Kiss My Face

With winter finally on its way out you'd think that my hands would be all soft, smooth and happy - no dice - they actually look like I forgot to wear gloves all winter and abused the crap out of them (I kinda did) and now they want me to make it up to them with fancy hand creams!  These ones are so good that's they'll never even know that they aren't expensive (except that they are typing this...I hope they can't read!):

Nail Tek Advanced Hydrating Creme - 85g - $12 - stores moisture in the deep layers of the skin and is reactivated by contact with water. Hours later, simply rinse your hands to re-moisturize your skin.

There was a drugstore hand cream that did this same "re-moisturize when you washed your hands" thing and I was so sad when it was discontinued - so I am super stoked to find a new one!  Only thing I'm not crazy about is the smell, it's a little perfumey for my taste but it seems to wear off quickly so I can deal!
Available at salons - and now even easier to find since The Shopping Channel is carrying the line! www.theshoppingchannel.com

Lise Watier Hydra S.O.S. Anti-Dryness Hand and Nail Care - 75ml - $15 - nourishes and softens skin, strengthens nails with a non-greasy finish.  Enriched with apricot see oil, glycerin and green tea. Skin is hydrated, soft and protected from environmental aggressions while nails are strengthened and healthy.  Rich, yet never greasy, it leaves a super-soft finish and a delicate scent.

Love the feel, love the smell, just all-around love this cream! If you like the sounds of this cream, rush to get it, this is a winter only product that stores will be getting rid of soon! I am annoyed that I discovered it so late in the season, hopefully it will be back again next year!

True Blue Spa Look Ma, New Hands - 148ml - $20 - softening hand lotion with paraffin which locks in essential moisture  to keep skin soft, smooth and super protected.  Also contains olive, avocado and apricot oils to moisturize hands and Vitamin E to help protect against damaging free radicals.

This one is super thick and maybe because of the paraffin, I don't find it soaks right in which makes it a bad choice for day (hate slime trails) but a great one for overnight with cotton gloves!  Also works great on the feet!

Kiss My Face Hand Alert - 88ml - $9 - Rosemary + Mint - renews and protects - 2% AHA helps renew and revive the skin my gently exfoliating damaged cells while natural emollients keep everything hydrated.

While I like how this one feels, I'm not crazy about the mint scent so being the rebel and rule breaker that I am, have been using it on my feet instead - mint belongs on my feet but if you like minty hands, give this one a whirl.  The AHA's have been great on my feet to get rid on the dead skin!

It might surprise you to know that I am not a morning person - I know - crazy right?!  I'm only sweet and adorable due to the inhaling of some sort of citrus scented product during my morning shower!  With this whole time change thing making it dark again in the mornings, it's extra important to get that burst of citrus to wake me up!  Here are a few that I have been loving lately:

LUSH Sexy Peel Soap - $5.95 - scented with grapefruit, lemon and lime, this is a citrus triple threat - if freakin' amazing had a smell, this would be it!  I also love that this is a very solid soaps which means it doesn't turn into a gooey mess in the soapdish!



LUSH Whoosh Shower Jelly - 100g - $10.95 - it's like washing with jello which of course is awesomely cool! Contains rosemary and geranium essential oils for a kick of energy as well as amix of lemon, lime and grapefruit juices to increase circulation while cleansing skin. Tear off a small piece of jelly and lather it in your hands or on a shower loofah. For an extra thrill, freeze the jelly to get a refreshing morning jolt.

Sudz by Kiss My Face C-Weed Shower Gel - 237ml - $8.15 - sweet orange & lemon with organic aloe & chamomile - great smell, great lather, just all around great - I would live in a vat of this if such a thing existed...


The Body Shop Satsuma Shower Gel - 750ml - $15 - of course I couldn't have a citrus post without including my longtime fave Satsuma - which in my books smells exactly like orange kool-aid - delish!

I  have never really talked about toners up to now for the simple reason that I find most of them pretty unexciting.  It's one of the few beauty products that I use up on a regular basis but don't stockpile - amazing no?!  Being a junkie of course I do try a new kind every time I use the old one up so I have found a few of note over the last year and here are my picks:

Kiss My Face Antioxidant Toner - 156ml - $14 - revitalizes tired skin with a blend of certified organic grapefruit, orange, ginger and lemon balm essential oils and extracts. Seaweed extract provides trace minerals while antioxidants Ester C and Vitamin E help fight the signs of aging. This is the most wonderfully citrusy toner that I have ever had the pleasure to use!  It cleans without drying, gets all of the leftover gunk off my face and just generally makes me happy.  I don't love the spray, so I have transferred it to a pump bottle which makes it perfect!  You can find Kiss My Face products at various retail stores or very easily online at the Kiss My Face webstore.
Yüm Gourmet Skincare Pomegranate Toner - 237ml - $33 - contains nourishing, organic Cranberry Juice and bio-complex Vitamin C to gently refine while enhancing texture and appearance, skin conditioning Organic Chamomile, Helichrysum, Plum and Sandalwood to leave skin feeling hydrated, clean and smooth. I like this toner a lot, it smells amazing but I probably wouldn't buy it again as most of the joy of using a toner for me is seeing the crap wiped off my skin and onto the cotton pad, but as  this toner already has a colour, I didn't get that satisfaction. If you want something great smelling that really does leave your skin feeling nice and you aren't as weird as me, I would recommend you give it a try!  You can purchase Yum Gourmet products at Organic Spa Solutions
Clinique Clarifying Lotion - 200ml - $24.50 - Available in Types: 1 - very dry to dry; 2 - dry combination; 3 - combination oily; and 4 - oily - with new formulas that have been updated with buffering agents incouding Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin and Trehalose to make exfoliation more comfortable and help maintain skin's moisture equilibrium.  Graduated levels of Salicylic Acid, a longtime dermatologist staple, are also present to aid in exfoliation by removing dead skin cells, promoting optimal cell turnover - each level has been specially formulated with its own level to ensure optimal, custom-fit exfoliation for each skin type. After each use, pores seem smaller, fine lines less evident and skin tone more even and vibrant looking.  I must admit to having been forced to try this one by Christelle.  There was a time in my teenage years that I used a Clinique toner that was way too harsh for my skin and every since then, I have shied away from their toners.  It's Christelle's holy grail though and having heard that the toners had been reformulated, I thought it was a good time to try them again (and make Christelle shut up).  I went with Number 2 for dry/combination skin and had none of the over drying that I had experienced before. For the summer I might even be tempted to try the Number 3 for combination/oily once the weather gets hot and my skin becomes a lot more combo!

Not that I need anyone turning me into a toner junkie, but if anyone has any toner suggestions for ones I shouldn't miss out on - they will be gratefully received!

I've always hated and cursed my dry skin but I never realized that it was such a widespread issue - Vaseline recently conducted a Good Skin Day Survey and I was amazed to see that 76% of the women surveyed have the same problem as I do and say that their dry skin can make them feel physically uncomfortable at least some of the time - including itchiness, tightness and cracking.  Women also say that the physical effects of dry skin can interfere with a range of every day activities including sleeping, getting dressed and working.  It's nice not to be alone in this problem but it's even better to find something to solve it!

Vaseline Intensive Rescue Extra Strength - 325ml - $4.99, 600ml - $7.99, 725ml - $8.99 - is available in fragranced (chamomile scent) and unfragranced. - Accelerates the healing of dry skin by tripling the skin's moisture reserves instantly while still feeling comfortable on your skin - not greasy or sticky.  Dermatologist recommended, restores and protects the skin and delivers 24 hours of hypoallergenic soothing moisture.  For super dry skin they also offer Vaseline Clinical Therapy Lotion - 200ml - $8.49 - which is clinically proven to moisturize for accelerated healing of persistently dry skin without feeling sticky or greasy and is comfortable on skin.  Proven to instantly increase hydration by five times and to lock in moisture for 24 hours.  Instantly softens and relieves extremely dry skin and to restore - through hydration - extremely dry skin in 5 days.

And of course having dry skin means that I try every moisturizer out there so here are some other great choices:

True Blue Spa Lay It On Thick Body Cream - 170g - $17 - fragrance-free with super moisturizing shea butter, macadamia nut oil to nourish and hydrate the skin and Vitamin E to help protect and condition. If you like your moisturizer to be super thick, this is one to try - I enjoy using this one right before bed to give it all night to soak in! Available at Bath & Body Works.
Calgon Nourishing Body Cream - 236ml - $6.99 - with Vitamins E and A as well as aloe to deliver longer-lasting moisturization that will leave your skin feeling soft and silky. Comes in Morning Glory, Hawaiian Ginger, Tahitian Orchid, Cotton Candy, Vanilla Swirl, Marshmallow and Moon Petal Musk. My favourite scent is the Hawaiian Ginger, you just close your eyes and imagine yourself away from winter and on a tropical island!
Thann Body Butter - 100g - $23 - 350g - $47 - with cocoa butter, jojoba oil, licorice and shiso extracts to nourish and protect dry and sensitive skin. The tick yet smooth cream absorbs quickly into the skin for long-lasting and effective moisturizing.  It's 100% paraben-free with no artificial colours or fragrances.  Available online at www.thann.ca, in select stores and spas across Canada and at Thann concept stores in Ottawa.

St. Ives 24 Hour Moisture Advanced Body Moisturizer - 600ml - $6.99 - an innovative formula clinically proven to nourish skin even after 24 hours - replenishes and retains skin for soft-looking, smooth skin all day with 100% natural moisturizers including shea butter. Features a patented moisturizing complex that acts as a barrier to prevent moisture loss without forming a heavy film on the skin.
Dial NutriSkin Replenishing Lotion - 88ml - $2.99 - 354ml - $6.99 - focus on adding essential moisture, vitamins and nutrients for your skin - in four varieties each containg a specific BioNutrient blend: Dry Skin - with aloe and vitamins C, E and F, amino acids, and omega 3; Extra Dry Skin - with shea butter, omega 3 and 6, vitamins A,C,E and F and amino acids; Soothing - with chamomile, beta-glucan, vitamins A,C and E, amino acids and zinc; and Men's - with magnesium, niacinamide, amino acids and vitamins A,C and E.

Kiss My Face Peaches & Creme Ultra Moisturizer - 118ml - $6, 350ml - $12 - with 4% alpha-hydroxy to help speed up exfoliation that allows for new healthy skin cells to emerge from your dry, flaky mess - and the peachy smell - Amazing!  You can find Kiss My Face products in various drug and health food stores - I find the website easier though - they have a Canadian site that prices and gives shipping costs in Canadian $ - www.kissmyfacewebstore.com

If you want super duper softness, start with a moisturizing body wash - my faves right now:


Dove Visible Care Renewing Creme Body Wash - 300ml - $5.99 - for visible skin improvement in just one week and with continued use, skin is more visibly beautiful within 3 weeks. It's designed to nourish and replenish skin with the highest concentration of Nutrium Moisture which contains skin natural moisturizers, the building blocks to help improve skin's look over time. It has a fruity, floral fragrance that I quite like and lathers like nobody's business!
Soap & Glory Clean, Girls Body Wash - 500ml - $9.99 - with a built-in moisturizing matrix and natural vanilla fruit and orchid extracts, it feels great and smells amazing!  It also suds up nicely which is something I find that moisturizing body washes sometimes lack. Available at Shoppers Drug Mart.
Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Shower Cream - 236ml - $12.50 - with milk proteins, rice bran oil and acai berry.  Part of the Signature Collection, you will find it in lots of different scents - I love Warm Vanilla Sugar and Twilight Woods!

Are you a dry skin sufferer too?  Would love to hear about any great moisturizers that you've tried!