It’s hard to find the silver lining to this unprecedented year. But, if you’re anything like, you’ll always look for the bright and light amidst the grey storm clouds. My positive takeaways thus far are everything from more family time, a pared down, simpler life, and the creativity we’ve seen within the business world at large.

I hadn’t ever heard of Clayton Shagal before now. It was a business-to-business model that kept the elevated and highly developed skincare line at prestigious level filled with professional clout. Dermatologist offices, plastic surgeons, estheticians and spas – that was the only place you could find Clayton Shagal. But when the entire world shuts down, Shagal fans worldwide no longer had access to their favourite skincare products. Through challenging times we see art and innovation. And so, in collaboration with estheticians, Clayton Shagal was brought to the online world. And we all cheered!

No joke. I know I say this about a lot brands: highly engineered, incredible technology, real results. But, then there are those few skincare lines that just stand a cut above the rest. I tried every product that was recommended for my skin type (oily, but in these months, slightly drier). There are a few stand-out products that I absolutely love and have already told all my friends about. But, before all that one thing I am obsessed with is the fact that this brand is local! It’s been right under our noses for nearly 40 years (they’re celebrating their 40th next year)… I simply can’t believe that I had never tried it!!!

The Gel Lotion Cleanser is perfect for both men and women (I know! I unisex skincare product – finally!). It’s great for removing makeup and also as a shaving gel. This multi-purpose cleanser prevents skin dehydration, which is perfect this time of year, and also cleanses without irritation. Pro-tip: you can use this Gel Lotion Cleanser to remove eye makeup without removing your lash extensions.

I tried a few of the exfoliants and scrubs that truly stood out compared to some others on my bathroom counter. The Oat Bran Scrub has quickly become my family favourite. It is safe for skin ages 7-97, which is quite cool. Gentle and refreshing, I’ve already seen a difference in how small my pores are as it sucks out blackheads and tightens dilated pores. Eliminating excess sebum and removing impurities and dead skin cells, you can use this product with the Clayton Shagal moisturizes for optimized effectiveness. The Bamboo + Honey Exfoliant has such a unique grainy texture, you can actually feel it working your skin. Anti-aging and super smoothing with radiant effects, I actually tried combining the two products and saw such great results.

The Mokaccino Mud Mask is out of this world. Honestly, the name already intrigued me, and if you know me, you know I love the instant glow effects of a mask, but this one is super high performance. Formulated with caffeine and carob, you can use this to activate circulation and make your skin shine bright. Typical usage is a 20-minute mask once or twice a week applied on a dry clean face. But, pro-tip: apply a thin coat before bed time and see the anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties revitalize your face and neck.

The ultra-firming Idratense moisturizer restores firmness in mature skin (um, yup- sign me up!) and you can actually feel Hyaluronic Acid Serum plumping up your skin as it penetrates all three layers of your skin – oh! and you can use it on your lips for hydrating and plumping effects!

Which brings me to the “vedette” – my celebrity product – Clayton Shagal bestseller and I can understand why: the Collagen Serum. Holy Guacamole! Or should I say bye-bye injections! The Collagen Serum has the purity of an ultra-concentrated collagen that has anti-aging properties, reducing the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. It rebalances the skin and regenerates the hydration levels in your skin. Think of a sponge: when it’s dry, there is nothing to squeeze out, but add a little water and see the sponge come back to life. Well, your skin is that sponge. With the right amount of hydration-infused collagen, your skin will come back to life from the inside out. It’s not magic, it’s the science of Clayton Shagal.

Oh, and a little personal note: I loved the serum texture, but they also have the collagen in gel!

With winter right around the corner, our skin sees the effects of being dried out and if you’re anything like me, your colour will be nothing short of lackluster. Now is the time to invest in your skin and skincare products. Find the items that best-suit your needs and if you need any help, hit me up! With my quick Clayton Shagal tutorial, I can recommend a product or two with expertise, lol!