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.

Can you suggest a powder foundation formula that’s suitable for darker skintones?
Powder foundations haven’t always been the most suitable format for darker skintones, usually because traditional formulations contained talc. When applied to darker skintones, talc can create a grayish cast that looks unflattering and unnatural. Ask anyone with a medium-deep to deep skintone and they’ll likely tell you that they’ve long avoided powder foundation—until recently, that ia! CoverFX Pressed Mineral Foundation ($35, murale.ca) is a talc-free pressed powder foundation that feels virtually creamy when applied since it’s so finely milled Even better, it comes in 24 shades split by undertones of golden, neutral and pink, ensuring that all skintones will find a suitable, non-ashy match.

If finding the perfect skin care routine is on your 2014 to-do list, listen up! Dermalogica has just announced a new program that will get your skin in fine form and reward you for going to the spa more frequently.

Open to residents in Vancouver and Toronto, the Little Grey Pass works somewhat like an actual passport. Every time you visit one of Dermalogica’s certified skin centres for a 60-minute skin treatment, you get a stamp. Once you’ve visited four different spas, you can redeem your pass for a bottle of Dermalogica’s PreCleanse, a cult favourite of the brand. If you make it to six different spas, you’ll also get a travel-sized Daily Microfoliant. Being rewarded for pampering your skin—what more could a beauty buff ask for?

How to master the minimalist makeup trend »

The minimalist makeup look has been going strong for a few seasons, and as our Fall 2013 beauty trend report revealed, it’s not going away anytime soon. From the perfectly powdered skin at Haider Ackerman to the glossy lids at Giambattista Valli, models appeared on the runway sans eye and lip makeup. The minimalist trend may cause beauty junkies everywhere to reluctantly put down their beloved colour cosmetics—but there’s a whole slew of other products to consider in order to achieve the look.

To say that most of us won’t leave the house without a little makeup on is putting it mildly, especially when it comes to what we apply around the eyes. (Puffiness, dark circles and redness are what keep the concealer business afloat!) However, makeup alone can’t fix the sins of the skin, so it’s important to have a good skincare routine in place. To help you master the minimalist look, we spoke to Dermalogica’s skincare guru Amanda Matcham and Plutino Group makeup artist Natalie Ventola. Their tips, techniques and must-have products are sure to help you achieve the natural look with ease.

See all 10 pampering products for an at-home spa day »

Pampering might not seem like a winter essential, but when the winds are blowing and you’re spending more time inside than out, it only makes sense to dedicate an afternoon to some rest and revitalization. While a day at the spa is an expense not everyone can shoulder, there are plenty of ways you can enjoy spa treatments at home. Facial masks, serums and scrubs are all excellent sources of self-pampering—and simple enough that you don’t need a second set of hands to help. (Of course, should you want to get a few girlfriends together, all your friends will appreciate these at-home spa treatments.)

View all of our Christmas
gift ideas for women »

Somehow, shopping for the leading ladies in our lives often proves to be the hardest. The challenge for Christmas gift ideas is to be creative, on trend, and meaningful—not the easiest task, but a necessary one. If you’re shopping for your girlfriend, wife, sister or mother, it’s essential to make the gift matter and worth every penny spent.

For Christmas 2012, we’ve dreamt of all things lavish and luxe that can double as a satisfaction to a women’s fashion craving as well as functional piece in her every day life and they are anything but traditional. We know that diamonds have been declared a girl’s best friend, but this year we’re thinking outside of the little blue box and selecting gifts that show creativity. We’ve opted for lush fur pieces that will keep her warm all winter, geometric shaped cuffs that will reinvent the arm party, and even a onsesie that just begs to be taken to a ski resort. These are the pieces that will win a woman’s heart.

Today, we inspect the belongings of another of Toronto’s PR power players: Christine Faulhaber. At the helm of her namesake firm, Faulhaber has been responsible for bringing some of the best internationally acclaimed brands including heavy hitters like IMG and Thomas Sabo to Canada with as much style and grace as you’d expect from anyone carrying a Louis Vuitton Pont-Neuf bag would have. So without further ado, let’s get down to business and snoop inside!

Let’s explore! »

Just as you’ve mastered the art of keeping your dry skin healthy during the winter, summer temperatures come along and turn everything upside down. Humidity wreaks havoc on hair, makeup doesn’t want to stay in place and styling even a simple ponytail can make you break a sweat in an AC-less apartment. Well, Beauty Fix is here to help you keep your cool: from sunscreen that won’t cause a breakout to simple, heat tool–less hairstyles, we have all the answers.

Read on to get your fix! »

In need of a beauty fix? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

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! »

See our editors’ picks for grooming »

Two FASHION editors will be camping this weekend. In the desert. Shocking, yes. But also, true. Come Friday, ginger-haired photo editor Nicole Stafford and I will be hitting Indio, California for the second weekend of Coachella festivities. Opting for the near death full experience, we’re going for broke (not) in a tent during a weekend that’s promising highs of nearly 40° Celsius. We might die, but before we do, we’re bringing you a special peek into not one, but both of our travel bags. While high SPFs are a no brainer, we’ve also thought about other essentials. You know, like culturally relevant graphic tees and designer sunglasses.

See Nicole’s bag »
See Randi’s bag »

The countdown to the Oscars continues with an extra special look into the bag belonging to one of the red carpet’s leading reporting ladies, eTalk’s Tanya Kim. With one of the most familiar (and cute!) faces in the biz, Kim’s been on the front lines of everything celebrity, alongside cohost Ben Mulroney. This Sunday she’ll be front and centre as the cameras hit the red carpet at the 84^th Academy Awards. Have a look at all that she carries with her to get the job done.

Let’s go inside! »

Now that I’ve added a facial oil to my regular skincare routine, how do I know what order to apply each product? Does it even matter?
Yep, it most definitely matters. Think of it this way: whichever item goes on first will penetrate your skin the deepest. A good rule of thumb for both instances is to apply in order of concentration from thinnest to thickest. After cleansing in the morning, a simpler serum like jojoba or coconut oil will maintain optimal moisture levels in your skin until the sun goes down.