A balm for your soul (and your face) from Grace & Stella, Naturium, Trinny London and Farmacy!

With warm weather finally showing up (occasionally, between the rain and emotional instability of spring weather), most of my skincare and makeup routine starts getting a little lighter and less “full glam survival mode.” Heavy foundation? Out. Thick creams? Also out. But there is one category where I actually go heavier in the summer - cleanser. Specifically adding a cleansing balm to my routine.

 

I know. It sounds backwards. Why would I smear what feels like butter on my face when it’s already 30 degrees and humid enough to qualify as soup outside? But there is a method to my madness. Summer also means I’m piling on way more sunscreen, waterproof mascara, sweat-proof makeup and products that cling to your face like a toxic ex. My regular cleanser taps out halfway through the job, while a cleansing balm takes everything off in seconds like it’s performing a magic trick. 

 

A cleansing balm starts as a solid balm or wax and melts into a silky oil when massaged into the skin. It breaks down makeup, SPF, oil and grime without stripping your face or making it feel like you washed it with dish soap and regret. Honestly, once you start using one, aggressively rubbing your eyes with a makeup wipe starts to feel very 2012!

 

There are a bunch of reasons why cleansing balms deserve main-character energy:

 

• Effortless Makeup & SPF Removal - Long-wear foundation? Waterproof mascara? Sunscreen that claims it can survive a tropical storm? A cleansing balm dissolves it all without needing to scrub your face like you’re sanding furniture. 

• Hydrating Instead of Horrifying - Unlike some foaming cleansers that leave your skin feeling tight enough to bounce a quarter off it, balms are packed with nourishing oils and butters that help support your skin barrier instead of personally attacking it. 

• Deep Cleansing Without the Drama - It sounds counterintuitive, but oil-based cleansers actually help lift excess oil and buildup from pores. Basically fighting oil with oil. Science is weird but beautiful. 

• Perfect for Sensitive Skin - No aggressive rubbing, no stinging, no “why is my face suddenly tomato-colored?” situation. Cleansing balms tend to be super gentle and soothing. 

• Travel Friendly - Unlike cleansing oils, these won’t explode all over your suitcase and coat your vacation wardrobe in expensive skincare slime. We love a stable queen!

So I got to testing to figure out which of the multitude are the best and here's my top 4:

 

Grace & Stella F Balm, This Works! Cleansing Balm - 125ml - $39 

This one is for anyone who wants taking their makeup off to feel less like a chore and more like a tiny spa moment. It melts away stubborn makeup, waterproof mascara, sunscreen, oil and dirt without requiring Olympic-level scrubbing. The formula is vegan, paraben-free and sulfate-free, and unlike makeup wipes, it won’t make you feel like you’re exfoliating your face with light grain sandpaper. Bonus points for including a spatula because nothing says “luxury” like not digging your fingers into a jar like a raccoon in a trash can. And damn I love the name!

 

Available at amazon.ca. 

Naturium Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm - 88ml - $33.99 

This one has that dreamy sorbet texture that feels amazing. Formulated with purple ginseng, nourishing oils and plant-based esters, it melts down makeup, sunscreen and grime while still feeling lightweight and fresh. It emulsifies beautifully with water and leaves skin soft instead of greasy - which is important because nobody wants to feel like a buttered dinner roll before bed. 

 

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

Trinny London Be Your Best Enzyme Balm Cleanser - 80ml - $67, 80ml refill - $55, 19.5ml mini - $28

This cleanser is basically skincare wearing a silk robe and and eating bonbons - it just feels fancy! Along with removing makeup, SPF and pollution, it also contains pineapple enzyme for gentle exfoliation, plus nourishing oils and a prebiotic complex to support the skin microbiome. Which sounds very scientific and impressive and honestly makes me feel like my face is getting a wellness retreat instead of just a cleanse. I also really like that it's refillable so I can be clean and environmentally responsible! 

 

Available online at trinnylondon.com/ca.  

Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm - 200ml - $92, 100ml - $52, 30ml - $25

This one has reached borderline cult-status for good reason. The sorbet-like balm melts instantly into the skin and somehow removes approximately seventeen layers of sunscreen and waterproof mascara without leaving behind residue or greasy film. Packed with sunflower oil, papaya extract and antioxidant-rich greens, it leaves skin clean, soft and happy instead of stripped and angry. Having such soft clean skin really does make me feel like I have my life together, even if there are currently cracker crumbs in my bed. P.S. I like the smell but if you aren't a fan or are sensitive to scents it also comes in a fragrance-free version!

 

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

 

I do tend to double cleanse when I use a balm, usually following up with a light gel or foaming cleanser or a micellar water. Is it absolutely necessary? Maybe not for everyone. But once the weather gets really hot and I’m layering sunscreen like I’m preparing for battle, I personally enjoy the extra clean feeling. Plus it gives me the illusion that I’m the kind of person who has a proper skincare routine and not someone applying products while half-asleep and watching reality TV - which of course I have never done! 

 

So at this point, cleansing balms have fully earned permanent residency in my heart - and summer skincare routine. They remove sunscreen, sweat, waterproof makeup and all the questionable decisions of the day without turning my face into a dry, angry mess. Plus there’s just something deeply satisfying about watching a full face of makeup melt away in seconds - like tiny skincare sorcery. Honestly, if summer insists on making me sticky, sweaty and aggressively shiny, the least it can do is let me wash it all off with ease!

 

- Lisamarie - 

An Open Letter To Coca-Cola: Tiny Bottles, Big Betrayal

To my old and dear friends at Coca-Cola,

I’ve been enjoying your product for a very long time and, over the years, I’ve put up with a lot from you. New Coke anyone? But that’s what friends do, right? We forgive. We move on. We continue drinking copious amounts of sugar out of nostalgia and habit.

But I have to say… you are really pushing it now.

What in heaven’s name happened to my tiny glass bottles of Coke? Their scarcity has become deeply alarming. According to Google Shopping, I should supposedly be able to find them at a Walmart in Bradford and a grocery store in Brampton - two places I have absolutely no desire to visit - and frankly I no longer trust these claims after being sent on a previous wild goose chase to a Walmart in Scarborough where not a single tiny Coke was to be found. Not one.

So what’s going on here? Have they been discontinued? Is there a secret underground vault where Coca-Cola executives are hoarding them for themselves like tiny fizzy treasures? Did someone in a boardroom decide joy was no longer sustainable?

Because one minute they were everywhere, making me feel classy and nostalgic like I was living inside one of your commercials where everyone is inexplicably happy and perfectly hydrated, and now suddenly finding them feels like the worst scavenger hunt ever created!

Inquiring minds - and frankly thirsty ones - would like answers!

Sincerely,
A loyal consumer currently being forced to drink Coke out of peasant-sized containers

Hair health starts at the scalp with LOMA, Justice Haircare, Briogeo and FOREO!

Gone are the days when haircare companies told us to obsess over split ends while completely ignoring the literal soil your hair grows out of. Thankfully the scalp has finally entered its main character era because it turns out healthy, shiny, expensive-looking hair starts at the root - shocking, I know!  

 

A happy scalp can help stimulate growth, balance oil production, calm irritation, kick dandruff to the curb and generally make your hair behave like it has its life together. You may have noticed scalp spas popping up absolutely everywhere lately and trust me, I fully intend to throw myself  into the experience eventually because nothing sounds more luxurious than someone professionally rubbing my head for an hour. Until then though, I’ve been testing out some scalp-loving products at home and a few definitely stood out from the crowd…

 

LOMA Essentials Healthy Scalp Collection  

If your scalp has been feeling cranky, greasy, flaky or just generally emotionally unavailable, this line might be your new best friend. Formulated with pure essential oils, organic aloe vera, proteins and plant-based ingredients, the collection focuses on calming chaos at the root while keeping hair soft, bouncy and fresh-looking. 

 

The shampoo gives that deeply clean feeling without veering into “straw in a tumbleweed” territory, while the lightweight conditioner hydrates without flattening everything like a sad winter hat.Together they basically create the ideal environment for your hair to thrive - kind of like a wellness retreat but for your scalp. 

 

And can we discuss the minty scent for a second? Because it delivers that cool, tingly “yes something productive is happening here” feeling that makes me instantly believe I have my life under control.

 

There’s also a daily treatment to help rebalance oil production plus a style creme that keeps hair touchable instead of crispy. 

 

Available in the collection: Healthy Scalp Shampoo - 355ml - $34; Healthy Scalp Conditioner - 355ml - $34; Healthy Scalp Treatment - 100ml - $35; and Healthy Scalp Style Creme - 198ml - $31

 

Available at Chatters stores across Canada and online at chatters.ca. 

 

Justice Professional Marine Beauty Collection 

This eco-conscious collection is basically a tall glass of water for stressed-out scalps. Made with 96% natural vegan ingredients, it focuses on hydrating, detoxifying and rebalancing while helping hair look shinier and healthier overall. 

 

The standout for me is absolutely the scalp scrub because apparently I now enjoy exfoliating every inch of my body including my head. The sea salt and plant oils help clear away flakes and buildup while giving the scalp that satisfying deep-clean feeling without turning it into the Sahara Desert.

 

And the scent? Pure beach vacation energy. It has this fresh, clean ocean-inspired fragrance with crisp marine notes, sea salt and soft florals that somehow manages to smell calming, expensive and like you have absolutely zero emails waiting for you. Basically the olfactory equivalent of sitting oceanside with a fancy drink while someone else deals with your problems.

 

Available in the collection: 

Marine Beauty Scalp Scrub - 150ml - $25.99; Marine Beauty Shampoo - 250ml - $25.99; and Marine Beauty Conditioner - 250ml - $25.99

 

Available at Healthy Planet stores across Canada or online at healthyplanetcanada.com and well.ca. 

 

Briogeo Scalp Revival Dandruff Relief Collection 

If flakes have decided to start appearing like unwanted glitter at a craft store explosion, this line comes in swinging. The collection combines medicated ingredients with soothing botanicals to tackle dryness, itchiness and irritation without feeling harsh. 

 

The shampoo uses 3% salicylic acid plus binchotan charcoal to exfoliate dead skin and soak up excess oil, while the conditioner keeps things hydrated without suffocating your scalp under heavy silicones. 

 

Also whoever created the scent deserves a raise because whipped cream, fresh mint and vanilla somehow smells both cozy and expensive at the same time - and not the least bit like the medicinal dandruff shampoos of days gone by!  

 

They pair perfectly with the Rosemary Pre-Wash Oil which continues its reign as the overachiever of the haircare world - rosemary, castor oil, and tea tree walk into a bottle… and your scalp walks out happy! Perfect as a pre-wash or overnight treatment, this lightweight oil nourishes thirsty strands while calming irritation for a dry, itchy scalp - no greasy residue and no awkward “tingle.” the formula helps balance oil while detoxifying before shampooing.

 

Available in the collection:

Dandruff Relief Shampoo - 248ml - $57; Dandruff Relief Conditioner - 248ml - $57

Rosemary Pre-Wash Oil - 30ml - $22, 100ml - $44 and now in a larger 150ml size for $53

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

 

FOREO FLIP Play Advanced LED Light Hairbrush - $89

Listen… somewhere along the line hairbrushes became tiny futuristic robots and honestly, I’m not mad about it. 

 

This cordless LED hairbrush uses red, blue and green light therapy to help refresh the scalp and boost shine while flexible bristles gently detangle without making you feel like you’re losing half your hair in the process. It works on all hair types, is waterproof, rechargeable and even folds up to protect the bristles because apparently this brush is more organized than I am. 

 

The fact that I can now casually say “my hairbrush has light therapy” feels deeply unnecessary and yet incredibly glamorous...

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart and Chatters stores across Canada and online at foreo.com, amazon.ca, beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca and chatters.ca. 

 

At the end of the day all I can say is, if my scalp wants serums, exfoliation, LED therapy and a cooling massage moment now, who am I to deny her? She’s been carrying this whole hair operation and all of my crazy hair antics for years!

 

- Lisamarie -