Put Your Pores on Ice with Ole Henriksen Violet Ice Cold Plunge Pore Mask!

Recently (for reasons that should be obvious) I've been trying to concentrate on things that give me cold thoughts: igloos, polar bears, frozen margaritas, Christelle’s black heart, luges (because luges), every indoor space in Disney World (why is it an Arctic tundra in Epcot??) and now… 

 

Ole Henriksen Violet Ice Cold Plunge Pore Mask - 90g - $57 - this chilly little purple powerhouse is a tube of frozen fabulousness, and let me tell you - it’s cold. It starts off: “oh, minty” cold. Moves on to:  “ooh, refreshing” cold. But the kicker is when you rinse it off and move on to: “did I just get slapped in the face by Queen Elsa?” cold. It’s like sticking your face in a snowbank and somehow walking away with smaller pores instead of frostbite!

 

What’s packed in this glacial goodness? Kaolin & Purple Clay - Like a Dyson vacuum for your pores, it sucks up oil, dirt and bad decisions;  Salicylic Acid - gives clogged pores a one-way ticket to nowhere; and Danish Purple Willow Ferment - Fancy. European. Fermented. Basically kombucha for your face. 

 

As an added bonus: no fragrance, no dyes, no BS - just pure purple marbled frosty magic that dries down like a wintry work of art and rinses off like a snowstorm in July. Especially delightful during the current  heat wave when your skin is screaming and you wish your face could live in the freezer. 

 

And as a special added bonus: there is nothing like freaking your husband out with a purple face! 

 

It’s part of the Balance + collection - aka a full-on arctic expedition for oily, acne-prone skin. The rest of the chilly crew includes: 

 

Daily D-Clog Pore-Clearing Cleanser - 150ml - $46 - a plush, creamy gel that gently exfoliates with salicylic acid while sounding very polite about it. Danish purple willow and juniper berry team up like a Nordic spa retreat for your skin. It de-gunks, softens, soothes, and somehow still leaves you feeling squeaky clean, not sandblasted. 

 

Detox Drops Salicylic Acid Toner - 120ml - $45 - this icy liquid miracle delivers immediate “ahhh” energy and visible clarity in a week. Think of it as a toner that doesn’t mess around—it clears, calms, hydrates, and could probably write passive-aggressive notes to your blemishes if asked nicely. (It’s that good.) 

 

You can grab this cool crew at Sephora stores across Canada, online at sephora.ca or at olehenriksen.com - just don’t blame me when you start hoarding it in the fridge next to your popsicles!

 

- Lisamarie - 

Rainbow Ready with Glam that Gives Back from Quo Beauty, Peace Out and HAUS LABS!

If there’s anything better than bold, beautiful Pride products, it’s bold, beautiful Pride products that give back. This month, look good, feel good and do good with these three fabulous ways to shop with purpose and celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

 

Quo Beauty is turning up the joy this Pride with a limited-edition collection that’s as vibrant as a dance floor at 2 a.m. Think high-voltage colour, sparkle that won’t quit and serious self-expression vibes. 

Here's what I’m especially loving from the collection:

 

Quo Beauty Rainbow Maker - $10 - instant rainbow realness. A swipe of this and you’re basically a walking parade float (in the best possible way). 

 

Quo Beauty Gemstone Festival Headband - $20 - sparkly, colourful, and extra in the best way. It’s giving main character energy. (I may or may not be wearing mine to do laundry right now.)

 

Quo Beauty Lip Oil - $10 - nourish those lips with four juicy flavours: Mango, Tutti Frutti, Island Punch and Strawberry. Tastes like a tropical vacation. Looks like high-gloss heaven.

 

Quo Beauty Flash Dry Nail Colour - $12.49 - in 8 shades of mood-lifting magic: Sizzlin’, Afterglow, Mimosa, Banana Split, Mojito, Electric, Taro and Standout - two coats, fast dry, zero drama.

 

Even better? Shoppers Drug Mart is donating 10% of Quo Beauty Pride Collection sales (up to $30,000) to Pflag Canada, supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ folks and their families through peer support and advocacy.

 

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

Peace Out Pride Limited Edition Salicylic Acid Acne Healing Dots - 16 healing dots - $26 - it’s your favourite pimple patch -but now in colour! These limited-edition healing dots are decked out in Progress Pride flag colours and packed with skin-saving goodness like salicylic acid, retinol, and aloe vera. Combined with patented clean hydrocolloid polymer technology, impurities are extracted and a barrier is created to help guard against external elements. Get clearer-looking skin overnight. Bye blemishes, hello radiant skin. 

 

And it’s not just skin-deep: Peace Out, an LGBTQ-founded and run brand, is donating $25,000 to The Trevor Project, supporting LGBTQ+ youth with life-saving crisis intervention and suicide prevention services.

 

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

HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA Color Fuse Longwear Hydrating Glassy Lip + Cheek Blush Balm Stick - $47 - Mother Monster delivers once again! In 12 shades with a high shine finish: Glassy Ginger - dusty pink, Glassy Cayenne - deep rose, Glassy Cinnamon - beige pink, Glassy Cove - brownish red, Glassy Hibiscus - deep mauve, Glassy Rosette - rose, Glassy Pomelo - peach pink, Glassy Pitaya - cool pink (my fave), Glassy Lilac - lavender, Glassy Watermelon - ruby, Glassy Tangelo - orange, Glassy Acai - black cherry - your new best friend for juicy, dewy, glassy colour that lasts all day. Packed with skincare superheroes like fermented arnica, goji berry complex, and fermented shiunko, it plumps, soothes, and brings that born-this-way glow. 

 

For every HAUS LABS item sold during Pride, Sephora is donating $1 to the Born This Way Foundation, supporting mental health and wellness initiatives for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.  

 

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

 

However you show up this month (and every month), these brands are making it easy to do it with style, heart and rainbow energy to spare. 

🏳️‍🌈 Happy Pride!

 

- Lisamarie - 

Glow Island USA: Meet the Tools Turning Heads from Conair, pmd Beauty and GESKE!

There are a couple of things I’m obsessed with these days: Love Island USA and the demise of my once-beloved Clarisonic. 

 

I’ll admit, I don’t usually mix up my cleansing routine. Most days I’m loyal to the facecloth + cleanser combo (safe, reliable, but a little vanilla). But a couple times a week, I throw in a tool for that villa twist - gotta keep the pores on their toes, yeah? 

 

For ages, I was wholeheartedly devoted to my Clarisonic. We were so coupling - we had a thing. But let’s be honest: it’s been high-maintenance, it keeps ghosting me (RIP to the fourth one that just broke) and for something I only use twice a week, there really shouldn’t be this much drama! 

 

When my latest one bit the dust, I realized I was tired of something that works like Ariana does as a host - shows up for a few minutes in a great outfit, causes a little chaos and then disappears without explanation. I needed a dependable new bombshell who looks good and relentlessly does their job of seducing/cleaning my face. So I went on the hunt for a rebound: something more reliable, more vibey, less likely to spontaneously die mid-cleanse. 

 

Here’s what I found - ranked by how well they understood the assignment, let's go up to Soul Ties and discuss: 

Conair True Glow Sonic Facial Brush - $59.99 

The No-Nonsense Grafter 

 

She’s affordable, dependable, and doesn’t need constant attention - basically Austin in brush form. This little babe (shoutout Amaya!) delivers 300 sonic oscillations per second (faster than some Islanders switch couples), three speed settings and even shuts off after 60 seconds - just enough time to get in, get clean, and not overdo it. 

Specs: 

- Waterproof Rechargeable with charging base (no batteries? It’s giving eco.) 

- Clinically proven to reduce redness, shrink pores by 30%, and make skin glowier 

- Removes 98% of environmental toxins—because city skin needs a detox too.

 

Available at conaircanada.ca.

pmd Beauty Clean Smart Facial Cleansing Device - $139 

The Fancy One Who Does Pilates 

 

She’s sleek, she’s silicone, she vibrates at 7,000 times per minute (don’t get cheeky) and she’s all about lifting, toning and being extra extra. If Conair is your steady relationship, PMD Clean is the fit, mysterious bombshell who turns every head at the fire pit. Comes with four customizable modes, a built-in anti-aging massage feature and bristles so soft they could sweet-talk Hannah (not that that’s hard…). Perks: 

- Ultra-hygienic + waterproof silicone 

- Boosts elasticity like it’s on collagen crack 

- Reduces fine lines while cleansing deep - a multitasking queen! 

- Suitable for all skin types

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart in a very cute Blush with rose gold finish, or online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca. (Yes, it’s also on the PMD site in other colours—but why bother? Converting USD is the real villain here.) 

GESKE Sonic Facial Brush 5-in-1 - $39.95 

The AI-Loving Pocket Rocket

 

She’s tiny (like Ace, but not an asshole) and mighty. With AI-powered skin scanning and a full skincare game plan via app, this is basically the Huda (feed that girl a proper pancake!) of cleansing tools - dramatic, tech-savvy, maybe a little unhinged, but ultimately very helpful. 

Features: 

- SmartSonic pulsations for deep cleansing 

- Eye-nose area precision (say bye to congestion in awkward corners) 

- Youthful Glow massage to fake 8 hours of sleep 

- Ultra-hygienic and great for textured, oily, or stressed-out skin 

- Comes in aquamarine, pink, and black

 

Available online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca and amazon.ca.

 

💞 Final Recoupling Thoughts: If you’re done with the drama of overpriced, high-maintenance skincare gadgets that abandon you when you need them most (yes, I'm looking at you Jeremiah), it’s time to pick a cleansing tool fit for your villa. Whether you want a no-fuss grafter, a bougie anti-aging boss babe or a tech-savvy glow-getter, choose your island vibe - and let your skin find its perfect coupling. 

 

Your skin? It’s definitely getting a text!

 

- Lisamarie - 

Yay or Nay? Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum

You'll have to excuse me - I meant to post about this weeks ago, but the thing is… I have a system. I test a product, I write about it, I stop using it so I can start testing the next shiny serum in my lineup - rinse, repeat, glow (or not). But then Shiseido Ultimune came along and totally messed with my skincare commitment issues. I didn’t want to stop using it, so I just… didn’t post. No post, no reason to move on, right? (Think like: “If I don’t define the relationship, I can still text my ex.”)

 

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum - 50ml - $150, 75ml - $195, 75ml refill - $172 - This powerhouse boosts your skin's resilience against aging and environmental damage, while serving up hydration, glow, and smoothness like it’s hosting its own Canada's Got Talent variety show. 

 

The silky-smooth formula is basically a botanical Avengers team-up with high-tech backup, featuring: Fermented camellia flower extract - bringing over 14 amino acids to the party to power up skin regeneration like it’s chugging collagen lattes for breakfast; Camellia seed oil - the moisturizing MVP; Camellia leaf extract - helps suppress inflammation like a therapist with a skincare license; Heart leaf extract - sounds cute, works hard, boosts skin immunity and restores rhythm (Beyoncé would approve); and of course, the brand's own ULTIMUNE complex – like a bodyguard for your skin, slowing the aging cycle and leaving your face looking healthy, happy and suspiciously well-rested.

 

Now listen, I try a lot of serums. For most of them, I talk about texture, scent, and what they say they’re supposed to do, because I'm usually on to the next one faster than a Love Island contestant in week 2 (who are we kidding, DAY 2). But Ultimune had me locked in. I kept using it longer than I typically do, but - plot twist - I didn't even have to, I actually saw results within a couple of weeks: more radiance, smoother texture, deeply hydrated skin and dare I say it, the fine lines around my nose? Practically ghosted me! 

 

So is it a Yay or Nay? 

 

It’s a Hallelujah, take my money YAY!

 

Bonus round: when I’m ready for a top-up, I don’t have to rebuy the whole fancy bottle. There’s a refill that saves money and the planet - and if that’s not self-care-meets-sustainability, I don’t know what is! 

 

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

 

- Lisamarie -