Professional Beauty Supplies; Beauty beyond the drugstore counters
You know the old adage you get what you pay for, this is very true when it comes to professional beauty supplies.
For someone with sensitive skin, drugstore foundations, cremes and makeup often make my skin itch and breakout.
Even more frustrating products don't do what was promised.
Below is a listing of my favourite places to shop for professional beauty supplies that work!
This European import is an absolutely fabulous place to find upscale products from make-up, shampoos, cleansers etc.
Most anything reviewed by the beauty editors of Vogue, Lucky & InStyle, you can find at Sephora.
Don't discount their store brand, especially when you want to experiment with new eye shadows or need makeup brushes.
Ask the sales team for tips on application & a quick makeover.
Sephora can be found in Toronto
Shopping Malls
and along Bloor.
Blonde Salon
Salons are an excellent place to find hair and beauty products that you can't find in drugstores. Blonde specializes in lines like Kerastase and Biolage. They also carry the eco-conscious line from Australian Kevin.Murphy which I have tested and think is fantastic.
Blonde Salon can be found in Corktown, a historic district of downtown Toronto.
Just as Holt Renfrew is an upscale (I mean UPscale) department store, their cosmetics department is upscale as well.
There are a few old favourites that you will see at the Bay such as Clinque & Este Lauder, but most of what you find you can't get readily elsewhere, such as Bobbi Brown, Chanel, and Laura Mercier.
Step up to any counter and you can get a free makeup application. (my favourite!!)
You can find Holt Renfrew's beauty department at Yorkdale and along Bloor Street.
Kiehls
A New York institution came to Toronto approximately 5 years ago. With three locations, you can test out their time tested products.
There is everything from body butter, shampoos, sunscreens and more. I love the apothecary feel of their stores!
You can find Kiehls in Yonge & Eglinton, Queen West & at Holt Renfrew on Bloor.
I will be honest I have never tried MAC cosmetics but many people love it!
Famous for their bold colours and MAC Viva Glam products that support AIDS research, MAC is also awesome because it is Canadian!
You can find MAC at both the Eaton Center and Yorkdale plus two locations along Bloor (one below the Bay just outside the subway and the other at street level further west).
Fiorio Salons
I love the cut I get at Fiorio. I have had a few different stylists and I ALWAYS get a great cut I can count on.
Since I love the cut and the style Fiorio stylists give me I have shopped there for my hair product. Largely because I know it works.
They have their own line of professional beauty supplies, Revlon products that you can only find in salons and a great italian line that is fantastic.
Ok so I will admit it, not everything is better at the upscale shops, many of the drug store brands are just what you need.
Shoppers Drug Mart has even gone upscale in some of its locations with the Beauty/Cosmetics section (beautyBoutique)carrying Benefit, Dior, Clinique and more.
Shoppers Drug Mart has also started carrying the UK brand Boots.
Recently Shoppers Drug Mart has opened Murale
for all you cosmetics junkies. This is a Canadian version of Sephora
with a twist!
Toronto Barber and Beauty Supply
This family run operation has been servicing salon professionals since 1937. With 5 retail outlets, two of which in Toronto proper it is a great way to shop for salon brands without the salon.
Shop TBBS downtown on Dundas West just west of Yonge Dundas Square, and on Orfus Road.
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