Added Bliss

A few months ago I reviewed a couple of my favourite products from Bliss. They make beauty products that give super fantastic results and are worth every penny. I won't lie to you: since turning 35, aging is a concern for me, but I still tend to break out and can't use those thick aging creams. I found this trio of Bliss Products at Sephora for $103 CAD and thought it was high time I tried out the wrinkle goo thing.

Oh Baby, Baby... my skin looks positively radiant, soft and smells delicious! I'm not sure what exactly they put in this stuff, it says collagenso I'm crediting that for the youthful glow, but like all Bliss products, you smell squeaky clean after sudsing and slathering. I don't have a lot of pronounced wrinkles, but I definitely notice a firmer more youthful quality to my skin. The eye cream is the only product that has ever done a thing to fade my dark circles even a little. I don't know how, but it's nothing short of a miracle!

In short, I'm completely sold on Bliss products. For the price, they deliver uncompromising quality with a subtle uplifting citrus scent and now, I look younger, too!

Available at Sephora or on line at http://www.blissworld.com/

****
$$$

Dear Revlon Colorstay, You gone and took my colour away!

As a self confessed lipstick junkie, I could not even begin to tell you how many units of lip product that I have in my possession. My favourite colour? Bright, 1940's glam red. Believe me, I've tried 'em all and for years my number one was Revlon Colorstay in Frankly Scarlet. Everyone, and I mean everyone from snooty department store sales ladies to UPS delivery men would comment on my amazing red lips. A great shade of red is hard to find, but us ladies who wear red lipstick know that precise application is also key. You don't want smudging, creasy edges or fading in the middle. It needs to be 100% perfect. And this stuff is--or WAS until they discontinued the colour!
Revlon Colourstay has more lasting power than any other brand out there no matter what you pay. For about $14 CAD it even beats out MAC's Pro Longwear Lipcolour that is almost double the price.

What I love about Revlon's long lasting brand is that it stays put, has great clear colour and I can get through at least 6 hours of my shift at work (including a few snacks and lunch) with my lips still looking picture perfect. Other brands tend to get goopy and leave an unsightly white buildup of moisturizing ingredients at the inside of your lips. The whole point of wearing stay on lip colour is so that I don't have to check the mirror 10 times an hour to make sure I still look good.

I usually wear Frankly Scarlet in winter, as it looks fab on pale skin next to a black turtleneck, In warmer months, I prefer the more luminous, beachy colour of Constantly Coral. Imagine my dismay when fall came and my shade had been discontinued!

Why, Relvon, Why? This was my standby little beauty secret: kiss-proof, food-proof, smudge-proof perfection. The ideal colour, the perfect wear time and my most cherished product. PLEASE BRING BACK MY PERFECT RED LIPS!!!

For the last few months I have been suffering with the MAC brand in Lasting Lust but in comparison, it sucks. I do still wear Constantly Coral, but it's not as remarkable. I so also like Bare Maximum for a more neutral shade, but I think they may have discontinued that colour, too. The next option is Endless Spice, which I find too brown for me.

This product is absolutely the bomb. I still love it the best, but Revlon has to get hip with the shades and give us glam-loving girls our sexy red pouts back!

Muah!

Available at all leading drugstores (just not in the colour I want). $14 CAD

$$
***** (still a five star product despite the colour issue).

By Kilian

If I have two addictions where shopping is concerned, it's lipstick and fragrances. Often times, I'll spend a Saturday afternoon at Holt Renfrew sampling different scents and letting them sit on my skin to see which one really works for me. While out sniffing a few months ago, I came across the by Kilian line, designed by the grandson to the founder of Hennessy Congnac and the house of Louis Vuitton. This perfume line is first and foremost about luxury, but Kilian has a knack for creating fragrances that are born in the memory and live out a long life on the nape of your neck or the inside of the wrist. They are haunting, complex and reminiscent of all things sensual. One spray will begin with top notes and melt over time into a heavenly marriage of each essential oil in the fragrance.

The Kilian line is also environmentally conscious and although the perfumes seems to be expensive, ($250 CAD) you're paying for the bottle, which is exquisite and comes in its own box of velvet and silk, designed to be refilled on site when you're finished with the fragrance. The initial investment is in the hardware and the refills are much less expensive.

The better deal, is to purchase the lovely refillable travel atomizer that comes with four refills (pictured here) It's a bit easier on the pocketbook at $150 CAD. Four refills are $80, which is completely reasonable for a fragrance of this caliber.

My purchase was Don't Be Shy. A haunting gourmand blend inspired by the marshmallow, accented with bergamot, honeysuckle and musk. The most striking quality of this fragrance is the lingering essence of whipped egg white, you're instantly transported to your mother's kitchen, making a lemon meringue pie, beating the egg whites to stiff peaks and watching the sugary whites brown in the oven. This is an example of how Kilian's perfumes manage to capture not just a scent, but a moment.

Aphrodisiac is also a favourite, reminding me of a sticky stream of honey enveloped with spicy ginger and warm tobacco.

Make sure to get samples before you make a purchase and see how each scent sits on your skin and changes throughout the day. The sales people really stand behind these products and are happy to send you home with lots of those tiny spray samples, even a couple for your friends.

Available exclusively at Holt Renfrew or visit: http://www.bykilian.com/

$250 CAD for 50 ml. refillable spray
$150 CAD for 30 ml refillable travel spray

$$$$
****

King's Noodle

If you like BBQ, Noodles and super cheap Chinese eats that satisfy, it's likely that you've already been to King's Noodle House. The Duck Noodle Soup is therapy on a cold winter afternoon in Chinatown. Tuck into one of the communal tables and load your broth up with lots of dry chili oil. This fix is sure to cure whatever ails you. Cantonese Chow Mein simply can't be beat and I love the BBQ Pig's Feet on Noodle after a night out at a concert. The only caveat here, is that you need to leave the bar to get there before 1:30 a.m. "Cold Tea" swillers may have to opt for another venue.

Recent renovations have left this place looking shiny and new. Prices have been raised slightly since then, but I'm not complaining much since it's still one of the best quality/price deals in the city.


296 Spadina Ave.
Toronto, ON
M5T 2E7

****
$

True Bliss

I can be fickle and I enjoy trying new things, but when I come across products like this, I'm ferociously loyal. Bliss makes some pretty fab stuff for the face and body. They can get a little pricey, but the Fabulous Foaming Face Wash and Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask are, in my opinion, absolutely worth the dough.

Bliss' FFFW is truly wonderful for a few reasons:

1) It gently cleanses away makeup, dirt and dead skin cells with these super fine exfoliating crystals, Leaving your skin smooth and supple.
2) Your skin will never be oily or flaky after. If you have combination skin, this is the perfect cleanser.
3)The smell is invigorating. It both wakes you in the morning and soothes you at night.

The Triple Oxygen Mask is an amazing pick me up. After cleansing, rub it all over your face and wait for five minutes until it puffs into an amazing foam (this will tickle a bit), but when it's rinsed off, your face will feel smooth and renewed. It also helps to even skin tone and colour. I use it after a late night or when my skin feels dull and tight. The additional benefit of this product is that it's quick. Unlike other masks that can take 20-30 minutes to dry or take effect, this is like an express facial rejuvenation.

I'll close this review by saying that almost all of Bliss' products are quite remarkable and I know they have a great line of anti-aging products that I'll have to try (at some point). Check them out on-line or purchase at Sephora stores across Toronto.

Fabulous Foaming Face Wash 197 ml $24 CAD
Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Face Mask 100ml $59 CAD

$$$$
*****

http://www.blissworld.com/

Derma Seta Ultimate Body Treatment System

I'll begin with a confession: I ordered this product from an infomercial. On TV, it seemed to be the perfect all-in-one solution to every skin snafu from hair removal, to cellulite and exfoliation. The idea is, that this battery powered unit (that can also be plugged into the wall) rotates in a clockwise motion and depending on the attachment that you use it will make your skin lovely, vibrant, and hair- free.

Not Quite.

It says that you have to use the Derma Seta until at least 12 times until you achieve the desired hair removal results, but they only sent me five of the 20 crystal hair removal pads that were promised to me on the infomercial. The pads remove hair for about 3 minutes and then you have to change it. So with my little TV kit, there was no hope of using the Derma Seta 12 times to see whether it would work well or not.

I decided to give this thing a whirl on my fine arm hair. I thought the results would be more noticeable. After five minutes of rubbing the pad on my left arm, my skin was definitely exfoliated, but the hair remained.

Not Impressed.

I attached the skin buffer in the hopes of buffing my exfoiliated arm into a silky smooth appendage. Nothing happened.

I can't say much for the cellulite massage heads. It feels sort of disturbing and the sound of the Derma Seta is so loud that I'm sure my neighbours think I'm using a different appliance!

Hoping to put my embarrassment aside, I whipped out the little stick that you're supposed to use on your lady moustache. I rubbed, as instructed in a circular motion and inspected. Nothing. Thankfully, my stashe is not that plentiful to begin with, but really... this was useless. Except for the sexy rash that arose on said area a few minutes later. Now I had a scaly, irritated red lady moustache.

At this point, I was not about to try the Derma Set on my bikini line.

The one thing I do love about the Derma Set is the facial brush attachment. My skin doesn't exfoliate very well and this soft brush worked magic with my cleanser to make my skin soft and glow-y. But, it hardly seems worth the price of $29.99 + $29.99 shipping and handling, plus tax, etc... it came to almost $100.00! I did get a free one for my sister-in-law, and I'm curious to see her take on it. The other minus, is that if you don't like it, you have to send it back and pay the S&H yourself for the 30 day money back guarantee. So if you don't like the Derma Seta, you're out $60 bucks for S&H.


The moral of the story? Infomercials are evil. I would not recommend the Derma Seta to anyone.

$$$
*

La Tienda Bueno Latina

If Kensington Market is already a feast for the senses, Perola Supermarket is an integral part of the ethnic and eclectic vibe. You're greeted outside by a spicy beat and the music lulls you toward the lovely, fresh latin produce; from shiny green tomatillos cradled in their tawny husks, golden whole kernel maize, earth coloured tamarind beans in the pod, and almost every variety of chile pepper one could think of. When I make my Cream of Poblano Chile soup, I come here for the chiles. I even found dried Naga Jolokia Peppers, known as the hottest on earth. A cooler at the back of the patio houses many different types of corn and flour tortillas, as well as burrito wraps of every size.

Inside, are lovely avocados, sugar cane and loads of latino canned goods, drink mixes, dried spices, queso fresco, as well as corn husks and banana leaves if you're planning on making tamales.

In addition to being one of the best places in Toronto to find your latino goods, on the weekends, Perola also serves tacos, chiles rellenos, pupusas and other amazing delicacies from the back of the store. Simply pick what you want, pay at the front cash and take your receipt to the back. Great for eating in the park while people watching.

Even if inspiration is the only thing on your latin grocery list, you're guaranteed to find it at Perola.

$
*****

Kensington Market
247 Augusta Ave
Toronto, ON, M5T2L8
(416) 593-9728