Happy December! We are so close to wrapping up this mess of a year, I can almost feel free to travel. I‘m shocked it’s been an entire year since I scoured the shelves of Montreal’s drugstores in search of my most fun self-care finds. I’m so ready for an encore but in the meantime, I want to share a handful of impressive launches that have landed in my hands this month. Because guess what? The grass is not necessarily always greener. Read on.
Boxwalla December Beauty Box
This month, Boxwalla is showcasing a Blüh Alchemy duo (Multi-C Serum and Active Relief Body Oil) alongside a gorgeous jar of Live Botanicals Sanctuary Barrier Balm aka your winter non-negotiables. The only thing I’ve used before is the rather impressive Multi-C Serum, which contains stable and bio-active Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid, Raw Green Coffee Oil, CoQ10, Cica, and more. It’s a skin-brightening masterpiece and reason enough to subscribe this month. After a single application of the body oil, I am keeping it next to the bathtub for my apres-soak moisturizing ritual. I am still playing with the golden, silky Barrier Balm as it’s a tad too rich for me at the moment (it’s packed with nourishing plant butters and oils). The second the indoor heat sucks more moisture from my skin (give me another week or two), it will frequent my PM rotation.Valued at $250, ‘The Textures of Winter’ box is the ultimate treat to yourself. $44.95 (billed every two months) theboxwalla.com
Farmacy Whipped Greens Cleanser
If there’s anyone who loves a good cleansing foam, it is yours truly. Whether it’s my morning cleanse or a follow-up step to a balm or oil, I love a frothy solution that leaves my skin feeling bouncy and sparkling clean. Formulated specifically for those with skin types that span from normal through combination to oily, Whipped Greens is both soap and oil-free. The pH balanced cream-to-foam option is infused with Papaya Enzyme for gentle exfoliation, Green Clay to remove impurities, Sodium PCA to hydrate, and anti-inflammatory Moringa Seed Extract. The new cleansing foam has a light ‘green’ scent which doesn’t linger, rinses off clean, and leaves the skin feeling clean. Not tight nor dry. It feels very K-beauty but unlike Green Clean, it is actually made Stateside. I can see this becoming a staple when the weather warms up. $28 (5oz) farmacybeauty.com and sephora.com on December 8th
LILFOX Bitter Orange Neroli Toning Mist
If I’m being 1000% honest (nobody says 100% anymore btw), I am not the most loyal face mist user. Things are about to change around here however, because I am borderline addicted to the new LILFOX Bitter Orange spray-on magic. This single ingredient potion is pure Neroli Hydrosol (organic, distilled in Morocco in low temperatures to ensure the highest concentration of minerals and nutrients) which acts as a gentle astringent to hydrate, soothe, and calm stressed skin. It’s also super refreshing and smells like the ultimate Neroli fantasy so if you’re as obsessed as I am with the notes of slightly bitter orange blossom, you need to give it a try. My favorite way to use a mist? Before a face oil since I find oils absorb so much better on damp skin. $45 (100ml) lilfox.miami
Peach & Lily Glass Skin Water-Gel Moisturizer
Expanding the Glass Skin collection, Peach & Lily launched an ultra-lightweight gel moisturizer that every skin type (but those with unbalanced combo skin especially) will appreciate. The water-based formula is almost firm as it pumps out of the bottle — forming peaks that melt into the skin in seconds. Inspired by the health benefits of the Korean side dish, Kimchi, the latest addition is formulated with a ferment complex to balance and strengthen the skin’s flora, the protective microbiome layer which is constantly disturbed by oxidative stress. While the pre- and post-biotic blend is the key player here, the new Water-Gel Moisturizer also highlights Sodium Hyaluronate, glow boosting and soothing botanicals such as Reishi Mushroom, Kiwi, Peach, Licorice, and Chamomile as well as VoluSmoooth™, Peach & Lily’s proprietary blend of Bamboo, Mulberry, and Burdock Root to deliver the elegant, smooth user experience without the presence of silicones. This launch makes me feel like Spring is approaching earlier than it will as a water-gel is something my skin craves in warmer months. $40 (50ml) peachandlily.com
Algenist Triple Algae Eye Renewal Balm
There are two types of people in the world: those who don’t believe in eye creams and those who don’t skip a day. I fall into the latter category. I’m also the most particular about my everyday eye cream and have a rigid set of requirements for a perfectly user-friendly and effective formula. The newly relaunched Algenist Triple Algae Renewal Balm is a great cream balm hybrid, has a dense but easily spreadable consistency, absorbs fairly quickly, and softens the fragile skin for a well-rested appearance. In addition to a triple blend of Red, Green, and Brown Algae as well as the brand’s patented Alguronic Acid, the new and improved formula also contains skin firming peptides, nourishing Vitamin E, soothing Aloe Vera, and energizing Caffeine. This year has not been good for sleeping so I’m greatly appreciative of this new multitasker. $68 (15ml) algenist.com
Lord Jones CBD Lip Balm
Me this month: popping Lord Jones seasonal flavor Sugarplum Drops while applying the new CBD Lip Balm. On loop. And when I don’t do that, I am soaking in their bath salts because they are my self-prescribed remedy for 2020. And so, in the spirit of loving all things Lord Jones this year, I am thrilled with the new Whole Plant Formula CBD Lip Balm they have just launched. It’s a swivel stick with a slightly slanted tip that contains a handful of nourishing and softening ingredients — Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Shea Butter, Mimosa Wax, Grapefruit Oil, Rosemary Oil, Beeswax, and 25mg of full spectrum CBD. There is indeed a subtle grapefruit smell/taste, which triggers my re-application whether I need it or not. The j’adorable white tube has not left the pocket of my sweatpants. $19 (4.5g) lordjones.com
Alpyn Beauty Wild Huckleberry 8-Acid Polishing Peel Mask
The main skincare issue that causes me a struggle this time of year: dullness. Luckily, the new Alpyn peel mask hybrid blessed my winter-related drab complexion with instant results in just minutes. This creamy rinse-off solution uses dual exfoliation to gently buff away the dead cell buildup with a blend of 8 natural acids ( Salicylic, Citric, Malic, Tartaric, Glycolic, Azelaic, Ferulic, and Lactic) and a combination of Bamboo Powder with Blueberry Seed Paste. Once or twice a week, massage a small amount into cleansed skin and admire your smooth, glowing, and irresistibly soft skin in five minutes flat. If you panic at the sound of the word ‘peel’, there is barely a scent to this new gem, a whisper of a tingle immediately upon application, and no redness after rinsing. I love using it back-to-back with Calming Midnight Mask as a follow-up before bed. $56 (50ml) alpynbeauty.com and sephora.com
