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Gallery: 12 made-in-Canada beauty brands

July 1st, 2010, 12:19 pm | 9 comments

by Michelle

Cargo Plant Love Lipstick

Happy Canada Day!

You knew I’d find a beauty angle for today’s holiday and it’s this gallery of homegrown beauty brands that you’ll definitely want to support.

But not just because they got their start in the Great White North! No, these peeps truly have some great stuff on offer—so I’ve showcased one of my fave products from each.

Check ‘em out and let me know in the comments if YOU have a fave Canadian brand that I missed! View gallery »

Aveeno giveaway products

UPDATE: This contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered!

The people from Aveeno are really, REALLY nice.

Because they want one of you to win what is possibly the best prize I’ve ever given away here at BeautyEditor.ca.

First of all, it includes the very excellent Aveeno Positively Nourishing Volumize Shampoo and Conditioner, which I’ve raved about before and recently added back in my shower rotation. (I’m on a volumizing mission lately and these are, if it’s possible, even better than I remember the first time I tried them. They really work!)

Plus you’ll get Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 15, a great basic body lotion, Aveeno Smoothing Body Wash, a gentle exfoliating body wash, and Aveeno Positively Ageless Sunscreen Lotion Face, a non-greasy, non-comedogenic sunscreen that gentle accelerates the cell renewal process for younger-looking skin.

And! AS IF THAT WEREN’T ENOUGH—they’re also throwing in a Matt & Nat handbag. Can you believe it?

Here’s the bag… I have it in black and it’s great—VERY lightweight!

Matt & Nat handbag caramel

A few more deets on the prizes:

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 15 ($15.99)

  • The unique combination of natural oatmeal, dimethicone and glycerin provides long-lasting moisturization for up to 24 hours, and helps to prevent dry skin while protecting it from future sun damage
  • Delivers broadspectrum UVA and UVB protection to protect against incidental sun exposure
  • Helps to prevent and temporarily protects against chafed, chapped or wind-burned skin
  • Non-greasy and fast absorbing
  • Won’t clog pores
  • Fragrance free
  • Hypoallergenic and gentle enough for sensitive skin

Aveeno Positively Nourishing Volumize Shampoo and Conditioner ($8.99 each)

  • Use a unique blend of lightweight conditioners to infuse hair with lush, rich body.
  • This exclusive formula, infused with the newest Active Naturals technology, Nourishing Wheat Complex, plus Anti-Oxidant Blue Lotus Flower, is designed to replenish moisture and amp-up body in fine, hair by replenishing essential moisture and protecting fragile hair from everyday damage.
  • By targeting the weakest parts of the hair, both products work to fortify the shaft with protein where it needs it most.
  • Gentle enough for color-treated hair, it helps repair damage in just three uses—leaving hair more voluminous, soft and radiant.

Aveeno Smoothing Body Wash ($7.49)

  • Contains rice and pomegranate
  • Natural rice gently exfoliates to reveal soft, radiant skin

Aveeno Positively Ageless Sunscreen Lotion Face ($12.99)

  • Formulated with Natural Shiitake Complex which is clinically shown to accelerate the natural surface cell renewal process
  • Oil-free, non-greasy, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and waterproof

HOW TO WIN: Sign up for BeautyEditor.ca’s email newsletter or RSS feed (if you’re not already a subscriber), and then enter your name and email address in the box below. This giveaway is open to Canadian residents only and runs until June 30th at 11:59pm EST.

Babe in the Biz: Fashion expert Afiya Francisco

June 16th, 2010, 10:29 am | 2 comments

by Michelle

Afiya Francisco

You may recognize the gorgeous Afiya Francisco from TV shows like ET Canada, Steven & Chris and CityLine. The former LouLou magazine fashion editor is a frequent style commentator, writer and now blogger (at TheStyleHouse.ca). She’s also a new mom—and you better believe she’s a stylish one!

Since hair, makeup and all things beauty can be considered the finishing touch to a well-chosen outfit, I asked Afiya if she could share with us her favourite beauty products and tips today. I love her product picks and think you will too! So read on…

Queen LatifahBeauty Insider Credentials As a style commentator for shows like ET Canada, Steven & Chris and CityLine, print and my blog TheStyleHouse.ca, I have the good fortune of getting to preview the latest and greatest products. It’s interesting to see how beauty relates to fashion and the runway looks that designers send out to compliment their overall vision.

Beauty Icon My beauty icons are different than my fashion icons and are usually people who radiate good health; Queen Latifah is the first to come to mind. Mind you, at the opposite end of the spectrum, I love a good kohl-rimmed, day-after-partying look that I think Carine Roitfeld does well.

Mixed Chicks Leave-In ConditionerTop Five Beauty Products Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner—hands downs my fave hair product. I love that it gives some hold but is so lightweight. Moroccanoil oil treatment—my hair is as dry as the desert and this adds some sheen. Kiehl’s Crème de Corps—my skin drinks this up. Revlon Grow Luscious mascara—really makes lashes seem fuller and longer. Bio-Oil—best thing to prevent stretch marks ever.

Beauty Splurge I think that good hair conditioner is worth the investment.

Beauty Bargain Save your money on less expensive mascara.

First Fragrance White Musk from The Body Shop. Mmm I can still remember the scent.

Bond No. 9 New York Fire IslandCurrent Fragrance Bond No. 9 Fire Island smells summery yet musky all at once. [Editor's note: I wear this too! It's one of my favourite summer scents.]

Biggest Beauty Fail Grade 5: bangs and curly hair, enough said. There was also a stage that my husband refers to as my “Square Hair” days. Just as the name suggests, I somehow managed to turn my hair into a block.

Beauty Pet Peeve Sperm-shaped eyebrows. Not so much a pet peeve; I just have to ask why.

Best Beauty Tip Moisturize. My mom imparted the importance of this to me and she has the best skin, so I’ll take her word for it.

Career Advice Be prepared to work for free (or very little) when you’re starting out. Internships and volunteering are the best ways to strengthen your resume, meet people and ultimately break into the industry.

Don’t forget to check out Afiya’s blog, TheStyleHouse.ca. You can also follow her on not one but TWO Twitter addresses: @TheStyleHouse and @StyleAgent_A.

Stay tuned for next week’s Babe, makeup artist Diana Carreiro!