If you’ve been following my Twitter and Twitpic updates, you’ll remember that not too long ago I invited two of my beauty-saavy girls over to play around with Maybelline Eye Studio cosmetic products. I was one of the fortunate recipients of a Maybelline Eye Studio kit and given the chance to play around with eyeshadow pallets, mascara, gel eyeliner and baked, marbleized eyeshadows. The kit came from Matchstick, which is a word-of-mouth promotional company.

My girls came over with fresh, clean faces and armed with their own make-up brushes and make-up remover (Hey! Nobody’s perfect!). After much testing, note-taking and a general discussion and jotting down of our thoughts….here are our conclusions!

Indulge in an array of macaroons at a patisserie on a sunny day, this year, your Parisian vacation comes early with the release of three new limited edition scents under the Marc Jacobs Splash collection.

This new trio of fragrances are inspired by the simple pleasure of sitting outside at a patisserie and enjoying the rich and beautifully displayed sweets. Spring 2010 marks the addition of Apple, Pomegranate and Biscotti to Splash. Everything from the advertising to the actual coloured tint of the perfume itself evokes a reminder of sweet pastry scents.

Happy Birthday Naomi – this OPI Nailpolish post is for you! “Shades that capture the brilliant sharpness of the cityscape. A modern mood of color and perspective for spring.” OPI Nailpolish’s newest collection features Hong Kong! Bright bold colors with cheeky themed names which are OPI typical include:

• Red My Fortune Cookie
• A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find
• Bling Dynasty
• Hot & Spicy
• Dim Sum Plum
• Jade is the New Black
• Suzi Says Feng Shui
• Lucky Lucky Lavender
• Meet Me on the Star Ferry
• Panda-monium Pink
• Pearl of Wisdom
• Chop-sticking to My Story

With names like Bo Peep (baby pink), and Nice Melons (a “papaya pearl”), these soft pastel shades remind me of Easter eggs and baby bunnies – a sign that spring is truly just around the corner.

Want a long wearing blush? Look no further than Smashbox’s Blush Rush which will last you an entire day at the office or for a night out in town.

…love products which can be used for multiple purposes! Stila’s newest lip and cheek stain is created from the Yumberry fruit, which is forecasted to be the next superfruit.

Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation opened its first Murale store in Vancouver at Oakridge Centre. As I walked into the new venue (located near the food court, on the GAP and Aritzia side), the bright lights, white floor and neatly lined shelves of beauty products mimicked Shoppers’ Drug Mart’s beauty boutique – but much more spacious.

Brands which immediately caught my eye included Cargo, Smashbox, Benefit, Biotherme, Nars, Bobbi Brown…as well as your classic brands like Clinique, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent.

product review on BECCA’s “Line + Illuminate Pencil” and “Luminous Skin Colour”. In Canada, available exclusively at Kiss and Make Up.

Apothecary & Apparel. Sounds catchy, doesn’t it? And that’s exactly what’s inside and online at Kiss & Makeup, a “friendly fashion and beauty resource”, newly relocated to West Vancouver’s The Village at Park Royal. Owned by Heather Huntingford, with her eye for niche products, Kiss & Makeup carries beauty lines that are “conscientiously made, original, organic, natural and amazing”.

With an eye toward eco-nomics, the new store features reclaimed pine floors from the original tenant, and Kiss & Makeup’s existing furniture, vanities and shelves are being whitewashed and repurposed in the new space. Vintage chandeliers and clothing racks complete the vision that Heather refined. What else is in Heather’s vision for Kiss and Makeup? Read on for Modern Mix Vancouver’s interview with her!

Sephora is opening on July 10, 2009 at Pacific Centre. Founded in France in 1969, Sephora features over 200 classic and emerging brands across a broad range of beauty products – from skincare and fragrance, to haircare and cosmetics. Click on the below coupon to print out and redeem for a FREE Sephora umbrella. I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing a lot of these in Vancouver in the next while.

**Thanks to Five Corners for this coupon.