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.