I’m pleased to announce a new segment of posts entitled “Product Preview” here on artistrhi the blog. In the past, most of the reviews have either been products purchased by (the serious make-up lover)in me or items that I've written about as a blogger for Make-up Junkie. Going forward, whenever you see the “Product Preview” title, you’ll get a sneak peek of new products that are soon to arrive on the market and that I’ve directly received advanced samples of!!! Oh the joys of blogging!

If you have a product submission for review, please feel free to contact me here.

Check out the original post Make-up Junkie:
It’s been a while since I’ve used L’oreal eyeshadows, but I’ve always loved L’oreal products and still swear by their Lineur Intense! I was excited to give the palette of Aishwarya Rai's Greens a test run - who wouldn't want even just a little bit of Aishwarya's glamour in their own make-up routine? It certainly can't hurt!

The colours of Aishwarya's eyeshadow quad are pictured at right. The first colour is a faint wasabi matte green that acts as a base for the application. (I thought this colour might make me look too sallow, but it actually turned out to be brightening and fairly neutral). The second shade is a matte cream to highlight underneath the eyebrow. The third shade is a shimmery moss colour to be used for definition in the crease. The fourth shade is a burnt brown to define the lashline.

The individual shadows of the quad were well-pigmented and smooth, blending with ease. The effect was actually very subtle; the burnt brown didn't appear as dark on my skin as expected (likely because of the shimmer texture to it). A cute thing I liked about the packaging was that it was very user friendly; it detailed on the back what eyeshadow went where on the eye, making it a great choice for novice eyeshadow users. The palette also works great for both day and night looks - just add eyeliner and deeper eyeshadow in the crease to translate this look into a smoky evening eye.

I did find that the long-lasting formula didn't last as long as I would have hoped, but I do tend to have slightly oily lids. The problem was alleviated when I applied a cream eyeshadow base before applying the eyeshadow. Despite that, Aishwarya's Greens quad is still a great deal for 4 eyeshadows that let you be your own star! Add some glamour to your routine today!

Available now at your local drugstores!

Q: I have dark brown lashes, but I never wear mascara. My lashes don't curl either - they just point straight out. What would be the best brand and colour of mascara to use on my wedding day?

A: With all the mascaras out there, it's quite easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of choice. Hopefully these tips help you narrow it down, as there are a couple of things you want to look out for in your wedding day mascara:

1. Choose a volumizing mascara.
For lashes in photographs, I prefer a mascara that adds volume rather than lengthens. You'll notice that the brush of a volumizing mascara has larger and wider spanned bristles to help pump up the volume of the lashes. I prefer the fullness that a volumizing mascara adds and the definition that it gives to the lash line. Lengthening mascara looks fantastic from a side profile view, but from a straight-on view it can make the lash line look more sparse and less defined.

2. Opt for a black or black-brown, rather than a brown mascara.
Especially for lashes that are naturally lighter in colour, dark mascara will add impact to your eyes in photographs. Your eyes will appear bigger and the whites of your eyes will appear brighter with a darker mascara.

3. Use a waterproof mascara.
This one's a no-brainer! Your big day is one filled with emotions, a stacked schedule and often minimal sleep the night before. To prepare for those tears of joy, be sure to opt for a waterproof mascara as the last thing you would want is for it to start running! Black mascara isn't the easiest to clean off the face once it smears, so be pro-active and choose waterproof!

Before you actually apply your mascara, use an eyelash curler for an eye-opening effect. Shu Uemura, Japonesque, and Tweezerman all offer great and easy-to-use eyelash curlers. For the mascara, try to use a brand new one for the Big Day (or one that is less than 1 month old) to help ensure the mascara remains fresh and glides on smoothly to coat each lash. Some of my fave mascaras include:

drugstore level -Cover Girl's Lash Blast and Lash Exact, L'oreal's Voluminous, and Maybelline's Full'n' Soft

department store level - Lancome's Hypnose, Dior's award-winning Diorshow and MAC Plush Lash

The great thing about mascara is that you can easily try different types without breaking the bank. There are some great ones out there in between the $8-$10 price range. Just be sure to stick to something that's black, volumizing and waterproof and you'll be wedding day set!

Location: Fiorio Salon (Yonge/St. Clair)

Model: Katie B
MUA: Rhia Amio
Hair Stylist: Fabio Persico
Styling Assistant: Keith Sam
Styling/Photography/PP: Nadia Cheema

Where to buy: MAC counters/stores
Price: $20 CAD

I've always been a fan of cream eyeshadows and from the ones that I've tried, MAC is definitely on top of the game. I've spoken of my love for Paint and Paint Pots before for their colour intensity, ease of blendability and ability to extend eyeshadow life. Enter the Metal Urge collection (November 2008) and MAC's latest release of cream eyeshadows. MAC's Brushed Metal-X cream eyeshadows are available in a gorgeous array of metal-inspired colours. The colour pigment is potent and glides on the skin true to how it appears in the packaging. You have to be quick working with these, as I find they tend to set faster than MAC Paints. But once the cream eyeshadows are on, you're set for the day (no touch-ups required with the long-lasting formula!). My current faves are Metalblu (a lovely shimmery navy that's perfect for achieving the trendy blue eye make-up look) and Verdigris (an evergreen colour with silver pearl that makes a great option for that evening smoky eye look!).

For an amplified metallic effect, use Brushed Metal-X cream eyeshadows with the complementary glitters, pigments and liquid liners of the Metal Urge collection. If you're after a high-voltage look, MAC's Metal Urge is the perfect way to get your shine on this season! Enjoy!