Welcome to Unfiltered, where we give our honest, no-B.S. reviews of the most buzzed-about beauty products, brands, and services on the market right now.
These days you can spot Hudson’s Bay’s signature stripes on pretty much anything, from inflatable pool floats to Baby Archie's toque. And with the recent launch of Les Essentiels by Hudson's Bay, the brand's first-ever house skincare and makeup line, those green, red, yellow, and blue lines are coming to beauty #shelfie near you.
True to its name, Les Essentiels is a pared-down collection that includes lip and face serums, a brow gel, and a double-ended mascara (many of which are made in Korea), with prices ranging from $35–$60.
The line was developed by Brittny Robins, the Canadian powerhouse behind Flawless by Friday, and all the products are free of parabens, sulphates, and phthalates — they're also cruelty-free. What you do get is natural ingredients, such as plant collagen, ginseng, and maple extract (as if the stripes weren't Canadian enough).
When Canada's oldest retailer partners up with one of the country's buzziest beauty entrepreneurs to make its skin and makeup debut, you bet we're going to test it out. So we asked R29 staffers to put the products to the test. Here are their unfiltered opinions.
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Les Essentiels By Hudson’s Bay Face Serum
My first facial was last year. The facialist stopped mid-application of whatever magic things a facialist applies and said, “Oh, you have fake nice skin.” It was not a compliment. I have skated through life on good genes and basic moisturizers like cocoa butter or whatever I could find at the drugstore. My skin never suffered from my lack of commitment to a skincare routine. That is, until I hit 30. Now, my “fake nice” skin needs a bit more than just a bit of sleep and my mother’s genetic influence to keep up the facade. Enter Hudson’s Bay’s face serum — it’s the second serum I’ve ever tried, and it’s my favourite. It goes on smooth and is not oily or overpowering. It’s hydrating and has left my skin feeling soft morning and night. I apply to the sensitive spots around my eyes and neck the most, and that feels like enough for me. — Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Senior Writer
Les Essentiels By Hudson’s Bay Lip Serum
My lips are always chapped — and not in that sexy, I’ve been making-out-all-night way. Which is why, when I found out we were reviewing Hudson’s Bay’s new beauty line, I might have pushed a co-worker or two out of the way to snag the lip serum. This serum, which applies like a gloss but is more moisturizing than sticky, contains hydrating rosehip oil and anti-inflammatory gold to soothe and plump lips. While I didn’t notice a plumping effect, I can say, after a week of use, my lips feel softer and are definitely less peel-y. I plan to use it as a base for all my bold lipstick looks, but it’s glossy enough to wear on its own. Now please excuse me while I go find someone to make out with. — Carli Whitwell, Deputy Editor
Les Essentiels By Hudson’s Bay Brow Gel
As someone with very thick brows, I need a gel to hold them in place all day. This one does just that, and the lightweight formula didn’t leave my brows feeling glued down. I like to brush the hairs in an upwards direction, which means some gel inevitably gets on my face. Luckily, the gel didn’t leave a shiny film behind and was easy to work through the hairs. The price is steep at $25, but if you’re looking to keep your brows in check, this is your answer. — Nadia Ebrahim, Intern
Les Essentiels By Hudson’s Bay Double-Ended Mascara
I have dinky eyelashes and when I’m getting ready in the a.m. I’m often crunched for time, so I look for a formula that has major lengthening power and lifts the lash (I gave up on a lash-curler long ago): This mascara, which is paraben-free and infused with nourishing jojoba oil, does both. But, for me, its best feature is that it has two wands: a larger, curved brush for your upper lashes and a teensy one for bottom and hard-to-get hairs. It wears well throughout the day — I wore it for short runs without streaking. But found it a little flaky when removing it at the end of the day — you want to make sure you take it off carefully to avoid getting bits in your eye. — Carley Fortune, Executive Editor
Les Essentiels By Hudson’s Bay Colour Stick
I’m a gal who wakes up early but still ends up being late. Probably because I enjoy taking longer-than-normal showers — it’s my meditation time! I make up for it by having a very simple beauty routine that I’m always up for cutting-down. The Colour Stick seemed like the perfect tool for just that. It’s an all-in-one lip, cheek, and eye tint that was designed to be universally flattering, but unfortunately was not. I have a light brown skin tone, and it made my lips look paler than they already are, and was flakey when I tried to wipe. It looked fine on my cheeks, but the colour payoff wasn’t there, even after I applied multiple layers. And as someone who doesn’t wear a lot of makeup, this formula felt very heavy on my skin. — Yazmin Butcher, Visuals Editor
Les Essentiels By Hudson’s Bay Eye Mask
These eye masks, which come in a pack of 30, are a nice cooling treat in the evening or to give yourself a boost before a big day. But they’re a little slippery — I found them sliding down my face after a few seconds on more than one occasion. If you’re not multitasking and can hold your face the right way (like you’re trying to balance an apple on your nose) or lie down on the couch, the masks stay put and give a little under-eye brightening that would make an Instagram filter proud. — Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Senior Writer
Les Essentiels By Hudson’s Bay Blurring Perfecting Face Base
I LOVE a good primer. This one can be worn on its own or as a smoothing base under makeup, even on your eyelids. While I didn’t try it under shadow, it did help my concealer and blush last throughout the day. It has a mattifying effect, so if you like the dewy look, use a highlighter stick over top. — Carley Fortune, Executive Editor