Moisturize, repair and protect with NeoStrata, Etival and Nivea!

Save yourself some time and help protect your skin by making sure your daytime product has an SPF - and since I think that SPF 30 is the minimum that you should be applying, here are 3 I like with price points to suit everyone that fit that bill!

NeoStrata Intense Wrinkle Repair Moisturizing Cream SPF 30 - 30ml - $70 - improves skin tone and texture while moisturizing, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and protecting the skin from environmental aggressions. The formula includes 5.6% of a powerful blend of matrixyl 3000, peptide Q10 and retinol to moisturize, help improve the look of wrinkles and reverse the visible signs of aging - with a microdelivery system that protects the retinol to optimize its benefits while minimizing irritation.

Available at drugstores across Canada.

Etival Hydra Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 - 50ml - $32 - a lightweight moisturizer that nourishes the skin, prevents dryness and provides strong antioxidant protection with a blend of vitamins A, D, E & K, panthenol and coenzyme Q10 - to improve the look and protect from future damage with SPF 30.

Available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Nivea Q10 Plus Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream SPF 30 - 50ml - $17.99 - contains Q10 and creatine similar to that found in the skin with a powerful formula that works effectively against the look of wrinkles to help your skin rejuvenate, visibly reduce the look of wrinkles to reverse and help prevent the signs of aging.

Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Beat the heat with a spritz of Dermaglow, Avene, LUSH and Etival!

Have you ever noticed that when it's really hot out and you're walking by kids playing with a hose they can somehow sense that you want them to spray you with the hose and of course then they never do - the little monsters will only spray you when it's 30 below or you're wearing silk which means any water spraying that's going to happen in your life needs to come from you and who knows where your hose has been so why not try one of these instead - store it in the fridge and you will really be thanking me on hot days!

Dermaglow Energizing Beauty Mist - 100ml - $40 - a multi-mineral blend cooling complex with hyaluronic acid  that gives your skin an instant pick-me-up that is suitable for all complexion types. Offering the benefits of a toner and a serum, it increases hydration while removing excess oil and helps to tighten the appearance of pores. The exclusive blend of peppermint, basil and grapefruit essential oils wakes up your skin with a burst of freshness and smell amazing!

Not only is it great for instant freshness, I've also been using a spritz of it to set my makeup!

Avene Thermal Spring Water - 150ml - $16.50 - rich in silicate and trace elements that help cool, soothe, protect, purify, calm and soften the skin and is especially beneficial for hyper sensitive, allergic and irritated skin with a low salt mineral content that won't dry it out.

LUSH Breath Of Fresh Air - 100ml - $8.95, 250ml - $19.95 - with a blend of ingredients inspired by the sea including fresh seawater which gently cleanses, seaweed extract to soften and provide essential vitamins while minerals and rose absolute and aloe vera soothes dry areas. Suitable for all skin types, but is particularly beneficial for faces that have been ravaged by the elements. A gentle spray refreshes you when you need it most and brings all the nutrients of the sea directly to your skin.

Available in-store as well as online at www.lush.ca

Etival Ener-C Mist - 120ml - $25 - an ultra-hydrating spray that improves the texture, energizes the look and helps to minimize the appearance of pores. As well, it brightens dull skin and protects it from environmental stresses. uses MULTI-PRO, Vitamin C Ester and Ginseng Extract to stimulate cell turnover, improve cell function, facilitate the removal of toxins and increase oxygen availability to the skin.

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart.

- Lisamarie -

Sun Screen Sprays from Lancaster, Etival, Clarins, L'Oréal and Avon!

I'm a great believer in sunscreen but I'll admit, kind of lazy so I try to make things as easy for myself as possible so I won't have an excuse not to do them.  Case in point, sunscreen - if I'm running out the door that's a good excuse to say I don't have time to bother but these spray options make it so quick and easy that it takes no time at all!  And of course they are excellent for when you are out and about and need a quick touch up!
I like these ones because they feel light on and aren't sticky, smell good and I don't have problems with the nozzle clogging which seems to be a big issue with some brands!

Lancaster Oil-Free Milky Spray SPF 15 - 150ml - $36 - protects against UVA and UVB rays during sun exposure and protects against the visible signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles with their exclusive RPF moisturizing complex enriched with sweet orange as well as hydrates to protect skin from dehydration, dryness and flaking.

It also comes in SPF 30 which seems to be a bit of a unicorn that is always sold out but the smell is so amazing that I use the 15 on days when it's cloudy or I'm only going to be quickly in and out of the sun.
  
Available from your Lancaster counter, selected Shoppers Drug Marts and The Shopping Channel - www.theshoppingchannel.com

Etival Ambient Ultra Light Mist Spray SPF 30 - 140ml - $25 - waterproof and paraben free with broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Formulated with Multi-Pro, a blend of vitamins A,D,E,K, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Coenzyme Q10 that work together to provide strong antioxidant protection to nourish the skin by moisturizing and protecting against dryness caused by environmental stressors. Lightweight and non-greasy. Available at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Clarins Sunscreen Care Spray SPF 50 - 150ml - $35 - very high protection sun care for sensitive skin or those exposed to intense sunlight. Protects skin from dehydration and  contains a combination of a multi-filter complex and Phyto-Sunactyl 2 - formulated with olive tree, baobab and senna extracts.

When I'm off to do something sporty (ha ha) I find that one with the word "sport" in the name usually does give me better protection against it sweating off - that may all be in my head but here are my fave sport sprays:

L'Oréal Ombrelle Sport SPF 30 Clear Spray - 145ml - $17.99 - with photostable UVA/UVB protection that is clear, waterproof, fast drying and fragrance and colourant free.  I'm also pleased to see that it also now comes in an SPF 60!

Avon Sport Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 - 200ml - $12.99 -  contains Parsol 1789 for broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and is oil and PABA free.  It has a lightweight, moisturizing formula with aloe and is water/sweat resistant for up to 80 minutes of protection.
Available from your Avon rep 1-800-265-AVON or online at www.avon.ca

The other thing that sprays are great for but which people often forget is spraying the part in your hair - if you aren't wearing a hat, any exposed scalp is getting way too much sun!

- Lisamarie -

Night and day hand creams from LUSH and Etival!

LUSH Tiny Hands  Solid Serum - 60g - $5.95 - a softening, smoothing hand cream in a bar with argan oil, aloe vera, cocoa and shea butters to coat and soften hands that have become dry or cracked.With a vanilla and marigold scent that is quite lovely!

I must admit, when I first got it there was something kind of creepy about using a little hand to moisturize my hands but now I'm actually finding it fun!  Basically you just rub it over your hands like you would soap and the bar just melts the serum into your hands! I'm calling this a night cream because it's way to oily to be practical for daytime use but for night use, it's great, even better with a pair of cotton gloves on top overnight to really help it soak in for super soft morning hands!

Etival Hand Repair Cream - 100g - $20 - an ultra-moisturizing hand cream that glides on with a non-greasy feel while soothing and mositurizing hands leaving skin looking and feeling smooth and silky soft. Formulated to nourish, revitalize and help maintain skin's moisture balance with a wide blend of naturally-derived oils and butters while a blend of vitamins A, D, E, K, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Coenzyme Q10 work together to provide strong antioxidant protection, nourishing skin and protecting against drying effects of environmental stressors.

For a daytime cream that soaks in perfectly so you aren't leaving snail trails, this is my new favourite! The fresh, citrusy smell is a super bonus!  Available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart.

- Lisamarie -

New and Notable at Shoppers Drug Mart in Body Care - Etival, Kibio and Nuxe!

Etival Body - a range of luxurious products formulated to nourish, revitalize and help maintain skin's moisture balance with a wide blend of naturally-derived oils and butters while a blend of vitamins A, D, E, K, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Coenzyme Q10 work together to provide strong antioxidant protection, nourishing skin and protecting against drying effects of environmental stressors.  The line includes:
Etival Body Wash - $18, Etival Soothing Body Lotion - $25, Etival Rich Body Cream - $30 Etival Hand Repair Cream - $20, Etival Advanced Slimming Concentrate - $35

Kibio Fit by Nature Lifting Cream Gel - 150ml - $35 - a fresh and delicately naturally perfumed non-sticky gel that shapes the body and helps reduce the appearance of cellulite with an invisible veil.  With a new exclusive body contouring complex Helioslim, based on natural caffeine combines with other ingredients of natural origin including Sunflower phospholipids to enhance the absorption and action of caffeine and Extract of coffee, rich in phenolic acids which help boost the action of caffeine.  Even better, it's 99.4% natural and 84.5% organic.

Nuxe Body by NUXE - body care range with the soothing and softening benefits of Almond and Orange Blossom Petals. And the smell is amazing with notes of Coconut Sorbet, Orange Blossom and Wild Vanilla.The line includes:
Fondant Shower Gel - 200ml - $15, Fondant Body Scrub - 200ml - $26, 24 HR Moisturizing Body Lotion - 200ml - $25, Fondant Firming Cream - 400ml - $49, Body-Contouring Serum Stubborn Cellulite - 150ml - $39, Body-Contouring Oil Infiltrated Cellulite - 100ml. - $38

- Lisamarie -

Moisturize with a mask! Etival, NeoStrata, Montagne Jeunesse, Borba, Origins and Lise Watier!

With all this craptastic cold weather going on my skin has gone all schizo and can't decide anymore if it's combination, dry or really dry!  I don't like to use a heavy cream to combat dryness so one of the best ways I've found to deal with it is a moisturizing mask.  It's an easy thing to use once or twice a week to get everything back in balance again!  Here are a few that I have been trying:





Etival Urgen-C Hydrating Surge Mask - 110g - $20 -  contains cucumber and chamomile extracts to help prevent irritation, vitamins A, D, E, K, Pro-Vitamin B5 and CoQ10 - a quick acting solution for all types of severely dry skin - leave on 5-10 minutes - this mask has been a godsend especially around my nose which gets really dry and flaky in the cold! The line is exclusive to Shoppers Drug Mart so it's the only place you will find this - Etival has a whole line of products for dry skin as well as other skin types!

NeoStrata Intense Moisture Rescue Sheet Mask - 8 single use masks - $40 - contains hyaluronic acid - a polymer naturally found in healthy skin that instantly helps to replenish the skin's moisture and provide long-lasting hydration benefits as well as a blend of botanicals that replenish the skin's moisture barrier while enhancing its protection. - leave on 20-30 minutes - my friend Patricia says it makes her look like Jason from Friday the 13th - so if you are thinking about a Halloween idea for next year this is a great disguise and beauty treatment all in one go!  You could also cut it in half and do a Phantom of the Opera bit! I am personally a big fan of the whole sheet mask concept, it's less messy then a traditional mask, you don't have to wash it off - you just rub the excess product into your skin when you remove the sheet - so you could conceivably use it anywhere - I'm thinking this would be a fun thing to wear the next time I fly - airplane air is so drying...

Montagne Jeunesse Chocolate Masque - 20g - $1.99 - made with real chocolate, it contains cocoa butter and shea butter to hydrate and Dead Sea salt to heal - leave on 10-15 minutes - It smells yummy but I can now tell you from experience that it does not taste good (don't ask)! I love single use masks - although unless you have a giant head (like Christelle) you could stretch one of these to a double use (or use with a friend) I also like this line because you can find a mask for any skin problem or dilemma that you could possibly experience so rather then having to commit to a whole tube you can just buy a handful of single masks to treat everything!  Available at Walmart, Rexall, Jean Coutu, Loblaws, London Drugs and most independent drug stores.

Borba Replenishing Quench Masque - 75ml - $35 - contains paraffin to soothe and moisturize shin and lychee, ginseng, aloe, cucumber, apricot and soy to heal flakiness and roughness while collagen, silk and elastin fiber activate to form a physical moisture barrier keeping the skin supple and healthy. - leave on 4 minutes - I absolutely love the texture of this mask and it really feels like it is working hard to moisturize your skin!  Available from The Shopping Channel - www.theshoppingchannel.com

Origins Drink Up 10 minute mask to quench skin's thirst - 75ml - $25 - contains Algae Extracts and Apricot Kernel Oil - leave on (duh) 10 minutes - you can really smell the apricot in this mask which I love and the concept of it quenching my skin's thirst amuses me, I imagine my skin with a little straw drinking it...I have issues, I know... and if you are looking for something even more heavy duty there is also a Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask for the same price.

Lise Watier Skin Destress Moisturizing Mask - 75ml - $29 - leave on 10 minutes - this is from the collection that came out in the spring, if you combine it with the scrub beforehand, you won't believe how soft your skin feels after the mask!  I like that this is a moisturizing mask for all skin types - which might mean that it's not intensive enough for really dry skin - but for skin that is just needing some extra moisture on occasion, it's perfect!

So is there an amazing moisturizing mask that I'm missing out on? Fill me in!

- Lisamarie -