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.

It’s a sunny day in Tokyo and a group of anime princesses and warriors are becoming uncomfortably warm in their latex and polyester costumes. They’re “cosplay” enthusiasts leading a group of tourists through Akihabara, the area known for attracting those into otaku culture, characterized by an obsessive interest in anime, manga or video games. During a pit stop at a “maid cafe,” hostesses in frilly French maid outfits (a popular strain of anime character) pour blue and green sodas and perform J-pop numbers. Do they dress differently after work? “Oh, this isn’t work,” says one, wearing eyelid tape and huge fake lashes. “It’s our lifestyle.”

Otaku culture is the focus of Japanese brand Shu Uemura’s holiday collection (from $27, shuuemura.ca), created with Takashi Murakami. The artist famous for stamping his colourful designs on Louis Vuitton Speedy bags in 2002 emblazoned the makeup’s packaging with Six Heart Princess, his anime artwork based on the legend of a warrior princess. “It’s a very dark story about people who were born into a cursed family and are not able to break away from their blood,” he says. Cheerful! “I tried to create something that would not be dubbed as modern art but that was totally Japanimation style.”

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 heat-style my hair more in the winter because I wash it in the morning and don’t want to head out with damp hair in cold weather. How do I protect my hair against this increased contact with heat tools?
As soon as the temperature is low enough to freeze hair in the duration of a short stroll outside, air-drying season is officially over and blow-drying becomes necessary. Hopefully you’re in the habit of using a heat-protectant spray whenever you decide to turn on the hot tools, but if you’re especially concerned with heat damage switch up your shampoo and conditioner. Pantene Pro-V Heat Shield Shampoo and Conditioner ($6 each, at drugstores) is geared to defending your hair in each step of the cleansing and styling process. This shampoo and conditioner duo each contain a heat-activated oil that protects against heat styling up to 450 degrees, making it your go-to every time you’re planning on breaking out the hair dryer and flat iron. Using this shampoo and condition in conjunction with a thermal protectant spray should keep hair in tip top shape all year!

See the full fall beauty trends gallery »

Jump to: TEXTURED LIPS | RED MAKEUP | CROPPED HAIR | MATTE SKIN | GLITTER AND JEWELS | SLICK HAIR AND SKIN | BIG HAIR | MUST-HAVE PRODUCTS

Spring’s bright lips, clean skin and dainty hair accessories were fun, but the Fall 2013 beauty trends give us much to be excited about. From ombré lips to decadent glitter, designers are embracing individuality with fall makeup, giving artists free reigns to experiment with the extremes. Lipgloss was layered on eyelids instead of lips, jewels adorned ears as well as eyes and sleek wigs were cropped into edgy bobs. Click through to see the best hair and makeup trends from the Fall 2013 runways as well as all the products you need to achieve the 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.

I have some dark spots and minor imperfections that I want to treat and cover up. How can I go about doing this?
Dark spots, hyperpigmentation, acne scars, dark circles, fine lines… everyone has something they’d like to diminish while hiding it! Thankfully, recent innovations have resulted in plenty of multitasking products that help treat and hide pigmentation problems. Take a look at Lancôme Teint Visionnaire Skin Correcting Makeup ($60, sephora.ca), which is a two-step makeup that involves a liquid skin-correcting foundation and a spot-correcting concealer in the lid. The foundation formula contains molecules that penetrate through multiple skin layers to correct wrinkles, pores, UV damage and acne marks. The concealer, which is colour-matched to the foundation, contains vitamin C to lighten dark spots while providing full coverage wherever you desire it. Bonus: you can toss the concealer portion of the bottle in your bag for touch-ups on the go!

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 go through cardboard nail files so quickly. Is there a more durable type I should try?
Too many times I have rummaged around for a nail file only to find one and discover it’s dull and essentially not usable. Not only that, but old nail files can be full of bacteria, especially cardboard files, as it’s hard to completely and effectively disinfect them—so discarding entirely is usually the safest bet. Luckily, Revlon File ‘N Peel ($5, at drugstores) has changed all that. This file is double-sided, so it offers both shaping and smoothing capabilities (standard stuff for a nail file), but it actually has three layers on each side, so that once a layer has been dulled down, you simply peel it away to reveal a fresh file ready for use! It’s the ideal solution for anyone who prefers cardboard files to glass or metal, but hates how easily cardboard files can get worn out.

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.

How do I protect my hair from sun damage? I can’t really live in a hat all summer.
Hat hair is so not the look, but sun protection definitely is! It’s important to protect ourselves from UV damage year-round, but in the summer, our hair can take a serious thrashing. Excessive sun exposure without protection can fade hair colour and make hair dry and brittle. Step up your UV game with the L’Oréal Professionnel Série Expert Solar Sublime range ($20-29, lorealprofessionnel.com), which is a shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioning spray that all contain Mexoryl. This ingredient is a UV filter that forms a protective film around hair fibres to make your hair more resilient to sun exposure. A necessary addition to your sun protection arsenal this summer!

See our must-have eyelash, eyeliner and mascara picks! »

It’s been 46 years since Yardley of London introduced Twiggy Lashes and Twiggy Eye Paint to help the masses replicate the doll-like stare of the model of that and many more moments, but her gaze lingers on. This is a season of 1960s-inflected eyes, reimagined as a thick strip of fringe and pale blue lids at Giorgio Armani, spiky top-and-bottom falsies at Moschino and smoky shadow with mile-long lashes at Gucci. The difference now is that we have the benefit of 21st-century cosmetic technology: Faux lashes are being made with laser-cut paper, feathers and mink, and mascara wands are so painstakingly sculpted and engineered, they resemble tiny topiaries.

Go inside the new beauty space at Holt Renfrew Yorkdale »

Holt Renfrew is continuing to expand its beauty presence with a new 10,000 square foot beauty space at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto. The new space, which opened to the public this week, offers a variety of luxe beauty services and international beauty brands, many which are exclusive to Holt Renfrew. The open environment features modern design concepts from favourite Holts beauty brands (including Chanel, Dior, La Mer and Shu Uemura), interactive digital features from Bobbi Brown and Clé de Peau and personal treatment and consultation space.

According to Holt Renfrew, the new beauty space is all about providing a personalized shopping experience for customers. “We’ve elevated our entire beauty experience,” explained Pat DiBratto, senior vice president of buying and merchandising, via press release.

Prepare your noses, as rumors are circulating that two big fashion icons are making their way into the world of perfume: Both Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld are set to release their own fragrances in the near future.

Lagerfeld seems to be in it for the long haul, as he has just signed a 20-year agreement (that’s a whole lot of perfume!) with Inter Parfums SA, thus ending his current contract with Coty. Set to launch in 2014, Lagerfeld’s new venture will join the likes of Balmain and Burberry who also have fragrances with the company.

However, we can’t tell you as much about Carine Roitfeld’s plans. The editor’s foray into fragrance is just a rumor for now, but Fashionista reported that she has taken out a trademark for an entire range of beauty products called “Forgive Me.”

As soon as our Carly Rae Jepsen cover was released, the compliments came flooding in. We have yet to see an instance where the “Call Me Maybe” singer doesn’t look stunning—from award shows to red carpet appearances she’s pretty much flawless—but fans old and new were unanimously in love with her hair and makeup from our October 2012 cover. As such, we spoke with Anna Nenoiu, the hair and makeup artist for the shoot, and got all the tips and tricks behind Carly Rae Jepsen’s look.

Find out how to do your hair like Carly Rae Jepsen »
Find out how to do your makeup like Carly Rae Jepsen »

This month we’re coveting 10 products that are sure to please both your skin and your senses on even the most dreary fall day. Lancôme brings us a game-changing brightening serum—though the real beauty is in its unique stainless-steel applicator. Equally innovative is Estée Lauder’s latest lipstick that adds a boost to any other colour you may fancy. Also in the “amazing additions” category is Avon’s foray into nail art: adding glitter to any manicure is as easy as eating a Fun Dip. If it’s rest and relaxation you seek, may we suggest a sand scrub loaded with white and black vocanic grains? And, best of all, we feature two products that are sure to cut minutes—or even hours!—off your morning beauty routine. One is the easiest way to master the look of thick, cat-eye liner and the other is the latest innovation in dry shampoo from Shu Uemura.

See all the beauty picks »