Vancouver’s Zinc salon is holding a Brazilian Blowout event open house, which will include an information session, a contest to win a free Brazilian Blowout treatment and coupons provided for 50% off a Blowout (only provided on the night of the session)

WHEN: Wednesday, September 1 from 6 – 8PM
WHERE: Zinc Salon [Googlemap]
WHY: 50% off treatment coupon, information session and meet the rad folks at Zinc! I’ve only let them touch my hair for the last 2 years, so they’re worth a gander.

Call Natasha or Dawn [at 604-874-2800] to RSVP, and check out the event on Crackbook.

M.A.C. was insensitive to the obvious plight of Mexican women in Juárez, and has decided to not ship their upcoming cosmetic collab with Rodarte.

They’re still donating the projected proceeds from the sales of the Rodarte collection to the women of Juárez (a charity has not been chosen as of yet), though for an unknown reason they feel this uproar was a deal breaker for the collection sale.

Yeah, M.A.C. could have been more sensitive.  Sure, these things could have been thought out before release and definitely avoided, but the bottom line is M.A.C. could have rebounded from this slip quite easily with half an effort.

Selfridges created a gallows where a McQueen creation hung only days after his passing [from hanging] and Barneys featured a bloody shooting display, but they didn’t close up shop – they met the public’s disdain head on, and continued to run their business.

At the end of the day, because the public wasn’t handled with their usual kid gloves, M.A.C.’s complete Rodarte campaign has gone down the toilet.

Lady Gaga continues her never ending cover take over with Vanity Fair’s September 2010 cover, and we get a little something new for our nails – Deborah Lippman’s Waking Up In Vegas lacquer.

We know that greige is still enjoying its status of color of the moment, and Lippmann’s Vegas color offers a bit of trend and star quality.  After all, it’s been on Gaga’s fingernails while she channeled a greying ’60s bombshell – that’s pretty awesome.

Greige can’t be for everyone, so there is a new color for the rest who prefer colors - Bad Romance ($18), a glitterly blackened fuchsia named after Gaga’s eponymous song.

A couple months ago I was provided with some SCAPE sunblock, asked to try it out and let everyone know what I thought.  Seeing as I was on my way to sunny Italy, I thought it was a perfect time to test this baby out.

I ended up experiencing the full SCAPE effect in Rome; the sun was a blistering 32 degrees and I was about to hit every hot spot in the city and the Vatican.  After 8 hours straight of being in the sun, I emerged triumphantly – no doubt due to wearing the SCAPE.

The thing about SCAPE is that once is absorbs into your skin, it won’t sweat and bead off like other sunblocks.  Once a sunblock starts to sweat off, it provides less if not zero sun protection and leaves you torched – not a good look.  I slapped on the SCAPE in the morning and it lasted all day; through my humid sweats, rubbing messenger bag.. everything.

SCAPE was developed by Dr. Nic Martens, previously with Neutrogena, the only brand I’ve historically used for dependable and high SPF sunblock.

I do occasional hair shows in Vancouver (that’s my head about a year ago) with Zinc.  I’ve practically lived at that salon for the last two years, owing to the monthly cuts and colors they do for me, and [as you can see] they’re quite fantastic at what they do.

Right now, Zinc is looking for ladies willing to be hair models.  This is a rad opportunity to get a modern new ‘do, get it for free and get the Zinc experience.  The stylists are learning, though the entire process is closely oversaw and the results are beyond what you expect.

Heck, I even took my mom in to get a model cut last year and she was incredibly happy – that’s a feat.

The days for cuts are Monday Aug 9 & Tuesday Aug 10.  To book a consultation,  call Dawn or Natasha ASAP @ 1-604-874-2800.

In three teeny days, Vancouver’s most favorite brow treatment Bombay Brow Bar will be at the luxe Noir Lash Lounge‘s South Granville location [Googlemap] to provide free brow treatments from 1 – 4PM.  Yeah – you get a free Bombshell Brow treatment, just for swinging by.

This event is for anyone - new faces, those already clients and anyone in between who has been wondering what it would be like to catch a treatment at either of these fine establishments.  You don’t need an appointment, either – just get your overgrown brows over to Noir good an early so you secure a spot in the threading assembly line!

ALSO - I strongly encourage guys to swing by to tame their unibrow or just avoid douche-tacular overwaxing.

Vancouver hair stylist Dan Nguyen is bringing big things to the world of fashion, most recently by assisting master stylist Oribe for the Armani Privé FW11 couture runway show.  He was personally requested by Oribe, with whom he had worked with at past shows – a testament to his skill.

For a day to day taste of his work, Dan owns LURE Salon in Vancouver, located centrally on Howe Street [Googlemap].  Being that Vancouver is quite a small city, it’s always exciting to see creative talent do well on a global stage; especially when it means a Privé  show.

One can only imagine what Dan is going to get up to next!

Electric makeup is good for the soul.  Really.

It may be ridiculous,  but it’s fun.  Fun makes you happy, and happiness is great for your mind and look.

Scope the electric yellow gloss ($21.50), purple nail lacquer ($14.50), and the light grey loose shadow ($23.50).  The pigments used go along with their FW10 color palette, which means the colors compliment their upcoming range.

Handy, handy!

Starting August 2010, Joe Fresh cosmetics will be featuring a new product – Lip Glass.

This gloss is being passed as a stick-free lip gloss, in 12 shades for $6 CA each (or two tubes for $10).  All 12 shades are shown in the image below, ranging from clear to a delicious wine wildberry shade.  The jury is still out whether they’re actually stick-free, but I’ll let you know as soon as I find out.

Traveling can be hard on your skin, especially when you’re up early after late nights and being assaulted by the sun.  Nivea‘s travel size creme has been saving my life, and for only $1 CA per pot.

If you’re going on holiday, grab a few of these babies and apply under your eyes, around your mouth and on any forehead lines.  This way you can keep your trouble spots moisturized so lines don’t get any worse and the skin can recover.

To add to the celebration of Mark Fast’s knit installation at Luminato for Lancôme, Fast has collaborated with Lancôme MUA Lora Spiga to create lip shade Fast Kisses.

The lip color will only be available at the Lancôme counter at The Bay Queen in Toronto and online from June 17-19, until stock runs out.  If you’re in TO on June 17, you also have a chance to meet both Lora and Mark themselves (from 5-6 PM) – quite the opportunity, indeed!

The makeup was designed to be an extension of the knitwear to create a complete look; check out the installation, grab the lip color and live Fast.

Gay or straight, over waxing eyebrows makes you look ridiculous.

Check out the photo of the guy to the left.  Instead of the perfect teeth and immaculate complexion, you notice the she-brows.  These aren’t even the worst of what’s out there.. some fellows out there are looking like the lovechild of Spock and Pam Anderson.

It’s time to stop over waxing, guys.  If you’re naturally laden with two bushes over each eye, get them professionally waxed or threaded by someone who doesn’t go (or have a boyfriend that goes) to a douchebag bar.

If you’re in Vancouver, check out Bombay Brow Bar.  If you’re embarrassed, just remember that the alternative is a hell of a lot more humiliating.

Lest we forget, makeup is for those with imperfect skin.  I know that Queen Latif and Drew B have no pores (even in their close ups), but this is the real world without overhead lighting and a personal makeup artist, and this is the world where people have zits.

As a chronic concealer, I’ve used countless brands of both drugstore and designer makeup over the years.  I’ve applied using my own hand, sponges, brushes; you name it, I’ve used it.  The trouble with those without a Chanel cosmetic budget is there isn’t much in between – you have drugstore and MAC, yet nothing in between.  When MAC isn’t in the financial cards, drugstore is where we turn.

Covergirl’s Clean Makeup delivers half its promise in delivering a lightweight, anti pore clogging formula, but makeup that sits on your skin well that can’t cover up it’s angry spots isn’t a sell.

When applying it to the skin, it’s amazing ’till you get to that one pain in the rear zit, then it’s all over.  Unless you bust out another product (more $$, of course), you’ll end up with a oddly colored dot on your face after everything dries… you may as well fly the “YEP! The hormones are raging, thanks for noticing!” flag over your head.

Clean Makeup is fantastic for skin that is largely under control; skin that could be taken care of with a heavier powder – not skin that is feisty, which is the kind of epidermis that needs lightweight, oil free makeup in the first place. While one can’t be incredibly fussy with foundation that comes from under the high street brands, there is something about cosmetic brands blatantly lying to you during their commercial spots that aggravates enough to moan about it in reviews (lashes 50% thicker? PAH!)

Covergirl, it’s time to go back to the drawing board with this one.

Summer is all about your skin looking at least a little less pasty than you’re used to being, and with all of the terrible exposure that comes with both unprotected sun exposure and tanning beds, one should be aware of affordable summer bronzers.

Even if you’re not into artificially coloring yourself, it’s good to be aware of what’s out there.  You can get sample to try by going into any cosmetic shop that sells the items, and see what it looks like when it’s actually on your skin.  Things have a way of looking radically different when they’re actually on you, so it’s good to give things a test whirl, better when the test whirl is free.

Sephora’s bronzing sampler is an excellent kit for those either attempting bronzing for the first time, or established self colorists that want to grab a super deal to amp up their skin tinting arsenal.  The Sephora kit is only $39; a $113 value, and includes the following:

- 0.02 oz Bare Escentuals bareMinerals All Over Face Color in Faux Tan
- 0.17 oz Josie Maran Bronzing Argan Oil
- 0.04 oz Lorac Tantalizer Baked Bronzer in Golden Bronze
- 0.08 oz Too Faced Pink Leopard Bronzing Powder
- 0.16 oz SEPHORA COLLECTION Nail Polish in Bright Red
- 0.09 oz Benefit High Beam
- 0.08 oz TEMPTU RETOUCH Highlighter in Gold
- 0.2 oz Smashbox Artificial Light Illuminating Lotion in Glow
- 0.09 oz Tarte EmphasEYES Waterproof Clay Shadow Liner in Bronze
- 0.39 oz Korres Monoi Oil Bronzing Powder in Sunglow Light

For the ladies that can’t get enough of the makeup artists’ eye kit, the Maybelline Eye Studio is where you need to be turning your attentions.

Maybelline has created an eye set that covers morning to after dark looks; makeup that stands up to time and is more affordable than ‘high street’ cosmetic brands.  For what you get in the Maybelline Eye Studio, it’s worth picking up the set rather than splurging hundreds of dollars at the Sephora or MAC.

Favorite products included the Color Plush™ eyeshadow in Sapphire Siren (blues/violets), Silver Starlet Color Pearls™ marbleized eyeshadow (netural), the Lasting Drama™ gel eyeliner in charcoal and the XXL Pro™ Volume Washable mascara in Very Black.

Even if you invest in only these four products, you’re going to have a variance of incredible looks at under $50 (approx), which is worth it when you compare pricing at over $100 for similar products*at MAC.

MAC Products: 5 Cool Eyes shadow kit ($44.50), Mineralize shadow duo ($23.50), Fluidline gel eyeliner ($18) and Zoom Fast Lash mascara ($15.50)

To go with the new collection of nail polish colors just released, AMAP has also created a clear base and topcoat after they received a wave of blogger requests!

The new topcoat is $6, just like the other colors.  Topcoats create a longer lasting nail color, which means you don’t have to spend more on buying new bottles of nail color or keep re-applying.  For the busy female (or metro), you definitely don’t want to keep wasting time re-applying so the topcoat is a best bet.

demiCouture’s favorite AA nail color is California Trooper, which is actually a perfect shade of greige, which is the ‘it’ nail color of summer 2010! You can spy this color on the nails of models, celebrities and everyone that’s ahead of the trend curve – you’re doing yourself a favor if you jump on it now!

Sun skincare is non negotiable (it’s true – doctors and the summertime beach essential countdown says so!), so it’s best to get an all around protection kit before you go and get yourself exposed and [potentially] burned.

Sephora has a sun skin safety kit for only $25 (a $95 value) filled with 14 products.  Check out the hit list of what’s included below, and grab your pack before they run out!

- 0.14 oz Murad Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15
- 0.23 oz DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew UV Moisturizer SPF 15
- 0.10 oz Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Lemon and Chamomile
- 0.25 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Lotion SPF 30
- 0.16 oz Kate Somerville Protect SPF 55 Serum Sunscreen
- 0.27 oz Clarins Delectable Self Tanning Mousse SPF 15
- 0.16 oz Cover FX BritePrep FX Brightening Foundation Primer & Photo-Aging Defense SPF 50
- 0.34 oz Bliss Best of Skintentions Daily Moisturizer SPF 15
- 0.23 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 60 PA+++
- 0.25 oz Ole Henriksen Herbal Day Cream SPF 15
- 0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish UVA/UVB SPF 15
- 0.02 oz Bare Escentuals BareMinerals Multi-tasking Face SPF 20 in Summer Bisque
- 2 x single-use UVSunSense UV monitoring bracelets

There’s nothing like a rogue nail polish going and shock naming their newest color, and BLEACHBLACKs Jizz nail color is no exception.

The online fashion conscious world has been, uh, messing their pants over this nail color ever since it was caught by the first few finders.  Each bottle is going to run you $12.95, though apparently you can’t ship it internationally.. perhaps it has something to do with shipping organic materials (kidding!)

Regardless of the kitsch surrounding Jizz, it’s the color of right now.  One has to wonder what BLEACHBLACK will come up with next… perhaps black tar heroin.

In just a few short days, we can rely on Topshop for not only incredibly fast high street clothing design, accessories and footwear but for cosmetics as well.

Topshop does not appear to have named their new range; it only bears a new, crayon-esque logo typeface, or the price point for that matter.  Makeup artists will be in touring around Topshop locations to push the new range, so if you’re near one that’s the best bet for testing.

Bald is the edgy camp’s definition of beautiful these days, and the trend varies from partial head shaves to the full scalp monty.

We’ve seen partial shaves on Cassie, model Alice Dellal, Rhianna and half a million hipsters, but it’s one thing to do only a portion of the dance. Most recently, Brit model Agyness Deyn was spotted at Coachella sporting a completely shaved head – now that takes cojones.

As with pixie cuts, it takes a very feminine face to pull off a bald look.  It’s interesting that this trend is emerging, though; it’s as if a backwards feminine renaissance is taking place.  So many women are imprisoned by having long hair, and it would be interesting to see if the mainstream somehow adopted bald, or even partial baldness.