6 beauty buys that will prep your face (and body) for spring
Step into spring with fresh, hydrated skin, a sunkissed glow, and a brightly painted pout, care of these warm weather–ready products and treatments.
ILIA tinted lip conditioner SPF 15, $26
Vancouver-born ethical beauty line ILIA has crafted a new SPF collection in time for spring, and we can’t get enough of the gorgeous tinted lip conditioners. Available in Bombora, a sheer red-pink hue, and Kokomo, a soft, subdued mauve, the moisturizing lippies contain cocoa and shea butters, plus a healthy mix of organic avocado, sesame, cranberry, and passionflower oils—all while protecting your precious pucker from sun damage, thanks to an SPF of 15. Like most of ILIA’s products, the balms are packaged in chic aluminum cases made primarily from bioactive organic materials. In other words, this is lip care that’ll do you—and the world—plenty of good.
Find it at Kiss & Makeup (1791 Manitoba Street).
The Face Shop Hwansaenggo escargot golden firming serum, $75
At any given time, Korea tends to be lightyears ahead of the skincare game (North Americans are just jumping on the ten-step skincare bandwagon that Koreans have been practicing for decades), but luckily, we have The Face Shop to keep us in the loop. The company’s latest innovation is the Hwansaenggo Escargot Golden Firming line, a 24-karat gold– and snail mucus–infused collection of skin-improving potions that includes a cleanser, toner, serum, eye-cream, and two masks. The flecks of (real!) gold help to brighten the skin, while ridding it of harmful toxins, and the snail mucus smooths imperfections while combating signs of aging. We love the firming serum in particular, which works overnight to leave us with a supple glow by sunrise.
Find the line at The Face Shop (various locations).
Chantecaille Le Magnolia eye and cheek palette, $83
Soft, dewy hues and a vibrant lip are the m.o. for Chantecaille, making the luxury botanical line a go-to for ladies who prefer the no-makeup look. The all-natural cosmetic company’s new spring collection includes the Le Magnolia Eye and Cheek Palette: a set of four limited-edition—and uber-versatile—shades for eyes and cheeks. Highlight your cheekbones with the shimmering Magnolia or layer it underneath the mossy grey-green Leaf for a daytime-appropriate eye; come night, you can pack on the drama with the smoky Bark and finish with Wild, a sheer coral blush. Keeping with Chantecaille’s philanthropic efforts, a portion of the palette’s sales will benefit TRAFFIC, a non-governmental organization that works to promote the sustainable harvest of wild plants.
Find it at Holt Renfrew (737 Dunsmuir Street).
> LL
Tata Harper beauty treatments, from $70
If, like us, you’re a fan of the positively divine (and 100-percent natural) products offered by Tata Harper, you’ll love the new line of treatments available at the Collective Skin Care and Varnish Nail Lounge (1268 Pacific Boulevard, inside BeautyMark). Developed by the Tata Harper skincare team, each of the treatments utilizes the line’s carefully formulated elixirs—some with as many as 37 natural active ingredients. Likened to a “juice cleanse for the skin”, our fave is the Purifying Detox Facial ($150 for 75 minutes). The treatment works two ways to address blemish-prone skin while reversing the environmental effects of aging. Follow up with a Super Natural pedicure ($70 for 70 minutes) and relax during an herbal foot soak with Tata Harper’s Smoothing Body Scrub.
NARS liquid Laguna bronzer, $52
When it comes to cult beauty favourites, NARS’s Laguna bronzer has a following that’s as religious as it gets. The universally flattering bronzing powder creates an effortless, just-returned-from-the-Bahamas radiance that never crosses into dreaded orange territory, and now it’s available in liquid form as part of the company’s new Tahiti Bronze collection. Inspired by Motu Tane, a tiny Tahitian Island where Mr. François Nars spends much of his time, the liquid Laguna combines its original powder iteration’s easy-to-blend formula with moisturizing Monoï and Tamanu oils and vanilla extract. We suspect that its application should also offer more fluidity and control—perfect for getting your contour on.
Find it online now and at Sephora (various locations) this April.
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Scentuals Body Care 100% natural dry skin repair, $13
Year-round above-zero temperatures may make Vancouver the envy of most snow-battered cities across Canada, but the dry wind still doesn’t bode well for our skin. Enter Scentuals Body Care’s 100% Natural Dry Skin Repair, a mix of soothing cocoa, shea, and mango butters, plus three essential oils, wrapped in a handy twist-up tube that can be used anytime, anywhere. The healing skin stick is part of the Coquitlam-based skincare line’s scent-free collection, which passes the Canadian Cancer Society’s strict toxin-free guidelines. A portion of proceeds from the line also supports the cancer-fighting organization’s efforts—an especially timely note, considering that April is Daffodil Month.
Find it online and at Baskets Etc. (3096 Kitchener Street).
> LL
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