#HBBeauty is here, and that’s the Les Essentials collection from The Hudson’s Bay Company. Each product is between $35 and $60 and there are some neat products in the collection. See what they are in the video!
http://www.instagram.com/tv/B6HGq4hBSg7/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Available now, online and in stores.
Beautiful presents like this one never go unappreciated. This would be the perfect present for a significant other, a boss, or as a hostess gift. Woodlot is a Canadian company that makes all their products by hand, and each one has so much thought put into it. The candles are sustainable coconut wax mixed with soy wax, the essential oils are strong, and Rose and Palo mist is just pure luxury in a spray.
The packaging is heavy glass and everything feels luxe.
Even the inside of the boxes have beautiful gold printing inside them. They’re heavy and sturdy and feel reliable in my hands. They’re as nice to unbox as they are to use. I’ve been burning the Original candle all weekend, and I love that it smells earthy and fresh at the same time.
Woodlot is one of the brands that’s part of Holt Renfrew’s H Project, and you can check out more of the line there. This best-sellers gift is $59.
Check them out online.
Watch me apply one of the best mascaras I’ve ever used. You just have to look at how nice and thick this makes my lashes to see why it’s a cult favourite mascara.
http://www.instagram.com/tv/B6Ce5bnpPf0/
Available at Shoppers Drug Mart. Normally $30 but sometimes it’s on sale.
I feel like I talk about retinol a lot, but if you’re nursing or pregnant, or have very sensitive skin then retinol might not be for you. Luckily there’s a retinol alternative called Bakuchiol, which is plant-derived and when used twice a day, has been shown to have anti-wrinkling effects similar to retinol. That’s the active ingredient in Beautycounter’s Countertime collection. Each item in the collection – the serum, soft cream, and day cream – has bakuchiol in it so that you can incorporate it into your skincare regimen in a variety of ways.
What I have is the Countertime Cleansing oil, the Serum and the Soft cream.
The Cleansing oil is great, but really not that different from other cleansing oils that I’ve used before. If you’ve used other cleansing oils, then I don’t know if you really need this one too. What I do love is the heavy pink glass bottles that all the products are packaged in. They’re not great for travel but they do look so pretty on the counter.
The radiance serum and the soft cream were really my favourites. The serum absorbs into your skin but it has a sheen to it so it really made my skin look glowy. The cream is light and absorbed into my skin nicely too. I used the serum during the day under makeup, and the cream was something that I enjoyed using at night time.
I’m done using the products now – I actually finished both the serum and the cream, but still have lots of the cleansing oil left. Did I like it as much as I like retinol? Maybe. When my skin is sensitive and I need something gentle, then the Countertime collection is perfect, but if I really want to get rid of acne scarring then I need retinol for its cell turnover capabilities. I’m not really too concerned about getting rid of wrinkles at this point, but I want smoother and clearer skin so I turn to retinol. I did actually find that I could use both the serum and the day cream with my existing retinol. I layered them on top like moisturizers and there’s nothing in them that will prevent the retinol from working.
Beautycounter Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil – $49.
Beautycounter Countertime Antioxidant Soft Cream – $79.
Beautycounter Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum – $79.
Available online or through your Beautycounter representative.
This is the retinol that you want if you’re a beginner to retinols – and truthfully, it’s the one that I’m using right now too because it’s so gentle that it makes my skin feel so good. Reversa’s Retin[A]list has just 0.3% retinol which means that you’ll get all that retinol exfoliating goodness but none of the dryness and peeling that comes with it. 
If you’re already using a stronger retinol, there’s no reason to switch to this one but if you’re new to retinol then this might be the one to start with because it’s not too strong. Starting with a strong retinol can cause major redness and irritation and it can even ruin your skin barrier.
The Reversa retinol has a moisturizing gel formulation which makes it easy to use with any other skincare ingredients. It feels like more of a serum than a cream, but it’s moisturizing and not watery. I use it on top of my vitamin C serum, and so far so good. I’ve actually been using it for about 2 months and my skin loves it because it’s so gentle.
Available at Shoppers Drug Mart for $44.99.
This is actually my favourite Dermalogica product because it’s the most unique.
This is basically a serum and the great thing about it is that it actually moisturizes but it’s totally weightless! You can layer it with other products you’re using, and I use it before I put sunscreen on and it’s perfect because you can moisturize without putting too much stuff on your face.
The product is meant to immediately relieve skin and get rid of fine lines. The best part is that it absorbs into your skin immediately and makes it look and feel nice and plump. If you suffer from occasional winter dry skin, check this out.
$89, where Dermalogica products are sold.
I’ve tried the Christian Dior Diorshow mascara many times before, but never written a review about it, so here goes.
Let me start by saying that there’s a reason that this mascara ends up on all the Editor’s lists but never in the hands or makeup bags of most makeup artists. On top of being one of the more expensive mascaras on the market, it really doesn’t deliver anything that a drugstore mascara can’t. Add that to the fact that it’s a little difficult to use on account of the massive wand.
Want to know how large it really is? Check out the picture of it next to a wand from CoverGirl VolumeExact Mascara.
The wand on the left is the VolumeExact, while the right one is the Diorshow wand. The Diorshow wand is huge which makes it a little difficult to use. It’s hard to get mascara on every single lash and not have a little bit smear on your eyelids.
I have to say though, that once I got used to the wand, this was not a terrible mascara. I was able to build volume with two or three coats, and the formula is stellar. I didn’t see any flaking but it washed off very easily at the end of the day. I even fell asleep with it on one night and woke up surprised to see it was still there, so it does wear very well.
$39 at Dior counters.
Do you know about By Terry? It’s actually a French brand that’s best known for their ultra-lux Rose Balm, a lipbalm that is rose-scented, and often imitated. Reviews of the balm are mixed – many of the people who have shelled out the money for it absolutely adore it while some think that it’s not worth the money. Honestly, yes, it smells very nice but I don’t think it does anything extraordinary.
But, like most makeup, you get this balm because you want it, not because you need it or it does something extra-special. The packaging really is pretty and like most high-end products, the balm has quite a weight to it.
My friend Liza recently picked it up on a trip to NYC – you can’t get it anywhere in Canada, so I thought I’d post some pictures of it. The consistency is gel-like and the rose scent isn’t very strong or overpowering. It worked well but I don’t know if I would buy it.
What do you think?
In the days of Laneige and and other amazing balms, is this one worth it?
$76 online.
Everyone has dry skin on their face at this time of year – even us combination skin gals need something a little extra for our faces and that’s why I’m going to recommend that you try an oil cleanser. It sounds strange, I know, but the newest cleansers rinse clean and leave no residue!
Try La Mer The Cleansing Oil.
It is great. You massage it into your dry skin and it dissolves any makeup or impurities that were there. As soon as you add water, the texture of the oil changes and it dissolves into something else and rinses away. It’s great. Your skin is soft and clean without any additional tightness at all. You must try this.
If you’ve always wanted to try Tatcha skincare but didn’t know what would work for you, now is the time to try it all because Tatcha’s holiday packages are here. Such as this cute little Hydration Bento which has all of Tatcha’s moisturizers in mini sizes.
The Bento includes:
The Silk Cream – This one is smooth and soft with a silky finish.
The Water Cream – oil-free and hydrating.
The Dewy Skin Cream – super rich and glowy.
The Indigo Cream – comforting for sensitive skin.
Keep this if you’ve always wanted to try the Tatcha collection or perfect for gifting.
$33 online.
