Without doubt, this product has changed my life. Every 10-14 days I use the scrub in place of my regular shampoo to relieve my hair of product build up. After use, my hair is fluffier, brighter in colour and very clean. This product alone can be a confidence boost. The scrub is a fantastic gift for someone who uses products like argon oil and cream-based hair products regularly. No BS, the purifying scrub is extremely effective and everyone needs it.

Yin Powder – (Everyone deserves wellness!!!) $150

Adaptogens are in the spotlight lately— and for good reason. Choosing the right adaptogen to suit your routine can be overwhelming. Don’t fret, we carry one that does it all; Sun Potion’s Yin Powder. Yin Powder is an energetic blend composed of wide variety of organic and wild harvested herbs. It’s formulated to support women’s health, targeting mental clarity, hormonal balance, emotional equilibrium and cellular regeneration (a.k.a. radiance). In effect, adding Yin Powder it to a smoothie, matcha or almond milk latte might give you super powers.

*Note: We don't have Yin Power in stock but we have Ashwagandha and it's amazing! 

Ilia Highlight – Polka Dots & Moonbeams $42

This is the kind of product that if Ilia were to ever discontinue it *knock on wood*, I would stock up. This is the most reliable product in my makeup bag; if all else fails, at least my highlight is a sure thing. The Ilia illuminator is an easy to apply, cream-based formula. Known for restoring vitality in the skin, the illuminator has some fun ingredients in it like orange peel wax, rosehip oil and avocado oil. It’s a staple if you’re aiming for an effortless, healthy glow (no sparkles, no glitter). For gift giving purposes, polka dots & moonbeams has light undertones and is most suitable for fairer complexions; while cosmic dancer has warm, gold undertones. Further comments? It is unparalleled. Also, it lasted me ten months of everyday use. I could write an essay about this product.

Omorovicza - Queen of Hungary Mist, $110

Are you shopping for a makeup enthusiast who has it all? Omorovicza’s Queen of Hungary Mist would be a lovely gift for this person. As India puts it, this is the face mist you didn't know you needed. The neroli and rose scented mist is inspired by the formula used way back when by the ever-so-fair Queen of Hungary. This face mist acts as a setting spray or a post-cleanse toner and is a seamless edition to a skincare and makeup routine. I have a very hard time walking past my Queen of Hungary Mist without spritzing it on my face.

Guys, hello! While we have a whole tab on our website dedicated to great gifts and gift sets at a variety of prices, I thought I would break it down for you further and pick out gifts for some special types of people who you might be needing to buy something for.

The Hostess Gift/The Surprise Gift Giver

MYHAPPYSOAP(s)

These chic, minimalist Marseille soaps smell and look amazing. They are the perfect gift for any hostess with the mostess, but they're also great to have in your gift arsenal just in case some kind soul surprises you with a little gift and you need something to give them in return. 

Favourite scents: Santal, Thé Noir, Lavande

Your Mom

Meet Joelle Ciocco, celebrity facialist and Patron Saint of chic French vibes . Maybe you’ve seen her products while scrolling through your Instagram feed, in a photo of some cool fashion editor’s bathroom counter, or maybe you’ve read a quote of hers in the beauty section of French Vogue. Maybe you’ve never even heard her name at all. Either way, you probably have a few questions.

“How do I pronounce her name?”

“Why haven’t I heard of this line before?”

and most importantly,

“What do her products do and which ones are right for my skin?”

Well friends, today you are in luck because I am about to drop some serious skincare knowledge.

First things first, her last name is pronounced “see-oh-ko”. This seems counterintuitive because you’d think it would be pronounced more Italian, like “chee-oh-ko”, but alas, this is how she was introduced to me when I met her in Paris (btw, she is the most lovely), so this is how I will pronounce her name.

Why haven’t you heard of this Joelle Ciocco before? Probably because, even though it’s been around for thirty years, the line is incredibly hard to get— but you can get it from me! Also, these products seriously work, to the point where you want to shout Mme Ciocco’s name from roof tops, but also tell no one at all for fear that others will be onto you. Once you start using this skincare, it feels as though you have discovered some kind of break in the space-time continuum where you began your life as an average, boring North American and you have emerged transformed into a cool, elusive French girl who subsists entirely off of coffee and baguette with cold, unsalted butter, yet has a perfect body, has hair that is dirty in a chic way and not a dirty way, lives in a state of perpetual endearing/mysterious ennui and, most importantly, has glowing skin. Joelle Ciocco is a French girl's best-kept secret. 

I know, by now you’re probably like “India, SIGN. ME. UP.”

But then you look at the bottles of product. The labels are mostly in French, with ambiguous, indirect English translations that don’t necessarily even describe what it is the products do. This is part of the allure, trust me. Don’t worry, though. This is why I’m here.

Let me to break down her most iconic products for you. In a later instalment, I’ll dive a little deeper into masks, serums and oils, but for now, let’s just start with the basics.

First off, Joelle Ciocco is all about being incredibly gentle to the skin. If the skin is treated with care, it will balance and regenerate itself and do everything that skin is supposed to do, which is impart a glow so dewy and bright that it can be seen from space. Exaggeration? Perhaps, but who cares. In order to achieve said balance, there must be no harsh exfoliation, but instead, a serious focus on cleansing in a way that doesn’t strip the skin of any of its natural oils. Joelle believes in double-cleansing— first to wash away any makeup, second to get down deep into the pores— but only at night, when it is necessary after a long day of exposing yourself to the dirty, dirty outside world. You then follow with a toner, which ensures that you’ve properly removed all the makeup/grime/pollution from your face, and balances the pH of the skin. In the morning, no cleansing is needed. Instead, begin your routine with the aforementioned toner to gently wipe off any product from the night before and to “wake up” your complexion.

Okay, are you ready? I’m ready.

Cleansers

Of all of the cleansers, this is one covers the most ground. It can be used on your body, hair and face. However, it is not wildly powerful, which makes it not so ideal for removing makeup, but perfect for your gym bag. After all, no one should be sweating in heavy makeup anyways. Use this cleanser post-workout to eliminate the chance of clogged pores. If you’re feeling generous, let your boyfriend use it too because it is a great cleanser for men.

Sensitive Cleansing Milk

This cleanser should be the staple of everyone’s skincare routines. It is suited for all skin types and concerns. If you don’t typically wear face makeup or sunscreen, this is the only cleanser you need. Use it twice in a row in the evenings and you’re good to go.

Oh man, this stuff is my absolute favourite. This cleanser is the souped up version of the sensitive cleansing milk. It is intended for removing makeup and sunscreen prior to cleansing with the SCM. It is rich without being greasy, leaves your skin feeling squeaky clean without your face feeling tight. Maybe I’m uncool, but I look forward to washing my face with this every night.

This cleanser is not intended for removing makeup. It is meant for the second cleanse, after the SCM or the GCC. The name is a pretty good indication of what it does as it is meant for oily or blemish-prone skin. Use it as a cleanser (duh) or dab it on pimples and leave it overnight as a targeted spot treatment.

Toners

I know, you might think that toners are old school. In many ways they are, but that’s what I love about them. Toners feel like easy luxury and unlike the ones of the past, Joelle’s do not contain alcohol. Like the wise Patrick Bateman once said, alcohol dries your skin out, which can make you look old.

Perfecting Lotion

This is the go-to toner that suits almost every skin type. Oh man, does it feel nice. To be honest, it doesn’t require that much explanation. Use it first thing in the morning, before applying the rest of your products and then use it at night, after cleansing.

Botanical Lotion

This toner is intended for blemish-prone, oily skin, or skin with enlarged pores. It is best when paired with the Secret Clear Foaming Cleanser.

You’re probably wondering what these are. To be honest, I wonder sometimes, too. These are meant to be used after your toner, in the morning. They act as a magical protective shield that keeps the bad stuff out and your French girl allure locked in deep down inside you.

Skin Defensive

This is your protection against all of the nasty things you experience in day to day urban life. Wear it every morning, rest easy knowing that there is another layer between your skin and the outside world.

Thermoregulatory Lotion

This is the ultimate pairing for sunscreen. Use this instead of the skin defensive, all year round if you live in a hot climate, or in the summer when the temperatures have raised. This essentially helps to control the temperature of your skin when it is hot out. Pretty cool, right?

Moisturizers

There are quite a few moisturizers, but let’s stick to the most basic one for now.

Sensitive Skin Cream

This is the ultimate gentle skin lotion that suits almost everyone. It hydrates without being greasy and can be used on even the most sensitive complexions.

This is the lighter of the eye creams that is great for under eye circles and puffiness.

Intensive Eye Care

The more heavy duty of the eye creams. This can be layered over top of Eyelisse or it can be used on its own to target dry or mature skin. 

Just hit the gym? or are you a guy?

Wash your face with the All-In-One Cleanser, follow with your regular routine.

Okay, go forth and introduce yourself to the cult that is Joelle Ciocco skincare. Focus on taking the time to properly double cleanse each evening. Be gentle! Now is not the time to be bringing out the Clarisonic. If you need some help, I highly recommend this video.

For your skincare-related pleasure, I have assembled a little Joelle Ciocco Introductory Kit that features her most important essentials. You can find it here. 

You’ll know it’s working when people start asking you how you’ve gotten your glow. It’s up to you if you tell them your secret or not.*

*For real though, if you could please tell them how and where you got your skincare that would be great.

So I’m going to Toronto tomorrow for a little spur of the moment trip for my friend’s birthday and I’m taking the red eye there because, you know, efficiency (why waste a day on travelling?). Unfortunately, this will definitely mean that I will arrive in the six early Friday morning looking haggard AF. I know, I know, reading this you guys are probably like “but India, what are you going to do about it??”. To be perfectly honest, I typically just show up at the airport bare faced and ready to fully embody the look of the weary traveller. But for the sake of this article, and because products are fun— after all, this is what I do for a living— I am choosing to embrace the in flight beauty routine.

There are lots of beauty aficionados out there who will lay out their complicated routines for you, but I’m going to keep this pretty simple.

Here’s what I’m packing:

 Water!!

This is so important. I don’t care how much the plane bathroom scares you (will you be sucked out into the air when you flush the toilet??? Questions I ask myself while in the air at 2 am), drink as much water as you can.

Regardless of whether or not you like to wear makeup to the airport, it’s nice to give yourself a little cleanse once you get onto the plane. After all, if it’s a red eye, you should wash your face like you would be getting ready to go to bed at home.

It’s hard to add moisture on a plane filled with recirculated air, so I like to try to lock it in with a thick waxy balm. Reapply frequently.

When my mom first saw this tiny tube of hand cream, she was like “wtf that is the stupidest thing I have ever seen” and I kind of agreed. But it really is the perfect size for the plane and it is s’cuuuute.

Planes are dirty, enough said. This blend of essential oils is effective at killing germs without smelling like poison.

I love a good face mist and this one is small and refreshing. Reapply throughout the flight to maintain optimal dewiness.

The novelty of doing a sheet mask on a plane might make some people roll their eyes, but this sheet mask really is amazing at plumping and refreshing skin. Do this closer to landing to roll up to your destination looking a little less like you just spent a night 40000 feet above ground.

A little concealer, some cream blush, mascara, and lipstick. Enough to look alive and to tide you over until you have access to a proper mirror with lighting that isn’t entirely terrifying.