This week I'm obsessed with... Clinique Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum!

You have probably noticed the shiny look that everyone on screen and in the magazines seems to be sporting these days. I thought it meant that they weren't getting enough powder touch-ups but apparently looking shiny is a thing. 

I'm always willing to give a trend a try so I've been testing out different products that promise the "glazed donut" look and have come to the conclusion that I want to glow, not shine - which makes this new serum from Clinique perfect for my needs:

Clinique Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum - 30ml - $65, 50ml - $86 - a lightweight serum with a milky texture that gently exfoliates, hydrates and boosts radiance with a formula powered by 5% lactic acid (AHA), hyaluronic acid and vitamin C.

 

Exfoliates: promotes skin’s natural cell turnover to reveal fresher, smoother skin and help other ingredients absorb more easily. 

Hydrates: plumps up skin with a clinical increase in hydration. 

Brightens: helps boost skin’s glow.

 

I loves me a serum and a serum that does a whole bunch of things in one easy formula has a special place in my heart because it appeals to my innate laziness. It soaks in easily, gives a nice glow that looks healthy, not like I ran out of powder, and layers perfectly under makeup without piling. If you have dryer skin you can add a layer of Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator on top but my combination skin didn't need to, the serum added plenty of moisture that lasted all day. And of course as I expect with Clinique products it is allergy tested, 100% fragrance free and safe for sensitive skin.

 

Available now at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora stores across Canada and online at clinique.ca and amazon.ca. 

- Lisamarie -

Discover beauty newness at The All About New Event at Shoppers Drug Mart - including Bubble Skincare, Marc Anthony and Aveeno!

New brands and new products are yours to discover at The All About New Event at Shoppers Drug Mart - not only are there more than 100 NEW products on the offer, there are also tons of bonus PC Optimum points on them as well! A few of the many I think worth checking out are:

 

Bubble Skincare - a new brand that offers affordable, clinically proven skincare known for its good vibes and glowing results - my faves from the line:

Water Slide Hydration Boosting Serum Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides - 30ml - $24.99 - a hydrating serum with a milky gel texture that draws more water into your skin and renews your skin barrier, closely mimicing skin’s lipid content to give you a fresh, plump and dewy look. It calms and revitalizes irritated, dry and flaky skin, reduces skin’s sensitivity by acting as a barrier that can protect your skin from more aggressive active treatments. The formula contains: hyaluronic acid - helps skin draw in moisture and retain hydration; peptides - help reduce skin damage and support skin repair; and niacinamide - hydrates, calms irritation and boosts skin barrier function; and  

Over Night Hydrating Sleep Mask - 50ml - $26.99 - a creamy, all-night mask for all skin types that smooths, soothes, brightens and hydrates skin while you sleep without clogging pores. The fragrance free formula contains maple sap - helps protect  skin barrier; mandelic and kojic acid - gently exfoliate to reveal brighter, glowing skin; sodium PCA - helps to bind moisture to skin cells; biosaccharide gum - creates a moisture-binding film over the skin for a soft, smooth feeling; and arnica - helps soothe red and inflamed skin. 

+3,000 bonus Optimum Points when you buy 2 Bubble products.

Marc Anthony True Professional Grow Long Anti-Frizz Shield Ultimate Blowout - 198ml - $15.49 +2,000 bonus Optimum Points - an innovative spray that creates a lightweight, hydrophobic anti-frizz shield around each strand that repels humidity and locks in sleeknes for up to 72 hours even in 80% humidity. The heat activated formula helps to reduce blow drying time and protects from heat up to 450°F. Infused with a blend of Caffeine, Biotin and Ginseng condition to help reduce breakage for stronger, longer hair.

Aveeno Calm + Restore Age Renewal Cream - 50ml - $38.99 +5,000 bonus Optimum Points - a fast-absorbing face cream formula with oat, niacinamide, and cranberry extract that leaves skin feeling smoother and more radiant in just one week.

 

The All About New Event runs in-store and online from February 22nd to March 21st.

 

- Lisamarie -

My top 3 picks from the Shoppers Beauty+ Event with bonus Optimum Points galore!

There's not a lot I love more then Optimum Points - George Clooney, world peace, Donald Trump falling into a bottomless hole - but Points are way up there! Making Shoppers Beauty+ Event equivalent to Christmas in my books. If you never met a bonus point you didn't love then you need to get yourself over to your closest Shoppers store (or the website) before the 21st so you too can take advantage of all those lovely bonus points just waiting for you! A few products worth picking up (even without the points):

 

10000 bonus points when you buy the 30ml or 50ml! 

Guerlain Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil Serum - 15ml - $77, 30ml - $139, 50ml - $205 - with a unique, deep diffusion texture infused with melt-in micro-beads designed for all skin types that penetrates deeply into the skin's layers targeting the heart of the epidermis, multiplying skin's self-repair mechanisms and delivering powerful age-defying benefits to help with dullness, fine lines and wrinkles and loss of firmness and elasticity. 

 

The 99% naturally-derived ingredients formula draws its repairing power from three honeys produced by the black bee, a species selected for its rarity and the power of its honeys: Trogstad honey from Norway - revitalizes skin and corrects visible signs of aging; Ouessant honey from France - supports skin youth repair with an abundance of amino acids;  Connemara honey from Ireland - visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Deeply repaired, skin regains plumpness and radiance while wrinkles are visibly filled. 

 

It feels great on the skin but even better is the scent - perfumed with a sun-drenched nectar by Thierry Wasser, it reveals fresh, light, and honeyed notes. My only complaint is it doesn't come in vat form that I can pour in my bathtub and just soak in...

10000 bonus points! 

Kylie Cosmetics Skin Tint Blurring Elixir - 30ml - $43 - in 24 C = Cold, N = Neutral or W = Warm shades : 1N, 1WN, 2.5N, 2C, 2W, 3.5W, 3WN, 3W, 4.5WN, 4W, 5N, 5W, 6.5WN, 6N, 6W, 7W, 8.5W, 8W, 8WN, 9.5W, 9W, 10C, 10N, 10W - a fluid tint foundation with buildable light to medium coverage  and a natural, second-skin finish that works for all skin types. 

 

The breathable vegan formula has a silky, fluid texture the effortlessly blends into the skin to instantly even skin tone while the hyaluronic acid improves skin hydration and moisture and also smooths pores, fine lines, and texture with up to12 hours of weightless wear that doesn’t separate or get patchy.

 

I don't even bother with a foundation anymore that isn't buildable - Urban Decay discontinued my favourite concealer so now I expect to be able to double up my foundation to act as concealer too - I'm very demanding I know - and this one does a great job - goes on light but easily builds to medium coverage in any problem areas! And it stays put without separating or getting patchy, clinging to dry patches or settling into fine lines - sold!

4000 bonus points! 

NYX Cosmetics The Face Glue Gripping Primer - 35ml - $14.99 - adds grip for all of your face cosmetics and hydration for up to 24 hours - all the glue with none of the stickiness. The formula contains polyglutamic acid - known to be extremely hydrating; and maple syrup - known for grip that's extra AF. This non-comedogenic primer feels comfy on the skin, breathable all day, and gives a soft-focus finish.

 

It's easy to use - just spread a dime-sized amount of product evenly on the face and see the transformation as the white gel blends seamlessly with no cast into all skin tones - then just slap your makeup on top, no need to wait! If you want a whole Glue routine, also available is The Face Glue Setting Spray as well The Brow Glue

 

Even if it didn't work as well as it does (and it does!) I would still love it for the packaging and how it brings back memories of dousing my hand in white glue so I could peel it off when it dried - clearly these were early exfoliation techniques...

Grab these amazing products and so many more at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada or online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca and take advantage of the special bonus points until February 21st.

- Lisamarie -

Cold weather saviours for body and face from Bio-Oil, CeraVe and Origins!

The weather is in a deep freeze this week and my skin is feeling it so this is how I've been dealing...

 

Bio-Oil Body Lotion - 250ml - $19.99 -  supplements the skin’s natural oils which can be stripped away by factors such as extreme weather, water with high chemical content, frequent bathing and the drying effects of central heating and air conditioning with a unique formula containing 42% oil (which is double the about of oil typically used in a lotion) offering intense hydration in an incredibly light texture that absorbs almost instantly to help lock in moisture and reduces the rate at which water vapour is naturally lost through the skin’s surface. 

 

The super light formula contains a blend of vitamins A, E and F along with rosehip, sunflower seed, jojoba and shea oils as well as calendula extract and hyaluronic acid. The special formula also means you need to treat it special and gently shake before you use to disperse the oil layer back into the lotion. You will be amazed at how moisturizing such a light product can be - and if you aren't a fan of fragrance, no worries, it has very little scent to it.

 

Available at drugstores across Canada and online at amazon.ca. If you are a Costco member that would be an excellent place to get it too - a 2 x 250ml pack is only $26.99!

On my super dry areas - elbows, knees, heels, ears and shoulders I add a layer of:

 

CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Lotion For Dry to Very Dry Skin - 237ml - $29.99 - a rich and repairing lotion with 3 essential ceramindes that continuously hydrates, reduces itch due to dryness and helps restore the skin barrier with a formula containing hydro-urea and shea butter and MVE Technology which offers controlled release for long lasting hydration. The lotion is rich but not greasy or sticky, it just soaks right in - it's also pH-balanced, fragrance-free and allergy tested. You're welcome.

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

And for the face:

 

Origins Ginzing Ultra-Hydrating Energy-Boosting Cream - 50ml - $53 - a super-rich, energy-boosting moisturizer formulated to help wake up dull, lackluster, extra dry skin with 72-hour hydration. The formula includes caffeine from coffee - naturally energizing, it helps to refresh and recharge skin; ginseng - helps increase skin’s natural energy; hydra hug technology - helps bridge the gap between skin cells so they "hug" to prevent moisture loss. I was a little bit skeptical at the idea of skin coffee to wake up my skin - but I was wrong - I might not like coffee but my skin sure does - it gives it an energized look even when I don't feel that way!

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream!

It's that time of year again where my regular body lotion just isn't cutting it and my thirsty skin wants more...

Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream - 200ml - $62, refill - $55 - available in Fenty Fresh: infused with a light, fresh and fruity blend of bergamot, jasmine and white orchid scent and a glossy sheen or Fenty Fresh Shimmering: which is the same scent but also has a soft gold shimmer - a refillable whipped oil body cream that deeply hydrates both instantly and all day with a formula  loaded with 7 luxurious tropical oils: Kalahari Melon, Sorrel, Baobab, Sunflower, Rice Bran, Coconut, Jojoba - to help nourish skin and deliver luminosity; antioxidant and vitamin C-packed cherry extract - helps restore vibrancy; Shea Butter - helps to visibly condition and repair the moisture barrier; and glycerin - provides hydration, comfort and leaves skin with a glossy-looking sheen that's never sticky.

 

You can also feel good that the formula is gluten-free, cruelty-free, vegan and comes in recyclable packaging.  

 

I would also highly recommend checking out the Fenty website and your local Sephora to see if you can still snag the holiday scents (on sale!) - Toasted Marshmallow and Warm Cinnamon - yuuuuummmm! Need I say more...?!!

 

Available at Sephora stores across Canada and online at fentybeauty.com/en-ca and sephora.ca. 

- Lisamarie -

Great Gifting - Last minute gifting for problematic people made easy at Shoppers Drug Mart!

Gone are the days of having to brave the malls to pick up last minute gifts - there is a Shoppers Drug Mart on practically every corner and they are all chock-full of amazing gift options - the problem of course is what to get for the problematic giftee... hope this helps!

We all have that friend who is a trend-setter who you dread buying for because you know whatever you give them they are secretly judging your lack of with-it-ness - take this you judgey bitch!

Quo Beauty Cooling Cryo Mask and Headband Set - $20 - includes a cryo mask and an adorable bow headband. Just chill the cryo mask in the fridge for a refreshing, depuffing effect that helps invigorate your skin. Paired with a soft headband to keep hair away from your face during pampering sessions, this set offers gentle cooling refreshment.

No matter what you get this friend she/he is never satisfied. Gino knows where it's at, Jasmine loved hers so this is sure to be a hit! And if all else fails at least it vibrates...

 

Oral-B iO Series 2 Rechargeable Electric Powered Toothbrush in Night Black - $114.99 -combines powerful, but gentle micro vibrations with Oral-B's dentist inspired round brush head to deliver 100% cleaner teeth versus a regular manual toothbrush. Features automatic pressure to protect gums; 3 cleaning modes; 2 minute timer; and a long-lasting battery with a low-charge indicator. Includes 1 gentle care brush head.

Your mother-in-law sighs no matter what you give her and then re-gifts it back to you for your birthday so you might as well buy her something you will love - although she might just end up keeping this one... 

 

Estée Lauder Glow Authorities Repair + Lift + Hydrate - $60 - a daily regimen for stronger, radiant, deeply hydrated, healthier-looking skin with a 4-piece set of deluxe travel sizes including: Advanced Night Repair Serum - 15ml - helps skin look smoother and less lined, younger, more radiant and even toned with continued use; Revitalizing Supreme+ Creme Moisturizer - 15ml - significantly improves skin’s firmness and elasticity for a firmer feel and more lifted look; Immediately triple skin’s moisture for a visibly healthy look with Futurist Watery Glow Primer - 15ml - wear alone or under foundation for skin that’s plumped, dewy, glowing; and Revitalizing Supreme+ Eye Balm - 7ml - helps reduce the look of lines and dark circles with continued use. Leaves the eye area looking radiant and more youthful.

Teachers, Babysitters, Hairdressers, Yoga Instructors, etc are all sick of boxes of chocolates and mugs - treat them to something that will ensure no "B"s for the kids or baby-bangs...

 

Jason Wu Pearl Darling Posh Palette - $50 - an exquisite 15-color matte shadow palette, meticulously crafted to suit every occasion with 5 neutral, 5 cool and 5 warm nude shades– all in a stunning, pearl encrusted compact. There is also a Diamond Darling Sublime Palette option that is covered in crystals that contains shades that aren't all matte if you think that would be more their jam.

And if you're looking for something better then a bow to decorate your packages or stuff your stockings with there are lots of Quo Beauty options - everything from tiny eyelash curlers that sparkle, the softest puffs of pink and mini sets of all the best products - a yearly fave of mine...

Quo Beauty Cosmetic Crackers - $20 - 6 gold crackers, each one filled with a gloss surprise!

Happy shopping at your local Shoppers Drug Mart - and if you're buying for me, don't worry, I'm not the least bit picky!

 

- Lisamarie -

Great Gifting - Trinny London Cyber Weekend Sale and a few of my favourite things!

Get ready to glow this holiday season! Trinny London is bringing you its highly anticipated Cyber Weekend Sale! Enjoy up to 40% off  best-selling beauty and skincare essentials. Whether you’re shopping for glow-boosting makeup, award-winning skincare, or the ultimate joy-inducing gift sets, this is your chance to stock up on must-haves at irresistible prices. 

 

A few things I love that are worth checking out:

Trinny London Take Back Time Miniprotein Eye Treatment - 15ml - $117 (on sale for $105.30) - state-of-the-art eye cream that targets fine lines, crow's feet, dark circles, eye bags, puffiness and tired-looking skin for lifted, open eyes. The star ingredient is the conotoxin miniprotein that helps slow down the signals that lead to the formation of lines around the eyes and the formula also includes: TGF-beta miniprotein to trigger skin's natural regeneration processes; pro-derma hyaluronic acid which penetrated twice as deep as standard hyaluronic acid that offers 24-hour hydration and visibly softens lines in just 7 days; hexapepitide-8 to work against inflammation and improves daily signs of fatigue; and ashwagandha restores skin health on a cellular level for a well-rested look.

All I know is that my dark circles look so much better after using this for the last month! I also really appreciated the little spoon that comes with it so I know exactly how much I am supposed to be using - I always feel with jars of eye cream that I never know if I am under or over using the product!

Trinny London Just Joyous High-Shine Lipstick - $46 (on sale for $41.40) - in 11 shades: Mitra - soft nude brown; Jessica - soft nude pink; Charlotte - light nude pink; Martha - soft rosy nude; Maria - fresh pink; Holly - fresh muted orange; Valerie - coral pink; Poppy - vibrant orange red; Paris - vibrant pink red; Faustine - deep fuchsia pink; Eden - deep berry - that offer buildable colour, intense moisture and glossy sheen. The cruelty-free and vegan formula contains triple-action hyaluronic acid for 24-hour hydration, replenishing peptide for a plumper look over time and moringa and maracuja oils for nourished lips. 

This is my favourite kind of lipstick - because it's buildable the first coat goes on fairly sheer which means I can apply it without a mirror - there is never a mirror around when I need a quick lipstick fix - which gives you the polished without looking like you are wearing a ton of makeup look - my fave for this is Valerie - coral is just one of those universally flattering shades. When I have a mirror and am wanting something more dramatic Poppy is my pick! But you find your own favorite, you really can't go wrong with any of the shades...

Trinny London Non-Negotiables Gift Set - $52 (on sale for $46.80) - a festive cracker containing 2 stackable skincare faves: Be Your Best Enzyme Balm Cleanser - 19.5ml - an oil-based transforming cleanser for clean, nourished skin, suitable for all skin types and Bounce Back Intense Peptide Moisturiser- 14.5ml - for plump, bouncy skin, suitable for normal to dry skin. 

 

The perfect way to gift a friend an introduction to the brand or a way to score travel sizes for yourself!

 

Sales is on now until midnight on Monday 2nd December,No promo code needed - discounts are automatically applied at checkout. Shop the full sale at www.trinnylondon.com/ca. 

 

- Lisamarie -

Great Gifting - skin care sets for every budget from Vivier, Clinique and BYOMA!

Vivier Hydration Gift Set - $332 (a $426 value) - a luxurious collection of hydrating and rejuvenating products to deeply moisturize, enhance elasticity, and promote a radiant, youthful complexion. Includes: C E Peptides - 30ml - designed to reduce any further signs of aging with a serum that contains 10% vitamin C, vitamin E, and a combination of 3 peptides to protect, correct, brighten and nourish the skin; Daily Age Defying Moisturizer - 55 ml - a lightweight moisturizing day cream formulated with antioxidants and moisturizers to increase smoothness while diminishing the signs of aging; and Ultra Hydrating Mask - 60ml - a nourishing mask formulated with vitamin E, sweet almond extract, and shea butter to soothe and protect the skin from dehydration and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles - along with a card with information on exactly how to use the products.

If you aren't familiar with the Vivier line this is also a great set to buy for yourself - this is a nice intro set to 3 of their best products - especially the moisturizer, it is amazing - hydrating without being the least bit greasy - it just soaks right in like a dream!

Available exclusively at participating clinics in Canada and the US - find one near you here.

Clinique Ready, Set, Refresh - $85 (a $212 value) - with 6 skincare and makeup staples for a fresh-faced look including: Take The Day Off Facial Cleansing Mousse - 125ml - a silky mousse-to-foam cleanser that conditions as it rinses away face makeup, dirt, and other impurities; Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator - 50ml - fights back against life’s daily dehydrations. Sinks into skin for deep, lasting hydration, for skin that feels more resilient and looks glowing; Clinique Pop Plush Lip Gloss in Black Honey Pop - 3.4ml - hugs lips with high shine and all-day hydration; High Impact High-Fi Full Volume Mascara - 10ml - amps up lashes for 230% more volume, instantly; Totally Tugless Take The Day Off Makeup Remover For Lids, Lashes + Lips - 50ml - dissolves long-wearing makeup, even waterproof mascara; and All About Eyes - 5ml - helps reduce the look of puffiness and undereye circles over time. Everything is allergy tested, 100% fragrance, paraben and phthalate free.

 

All the skin care basics with a little bit of makeup glam thrown in? Yes please! I especially enjoyed the introduction to the Black Honey Lip Gloss - it looks really dramatic in the tube but is much more wearable on the lips - my lips but hotter!

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada as well as other participating retailers and online at clinique.ca.

BYOMA Barrier Boosting Heroes - $30 - contain 5 go-to essentials for achieving that radiant, dewy glow with each product being crafted to suit all skin types, making them the perfect building blocks for the ultimate hydration-focused regimen in sizes perfect for holiday travel - includes: Creamy Jelly Cleanser - 30ml - effectively dissolves dirt, oil, and makeup without compromising skin's integrity. With key ingredient green tea - for skin-soothing + balancing, with anti-inflammatory properties; Hydrating Serum - 15ml - super lightweight, it delivers a powerful moisture boost for bouncy, glowing skin while strengthening the skin barrier. With key ingredient squalane - a skin-compatible hydrator that prevents moisture loss + plumps skin; Gel Cream - 15ml - for targeted hydration that quenches thirsty skin, with key ingredient niacinamide - to brighten skin + balance oiliness while improving tone + texture; Rich Moisturizer - 15ml - melt into your complexion for deep nourishment and improved texture with key ingredient bakuchiol - a natural alternative to retinol that improves overall tone + appearance; and Eye Gel - 5ml - designed to brighten and soothe dark circles and puffiness with key ingredient vitamin C to brighten and reduce inflammation. Use AM + PM for dark circles and puffy eyes. 

 

With these hydrating heroes, your skin will glow all season long! Plus, they’re dermatologist-tested and approved, alcohol and fragrance-free, vegan and cruelty-free - the perfect gift for everyone! 

 

I already loved the Creamy Jelly Cleanser so scoring a size that I could travel with was great and gave me a chance to try other items from the line and discover the joy of the Gel Cream which is perfect for those of us with combination skin!

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca. 

 

- Lisamarie -