Tag Archives: Sephora

Tangerine dream: Bringing orange into your wardrobe

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tangerine-collage

Orange ya glad this post is about the colour orange? Whether it’s pumpkin or tangerine-toned pieces, this spring we’re saying yes to orange and updating our wardrobes with a few key pieces. 

It may be one of the most abrasive hues on the colour wheel that reminds us of pylons, safety vests, and the Dutch (it’s their country’s colour of choice), but orange also looks mighty fine with a tan and is a fun colour to bring into the mix. It’s time for a tangerine dream, my friends. 

Zara Leather Sandals. Coloured sandals are always an excellent jumping-off point for trends. They subtly bring the new tone into your wardrobe and add more interesting details to every outfit. Plus you need sandals in the summer, so investing in affordable pairs in a variety of colours is the way to go. $80, Zara.

Topshop Orange Ottoman Skater Skirt. The flop on this skirt is everything. The weighted, textured material makes it a little bit more special, and because it has skater in the title I’m envisioning pairing this skirt with a pair of white sneakers and a boyfriend’s skateboard (for looks, not for skating). That is if my boyfriend wasn’t imaginary and had a skateboard…you get the picture. $45, Topshop.

Forever 21 Cat-Eye Sunglasses. Seven dollar sunglasses? Sign me up! Statement sunglasses are so major for spring it’s kind of hard to handle. The combination of the cat-eye with the bright coral shade of frames screams ready for summer. $7, Forever 21.

Urban Renewal Dip-Dyed Denim Shirt. If you haven’t realized, we love denim (and everything that denim has to offer my closet, which is a lot). This tri-toned button-up is the perfect combination of true denim colours plus a faded orange. When it’s finally hot enough outside to forego the spring jacket, you could sling this around your waist for the days and wear it all night long once it has cooled off. $54, Urban Outfitters.

French Connection Fit and Flare Dress. This dress is ideal for the summertime. The neckline is tasteful, and the flare on the skirt will let your legs feel a nice summer breeze. The additional cut-out just adds to the cuteness of the look and it will be an eye-catcher with the bright orange tone. $208, ASOS.

TNA Biome Sweater. For the days you’re feeling super loungey or are at a friends cottage, this sweater is the perfect layering piece. Paired with shorts, jeans, or even overtop of flared dresses (like the one above), it will add a little bit of warmth. $55, Aritzia.

Bliss Blood Orange +  White Pepper Soapy Suds Bodywash. I get that orange isn’t for everyone (real talk: it’s one of my least favourite colours). If you fall into that category, try smelling like a nice Florida Orange in the springtime. $18, Sephora.

H&M Shoulder Bag. We’re all about cheap accessories that are on trend and can be used and abused until the season ends. You can add this coral purse to your closet rotation and not feel depressed when the summer destroys the bag with all the fun times you’re having. And if you’re good with your things and nothing ever gets ruined, 10 points to you! $18, H&M. 

Yorkdale Prom Ambassador Nilou has found her look. It’s called FUN WITH FEATHERS. We ♥ it.

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While Kate, Madelyn and Lin have shopped for part of their prom outfits, Nilou has assembled hers head to toe. And it’s gorgeous.  

Ready…set….prom! 

Shopping for prom may not be as easy as shopping for your 8-year-old sister. In fact, it’s kind of like trying to get your dad a gift; if you’re like me, that’s a pretty grand task!

There are so many dresses at Yorkdale but once you’ve found “the one”, then the fun begins, ACCESSORIES!! If I can impart some wisdom: Don’t go too overboard. There are many pretty little things, but not everything will necessarily “go” with your dress. 

I’d like to call my look FUN WITH FEATHERS. I’ve paired this Bebe dress with pastel accessories, to add colour but still keep things sophisticated.

1. Isis Sequin Feather Dress in tan from Bebe $198

2. Mackall Peep Toe Pump in light pink from Aldo $100

3. Metal Knot Ring from BCBG $18.00

4. Spike Bangle from BCBG $35.00 

5. 12 Pack Earrings from H&M $6.95

6. Landaverde Clutch from
ALDO $45.00

7. Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray from Sephora $29.00

8. Moonshadow Baked Eyeshadow Collection from Sephora $30.00 

9. Sephora Collection False Eyelashes from Sephora $8.00 

10. Bumble and Bumble Spray De Mode from Sephora $15.00

I ’m ready for you prom!

XO Nilou

Yorkdale Prom Ambassador Madelyn bought her dress and now it’s all about the accessories to match

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Madelyn was all about the long evening gown but over the past four weeks, she has spent a lot of time browsing her favourite stores at Yorkdale and surprised herself by choosing a feathery and fun above-the-knee from Bebe. Now she just has to choose the accessories to match! (We think that’s the best part! The stress is gone, and it’s all about styling.

Madelyn may or may not include a splurge on classic black Louboutin heels; she considers them a wadrobe investment. (They are! They are!) Heading to business school in the fall, she’s done the CPW math. (Cost per wear!)

We love the look that Madelyn has created because its glamourous but with a little rockstar-chic edge. Beyond prom, we think she can work this outfit so many different ways. Think how great that Aritzia blazer and BCBG clutch would be paired with skinny jeans! The possibilities are endless! Rock it, Madelyn. Own that prom dace floor!

1. Isis Sequin Feather Dress, bebe, $238 2. Pearl Jewel Box Earrings, J. Crew, $61.50 3. Gem-motif Elastic Headband, BCBG Max Azria $28 4. Wilfred Chevalier Blazer with Satin Lapels, Aritzia, $225 5. Harlow Laser-Cut Envelope Clutch, BCBGMAXAZRIA, $154 6. Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Extended Play, MAC, $20 7. Christina Louboutin Ron Ron Pumps, Holt Renfrew $dontknow 8. Urban Decay’s Urban Lash in Minx, Sephora, $15

I was adamant about wearing a long dress but since I’m going to two proms this year, I’ve decided to experiment and will definitely be wearing this short dress from Bebe to one of them.

I feel slightly crazy for even considering buying Louboutins, but I’ve been envisioning myself in them for prom since I was 13. My justification is that I’ll get a lot of wear out of them for the proms + commencement, and I can totally see myself pairing them with a briefcase for my future career.

My biggest problem is going to be summoning up the willingness to buy an evening clutch; I find them pretty impractical. They’re so small and fancy so you can’t really use them often, but at the same time you know you need them because you can’t exactly haul a tote to prom. I’ve been trying to think of every way to get out of buying a clutch. At first I was like, it’s cool it’s cool –I’ll shove my camera/phone/lipstick down my bra. Then I realized I can’t fit an after-prom dress or a pair of flats down there as well, so yeah, I’m going to need to buy a clutch. I like this black envelope clutch from BCBG because there’s enough detail in it for prom, but I think I can get away with using it outside of fancier events.

Since this is my last post as one of your 2012 Prom Ambassadors, I’d like to wish you all a happy prom journey. Even though it can get a little hectic, just remember, you’re almost done high school! The days after prom are going to be like The Days After Midterms 2.0 –you’re pretty much free. Hopefully all of our advice has made your prom preparations a little less stressful. I wish you all the best for your prom! May it be filled with fun memories with friends and lots of awkward dancing.

xoxo,
Madelyn

Yorkdale Prom Ambassador Nilou compares clutches and shows us how to pack a purse for prom.

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Clutches are the best because you can play with the colours and not worry too much about matching. What I mean is: Don’t pair a yellow dress with a yellow clutch! Do get funky and show off your personality with something fun!

Here are six clutches at Yorkdale that caught my eye, how could they not? 

Printed Messenger Bag from Zara
$79.90

Odessa Caged Clutch in bright blue from BCBG
$118.00

Satin Rhinestone Trim Clutch in fuschia from Le Chateau
$49.95

H&M neon yellow clutch with gold chain H&M
$19.95.

Hains Clutch in royal purple from Aldo
$42.00

Exotic Rainbow Tablet Envelope Clutch in electric green from BCBG
$98.00

What to put in that cute clutch? Nilou’s got tips for the perfect prom purse. 

Imagine being at prom and forgetting your lip balm. You’ll be stuck with chapped lips all night while you’re trying to swoon your crush aka date (not cute). There are a couple of MUST haves for prom that you should have packed all nice and ready in your clutch.

1. Lip balm! If you’re like me, you already have this ready, but sometimes we forget, so let’s avoid the mental breakdowns and pack 1 or 2. Don’t forget your lipstick either! This way you can touch up the color on your lips AND have nice smooth looking lips. Dry lips are never fun.

2. Blotting pads or mattifying powder: If you’ve followed my posts, I recommended a finishing spray by Urban Decay to set your makeup. To ensure full oil control, pack some of this magic!

Sephora Matte Blotting Papers: $8.00 for 100 sheets

Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder: $32.00, this translucent is a must have for setting make up and touch ups. Just a light amount will give you a fresh face!

3. Your phone: Please don’t put your phone in your bra. Please.  Keep your phone in your clutch and don’t be a Tina Texter. It’s prom! You can take it out for some photos, but surely your mom has snapped a million at the pre-prom event.

4. Advil: You never know when a headache will hit you. It may seem weird, but some of us are prone to daily headaches and migraines. A little travel pack would be cool to have since you can’t run to a drugstore at prom. You could even save a friend from having a crappy night of head throbbing. Hey, it could even be your crush!

5. Gum: You already know! This is a staple.

~ Nilou

Yorkdale Prom Ambassador Madelyn gives beauty tips for achieving perfect make-up for a long summery night!

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When we asked Yorkdale Prom Ambassador Madelyn to give makeup tips, we had no idea that she’d actually give the best advice we’ve EVER read! WOWSA! This girl could teach makeup lessons professionally! Seriously impressive, Madelyn!

Makeup can be such a daunting subject –there are so many products out there (Foundation? Concealer? Primer?), and they all claim to do different things so it can get a bit overwhelming.

So this is where I, your former Shoe Master turned Makeup Guru, come in.

Prom is one of the worst places to have a makeup mishap. To prevent this, as well as to save you from the pricey mistake of buying the wrong products, I have created a comprehensive guide to getting your face on, for prom!

It’s a bit tricky to cut corners with makeup so you definitely want to spend a few extra dollars for the right product because that makes the hugest difference. If you’re like me, and have this $40-FOR-FOUNDATION?!-IT’S-PRACTICALLY-COLOURED-WATER mentality, just try to remind yourself that this stuff is going onto your skin –and your skin likes to absorb whatever’s on it. If you buy the cheaper, chemically-laced product, your skin could end up paying for it, typically through an allergic reaction or break outs.

Before you start your makeup, make sure you have the right tools! Investing in a good quality brush (this is soooo important) goes a long way: it makes your makeup look better AND you’ll end up using less product.

Some key brush types you should start with: Concealer, Kabuki, Stipling, Eye Contour, and an Angle Liner brush. If you aren’t sure, ask the lovely folks at Yorkdale’s Sephora!

SKIN PREP

1. Breaking out a few days before prom or a big event? Try using a product with salicylic acid in it, which dries out stubborn zits. My favourite is Dermalogica Clean Start’s Bedtime for Breakouts (available at Donato Salon + Spa). This product is the best! It’s almost up there with invention of Nutella or cookie dough ice cream.

2. Exfoliate your face & lips to get rid of any dried skin. This helps your make up go on smoother. Put on a lightweight moisturizer, preferably without SPF since this will give your face a whitish cast in flash photography.

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microperfecting Primer in 0, Sephora, $38 & MAC Prep & Prime, MAC, around $30

3. Once your moisturizer has absorbed into your skin, put on a primer. This is one of the most important steps in your whole makeup routine since it evens out your skin texture (shrinking pores, filling lines, etc.) and helps your makeup last longer.

OPTIONAL: 4. To hide any skin blemishes or correct uneven skin tones, use concealer before putting on foundation. Serious skin imperfections can be covered with coloured concealer: green to neutralize red tones, lilac to normalize yellow undertones, and yellow for brightening under-eye circles. Pat on the concealer with your finger (this helps melt the product into your skin), then use a concealer brush to blend out the edges.

Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer, Sephora, $48 (Bonus: It’s also a primer!) Covergirl’s Simply Ageless Corrector, Shoppers’ Drug Mart

EYES

5. Applying your eye makeup before foundation helps clean up any eyeshadow fallouts. Remember to apply a base for your eyeshadow to prevent it from fading or creasing. Urban Decay’s Primer Potion is a cult favourite, but I find that using a cream/liquid based concealer that you might already have works perfectly fine.

OPTIONAL: 6. Now onto the trickiest part of your prom routine: false eyelashes. To make sure they’re the right size, hold them up to your eyes and cut off any excess from the outer edge (If you want a dramatic but more natural look you can use individual lashes instead). Using a clear or dark lash adhesive, apply a drop onto a tissue and wait about 30 seconds until it gets slightly tacky. Using tweezers, dip the base of the lashes into the glue until it’s completely coated. Apply them right above your lashes starting from the outside in. Check them out at all angles to make sure they mesh with your real lashes. I like Ardell lashes, and MAC & Sephora have a lot of options for a more dramatic effect ($10 and up).

7. Time for liner! Since prom is going to be a long and humid night, it’s best to use a gel or liquid liner since those won’t budge. Prefer using a pencil? Waterproof will minimize the raccoon eyes.

Gel: Sephora Collection Waterproof Smoky Cream Liner Pencil: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes, Sephora,$18 Liquid: L’Oréal Paris Carbon Black Lineur Intense Felt Tip, Shoppers Drug Mart, $13.49

8. Curl your lashes and put on mascara. If you’re already using false lashes and they look really blended I recommend you skip the mascara because it’ll just get your false lashes dirty and make your makeup harder to remove later on.

L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes, Shoppers Drug Mart, $13.49

OPTIONAL: 9. Filling in and shaping your brows will make a very big difference and will help frame your eyes better in photos. Fill in any sparse areas with light feathery strokes using a brow pencil. Lighter-haired people should use a colour that’s one shade darker than their hair colour, and those with darker hair should use a colour that’s one shade lighter.

PUTTING ON THE REST OF YOUR FACE

10. Use a stipling brush or a makeup sponge for an airbrushed effect when applying foundation all over your face. Make sure you blend your foundation down your neck so your face and body won’t be two different colours. Since everyone has different skin types, I recommend you test out some foundations at makeup retailers before you buy. My favourite skin products are from MAKE UP FOR EVER’s HD line: they feel light, but they have enough coverage to make you look good in HD photos, and best of all, it looks natural!

11. Super important: Lightly powder your face (too much will give you that cake face look) to set everything to prevent your makeup from sliding off or migrating into the night.

12. Now for the other tricky step: adding dimension to your face. Follow this diagram to help you:

For a more natural & matte finish: Benefit Cosmetics Hoola, Sephora, $36 For a shimmery, glowing effect: NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna, Sephora, $39 (This is flatters almost all skin tones!)

a) Apply a bronzer in the dark brown areas

b) Smile to find the apple of your checks, but apply the blush slightly above them, and a bit more out. This looks more natural than if you were to just apply it straight on to the cheeks. MAC and NARS (at Sephora and The Bay) blushes have some of the best colours and great pigmentation.

c) Highlight! Moon Beam and High Beam are some favourites, but I find that you can just use a shimmery champagne eyeshadow colour to get the same effect.

13. Lock everything in with Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray ($35 at Sephora). Like Nilou said – it’s like magic!

14. Finally, add a coat of lipstick or lip gloss, and you’re done! Just remember, if you’re going for a coloured lip, make sure you line them first to prevent the colour from fading or bleeding. My favourite lipstick & gloss formulas are from MAC and NARS. Another important thing to note: Nude/pale lip colours will look washed out in pictures so lipglosses are better for these colours.

Some looks for your inspiration:

Pin-Up: Winged liquid liner + Matte red lipstick + Red Blush

Vintage: Beige-Brown (entire lide) & Dark Brown (outer crease) Eye Shadow + Brick Red Lipstick + Brown-Red blush

Dramatic Way: Green (entire lid) & Dark Green (outer crease) & Yellow (inner corner) & Orange (lower lashline) Eyeshadow + Pink Blush + Bubblegum Pink Lipstick

Subtle Way: Black liner on top + coloured liner (lower lashline)

Metallic: Copper & Gold (entire lid) Eyeshadow + Mix of Black & Red & Dark Brown (inner V) Eyeshadow + Bronzer + Cappucino coloured lips

Classic Smokey: Grey (entire lid) & Black (outer V) & Silver (on top of all colours) & Shimmery White (inner corner) & ice pink lips

Still feel confused? Sephora, MAC, The Bay, Sears, and Holt Renfrew all have expert makeup artists you can get advice from to create your prom look!

Yorkdale Prom Ambassador Nilou gives tips on how to shake those nerves and enjoy your big night!

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Don’t have a date yet? Not sure what you’re going to wear? Panicking about walking in a hot pair of pumps? You are not alone! Nilou has some easy tips on how to prepare for your prom. Her best advice? RELAX AND HAVE FUN!

Prom can be nerve wracking. I’m not gonna lie, makeup in 23 degree weather is a little scary (please don’t melt like ice cream) and it’s tricky to pay attention to your date when you are teetering on 4-inch heels up a circular fancy staircase, but chill. It’s prom night, girl! Your number one priority should be to have fun. Prom only comes once in a lifetime, at least for most of us.

How to avoid a melting face in the sun:

Heat and humidity can brutally destroy makeup. If you’re going to do your own makeup, there are a couple of products you can use to avoid that shiny face look.

1. Use a primer. Primer allows the makeup to go on more smoothly and set into your skin instead of floating on the top, which can actually cause your makeup to flake or melt off.

Try Smashbox’s Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer. This product comes in three different shades, green for minimizing redness, apricot for under eye circles and lavender for natural yellow skintones. Grab some at Sephora for $38.

2. There is such thing as a makeup setting spray. Just spray some of this magic on after you’re done your makeup. It’ll help prevent fallouts for up to 16 hours. It’s kind of like face glue.

Urban Decay: All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray. You can get a small bottle for only $12 at Sephora.

Heels are absolutely beautiful, but their wounds, not so much.

1. Practice makes perfect: If you really want to wear those 4 inch stilettos, make sure you get some good practice a couple days in advance. Put them on, walk around, maybe even go grocery shopping in them (just kidding).

2. Walk nice and tall: If you straighten your posture, you can take better steps and it’ll actually make you look more graceful. When slouching, you can look choppy and your knees aren’t as strong as they would be if straightened out. 
*Remember to take steps from your heel forward.

3. Get shoe grips: Banquet halls can be quite slippery, and with a pair of new heels, you might be a victim of a little figure skating.

Try self-adhesive shoe grips. You can get them at Aldo for as little as $5.79.

4. BE CONFIDENT: This is the most important tip. If you think you’re going to fall, you actually might. Just imagine you’re Kate Moss doing her thang on the runway.

On your way to prom, put away all your problems. This includes any drama between friends or maybe even boyfriends. Don’t let anything spoil your night, because you will most likely regret it. Get on the dance floor, look glamorous, take lots of pictures and cherish these last little high school memories.