Must have products for combination skin from Neutrogena, Nip + Fab, Covergirl and Avon!

If you find cleansing combo skin frustrating because your skin ends up feeling either too dry or not clean:

Neutrogena Facial Original Cleansing Bar - 100g - $7.99 - offers pure, gentle and effective cleaning that won't dry out, irritate or leave filmy residue to clog pores and because it contains no detergents, dyes or preservatives, it returns skin to its normal pH in just one minute longer than if the skin had been washed with pure water. The 8% glycerin facilitates moisture retention to keep skin from feeling tight after washing.

This is also my favourite cleanser to use with my Clarisonic - unlike liquid cleansers that you pour on and get lost in the brush, you can rub your brush directly on the bar to get full cleansing benefits!

Available at food, drug and mass retailers across Canada.

If you're looking for an easy way to get all the  toning benefits without stripping the skin:

Nip + Fab Bee Sting Fix Toning Pads - 60 pads - $12.95 - infused with skin healing ingredients Witch Hazel and Propolis which tighten pores and deep cleanse the complexion of daily dirt, helping to boost skin clarity and the effectiveness of products to follow; allantoin to provide a natural protectant for the skin and encourage cell generation; while Bee Venom works to plump the skin, while filling fine lines and smoothing the skin.

Available now exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada.

If you're tired of foundation sliding off the oily areas of your face:

Covergirl TruBlend Face Primer Combo Skin - 30ml - $11.99 - with a balancing formula that creates a smooth surface for foundation application while extending the wear but not clogging pores.

 

Available now at drug and mass retailers across Canada.

For those daytime touch-ups:

Avon Pro Blotting Paper Compact - 80 sheets - $7.00 - banish shine on the go without messing up your makeup - the papers are picked up by a clever sponge applicator that keeps your fingers off your face and the papers are housed in a refillable portable compact with mirror to make touch-ups easy!

Available from your Avon rep - 1-800-265-AVON or online at www.avon.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Mary Kay Into The Garden Spring 2016 Collection

Mary Kay welcomes you to embrace spring’s soft romantic looks with their limited edition Into The Garden Collection inspired by acclaimed fashion designer Patricia Bonaldi - with beautiful, vintage-feeling  packaging that makes everything perfect for gift-giving too!

Into The Garden Lip & Eye Color Compact - $45 - an all-in-one mirrored compact that features four garden-inspired eye shadows in violet, natural taupe, pink and plum brown and three ultrasheer lip glosses in nude, pink and coral along with a dual-ended applicator for endless colour possibilities.

Into The Garden Beauty Blotters Oil-Absorbing Tissues - 75 tissues - $8.50

Nail Lacquer - $10 - in Sweet Lilac, Pink Magnolia and Coral Blossom and Nail Appliques - $10

Into The Garden Soap Set - $20 - with 3 individually wrapped bars packaged in a beautiful gift box with a fresh, garden-inspired scent.

Into The Garden Pedicure Set - $35 - includes Satin Feet Foot Scrub and 10 foot fizzies that feature a fresh, garden-inspired scent along with one pair toe separators and emery board all inside a mesh collection bag.

As a bonus, The Into the Garden trend-inspired cosmetic bag is yours free when you purchase $60 in products (not including the pedicure set) from the collection!

Available now while supplies last through your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant - if you don't have one you can find one at - www.marykay.ca or 1-866-455-5454.

- Lisamarie - 

Acne prone skin gets help from Clinique, Elizabeth Grant, Neutrogena and Sephora!

Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Cleansing Gel - 30ml - $29 - a daily treatment gel that promises results as good as a leading topical prescription in clearing acne. Contains salicylic acid to start clearing blemishes instantly and help prevent new ones from forming and unlike some similar products, I don't find it to be drying to the surrounding skin.

Available at Clinique counters across Canada.

Elizabeth Grant Wonder Effect SOS Spot Stick - $25 - a powerful remedy for stubborn acne formulated with tea tree oil to be non-irritating, while salicylic acid and glycolic acid band together to deeply penetrate through oily pores and deliver product straight to the source - skin is gently exfoliated allowing the tea tree oil to go to work, unclogging pores, fighting off bacteria, healing reddened skin and helping to prevent future breakouts. It comes in a convenient stick format with a green tint to help cover redness - I would recommend adding a touch of concealer or powder on top though, at certain angles it still looks green - which I guess is a look...

Available at www.elizabethgrant.com.

If the reason you avoid applying sunscreen as often as you know you should is because it causes you to break out then you are going to be thrilled with:

Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen Lotion - 88ml - $12.99 - an ultra-light, oil-free sunscreen that provides superior sun protection without clogging pores which can lead to future breakouts especially on acne-prone skin. With a fragrance and PABA free formula that is water and sweat resistant and contains natural botanical extracts as well as Helioplex Technology - that delivers superior stabilized broad-spectrum protection from the sun. Available in SPF 30 and 60.


Available now at food, drug and mass merchandisers across Canada.

Sephora Charcoal Blotting Papers - 100 sheets - $12 -  thin, double-sided sheets that banish shine without disturbing makeup. Contain bamboo charcoal which is highly porous and excellent for moisture and oil absorption - bamboo charcoal in particular is known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Simply blot the skin to leave it looking matte and feeling refreshed without leaving any residue. 

Available at Sephora and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

This week I'm obsessed with... Sephora Cooling Mint Blotting Papers!

I'm a fan of blotting papers in general, thanks to my oily t-zone I am constantly touching up and if I use powder every time I do, I end up with a big cakey mess of a face! So I have been alternating powder with blotting papers and I recently came across these:

Sephora Cooling Mint Blotting Papers - 50 sheets - $12 - infused with refreshing mint to cool and soothe the skin while removing excess oil.

If you're a lunchtime gym goer too and don't like to apply makeup right after working out these are really great for subduing redness and getting rid of exercise shine!

Available now at Sephora and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Needful Things - Mai Couture Uptown Blush Papers

You only need to have a blush break, crumble and make a giant mess in your purse once before you are convinced of the unportability of blush and let mid-day rosy cheeks fall my the wayside - that is until...

Mai Couture Uptown Blush Papers - $20 - a lightly powdered blush paper with a hint of shimmer that adds colour to the cheeks for a healthy glow with every application.

And while you're at it powder your nose with their:

 Salicylic Acid Papers - $24 - to mattify and moisturize skin instantly while the salicylic acid fights off blemish-causing bacteria to clear pores and prevent future breakouts or Vitamin C + E Papers - $15 - get a daily dose of vitamins and eliminate shine all in one with sheer powder that removes excess oil without disturbing your makeup.

Available now at Murale.

- Lisamarie -

Holiday editions of your favourite products from Beauty So Clean, Boscia, The Body Shop and Maybelline!

Beauty So Clean Gingerbread or Candy Cane Scented Conditioning Brush Cleanser - 60ml - $6.99 each or 2 for $10 - cleans and conditions both natural and synthetic bristled makeup brushes while leaving them smelling delicious!

Available at www.beautysoclean.com.

Boscia Pink Peppermint Blotting Linens - 100 sheets - $6 - instantly blot away excess oil and perspiration without disturbing your makeup all with the delicious scent of peppermint!

Available at Sephora and sephora.ca.

The Body Shop Lip Balm Dome - $6 - in Vanilla Bliss, Cranberry Joy and Ginger Sparkle - they moisturize, they shimmer and they smell incredible - what's not to like!

Available at The Body Shop and thebodyshop.ca.

Maybelline Baby Lips Holiday Collection - $9.98/duo pack - in Pink Wink, Twinkle and Coral Crush - offer, moisture, a light tint and a delicious scent!

Available at drugstores and mass retailers.

- Lisamarie -

Pepper-minty goodness from Bath & Body Works, Boscia, Philosophy and Bliss!

Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint Pocket Hand Sanitizer - 29ml - $1.50 - the seasonal favouite is back again in everything from body wash to candles to my particular fave, the hand sanitizer - it smells amazing and the cooling sensation of peppermint really makes me believe that it's killing germs!

Available in-store and online at www.bathandbodyworks.com.

Boscia Pink Peppermint Blotting Linens - 100 sheets - $6 - instantly blot away excess oil and perspiration without disturbing your makeup all with the delicious scent of peppermint!

Available at Sephora and sephora.ca.

Philosophy Peppermint Bark Duo - $19.50 - want some chocolate with your peppermint? then you'll love this set which includes a 240ml shampoo, shower gel & bubble bath along with a scented gloss together in a festive tin.

Available at Sephora and sephora.ca.

Bliss Foot Patrol - 75ml - $20 - an exfoliating foot cream with AHA, aloe leaf and peppermint that soothes, softens and refreshes even the most tired shopping-weary feet!

Available at Sephora and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Pore solutions from Soap & Glory, Neutrogena, Proactiv, B. Kamins and Sephora!

There's a lot of opinions about pores out there and while I don't agree with the premise of pores opening and closing like little doors, I do concur that the best thing you can do for them is to keep them clean, without the blackheads they are a lot less obvious and if your skin is as matte as possible the shine won't draw attention to them!

Here are a few products great for cleaning a couple to keep you matte:

Soap & Glory The Fab Pore 15 Minute Facial Peel - 50g - $25 -a gentle exfoliator for your face with mushroom extract to help tighten pores, salicylic adid to loosen up the dead cells that contribute to pore clogging, kaolin to absorb excess oil and smooth and vitamins E & C to brighten the skin.

What I really like about it are the little green beads in it that will dissolve when you've massaged it in enough, as someone who gets distracted and loses track of time during beauty treatments this is a big plus! After massaging in, they recommend leaving it on for five minutes for a quick refresher or for 15 minutes as a mask for deep cleansing! If you have combination skin I recommend only leaving it on your oily areas for the 15 minutes and wiping the other parts off, I found it too drying when left that long on my normal areas.

Available at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Neutrogena Blackhead Eliminating 2-in-1 Cleanser/Mask - 118ml - $11.99 - it's a cleanser, it's a mask - that's right, the same product is both! Use the cleanser formulated with microbeads technology daily to gently exfoliate and help keep the pores clear and then once or twice a week leave it on for several minutes and let the 2% Salicylic Acid to its work and get deep into the pores. Not only will it help eliminate existing blackheads but it will also keep new ones from forming leaving you with clearer, more even looking skin!

Proactiv Solution Pore Cleansing System - 10 pore strips 15ml pore cleansing solution - $18 - helps improve skin's tone and texture by lifting away dirt, oils and impurities from pores with an exclusive Pore Cleansing Solution which activates the strips to clear blackheads and whiteheads as well as prevent future breakouts. With a soothing blend of botanicals that leaves skin feeling smooth and refreshed. Can be used on nose, forehead or t-zone.

Available at getproactiv.ca.

B. Kamins Corrective Mattifier - 50ml - $47 - great for oily to combination skin, it helps clear breakouts, reduce congestion and control shine with purifying and sebum-reducing ingredients help leave skin feeling fresher and cleaner with an all-day matte finish. Salicylic acid helps speed up cell renewal for a brighter complexion, while a combination of anti-oxidant vitamins help nourish and protect the skin. Soothing anti-inflammatory ingredients help ease discomfort from acne breakouts and mattifying and balancing actives help reduce shine and provide an all-day matte finish.


Available at The Shopping Channel - www.theshoppingchannel.com.

Sephora Blotting Papers - 100 sheets - $10 - gone are the days when all that blotting papers did was absorb oil and possibly leave a white film behind. These babies are infused with targeted skin-soothing ingredients to relieve a variety of skin needs! The vitamin C-infused papers protect the complexion from free radicals, the matte version controls oil, the tea tree sheets heal tired skin, the glacial clay and salicylic acid exfoliate and aid blemished skin and the lavender papers soothe agitated skin.

Available at Sephora and sephora.ca.

- Lisamarie -

Shine Busters! From Neutrogena, Lise Watier, Murale, The Body Shop and Boscia!

Even with all this cold weather one of the most frequent complaints I still hear from people is how shiny their skin always looks - so here's a roundup of products to help you combat the shine:

Neutrogena Deep Clean Shine Control Cleanser/Mask - 175ml - $8.99 - use as a cleanser or on your super-oily days, as a 3 minute mask or Daily Scrub - 124ml - $8.99 The Shine Control products have an oil-absorbing Rice Protein Technology that removes skin impurities and absorbs oil on the surface of the skin.  Even after rinsing, rice protein is deposited onto the skin to visibly control shine hour after hour as it repels water but grabs excess facial oil like a magnet throughout the day.  Both products are oil free and non-comedogenic.

Lise Watier Mineral Compact Powder - 10g - $35 - in 6 shades: neutre, natureal, beige pur, beige beige, bronze or caramel.  A fragrance, talc & paraben free powder that mattifies, corrects and evens out the skin.  Contains tourmaline, vitamin A & E and chamomile.  A clever plastic holder inside the compact holds 30 blotting papers giving you 2 different ways to be shine free!

Murale Fresh Faced Blotting Papers and Compact -  50 Sheets - $10 - if you are looking for pretty way to carry around your papers then you will love this compact from Murale!

The Body Shop Nature's Minerals Blotting Tissues - 65 Sheets - $10 - mineral-infused blotting papers that absorb excess oil and reduce shine.

Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens - 100 Sheets - $10 - they come in peppermint too if you are lucky enough to be able to get your hands on them!  Available at Sephora.

New and Notable from Shoppers Drug Mart - Clarins, Harajuku Lovers Wicked Style, Lise Watier and Dermaglow!

Clarins Vital Light - 50ml - $95 / Vital Light Night - 50ml - $98 - anti aging range designed for women 45+ who are concerned with the lack of luminosity of their skin - day works with hyperpigmentation (helps the melanin spots fade away to bring a more youthful brightness) while night deals with microcirculation (activates blood microcirculation on the skin cells, which is a decreasing function of mature skin. This allows nutrients to be better caught by cells resulting in colourful and brighter skin).

Harajuka Lovers Wicked Style - 30ml EDT - $49 - the girls are back with new scents, outfits and fuzzy heads!

Love - fruity floral - top: nectarine, mangosteen, juicy pear; mid: orange flower, lotus, violet, osmanthus; base: blonde woods, musk, sandalwood, hint of patchouli, dash of praline

Lil' Angel - sparkling floral - top: succulent plum, champagne, bergamont, pomelo; mid: blooming lotus, fresh queen rose leaf, waterlilies; base: satin wood, rich amber, skin musks

G - fruity floral - top: granny smith apple, peach, pineapple; mid: watermelon, butterfly blush, peony; base: raspberry, musk, water aqueous

Music - woody floral - top: juicy apple, watery fruit, bergamont; mid: jasmine, gardenia, fuschia, peony; base: swirling cedarwood, iridescent musks, crystallized amber

Baby - vanilla floral - top: white peach, red delicious apple, pink freesia; mid: pink plumeria, lush orchid, jasmine petals; base: glowing amber, sensual musk, creamy sandalwood.

If you are a Harajuku fan then you probably already know about the website, which is absolutely adorable!  Check it out at www.HLfragrance.com

Lise Watier Mineral Compact Powder - 10g - $35 - in 6 colours: neutre, natureal, beige pur, beige beige, bronze or caramel.  A fragrance, talc & paraben free powder that mattifies, corrects and evens out the skin.  Contains tourmaline, vitamin A & E and camomile.  What's really cool is inside the compact is a clever plastic holder that holds 30 blotting papers giving you 2 different ways to be shine free!

Lise Watier Frisson Neiges - 50ml EDT - $57 - a new addition to the popular Neiges line -It has top notes of papaya and passion fruit; a heart of honeysuckle, tuberose nectar and jasmine absolute; and a base of warm cashmeran, sandalwood and a whisper of musk.

Dermaglow Acne Blemish Duo - 2 x 6ml - $45 - 2 in 1 acne blemish regime to reduce the appearance of blemishes and absorb oil with salicylic acid formulas for day and night.  It has a tinted cream for day and a gel for night.

- Lisamarie -

Mary Kay's Bundle Shuts Shine Down.

You may know by now about my obsession with shiny foreheads, so it's no wonder I was particularly interested in trying out Mary Kay's Shine Shutdown Bundle.

The Shine Shutdown Bundle ($55 until March 15th) includes:

- An Oil-Free Hydrating Gel to restore skin’s moisture balance and hydrate. This hydrating gel does a pretty good job with moisturizing your skin and controlling the shine. It also gets absorbed quickly. It does not leave a greasy film nor does it leave your skin feeling tight. As far as hydrating gels go, this is really good value for money.Keep in mind that there is no SPF protection in this product, so you will need to apply that separately.

- An Oil Mattifier for shine control in the T-zone: you can use  this mattifier to correct some particularly oily spots. Again, it does a good job keeping that shine in check and it's a great base under your make up. My skin feels smooth and balanced.

 

- Beauty Blotters® Oil-Absorbing Tissues to instantly absorb excess oil are great to use throughout the day. While the hydrating gel and the mattifier give you a good base to start the day, by the end of a busy day my skin feels oily again. These tissues absorb oil even when my skin doesn't look shiny. A must-have for your purse.

All in all, I was pretty happy with this bundle. It doesn't look super fancy, but it does the job for a reasonable price. My skin feels smooth and balanced and that's all I need. Despite the fact, that Mary Kay's products are not available in stores, I've had great experiences with Mary Kay's beauty consultants. A good consultant will take the time to have you try their products. To find a Mary Kay's beauty consultant, check here.

-Christelle-