Warmer weather = lighter moisturizers! Try one from Vichy, SkinCeuticals, Borghese or AINY!

The lighter a moisturizer feels in these hot summer months, the better I like it! Not to say that these moisturizers don't do plenty of, well moisturizing, they just don't feel heavy - they do their job in a stealthy way - moisture without the weight! Here are four that are on my radar (and face) this summer:

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Aqua-Gel - 50ml - $35 - soothing & fortifying 24hr hydrating care with Vichy thermal spa water rich in rare minerals - instant refreshing gel, formulated for sensitive skin - hypoallergenic, oil-free, paraben free - intensely hydrated and deeply soothed, skin recovers bounce and radiates with health. The crystalline gel texture delivers immediate freshness and a sensation of velvety softness.

It feels so light and smells so fresh that I'm always surprised that it hydrates so well - this is a long-time favourite of mine that never disappoints!

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel - 30ml - $78 - a moisture enhancer that is oil-free and ideal for all skin types, binding moisture to the skin with hyaluronic acid, a natural humectant. Also contains Vitamin B5 to help with tissue repair and to replenish nutrients.

This suits me perfectly by itself as a summer moisturizer but I suspect were I to continue wearing this into the winter, or if you have drier skin now, that an additional layer of moisturizer would be needed.

Available in selected doctor's offices, medi-spas and spas across Canada. Visit www.skinceuticals.com for a location near you.

Borghese Acqua Ristorativo Hydrating Concentrate - 30ml - $90 - formulated with a botanical derived patented peptide complex that acts a a bodyguard to the skin, protecting it from free radical exposure and collagen breakdown keeping your skin feeling supple and toned.

It smells floralish, feels silky soft on and gives me the perfect amount of summer moisture!

Available at www.borghese.com

AINY Moisturizing Harmonizing Fluid - 50ml - $78 - formulated to neutralize excess free radicals and the micro inflammation that lead to premature aging of the skin. Contains omega-3 from Sacha Inchi oil with 99% of the total ingredients from natural origin and 17% of the total ingredients from Organic Farming.

I like this one for all it's natural ingredients and light feel and find it notable for the botanical smell which always makes me feel like I'm at an expensive spa!

Available at www.beautyphica.com

Do you lighten up your moisturizer when the hot weather hits and which one are you loving these days?

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Katima'A Facial Mask!

Katima'A Facial Mask - 10 masques - $52 - contains 10 packets containing Rhassoul clay and 10 packets with Argan oil.

I'm a sucker for anything that needs some prep, it makes me feel like a scientist so this mask is right up my alley!  The Rhassoul clay is a powder which has to be mixed with the Argan oil liquid mixture and they each come in their own individual serving packets to be mixed together before each application.  The set even comes with a little ceramic dish and a spatula for mixing and applying!

I recommend doing the mixing over the sink as the powder likes to fly all over the place. They combine quite easily into a very unattractive grey mixture which you then apply a thin layer of to your face.  If you want to have a lot of fun, put it on and then hide behind a door and wait for your husband to come into the room - this never gets old! 

I love clay masks because they always give me the feeling that they are sucking the impurities right out of my skin and this one doesn't disappoint!  They recommend you leave it on for at least 5 minutes but I like to leave it for at least 15 minutes and once washed off, my skin feels clean, soft and smooth.

If you like clay masks, smooth skin and looking like the undead during your beauty treatments, I highly recommend this one!

Available at www.beautyphica.com

- Lisamarie -

Nuxe Body-Contouring Serum for Embedded Cellulite Review

It's no secret how I feel about cellulite - I hate it with the fiery passion of a thousand burning suns! - And deep down somewhere, I do understand that it is part of my genetic makeup as a member of the female species over the age of 18 - but that doesn't mean I've resigned myself to it - no siree!  I will continue to try every treatment and cream out there until I draw my last gasping breath, so there! Enough ranting, let's get on with the actual review:


Nuxe Body-Contouring Serum for Embedded Cellulite - 150ml - $39 - with a triple action body-contouring effect to reduce the effect of embedded cellulite all over the body: 1) patented Cocoa Polyphenols combined with Botanical Caffeine activate the breaking down and releasing of stored fat while Yacon Leaf Extract slows down fat regeneration; 2)Micro-Algae stimulate the natural mechanism that burns fats; 3) and patented Brazillian Mimosa and Glaucine Extract sculpt and shape waist, hips and thighs. Then throw in some Photo-Corrective Pigments for an instant optic smoothing effect on the surface of the skin.

This serum is part of the brand new Nuxe Body line.  I was drawn to it because 1) it's a serum and I really like serums, 2) it's a cellulite treatment and we've just established I'm obsessed with them, and 3) it smells amazing - with notes of Coconut Sorbet, Orange Blossom and Wild Vanilla!

Having now used up the entire tube I'm quite impressed with it.  The optic illusion aspect to it is quite clever - they've done the same blurring thing that is usually used for face products to blur lines and wrinkles and brought it to dips and dimples - this would be excellent if you are needing it because you are about to put on a bathing suit or wearing those slightly oversized underwear that girls are calling shorts these days. It also has a nice smoothing effect but I can't say that it did anything for my stored fat or slowed down fat regeneration as those body departments don't really send me any reports.  I expect I would need to use at least another tube to start seeing anything dramatic. 

Overall, I liked it, and appreciated the lightness of it being a serum as it was absorbed super quick and didn't leave any stickiness behind. And here's a tip, when you think the tube is empty, it's not. Take a pair of scissors and cut 'er open.  There is at least another week's worth of serum stuck to the inside of the tube - see how thrifty I am!

You can find Nuxe as selected Shoppers Drug Mart, The Bay or now even easier at Canada's newest online beauty destination: www.beautyphica.com

- Lisamarie -

Beauty junkies rejoice - Beautyphica has arrived!

Discovering a new destination for beauty products is one of my very favourite things and I especially love it when they offer new and wonderful brands that are not usually easily attainable!  So you can imagine my delight last week when I was invited to an event to celebrate the launch of Beautyphica.com!

Offering mostly European brands of hard-to-find skincare, bath, body and fragrance, Beautyphica aims to take the hassle out of online shopping.  Now I love online shopping but there are certain products that it is tricky for and skincare would be one of them.  Unless you have previously used or tested the product you are buying, it's hard to know if it will suit your skin or even something as simple as whether or not you will like the way it smells. This is where Beautyphica differs from other online companies - they encourage you to call them and discuss your needs with a beauty expert who is knowledgeable on all of the brands they carry.  As well, with every purchase you can select three products through an exclusive trial program.  Shipping is free for purchases over $100 and you'll get your package within days - and best of all, no customs charges!

What I also like about the site is that they limit the number of brands available at any one time which makes it great for people who can get overwhelmed at other sites with the sheer volume of choices!

What lines am I excited about? There are a couple I have heard of  - Ainy and L'Artisan Perfumeur but have never tried because they weren't sold here and a couple that I now want to try having had a chance to see them - Apot.Care and Katima'A!  But most exciting to me is the news that this month, they will be carrying Aesop!

Go check out the site yourself and discover some new lines at www.beautyphica.com and if you know any of these lines and think they are must tries, please let us know!

- Lisamarie -