SIBU, Now Known as Sea Berry Therapy in Canada

Have you heard of SIBU Sea Berry Therapy? They're an American, natural and cruelty-free beauty brand. For those of you who are familiar with SIBU, they have rebranded and relaunched in Canada under the name Sea Berry Therapy. The products have remained the same, just the name has changed!

"The process by which Sea Berry is brought from the Himalayan Highlands to your shelf is nothing short of a labor of love, and it all starts with the Turkestanica Sea Berry. This tiny orange berry found only at 12,000 feet above sea level is known as the richest source of Omega-7 in the world, and has been used for more than 13 centuries because of its wealth of amazing properties, including 190 bioactive compounds." 

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I was fortunate to have been gifted two Sea Berry Therapy products to try, and spoiler alert, I LOVE them both!

"Deep yet gentle cleansing is the basis for effective facial care at every age.  This naturally antibacterial sea buckthorn face wash gently removes dirt, impurities and make-up while maintaining a healthy balance in your skin without compromising its natural protective nutrients.  Sea Berry Polishing Facial Cleanser is perfect for sensitive skin, and will leave your face fresh, clean and perfectly balanced." 

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Sea Berry Polishing Facial Cleanser has quickly become a favourite of mine. It comes in a pump (love pumps for EVERYTHING) and it really gets my face clean. It removes makeup, gets the oil and grime off, but it doesn't strip my skin. The exfoliation is mild but noticeable and it leaves my skin feeling smooth. Typically washing my face leaves my skin feeling taut and dry but not with this cleanser. I will definitely be purchasing it with my own money once this bottle is empty!

"Experience the ultimate in skin hydration.  This light, non-oily serum penetrates deep into your skin to help deeply hydrate your face and neck & eliminate flaky, dry skin. Infused with vitamins, Hyaluronic acid and Sea Berry (Sea Buckthorn) extract, this serum fortifies the skin against the aging process and helps repair damage at a cellular level."

Hydrating Serum is made with Hyaluronic Acid for deep hydration and is suitable for both oily and dry skin types alike. This lightweight serum has a pleasant scent and it absorbs so fast. My Skin feels soft and supple immediately after applying this. I find it adds a supple radiance which is always nice. If you have dry skin like I do, you will want to follow up with a moisturizer or cream. Oily skin types may find that this is all they need. Two thumbs up for this serum!

I am definitely interested in trying more from the brand so if you have any recommendations, I'd love to hear them!

*PR samples were generously provided to me for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

Dior Capture Youth

Yesterday is over.

Tomorrow is too late.

The time is now.

A motto: take action now - no regrets. The Dior skincare (r)evolution is here! Dior science has taken inspiration from modern medicine, to delay signs of aging before they appear. So instead of only treating the damage done, Dior's Capture Youth is actively preventing future damage - before it even shows up!

Take action now. Anticipate, control and maximize the youthfulness of our skin. A selection of the most powerful natural ingredients that are gentle on the skin, and eco designed packaging are just a few features of this line.

Each regimen is individually personalized, allowing you to cherry pick what you need and pass on what you don't. At the heart of this range is Dior Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Crème ($120, 50ml) an ultra prevention crème that helps to delay visible signs of aging. Formulated with Iris Florentina (an antioxidant) to stimulate the skins internal resistance process. Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Crème deeply nourishes the skin, leaving it retexturized and toned.

I didn't think it was possible to fall so deeply in love with a facial cream, until now. This crème to me is what PB is to jelly, what a bee is to honey... But seriously though - it's a must have! The texture is lightweight and smooth, yet deeply hydrating. My skin was in a bad place when I started using this. It was dry, dehydrated and suffering all kinds of nightmare breakouts. Now, it's hydrated, soothed and with no painful breakouts. I have gotten a few whiteheads, but that's normal for me. My bank is dreading the day this crème runs out because I don't think I can live without it!

To make the most out Dior's Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Crème, you should need to pair it with their Targeted Expert Serums. There are 5 serums to choose from, and you can use as many (or as few) as you want. In order to maximize efficacy, you should limit it to 2 serums at a time to suit the skins needs. If you have multiple skin concerns, make sure to divide them into a morning and a night routine.  For example, I use Plump Filler + Redness Soother in the morning, and Plump Filler + Lift Sculptor (or Glow Booster) in the evening.

After you've selected your serum(s) you can decide your application method.

1. Layering

   Apply the serum, then the crème

     ‎

     2. Mix & Match

     Mix 2 to 3 drops of serum directly in the crème (in the palm of your hand)

             3. Intensive Treatment

     Apply a serum then the crème for 30 days as a cure when the skin is particularly stressed                     (change of seasons/skin issues/repeated irritation)

As I mentioned earlier, there are 5 serums to choose from and they're all priced the same ($120)

Glow Booster Illuminating Serum. Restore Radiance - Vitamin C 

100 times more concentrated in vitamin C than oranges, Murunga Plum combined with AHA combine to brighten the complexion and to even skin texture irregularities.

The Plump Filler Plumping Serum - Hyaluronic Acid

Three different weights of botanical hyaluronic acid from fermented wheat hydrates and replenishes the skin to make it appear fuller and more supple. Ideal as an intensive treatment (in winter) or to fight against environmental stressors (dryness, sun)

The Lift Sculptor Lifting Serum

Sculpt + Lift - Polyphenols

Polyphenols derived from a tea blend (green & white) boost elastin production to visibly lift and sculpt the skin for firmer, more defined skin contours.

The Redness Soother Anti-Redness Soothing Serum

Natural peptides from cotton reduce redness and irritation for a smoother, more even complexion . The ideal anti-aggressor shield it calms and relieves irritated and sensitized skin.

The Matte Maximizer Mattifying Serum

Matte + Refine + Lactic Acid (for oily skin)

Lactic acid derived from sugar cane regulates excess sebum to help reduce shine and refine pores. A soft focus matte blur and complexion refiner.

My typical morning Capture Youth routine is super fast and incredibly effective. I typically skip washing my face in the am (just a quick rinse with water) and dive right into Capture Youth Plump Filler. I add two drops to my hands and apply it directly onto my face. It has a light scent and my skin drinks it up right away. After a minute or so, I spot treat my cheeks with a drop of Redness Soother and then mix another drop into Capture Youth and apply all over (eye area too). My skin is instantly hydrated and my face looks calm. I'm not going to lie and say that my redness vanishes into thin air, but it's certainly reduced.

In the evening, I remove my makeup and wash my face with Dior Hydra Life Lotion to Foam Fresh Cleanser ($49, 190 ml) apply Plump Filler all over (same method as am) and then follow with 2 drops of Lift Sculptor. I do this four days a week. The other 3 days I swap out Lift Sculptor for Glow Booster and follow with Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Crème. After using this combo for a few weeks I have to admit that my skin is looking pretty darn good. I started to notice an ever so slight slackening of skin around my jaws (yikes x 1000) and this has pretty much froze it in time. I'm glad I caught it,  and I hope that it will delay any further slackening. When I use Glow Booster I notice an immediate radiance - one that lasts! I prefer to use it at night since it is an AHA - in case you weren't aware, they make your skin so much more sensitive to sun. Even though I use it at night, it's still on my face the next day so I make sure to load up on sunscreen. Always, and I mean always wear sunscreen when you use AHA's!

One of the most common complaints I hear from people is the heavy 'scent' of certain products. I personally enjoy a nice scent, but so many people don't. With Dior products, you will notice that they have a natural/botanical scent to them. DO NOT BE ALARMED! These scents are naturally occurring and they will not harm sensitive skin. People mistakenly believe that all scents are added and that 'scent free' is better and that's not always the case. A Dior Pro explained it this way: coffee beans naturally contain caffeine. In order to make them decaf, the beans need to be processed - often chemically - to remove it. This is not natural, and it's over-processed. Dior does not process their products to remove their natural scents. Doesn't seem so bad now, does it?

Oh and I almost forgot! Dior has revamped their packaging to be more eco-friendly. Long gone are the cardboard inserts and cellophane sleeves. Dior is aiming to use as little as they can when packaging their products. And their inks are vegetable based!

In in love with this line - 100% and I know that you will be too. If you can only choose one product, go with the Capture Youth Age-Delay Advanced Crème  If you can get 2, add in a Glow Booster Serum and thank me later 😉

You can find the Capture Youth Range in store & online at sephora.ca in store at Shoppers Drug Mart & online at beautyboutique.ca in store & online at thebay.com and Holt Renfrew & holtrenfrew.com

*pr samples were generously provided to me for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own.

NeoStrata Aqua Youth Filling Anti-Wrinkle Creams ~ First Impressions

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a naturally occuring substance found in our skin. HA has the ability to attract and hold large amounts of moisture, which help to keep our skin hydrated and supple.  At its peak in our youth, it tends to decline as we age. As our HA levels deplete we start to notice slackening of skin, loss of pliability and radiance. Luckily, you can add hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine!

NeoStrata, often on the forefront of drugstore skincare, has recently launched a specific line of products full of hyaluronic acid. Aqua Youth Filling Anti-Wrinkle Creams contain 2x  HA (0.2% to be exact) to fill in wrinkles, crows feet and to provide intense hydration. There are two products in this line; Aqua Youth Filling Anti-Wrinkle Cream and Aqua Youth Filling Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream. Both contain 0.2% HA and claim to provide intense hydration immediately and continuously for up to 48hrs. These creams are suitable for all skin types, but dehydrated types will benefit the most. They're non-comedogenic and non-irritating, so even those with sensitive skin can use them.

Aqua Youth Filling Anti-Wrinkle Cream ($49, 50 ml) is not a new product, rather a reformulated one. I've used the original and liked it, although I didn't find it to be super special. In all fairness, my skin was more combo then, whereas now I'm quite dry and dehydrated. It's probably not going to come as a shock when I say that I can appreciate this cream a lot more today than I did a few years ago. My skin soaks up the HA and feels amazing after. I'm hydrated, I glow and I'm smooth - a win.

I have a love-hate relationship when it comes to eye cream. I've been wearing them since turning 20 and it shows - my eyes look pretty darn good for someone in their 30s! But, my eye area is crazy sensitive and reactive. I have to be careful what I use otherwise I'll end up with eczema. I'm happy to say that NeoStrata's Aqua Youth Filling Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream ($39, 15 ml) passed the sensitivity test!

Usually I'm pretty 'meh' when it comes to fancy applicators on eye creams but I'm digging this one. I like how the cream comes out on one side and on the other there is a metal massaging tool. It actually fits my under eye well and feels really soothing. I don't get nearly as much sleep as I should, and my tired eyes appreciate the cooling sensation. The cream itself is lightweight, fast absorbing and very hydrating. I notice that the few line lines I have plump up and are less noticeable. I would (and likely will) purchase this in the future.

You can find these and other NeoStrata products in-store at Shoppers Drug Mart, online at beautyboutique.ca and well.ca

*press samples were generously provided for editorial consideration. As always, all opinions are my own!