Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Best in Face and Body Skincare Sets

November 30, 2011 | 16 Responses

For stuffing stockings to show you care

Weleda Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream ($16) or Skin Food *($20). Winter is coming, and that usually means dry cracked skin. Weleda’s holiday offerings contain soft moisturizing gloves with your choice of hand moisturizer. Sea Buckthorn is naturally healing, while Skin Food’s rich texture eliminates dry patches overnight. These are great stocking stuffers for frequent hand washers, as well as eczema sufferers. Available at Weleda online, Whole Foods Market, natural independent health food stores, Planet Organic Market, Nature’s Fare, Noah’s Natural Foods and Rexall Pharma Plus stores.

Pure + simple Super-plump Lip Kit ($34.95). Stay away from the petroleum-based lip balms, which actually dry out your lips in the long run, and go natural. This kit contains soothing Lavender Lip Oil and the Collagen Elasin Eye + Lip Concentrate, which keep your lips plump and protected for all the smooching you’ll be doing this season, amirite? Available at Pure + simple spas in the Greater Toronto area and online.

For the one who is hard to please (Glitter Geek’s TOP PICK)

Thann Jasmine Blossom Set ($50). Is your mother-in-law hard to please? Yes? This set is perfect for anyone you want to spoil. This actually makes me want to get out of bed and hop in the shower in the morning. Oh, and my lazy self has been putting on the lotion everyday, too. This is the most beautiful green that smells like crushed up jasmine buds. Both the body milk and the shower cream moisturize the skin incredibly. I cannot recommend it enough! Available in the flagship Thann store (in Ottawa) and online.

For anyone, anytime

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Multi-usage Dry Oil ($42 for 100ml). Although not technically a gift set, NUXE Huile Prodigieuse is a champ at multitasking and so luxurious that it makes a fabulous gift. It keeps skin and hair beautifully moisturized and also doubles as a fragrance. It’s a cult product for a reason. Available at Shoppers Drugmart and Beautyphica (get a bonus 50 ml Huile Prodigieuse OR for a limited time here!).

For the new mom or hard working gal who truly deserves a spa day

Pure + simple Super-hydrating Intensive Kit * ($99). It’s no secret that I’m a Pure + simple junkie, and my newest discovery is the Cellular Repair Face Cream in this set. I’ve been using this medium weight face cream both for day and night and it is a dream to put on. The Collagen Elastin Plus serum and Skin Restoration Cloth Mask are must haves for a home spa day. Tip: do the mask in the dark or risk scaring your significant others or pets. Available at Pure + simple spas in the Greater Toronto area and online.

For those who are nice… ‘kay maybe the naughty, too

The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Bath and Body Products * (from $4 to $18 each). The Body Shop is one of my go-to shops for holiday shopping because of their holiday scents. My favourite is the Spiced Vanilla, which smells divine and is available in different bath and body products. If you must have just one for a stocking stuffer, the Body Butter is a no-brainer (and on sale for $10 right now!). Available at The Body Shop stores and online.

Philosophy Sweet Kisses and Merry Wishes Set ($47). If you have never tried Philosophy shower gels, you’ve been missing out. Philosophy makes the best shower gels in the scents of the season. This set contains four (FOUR!!!) shower gels and coordinating lip shines. Gift it to one special nice person, or break it up as separate stocking stuffers for the naughty ones. Available at Sephora stores and online.

Anything catch your eye?

What will you be gifting from these sets, and what will you be keeping for yourself?

Disclosure: Products marked with * were provided by the manufacturer for editorial consideration only. For more information, see my Editorial and Advertising Policy.

Keep It or Toss It? Summer Skincare Edition.

July 19, 2011 | 43 Responses

Summer is a tricky season for one’s skin regimen. Cleansing becomes a big deal. You need to moisturize sensitive, possibly sun-damaged skin, but you don’t want to slap on anything too heavy. I’ve been trying a lot of new skincare lately, and it’s time again to talk about them!

Today I’m trying a new review format, called Keep It or Toss It? It will feature 5 or more product reviews, and each review will be quick — only 5 sentences or less. Here we go!

Cleanser: Consonant Body Organic Foaming Face Wash* ($18). Keep it. This face wash takes off all non-waterproof makeup as well as my all-time favourite, Philosophy Purity Made Simple. It doesn’t make my skin tight or uncomfortable after cleansing. Unfortunately for me, my hand eczema reacts pretty badly to the foam, so I’ll pass it on to my sister.

Eye Cream: Origins Eye Doctor ($34). Toss it. I’m 24 and I have some fine lines under my eyes. Sure, this smells refreshing (like cucumbers). But, it’s expensive and it doesn’t do anything.

Eye Roller: Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Roller ($20). Keep it. I’m a big fan of eye rollers. Naturally, an eye roller that brightens my dark circles, to me, is a pretty good deal. This doesn’t conceal major under eye circles, but it’s great for that extra boost on top of your concealer. Turn around bright eyes.

Toner/Hydrosol: Pure + simple Organic Lavender Hydrosol* ($12.95 for 50ml). Toss it. There’s something about this hydrosol that just did not agree with my nose at all. It doesn’t smell like lavender, or at least the kind that I’m accustomed to. It smells like pee. So no, I’m not going to spray my face with what smells like toilet water. Instead, try Weleda Refining Toner.

Serum: Pure + simple Soothing Mimosa Emulsion* ($39.95 for 50ml). Keep it. This is a light, hydrating serum that I wear under my moisturizer. It is incredibly soothing and cooling on sensitive skin after a hot sweaty bike ride under the sun. Oilier skin types can wear probably wear it as their day moisturizer.

Moisturizer: Origins VitaZing SPF 15 (around $40 for 50ml). Toss it. I bought mine in CCO in Las Vegas for US$27. This moisturizer has garnered so much hype thanks to a YouTube guru, but I thought it’s just alright. It’s a very sheer illuminating tinted moisturizer; one shade only. I like the way this smells and looks on the skin, but I’m pretty sure it causes breakouts every time I use it. Next!

Sunscreen: Pure + simple SPF 30 For Sensitive Skin* ($25.95 for 100ml). Keep it (and buy in bulk when it goes on sale). This is an great mineral sunscreen (none of that -benzone junk!) to wear under makeup as it won’t turn you into a grease ball. German chamomile calms irritated skin. It goes on white, but you can minimize this by patting it on over a face oil (like Argan oil). Pure + simple SPF 30 for Oily/Impure Skin works as just well, and I prefer the scent of that one, too.

Night Cream: Weleda Iris Hydrating Night Cream* ($28 for 30ml). Keep it. I love this almost as much as my holy grail night cream, Martina Gebhardt Black Mud Cream. Both brands are German and all-natural, so I’m pretty sure every person in Germany has perfect skin. While not as greasy as the Black Mud cream — a greasiness I prefer in my night cream, actually — the Iris Night Cream is rich enough to give you perfectly hydrated, plump skin in the morning.

Your Turn! What Summer Skincare Products Have Wowed Or Disappointed You Lately?

That was fun, eh? Have you tried any new skincare lately, or do you stick with what works?

Disclosure: Products marked with * were sent by manufacturer/PR for editorial consideration only. I bought everything else.

The Ultimate Natural Multi-Tasker: Pure + Simple Pure Foundation.

May 31, 2011 | 21 Responses

It’s no secret that I’m a liquid foundation kinda gal, but there are days when lazy happens. On these days, I can’t be bothered to put on several products just to even out my complexion. Even though I’m meticulous about my eye makeup, I prefer my skin regimen to be quick and easy. That’s where powder foundation comes in. It’s my foundation and setting powder in one, and the one that I’ve been using lately is Pure + Simple Pure Foundation in Marzipan ($39.95/compact and $29.95/refill in all Pure + Simple spa locations and online).

Ingredients: Mica, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Wax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Fractionated coconut oil), Olea Europaea Fruit (Organic Olive) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Organic Jojoba) Seed Oil, Zinc Stearate, Zinc Oxide, Tochopherol (Vit. E). May contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.

Pure + Simple Pure Foundation

I have it in the old refillable plastic packaging. Now they are actually housed in an adorable refillable cardboard packaging:

To use it, I swipe the compact with my elf kabuki brush, then I buff it in using circular motions all over my face. On areas where I have redness, I go back with a sponge to get more coverage. This foundation gives me coverage that I’m comfortable with (sheer-to-medium coverage). You can definitely get a lot more coverage with a sponge, but I find that it can get powdery when you layer more. A light dusting with a fluffy brush gives an even matte, fresh look.

No foundation (left) / Wearing Pure + Simple Pure Foundation (right)

I like my foundation to look like skin. When I’m in a hurry I just brush this on and go, but on most days I spritz it with a setting spray like MAC Fix+ for a less matte and more natural finish.

Wearing P+S Foundation only / Wearing P+S Foundation and MAC Fix+

I really like this foundation because it feels weightless and looks very natural, which are my top two reasons why I would stick with any foundation. It’s great for normal-to-oily skin as it helps keep the oilies down to a minimum. The colour lasts an entire work day on my face, but it certainly doesn’t look as fresh. I’d say it holds up for about 6 hours before needing a touch up.

Pure + Simple Pure Foundation also provides the added benefits of natural sunblock with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. With the hot Toronto sun we’ll be getting this summer, I’m glad to know that my makeup is working double time by making me look good, and keeping me covered. Gotta love that!

What’s Your Preferred Foundation Formula?

Are you a liquid, cream, or powder foundation kinda guy/gal? I still like liquid for my special occasion face, but for everyday I like a sheer tinted moisturizer or powder to even out my skin.

Disclosure: Product was provided by the manufacturer for editorial consideration only.