Canadian Beauty

Just Finished: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream and Creams I’ve Loved

Posted on October 2, 2018 by Henna

I really wish I had taken a picture of the empty jar, but I just forgot. I know, I’ve reviewed a whole bunch of face creams lately. There was the Sothy’s Noctuelle which has vitamin C in it and is meant to be used at night time. This was really the most lusciously moisturizing cream I’ve tried in a long time. It’s best for those with dry skin.

There was also It Cosmetics’ Secret Sauce which was also moisturizing but known for having lots of antioxidants in it. The texture was on point and it was great to use any time of the day.

But none of those were exfoliating and sometimes that’s just what your skin needs, and if you have oily skin like me, you need that more often than not. So I love Neutrogena’s Rapid Repair line and I’ve written about it a ton because I’m a Neutrogena “Skincare Expert” and their Rapid Repair moisturizer with SPF is my all time favourite day cream because it has a bit of retinol but also SPF 30!

The cream has hyaluronic acid and retinol in it to help moisturize and exfoliate your skin, and although it’s a nice thick cream, it’s not so thick that it bothers my oily skin. It still sinks in very easily and makes my skin look slightly glowy.

Pick it up in drugstores for $38.99.

Posted in Moisturizers | Tagged Cream, Face, neutrogena, skincare | Leave a comment

Defend Your Skin with Vitamin C from Avene

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Henna

At about this time of year, your tan’s faded, and maybe you’re left with some freckles from a good summer. Maybe it’s just time to get that brightness back that you feel like you might have lost. I know that for myself at this time of year, I always contemplate laser, peels, scrubs, anything to bring back more of a clean slate for my skin. It’s good to know that there’s one ingredient that you can add that helps prevent all kinds of environmental damage, and that’s Vitamin C.

Worth checking out is Avene’s A-OXitive serum ($50) and water-cream ($48), both of which are formulated with vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid to help skin hydrate and defend itself against environmental damage. I love the Water-Cream because it’s a little thicker and keeps my skin hydrated for a longer amount of time. It also has a bit of shimmer in it which makes my skin look more glowy. I’m wearing this under SPF and makeup but I still like that there’s a bit of a glow.

Available at pharmacies and drugstores now.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged Avene | Leave a comment

Another Day, Another Clear Sunscreen Everyone Can Use

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Henna

It might feel like summer’s on its way out, but I’m not done with these sunscreen reviews! Here’s another option for those of you who are looking for something that’s completely clear, and this one is SPF 30.

Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Sheer Daily Moisturizer has a light, almost gel-like consistency that feels incredibly hydrating on the skin. Although it says Positively Radiant, there’s no shimmer or shine in this sunscreen, but there is the usual and slight sunscreen sheen that ends up on your skin. Smooth it on, and the sunscreen disappears into your skin completely, which makes it perfect for everyday. It absorbs quickly leaving time to put makeup on, if that’s your thing.

$20.79 at drugstores and mass merchandisers.

Posted in Moisturizers, Sunscreen | Tagged Aveeno, Moisturizer, Review, Sunscreen | 2 Comments

Fragrance Review: Byredo Super Cedar

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Henna

It’s always always a good sign when you’re wearing a perfume, and you get asked what IS that. The first time this happened to me when I was wearing Byredo’s Super Cedar, I immediately wondered if I had put too much on. One spray doesn’t seem like much especially when you’re going to be out and about, but you never know.

I love Super Cedar because it’s intensely dry and fresh. Like a winter day in the woods, but without going outside. Usually, I save scents like these for the summer, but I’m finding that it’s working really well this fall too. I like to smell how I like to smell.

Super Cedar smells like intense Cedar at first spray, and then dries down to what smells like Cedar and Vetyver and musk. It’s not at all warm or sweet which is just fine with me because I like my scents to warm up on me, not in the bottle. It’s very long-lasting, and I can usually smell it on my clothes at the end of the day.

Overall, this isn’t the most interesting or complex of scents, but its simplicity is what makes it work, for me, and I like that it’s intensely cedary but without being woodsy. It’s so fresh and that’s just what I want right now.

Byredo is available at Holt Renfrew. $220 for the 50mL bottle.

Posted in Perfumes | Tagged Byredo, Perfume | Leave a comment

Kerastase Soleil Collection

Posted on September 10, 2018 by Henna

The summer might be almost over (still hanging on to it over here), but the sun is still going to be on your hair, and it might be worth it to explore the Kerastase Soleil collection which was new this year. Kerastase knows that summer hair is light and easy, so the products in this collection are light on moisture so they don’t weigh down your hair, but they’re still gentle.

I love every part of this collection, but especially the shampoo ($45) and conditioner ($66). The shampoo is clear but moisturizing. There’s nothing I love more than a clear shampoo because it makes your hair really clean and doesn’t leave much of a residue. The conditioner is also super light. It absorbs into hair almost instantly, helping detangle but not leaving much after it’s washed out.

The Soleil Micro Voile Protecteur ($48) is like sunscreen for your hair – it’s great for protecting it but light on hold and on frizz-fighting. It enhances shine and helps hair look and feel healthier.

Available online and in salons.

Posted in Hair | Tagged Kerastase | Leave a comment

Fragrance Friday: New, Calvin Klein Women

Posted on September 7, 2018 by Henna

New from Calvin Klein this month is their perfume Women. Check out the bottle: functional artistry, this bottle is at once glamorous but simple, which matches the Calvin Klein aesthetic.

The scent is also a contrast. The opening is a fruity floral with the notes of orange petal flowers, and a touch of eucalyptus keeps things fresh but not minty. The heart of jasmine, orange blossom, and magnolia which is feminine. A drydown of Alaskan cedarwood is soft and woodsy, and still unexpected. Amber and white musk add a sweet soapiness that is pleasant with the cedarwood.

The fragrance is unique but not too strong, so it layers well and can be added to as you wear it. I love the cedarwood in it, and that’s my favourite single note right now, so this is what I’m loving for the fall.

$52 for 50mL.

Posted in Perfumes | Leave a comment

Noctuelle, from Sothys

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Henna

If you’re a fan of skincare, you should know that Noctuelle, Sothy’s line of night-care products has gotten revamped. The Noctuelle line is for night time – products made especially to destress both the skin and the mind so that you can wake up feeling and looking more rested.

The entire line includes

Detox Resurfacing Overnight Cream

Relaxing Pillow Mist

Chrono-Destressing Sleeping Mask

The best thing about all the products is that they smell so good. They’re pleasant and relaxing to smell and once you start associating the scent with bedtime, it’s so much easier to fall asleep.

The Detox Resurfacing Overnight Cream is the hero product: infused with vitamin C, which is great for preventing environmental damage, this cream is also moisturizing. While it leaves your skin glossy, the final effect is one of brighter skin when you wake up.

The Relaxing Pillow Mist smells the same as the night cream, and the Destressing mask is a lighter option but still intense when it comes to hydrating the skin and making it look and feel refreshed, and softer and smoother.

All the products are available at fine spas where Sothys products are sold.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged Night Care, Night Cream, Sothys | Leave a comment

Biodegradable Wipes are Here

Posted on September 4, 2018 by Henna

Did you know that most wipes are not biodegradable? In fact, they are only biodegradable if it’s written on the package, and even then you would have to double check with your city’s compost policy because the chemicals on many wipes interfere with the composting that they do.

But Beautycounter has changed that. Their new wipes are compatible with most composting systems, so you can throw them into your household compost pile. Moreover, they actually work at taking off makeup. I found that one wipe was enough to do a good job on taking off my face makeup, but I need another wipe to take off just my mascara – because there’s that much of it. But the wipes are super wet and they stay wet with a makeup remover that works – but are compatible with the environment.

Also, I don’t usually post ingredient lists, but I’ll post this one because I love how short it is:

Aqua/Water/Eau, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water*, Undecane, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Tridecane, Sodium Cocoyl Apple Amino Acids, Allantoin, Glycerin, Betaine, Phenethyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol. *Organic/Biologique

The wipes are oil-free, with no added fragrance, and are hydrating thanks to the Aloe Juice, and Glycerin.

These wipes are more expensive – $20 for 30 wipes, but if you’re a regular user of wipes, these might be worth switching to.

Available online.

Posted in Cleansers | Tagged Beautycounter, makeup remover, Wipes | Leave a comment

St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water

Posted on August 31, 2018 by Henna

It’s been a summer of ups and downs, but today I’m holding on to my tan thanks to St. Tropez. The new St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist is literally the most easy-to-use tanner around. They recommend using it on your face because you can wear it on top of moisturizer or makeup. Simply mist it on like a setting spray, and the self-tanner ingredients do their magic throughout the day. You can apply it everyday if you find that you like more of a tan, or just a couple of times a week if you like a lighter tan.

While it smells fresh and clean, because it’s on your face, once it starts working and you actually start getting a tan, you’ll find that you can actually smell it. No matter. I like that it’s doing what it says it’s going to do and I mist it on my face, neck, the tops of my hands and on other skin that’s showing to get a nice gentle tan that I don’t have to rub in.

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart for $39.

Posted in Self-Tanner | Tagged Self-Tanner, St. Tropez | Leave a comment

New Nia24 Products at Shoppers Drug Mart

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Henna

It’s that time of year where you’ve been taking care to protect your skin from the sun, but perhaps you’re also ready to repair some of the damage that the sun may have caused. For that there are new NIA24 products available at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Nia24 is a line of anti-aging products. The active ingredient in all Nia24 products is what they call Pro-Niacin, which is a form of Vitamin B3, which actually has shown to reduce hyperpigmentation and smooth out skin. This in turn, helps skin look more refined and clear, and it can even product less oil resulting in fewer breakouts and then less scarring.

The NIA24 Age Recovery for Décolletage and Hands ($60) contains the Pro-Naicin but in a formula that’s super moisturizing which is what my hands definitely need all year round. The Pro-Niacin will help get rid of age spots, but the Squalene, Olive, and Borage oils will give lots of relief to dry skin.

There’s also the Sun Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 ($54) that’s out this month. It’s a mineral sunscreen, but pretty sheer so light to fair skin tones will probably be able to use it without any flashback or white cast. I, on the other hand, found it to be bluish-white and I found that I was rubbing it in so much that it ended up giving me questionable coverage. I always say that the best sunscreen is the one that you want to use, and you want to use lots, so I wouldn’t reach for this one to use on myself simply because of the white cast. It has a super smooth, silky finish that made it easy to wear so it the tint isn’t showing up on you then this is a great option!

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart this September.

Posted in Skin Care | Tagged Nia24, Niacin | Leave a comment