I never knew pollution could affect skin so bad until I went to New York.

I was in NYC this past May for a few days and basically throughout my whole trip I noticed that my face was scaly and dry and the rest of my skin was very dry as well. As soon as I got home, I busted out all my best skincare items and really tried to heal everything back to life (I felt like a plant that forgot to be watered).

Fast-forward four months later and I’ve been noticing that there are so many skincare products coming out that are aimed towards anti-pollution and keeping your skin healthy and fresh.  Like seriously, I feel like whenever I read about a new product, this is one of the selling factors.

Well, since this has suddenly become thing in the skincare world, if you live in a city with high pollution (I’ll never forget the clouds of it in Bangkok), then you’ll want to give this post a read.

Here are my five top skincare picks for combatting pollution.

Vichy Purete Thermale Cleansing Gel

I actually just chatted about this product recently, but this cleanser helps with cleansing away impurities and pollution residue for soft, fresh, and radiant skin. This is definitely one of my new favourite skincare products because it foams up quickly and efficiently, leaving you with super clean skin.

The Purisoft technology, which is powered by Moringa seed extract, cleanses impurities such as pollution particles, excess sebum, and it even reduces the effects of hard water on the skin.

This cleanser retails for C$26 and I love pairing it with a cleansing brush, such as my FOREO Luna, for a super deep clean.

Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence

Once I’m done with my cleanser, I always use a toner. The Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence (C$85) is a facial treatment that provides eight benefits, including anti-pollution and antioxidant protection, increases skin’s luminosity, reduces the look of fine lines, refines the appearance of pores, improves elasticity, smooths skin’s texture, boosts skin’s tone, and provides 24-hour moisture. All that in one simple step.

Like the name suggests, this product contains kombucha, fermented black tea, that is scientifically proven to protect against pollution, which accelerates signs of aging and leads to dull, dry skin (been there, done that). This product isn’t billed as a toner, but I’ve been using it as one, and thanks to it’s sangria-like scent (it’s all that kombucha), it’s been a real treat to use both morning and night.

Reversa Urban Protection Hydrating Cream SPF 30

This tinted moisturizer (C$47) from Canadian brand Reversa protects skin from urban pollutants and limits free radical activity. When I first saw this product, I actually thought it was   facial sunscreen, but then once I applied it I noticed it was tinted as well (honestly, this stuff is great for the beach or pool).

Complete with SPF 30, the formula includes kopara extract from the French Polynesia, which neutralizes the effects of pollutants to prevent premature aging. Thanks to the fact that it’s tinted (it is billed to suit most skin tones), it leaves you with a glowing complexion and healthy-looking skin. The formula also has fragmented hyaluronic acids, which hydrates skin and allows it to regain its volume and fill in wrinkles.

I always rave about BB and CC creams, but I’m seriously impressed with this product as well, especially considering the glow it gives your skin. If you have trips coming up, I would definitely recommend packing this one.

Reversa Antioxidant Booster Serum 

This was on the items I included in my Miami birthday goodie bags since it was perfect for our beach trip.  This serum includes a blend of antioxidant and moisturizing ingredients that protects against damage caused by environmental hazards, such as pollution. The formula also helps to activate skin’s natural defence mechanisms and provides extra protection against environmental stressors during the day and then repairs those damages at night.

This serum came in handy since although Miami isn’t a big pollution city, it helped with exposure to the sun, cigarette smoke, and other things that you would often find in a high-tourist city.

Find this serum at Shoppers Beauty Boutique for C$49.

Miss de Gaspe Purify + Purge Anti-Pollution & Detoxifing Dry Mask

If you’ve never tried a dry mask before, then you’re really missing out.

I love masking, however, the damn things tend to slide off my face and for the most part they are just so uncomfortable to wear. I’ve tried the Charlotte Tilbury dry mask before and was happy with the results on that one, so I was super pumped to try out similar ones from Miss de Gaspe.

These masks were another item in my Miami goodie bags, since girls trip and masks naturally go together. Although there are different formulas of their dry masks, I love the Purify + Purge Anti-Pollution & Detoxifying Dry Mask, which purifies, detoxifies, and energizes skin.

Since these masks are dry, that means you can reuse them anywhere from three to five times.  This particular mask contains a formula of white charcoal, which absorbs 1,000 times its weight in clogging impurities, helps lift toxin and pollutant buildup to reveal refined pores. It also has a mineral-based blend of powerful antioxidants that helps to replenish and protect the skin barrier. Finally, it contains marrubio, a plant from the mint family, that helps to oxygenate the skin to help restore, refresh, and revitalize the complexion.

Aside from the fact that this mask is reusable, which is a huge selling factor, it also has little slits on the side that hook around your ears, providing you with a perfect fit that won’t fall off. If you haven’t heard of Miss de Gaspe, this is the spinoff line of Nannette de Gaspe, which specializes in dry sheet masks and retail from $85 to $425 (yes, you read that correctly). At C$41.72, these are a total steal. 

Although I live in a city, at under a million people, I don’t have to worry about air pollution that much here at home. I love to travel though and when I’m hitting up big cities, I’ll definitely be packing these for those trips.

Have you used anti-pollution products? How do you keep your skin in tip-top shape?

Please note, product sent by PR, all opinions are my own.

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I’ve really been into light makeup lately.

For the past few months I’ve been doing Fitbody Bootcamp here in Winnipeg and one of the reasons I love it so much is because the classes are only half an hour.  I really love morning classes, but sometimes it’s tough to get up so early. These classes are great because I can get up at 7 a.m., get there for 7:30 a.m., and then be home by 8:15 a.m.  I work at 9 a.m., so I usually have to hustle, but I still make it there on time.

As soon as I get home I’ll usually jump in the shower and take a two-minute body shower, but that doesn’t leave me with a lot of time to do my makeup. As a result, I’ll usually just throw on some BB or CC cream, some mascara, and fill in my brows. Because of that I’m now on the lookout for some fab BB or CC creams, so you can imagine my excitement when I received the Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance SPF 50.

This BB cream, available in six shades, provides five benefits for your skin.  It evens out skin tone and enhances radiance with their exclusive Melacrusher brightening technology; it instantly moisturizes skin with infused micro pearls; ensures long-lasting hydration and a luminous finish thanks to double-coated pigments; provides a natural, flawless complexion, and a buildable coverage; and protects against harmful UVA and UVB rays thanks to the added SPF 50.

In case you aren’t familiar with Laneige, this is a Korean beauty brand mostly known for its skincare products. Because of that, it’s a no-brainer that this product includes so many great benefits for your skin.

I received the shade No.21 Beige, which is the second lightest colour. I do have to admit that it is a touch too light for my skin, but I’m going to love this in the wintertime since it’ll suit me better and it will help my skin during our cold, dry winters. The product comes in a compact, which opens up to a mirror and a puff. The actual product is below a cover and is very bouncy when you put your sponge on it. I’ve used similar products before so I was familiar with how to apply this. I also want to say that you also get a refill, so at C$49, this is a great value (you essentially get two products).

This BB cream is quite light. It does give me a touch of coverage, but nothing like the IT Cosmetics CC Cream.  I think the draw with this BB cream is definitely the skincare properties and then the fact that it gives you a little bit of coverage is a nice bonus. It would be really great for a beach vacation or for those who don’t like wearing a lot of makeup, but still want something on your skin.

So would I recommend it? Like I said, there is major bang for your buck with this since you get that refill in the package. Laneige does make amazing skincare products, and the fact that it’s K-Beauty is definitely a selling factor. I have tried better BB creams, but I’ll still be wearing this into the fall months and as we transition into winter. I also want to mention that it is very long-wearing; it didn’t fade through a sweaty step class, which is really saying something.

If you’re looking for a new BB cream or something light on the skin, then I would definitely look into this one.  I know I’ll be wearing this lots as we head into the colder months.

What’s your favourite BB cream?

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I’m down for anything with the word “glitter” in it.

You guys know I love Kat Von D Beauty, in fact, I recently did a review on their reformulated Studded Kiss lipsticks. So when the brand sent me four of their Everlasting Glimmer Veil liquid lipsticks, I was so pumped to give these a try.  These are billed to give you the same long wear, weightless feeling as their famed Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks, which I also love, but with a multidimensional liquid-crystal glitter finish.

The first thing you’ll notice about these is the packaging. When I first opened the box, I totally thought these were thin lipsticks, but like the name says, they are liquid and have a doe-foot applicator to apply the product. The second thing you’ll notice is how sparkly these are. The formula is very glittery and will give you that statement lip you never knew you needed.

I received four shades, Rocker (copper with gold glimmer), Dazzle (crimson with pink and gold glimmer), Shockfull (fluorescent pink with pink glimmer), and Razzle (magenta with pink glimmer).  Each colour glides on the lips and delivers bold, opaque colour. The wear on this is very lightweight, similar to the Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks, and they dry down quite quickly. I will note that they also stain your lips once they are removed as the formula does have a liquid lip stain base, which is great if you don’t want to worry about your lipstick fading after eating or drinking (but bad when you want to remove it).

I have a lot of lipsticks in my collection, but I have to say that I don’t have anything even close to this formula. These deliver major shine and you can definitely tell that there are particles of glitter in some of them. Because of that, they are more suited for weekend wear or a party or special event, as I don’t think I could pull this off at the office (there’s also a blue one, definitely not for office wear). The brand also recommends that you can layer them over the Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks for a truly unique look.

There are nine shades of these bad boys and they are currently all on sale on Kat Von D’s site right now for $15. Would I recommend this product? I think it’s a cool idea, however, I don’t think these would be something you would wear everyday. I do prefer her original Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks, however, some of the shades, like the red (Dazzle) or the nude (Thunderstruck) may be more versatile if you want to pull this off more often. Also, if you are looking for a liquid lipstick with a bit of shine, and love her original formula, then I would definitely look into these.

Have you tried Kat Von D’s Glimmer Veil lipsticks? What were your thoughts?

Please note, I received this product from PR. All opinions are my own.

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