It is actually one of my most favourite past times. Not only do I get to see all the lovely products available but I also get to interact with the sales people. For years I have listened to sales pitches by these sales people, from the truly educated to the completely ridiculous.
Here is a list of four pitches I heard this week alone—all complete fiction!
"Our products are better than "brand X" because we use a higher grade version of the active ingredients."
I really detest the term 'anti-aging.' It implies that: a) there is something wrong with aging, and b) aging can be reversed.
In my opinion, neither of these is true.
The cosmetics industry has advertised many miracles to prevent, arrest, or reverse the signs of aging on the skin, some of which are complete nonsense.
You have probably seen these facts before—several glossy magazines have been promoting Safe Sun this season—but all the information is worth repeating.
The International Tanning Association (the public face of the tanning bed industry) has been on an aggresive PR campaign, trying to sell indoor tanning as a safe and healthy lifestyle choice.
Warm weather means a change in everything, lighter hair colour, lighter fabrics for clothes and certainly (hopefully?) a lighter schedule to enjoy the sunny days ahead.
I love taking care of my skin. I love helping people take care of their skin. I love cosmetics. I love cosmetic companies.
I hate wasting money. I hate seeing people waste money. I hate skincare products that waste people's money.
As a follow up to my last post here is my list of the top three intensive skincare products that are a sheer waste of time and money. None of them are ever worth buying or using.
A while ago I wrote an article called Skin Care 101. In it I talked about the benefits of basic at-home skin treatment that will keep the skin looking healthy.
It got me to thinking about what happens when basic care does not deliver all the results one may be wanting.
This season, make-up is bolder and brighter with fresh eye popping palettes borrowed from the colours of spring. With an invigorating splash of saturated hues every aspect of the season sparkles and shimmers. With such intensity and with an array of bold, brash colours maintaining perfectly polished skin is even more important. This spring foundation takes a back seat to porcelain like buffing and perfect tonality.
Skin needs to be bold not brash, perfectly glowing and totally fresh!
For three and half years, I have been writing Beauty: BUSTED! When I started this blog, my main focus was answering questions for consumers to ensure they were getting the best value for their money, and debunking marketing claims made by cosmetics companies. Not much has changed in that area - there are still a lot of crazy, over-the-top, ludicrous, and outright ridiculous claims made about products, in order to help consumers part with their money.
My semi-annual trek across Eastern Canada is almost upon us.
This is one of my most favourite parts of my job. Getting out on the road, travelling from city to city and meeting all the YMC members live and in person. I am always so happy to talk with you and answer your personal beauty care questions. I am so lucky to have a great network of locations to visit where you can come and say hi and have a personal one-on-one with me.
I have received a lot of emails, in the last couple of months, asking about quality products that are budget priced. It seems more and more readers want to know about really great formulas and, of course, be careful they are not wasting any money.
Fortuantely, that is exactly what this blog is all about: how to get the best value for your beauty dollar!
I see a lot of products, every week, and it remains true—every line has great products and really poor products. Price is never an indication of quality and a well-informed consumer will never waste money.
I really enjoyed my vacation in Australia. It really has been a long time since I was Down Under (my last visit was in 1988). Of course this is a country so close to the equator that sunscreen is something paramount on most people's minds.
I just had the most wonderful week of vacation in sunny Australia (it is the middle of the summer there). It was really great to get out of the cold for a week. Sydney is a beautiful city. The wharf is amazing and the gardens are gorgeous.
I spent a lot of time out of doors and yes I was fully clothed at all times (I do not do the beach).
Let me preface by saying I am not a hair stylist. Yes I have managed and operated hair salons, in my career, but I am neither a colourist nor am I qualified to cut hair. I understand the language of hair stylists and I am always looking for quality hair products, so when I was sent a full set of the new Avon Advanced Techniques Professional Hair Colour I was very intrigued.
I tried it once and I really did not like the "frozen" effect it gave my face. Also I was always, in the back of my mind, a little concerned about putting something in my body that was not there naturally. It never seemed to line up with my personal philosophy about beauty and health.
This past weekend I had the privilege of working with some very talented cosmetics professionals.
I was asked to give a workshop to help hone their make up artistry skills and I have to say it was a pleasure to be in the company of such eager and excited people. One of my favourite joys is to teach. It reminds me of all the fun the beauty industry offers.
One topic that came up, more than once, was the difficulty in matching foundation shades for their clients.
Ok it is true—I have been MIA for a little while. Rest assured I am back now.
Truth is I have been working on a massive project about which I cannot yet tell you, yet. Very soon though I will be writing about an amazing new concept store that is opening in Canada. Oh no I have already said too much! Stay tuned to this blog to learn more in the coming weeks.
Water prevents aging on the skin. FALSE!
