My job here on this site is to tell you if something works and usually compare it to products I’ve tried in the same category but wow, that’s kind of hard with this next one. It’s REN Perfect Canvas ($55/1.02oz @ renskincare.com, dermstore.com, sephora.com) and there’s nothing to compare it to!

When I first looked at this one, the ‘Perfect Canvas” name meant to me, ok, it’s a face primer, but it’s much more than that. They call this one a finishing serum and with a name like that I would assume that it goes on after makeup but I would be wrong in that assumption too! It’s made to go over your moisturizer and before foundation and supposed to matte down the skin that the moisturizer can impart.

Here are some facts about it: The consistency is more like a serum than a primer, it’s silicone-free (instead it contains a faux silicone called Agave Tequilana), it’s a clear liquid, contains hyaluronic acid, Probiotic Extracts (for epidermal growth), and Glucans (keep the skin in balance), to name a few standouts.

I actually like the consistency of this one as it feels really slick like a typical primer with silicones but instead of slip, this one provides grip for the makeup, so it will make your makeup last a tad longer than your traditional primer.

This one seems a little pricey but I got full coverage from about 3 drops so it should last you a while and it does have some skin care benefits, so maybe that will help you balance out the cost.

Is this one you are interested in trying?

It’s no surprise that oils for the hair and body have really taken off in the past couple of years and wow,  there are so many options now! But are you reading your ingredient lists? Most are just chock full’o silicones and while they’re not bad for you, they are mainly fillers and are used for the slicking properties. That’s fine, especially if you are using it on your hair. But for the body, I want real ingredients and nothing more! Here are some that are about as pure as you can get.

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil ($48/4.7oz @ sephora.com) – who doesn’t love rose? It’s such a lovely smell and this one gives it a kick with added sesame seed oil and clove oil among others. Basically this is comprised of 100% pure plant oils and 100% natural fragrance. Now how many products can tout that fact?

EMTAGE SILKtáge Rejuvenating Styling Serum ($33/3.4oz @ emtagehair.com) – I’ve been pretty religious about using a hair oil like these after I blow dry my hair to calm the frizzies down and to add a little moisture. And this one has moved to the top of that list! I mean check out this ingredient list! It opens with Certified Organic Camellia (green tea) seed oil, coconut and broccoli seed oils, Monoi flower extract and others. And it feels so light on strands and doesn’t leave any residue behind. Highly recommended.

MELVITA Calendula Oil for Face & Body ($19/1.7oz @ melvita.com) - If you want to get really simple with your beauty products, your moisturizer couldn’t get any simpler than by using this 100% Calendula oil. The oil is extracted from the flowers by macerating it in organic soybean oil. This is a great moisturizer for those with sensitive skin and it's ECOCERT certified.

I’m still sorting through some other ones here so I’ll be posting another feature on this subject shortly!

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

I’ve read many places that you should be wary of at-home peels and such but it seems that more and more companies are putting out, what they call, “gentler strength” ones for just that. And I guess that’s what my job is for here, right? It’s a tough one, but I’m up for the challenge. So take this REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel ($55/1.7oz @ bloomingdales.com), for example. It sounds quite daunting doesn’t it? It’s pretty simple actually. It’s a resurfacing mask that uses fruit acids and Papain to deeply exfoliate the skin, that’s it. Even though it’s made for acne or blemish-prone skin, my normal to dry skin seemed to do just fine with it, like I just had a deep cleaning and it only takes 10 minutes once a week.
And another way to weigh the cost of this one is that I only had to use a little bit each time, so this tube will last you quite a long time.