My journey across BC has taken me from Prince George to Kitimat, up to Prince Rupert for a quick visit with an old friend,  across to Port Hardy via BC Ferries (potential rant about BC Ferries possibly coming soon).  Then the long, snowy drive from Port Hardy to Comox, where I took yet another ferry to Powell River, which is where I’m holed up now.  One of my biggest priorities throughout all of this travel has been downsizing.  This has not been an easy task.  My 4 pieces of luggage has been degraded to 2, and I only carry essential beauty and makeup products.

AHAVA moisturizers

AHAVA is the brand of moisturizers I have absolutely fallen for; they just recently launched in Canada from Israel (check out The Bay to buy) and the line uses minerals from the Dead Sea.  I was already familiar with the brand as an old roommate of mine during university married an Israeli and would bring back AHAVA products whenever she visited there.  I was especially familiar with the magical properties of the Dead Sea because she also brought back mud collected from its shores, which we would slather on ourselves before baking in the sun during the summer.  I use the eye cream before bed along with the night cream, and after just one day of use my skin felt plump and full of…well, moisture.  While I don’t believe in fad creams or “age-defying” baloney, I do think that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so I started using eye cream on a consistent basis this year.  AHAVA’s version gets a big thumbs up from me.

Kerstin Florian Clarifying Serum

Next is the Clarifying Serum by Kerstin Florian, which was recommended to me after visiting the Willow Stream Spa in Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel.  [Sidebar: best spa in the city.  And I've been to a lot.]  I’m almost 30 but still get blemishes here and there, and this is one product that really seems to eliminate that problem for me.  I use it day and/or night depending on how finicky my skin is being.  And it’s small enough to throw in my little travel make-up case so I carry it with me basically everywhere.  I’m also a fan of the Cleansing Milk by Kerstin Florian, it’s great as long as you don’t have a ton of makeup to remove, which I very rarely do.

Finally, and this you can’t buy this in stores, but my dear friend Vanessa has refined a line of natural, home-made body products over the last year.  She just recently made me a balm made with beeswax, shea butter, almond oil and grand fir gum that she collected herself (how? by climbing a big fir tree).  The result is a balm that smells like a forest, and you can apply to your lips or to cuts and abrasions.  Always a handy little container to have with you.  If anyone in the Vancouver area is interested in buying Vanessa’s products, you can email me (info@theconveyorbelt.com) and I can help you out.

Happy Winter skin!