My love affair with Pure and Simple — a highly-acclaimed skincare line, store and spa, and pride of Toronto — began around the time I started dating Josh-O, say, in 2000. I remember strolling the streets of Yorkville with him, desperately looking for a cosmetic company that was animal friendly and that didn’t rely on chemicals. I saw the little store, thought, well, “if it’s in Yorkville, it MUST be GOOD,” and I walked up the stairs to its now-familiar door.

At the time the founder, Jean Eng, was working there. I told her what I was looking for, and she got right to it. She looked at my face, and gave me, perhaps, one of the best compliments I’ve ever gotten in my life: “your face,” she said, “it’s so full of drama — your big eyes, your full lips….” I don’t know why it struck me so deeply, but it did, especially coming from this beautiful, warm woman with NO MAKE UP, and perfectly dewy skin….

Since that day, I’ve been a devoted client of Pure and Simple, and they’ve opened stores in various locations around the city. I even post their logo on my home page — not because they pay me, BECAUSE THEY DON’T! — but because they share my passion for the environment, my belief in natural, holistic skincare, and because they’re so darn affordable for what they are (and relative to other chemical-laden lines). Of course, none of the lines they sell test on animals.

When you walk into the Pure+Simple store, you’ll find rows upon rows of the world’s finest organic lines, like celebrity-favourites Dr. Hauschka and Jurlique.

While these lines are, indeed, FABO, they can be very pricey. I’ve treated myself to the odd Hauschka and Jurlique products in my time, but I’ve learned that the much more affordable Pure-and-Simple products are just as FABO and, in some cases, MORE FABO!

And, just in case you’re getting concerned? FABO is a new thing for me. Really hoping it doesn’t stick.

SO, without further ado, CHEATY HEREBY RECOMMENDS PURE + SIMPLE for all your skincare and cosmetic needs! And, of course, the beauty of this recommendation is that it’s INTERNATIONAL, for Pure+Simple has a FABO website and FABO services. Just ask the winners from last year’s CHEATY GOODIES PURE+SIMPLE BEAUTY CONTEST….

Are you ready for this year’s contest? Before you CHECK IT, here are the products I’m currently using from Pure + Simple (I’ll also show them to you on video when I announce this year’s winners). All of them can be found on the Pure + Simple website — specifically, HERE (unless otherwise indicated).

1. AGELESS FOUNDATION. This is such a keeper for me. I don’t know what I’d do without it. Better than the MAC foundation (trust me — I used to LIVE on MAC), but without the chemicals AND with mineral-based sunscreen. It truly is the perfect powder foundation….

(I also use Pure+Simple’s Jane Iredale makeup line for blush, eyeshadows, eyeliners; and I use Pure+Simple’s own CRUELTY-FREE MAKEUP BRUSHES!)

2. EYE BRIGHTENING CREAM. Brighten and reduce fine lines NATURALLY. To think!? Gorgeouses, this is a new product. But, in the few weeks that I’ve been using it, I already notice a difference. Even though I’m not sleeping AT ALL (because of my teething toddler), my eyes look bright, and my fine lines are practically GONZO….

3. VITAMIN SERUM. OMG. This is the best stuff ever. And super affordable — especially given all the amazing stuff it does for your skin. Among its many benefits, this penetrating serum restores skin elasticity, prevents wrinkles and protects against free radicals. And, if you’re a little dehydrated, like I am, you can enjoy a little tingle in your skin that lets you know it’s working fashizzle. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I notice a HUGE difference in my skin since using this.

4. NOURISHING SUNFLOWER CREAM. Pure+Simple is particularly proud of this new product, and I can understand why. I use it day and night — and it’s been FABO on my sensitive skin. This protective cream not only protects the skin from the elements, but also nurtures and nourishes the skin, leaving it with a supple matte finish, awesome as a makeup base. The dewy skin all the employees at Pure+Simple have? Now I have it because of this product. Seriously, my skin TOTALLY thanks me for it….

5. NATURAL SUNSCREEN SPF 30. I’ve written about this product extensively over here. I use the Pure+Simple anti-aging sunscreen every day. Because, just because it’s winter, doesn’t mean you’re safe from wrinkle-causing UVs!

6. AYURVEDIC FACE AND BODY OILS. I love Pure+Simple’s Ayurvedic line. A companion to yoga, Ayurveda is the ancient Indian science of living. It is the root of all healing and is based on creating balance between the individual and the universe, and balance within the individual. The products in this line smell divine, and it feels so natural to hydrate and nourish your skin with natural oils and fragrances specifically catered to your “dosha” (or ayurvedic constitution) — vata, kapha or pitta. It’s like giving your hair a hot-oil treatment, only it’s your skin: there’s a visible difference immediately after you use it. I only have a small sample of this one, but, come my birthday, I may treat myself to a bottle…. (Note to vegans: the vata oil contains ghee, which is clarified butter.)

There you have it. I’m also supposed to be using my Lactic Acid every other night. But, I’ve been too lazy. The stuff is FABO, though, for exfoliating the skin — which is very important. Must get on that….

My day and night routines are really quick, actually. MORNING: cleanse, (should be toning, but don’t), Vitamin Serum, Eye Brightening Cream around the eyes, Sunflower Cream, and Sunscreen. NIGHT: cleanse, (should be toning, but don’t), (should be applying lactic acid every other night, but WILL), Vitamin Serum, Eye Brightening Cream around the eyes, Sunflower Cream, g’night.

And, there you have it! So, Gorgeouses, I implore you to check out Pure+Simple. It’s the number-ONE thing I recommend, as far as self-care goes, EVER. I’ve even bumped into CELEBRITIES there — so you know this stuff is GOOD.

CHECK IT: CHANCES TO WIN $100 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO PURE+SIMPLE over at GOODIES. GOOD LUCK!

My brillers friend Lyn predicted today was going to be STEAMY in the romance department….

Gorgeouses, Josh and I went on A DATE. For the first time. IN MONTHS.

At around 4pm, we dropped the monkeys off at it’sgrandma and papa’shere’s house, made a run for the car and sped off to the theatres so see….

LOVED IT. Yes, Cheaty AND Josh-O both give this movie a thumbs up. While, yes, it’s geared toward a high-school audience, there’s a lot of wisdom and a LO-HO-HOT of laughs in this movie. I mean, it’s Michael Cera (CANADIAN, might I proudly add)….

…and, you can’t go wrong with Michael Cera. I was first introduced to him, as most of us were, in the TOO-SHORT-LIVED, BRILLERS dramedy Arrested Development.

Then, we fell in love with him in Juno. Sigh, love. And, Gorgeouses, we fall in love with him again Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.

In Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Cera plays the same self-deprecating, intelligent, profound, creative, dorky, lovable high-school kid he played in Juno. This time, he plays Nick — a broken-hearted teenager who unexpectedly meets his happily-ever-after, Norah, on one CRAZY night out in Manhattan.

Obviously, Cera’s getting typecast. But, it’s great. Because this type of character is exactly what we all want and NEED to see. We want to see something real, but also lighthearted. We want to see characters that we can both relate to and aspire to become. And, as parents, we want to see role models (Nick and Norah tell each other soon after meeting that they don’t drink). Cera plays this wonderful character like no one else can. He makes JUST BEING YOU beautiful and attractive…. I’d watch him play this character over and over again so I can get to know him better and see more sides of him. He’s FASCINATING! Nobody can play this very timely character BUT Cera.

Norah, played by Kat Denning, is also intelligent, artsy, mature, and quirky — a female version of Nick, in a way. What I liked most about her, though, was her unique beauty. The camera LOVED Denning. Now, the what’s interesting about her is…, at least in the movie, she’s NOT SKINNY. No. She’s voluptuous, and she’s rather PLUMP next to Alexis Dziena — her costar, who plays Nick’s nasty ex-girlfriend. Next to Denning, Dziena looks too skinny. Imagine that: the skinny girl looks almost SILLY next to her STUNNING, fuller-figured counterpart…. Beautiful.

Basically, the movie will DEFINITELY encourage teenage girls to eat a sandwich because there was NOTHING attractive about scrawny Dziena next to the voluptuous, stunning Denning.

Anyway, after the movie, Josh and I went for dinner at a great little Thai restaurant. So relaxing…. No kids…. So relaxing…!

Question: why is my favourite drink called WHITE Zinfandel when it’s OBVIOIUSLY not WHITE!

Yum!

Anyway, go! Check this movie. Let us know what you think in the comments!

Cheaty HIGHLY recommends.

Gorgeouses………

I NEVER use hair straighteners. EVER. Even when I go to the hairdresser, I have to INSIST that they don’t blow dry my hair — no matter how cold it is outside. I just get so bored and…and…and hot. And, my bangs always end up in my eyes. I hate it. Besides, I pride myself on having healthy, “virgin” hair: organic shampoo, no gel, no hairspray, no mousse, no colouring, no drying, no nothing.

So, when a GORJ reader asked me to review this brand-new hair straightener, I was VERY reluctant. But, I love her. So, I agreed to do it.

A few days later, a BEAUTIFUL box arrived in the mail……

Sweeeeeeet. I love a good box! And, LOOK AT THAT SEXAY STRAIGHTENER!

The straightener is called the Infiniti Nano Silver, by CONAIR. What’s unique about it, among other things, is that it has a steam feature. You fill up this little reservoir with water, and, when the straightener heats up, it releases the steam into your hair — so that your hair doesn’t dry out from the high heat of the plates! Brillers, right!? Also, I didn’t have to brush my hair before I used it because it has a comb-type feature built in. I probably SHOULD have brushed it beforehand to make things a LITTLE easier…, but I didn’t bother.

Anyhoot, I used it. I FIGURED out how to use it, AND I USED IT, in little over 20 minutes! Check my before and after!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Note that the AFTER was taken about HALF AN HOUR AFTER because I had to roll around on the floor with my monkeys, and Rascal had to rub drool in my hair for extra special effect. I’m being totally serious.

Honestly? It was SO easy. And, I’m USELESS with things like this! I didn’t even BURN myself! And, and, AND, I barely managed to take pictures of myself WHILE taming the beast using the straightener! Check it….

As you can see, I have, like, the thickest hair ever — and so much of it. EVERY hairdresser tells me this. I’m grateful for this, of course, but it’s a byotch to style. So, obviously, this straightener’s pretty fabulous if it worked on MY HAIR (for my first time straightening it myself, might I remind you) in 20 minutes. Kudos.

Needless to say, Cheaty HIGHLY RECOMMENDS. And, if you go to the Infiniti Nano Silver website, you’ll see you can get one FREE FOR 30 DAYS! Not bad? They do that so they can HOOK YOU IN, of course! Heh. It’s great. If you do get one, let us know how you like it in the comments!

BUT WAIT! I’m giving away TWO of ‘em over at Goodies. GO AND GET IT, GORGEOUSES!

Love! xo Haley-O