Amp up shower time with St. Ives Shower Foam!

Do your usual body washes feel like they are weighing your skin down during these hot and sticky summer days? Then treat yourself to your lightest wash ever with:

St. Ives Shower Foam - 400ml - $6.99 - a light, airy foam made with 100% naturally sourced extracts in 3 formulas:

Energizing and hydrating Citrus Blend with pink lemon fruit extract for a zesty scent;

Soothing and hydrating Oatmeal & Shea Butter with a warm, comforting scent;

Softening and hydrating Coconut & Orchid with a scent that will take you to the beach.

It's easy to use - just a couple of pumps fills your hands with instant bubbles to smooth all over the body to gently cleanse skin and done!

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Needful Things - St. Ives Cleanse & Hydrate Aloe Vera Hydrating Facial Cleansing Wipes

St. Ives Cleanse & Hydrate Aloe Vera Hydrating Facial Cleansing Wipes - 25 wipes - $9.49 -  instantly wipe away impurities and make-up - even waterproof mascara - to gently cleanse, soothe  and hydrate skin in one easy step and reveal skin’s natural radiance. 

The 100% naturally sourced aloe vera extract is gentle enough to be used around the sensitive eye area, while the alcohol free formula leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated. They're ideal for normal to  dry skin but they aren't oil free, so if you're combination to oily you're probably going to want to pass on these.

Available now at drug, grocery and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Cleanse, scub and moisturize in the shower with Avon, St. Ives, Yves Rocher and LUSH!

Avon Skin So Soft Aroma Therapy Energizing Body Wash - 200ml - $9.99 - wakes up your senses  with the scent of orange and peach blossom while creamy lather cleanses and provides luscious hydration to leave skin feeling silky soft. Features Touchplex Scent Technology which reactivates the scent throughout the day just by rubbing your skin.

Available from your Avon rep - 1-800-265-AVON or online at www.avon.ca.

St. Ives Even & Bright Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange Body Wash - 709ml - $5.99 - an invigorating body wash that blends the fresh citrus scents of pink lemon and mandarin orange to deliver a boost of energy with 100% natural exfoliants for even and brighter looking skin!

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

Yves Rocher Organic Raspberry Exfoliating Shower Gel - 200ml - $9 - with a paraben-free, 98% natural, easily biodegradable formula that combines tender raspberries with kiwi seeds and apricot kernel powder which are known for their exfoliating properties for skin that is left fresh, supple and scented.

Available at Yves Rocher stores across Canada and online at www.yvesrocher.ca.

LUSH African Paradise Body Conditioner - 250g - $39.95 - like a hair conditioner for the body full of great ingredients from Africa including: Fair Trade shea butter and Fair Trade Moringa oil from Ghana to soften and nourish the skin and cooling Fair Trade aloe gel from Kenya to soothe. The elegant fragrance is a unique blend of carnation absolute, clove bud oil and sandalwood oil, creating a delicately spiced floral scent that lingers softly on the body. Simply massage into the skin, then rinse clean and pat dry for velvety, beautifully perfumed skin.

Available at LUSH store across Canada and online at www.lush.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Have the scrub of your life with Bliss, St. Ives, Olay, Jack Black and Clarisonic!

Bliss Micro Magic Spa-Powered Microdermabrasion Treatment - 89ml - $56 - A powerful yet gentle cream-based exfoliating treatment that removes dead skin cell buildup with fine volcanic pumice along with vitamin E to hydrate the skin aloe, jojoba oil and mushroom extract to reduce inflammation and calm skin while peppermint extract leaves skin feeling cool, refreshed and revitalized. Skin is left clean, smooth, and healthy-looking with no buildup and pores that look smaller.

Available at Sephora and sephora.ca.

St. Ives Even & Bright Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange Scrub - 150ml - $5.99 - this 100% naturally sourced scrub polishes away little imperfections for bright, radiant and more even-toned skin that will glow.
It's hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested, non-comedogenic and paraben free - best thing about though is the smell - fruity amazing!

Available now at drug, mass and grocery retailers across Canada.

Olay Fresh Effects Out Of This Swirled! Deep Pore Clean Exfoliating Scrub - 150ml - $11.99 - a foamy, rich formula that treats your skin to a swirl-powered clean from moisture-rich swirls along with exfoliating microbead ribbons that team up to target dirt and impurities and reduce the look of pores. I love the White Grapefruit and Green Tea scent but if you aren't a fan it also comes in Honeysuckle and White Tea or Green Apple and Jasmine Tea to help perk you up in the morning!

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

The boy needs a scrub-down too!

Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser - 147ml - $20 - a powerful, multi-functional lightweight cleanser that washes away dead skin cells, pore-clogging oil and build-up and can also be used as a purifying mask when left to dry on the skin!

Available now at Sephora, Holt Renfrew and Hudson's Bay.

If all that manual scrubbing seems like a lot of work then here's the lazy girl's (or guy's) solution to perfectly smooth skin:


Clarisonic Mia 2 Sonic Skin Cleansing - $175 -includes: two-speed brush, international pLink charger for worldwide use, sensitive brush head, 60ml refreshing gel cleanser and protective travel case - with patented sonic technology that gently removes the impurities traditional cleaning methods leave behind, cleansing six times better than your hands alone. In just 60 seconds, its sonic action removes impurities from pores so that creams, serums, and moisturizers are more effective. And with regular daily use you'll notice a reduction in dry patches, oily areas, and blemishes.

What makes the Mia 2 different from the original Mia?
- Two speeds for added cleansing customization
- Pulsing T-Timer for 60-second cleanse
- Improved user interface indicating speed and charge functions

Available at Murale, murale.ca or check out clarisonic.ca for other retailers.

- Lisamarie -

Spray your way to hydration with St. Ives Fresh Hydration Lotions!

If your skin isn't feeling the effects of the colder weather yet it will be soon - and if you are a moisturizer avoider because you don't care for that heavy lotion feeling that some body moisturizers offer then you'll want to check out -

St. Ives Fresh Hydration Lotion - 184g - $6.99 - a continuous 360 degree spray lotion for freshly moisturized skin at every angle in 3 formulas all containing fatty acid rich shea butter with Vitamins A, E and F to put moisture back into thirsty skin.:

Naturally Soothing Oatmeal & Shea Butter Fresh Hydration Lotion  - with oatmeal, shea butter and glycerin to soothe dry skin and a fragrance made up of white floral, gourmand, honey, almond and coconut notes.

Naturally Indulgent Coconut Milk & Orchid Extract Fresh Hydration Lotion - with coconut milk, orchid extract and glycerin to leave skin silky and smooth with a light luxurious fragrance of guava, mandarin zest, pineapple, Lily of the Valley, pink orchid extract, Hawaiian jasmine, coconut milk, creamy musk, vanilla and blonde wood notes.

And my fave:

Energizing Citrus & Vitamin C Fresh Hydration Lotion - with grapefruit extract, Vitamin C and glycerin to leave skin feeling energized and refreshed with an amazing scent that includes notes of a citrus blend of grapefruit, orange and lime as well as soft musk patchouli.

You might think that a spray moisturizer that feels so light wouldn't offer much in the way hydration at all but you'll be amazed at just how moist it leaves your skin looking and feeling with such a fine mist! It's also great for reaching those places that you normally can't and skip like your back!

Available now at drug, grocery and mass merchandisers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Moisturize that body! Vaseline, True Blue Spa, Calgon, Thann, St. Ives, Dial, Kiss My Face, Dove, Soap & Glory and Bath & Body Works!

I've always hated and cursed my dry skin but I never realized that it was such a widespread issue - Vaseline recently conducted a Good Skin Day Survey and I was amazed to see that 76% of the women surveyed have the same problem as I do and say that their dry skin can make them feel physically uncomfortable at least some of the time - including itchiness, tightness and cracking.  Women also say that the physical effects of dry skin can interfere with a range of every day activities including sleeping, getting dressed and working.  It's nice not to be alone in this problem but it's even better to find something to solve it!

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Extra Strength - 325ml - $4.99, 600ml - $7.99, 725ml - $8.99 - is available in fragranced (chamomile scent) and unfragranced. - Accelerates the healing of dry skin by tripling the skin's moisture reserves instantly while still feeling comfortable on your skin - not greasy or sticky.  Dermatologist recommended, restores and protects the skin and delivers 24 hours of hypoallergenic soothing moisture.  For super dry skin they also offer Vaseline Clinical Therapy Lotion - 200ml - $8.49 - which is clinically proven to moisturize for accelerated healing of persistently dry skin without feeling sticky or greasy and is comfortable on skin.  Proven to instantly increase hydration by five times and to lock in moisture for 24 hours.  Instantly softens and relieves extremely dry skin and to restore - through hydration - extremely dry skin in 5 days.

And of course having dry skin means that I try every moisturizer out there so here are some other great choices:

True Blue Spa Lay It On Thick Body Cream - 170g - $17 - fragrance-free with super moisturizing shea butter, macadamia nut oil to nourish and hydrate the skin and Vitamin E to help protect and condition. If you like your moisturizer to be super thick, this is one to try - I enjoy using this one right before bed to give it all night to soak in! Available at Bath & Body Works.

Calgon Nourishing Body Cream - 236ml - $6.99 - with Vitamins E and A as well as aloe to deliver longer-lasting moisturization that will leave your skin feeling soft and silky. Comes in Morning Glory, Hawaiian Ginger, Tahitian Orchid, Cotton Candy, Vanilla Swirl, Marshmallow and Moon Petal Musk. My favourite scent is the Hawaiian Ginger, you just close your eyes and imagine yourself away from winter and on a tropical island!

Thann Body Butter - 100g - $23 - 350g - $47 - with cocoa butter, jojoba oil, licorice and shiso extracts to nourish and protect dry and sensitive skin. The tick yet smooth cream absorbs quickly into the skin for long-lasting and effective moisturizing.  It's 100% paraben-free with no artificial colours or fragrances.  Available online at www.thann.ca, in select stores and spas across Canada and at Thann concept stores in Ottawa.

St. Ives 24 Hour Moisture Advanced Body Moisturizer - 600ml - $6.99 - an innovative formula clinically proven to nourish skin even after 24 hours - replenishes and retains skin for soft-looking, smooth skin all day with 100% natural moisturizers including shea butter. Features a patented moisturizing complex that acts as a barrier to prevent moisture loss without forming a heavy film on the skin.

Dial NutriSkin Replenishing Lotion - 88ml - $2.99 - 354ml - $6.99 - focus on adding essential moisture, vitamins and nutrients for your skin - in four varieties each containg a specific BioNutrient blend: Dry Skin - with aloe and vitamins C, E and F, amino acids, and omega 3; Extra Dry Skin - with shea butter, omega 3 and 6, vitamins A,C,E and F and amino acids; Soothing - with chamomile, beta-glucan, vitamins A,C and E, amino acids and zinc; and Men's - with magnesium, niacinamide, amino acids and vitamins A,C and E.

Kiss My Face Peaches & Creme Ultra Moisturizer - 118ml - $6, 350ml - $12 - with 4% alpha-hydroxy to help speed up exfoliation that allows for new healthy skin cells to emerge from your dry, flaky mess - and the peachy smell - Amazing!  You can find Kiss My Face products in various drug and health food stores - I find the website easier though - they have a Canadian site that prices and gives shipping costs in Canadian $ - www.kissmyfacewebstore.com

If you want super duper softness, start with a moisturizing body wash - my faves right now:

Dove Visible Care Renewing Creme Body Wash - 300ml - $5.99 - for visible skin improvement in just one week and with continued use, skin is more visibly beautiful within 3 weeks. It's designed to nourish and replenish skin with the highest concentration of Nutrium Moisture which contains skin natural moisturizers, the building blocks to help improve skin's look over time. It has a fruity, floral fragrance that I quite like and lathers like nobody's business!

Soap & Glory Clean, Girls Body Wash - 500ml - $9.99 - with a built-in moisturizing matrix and natural vanilla fruit and orchid extracts, it feels great and smells amazing!  It also suds up nicely which is something I find that moisturizing body washes sometimes lack. Available at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Shower Cream - 236ml - $12.50 - with milk proteins, rice bran oil and acai berry.  Part of the Signature Collection, you will find it in lots of different scents - I love Warm Vanilla Sugar and Twilight Woods!

Are you a dry skin sufferer too?  Would love to hear about any great moisturizers that you've tried!

- Lisamarie -

For self tanning, it's all in the prep work! Exfoliate and moisturize with Alyria, Soap and Glory and St. Ives.

You may remember from my bronzer post, that I am on a campaign to be less pale this summer.  With the face taken care of, I knew the rest of me needed to match and since boiled lobster is not a good look on me - I decided a fake bake was the way to go.  It's been many, many years since I did the self tan thing and I remember the products as being less then easy to use and the colour result, immensely unflattering (unless you were a pumpkin) so I knew a lot of reading and investigation was in order before I even attempted it this time.  My self tan products post will be coming up soon but what I found in my reading was that the key to a beautiful, natural looking self tan was perfectly smooth and moisturized skin - as this would make the entire tanning process much easier - it made sense to me so of course I needed to find the perfect products to achieve this - here are my faves:

Alyria Resurfacing Body Care - 150ml - $65 - 15% Glycolic Acid and Vitamin E - sloughs off dead skin cells on the surface of dry and rough areas of the entire body, revealing silky-smooth, moisturized skin.  If you aren't normally a fan of AHA because you find they irritate your skin you'll want to check this out.  The AHA's in this product are contained in a patented controlled release technology which slows the release of glycolic acid.  The potential irritation of an AHA formula is primarily due to the rapid penetration of AHA free acid molecules into the skin.  By controlling the release of the glycolic acid, the skin will tolerate a higher concentration, resulting in a faster exfoliation.  I have been using it for several weeks now paying special attention to my knees, elbows and feet which were all a big dry mess and I feel like a snake, I'm shedding so much skin!  It is a very thin lotion so you wouldn't think that it would do a good job moisturizing but it does!  You can go here to find out where you can get it near you, if you are in Toronto, Dr. Torgerson, among others, carries it.

If you prefer to do your moisturizing and exfoliating separately, these are worth a gander:

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter - 300ml - $14.99 - how thrilled was I when Shoppers Drug Mart finally started carrying the Soap & Glory line?!  I can't decide if it's the pink packaging, retro looking models or the quirky copy that I like best about it!  Of course what I really like is the product itself - it's thick, it's creamy and it smells heavenly!  For any bits of you that are dry, that will no longer be an issue once you introduce yourself to this stuff - just bear in mind that Soap & Glory is an addictive line and you'll soon be seeing a lot of pink containers in your bathroom...

St. Ives Body Polish - 226g - $9.99 - with oatmeal and shea butter - I think I am one of the few people in the world that do not love their apricot scrub - I find it hard and scratchy and not the least bit pleasant, so I must admit I was a bit leary of trying this new scrub.  So totally different it's like day and night!  It exfoliates with oatmeal and sugar crystals which offer just the right amount of exfoliation to scrub off your rough parts without also scrubbing off the skin you were planning on keeping!

Now that you're all moist and smooth, stay tuned for my self tanner post next week!

- Lisamarie -