Spring is nature’s way of saying “let’s party,” and we’re ready to celebrate. There’s something uniquely exquisite about the early sunrises, young blossoms and evening thunderstorms.
Spring prepares the earth for new growth, and we are always excited for its arrival. This spring, I want to share the best skincare and beauty products. These are my eight personal favourites, tried and tested from a whole lot of “holy grail” products out there:
1. Cleanser: boscia MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleaning Oil
Evening skincare routines used to be a hassle: Apply micellar water to a cotton ball and (attempt to) gently swipe over skin to remove traces of makeup. Use a dollop of cleanser to massage on your face while in the shower. Rinse.
Based on the cleanser used, I found that my skin would always be in a consistent battle of breakouts, dryness or filmy soap residue.
Enter boscia’s cleansing oil: Three pumps into the palm of your hand will do the trick. Massage onto dry skin, watch dirt and makeup virtually melt away, and hop into the shower for a rinse. Done. The result is hydrated, happy skin!
2. Moisturizer (AM): KORA Organics Hydrating Moisturizer
Since KORA Organics was founded in 2009 by former Victoria’s Secret model, Miranda Kerr, I’ve been obsessed. The cute Tiffany-Blue packaging and certified organic ingredients are a skincare addict’s weakness. Due to the lack of shipping to Canada, however, I resigned to look elsewhere.
Just last year, my prayers were answered when KORA Organics began selling at Sephora Canada. Kerr offers three different product lines for each skin type: dry, sensitive and oily/combination. I have naturally dry skin, so I added the Hydrating Moisturizer to my cart quicker than one can say, “nine years of waiting.”
The moisturizer is slightly tacky to the touch, but on the face it creates a light-reflecting glow, adds moisture, reduces redness and serves as an excellent base for makeup. Organic rosehip oil and noni fruit leave the complexion soft and supple.
I use two pumps of the moisturizer in the evening and mix in a couple drops of rosehip oil before bedtime, and in the morning I use one pump. I never fail to wake up with glowing skin. 😉
3. Moisturizer (PM): PureTrim Pure Gardens Skin Serum
Pure Gardens Skin Serum is packed with nothing but organic plants and essential oils. I use this when I want to treat my skin to quality nutrients and antioxidants. Because of the olive oil, it can look a tad bit shiny, so it is best to apply in the evening and let it absorb into your skin overnight.
Pure Gardens Skin Serum helps to diminish fine lines, reduce age spots and soften dry areas. It is cold-pressed, and a little goes a long way!
4. Eye cream: Rocky Mountain Soap Company Beech Tree Bud Eye Cream
Every time I step into a Rocky Mountain Soap Company store with my friends, I make it my mission to reach for the little jar of Beech Tree Bud Eye Cream and emphatically declare that because of the Arnica Mountain extract and Siberian Ginseng Root extract it contains, I never have any under-eye bags or dark circles. As if I am some kind of chemist! Haha.
This eye cream works wonders and leaves me looking like I just slept for nine hours, when in reality I was hammering out a last-minute paper on the Roman Empire the night before. The Beech Tree Bud Eye Cream reduces puffiness and inflammation on the delicate under-eye area while delivering hydration. Plus, it’s a Canadian company that hand makes its products in Canmore, Alta. How cool is that?
5. Sunscreen: EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41
Ladies, it’s been a struggle. Cue to those hot, summer days: You don’t want a sunburn, so you apply your fave foundation with SPF. It’s so warm out that it melts on your skin, creating that dreaded pancake, mask-like complexion. The other alternative is skipping straight to using sunblock, but the pasty white hue it leaves behind is plain unflattering.
What’s a girl to do?
The solution: Tinted sunscreen. It’s like a tinted moisturizer, but loaded with sun-protecting ingredients. The EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41 (check with your dermatologist’s office to see if they carry it) contains zinc oxide and titanium oxide for protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
Now you can carry on about your day in the sun without fear of pink-face, cake-face or paste-face!
6. Foundation: Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation
We’ve chatted before about the dangers of cyclopentasiloxane, so it was our mission to find a foundation without silicones. It’s not the easiest task when coupled with shade, finish and staying power trials and errors (emphasis on the errors).
The Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation by Vapour Organic Beauty is tried, tested and true. The finish is radiant and dewy, and the ingredients boast of frankincense, holy basil leaf extract and lotus – no silicones added. As a bonus, this foundation is also super blendable (we use the beautyblender to apply it) and streak free, leaving you with an I-woke-up-perfect-like-this complexion.
7. Mascara: Smashbox Super Fan Mascara
I love me a good, bold lash: it opens the eyes and adds feminine flare. Even on casual days, when it feels nice to take a break from your makeup routine, a flick of mascara greatly enhances your look.
My mom and I always joke that if we were stranded on an island and had the option of three items, one of them would include mascara. Not just any mascara, however: Smashbox Super Fan Mascara.
The applicator is a comb bristle wand, which delivers length, volume, definition and precision – all without clumping. Swipe on one coat for a natural daytime look or several coats for evening drama.
Smashbox Super Fan Mascara is formulated without parabens or phthalates, and as a bonus, it washes off easily in the shower (but stays put throughout the day, God bless).
8. Lipstick: Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment
When you glide a Sugar Lip Treatment across your lips, you’re treating yourself to luxury. These buttery balms are pigmented just so, offering a range of natural and buildable hues.
Feeling bold? Swipe on the colour ‘Poppy.’ Creating a bronzed, summer glow? Opt for ‘Coral.’ Keepin’ it fresh faced? Fall in love with ‘Rosé.’ This lipstick offers significant moisture with jojoba oil, grapeseed oil and meadowfoam seed oil, so you can say goodbye to a chapped pucker.
Keep this baby in your purse, and your lips will be thanking you.
So there you have it! These are eight of the best skincare and beauty products to try this spring. Have a personal favourite? Feel free to send us an email.
