Well hello again ELLE Canada readers! I’m back for another week of blogging from the intern desk, and this week we’re all about summer beauty. We’re talking about glowing tans, glossy hair and perfect pedicures as we prep for the hot and sunny weather we’ve been desperately waiting for since the last snowflake fell. Read on to find out what beauty projects I’ve been working on in my last few days in the office!

Pops of colour for your summer beauty palette. Photography by Geoffrey Ross.

Being an intern at ELLE Canada means reaching out to some of the most influential beauty brands in the biz, editing images, writing captions and building the galleries we know you love perusing on ELLECanada.com everyday. From our massive summer prep packages to more simple beauty projects for the season, the lineup for summer beauty is something you won’t want to miss. As ELLE girls, we’re in love with bold lip colours, bright nails and golden bronzers that help us look our best on the beach, and we just couldn’t resist sharing them with you. Plus, we’ve taken your picks for best products in our beauty grand prix that organizes your favourite creams, sprays and more by category and price. Stay tuned this week for our summer prep package and start collecting the must-have products of the season on ELLECanada.com’s beauty channel.

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The best sunscreens under $20

Summer beauty: Lighten your foundation load

10 fruity scents to excite your senses

Kate Hudson poses at the 2013 ELLE Style Awards. Image courtesy of Cover Media.

By Caley Skinner

With Mother’s Day approaching (May 12th, sons and daughters!), it was only fitting that Almay spokeswoman Kate Hudson pair up with her famous mum, Goldie Hawn, in a promo video. In the video, the two sunny blondes discuss their relationship – Kate reminisces about rummaging through her mother’s makeup case as a child and falling in love with beauty products. When asked about Mother’s Day gifts, Goldie cites her only daughter: “The fact that I got a girl is one of the great gifts that I was given.” Watch the video here! [CocoPerez] [People]

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Proenza Schouler has created an exclusive capsule collection for Net-a-Porter [Fashionologie]

Alber Elbaz discussed Hedi Slimane with British Vogue [The Cut]

4 fashionable events to check out now [ELLECanada.com]

Have you seen Dove’s Real Beauty Sketches video? It recently went viral and I can see why – it’s an interesting experiment in self-perception. In Dove’s video, an FBI-trained artist sketches women based on their self-descriptions, without seeing their actual faces. He then has people who have seen these women describe them for a second sketch. The disparity between the women’s perceptions of how they look and the way they appear to objective outsiders is telling: the women were invariably shown to have distorted ideas about their own beauty and misrepresented themselves by over-emphasizing their perceived flaws.

A woman looks at sketches of herself as she sees herself and as others see her. Photo courtesy of Dove.

Working at a fashion magazine makes you think a lot about the disjunction between appearance and self-perception; the way we dress, do our hair, and wear makeup speaks to the way we want to be perceived by others. But are we accurately representing ourselves? As Dove’s video shows, people have a tendency to view themselves not as they are, but through a screen of built up insecurities. I wonder: what message does the girl on the subway with black lipstick think she is sending, and what is the difference between that and the message people are actually receiving?

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The life of an ELLE Canada intern: Travel time

The life of an ELLE Canada intern: Spring fever

The life of an ELLE Canada intern: Please fade out

Hello ELLE Canada readers! It’s been a crazy, fun and productive couple of weeks here in the office with some amazing projects heading your way. Like a day of show and tell, let me fill you in on a new and exciting channel that we are thrilled to unveil.

I’ve been working to bring you a brand new channel called our “Editors Travel Guide.” It’s a new venture for ELLE Canada as editors from ELLE UK, ELLE France, ELLE US and ELLE Italy share the favourite hot spots in their respective cities. From London to Paris and Milan to New York City, the best fashion, beauty and lifestyle addresses are all listed for you in a one-stop shop on ELLECanada.com. Plus, we’ve got the best street style looks and tips and trends to help you look your best in each city.

Click through to read the full post…

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Image courtesy of Keystone Images

One of our favourite celebrities—Gwyneth Paltrow—is gearing up to open her first blow dry bar at a California gym next week. Gwyneth has partnered up with personal trainer Tracy Anderson and hairstylist David Babaii to bring this personalized, blowout service to members of Anderson’s Brentwood gym. The blow dry bar will use all-natural products and will help customers maintain gorgeous hair evening when exercising. Now that’s what we call a good workout! [Refinery 29] [Huffington Post]

More daily fashion and beauty news:

Vera Wang nixes China fees amid controversy [WWD]

Emma Watson’s waxwork dressed by Elie Saab [Telegraph]

Dressing for work: Spring fashion’s chic neutrals [ELLECanada.com]

Image courtesy of Cover Media

The Kardashian sisters—Kim, Khloé and Kourtney—will launch a line of self-tanning products under the name “Sun Kissed” this spring. The new brand includes a variety of sunless tanning products designed for to create “the perfect tan”. The three-step system includes body scrub or colour maximizer followed by instant sunless lotion or spray. The finishing touch is a “tan extender” with bronzers which purports to give you that famous Kardashian glow at an affordable price. Look for the new line on beauty counters this April to prep your beauty regime for spring. [Telegraph] [Marie Claire]

Read more beauty news:

Clinique expands on skin care by launching a CC cream [WWD]

Spring beauty lust list: What we’re coveting right now [ELLECanada.com]

Get the look: Bare beauty [ELLECanada.com]

Beauty trend report Spring 2013: Glowing, ethereal skin [ELLECanada.com]

It was a mob scene backstage at Burberry when Cara Delevingne was in the makeup chair.

We snagged two (just two!) minutes in the makeup chair with Cara Delevingne—Burberry It girl, London Fashion Week’s hottest model, and model of the year at the 2012 British Fashion Awards.

Delevingne’s top beauty advice for aspiring models:

1. Practise makes perfect. “Get the biggest heels possible and make sure you practise walking in them. A lot. I had to learn that the hard way by being laughed at [laughs].”

2. Take care of your feet. “Buy a foot bath spa thing. That’s always good. And Epsom salts to bathe in at nighttime.”

3. Keep it simple when it comes to skin care. Her go-to item: “Simple face wipes.” On facials?: “I haven’t had time.”

4. Most importantly, always ask for extra mascara. As Burberry Beauty artistic consultant Wendy Rowe finished up Delevingne’s makeup (a subtle, nod to the ’60s with a golden glow—more to come on that in the next post), Delevingne pouted sweetly and pleaded for extra mascara on her bottom lashes. “See, I can’t give special treatment,” Rowe replied with a coy smile before applying a few extra coats to Delevingne’s top lashes. “Oh, that little bit of mascara is all the extra!” Delevingne cooed as she ran off to hair.

Click through to read the full post & see more pics of Cara Delevingne from London Fashion Week…

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By Caley Skinner

Prepping for a waxing session can be nerve-wracking – how do you get ready for this (often painful) beauty ritual? We asked Ici Paris Spa Director Gordana Tirnanic the tough questions – check out our Q&A for a mini-master class in waxing etiquette!

What are some signs of a well-run spa that can be relied on for good waxing results?

A well-run and reputable spa should participate in regular inspections done by Health Canada; these guarantee that hygiene standards are met. Spas should promote the use of disposable applicators and cartridges as well as an overall clean environment. Plus – no double dipping!

Is there an ideal time to book a waxing appointment?

We always advise not to come in right before or after your periods because the body is more sensitive at that time. Read the rest of this entry

his month, Caley Skinner—our fearless, beauty-obsessed intern—test-drives makeup trends inspired by our round-up of the top 10 beauty how-to videos.

Today’s dare: Caley creates a smoky eye — using colour!

Video Inspiration: Tanya Burr’s “M.A.C Club & Cranberry Smoky Eye Makeup Tutorial”

Caley’s verdict: This look, inspired by Berenice Marlohe’s makeup at the 2012 BAFTA Awards, gives the classic smoky eye a twist by adding colour. You might not expect cranberry and rich green to work together, but Tanya Burr proves it can—I think her take on the look is actually prettier than Marlohe’s! Blending is key: the green should gradually become cranberry and blend softly into the crease of your eyelid.

Tanya Burr’s colour picks are gorgeous and holiday-friendly, but don’t be afraid to switch it up. Any of the deep, moody shades in your makeup arsenal will work for a colourful take on the smoky eye. Just don’t make the mistake I made on my first try with this look: using a hand-held mirror! Up close, my eye makeup looked super bold and exciting. With a little perspective, I was post-Gossip Girl Taylor Momsen.

This look can be pulled off during the day, as long as you keep your outfit simple. I went for a black dress and pulled my hair back. I did get an unfortunate “How YOU doin’?” on my way to work at 9 am though, so be forewarned: this look is bound to attract attention.

Need more inspiration? 

Beauty Dare: Caley takes on “My boyfriend does my makeup” – with a twist

Beauty Dare: Caley takes on Skyfall‘s ultra dramatic makeup

Beauty Dare: Caley takes on cobalt blue eyeshadow

Holiday beauty: How to get smoky eyes at every level of smouldering 

Holiday beauty: Celebrity inspiration

This month, Caley Skinner—our fearless, beauty-obsessed intern—test-drives makeup trends inspired by our round-up of the top 10 beauty how-to videos.

Today’s dare: The Skyfall Bond Girl look

Video inspiration: Michelle Phan’s “007 Skyfall Bond Girl”

Caley’s verdict: This is not a look to smile in. Trust me, I tried it and I looked super creepy. Would Sévérine have been smiling while casually applying this makeup? No, she just got out of the sex trade and is on a mission to kill her boss. She’s presumably thrown some new makeup over her old makeup and hurried off to meet Bond, right? She probably can’t wait to take a shower, which Bond actually interrupts. My point is, this is the makeup to wear when you’re feeling a little dangerous, not when you’re playing beer pong.

This is the ultimate vampy look, and it required about as much makeup as I can fit on my face. Berenice Marlohe’s bond girl is all about dark eye shadow, dark lipstick, and dark hair (yes, I’m lacking in that department). The look is slightly Asiatic—after all, Bond meets our girl in Macau.

My adaptation of this look includes my favourite gray shadow, M.A.C.’s Smut, and Bite’s high pigment pencil in Scarlet. The real key to capturing Sévérine’s mystique is in drawing out the eyes, so when you’re doing your eye shadow, don’t stop at your crease as usual, but instead create a point, as if you’re doing a cat eye look with your shadow. It’s okay to be a little messy with your eyeliner; smudge it all around your eyes—Sévérine is hot in a laissez-faire sort of way.

This is 100% a night look—best to avoid wearing this much makeup during the day, as it’ll make you look harsh without a romantic night-time lens. Pair this Bond Girl makeup with blacks and deep jewel tones—no pastels allowed! The same rule goes for nail polish and accessories: choose black or a dark shade of red or purple.

The best part of Sévérine’s look? It’s already smudgy, so it lasts all night—just keep adding eyeliner!

Need more inspiration? 

Beauty Dare: Caley takes on cobalt blue eyeshadow

Holiday beauty: How to get smoky eyes at every level of smouldering 

Beauty classics: 10 essential red lipsticks

Holiday beauty: Dramatic party lashes

Get the look: Femme fatale fashion