Vicki’s January Beauty Faves

Is it just me or did January seem to come and go in the blink of an eye? Normally the first month of the year starts off fairly slow as we all ease out of holiday mode, but this year 2023 came roaring in and I find myself already looking forward to spring. Despite the frightful bit of cold the West Coast endured, it wasn’t without its perks. More time indoors means more time to try out new beauty products. Below are some of my faves from the first month of the year. —Vicki Duong

makeup by mario foundation. Can Mario Dedivanovic do no wrong? Famously known as Kim Kardashian’s primary MUA, when Dedivanovic launched his own cosmetic line expectations were at an all-time high to deliver artist-worthy results. With his newest launch, SurrealSkin Liquid Foundation ($55), the brand once again knocks it out of the park. This foundation leaves a natural finish that lasts all-day while never looking cakey or dry and truly just enhances your skin with barely detectable coverage.

peace out acne day dots. We love a good blemish patch to zap breakouts with minimal downtime. While little happy faces or colourful stars as pimple patches are cute while we catch our z’s, having a discreet option allows us to soak up the benefits even when we’re out running errands. Enter the new Acne Day Dots ($25) from Peace Out Skincare, a thinner and barely visible version of their classic. Not only does the salicylic acid and retinol minimise the look of that pesky pimple, but the patch is so thin that you can even wear makeup over top!

innisfree green tea eye serum. Massage your undereyes with a cooling massage when you opt for the new Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Eye Serum ($28) from best-selling Korean brand, Innisfree. Not only does it reduce the look of puffy eyes and boost hydration, but the serum is lightweight enough to be used on other delicate areas of your face. We love it to target smile lines and even our forehead! 

charlotte tilbury hollywood glow glide. With strobing and highlighting coming back into trend, brands are coming out with new brightening and shimmering hues. Known as the queen of glow, Charlotte Tilbury is back with a brand new highlighter, the Glow Glide Face Architect ($58), available in six different flattering shades. What makes this powder highlight so seamless on the skin is the addition of squalane, a skincare superstar that helps the product apply onto the skin like a liquid for an instant glow boost. 

dear lucy marine antioxidant serum. New to the scene, the Dear Lucy Marine Antioxidant Serum ($140) has already become a skincare staple in our routines. This Vancouver-based brand delivers a highly effective serum with Vitamin C for brightening and smoothing and seaweed from Nova Scotia which protects your skin from oxidative stress minimising the look of dark spots. Need another reason to love this Canadian brand? Dear Lucy also has a strong commitment to sustainability using post-consumer recycled refillable packaging.

jvn hair foam. Pumping up the volume has never been easier than with the new Embody Volumizing Foam ($38) from JVN. We love that it lifts our tresses from the roots but never leaves a crunchy finish. It leaves a sweet scent blend of sandalwood and amber that lingers in your locks similar to a hair fragrance. We also love that it’s certified clean at Sephora and is packaging in a non-aerosol can making it easy to recycle once finished.

l’oréal telescopic lift mascara. Is the mascara that caused #lashgate on TikTok really worth the hype? We tried it and we’re happy to report that the L’oréal Telescopic Lift mascara ($20) is worth the press it’s been getting. The unique double hook bristles provide unreal length, lift and volume that gives the look of falsies without dealing with lash glue while the side combs provides separation for an impactful look. The drama definitely wasn’t just reserved for influencers online when it comes to this mascara.

versed recovery mode night cream. Using a different moisturizer in the evening allows us to utilise more heavy-duty skincare ingredients that may not wear well with makeup or SPF. Lately we’ve been opting for a lightweight gel in the AM and a rich cream in the evening, our current being the Versed Recovery Mode Advanced Night Cream ($34). On a cellular level, this cream helps smooth skin and soften fine lines and wrinkles, while antioxidants help fend off free-radicals (read: from pollution and excess screen time).

smashbox primers. The thing with cold weather is that it can leave our skin looking red and inflamed. That’s why we’ve swapped out our makeup primer with this colour-correcting primer ($52) from Smashbox. The green hue helps neutralize redness while a blend of skincare ingredients helps nourish and balance your skin making it a primer that can be worn without foundation while still enhancing your look. Lately, we’ve been all about multi-priming using the green hue across the cheeks and the hydrating version across our t-zone.  

lush grass shower gel. While we might be in a new year, some old favourites come out to play with Lush Cosmetics re-releasing some of their fan faves from the vault and back onto retail shelves. One of our all-time favourites, Grass Shower Gel ($26) is back to provide a fresh scent to your next lather sesh. Wheatgrass adds a signature green hue and bright fragrance, while the addition of neroli and sandalwood softens the scent.