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Canadian Beauty

Powered by the planet: Four products from Herbivore Botanicals you need to try

by Lina Clémence
written by Lina Clémence


I’ve been a real wellness kick lately.  Although I’ve always been one to workout a lot (I do some form of exercise five days a week and move everyday), I’ve been really focusing on nutrition and consuming and using better-for-you products.  This comes to skincare too.

Although I do love so many skincare brands, I have been leaning towards more natural products.  One brand that I’ve been intrigued about for a while is Herbivore Botanicals. Herbivore, which started in Seattle in 2011, has skincare products with an emphasis on natural, high-quality ingredients.  Their items are free of synthetic ingredients, including dyes, fragrances, and parabens. They also package them in glass and paper, using recycled and recyclable plastic only when necessary.

The thing that drew me to Herbivore initially was it’s super aesthetic packaging, which features glass bottles and simple labels. They have the kind of products that you want to display since they are simple, but oh so aesthetic. I recently got some items sent to me from the brand and couldn’t want to try them out. Their line ranges from serums to eye creams, moisturizers, masks, and more.

Curious on what to try? Then keep reading…

Herbivore Botanicals Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask

Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask

Looking for a product to help with large pores? Then you’ll like the Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clay Mask (C$66). This natural mask gently clarifies skin with BHAs and white willow bark, fruit enzymes, as well as aloe and blue tansy essential oil to help with the appearance of redness and irritation.

I actually had never heard of blue tansy before but it’s a natural source of azulene, which in addition to giving the mask its blue colour, it helps to also soothe the appearance of redness and irritation.

This mask is best suited for oily to blemish-prone skin, and if you have more sensitive skin then I would recommend a spot test first to make sure you don’t get irritated.  This mask helps wth enlarged pores and blemish-prone skin, uneven skin texture, oily or combination skin, and dullness.

Apply the product to your skin and then leave on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing off. Use it a couple times a week for the best results.

Herbivore Botanicals Super Nova 5% Vitamin C + Caffeine Brightening Eye Cream

Super Nova 5% Vitamin C + Caffeine Brightening Eye Cream

Do you suffer from dark circles or dull underlies? Then you’ll love the Super Nova 5% Vitamin C + Caffeine Brightening Eye Cream (C$63). This eye cream is great for dark circles, puffiness, and dryness.

The formula contains THD vitamin C, which is a highly efficacious form of vitamin C, as well as turmeric and caffeine to wake up the eye area.  Apply this eye cream in the morning to instantly wake up the eyes and depuff them, while also brightening the look of dark circles in seven days.

Although this is mainly for daytime use (because of the vitamin C and caffeine), you can use it at night as well.

Herbivore Botanicals Emerald Hemp Seed and Adaptogens Deep Moisture Glow Oil and Moon Fruit Serum

Emerald Hemp Seed and Adaptogens Deep Moisture Glow Oil

Looking for moisturized skin that glows? Then you’ll love the Emerald Hemp Seed and Adaptogens Deep Moisture Glow Oil (C$66). This serum gives skin intense moisture and a natural-looking glow.

Suitable for all skin types, this serum can be applied morning and night, and targets dryness and dullness to reveal glowing skin. The formula contains a blend of omega-fatty-acid-rich hemp seed oil, which also soothes skin, as well as adaptogens like shiitake mushroom and ashwagandha root to protect skin against environmental stressors.  It also has cannabis in it, which will help calm skin.

Moon Fruit 1% Bakuchiol + Peptides Retinol Alternative Serum

Love retinol but looking for a natural version? Then you’ll love the Moon Fruit 1% Bakuchiol + Peptides Retinol Alternative Serum (C$82).

This plant-based retinol-alternative serum helps treat signs of aging thanks to the one per cent bakuchiol and plant peptides. Bakuchiol is an isolated extract from the babchi plant that mimics the smoothing and firming benefits of retinol. It also contains plant peptides to visibly tighten skin, as well as a blend of super fruits that contain vitamins C, E, B5, and antioxidants, amino and fatty acids that firm skin.

This nighttime serum targets fine lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness, and dryness. The great thing about bakuchiol is that it’s non-irritating, unlike retinol, which when applied too much can give you irritation, dryness, and redness. This serum contains 100 per cent plant-based ingredients promising to gently give you the anti-aging benefits you’re looking for without any issues or irritation. It’s also pregnancy safe.

Herbivore Botanicals products

Herbivore has a ton of other skincare products available as well and I can tell you already that with such a small taste of the brand I’ve had so far, I will definitely be looking into trying out more items. Not only is the packaging so cute, but I love the fact that it’s a plant-powered skincare line that is good for you and the planet.

Have you tried any items from Herbivore Botanicals?

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

Like what you read? Check out these related posts:

  • Best face forward: The skincare you need to try for May 2020
  • Spring cleaning: New skincare products from Olay you need to try for spring
  • Rise & shine: Olay Retinol24 Skincare line
  • Spring ahead! The skincare products you need to try in March

The post Powered by the planet: Four products from Herbivore Botanicals you need to try appeared first on A Pop of Colour.



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Canadian Beauty

Winter Skincare | LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask Review

by Lina Clémence
written by Lina Clémence


The past few months have gone by quickly — a blur of work, Netflix binges, and frozen cauliflower-crust pizzas. My skincare routine has taken a hit, and I’ve been trying to get my skin’s moisture back to its healthy pre-hibernation levels. There have been nourishing oils, hydrating serums and rich moisturizers on heavy rotation, but I find myself going back to the LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask* ($39) over and over again. And kind of…unsure about it? Now that I’ve almost gone through the entire jar (and lost the little scoop it came with), it’s time to decide if I’ll repurchase this overnight treatment or move on to something new.

LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask texture

LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask Review

I love overnight treatments. They are a lazy girl’s best friends, especially in winter. A good one can give dull skin its glow back in less than eight hours. The LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask is great for those evenings when all you want to do is take your makeup off with a wipe and go to bed. It works hard while you sleep, and you wake up with plump, hydrated skin.

The LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask has a really unique texture. If the Water Sleeping Mask (reviewed here) is a gel, the Firming Sleeping Mask is a jelly. When the product is scooped up from the jar, the surface gets chunky and then smooths itself out in seconds…like magic. It’s cold and slippery, which doesn’t sound great, but a little goes a long way and it feels like water on the skin once it warms up. It dries down quickly and without leaving a greasy film behind. My skin soaks it up so quickly, there’s nothing left to rinse off by morning.

LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask texture

This is a good mask layering with oils and serums for extra nourishment and hydration as it’s not quite as hydrating as others I’ve tried all by itself. I especially love using it with the fragrance-free Crambé oil I’ve been testing recently as it lets the beautiful scent of the LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask shine. It’s lightly fragranced with the same Sleepscent that is found in the Water Sleeping Mask — a relaxing and (hopefully) sleep-inducing blend of ylang-ylang, rose, sandalwood oil and orange flower. My skin is very sensitive to fragrances, but this one has never been a problem for me. Be sure to do a patch test if you have reactive skin!

Unlike the Water Sleeping Mask, which is all about hydration, the Firming Sleeping Mask is  — you guessed it! — all about firming and tightening the skin. As I get older, I definitely notice that my skin is losing some of its firmness and elasticity, especially when I’m dehydrated. I haven’t noticed any changes in my skin’s firmness or elasticity while using this mask, but I do like how plump and hydrated my skin is in the morning. I find that I miss the extra hydration from the Water Sleeping Mask formula, though someone who worries about the first signs of aging might prefer to trade some hydration for a little firming action.

LANEIGE Firming Sleeping Mask

TL;DR?

The Water Sleeping Mask is still my favourite overnight treatment from LANEIGE. It’s mostly down to the fact that I prefer the gel-like texture of the Water Sleeping Mask over a slightly chunky jelly texture of the Firming Sleeping Mask, but also because the first is more hydrating. The Water Sleeping Mask’s packaging is sleeker…and yes, I do pick products partly based on how they look on my dressing table when they’re a little more pricey. If firmness and elasticity are your main concerns, the Firming Sleeping Mask is a good option to target both signs of aging and hydration. For now, I’ll stick to the Water range…while I still can.

 

This post features products that were provided for editorial consideration.





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Canadian Beauty

A Long Note About Suncreen |A Beautiful Zen

by Lina Clémence
written by Lina Clémence


(For anyone who’s still out there (Is anyone still out there? Hello. (It’s me…)), thank you for waiting more than two years for an update, but my dear you shouldn’t be waiting that long for anyone.)

I can only bank so much on my Asian skin genes and not calling for reinforcements is an underestimation of the powers of cumulative UV rays and our propensity to keep breaking down that good ol’ ozone layer (but that’s another post which we aren’t here for). Which all just means, I wear my sunscreen and most often I have it combined within my moisturizer, powder, or foundation to make life less cluttered.

A colleague mentioned that computer screens age us with UV light emissions and a question of sunscreen preferences was raised. I quickly chimed in that everyone needs to get on the Asian sunscreen train, like ASAP, like yesterday.

Since I was asked for my preferences, I feel some obligation to give a half-way decent answer – I did use to write about this stuff and I still have a fading reputation to uphold. So here we are and before anyone gets too excited, this isn’t a comeback (look I didn’t even tag or properly compose my photos and we all know how important that is, *lookin’ at you, beauty bloggers*).

My sunscreen choices will always lean towards those developed/sold in Asia. They’ve just cared about skin pigmentation for way longer and to a stronger degree than North America. This means more innovation, more demand for different formulas that work in hot humid weathers, and the ability to scale production. In other words, thinner, stronger formulas at drug store prices.

The Western market has been coming around though. Some choices to consider are:
La Roche Posay Hydraphase UV SPF 30 ($39.95CDN/50ml): It’s a great everyday moisturizer with SPF in a lotion like consistency. It’s not heavy and you can’t tell it has sunscreen. Once I get through all the new sunscreens/moisturizers I have, I’ll likely repurchase this as a basic everyday option.


Avène High Protection Emulsion SPF 50 ($25.50CDN/50ml): I wrote about my love for it here when I received it through PR contacts but have since repurchased it with my own dollars.

Clarins UV Plus HP SPF 50 ($42CDN/50ml): I tried their old SPF40 version (looks like they may have changed the formula since though) and liked the lightweight feel and matte dry down. (This is a quick post on that option and all of Clarins’ body sunscreen options)

I just cracked open the Kiehl’s Super Fluid UV Defence SPF 50 ($47CDN/50ml) and was pleasantly surprised by the very thin texture and matte dry down. It’s less thick than Avène’s but both dry down to the same finish.

(If you’re interested, this is a post on a random selection of sunscreen.)

The above approximate the thinner Asian formulas with maybe Kiehl’s winning out but all at higher prices.

It kills me that a large proportion of Asian sunscreen varieties aren’t sold in Western stores – even Shiseido’s Anessa line isn’t sold in Shiseido’s Western outlets and that’s a big seller in Asia. That being said, Korean brands have been getting a foothold into Western culture and Asian supermarkets, like T&T, have beauty sections with good options so we aren’t completely left out.

When I’m in Asia, I step into a drug or cosmetics store and randomly buy 4 – 5 sunscreen options. Even at random, they’re always better in terms of formula and price than Western varieties I’ve tried. During my last trip to Korea, I bought three from Innisfree and have been using the Moist Winter Barrier SPF50. I paid all of…what, $14 for it? Maybe $11? I enjoy everything about it as a winter moisturizer except for the floral scent.

I haven’t used the same product twice but some Asian options to consider are Missha All-Around Safe Sun Block Essence SPF45 for face, anything from Suncut, Skin Aqua and Bioré for the body. Unfortunately, all will need to be purchased online (try Ebay, Sasa, or Yesstyle – I’ve purchased from all three before) but if you want to step into a store you may find options at T&T Supermarket, The Face Shop, and random Asian beauty stores in Richmond. I suspect that prices are higher than in Asia though.

One worth a specific mention is Majolica Majorca’s Nude Makes Gel SPF 50 (For Active Girls) (~$25CDN?/25g): It’s not in the drug store price realm but I loved this stuff. It’s a tinted face moisturizer with the benefit of an Asian sunscreen formula that even works for my “darker” Asian skin tone (but likely not for anything darker). Majolica Majorca is a sub-brand of Shiseido (their mascara is great and they have really cute blushes). I wore it all through one summer and it never felt heavy.

Regardless of which sunscreen you choose, slather it on (I once heard a tablespoon is needed to properly cover your face), and bring it all the way down past your neck.

As a final note to this long not-return to my blog, for those who haven’t gotten on the cleansing oil train…that’s a great follow up journey to your foray into Asian sunscreens. Water and soap doesn’t always cut it when cleaning sunscreen off your face, but a good cleansing oil will always do the trick.



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