Clarins Has Perfected Skincare for the Under-35 Set

Last month, Jenn and I headed to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto to see the new launches Clarins was debuting for Spring 2016. It was quite a fete – there was a dessert bar, complete with a cotton candy machine, macaron lollipops and some bubbly! The venue was perfect – the hotel is actually home to the only Clarins spa in the country!

The products also did not disappoint. When the Clarins team walked through the product benefits and allowed us to smell the product and get a feel for their texture, I immediately fell in love and began testing them out that evening!

Philosophy: The Micro Exfoliating Treatment Kit

When you think of chemical peels and microdermabrasion, a trip to the spa and a $300+ price tag often come to mind. Luckily, skincare brands are releasing at-home versions of your favourite spa treatments for a fraction of the cost. The best part? These treatments usually include multiple applications.

Over the years I’ve tried several chemical exfoliators, microdermabrasion and peel kits – scrubs, fruit-acid soaked pads, you name it. I’ve noticed results, but not enough results to justify the price tag (skin treatments generally cost significantly more than a cleanser or moisturizer).

Enter the Philosophy Microdelivery Dual Phase Peel – a two-step peel that sells for under $100. After one use, I was hooked. My skin felt smoother than it’s ever helped before, redness was gone and my skin glowed. This is a great product if you suffer from acne or acne scars, aging skin, hyperpigmentation or sun damage.

Perfect Your Skin with the Perfect All-In-One Compact by Mistura Beauty

I hadn’t heard of Mistura Beauty, however, when I discovered that the company was both based in Canada and offered an assortment of all-in-one makeup, I was excited to try some of their products.

My favourite product of the bunch was the 6-in-1 Beauty Solution® Compact. The powder is hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, and promises to mute both rosacea and other blemishes.

You’d apply this like you would a contouring powder – on the outside of your cheeks, on the forehead, down the bridge of your nose. It took a little bit of trial and error for me as the first time I used it, I applied what I normally would when using blush and it was far too dark for me. The best thing to remember is that a little goes a long way – you’ll notice results with just a light dusting of the powder across your whole face.

I saw best results when I used the Mistura Retractable Brush (pictured above) – which along with the compact is perfect for tossing in a purse of carry-on. To complete the look, conceal with the Mistura C-2-P Complexion Corrector and naturally plump your lips with the Mistura Plump & Glow lip gloss.

To find Mistura Beauty retailers near you, use their handy store locator.

Achieve a Romantic Spring Look with Caryl Baker Visage

Of course, no beauty look can be completed without an exceptional skincare base.

I've been a fan of Caryl Baker Visage's papaya-powered skin care line for some time - it's the perfect mix of exfoliating (papaya contains enzymes that help remove dead skin cells) and hydrating. Visage has given the line a face lift, which launched this month, as the Caryl Baker Papaya Perfecting Collection.

The Papaya Perfecting Daily Renewing Moisturizer ($39.20 on sale) contains SPF 30 and is gentle enough to be used daily, while still exfoliating the skin's surface to remove dead skin cells. This helps promote radiance and an even skin tone.

The Papaya Perfecting Eye Awakening Treatment ($30.40 on sale) is a must for getting a perfect under-eye concealer application. The eye treatment is moisturizing and conditions the delicate under-eye area. It also helps smooth puffy, tired eyes and reduces the appearance of dark circles. Basically - I'm sold!

If you're feeling the Papaya and want to include it more in your routine, the line also includes more skincare products, including a cleanser and exfoliator, and a Papaya Leaf Herbal Tea that I am obsessed with!

Now that you've established your skincare routine, it's time to put away the neutrals you used all winter and experiment with some fun colours for spring!

Confession time: I pretty much never wear coloured makeup. I keep everything very, very neutral and beige. However, once I played around with the Caryl Baker Spring 2016 Bloom Collection, I've actually found that some of these floral-inspired shades really perk up my face and flatter me.

Here are some of my favourite products from the launch:

Caryl Baker Blush in "Rose Garden" ($22.50): A true rose blush that would flatter a multitude of complexions. It's got a slight hint of sparkle, so it perks up the face, but doesn't apply any glitter.

Caryl Baker Eyeshadows in "Sweet Pea" (slightly frosty peach-pink), "Buttercup" (matte pale yellow), "Hydrangea" (slightly sparkly blue-green) ($18): These colours go so well together! I use Buttercup all over my lid and then Sweet Pea applied on the crease, with Hydrangea blended along the outer corners and as a liner. It really brightens up my whole face!

Caryl Baker Lipstick in "Morning Dew" ($18): Again, a perfect rose shade. There is also a little mirror that pops out when you remove the lid - perfect from streamlining your makeup bag!

Caryl Baker Lipgloss in "Romance" ($18): This shade is so perfect for day and light, and layers expertly with the Morning Dew Lipstick.

Visit a Caryl Baker store quickly, because this collection is limited edition!

Perfect Your Blowout with Drybar

With over 52 salons across the United States and their own namesake line of hot tools and hair products, Drybar knows a thing or two about the perfect blowout.

I was excited to try out two of their most popular products. While I currently have my shampoo and conditioner on lock, I was looking for a way to make my blowout look even better and last even longer.

To prime your blowout, the Chaser Shine Cream ($36.00 CAN) can be worked into damp hair to tame frizz and flyaways and also add shine and separation, for a “done, but not too done” look. This made my unruly hair a lot more manageable when I styled it – the frizz was easier to work through and immediately disappeared, and any baby hairs along my hairline were not sticking out, as they usually do.

The Sparkling Soda Shine Mist ($35.00 CAN) is incredibly lightweight and adds a natural-looking shine to your hair (like you’ve just had a colour gloss), while also taming frizz and flyaways. Think of it as the top coat to sealing in your blowout. The best part? The formula contains UV absorbers to help keep the sun from ruining your dye job. This product is my favourite out of the two – it really made a difference in how my hair looked once I styled it. Combined with your favourite light hold hairspray, you are locked and loaded until your next shampoo.

Drybar products are exclusive to Sephora stores and Sephora.ca in Canada.

Your Nails But Better: Zoya Naked Manicure Kit

Some girls hate wearing nail polish – I am not one of those girls. There’s always an “it” colour season after season that I lust over (remember the craze over Chanel’s Jade shade? I think I went to about 30 department stores to find it). 

My one pet peeve about bright polishes? The second you get a chip, you immediately look unkept. That is why the Zoya Naked Manicure Kit immediately caught my attention. As much as I love a pop of colour, there’s something alluring about a sheer, natural manicure.

The formula of this kit is great – it’ll improve the overall strength of your nails (bye bye breakage and hangnails) using a formula made of algae, proteins and Vitamins E and B5.

The instant benefits of the polish includes neutralized discoloration, refined nail plate surface, smoother nail ridges and a natural, healthy tone and finish.

The kit consists of four steps – the Naked Manicure Naked Base (refines nail surface, hydrates nail beds and treats damage), the Naked Manicure Pink Perfector (gives nails a healthy pink glow and brightens the tone of your nails), the Naked Manicure Tip Perfector (mimics a natural nail edge – eliminates yucky yellow fingernail edges) and the Naked Manicure Satin Seal (blurs imperfections, seals in the Pink and Tip Perfector).

Over time, the kit promises to support cellular renewal, improve oxygenation of your nails, enhance your nails’ flexibility and strength and increase hydration and resilience.

The kit retails for $30 and is available on NakedManicure.com. Zoya also sells additional Perfector shades in buff, lavender and mauve to achieve other desired nail effects, including deepening, brightening and colour correction.

Too Faced Love Flush Long-Lasting 16-Hour Blush

There’s nothing wrong with adding a little love into your beauty routine. The adorable Too Faced Love Flush Long-Lasting 16-Hour Blushes come in coquettish heart-shaped compacts, with even more saccharine love-themed shades. Keep reading below to see if this product is worth loving…

Packaging: Leave it to Too Faced to come up with the most adorable blush packaging. The blushes come in a sleek compact, with the packaging matching the shade of each blush. There is also a mirror included in the compact, perfect for travelling or touch-ups.

Colour Range: There are six shades in this range – with one neutral tone (“Baby Love”) and five brighter shades – ranging from pink to coral to plum. I can see these shades working for a multitude of skin tones as the shades are bright enough to make darker skin tones pop, without making lighter skin tones look as if they are wearing theatre makeup. Speaking as a pale gal, I’d advise those with lighter skin tones to use a light hand when applying these blushes – the colours are BRIGHT and if you swirl too much product on, your face will be hot pink before you know it.

Pigmentation: I’ve been using NARS blushes for years since I didn’t think I’d ever find anything better – but this product proved me wrong. While only six shades are available, the blush is so buttery and applies seamlessly – there’s no smudging product caking when you apply it. If you’re interested in a higher-end product, such as the Tom Ford Cheek Colour Blush or Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush, but don’t want to shell out $60 on a blush, you’ll actually find that this range has better colour payoff and a similar texture.

Staying Power: The formula is definitely smudge-proof; however, I'm not sure about the 16-hour wear time. I applied “Baby Love” prior to going to work, and by mid-afternoon, the majority of the colour was gone. I’d recommend carrying it in your purse with a travel-sized blush brush to re-apply if you’re planning some post-work fun.

SHOP:

Swatched from left: “Baby Love”, “Love Hangover”, “I Will Always Love You”.

The Too Faced Love Flush Long-Lasting 16-Hour Blush retails for $39.00 CAD
and is available at toofaced.com.

Too Faced Little Black Book of Bronzers

Bronzer is a product I always forget about. After years of searching for the right shade and failing miserably (they’re generally too dark, too chalky, too sparkly for me), I gave up on using a bronzer in my makeup routine. That is, until I discovered the Too Faced Little Black Book of Bronzers – which allowed me to try out a multitude of formulas.

Quo 2015 Holiday Collection: Get the Naked Look for Less

The nude makeup craze is everywhere – from eye shadows to lipsticks to the new contour craze. The good news is that you don’t need to fork out over $50.00 for the newest Naked Palette (okay, they’re still quite dreamy) – Quo has lots of great nude-themed products for less in their 2015 holiday collection!

Worth the Splurge? Rodial Bee Venom Serum

I love serums - I think they are the unsung hero of beauty. My advice: Never splurge on a moisturizer or a cleanser, but do your research and invest in a quality serum that will treat all of your skin concerns.

I was excited to have the opportunity to try the super luxe Rodial Bee Venom Serum. This serum promises to minimize signs of aging, even your skin tone and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The plumping formula is composed of real bee venom serum (side note: if you are allergic to bees, this is likely not the serum for you), plant stem cells and Cyclopeptide-5. Rodial's trademarked MariMoist complex provides hydration for a radiant complexion.

This serum applies like liquid velvet - it is so supple and hydrating, without feeling heavy. It melts into the skin and you can apply moisturizer quickly after to seal in the serum. Since I started using this a few weeks ago, I've received so many compliments on how glowing my skin looked! You can really see results with this particular serum.

Sephora Collection Gel Gloss Ultra Brilliant Ultra Shine Holographic Lip Gels

What better way is there to doll up for the holidays than with some serious shimmer?

These Sephora lip gels truly do have a 3D, holographic effect, and are the perfect gloss to complete your holiday party look.

They are bold enough to be worn on their own or could be layered over a lipstick (pink or red would look amazing with this) for a glam look. Best of all? They apply well (it has an amazing doe foot application) and they are not sticky. They're also limited edition - so grab them while you can!

Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Extreme! set

As a beauty addict, I have a confession: I am absolutely rubbish at applying false lashes. I can never get the line of glue where I want it to be, and I can never get the falsies close enough to my lash line. I’ve tried a full set, individuals, you name it – I can’t do it.

This set promises lashes that will look just like falsies, without the glue. It comes with two products – a Prime & Seal mascara that primes your lashes and seals in the “falsies” effect (you use this as steps one and three) and Flexistretch Nylon Fibers that offer the “extension” effect (you use this as step one). How does it work? The Flexistretch Nylon Fibers cling to the tips of your eyelashes, providing a lengthening effect. When you reapply the Prime & Seal mascara, the mascara will cover the fibers, making it appear as if your eyelashes are insanely long.

Gift Ideas: Ole Henriksen Lift & Glow Set

I was so excited to try this kit as Ole Henriksen has been one of my favourite skin care lines since I was a teenager – their On The Go Cleanser cleared up my acne, their POWER Peel™ PRO-strength Microdermabrasion/AHA Peel System taught me about the importance of chemical exfoliation (if you’re a newbie to it, this set is amazing to try it at home, rather than a $300 spa treatment. Pro tip – only use half of the product and double the number of treatments – store the remaining product in an airtight container). I was delighted to see that this set of five products included four that I have not yet tried – and one of my all-time favourite serums.

New Spiced Beauty Contributor: Jessica

The holiday's are coming and I thought it would be a perfect time to get a more content out on the blog. I'm lucky that I found a great contributor. Jessica is no stranger to the blog. She's been reading Spiced Beauty since her PR intern days and I'm excited to welcome her on board. 

Check out what Jessica has to say about beauty, blogging & skin care.