2018 Drugstore Beauty Favourites

I get pretty passionate when I'm talking about my favourite beauty products with my friends. Like I get really excited. I love trying new products, sussing out the best-of-the-best. And when I tell my friends all about the amazing products I've discovered, they always say I need to get the word out to more people about these cool products. So...here it is! I've teamed up with London Drugs, and one of my favourite London Drugs Beauty Experts, Sara, to share with you our curated list of our 2018 drugstore beauty favourites.

Learn about them all in the video here, and keep reading below for more of my thoughts on these awesome beauty products!

La Roche-Posay Serozinc (available at London Drugs)

This is one of the coolest products I've tried this year. I always wondered how people who use oil-blotting sheets did so without ruining their makeup. Well, there wasn't really a solution for that - until now! The La Roche-Posay Serozinc is an aerosol version of oil-blotting sheets, and does a great job of controlling oil on-the-go. Now, I don't have super oily skin, but I do find that by the end of the day my skin does look and feel a bit oily. And when I sprayed this on my face throughout the day, it definitely kept that at bay!

St. Tropez Self Tan Express Sheet Mask  (available at London Drugs)

Ok, so not a ton I can say about this product because my pale face is a little too afraid to try it, but it looked fantastic on Sara (who you'll see in the video above)! She looked like she just got back from Mexico! And I know she's a huge fan of St. Tropez' other self tanning products as well.

I have tried St. Tropez' tanning mousse before, and was actually really surprised how natural it looked on my skin - while giving me some good colour. So maybe there's hope for me yet!

Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighters  (available at London Drugs)

I should start by saying that I've been using Makeup Revolution highlighters ever since London Drugs started selling them. I first fell in love with their Baked Highlighter in Golden Lights. And I've been wearing that ever since. It has this beautiful golden glow to it that is really bold. And it's so recognizable that I've literally guessed someone else who was using it!

So needless to say I was pretty sure I was going to love their Liquid Highlighters, and I absolutely do. Starlight is the perfect shade for my skintone, and gives this beautiful shimmery glow. As Sara mentions in the video, the formula is made up of a very fine shimmer, as opposed to chunky glitter, which gives a more refined look. I also loved Sara's tip to try mixing the highlighter in with my Lancome Teint Idole foundation: it worked amazingly! You can see in the video, my skin is glowing all-over, without looking like a disco ball.

Lavido Alert Eye Cream  (available at London Drugs)

Well folks, as someone who is not a morning person, I was definitely drawn to this cream. Anything that promises to make my eyes look more alert in the morning!! Lavido is a really awesome new brand that is exclusive to London Drugs, and hails from Israel. It's natural and organic, which is a huge bonus. It has a lot of 'no's': no petroleum, no silicones, no parabens, no animal testing, no synthetic dyes...the list goes on. It's also gluten-free, vegan and recyclable!

This cream helps to brighten, moisturize and reduce puffiness around the eye area, and is formulated with plant-based hyaluronic acid (which I've very much come to love), cold-pressed avocado (yassss) and pomegranate seed oils and citrus extracts.

Prim + Proper Nail Lacquers  (available at London Drugs)

If you've watched the video above, you know I am totally and completely obsessed with Prim + Proper Nail Lacquer. You can find them exclusively at London Drugs, and let me tell you, I legitimately love these more than any other nail polish I own. They just apply so beautifully, and stay on so well. The brush is the perfect thickness for a quick and smooth application, and the formula is just the right consistency. With the darker/brighter colours, I can usually get away with just one coat! What's not to love?? Did I mention they're chip-free too? And I mean actually chip-free (that means a lot coming from me). Oh - and they're 7-free (free of bad things like Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate, Fromaldehyde, Fromaldehyde resin, Camphor, TPHP and Xylene). Win.

The shade Bloody Freezing is the perfect shade for fall - I love a good burgundy red this time of year!

Neutrogena Light Therapy Mask  (available at London Drugs)

When we were choosing the products to be featured in this video, I knew exactly who I wanted to test out this Light Therapy Mask from Neutrogena. My fellow Beauty Expert Sara has mentioned skin issues to me in the past, so I knew if someone would truly be able to report back on if it worked well, she would. I'm not going to lie, I wasn't sure it would really work, but only a week later, Sara came back to me, over the moon at the results she'd had after using the mask! I was pretty surprised, since most people say it takes a few weeks to see visible results. But the proof was there: her skin looked awesome!!

I know Neutrogena also has a stick version of the Light Therapy Mask, which can be used for more targeted treatment. Since my breakouts tend to be pretty isolated, I think that would be the better option for my skin - I'll let you know how it goes once I give it a try!

Weleda Skin Food Cream  (available at London Drugs)

I love when London Drugs gets in cool cult-favourite products I haven't had a chance to try yet! I'd heard about Weleda's Skin Food Cream before, but this year was the first time I was able to try it. It smells so good - a very natural straight-from-the-garden smell to it. And the texture is very rich, and feels comfortable on the hands, and not at all greasy. If your hands feel chapped this winter, this is a definite must-have.

It's hard not to love the Weleda brand as a whole, too. They're certified natural by NATRUE (which from everything I hear, is not an easy certification to achieve), meaning they have high standards of quality relating to sustainable production processes and environmentally friendly practices.

Derma-E Microdermabrasion Scrub (available at London Drugs)

I love a good scrub. And since I can't afford to treat myself to a microdermabrasion service at a salon on the regular....this scrub from Derma-E is a great alternative! The scrub particles are actually so fine, that you can't even see them when you open the packaging - it just looks 

And the best part? This brand is eco-friendly!! They're 100% vegan and cruelty-free, and don't contain parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates, petrolatum, mineral oil, artificial colours, gluten, soy or GMO's. And beyond product ingredients, Derma-E also makes big strides to lessen their impact on the environment with conservation efforts. Their packaging components are recyclable, and they make a point of offsetting 100% of their electricity usage with wind energy!

Happy Beautifying! xo

~ Britta

Rose Gold / Rose Blonde Hair Tutorial

I have definitely played around with hair colour way more in the last year than I have in my entire life! Why? Because temporary hair colours have gotten way better. I used to be pretty hesitant when a product claimed to be 'temporary', because with blonde hair, it never seems to be as temporary as it should be. But with L'Oreal's Colorista Spray 1-Day Colours, they really are!! You may have already seen my beauty video with London Drugs on the Pantone Colour of the Year Ultra Violet, where I used the Purple Colorista Spray. After using that one, I was so excited to try more colours.

So...when I caught wind that rose gold hair (also known as rose blonde hair) was going to be a big trend for 2018, I immediately knew I wanted to use the Colorista Spray in Rose Gold in a new video with London Drugs. Watch the video below to see how it turned out (spoiler alert: you're doing to want to run out and buy 10 cans!! Although it only took one and a bit for this look.).

I find with these sprays, they look better on hair that's curled, so I used the brand new Conair Infiniti Pro Meta e Meta to add some loose waves to the look. I am a huge fan of the Conair Infiniti Pro Curl Secret from years ago, so I was super keen to give this newer model a try. This one has both the capabilities of a curling iron and a flat iron in one, which is really cool. But really, I was most interested in the curling function. I'm glad to say, it's much improved over the earlier model. No more catching my hair! I still totally love the Curl Secret, but of course it's nice that the Meta e Meta improved on that. I find it's not as temperamental; if I put a bit too much or too little hair in, it still comes out curled.

If you're wondering in the video why I spray my hair with colour first before curling it, instead of the other way around, it's because I like to brush through the colour in order to blend it in better. If I curl my hair first, then I end up just brushing out the curls.

Anyway, watch the video to see the whole how-to! And when you're ready to give it a try? You can find everything you need for the look at London Drugs.

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Disclaimer: This video was sponsored by London Drugs. As always, opinions are my own!

The Blonde Melt

I've been having more fun with my hair colour in the last year, than I have in my entire life! In just the last few months, I've tried temporary pink, ultra violet and rose gold. But today, I'm going permanently...more blonde!

My go-to hair stylist is April at is. Salon in Yaletown, Vancouver. I've been going to her for years now, and she's the one who drastically chopped off my locks for the first time last year. She also created this incredibly creative hairstyle when I walk in the Brilliant runway fashion show a few years back. Needless to say, I trust her with my hair. So when April said she'd love to take my blonde hair lighter, I knew she'd do a killer job! Why am I sharing this with you today though? Because if you're not big on hair colour upkeep, but want to give colour a try, then you've got to try this look. It's called: the Blonde Melt!

As you can see from the foils below, April didn't colour all of my hair. She left enough of my real hair au naturel so that it would blend in perfectly with my new lightened strands. She did a combination of balayage and foiled babylights for the seemless finish you'll see here. Now, the key thing that makes this look perfect for low maintenance hair girls (myself included) is how April did my roots. She actually teased my roots before applying the colour and foils, so that not all of my roots were coloured - making the colour at the roots much more natural and blended with my real hair colour! This way, when my roots start to grow in, it'll be far softer and less noticeable. (AKA you can go a bit longer before having your roots done!)

You can probably also spot my glass of red wine and stack of magazines below, all ready to go. I thought the red wine was enough of a perk, and then I saw an adorable puppy walk on by my chair. So cute!! I'd keep coming back to is. Salon just to see that little cutie.

Before

After, blow dried

After, with flat iron curls

I asked April for tips on curling my hair with a flat iron - something I haven't given a whirl yet. I've been pretty faithful to my Curl Secret or overnight curls until now, but I've been wanting to try the look of flat iron curls. They're much more of an everyday look. April's most valuable piece of advice? You don't need to twist the flat iron around your hair a few times. You really only need to do about a half twist, and then just slowly pull along towards your ends. That makes it a whole lot faster to curl, and it still looks awesome!

I'm loving my brighter 'do! What do you think, blondes? Would you give this Blonde Melt look a try too?

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Disclaimer: Hair services from April at is. Salon were provided complimentary for review. As always, opinions are entirely my own.

LDBeauty Preview Event: Beauty Products I'm Excited to Try in 2018

Welcome to 2018! I've never been one for New Year's resolutions. Instead, I usually just like to look forward at the things I'm most excited for in the New Year. So I thought it would be the perfect time to share with you the beauty products I'm itching to try in the New Year.

Back in October, I had the opportunity to visit Whistler with London Drugs, to experience their LDBeauty Event. It's a huge showcase-style event hosted at the Fairmont Whistler, where London Drugs' beauty vendors present their latest and greatest products coming soon to London Drugs. I was joined by a bus full of some of the biggest beauty bloggers from across Western Canada, who also came for a peek at these exciting new product launches.

Take a look below for an insider look at the LDBeauty event (and the products being showcased), and then keep on scrolling to see which of the featured products I'm most excited to try this year! I bet some of them will be on your must-try list too. You can expect to see lots of them on my Friday beauty posts here throughout the year, in more detail. And of course, you can find them all at your local London Drugs.

Coat - Zara (similar) | Shirt - mandee (via Winners) (similar) | Pants - Zara | Purse - Karl Lagerfeld (similar) | Shoes - Me Too

Blogger buddies! Left to right: Samantha Sito, yours truly, The Urban Umbrella, Girl in Betsey

Clean Eau de Toilette, Annabelle Neo Chic Collection, St. Tropez Self Tan

La Roche Posay Serozinc, Emani vegan makeup, Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighter & Baking Powder

NeoStrata Hydrating & Plumping Sheet Masks, Kiss NY Pro Ombre Radiance Palettes, Marcelle Revival+ Skin Renewal

L'Oreal Colorista 1-Day Colour Spray, Anthony Glycolic Facial Cleanser, Crabtree & Evelyn 

Annabelle EyeInk Bubble Eyeliner & Annabelle Cream Blush

I'm a cat-eye girl through and through, but I'm looking to adding some graphic details to my cat-eye look in 2018 with Annabelle's EyeInk Bubble Eyeliner, and the rest of their Neo Chic collection. I'm also pumped to try Annabelle's Cream Blush. These sticks look like they'll make cream blush super easy to apply!

Anthony Glycolic Facial Cleanser

I loooove glycolic acid. It's such a fantastic exfoliant. I doubt most guys have tried it in their skincare, and they're seriously missing out! That's why I think this facial cleanser with glycolic from Anthony is so cool. I'm going to have my brother try this one out and report back to me!

Ardell Faux Mink Lashes

Ardell lashes have been a longtime favourite, but these ones with super thin bands and faux mink lashes look even better!

Bioderma Sensibio Mild Cleansing Foaming Gel (coming soon to London Drugs!)

They're super well known for their micellar water, but have you tried Bioderma's cleansers yet? This is their Mild Cleansing Foaming Gel, which is best for sensitive skin. It smooths and rapidly calms irritation!

Clean Eau de Toilette

I have a few key fragrances I like, but I'm definitely a pretty low maintenance person when it comes to scents. This is one I can totally get on board with though. The line of Clean Eau de Toilettes are all clean, fresh, and simple fragrances that are easy to love. You can even mix and match multiple scents within the collection! 

Infiniti Pro by Conair Meta e Meta

I have been using the Infiniti Pro by Conair Curl Secret for years, so I was super excited to see that they've come out with this new model, the Meta e Meta! This one is a serious step up: it can curl and straighten, all-in-one! And it can even alternate the curling pattern, for a more natural look. How cool is that??

Covergirl Peacock Flare Mascara & Covergirl Vitalist Healthy Glow Highlighter (coming soon to London Drugs!)

I'm glad to see a makeup brand has finally made a mascara that won't slip out of our fingers! Ok, maybe it's not a problem that happens with every mascara, but I've definitely used my fair share of ones that are hard to hold onto - especially when I'm rotating the brush for maximum lash coverage. As for Covergirl's new Vitalist Healthy Glow Highlighter, it's a pretty, shimmery cream highlight that I'll bet will make cheekbones seriously stand out!

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron and Coriander Body Smoother & Body Sorbet

These. Smell. Amazing. Citron and coriander is such a great scent combo, and I'm totally excited to try both their Body Smoother and Body Sorbet. The Body Smoother looks like a great exfoliator, and the Body Sorbet has a luxurious texture. I tried it at the LDBeauty event, and it feels like a cooling gel!

Emani Deluxe Cream Foundation (coming soon to London Drugs!)

Vegans, rejoice! Emani has just release a brand new vegan Deluxe Cream Foundation. I've already given this one a short test drive, and I loved the texture and coverage. I was also really impressed it actually matched my skintone pretty well (which you all know is no easy feat). I can't wait to wear this on the regular!

Kiss Lash Couture Faux Mink Lashes

These lashes look seriously luxurious! You can tell by looking at them that there is a nice mix of lengths, curls and angles of the lashes to give them a more realistic look. And they're reusable up to 10 times with special care!

Kiss NY Professional Pro Touch Mattifying Primer & Ombre Radiance Palette

I'm glad to see Kiss Pro is expanding their selection of products at London Drugs! Next up to try will be the new Pro Touch Mattifying Primer. I'm always on the hunt for a good primer, and the fact that this is mattifying and oil-free is definitely promising. Plus, this new highlighter, brush and bronzer in one ombre palette looks gorgeous! I love that you can swipe across the whole palette for a unique range of shades.

L'Oreal Colorista Spray

I seriously want to buy each and every one of these Colorista sprays! I've already tried both the Purple and the Rose Gold, and I can't wait to try the rest. They're such an easy way to add some fun colour to your hair with no commitment (they wash out in just one wash - even with my blonde hair!). You can do all kinds of coloured hairstyles: ombre, all-over colour, stencil designs, or anything else you can imagine.

La Roche Posay Serozinc (coming soon to London Drugs!)

How cool is this?? It's blotting paper in a bottle! This is one seriously revolutionary product. I can't wait to give this a try when my face is extra oily (post-workout maybe? JK I'd need to work out to do that...). But seriously, this will be awesome to toss in my bag and just give my face a quick spritz when it needs mattifying.

Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara

I have heard awesome things about this mascara, so as a self-proclaimed mascara junkie, this is at the top of my list to try in 2018. Big beautiful lashes, here I come!

Lise Watier 24K Glam Rouge à Lèvres & Age Control Supreme La Creme Sublime Yeux

When I saw this 24K Glam Rouge a Levres at the LDBeauty event, I totally fell in love! After all, does it get more glam than flakes of gold in your lipstick? When you apply, your skin's pH level intensifies the natural rosy colour of your lips. Another decadent new product from Lise Watier is the Age Control Supreme La Creme Sublime Yeux - thanks to its infused Labrador Tea, you can say goodbye to wrinkles, under eye bags and dark circles!

Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighter & Luxury Baking Powder (coming soon to London Drugs!)

I've swatched these Liquid Highlighters, and oh man, let me tell you, these are gorgeous. Makeup Revolution really kills it when it comes to highlighters! Their Baked Highlighter is a huge favourite of mine too. I seriously can't wait to add some glisten to my cheekbones with these liquid ones now. Surprisingly, one trend I never got around to trying last year was 'baking' (done with loose powders). Now that I have this new Luxury Baking Powder from Makeup Revolution, I'm going to give it a shot!

Marcelle Revival+ Skin Renewal Anti-Aging Night Cream & Redensifying 360 Degree Serum

Who doesn't want skin that looks renewed, illuminated, and redensified? These are for 45+, but hey, I'm curious to give them a shot to try out the texture - and maybe it can still give my skin an illuminating boost!

NeoStrata Hydrating & Plumping Sheet Mask

Sheet masks are still going to be a trending item in 2018. Being a huge fan of NeoStrata's skincare products (their Glycolic Renewal is an all-time favourite of mine), I'm pretty pumped to try these new Hydrating & Plumping Sheet Masks with Hyaluronic Acid! It'll give the skin an extra boost of lasting hydration.

Prim + Proper Nail Lacquer

I am so excited to try more of these Prim + Proper Nail Lacquers in 2018! I've tried the formula already, and it's so easy to apply smoothly with the awesome brush, and the lasting power is impressive. It's also a nice consistency, so you can get away with just one coat if you like. They're exclusive to London Drugs, and there are so many shades with the cutest all-Canadian names (like Justin T Me and Whistler Winter)!

Red Carpet Color Dip Nail Color Dipping Powder (coming soon to London Drugs!)

This new nail technology is so cool!! We saw it in action at the LDBeauty event, and I was totally sold. It looks like such an easy way to get a perfect manicure (and it's supposed to last up to 21 days!). Plus, it's an odourless formula! Could this be a replacement for going to the nail salon?

Rimmel Wonder'fully Real Lashes & Magnif-Eyes Smoke Edition

Ever since the Rimmel Lift Me Up Mascara, I've been a big fan of Rimmel mascaras. So this new Wonder'fully Real Mascara with keratin is up there on my list of must-trys for 2018. This Magnify-eyes Smoke Edition Eyeshadow Palette is also new to Rimmel. If you're looking for a palette that has a nice mix of neutral and smokey shades all in one, this looks like a good one! Looking forward to creating some smouldering smokey eye looks in the New Year with this.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

Ok, this one actually isn't a new product, but after using this again recently, it's reminded me I really need to try some of Sally Hansen's newer Miracle Gel shades! The formula is definitely one of the longest lasting nail polishes I use, and I love how the brush applies.

St. Tropez Bronzing Face Sheet Mask

I may not be a big self-tanner (shocker, I'm sure), but I can appreciate that these St. Tropez Bronzing Face Sheet Masks look like an awesome idea. What a super easy way to give your face a sun-kissed glow!

Stay tuned for more about all of these beauty goodies - you'll see them as part of my weekly Friday beauty blogs!

Happy Styling! xo

~ Britta

Disclaimer: I attended the LDBeauty Event, hosted by London Drugs, where I received many of the products listed above for testing. As always, opinions are my own.