Beauty,Life
Sephora is currently having a Spring Bonus sale where they offer members 10%-15% off all of their products! Rouge & VIB members get 15% off and “Insiders” get 10% off. It’s not a credit card or anything that requires a big […]
Sephora is currently having a Spring Bonus sale where they offer members 10%-15% off all of their products! Rouge & VIB members get 15% off and “Insiders” get 10% off. It’s not a credit card or anything that requires a big commitment but simply a rewards and loyalty program that gives you more points and rewards as you spend too much money (ahem me who is a Rouge member 😂). If you sign up now as an insider you get 10% off of everything so I thought this was the perfect time to write about my favourite skin care and makeup products that I think you will love!
This turned into a really long article so my current favourite makeup products can be found in a separate post here
I’ve been testing and trying out beauty products for over a year now when I saw my skin has been affected by lack of sleep (hi kids) and general aging. I have normal to dry skin and my skin loves oil-based products so you’ll see that as a theme. My skin isn’t sensitive but there are a few tips below for those who have this skin type as my sister has sensitive skin and we usually test the same products. My skin has been consistently improving with the help of the products highlighted below and has never looked better!
Below I have outlined my skin routine in order of use and chat about what I’m currently trying. I also link to where you can find each item in Canada and the US.
Available | CANADA Any Mac Makeup Counter | US Nordstrom
This is possibly the most important part of my skin routine. Exfoliators buff away your dry, old skin allowing all of your other skin products to effect your skin properly. I wrote about this product back in September and I’m still loving it AND I’m only on my second bottle. Since I’ve already mentioned it I won’t go on and on but the exfoliator really helps the texture of my skin. As I’m in my 30s with young children and therefore little sleep, I’ve seen my skin look dull with an uneven texture. This exfoliator smooths out my skin and allows my makeup to go on smoothly. I credit this product to helping my skin’s texture smooth out and brighten up. If you have sensitive skin try adding more water to your exfoliator to decrease the overall impact of exfoliating.
Available | CANADA Shoppers Drug Mart stores (call your local one for stock) | US Target
As much as I love my Boscia Makeup Melter Charcoal oil-balm (say that 5x fast) I’m always on the lookout for a cheaper alternative. For removing my makeup and cleansing my skin I prefer a cleanser that washes off with water versus remover wipes or anything that requires me to wipe off my makeup. I find that wipes take too long, don’t get everything off and I just don’t like tugging at my skin. Enter Pixi by Petra Double Cleanse! I’ve been wanting to try a double-cleanser, (oil balm & cream cleanser) for a while but every option has been so expensive. Shoppers Drug Mart has been carrying the Pixi by Petra brand for a while now and stocked this cleanser recently! I’m on my second tub and I’m a huge fan. In the tub you find two sections with two different products in it: an oil balm much like the Boscia Makeup Melter and a cream remover, think your mom’s Oil of Olay or Neutrogena cream. I use the oil balm first putting it on dry skin and rubbing it into my eye makeup (it doesn’t irritate my eyes) and wash it off. I repeat this with the It removes my makeup effectively.
Available | CANADA Well.ca*| US
My first toner love was the Pixi by Petra Glow Tonic which has rave reviews and you can find at Shoppers Drug Mart and Target (Tip: it’s also a chemical exfoliator which isn’t recommended to use with a physical exfoliator like the Mac one above. Use every other day). In an effort to make my skin routine more natural I’ve recently tried Thayers Natural Remedies Toner. It claims to tighten pores, refresh skin, control oil production, and lock in moisturizer. The Vitamin C is also supposed to help with producing collagen and fade blemishes and scars. I’ve only been using this one for a few weeks so the jury is still out on most of the claims but it does refresh my skin.
*Use KaitBosCoupon at Well.ca for $10 off of your $40 purchase!! (expires May 15 2018)
The next couple products are from The Ordinary. I was really excited about this brand because I find it so affordable and effective. There are some controversial things happening currently within their company but I still wanted to include these products in this post because I honestly like them and have seen a difference while using them.
The Ordinary can be found at Sephora and Well.ca along with the Deciem site. If you take advantage of the member discount at Sephora you’ll get 10% off but if you would rather purchase through Well.ca use KaitBosCoupon for $10 off of your $40 purchase!! (expires May 15 2018).
Available | CANADA Well.ca & Sephora| US
This serum claims to be a solution for dryness, fine lines and wrinkles, and dullness and uneven texture. This serum does what it claims! It has definitely helped me with dryness and uneven texture and after using it for 3 months I’ve started to see a difference in the wrinkles on my forehead! I let everything absorb before applying the next product so my routine can take a while (which my husband loves to tease me about) and there’s been a few nights where I’ve fallen asleep without a moisturizer leaving this serum to be the last step and my skin is still happy! I always wash my face before bed and have found in the past that my skin can be so dry without each step but the buffet serum has definitely changed that.
Available | CANADA Well.ca & Sephora| INTERNATIONAL Deciem
I recently chatted about my love for this in my instagram stories. We had a week where my youngest wasn’t sleeping well and was up at 3am for the day. Everyone was tired but I was happy that I didn’t look exhausted! I owe that to this eye serum. It combines caffeine and green tea to tackle dark circles and puffiness. I’ve been using the eye serum for 3 months now it has worked wonders! It does what it claims and is often sold out because it’s so effective and did you see the price point?!!??
Available | CANADA Well.ca & Sephora | INTERNATIONAL Deciem
Available | CANADA Well.ca | INTERNATIONAL Deciem
I went through a period in early winter where I couldn’t add enough moisture to my skin and the first time I used this oil my skin finally felt quenched. I remember feeling relief when I started using this. I’ve used a few other oils in the past (read here and here) and my skin is a big fan of this moisturizing method. I’m currently on my second bottle of this squalane oil and along with being the most effective oil I’ve found this is also the cheapest.
The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + Hyaluronic Acid Spheres This is a product that is very popular but just didn’t work for me. It claims to reverse signs of aging and brighten skin but it also tingles/burns when you apply it. A lot of people love this and are okay with the sensation but I just find it too uncomfortable.
The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid This is another product that is supposed to moisturize with Hyaluronic acid which I’ve seen it do but it also is supposed to reduce pigmentation and spots and I haven’t seen that result. I bought it to reduce the appearance of old acne spots and to even out my skin and I think I just got the wrong product. It’s very well-reviewed so check it out if you’re interested.
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