Grey City Days
This week has been SO grey in Toronto. It’s 4:00pm as I write this and the big ol’ cloud of fog that has surrounded my condo windows all day has only just lifted. I try not to let the weather impact my mood negatively because, well, we really can’t control it. However, lately I have been feeling a tad uninspired by my downtown surroundings. With fewer events in the winter I am lacking my weekly dose of flowers and the time in the countryside where my studio is located. I’m trying to make the most of this down time though to hunker down and work so that when spring arrives I launch into full on frollick mode!
Yves Rocher released a new product line this month – Elixir Jeunesse – which I’m going to tell you ALL about today. Seriously…all about it. A few weeks ago I started to use this line ‘full time’ so I could report back to you on the feel and results. Having a full range of products to try out daily (and with intention) has actually been one of the highlights on these grey days! Does anyone else love trying out new products? A bit of self care goes a long way in the winter!
Elixir Jeunesse
This new line is called Elixir Jeunesse and is all about protecting and preserving your skin from external factors and toxins. It’s described as a detox for your skin. I liked the sounds of this and it inspired me to think about other ways I could infuse a bit of detox into my life to get through the mid-winter blahs. No, I’m def not talking about any sort of detox diet. I’m just talking about simple but conscious measures that you can take to be a bit healthier. I broke it down into 3 really broad, simple (and controllable!) things that we can do. Enjoy a positive environment (even if just temporarily!) and think about what you put inside your body and on the outside of your body.
Easy peasy, right?
Unplug & Get Outside
It’s funny how something as simple as getting up and going outside slides right down the priority list in the winter. So many of us spend the majority of our day in front of some sort of device and we work indoors. When it’s cold outside it is really easy to go from work to home without really making any detours in between. What ever happened to spending time outside?! Honestly, I am NOT one to talk, I think my vitamin D level has hit an all time low! This weekend Dan and I went for a long walk and decided to leave our phones (but not our camera!) in the car. Exercising, being outside, and removing yourself from the hustle and bustle that is happening downtown or on your phone can definitely help give you a mental (and physical) recharge.
Up Your Water Intake and Consume Nutrient Rich Foods
So many things related to health and wellness come back to eating. That’s right folks, you are what you eat! We all know the importance of drinking enough water – like, I’m not even going to to into the list the benefits. There are so many. Too many. So just do it…just drink the darn water! Can you tell I’m actually lecturing myself over here? 
Consuming nutrient rich foods will help boost your immune system and your overall health. Fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C are my go-to in winter. Foods that are vitamin and mineral rich, as well as high in fatty acids are ones that are going to help naturally detox our systems. Finally, at this time of year, the majority of our produce is imported and not as fresh as when we can buy from farm stands in the summer. Buying organic is a good idea to avoid pesticides that could be detrimental to your health.
Care for your Skin from the Outside In
Okay and THIS is where the new Yves Rocher Elixir Jeunesse products come in. Sure, we can’t control the pollutants that our skin picks up on our daily subway rides or walks to the grocery store, but we can control the products we put on our skin and how they can potentially benefit (or harm!) us. Did you know that 80% of skin aging is due to external factors like pollution, stress, and unhealthy eating habits? Hence those little lifestyle tips up above!
The science and research behind this Yves Rocher Elixir Jeunesse product line is really cool. Excuse me while I get a little wordy here but I really think it’s worth it! I like you to know why I like the products that I promote on here and I want it to be much more than saying I put a cream on my face and I like it (which, by the way, I do). The science and care behind this product line is what makes it so interesting.
Aphloia Plant…What is it?
With this new line the active botanical ingredient comes from a plant called Aphloia (the worst thing about the product is figuring out how to say that word gracefully ). This plant is only found in Madagascar and was discovered and selected for its ability to repair. As a plant, it actually completely renews its own bark, which is kind of what we are asking it to do to our skin through these products.
Yves Rocher is committed to the communities in which they harvest their botanical ingredients. With the Aphloia, they have worked closely with the region to ensure that workers and the environment are treated fairly. Aphloia is harvested 80% by women and has opened a new labour opportunity in the area. With the protection of this resource in mind, picking of the Aphloia only occurs for 7 months of the year to allow for sustainable leaf renewal. Further to this (I told you I had a lot to say!), the Yves Rocher Brand supports the farmers in the area by financing industrial equipment and sharing their research with the local scientific community to encourage them to further financially benefit from this resource. They have even chosen to pay a bit more for the product to help finance local initiatives like building schools in the area.
Ok, are you with me now when I tell you how cool this is?!?
Yves Rocher Elixir Jeunesse
Ok ok, NOW I’ll tell you about the products! This line has 6 products. There is: an ultra hydrating serum called Double Action Essence, a Restructuring Day Cream and a Sleeping Cream, a Cleansing Micellar Water, a Roll on Reviver for Eyes, and a Detoxifying Face Mask. The products feel very concentrated but still extremely light weight. The goal is that with use of the products your skin will be detoxified and brighter (and a little less wrinkly…yaay!). The products are made of 90% natural ingredients and are free of silicones, parabens, mineral oils, and colourants.
One of my favourite products in this line is the Cleansing Micellar Water. It is much thicker than your typical micellar water – it almost has the consistency of a gel cleanser and it makes my skin feel beyond clean with each use. The Double Action Essence is perhaps the most magical product in this line – it is ultra concentrated and hydrating. Like with other serums, use this as a layer beneath the Day Cream and Sleeping Cream. Finally, the face mask is a really nice addition to this line. It is a gel face mask that is almost entirely absorbed by your skin when you use it. It can be used a couple of times a week and is another step designed to detoxify your skin.
Yves Rocher Elixir Jeunesse Giveaway!
To celebrate the launch of this product line, I am hosting a giveaway with Yves Rocher for one reader to win the full Elixir Jeunesse product line. To enter, visit THIS POST and follow the rules.
Good luck and thank you thank you for reading!
Thank you to Yves Rocher for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions, words, and photographs are my own.
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