A myriad of dark spot treatments hit the market this spring, and although the skincare industry cycles through trends just like any other, I think this product push is especially pertinent. I have struggled with hyperpigmentation (also known as dark spots or sun spots) for years and despite many attempts to battle the discolouration and augmenting my SPF to near triple digits, the sun still seems to be doing a number on my skin.

   
My top sunscreen picks: Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster SPF 50 for the face and Ombrelle Sport Clear Continuous Spray SPF 60 for the body.

There are many dark spot solutions hitting the market this spring. Whether Vitamin-C packed or Goji berry-infused, the treatments claim to help lessen dark pigment, known as hyper pigmentation, that comes courtesy of sun damage. And while many of these products can help to dull the discolouration, I think it makes a lot more sense to take a proactive approach to the problem with proper sun protection.

First off, many women believe that the SPF built into their moisturizer, BB Cream or foundation is sufficient as a daily sunscreen—not so. You should be wearing a stand alone sunscreen every day, in addition to any SPF built into your skincare.

Just like you have a different wardrobe of clothing for fall/winter and spring/summer, you should have separate wardrobes for each season when it comes to your skincare products. 

And with the weather finally getting warmer (is it just me, or did that seem like one of the longest winters ever?), it's time to transition into your spring skincare routine. 

"Our skin condition is different from winter to summer," explains Amy Chen, Scientific Communication and Training Leader of SkinCeuticals. "In the winter our skin tends to be drier, and in the summer our face tends to produce more sebum [that oily substance that helps prevent our hair and skin from drying out]. Therefore, it is important to use proper skincare to adapt to different skin conditions." 

Not too sure how to build your spring skincare wardrobe? Here are some staples:

This week Dove posted a new advertising campaign—the latest in a string of successful marketing tactics focused on self-esteem as opposed to product. Presented as a mini-documentary, it involves a sketch artist hidden from a series of women as they describe themselves. Then those sketches are juxtaposed against a series of drawings, done by the same artist, depicting the same women, however this time as described by strangers. The difference is remarkable.

My skin has been very unhappy lately, so I've been looking for new solutions to cheer it up. With the regular wash, moisturize, and exfoliate routine coming up short, I decided to venture into unchartered territories: masks. And what I found was one very happy complexion.

I spoke to P1M.ca makeup artist and all-around beauty guru Diana Carreiro and was quick to see why masks have so much to offer. Plus, she taught me about a new budget-friendly favourite: the Aspirin mask!  

What are the benefits to using a mask?
A mask can help treat all types of skin conditions like aging, dry, oily and dull skin. It can exfoliate, hydrate, and help reverse the signs of aging, or simply provide a healthy dose of vitamins, leaving your skin silky smooth and glowing.

Did anyone else notice the purplish tint of Nicole Kidman's upper lip at the Screen Actor's Guild Awards? I had to surf through the photos for Hits and Disses and let out an audible gasp when I saw that taut circulation-starved upper lip stretched in agony. What this woman has done to her beautiful face makes me sad.

For years she denied it, but finally Nicole is admitting to Botox (kind of) via La Repubblica, an Italian newspaper. "I did try Botox, unfortunately, but I got out of it and now I can finally move my face again," she says.

If you already think that AXE grooming products smell out-of-this-world, wait until you get a whiff of their new Apollo line. The range, which includes body wash, 2-in-1 shampoo, deodorant, and the brand's signature body spray, features a fresh, clean new scent from the famed nose of Ann Gottlieb (Dior, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein.)

Packaged in sleek black and silver rocket-like bottles, the space-aged launch comes complete with a major blast off. This week from the planetarium at New York's Museum of Natural History, AXE not only revealed the products, but an amazing contest to coincide. In partnership with one of the first men to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin, the brand announced that they will be sending 22 guys and/or gals into outer space.

With their irresistible colours, textures, and scents, beauty buys always make for great gifts. It can be tough to buy something so personal, however, which is why I always steer clear of perfume and makeup, and aim for fun luxurious buys that we rarely splurge on for ourselves.

Here are a few of my favourite picks:

Clarisonic is the one innovation that beauty editors can't stop buzzing about. The skincare brush penetrates pores to remove dirt and makeup, while minimizing pore size. Adding the deep clean to your skincare regime is guaranteed to lead to a healthier looking complexion, no matter your skin type. My pick: Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleansing System, $140, available at Holt Renfrew and Sephora stores.

My itchy skin has been keeping me up at night. No matter how much I rub my legs on the sheets or try to ignore it, inevitably I end up in the bathroom slathering on lotion, which then gets stuck to the sheets, and so on and so forth. It's irritating to say the least, but as Dr. Frank Schwanke, Group Manager of Product Development for Face and Lip Care at the Beiersdorf in Germany recently reminded me, it's also my own fault. Despite knowing better, my aversion to the cold has led me to long hot showers and a cranked up thermometer, drying out my already winter worn skin.

Here are his top tips for protecting your skin from the wicked winter weather: