When it comes to beauty products, phonetics may be the last thing on your mind, but there is no better name for the some of the latest offerings in skincare. Consonant Body is 100% natural and 100% organic, a concept that certainly attests to its name. I must say that with all of the product out there claiming to be “organic”, not to mention my extremely sensitive skin, I was skeptical. But after just a few uses, I noticed the change – I was fresh faced, glowy, and my skin was soft and smooth! One of my favourite things about this product is its scent – it wasn’t overpowering, but clean and pleasant. I was also surprised at how luxurious this product felt. Might I suggest the citrus and bergamot body lotion?
Consonant Body Organic Skincare is available at select stores across Canada. For complete locations, check website for details. Buy online at Consonant Body.

1. Who knew that “organic” and “natural” ingredients could make you feel like ultra luxe? Check out the latest scent from the summer collection, Citrus Bergamot. Organic Body Lotion ($22 for 250 ml, $42 for 500 ml), Organic Foaming Face Wash ($18 for125 ml), and Organic Body Wash ($16 for 250 ml, $28 for 500 ml).

2. I am in love with this Consonant Body Organic Lip Therapy! Nothing beats that tingly feeling, and the result leaves you with soft, moisturized and kissable puckers ($12).

By: Valerie Tiu, Vancouver

No matter what designer dress or killer heels you have on, if your skin and makeup aren’t looking just as good, neither will your clothes, no matter how fabulous! I can count far too often the times I’ve seen beautiful sandals ruined by unsightly feet, or a gorgeous dress turned catastrophe by a botched self-tanner job. Summertime can be dangerous territory for those non-beauty buffs out there. Self-tanners, bronzers, shimmery powders and lotions- great if done right, disaster if not. The key to most of these products is the less-is-more rule. You should be aiming for a light Summer glow, not aspiring to score a Jersey Shore audition. Super tanned skin, especially in combination with over-processed hair and too much makeup has long been considered gauche in the fashion world, and by the stylish population in general. So save your skin and your style this Summer and get a healthy, subtle glow with these Summer beauty favourites.

The Must Have:
Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer, $42. I have used this product for years, and year-round for that matter! It’s especially great for Summer though because of its lightweight, sheer coverage and SPF 20, keeping your skin moisturized and protected from the sun and heat. The new illuminating formula has a hint of shimmer for a dewy, radiant finish. One tube lasts me almost a year!

The Newcomers:
Laura Mercier Lotus Pink Second Skin Cheek Colour, $24.
Sephora makeup artist Stephanie Amenta says that customers have been going gaga for this new blush. The peachy-pink colour has gold highlights to give your cheeks a natural, warm glow.

Nars Orgasm Illuminator, $29.
The line’s Orgasm blush and lipgloss have been longstanding favourites with makeup artists and beauty junkies alike. Now that golden peachy glow is available in a shimmery gel-based complexion enhancer. Dab some on cheekbones, mix in with foundation or apply to your shoulders and collar bone for Summertime radiance!

The It-Lipstick:
Bright fuchsia and tangerine shades are Summer’s answer to the bold red lip. Apply shades like NARS Schiap ($24) or Chanel limited addition Rouge Allure Lip Colour in Genial ($30) for a fresh, modern look. Much like wearing a red lip, go light on eye makeup with these statement colours.

Bronzers:
The key to choosing a good bronzer is to stay away from anything with orange undertones or too much shimmer, and make sure to not pick a shade that’s too dark for your skin tone. I love NARS Bronzing Powder ($32) in Laguna for light- medium skin tones and Casino for medium- dark skin tones. Both have a subtle golden shimmer for a natural, sun-kissed look. Try Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder ($28) for a more matte effect. Remember, only apply bronzer where the sun naturally hits your face- forehead, nose, temples and cheekbones.

Self-Tanners:
Both of my favourite tried and true self-tanners are not only natural looking and streak-free, but economical! I’m a big fan of Clinique’s Quick Bronze Tinted Self Tanner ($18.50) for the face. For the body I love Jergens Natural Glow Express Moisturizer ($8.99). Applied like a regular moisturizer, it’s streak proof, and the new Express formula not only gives results in a day or two but is also free of that funky smell that comes with so many self-tanners.

Shopping:

Laura Mercier and NARS products available at Sephora and Holt Renfrew stores across Canada.
Chanel lipstick available at Holt Renfrew and Sears stores across Canada.
Benefit Bronzing Powder available at Sephora, The Bay and Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada.
Clinique available at Sephora, Holt Renfrew and Bay stores across Canada.
Jergens available at London Drugs and Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada.

By: Chloe Berge, Vancouver

Coco Chanel was once quoted as saying, “a woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future” and Elizabeth Taylor stated that a woman’s perfume collection should rival that of her jewellery. My love of fragrance started young when I used to sit at my grandmother’s vanity as a little girl, doing my best imitation and dabbing some of her Chanel No.5 on my wrists. She still wears it to this day. For me, an ensemble is never truly complete until I spritz on my favourite fragrance as I hurry out the door. Whether you choose to dab perfume on your wrists and neck, or walk through a fine fragrant mist, that final touch often acts as a woman’s best accessory. The perfume a woman wears is deeply personal and sensual. It can be just as alluring and seductive as the knockout dress and heels you pair it with, and nothing can evoke the memory of a faraway place or romantic evening like a perfume. There will always be that classic fragrance that you wear for a lifetime, for my grandmother, Chanel No.5. However, the latest crop of Summer scents is definitely giving those classics a run for their money.

Feminine:
Chloe
I was hesitant to even pick this bottle up at first. I though it would be much too much to wear a perfume by my own name. One spritz of the new Chloe though, and all that went out the window: I was hooked. Iris, Freesia and Rose make this soft, feminine fragrance the perfect daytime go-to.
Spicy:
Beyonce Heat
The woody, fruity mix in Beyonce’s eponymous scent is just as fierce as the diva herself. This sexy, alluring fragrance will definitely bring some heat. It’s a must for date night.
Fresh:
Clean Summer Linen
This simple, unpretentious limited edition fragrance evokes a sunny Summer afternoon at the park or the beach with top notes of sun-drenched citrus fruits like bergamot and Italian limoncello.
Bold:
Alien Sunessence
Thierry Mugler’s new limited edition Summer fragrance exudes the line’s signature sensual and exotic blend adding a new twist with energizing pink grapefruit, monoi flower and warm white amber. The bottle itself mirrors the multifaceted rays of a tropical sunset. Just add your best sundress or bikini: this one is a little piece of Summer in a bottle.

Chloe, Summer Linen and Sunessence available at Sephora. Beyonce Heat available at Shoppers Drugmart.

By: Chloe Berge, Vancouver

Nothing spruces up your spring outfit like a hot shade of gloss, statement accessories and freshly painted finger tips. I love the new Joe Fresh Style nail polish collection that includes 27 pretty colours for Spring—18 are core shades as well as a collection that will change seasonally. Pick up Nude or Butter to go with your tan peep-toe pumps or other trendy soft pastels such as Mint, Petal and Faded Violet. The polishes are made with none of the bad stuff such as formaldehyde, toluene, DBP or camphor. An ultra-inexpensive way to add to your look, I’m tempted to buy one of each. Only $4 each or $10 for three and are available at Superstore and Loblaws at the end of this week.

P.S. I got the inside scoop that Joe Fresh will be opening its first free-standing store in Vancouver sometime in September on Granville St., across from Holt Renfrew. Stay tuned for more details. Can’t wait.

It’s wasn’t just watching the girls of Dancing With The Stars that got me hooked, I’ve always been a fan of self tanners for a sun-kissed glow and working out to de-stress and firm up, and now thanks to new body product Tone and Tan from Swiss line Karin Herzog, you get the best of both words. Look as good as Nicole Scherzinger with this dual-acting cream that includes green tea, known for it’s firming abilities, vitamins A, B1, B2, B12, E and K, Zinc and self-tanning goodies that melt into your skin for a perfect bronzed look. Maybe skipping the gym Monday nights won’t be so bad. $54.

Available in Vancouver at Skin Deep (146 West 15E St North Vancouver, 604-985-6616) and House of Da Vinci (4362 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 604-925-3066), in Toronto at Bliss Salon (25 Bellair St., 3rd floor, Toronto, 416-921-7860) and in Montreal at Esthetique Maryline (3347 Ontario Est., Montreal, 514-529-0006) and Coiffure Hair Town (4158 St. Catherine West, Westmount, 514-932-5641). For more locations visit www.importmd.ca.

]]> http://christielohr.com/2010/04/double-take/feed/ 1 http://christielohr.com/2010/04/chanel-5-a-7/ http://christielohr.com/2010/04/chanel-5-a-7/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:00:50 +0000 christie http://christielohr.com/?p=1951

Chanel is serving up a new make-up experience exclusively at Holt Renfrew’s Bloor Street Location in Toronto and I attended the launch, hosted by Fashion Television’s Jeanne Beker, last week. Aptly named 5 à 7, this make-up application service slash cocktail hour can be booked by you and up to five friends on Thursdays and Fridays from five to seven. Select a look from a menu that includes Bronze Goddess, Red Carpet, and 5 to Whenever (I ordered Seasonal Chic), graze on some hors d’oeuvres and knock back a couple of mock-tails while getting your make-up done.  The booking fee of $75 per person is redeemable in Chanel products.  Très magnifique!

To book an appointment, visit the Chanel Counter at the Holt Renfrew Bloor Street Location or call 416-922-2333.

By: Caitlin Agnew, Toronto

To prevent the unsightly uni-brow, we pluck, tweeze, wax and laser our way to hair-free perfection (oh, the things we do!) Luckily, Bombay Brow Bar has brought the ancient method of Indian threading to a moden, chic space bursting with rich hues. Brow Sculptresses use cotton thread to remove hair from the root, allowing for precise and controlled trimming. An array of services includes a Bombshell Brows package ($23), a V.I.P. style treatment that covers shaping, forehead and brow massage, rose water eye gel application and brow finishing, Bombay a-la-carte ($10) to remove unwanted hairs from above the neck, and the Brow-licious Tint ($17) for some serious eye-catching face framers. They even offer brow taming for the boys ($19)! Enjoy a cup of chai while you flip through the latest copy of Vogue India to insure the ultimate Bombay experience. The best part about Bombay Brow Bar’s services? It all takes under 20 minutes!

Visit Bombay Brow Bar at 1056 Mainland St., Vancouver or call 604-683-BROW (2769).

By: Valerie Tiu

]]> http://christielohr.com/2010/03/a-brow-raising-experience/feed/ 1 http://christielohr.com/2010/02/picture-perfect-paradise/ http://christielohr.com/2010/02/picture-perfect-paradise/#comments Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:45:17 +0000 christie http://christielohr.com/?p=1256

Nestled in the woods and just moments north of Whistler Village, Scandinave Spa will give you the utlimate day of pampering and serious relaxation. The brand new six-building complex offers luxuries for the body that include a sauna, eucalyptus steam bath, hot and cold pools, waterfalls, massage rooms, solariums and an outdoor fireplace. Don’t forget to stay hydrated with a fresh fruit smoothie from the health bar—all the perspiring that cleans your pores and detoxifies your hot bod will make you thirsty. I can’t wait to book in post Olympics for some me time.

Blink, bat, wink, wink! I have forever envied my girlfriend’s naturally long and luscious lashes. Thankfully, Noir Lash Lounge offers a variety of services for the lashes that I lack such as Addict for the Dramatic, the name speaks for itself, Perpetual Pretty, natural looking lashes, Lash and Dash, where they come you and A-List synthetic mink lashes, a celeb fave that includes a complimentary anti-wrinkle eye treatment. With the recent opening of its second location in Vancouver on South Granville, the lounge is sure to create a lash phenomenon. Check out the new digs at 3065 Granville Street. 604-738-LASH (5274). Sets from $65.

By: Valerie Tiu

Owner Anna Piloyan and Pamela Anderson

If you’re planning a weekend trip to Victoria, be sure to stop in at Deco De Mode Nail Spa. This trendy spa, located in the heart of downtown, is a fave of Pamela Anderson. She loves the selection of colours and makes sure she stops in for a manicure and pedicure every time she visits Victoria. With affordable services such as a new skin bar by Dermalogica, spa parties for brides or groups of 6, manicures, pedicures, gels, acrylic, lash tint, waxing, massages, and the oh-so-popular 3d nail art, you’ll get pampered like a star. So be sure to treat yourself between shopping sprees on Johnson Street, before Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Emprise Hotel, or after a stroll through the BC Museum.