Based out of my home city of Montréal, BEAUTYSENSE is an online provider of beauty & cosmetic products. They recently reached out to me to collaborate, and I was invited to select the products that most appealed to me — a task made rather difficult, because there are so many new-to-me brands that I wanted to try. Eventually, I narrowed it down to these 3 and couldn’t be happier with my choices.
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Looking at the products I selected, it occurs to me that not only is everything summer-suitable, but they’re items that everyone can use, regardless of gender, age or skin type. I love it when things work out that way!
OBAGI-C Fx C-Clarifying Serum (CAN $170.00/30 ml) | I’ve long heard of this brand and have read so many rave reviews of their serums, that selecting this product was a no-brainer. In the last few years, I make it a point to use Vitamin C daily, but I’ve learned through experience that not all deliver as promised; what makes this one very exciting [for me] is that it also promises to help fade dark spots, or as my derm calls them, “wisdom marks”. It does this through the inclusion of 4% Arbutin, making this serum an excellent alternative for those who can’t tolerate hydroquinone (an effective but also significantly stronger ingredient). The directions say to apply between 5-7 drops in the morning ONLY, after cleansing and before any other product. My preferences are to apply this not only to my face, but along my neck and décolletage as well. Housed in an amber glass bottle (the dropper is included) to protect the contents against light exposure, the liquid is a pale gold hue while the texture is thin and ever so slightly oily, helping it to glide easily along the skin, and becoming fully absorbed. As anything with Vitamin C can make your skin sun-sensitive, you should always finish off your skincare regimen with sunscreen, which brings me to the next product I selected …
elta MD UV Clear SPF 46 Facial Sunscreen (CAN $67.00/48 g, 1.7 oz) | With its beginnings as a wound-healing ointment for farmers in rural Switzerland, elta MD has since gone on to become the most widely trusted and most-recommended sunscreen by dermatologists globally. Backed by science and partnering with countless Cancer organizations, this also happens to be the sunscreen that every makeup artist I admire also uses, and so I couldn’t wait to try it out for myself. Housed in an opaque white plastic bottle, the pump dispenser is easy to control. The texture is oil-free yet still super creamy, blending out effortlessly along the skin without any white cast. As in, ZERO. It’s absolutely clear (what sorcery is this?). The natural fragrance it possesses is also lovely, dissipating quickly upon application. A perk I wasn’t expecting, was that as this formula also contains 5% high-purity niacin amide (Vitamin B3), so it not only calms and protects acne/rosacea prone skin, but it also helps with diminishing existing dark spots & discolourations, basically continuing and complimenting what the Vitamin C serum begun. I call that a chef’s kiss kind of match up. The formula contains 9% transparent micronized zinc oxide to protect against damaging UVA rays (the aging rays), along with SPF 46 to protect skin from UVB rays (the burning rays), and can be used daily by a broad range of skin types. Noncomedogenic (won’t clog pores), it’s also fragrance, oil, paraben and sensitivity-free. Can be worn either under or over makeup.
Baby Foot Deep Skin Exfoliation (CAN $30.00) | The first time I tried a foot mask was a year ago, and for me, now there’s no going back. If you’re someone with perfectly smooth skin on your feet, count your blessings. If not, you’ll want to pay attention. I confess that I was nervous the first time I tried a foot mask (would it melt my feet off?), but the results were surprisingly good. My second attempt with another brand was underwhelming, but so many people swore by Baby Foot (I mean, the name kind of says it all), that I jumped all over it. Inside the sealed foil pouch is one pair of booties; after cleansing & drying your feet, apply the booties — they come with tape that you can use to secure them around your ankles, but rubber bands can also do the trick. I did a combination of the included tape plus a pair of socks over to keep everything snug + add some extra warmth to the process, which in turn might even help with the penetration of the product. With a mix of acids (lactic, glycolic, citric, malic, salicylic) for mega exfoliation, oils (castor, orange & grapefruit peel) for soothing hydration, and botanical extracts, the contents are in liquid form in the bootie and are enough to fully cover each foot. After an hour, you need to rinse with soap and water and then wait for the fun stuff to start. Within a couple of days, you’ll see the first signs of peeling and while it’s tempting to speed thing along by picking at it, DON’T. You definitely do not want to risk picking off any skin too aggressively and thus exposing the area to any contamination. Personally, I found that it’s easier to help things along in the shower. I would also advise wearing socks during the peeling process, to keep flaking skin contained — and not a trail all over your home, lol. Once the peeling process is done with, prepare to be blown away: your feet will not only look amazing, but also feel so smooth. Definitely worth all the hype.
I am so happy with the three products I selected; the Obagi Vitamin C serum applies beautifully, plays well with my other skincare and doesn’t stain my hands. I haven’t finished the bottle yet, but I feel like some darker spots on my face actually already appear lighter. The elta MD Sunscreen blends so beautifully into the skin and never feels heavy, which not only makes me more apt to apply, but I love that I’m also protecting my skin. Finally, having smooth feet is always a great thing — but especially more so with sandal-weather that’s upon us. There really are so many other great products I’m curious to try from BEAUTYSENSE — this site is a 100% recommend from me!
Thank you to BEAUTYSENSE for sponsoring this post
Products provided by BEAUTYSENSE for my unbiased consideration
