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Clinique Lash Power Flutter-to-Full Mascara review, swatches, photos | Introducing The Wink

November 3, 2016

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The product: Clinique Lash Power Flutter-to-Full Mascara

This October, Clinique launched a first for the brand: an editorial platform called The Wink. The Wink will feature “the people, places, ideas and stories Clinique finds simply amazing – from across Canada and around the world,” and is designed to be just as playful and inclusive as a wink can be.

So, what better way to celebrate the platform’s launch than a mascara that’s perfect for winking?

When I first tried Clinique’s new dial-up mascara, I was a little confused. Even on its lashiest setting, the results (pictured here) are relatively natural-looking. They’re voluminous and clean, but not overwhelmingly so, and the formula seemed a little dry.

And then I waited to see how long it would take to smudge. Four hours went by, then six, then ten, and the next thing I knew, I had been wearing Clinique Lash Power Flutter-to-Full for a full 13 hours and it hadn’t moved at all. When I went to wash it off, I realized why: this custom-lash mascara is a tubing formula.

My perspective shifted immediately, because as anyone who loves tubing mascaras knows, they tend to be two things: 1) only lengthening, and 2) extremely wet. Flutter-to-Full defies both of those expectations, with a formula that’s dry enough to leave your curl perfectly intact and thick enough that it provides good volume. (Think of it as normal-mascara “moderate volume” and tubing mascara “insanely voluminous.”)

Clinique Lash Power Flutter-to-Full Mascara (1 coat on its fullest setting) with Annabelle Skinny Brow in Universal Ebony and Burberry Effortless Liquid Eyeliner in Chestnut Brown No. 002 (review next week!)

The verdict?

Clinique says their Lash Power Flutter-to-Full Mascara wears for 24 hours and removes easily, and I believe them 100%. At 13 hours, my lashes were still picture-perfect and fluttery, and it washed off with warm water and no rubbing. (As with any tubing mascara, just remember NOT to use an oil-based makeup remover!)

I’m not sure that I would personally re-buy this mascara at $28 CAD, but I did really, really like it. It’s the most volumizing and long-wearing tubing mascara that I’ve tried, and trust me: I’ve tried a lot.

Availability: $21 USD/$28 CAD at Sephora, Nordstrom, and Clinique.

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Tags: /Clinique, Eyes, Fall/Winter 2016, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches

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Matrix Biolage R.A.W. Recover Shampoo & Conditioner review, photos

October 31, 2016

Rae Chen

9 Comments

The products: Matrix Biolage R.A.W. Recover Shampoo & Conditioner

Disclaimer: these are not food products. No matter how good they look, or how tasty they smell, you should not put them in your mouth.

Uh… just trust me on that one, okay?

The Recover Shampoo and Conditioner duo is part of the new Real, Authentic, and Wholesome (R.A.W.) line from Matrix Biolage, who are jumping on the natural train in the best way possible. The line features “natural-origin products” (more details on the Matrix site), recyclable bottles made from 100% post-consumer plastics, and plant-based surfactants. So far, it includes shampoos, conditioners, and–this part is cool–clay hair masks.

I’ve been testing the line’s Yucca & Goji Berry Recover Shampoo ($25 CAD) and Coriander Oil & Kaolin Clay Recover Conditioner ($25 CAD), and I kind of adore them both.

The Recover duo is made to replenish and restore shine to stressed hair, and while my hair doesn’t exactly have to deal with bills or midterms, it still feels particularly awesome after I use these products. They’re a lot less stripping than my normal haircare products (Live Clean), and even my partner gets weirdly possessive and jealous over who gets to use them and when.

(The proper answer should be: I do, because they’re mine and hi, do you really want to be single again.)

There are a lot of things that make the R.A.W. Recover line great, including the fact that they contain no artificial colourants, silicones, or parabens. They’re also 99% biodegradable, and they smell really unique – a bit like goji berries and coriander, respectively. In other words, I think they smell nice for most of the month, but they make me want to throw up when I’m on my period.

The biggest pull for this duo, though, is the shampoo: it’s weird. It flows out of the bottle really quickly, like an oil, but it feels almost sticky when you touch it. Once you lather it up, it acts just like a regular shampoo, but it’s nothing that I’ve ever seen before, at home or in the salon. It’s a pretty cool textural experience.

The verdict?

I don’t usually cover shampoos and conditioners on theNotice, but for this duo, I had to make an exception. They’re nice to use and look adorably like smoothies, and while they don’t make my hair look CRAZY INSANE AMAZING, their price tags aren’t crazy insane expensive, either.

For me, the coolest thing about this duo is the texture of the shampoo. It’s a little detail, but it’s one that I find enjoyable every morning!

Availability: $25 each at select salons; both permanent products.

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Tags: /Fall/Winter 2016, Hair, Matrix, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free

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The best beauty advent calendars of 2016

October 27, 2016

Rae Chen

8 Comments

I love Christmas, but I don’t go all-out the way some people do. As a result, my advent game is far from strong: I usually just pick up a terrible chocolate one at the grocery store for the nostalgia factor, or a Lindt calendar if I’m actually looking forward to eating it.

Really outlandish advent calendars are something that I always lust after, but I find the pricing on them to be just obscene–even if they’re a deal for what you do get. As a result, “budget-range” calendars are much more my speed!

Advent calendars under $200

Take the NYX Wanderlust Advent Calendar ($50 USD), for instance. It’s the cheapest advent calendar that I’ve seen so far, but it features a full 24 minis. No word on what all is in the calendar yet (which I appreciate), but it’ll definitely include at least a few mini lip products.

Also in the budget range is the Ciaté London Mini Mani Month Nail Polish Set ($59 USD/$70 CAD), which houses 18 mini paint pots, a nail file, 2 nail glitters, 2 nail treatments, and a full-sized nail polish. If you never finish your nail polishes but like having a lot on hand, this one’s actually a great deal!

If skincare is more your speed, the L’Occitane Advent Calendar 2016 ($59 CAD) is now available online, and it features 24 beauty minis from toner to hand cream.

Finally in this category, there’s not one, but two offerings from The Body Shop. Both feature 24 products, but they’re catered to two different budgets. The first, The Body Shop Beauty Advent Calendar ($99 CAD), features more basic bath and body products alongside makeup tools.

The second, The Body Shop Ultimate Beauty Advent Calendar ($169 CAD), features a lot more facial skincare products and “upgraded” versions of some of the basic box’s items: for instance, a muslin cloth instead of a facial sponge, or a 100ml hand cream instead of a 30 ml hand cream. Shipping is free on both.

Beauty splurges over $200

If you want to pull out the big guns this holiday season, the Diptyque 2016 Advent Calendar ($390 USD) is available for pre-order right now. It contains 7 Eau de Toilette samples (including the cult-classic Philosykos), 2 mini skincare products, a whopping 15 of Diptyque’s 35g mini candles, and a 70g mini of the brand’s limited edition Le Roi Sapin candle.

Other advent calendar splurges that caught my eye were the Jo Malone Advent Calendar ($430 USD), which has already sold out in a number of stores, and the Charlotte Tilbury World of Legendary Parties 2016 Holiday Advent Calendar ($200 USD/$250 CAD). The Jo Malone calendar features 24 mini products in a townhouse-styled box; at half its price, the Tilbury calendar features only 12.

What’s still coming?

This is far from an exhaustive list of 2016’s beauty advent calendars, so here’s quick peek into what is yet to come. Lush will be putting out their 2016 advent calendar, of course, as will Clarins, Benefit, and Bare Minerals. But while images of each have been leaked, none of them are available to purchase or pre-order just yet!

Which 2016 beauty advent calendar do you have your eye on?

Tags: /Fall/Winter 2016, Holiday 2015, The Edit, The Gift Guide

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Neal’s Yard Orange Flower Facial Oil, Wild Rose Beauty Balm review, photos

October 25, 2016

Rae Chen

4 Comments

The products: Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm & Orange Flower Facial Oil

In the beauty industry right now, one of the toughest things to figure out is whether or not the “natural” brand you’re working with is truly natural or not. Sometimes their ingredients lists can be deceptive; sometimes their practices don’t quite line up with the natural beauty ethos.

Neal’s Yard Remedies, however, is the real deal. It’s a massive beauty brand that has maintained all-natural, cruelty-free, organic-when-possible ingredients since their inception in 1981, and they’re family-run by different families in each country that they exist in.

Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm ($72 CAD)

This beauty balm did none of the things that I wanted it to. It wasn’t hydrating enough to use as a moisturizer on my super-dehydrated skin, and (I think because of the hemp seed oil,) it had a tendency to make me break out if I tried to make it work anyways.

But: it was so humbly amazing at so many other things that it has become one of my favourite “luxury” products anyways.

The Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Beauty Balm is just that: luxurious. Unlike most beauty balms, it melts upon contact and is smooth and silky, so it doesn’t tug at your skin. Its first ingredient is organic wild rose seed oil (hence the price tag). It smells even more amazing than you’d expect, and every time I pick up the heavy glass bottle, I can’t help but feel a little bit spoiled.

My two favourite ways to use it are as a cleansing-exfoliating balm with a muslin cloth (included) and for facial massages. I gave Boyfriend his first-ever facial using this stuff, and he was GLOWING when I was done!

Neal’s Yard Remedies Orange Flower Facial Oil ($55 CAD)

I was also sent the Neal’s Yard Remedies Orange Flower Facial Oil, because the Wild Rose Beauty Balm wasn’t quite hydrating enough for me. The Orange Flower Facial Oil is definitely more hydrating, but the two together don’t quite do the trick for me – I’m VERY dehydrated in addition to being dry, so while the two are really lovely together, I still need a little bit more.

I noticed that Neal’s Yard doesn’t make very many products that specifically target extremely dry skin, so the range is perhaps beset for those with normal, oily, or lightly dry skin types – just something to keep in mind.

With its $72 CAD price tag and perfectly-toned artwork, I thought that the Wild Rose Beauty Balm was Neal’s Yard’s one big product… Until I tried this oil. It’s just as gorgeous as the balm, if not more so, and it isn’t just an overpriced bottle of orange flower oil, either.

Instead, it’s a carefully thought-out blend of organic macadamia seed, jojoba, hemp, and pomegranate seed oil (I bloody LOVE pomegranate seed oil), amongst others, and it’s scented with neroli, ylang ylang, and mandarin peel oil.

The verdict?

I really loved both of these products, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them – as indulgences. (Hmm… perhaps for a special someone in your life this Christmas?) They’re not hydrating enough for someone with extremely dry skin to use as part of a daily regimen, but they are nothing short of a joy to use.

If you do a lot of at-home facials or spa days, the Wild Rose Beauty Balm is a must, and if you love neroli, then the Orange Flower Facial Oil definitely is, too.

Availability: Available at Neal’s Yard Remedies worldwide. Both permanent products.

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Tags: /Cleansing, Grouped reviews, Moisturizers, Neals Yard Remedies, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Skincare

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Charlotte Tilbury The Queen Matte Revolution Lipstick swatches, review, photos

October 20, 2016

Rae Chen

22 Comments

The product: Charlotte Tilbury The Queen Matte Revolution Lipstick

The formula: The Matte Revolution formula (which I’ll describe the wear of shortly) is a “luminous modern matte” that promises long-lasting, hydrating, buildable colour with lipstick tree and orchid flower extract. It’s available in 10 shades, and it definitely holds up to its claims: it’s easy to build, and it wears very well for a matte lipstick.

These lipsticks also feature a square tip to mimic the shape of a lip brush, which I thought was really cool. (And hey, it works well, too!)

The shade: The Queen, inspired by Her Majesty, Elizabeth II, is a “rich and rosy crown-jewel pink.” It’s a deep fuchsia pink with blue undertones that practically glows, and it’s obscenely beautiful in a matte finish.

Of course, my favourite thing about Charlotte Tilbury is that they simulate their swatches on a wide variety of different skintones–none of that “three skintones covers everyone” business. These are shown on ten models of different skintones, ages, and ethnicities, and the result (which I’ve collaged above) is both helpful and gorgeous!

Wearing The Queen (and otherwise looking a mess)

Charlotte Tilbury The Queen Matte Revolution Lipstick swatched in indirect sunlight

The wear: The Matte Revolution lipsticks are very pigmented, and they have an even, forgiving matte finish. Though they look like soft mattes, they feel as hydrating as an opaque cream lipstick. I get 3-6 hours of wear with these lipsticks, depending on how much eating I do; today, The Queen held up through an entire coconut milk smoothie with only very minimal fading and was still going strong by dinner.

Optimally, I’d recommend reapplying every 3-4 hours with this formula for comfort, but if you leave it on undisturbed, the vivid colour will hold up for longer.

The verdict?

I really like the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution formula, which is as hydrating and comfortable to wear as a great creme-finish lipstick. I was also totally smitten with The Queen, which is a flattering, eye-catching opaque fuchsia pink.

If you’re looking for a comfortable holiday lipstick, this range is definitely one to check out!

Availability: $32 USD/$38 CAD exclusive to Charlotte Tilbury online.

Keep reading! »

Tags: /Charlotte Tilbury, Fall/Winter 2016, Lips, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches

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This is how happy Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash makes me… | One in, one out

October 17, 2016

Rae Chen

7 Comments

How happy does this much Aveeno’s Skin Relief Chamomile Body Wash make me? Well… about this happy:

Happier than fresh beaver tails pastries at a food truck. Happier than fresh-cut grass and a warm summer day. Happier than watching ducks splash around in pools of water. ~~Happier than~~ – okay, almost as happy as a little kid playing with a puppy dog.

These are a few of my ride-or-die skincare products: Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash, and their Fresh Essentials Moisturizer SPF 30.

I have hella dry skin that’s intolerant to silicones, as I’m sure all of my longtime readers know by now, and these two products really help get me sorted. The Skin Relief Body Washes smell amazing and leave my skin more hydrated than it was before soaping up (they’re like in-shower body moisturizers that cleanse), and they’re so good that both Boyfriend and I swear by them.

Daydreaming about chamomile body wash showers…

During my post-shower routine, the Fresh Essentials Moisturizer provides me with daytime SPF 30 coverage at a really affordable price point. I need to add a couple drops of serum or oil to it when I apply, but it’s well worth the extra step–and for that matter, I have yet to find any moisturizer with SPF that I can use on its own.

I’m on my second bottle of Fresh Essentials Moisturizer and my third bottle of the Skin Relief Body Wash, so when I say that this is good stuff, I mean it!

Tags: /Aveeno, Cleansing, Extremely dry skin, Holy Grail, Love Letters, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Skincare, The Edit

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Lush Sympathy for the Skin Body Lotion review, photos

October 14, 2016

Rae Chen

14 Comments

The product: LUSH Sympathy for the Skin Hand and Body Lotion

In my Lush Halloween 2016 review on Tuesday, I mentioned that the brand’s soaps and bath bombs tended to be a little too stripping for my skin, as many of them contain SLS. But when I had requested “no soaps, please!” last month, Lush did something really surprising: instead of leaving their classic bar soaps out of the package, they sent an additional body moisturizer.

Sympathy for the Skin is one of Lush’s original products, and I quickly saw why it has been part of their brand since day one. I have never fallen for a Lush product the way I fell for this one, but… man. It’s gorgeous.

What it is: Sympathy for the Skin is a “creamy, banana custard body lotion for soft skin.” It smells of sweet, all-natural vanilla (as a custard should!), and it’s made with fresh organic bananas mashed up into it.

The ingredients that make it smell delicious are the same ones that make your skin oh-so-soft, and it also features organic, fair trade cocoa butter, brightening lemon oil, soothing vanilla pods and vanilla extract to minimize redness, and sandalwood oil to tone.

Basically, it’s a wonder-moisturizer, and it smells twice as good as it looks. It’s also cruelty-free and vegan, although it does contain parabens to keep those bananas in good condition!

Mmmm, custard…

How it performs: In short? Really well. Sympathy for the Skin smells absolutely delicious, and though it’s a very thin lotion, it’s extremely hydrating. It leaves my skin feeling nourished and buttery-soft to the touch, and is even hydrating enough to use as a hand cream.

It’s more nourishing than Lush’s Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion, with strong vanilla notes that make it smell more luxurious, too. And the scent sticks around – if I moisturize with this in the morning, my skin still smells cozy the next day when I wake up.

The verdict?

If you haven’t tried Sympathy for the Skin yet, DO. Apart from the pricey Gorgeous, it’s easily the best Lush product I have ever experienced. It makes Lush junkies make sense, and I can totally see why it’s been a mainstay of the brand’s lineup since they began.

With fair trade organic cocoa butter, a vanilla pod infusion, and fresh organic bananas, Sympathy for the Skin is lightweight, nourishing, and delicious. Just don’t eat it – it smells tasty, but trust me, it tastes gross.

Availability: $29.95 CAD/240g at Lush. Permanent.

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Tags: /LUSH, Moisturizers, Other, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Silicone-free, Skincare

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LUSH Halloween 2016 review, photos, swatches | The majesty of Goth Fairy

October 11, 2016

Rae Chen

3 Comments

The products: LUSH Halloween 2016 Goth Fairy Shimmer Bar, Boo Luxury Bath Melt, Fireside Soap, and Pumpkin Bath Bomb

I’m not really a Halloween-y person, but for some reason, I’ve gotten kind of into it this year. I’m right in the middle of planning a Halloween dinner party (you can watch Mean Girls on Halloween, right? That’s totally situationally-appropriate?), and I’m thinking about making some Halloween-themed cutouts to decorate the apartment with.

Really, I’m just psyched for Halloween candy bars, but these Lush products are up there on the list, too.

Bath time treats

I checked out two bath products this time around, and while I’m honestly tempted to break my no-bath rule to try the creamy, citrusy Boo Luxury Bath Melt ($5.95 CAD), I had to box up the Pumpkin Bath Bomb ($6.95 CAD) immediately. It’s super crumbly and sticky-sweet, which is so not my jam.

Boo smells nice, though! It’s nice and citrusy, with a plant-like ginger base. It’s also full of cocoa butter and essential oils, so there are no synthetic preservatives in it–the formula simply doesn’t need them.

Bars of mystery

I also tried out Fireside, Goth Fairy, and one other Lush product (more on that soon), to much better results. I find Lush soap to be too stripping for my skin, but Lush’s Fireside Soap Bar ($8.95 CAD) is a lovely “guest soap” bar – it’s cute, with its cartoon fire design, and it smells like really good tea. Clove oil gives it a spicy kick, and all in all, it’s a mouthwatering fall soap!

Lush Goth Fairy Shimmer Bar swatch

The Goth Fairy Shimmer Bar ($7.95 CAD) is even cooler. It’s lightly moisturizing, with illipe and cupuacu butter in the formula, and smells juicy and fruity. The best part of all, though, is HOW MUCH shimmer Lush has managed to pack into this bar–it’s honestly astounding. A single swipe across my chest spread all the way to my shoulders, across my décolletage, and up my neck.

This shimmer bar is a little small, but it’s so dense with shimmer that it’ll get you to Glitter Level: Stripper Boobs in a heartbeat. In other words, it’s #lifegoals, and I love it.

The verdict?

As always, I feel the need to mention that Lush is not a natural company, despite its advertising. Their products contain an assortment of SLS, parabens, and synthetic fragrances and dyes.

With that in mind, however, they offer wonderful themed products for pretty much every holiday, and a number of them are huge hits. I know countless bath lovers who swear by Lush, and I’m definitely going to be keeping that Goth Fairy Shimmer Bar close at hand! It’s pretty unique and very fun, and no one really does fun like Lush.

Availability: Limited edition right now at LUSH!

Tags: /Fall/Winter 2016, Grouped reviews, LUSH, Other, Other, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches, Skincare

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Deciem The Ordinary reviews: Rose Hip Seed Oil, Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

October 6, 2016

Rae Chen

22 Comments

The products: DECIEM The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil & Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

If you haven’t been introduced to DECIEM The Ordinary yet, well, prepare to be floored. The Ordinary is Deciem’s brand new range of “clinical formulations with integrity,” and they’re anything but ordinary.

The line features incredibly affordable clinical products in order to bring communication and pricing integrity back to the skincare industry. Like any other Deciem product, they are Canadian, cruelty-free, and celebrate innovation and honesty.

» YES, REALLY: The Ordinary is priced at $4.90 CAD-$14.80 CAD for full-sized products. They ship for free, clearly display their ingredients and technologies online, and don’t skimp on the quality.

Deciem The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil ($9.90 CAD)

This is my fourth rose hip seed oil of the year, and it is the only one that I’ll be repurchasing. I’m still struggling to come to terms with the fact that this rose hip seed oil is $5.80/oz (Pai’s blend is $39.43/oz), but I’m beginning to be able to wrap my head around it.

Rosehip seed oil is a rather fragile oil, but it’s a marvel for the skin: it’s full of fatty acids, antioxidants, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and vitamins C and A. As a result, Deciem have sourced only cold-pressed rosehip oil for this product, and packaged it in UV-resistant amber glass.

Depending on the source, crop, and processing, rosehip seed oil can vary greatly. Deciem The Ordinary’s rosehip seed oil has a rich, buttery yellow hue and an almost fish oil-like scent. It sinks right into my dry skin and is very hydrating without clogging my pores.

In short, it’s beautiful–and a total steal. I’ve been very disappointed in the other budget-friendly rosehip seed oils that I’ve tried, but my skin loves this one! I’ve been using it solo at night and blended with L’Occitane Divine Youth Oil during the day for the ultimate makeup base/nighttime glow combination.

Deciem The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% ($5.90 CAD)

My skin typically also adores niacinamide, so I knew I had to try this out as soon as I first read about it. I wanted to really put it through its paces for this review, though, so I had Boyfriend test it out.

He has oily skin that’s been hella breaking out recently, so I’ve been making him use this in place of his serum and moisturizer for the past two weeks. (For anyone with normal or dry skin, please make sure to layer this with a separate moisturizer!) Niacinamide and zinc PCA are not treatments for acne, as Deciem points out, but they reduce the look of blemishes and help balance sebaceous activity.

Inflammation and redness play a big role in acne, which is why niacinamide works so well for many people. This 10% solution was no exception: within two weeks, I watched A’s hairline breakout go from an angry red patch to something almost invisible.

The skin around his beard looks less red than usual and now has ZERO visible blemishes, and while the rosehip oil was enough to stop my breakout in its tracks (I was breaking out due to dryness), I’m looking forward to using this on my skin in the future, too.

Also: how good is the note in the Deciem The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% description? I totally cracked up when I read it. I can totally see some crotchety young scientist furiously typing it out in the dark, and then passive-aggressively editing it the next morning! (You show ’em, Deciem.)

The verdict?

I literally can’t believe that Deciem can buy glassware at these prices, much less full-on formulations… but they did, and they have. It’s frightening to see how much other companies mark up their skincare products, and I love Deciem all the more for making a statement with this range.

Even more than that, however, I love how accessible this makes good skincare. These are less than drugstore prices, but the products and development are of department-store quality. I would recommend both of these products in a heartbeat, and I will be purchasing additional products soon.

Availability: $4.90 CAD & up at Deciem and Sephora. Shipping is free over $25 at Deciem, depending on location.

Keep reading! »

Tags: featured/Acne, Canadian beauty, Grouped reviews, Indie brands, Moisturizers, Other, Paraben-free, Product Photos, Product Review, Silicone-free, Silicone-free moisturizers and serums, Skincare, The Ordinary

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Feels Like a Facelift Anti-Ageing Mud Masque, Purifying Cleanser reviews, photos

October 3, 2016

Rae Chen

4 Comments

*sponsored post

The products: Feels Like a Facelift Purifying Cleanser and Anti-Aging Mud Masque

Ever wonder what would happen if you put a pharmacist, a Canadian business, and rooibos tea in a box and blended them all up? Well, assuming that the blending was metaphorical, you’d probably end up with something a little like Feels Like a Facelift.

(Please, please, please make sure that all country-person-plant blending is metaphorical.)

The Purifying Cleanser ($19.95 CAD)

I’ll be honest with you: initially, I wasn’t super psyched to try this line. I’m not crazy about the way that it’s marketed, or the way that it’s packaged.

It turns out, however, that the Feels Like A Facelift range contains some pretty killer ingredients, many of which the skincare industry knows and loves. Ingredients like shea butter and rooibos extract, as well as hyaluronic acid and CoQ10. They’re a small Canadian company, and they’re based out in beautiful BC.

Their cleanser is a foaming cleanser, enriched with chamomile, ginkgo, comfrey, and rooibos extract. It also tones and removes makeup, and would be best for someone with oily skin.

The Anti-Aging Mud Masque ($34.95 CAD)

Prepare yourselves for a tiny rave about this mask, because I LOVE the way it smells. It’s packed with so much rooibos extract and green tea that it literally smells like green tea perfume, even though it has no added fragrance. The whole thing is based in Canadian glacial clay, and it’s really easy to use: you apply a thin layer twice a week, let it dry for 12 minutes, and rinse off.

I will, admittedly, not be finishing my pot of this. Instead, it’s going to Boyfriend, because he’s a lucky duck ~~and he’s pushing 30, so he needs it~~. The clay-based formula is much better suited to his breakout-prone ageing skin, and let’s be honest: boys love getting pampered, too.

(And okay, I’ll still win either way because we always mask as a couple, and I’m totally going to sniff his face while he’s applying this. It smells THAT good.)

Availability: Feels Like a Facelift can be found at all London Drugs locations, ordered by phone, or tracked down at select Pharmasave and Save-On Foods locations.

Keep reading! »

Tags: sponsored/Paraben-free, Product snapshots, Silicone-free, Skincare

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