Skincare Lineup
A wee look at what I’m using right now. If you have questions, leave them below.
Posted in Skin Care
Tagged Aveda, Differin, Glycolic Acid, The Inkey List, The Ordinary, Vivier
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Nars Monoi Body Glow II Oil
The Nars Monoi Body Glow II oil came out as part of their Tahiti Bronze collection in 2016, and that’s how long I’ve been holding on to this bottle for. It always seemed too precious to use, so I kept it on a shelf, and then when the shelf had too much stuff on it, I moved it into a box. Well something as beautiful as this is no good in a box, so what’s the point?
I took it out this week and started using it and that was hard. I still think that this is too beautiful to use every day. I mean look: it has a real Tiare flower steeping in the oil, and the scent is a mix of frangipani, ylang ylang, tiare flower, and vanilla. It’s subtle and beautiful, slightly summery and warm but not sweet.
The oil absorbs into your skin quickly and leaves it feeling comfortable. The oil is just scented enough that you can put the oil on your whole body without feeling like it’s too much.
I’m enjoying using it. Just on parts of my body while the other parts get covered in sunscreen since it’s still summer and I’m still out and about.
What I’ll do is use up this beautiful oil and then hold on to the bottle. Because I can do that.
$76 at Nars counters.
Neutrogena Sheer Zinc Sunscreen Review Video
If you want to see how sheer this sunscreen actually is then watch this video!
http://www.instagram.com/tv/B0WZ1zyh-kx/
Veriphy Skincare
Brand new to Shoppers Drug Mart locations is skincare brand Veriphy, and I’ve been giving their three products a try this summer. They include a face serum, an eye cream, and a face lotion. The brand is out of Guelph, Ontario, and was created to incorporate a new ingredient called Phytoglycogen which was discovered at the University of Guelph. Phytoglycogen is glycogen extracted from plants – where as glycogen is found in our bodies and helps give us energy (I’m simplifying this, but that’s how it works). In your skin, phytoglycogen could help with hydration, collagen, and skin health.
The packaging is luxe and heavy. Dark green glass bottles with gold lids and lettering looks unique but pretty on my vanity. You can see the boxes that the bottles come in, and they have all the ingredients in them.
My favourite from this collection was the Power Trip Facial Serum because it has some lactic acid in it which helps exfoliate skin and just makes skin brighter but moisturizes too.
The facial serum is $105, the eye cream is $82, and the face lotion is $85. You can find them online.
Live Clean Super Fruit Waters Quenching Curls Shampoo & Conditioner
If you’re a fan of Live Clean (like so many people in my family are) you’ll be happy to know that there’s a new line of Live Clean haircare that’s just for those of us with curly hair. The Super Fruit Waters Quenching Curls Shampoo and Conditioner is made up of light-weight hydrating ingredients to leave curls fresh and bouncy.
If you have frizz-prone hair, this might be your first step in taking care of that.
Available in drugstores and mass merchandisers now.
$7.49 – $7.99.
Scent Intense by Costume National
Never has a scent intrigued me as much as Scent Intense by Costume National. I had only heard of the design house fleetingly and certainly didn’t know that they made a perfume. I don’t even know what compelled me to pick up the fairly nondescript black bottle, take a sniff, and then spray some on myself.
This is a scent unlike any other.
First things first: it’s unisex, and not unisex in a Calvin Klein kind of way where all you smell is a cologne. It’s unisex in the way that it’s mostly made for men and women who don’t mind smelling like men. I found it in the women’s scent department.
Basenotes says that the base of this scent is Amber but I smell so much more than that in this. I smell a very distinct woodiness in the dry down and it’s very powdery. At the end of the day, this scent is very smoky and dry. It’s comforting and even in the heat of the summer, it has the ability to transport one out of the city and into a place where wood fires are burning a dark and mysterious fire.
If you’re looking for something different, you should check this scent out. It’s a fairly linear scent and lasts a long time on the skin. Strong and unusual, it’s not for those who like to blend in.
Available online: $165 for 100ml.
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil
If you’re in hot and humid weather and you have curly hair, straightening it is pretty much useless, so the next best thing is to wear it curly and for this, I love a good serum. It minimizes the frizz and leaves your hair soft and defined. Lots of serums have dimethicone or some other form of silicone in them, but the Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil also has a blend of different oils that help condition your hair. The result is frizz-free defined curls and healthier hair.
Available at salons. $53.
Derma-E Vitamin C Concentrated Serum
Vitamin C is a great option for adding an antioxidant into your skincare routine. Antioxidants get rid of environmental stress and it can even help skincare products like sunscreen work better. Because I use vitamin C on a regular basis, I don’t always notice a huge difference when I change products. That being said, I do sometimes have dry skin and I love that the Dermae Vitamin C serum also has hyaluronic acid in it as its base.
Dermae also has a Vitamin C Instant Radiance Citrus Facial Peel which actually has ground of orange peel in it. I think the orange peel is a bit excessive, and probably didn’t do anything for my skin, but this peel did have glycolic acid and vitamin C in it and I experienced some mild tingling when I put it on my skin.
You can find Dermae products on their website.
Vivier Sheer Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Sunscreen Video
I reviewed this sunscreen when I first got it, and it’s still going strong. Take a look at me applying it on the back of my hand – it actually is sheer! The ingredients are mineral and chemical sunscreens , so if you’re looking for something that’s just mineral, this isn’t it. But it’s still a great option for sun protection. Texture and finish is powdery which makes it great for using under makeup.
Watch the whole video below:
http://www.instagram.com/tv/B0OxwX5Bg2w/