Best Beauty Discoveries of 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS!

2009 was a year for a lot of new spa experiences and discovering some very exciting beauty lines and products, so in no particular order, here they are.  I will be reviewing some of them in greater detail in posts to come.

1.  Experiencing an authentic Hammam in Morrocco. The ultimate exotic experience.  An ancient beauty ritual of steaming and exfoliating the skin.  Discovering the amazing exfoliating properties of Moroccan black soap and scrubbing gloves.  

2.   Going to Blue Mountain Resort in the early Fall to the Scandinave Spa.  It was incredibly relaxing soaking in the outdoor pools and enjoying the Fall colours against a backdrop of a bright blue sky.  The weather was still warm enough to sit outside in the sunshine and going between the different heated pools was beyond bliss.  After the hot pools, having a nutritious lunch overlooking the pools and a relaxing massage.  A wonderful outdoor spa experience.

3.  Visiting the new Murale beauty product store for the first time.  So many hard too find brands of make-up, perfume, skin care and body products all under one roof.  A candy store for the beauty product lover.

4.   Having my make-up done with the NARS Fall collection at Holt Renfrew in Yorkdale and then going with friends to have our make-up done at the Bay with a visiting NARS rep.  NARS products are amazing, the colours are beautiful and most importantly their reps and customer service is hands down, the best.  A visit to a NARS counter is a fun experience.

5.  Being introduced to a myriad of wonderful lines at Sephora.  Korres make-up primer, Juice Beauty tinted foundation, Serge Lutens perfumes, the list goes on.

6.  Urban Decay, 24/7 pencils.  The texture is soft and goes on like velvet.  The range of colours is extensive. Urban Decay is vegan friendly and not tested on animals.

7.  Argan Oil for face and hair.  I had the good fortune of visiting an Argan oil cooperative in southwestern Morocco.  The Berber women produce the oil using traditional and very labour intensive methods. Even purchasing the oil directly from the cooperatives is still expensive as Argan oil is a costly and precious commodity. A little of the oil goes a long way.  It can be used on the face, the body and hair to moisturize and renew.  A rare and incredible product.

Beladi, Women's Argan Oil Collective, Essouiria, Morocco

8.  Discovering Julie Hewitt's Noir collection lipsticks.  A line of vintage red lipsticks, you can't just buy one, you will want to have them all.  Film Noir is a sheer all purpose red, good for all occasions.

9.  Diving deeper into the wonderful world of perfumery, through blogs like the Perfume Posse and Perfume Shrine, discovering L'Artisan, Serge Lutens, Andy Tauer and Amouage.  Although Oud was the fragrance du jour of 2009, I will always love Gardenia.

10.  Nuxe Paris, a wonderful line formulated using pure plants and essential oils. A historic line ahead of its time.  I will be writing lots and lots on this wonderful line in my Winter Moisturizing series.

11. Chantecaille Aromacologie products, a beautifully formulated luxury skincare line. Launched this Fall at Holt Renfrew in Toronto.  The products are formulated with rose and other essential oils.  The Nano Gold Energizing Cream actually contains particles of 24-karet gold.

 
12.  Having fun with all the new colours, sparkle and glitter in the world of nail polish.  Nail art is alive and well, the more bling the better, and yes Zoya was the original "3 free". Can't wait for the China Glaze re-launch of the Wizard of Ooh Ahz this Spring and Up Up and Away.

13.  Paul and Joe Make-up.  The packaging is just too adorable and retro.  You feel like you are in a scene from a 1940's movie, applying your make-up in a stylish ladies lounge while Humphrey Bogart waits at the bar.  Great discovery to find it for sale in Toronto at the George Brown School of Make Up and Esthetics.

14.  The George Brown Yorkville School of Make Up and Esthetics.  A teaching school with a small store filled with amazing hard to find, niche lines, including Paul and Joe AND budget priced treatments done by senior students.

MORE TO COME...

Although they are not yet available in North America, reading about the Illamasqua and Rouge Bunny Rouge make-up lines on the British blog sites, they both look like wonderful lines.  I can hardly wait until they are available in North America.  For now, North Americans will have to make do with on-line shopping.  Illamasqua is available on-line from Sephora U.S. and Rouge Bunny Rouge from Zuneta.com based in the U.K.

Lipstick Queen Lipsticks.  Although available in the U.S., Unfortunately they are not for sale on-line to Canada, however there are a few exclusive stores that carry them in Canada.  The Spa Travellers will shortly be going on a small shopping spree and will report back.  Stay tuned.

Wishing each and every one of you a very healthy, happy, peaceful and prosperous 2010.

PEACE.