Beauty Product Reviews

Essie is starting the New Year with an exciting new launch: Sleek Stick Nail Appliqués. While nail art wraps aren't exactly new, the brand is out to set a new bar on the nail sticker category. The Sleek Stick collection features 12 different designs with many of them making a good use of metallics. UV cured, the high-shine wraps are made with a long-lasting adhesive that can stick to your nails for up to 10 days. I used the Oh My Gold! design, which features a silver and gold geometric pattern. The wrap is actually clear, so my natural nail was able to peek through; that means this would also look great over any nail colour. Learn more about the application process when you read more.

Foundation naysayers, prepare to meet your match. Revlon has created a product that truly makes you feel like you're wearing nothing at all. The brand's ColorStay Whipped Crème Foundation ($34.95) is the perfect companion piece to anyone's makeup kit — especially those who have sworn off the stuff. Light as air yet heavy on coverage, Revlon's foundation smooths skin's surface to create the perfect base to any makeup look. And the best part about it? No cakey residue. Pick yourself up a jar and consider yourself converted.

It's only natural to give an eyebrow raise to any moisturiser that claims to be suitable for your hands, body, and face. But L'Occitane's Bonne Mère Gentle Cream ($26) actually does its job. The silky cream smooths onto skin and dries in no time at all, leaving behind zero greasy residue. And the scents aren't overwhelming, either. Bonne Mère comes in both milk and honey varieties, fragrances which are sweet without being cloying. And while the packaging says it's suitable for all skin types, those with oily skin may want to scale back on their application; the cream is quite hydrating, which can give shiny faces a bit too much moisture. And if you can't find the land of milk and honey, L'Occitane's latest may be the next best thing.

Red lips are a classic, but this innovative new lip colour is anything but traditional. Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick ($42) goes on like a lip gloss but delivers serious pigment like a lipstick. Muse, a universally flattering shade of coral red, glides on smoothly, giving your lips an opaque wash of vibrant colour in one stroke. Plus, since this product is packed with skin-conditioning ingredients like goji berry extract and vitamins A, C, and E, this matte formula won't dry out your lips. Now that's impressive.

Curly-haired women know: hydration is the key to achieving defined ringlets and waves. Let Moroccanoil's intensely conditioning and frizz-reducing Intense Curl Cream ($44.50) be your hair's secret weapon. While you can apply this product on wet hair with a diffuser, another way to use this argan oil-rich product is to refresh second-day strands. For thicker hair, try twirling it into individual curls after spritzing with water. And for waves, scrunch the cream in with your fingers, resetting your style with a diffuser. A little bit goes a long way with this cream, but if you use too much, spray hair with water to avoid a weighed-down finish. If you have a sensitive nose, this floral-scented cream might not be for you. But fragrance lovers will find that thanks to its high-sillage effects, this scented cream might even replace their perfume.

Over the past few months, mineral makeup hero Bare Escentuals has been adding pressed-powder formulations to its traditional lineup of loose-powder makeup. And the results have been astounding. The recently launched Bare Minerals Ready 2.0 Eye Shadow Palette ($27.95) contains two shades that glide on as smooth as silk. Borage oil helps to hydrate the skin, while cucumber assists in quelling puffiness. But it's the colour pay-off that truly impresses. The pigments are richly hued and long-wearing, and are even resistant to creasing and clumping.

While there are over 20 palettes from which to choose, The Hidden Agenda (pictured) is a stand out. This combination features Stealth, an apricot chiffon, and Undercover, a glistening granite with soft plum undertones. Not your colour duo of choice? We're also fans of The 15 Minutes, which features Page Six (a sandy-pink sheen) and Most Requested (a burgundy sparkle), two shades that will make any eye tone pop.

It's no secret hemp gets a bad rap. While smoking cannabis is still mostly illegal, the plant itself can be used for more than a high. Hemp seed oil, which is legal, is actually a beauty superstar. Your preconceived notions about hemp might go up in smoke when you read more.