So I just got home from a night at the lake and on the way back we stopped in at an arts and crafts show where there were tables of jewelry, paintings, and bath and body stuff.  As for the above photo, no that’s not an actual cupcake (I wish!), it’s actually a bath bomb.  I thought it was so cute I just had to blog about it!

This cheesecake/vanilla smelling wonder is by Whipped Cosmetics, which is based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. One bath bomb, which I was told, can last you three baths.  I didn’t necessarily buy it because I’m a big bath person (I never shop at Lush), I bought it because it smelled so damn good!  Even Ziggy tried getting a few licks of it (I licked it, it doesn’t taste like cheesecake FYI).

There are a variety of different companies out there that produce these yummy smelling wonders, Whipped Cosmetics charges $5 CDN per bomb or four for $15 that comes in a cute little tray.

Anyways, I thought this was just too cute to not post.  I’m off to take a bath now!

Also, don’t forget to enter my Fusion Power Bandz giveaway (ends tomorrow!) and my Sally Hansen Salon Effects giveaway!  Oh, and of course, subscribe! 🙂

Under eyes got you feeling down?  Can’t conceal those dark circles that just won’t go away?  Well, luckily there is a solution!

A couple of days ago I received the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye concealer, a full coverage waterproof concealer with hydro-collagen and vitamins C&K, directly from the company.  It Cosmetics was created by Jamie Kern, a former TV news anchor, Miss Washington USA, and a contestant on the reality show Big Brother. She launched the line in 2008 and it is available through QVC, Beauty.com, Beauty 360, itcosmetics.com and The Shopping Channel in Canada.

I recently heard about It Cosmetics a few weeks ago, mostly from YouTube beauty gurus.  They were raving about the product and how great it worked.  Lucky for me, I don’t have really bad under eye circles right now, so a cheap $3 ELF concealer does the job.  Then I tried this product.

First thing in the morning after I washed my face

After I put on my foundation with the It Cosmetic concealer on top. Yes, I know I look orange here...

This product is pretty amazing, if I shall say so myself.  Like I mentioned, I don’t have bad under eye blemishes or anything but I found this product really brightens up my eyes.  You know when you do your makeup perfect throughout the day and then you come home from work and there is some fall out?  Slap some of this on and voila!  Your eyes are brightened once again.  In fact, when I first tried this out was right before my Group Power class and I found that I was staring at my face in the mirror the entire time.

The product comes in a 0.28 fl.oz tube in four different shades – Light (ultra fair), Neutral Medium (Light Medium), Tan (Medium), and Deep (Dark Tan).  It Cosmetics says that 70 per cent of all skin tones pick the Neutral Medium, which coincidently is the shade I chose as well.

Even this much is too much.

The tube may be small but you don’t need a lot to get results.  The product is quite thick, so I found that I had to squeeze the tube a little harder than I usually would, but literally a small dab is enough for one eye; it covers a large area.  And cover it does.  This stuff, although it says it’s for under eyes, it could be used anywhere that needs a good covering up.  I even read reviews where people used it to cover their tattoos.

According to the press release I received with the product, “the formula was developed, tested and is now used to conceal facial bruising and swelling on the face and body of surgery patients in the offices of some of the leading plastic surgeons in Brazil.”  I should also mention that the product was created by working “hand in hand with the leading plastic surgeons in Brazil”.  Plastic surgeons?  Brazil?  You know it’s good when…

Note the large beauty mark in this before shot.

Beauty mark is virtually unseeable.

I applied this product over my foundation because I’m using a full-coverage foundation at the moment (Joe Fresh Light Weight Foundation in Light 2).  If I would pair it with my Bare Minerals foundation then I think I would apply it underneath because the finish isn’t as heavy on the foundation.

The product retails for $29 CDN ($24 in the U.S.) and is available through The Shopping Channel.  It is a bit pricey for concealer, but I think it’s worth every penny.  It’s rare to come across a product that actually does what it says, and this one does that and more.

Also, don’t forget to enter my Fusion Power Bandz giveaway (ends July 31st!) and my Sally Hansen Salon Effects giveaway!  Oh, and of course, subscribe! 🙂

Please note: I did receive this product for review, however, it did not affect my opinions on it.  All opinions are my honest own :).  This product really does rock.

Hi all!  So I came across a blog post someone else did a few weeks ago and it totally inspired me to do this post!  The post was about their favourite Canadian brands and designers.  Unfortunately I can’t remember the site (otherwise I would link it) but I just found that they forgot or failed to mention a lot of really popular brands that started out in Canada.  So I decided to do my own list.  The brands I mention below are in no particular order in terms of my favourites.

Lululemon

This popular athletic-wear brand was founded in 1998 and opened their first store in 2000 in Kitsilano, British Columbia, which is a beach area in Vancouver.  The brand soon became so popular that stores have sprung up all over Canada, the United States, and the world.  Although it is without a doubt that Lululemon is most popular in Canada I have found that it is starting to get a cult following all of its own in the United States as well.

I still have my first pair of Groove Pants which I bought six years ago, and although they are a size 10 (I’m currently a size 6 in “lulus”) they are still in excellent shape.  That’s the thing about Lululemon, their stuff lasts forever.  And if something goes wrong with it they will fix it at no cost (aside from a bag I have which strap broke, the rude salesperson at the store told me it was “time to retire it”).  Their stuff is quite pricey (Groove Pants run for $98 CDN, hoodies can run way over $100 CDN), but like I said it does last forever and it’s so comfortable and fashion-forward that it’s not exclusive to just working out.

I have found that the stores in Canada are way larger than the ones in the U.S. but consumers can also order stuff online as well.  They offer free shipping and it gets to your house quite quickly.

MAC

Make-up Art Cosmetics (better known as MAC) is one of the world’s most popular beauty brands (which I’m sure all of you guys know).  The company was founded in Toronto, Ontario in 1984.  It is currently owned by Estee Lauder Companies (whom also own a variety of other popular beauty brands such as Clinique, Bobby Brown, La Mer, Bumble and Bumble, and more).

As you all know, the company boasts lipsticks, foundation, glosses, eyeshadows, mascaras (although I have heard that they aren’t the best), and anything else a makeup addict can dream of.  Their counters can be found in popular department stores (in Canada they are found at The Bay)  and they have stores all over the world. The also have Pro stores which carry their Pro line, which includes exclusive colours that you won’t find anywhere else, as well as products that their counters and regular stores don’t carry.

They are quite the philanthropic company as they have established their MAC Aids Fund, where 100 per cent of their proceeds from their MAC Viva Glam lipsticks and glosses go directly to helping people and countries directly affected by AIDS.  Celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, KD Lang, Fergie, and a variety of others have been the face of the line.

MAC also offers a Pro discount to makeup artists, hairstylists, photographers, aestheticians, on-air talent, and a variety of different jobs in the industry.  For more information on the program click here.  They also have their Back to MAC program, where if you bring back six empty containers (whether it’s empty lipstick cases, eyeshadow cases, etc.) you can receive a free lipstick (at the counters) or a lipstick, gloss, or eyeshadow (at the stores).

I personally love MAC and I always feel a sense of Canadian pride when I see someone using it online (whether it’s in a YouTube video or on a blog) knowing that it was founded in Canada.

Joe Fresh

Joe Fresh is only available right now in Canada at the Real Canadian Superstores around the country (each province has a different name for the store, its weird.  For example, in Ontario it’s called Loblaws), as well as a few standalone stores (usually in bigger markets like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, etc.).  Joe Fresh was founded by Joe Mimran, the same guy that started Club Monaco.  Right now the brand currently consists of clothing for women, men, children, babies, as well as active wear, bathing suits, shoes, lingerie, jewelry, and cosmetics.

The thing that sets Joe Fresh apart from other brands out there, in my opinion, is the fact that it’s inexpensive, good quality, and easily accessible.  For those of you that don’t know what the Real Canadian Superstore is, it’s a grocery in Canada similar to Wal-Mart or Target but usually with cheaper prices.  I have a little bit from everything that they produce (aside from mens and babies) and I don’t have any complaints about it.  The makeup is fantastic (I think the most expensive thing is $8), their nail polish is very pigmented and lasts forever (way longer than OPI or China Glaze), their jewelry is super cute and fashion forward, their workout gear is comparable to Lululemon for about one eighth of the price, and their pantyhose is great (that last one is random, but they sell the best black tights in my opinion).

I also like how their clothing is made for real women.  I hate going to stores where a large feels like a small (Hollister); anyone can shop at Joe Fresh, and I think that’s really the big appeal for the brand.  As well as the price.

Aldo 

Founded in Montreal, Quebec in 1964, the Aldo Groupe has shoes and accessories stores all over the world. Brands under their umbrella include Aldo Shoes, Aldo Accessories, Spring Shoes, FeetFirst, Little Burgundy, Call it Spring (which, in addition to their stand-alone stores, will be popping up in JC Penney stores in the U.S.), and Locale (which are expected to replace FeetFirst stores).  Fun fact for you: Aldo Shoes were originally inLe Chateau stores (Canadians, you’ll know what store I’m taking about).

The reason why I love Aldo so much is because their shoes are very fashion-forward and good quality, with a lot of them being made from leather (sorry for all you non-leather lovers out there).  However, with that being said they do offer a variety of synthetic options as well.  The prices for their shoes vary, but most of them are in at just under $100 CDN.  They also offer very trendy jewelry, bags, scarves, and other accessories in their stores, as well as in Aldo Accessories stores.

The company currently still operates out of Montreal (where their corporate headquarters are located), but their brands can be found all over the world (I ran into a Spring Shoes in Israel four years ago in fact).  Like I said, I find the quality to be very good, which coincides with their reasonable prices.

Canada Goose

Founded in 1957 originally under the name Metro Sportswear Ltd., Canada Goose jackets are made for the cold.  Like, really cold.  This Canadian brand is still made in Canada and doesn’t outsource to other countries, which explains why the price for these jackets are so high (they can range from $300-$1,000). But they are so worth it.

The first time I heard about Canada Goose was actually last year.   When I was a production assistant for a television network that was part of the Olympic Media Consortium the head guy had one of these jackets with it’s distinct logo.  I didn’t really think much about it at the time other than the fact that it was such a heavy jacket for the weather we were getting.  Flash forward to November 2010 when I was in Montreal, and wow, these guys were all over the place.  Everyone was wearing a Canada Goose jacket.  Literally everyone.  Looking back, I don’t know how those people weren’t dying of sweat in them in fact.  Most stores were sold out of the popular parkas that when I finally found one at Simons I looked at the price I didn’t get it.  I thought who would pay $500 for a parka?  I soon quickly realized that they were so worth it.

Canada Goose, like I said, doesn’t outsource their production, their products are made here in Canada with real goose down feathers and coyote fur around the hood (it keeps blowing snow away from your face).  Now because there is a limit on how many jackets they can produce in one year (because of Canadian laws on the goose feathers, coyotes, and labour costs) there is such a high demand for them.  Not to mention the fact that they are the warmest thing you will ever wear.  I was skeptical on that last part because where I live it gets down to -40 degrees Celsius, and if you haven’t experienced that before, let me tell you, it’s pretty darn cold.  When I first got the jacket (I ordered it online from an authorized reseller) and held it, it was quite light and I really didn’t think that it would keep me that warm.  I quickly slipped it over a t-shirt, grabbed Ziggy, and went for our evening walk.  It literally felt like I was standing in my house, I didn’t feel any cold whatsoever.

If you are thinking of getting a Canada Goose jacket, get one early!  Styles and colours sell out fast because there is such a high demand for them.  If you check out their website they have a list of authorized resellers, this is extremely important because there are tons of fakes out there.  Don’t believe me?  Do a quick Google search and see how many of those websites are from China.  Fake CG jackets have been found to be stuffed with chicken feathers and dog fur around the hood, which will not keep you warm whatsoever (not to mention the fact that it’s gross).  Like I said, they are quite expensive and very rarely go on sale (I actually got mine on sale, I believe it was an old model because the tags were old), but shop around and see what’s out there.  I got mine from gear-up.com if you are interested.  Like I said, they may be expensive, but they are so worth it and I really believe that if you take good care of it, it’ll last you forever.

So those were my favourite Canadian brands. I do have a few honourable mentions – RIM (BlackBerry), Aritzia, Roots, and The Hudson’s Bay Company.

Did any of these brands surprise you at all?  What are some of your favourite Canuck brands?

Also, don’t forget to enter my Fusion Power Bandz giveaway (ends July 31st!) and my Sally Hansen Salon Effects giveaway!  Oh, and of course, subscribe! 🙂