Let’s talk hair for a second here.
For many people, their hairstylist is one of their best friends. They are psychiatrists, they are friends, they are people who you can share your deepest secrets with. Considering how much I’m into beauty, I can honestly say in the past 10 years I haven’t had a steady stylist. I’m one of those people who when I notice I need a haircut, I need to get into the salon right now. I don’t like waiting for an opening, get me in, get me out.
It’s no secret that I’ve been a huge advocate of the Aveda Institute here in Winnipeg for along time. The institute opened up a few years back and I’ve been going there since they’ve basically opened their doors. With institutes in five cities across Canada (Winnipeg, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Victoria), these salons are actually hair schools. Yes, my friends, I go to a hair school to get my hair done. That ombre that I had that would get compliments from some of the most renowned hairstylists and brand ambassadors in Canada? That was done by a student at The Aveda Institute.
The school is comprised of both the Institute program, which is a nine-month course learning the fundamentals of hairstyling, and the Academy program, which is for advanced learning. The Institute is for those who are just getting into hairstyling, whereas the Academy program is designed for those who already have their hairstyling license and want to get additional, advanced training. Aside from the awesome prices, it’s also a very controlled environment. On the Institute side, the students cannot do anything to your hair until they consult with an educator, who is a seasoned stylist. The Academy side is similar, but the stylists on that side have already worked/are working in the field and are back for advanced learning. Since the school is part of the Aveda brand, you get all the perks that you would get at an Aveda salon, such as the hand massage for colour treatments and a scalp massage for haircuts. The Aveda Institute is also home to a giant Aveda store, which has all the Aveda products that people know and love.
About a month back, the Aveda Institute got in touch with me and asked if I wanted to become a blogger ambassador for the Winnipeg location. I couldn’t say YASSSSSSS fast enough. As I mentioned, I’ve been a long-time supporter of the institute, so I obviously jumped on that opportunity right away. This leads me to yesterday.
I arrived at the Aveda Institute (located at 80 Rorie Street in the Winnipeg’s Exchange District) and met with the Amy, who works on the Academy side and currently training to become an educator at the institute. Amy has worked in Aveda salons for a number of years and only had amazing things to say about the brand (she said that the second day she was on the Academy side, it felt like home). I came in with highlights in mind, and although I absolutely loved my ombre, it was time to change it up. I decided to go Khloe Kardashian blonde, but a subtle blonde ombre towards the end. Amy said she couldn’t quite make me that light, but we would work on getting there.
I ended up getting a full head of highlights, and after about two hours of putting all the foils in, letting them process, washing out the colour and toning my hair, it was time to blow it all out (I also snapped the whole thing, follow me on Snapchat –> apopofcolour)
Once it was all blown out, I fell in love. It’s a lot blonder than what I’m certainly used to, but it just turned out so gorgeous, I probably couldn’t stop smiling by the time my hair was dry and I could see the colour until the time I left the salon.
To style my hair, Amy used an abundance of Aveda products, including Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair for repairs and to protect against heat styling; Smooth Infusion, a nourishing styling cream; and Confixor, a liquid gel. As someone who doesn’t use gel in their hair I was quite surprised Amy chose that product for my blow out, but she said that gel is great for keeping style, and this particular product gives a medium hold and definition while fortifying fine to medium hair. Definitely a tip I’m going to use while doing my own at-home blowout.
After my styling session was done, Amy and I snapped a few photos, then Bianca, the social media ambassador and makeup artist, whisked me away to show me the products, let me know the benefits and the goodwill that Aveda pursues (all their makeup, except for the lipsticks, are vegan; Aveda surprisingly invented the paddle brush; and they give back to the community both locally and around the world, among many other things), as well as give me a tour of the building. After all that, she gifted me the products that Amy used on my hair, plus their new Shampure Dry Shampoo (you squeeze the bottle to distribute the product instead of it being in an aerosol can, and it’s in their signature Aveda scent) and my favourite hairspray, Air Control.
With the amazing Amy 😉
If you have an Aveda Institute in your city, I highly recommend checking them out. Regardless of this post, I cannot recommend them enough (don’t believe me? I blogged about them for the first time back in 2012 and have been going back ever since). If you want to give them a try and haven’t been yet, they are offering $15 off for new guests, and haircuts start at just $14, AKA you can get a haircut for free. Offer is on until the end of November.
And, that’s not all. I teamed up with the Aveda Institute to host a giveaway for my Winnipeg, Toronto and Vancouver readers. Enter the Rafflecopter below to enter to win a complimentary cut, colour, and makeup application at the Aveda Institute in either Winnipeg, Toronto, or Vancouver, plus the new Shampure Dry Shampoo. Giveaway runs until November 30 and the winner will be chosen on December 1.
Have you been to the Aveda Institute yet?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Please note, the Aveda Institute Winnipeg comped my services and products in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own. They really are awesome!!.
Getting your holiday shopping done early? Well if you’re a savvy shopper (like me), you’ll take full advantage of the Sephora VIB sale, happening this weekend, starting today (November 13-16). (You unlock VIB status once you spend $350 in a calendar year. Unfortunately I haven’t heard anything about there being a sale for BI members though..). Sephora holds this sale every holiday season and it’s one of the biggest shopping events of the year for me (if not the biggest one). Although I may not need to purchase any makeup, there’s usually at least one item I absolutely need to pick up (it’s also a great time for get some gifts).
Anyways, if you haven’t been in Sephora yet, you are missing out. There are so many amazing collections and items out there that it’s hard to leave the store without wanting at least one item (or in my case, all the items). I have received some of them already, but if you are looking for something more affordable, the Sephora brand has some great stuff that would make fantastic gifts.
Sephora Collection Gift-A-Gloss Lip Gloss Sampler
This wheel of glosses (C$35) includes eight individually packed lip glosses that you can gift as-is or break them up to split amongst all your friends. The shades range from nudes to berries in a mixture of creams and shimmers.
I’ve always been a fan of Sephora glosses, in fact the very first item I ever bought from the store was a gloss (from the Mall of America location – it was probably the only thing I could afford at the time, being a pre-teen). These guys are full of colour and very comfortable to wear.
Sephora Winter Soiree Quick Pin Hair Barrette
Who doesn’t love hair accessories? Especially during the holiday season.. This uber-cute barrette would look so cute for any holiday-party look. The rose gold and leather detail make this the perfect accessory to jazz up your hair, day or night, plus if you picked up the Tarte Off The Cuff blush palette from last year’s holiday collection, this matches perfectly.
Unfortunately, this guy is no longer on Sephora’s website, but look for it in stores!
Formula X Alchemy II nail polish
Looking for the perfect holiday glitter? This rose gold sparkly polish is the perfect accessory to match your new hair pin and makeup brushes (see below). Plus it’s a fantastic dupe for Deborah Lippmann’s Superstar (but way more affordable).
Sephora Collection Be Spotted The Escaper Bag
Also from the same collection, this small cosmetic bag (C$18) would make the perfect stocking stuffer, or cute bag to house more holiday goodies (like the nail polish)!
I have a few of these bags already from past collections and find them great for throwing in your purse or travelling with. The size is very versatile too. Plus, who can resist that rose gold leopard-print pattern (literally everything I love in life wrapped up into one irresistible makeup bag).
Sephora Kiss the Moon lip gloss
Need a gift that will double as a stocking stuffer and a tree ornament? Look no further than this cute gloss shaped like a Christmas ornament. This universal pink gloss (C$6) enhances lips, making them luscious and plump. It comes in a delightful Christmas ball ornament packaging that you can hang from your tree or give to a friend. Keep in mind this guy is pretty small, but that makes it perfect to throw in your Escaper bag as an extra bonus gift.
Formula X Bottle Service
For the girl who loves to party, Sephora’s Formula X line has the perfect gift for you. Complete in a faux champagne bottle (so very holiday appropriate) this set has 10 minis of their popular nail polish formula. Complete with five new limited-edition crème and shimmers and five best-selling classics, even if you don’t love the colours (these probably wouldn’t be my first choice of shades – but that’s just me. With that being said, they are all classic colours), who could resist this set?!
Sephora usually releases a Formula X set for the holiday season and this one is so much better than last year’s offering, which had a million of those little one-use polishes that looked cool, but were a mess to apply. This guy is unfortunately not on Sephora’s website anymore, but look for it in store!
Sephora Sleeping Mask Discovery Set
With winter comes dry skin, so this is the perfect way to keep skin in tip-top shape. Gift it as a set, keep it for yourself, or break them up and give them individually. Included are six single-use sleeping masks targeting skin’s major problems. The set includes Green Tea (mattifying and anti-blemish; a non-oily jelly), Ginseng (toning and firming; a refreshing jelly), Honey (nourishing and balancing; a comfort cream), Rose (ultra moisturizing and brightening; a melting gel cream), Lotus (moisturizing and soothing; refreshing jelly), and Pearl (perfecting and brightening; melting gel cream).
Sephora Collection Glitter Happy Brush Set
When I saw this in store a week or so back, I just about died. And then when they sent it to me, I went to heaven. This gorgeous set includes six brushes with a glittery brush stand. Included is a blush brush, pointed foundation brush, blending brush, pointed concealer brush, all-over shadow brush, and a lip brush.
Overall, I think I own all these brush already since they seem to repeat brushes a lot in their sets, but for me, this set is not about the brushes. Can we just talk about that stand?! The glitter, the rose gold… this set is perfection and would look gorgeous on anyone’s vanity. If you choose one thing to buy from the VIB sale, this is it people. Pick this one up. Best of all, that 20 per cent will really make a difference in the C$85 price tag (valued at $225!)
Formula X Clix! sets
Matte nails? Check. Strengthening? Check. Brightening? Yup, that too. These cute little sets from Sephora Formula X come in a variety of different prescriptions for your nails.
- All the Matters – Lock up the best-selling classics that matter. Featuring iconic White Matter, Dark Matter, and Grey Matter, plus Mind Over Matter, a mattifying top coat that takes your finish from glossy to matte.
- The Strengthening Prescription – A four-piece nail treatment collection designed to help strengthen, brighten, and hydrate nails in four simple steps—all encased in a revolutionary and convenient CLIX! quad. This set restores weak or gel-damaged nails.
- The Brightening Prescription – Made to eliminate stains, neutralize discoloration, and fight yellowing while instantly brightening nails with a sheer wash of high-shine colour.
- The Look – Comprised of two polishes, a neutral shade and a glitter top coat to add some extra dazzle.. only if you want it.
There are also a number of other Clix! sets available from Formula X. Since they are so small and affordable, they make great stocking stuffers. And, who doesn’t love nail gifts?!
Crazy to think this is only the tip of the iceberg for holiday sets from Sephora, and we didn’t even get into the other brands the store has to offer (another blog post for another day). The Sephora brand usually has pretty affordable items, so there really is a gift for any price point, plus with the VIB 20 per cent off, who can say no to any of this stuff!?
What’s on your Sephora VIB wish list?
Please note, product sent by PR, all opinions are my own.
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Have your holiday parties all sorted out yet?
Since we are almost half-way through November, it’s time to start thinking about holiday party outfits. I’ve already started checking out some stores here in the mall, but the one thing I can get down with is the hair and makeup. With the holiday season comes sequins, and why just stop at wearing them on your body when you can incorporate them into your makeup as well?
Yves Rocher recently sent me their holiday collection, which is always a highlight for me every year. Not only is the makeup fab, but I always love the bath and body products that they release in the line. This years’ offering includes scents Spicy Vanilla and Apple Delight. But that’s for another post; we’re chatting makeup this time around.
Included in the line are shadows, creme eyeshadows, lip products, and tons of nail polish! Some of these items are similar to past collections, but the real showstopper for me was the loose glitter, which is for your nails (I actually used this on my eyes) and the shadow pencils. Inspired by the gold glitter in the collection, I wore this look for a charity event, but it’s totally transitional for the holiday season.
1. Working on the brows first, I filled them in using Smashbox Brow Tech Matte Pencil in Taupe and then the Brow Tech Highlight Stick in Bronze Shimmer (which adds some extra dimension to your brows).
2. With the Yves Rocher Eye Pencil in Frosted Pink Champagne (C$5.95 each), I applied this on my lids to act as a primer.
3. Using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Shadow Couture palette, I lightly dusted Morocco in my crease.
4. With Noir from the same palette and a pencil brush, I carved out my crease. It’s okay if this is a bit messy.
5. Using Fudge and a fluffy crease brush, lightly blend out the black colour.
6. Now for the glitter. I used Stila Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eyeshadow in Kitten, then went over top with Yves Rocher Loose Glitter in Champagne Rose (probably not recommended for your eyes, however, I had no issues with it. Just be careful!).
7. Line your upper lash line (I used the limited-edition Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper), then apply some coats of mascara and falsies. I used CoverGirl The Supersizer mascara and lashes by Velour.
8. Using a combination of Fudge and Noir, line your lower lash line. After, apply a nude cream shadow to your waterline and finish off your lower lashes with some mascara.
9. For the face, I used Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Full Coverage foundation in Beige Medium with Emani HD Corrective Concealer for under my eyes. To set my concealer I used the Smashbox Step-by-Step Contour Kit, as well as for my contour. To highlight I used Becca highlighter in Champagne Pop.
To complete the look I went with big hair and a sparkly romper (very holiday appropriate). For my scent, I used Yves Rocher So Elixir for a sensual scent. For the nails, I wore Pearly Purple with the Silver Glitter Top Coat (both by Yves Rocher).
If you are looking for great gifts for the holidays, Yves Rocher’s products are very inexpensive and luxurious. I have many items from the brand, and although they have a handful of stores here in Canada, their e-commerce site is great because they often offer amazing deals on their products.
Shine bright!
What have you got your eye on from Yves Rocher’s holiday collection?
Please note, products supplied by PR. All opinions are my own.
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