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.

I have mature skin and primers dry out my eyelids a little too much. What do I do if I’m still concerned about my shadow creasing?
As we mature, concerns change from preventing oily eyelids to doing whatever possible to keep our lids from drying out. Thankfully, not all primers are created equal and there is indeed a way to prep your eyelids, keep them hydrated and also tackle any fine lines that may have formed over time. Urban Decay, a brand that’s practically synonymous with eye primers, has created Anti-aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($28, sephora.ca), and it’s just what dry lids need. With continued use, the formulation reduces signs of aging and smoothes the skin’s surface thanks to brown algae extract that increases the skin’s hydro-lipidic barrier. At the same time, a peptide and ceramide blend repairs age-related skin damage. Blending a dot of this primer over your lids prior to shadow application will have your makeup crease-free for 24 hours.

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 have fair skin and light eyes, which I would love to accentuate with makeup but I find that a lot of eyeliner shades look harsh. What colour would you recommend I use?
The last thing you want is a dash of much-too-dark liner that overwhelms the face. Softer variations of brown, charcoal and blue (think: taupe, slate blue or light-grey shades) can be very appealing options for anyone with fair features. Clarins Crayon Khôl in “Taupe” ($26, thebay.com) is bound to become a favourite due to its soft texture and built-in blending brush—meaning you can diffuse the colour as much or as little as you like, making it flexible for day and night use. Also consider adding a bit of iridescence or shimmer: makeup with light-reflective properties is excellent at brightening up appearances.

See all the Christmas gift ideas for women »

The holiday season is here and the ladies in your life deserve a little spoiling. Whether you’re shopping for mom, a best pal or your partner in crime, we’ve pre-empted the pre-holiday panic with 45 carefully selected Christmas gift ideas for women under $250. This gift guide is not only versatile but also completely shoppable with just a few clicks!

For the vixen in training, The Lady Eve is a comedic Old Hollywood lesson in badassery courtesy of Barbara Stanwyck. And what’s a vixen without the perfect pout: Tarte’s LipSurgence collector set is sure to fit the bill for even the biggest lipstick queen. For the girl who loves a little sparkle, we’ve found a glittering gem-packed set of J.Crew earrings and a Eugenia Kim floral headband perfect for special events season. Is she fashion obsessed? Have no fear, this season’s trends are perfectly wrapped up with a bright red all Seeing Eye Kenzo wallet, an Aztec print MinkPink jacket and pink bow-tied Ted Baker gloves. What’s more, Fabien Baron’s Kate Moss photo book is the ideal for holiday ogling.

See all the Christmas gift ideas for men »

Whether or not he’s your paramour, choosing the right gift for the man in your life can be tricky: Gents are not exactly known for being communicative, so you’re pretty much on your own. And because a bottle of Scotch can get tiresome, we’ve got 61 ways to add a little chic to your man’s everyday.

Dr. Martens are back and they are better than ever with this season’s twist on the Pendelton-infused traditional dress shoe. For those of you with a musical man in your lives, an amp styled iPhone dock will add the perfect old school vibe to his digs.

See all the Christmas gift ideas for best friend »

When it comes to besties, Christmas shopping ought to be a cakewalk. But sometimes finding the perfect gift isn’t that simple. If your girl is anything like us, she’s mega discerning. A scented candle just won’t do and neither will mall crowds, so here we present 60 perfect Christmas gift ideas for your best friend, purchasable directly online.

Perfectly timed for the holiday season, two of fashion’s definitive It girls released books this season. If your best friend is a Man Repeller disciple, snag her the blogger turned writer’s first book, Man Repeller: Seeking Love, Finding Overalls. If the Brit scene’s more her thing, pick up It, a lovely collaged lesson in cool by Alexa Chung.

As per the season, the ultimate infinity scarf also makes the perfect gift, with Vocado’s thick knit version ranking high on our cozy scale. Another goodie: The Drake General Store’s Shared onesie makes the cutest accoutrement for modern day slumber parties. And because sharing is caring, CB2’s rocking iPhone speaker splitter allows you to both listen through the same device.

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 bought a bright blush on a whim and it’s much more pigmented than I thought. How do I apply it?
Working with intense pigmentation can involve a bit of a learning curve, especially if you’re used to a more forgiving formula. When dealing with a mega pigmented blush, such as a mighty magenta shade like Nars Blush in “Coeur Battant” ($32, narscosmetics.com), it all boils down to how you apply the product. Take your blush brush and tap it very lightly in the blush and tap it lightly on the back of your hand to remove a bit of the pigment. Now you can apply the blush to your face as you usually would. Step back and evaluate the colour payoff and repeat this process until you’re pleased with the outcome. The idea here is that it’s easier to gradually add colour to the face instead of inundating your cheeks with a bold shade that would overwhelm your whole look.

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 kind of mascara formula leads to more volume? I’m not in love with my current tube and am looking for a replacement.
As we’ve discussed before, finding the right mascara is a personal thing that involves many factors, such as your own lashes, mascara formula, mascara brush, application and the effect you’re looking to achieve. Generally, you’ll find that mascaras that aim to lengthen lashes have a wetter formula, while more voluminizing formulas are drier in consistency. A just-launched mascara with a drier consistency formula (which also means it will set faster and be less resistant to smudges) is Cover Girl Flamed Out Mascara ($10, at drugstores). The hollow bristles of this hourglass-shaped brush pick up way more product, meaning you’ll get healthy coverage with every stroke. The dryer formula also makes layering ideal—you can keep “pumping up” each lash with product until you have the desired amount of volume. The end result will certainly be impressive enough to keep this tube in your rotation!

See our 28 gifts for dad »

And just like that, it’s June! Father’s Day is just around the corner, which means its time to start looking for that special something to show pops you love him.

If your mind is drawing a blank on what to give your dad this year, you’re in luck because we’ve put together the ultimate shopping guide with a selection of 28 gifts for dad to help you get started on that shopping this upcoming weekend.

Every week we take on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more and provide all the answers. This week we offer two fixes for tired eyes: one tip will ensure your undereye puffiness is no more and the other works like a charm to brighten dull eyes. And while we advocate for wearing SPF year-round, with spring just a few weeks away it’s more important that ever to add some sunscreen into your beauty routine. We suggest one product that even oily-skinned girls won’t shy away from. Have a question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

Read on for the full fix! »

See all 21 Valentine’s Day gifts! »

Ah, Valentine’s Day! If you’ve been a twosome for years or are just celebrating your first February 14 together, the question of what to give is always a tricky one to tackle. We’re here to take the guesswork out of Valentine’s Day gifts, with a complete guide of stylish ideas for the man, woman and best friend in your life. From sultry suggestions for lingerie and loungewear—including a bustier that can totally double as a crop top—to jewellery in a range of prices and styles, we have Valentine’s Day gifts for all sorts of lovers. For instance, not ready to propose but want to still put a ring on it? Consider a rose gold commitment ring engraved with a playful (and we mean playful!) phrase. Instead of sending a dozen red roses go with a vibrant bouquet of purple, burgundy and lavender flowers. Men may be notoriously hard to buy for, but we guarantee that every guy will be impressed by a Valentine’s Day gift of high-end grooming products, a dapper bow tie or a quirky pair of cufflinks. For the best friend on your list, cute and stylish Valentine’s Day gifts are the best way to show you care. We’re fond of quaint jewellery boxes, sweet-smelling soaps and body washes—including one scented like conversation hearts! No matter what Valentine’s Day gifts you give, we think that delivery with a flirty smile is always key.

Jump to: GIFTS FOR HER | GIFTS FOR HIM | GIFTS FOR YOUR BFF

See our top product picks to protect your skin this winter »

If there’s ever a time you’ll want to retain water, it’s winter. “As the temperature falls, the air’s ability to hold moisture tends to reduce, which creates dryness in the environment,” says Dr. Jaggi Rao, a dermatologist and associate clinical professor at the University of Alberta. In other words, your dewy summertime complexion is going to thirstily tense up and beg for a drink. Dr. Rao suggests applying a hydrating cream or serum on damp skin, as “it will seal whatever is there and retain that moisture.” Skin around the eyes, the thinnest on the body, also requires immediate attention, and not just because of its fragility. We make so many facial expressions in that area that “if the skin is already dry, you will enhance the microscopic breaks in it.” Remedy the situation by dipping deeply into some eye cream.

Every week we take on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more and provide all the answers. This week, Beauty Fix is adding a charitable component to your search for the perfect eye shadow, lip gloss and fragrance. We’ll help you find the perfect shadow for this season’s smoky eye, a scent that’s not too strong and a lotion that does more than your average moisturizer. Even better, every answer this week includes a product that gives back. What more could you want? Seeking the answer to another beauty problem? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

Read on for the full fix! »