Brand Focus - Cover FX

#dropportunity

Cover FX started out in 2000, with products that were free of irritants, thus suitable for those with truly sensitive skin. Lee Graff, a co-founder and corrective makeup specialist working at Sunnybrook Hosptial, helped create a product that provides a wide range of colours that is full coverage, while still looking like skin.

In 2003, Cover FX launched in Shoppers Drug Mart. This is where I became involved with the brand in 2006. Beauty Boutiques allowed the public easy access to their Cover FX cream foundation, which helped those with vetilago, rosecea, acne scarring and other skin issues. From here, they expanded their line to include bronzers, blush, more foundations, lip products, primers (which is still one of the best serums/primers), powders, and brushes.  Honestly, their reputation, quality of product and vast colour selection made it a favourite among us makeup artists and our clients.  I have to say, when this company had schools, many of us clamored to go. Additionally, anytime I have freelanced for weddings, I have only used Natural FX as a foundation. It photographs beautifully while still providing coverage and allowing the skin to show through.

Finally, this little Canadian Company continued to grow and wound up in Sephora. It relaunched with new packaging and developed new products, but stayed true to its foundation and philosphy. Their primers are still amazing, as is their Natural FX foundation and illuminating setting powder.

As you can tell, I am a little biased and love this company.

My favourites:

Natural FX
Illuminating Setting Powder
Anti-Aging Primer (repackaged used to be their Serum/Primer)
Custom Cover Drops

You can find them at Shoppers Drug Mart
 www.coverfx.ca 

www.sephora.ca

Canadian Beauty Brands

Looking at my makeup collection, it is heavily loaded in MAC's favour (still  Canadian???). I decided to look at other bits of my collection to see how much of it was from here. Afterwards, I felt it was time to give kudos to Canadian beauty companies and their products.

Canadian Brands

Cake Beauty - their hand cream and body lotion (Desserted Island) smell heavenly and work very well on the skin.  They absorb nicely = no greasy feel. Yay.

Cargo - cosmetic company, known for their HD makeup, mascaras and foundations. Personally, I enjoy their eyeshadows and Plant Love Lipsticks

Marcelle - one of Canada's drugstore skin and cosmetics companies. Their BB Cream is wonderful and my favourite out of all them on the market. 

Annabelle - great trendy based drugstore company. It offers palettes, great eyeliners and lipsticks.

Quo - Shoppers Drug Mart in house brand. It has improve its quality immensely. Known for its brushes, the brand also works with Orly for nail tools and nail varnish. 

Cover FX - this hardworking little company has made some great strides and products. I am partial to their Natural FX, Skin Prep serum and primer, and the original Cover FX cream foundation. Good for the skin and great coverage. 

Lise Watier - the madame of them all. Well known in Canada, Lise Watier has grown into a competitive company. I use the Portfolio and the Metamorfix (liquid transformer)

Ojon - this hair company has a loyal following. Their line helps with damaged, dry and chemically treated hair. Hard to keep on the shelves. I use the Rare Blend Oil.

M.A.C - everyone knows this company from Toronto. In the 90's, Estee Lauder bought them, but they still remain true to Canada. I have too many products to list. Eyeshadows, Lipsticks, Viva Glam and so much more. 

Other Canadian Companies include:

Neostrata 
Moroccan Oil
B. Kamins 
Fusion Makeup
Bite Beauty
Balmshell 
Joe Fresh
Lit Cosmetics
Face Atelier
Vasanti 
Yaby 
Beaute
Stellarti
The Ordinary
Deciem
Nude Stix


Do you think Canadian Cosmetic and Beauty companies have what it takes? What is your favourite Canadian Hero product?
Take care,
xo Megs

Review: A B C's of BB creams

image source:beautyblitz.com

Blemish Balms or Beauty Balms (BB), whatever you want to call them, are the latest buzz product in North America and I am asked about them all the time.  First, just a little bit about them. They have been around the beauty industry in Asia via Germany a number of years ago as a skin treatment/protector with the ability to cover and an alternative to heavy foundations.

Skip to now, where Western beauty companies stretched the term BB Cream to their versions. I say versions because they are not quite the same as their Asian counterparts. Not to say they are not fantastic products, but let's call them what they are - a repackaged and re-marketed tinted moisturizer. As aforementioned, true BB Creams are a skin treatment with coverage and the Western versions also "treat" the skin, ish.  For instance, most prime, moisturise, cover, and protect. All of which have done in the past/present by tinted moisturisers. With that said, the newest bunch have started to include such ingredients as vitamin c and hyaluronic acid. Making them closer to the Asian versions. Some of the BB Creams on the market include:

• Maybelline Dream Fresh BB- sheer to light coverage, SPF 30, oil free, moisturising, five colours,good for combo skin
• L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB- granular,very sheer radiance, moisturizing, four colours, dry skin
• L'Oreal Youth Code BB Cream-  SPF 15, two colours, light coverage, normal to dry
• Marcelle BB Cream- sheer to light coverage, moisturising,radiance, two colours, dry skin
• Marcelle Anti-Aging BB Cream-  SPF 20, two colours, medium coverage, hydrating, radiance, normal to dry skin (My favourite)
• Garnier BB Cream Skin Renew- light coverage,Vitamin C,  moisturizing, two colours, combo skin
• Gosh BB Cream- liquid/runny, sheer to light coverage, moisturizing,four colours, dry skin
• Annabelle BB Cream- SPF 15 medium coverage, moisturising, two colours,normal to dry skin
• Clinique Perfecting BB Cream- light coverage, three colours (very pink), moisturising, radiance, combo skin
• Stila HD 10-in-1 Beauty Balm- one colour, sheer, hydrating, oil free, paraben free, normal to dry.
• Smashbox BB Cream- SPF 35, tacky, light coverage, five colours, dry to combination skin
• Lancome Renergie Eclat Multi-Lift BB Cream- more anti-aging ,poor blendabilty, moisturizing, illuminates, three colours, mature dry skin
• Vichy Pro-Even BB Cream- SPF 20, two colours, moisturising, normal to dry, medium coverage, Vitamin C and E, hyaluronic acid
• Vichy Neovidol BB Cream- one colour, mature skin, dry, anti-aging

As for the Asian BB creams most are Korean such as Dr. Jart, Missha, Lioele, and Skin Food. These lovelies fight blemishes, have anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Why didn't I buy them when I lived there?!!!

This isn't to say that North America doesn't have a BB Cream... it just doesn't call itself that. In Canada, Cover FX is such a product and is put in the category of a Cosmeceutical - cosmetics that heal, protect and treat the skin, thus a traditional Asian BB Cream.  It contains vitamins F, A, C and E and was developed at Sunnybrook Hospital for those who had scars, rosacea, and burns. Fantastic company and products. I use them on brides and they photograph beautifully.

I apologise with the length, but as a consumer, especially in the beauty industry, it can be overwhelming. Therefore, clarification, information and suggestions are definitely needed. So, now that we have a clearer understanding of these guys, companies are now introducing the CC cream- colour and correct, or colour and care. They one upped the BB cream. The two I have heard about are from Chanel and Oil of Olay.

Whatever you choose, they are a fabulous alternative to foundation and easy to use. Let me know which BB Cream you like.

Take Care,
xo Megs