SOME TO TRY: SKINCARE LINES TO QUENCH WINTER THIRST

From well-known brands to locally produced products, there are hundreds of choices when it comes to skincare. Here are some products making waves.

Antipodes

Founder Elizabeth Barbalich wanted natural skincare that had the same benefits as conventional products but using only plant-based, sustainable ingredients from her home of New Zealand.

The line uses 100 per cent organic materials with no toxins. The ingredients are good enough to eat: nutrient-rich avocado oil, antioxidant Vinanza grape, manuka honey, marigold oil, and vitamin-c rich kiwi oil. And the pretty jars and apothecary-styled vials are fully recyclable. According to the company, formulations are tested using in-vitro scientific investigations and clinical trials. This measures the effectiveness of products: their ability to retain moisture, increase hydration levels, stimulate collagen production anywhere from 51 to 92 per cent, protect the skin from pollutants and support healthier, fresher-looking skin. Science aside, the products are luscious, beautiful to look at and smell. The avocado pear nourishing night cream is thick and silky with a clean, neutral smell. Your skin feels like it plumps up instantly and it's not greasy. The kiwi seed oil eye cream is light and silky and you can pair that line with the company's Divine rosehip and avocado face oil. Another line includes the pretty pink Baptiste H2O ultra-hydrating water gel and Hosanna H2O intensive skin-plumping serum.

Antipodes products are available in Canada at well.ca

Pacifica

The options for vegan and cruelty-free beauty products in Canada has expanded with the arrival of Pacifica. The company, which originated in Portland, Ore., aims to offer beauty and skincare products that are non-toxic.

It is a 100-per-cent vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand. That extends to the ingredients, the packaging and the company's footprint on the planet.

The product's recent launch at Shoppers Drug Mart includes a selection of skincare and makeup, like vitamin C and glycolic acid serum called

Glow Baby, ur balancing Seafoam Complete Face Wash, peptide-packed Dreamy Youth Day and Night Cream and Alight Multi-mineral BB Cream.

Teaology

This Italian skincare brand known for its antioxidant organic tea infusion products has now launched a twostep ritual called Happy Potion.

The Matcha Pore Cleansing Stick (yes, a stick) is made with green tea extract while the Happy Skin balm is infused with blue tea. The stick is infused with bamboo stem particles to help exfoliate dead cells and minimize pores. The beauty balm is made from 95 per cent natural ingredients like olive and jojoba oils and shea butter. It can be used as an intense mask, daily moisturizer and even a lip balm. The company says it's suitable for all skin types.

Available online at teaologyskincare.ca

Tata Harper

The lightweight, silicone-free formula in the water-lock moisturizer features pomegranate spheres, orange peptide, beetroot extract, alfalfa, calendula, macro hyaluronic acid and more to smooth and hydrate skin.

The product is billed as being vegan, cruelty-free and gluten-free.

Suitable for all skin types, the product is packaged in a refillable format that allows for the jar, pump and cap to be reused, while the internal product pod is recyclable.

The pump-top applicator makes dispensing the right amount of product a simple task. The hydrating cream is lightweight but packs a nice punch of hydration. It leaves skin feeling comfortable on its own, but when combined with the Hydrating Floral Essence and Resurfacing Serum, it looks radiant.

Available at Sephora.

Rodan + Fields

New-and-improved formulas in the Redefine Regimen target concerns such as fine lines, deep wrinkles, crow's feet, visible pores and more through the use of a combination of ingredients such as retinoids, vitamin C and peptides.

Designed to be a three-step routine, the Redefine product lineup includes: Daily Clay Cleanser, Daily Foaming Cleanser, Pore Refining Toner, Triple Defense Cream Broad Spectrum

SPF 30 (for daytime), Triple Defense Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30 (for daytime), Overnight Restorative Cream and Overnight Reparative Lotion.

This skin care regimen makes it easy to choose the right products for your skin. A user decides what their cleansing needs are (opting for either clay or foaming option), and which consistency is preferred for the moisturizer (the lotions are more lightweight while the creams are more nourishing).

The added sun protection factor in the day time products is a bonus. Shop online at Rodanandfields.com.