Who else is in need of a spa day?
Okay so technically I could go and get a massage (which I totally did in December), but honestly if I want to go to an actual spa and take in all the amenities, now is just not the time since most spas aren’t really offering extra services due to COVID.
In lieu of this I’ve been really trying to curate my skincare, especially on days like Sundays where I put a little more effort into the products I’m using and really treat my skin. Now when I think of spa skincare, one of the brands that comes top of mind is Caudalie. I’ve talked about the French brand a few times on here, but they hail from Bordeaux and incorporate grape seed polyphenols in a lot of their products, something that contains a lot of antioxidants.
Anyways, I’ve tried a fair number of their items and love how they make my skin look and feel. All of their products have a more spa-like ambiance to them (in fact they even have number of spas around the world), so when I’m doing a self-care night, I like to incorporate some Caudalie items into my routine.
If you’ve never tried out Caudalie but are interested in the brand, I do have some recommendations on where to start! First off, this wouldn’t be a Caudalie post without mentioning the iconic — and one of my favourite skincare products ever — the Beauty Elixir (C$59). This cult classic spray is inspired by the youth elixir that the Queen of Hungary used in the 16th century. It contains 100 per cent natural-origin ingredients, including plant extracts, to reveal radiant and visibly smooth skin.
This spray is infused with toning rosemary, mint, and rose organic essential oil and helps to tighten pores, set makeup, and just lift your mood. I love using it as the last step in my skincare routine since it has that botanical spa scent and the mint just brings instant radiance and freshness to your face. If you have large pores then I would recommend giving this a shot since it will help to tighten them and also give you a more smooth appearance overall.
I honestly can’t recommend this product enough and highly recommend you start to incorporate it into your routine (especially if you love the smell of spas). Caudalie also offers a smaller version (C$22), making it easy to travel with you wherever you go (and great for touch ups or when you need a little burst of energy!).
Another cult classic to try out (it’s also the number-one serum in French pharmacies), is the Vinoperfect Radiance Serum (C$89). This evening serum contains the brand’s patented Viniferine which is 62-times more effective than Vitamin C at boosting radiance and giving you a more even complexion.
Suitable for all skin types, this serum visibly brightens the skin and evens it out, leaving with a radiant complexion. This serum is made with 98 per cent ingredients of natural origin and will help to reduce the appearance of dark spots, acne and blemishes, as well as sun damage.
Lastly, while you are nourishing your skin, don’t forget to also take care of your body as well. Pick up the Crushed Cabernet Scrub, which is the first step in their Vinotherapie contouring spa treatment. This body scrub contains crushed grapeseeds and six essential oils to leave skin smooth, soft, nourished, and prepped for the rest of your routine.
This is great to use at least once a week to remove any dead skin cells and I usually like to use it before shaving and then apply my moisturizer after. It contains 99 per cent ingredients of natural origin and has a calming and invigorating scent of lemon, lemongrass, rosemary, and juniper berries. This is also amazing to use before applying self tanner since it will leave skin smooth and prepped for that product.
Caudalie has so many other amazing skincare products but if you are looking to just dip your toes into the brand then I recommend checking these three items out to start. I also want to note that Caudalie donates one per cent of sales to plant trees and their products are clean, vegan, and cruelty free.
Have you tried any Caudalie products? What are your faves?
Please note, products sent by PR. All opinions are my own.
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Okay, when it comes to aesthetic packaging, I think Glow Recipe definitely takes the cake.
In case you aren’t familiar with Glow Recipe, it’s a brand that utilizes K-Beauty trends and uses natural, fruit-powered ingredients that is designed to bring out your glow. The brand has been around since 2014 and you’ll recognize it by it’s bright packaging and fun bottles. Their products are also clean, cruelty-free and free of all that toxic stuff like parabens, sulfates and phthalates.
The brand recently released their newest innovation, the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops (C$45), which launched in December 2020. This serum is a makeup-skincare hybrid that gives you a dewy glow instantly and over time the more you use it. This lightweight gel formula can be worn under makeup or over top and will hydrate skin, as well as visibly brighten your face.
The ingredients include niacinamide, which contains Vitamin B3 and antioxidants to reduce hyper pigmentation and correct the look of dullness and minimize pores; watermelon to hydrate and brighten skin; as well as hyaluronic acid to moisturize and hydrate.
I love the idea of this product and for the most part have used it as a serum underneath their Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer. I think in the summer time I will mix it in with my CC cream for days where I want a more dewy finish and a beautiful glow. Regardless of if you are using this with makeup or not, you’ll find that after regular use your skin will look less dull and more radiant.
Glow Recipe’s Watermelon line is one of their original ones and works to hydrate, soothe, and fight free radical damage. It also will combat fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.
As mention, I like to use this with the Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer (C$50), which is a lightweight gel moisturizer that hydrates, brightens and boosts radiance and glow on the skin. Ideal for normal, dry, combination, and oily skin, this moisturizer will help combat dryness, redness, and fine lines and wrinkles.
The formula includes watermelon extract to quench skin with moisture and soothe irritation, hyaluronic acid to hydrate, and antioxidants to protect skin against daily aggressors. For those who have oily or combination skin, Glow Recipe recommends using this as a moisturizer, whereas for those who have dry skin they can use it as a serum. Since the formula is a gel, it is very cooling and instantly absorbs into the skin.
Now that you’re moisturized and glowing, finish your skin off with their Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist (C$37). This ultra-fine mist (and I really mean it when I say “ultra-fine”) is formulated with 84 per cent watermelon, hyaluronic acid, and hibiscus to hydrate and fresh skin and enhance your makeup. The hibiscus also gently smooths the look of your skin’s texture and softens and hydrates it, leaving it prepped for your makeup. Finally, it also contains apple cider vinegar to balance oil production, and rice germ oil to protect your skin against free radicals.
I absolutely love this mist as the bottle really does nicely mist it on your skin. It’s such a nice little finisher to your skincare routine and I recommend carrying it around with you whenever you want a little refresh.
There are a few other products in their Watermelon line, including the iconic Sleeping Mask and PHA/+BHA Pore-Tight Toner. I also have the Glow Lip Pop (C$29, on sale for C$26.10), which is a lip balm with build-in exfoliant that hydrates, exfoliates, and gives lips a pop of colour.
This balm, which tastes like watermelon, includes watermelon extract, vitamin E, and coconut oil and watermelon seed oil to give you juicy and nourished lips. It also contains edible flower-derived AHA to naturally smooth lips, as well as coconut flower sugar to gently exfoliate and remove dead skin.
You guys know how much I love my Laneige Lip Sleeping mask for nighttime wear, but I have found that I have been applying this one before bed now too. I also like just applying it whenever I want some moisture and the added colour is a nice touch as well.
So far I have really been enjoying these Glow Recipe products and truthfully, more than anything, I just love the way they look on my countertop (I’m such a sucker for pink things and pretty packaging). I’ll be trying out a few other Glow Recipe products soon and after using these one on a regular basis, I can definitely see what all the hype is about.
Have you tried Glow Recipe?
Products provided by PR. All opinions are my own.
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Hands up if you’ve been loving all the clean beauty mascaras coming out lately!
Last week I chatted about CoverGirl’s newest mascara, the Lash Blast Clean Volume mascara, and shortly after I wrote that post I got in Bite Beauty’s take on it, the Upswing Full-Volume mascara (C$37). Now when it comes to Bite Beauty and their line up of products, I’ve only really ever tried their lip products. They also have a foundation, a primer, a powder, and more, but they started their line with lips and I can tell you, they do lip products quite well (especially considering that they make their products with all natural ingredients; their whole schtick is that you can literally eat their items since there is nothing bad or chemically in them).
Brand new to the line is their first mascara, Upswing, which is a volumizing mascara that is also flake resistant and will give you lifted, long, and curled lashes. The brush features that hourglass shape I love and is designed to curve around the lashes for the right amount of lift.
The formula of the mascara itself contains vegan tree berry wax to grip the lashes for buildable and lightweight volume. This mascara is definitely very buildable and will give your lashes the right amount of lift that we all strive for.
Now I feel like I have that preconceived notion that just because it’s a clean beauty brand, it won’t work as well as my other mascaras. This one actually does a pretty good job in giving younoticeable lashes. It doesn’t quite crack my top five, however, I do think it gave me nice looking and long lashes. Compared to CoverGirl’s version, I would say that this one performed better for my lashes personally, but I have a soft spot for that hourglass brush, so I knew I would really enjoy it.
I’m really happy that Bite Beauty came out with mascara since I don’t think there are a ton of vegan and clean ones on the market. It seems like more and more brands are releasing them and I’m happy to see that this is now the norm for a lot of companies out there. If you are on the hunt for a good clean mascara, I would look into Upswing.
Have you tried Bite Beauty’s Upswing mascara?
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