This week I'm obsessed with... Colleen Rothschild Quench & Shine Restorative Mask!

Every Sunday night you will find me in my bathtub with a LUSH bath bomb, a face mask and the all-important hair mask - my weekly treatment these days is:

 

Colleen Rothschild Quench & Shine Restorative Mask - 282g - $38 - a colour-safe conditioning treatment to soften, detangle and revive all hair types without weighing it down. The creamy formula contains an ultra-rich blend of kokum, shea, capuacu and bacuri butters - to quench thirsty strands and enrich hair with nourishment and hydration; along with argan and moringa oils - to smooth unruly split-ends and deliver a healthy-looking shine. Look forward to improved hair elasticity and strength which  help reduce frizz and texture, resulting in supremely soft, irresistibly touchable hair. And as an added bonus it smells amazing, like an expensive hair salon!

 

I like it as an intensive weekly treatment, but it can also be used daily as a conditioner - pair it with the Quench & Shine Restorative Shampoo - 400ml - $30 for a daily dose of shiny goodness!

Available online at colleenrothschild.com - they do ship to Canada and if you stock up on some skincare or cosmetics as well you can get free shipping with a $199 order!

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... BYOMA Sensitive Retinol Oil!

I am a big fan of all the benefits of retinol but have a hard time finding a retinol product that my sensitive skin will tolerate. There was a NeoStrata one that I used to love so of course it was discontinued and I have been on the hunt for something comparable ever since. To my delight I have found something not just as good as but actually  better with:

 

BYOMA Sensitive Retinol Oil - 50ml - $24.99 - an ultra-soothing, lightweight oil-based retinol for sensitive skin and first time users that absorbs quickly into the skin. With a proprietary barrier lipid complex - that helps restore skin barrier; hydroxypinacolone retinoate (Vitamin A) and Squalane - to improve skin's tone and texture without stripping - giving it all the benefits of a retinol with none of the drawbacks. Consistent use results in softening the appearance of fine lines, blemishes and pores, while brightening dark spots and evening skin tone. It's the perfect addition to your night time beauty routine - just note that even though it is meant for sensitive skin you should still start slowly - a couple of times a week and work your way up to every other day.

 

You can also feel good that it is part of the Thoughtful Choices at Shoppers Drug Mart lineup - it has no animal testing and is formulated without parabens, phthalates, SLS, SLES, triclosan, formaldehyde, formaldehyde releasing agents or hydroquinone.

And if you aren't familiar with the BYOMA lineup or are looking for skincare to go back to school or even on a trip check out:

 

BYOMA So Hydrated Set - $29.99 - contains a mini cleanser, mini gel cream and mini hydrating serum all in a cute little case that fits seamlessly into every backpack. This trio of dermatologist-approved hydrating essentials are the building blocks for the ultimate hydrated and dewy skincare routine and, are soap-free, non-comedogenic, alcohol and fragrance-free, as well as vegan and cruelty-free, making it perfect for school. Included are: Byoma Creamy Jelly Cleanser - 15ml - offers intense hydration and is perfectly pH-balanced. Infused with antioxidant-rich licorice root and green tea, it rejuvenates and brightens the skin, leaving it refreshed and clean; Byoma Hydrating Serum - 30ml - delivers a strong moisture boost with a dynamic blend of squalane and glycerin. This powerhouse duo effectively prevents water loss, ensuring long-lasting hydration; and deeply hydrating, lightweight Byoma Moisturizing Gel-Cream - 15ml - is made with Niacinamide and Green Tea that brightens the skin and reduces redness while supporting the skin barrier function for hydrated and healthy skin. 

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

 

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stik (and Trace'd Out Liner)!

Fenty Beauty has your lips covered in a new and wonderfully shiny way...

 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Stix High-Shine Gloss Stick - $34 - in 10 shades: High'Biscus - pink rose, Fenty Glow - rose tan, Sorta $Elfish - honey brown, Two'Lip Kiss - light peach, Blaz'D Donut - light pink beige, The MVP - blue red, Riri - rose mauve, Fu$$y - dusty pink, Sp'Ice Cold - pink brown, Hot Chocolit - rich brown - a glossy, medium-pigment lipstick with luscious shine and a big dose of nourishing ingredients including vitamin E and shea butter to lock in moisture for up to eight hours and keep lips looking plump.

 

I'm partial to rosy colours so I tried out Riri and it is really lovely! Expect super-shininess to start with - which depending on what you are doing with your mouth, can wear off fairly quickly leaving the lipstick part behind. The lasting power for the lipstick is pretty good but even better if you layer one of the new lip liners underneath...

 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Trace'd Out Longwear Waterproof Pencil Lip Liner - $27 - in 10 shades: Riri - rose mauve, Thugz Blush Too - dusty rose, Satin Panty - warm peachy pink, Pnut Butta - light beige, Rubbabandz - warm beige, Extra Thigh - cool brown, Woodn't - netural brown, Brown'd Out - rich brown, Coal Blooded - black brown, MVP - blue red -  a long-wear, creamy pencil made with pure pigments that glides on effortlessly, sets like a liquid for a smooth, velvet-matte finish and lasts up to eight hours without transferring, feathering or fading and delivers true-cast color for every lip tone, without looking ashy - to  precisely line, define and fill with its sharpenable tip.

 

Available now at Sephora stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca. and fentybeauty.com.

 

- Lisamarie -

Eye Love Wednesday - Sahajan Golden Glow Eye Balm

The skin around the eyes is more fragile, delicate and up to 5 times thinner than the rest of the skin, as well as being more prone to dryness and quicker to show the signs of fatigue, stress and environmental factors - so you really need to treat it with special care - like with a super-hero ingredient - enter Ghee, Ayurveda’s liquid gold, rich in fatty acids and antioxidants and revered for its ability to soften dark circles and help soothe the under eyes - it's no Deadpool but still pretty good...

 

Sahajan Golden Glow Eye Balm - 15ml - $70 - with a thick, masque-like texture that has harnessed the power of ghee - to hydrate, soften and smooth to minimize dark circles; eyebright - helps reduce signs of fatigue and aging; rose oil - improves redness and promotes skin elasticity and firmness; and gotu kola - to help visibly reduce the signs of fatigue and diminish the dark circles. 

 

I love the texture and I especially love the brightening boost it adds to my under eye area. I have been using a Smashbox under eye brightener - it's almost empty and it's discontinued so I was already looking for something to replace it - this balm is actually better because I can get my glow and moisture all in one product - the less steps the better as far as I'm concerned!

Available at sahajan.com and thedetoxmarket.ca.

 

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Trinny London The Elevator Neck & Decollete Concentrate!

Get all the botox and fillers you want but nothing gives away your age faster then your neck! Hardly surprising as the skin on the neck is thinner, drier and has less collagen than the face meaning it needs some special attention to keep it smooth, firm and visibly lifted - like the attention it would get from...

 

Trinny London The Elevator Neck & Decollete Concentrate - 50ml - $122, 50ml refill - $104, 14.5ml mini - $50 - a rich and balmy cream that targets and helps prevent the factors that lead to accelerated aging with an innovative formula that contains: cohesion technology that draws its power from the isodonis japonicus plant and  works to strengthen the ‘glue’ holding the skin layers together, helping to lift sagging skin; supercharged decapeptides that focus on organizing loosened dermal fibres, filling in any gaps and giving skin its structure back; oligo + nonapeptides rebuild the skin's scaffolding and boost collagen production to restore lost volume; and encapsulated alpha arbutin slows the production of melanin, preventing age spots from forming and darkening.

 

I've been using it for about 5 weeks now - and while I am fortunate that I don't have a lot of sagging I didn't realize how rough the texture was until the cream smoothed it out and I could visibly see how much better it looks - as well the skin on my decollete was starting to look slightly crepey (which it no longer does) and as an added bonus I smooth the excess cream onto the backs of my hands and they are looking smoother too! The takeaway for me is how even something subtle can make a big overall difference - I never use skincare expecting dramatic results - it's cream, not magic - but even small improvements make for a better overall appearance - and it sure beats plastic surgery! I usually like to try things for at least a couple of months so I am expecting a few more weeks to smooth things out even more but I didn't want to wait any longer to give you the heads up on this one!

Available online now at https://trinnylondon.com/ca/.

And just in time for summer holidays - all your Trinny London faves including The Elevator come in travel sizes that are portable, stackable and versatile so you can forget overflowing makeup bags - easily take your skincare with you wherever you go! Find your own Mini Skincare Stack Builder here!

- Lisamarie -

Hot weather and/or gym essentials from Origins, Flexitol, Rare Beauty and Tanologist!

It may be summer but there is no reason to get all hot and bothered about your skincare - a few tweaks will have over-heated skin ready for the rise in temperature! FYI - these are also the same products I use for gym visits in all seasons...

 

Origins Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Fortifying Emulsion - 100ml - $58 - a skin-quenching, fortifying lightweight gel moisturizer that supports all skin types against the visible effects of free-radical damage, dryness, redness and loss of firmness and elasticity with a vegan formula containing: mushroom complex - soothes skin and reduces the look of irritation; naturally derived hyaluronic acid - hydrates skin; naturally derived squalane and certified organic olive oil - supports skin’s moisture barrier to help prevent moisture loss; planti-oxidant sea buckthorn -  discourages production of blue-light-induced free radicals;  and reishi and fermented chaga - reduces visible redness. 

 

Lightweight enough that it doesn't feel like your pores are all clogged up when you sweat but at the same time you don't feel like it is so light that you have sweated it all off - and as it offers 48 hours of moisture, your skin won't feel dried out even hours later!

Available at Sephora stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca and origins.ca. 

Flexitol Lip Balm Ultra-Moisturizing - 10g - $6.49 - good for even severely dry lips it contains 2.5% urea enriched with cacao butter, lanolin, menthol and clove oil to effectively condition and relieve severely chapped lips - with results in just one day.

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at shoppersdrugmart.ca, well.ca and amazon.ca.

 

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Always an Optimist 4-in-1 Mist - 85ml - $37  - an ultrafine, glow-boosting mist that hydrates, primes, sets and refreshes skin. The big-phase formula contains: niacinamide - helps improve the appearance of skin; sodium hyaluronate - helps to keep the complexion looking hydrated and plump; botanical blend of lotus, gardenia and white waterlily - soothes, calms, and nourishes the skin. Layer this all-in-one mist under or over makeup for a refreshed complexion.

 

It smells great but it is a natural kind of great as the vegan formula contains only 1% of synthetic fragrances. You can layer it over or under makeup for a refreshed complexion but my little tip - store it in the fridge and it will feel amazing when you spray it on - even better, tuck the cold bottle into your gym bag for a refreshing spritz during your workout!

 

Available at Sephora stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca.

Tanologist Daily Glow Hydrating Gradual Self Tan Lotion - 250ml - $15.99 - in Fair to Medium Skin Tones and Medium to Dark Skin Tones - a daily moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, squalane and beta glucan to deeply nourish skin while delivering a gradual, sun-kissed glow with advanced tanning technology.  Use as daily body lotion to gradually build and maintain a flawless, natural-looking glow - I try to remember to at least use this on my lower legs and feet so I don't feel so conspicuous in yoga where I can't hide my pasty white legs and feet under socks!

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

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Instant Glow Moisturizer!

Looking for the perfect summer moisturizer that is thick enough to return moisture to sun and wind ravaged skin without being pore-clogging heavy? Look no further than...

 

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Instant Glow Moisturizer - 50ml - $70.50 - One-step makeup prep and visible brightening in every jar. This lightweight, ultra-hydrating moisturizer quickly illuminates and visibly brightens over time. It visibly firms and reduces fine lines and wrinkles and preps skin for smoother makeup application while giving the complexion an effortlessly warm, golden glow. a daily moisturizer for all skin types, powered by Gold-Complexed Vitamin C - visibly enhances brightness and elasticity; Banana Powder-Inspired Pigments - to quickly illuminate, blur and visibly brighten; Niacinamide - visibly brightens and reduces dark spots; Hyaluronic and Polyglutamic acid - to bind moisture and visibly plump skin with hydration; and  Scandinavian Cloudberry Seed Oil - nurtures and conditions.

 

You can also appreciate everything it is free of  including: parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, sulfates SLS & SLES, triclocarban, triclosan and contains less than one percent synthetic fragrance. As well, it is vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free and comes in recyclable packaging. 

 

I'm a fan for a few reasons: the scent - amazingly citrus-y without being overpowering; the look - it has a little bit of a glow to it so it looks great as a base under makeup or even without makeup which I tend not to wear in hot weather and this adds a little something-something to bare skin making it look more even and glowy; and the feel - a little thicken then a water cream but not thick-thick which my skin does not want during the summer - a good amount of moisture without the heft! 

Available now at Sephora stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca and olehenriksen.com.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Demi'Glow Light-Diffusing Highlighter!

Nothing hides a multitude of skin and lifestyle sins like a good highlighter - which these days is...

 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Demi'Glow Light-Diffusing Highlighter - $54 - in 9 shades: 01 Pretty Purlz - soft pearlescent shimmer; 02 Prosecco - soft light gold shimmer; 03 Tutu Much - soft pink shimmer; 04 Loo$e Change - soft light copper shimmer; 05 Yum Rum - soft rose gold shimmer; 06 Rich Hunnie - soft golden honey shimmer; 07 Trophies In Truffle - soft deep gold shimmer; 08 That'$ Rich - soft warm bronze shimmer; 09 Java Jitt'rs - soft deep bronze shimmer

- a long-wearing, natural looking formula with a silky-soft feel that’s infused with superfine pearls, designed to flatter every tone for a low-key glow along with butterfly lavender extract to improve the appearance of fine lines. The smooth-glide, no-grit feel blends into skin without disturbing makeup and resists sweat and humidity.

 

I don't usually love powder highlighters because I always feel like they are just sitting on the top of my skin and look unnatural - but this one feels like it is soaking into my skin and just leaving a radiant finish behind - almost like a wet powder if that makes any sense! It has a skin-tone based shade range so that probably also helped with it giving a more natural look. My only complaint would be that the powder is super-delicate, I dropped the case a couple of feet into the sink and cracked it so I would recommend keeping and using the plastic cover that goes over the powder inside the case to help protect it.

Available at Sephora stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca - the Sephora website says they are limited edition, I hope that's not true but in case it is, don't wait to grab yours!

- Lisamarie -