FASHION Magazine

What’s in a beauty buy? Well, endless market research, a handful of scientists and a host of retail wizards. And once a product is packaged and ready for the retail world, consumers (us!) are put to the test. And of course, there’s more going on beyond just the name game (hello, Nars Orgasm). Visually stimulating packaging […]

The post The best beauty product packaging of all time: 15 iconic buys we’ll always love appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

We’re told there are a few things every woman should have sorted out before reaching the Dirty Thirty: a go-to scent, a tailored skincare regime and a real coffee table instead of stacks of old mags. Although we can be guilty of viewing such advice as unmerited nagging, it actually just makes a whole lot […]

The post 5 simple steps to finding your signature lip colour appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

A photo posted by Lauren Conrad (@laurenconrad) on Jul 9, 2014 at 9:04am PDT If you ever find yourself in a room full of fashion and beauty editors, ask them each which beauty product they’d take on a desert island, and then sit back and watch panic ensue. Our editors recently answered the seriously difficult […]

The post 12 editors pick the one beauty product they’d take on a desert island appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com or ask away in the comments below.

I’ve gotten the hang of gel liner, but I find the gel pot and brush routine sort of fussy. Can I use anything to streamline my application?
Until recently, the application of gel liner involved, at minimum, potted gel eyeliner and a liner brush. Depending on skill level, a bit of mapping out of one’s desired eyeliner shape may be carried out with eyeshadow or an eyeliner pencil. If you’re beyond the novice stage, then you’re ready for the ease and convenience of Benefit’s latest innovation, They’re Real! Push-Up Liner ($29, sephora.ca). This twist-up pen houses a matte black, waterproof gel formula that’s on the drier side, allowing it to set quickly (ideal for anyone who experiences liner transfer to their lids). The formula is dispensed through a soft, flexible silicone tip that actually pushes your lashes down in order to apply liner as close to your lashes as possible, eliminating that annoying flesh gap between lashes and liner.

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

What can I use on my hair to make it feel as though it’s never been coloured or heat-styled?
Hair that hasn’t felt the wrath of a flat iron, blow dryer or dye is usually a distant, fond memory, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. Hair in its natural state—that is, unprocessed—has a lipid layer that exists shaft. This layer is comprised of 21 carbon molecules, which, when we begin heat-styling or colouring our hair, become heavily eroded. The result is hair that has less lipid protection than before, making it prone to damage, dryness and breakage. Certain hydrating hair products are useful in balancing our lipid layer molecule count, which drastically improves the texture of hair. Try a new hyper-hydrator for thirsty hair like Schwarzkopf Professional BC Moisture Kick Beauty Balm ($18, at salons). It contains hyaluronic acid, which has the same effect in hair as it does for skin: drawing moisture from the environment into hair to help replenish and hydrate.

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

I like rose scents, but they seem a little old fashioned when I wear them. Any tips?
Rose-based fragrances are very traditional and quite classic, but don’t let that deter you from this beautiful floral note. Luckily, rose-based fragrances have had quite the resurgence lately, and there are several new varieties of rose scents to choose from. If modernity is the goal, Balenciaga Rosabotanica ($100, sephora.ca) is a unique fragrance to experience. The fragrance opens with bright notes of citrusy petitgrain and fig leaf, leading into middle notes of cardamom, pink pepper and rose, grounded with vetiver, cedar and white amber. The fragrance is anything but traditional, making it a contemporary take on a rose for lovers of the timeless flower.

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

What can I use to give my skin a velvety finish without excess coverage?
A very big trend in beauty for several seasons has been different finishes for skin, be it radiant and luminous, matte, velvety (like you’re after) or some gorgeous middle ground between two extremes. Matte or velvety skin does entail some element of high coverage, usually courtesy of a foundation. If you’re not in the market for full coverage foundation, then opt for a velvet-finish setting powder, such as Guerlain Les Voilettes ($66, at Guerlain boutiques). This compact contains a lightweight powder that offers extremely minimal coverage—though it will extend the wear of any base makeup, should you decide to wear any. And thanks to its velvet finish, it will also help keep oiliness under wraps so that you can continue to look naturally flawless.

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

I stuck to sheer gloss for most of the summer, but I think I’m ready for some fall lip colours. Any trends to keep in mind?
Always! Fall tends to involve a transition to bold, rich shades from a summer season of sheer washes of colour. Make a statement with a velvety matte lip, which was featured in the magnificently regal runway presentation at Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall 2013 show. Makeup artist Pat McGrath actually went through a process to achieve the matte finish featured in the show by applying lip liner, mixing and applying two lipstick shades, blotting the colour down and then powdering the lips to eliminate any shine. For a shortcut to the finished look, try Bite Beauty Cashmere Lip Cream in “Rioja” ($32, sephora.ca). It’s a featherweight cream formula containing a high dosage of pigments that then dries down to a powdery finish. Don’t fret about lips looking dry, because the formula consists of edible butters and oils that absorb into lips at varying rates, ensuring smooth lips throughout the day.

See our product picks for getting Cara Delevingne’s eyebrows »

Cara Delevigne is having a moment. She’s one of the most popular models in the industry, her face everywhere—from Burberry billboards to Vogue UK covers—and did we mention she spends her free time hanging out with royals? While we don’t want to reduce her appeal down to one single aspect, it’s impossible to mention Cara without talking about her prominent eyebrows. Bushy, bold and totally becoming, Cara Delevinge’s eyebrows make us never want to touch tweezers ever again. However, that’s not all it takes to achieve her iconic look. We spoke with Tweezerman brow expert Mary Dhang about Cara Delevinge’s eyebrows and she shared the steps to achieving this luscious look. Runway-worthy brows for all!

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!

See the Benefit and Matthew Williamson makeup kit now! »

What do you do to celebrate a 15-year career as one of Britain’s leading fashion designers? If you’re Matthew Williamson, you collaborate with Benefit Cosmetics to create a limited edition makeup kit! The exclusive-to-Sephora set, titled The Rich is Back, contains a selection of eyeshadows, a mascara, a cheek powder and a lip gloss. Though Williamson prefers a more natural face at his shows, the range of shades chosen for the Benefit kit allows for both a casual and daring look.

In seeking inspiration for the makeup kit, Matthew Williamson explored his print archive and chose vibrant shades reminiscent of ’70s cocktail parties and hedonistic discos. “This high-octane makeup kit encapsulates some of my favorite iconic prints and the fun-loving, light-hearted spirit of the Benefit girl,” Williamson said via press release. The designer, who is widely know for his obsession with colour, chose a bright kaleidoscope print with peacock feathers and pink flowers for the makeup kit’s packaging.

Every week we take on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more and provide all the answers. This week we’re helping solve your questions about colour cosmetics. We share our top eyeshadow pick for brown eyes, a trick for keeping your lipstick from bleeding beyond your lip line and reveal the colour of lipstick Jessica Alba wore on the Golden Globes red carpet! Speaking of lipstick, if you’re interested in a bright lip colour that works well on darker skin tones, read on. Have a question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

Read on for the full fix! »