvenirs.

Read on and get all the answers! »

Being Toronto Fashion Week and all, it seemed only fitting that we’d want to bag stalk the lady who holds the keys to it all. Debra Goldblatt is head honcho of one of Toronto’s highest profile entertainment and lifestyle public relations firms, rock-it promotions, and has got her well-moisturized helping hands in everything from show and backstage access to designer relations. Alongside her team of awesome associates, Goldblatt is responsible for some of the biggest and best parties throughout the rest of the year as well, including the Festival Music House during TIFF, and just about every major happening at Queen Street West’s longstanding hub The Drake Hotel. Funnily enough, you wont find any actual keys inside this bag, but what you will find is plenty of vitamins, mementos, and even a mini Power Ranger to keep this powerhouse going.

Let’s go inside! »

While we tend to agree that true love comes from the inside, there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of primping and polishing to make your outsides look just as enchanting. From packages printed with hearts to the sweet floral scents, we’ve rounded up 10 of the prettiest beauty products around. Treat yourself or spoil someone you know—it’s the day to do so!

Roses are red, violets are blue, 10 pretty products are waiting for you! »