Cosmetics are notoriously difficult to recycle. In fact, of 120 billion units of plastic packaging produced globally by the beauty industry, less than nine percent (!) actually get recycled. Thankfully, initiatives like Nordstrom’s new Beautycycle program have made it easier than ever to responsibly dispose of your empties. Simply drop off your beauty product packaging at any Nordstrom Canada store and the retailer will send it off to be cleaned, sorted and recycled into new materials. Through this program, Nordstrom set a goal to take back 100 tons of hard-to-recycle beauty packaging by 2025 — how’s that for an Earth Month celebration?

The future of French beauty is here — and it’s cleaner, more sustainable, and oh-so very chic. Enter The Detox Market French Capsule, an expertly curated capsule collection of five French brands—Yodi, Z&MA, Kadalys, Kure Bazaar and Huygens— aimed at showcasing the best of the best (or should we say, the crème de la crème?) in French clean beauty. Whether you’re looking for a French beauty starter pack (see Z&MA), waterless shampoo, or your next favourite lip balm, each offering tells a unique story.

 

 

Japanese-inspired skincare brand Boscia highlights all things fruity in their latest mask, Berry Blend Smoothing Facial ($68). Vitamin-rich strawberry and blueberry extracts meet pomegranate and blackcurrant enzymes and an apple-derived acid complex to gently polish, brighten and smooth the skin. Use twice a week for extra glow points.

Leave it to model and entrepreneur Miranda Kerr to dream up a moisturizer that looks (and acts) like a pot of skincare gold. Kora Organics Turmeric Glow Moisturizer ($75) blends turmeric, licorice, and noni fruit liposomes with marine microalgae, fermented probiotics and desert date, rosehip and maracuja oils to give your skin a next-level glow. Did we mention the glass jar is refillable? Just pop in a new pod and lock it into place when you need a re-up. Simple and elegant.

Fort the look of bee-stung lips without the filler, try this budget-friendly pick from Physicians Formula. Available in two translucent pink shades, Mineral Wear Diamond Lip Plumper ($12) instantly plumps up lips for a fuller look. And yes, it does tingle upon application, but in the most pleasant way — promise!

Extend the life of your blonde ‘do with Amika Bust Your Brass Intense Repair Mask ($63). Designed to moisturize and tone hair at the same time, this reparative mask relies on bond cure technology and a bevvy of plant butters to make your hair 2x stronger with 56 percent less breakage after a single application. Colour us impressed.

Redness and irritation are yesterday’s problem with this new collection from French pharmacy favourite Avène. The new Tolérance Control (from $30) range is specifically designed to quell hypersensitivity, allergic reactions and skin intolerances caused by environmental and physical factors, decreasing burning and tingling sensations while calming the skin in under 30 seconds.

Missing spa weekends? Us too. That’s why we love Eluo Beauty’s latest Forma Terra ($64), a mineral-rich detoxifying bath treatment that’s nothing short of immersive. Infused with soothing oats, dead sea salt, kaolin clay, aloe vera and jojoba oil and scented with sandalwood, patchouli, lavender and bergamot, this skin-softening bath soak is relaxing in every way. The neatest bit? The bottle includes a scannable QR code that directs your phone to play a calming sound bath meditation, commissioned by Faye Mallett. Dim the lights, grab your favourite candle and get ready to unwind.

 

 

Get your summer body in check (AKA your regular body, but shinier and more hydrated) with a generous application of Pivot Plant-Based Nourishing Body Oil ($49). Its primary ingredient, avocado oil, softens skin, while additional oils like rice bran, marula, camellia seed, frankincense and rose geranium improve tone and texture, thanks to their high vitamin and antioxidant content.

The latest addition to Rodan and Fields’ extensive lineup of skincare essentials, Rodan and Fields Targeted Dark Spot Corrector ($76) is a must-have if you’re trying to diminish dark spots. Formulated with a proprietary ToneRF and RF3 Antioxidant Complex, it targets discoloration caused by blemishes, sun exposure, hormonal imbalances and age to create a more uniform, clear-looking complexion.

Before layering on serums, SPF and self-tanners this summer, be sure to tone and exfoliate: this crucial step transforms your skin into a smooth canvas, ready to drink up whatever you layer atop of it. We love REN Summer Limited Edition Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic ($49), which gently buffs away dull skin cells with pore-unclogging ingredients like lactic acid and willow bark-derived salicin, while antioxidant-packed organic cucumber defends against external aggressors.

Whether your goal is to banish blemishes or increase moisture levels (or both!), Wildcraft Wet & Dry Face Masks (from $32) have you covered. Made with gentle ingredients like organic honey, pomegranate seed oil and French green clay, these wallet-friendly and Canadian-made gems can be used together (try the Detox mask around oily areas like the T-Zone and Nourish where you’re feeling dry), or on their own, depending on what your skin needs that day.

Improve the strength of your skin barrier, reduce redness and increase collagen production in the skin with this probiotic-rich water cream from New Zealand skincare brand Antipodes. Made with sustainably sourced packaging and totally vegan, Culture Probiotic Night Recovery Water Cream ($70) delivers healthy-looking skin overnight.

Tackle dry skin all over with MIFA’s latest serum, MIFA All-Over Skin Dew ($60). Lightly scented with rose, bergamot and sandalwood essential oils, this silky-smooth serum works wonders as a nourishing treatment alone or under your favourite moisturizer or oil. Pro tip: apply on slightly damp skin immediately after showering or bathing to lock in as much moisture as possible. Thank us later.