Loulou's views

One of my favourite things about the holiday season is the shopping. I love giving back to local charities and organizations, like CHEO and The Shoebox Project, and I enjoy buying presents for my family (especially my boys!) and my friends. December is the busiest month of all, with work, social events, and hosting parties, so I try to plan ahead as much as I can, and check things off my to-do list daily.  Here are my holiday shopping tips and some great gift ideas to help you get through this hectic season with ease: One-Stop Shopping I can spend countless hours in Chapters-Indigo with my children selecting new books to add to our 'to-read' pile. Chapters-Indigo is the best one-stop shop for holiday gifts, too. They have something for everyone on your list, including technology, like Beats Solo 3 Wireless Headphones, to home decor, journals, toys, accessories, and stylish items like purses, scarves, and hats. Whether you're shopping in-store or online at indi

I always love trying new make-up, and when I was asked to review the Dermablend Professional  line, I quickly said yes. I have been looking for a new foundation for a while, and thought it was the perfect opportunity to try this make-up because of all the great things I kept hearing from other beauty product lovers like myself. Dermablend Professional lets you decide how much you want to cover up when you're applying your make-up, and with their easy to use online 'shade selector' , you can make sure you're choosing the colours that are right for your skin tone. Dermablend Professional is powerful make-up anyone can use, created by a dermatologist. These products provider excellent coverage and they are dermatologist and allergy-tested. They're also fragrance-free—perfect for those with sensitive skin. Here are the products I put to the test and loved: Dermablend Professional Smooth Liquid Camo Foundation: This medium cover liquid foundation helps even out

I like changing up my beauty routine every few months, and now that it's almost spring, I love freshening up my make-up bag. Flawless skin is always in fashion, no matter the season, whether you're going for a matte finish or a dewy glow—and achieving a good base is key, along with properly moisturizing your skin. After all, we had a rough winter and we're all in need of some major moisture repair and brighter shades of colour to welcome the warmer months back into our lives. I thought I'd share some of my must-have products from Olay and COVERGIRL that are sure to become spring essentials: C OVERGIRL truBlend Bronzer: If your vacation tan is fading, you can still keep the glow going! For a bronze goddess look, use this bronzer as the final step after you've put on your make-up. For a look that glows even more, mix the bronzer with your moisturizer to add some shimmer and all-over colour. The truBlend Bronzer provides a natural looking glow and compleme

I just got back from a beautiful trip to New York City, and I'm missing it already. Of course, every time I leave, I start planing my next visit in my head, because I can never get enough of the most vibrant city in the world. On this trip to New York City, I had the wonderful opportunity of reviewing the incredible Guerlain Spa in the Waldorf Astoria. Pinch me—I was totally living a Blair Waldorf day. The Guerlain Spa is quite simply the epitome of luxury in this world-class hotel. Tranquility awaits as soon as the elevator doors open on the 19th floor—and it's quite the breathtaking view, too. After changing into my robe and slippers, I was brought to the relaxing waiting lounge where I enjoyed a cup of tea before my facial.   Guerlain has been devoted to skincare and beauty since 1828. In 1939, Guerlain created one of the first spas in the world on avenue des Champs- Elysées,  and today, Guerlain is just as popular as ever for those who are passionate about be

It's mid-February and that means we're in the middle of awards season. It's always fun getting ready to head out onto the red carpet, and... wait. I mean, it's alway fun to imagine we're rocking the red carpet and being interviewed about what designer we're wearing. Even if we're not on the red carpet, we can easily achieve a red carpet look effortlessly at home. Without a team of hair stylists, and make-up artists, even. The secret? COVERGIRL and Pantene.  Here are some tips on how you can achieve a truly glamorous look for a night out, even if it's not on the red carpet. Once you've got your outfit planned (little black dress and a killer pair of heels, or a cute top and jeans always works!) try these beauty tips to make yourself simply gorgeous: Ace that bace: Want glowing skin? Start with a base. Moisturize, every day, and every night. (And I don't want to hear any excuses for not washing your make-up off before bed! None!) Af

I was in Toronto yesterday for a Red Carpet Grammy Viewing Party with P&G , in partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart. I had a great flight into the city with Porter Airlines, as always, and arrived to my hotel with enough time to relax and get ready for the big Grammy party. Outfit of choice? My new Free People dress—perfect for this event. A little flow-y, a little fun, a  little flirty—and perfect to mingle in! It was a night of glamour and fun as we watched the stars arrive on the red carpet (how cute were Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez?), dished on the best looks of the night, and talked about the best hair products and make-up to wear on the red carpet—and every day, really. We talked fashion, hair, and make-up with ET Canada reporter Sangita Patel , Pantene Pro-V hair stylist Justin German , and COVERGIRL make-up artists Veronica Chu . These three know a thing or two about achieving the right look, and listening to them talk about their favourite beauty looks and w

Despite the cold weather and falling snow, I love this time of year because the holiday season is a great time to catch up with friends and family, celebrating the season creating new memories. I look forward to the festive parties, and whether I'm hosting friends or going out, my favourite part is getting ready for the night. (Any excuse to shop for new lipstick, a new dress, and new shoes is a good thing, right?) This holiday season, I'd love to help you sparkle and shine so you can look your best, too. I'm got a great giveaway with P&G that I'd love you to win—just in time for the holiday season! I'm giving away some great products from COVERGIRL , Oral B, Crest , and Pantene . Here's what you'll receive: 2 Oral B PH Crossaction Manual TB Soft Toothbrushes 1 Crest 3D White Brilliance Boost Polishing Treatment 1 Pantene Daily Moist Renewal Shampoo 1 Pantene Damage Detox Shampoo 1 Pantene Damage Detox Conditioner 1 Pantene Pro V We

It's been unseasonably warm for November. I haven't started complaining about the weather like I usually do this time of year, but don't worry—cold, snowy days are coming, along with all my posts about how much I dislike the weather. Even though there is no snow on the ground, I miss summer. I miss the carefree days and wearing nothing but flip flops and a little dress. I miss staying out late at night, on a patio, with family and friends, and I miss evenings at the park with my boys. Now that November is here, it's complete darkness by 4:30 p.m. and I'm finding it difficult to stay upbeat, so last week, I got ready to go out with my girlfriend for a night out. Sometimes, all you need is an excuse to get dressed up, put on your favourite lipstick, listen to some music, and laugh the night away with friends. I'm telling you—make-up and a night out with good friends is an excellent way to not let the colder weather and shorter days bring you down. My go-to

It's time to face reality—summer is (pretty much) over. I know, right? Wasn't it just yesterday I was writing about summer and how much I loved living again? After months of carefree living in nothing more than flip flops and little dresses, it's time to start thinking about fall clothes and make-up. Thanks summer, for being awesome—from BBQ's to concerts to pool parties and a trip to Greece, it was amazing. But now, I have some shopping to do! (I love September, and not just because it's my birthday month.) Boots, sweaters,  jeans, and some new make-up will help you bring your fall look together. Fall is the perfect time to experiment with new beauty products, trying on different shades, and doing something a little different with your hair, or even just giving your hair some much needed  love—after all, if you spent all summer in the sea and in pools, your hair is probably damaged. It's easy to keep your daily beauty routine simple enough so that you

Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities. The opinions on this blog are my own. Summer is finally here, and so are the wonderful days of lounging outside on patios with friends and family, backyard BBQ's, swimming with the children, enjoying evening soccer games, and, of course, shopping for a new summer wardrobe (hello, dresses!) and new beauty products. When you're getting ready to head out, whether it's for a date night at a romantic Italian restaurant, or a girls night out on a patio, COVERGIRL and Olay can help bring out the most beautiful you. (It is amazing what a little make-up can do!) I love the Olay Total Effects Anti-aging Moisturizer. This new formula has 40% more vitamins and the highest level of Niacinamide in an over-the-counter Olay skincare product. Pretty awesome. This new anti-aging moisturizer is a must-have when you're shopping for

I could spend countless hours at the make-up counter in any department store, and I love walking into The Body Shop no matter where I am in the world—from Athens to Ottawa, it's always a treat to stock up on my favourite items knowing that I'll love what I'm buying. For a flawless face, perfect nails, and soft, smooth skin, The Body Shop does it right, year after year. I love receiving packages from my friends at The Body Shop, and today I opened my mail to find some nail polish from The Body Shop's new Color Crush Nails collection. I received three pretty in pink colours (in Cupid Pink, Oh, Petal, and Rosy Cheeks ) and you can find all 24 shades in stores soon. I also received the new Drops of Youth Eye Concentrate . (Along with a gift card to Starbucks? The Body Shop know me so well!) Here is some information about my favourite Body Shop products: Drops of Youth Eye Concentrate:   "See life through younger-looking eyes." Sounds good to me! I re

Shoppers Drug Mart is the ultimate destination for beauty, and my go-to place to stock up on my beauty essentials — like my favourite Cover Girl mascara, my favourite Benefit eyeliner, and my favourite Prada fragrance. Once again (it's the 4th annual national event) the Shoppers Drug Mart   30 Days of Beauty campaign is back, taking place across Canada just in time for fall and back-to-school!   The 30 different fabulous looks are telling the story of 30 Days of Beauty , giving you new ideas to try, inspiring you to add to your make-up collection, and on top of that? You can even receive a five-minute in-store makeover! The 30 Days of Beauty website has tons of great ideas to get you ready for fall and with your in-store make-over, you can try out some of these looks yourself.   A new shade of lipstick, a new blush, and you're good to go. Take risks, add some colour to your life, and have fun shopping! I love buying new make-up brushes once a year, too. The 30 Days