Rodial Glam Balm Hand Could Make Me A Hand Model

I think I am in love with a hand cream. Rodial products have been causing quite a stir in the beauty world and the Glam Balm line had me quite intrigued. The Glam Balm Hand is so amazing it really blew my  mind. There are plenty of lotions and creams out there that protect the skin but I really wanted something that would heal and help reduce the signs of sun damage and all that dishwashing that makes my hands look so much older than I am. Really. 

I could feel the difference immediately with Glam Balm Hand- it actually sinks right in and there is a visible improvement in the appearance of your skin right away. With a week of regular use, everything is improved. It is chock full of good stuff like vitamin E & shea butter to moisturize, olive leaf oil and vitamin C to brighten, and pomegranate to help thicken the skin. Dark spots are lighter, dry and rough cuticles are gone, and those nasty lines and creases are definitely reduced. Oh..did I mention that it smells like the beach? Glam Balm Hand has a very soft coconut/tiare scent that gently fades over time and is not strong enough to compete with my perfume. Smells clean and comforting and makes putting on hand cream like a mini holiday.

Yes- my hands look younger. Combined with my recent rosewater therapy, I think a future in hand modelling is not far fetched....

In Canada, Glam Balm is available for $39 at The Bay and Murale. In the US, you can check locations here on the Rodial Website. Next up? I am SO trying the Glam Balm Lip...

A Healthy Glow with Dermaglow Tinted Moisturizer

I hate foundation- don't wear it, never have. I like tinted moisturizers- in theory- but find most too heavy and foundation-like for my tastes. Evening out skintone is different than coating skin in a layer of spackle. I have oily skin, so avoid silicones and any oil based products, and I've been let down by oil-free products. Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer was as thick and oily as anything I'd ever tried. So I stuck to my favourite, if not obscenely priced Dermalogica Sheer Moisture Tint with SPF15. Mattefying and thin, it lasts all day on my skin and does not irritate. Or, I use my HG primers, Shu Uemura Under Base Mousse, or Exuberance Silicone Free Primer. 

I recently decided to try Dermaglow Tinted Moisturizer on the basis of my utter love for their skincare and was not disappointed- it is now in my arsenal of amazing skin secrets and even when I'm sick as a dog with a winter cold, I can fake a healthy glow without looking made up or oily. It was hard to photograph a true colour, but you will note it goes from pink toned to yellow, leading me to think it could work on many skin tones. Trust me when I say it actually disappears into the skin when fully blended but I thought a shot of fully blended aka invisible product wouldn't be helpful.

Applied then slightly blended....

...the blending progression... a little more blending would render it invisible.

Dermaglow Tinted Moisturizer is one of those cool self-adjusting formulas in that it comes out of the tube white then transforms when applied to the skin. It seems a little dark but I find applying very little and spreading it evenly gives my skin an even glowing appearance that looks like it comes from within, not from make up. It lasts, and even though it is moisturizing and anti-aging, manages to stay satiny and almost matte. It is chock full of anti aging peptides to smooth lines and hyarulonic acid to replenish and attract moisture which helps gently plump the skin. I dust a bit of my MAC Blot powder on top and use a concealer on any trouble spots and my face it done for hours. I have tested it driving in a convertible in Florida sun and heat, and while walking around in Canada's brutal cold and it holds up well in either climate. 

This.

Not this.

I am so happy to have discovered Dermaglow. Stay tuned for my review of Dermaglow Lip Plumper- my new fave that may indeed have pushed my beloved Lip Fusion out of the line up....my love affair with Dermaglow continues...I buy my Dermaglow at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada but here is a link to their Where To Buy page.

Dermaglow Really Makes Me Glow

Now this is a glow....love it

Lately I have been using a Dermaloglow regime. I wrote about their amazing Foaming Cleanser when I first got it, as I could tell right away that it was an amazing and thorough cleanser. But the lotions needed a couple weeks to do their stuff and I wanted to give them a fair shake.

I've been using the Purifying Oil-Free Night Cream for a few weeks now and I love it. It contains willow bark extract, zinc and salicylic acid to help with acne, and has collagen and hyaluronic acid to help fine lines and radiance for a smoother younger appearance. What I find amazing is how gentle this is. It delivers on all points without a tingle, tinge or burn. My skin looks amazing (aside from a hormonal stress cystic bump....le sigh...it never ends...) and feels good too. None of the pain or sensitivity I get from heavy retinol products. It is pretty much scent free and has a lovely light texture that sinks right into the skin while still leaving it feel moisturized. The Dermaglow Purifying Oil-Free Cream contains no parabens, no dyes and no fragrance. I love this product! I top with my Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate and wake up with soft glowy skin. I often wake up with an oil slick on my face, even if I use a retinol product. Not so with Dermaglow.

The Dermaglow Mattifying Oil-Free Daily Lotion is also a new Holy Grail product for me. Again, the light clear texture of Dermaglow products kind of blows my mind. This product slips over the skin and sinks in with a silicone-free formula. It does mattify more than most products I've used although I still need to use a powder. It has anti aging properties and I most definitely feel my fine lines are under control. I cannot be without the plumping qualities of hyaluronic acid and Dermaglow delivers. My skin looks smooth and hydrated all day long. Again- scent and paraben free means it is simple and clean and does not irritate my sensitive oily skin. I've had no breakouts or reactions and my skin feels smoother with an even complexion.

Who doesn't want to glow....

I love the simplicity of the Dermaglow line. Simple packaging, no scent and high quality products that deliver. It is a no nonsense line based on science and using products deliver what they promise. The packaging is simple, clean and modern, as well as practical and hygienic. They have a custom line with products for every skincare need and want. The oil free anti aging line is perfect for me! They are an expensive line if you are comparing to drugstore lines with the tubes of lotion I reviewed in the $50-70 range, but quite on par with department store brands. When a product delivers on what it promises, I will pay. Another random tidbit that makes me feel good about Dermaglow - they have been a major sponsor of Pride week in Toronto, one of the largest organize gay pride festivals in the world. Bravo, Dermaglow!

I am very excited to explore this line further. 

I get my Dermaglow at Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada but it is available in several places. It is a Canadian product but I will find out where International buyers can get this.

The Beauty of Rose Water

Lately I have found myself craving the scent of rose. Not a rose perfume, mind you, but soft sweet and simple rose. Rose water is perfect for this, but, not all rose waters are created equally. Rose, to my nose, can turn either sour or cloyingly powdery. A lot of rose soliflore perfumes can be stringent and sour on me- that is what happened with Creed Un Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare and Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater. Conversely I love the Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Hand Cream and Room Spray but the scent fails as soon as it becomes a perfume. Rose water is a by-product of the production of rose  oil for use in perfumes, is used to flavour foods, as a component for medical and cosmetic purposes, and also for religious purposes. In aromatherapy, the scent of rose is used in treatment of depression, mental stress and anxiety. It is also used to treat reproductive issues in women. I do find this interesting. Without going into TMI territory, I will say that after my hysterectomy a few years ago, I found myself craving rose perfumes- completely out of the blue. I had never really liked them, and usually wore sultry spicy woody delights. The shift to rose felt like my body telling me I needed to heal. Ok- new age moment ovah....

Rose water is soothing and gentle on skin. It moisturizes naturally without clogging pores, and soothes burns and rashes. It is said to reduct lines and signs of aging with regular use. You can actually see a measurable radiance to the skin immediately after applying rose water. Rose water can be spritzed or applied with a cotton pad, both methods work well. I love a spritz of rose water after applying moisturizer at night or after applying make up in the morning (pre mascara....) as it sets the make up beautifully and eliminates that make up-y powdery look. I keep a small refillable bottle in my purse for spritzes throughout the day- dewy skin in a bottle. However lately I have been on a search for a double threat rose water- one that works that rose magic on my skin and smells heavenly.

So I decided to turn to the 24 hour coffee break we call Twitter and ask my beauty mavens for recommendations! Turns out lots of these lovely ladies enjoy a nice rose water spritz too, so I have to thank them for their wonderful information! They are fun to chat with and share interesting stuff too so follow them for more gags & giggles! @HeatherInOttawa loves nail fun and perfume as well as rosewater- thanks Heather! @m0ff alerted me to wonderful holistic brand I never even knew I could find in Ottawa, thanks M! And the Uber Organic & Natural Guru @Glamology has told me about a lovely rosewater brand I will be ordering from her. She is relentless in her pursuit of all things healthy & safe, so thank you Charmaine for sharing that wisdom with us!

Essencia, Thayers, The Body Shop, Heritage & C&E hand cream

My first rosewater is the Essencia Eau Florale (Floral Water). It comes in an elegant cobalt glass bottle, which would also protect the rose water from light. Although frankly I go through this stuff so quickly that there is little chance of the product turning on me. Essencia is lovely, a basic and quiet rose water and only that. The only listed ingredients are roses and water, and this is the simplest purest rose water I've tried. The scent is very light and not quite as sweet enough. It feels wonderful post cleansing, but the sprayer is too powerful and focused to use after make up. I have it in a little spray bottle for travelling which is much better. After a day in the heat and sun in the summer I love to spray it head to toe, it just makes my skin glow. If you have very sensitive skin and do not want a strongly scented rose water, Essencia would be a perfect choice. It is available in most health food stores for around $15.

Thayers Rosewater is quite simply, amazing. It has a much more distinct rose scent, despite the witch hazel base. Burt's Bees has a Witch Hazel Rosewater which smelled yucky and medicinal to my nose (which is why it is not in this review...) but its listed midway through the ingredients which include goodies like aloe, glycerin and vitamin e, in addition to the sublime rose water. The aloe and glycerin combination adds a silky texture to this that is felt immediately on the skin. Dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, skin with blemishes or rashes will be soothed by this. It is *almost* enough to act as a moisturizer on its own. This one is the strongest rose scent of the bunch, but it is a soft gentle and true rose. It makes me think of pink roses, not red, if that makes any sense. The bottle is a generic plastic one but the label is charming & has retro appeal. Available at health food stores for around $10.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist is not "sold" as a rose water product but it does contain rose water, and has a delicate rose scent. This is one would be good if you want a light scent. There is a slight fruit note on the top that works nicely with the gentle rose fragrance. This one seems to perform quite well as a make up setting spray, and for thoughout the day pick - me - ups. I like the glow this leaves as it somehow makes your make up ( powder, concealer, whatever) appear look sheer and last a little longer. Love the small size spritzer bottle, and the spray is a soft even mist for even application. My only issue would be a stronger rose content perhaps. But I love it as a setting mist, it's a keeper. At The Body Shop for around $16.

Heritage Rosewater and Glycerin spray toner is another fave. I got this at Wholefoods in Florida and used it at the beach to stay cool, and post shower head to toe to re-moisturize beached out skin. It has 2 ingredients- essential oil of rose and "vor-mag" water- "water that has been vortexed and magnified to raise the energy to a higher vibration that we believe to be more beneficial". Huh? This is kind of where they lose me but doesn't take away from the simple loveliness of the product. It is one of the lighter scented rose waters, but it does still have a lingering perfume. The glycerin adds a nice moisturizing touch and I do love to spray this one head to toe after a shower before applying my moisturizer. It has a lovely sprayer mechanism and a charming 70s granola style label. The pink bottle is fun, too. At around $6 for a 4 oz bottle, it is a deal. I haven't been able to track it down at any Canadian retailers so if you know of any, please let me know! I am dying to try the Heritage Rose Petals toner which does not have glycerin and which I suspect has a purer rose scent.

come on... you know you want to...

I am waiting on a couple super fancy schmancy high end rose waters to review as well....very curious to see how a $60 rose water will stack up against a $10 one. Maybe they are made with magic water distilled from gold?



Photos of roses from distillery in Iran

I'm Officially In Love With Dermaglow

I've toyed with the Dermaglow line via the samples I get from my friendly neighborhood Shopper's Drug Mart Cosmetic Angels but never really given it a fair shot. They now have a new oil free line that combines oil free and mattifying qualitites with their anti aging science. The issue I have with a lot of anti aging products is that they are often too rich and emollient causing breakouts for my super sensitive and oily skin. This cleanser is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive, oily and aging skin like mine.

Get squeaky clean with foamy bubbles!

Today I am reviewing their Foaming Cleanser. It is exactly that, a fragrance free foaming cleanser. I've used a ka-billion cleansers in my time and was not expecting to be overly impressed. It is velvety soft and spreads easily over wet skin, plus, a little goes a long way. And WOW does it clean. Every last drop of make up is removed, even my Urban Decay 24-7 waterproof eyeliner and my Kiehl's Mineral Mascara. Not a hint of a sting in my eyes and my face feels squeaky clean. Not tight and dry but super clean. Amazing that such a gentle cleanser can melt off a day of make up and environmental yuckiness. After cleansing and drying, I do a light mist of rosewater toner (I have been loving this one) and let that soak in before applying my day or night moisturizer. Those reviews will come later but I had to start with this cleanser. At $45 it is not cheap, but a little goes a long way and for results like this, I am willing to pay more. It would take at least 2 go overs with my usual Spectra Gel to get my face this clean! 

Jeune d'Âge Serum is Beautifully Moisturizing

I love serums for my skin. They are perfect for oily skin types, and feel like they sink right in and get to work doing what they should, ie smoothing, soothing, plumping up wrinkles, shrinking pores etc. Often though, modern serums are full of silicone, giving the illusion of a silky fine liquid. Sadly they just sit on top of your skin, often blocking pores, often causing break outs and rarely doing what they promise. The effective ingredients are so diluted, and frankly how can these products get to my skin and get to work if they have a barrier of silicone there? So frustrating. Enter the gorgeous organic skincare line, Jeune d'Âge. Well, I have to say the gorgeous Jeune d'Âge Serum with it's firming and anti aging qualities manages to do what it promises, beautifully and with rather revolutionary and beautiful packaging to boot. This Serum comes in individually packaged envelopes of product, to keep the synthetic and preservative free product fresh. I actually get two doses out of each package, although they are labeled single dose, which is to ensure you are using fresh product each time. These products use organic ingredients but do not claim to be 100% organic, which is fine by me. Performance is what counts to me, and this serum performs.

I love dewy...

The box contains 30 "single dose" packets but as I find there is more than enough for 2 doses, so I use half each evening, with more than enough to spread over my face and neck. I would not leave a packet open for more use after more than a day, and that is only in my cool dark bedroom. Remember this product is all natural with no nasty chemicals preserving it so freshness is key. Packaging them this way means the Serum is also perfect for travel, just toss a few packets into your make up bag- at this size they are even carry-on friendly. One of the most striking aspects of the packaging is the box the wee packets come in. It is a gorgeous black paper board box, which is made out of flower seed paper. Plant the box when you are done, and watch it grow! Not only that, but it is pretty and elegant and looks lovely sitting on your vanity or bathroom counter. 

The product is simply lovely. It has a luxe rich feel, and one can tell it is full of high quality concentrated ingredients. It is a liquid serum that spreads so easily, and a little goes a very long way. It is practically fragrance free, aside from a slight vegetal or plant like aroma- and by slight I mean hardly noticeable. It soothes the skin as it soaks in, leaving a dewy finish and your skin hydrated and glowing. Not a hint of oily or greasy here. It gives a plump dewy appearance to the skin and really feels deeply moisturized without feeling like it has a coating on it. Any further moisturizers or treatments apply beautifully on top, if one needs, and as winter approaches and we have dry indoor heating I will likely need more on top. In the meantime the serum makes a lovely base for any cosmetics I might use. What I love the most is the way my skin drinks it up, yet doesn't feel dry after wards. It feels like it is full of exactly what my skin needs and wants. Its full of goodies that hydrate, smooth and gently plump the skin, helps to improve fine lines and skin texture and gives us an all over glow. The plumping comes from hyarulonic acids- and the ones used in Jeune d'Âge products are animal friendly, as opposed to most used today which are sourced from- wait for it- rooster comb. Ahem.  Thankfully, even my oily and uber sensitive skin loves it and the fact I have not had one breakout since using it is a testament to the gentle nature of Jeune d'Âge Serum. I have been using a few products from the Jeune d'Âge line that I also love and adore so stay tuned for more reviews. 

Jeune d'Âge Organics are available online on their site and through select salon retailers in the US. At $39.99 for a box of the serum, and only $19 for refill packages for your lovely flower box, the price is amazing.