Allure magzine is my monthly fix for all things beauty. And one of my favourite issues is always the one that features the Readers’ Choice Awards, a survey filled out by thousands of Allure readers, products actually used and loved by readers. This is how I discovered the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, Cetaphil cleanser and NARS blush. Products range from drugstore finds to department store brands. This year’s list includes MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer, L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Make Up, St. Ives Apricot Scrub Invigorating, Pantene Pro-V Classic Care Conditioner, Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer, OPI Nail Lacquer in That’s Berry Daring and the below products.

- Erica, The Style Spy

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Flipping through the fashion magazines on the newsstands, I spotted numerous spreads on shoes. And you know, you can never have enough of them. Some of us live for denim. Others adore their handbag collections. But I’m sure many many of you have a major shoe fetishes. Shoes just make life happier, ask Carrie from Sex and the City. If I’m sad and depressed, a broken heart, a fight with a friend or chipped nail, a stroll through the shoe department or shoe store will surely make things better. You’ll find these shoes at Gravity Pope and Stephane De Raucourt.

- Erica, The Style Spy

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Absinthe, cannabis, and bitter galbanum. These ingredients probably aren’t part of your typical sweet smelling vanilla-jasmine-pear perfume advertised by faces like Jennifer Lopez. Instead they are three of 51 fragrances that make up Absolument Absinthe, a forbidden sounding unisex perfume by Pascal Rollande. Pascal has succeeded in bringing back absinthe, the alcoholic mythic drink with a very high percentage of alcohol and an artistic 19th century allure (Van Gogh was drinking it before slicing off his ear).

Pascal describes the perfume as highly seductive and intoxicating (absinthe and cannabis are powerful stuff) for both men and women. Absolument Absinthe is a skin perfume, which means that it reacts chemically with your body to throw off a totally unique scent. Stylists at the Cannes Film Festival this year sprayed the stars with Absolument Absinthe to get them ready for the red carpet and smelling divine.

In Holt Renfrew, with a refreshing glass of absinthe by my side, Pascal sprayed the perfume on a long green ribbon and wrapped it around my wrist while explaining that my body will bring out the floral scents of the perfume. A man will bring out the muskier, spicier side. The rebellious ingredients and its bold smell make it a rock star perfume, and Pascal says celebrities from Bruce Willis to the younger Hollywood It girls are fans of the flask-like bottle and mysterious scent.

In a world where perfumes are all about the packaging and the designer, Absolument Absinthe a refreshing and individual fragrance that is worth saving up for. A 100ml bottle costs almost $200, but being one of a kind is priceless. If you want to see how your body reacts to the perfume you can buy a 3ml (perfect for taking on a plane!) refillable pocket perfume for about $7. Available at Holt Renfrew.

- Kendra, The Style Spy

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This nweek’s Girl Friday Alayne Feir is a sales rep for 1921 Jeans and Silver n Jeans. Alayne favourite accessory isn’t a Chanel purse, a Tiffany bracelet or a pair Louboutins, but her uber cute and stylish dog Buster.

What’s are you nwearing? A kimono style blouse from a little boutique in Calgary, 1921 Jeans (of course) and Urban Outfitters sandals

What’s your go-to look? Jeans and a cute top

nWhat would you never wear? The colour maroon

What’s n the best part of your job? My customers

What can nyou never get enough of? Denim!

How long does it take you to get dressed for nwork? 2 minutes

How long to get dressed for a nparty? 3 minutes

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