Beauty

Meet The Skin Products That Our Editors Actually Use

We know you've always wanted to look as fresh-faced as a magazine editor.

By Steve Burgess /

Lululemon Face Moisturizer, $14 

There was a time when I ignored moisturizer, when I assumed such potions were the sole purview of dandies and fancy pants. And then I got old. And I started to look older. And that sucked. So for years I would use a no-nonsense facial moisturizer from Trader Joe’s with 15 SPF. It was cheap, I slapped it on my face after a shower and for a while it helped staunch the march of time. But once I started to look like a cross between Robert Redford (present day Robert Redford) and Danny Trejo, I realized cheap and cheerful wasn’t going to cut it. I, and I can’t believe I’m writing this phrase...needed to get serious about my face care regimen. And that’s where this sweet little number from Lululemon comes in. I didn’t even know the Vancouver brand even made beauty products until someone recommended on the basis that it’s made to use after your workout, which for me means right after my post-workout shower. (Is there really anyone who puts on moisturizer right after a workout?). And it’s now my daily go-to. Compared to the Trader Joe’s, in has a much denser application that seems to be dialled in to fighting the crow’s feet (another phrase I didn’t plan on using ever) and other various facial ravines. Also the packaging is very cool so that lessens the ponce factor. Two provisos: it smells a little odd. Not bad, but there’s definitely no scent here, so don’t throw out that atomizer of Drakkar Noir just yet. Also, it seems to be discounted on the website. I don’t know if this means it’s soon to be gonzo or if they’re just trying to get people excited, but I’d feel horrible if I got you hooked on this just in time to have them discontinue it, because it’s legitimately made me look like a one of the Jonas Brothers.—Neal McLennan, food editor

Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser, $30 

My actual skincare saviour is a prescription acne medication—I’m not 15, and if someone could let my sebaceous glands know, that would be great—but I’m going to up the sex appeal a bit and talk about Clinique rinse-off foaming cleanser. Like many little girls whose mothers were complete suckers for “Clinique Bonus” season at The Bay, my first introduction to cosmetics was chubby sticks and inch-long mascara samples. Our family calendar might as well have read “Clinique Bonus Month 1” and “Clinique Bonus Month 2″ instead of March and September. The best thing to come out of my mom’s apparent goal to collect as many cosmetic bags as possible was my introduction to the foaming cleanser. It works crazy well; my face is literally squeaky clean after using. It’s unscented, which probably helps in not irritating my very irritable skin (seriously, I could use some dermatologic anger management). Plus, it only takes a little to get the job done, so the $30 tube lasts a long time—from Clinique Bonus Month 1 well past Clinique Bonus Month 2.—Alyssa Hirose, assistant editor

Caudalie Make-Up Removing Cleansing Oil, $37

In the summer (and frankly, for a good chunk of the rest of the year), I’m one of those classy people who always seems to have a smear of mascara under my eyes, so I started wearing waterproof most of the time. The biggest issue with that, of course is removing it—I wince at the weird chemicals needed to get the spackle off. When I complained to a makeup artist about my dilemma—that, and the waste of throwing out cotton makeup-removing pads every night—she got me onto cleansing oils. I’ve recently become enamoured with the whole Caudalie line—it’s paraben-free, and their SOS Thirst-Quenching serum is a godsend in winter—and I’m particularly in love with their Make-Up Removing Cleansing Oil. It smells like almonds, deals with my makeup pronto and leaves my skin feeling both clean and soft. And don’t fear (as I did) if you have oily skin (as I do)—this oil’s designed to emulsify in water, so it rinses away clean.—Anicka Quin, editorial director

Alba Botanica’s Very Emollient Cream Shave, Mango Vanilla, $7

If I wasn’t in a relationship with someone who places a strong value on natural, organic products that don’t have aluminum and (fingers crossed!) won’t give you skin cancer, I’d probably still be plucking whatever was cheapest off the aisle at Shoppers and slopping it on myself.

For example, even though I’ve found an awesome natural deodorant after some trial and error, I still kind of miss Old Spice Fiji. And Terry Crews.

But having a face that is famously baby, I didn’t have an emotional relationship with my shaving cream choices. Alba Botanica’s mango vanilla cream swept me right off my feet. It’s all-natural, yes, but it’s also super smooth and makes you smell like a godamn pie. If you’re not into mango and vanilla (who hurt you?), you can also go with their coconut lime version. Or the unscented one if you’re that kind of person. Don’t be that kind of person.—Nathan Caddell, associate editor

Lush Cosmetic Lad Moisturizer, $26

When I worked on a honeybee tourist centre during university (I know, I’m such a college-kid cliché!), we used to occasionally hold spa nights for customers with the help of Cindy, our extremely proactive Burt’s Bees salesperson. Well, “spa” is perhaps a generous way to describe a night of drinking wine and testing lip balms next to a plexiglass observation hive, but it felt like a luxurious break after a day power-washing out a honey tank or calming down a terrified kindergarten class that you accidentally swore in front of when you somehow got stung by a bee and a wasp during a field trip demo. Anyways, it was during one of these indulgent beauty nights on the farm that Cindy said something I’ve never fact-checked, but instinctively believe: “Anything you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body—if you wouldn’t put it in your mouth, why would you put it on your face?” While I’ve moved on from a loyally stocked medicine cabinet of Burt’s Bees products (no offence to ol’ BB), I try to keep that “go natural” sentiment in mind to this day. I’m a big Lush fan for that reason, and am currently stocking Cosmetic Lad moisturizer in my bathroom drawer to keep dry winter skin at bay without any unpronounceable (and presumably inedible) ingredients. It’s calming, it’s moisturizing and with an ingredients that includes aloe vera gel, lavender honey water, chamomile and organic almond oil, it’s nice to know that in a pinch, I could probably also spread it on toast. —Stacey McLachlan, executive editor