Low Effort, High Impact: The Tinted Lip Balms Getting Me Through Winter from Naturium, Rare Beauty and r.e.m. beauty!

Confession time: for a beauty blogger, I’m actually pretty low-maintenance most days. Foundation? Optional. Eyeshadow? Rare. But lip colour? Non-negotiable. I will not leave the house without something on my lips - it’s the bare minimum I ask of myself!

 

That said, winter does not care about my aesthetic goals. My lips want moisture, not matte - and while plenty of lipsticks claim to be hydrating, most of them are liars. So this time of year, it’s all about tinted lip balms - maximum moisture, zero discomfort and just enough colour to make me look alive!

 

While you can find tinted balms in just about every shade under the sun, my winter MVPs live firmly in the berry/burgundy/wine family. They perk up pale winter skin without screaming “I tried too hard”, feel less formal than a true red and don’t spotlight the lack of bronzer the way a bright pink or coral tends to. 

 

These are the three currently living rent-free in my purse:

 

Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm in Jam - $14.99 - available in four shades plus clear, but Jam is the one. This sheer berry tint is effortlessly flattering and gives lips that juicy, healthy glow. Packed with shea butter, cupuaçu butter and plant squalane, it cushions and smooths while delivering long-lasting moisture. The finish is glossy but not sticky, and there’s a subtle vanilla scent that feels cozy rather than cloying. Easy, affordable and dangerously reapply-able.

 

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

 

Rare Beauty Find Comfort Lip Butter in Uplifting - $25 - there are three shades plus clear, but Uplifting - a deep, cool berry - has my heart. It melts into lips with sheer, buildable colour and serious hydration thanks to hyaluronic acid butter, shea butter and apple seed oil. Never greasy, never sticky, just soft, smooth, “wow your lips look great” energy and a subtle vanilla scent that will make it hard not to lick your lips. Bonus points for being vegan, cruelty-free, and free of basically everything questionable.

 

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

r.e.m. beauty Essential Drip Glossy Balm in Cherry Cola - $29 - this glossy balm comes in six shades, but Cherry Cola - a warm brown-cherry - is peak winter sophistication. It’s a hydrating lip treatment disguised as a high-shine gloss, powered by hyaluronic acid and antioxidant-rich superfruits. The double-sided applicator makes application weirdly satisfying and the finish gives that sheer, plush colour that makes lips look smoother and healthier instantly. 

 

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

 

Moisturized lips, flattering colour, zero effort - winter beauty really doesn’t have to be complicated!

 

- Lisamarie - 

This week I'm obsessed with... Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask!

If your hair is like mine - feeling dry, damaged and like it’s been through a little too much winter lately, this cult-fave mask is basically rehab in a jar and might be just what you need: 

 

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask - 236ml - $53 - clinically proven to reduce breakage in just 10 minutes and strengthen hair up to two times after three uses thanks to a smart balance of moisture and protein (aka the literal building blocks of healthy hair).

 

The texture is rich and indulgent, but never heavy, leaving hair soft, silky and noticeably stronger without flattening it. Designed for dry, brittle and over-processed strands of all hair types and textures, it’s also one of those feel-good formulas you can really get behind: 97% naturally derived, silicone-free, vegan, cruelty-free and Leaping Bunny certified. How's that for overachiever energy?! 

 

The heavy lifting comes from plant proteins that help replenish missing keratin and reinforce the hair shaft, algae extract packed with antioxidants to nourish and protect and rosehip and sweet almond oils that deliver essential fatty acids to lock in moisture and keep frizz in check. Translation: smoother hair now, healthier hair later. 

 

And if (let's be serious, when) you happen to be browsing Sephora, keep your eyes peeled for the limited-edition birthday version of this mask. It delivers the same iconic repair benefits but with a deliciously sweet scent featuring notes of vanilla, cocoa, jasmine and musk. It’s sold out online, but I managed to snag one in store, so there may still be a few floating around - and trust me, the scent alone is worth the hunt!

 

Available at Sephora stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca, amazon.ca and briogeohair.com.

 

- Lisamarie - 

This week I'm obsessed with... Nudestix Nudies Matte All Over Face Blush Color!

Winter means two things: my skin gets thirstier and powder makeup becomes my enemy. Anything powder just sits on dry skin and highlights all my life choices - so I switch to cream products whenever the temperature drops. Extra moisture? Yes please! Looking shiny like I ran a marathon? Hard no. Enter this little overachiever: 

 

Nudestix Nudies Matte All Over Face Blush Color - $44 - in 10 shades: Bare Back - cool nude, Bubba - warm bubble-gum pink, Cherie - neutral nude rose, In The Nude - neutral nude, Moodie Blu - deep eggplant, Naughty N' Spice - dusty rose nude, Nude Peach - soft peachy coral, Picante - orange-coral, Sunkissed Pink - cool pink and my absolute fave: Sunset Strip - soft coral nude (pictured). 

 

It's a creamy blush that gives you that healthy flush that says “well-rested” even when everyone would otherwise know that I am absolutely lying about that!

 

The formula is creamy, blendable and buildable - swipe it on lightly for a subtle glow or layer it up when you want your cheeks to look alive again. And because it’s an all-over stick, you can dab it on cheeks, eyelids and lips for a chic monochromatic look that only takes 30 seconds and looks very put together. 

 

Now let’s talk packaging, because Nudestix did not come to play! This dual-ended stick includes the blush and a detachable blending brush in a metal case which also has a mirror. It’s basically a makeup minimalist’s dream and perfect for travel, touch-ups or emergency situations that call for a quick pick-me-up. 

 

 Bonus bragging rights: it’s vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free and fragrance-free and formulated without parabens, sulfates or phthalates. 

 

Moisturizing, matte, multi-use and low-maintenance - the winter MVP your makeup bag deserves!

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora stores across Canada and online at nudestix.ca, beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca, sephora.ca and well.ca.

 

- Lisamarie - 

Last-Minute Gifts That Won’t End Up in a Junk Drawer from Quo Beauty, Cowbell Brewing Co. and Good Luck Socks!

We’re officially down to the wire. Christmas is 2 weeks away and while I’m sure the ultra-organized among us had all their gifts wrapped and labelled back in November, the rest of us are panic-scrolling and whispering “it’s fine” into our coffee mugs. 

 

Some people are easy to shop for - they’ll hand you a list, a link and possibly a coupon code. Others are vague, mysterious and fully expect you to read their mind. But the hardest gifts? The people you don’t know super well but still feel obligated to buy for. You know the ones: your hairdresser, yoga instructor, kids’ teachers, gift-exchange randoms… and yes, somehow your spouse still ends up on this list! You could of course go the gift card route but to me, any gift card under $50 is kind of cheap so physical gifts are preferred for this.

 

The goal here: thoughtful, useful gifts that won’t live forever in the back of their closet. Bonus points if they feel a little indulgent - let’s go! 

 

Quo Beauty Gift Sets (aka: one-stop shopping salvation) 

 

Quo Beauty has seriously stepped up their gift-set game. What started as mostly makeup and brush sets has expanded into a little bit of everything, making it dangerously easy to grab all your gifts in one Shoppers Drug Mart run. Personally, I’m obsessed with: 

 

Quo Beauty 12 Days of Bath - $27 

An advent calendar, but make it self-care. Open a door a day and uncover bathy, spa-adjacent goodness designed to turn even the quickest rinse into a moment of calm. 

Inside you’ll find: 

A Bath Mesh Sponge for extra-foamy, luxurious lather 

A Fuzzy Scrunchie because cozy hair accessories are elite 

A Satin Sleep Mask for beauty sleep (or blocking out family chaos) 

30ml Shower Gel with a holiday-inspired scent

30ml Hand Cream for winter-ravaged hands  

30ml Bubble Bath to transform bath night into spa night 

 A Nail File for tidy tips all season 

2 Bath Fizzers for a fragrant, fizzy soak 

A Shower Steamer to make even a shower feel fancy 

Spiral Hair Bands that don’t pull or crease 

A Sparkle Hair Clip because a little shimmer never hurt anyone 

It’s cute, practical, and universally appealing - the trifecta of gifting success!

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada, Real Canadian Superstore and I've also seen it at Loblaws. 

 

Alternatively, check out the Hand Cream Collection - 5 x 50ml - $15 - because the scents are amazing and let's face it, everyone has hands (probably at least 2)!

When in doubt… alcohol! 

 

I firmly believe you mostly can’t go wrong with alcohol (unless the recipient is under 19, in which case parents tend to get weirdly opinionated). Instead of defaulting to a basic bottle of wine, mix things up with something more fun: 

 

Cowbell Brewing Co. Winter Mixer 2025 - $21.95 6 x 473ml featuring: 

 

Hazy Days Juicy IPA, Absent Landlord Kölsch, Shindig Lager, Cerveza Mexican-Style Lager, West Coast IPA, and Chocolate Raspberry Pudding Cake Stout. 

 

From hop-forward IPAs to a full-on dessert stout inspired by holiday chocolate treats, this pack is perfect for beer lovers who like variety. Standouts include: 

West Coast IPA – crisp, citrusy, piney, and unapologetically bitter (as it should be) 

Chocolate Raspberry Pudding Cake Stout – smooth, decadent, and basically dessert in a can

 

Available at LCBO stores across Canada and online at cowbellbrewing.com. 

 

Socks: the glow-up we didn’t see coming... 

 

Socks used to be the universal “I tried… barely” gift. Not anymore. These days, you can find literally any colour, pattern or personality imaginable! Grab a pair as a stocking stuffer, or go big with: 

 

Good Luck Sock – Sock of the Month Club - 6 months - $80 | 12 months - $160 

 

Truly the gift that keeps on giving. One fun, quirky pair of socks delivered straight to their mailbox every month - with free shipping across North America. It’s practical, fun and makes it seem like you put in way more thought than you actually did!

 

Check it out at goodlucksock.ca. 

 

There you go: thoughtful gifts, minimal effort, maximum appreciation. Now go forth and conquer that last-minute shopping like the festive procrastinator you are!

 

- Lisamarie - 

Great Gifting - Skin Care Sets from La Rosee, Olay and Clarins!

Dare I say - I live for holiday skin care sets! They’re perfect for testing out new brands, dabbling in new products and mentally justifying splurges that would otherwise make my credit card quietly weep. Here are just a few of the ones that have caught my eye this season…

 

New brand (and yes, I was absolutely seduced by the packaging):

 

La Rosee Nourishing Face Routine Set - $67 - when the packaging is this pretty, resistance is futile. This perfectly paired duo brings together the Nourishing Stick Mask (50ml) and the Face Moisturizer with Organic Shea Butter (60ml) to comfort, soothe and deeply hydrate dry skin. Used daily, the rich yet comforting moisturizer keeps skin feeling soft, plump and happy, while the targeted mask swoops in to rescue extra-dry areas. The result? Skin that looks fresh, radiant, and very well taken care of!

New product - because somehow I have lived my life without trying this classic:

 

Olay Regenerist Duo Pack - $45.99 - I know, I know - everyone knows Olay. But I’ve never actually tried the legendary Micro-Sculpting Cream… until now that is. This duo pairs the Detoxifying Pore Scrub Cleanser (150ml) with the iconic Micro-Sculpting Cream (50ml) for a mini spa moment at home. The cleanser gently exfoliates and deep-cleans to prep the skin, while the cult-favourite cream swoops in with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and amino-peptide complex II to plump, smooth, and hydrate. Wrinkles look softer, skin looks brighter and honestly? I get the hype now! Especially with the (frigid) weather being the way it has, this cream has been instrumental in keeping my skin from looking like a cracked and flaking mess!

Super luxe, budget busting and unapologetically fabulous:  

 

Clarins Precious The Complete Ritual - $371 - This is not a gift set… this is a statement. Clarins’ most luxurious anti-aging ritual comes wrapped up in a four-step routine designed to prep, treat and transform the skin. You start with the hydrating Lotion-Essence (30ml), refresh the eye area with La Crème Yeux (4ml), firm and smooth with the silky Le Sérum (10ml) and finish with La Crème (15ml) - a peptide-powered masterpiece that helps restore density and youthful bounce. Is it extravagant? Yes. Is it glorious? Also yes. Consider this skin care for your most precious skin (and your most serious self-care moments).

 

And just remember, if it comes in a gift set, it doesn’t count as a splurge. That’s just festive math!

 

All sets are available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca.

 

- Lisamarie - 

This week I'm obsessed with... Infiniti PRO by CONAIR Steam Therapy Hair Steamer!

At first glance the INFINITI PRO by CONAIR Steam Therapy Hair Steamer looks like it’s firmly Team Curly. Steam therapy? Diffuser attachment? Curl reactivation? None of this is speaking directly to my pin-straight, fine-but-plentiful, goes-limp-if-you-look-at-it-wrong hair. 

 

But curiosity got the better of me. Before passing it along to someone with actual curls, I figured… why not see if it could do anything at all for my tragically straight strands? 

 

Dear Reader, I'm here to tell you - it did. 

 

My hair looks its best on wash day and steadily declines into limp territory by day two or three. I refuse to overwash, which means dry shampoo and I are in a very committed (but not always fulfilling) relationship. So on a no-wash day, I skipped the aerosol cloud and gave my hair a full steam session instead - and wow! Instant perk-up! I got back some volume and that elusive “just washed” look without the dull, powdery aftermath that dry shampoo loves to leave behind - consider me impressed! 

 

 I also tried pairing the steamer with a hair mask to see if that whole “better absorption” promise would prove itself. Jury’s still mildly out - my hair always feels great after a mask - but the logic checks out, so I’m happy to keep very diligently steaming my head before masking. For science, of course.

 

And for balance, I also recruited a friend with very curly hair (you know, the actual target market). She loved it. Her one pro tip: if you’ve got longer hair, definitely use the diffuser - and give yourself a little time to get the hang of the technique. Once she did, though? She would not shut up about how defined, bouncy and full her curls looked!

 

Did I let her keep it? Absolutely not! 

 

This steamer has earned its place in my routine - curls or no curls - because if loving a curl steamer is wrong, I don't want to be right!

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca for $179.99, online at conaircanada.ca for $129.99, or online at amazon.ca for $109.99 - and if you buy it right now it's a Black Friday deal for $76 - I don't know how long that price will last though!

 

- Lisamarie - 

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 - 

Slather these on like your skin depends on it (it does) - body lotions from BYOMA, Nivea and Keri!

Winter in Canada: the season where your skin tries to crack itself into a million pieces and you start buying body lotion like you’re prepping for the world’s softest apocalypse. If they sold moisturizer in vat form - like hop-in, simmer-for-20-minutes style - I’d be first in line with a ladle, but until that blessed day arrives, here are some big, beefy, budget-friendly pump bottles to keep your skin from going into full lizard mode...

 

BYOMA Hydrating Body Lotion - 400ml - $19.99

Meet the hydration hero that practically melts into your skin faster than you can say “bone-dry shins.” Powered by their tri-ceramide complex (science! but make it cute), this buttery-soft lotion slathers on like a dream - no awkward air-drying chicken-flap dance required. Beta glucan + shea butter = smooth + nourished skin that stays supple long after your morning coffee. 

 

I will say that while I really love the feel of this lotion, it has a powdery scent to it which I don't care for, luckily the smell fades fast so it still made the list! 

 

Also available in the BYOMA body lotion line is a Brightening Body Lotion and Sensitive Body Lotion - both 400ml and $19.99.

 

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

 

Nivea Nourishing Body Milk - 625ml - $14.99  

She’s big, she’s nourishing, she’s basically the Costco pack of moisture. With 72 hours of hydration - and honestly, in Canadian winter, that feels like witchcraft! Stuffed with hyaluronic acid, almond oil and a special deep care serum, it’s fast-absorbing and non-greasy. Bonus points: the bottle is made with 50% recycled plastic, so you can hydrate and feel virtuous. 

 

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada. 

 

Keri Original Intense Hydration Lotion - 900ml - $11.99

Now this is a unit. Nearly a litre of lotion - the kind of bottle that says “I’m moisturized AND fiscally responsible.” Packed with aloe, sunflower seed oil and vitamin E, Keri’s HydraShield formula keeps your skin soft, smooth and actually happy about existing. Slather generously after your shower and proceed to glide around like a freshly buttered croissant.  I like the scent but if you prefer, it also come in a fragrance-free version!

 

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada. 

 

If winter is coming for your moisture barrier, consider this your personal armory. Stay soft out there people!

 

- Lisamarie -