Fake Awake: The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Looking Well-Rested with Byoma, Grace & Stella and Anastasia!

Tired of looking tired? Same. Honestly, I’ve reached that phase of life where I can get a full eight hours, wake up at a decent time and still look like I’ve been trapped in a Netflix binge-fest with zero sleep and a minor existential crisis. Especially around the eyes — those f-ing traitors... So I went on a mission to find a few easy fixes that don’t involve filters, sunglasses indoors or just giving up and going back to bed.

 

BYOMA De-Puff + Brighten Eye Gel - 20ml - $18.99 - If your under-eyes are saying jet lagged even when you're well-rested (and haven't actually even been travelling), this one’s for you. A cooling, gel-serum hybrid that instantly hydrates, de-puffs, and brightens thanks to a powerhouse blend of Tri-Ceramide Complex, Triple Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C. It works instantly and over time, like the dependable skincare BFF we all deserve. Plus it's dermatologist-tested, non-comedogenic, fragrance and alcohol-free as well as vegan & cruelty-free. So basically: no nonsense, no irritation, and no more "Are you okay?" from strangers. 

 

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

 

 

Grace & Stella Restoring Eye Masks - 6 pairs - $13.95 - these magical little jelly patches are like a venti coffee for your face. Whether you were up all night, sobbing over your ex’s Instagram or just living life, they perk up tired eyes with a mega-dose of retinol - to smooth fine lines; ceramide - keeps crow's feet in check; and glycerin - helps fade dark circles and puffiness. Basically, they’re nap time for your eyes before the rest of you goes to sleep - apply 20 minutes before you go to bed, remove and just rub any remaining serum into the skin and be prepared to wake up looking well rested!

 

Available at amazon.ca and graceandstella.com. 

Okay, let’s be real: if you still look tired even after skincare, the answer is distraction.Cue this all-star mascara...

 

Anastasia Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara - $35 - an ultra-volumizing, jet-black miracle in wand form. It’s bold, it’s black, it’s dramatic and it makes you look like you’ve had a double espresso and a decent life plan. The hourglass brush grabs every lash (even the awkward ones), lifting and volumizing like your life depends on it. No flakes. No smudges. Just boom, instant “I woke up like this” lashes.with an hourglass-shaped brush that hugs every lash like it knows you’re too tired to deal with falsies - and builds full-bodied, high-drama lashes faster than you can say “I just need five more minutes.” 

 

What’s inside?  acacia senegal gum - brings the volume (and not in a shouty way); rice bran wax - lifts, defines and lengthens - kind of like contour, but for your lashes; and paraffin + synthetic beeswax -  thickens things up without clumping or flaking out mid-afternoon. And because we care about more than just vanity, it's paraben-free, cruelty-free, gluten-free and full of absolutely zero drama (except on your lashes, where it belongs).

 

Not ready for a full-size commitment? There’s a mini for $20.50 - perfect for your purse, your pocket or your “I’ll try anything once” mascara mood.

 

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

 

 

Moral of the story: Your eyes may be tired, but you don’t have to look it. Between some puff-busting skincare and a show-stopping mascara, you can fake 8 hours of sleep like an absolute pro. Just don’t forget your coffee.. and just to be safe, make it a double!

 

 

- Lisamarie - 

Fight skin dehydration with Arbonne Bio-Hydria!

The weather is changing and so are our skin care needs. Any skin type -  balanced, dry or oily - can become dehydrated. A mix of external elements such as diet, environmental factors like pollution and sun exposure, along with internal factors such as age can all play a role in sapping hydration from the skin leaving it dull and gloomy.

Arbonne Bio-Hydria to the rescue! A brand new skin care line designed to pump up dehydrated skin with refreshing hydration with a formula  featuring edulis cellular water - a powerful moisture-magnet succulent with leaves that have the super-power ability to manage and maintain water absorption, formulated to leave skin plump and super-duper moisturized; and sustainably sourced aloe vera - contains vitamins and minerals taken from the inner part of the leaf, to help moisturize and support skin’s natural ability to maintain a healthy-looking glow.

Available in the collection:

Bio-Hydria Gel Cleanser - 125ml - $24 -  lathers into a delicate foam that cushions skin as it rids the surface of makeup and impurities with gentle, plant-based surfactants for mild yet effective cleansing. Includes organic witch hazel in the formula to help moisturize, soothe, soften, tone, refresh and revitalize the skin so it’s left feeling comfortable, not tight.

Bio-Hydria Liquid Serum - 30ml - $45 -  a lightweight serum that boasts a crushed jelly texture that cools and soothes skin that while providing immediate hydration and replenishment. The formula includes organic witch hazel, cultivated in the south of France that moisturizes to soothe, soften, tone, refresh and revitalize the appearance of the skin• for a healthy-looking glow and a dewy finish.

Bio-Hydria Eye Gel - 15ml - $42 - a soothing gel that deeply hydrates and perks up tired under-eyes with pearlescent pigments that help visibly brighten the appearance of dark circles.

Bio-Hydria Gel Cream - 50ml - $40 - with a pudding-like, lightweight texture that absorbs quickly to soothe and moisturize skin leaving it feeling incredibly soft and supple for up to 48 hours. The formulas includes organic witch hazel, cultivated in the south of France which moisturizes to soothe, soften, tone, refresh and revitalize the appearance of the skin• and support skin’s natural ability to maintain a healthy-looking glow.

This is my favourite product from the line, the texture is just amazing! I have combination skin so generally everything that is super-hydrating feels way to heavy but this cream is so light but still adds so much moisture, it's amazing!

Bio-Hydria Herbal Infusion Tea - 20 x 1g - $18 - contains a caffeine-free antioxidant blend of chamomile, rosemary, and thyme that supports skincare with hydration from the insi.de out

Available now from your Arbonne rep - you can locate a consultant or shop online at www.arbonne.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Eye Love Wednesday - Lierac Hydragenist Hydra-Smoothing Eye Gel

Lierac Hydragenist Hydra-Smoothing Eye Gel - 15ml - $45 - a transparent fresh gel enriched with NMFs for an immediate rehydrating and smoothing effect.

It has a fragrance-free formula which makes it great for even the most sensitive skin and is based on the esthetic technique of tissue oxygenation, which combines biomimetic oxygen to stimulate cell oxygenation, with rehydrating hyaluronic acid to take care of those fine lines and wrinkles from dry skin along with a decongesting extract for puffiness and dark circles

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

- Lisamarie -

Eye Love Wednesday - Olay Eyes Deep Hydrating Eye Gel

Olay Eyes Deep Hydrating Eye Gel - 15ml - $35.99 - a fast-absorbing, cooling gel treatment that helps fight visible signs of fatigue on tired and dehydrated eyes with a hyaluronic acid formula that instantly hydrates for a wide-awake, refreshed look. 

The super-light formula is supercharged with hyaluronic acid, peptides, pro-vitamin B5, witch hazel and cucumber extract and quenches skin for long-lasting hydration.

Used to using a richer cream around your eyes? It's easy to forget just how delicate the skin around the eyes really is and think that using a heavy cream will do a better job hydrating - it won't! Not only can using something heavy  actually drag the skin around the eyes down and make you look like you have even worse bags but it can also clog the pores and give you those little white bumps (milia)! So do your eyes a favour and treat them differently then the rest of your skin - hydrate without smothering!

Available now at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Eye Love Wednesday - Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Global Anti-Aging Cell Power Eye Gelée

Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Global Anti-Aging Cell Power Eye Gelée - 8ml - $68 - a multi-action, fatigue-fighting eye treatment that helps the skin around the eye look and feel firmer, radiant and deeply nourished while  improving the visible firmness, reducing the look of lines, wrinkles and puffiness and brightening the look of dark circles. And is applied with a  golden-tipped cooling massage applicator that helps boost microcirculation and reinvigorate the eye area.

The formula contains an energizing complex of powerful, energy boosters, including sea lavender flower extract - to help promote natural cellular energy. and moringa extract - to unlock the skin's youth potential and target multiple signs of aging for skin that feels firmer, with improved density and elasticity; lines and wrinkles appear reduced; and skin is more radiant, deeply nourished and beautifully revitalized.

If you have a real puffiness problem, let it cool in the fridge for a few minutes before using - and just be sure to use a kleenex to wipe the applicator off after using or the leftover cream will dry on it and gunk up the next application!

Available now at Estée Lauder counters across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Ole Henriksen Love It All Blockbuster Skincare Set

Ole Henriksen Love It All Blockbuster Skincare Set - $72 -  features eight of their most-loved skin care essentials, perfect for the ultimate pampering experience to keep you glowing from head to toe throughout the holiday season.

Includes: Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths - 10 cloths - with their energizing scent and satiny texture, they gently cleanse, hydrate and illuminate in one step, sweeping away dirt, oil, and makeup; African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser - 45ml - with its uplifting aroma and delightfully frothy yet rich lather, it revives the skin as it cleanses deeply; Truth Serum Collagen Booster - 15ml - harnesses the power of vitamin C and potent antioxidants to brighten, revive, visibly firm and deeply hydrate the skin; Sheer Transformation - 15ml - contains multifruit acids and antioxidants that deliver weightless hydration and luminous perfection; Ultimate Lift Eye Gel - 7ml - is infused with cucumber and algae extracts to promote firmness as it hydrates the delicate complex eye area; Truth Sugar Glow Polishing Mask - 30g - features raw sugar, pure honey and pomegranate seed powder to gently polish and smooth as it brightens; Rub N’ Buff Salt Scrub - 141g - with a blend of sea salt, lemongrass and lavender oils, exfoliates, softens and smooths skin; along with the newest innovation from Ole Henriksen and my personal favourite product them them right now, Power Bright - 3 x 4ml - a three-step professional-strength intensive brightening system with an unprecedented 25% vitamin C concentrate for a refreshed and radiant Ole Glow.

Now only do you get a chance to try out all these great products in one easy package, it's also an amazing deal - it would cost  $121 to buy them separately!

Available now for a limited time at Sephora and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Philosophy Take A Deep Breath - breathes new life into tired skin!

The new Philosophy Take A Deep Breath duo breathes new life into tired, stressed skin with exclusive clean-air technology so that skin receives the oxygen delivery it needs to breathe freely, while a patented blend of antioxidants and anti-pollutants helps neutralize damaging free radicals for skin that is left feeling stronger and fresher, looking healthy and radiant.

Oil-Free Oxygenating Gel Cream - 60ml - $49 -  restores and refreshes dull, dry skin suffering from effects of a busy lifestyle with barley leaf extract - loaded with oxygen through the natural process of photosynthesis, to help create a natural reservoir f oxygen on the skin, so it looks and feels fresh, healthy and radiant; along with a patented natural blend of antioxidants and anti-pollutants that helps neutralize damaging free radicals, so skin feels stronger and less sensitive.

Oxygenating Eye Gel Cream - 15ml - $52 - a lightweight, cooling and refreshing eye gel cream that nourishes and protects delicate skin with barley leaf extract - to help increase oxygen levels in the skin to revitalize the look for tired eyes; along with caffeine and a blend of peptides to help smooth away puffiness and help brighten the look of dark circles.

I love a gel moisturizer, especially in the summer when the cooling effect is especially welcome - this one adds just enough moisture that skin is soft without feeling heavy or clogged - dry skin probably wouldn't find it to be enough but it is perfect for oily and combination skin types!

Available at Hudson's Bay stores across Canada and online at www.thebay.com.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... SkinCeuticals AOX+ Eye Gel Antioxidant Eye Treatment!

My favourite texture for an eye product is a gel - I don't like the way most eye creams feel so thick and heavy, like they're weighing my eyes down - the problem with gels though is that while they are great for puffiness and dark circles, they don't generally offer any anti-aging benefits - that is until I discovered:

SkinCeuticals AOX⁺ Eye Gel Antioxidant Eye Treatment - 15 ml - $80 - with a breakthrough serum-in-gel formula that contains a precise combination of phloretin, L-ascorbic acid and ferulic acid to help fight free radicals, revive under eye skin and reduce the appearance of puffiness and under eye bags - this nifty gel formula allows the proven antioxidant trio to be formulated at an acidic pH for maximum penetration and efficacy.

What makes it great is not only does it do all the puffiness fighting that you would expect from a gel, it also prevents signs of aging and corrects signs of photodamage while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and combats signs of fatigue to restore the eye area for a fresh, vibrant appearance.

Available through selected distribution channels via dispensing doctors, medical-spas and high-end spas across Canada. For store locator please visit www.skinceuticals.com/canada
 

- Lisamarie -

Rodial Dragon Blood - more great products, same strange name!

If you fell in love with the Rodial Dragon's Blood Sculpting Gel in the spring - rejoice and welcome a whole bunch of new products to the Dragon's Blood range!

Dragon's Blood Eye Gel - 15ml - $50 - a fast acting gel that instantly cools, de-puffs and refreshes tired eyes with soothing rose water and hydrating hyaluronic acid. Wrinkles in the delicate eye area are plumped and filled with active ingredient dragon’s blood while skin is protected against further damage.



Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Moisturizer - 50ml - $60 - a multi-function daily moisturizer with built in SPF 15 that treats, plumps and firms dehydrated skin for 24 hours! Containing anti-inflammatory dragon’s blood it soothes and protects sensitive skin while providing long-lasting moisture and tightening fine lines.

Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Tonic - 50ml - $35 - an instant skin reviver that locks in moisture for 24 hours for a more refined, firmer & brighter complexion - can be used as a soothing in-flight refreshment or to set make-up perfectly. An energy boost for your skin, this light toner soothes and hydrates with rose water and dragon’s blood, leaving skin refreshed and wide awake!

Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Mask - 50ml - $45 - a double action hydrating and plumping mask that reduces redness while giving skin a youthful glow. Hyaluronic acid and tensors immediately plump fines lines and tighten wrinkles for a quick lift while dragon’s blood reduces redness.

Dragon's Blood Cleansing Water - 50ml - $30 - a gentle, hydrating and soothing cleanser that removes all traces of make-up and impurities with refreshing rose water while dragons blood soothes stressed skin.With a  non-sting, no rinse formula, that illuminates and evens skin tone for an instantly brighter complexion.

Being a fan of the sculpting gel, I was very excited to try the new products and the stand-outs for me are the Eye Gel and the Mask. The Eye Gel has an amazing cooling effect that makes puffiness disappear and I love the one finger pump - while the mask is excellent for days when my skin feels tired and dull, it instantly makes it look brighter and feel smoother - score!

Available now at Murale.

- Lisamarie -

New and Notable at Shoppers Drug Mart - Clarins, Vichy, Maybelline, La Roche-Posay and Olay!

Clarins Everlasting Compact Foundation SPF 15 - $32 - in four shades: 105 Nude, 108 Sand, 109 Wheat, 114 Cappuccino - if you like the liquid Everlasting Foundation and have ever wished it came in a wet/dry powder then it's your lucky day! This compact formula offers 15 hours of complexion perfection with a light, invisible and non-occlusive film that sets foundation once applied to the skin leaving it soft and supple with perfectly even, long lasting colour hold with a smooth and silky texture, even coverage with no pulling or mask effect.

Clarins Eye Contour Gel - 20ml - $35 - puffiness and dark circles are a thing of the past thanks to Ginkgo Biloba extract and Caffeine, while the eye contour is soothed with certified organic Cornflower and Camomile extracts and hydrated with certified organic Aloe extract.

Vichy Normaderm Anti-Age - 50ml - $33.95 - still getting pimples while you are starting to get wrinkles sucks - which Vichy understands and is addressing with this new product! With LHA and Glycolic Acid to deal with imperfections and Vitamin C to address aging in a non-greasy lotion that can be used morning and/or night. Offers purer, smoother and more uniform skin in just 7 days.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer - 15ml - $11.99 - in 5 shades: Fair, Light, Medium, Brightener - to add a touch of luminous colour to the eye, cheek and brow bones, Neutralizer - for deeper dark circles and shadows around the eye. Visibly erases fine lines, puffiness and dark circles around the eye. Contains Haloxyl - to absorb and eliminate pigments in the skin responsible for dark circles as well as help reinforce firmness and tone around the eye; and Goji Berry - which contains 19 amino acids and one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar K Anti-Relapse Formula - 30ml - $28 - intended for adult skin it has LHA that micro-exfoliates to clear and renovate skin's texture and Retinol Linoleate a powerful retinol derivative that normalizes sebum flow and regulates dead cell build up, correcting the environment responsible for imperfection relapses.

Olay Body Rituals collection - Purely Pristine - a whole new line of Olay bath products enriched with jojoba butter and crushed orchid extract.  The fresh, clean fragrance has top notes of cucumber, melon, cyclamen, Brazilian orange and mandarin; middle notes of Lily of the Valley, violet, plum and crisp apple; and base notes of dry sweet peach, amber and warm sandalwood.  Available in the collection is: Moisturizing Body Wash - 295ml - $8.99, Cleansing Body Wash - 354ml - $9.99, Body Bar - $5.99  and Body Lotion - 250ml - $6.99 - 350ml - $8.99

- Lisamarie -