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Entries in Contests (30)

Monday
Jan092017

GLOW GETTER | Why I'm Officially Obsessed with Belif + a Glowing Skin Giveaway

Friends (with benefits).

My NY Resolution for 2017 is simple: don't let anyone stick needles in my face. I make the same resolution every year, and I always succeed since there aren't needle-wielding weirdos wandering around looking for faces into which they can jab needles. Luckily. And yet, I'm approaching 40. And as my fine lines contemplate legit wrinkledom, the temptation is real. SO many people I know do it. And I'm sure loads of others do it on the DL. But I just don't want to willingly pay someone to paralyze my face. Also not a fan of paying someone to take off my face and put it back on, but let's revisit that in another 10 years shall we? Until then, I'm all about avoiding needles in my head. 

In an effort to age gracefully (read: desperately cling to my youth) I'm always on the hunt for products that deliver real results. My skin is super dry and overly-reactive and like so many other Canadians, it becomes particularly parched in the winter months. I need major moisture, but with a sensitive touch because I break out easily. Anything with parabens or sulfates are out. So are creams that cost $200 or lengthy nightly regimens that cut into my Bachelor-watching time. Too much to ask?

I've been hearing the buzz around Korean beauty brand belif for the past year so was excited to finally give it a go. Koreans are notoriously discerning with their skincare products so the fact that belif's The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb is the #1 beauty product (across all categories) in Korea's crazy competitive prestige beauty market speaks volumes. 

I started using belif over the holidays and The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb is like 8 glasses of water straight to your face. It's clinically tested to provide up to 26 hours of moisture and while I didn't actually count the hours since I was too busy eating cookies, my skin feels soft and supple all day long when I wear it. The cream releases an instant burst of moisture to your skin and then absorbs right away, without the heaviness or stickiness of some other heavy-duty creams I've tried. My skin has become calm and clear and dare I say, a little bit dewy. I don't know how it works (something about apothecary herbs and comfrey leaf) but it does. Oh, and did I mention it contains no parabens, sulfates or phthalates, plus no mineral oil, petrolatum, synthetic preservatives, dyes, fragrances, or animal origin ingredients. Love love love. 

I told the team at belif how much I love their products so they recently sent me the Hungarian Water Essence to test-drive. It's a lightweight, hydrating serum formulated with Hungarian water and a blend of 10 herbs including Rosemary & Gotu Kol. I've started using the serum before applying The True Cream and if anything, it has made my skin feel even more hydrated. Two simple steps every morning and I'm good to go.  Want to try belif and get your glow on in 2017? Pick up Belif products now at The Face Shop. In case I didn't make it super obvious, I am SUCH a fan. 

I originally bought Belif on my own so this is a 100% honest review which I wanted to share with you because I'm crazy in love like Beyonce. As in, if I wasn't already married, I might marry it. As in, I have nightmares about them discontinuing it. As in, I'm now an official Belifer. Speaking of which, check this out:

GIVEAWAY ALERT! :)

We're giving away a BELIF PRIZE PACK containing The True Cream ($47 value) and Hungarian Water Essence ($51 value) to one lucky winner so you can get the gift of glowing skin, too. Here's how to win it:

1) Follow me on Instagram @realliferunway

2) 'Like' the Belif giveaway post

3) Tag 2 friends in the post

Will announce the winner this Friday! Best of luck, beauties!

 

Friday
Jun102016

BRIGHT IDEA | #AHairBetter with John Frieda

I’m nervous. Naturally, I’m nervous. As someone notoriously laissez-faire when it comes to hair, I can barely deal with a dryer, let alone hair dye. And yet, that’s exactly what I’ve been asked to do. Like handing a toddler a pack of matches, I’ve been asked to use some revolutionary new at-home products that allow you to lighten your hair in the shower. By yourself. This, to me, is completely terrifying.

‘Life’s too short not to take risks,’ I tell myself. ‘I can always dye it back,’ I reason. And so, I’ve signed and sealed a contract with John Frieda® to try out their Brilliant Brunette Visibly BrighterTM collection. I love John Frieda®. A loyal, lifelong fan since I was a teenager, but still...I’m nervous. 

This is my hair now. I had it dyed dark last month and loved it at the beginning, but as you can see, it has now faded into a basic block of brown. I decide to read up on exactly what I’ve committed to. The John Frieda® Brilliant Brunette® Visibly BrighterTM collection is designed to instantly lighten your brunette to 1 shade lighter than your current colour. It lightens your hair within its normal spectrum, so it won’t appear bleached or orange. Okay, that’s good. You don’t need to be precise with the application. Also good. And it can be used on natural or colour-treated hair like mine. Perfect. Okay, here goes nothing. Ack. 

DAY 1

Before I begin, I make sure to have some inspirational summer things nearby as comfort. My husband’s in California for work this week and my kids are at school right now, so I have no moral support here. My new sunglasses and a sunny yellow tulip make me think happy, sun-kissed, perfect summery hair thoughts. The Brilliant Brunette® Visibly BrighterTM In-Shower Lightening Treatment has a dual tube applicator with a developer and activator that you blend together in your hand in the shower. The formula activates and foams up once you mix it. The instructions are suspiciously simple: 

1)    Snap off cap

2)    Blend formula in your hand

3)    Work through hair

4)    Rinse hands

5)    Leave on for 5 minutes

6)    Rinse

7)    Follow with Brilliant Brunette® Visibly BrighterTM Subtle Lightening Shampoo & Conditioner (if desired - yes, I desire) for daily maintenance. 

The In-Shower Lightening Treatment definitely smells like hair dye which freaks me out a little, but the product really is super easy to use - even for someone as inept with hair as I am. I’m amazed that it only takes 5 minutes to get results, but since I don’t want to overdo it, I skip the shampoo and conditioning part and decide to wash my hair tomorrow. Baby steps. I get out of the shower and inch my way towards the mirror. My hair still looks dark, but then again, it’s soaking wet. I’ll have to wait. Still nervous.

I let my hair air dry like I usually do. It looks like it’s maybe a shade lighter than before, but if it’s lightened, it’s really subtle. This relieves me to no end. My hair feels a bit dry, but considering I didn’t use any conditioner, I’m surprised to find that it still feels quite healthy. Less nervous now. 

DAY 2

I’ve just washed my hair with the Brilliant Brunette® Visibly BrighterTM Subtle Lightening Shampoo & Conditioner. It’s formulated with honey and marigold flower extract, and cleanses while gradually infusing golden tones to illuminate the spectrum of your existing brunette. I’m thrilled to see that it’s ammonia and peroxide free. The conditioner is dreeeaammmy. I can tell that my hair is going to feel super soft when I’m done. And it does. Once my hair dries, I can see that it’s a little bit brighter.

DAY 3

Day 3 is when I start to become a real believer. I wash my hair again and this time, I can really see the brightening effect. My hair is multi-tonal and looks like it has loads of movement. Without adding anything to my hair at all (like literally no product other than the shampoo & conditioner) my hair ends up looking like this after using a curling wand.

DAY 4

Time to wash my hair again. I’m the kind of person who washes my hair only when I really need to wash my hair. I normally wash it every 3 days (or 2 if I go to hot yoga) and so am expecting my hair to dry out quickly. Incredibly, instead of drying out, it seems to just be getting softer. Again, no other styling products. 

DAY 5

After washing my hair today, I decide to do the car test. According to makeup artists I’ve worked with on TV, natural, driver-side visor mirror light is the most honest light you’ll ever find. This pic has no filters, no indoor lighting, no hiding from the truth. And I’m so thrilled to see that my hair is brighter and dimensional and seriously, exactly how I’d want a stylist to give me highlights if I paid a stylist to give me highlights. 

DAY 6

I’m now fully, completely, obsessed with the Brilliant Brunette® Visibly BrighterTM collection. I look like I’ve had balayage. In fact, a friend at school drop-off just asked who does my balayage in Kitchener. ‘I DID MY OWN BALAYAGE!’ is what I want to scream, but instead I take out my phone to show her a pic of the John Frieda® products, ‘You seriously have to try this stuff.’ 

DAY 7

Now that the week-long trial is over, I going to stop washing my hair every day. But as a total super-fan, I’ll continue to use the Brilliant Brunette® Subtle Lightening Shampoo & Conditioner any time I want to subtly brighten up my locks. I’m thrilled to know that I can get a basic dye with my stylist to cover any greys, and then use the Brilliant Brunette® collection to give my hair healthy, natural-looking highlights. Thank you John Frieda® for my brilliant, brighter new brunette locks. Like I told my friend, you seriously have to try this stuff.

Ooh, and don't miss this: our friends from John Frieda are holding #AHairBetterContest where you could win a hair makeover and a stylish weekend getaway for two! Get your luscious locks over to their contest page for more info. Good luck!

As a FLARE Style Scout, I received compensation for participating in this program; however, all views are my own. 

Monday
Sep282015

Clearly a Great Giveaway

Wearing my new Kam Dhillon gold frames. 

All accessories have the power to make or break an outfit. Glasses, though - glasses should never be underestimated. After all, they sit squarely on the bridge of your nose, making them literally so in-your-face that they can't be overlooked. While I wear contacts most days, I have a small (tiny, wee, rivalling my shoe obsession) obsession with fun glasses. Whether prescription-filled or not, I can't handle wearing glasses that make me look older/more serious than I am. I own round pink glasses, clear squares, and oversized tortoiseshells but I felt my collection was missing something. 

Luckily, Clearly.ca saved the day. The new Kam Dhillon collection is loaded with tempting peepers and they offered to send me one of their on-point pairs to test out. From gilded to pastel to boho, the collection hits on all of the season's top trends. I immediately honed in on the gold cat-eyes. So shiny, so sexy and so much fun - I had to have. Suddenly my other glasses look all kindsa boring. And I've officially stowed away my contacts for the fall. 

Thanks to the kind team at Clearly.ca, I'm giving away a pair of Kam Dhillon glasses to one lucky reader. Whether you're in need of a new pair for fall or just like to change things up like me, you're going to love this new collection. 

HERE'S HOW TO WIN:

1) Leave a comment below telling me which pair of Kam Dhillon glasses you want to take home from the options below

2) Follow @realliferunway & @clearlyca on Twitter and tweet the following for a bonus entry '@realliferunway & @clearlyca are giving away a pair of Kam Dhillon glasses & I want to #win! http://bit.ly/1h4nFeS'

3) Must be a resident of Canada to enter this contest. 

4) Contest ends Friday, October 2nd at 5pm

5) Good luck!

Kam Dhillon Claudia Bare

Kam Dhillon Theresa Hazel

Kam Dhillon Sophia Gold

Monday
Jul132015

#TREATTHEHEAT with Vaughan Mills

The Vaughan Mills Jam Van via Vaughan_Mills on Instagram

I know Toronto's currently in Pan Am lockdown. And I've already personally experienced how much the current traffic sitch sucks. But it's totally worth your while to be downtown this week. I've teamed up with Vaughan Mills on another super fun project and am so excited to share it with you. The Vaughan Mills Fashion Truck will be all over downtown Toronto this week (July 13th-19th) and you do not want to miss it. 

If you spot the Vaughan Mills Fashion Truck come over and say hello - my perfect summer outfit's displayed on the truck (see below) alongside looks styled by Christian Confidential, Casie Stewart, Christella Says and Natalie Ast. Pick your favourite outfit or fashion find, then simply tweet #TreatTheHeat to get a free premium ice cream and a chance to win one of the luxe prizes we've handpicked from Vaughan Mills (aka Canada's premier outlet destination).

I found this gorgeous oversized Rebecca Minkoff Avery Tote at hr2, which you can win. Check it:

Ray-Ban Aviators, Nike Kobe X kicks and an amazeballs fringed bag from Rudsak are among the other coveted prizes to be won. 

HERE'S HOW TO WIN:

1) Follow @Vaughan_Mills on Twitter

2) Tweet us your favourite blogger fashion find w @Vaughan_Mills & #treattheheat

3) Enjoy a free ice cream treat on us

4) Stay tuned to Twitter for winner announcements

Aaaand, my outfit from Vaughan Mills:

White Floral Skirt, H&M, $60 | Neon Necklace, H&M, $10 | Tan Belt, BR Factory, $18 | Short-Sleeve Striped Non-Iron Blouse, BR Factory, $39 | Gold Chevron Bracelet, J.Crew, $14 | Round Sunglasses, Joe Fresh, $22 | Faux-Leather Bomber, Joe Fresh, $17 | Nine West Shootie, hr2, $98 | Pink Bracelet, Charming Charlie, $13

TOTAL - $291

Style | STREET SMART

Inspiration | New York x Paris, on a Friday, in the summer.

Why these pieces work together | When it comes to choosing between New York & Paris, I say - why choose? Blue, white & tan is a classic summer combo my inner Parisienne can’t help but love. But, then there’s my NY side - I love the way the cool black booties and faux leather moto add some street edge to this look. The best part? Each individual piece is a wardrobe booster in its own right. I’d wear this outfit to work on a Friday, then throw on the bomber & aviators and head straight for a chic little patio somewhere to bring on the weekend. In a word: #friyay.

 

See you soon at the Vaughan Mills Fashion Truck. Can't wait to #treattheheat w you! 

 

Friday
Jun192015

#WIN IT | The Ultimate Queen's Plate Experience with Vaughan Mills + Watch Our Queen's Plate 2015 Style Guide

A behind-the-scenes shot of us on shoot day.

Yup, we're total posers.

Have I told you about my new job? As the Official Stylist of Vaughan Mills, I knew I'd have the chance to get out from behind my computer screen, but styling one of summer's biggest fashion events? Now that's awesome. Since Vaughan Mills has teamed up with Woodbine Racetrack as the official Fashion Sponsor of the upcoming Queen's Plate, my first mission (and I chose to accept it) was styling Queen's Plate 2015. As the most historic horse race in North America and the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, this year marks the 156th running of the Queen's Plate, one of Canada's top sporting and fashion events. We don't get too many chances in Canada to really dress up so this event is my jam.

Since it's hard to know what to wear to such a high-stakes fashion affair, we put together a Queen's Plate Style Guide for outfit inspiration. The best part about Queen's Plate? Anything goes. Custom-made fascinators are welcome, but so are ballcaps, flower crowns and oversized wide-brim hats. From short & sweet dresses, to flowy maxis to chic jumpsuits, it's all about using your creativity to stand out. Men show up in classic suits and dapper bowties but on a really hot day, pastel shorts and blazers can be a winning combo, too.

Don't miss our Queen's Plate Style Guide below (styled and modelled by me and my cute husband, who does a mean Blue Steel btw), then make sure you visit in-mall from June 23rd-July 2nd for a chance to win The Ultimate Queen's Plate Experience including a $500 shopping spree, a one-on-one styling sesh with me and 2 VIP tickets to attend the Queen's Plate on July 5th. To enter the contest, take your photo at one of the Queen's Plate Style cut-outs located inside the Event Court and post it to your personal Instagram account using hashtag #VMStylesQP and #QP15, making sure to tag @vaughan_mills in it so we can see your pic. Visit http://bit.ly/1Boyl1C for full contest details. Oh, and be sure to tune into Breakfast Television on June 30th live from Woodbine where we'll be showing more pretty Queen's Plate looks.

Can't wait for the big day! See you at Queen's Plate!