Neither Here Nor Air

Posted by Canadian Gift Guide on October 25, 2013 · 58 Comments

One of the neat things about being a blogger is that you get to have a bit of a platform (as opposed to a soapbox, in my case) to share things that matter to you. For example, while I’ll just as easily a leather bag or a luxurious lipstick from a designer brand, I also get the opportunity to introduce my readers to things like vegan cooking and natural beauty products – both things which I think are great to integrate into your life, at least a little. The neat thing is, I feel like some of you may feel the same way! I read all of our comments and love to hear how many of you are enthused by say, the natural care brands I’ve been teaming up with over the last year. With that in mind, I’m pleased to share another one of them with you: Vapour Organic Beauty.

Like many natural brands, Vapour is all about producing products that are as kind to your skin as they are to their earth. Every item in their line is made from at least 70% certified organic, food grade ingredients – the remaining 30% consists of mineral pigments and vitamins to enhance and protect your skin (including some might nice anti-aging properties). They see that commitment through from end to end of their product life cycle – from supporting organic farming that supplies their source ingredients to ensuring their packaging and shipping materials are either made from recycled materials, recyclable, or both. Besides all that feel-good stuff, their cosmetics and skincare items perform pretty damn well (which, at the end of the day, is probably the most important thing). They’ve earned accolades from the likes of Allure magazine and have racked up a pile of celebrity fans including Gwenyth Paltrow, Olivia Wilde and Jessica Alba. So with that glowing introduction, I’d like to point you in the direction of a few must-try products for your beauty drawer!

Atmosphere Luminous Foundation – $40
I think one of my favourite things about Vapour’s line of natural products is how accessible it is. Some people are wary of natural cosmetics, but Vapour gets it. They walk you through how their products perform as well as luxury (chemical-laden) brands, including tips on how to apply, and a very handy guide to help you determine what formulation is right for you. It’s for these reasons and more that their Atmosphere Luminous Foundation earned some recognition in this year’s Allure Best of Beauty awards. The smooth-as-butter stick formulation is crazy easy to apply and contains a mixture of skin calming ingredients – including tulsi and lotus flowers – to give your skin a healthy, glowing finish. Not sure what shade you are? The also offer one-on-one customer service to help you find the perfect match for your skin tone or replacement for your current product.

Mesmerize Eye Shimmer – $18
I *love* creamy eyeshadow – but like many women, I don’t love how easily it creases. Big beauty brands have come out with increasingly long-wearing, crease-fighting formulations, but at a cost. The chemical adhesives that go into long-wearing lines can actually irritate your skin and cause long-term damage that results in premature aging. The good news is, Vapour Organic Beauty’s line-up of dreamy creamy shadows is chemical-free but still long-lasting. It’s also great for layering – you can build up the pigmentation with multiple swipes for a super dramatic look, or layer it under a mineral powder shadow for a more intense finish. Alternatively it works just fine to give your lids a subtle shimmer for daytime, in one of twelve covetable shades.

Siren Lipstick – $22
Another product that has caught the eye of beauty editors (like Lucky magazine’s staff and beauty detox specialist Kimberley Snyder) is Vapour’s Siren Lipstick. Each sleek tube brings together the trifecta of a perfect lip treatment: a massive range of colours, a hydrating, breathable formula (thanks to myrrh and lemon balm), and long-lasting performance. Each shade is designed to flatter virtually any skin tone, making this a virtually foolproof gift idea for your favourite beauty maven. The only trouble is what colour to choose – from eyepopping red to dramatic plum, there’s enough to replace every shade you’ve alread got.

Vernissage 5-Free Nail Lacquer – $16 each
You’ve heard of 3-Free, even 4-Free, but Vapour’s line of pretty Parisian-inspired polishes takes things a step further by eliminating 5 major known carcinogens and producing a non-toxic polish that’s safe for expectant moms and kids alike (and everyone in between). Available in eleven shades and counting, each bottle provides a long-lasting, chip-resistant finish that’s also ultra easy to apply. And since nail polish is the one thing every girl I know can never seem to get enough of, I’m sure your closest girl friends wouldn’t mind receiving a bottle or two on her birthday this year.

Halo Body Spotlight – $34
This one I love because it’s not something every brand out there carries – not only is it unique for its natural formulation, but for its very existence. The idea is simple: as humans, we are attracted to a healthy, vibrant glow (why do you think pregga mama’s look so cheerful?) Halo Body Spotlight lets you fake it – simply swipe it on to your shoulders, arms, back, and chest for a subtle, light-reflecting shine that looks like you’re radiating from within. It’s a great choice to toss into your purse for mid-night touch-ups when doing the holiday part circuit (especially thanks to its transport-ready packaging), particularly as a more sophisticated choice over shimmery body lotions.

While you’re free to order Vapour Beauty goodies from their website, they’re also sold at a number of Canadian bricks & mortar and eboutiques, including Green Beauty, Detox Market, Louche Lily, The Make Up Bag, Saffron Rouge, White Oaks Resort, New Energy Wellness Spa, and Fresh Faced.

Alright girlies (and their guys) – a handful of you are about to get a little more gorgeous. Vapour has graciously agreed to award five of you with with their highly praised Atmosphere Luminous Foundation! Interested? Here’s how to enter:

1) Visit the Vapour Beauty website and leave a link back in the comments below to the product you’d most like to try (or gift)! You’ve got until November 18th so get crackin’. And hey, while you’re at it – I’d love to hear your two cents on natural beauty. Has the CGG inspired you to incorporate more natural cosmetics into your routine or try new brands?

2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around November 19th to select the winners, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.

3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.

4) Bonus Entry: Send your love to Vapour Beauty by liking their Facebook Page and leaving a comment about what product you’d most love to try (or gift). Leave a link back to your comment below to earn yourself a bonus entry. As always, stay tuned for other opportunities between now and the contest close date to score extra entries!