Did you know that you’re supposed to leave the sticker on the Imperial Leather soap so that it doesn’t get mushy in the shower? The scent is so addictive and no, it doesn’t smell like leather. It’s slightly spicy, faintly like cinnamon, or myrrh, and then soapy, musky.

You know when you get back from a vacation and realize how much you missed some of your things….

Like this Keratin Works mask which is so smoothing that it’s like straight-up sorcery. I love it, and this brand.

I’m using the Amika Overnight Hydration treatment again and it’s so light and weightless. I sometimes even use it on wet hair and let that air dry, the result is frizz-proof hair that is not weighed down or shiny in the way that it would be with a hair serum.  I also sometimes use this as a pre-wash, put it all over my hair and then go in and shampoo.  I like to wash my hair regularly because of sweat from working out, but this at least protects the strands while the shampoo cleans my scalp.

The XO Treatment Room Wink brow and lash serum is amazing but I didn’t know why.  After talking to Annie, who formulated it, I found out that it has 5% of each of the two peptides that actually effect keratin. Do all the other serums use this much, we don’t know, because they don’t disclose.

Fenty Beauty blotting powder is in rotation. It’s great for setting makeup or sunscreen. Totally clear. Sets but doesn’t necessarily prevent skin from getting oily again.

New Murad sunscreen is a Lookfantastic.ca exclusive. It’s completely clear even though it’s all mineral.  The cost is $119 but it’s clear, sets kind of matte, long-wearing, moisturizing, and just a nice sunscreen.  Mineral sunscreens have come a long long way, and I’m so glad for that.  You can find a clear mineral sunscreen easily at Sephora or a high-end skincare retailer, and all the really popular ones like Biossance, or Salt and Stone are actually clear despite having a zinc percentage of 16 or 17 percent, so go in without makeup, try them on your own face and see for yourself.