Jun
2019
Clean + clear: New York skin in mind (plus a life update!)
Okay, so a bit of a life update to start off this post.
So remember when I went to Houston, San Francisco, and New York last year? The reason I went was because my boyfriend was interviewing for a fellowship places at all those locations. He ended up getting a placement in New York and will be living there for a year. So what does that mean for me? Well, since I can’t get an American Visa that means I get to visit him every few months or so. Although I’m sad that he’s leaving me here in Winnipeg, I’m actually very excited to spend a lot more time in NYC and out of all the cities he went to, New York was my favourite.
We actually leave next week and I come back at the end of July (I’m planning on heading out again in September for NYFW) and best of all, Ziggy is coming with! I’m very excited for him to romp around Central Park and be an urban dog in a big city. Going forward, some of the posts on here will be more travel and NYC focused and right now I’m still scrambling to shoot everything and edit the photos/upload them so they are all ready to go so I can still write and schedule content.
But anyways, the reason for today’s post is because when I visited NYC last May for a few days my skin just couldn’t cut the urban centre. Since there are over eight million people living in that small area, there is a ton of environmental pollution and since I get a lot of skincare products that take into account this concern, I can finally put them to the test!
I’ll be travelling back and forth a lot, so below is the list of products I’m going to be keeping in NYC full-time (mostly so I don’t have to lug them back to Winnipeg).
Skin Regimen Cleansing Cream, Tripeptide Cream, and Energizing Illuminating Serum
A month ago I got the opportunity to go to Thermea Winnipeg, one of my favourite spas here in the city and try out their new Urban Detox Facial. Since I have a pretty intense skincare routine, I actually don’t go for facials very often (this was my second one ever), but I ended up loving it since it incorporated Chinese massage practices and relaxation into it as well.
Thermea’s Urban Detox facial is designed to fight the effects of daily stress and pollution for a healthier and glowing complexion. They include four steps in the treatment that will rebalance your skin and clear your mind. The actual skincare part included a plant-based charcoal black peel-off mask, as well as a cleanser, toner, serum, and moisturizer.
To maximize the effects of the facial, Thermea was so kind and sent me the Skin Regimen skincare routine of their Cleansing Cream, Tripeptide Cream, and Microalgae Essence Energizing Illuminating Serum. I wasn’t familiar with Skin Regimen before but it’s a brand mostly sold in spas and is designed for urban dwellers who want to look and feel their best every day. It’s for those who thrive in today’s fast-paced times, yet wanting to keep skin healthy and youthful for longer. Sounds right up my alley in NYC!
The Cleansing Cream ($40 USD) is a gentle non-drying foaming cream that takes off makeup, sunscreen, dust, and any residue or dirt that settles on skin throughout the day. It has a Longevity Complex and a natural aroma that rebalances and reinvigorates the mind the body.
The Tripeptide Cream ($105 USD) protects the skin from pollution thanks to added Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 and dandelion extract. The cream has a cooling texture and a natural aroma that has a rebalancing, reinvigorating effect against stress to leave skin firm and hydrated all day.
Finally, the Microalgae Essence Energizing Illuminating Lotion ($75) is a concentrated lotion in a serum formula that energizes skin. It contains a complex of superfoods to nourish the skin and increase the production of cellular ATP. The microalgae locks in hydration levels in the skin and prevents trans epidermal water loss while at the same time reinforcing the skin’s barrier.
Pixi Glow Tonic
For my toner, I threw in a small size Pixi Glow Tonic (C$20) which is one of the brand’s most iconic products (and one I haven’t tried before).
The alcohol-free toner is a highly concentrated, invigorating facial toner that deeply cleans skin and pores by removing excess oil and impurities. The formula includes five per cent glycolic acid that gently wipes away impurities, as well as aloe vera and red ginseng to leave your face fresh for the next steps of your serum and moisturizer.
Reversa Anti-Wrinkle Eye Contour Cream
For my eye cream, I packed the Reversa Anti-Wrinkle Eye Contour Cream SPF 15 (C$33), which is an eye cream that helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes, while also providing moisture and sun protection.
This eye cream contains a four per cent glycolic acid base which helps to exfoliate and moisturize the thinner skin area around the eyes. I love how it has an SPF in it, so I don’t have to worry about getting sun damage around the eye area and to prevent future signs of aging.
Reversa Hydra Mineral Concentrate
As soon I received the Reversa Hydra Mineral Concentrate (C$42), I knew I was packing this one for New York.
This serum deeply hydrates skin and helps to restore skin to a plump and healthy-looking state. I really love this serum because it gives skin an increased resistance to environmental stress and helps to protect it against pollution. In addition, it also helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and pores and increases firmness.
Reversa Urban Protection Hydrating Care SPF 30
This is another product perfect for urban pollution.
The Reversa Urban Protection Hydrating Care SPF 30 (C$47) is a lotion that helps to protect against air pollution, which can present devastating effects on the skin over time. This product features advanced protection against environmental pollution thanks to ingredients such as vitamin E and French Polynesia kopara extract.
The formula has a universal tint that fits most skin tones and absorbs quickly into the skin. It’s perfect for those days where I don’t want to wear makeup but still want to have some sort of protection on my face. This product to me is the perfect one to accompany anyone to a big city.
Reversa Radiance-C Concentrate
One more Reversa product!
I talked about this one before on the blog, but the Reversa Radiance-C Concentrate (C$60) is a serum that brightens the skin tone and increases its natural radiance. The formula contains 20 per cent pure ascorbic acid concentration and is a light and creamy texture that spreads easily on the skin.
This serum is designed to be applied on damp skin and will prevent skin damage from free radicals caused by pollution and UV rays. It will also brighten the skin, reduce the appearance of pigmentary imperfections, and stimulate collagen synthesis, reduce wrinkles and increase skin firmness.
Neutrogena All-In-One Makeup Removing Cleansing Wipes
Ever since I brought these Neutrogena makeup wipes with me to Miami last year, they have instantly become one of my favourite go-to’s for removing makeup.
These wipes (C$7.97), available in a pack of 25, gently get rid of 99 per cent of makeup with just one wipe. They also cleanse and tone the skin, leaving it refreshed and ready for the rest of your skincare routine. I have tried my fair share of makeup-removing wipes and these are hands-down one of my favourites. They really do an amazing job for getting rid of dirt, oil, makeup, grime, you name it.
Arbonne RE9 Advanced Prepwork Micellar Water
I also packed the new Arbonne RE9 Prepwork Micellar Water ($20) for those days when I don’t feel like using a makeup wipe (there’s only 25, so sometimes you want to save them!).
I actually had the Reversa Micellar Water all ready to go, but I like the convenient size of the Arbonne one more. This is brand new from the brand and it helps to remove daily impurities. The micelles in the formula trap dirt, makeup, and daily grime to leave your skin prepped for your cleanser. It also contains coconut water to hydrate skin.
Arbonne RE9 Prepwork Overnight Face Jelly
I really wanted to pack a night-time moisturizer that I could rotate in every few nights to really give my skin some TLC.
Enter the new Arbonne RE9 Prepwork Overnight Face Jelly (C$38), which is an overnight gel moisturizer that recharges dry skin while you sleep. It contains superfood ingredients, such as vitamins C and E, antioxidants, omegas, and phytonutrients to instantly reveal radiance the next morning.
Arbonne Botaniques Coconut Body Butter and Papaya Body Wash
For the skin on my body, I packed the new Arbonne Botaniques Coconut Body Butter (C$30) and the Papaya Body Wash (C$20).
The body butter is a coconut-scented (perfect for summer!) sustainable shea butter and coconut oil body butter that feels so luxurious on the skin. In addition to the pleasant scent, it also leaves skin feeling super hydrated.
The papaya body wash contains a formula of shea butter and olive extract to hydrate and condition skin, whereas the lavender flower extract smooths and softens skin.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream
I try to incorporate retinol into my skincare routine here twice a week, so since the Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream was hanging out anyways, I decided to throw it in my bag.
A-Passioni Retinol Cream (C$92) is a retinol cream that improves the look and feel of uneven skin tone and texture and addresses damage from daily exposure to UV rays, environmental pollution, and other free radicals.
This one is actually 1.0%, making it a higher percentage of retinol, meaning that it’s very important to go slow when applying this. I would definitely start with at least once or twice a week and then slowly build it up. This particular formula is actually vegan since it’s a clean beauty brand, meaning that it also contains superfood-rich ingredients. It also contains a triple peptide blend to visibly firm and strengthen skin, and Vitamin F to improve the appearance of texture and suppleness and calm signs of sensitivity.
I know this seems like a lot of skincare to bring for one person, but I put in a lot of effort into what I put on my face here, so I definitely want to keep that up when I’m in New York. Plus, not going to lie, I get a ton of skincare products to review and since skincare isn’t a one-shot deal, this gives me a great opportunity to try these out consecutively in a climate where I can really put them to test.
Other items I’ll be packing will of course be a ton of makeup, as well as some sunscreens (love the new ones from Mary Kay). I’m really looking forward to fully changing out my routine when I’m there and to see how my skin reacts to the products, especially since it took a beating last time I was in town.
What skincare products do you travel with?
Please note, products provided by PR. All opinions are my own.
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