Picks for April

MOISTURIZING, ANTI-WRINKLE, FIRMING, WHITENING
It is early spring and the weather is still cold. While moisturizer and anti-wrinkle creams remain top priorities in skin care at this time, firming and brightening cannot be overlooked. With this in mind, let me recommend the following skin care and cosmetic products I find useful.

Fresh Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence
Using kombucha, fermented sweet black tea, as one of its ingredients, Fresh’s Black Tea Kombucha Facial Treatment Essence can effectively fight pollution by inhibiting the damage caused by pollutants to the skin. It softens the look of fine lines, refines pores, improves elasticity, soothes the skin’s texture and keeps it hydrated, giving the complexion a natural, rosy look. $85 Sephora, sephora.ca, Nordstrom and nordstrom.ca

Snake Booster Oil
Rodial’s well-known Snake series has a new skin care oil that works wonders in fighting expression lines and wrinkles. Containing the Snake series’ patented ingredient Syn®-Ake dipeptide and tar-get peptide, this Booster Oil not only moisturizes the skin, but effectively reduces expression lines, smooths wrinkles and tightens the skin. $90 Murale

Rodial Pink Diamond Instant Lifting Serum
Following the introduction of the luxurious Rose Gold collection, this all new Pink Diamond serum sets a new benchmark in Rodial’s anti-aging products. Its diamond powder reflects light particles to leave your complexion looking radiant and luminous. This multi-action serum can combat sagging skin, even out skin tone, reduce pigmentation and help promote the synthesis of collagen and elastic fibres. The result is instantly visible. $310 Murale

VIT C Brightening Mask
Brightening the skin is another beauty goal, and the powerful ingredients used in this Brightening Mask by Rodial demonstrates its superior efficacy: five percent pure vitamin C and a blend of 10 percent exfoliating fruit AHAs. The pure vitamin C goes deep into the skin to help cells fight free radicals, delay aging, brighten and soften blemishes. Fruit AHAs and lactic acid promote skin renewal, while orange fruit extract brightens skin tone and the powerful antioxidant Pomegranate Extract protects skin cells against free radicals. $110 Mural

Concentrated Ginseng Renewing
 Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Water is formulated with precious Steamed Ginseng Water Concentrate. With its cutting-edge technology, Sulwhasoo condensed ginseng water into Steamed Ginseng Water Concentrate and infused it into its Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Water. Steamed Ginseng Water Concentrate helps provide moisture and nourishment to dry, flaky skin, restores and flat-tens wrinkles and revitalizes the skin’s regenerative energy. This Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Water penetrates quickly into the skin, boosting vitality and leaving it moisturized and firm. 125ml for $125 Nordstrom, Holt Renfrew and Aritaum

Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Emulsion
Like the Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Water, this emulsion contains the precious Steamed Ginseng Water Concentrate that is very effective in hydrating the skin and reducing wrinkles. After applying Concentrated Ginseng Renewing Water, the gel-textured emulsion can easily be spread over the face, allowing the skin to absorb and create a moisture barrier. 125ml for $113 Nordstrom, Holt Renfrew and Aritaum

Multi-functional Cushion Intense
A must-have tool in restoring your skin’s youthful resilience! Formulated with red pine extracts, this cush-ion foundation by Sulwhasoo boosts the skin’s look of firmness and smoothness. Antioxidant-rich plum blossom extract rejuvenates the skin by protecting it from the harmful environment. Its Pearl Powder Complex blends well with light, enhances the overall brightness of the face and gives a natural-looking glow. It also contains broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen. $110 (includes a refill) Nordstrom and Holt Renfrew

The Essential Lip Serums
This serum-based lipstick combines camellia oil and safflower complex to create a double layer of oil and water for long-lasting moisture. The use of apricot kernel oil and elastic complex fills the fine lines in your lips, making them more resilient and plump, and bringing out their natural vibrancy in delicate shades of plum blossoms. Korean actress, Song Hye-kyo is seen using Essential Lip Serum Stick No. 4 (Rose Red) in her latest drama, Encounter. It is recommended to apply it vertically on the lips to fill the wrinkles and then horizontally to lock in moisture. $50 Holt Renfrew

Les Infusions de Prada
It is said that you know a woman by her scent. Perfume has become more and more personalized and speaks more about personal temperament. Following the creative direction of Micia Prada, head of Prada Group, perfumer Daniela Andrier blended together the unique and remarkable per-fume collection Les Infusions de Prada. In it are nine fragrances, each containing a very iconic, natural fragrance ingredient: Iris, Iris Cèdre, Fleur d’Oranger, Vétiver, Oeillet, Amande, Mimosa, Rose and Mandarine. Each fragrance reveals a unique character. Choose the right fragrance to highlight the strength in your personality. Let perfume express your attitude! 100ml for $180 Hudson’s Bay, Nordstrom and Saks 5th Avenue