Category Archives: Pure + simple

Keep It or Toss It? Summer Skincare Edition.

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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?

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

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It’s no secret that I’m a liquid foundation kinda gal, but there are days when lazy happens. :P  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

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.

Visit Pure + simple on Earth Day to Make Toronto Greener, Literally!

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Toronto peeps: if you always thought that our city could use more greenery, here’s your chance to help make that happen.  On Thursday April 21, 2011, Pure + simple will be supporting the Toronto Parks & Trees Foundation’s ‘See the Forest for the Trees: Help Double Toronto’s Tree Canopy’ initiative.

This Earth Day, Pure + simple will plant a tree in the City of Toronto for every 10 transactions.  ”As a local company we know how vital local support is and how it can be easily overlooked for more well-known causes, which are equally important, but this year we chose to contribute to a local cause,” says Kristen Ma, co-owner and author of Beauty: Pure + simple. “These trees will not only make Toronto more beautiful, but they will help make Toronto healthier and will continue to do so for many years,” she continues.

As a thank you, customers who spend over $20 will receive a sustainable and eco-friendly hemp/cotton blend tote bag that says “I helped plant a tree!”  Cute yeah?

And don’t worry if you can’t make it out on April 21 — the bags will be available for purchase ($6.95) with 100% of proceeds will be donated to help double Toronto’s tree canopy.

Besides their amazing and effective products, what I love about Pure + simple are their many green initiatives:

  • Bottle recycling program. Clients who bring back their empty glass bottles to any Pure + simple spa from the Pure + simple Brand are eligible for $1 off of their next Pure + simple brand purchase. The returned glass bottles are then re-sterilized and reused. Best of all, clients can combine returned bottles/dollars towards their next Pure + simple brand product purchase.
  • Packaging. The packaging for the Pure + simple brand products is bare, there practically isn’t any. You see what you buy. Boxes and plastic inserts are an excess that Pure + simple has mindfully omitted.
  • Refills. In early 2009 the first refills for the Pure + simple Pressed Powder Foundations were introduced and is now a staple of the Pure + simple Mineral Foundation Makeup Line. As a result, the powder foundation containers can be reused an infinite number of times.

If you can’t decide on what to get, try a facial (the Urban Renewal or Super Hydrating are my favourites!) or check out my reviews of some of their products.  I hope you can make it. :)