SHEET MASK | eyeNLip Beauty Moisture Essence Hyaluronic Acid and Charcoal Masks

Press samples

How can it be August already? Even though my schedule doesn't really change much in the summer compared to let's say a teacher, I definitely still feel the slowdown of summer. There is MUCH less traffic in the mornings and my 35 min commute becomes 20. People in general are in no rush for things and maybe it's the sunny weather that puts people in a good mood, but everyone is generally quite pleasant which is ALWAYS nice in the world of retail. 

SKINCARE | FirstBase Skincare Double Dose Vitamin C Serum

Press sample

I know that single product reviews are kind of old school, but what if something was so fantastic that it deserved to be placed on a pedestal all by itself? Founded in the midst of the craziness of 2020 by friends April Ferguson and Beth Hunt, Canadian brand FirstBase Skincare launched its first and only product last year and it is incredible. The world of skincare is a saturated one and the fact that the only product FirstBase has is a vitamin C serum MUST mean it is REALLY something and I am here to tell you that it is and WHY!

SHEET MASK | Garnier SkinActive Fresh-Mix Sheet Masks

Garnier has been doing insanely well with their SkinActive line and though I have some reviews pending for their "bottled skincare", my eyes always jump to their sheet masks first as they were probably one of the earlier drugstore brands to have a solid selection of sheet masks that addressed specific skin concerns. There hasn't been anything new on the sheet mask front for awhile until I spotted these SkinActive Fresh Mix Sheet Masks on the shelf while waiting for a prescription at London Drugs and I grabbed them right away because the trend of "popping"the essence and infusing a dry sheet mask is one of my favourite Asian skincare innovations! It feels like I'm being all #girlboss with my skincare and just taking charge! 

 Purchased by me

BODY | Deciem Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Concentrate for Hands and Body Review

As much as I have raved about DECIEM on social media, it has actually been a long time since I have talked about them and the brands under their umbrella for awhile even though I use their products constantly! In keeping with my promise to only feature brands I love and that I *hope* you will love. My first review of 2016 for my beloved DECIEM will be for the incredibly unique Hand Chemistry Hyaluronic Concentrate for Hands and Body* (240mL/$30.00 CDN). Made with a hyaluronic concentrate containing 99.5% pure hyaluronic acid which is mind-boggling considering HA can hold up to 1000x its weight in water so I am imagining what this must mean for my skin!

SKINCARE | NIOD Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex First Impressions Review

When it comes to skincare, hyaluronic acid is an ingredient we hear a lot about, but can be somewhat misunderstood. I once had a client tell me that he was actually allergic to hyalronic acid (HA) even though it is a naturally found in connective, epithelial and neural tissue throughout the body. Just by looking at this bottle of NIOD (Non Invasive Options in Dermal Science) Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex*($60.00 CDN/30mL), I am feeling a little intimidated at how I’m going to talk about this product because it just LOOKS “sciencey” and complicated, but really what sets this product apart from other HA skincare products is its multidimensional approach to topical HA delivery. The MMHC is a serum that “combines 12 forms of hyaluronic compounds in a peptide-charged delivery system” to give skin lasting hydration and plumpness.

Histolab | Hyaluron Complex Ampoule 62

In Asia skincare is HUGE. Much more so than in North America. Asian women are used to having multiple steps in their skincare routine and even welcome the addition of more! I myself tend to use around 5-6 products at night making my night time ritual seem quite complicated. Although I have been blessed with good skin, I do take very good care of it. This means that I am also quite picky about what goes on it so when I was introduced to the Korean skincare line Histolab and the Hyaluron Complex Ampoule ($49.99 USD), I had a look at the ingredients and decided to give it a try.

So, what kind of product is this? In terms of WHERE it should go in your skincare routine, this is a serum for ALL SKIN TYPES and should be used right after toning. The key players in this ampoule are: sodium hyaluronate, grapefruit extract, snail secretion filtrate and rose water all of which serve to instantly replenish moisture and keep skin soft and supple. This quartet of ingredients are what form the hyaluron complex.