This week I'm obsessed with... Trinny London The Elevator Neck & Decollete Concentrate!

Get all the botox and fillers you want but nothing gives away your age faster then your neck! Hardly surprising as the skin on the neck is thinner, drier and has less collagen than the face meaning it needs some special attention to keep it smooth, firm and visibly lifted - like the attention it would get from...

 

Trinny London The Elevator Neck & Decollete Concentrate - 50ml - $122, 50ml refill - $104, 14.5ml mini - $50 - a rich and balmy cream that targets and helps prevent the factors that lead to accelerated aging with an innovative formula that contains: cohesion technology that draws its power from the isodonis japonicus plant and  works to strengthen the ‘glue’ holding the skin layers together, helping to lift sagging skin; supercharged decapeptides that focus on organizing loosened dermal fibres, filling in any gaps and giving skin its structure back; oligo + nonapeptides rebuild the skin's scaffolding and boost collagen production to restore lost volume; and encapsulated alpha arbutin slows the production of melanin, preventing age spots from forming and darkening.

 

I've been using it for about 5 weeks now - and while I am fortunate that I don't have a lot of sagging I didn't realize how rough the texture was until the cream smoothed it out and I could visibly see how much better it looks - as well the skin on my decollete was starting to look slightly crepey (which it no longer does) and as an added bonus I smooth the excess cream onto the backs of my hands and they are looking smoother too! The takeaway for me is how even something subtle can make a big overall difference - I never use skincare expecting dramatic results - it's cream, not magic - but even small improvements make for a better overall appearance - and it sure beats plastic surgery! I usually like to try things for at least a couple of months so I am expecting a few more weeks to smooth things out even more but I didn't want to wait any longer to give you the heads up on this one!

Available online now at https://trinnylondon.com/ca/.

And just in time for summer holidays - all your Trinny London faves including The Elevator come in travel sizes that are portable, stackable and versatile so you can forget overflowing makeup bags - easily take your skincare with you wherever you go! Find your own Mini Skincare Stack Builder here!

- Lisamarie -

Hot weather and/or gym essentials from Origins, Flexitol, Rare Beauty and Tanologist!

It may be summer but there is no reason to get all hot and bothered about your skincare - a few tweaks will have over-heated skin ready for the rise in temperature! FYI - these are also the same products I use for gym visits in all seasons...

 

Origins Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Fortifying Emulsion - 100ml - $58 - a skin-quenching, fortifying lightweight gel moisturizer that supports all skin types against the visible effects of free-radical damage, dryness, redness and loss of firmness and elasticity with a vegan formula containing: mushroom complex - soothes skin and reduces the look of irritation; naturally derived hyaluronic acid - hydrates skin; naturally derived squalane and certified organic olive oil - supports skin’s moisture barrier to help prevent moisture loss; planti-oxidant sea buckthorn -  discourages production of blue-light-induced free radicals;  and reishi and fermented chaga - reduces visible redness. 

 

Lightweight enough that it doesn't feel like your pores are all clogged up when you sweat but at the same time you don't feel like it is so light that you have sweated it all off - and as it offers 48 hours of moisture, your skin won't feel dried out even hours later!

Available at Sephora stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca and origins.ca. 

Flexitol Lip Balm Ultra-Moisturizing - 10g - $6.49 - good for even severely dry lips it contains 2.5% urea enriched with cacao butter, lanolin, menthol and clove oil to effectively condition and relieve severely chapped lips - with results in just one day.

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at shoppersdrugmart.ca, well.ca and amazon.ca.

 

Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Always an Optimist 4-in-1 Mist - 85ml - $37  - an ultrafine, glow-boosting mist that hydrates, primes, sets and refreshes skin. The big-phase formula contains: niacinamide - helps improve the appearance of skin; sodium hyaluronate - helps to keep the complexion looking hydrated and plump; botanical blend of lotus, gardenia and white waterlily - soothes, calms, and nourishes the skin. Layer this all-in-one mist under or over makeup for a refreshed complexion.

 

It smells great but it is a natural kind of great as the vegan formula contains only 1% of synthetic fragrances. You can layer it over or under makeup for a refreshed complexion but my little tip - store it in the fridge and it will feel amazing when you spray it on - even better, tuck the cold bottle into your gym bag for a refreshing spritz during your workout!

 

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

Tanologist Daily Glow Hydrating Gradual Self Tan Lotion - 250ml - $15.99 - in Fair to Medium Skin Tones and Medium to Dark Skin Tones - a daily moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, squalane and beta glucan to deeply nourish skin while delivering a gradual, sun-kissed glow with advanced tanning technology.  Use as daily body lotion to gradually build and maintain a flawless, natural-looking glow - I try to remember to at least use this on my lower legs and feet so I don't feel so conspicuous in yoga where I can't hide my pasty white legs and feet under socks!

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

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Instant Glow Moisturizer!

Looking for the perfect summer moisturizer that is thick enough to return moisture to sun and wind ravaged skin without being pore-clogging heavy? Look no further than...

 

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Instant Glow Moisturizer - 50ml - $70.50 - One-step makeup prep and visible brightening in every jar. This lightweight, ultra-hydrating moisturizer quickly illuminates and visibly brightens over time. It visibly firms and reduces fine lines and wrinkles and preps skin for smoother makeup application while giving the complexion an effortlessly warm, golden glow. a daily moisturizer for all skin types, powered by Gold-Complexed Vitamin C - visibly enhances brightness and elasticity; Banana Powder-Inspired Pigments - to quickly illuminate, blur and visibly brighten; Niacinamide - visibly brightens and reduces dark spots; Hyaluronic and Polyglutamic acid - to bind moisture and visibly plump skin with hydration; and  Scandinavian Cloudberry Seed Oil - nurtures and conditions.

 

You can also appreciate everything it is free of  including: parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, sulfates SLS & SLES, triclocarban, triclosan and contains less than one percent synthetic fragrance. As well, it is vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free and comes in recyclable packaging. 

 

I'm a fan for a few reasons: the scent - amazingly citrus-y without being overpowering; the look - it has a little bit of a glow to it so it looks great as a base under makeup or even without makeup which I tend not to wear in hot weather and this adds a little something-something to bare skin making it look more even and glowy; and the feel - a little thicken then a water cream but not thick-thick which my skin does not want during the summer - a good amount of moisture without the heft! 

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

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Demi'Glow Light-Diffusing Highlighter!

Nothing hides a multitude of skin and lifestyle sins like a good highlighter - which these days is...

 

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Demi'Glow Light-Diffusing Highlighter - $54 - in 9 shades: 01 Pretty Purlz - soft pearlescent shimmer; 02 Prosecco - soft light gold shimmer; 03 Tutu Much - soft pink shimmer; 04 Loo$e Change - soft light copper shimmer; 05 Yum Rum - soft rose gold shimmer; 06 Rich Hunnie - soft golden honey shimmer; 07 Trophies In Truffle - soft deep gold shimmer; 08 That'$ Rich - soft warm bronze shimmer; 09 Java Jitt'rs - soft deep bronze shimmer

- a long-wearing, natural looking formula with a silky-soft feel that’s infused with superfine pearls, designed to flatter every tone for a low-key glow along with butterfly lavender extract to improve the appearance of fine lines. The smooth-glide, no-grit feel blends into skin without disturbing makeup and resists sweat and humidity.

 

I don't usually love powder highlighters because I always feel like they are just sitting on the top of my skin and look unnatural - but this one feels like it is soaking into my skin and just leaving a radiant finish behind - almost like a wet powder if that makes any sense! It has a skin-tone based shade range so that probably also helped with it giving a more natural look. My only complaint would be that the powder is super-delicate, I dropped the case a couple of feet into the sink and cracked it so I would recommend keeping and using the plastic cover that goes over the powder inside the case to help protect it.

Available at Sephora stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca - the Sephora website says they are limited edition, I hope that's not true but in case it is, don't wait to grab yours!

- Lisamarie -

Show your PRIDE with help from Shoppers Beauty, Quo Beauty and Jean Paul Gaultier!

You know I loves me a sample set so I was all over this special edition Pride one: Shoppers Beauty All You Need is Love Beauty Bundle - a carefully curated set, containing 6 minis and 2 full-size products valued at over $140. 

This gift set includes deluxe sample sizes of: Urban Decay Vice Lipstick, Too Faced Shadow Insurance Revamp Beautiseal Blue Light, Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Intense BlackL, It Cosmetics Superhero Voluminizing Mascara, Clarins Lash & Brow Double Fix' Mascara and Lancôme Blush Subtil in Rose Fresque - along with a full sized R.E.M. Beauty Midnight Shadows Lustrous Liquid Eye Shadow in Fembot and Vasanti Astro Highlighter in North Star. And comes in the most adorable heart-shaped, rainbow, paper pinata type box - too cute!

Quo Beauty is helping celebrate Pride with another cool limited-edition Pride Collection with bold and playful beauty products and accessories that inspire vibrant looks and celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and you can feel good with your purchase knowing that Shoppers Drug Mart will contribute 10% of sales of the Quo Beauty Pride Collection up to a maximum $30,000 to Pflag Canada, which helps provide peer support, education and advocacy of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community

 

There is lots to love in the collection but a few of my faves include: Love Is Love Eyeshadow Palette - $25 - featuring 9 high impact shades to create bold looks that show your Pride. Along with a cream base to intensify the colour and lock in your look.

Water-Activated Eyeliner - $16 - in Electric Sunset and Twilight Haze - with super high-pigment and vibrant colours to add a really fun look to your liner! 

Rainbow Maker - $10 - makes it super easy to draw a rainbow anyplace on your face or body!

Brow Stickers - $6 - peel and press gems that make it easy to add bling to your eye look!

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique & Le Male Pride Edition - 100ml EDP - $172/ 125ml EDT - $146 - Be free to be your true self! With these new PRIDE editions, Jean Paul Gaultier is campaigning for freedoms alongside The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in New York, a fervent defender of the right of every individual to assert their identity and be accepted as they are. This shared commitment honours the activist artist Keith Haring and his famous manifesto mural "Once Upon a Time," painted in 1989 on the walls of the Center. A powerful symbol of the liberation movement that began twenty years earlier with the Stonewall riots. Inspired by its black-and-white depictions of passionate scenes, PRIDE bottles reclaim the liberated beauty of our bodies and resolutely spread the same message of diversity and tolerance for all. 

 

Everything here available while they last at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca.

 

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Tanologist Face & Body Self Tan Drops!

Getting rid of your pasty-white, sun-starved skin just got a lot easier with...

 

Tanologist Face & Body Self Tan Drops - 30ml - $27.99 - in Medium and Dark - concentrated tan drops designed to be mixed with your favourite  skincare, makeup or body care. They are super easy to use and best of all they are totally customizable - just mix 2 - 12 drops with your desired product in the palm of your hand - the more drops the deeper the shade will be - then just apply it like you would your regular skincare - shade not deep enough? Just reapply another layer for a deeper glow - and of course make sure you wash your hands after application or you will end up with tanned palms!

There didn't seem to be a Light shade so I tried the Medium and while I was a little concerned that it would turn out too dark and unnatural looking on my fair skin I was pleased to discover that it really is customizable - 2 drops with my usual serum gave me a nice healthy glow (even better if you use with with your night cream, then you wake up to a healthy glow), 3 1/2 drops had me looking like a had spent the day in the sun (minus the harmful UV rays) and 4 drops with my body lotion had my pasty white calves skirt ready for a special event - I am really pleased with how versatile this little bottle is! The colour also wore off very naturally with no weird patches, it just kind of faded away, you can also help it along by exfoliating if you do find it is not going away evenly or just keep applying to maintain your colour. Best of all there is no gross self-tanner scent - it's very light, fresh and it's vegan!

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

- Lisamarie -

Eye Love Wednesday - Trinny London Line2Define Eyeliner

Trinny London Line2Define Eyeliner - $40 - in 6 universally flattering shades: Levy - champagne shimmer; Chantelle - bronze shimmer; Bonzo - dark green; Samantha - deep indigo; Sabrina - rich brown; Shahroze - inky black - an

intensely pigmented, retractable eyeliner that is ultra-creamy on application but smudge-proof once set for instant and effortless definition. 

 

With a varied selection of neutrals and colours, there is something for everyone to love. I like the way they glide on smoothly - just keep in mind that if you want to smudge the colour you need to do it right away, when it sets, it really sets! I didn't have any issues with it lasting all day without moving or smearing but my friend who has an oily eye area tried it out and it would not stay put on her. She had to make sure to use an eye primer underneath in order to get the same lasting power so keep that in mind!

 

Available online now at trinnylondon.com/ca.

 

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Contain Extreme Steam Power Steam!

Would it surprise you to know that I hate to iron? I've mostly solved that problem by just not doing it, I purposely buy clothes that don't require it or if there is no option, off to the dry cleaners it goes! I was aware of the joy of steaming but steamers I have tried in the past have been large and unwieldy and I quickly lost interest, that is until I tried:

Conair Extreme Steam Power Steam - $69.99 - a handheld garment steamer with a small size and 1200 watts to power away wrinkles with high heat and high-velocity steam. It heats up fast, just 35 seconds, has an easy-fill removable water tank and steams in multiple positions to easily reach wrinkles at any angle.

 

Travel near or far - with just a simple switch, the power adapts automatically for worldwide usage and it folds flat for easy packing.  

 

So quick and easy this is a must have for anyone who travels, wrinkles or likes things that hisssss at you!

 

Available at conaircanada.ca, amazon.ca and other online retailers.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Kerasal Nighttime Intensive Foot Repair!

I don't know what is wrong with my feet these days - I'll do a peel and they look great but within a week they are a mess again - and since weekly peels seem kind of excessive I was so happy to discover...

 

Kerasal Nighttime Intensive Foot Repair - 30g - $11.97 -

a skin healing ointment that works while you sleep to loosen hard, dry skin to exfoliate while deeply moisturizing and softening severely cracked heels and dry skin with a combination of ingredients including salicylic acid, urea, soft white petrolatum and relaxing lavender and chamomile promising results in just one night.

The tube is small but it's an ointment so you only need a tiny bit and my feet really did look and feel better after just one use but after a week, holy crap, they were perfectly smooth and soft - I'm a fan!

 

It also smells soooooo good - up until now I would have said that foot cream should smell like mint but I have revised that opinion now to all foot cream should smell like lavender! If for some crazy reason you prefer yours to be scent free then check out the non-night version which smells like nothing.

 

You can find all of their products at the Kerasal amazon.com store and a more limited selection at amazon.ca.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... double cleansing with Sahajan Ayurvedic Blend Essential Cleansing Oil & Golden Milk Cleanser!

Heads up, double cleansing season is upon us again! Makeup + sunscreen + heat = a big gooey mess by the end of the day that one cleanser just doesn't completely remove. To combat this, I reach for an oil cleanser to break up the dirt, oil and products and then follow up with a milk cleanser to take care of the remnants. This year I will be reaching for a brand I already love, Sahajan, with new to me face products that are now easier then ever to get my hands on:

 

Essential Cleansing Oil - 120ml - $54 - a gentle cleanser for all skin types containing: moringa oil - a proven anti-pollution cleansing benefits and rich in antioxidants to visibly brighten; squalane oil - balances the skin's natural oils while visibly brightening and protecting; and rose oil - revered in Ayurveda for its calming and moisturizing capabilities - that melts through even the most stubborn makeup, SPF and daily grime, leaving skin visibly glowing. 

 

Golden Milk Cleanser - 120ml - $51 - a purifying and gentle cleanser for all skin types containing: turmeric - revered in Ayurveda for visibly brightening and improving skin texture; black cumin seed oil - unclogs pores and fades the appearance of hyperpigmentation; and oat milk - protects and replenishes the moisture barrier - to help unclog pores, deliver visible brightness and support the skin barrier. 

And for those days where there has just been too much sun/work/life - give your skin a treat with:

 

Brightening Mask - 50ml - $73 - a brightening and exfoliating mask that contains: non-staining turmeric - antioxidant-rich it, visibly improves redness and brightens; hemp seed oil - an amino acid rich oil that relieves dryness due to redness and imparts a visibly glow; and AHAs/Glycolic Acids - from orange, lemon and bilberry to exfoliate and resurface - to together promote a visibly smooth, glowing complexion and fight dark spots, dullness and uneven texture/

 

As a bonus, Sahajan is a friendly brand free of parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, sulfates SLS & SLES, triclocarban, triclosan, and contains less than one percent synthetic fragrance. It is also cruelty-free, and comes in recyclable packaging - hurray!

 

Available at stores and salons across Canada and online at ca.sahajan.com and now it's also available at sephora.ca.

 

- Lisamarie - 

Eye Love Wednesday - Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin CC Stick

 

 Tired of looking tired? You need this in your life...

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin CC Stick​ - $47.50 - Banana - for purple dark circles on light to medium skin tones; Pumpkin - for blue dark circles on medium deep to deep skin tones; Apricot - for blue/purple dark circles on medium to medium deep a colour-correcting eye-cream stick that diminishes the look of dark circles, visibly brightens and hydrates with a formula containing enhanced vitamin C, caffeine and makeup-inspired illuminating pigments.

I've been testing out Banana and while it does an excellent job of hiding dark circles, it is a bit too dark for my skin tone and I was thinking "I wish this came in a lighter shade..."

which made me realize that I should pay more attention to my emails because then I would know that they just released a new lighter shade: Guava - for green and blue dark circles on fair to light skin tone - sold!

 

My under eye area tends to be dry so my best advice for anyone who is also dry: moisturize first - I find stick formulas don't blend as well on me but a little eye cream first and it spreads like a dream without looking cakey or settling into fine lines. An excellent choice is the Ole Henriksen Banana Bright+ Vitamin C Brightening Eye Creme - 15ml - $59.50 - which will also help out with dark circles as well as fine lines and brightness.

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

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Palm Royale inspired Scentbird Collection!

In celebration of Apple TV’s original series, Palm Royale and Scentbird are taking you to the heart of fragrances inspired by the 1969 Palm Beach High Society. Discover the Palm Royale collection that represents scents that will transport you directly into each scene.

 

There are 6 fragrance collection themes including: 

CRÈME DE LA CRÈME - sweet, minty, and exclusively top-shelf.

DIVINE DEVIANCE - vibrant and rebellious, these scents don't play by the rules.

SUNKISSED - fresh, airy, and perfect for the outdoors.

SOPHISTICATED - classic, beautiful blends fit for the queen of the season.

LEGACY - bold, ambitious scents that scream old money.

OPULENCE - live in abundance with luxurious blends fit for high society.

 

With each theme offering several fragrance choices - with a few of them also being offered in a full size bottle (if you need a refresher in how the Scentbird subscription service works you can find it here)

With so many choices it's hard to narrow down which one I loved best but decided the Sunkissed collection seemed the most like me and from that what scent that was totally me was: Goodhabit Ignite - 50ml EDP - $90 - bold, energizing, and citrus-forward, the scent opens with a splash of clementine, complemented by fresh-squeezed grapefruit and a twist of blood orange. Hints of skin musk and creamy peach rise to the surface as the scent warms, grounding the vibrant elements. It smells like sunshine on my skin! This is a new-to-me brand but I will be trying more of it to be sure - I love how Scentbird makes it so easy to try brands that you just don't see in the stores here!

Enjoy some high society yourself (without the annoying people) now at scentbird.com.

- Lisamarie -

Love your planet with Shoppers Drug Mart Quo Beauty and TerraCycle!

Welcome to Earth Month and can I just say that I love it when companies do more than just pay lip service to environmental commitment!

 

Such is the case with Shoppers Drug Mart - just a little under a year ago saw the launch of “More Planet Love” by Quo Beauty which includes over 500 products with more sustainable packaging, using recycled plastics, mono-materials and reduced plastic packaging. Additionally, the entire Quo Beauty lineup is vegan, cruelty-free, and PETA-certified, further contributing to a more sustainable planet. 

 

If you are looking for a great intro to the products check out: 

Quo Beauty More Planet Love Picks - $29.99 - a curated set of products include a shimmer lip oil, mascara and eyeliner made with a minimum 70% naturally-derived ingredients and 30% recycled plastic.

 

Following that up, Shoppers Drug Mart is launching the new Quo Beauty Cosmetics Free Recycling Program in partnership with international recycling leader TerraCycle which introduces a convenient solution for customers to recycle empty Quo Beauty cosmetics components and keep plastic packaging from going to landfills and incinerators. For each pound of cosmetics waste shipped in through the recycling program, $1 will be donated to Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health - which creates equitable and accessible care for all women in Canada, empowering them to lead healthier lives. 

 

How does the TerraCycle program work? It's easy peasy - just collect your eligible empty Quo Beauty and get a prepaid shipping label to send them in by signing up on the TerraCycle program page here. Once collected, the cosmetic packaging is cleaned and separated by material type, and then recycled into raw formats that manufacturers use to make new products. 

 

The Quo Beauty products that can be recycled include: plastic and glass tubes, pots, pumps, sprays and jars; lipstick, lip balm, lip gloss tubes and wands; mascara tubes and wands; eyeliner pencils and components; eyeshadow and bronzer components; foundation packaging; powder components and concealer tubes and sticks.

What can't be recycled: nail polish bottles; nail polish remover bottles; makeup wipes and sponges; makeup brushes and pressurized canisters (including aerosol cans).

 

The Quo Beauty Cosmetics Free Recycling Program is open to any individual, school, office or community group. To learn more about TerraCycle’s recycling process for cosmetic packaging, please visit www.terracycle.ca/how-terracycle-recycles-beauty-products.  

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Marc Jacobs Daisy Wild

Melting snow, crocuses and longer days are all signs that spring is on it's way but the real harbinger of spring for me is the arrival of the new Daisy fragrance from Marc Jacobs that appears in stores every year around this time....

Marc Jacobs Daisy Wild - 30ml EDP - $120, 50ml EDP - $151, 100ml - $194 - a floral scent

reminiscent of a bouquet of wildflowers with a top of banana blossom accord; heart notes of  jasmine and macadamia accord; and base notes of sandalwood and vetiver des sables. 

 

If a floral fragrance is your springtime bliss then this one is going to be your jam. I was hoping the macadamia and sandalwood were going to make it a warmer fragrance but it smells totally fresh and floral-like on me - with the jasmine being the most prevalent note.

 

What I really adore though is the bottle, a wild daisy has been added to the bouquet on the cap and there are flower stems peeping through the light green juice in the bottle making it beautifully decorative on your dressing table.

 

Also, for the first time ever, this Daisy fragrance is fully refillable - with a 150ml refill format for $215  that you can use to top up any of the bottles.

 

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

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Shoppers Beauty Bundles!

If you love a sampler set as much as I do be sure to check out your local Shoppers Drug Mart right now for several bundle options including the one the skincare junkie in me loves the most...

 

Shoppers Beauty Skin Protect Beauty Bundle -  $70 - a curated kit chock full of 15 deluxe samples that will help protect skin and act as a barrier against environmental aggressors like sun damage, pollution and blue light - valued at over $175 including: Biotherm Cera Repair Barrier Cream with Ceramides, Clarins Hydra-Essential Silky Cream, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+, Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Daily Serum, Estee Lauder Nutritious Melting Soft Creme/Mask, It Cosmetics Confidence In A Cleanser Cleansing Gel, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream, Lancôme Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Serum, Nudestix NudeSkin Citrus-C Mask & Daily Moisturizer, Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask To Clear Pores, Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate, Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer + Hydrating Primer, The Body Shop Edelweiss Daily Serum Concentrate, Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray and Lise Watier Sublimessence High Hydration Probiotic Serum. 

 

Each sample contains enough product to be able to try it out for a week or two to give you get a good idea of how well it works for you before springing for the full size - so far the Estee Lauder mask and The Body Shop serum are on my to-buy list! And if your skin leans more towards the sensitive, there is also a Shoppers Beauty Derm Sensitive Skin Beauty Bundle for $45 full of products to nurture and soothe.

 

If you want to try the latest and greatest products of the year then check out the Shoppers Beauty Viral Trends Beauty Bundle -  $70 - containing 10 beauty products: 1 full-size lip oil, and 9 deluxe samples including: Butter London Mellow The Yellow Nail Brightening Treatment, Buxom Power Line Plumping Lip Liner, Clinique Almost Lipstick In Black Honey, Drunk Elephant B-Goldi Bright Drops, Kylie Cosmetics KyLash Volume Mascara, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Ultra-Blur, Narciso Rodriguez For Her Eau De Toilette, NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder, R.E.M. Beauty Essential Drip Lip Oil (FULL SIZE!) and Virtue Labs Virtue Healing Oil. 

 

Or if you are looking to spread the beauty love grab a Shoppers Beauty 7 Days of Love Beauty Bundle -  $55 - which contains 7 Hearts, 7 Beauty Products and 7 Notes of Gratitude to Express Your Love - whether you gift it to one special person in your life or unpack the gift set and gift it to 7 special people in your life! Each heart contains one deluxe sample of the following: Lancôme Lash Idole Mascara; Smashbox The Original Smooth & Blur Primer; Too Faced Deluxe Lip Injection Extreme In UC; Lise Watier Waterproof Eyeliner Brun Noir; NARS Orgasm Blush 1.2g; Shisiedo ModernMatte Powder Lipstick; and Nudestix Mini Nudies Matte All Over Face Bronzer - SunKissed. You can also feel good that 10% of the proceeds of this Beauty Bundle will go towards supporting Shoppers Foundation For Women's Health - which is committed to fostering health equity for all women in Canada in collaboration with over 360 charities by increasing awareness of women's health issues and ensuring equitable and accessible care so all women in Canada can live healthier lives.

 

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

 

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Nivea Luminous 630 Dark Spot Solution Advanced Serum!

Nivea introduces a new revolutionary science-backed dark-spot solution that works...

 

Nivea Luminous 630 Dark Spot Solution Advanced Serum - 30ml - $49.99 - visibly reduces the look of dark spots in as little as 2 weeks, with dark spots looking less intense after each application, and then a more luminous complexion revealed in 12 weeks.

 

The formula contains patented Luminous630 - which acts on existing pigmentation to reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyaluronic acid - to effectively smooth skin and intensely hydrate.

 

The serum has a thicker texture which is good for me as I prefer to wear just a serum without a cream on top, the negative though was the scent, which I found a little strong, although it did dissipate quickly so it wasn't prohibitive. After using it for 2 weeks I did find that my dark spots seemed lighter and my skin looked brighter - nothing dramatic but definitely an improvement!

 

Also available in the Luminous 630 Dark Spot Solution collection is: Even Tone Cream - 50ml - $49.99 - for face, neck and decollete - use on its own or also great for layering over the serum if you have drier skin; and Eye Cream - 15ml - $49.99 - anti-dark circles as well as containing caffeine to reduce under eye puffiness and the appearance of eye bags.

Available now at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment newness!

Just when I thought Pout Preserve couldn't get any better...

 

Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment - $30 - an advanced lip treatment with skin-supporting peptides and kokum butter that instantly hydrates and improves elasticity; smooths, brightens and revives dull lips; reduces the look of fine lip lines and quickly, visibly plumps for fuller looking lips in just one week.

What's new is that in addition to my already beloved Original with a sheer tint and citrus scent - it now also comes in 3 new tints and scents: Strawberry Sorbet - mauve pink tint and strawberry scent; Blood Orange Spritz - red-orange tint and blood orange scent; and Cocoa Creme - chocolate brown tint and rich hot chocolate scent.

Scent-wise I think the Original is still my fave but colour-wise I am loving the Strawberry Sorbet tint - it adds just enough colour to add some polish without having to worry about it smearing or wearing off in blotches - this is something I am going to be reaching for often - Original at night, Strawberry during the day, my lips are set!

Available now at Sephora stores across Canada and online at sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Fenty Skin Cherry Dub Blah 2 Bright 5% AHA Face Mask!

I have tried a lot of different masks in my skin care life but I have to admit, cherry is a first for me...

 

Fenty Skin Cherry Dub Blah 2 Bright 5% AHA Face Mask - 75ml - $53 - a  brightening jelly face mask for all skin types with Barbados Cherry - loaded with vitamin C - to reduce the look of dark spots, visibly brightening and evening skin tone; and 5% AHAs - to gently exfoliate - leaving skin visibly plump and bouncy in minutes while over time improving the look of pores, dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles. 

 

Aside from the skin benefits I loved the cherry scent - and it's not a little bit cherry, it's a bunch cherry - it reminds me of cherry chapstick which is a nostalgically wonderful scent for me!

The only thing I was concerned about was the AHAs - I have sensitive skin which sometimes will react to stronger ingredients but I didn't have any issue at all - just nice smooth skin. I did find that with the thicker, gel texture that using a washcloth to remove it was a lot more effective then the usual water splash (and added a bit of extra exfoliation) - overall, I'm a fan!

 

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

 

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Korres Black Pine Up-Lift Contouring Serum!

Sick of ageing, sagging and loose skin? This new lifting and contouring serum from Korres offers targeted anti-ageing benefits to reveal tighter and more youthful skin...

 

Korres Black Pine Up-Lift Contouring Serum - 40ml - $68.00 - a targeted gel serum with a rollerball applicator designed to lift the appearance of the jaw, cheek and neck for a more defined looking facial and neck contour and a youthful-looking complexion.

 

Powered by a potent 4D BIO-SHAPELIFT complex that works to lift the skin; while antioxidant-rich black pine supports skin elasticity and firmness, helping to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Featuring a unique massaging roller applicator, it fits effortlessly into the skins natural facial contours .

 

I really do appreciate how the light serum texture means that it easily goes under my regular moisturizer so I don't have to replace a favourite product, I can just add on the benefits and the roller applicator is very cooling which helps add an instant tightening effect!

 

Available online now at korres.com.

 

- Lisamarie -

Fragrant Friday - Gucci Flora Gorgeous Magnolia

Floral fanatics rejoice,  there is another addition to the Gucci Flora lineup:

 

Gucci Flora Gorgeous Magnolia - 10ml EDP Mini - $45, 30ml EDP - $120, 50ml EDP - $153, 100ml EDP - $206 - a chypre floral fragrance with top notes of dewberry and coconut; heart notes of magnolia, jasmine sambac and clary sage; and base notes of musk, patchouli and blonde woods.

 

Floral scents really aren't my thing - I can say it's not a cloying or overpowering floral but what I can comment on is the bottle - love it! It is so pretty and the purple really makes it stand out - am I one of those people who will buy a fragrance just for the bottle? I admit to nothing!

 

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora and Holt Renfrew stores across Canada.

 

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Joico KBOND20 Defy Damage Power Masque!

What do you get when you combine a legacy of hair repair with the power of damage control in a single, extraordinary product?...

 

Joico Defy Damage KBOND20 Power Masque - 150ml - $44 - a transformative masque that rebuilds, strengthens and protects while providing rich hydration, instant detangling and normalized pH with innovative bond-building technology that allows you to experience 5X stronger hair in just a single treatment.

 

The formula contains K-Pac keratin technology - for strength and resilience; protective lipids - acts as a first line of defense against pollution; 18 essential amino acids - including arginine, found naturally in healthy hair; and moringa seed oil - an antioxidant rich in vitamins A & E, plus silica. As an added bonus, it's colour-safe, animal-test-free and paraben-free!  

I admit to being skeptical of products that claim one use results but in this case, they aren't wrong - after just using it once my hair really did look and feel better - it has definitely going to become a regular in my hair care routine - once or twice a week should have my hair looking even better in no time!

 

Available at participating Joico salons across Canada and online at amazon.ca and chatters.ca.

 

 - Lisamarie -