What vibrates softly and is used by thousands of women around the world? The Clarisonic Mia2 Skin Cleansing System! My sister uses one; so does my best friend. Id be using one too but Im waiting to see whats under the tree for Christmas. Yep, in case you were wondering, top spot on my wishlist goes to this little handheld beauty. Im told the Mia2 has an edge on the regular Mia system because of its travel-friendly wall charger. Its a two-speed sonic skincare brush that claims to clean six times more effectively than scrubbing your face with your hands. I quote my familial source: Was I even cleaning my skin before? I dont know, but I and members of the unwashed masses are intrigued. $149; available at Sephora in Pacific Centre (701 W. Georgia).
The year of the 20th anniversary is a great time to join the cult of Huile Prodigieuse. One bottle of the Nuxe-brand skin softener is purchased every six seconds somewhere in the world and it retains its No. 1 beauty care product ranking in its home country of France year after year. Its 98 per cent natural formula, enriched with Vitamin E (and free of silicones, preservatives and mineral oils), is composed of six plant oils (Macadamia, Hazelnut, Borrage, Sweet Almond, Camellia and St.-Johns-Wort) to help nourish, repair and soften the skin with no greasy after effects. In 1998 the original Huile was given a golden glow, resulting in ultra-glamourous, iridescent skin. Available in 50 ml ($26) and 100 ml ($45, spray bottle) sizes, it can be applied directly to the face, arms, stomach, thighs etc. or combined with your regular skin or body cream. At Shoppers Drug Mart and The Bay.
Looking for a nail polish without the nasty chemicals? All butter LONDON nail laquers are 3 Free, meaning they are formulated without formaldehyde, toluene, DBP or parabens. Founded in 2005 by British entrepreneur, Sasha Muir, butter LONDON transforms runway trends into custom nail colour palettes. According to ButterLondon.com, the company was the first to sell 3 Free nail formulas in the United States. Priced at $17.50 a bottle, the non-toxic laquers are available in a variety of trendy shades at Sephora in Pacific Centre (701 W. Georgia), Indigo/Chapters, BeautyMark (1268 Pacific).
Everyones got to start somewhere, but if you dont know where that is, the Even Keeled Kit from Vancouver skincare specialists, Skoah, will get you on the path to glowing skin. It contains products for every step of your skincare routine, gentle enough for all skin types. $125. Or check out their most popular mask, Hydradew (chock full of soothing sea kelp algae and plant extracts), for a great stocking stuffer. $40. And to increase your odds of making Santas nice list next year, Skoah has partnered with the BC and Alberta Childrens Hospitals to donate 100 per cent of profits from the sale of their Hand Love lotion (pictured, 60ml $9, 240ml $15) to their new project, Hopeful Hand.
Tucked away in the award-winning Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Sense Spa offers a luxurious urban escape. The best treatment on the menu to counteract a season of indulgence? The Tides, which relies natural, local ingredients to purify and tone. Tides begins with a full body exfoliation using a combo of sea salt and nutrient-packed Pacific seaweed extract. Next, a wrap made with BCs super fine glacial clay removes toxins and reduces fluid retention. The Tides Treatment at Rosewood Hotel Georgias Sense Spa $175 for 80 minutes. (Sense Spa, 801 West Georgia, 604.673.7045. Rosewoodhotels.com)
