Amie Skincare

If you're in the market for a new and affordable skincare line, you might be interested in British brand Amie which officially launched in Canada just last month. Specifically targeted to those with sensitive skin, the products contain no harsh chemicals or parabens. In fact, 95% of the ingredients used in each product are natural botanical/plant extracts, making the range vegetarian-/vegan-friendly (no animal testing here!)

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at few of Amie's award-winning products and have really been liking them so far.

Radiant Dawn Exfoliating Daily Wash ($10 CAD) has been a refreshing cleanser for sleepy mornings with its green apple scent. The Vitamin E bursting beads are a little larger than I typically use with exfoliating cleansers but they thankfully don't feel harsh on the skin.

Spring Clean Deep Cleansing Mask ($12 CAD) is a deep cleansing mask that you apply for 10 minutes once or twice a week. I love a good mask and this one leaves my skin feeling nice and soft afterwards.

Morning Dew Matte-Finish Moisturiser ($12 CAD) is supposed to control oiliness and shine (so perfect for oily skinned girls like myself). I actually haven't really noticed a matte effect from using this moisturizer (maybe my skin is too oily!) but no breakouts either which is still a plus.

Morning Light Hydrating Daily Moisturiser ($12 CAD) is better for drier skin types. It's rich in rose extract, rose hip oil, and mallow, which makes for a super delicious scent combination.

Amie Skincare is available exclusively at select Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada.

Mes Vacances: Montreal

After Quebec City, I headed off to Montreal which, despite its relative close proximity to my hometown of Toronto, I'd only visited once... and that was when I was 14. Obviously my visit was much different this time around.

With only a weekend in the city, my friends and I pounded the pavement quite a bit, making sure to check out typical attractions such as the Old Port of Montreal.

Climbing to the top of Mont Royal for a view of the city was also in order.

And what better way to top off a carb-filled girls weekend than with lots of chocolate, authentic Montreal bagels, and poutine? Yum!

OSiS+ Wax Dust

Think about this concept for a second: a hair wax that is actually a powder. Whaaaaatttt? Ever the innovators in all things hair, Schwarzkopf Professional recently launched OSiS+ Wax Dust ($23.50 CAD), a new product that is kind of incredible.

Like the popular Dust It, Wax Dust comes in a small 15 g shaker bottle. However, the powder inside is formulated to transform into a light creamy wax consistency in the palms of your hands. This means you get all the benefits of a wax while maintaining a dry, texturized style that's remouldable and without the heavy buildup.

To use it, I typically sprinkle a small amount of powder directly onto my hair and use my hands to work the product through, twisting strands to create texture as I go. It's important not to use too much product as it can get a little sticky -- particularly at the roots if your hair tends to get greasy. Wax Dust also has no discernible scent and blends in easily despite being white in colour so you don't need to worry if you've got dark hair like me!