A Valia Effort
The holidays are often associated with traditions and rituals – and so too is today’s featured brand. California-based Valia Skincare is inspired by ancient Japanese holistic healing remedies. All of their skin-nourishing products use time-tested ingredients like yuzu and hatomuji (more on them in a bit), and the entire brand follows the philosophy of an ‘inside out’ approach to beauty – i.e. what you put into your body will very much reflect in the quality of your skin on the outside. Today I’m going to walk you through Valia’s products and explain how they’ve tapped into these traditional remedies as well as scientifically proven ingredients to give you the gift of more beautiful skin.
Let’s start with the inside. Valia has an extensive lineup of supplements which are designed to boost your immune system and diminish inflammation, the latter of which can impede your skin’s natural ability to rejuvenate itself. All of the supplements are free from soy, synthetic colours, flavours and sugars, but they are absolutely loaded with antioxidants that help to protect cells and encourage healthy fat cell metabolization. Each of Valia’s supplements are designed to target a different skincare / well-being malady, however some of their benefits overlap so you won’t necessarily be popping 8 different pills every morning.
Let’s take a closer look at one of Valia’s supplements and how they can help your skin shine bright. As I mentioned above, one of Valia‘s key approaches to skincare is to tamp down inflammation – something the key fatty acid omega-3 does in spades. But if you aren’t a big fish eater (the number one naturally occurring source of omega-3’s) then you may want to give the brand’s ‘Hydrate‘ supplement ($22 / 30 pills) a go. Loaded with toxin-free krill oil, this body benefit-laden supplement is free from mercury and pesticides, and is favourite product amongst holistic practicioner’s looking to boost their patients’ omega-3 intake.
Again, this is just one of the eight (at current count) supplements offered up by Valia. Some of them target weight loss – like Forskolin or Metabolize – while others – like Bloom or Envigor – are infused with ingredients to help boost your immune system and slow down the aging clock.
Of course, as I mentioned above, Valia also recognizes that, given your skin is indeed exposed to the outside elements, it requires a little TLC on the outside as well. That’s why they have a lineup of nourishing skincare products that scientifically target your skin on the cellular level through natural active ingredients like the ones I mentioned above.
Your first step is to lather up with one of the brand’s two cleansing products – Cleansing Milk or Purifying Wash. The former ($35) is ideal for those struggling with acne-prone, sensitive or oily skin. It gently refines, enriches and clarifies skin using coconut oil, aloe vera, and pineapple extract to both protect and clean your skin. The Purifying Wash ($34) meanwhile, is great for those with dry or fragile skin. It very gently strips away that daily buildup of dirt and grime to make your skin appear more clean and refreshed, and includes some of the brand’s signature unique ingredients like green tea (which blocks harmful enzymes, tones and moisturizes dry skin, and actually helps safeguard your skin against the sun) and yuzu. Learn more about the brand’s mix of ingredients here.
Yuzu – a Japanese fruit – is actually the star ingredient of Valia’s Yuzu Hydrating Creme ($47). If you’ve ever heard of the skincare benefits of lemon, yuzu is actually three times more potent, while delivering a healthy dose of vitamin C to help bright your skin and function as an antioxidant. When paired with the product’s licorice extract, your skin will benefit from a reduced level of irritation, diminished age spots, more even pigmentation and altogether, a beautiful, youthful complexion.
As you may have guessed by this point, another great benefit of Valia is their use of and commitment to natural ingredients. In fact, being ‘green’ is a major component of the Valia brand across the board. Their products are cruelty-free and vegan, their ingredients are made from the purest plant-based ingredients and essential oils and free from harmful artificial substances and colours. Plus, even their packaging is kind to the earth: made from recycled and recyclable materials, this is a product that thinks of its life cycle at every step in the process.
For now, the best place to peruse and order Valia products is AHAlife, a luxury goods etailer that ships to Canada with no problemo! In terms of holiday gift-giving, may I suggest giving their Beauty Ingestibles Sets a whirl to treat a lucky, au naturel woman in your life to a radiant outlook on life (and her skin) in the new year? Or perhaps one of the three awesome giveaways I’m hooking you readers up with? Oh yeah, you could be the winner of:
Prize 1: Cleansing Milk + Yuzu Hydrating Creme ($82 value)
Prize 2: Purifying Wash + Yuzu Hydrating Creme ($81 value)
Prize 3: Travel Kit ($35 value)
Interested in winning? Here’s how to enter for your shot at some get gorgeous products from Valia this holiday season!
1) Leave a comment on this post by midnight on December 18, 2014 telling me which product you’re most in need of from the Valia website.
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 December 19, 2014 to select the winner(s), 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 Entries: There’s four ways to get extra entries into this amazing giveaway. Do all of them or just one. For whatever Likes / Tweets you do, be sure to leave your proof in separate comments per bonus entry.
– Like Valia on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall on what you love about their products. Link back to your comment below.
– Follow Valia on Twitter and tag them and me (@cdngiftguide) in a Tweet that links back to this post. Link back to your Tweet in a comment below.
– Follow Valia on Instagram and either Regram one of their photos or share an image off their site on your own Instagram. Link back to your shared photo below.
– Share Valia’s Facebook Page on YOUR Facebook. Then link back to your wall post below – note: you may have to soften your privacy settings in order for me to be able to view your shared wall post.
Canadian Gift Guide 
I would love to try the Yuzu Hydrating Crème
http://www.valiaskincare.com/yuzu-hydrating-creme
The supplements sound good, but I’m so bad at sticking at taking them. sigh.
Good luck everyone!
It is winter and I am 65; I need the hydrating cream !
Definitely the hydrating cream!
With this dry weather, I could really use the Yuzu Hydrating Creme
The Yuzu Hydrating cream for sure! Damn winter!
I like the purifying wash.
I like Valia on Facebook.
Shared Valia on my Facebook page.
I’m most in need of Yuzu Hydrating Cream
The cleansing milk sounds dreamy!
I could use the Yuzu Hydrating Creme, winter really dries out the skin.
http://www.valiaskincare.com/yuzu-hydrating-creme. I have very dry skin. This product is supposed to increase blood flow to the skin . Love to try it!!
I like the hydrating cream.
I really need the Yuzu Hydrating Creme
This time of the year I could really take advantage of the Yuzu Hydrating Crème.
I need the Yuzu Hydrating Creme.
I’m most in need of Valia’s Metabolize!!
I am in most need of the Yuzu Hydrating Creme!
I would love the hydrating cream for my super dry skin this winter
I would love to try the anti-aging supplement – thanks !
My skin feels drier than ever this year, and winter has barely started. I need the Yuzu Hydrating Creme.
I would like to try the Yuzu Hydrating Creme.
I’d like to try the Metabolize
this time of year I could use some Envigor, thanks
From the Valia website, I’m most in need of Bloom, for both belly fat reduction & anti-aging. Sounds like a winner to me 🙂 thanks
I think I need the supplements that keep your skin hydrated and looking young
@ValiaSkincare bonus entry: FOLLOWED & TWEETED https://twitter.com/SoulSeeker0/status/541427394637467649
I sure could really use the Essential Travel Kit for myself, even though it would make a perfect gift
Living in Winnipeg, I definitely need that Yuzu Hydrating Creme.
Ecco for hair falling out. Would like to see if it makes a difference.
My house is so dry during winter, I’d love to try the Yuzu Hydrating Cream!
My skin would most benefit from Yuzu Hydrating Creme.
Purifying Wash + Yuzu Hydrating Creme
I always struggle a bit with weight so I would love to try Envigor it sounds very interesting!
I would like the Yuzu hydrating cream.
I would love to try the Anti-Aging product
Valia’s Yuzu Hydrating Creme would be my choice
Yuzu Hydrating Creme
i would like the Yuzu Hydrating Creme
The hydrating cream
I definitely need the hydrating cream
I need the Yuzu Hydrating Crème and in the winter my skin is dry and itchy.
I think I’m in need of some Bloom. It’s only December and I can already feel the effects of cold weather on my skin.
I’ve liked Valia on FB and commented
I’ve followed Valia and tweeted
I want to try the hydrating cream.
I’d love to try the Hydrating Cream.
Would love to try the Metabolize herbal supplement!
the Hydrating Cream is what this face needs
I am most in need of Yuzu Hydrating Creme since I need good moisturizing cremes for my aging skin
i need the Essential Vegan Protein Powder
Envigor sounds like a great concoction am in the current need for a body detox
I’m definitely in need of the Yuzu Hydrating Creme
I like the travel kit
The Yuzu Hydrating Cream would be quite helpful during the harsh winter months.
I would like to try the Bloom supplements!
I could really use the Yuzu Hydrating Creme
I would love to try the supplements!
would love to win this
I could make use of the Purifying Wash.
I would luv the ‘Bloom’ it would be a great gift for my mom who’s looking for an anti-aging rejuvenating product.
I would love to try out the Essential Vegan Protein Powder
dorcontest at gmail dot com
Like Valia on Facebook … Doreen Lamoureux and commented
dorcontest at gmail dot com
Following on twitter – tweet: https://twitter.com/henglish/status/542035435468627969
i’d put the Yuzu Hydrating Crème to good use this winter!
Hydrate. thanks
I would love these! Hydrate please!
I’m in desperate need of their Hydrate, especially in winter, my skin gets so dry
RE: OMG, I luv to try Essential Vegan Protein Powder . Wow, prize Amazon gc is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. Pick me,
FB post https://www.facebook.com/ValiaSkincare/posts/10152911128088210
I am most in need of Yuzu Hydrating Crème.
Tweeted Valia https://twitter.com/Shellbran3/status/542834183920701441
The cleansing milk sounds amazing – definitely would put that to good use, and I love that it’s made from natural ingredients.
The yuzu hydrating cream sounds so refreshing would be trying that for sure !
I’m most in need of the Yuzu Hydrating cream. It’s dry here in winter, and this would be really nice for long, dry winters.
I could use some Envigor!
I would love to try and I am in most need of the Yuzu Hydrating Crème.
I followed @ValiaSkincare and tweeted.
A FRIEND IS INTO SUPPLEMENTS
I am most in need of the Enfusion Herbal Supplement.
My tweet: https://canadiangiftguide.com/2014/12/06/a-valia-effort
Okay, that did not work. Here it is: https://twitter.com/iagreesmedley/status/543698820354547712
I need the Yuzu Hydrating Creme and for this post to go through (attempt #3)
My Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/ValiaSkincare/posts/10152917435103210
http://www.valiaskincare.com/node/132 Metabolize
The Yuzu hydrating cream sounds intriguing.
tweeted https://twitter.com/VictoriaEss2/status/544332780357025792
instagram http://instagram.com/p/wnMg5Uu-7p/?modal=true
I would like their product Bloom for my acne..
Yuzu Hydrating Creme
I have dry, sensitive skin so the Yuzu Hydrating Creme would be perfect!
hydrating crème I have really dry skin
I like the Yuzu Hydrating Creme for my dry skin.
Cleansing Milk + Yuzu Hydrating Crème because winter is hard on my skin
I really would like to try Valia’s Yuzu Hydrating Creme for my sensitive dry skin especially during the winter’s cold.
The Yuzu Hydrating Creme!
Following on twitter – here’s the tweet! https://twitter.com/kimheintz/status/545432687713193984