Brand Focus: Province Apothecary + Giveaway (CLOSED)

Earlier this year, I had heard a lot about Province Apothecary but never really came across it in stores. It wasn't until I attended a media event, for a Fresh Faced and Health Hut pop up, that I had the opportunity to truly experience the line and chit chat with Julie (Creator and brilliant mind behind PA).

After struggling with allergies and eczema all her life, Julie Clark began crafting natural, organic beauty products out of her kitchen in New York’s Hell's Kitchen. Despite her busy schedule as a costume designer and stylist, Julie found herself drawn to holistic skincare, using her time off to experiment with oils, waxes and herbs- all in pursuit of the perfect skin care regime. In 2010 Julie left NYC to study Aromatherapy, Holistic Health and Esthetics in Toronto. Here she formed the foundation of her skincare expertise, experimenting with raw materials and natural ingredients. 

For Julie, natural beauty goes beyond simply organic and wild-crafted ingredients; natural beauty means a pledge to helping clients feel good in their own skin. “I gather so much inspiration from my clients, the weather, and the seasons,” says Julie, of her individually-tailored approach to skin care. Her facial treatments often include hand-blended masks using local produce and seasonally appropriate, farmer-friendly ingredients. While PA has long outgrown the kitchen, Julie’s devotion to fresh, wild-crafted, seasonal, and organic beauty continues. Now a certified holistic esthetician and aromatherapist, Julie remains committed to innovation, sustainability, and small-batch skin care of the highest quality.

Read more about Julie and Province Apothecary here.

While I had received a few samples (mask, exfoliant, and lip balm) in my swag bag from the event, I really wanted to try other products from the range. Julie was kind enough to send me some items to play with and I must say, these products live up to the hype. Oh, and PA is also Canadian! Actually, Julie offers services, facials and custom perfume blending, at her Kensington location. If you're in the GTA, check her out.

Moisturizing Cleanser + Makeup Remover Description: Our Moisturizing Cleanser + Make Up Remover with Avocado & Raspberry Oil is great for all skin types. These hydrating oils remove make up & excess oil, restoring your skin’s natural radiance while gently cleansing without over-drying your skin or destroying its natural pH. Raspberry Oil stimulates cell turnover, rejuvenating skin. Bergamot Oil clears congestion. Frankincense tones the skin. Lavender heals blemishes and works as a restorative. This essential oil blend calms, reduces stress, and relaxes your parasympathetic nervous system. Our cleanser helps your skin stay nourished, balanced, and healthy.
Retails for $16.00 cdn/30 ml or $42.00 cdn/120 ml.

This cleanser is entirely oil based, with no emulsifier, and is an absolute pleasure to use! It's light fragrance makes you feel as though you're at an organic spa and the oils just melt away makeup with ease. It leaves my skin soft, nourished, well cleansed, and vibrant. I love that there are two size options available because the small one is perfect for travelling. The dark glass bottle ensures the oils stay fresh for as long as possible, and the pump ensures you use as little/much product as needed. Corpa Flora is still my favourite, but this is a very close second. I would 100% pick up the 30 ml bottle if I was going to be travelling or a full size to alternate with Corpa.

Invigorating + Balancing Toner Description: Our Invigorating + Balancing Toner with Geranium & Witch Hazel is great for normal, combination, oily, and congested skin. Our toner restores skin’s natural pH, shrinks pores and blemishes with the astringent properties of Witch hazel, reduces inflammation and redness with Rose water, stimulates and tightens skin with the essential oils of Clary Sage and Geranium, and heals and hydrates with Lavender and Calendula.
Retails for $14.00 cdn/30 ml or $40.00 cdn/120 ml.

This little bottle creates the finest of mists, it's literally perfection. The scent is an exact representation of the ingredients; clary sage, geranium, witch hazel, frankincense, all blended together to intoxicate your nasal passage and perk up your skin. After cleansing, morning and night, I'd spritz some on my skin before applying oils. I'd even use this as a morning cleanse on a cotton pad to, obviously, cleanse the skin and help with any blemishes that I may have going on. I will definitely be picking up the full size.

Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum Description: Our Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum with Neroli & Frankincense is great for all skin types: dry, normal, combination, oily, and mature skin. It replenishes your skin’s health while hydrating and stimulating skin on a cellular level. High in antioxidants and powerful anti-inflammatory oils, Neroli and Frankincense reduce the appearance of fine lines and improve skin tone. Jojoba balances skin’s sebum production, controlling shine and congestion. German Chamomile and Rose reduce blemishes, redness, and the appearance of scars.

Retails for $26.00 cdn/7 ml, $44.00 cdn/14 ml, or $76.00 cdn/30 ml. 

I have such a love/hate relationship with this oil. Sometimes I feel as though it works wonders and other times I feel as though it does nothing. Mind you, the weather is changing and my skin is becoming bipolar, so that could definitely be the reason I feel like this. Like the other two products, this one is very fragrant and a perfect representation of its ingredients/essential oils. A few drops is all you need and it quickly absorbs into the skin. Some days, this oil was more than enough for my skin, created the perfect canvas for makeup. Other days, I needed to layer a moisturizer over top. I'm not entirely sold on this serum, although I've heard many swear by it, so I'll update you all in an empties post.

Hang Over Remedy Description: Our Hangover Remedy is a handcrafted botanical tincture that uses traditional herbal methods to help alleviate nausea and headaches, while cleansing and toning the liver and detoxifying your body. It is an all natural blend of flowers, herbs, seeds, and roots, combined to ensure adaptogenic, tonic, carminative, and anti-emetic effects.

Retails for $16.00 cdn/30 ml.

If only this had been available in my early 20s, when I would party like a champ several times a week and sometimes even need to drag my hung over ass to work. Now, I don't really drink. Ever. I had all intentions of trying this out for its intended purpose during Canadian Thanksgiving, but I didn't drink. Then I meant to try it when my parents invited my boyfriend's family over for dinner, for the first time, but I didn't get drunk (even though I drank). Sigh! I decided to give this a go sober, and it was very refreshing and gave me the slightest of energy boosts. Hopefully I'll get hammered during Christmas, then update you in an empties post :P!

I'm a huge fan of Province Apothecary and now understand, and believe, all of the hype. Exceptional products, exceptional ingredients, reasonable price point. If you haven't already tried PA, I recommend getting your hands on some samples or minis. If it's not available where you are, come visit me in Canada and we'll get you some!

All products mentioned can be purchased through Province Apothecary and any of these stockists.

Time For a Giveaway!

Julie has kindly offered to giveaway one Hang Over Remedy to one of you guys. Now you can have that extra glass of whatever and beat that hang over the next morning, then let me know how it worked for you :). 

This giveaway is open to Canada and USA residents only, must be legal age of majority or have a guardian's permission to enter, void where prohibited by law. Contest closes on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen at random and announced here and through Twitter. Winner will have 48 hours to collect their prize. If I do not hear from the winner within 48 hours, another will be chosen.

In order to qualify, you must:

• Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect or Email (on main blog page)
• Follow Province Apothecary and myself on Twitter
• Follow Province Apothecary and myself on Instagram
• Follow Province Apothecary on Facebook
• Join Province Apothecary's mailing list (for great promotions)
• Comment down below letting me know one of the wildest nights you had, where the Hang Over Remedy would have come in handy AND let me know which steps you have done and your corresponding email address, social media names, etc.

GOOD LUCK! - Congrats Heather, you won!

*Products provided with no mention of review consideration. All opinions are entirely my own
Moisturizing Cleanser + Makeup Remover Ingredients: Sunflower Seed Oil*, Jojoba oil*, Avocado oil*, Evening Primrose oil*, Raspberry Seed oil*, GMO-free Vitamin E, Rosemary leaf extract, and therapeutic essential oils of: Bergamot, Lavender*, Frankincense* and Petit grain. *Certified organic ingredient. Our Bergamot is Bergamotene-free (not photo-toxic).

Invigorating + Balancing Toner Ingredients: Aqua, Rose flower water*, Witch Hazel Water*, Lavender flower water*, Calendula flower extract*, and therapeutic essential oils of: Geranium Oil*, Clary Sage Oil*, Frankincense Oil and Rose Otto. *Certified organic ingredient.

Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum Ingredients: Apricot kernel oil*, Pumpkin seed oil*, Jojoba Seed Oil*, Avocado oil*, Grape seed oil*, Pomegranate oil*, Raspberry seed oil*, Sea buckthorn oil*, Calendula oil*, Rosehip oil*, Borage oil*, GMO-free Vitamin E, Therapeutic essential oils of: Neroli, Frankincense, German chamomile, and Rose otto.*Certified organic ingredient.

Hang Over Remedy Ingredients: Ethyl alcohol, Water, Milk thistle seed, Ginger root*, Peppermint*, Black Horehound, Fo-ti, Centaury, Meadowsweet. *Certified organic ingredient.