All the best in Vitamin C serums that won't break the bank from Marcelle, Stratia and Skin Republic!

Vitamin C is a powerhouse skin care ingredients that you really need more of in your life. Not only does it do all the wonderful things that you would want - hydrate, brighten, promote collagen production, help fade hyperpigmentation, protect against sun damage - it is also totally compatible with other skin care actives, so you can add it to your routine without having to take anything away that you might already love. Of course the downside to vitamin C products is that the ones that work best can also often be expensive - totally worth it, but not in everyone's budget - so here are a few of my faves that won't break the bank:

 

Marcelle 10% Vitamin C + Probiotic Serum - 30ml - $39.99 - with a unique clean formula that combines the antioxidant power of vitamin C with the soothing benefits of probiotics to improve the skin's natural glow, even skin tone and help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

 

The formula contains 10% stabilized Vitamin C which helps to smooth the skin and revive its radiance along with probiotics to strengthen the skin's microbiome and protect the skin barrier, restore the skin's instinctive defense and enhance the resilience of sensitive skin for a complexion that is radiant and bright.

 

I especially like the dropper format that it comes in which makes it very easy to control the amount of product used and absolutely no weird vitamin C smells!

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

Stratia C+C Serum - 30ml - $25 - a silky smooth, water-free formula that brightens, smooths and firms skin with a daily antioxidant boost featuring 15% vitamin C to brighten; ascorbic acid to help prevent premature aging by neutralizing free radicals caused by UV damage and pollution; ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, an oil-soluble vitamin C derivative that fights free radicals and brightens skin tone; and CoQ10 to promote healthy, youthful skin.

 

Available online at https://www.stratiaskin.com/products/cc-serum

Skin Republic Vitamin C 6% + Alpha Arbutine Brightening Serum - 30ml - $20 - helps visibly even pigmentation and reduce the visible appearance of dark spots, leaving skin with a bright and luminous complexion. 

 

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

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Olay Regenerist Hyaluronic + Peptide 24 Hydrating Gel!

The cold weather is back (boo!) and my skin sure is feeling it so this is the time of year that I switch my summer/fall serum up for a full-on moisturizer. My skin is picky of course and wants moisture that isn't too much moisture - so I find a hydrating gel is usually the way to go - and this one doesn't disappoint!

 

Olay Regenerist Hyaluronic + Peptide 24 Hydrating Gel - 50ml - $44.99 - with a fragrance-free, hydrating and clean gel formula that feels smooth and absorbs quickly, penetrating up to 10 surface layers of the skin, with no sticky or tacky feeling so it can be worn seamlessly under makeup.

 

The formula is chock-full of hyaluronic acid along with niacinamide and peptides for instant hydration that lasts 24 hours, visibly healthier-looking skin after 2 weeks and supple and radiant skin that glows after a month! 

 

Also available in the collection is a Serum ($44.99), Eye Cream ($44.99) and Cleanser ($15.99)

 

And if you are looking to try it out or to gift it to a bestie whose skin needs a good drink there is a great gift set at Shoppers Drug Mart that includes the cleanser and moisturizer for $55.99!

Available now at drugstores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Great Gifting - Physicians Formula The Greatest Hits Butter Bronze & Glow Face Palette

Physicians Formula The Greatest Hits Butter Bronze & Glow Face Palette - $14.99 - with 4 fan-favorite bronzers, blush and highlighter from the Butter Collection including: two Murumuru Butter Bronzers in Light Bronzer and Deep Bronzer; a Murumuru Butter Blush in Vintage Rouge; and a Murumuru Butter Highlighter in Tropical Sands so you can smooth, sculpt, and contour to your heart’s content. 

 

Not only do the powders look great, they also feel amazing - made with a blend of murumuru butter, cupuaçu butter and tucuma butter from the nutrient-rich Amazon, this skin-loving makeup is packed with essential fatty acids and pro-vitamins that soften, condition and moisturize the skin.

 

You can find some of the Physicians Formula holiday gift sets at Shoppers - but this one you will have to order on Amazon - but there is still lots of time to do it before Christmas! (or if you are in the US you can get it in person at Walgreens)

 

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... the Quo Beauty Holiday Collection!

The Quo Beauty holiday collection never disappoints and 2022 is no exception! From luxe sets and palettes to tiny treasures to stuff your stocking with, you can find it all!

 

My fave item this season is the All The Glam Brush Set - $26 - six travel sized brushes with glitzy handles and luxurious, easy to clean 100% synthetic fiber bristles that fit perfectly into the tin canister to provide a chic way to store and protect them at home or on the go - including: Powder Brush,  Foundation Brush, Crease Brush, All-Over Shadow Brush, Smudge Brush, Pointed Liner Brush and a Tin Canister.  

Others you need to check out include: Deluxe Lip Gloss Set - $20.00 - with 8 shades from peach to plum to make it easy to find the perfect lip gloss shade for your everyday wear or evenings out; Fresh Start Hydrogel Eye Patches - $12.00 - a pair of hydrogel eye patches that help keep the under-eye area bright and moisturized; and the always favourite Quo Beauty Cosmetic Crackers in Red or Gold -  $18.00 - a six-piece set of holiday crackers - crack one open for a glossy surprise!

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

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal Le Parfum

Jean Paul Gaultier has brought Scandal back and it's more intense than ever with...

 

Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal Le Parfum - 50ml - $122, 80ml - $158 - an amber floral fragrance with top notes of radiant jasmine and sparkling mandarin; a heart of indulgent salted caramel; and a sweet base of black vanilla.

 

The fragrance has a nice sweetness but has a little too much floral in it for my taste - but the bottle is unforgettable - shiny, lacquered red with silver accents including a pair of up-in-the-air legs - even the box is luxurious and different - all draped in vermilion velvet!

Available now at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart and Jean Coutu stores across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Stratia Interface Firming & Repairing Peptide Cream!

Stratia Interface Firming & Repairing Peptide Cream - 50ml - $25 - a quick absorbing, daily moisturizer enriched with barrier-strengthening peptides upregulate filaggrin, loricrin and keratin -  to keep skin strong and resilient while reducing transepidermal water loss; along with panthenol, rosehip seed oil, hyaluronic acid and squalane - to nourish, moisturize, and plump; while licorice root and allantoin gently brighten and even skin tone - combined in a luxurious formula that melts into your skin to help hydrate, firm and repair with each use for healthy, bouncy, rested skin.

 

What's interesting to me is that these aren't your  ordinary peptides, but actually encapsulated and lined with targeting peptides strategically engineered to release when and where they’re supposed to, to reduce wrinkles and stimulate the production of essential proteins for healthier skin from this inside out. Sounds like science fiction - but unlike time travel, I actually kind of understand it (and doesn't have the potential to wreck everything)! I also really like the weight of the formula, it soaks right in and my foundation goes easily over it without piling. If you like to layer it also works well with other products.  

 

Best of all, no weird smells, which at the end of the day is what really makes or breaks a product for me!

 

Formulated and bottled by hand in Los Angeles, it's vegan, cruelty-free and free of common irritants like fragrance, alcohol and essential oils.

 

Available online at https://www.stratiaskin.com/products/interface.

 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Le Parfum

Carolina Herrera redefines the iconic Bad Boy scent with an electrifying new formula that's bolder than before...

 

Bad Boy Le Parfum - 50ml - $102, 100ml - $138, 150ml - $180 - with top notes of grapefruit and hemp; heart notes of black pepper and geranium; and base notes of leather and vetiver for a scent that is unapologetic, authentic and mysterious.

 

I'm a fan of men's fragrance with grapefruit in them so I was already prepared to like it, although I do find that grapefruit tends to fade quickly - but not in this case - the grapefruit lingers while the spicy heart notes gives the fragrance some real kick with the vetiver adding some soothing green notes - overall I am loving this one - and the lightning bolt bottle is just cool!

 

Available at Hudson's Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora and Jean Coutu stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca.

And of course there is a fun commercial to go with it...

- Lisamarie -

The latest and greatest in serums from Avon Anew, Trinny London and Vichy!

Help keep time at bay with:

 

Avon Anew Platinum Age Delay Serum - 30ml - $84 - a fast penetrating serum that visibly minimizes multiple signs of aging with an innovative antioxidant technology containing niacinamide (vitamin B3) and panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) plus collagen-stimulating peptides. Use morning and night before moisturizer or great on its own if you have oily/combo skin. And if you are fancy and like a separate night serum, check out the new Avon Anew Ultimate Repair Night Serum - 30ml - $84 - with an advanced restorative formula that diminishes the appearance of fine lines and visibly improves skin and tome and texture.

 

Available online at avon.ca. 

Give your skin back it's bounce with:

 

Trinny London Plump Up Peptide HA Serum - 30ml - $118 - a lightweight yet intense treatment with a high-tech formula chock full of  advanced peptides - that help champion your skin’s collagen and elastin production to plump skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines; hyaluronic acid - brings hydration to quench skin’s thirst and restore bounce - which are clinically proven to visibly firm and lift, the ultimate miracle worker for plump, hydrated skin. 

 

And the nice thing about it, as with all Trinny London products, it's refillable - so when you need a new one, the refill will only set you back $94!

Available online at trinnylondon.com/ca.

Get your glow back with:

 

Vichy Liftactiv Supreme Vitamin C Serum - 20ml - $59.95 - a pure and powerful formula with 15% pure vitamin C, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and Vichy volcanic water to hydrate, brighten, illuminate, even skin tone, firm and visibly reduce fine lines. In just 10 days of use, you can look forward to a complexion that looks brighter, more even and your fine lines will appear reduced.

Available at drugstores across Canada and online at vichy.ca.

 

- Lisamarie -