Great Gifting - Briogeo Healthy Hair Delights Gift Set

The holidays might mean decorated trees and marathon baking sessions for everyone else, but for me - it means prime gift-set season, baby - my own personal Super Bowl! Just don't wait to take advantage - whether you're itching to try something new or want your ride-or-die favourites in perfectly packable travel sizes - now is absolutely the time to pounce! One of the first things I added to my Sephora cart because I already knew I loved the oil and have been wanting to try the shampoo and mask...

 

Briogeo Healthy Hair Delights Gift Set - $61 - A scalp-to-strand transformation trio that basically says, “Hey, let’s give your hair the holiday it deserves!”

Rosemary Pre-Wash Oil - 100ml: your scalp’s soon-to-be soulmate. Use it pre-wash or let it work overnight like a tiny moisture-infusing elf. It soothes dryness, balances cranky scalps and nourishes thirsty strands - all with a tingle-free rosemary formula that strengthens the scalp barrier without the “my head is on fire” vibe.  

Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo - 59ml: this weekly scalp scrub gently buffs away flakes and buildup with a plant-based dissolvable exfoliant (science, but make it spa-day). Coconut, mint and tea tree oils team up to leave your roots fresh, clean and so smugly moisturized. 

Deep Conditioning Mask - 59ml: a rich, reparative dream cream for your hair. Packed with protein and moisture, it helps strengthen, soften and future-proof your strands. Scientifically proven to cut breakage in 10 minutes and double the strength after three uses - basically the gym membership your hair will actually use! 

 

And the cherry on top: the products are 98% naturally derived, vegan and Leaping Bunny certified to be  cruelty-free. Hair happiness and good karma? Holiday miracle achieved!

 

Available while they last at Sephora stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca.

 

- Lisamarie - 

The best in oils for your hair, face and body from Sebastian, Neutrogena and Burberry!

Sebastian Dark Oil - 95ml - $26.99 - infused with a special blend of oils for lightweight texture and shine that replenishes hair from the inside-out to smooth the cuticle and add body as well as protect against UV damage.

This is my favourite product from the Dark Oil line which also includes a Shampoo, Conditioner, Silkening Mist and Mask - not only does it make my hair look super shiny and frizz-free, it also smells amazing!

Available at salons across Canada - check out sebastianprofessional.com to find one near you.

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil - 30ml - $35.99 - an overnight treatment that reduces the appearance of stubborn crows feet and deep wrinkles using concentrated, intensely nourishing Retinol SA oil that intensely nourishes and replenishes dry skin for radiant, younger looking skin and visible results in just 1 week.

I have combination skin and find it plenty moisturizing so I don't feel the need to use anything with it - if you are dry though, you might want to use your regular night cream on top.

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

My Burberry Shower Oil - 240ml - $72 - a nourishing shower oil infused with My Burberry Eau de Parfum and almond oil to leave skin moisturized, nourished and fragrant with notes of: sweet pea, bergamot, geranium, golden quince, freesia, patchouli, rain-tipped damask and centifolia roses.

What's nice about this is not only does it leave your skin silky smooth, but leaves a subtle fragrance that lingers so there is no need to put on your usual perfume if you don't want to!

Available at department and drug stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Sebastian Professional Dark Oil Collection

Sebastian Professional has launched an all-new line-up of Dark Oil products that deliver reflective shine, a lightweight finish and hair that is 3x smoother thanks to an infusion of a special blend of oils including argan and jojoba - along with sandalwood and cedarwood that makes them smell great!

Available in the collection:

Dark Oil Lightweight Shampoo - 250ml - $17.48 - offers radiant shine and lightweight body.

Dark Oil Lightweight Conditioner - 250ml - $18.98 - smooths and detangles while keeping hair lightweight and full of body.

Dark Oil Fragrant Mist - 200ml - a lightweight mist that delivers a silkening effect making it perfect for quick touch-ups.

Dark Oil Lightweight Mask - 150ml - $22.95 - nourishes while keeping the hair's natural body to leave it looking shiny and feeling silky.

And the product that started it all:

Dark Oil - 95ml - $26.99 - replenishes hair from the inside-out to smooth the cuticle and add body. Created with DiffusX, a self-evaporating technology that disappears into the hair with no oily residue and smooths for up to 48 hours and protects against UV damage.

Available at salons across Canada - check out sebastianprofessional.com to find one near you.

- Lisamarie -

Two new products help you live the Joico Blonde Life!

Being blonde was never so easy thanks to two new products from Joico Blonde Life that solve a couple of problems unique to blonde hair to keep it shining bright:

Many oils have a yellow, gold, brown or bronze cast to them. When these oils are applied to blonde hair, the hair picks up the cast of the product (especially if blow drying or using any heat tools on the hair), and the blonde tone will turn a degree of brassy. Products that are not formulated to solve or guard against issues
for blondes can make blonde colour dull - problem solved with:

Joico Blonde Life Brilliant Glow Brightening Oil - 100ml - $27.65 - seals in moisture and instantly revs up the radiance of even the lightest hair, nourishing, stengthening and protecting each delicate strand with a mega-watt gleam while banishing frizz and leaving it silky and soft to the touch.

Losing tone or going brassing between colours? Problem solved with:

Joico Blonde Life Brilliant Tone Violet Smoothing Foam - 200ml - $25.95 - a super-light, dual-action styling breakthrough that instantly tones blond hair, banishing brassiness while smoothing and polishing each strand and leaves hair exceptionally smooth, frizz-free, super soft and bright.

Available now at participating Joico salons - to find one near you call 1-800-267-4676 or at  joicocanada.com. 

- Lisamarie -

Oils great for hair, face and body from Schwarzkopf, Pai Skincare and The Body Shop!

Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Oil Nutritive Weightless Oil - 150ml - $9.99 - with frizz-fighting and weightless, non-greasy nourishment for fine to normal hair, especially longer hair prone to split ends. The non-greasy formula with 8 beauty oils and keratin not only nourishes the hair, but also deeply repairs stressed hair structure, for fewer split ends.

Available at drugstores across Canada.

Pai Skincare Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil - 30ml - $40 - contains a highly concentrated blend of organic rosehip fruit and seed oil - rich in omegas to help regenerate skin and beta-carotene - acts as an antioxidant, helping to provide protection against free radicals such as UV light and pollution. With regular use, it deeply conditions skin, improving firmness and elasticity and promoting a clear, even skin tone, as well it can be used to improve: dry patches, flaky patches, blemishes, dull skin tone, fine lines, scars, and sun damage.

Available at Murale and select Shoppers Drug Mart BeautyBoutique locations across Canada.

The Body Shop Spa Of The World French Lavender Relaxing Massage Oil - 170ml - $20 - with lavender essential oil from the south of France which has a natural relaxing scent which promotes a sense of well-being and soothes body and mind.

Available at The Body Shop locations across Canada and online at thebodyshop.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Kérastase Aura Botanica offers beautiful hair in a natural way!

Kérastase has gone super green with the launch of their Aura Botanica hair care range which is 98% of natural origin - refining nature into a luxurious experience featuring handpicked Samoan coconut and Moroccan argan oils, with no silicones, no sulfates, and no parabens - for effective care to enhance natural, lightly devitalized hair - leaving it resplendent, glowing and reawakened to its natural beauty.

Available in the collection:

Botanica Bain Micellaire - 250ml - $45 - revolutionizes natural cleansing without sulfates or silicones that instead comes from naturally effective and foaming active ingredients found in Samoan coconut oil so there is no added weight, coating or oiliness - for hair that can truly breathe, glowing with healthy vitality and the feeling of clean, liberated hair. The gentle yet effective cleansing removes all impurities, preparing hair fibres to receive the optimal benefits of:

Botanica Soin Fondamental - 200ml - $50 - with a lightweight, creamy texture that instantly melts into hair fibres for 48 hours of deep, durable nutrition and frizz control. Detangling, even without silicones, is easy thanks to a high concentration of natural oils - coconut, argan and sunflower - that are all in perfect affinity with hair. Just leave on for up to five minutes, then rinse for hair that is strengthened from within, smooth and soft to the touch.

Aura Botanica Essence d'Éclat - 100ml - $57 - a lightweight, ultra-fine mist that nourishes hair for two days, while offering three days of anti-frizz control. It has a bi-phase formula - the first phase has four highly nutritious oils - jojoba, avocado, coconut and argan - and for the senses, a touch of sweet orange essential oil. The second water phase contains a dilution of subtly scented damask rose water for added hydration. Just shake well and the oil molecules become suspended in the water, ready to be released in the form of a fine mist that delivers the beneficial oils deep within the hair. It can either be sprayed onto towel-dried hair; misted over dry hair to boost softness and glow or even applied as a finish product to hair ends.

Aura Botanica Concentré Essentiel - 50ml - $60 - offers customizable care for hair that needs added nutrition with a DIY solution that is packed with 99% natural origin ingredients for an utmost pure boost of replenishing energy including: avocado oil - rich in omega 6 and 9, adds softness and shine;  jojoba oil - with its velvety, dry-to-the-touch feel, enhances the sensory allure; argan oil - to tame  frizz and boost nutrition; along with rosemary extract and sweet orange essential oil.

What I really like about this product is how versatile it is: use it for the scalp - massage into a dry or tight scalp before shampooing for added nutrition; as a pre-shampoo for normal to thick, sensitized hair -  massage into hair lengths or ends before shampooing; as a treatment - blend into your Soin Fondamental to add intense conditioning to sensitized hair - for fine hair add 4 to 6 pumps and for medium and thick hair add 4 to 8 pumps before use; and it even works great as a body oil for dry hands and body!

Next to how well hair products works, the next most important thing to me is how they smell and these ones smell great, both soothing and invigorating! The velvety, woody floral accord was developed in collaboration with the perfumers at MANE, as a blend of noble raw materials, essential oils, resinoids and natural extracts. Each ingredient was chosen for its transporting fragrance, its aromatherapy properties and its biodegradability. The top notes vibrate with citrus zests and freshly crushed mint leaves; with a heart of spicy coriander seeds and sparkling pink pepper, enveloped in the purity of white jasmine petals; and base notes that caress with warm amber woods, subtly blended with Indonesian patchouli leaves and vanilla pods for a lingering sensation of absolute comfort - yum!

Available now in Kérastase salons and online at kerastase.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Bring dry hair back to life with Phyto Phytoelixir!

Phyto now has a way to give  ultra-dry hair the moisture and nourishment it's been craving thanks to it's new Phytoelixir line - which offers multi-benefits for needy hair - it hydrates and improves elasticity; nourishes and strengthens; and replenishes and protects - to repair and leave ultra-dry and damaged hair luxuriously soft and beautiful.

Available in the collection:

Subtle Oil Intense Nutrition - 75ml - $45 - a luxurious, renewal pre-shampoo oil with a fine, lightweight and easy-to-rinse, 98% natural and botanical formula that effortlessly penetrates into each strand.

Super rich in Vitamin E and ultra- nourishing egg yolk which blends with camellia and karanja oils to regenerate and protect the hair fiber from external aggressors for hair that feels immediately replenished and its original softness, elasticity and shine are restored.

Intense Nutrition Shampoo - 200ml - $30 - with a sulfate-free, gentle foaming formula that renews ultra-dry hair.

Narcissus flower wax is blended with encapsulated macadamia oil along with saponaria extract to replenish essential lipids and immediately transform hair and leave it soft, supple and hydrated with new radiance and the promise of long-lasting results.

Cleansing Care Cream - 75ml - $30 - a super concentrated, non-lathering cream that gently cleanses the hair and scalp while infusing hair with an unprecedented dose of care to give ultra-dry, impossibly thick hair with instant nourishment gratification.

It features narcissus flower to immerse hair in nourishment, softness and total beauty and works in tandem with lipid-rich, encapsulated macadamia oil designed to optimize continuous release of the essential lipids to the hair and provides long-lasting anti-dryness protection leaving hair incredibly soft and supple without the need to condition after.

Intense Nutrition Mask - 200ml - $54 - an indulgently rich mask that melts into a luxurious hair rescuer that transforms even the driest, most porous hair but is light enough that even the finest hair can use it too.

With a nutrient rich formula that includes narcissus flower wax, a beauty powerhouse envelops hair in prodigious nourishment while fatty acid rich macadamia oil replenishes hair lipids with the promise of new suppleness and radiance. It's encapsulated in chronospheres designed to offer continuous release to the hair, protecting it against the recurring drying-out process for hair that is  infinitely soft to the touch and totally manageable.

Available now at Murale and beautyboutique.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Sebastian Dark Oil Hair Oil

Sebastian Dark Oil Hair Oil - 95ml - $49.95 - a major multi-tasker that enables new levels of style creation, replenishes hair from the inside out, smoothes the cuticle and adds body.

The clever technology in the oil is DiffusX - which defies resistance to flow, for a better glide of the oil down the hair and more precise application without overloading. The formula’s unique polymers replenish the hair from the inside out providing smoothness to the cuticle and body for endless style creation. Then, DiffusX defies gravity for instant results: it vanishes within seconds, leaving nothing but long-lasting results behind. 

You also have to love the scent - an intoxicating blend of sandalwood, cedarwood and argan oils - to add delicious shine.

Available at salons across Canada - find one near you at www.sebastianprofessional.com.

- Lisamarie -

Crave-worthy oils from Hard Candy, Kerastase and Neutrogena!

Hard Candy Blooming Lip Oil - $7.48 - in 2 shades that go on clear and react with your pH to create a unique hue: Zen Strawberry - pink tint and Blooming Peach - coral tint - a hydrating oil-gel lip treatment that instantly melts to quench dry, chapped lips for up to 8 hours with an ultra-shiny formula packed with 10+ essential oils, that penetrate beneath surface to repair and heal. 

I love the wet shine gloss finish - it's a little colour and a lot of moisture and shine!

Available exclusively at Walmart stores across Canada.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Voluptuous Beautifying Oil Mist - 100ml - $56 - a lightweight, bi-phase oil for hair in need of shine and volume but don't want to weigh down hair with typical oils. Its Oléo-Complex offers regenerative and antioxidant properties for hair that appears strenghthened, reinforced and volumized with enhanced shine. Hair is nourished and protected with a lightweight finish and a soft touch thanks to this combination of active oils while frizz is also tamed. 

My fine hair loves this oil - it's so light that it doesn't take away what sad bit of volume I have and adds fabulous shine!

Available now in Kérastase salons across Canada and online at kerastase.ca.

Neutrogena Sesame Body Oil - 250ml - $11.99 - a lightweight, fast absorbing oil with a delicately light sesame formula that glides on easily to moisturize skin. It's so sheer it vanishes into shower damp skin with no residue to seal in moisture and leave skin soft and silky with a radiant, healthy-looking glow. 

I like to add a few drops to my bathwater to soften my skin while I bathe - just keep in mind that if you are adding bubbles too, not all brands react well with oil and might refuse to bubble!

Available at drug, grocery and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Repair damaged hair with an oil from Live Clean, Saryna Key and Dove!

Live Clean Keratin Oil Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner - 350ml - $6.99 - deeply hydrates and strengthens the hair, restores smoothness and helps straighten hair, diminishes frizz and seals split ends with keratin oil, Brazilian buriti oil, macadamia nut oil and wild flower honey for hair that has lustre, silky movement and shine.

Available at Loblaws, London Drugs, Lawtons Drugs, Safeway, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobey's East, Walmart and Uniprix.

Saryna Key Pure African Shea Oil - 110ml - $50 - a lightweight, easily absorbed damage repair oil treatment that is great for conditioning and strengthening dry, damaged hair with split ends without leaving a residue. It leaves hair soft, manageable, hydrated, and with brilliant shine. It's made with shea butter - a natural source of keratin that is used to repair hair - that coats it, leaving it soft, shiny and well moisturized. Along with vitamins and amino acids that are used to penetrate the hair cuticle and restore from root to end.

It can be applied to damp or dry hair - the key to great results is the amount you use and where you apply it. The package tells you to apply it from the roots to the ends and that might work fine if you have really, really thick hair, but everyone else should avoid the root area or your hair will just end up looking greasy instead of lustrous - but if you lightly massage in just a few drops from the middle to the ends, your hair will look soft and shiny from the very first use! I have fine, chin-length hair and use 2 drops so you can gauge the amount you would need from that - and don't wash your hands after applying to get rid of the excess, instead rub it into your knees, elbows, heels or anything else dry you've got going on for the same great moisturizing effects!

You can find Saryna Key products at over 300 hair salons across Canada as well as Trade Secrets - check out www.tradesecrets.ca and www.sarynakeycanada.com for more info and to find a location near you!

Dove Regenerative Nourishment Serum-In-Oil - 50ml - $9.99 - for smooth and shiny hair that is manageable and has less breakage thanks to a  formula containing a red algae + keratin NutriComplex - specifically designed for damaged, over-processed hair, making it smoother and stronger against breakage - as if damage never happened. The line also contains a shampoo and conditioner if you like to be matchy-matchy.

Available now at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Restore smooth sleek fluid beauty to the hair with Nexxus Oil Infinite!

Nexxus introduces the Oil Infinite line - designed to replenish and deeply nourish each hair strand with a  formulation of  100% Elastin Protein along with natural Babassu and Marula oils, known for their antioxidant properties, that helps seal in luminosity and radiant shine and works to renew hair texture and restore smooth, sleek, fluid beauty.

Available in the collection:

Oil Infinite Shampoo - 400ml - $14.99 -with a silicone-free formula that richly cleanses, replenishing lipids and nourishing hair from within to make it manageable, less prone to breakage and smooth and shiny.

Oil Infinite Conditioner - 400ml - $17.99 - seals in nourishment, rich luminosity and restores the protective barrier leaving hair fortified, balanced and hydrated without weighing it down.

Oil Infinite Nourishing Hair Oil - 100ml - $19.99 - formulated with a rich 6 oil blend including Macadamia oil, pure Amazonian Babassu Oil which has been used for generations as a rich emollient, and African Marula Oil renowned for its healing properties. This rich versatile oil infusion encapsulates hair, nourishes deep within and replenishes the lipid layer on the surface for restored natural resilience for hair that is regenerated, healthy looking, fortified, shiny and manageable - that flows smoothly and moves like liquid gold.

Available now at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Must-have oils for face, lips and hair from Smashbox, Physicians Formula and Shu Uemura Art Of Hair!

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil - 30ml - $49 - a specially formulated primer in a lightweight, luxurious oil, infused with a blend of 15 essential and lipid-rich plant oils that penetrates instantly to moisturize the face for seamless foundation application and a dewy, youthful finish.

It preps skin for makeup in two different ways: by sitting on top of the complexion to smooth its texture, while it absorbs directly into the skin to hydrate and boost moisturization; and reducing the appearance of dry, fine lines and leaves skin with a glowing look.

Now I loves me an oil-pretty much anything but I have to admit, I was a little skeptical of the idea of an oil primer - I had visions of slick skin and my foundation sliding off my face - so wrong - think glowy! The formula is super-light, soaks right in and gives skin a brightness that you just won't get from your regular lotion primer. It also has chamomile and lavender oils in it so it smells very calming - who can't use that first thing in the morning?! The only caution I will make is don't apply foundation immediately after the primer -  give it a few minutes to soak right in - and don't waste whatever oil is left over on your fingers - dry cuticles, knees, elbows and split ends will love it!

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix, Murale, Sephora, sephora.ca and beautyboutique.ca.

Physicians Formula Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing Argan Lip Oil Duo - $14.79 - in Liquid Gold/Pink - a revolutionary lip 100% pure argan oil treatment that works to condition, hydrate, revive and replenish lips instantly and long term for a non-sticky luminous shine and a hint of natural colour for a healthy, more youthful looking pout.

Available now at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

Shu Uemura Art Of Hair Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil - 150ml - $69 - a nourishing and protective essence infused with camellia oil that helps protect the hair fiber against dryness, frizz and UV damage while providing intense nutrition.

Available at participating Shu Uemura Art of Hair salons and online at www.shuuemura.ca.

- Lisamarie - 

Garnier Whole Blends introduces a recipe for naturally beautiful hair!

Hungry hair can now be satiated with their new Garnier Whole Blends collection - with a full range of repairing, hydrating and protecting formulas blended with natural extracts sourced from around the globe.

They promise to be great for your hair with paraben-free, natural blend formulas containing gentle and effective sulfates; help communities with their Whole Trade Community Source Program that sources Argan from Morocco, Honey from Cameroon and Cocoa from Ghana; and the world a greener place by making the bottles from 30% post-consumer recycled waste in a facility committed to sustainability by reducing waste and water consumption - and to top it all off, they smell great!

There are 6 blends available:

Nourishing Avocado Oil & Shea Butter - enriched with a rich blend of ultra-moisturizing South African Avocado Oil and restoring Shea Butter from West Africa to deeply replenish and restore hair.

Shampoo & Conditioner - 370ml - $5.99, 650ml - $8.99
Rinse-Out Mask - 300ml - $8.99

Smoothing Coconut Oil & Cocoa Butter - infused with South Pacific Coconut Oil, India's original hair secret for smoothness, and Cocoa Butter from West Africa renowned for it's nourishing virtues to tame and control frizzy hair.

Shampoo & Conditioner - 370ml - $5.99, 650ml - $8.99
Leave-In Conditioner - 300ml - $8.99
Smoothing Oil - 100ml - $8.99

Hydrating Coconut Water & Vanilla Milk - with Indian Coconut Water, known for its replenishing properties, blended with Madagascar Vanilla Milk, celebrated for its smooth, silky texture, to quench and soften hair.

Shampoo, Conditioner & 2-in-1 - 370ml - $5.99, 650ml - $8.99
Rinse-Out Mask - 300ml - $8.99
Repairing Honey Treasures - enriched with a delicate blend of intensely nourishing Honey, revitalizing Royal Jelly and protecting Propolis to strengthen and heal damaged hair.

Shampoo & Conditioner - 370ml - $5.99, 650ml - $8.99
Rinse-Out Mask - 300ml - $8.99
Colour Care Argan Oil & Cranberry - infused with Argan Oil, native to Morocco and Cranberry Extract bursting with protective antioxidants to protect colour and reveal radiant hair.

Shampoo & Conditioner - 370ml - $5.99, 650ml - $8.99
Rinse-Out Mask - 300ml - $8.99
Refreshing Green Apple & Green Tea - East meets West with a good for you combination of hand-selected North American Farm Harvest Apple and invigorating Chinese Green Tea to revitalize and boost shine.

Shampoo, Conditioner & 2-in-1 - 370ml - $5.99, 650ml - $8.99
5-in-1 Lightweight Spray - 300ml - $8.99

Available now at drug and mass market retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Hair-loving oils from Garnier, Rene Furterer and Dove!

Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Miraculous Oil-In-Spray - 150g - $5.79 - a micro-diffused mist that instantly fuses into the fibre to transform hair from the inside-out. Enriched with three weightless and natural fruit oils including apricot, mango and almond that ease styling, nourish hair and protect it from heat leaving hair soft and shiny without heaviness or greasiness. Offers deep nutrition for dry hair and is so light, even fine hair won't feel weighed down.

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

Rene Furterer Solaire KPF 90 Protective Summer Oil - 100ml - $32 -  ensures perfect protection for exposed hair. Its rich texture provides intense nourishment and a radiant wet-effect finish. Includes nutrient rich sesame oil - a natural sunscreen that helps prevent hair from drying out along with a UV filter - to protect the hydrolipidic film from environmental damage - an ideal finishing product for very dry and curly hair to add radiance and shine.

Available at salons across Canada - check out www.renefurterer.com to find one near you.

Dove Pure Care Dry Oil - 100ml - $14.99 - a nourishing, lightweight and luxurious hair treatment with African macadamia oils - with unique dry oil technology that absorbs deep into hair, leaving it protected, sublimely silky, not greasy or weighed down, just soft and shiny.

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Sahajan offers natural products that help you be mindful of what you are putting on your skin!

Introducing Sahajan, a new Canadian brand with a first-of-its-kind blend of organic science along with Ayurvedic remedies - a 5000-year-old Indian system of health care embracing the spiritual, mental and physical aspects of health - developed by Toronto-based, Lisa Mattam, a former pharmaceutical executive. 

She was inspired to create the line after coming to the realization that the kind of product she was using on herself was not something she wanted on her daughter's skin so why was she putting it on herself? This inspired her to create a line of scientifically proven products with natural and plant-based ingredients found within the oils and creams of the home remedies her parents and grandparents used for their families. The products incorporate proven Indian traditions and trusted ingredients as a natural way to protect and nourish skin and hair - without having to worry about what’s in them.

Available in the collection are:

Nourish Face Cream - 50ml - $60 - with a rich, deeply hydrating formula containing triphala - richly concentrated in vitamin C to help brighten the skin; gotu kola - to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and firm skin; and coconut oil - deeply hydrates and adds a glow that makes the skin look brighter.

The scent includes a natural accord of soft cedarwood, East Indian sandalwood oil with traces of exotic warm cinnamon spice, bold geranium and soothing lavender oil topped with fresh bergamot plus lemon, lime and orange oils.

Restorative Eye Cream - 15ml - $45 - restores the delicate skin around the eyes with neem oil - helps minimize the appearance of dark circles; triphala - to brighten the look of skin; and honey - to repair and soothe dry skin.

It shares the same scent as Protective Face Serum and Nourish Face Cream to enhance the Sahajan experience, but in a lighter formulation for use around the delicate eye area.

Ritual Body Oil - 100ml - $55 - pampers dry skin and restores its natural glow while soothing away tension with coconut oil - deeply hydrating and perfectly absorbed to protect skin against dryness; almond oil - to add a beautiful glow while soothing, moisturizing and softening the skin; sesame oil - with properties that can help treat dryness, hydrates, nourishes and protect the look of skin; along with avocado, sunflower, jojoba and camellia oils.

Scented to help promote a sense of well-being through a soothing and relaxing experience with a lush combination of floral oils including rose, lavender, violet and geranium, enhanced by notes of sweet ylang ylang and fresh lemon.

Nurture Hair Oil - 52ml - $50 - helps nourish and repair hair with a silicone free formula containing eclipta alba - helps to repair dry, damaged hair and protect against excessive styling; amla oil - nourishes hair as it grows and helps to maintain hair colour and shine; coconut oil - offers both protection and repair for the hair from environmental impacts such as excessive styling, harsh weather and continued colouring; and almond oil - to add sheen while moisturizing, soothing and protecting.

Soothingly scented with a blend of rich essential oils including velvety Indian sandalwood, cedarwood oil and calming rose oil topped with a hint of warm amber oil and sweet ylang ylang.

And my favourite product from the line:

Protective Face Serum - 30ml - $70 - with a concentrated formula containing triphala - richly concentrated in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps to brighten the look of skin; gotu kola - reduces the appearance of wrinkles and firms the skin; and hyaluronic acid - increases hydration, improves elasticity  and smoothes the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

The scent includes a natural accord of soft cedarwood, East Indian sandalwood oil with traces of exotic warm cinnamon spice, bold geranium and soothing lavender oil topped with fresh bergamot plus lemon, lime and orange oils.

You can also try a little bit of everything with the Discovery Kit - $50 - a tasting-menu-experience of the entire Sahajan Collection with five mini products plus a natural wood compact mirror in a stylish linen makeup bag.

I love the scent of the whole line, it smells like an expensive spa. The textures are also great - with all the oil based ingredients you might expect them to be greasy but they are anything but - the products are smooth, silky and quickly absorbed. I'm loving the Protective Face Serum - it's perfect on it's own on my combination skin right now and once it gets colder and my skin becomes drier, I can layer it under the Nourish Face Cream.
 
All of the Sahajan products are formulated to meet both natural and organic certification standards, which require the use of 80% organic ingredients from environmentally friendly practices and also that 95% of the ingredients come from natural origins.

Sahajan products are now available online at www.sahajan.com, at Homesmith in Toronto, Bhavana Yoga Boutique in Halifax and across the U.S. at www.joyus.com.

- Lisamarie -

Affordable, fabulous smelling oils for the face, hair and body from Palmer's, Lipidol and The Body Shop!

All skin loves an oil cleanser even oily and especially sensitive as traditional cleansing methods can dry and strip skin of healthy natural oils and disrupt pH, causing an over-production of oil - that's right if you have oily skin, overly-aggressive cleaning will only make it even more oily! 

Palmer's Skin Therapy Cleansing Oil - 190ml - $7.99 -a one-step facial cleansing oil that deep cleans, brightens complexion and balances skins pH. Our exclusive blend of key ingredients removes make-up & impurities, is non-stripping, non-drying, won’t clog pores and The formula combines antioxidant-rich pure cleansing oils: grapeseed, jojoba and rosehip oil along with cocoa butter and vitamin C, to deep clean and purify without stripping or drying the skin or clogging pores for cleaner, clearer, softer-looking skin that will smell good thanks to the rosehip fragrance..

Available now at Walmart stores across Canada.

Oil moisturizers are especially great going into the coming cold season - if the idea of wearing oil on your face during the day freaks you out then do it overnight when your skin is at it's optimal repairing level with:

Lipidol Overnight Face Oil - 50ml - $8.97 - supplements the skin's natural oily layer while increasing moisture retention and enhancing overnight rejuvenation. Lightly fragranced with the essential oils of ylang-ylang and black pepper.

Part of a new Lipidol line of very affordable oil products which also includes: Cleansing Face Oil - 125ml - $8.97, Cleansing Body Oil - 200ml - $8.97, After Shower Oil - 175ml - $8.97, After Shave Oil - 100ml - $8.97.

Available exclusively at Walmart stores across Canada and online at walmart.ca.

The Body Shop Spa Of The World Polynesian Monoi Radiance Body & Hair Oil - 170ml - $20 - a scented blend of coconut oil and tiare flowers that gives a glow to skin and lustre to hair. Massage into damp skin or comb through damaged hair when dry.

Part of the new The Body Shop Spa Of The World collection where you can also travel to all kinds of exotic places: Egyptian Milk & Honey Bath - 250g - $20, Himalayan Charcoal Body Clay - 200ml - $22, African Ximenia Scrub - 350ml - $30, Japanese Camellia Cream - 350ml - $35, French Lavender Massage Oil - 170ml - $20, Dead Sea Salt Scrub - 350ml - $30, Moroccan Rhassoul Body Clay - 200ml - $22, Thai Lemongrass Massage Oil - 170ml - $20, Hawaiian Kukui Cream - 350ml - $35, Tahitian Orchid Massage Oil - 170ml - $20

Available at The Body Shop and online at www.thebodyshop.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Marc Anthony Kinky Girls with Wild Curls Collection

It's true, I have the least curly hair known to man so can tell you nothing from experience about this line but man, I sure do love the name - so how could I not share:

Marc Anthony Kinky Girls with Wild Curls -  takes natural curls to the pro level and is meant for someone looking for the elusive perfect curl - a mix of softness and spring without looking contrived or dry - leaving them full of moisture, shine, softness and shape.

Available in the collection:

Sulfate Free Shampoo - 250ml - $10.99 - gently cleanses unruly curls while hydrating, adding shine and blocking humidity.

Sulfate Free Conditioner - 250ml - $10.99 - detangles unruly curls into soft, manageable, frizz-free curls with shine while it blocks humidity.

Exotic Oil Treatment - 50ml - $10.99 - smoothes frizz and blocks humidity while defining, softening and adding shine to extra coarse, dry curls

All the products benefit from a coconut, avocado and argan oil blend that carries the moisture where it is most needed, beneath the cuticle. The molecular structure of these oils are formed in such a way that they can penetrate the cuticle, not only assisting in bringing their nutrients into the hair, but also leaving a bit on the surface of the hair as their saturation rate is not 100% - along with shea butter to help nurture damaged hair while adding moisture to help prevent future breakage and drying.

Available now at retailers across Canada including Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmaprix, Walmart and Loblaws.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Joico K-Pak Color Therapy Dry Oil Spray!

I love an oil - especially those for the hair - hair oils can be deeply nourishing, finishing hair with a fantastic shine - but they can also be very heavy and not very fun to apply, transferring to skin and making a mess so I was thrilled to find:

Joico K-Pak Color Therapy Dry Oil Spray - 212ml - $21.55 - with a super-light, ultra-fine mist that instantly increases shine by 63% and reduces breakage by over 75%. Other benefits include: instantly increasing colour vibrancy and repairing damaged cuticles to lock in colour and lock out frizz to leave hair replenished, soft and smooth - and is colourless so safe to use on all hair colours - even blonde!

The formula contains nourishing oils and Joico's Bio-Advanced Peptide Complex for incomparable reparative effects and β-Layer resurfacing technology - an exclusive blend of polymers designed to combat lifted and torn cuticles from damages resulted from colouring, bleaching and perming - to replenish nutrients and bond tears
together. The technology helps form a protective hydrophobic (water repelling) barrier on the hair’s surface, preventing absorption of atmospheric moisture, which can cause frizz and unresponsive hair. Ultimately, the treatment smooths the surface of strands, resulting in a polished, reflective finish.

There are different ways you can use the product - by spraying directly on the hair or spray on your brush and then brushing it through the hair. I like the brush method because I feel like I get more even distribution even in the back. I also add a spray of it to my hair gel - I take a dab of gel in my palm, add a spray of  the oil and then mix it together before applying - it makes the gel less thick and sticky which is great for my fine hair!

Available now at salons across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Herbal Essences Wild Naturals Illuminating Collection!

After a long, tough winter, I have been trying to add some life back into my hair and get rid of the dull look. I have finally found something that makes is super-shiny - the Herbal Essences Wild Naturals Illuminating Collection - with three products that help reveal hair's natural radiance:

Illuminating Shampoo - 400ml - $7.99 - with a shine-boosting, cleansing formula that revives strands with activated Cassia seeds to strengthen against damage and breakage and infuses strands with a refreshing seaberry scent.

Illuminating Conditioner - 400ml - $7.99 - boosts softness, shine and reveals hair's natural radiance while leaving it healthy and strong
against damage and breakage and infused with refreshing seaberry essence.

Dry Oil Spray - 85ml - $10.99 - infuses hair with radiance with a seaberry-enriched hair oil that amplifies natural luster by hydrating and sealing each strand for a radiant, glossy look and vibrant shine.

Available now at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with...OGX Hydrate + Repair Argan Oil of Morocco Extra Strength Miracle In-Shower Oil!

OGX Hydrate + Repair Argan Oil of Morocco Extra Strength Miracle In-Shower Oil - 200ml - $10.99 - a multi-tasking marvel that you use in the shower by: adding a few drops to shampoo or conditioner for a boost of hydration, smoothing onto clean hair to prevent damage and heal split ends; applying to hair for a hydrating pre-shampoo treatment; and moisturizing skin from head to toe.

Part of the new OGX Hydrate + Repair Argan Oil of Morocco Extra Strength collection that also includes Shampoo, Conditioner and Creamy Hair Butter - for hair in need of serious repair that was developed to deliver intense nourishment and care for even the most severely dry, damaged hair that drenches the hair with moisture, strengthening from within to create soft and supremely shiny hair.

Also new from OGX - Healing + Vitamin E collection which includes a Shampoo, Conditioner and Penetrating Oil - developed to repair damaged hair and restore vitality with the healing and reparative properties of Vitamin E to smooth the surface of the hair, combating frizz and mending split-ends while reducing the risk of further breakage. And:

Moisture + Vitamin B5 collection which includes a Shampoo, Conditioner and Weightless Oil Mist - with nutrient-rich Vitamin B5 to correct and protect hair, delivering a surge of moisture to stressed strands while providing defense against daily environmental aggressors and future damage.

Available now at Shoppers Drug Mart and Walmart.

- Lisamarie -