Afternoon beauty fix / Get long-lasting SPF protection that won’t conflict with your makeup:

Reapplying chemical SPF is a must in order to guarantee that you’re protected for more than a few hours after application, but some products prove to be more makeup-friendly than others. Sunforgettable by Clarion mineral powders ($63, through physicians and medi-spas across Canada) allow you to load up on UVA and UVB protection without having to tamper with your makeup, since you can apply it directly overtop.

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Get oxygenated like Madonna and Jessica Stam:

When temperatures start to fall, we often don’t notice our skin is in need of extra moisture until it’s severely depleted. Add the stress of impending holiday-dom and the bummer of shorter daylight hours, and some pampering is warranted. So why not prep for winter and start your skin off on a hydrated path by booking nourishing skin treatments now? Australia’s Intraceuticals, a celeb-loved line of deeply nourishing products, is now available at Toronto’s Gee Beauty.

The Intraceuticals Infusion oxygen facial (from $150) delivers therapeutic-grade oxygen and concentrated serums into layers of the skin using pressurized oxygen. It feels like a cool mist is being sprayed, but underneath it all low molecular-weight hyraloronic acid and antioxidants penetrate deep to combat the effects of aging and environmental abuse. This highly relaxing facial wakes up your skin with no extraction or abrasion. Compared to other oxygen facials, the difference I noticed with Intraceuticals was how much lifting and plumping it achieved. My skin felt nourished and the infusion of moisture helped it feel less drawn and saggy.

The list of bold names who talk Intraceuticals up includes Bar Refaeli, Jessica Stam, Channing Tatum, Victoria Beckham, and Madonna, the last of who is perhaps the most dedicated devotee. Her makeup artist Gina Brooks is a brand ambassador for Intraceuticals and travels with the device whenever she’s working with clients—you would have recently seen her handiwork at TIFF where she prepped Madonna for the W.E. red carpet.

As the looming holiday season requires our own red carpet–worthy looks, the Infusion oxygen facial is a rather convenient step, especially since it gives the best results day-of. In other words: no need to calculate what recovery time might be. And because it’s recommended to do a course of six facials over six weeks, it’s perfect for party season. 

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Afternoon beauty fix / Effective acne treatment that won’t break the bank:

A balanced diet (to the best of your ability) and a weekly wash of your pillow cases will help, and so will your commitment to a consistent skin-care system. We like the Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Acne Protocol system ($50, at drugstores) because it was designed with young-adult, acne-prone skin in mind. The system includes a cleanser and treatment with a gentle yet effective amount of salicylic acid, plus a super-light moisturizer to hydrate and reduce redness in sensitive skin. Even better, its price is pretty friendly, even for the cash strapped.

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Afternoon beauty fix / Keep that summer glow while diminishing sunspots:

The sun damage may already be done, but you can lighten the area by enlisting the help of Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Treatment ($20, at drugstores). It’s formulated to permeate skin and break up areas of pigmentation by increasing cell turnover and collagen production with super bouts of moisture. We implore you to amp up your SPF protection from now on, though; dark spots will be the least of your worries if you don’t step away!

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Afternoon beauty fix / The fastest way to radiant runway / worthy skin

Runway models are born with six-foot frames, but that doesn’t mean they’re granted good-as-gold complexions too–those are granted by makeup artists with the Midas touch. We can’t deny that water, organic fruits and vegetables, and a regular fitness schedule are great steps towards a clear complexion, but we can guarantee that most sunlight-catching cheekbones are the result of a good illuminator and expert blending. It’s easy to achieve the same look yourself by blending a pea-sized amount of bronze or light pink highlighter into your foundation. Choose a product that has a dewy finish, like Make Up For Ever Uplight Face Luminizer Gel #12 ($33, at Sephora), as opposed to something sparkly. Its formula is 70 per cent water, and is easy to apply for an all-over glow.

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