MZ by Principessa Roll-on Pure Perfume Oil,
$69 for 29.5 mL

Fresh New Fragrance Line By Real Housewives of Vancouver
Star Mary Zilba

Confession time: One of our guiltiest pleasures lately has been watching The Real Housewives of Vancouver every Wednesday night on Slice.

Real Housewives of Vancouver star Mary Zilba

If you’re hooked too, you know that “Housewife” Mary Zilba, recording artist and philanthropist (and mom of three!), is the sweetest of the colourful bunch. So, it’s only fitting that she would release a new fragrance and beauty line that’s both soft and feminine.

A collaboration with Vancouver’s Principessa Beauty, the new MZ by Principessa line features a fresh slightly sweet scent with hints of jasmine. We admit we’re not huge perfume lovers ourselves, but the MZ by Principessa Pure Perfume Oil is clean and pretty. Attention-getting, but not overwhelming, making it perfect for any occasion — including the big day!

MZ by Principessa Gift Set, $69

The line includes a whipped body butter, scented soy candle and nude lip gloss. For your favourite girls, pick up the MZ by Principessa Gift Set. Prettily packaged for giving, it includes the soy candle, perfume oil and lip gloss, all for just $69.

Check out the full line of MZ by Principessa treats at BeautyMark or Kiss & Makeup.

Curel Body Wash, $15

Expert Beauty Tips for Dry Sensitive Skin

If you suffer from dry, itchy, sensitive skin, you might be worried about showing a little skin on your big day. After all, who wants to bare their arms and shoulders in a strapless gown when their skin is dry and flaky or red and irritated?

In fact, a new national survey from Angus Reid found that 40 per cent of the B.C. women polled are self-conscious about going bare in the summertime, due to the condition of their skin. And 64 per cent said their skin’s condition impacts what they wear.

Instead of worrying, Vancouver dermatologist Dr. Shannon Humphrey offers some of her top tips for maintaining soft, smooth skin from head to toe:

Keep it short and sweet: A 5- to 10-minute bath or shower can be moisturizing, but spending more time in the water can leave skin dehydrated. So keep it short, and keep the water temperature warm, not hot.

The 3-minute rule: To lock in moisture from a bath or shower, apply a moisturizer within 3 minutes of bathing to trap the existing water in the skin.

Slather up! A thin veil of moisturizer may not be enough for your skin to absorb. So give your skin a good coating of moisturizer, working it in as you go.

Be kind to your face: If you have dry skin, avoid soap altogether. You may even want to cleanse your face only at night, with a cleanser that’s kind to sensitive skin and free of irritating ingredients like colours or fragrances. In the morning, just rinse your face with water and pat dry.

You are what you eat: If you’re prone to flushing or redness, it often helps to avoid caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods and hot beverages.

Curel Intensive Face Cream, $20

Dr. Humphrey also recommends products formulated with ceramides, which are naturally found in the skin’s outer layer and help lock in moisture. If you live in the Lower Mainland, you’re in luck, because Vancouver is the exclusive launch location for Japan’s leading dry and sensitive skincare brand: Curel Fundamental Solutions for Sensitive Skin.

Curel’s new skincare line, which uses “Advanced Ceramide Therapy,” includes cleansers, face and body moisturizers, haircare products and more, all designed to retain moisture and protect skin against environmental irritants.

Need extra help? For soothing rich moisturizing all over, try Curel Body Cream ($15) and Curel Intensive Face Cream ($20).

Curel Body Cream, $15

The Curel skincare line is available only at five London Drugs locations (click here for addresses). And mark your calendar for Curel Skincare Day on April 28, when you can pick up free Curel samples and meet skincare advisors in store.

Here’s to soft, smooth skin on your wedding day — and every day!

Most women can testify to the importance of a good skincare regimen. Once the domain of beauticians and aestheticians, words like cleansers, toners and moisturizers have become an integral part of the modern gal’s lexicon, and a staple in her bathroom cabinet. But with so many skincare choices on the market, it’s difficult to know which products are good for your skin, and which contain ingredients that are at best less than desirable and at worst toxic.

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Angella Green, brand manager of Jason Natural Products, a leading manufacturer of holistic beauty products in Culver City, California, advises brides to purchase a gentle or hydrating cleanser that is free of sodium lauryl or laureth sulfates, and to use a toner thereafter to balance the skin’s pH and prepare it for moisturizing. “Use SPF moisturizer every day, with a minimum of SPF 15,” she cautions. “Sun protection is key to preventing fine lines and skin damage.”

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Applying a nutrient-rich moisturizer to hydrate your skin each night is a great idea, Green adds. “Look for one that contains antioxidant ingredients like peptides, tea extract, CoQ10 or hyaluronic acid. And use an under-eye protector to reduce dark circles, fine lines and puffiness.”

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Green strongly advises brides to check out the ingredient list of their skincare products, being especially wary of parabens. “These will typically appear with a “-paraben” ending on the ingredient list of your skincare product, such as methylparaben, propylparaben or butylparaben,” she explains. Parabens, preservatives used in many pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic products, are being researched to investigate their association with breast cancer tumour growth. A January 2004 report published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology found these preservatives in 20 human breast tumours.

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Other ingredients to avoid are petrolatum and mineral oil, often used in mass-market cosmetic products since they are less expensive than natural plant oils. “These ingredients can clog pores which can lead to skin irritation and acne. Instead, opt for natural products that minimize or eliminate these ingredients and lead to a healthier skin,” she suggests.

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If you’ve been lazy with your skincare in the past, this is the time you’ll want to start getting serious, says Green. “Particularly around the weeks and even months before the wedding a full skincare regimen is recommended to maintain beautiful and clear skin, because even after those teenage years have passed, blemishes can pop up, often at the worst times.”

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Don’t Assume you Know your Skin:
Your skin type will change over the years and is often misdiagnosed, so consult a dermatologist or skincare professional to make sure you understand your skin’s condition.

Do Look Out for the Leaping Bunny:
The logo of the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) gives you the assurance that a product has not been tested on animals.

Do Vitamize Your Skin:
Vitamins and herbs can provide benefits to your skin and dramatically improve its appearance. Vitamin E and red tea extract act as an anti-inflammatory, for example, while vitamin C can help minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and vitamin K can reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.

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Do Read Your Labels:
Take your time reading the ingredients list on natural products. Ingredient lists generally list in descending order of quantity. The first few take up the greatest share while last ingredients take less. All have an effect on your skin and health.

Don’t Equate Cost with Purity:
There are many affordable brands that are organic, are 100% natural, and won’t break the bank.

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Do Investigate Further:
The Green Beauty Guide by journalist and holistic nutritionist Julie Gabriel is a quick and informative read.
Available at Chapters or visit www.thegreenbeautyguide.com

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Photography By:  Jeremy Maude
Makeup By: Lisa Aharon for Chanel     Models From: John Casablancas

From your morning coffee to your last dance, here are some items to have on hand throughout the wedding day.

Tissues: Vow-worthy “Belle of the Ball” printed tissues by Design Design.

Lipstick: You may kiss the bride. MAC lipstick.

Lipbrush: Apply lipstick with a lipbrush for greatest control.

Lip Pencil: Lip pencil under lipstick or gloss.

Handcream: L’Occitane Shea Butter handcream, travel size. Absorbs quickly and lasts through many washings.

Pain Relief: It’s a long day. Just in case.

Blush Brush: Retractable, travel-sized powder/blush brush.

Lip Balm: Keihl’s Balm #1. To moisturize lips throughout the day or to add a bit of shine to your lip colour.

Concealer: MAC Select Moisturecover with wand applicator. It’s your party, cry if you want to. For quick touch-ups after those emotional moments.

Blotting Papers: To absorb oil and reduce shine. Paul & Joe papers come with their own flower-printed case with a mirror.

Powder: Blot Powder/Pressed by MAC. Provides translucent shine control.

Mirror: Who is the fairest of them all? Bejewelled, hand-painted mirror compact by You & I.

Bobby pins: For those errant hairs.

Cotton Swabs: For eye makeup.

PRODUCT INFORMATION:
All MAC products available at MAC stores and counters. “Belle of the Ball” printed tissues by Design Design, $3.25, at Wedding Things, 30 – 1020 Mainland St., Vancouver, 604-681-8399; L’Occitane hand cream $30.00/pkg of three, at L’Occitane 3051 Granville St., Vancouver 604-734-4441; Paul & Joe blotting papers and pouch, $34.50 at BeautyBar, 2142 W.4th Ave., Vancouver, 604-733-9000; Handpainted ceramic, brass, and rhinestone mirror compact by You & I, $25.99 at Lou Lou Luv, 3071 W.Broadway, Vancouver, 604-677-0682.

A radiant wedding day glow starts well before the big day. In the month prior, consider these key steps in your daily skincare for healthy, fresh and radiant wedding-day skin. All featured products tried and tested by Real Weddings Editors.

1. Eye Makeup Remover: Almay’s Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover Pads gently remove eye makeup and mascara. Hold the pad to your eye for a few seconds then wipe gently outward.

2. Cleanser: Cleanse your face with a gentle, water-soluble face wash, preferably one that contains ingredients that clarify and even the skin. Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Cleanser is gentle and contains soy which purportedly promotes even skin tone.

3. Toner: After cleansing, saturate a cotton ball with a moisturizing, alcohol-free toner such as Biotherm Biosource Softening Lotion. Gently wipe away from the centre of your face outward to close pores and remove last traces of dirt.

4. Serum: A face serum aids in smooting out the skin and prepares it to better absorb moisturizer. Smooth PRE’s Revive Facial Serum over your face, neck and decolletage once a day; plant polypeptides and bearberry extract help osften lines and discolouration.

5. Moisturizer: No matter your skin type, a moisturizer that has an SPF 15 or greater and blocks out both UVA and UVB rays is essential. Suitable for most skin types, Neostrata’s Oil Free Daytime Smoothing Lotion contains the requisite SPF plus 8% Glycolic Acid (AHA) to exfoliate the skin.

6. Eye Cream: Gently pat a small amount of eye cream around your eyes in the morning and evening. A hydrating formulation such as Reversa Anti-Wrinkle Eye Contour Cream has an SPF of 15 and  contains 4% Glycolic Acid to encourage cell turnover.

TWICE WEEKLY:

7. Exfoliate: Biore’s Pore Minimizing Refining Exfoliator contains microbeads to gently exfoliate and extracts of strawberry and willowherb to calm and refine. Apply lightly in circular motions on your face and neck, avoiding the eye area.

ONCE A WEEK:

8. MASQUE: Smooth on a facial masque such as Kiehl’s Rare-Earth Facial Cleansing Masque to lift away dead skins cells and absorb excess oil.

A bridal makeup artist will bring out our natural radiance and add that subtle touch of drama for your photos. Makeup artist Susan Gill of Total Image by Susan, chose an earthy colour palette with glowy pinks and touches of shimmer to accentuate Sonya’s great skin, freckles, wide eyes and full mouth.

MAKEUP:
After exfoliating dry skin, moisturizer, sunscreen and a primer were applied to ensure all products would stay in place for hours. Not wanting to cover Sonya’s freckles, a sheer water baswed foundation (MAC Face & Body C3) was applied to even out her skin tone.

Undereye circles were eliminated with a cream concealer (Makeup Forever #2) then set with a light dusting of pressed powder (MAC Blot Medium).

Sonya’s green eye’s were enhanced with MAC’s Shroom as a highlighter, Point Pot in Constructivist for contour. All That Glitters applied over top for softness, and Cargo’s Mojave in the centre of the eyelid for a hint of gold.

Waterproof eye products were chosen to prevent streaking of makeup from any tearful moments. Eyes were lined with a waterproof black pencil (MAC’s Power Point in Engraved), and smudged to give a smoky effect. Clusters of false lashes were glued to the outer corners of each eye to create a dramatic yet natural look and stay in place, even with tears. The eyes were finished with waterproof black mascara.

A peach-toned shimmer powder blush (NARS Orgasm) was swept over the apples of the cheeks.

To keep a sheer look to the mouth, MAC’s Bombshell, a soft rosy-pink with a golden shimmer, and a touch of MAC’s Lipgellee in Moonstone were applied.

Powder was lightly dusted across Sonya’s forehead, down the bridge of her nose and down her chin to eliminate potential shine in photos.

HAIR:
To complement Sonya’s makeup, her hair was kept simple, elegant and soft. Her straight hair was curled with hot rollers then gently brushed out with light backcombing at the crown for added height and fullness. Bangs were smoothed over her forehead while the rest was arranged into a low and loose side ponytail. The entire style was them spritzed lightly with a firm holding spray and two decorative pins of feathers and pearls were tucked in.