Vicki’s August Beauty Faves

With days getting shorter and temps beginning to drop, I’m slowly starting to get into a fall state of mind. For me, that means switching up my skincare routine to focus on hydration during the changing season, and picking out transitional cosmetics that suit a variety of trends. Some of my faves for these purposes below. —Vicki Duong

céla. A good skincare routine starts with a good cleanser and the Glacier Clay Cleanser ($50) from Céla checks all of the boxes. It’s gentle enough to leave your skin feeling cleansed without stripping, yet effective enough to remove makeup and promote skin turnover. Plus the bold packaging is like the ingredients inside, inspired by Canadian nature, making it an eye-catching detail to any vanity.

kim chi chic. With Shoppers Drug Mart continuing to expand their beauty offerings, Canadians finally have the opportunity to shop Kim Chi Chic Beauty. Created by drag queen superstar, Kim Chi of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame, every item is an extension of her love of makeup while also formulated to last throughout any performance. My personal fave is the set and bake powder ($25), a translucent loose powder that absorbs sweat and oil while a silica blend naturally reflects light, no flashback here!  

l’oreal. Add a pop of colour to your eye look with the brightly hued mascaras from L’oreal. Formulated with their ever-iconic Voluminous blend ($13) that promises to build volume and thickness without flakes or clumps, fun tones include cobalt blue, burgundy and even a deep forest green! Feeling a bid timid of coloured mascaras? Try wearing it on just the bottom lashes for a subtle look.

clarins. When it comes to a flawless complexion, I am always looking for skincare products that play well with makeup to make for easy layering. The Clarins Beauty Flash Balm ($54) combines a boost of radiance and hydration of a light mask with the smoothing texture of a primer. I have been using this specifically on my t-zone to combat oil and leave my skin with a filter-like finish.

st. tropez. While I’m looking forward to getting cozy and staying in, that doesn’t mean I am ready to let go of my summer glow quite yet. Thankfully with St. Tropez’s Self Tan Luxe Whipped Creme Mousse ($59) I’ll be looking sunkissed for months to come. What sets St. Tropez’s mousse above their competitors is that it truly is fool-proof and easy to apply and blend. Plus the blend of magnolia, wild cocoa and sandalwood transports you to a tropical state-of-mind.

dermalogica. We all know and love the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, but did you know that they recently added an even more gentle exfoliator to their line up? Enter Daily Milkfoliant ($87), a vegan-based powder cleanser formulated with a blend of coconut milk and oat bran extract to nourish your skin while it cleans. It’s even gentle enough for daily use!

fenty beauty. Other than releasing new music, is there anything that Rihanna can’t do? Fenty Beauty recently launched new tones of their Contour Skinstick ($36) to feature a more inclusive range to better suit more skin tones and undertones. Sculpting your face has never been easier, plus a stick applicator makes for precise application.

jvn hair. Get a salon quality blowout from the comfort of your own home with the newest addition to the JVN Hair lineup. The Complete Blowout Styling Milk ($34) is a one-step wonder that provides lightweight styling while also protecting your tresses from heat stressors. The superstar ingredient is hemisqualane, a silicone alternative that improves your locks’ health and strength with continuous use.

batch skincare. When food is kept in the fridge and made-to-order that’s a good sign that it’s as fresh as possible, right? Well, new Canadian brand Batch applies the same logic to their body creams. Their nourishing blend is made without parabens or synthetic oils and are available in unscented and scented options. My personal fave is the Zest Body Cream ($25) that smells like a mimosa without the hangover.

multi. When it comes to treating blemishes, not all patches are made equal. Aiming to shake up the skincare and wellness space, Multi is a new BIPOC and female-owned brand that aims to inspire their clientele with the simple mantra of feeling good leads to doing good. Their launch product includes a chic refillable case ($42 USD)with an organic shape and magnetic closure that securely stores their happy-face hydrocolloid patches, clinically proven to absorb moisture and reduce inflammation.