When it comes to skincare brands, Tula is one of my favourites.

I’ve been using Tula products for years now and have gotten so many people hooked on the line (which is actually kinda unfortunate since they no longer ship to Canada).  Their skincare products and other items just seem to work so well and really do make my skin look and feel amazing.

If you haven’t tried out Tula but are interested in the brand, then you’re in luck.  Although Tula did have an existing travel set available for a few years now, they have branched out and come out with a couple other sets aimed at different skincare concerns.

Let’s start with the acne set.  The Clear Skin Starters Acne & Blemish Fighting Discovery Kit ($58 USD, $93 value) is a five-piece set which includes minis of some of their top-selling acne-fighting products.  These products help to treat and prevent breakouts, as well as brighten the look of marks left by past blemishes.

Included in this set is a 1.7 oz. of the Keep It Clear Acne Foam Cleanser, 0.5 oz. of the Clear It Up Acne Clearing + Tone Correcting Gel, 0.5 oz. of the Breakout Star Oil-Free Acne Moisturizer, a 0.14 oz. of the Detox in a Jar Exfoliating Treatment Mask, and a bag to house it all in with plenty of room for other products.

I haven’t really tried any of these products aside from the treatment mask (which I love). I don’t have acne, so these items aren’t something that I would normally reach for. With acne though, I know that items that target this concern can be very hit or miss, so I think this kit would be perfect to pick up before purchasing any of these items to see if they work for your skin.

I will say though that the product sizes in this set in particular are very small.  I think that Tula did overprice this set a little bit in comparison to the other two sets.

If anti-aging is more your jam, then take a look at the Your Best Skin At Every Age Skin Firming Kit ($69, valued at $113 USD). This kit also includes five products that are aimed at anti-aging and smoothing and firming the look of your skin.  These products are a mix of clean retinol alternatives, peptides and probiotic extracts, and help to prevent the signs of aging.

Included in here is 0.24 oz. of the Wrinkle Treatment Drops Retinol Alternative Serum, a 0.52 ml of the Protect + Plump Firming & Hydrating Face Moisturizer, 0.25 oz. of the Instant Depuff Eye Renewal Serum, and 0.52 oz. of the Beauty Sleep Overnight Repair Treatment. All the items come housed in a similar Tula blue pouch to the acne one.

I’ve tried most of these products and really like them.  I think out of the three sets, this one is my favourite since you get a rounded collection of items in here that you would use every day.  There is an eye serum, two moisturizers (one specifically for night), and a serum.  The product sizes in here are a little larger than the acne kit, but again, this will give you an idea of how the products work with your skin before purchasing the full-size items.

Finally, if you want to try out some of Tula’s bestselling products then pick up their On the Go Bestsellers Travel Kit ($52, valued at $70 USD).

This set has been around for a while and is similar to the other two in that it includes four deluxe-sized products housed in a blue Tula bag. In this set you get a 1.69 fl. oz. of the Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser, a 0.38 oz. So Polished Exfoliating Sugar Scrub, a 0.56 oz. of the 24-7 Moisture Hydrating Day & Night Cream, and a 0.23 fl. oz. of the Face Filter Blurring & Moisturizing Primer.

I like to keep this set in my gym bag since I love the cleanser (I’ve gone through a few of the full-size version) as well as the moisturizer.  I have the scrub and the primer as well, but they don’t get as much wear out of them.  I wish that Tula swapped out these two for one of the eye creams and a serum or the sunscreen, but the scrub and primer are nice products and I know they are bestselling as well (which is technically the point of this kit anyways).

I didn’t know until this week that there was a World Sleep Day.

Although there is a holiday for *literally* everything and this doesn’t surprise me, but the notion of having a day fully dedicated to sleep makes me very excited.

Since the beginning of the year I have been waking up at 6:20 a.m. to get in a workout for 6:30 a.m., which means that going to bed early and getting a full nights’ sleep is very important for not only my body, but my mind.

I typically go to bed at 10 p.m. and like to be in bed by 9:30 p.m. at least (I prefer 9 but sometimes life just gets in the way). To calm my mind, I like to read a little before bed and then when 10 p.m. hits I like to listen to the Wave Sleep app to fall asleep (if you haven’t downloaded Wave Sleep yet, I highly recommend you do so; it’s a free app!).

Anyways, in celebration of World Sleep Day, which is today, Estee Lauder sent me some nighttime goodies to prep my mind, skin, and body for a good night’s sleep. You guys know I already adore their Advanced Night Repair serum, which is a product I use very often as part of my night time routine (I’ve gone through like four bottles of it already and always have a backup handy).  My skincare routine at night is more intensive in general since the products tend to repair skin as you sleep.

So my first must-have to apply before you go to bed?  An eye cream! The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex (C$85) helps to nourish the eye area while you sleep.

Suitable for both day and night use, this treatment repairs the visible impact of a lack of sleep, as well as UV, pollution, blue light, wrinkles, and dark circles.  Apply a thin layer to the eye area to reduce the look of puffiness, lines, and dryness.  The brand says that it also helps to brighten dark circles in just three weeks and will hydrate for 24 hours thanks to a potent hydration booster, including hyaluronic acid. This eye cream also includes their exclusive ChronoluxCB, which promotes skin’s natural repair process to help eyes look younger, more renewed and recharged.

 After you apply your eye cream, pair it with their iconic Advanced Night Repair serum (C$95/30 ml), which helps to reduce multiple signs of aging in your skin.

This serum, which is suitable for all skin types, will help to diminish signs of aging thanks to its Chronolux Power Signal Technology.  Apply it at night (or morning!) to protect and reduce signs of aging caused by environmental aggressors, pollution, UV damage, etc.  With regular use, skin will look smoother and radiant, as well as more toned.  It also helps to reduce the look of large pores and give you bouncier and healthier-looking skin.

Apply this serum every night for more hydration in your skin and wake up to a radiant complexion.

Finally, if you want to give your skin an extra treat before bed, apply the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery Powerfoil Mask (C$106/4 masks).

Apply this mask to cleansed skin to add some extra moisture and radiance.  This mask is a foil-backed sheet mask which allows the product to penetrate fast and deep in the skin’s surface and helps to lock in moisture.

The thing that makes this mask stand out is that it delivers a double dose of Advanced Night Repair, delivering two-times the amount of hyaluronic acid.  This mask features a separate top and bottom, which means you can either apply both or just use one to target one part of your face.  I will say that this mask is incredibly luxe and although it is very pricey for a sheet mask, you definitely can tell the difference when you apply it and is a nice treat to put on every once in a while.

There are many amazing nighttime products to treat your skin to at night and these are some of my favourites to apply before hitting the sheets. Estee Lauder also sent along the book by Leonard Lauder, Estee Lauder’s son, which will be the perfect novel to read before getting some shut eye.

Sweet dreams!

What are your favourite night time skincare items?

Please note, products provided by PR. All opinions are my own.

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When it comes to clean beauty, the products I try the most of are skincare.

Just like in Monday’s post, I mentioned that a lot of mainstream brands are coming out with clean formulas and products that contain a high percentage of natural ingredients.  I love when brands do this and it goes to show that they are really taking initiatives to do better and create products that are better for the earth and our health.

Brand new from Guerlain is their L’Essentiel High Perfection Natural Matte Longwear Foundation (C$69) which is made from 96 per cent naturally derived ingredients. Available in 30 shades, this foundation deliver a natural matte finish that lasts 24 hours.  Guerlain says this is high coverage, however, I found it to be more medium with a buildable coverage.  The texture is very lightweight and glides in beautifully on the skin.

This foundation is designed to let skin breathe while maintaining its natural hydration.  It also helps to protect skin from external aggressors, such as UVA and UVB, as well as pollution.

Although Guerlain bills this as a full coverage foundation, I thought it was a little lighter but could definitely be built up.  The wear was incredibly lightweight and long lasting, I was actually quite surprised how well it held up throughout the day.  I also love the shade range since there are so many shades to suit just about any type.  I ended up going with 01N Very Light and found that it matched my face perfectly.

Finally, we need to talk about this bottle. It comes in a stunning glass bottle (which can be recycled) and was designed by Mathieu Lehanneur and features a top that comes off to reveal the pump which dispenses the product. This is the kind of foundation that you want to keep displayed on your dresser not tucked away in a drawer. It’s truly a work of art.

I paired the new foundation with the L’Essentiel Primer Lightweight and Skin Soothing Primer (C$62), which is a lightweight mattifying primer that is also made with 97 per cent naturally derived ingredients.  This primer contains avocado extract to help absorb excess sebum to keep skin looking matte all day.  It also has white cocoa bean extract to minimize the look of pores.

This primer comes in a similar bottle to the foundation and is applied via a dropper. The texture of this is more like a gel and felt very nice and lightweight on the skin. I thought the two products paired really nicely together and felt nice on application.

Finally, to finish the application, I tried out their L’Essential Retractable Foundation Brush (C$65), which features an ergonomic shape to flawlessly and effortlessly apply foundation.

This brush comes housed in a circular container which makes it easy to apply product on your skin. The bristles are in an oval shape and are soft but firm, so it makes it easy to swipe the product on your skin and blend out to perfection.

I actually was a little sceptical about this brush since I’m used to a certain kind of brush to apply foundation.  This pleasantly surprised me and I loved how this effortlessly this blended and buffed the product on my skin, even in areas that are difficult, such as the eye contour. The brush hugs the curves of your face and makes it easy to achieve a natural finish.  Once you’re done with the brush, it comes with a lid that will protects the bristles. Also, since this is quite compact, it makes it easy for travel.

I actually really loved the brush and if you are looking for a good foundation brush, then I would highly recommend this one.

Overall, I really loved all three of these products. The primer was really nice but I would say that it isn’t a necessity to pick up.  The foundation is a good one, especially if you are on the hunt for a luxe natural one, and if you want a real treat, definitely pick up the brush to go with it. You won’t be disappointed!

Have you tried out Guerlain’s new foundation?

Please note, products provided by PR. All opinions are my own.

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