Toronto: This Earth Day Weekend, Be Good to the Earth and Go Shopping at Pure + simple!

April 9, 2012 | 1 Response

If you love to shop at Pure + simple as much as I do, then you don’t want to miss their Earth Day weekend specials on April 20 – 22 in all spa locations!

Ditch Your Car and Receive 15% Discount

Get your pretty self to the store by walking, taking public transit, or bicycling and get 15% off on your entire purchase. You must show your transit pass, TTC transfers, bike helmets to get the discount. And if you took your walking shoes out for the day, the discount will be based on an honour system. Don’t even try to explain that those five-inch heels are your “walking shoes.”

Double Your Credits with the Bottle Reuse Program

Do you have a bunch of Pure + simple bottle empties lying around? Instead of getting $1 credit, each glass bottle and Martina Gebhardt porcelain jar returned gets you $2 towards your next Pure + simple brand product. If you’re like me and have built your own mini Pure + simple store on your vanity (holla at your girl!), then you might even get your next purchase for free!

My empties = $10 off! YES!!!

Combine the Specials, Save More!

Sounds awesome, right? What’s even more amazing is that these specials can be combined, which means you can save more $$$ while being an angel to Mother Earth.

I really appreciate what Kristen Ma, co-founder of Pure + simple is doing for the good of the environment: “As a small, local company, we believe that every little bit counts and this is the message we are trying to convey.” Not only because of their incredibly effective, all-natural products, I am proud to support the brand for its eco-friendliness.

Are you going to shop on Earth Day weekend, April 20 – 22? I am planning to bike and take my empties for a new big bottle of my favourite day moisturizer, Pure + Simple Skin Drink.

Say Goodbye Crocodile Skin and Static-y Dry Hair, and Hydrate Yourself for Spring’s Coming.

March 8, 2012 | 8 Responses

Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe Bio-Advanced Restorative Treatment *. Don’t be fooled by the lightness of this treatment. Even though it isn’t thick, it smooths out my hair beautifully in the shower. Every time I use this, my hair looks shiny and is immediately tangle free for after-shower brushing. Available at Trade Secrets (www.tradesecrets.ca).

Live Clean Baby Shampoo & Wash ($6.99). I’m on my second (huge) bottle of this baby shampoo & body wash. I’m a huge fan of the Live Clean brand; they are proudly Canadian, SLS-, phthalate, and paraben-free, which makes them super gentle for babies and big babies alike. This works well as a shampoo and body wash because it doesn’t strip the skin dry. During bouts of really bad eczema flare-ups, this was the only soap I could use that didn’t irritate. Available at drugstores, grocery stores, Walmart and Zellers.

Holistic Vanity Rosacea Care Skincare Line * ($26 – $57). Founded by Kristen Ma (also co-founder of Pure+Simple), this line of products geared towards rosacea sufferers is super effective for hydrating sensitive skin. I suffered from a bit of skin sensitivity this winter, and my skin immediately drank up the Soothing Pomegranate Seed Lotion ($57) and Comforting Camellia Oil ($57). The oil can be a bit greasy for day use, but I am obsessed with it for my nighttime skincare regimen. It smells great, too! The whole line contains all-natural anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric, aloe vera juice and sea buckthorn, and is 89% to 100% organic. Available at Pure + simple spas in the Greater Toronto area and online.

eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm * ($3.99). I’m late to the eos Smooth Sphere train, but I do love these little spherical balms! Not only are they cute, but they do a great job at keeping my lips from getting chapped. They are addictive, but it’s nothing to worry about; this little lip balm does not contain petrolatum, so go ahead and get obsessed all you want. Available at at all major food, drug, and mass retailers.

Vichy LiftActiv Serum 10 * ($55) This velvety serum is great for a major hydration boost. What I love most about it is how it primes the skin beautifully for makeup application. It freshens the skin and doesn’t leave it greasy or oily. Available at Shoppers Drugmart.

LUX Spa (www.lux-spa.com). Take a break from shopping and indulge in a relaxing mani-pedi at the new LUX Spa Downtown Toronto location (211 Yonge Street, Mezzanine Level / 416.367.8414) across from the Eaton Centre. The mani-LUX ($38) and pedi-LUX ($58) services include a moisturizing scrub that takes the winter skin off immediately. While you’re there, indulge in some amazingly scented LoveFresh (www.lovefresh.com) products; I can’t get enough of the Vanilla Bean lotion. Mmmm!

Beauty Resolution: Step Up My Anti-Aging Skincare Regimen with KORRES (+ A Giveaway!).

January 16, 2012 | 68 Responses

I don’t make yearly resolutions, but I think beauty resolutions are important. For every year that that comes and goes, and the farther away I get from age 20 (that’s 5 years now, ohnoes!), the more important my anti-aging regimen becomes. Last year I started using serums, heavier creams, regular masks and oils at night. This year I’m starting fresh with some natural, anti-aging products I received from KORRES.

My KORRES Nighttime Skincare Regimen

KORRES Wild Rose Face and Eye Serum

After cleansing my face, my first layer of hydration is KORRES Wild Rose Face and Eye Serum ($49) all over my face, under my eyes and all over my neck. It is a nice, light serum that spreads easily and absorbs within a minute of application. It has a beautiful sweet rose fragrance that makes it so irresistible to my nose. I love that this one gives nice hydration; oily skin types can wear this one on its own without another moisturizer. While I can’t confirm its claim to reduce the appearance of fine lines as I don’t currently have them, I have noticed that my skin looks brighter since I’ve started using it.

KORRES Quercetin and Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream

Before the serum absorbs completely, I follow up quickly with the KORRES Quercetin and Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream ($59). It is rich and thick as a night cream should be. You don’t have to worry about greasy with this one either, as it dries to a skin-like finish. I fully recommend Quercetin and Oak Night Cream for all skin types — if, and this is a big if, you can handle the scent. It has a strong woody scent that may be off putting to some, but I am strangely drawn to it. With the Quercetin and Oak Night Cream, my skin stays nourished all throughout the night and looks beautifully plump in the morning. This is a good one, ladies!

KORRES Quercetin and Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream

Now that I’m 25, I am noticing that the elasticity and hydration under my eyes are starting to go. Wah! Aside from being careful with makeup application, I use KORRES Quercetin and Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream ($55) for both night and day. Its texture is light and fluffy, but don’t let that fool you. This is pretty potent stuff; the tiniest amount takes care of my undereyes. Before this came into my life, I have been suffering from dryness on my undereyes that shows when I wore concealer. Now, that is no longer an issue. This is a must-have in my skincare regimen now and I am definitely buying it when I run out. You need it.

Wild Rose Serum / Quercetin & Oak Night Cream / Quercetin & Oak Eye Cream

Natural Formulation

KORRES prides itself on making natural products that are free of petrolatum, parabens, phthalates and a lot of other potentially harmful ingredients. I appreciate this about the KORRES brand; it is one of the cleanest brands you can pick up at Sephora or the drugstore. However, note that they are formulated with fragrance/parfum, which may potentially irritate super sensitive types.

Full Ingredient Lists

KORRES Wild Rose Face and Eye Serum Ingredients: Water (eau), Hamamelis Virginiana Flower Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, PEG-32, Panthenol, Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Phospholipids, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Fragrance (parfum), Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, PEG-8, Adansonia Digitata Fruit Extract, Phytic Acid, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycine, Sorbitol, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Alcohol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Pyrus Cydonia Fruit Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1 , Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract.

KORRES Quercetin and Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream: Water (eau), Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Triheptanoin, Behenyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Beeswax (Cire D’abeille), Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose , Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Galactoarabinan , Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance (parfum), Serine, Arginine, PCA, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Alanine, Disodium EDTA, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Threonine, Sodium Gluceptate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, Glyceryl Oleate, Quercetin Caprylate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Lactic Acid, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Mourera Fluviatilis Extract, Quercus Robur Bark Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract.

KORRES Quercetin and Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Eye Cream: Aqua/Water/Eau, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triheptanoin, Sucrose Stearate, Glycerin, Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax/Polyglycerol-3 Esters, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Hydrogenated C12-18 Triglycerides, Sucrose Distearate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Distarch Phosphate, Sucrose, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Pulp Extract, Alanine, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Arginine, Benzyl Alcohol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Ehtylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Oleate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium ( Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Mourera Fluviatilis Extract, Parfum (Fragrance), Pca, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Seed Extract, Quercetin Caprylate, Quercus Robur Bark Extract, Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis, (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Salicylic Acid, Serine, Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate, Sodium Gluceptate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sunflower Seed Oil Sorbitol Esters, Threonine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum.

KORRES products are available in Canada at select Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora stores.

Contest Alert for Canadians!

This contest is now closed! Thanks to everyone for entering!

Because you guys are totally awesome, KORRES has generously provided a skincare prize pack ($196 value!) to one lucky Canadian resident. You will get all the products above, plus a KORRES Basil Lemon Body Butter. Want to enter? Follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below.

This contest is open to residents of Canada who are 18 years of age or over. Winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced through the original blog post and Twitter. Winner must contact me within 24 hours. I reserve the right to pick another entry if the winner fails to contact me within this timeframe.

The contest ends on Saturday January 28, 2012 at 12:01 am EST.

Click here to keep reading and enter the giveaway!