ANNOUNCEMENT

We are happy to announce an update on our Earth Day Weekend promotion to reward our out-of-town clients who cannot make it into one of our locations this weekend.

To receive the Earth Day Weekend discount, please email your order to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it from Saturday April 20^th to Monday April 22^nd, 2013. Please make sure to include your name, order details (name, size, and quantity of the products), phone number, address information. Then send your empty skincare bottles with your order information at your earliest convenience to our Head Office:

Pure + Simple Head Office

ATTN: Jean Eng, Earth Day Special

25-2700 Dufferin St.
Toronto, ON
M6B 4J3

Orders and payment will be processed only when we receive your empty containers. Please note that the containers need to be thoroughly cleaned prior to being shipped to us so that they could be recycled right away.

Terms and Conditions

• Clients are responsible for their own shipping fees for sending the empty skincare containers to us
• Our standard shipping rates apply on all orders
• Your empty skincare containers need to be received by May 10th, 2013.  
• This discount is limited to one purchase per person (maximum 5 products per purchase)
• Cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions
  

 Fore more information, please contact our Head Office at 1-866-337-1507 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 From April 20 - 22, 2013

Pure + simple wants to reward you for

beautifying the environment

Drop by any of our locations with your empty facial skincare containers from any brand* and save 50% on the replacement Pure + simple brand products! **

Each empty container you bring will be recycled through TerraCycle’s Personal Care & Beauty Brigade® program and will generate 2 cents per piece which will be donated to David Suzuki Foundation.

* Yes, we mean any brand, even the ones we don't carry! Please just make sure to thoroughly clean the empty containers so that they are ready to be recycled right away.

**This discount is limited to one purchase per person (maximum 5 products per purchase). This offer is valid in-store only and cannot be used for phone or online purchases. Cannot be combined with any other discounts.

 All beauty sins deserve a li’l forgiveness…

Holistic Vanity Damage Care, the much-anticipated second line of natural, organic skincare from Holistic Vanity founder Kristen Ma, launched on November 12, 2012 and is now available for purchase. A follow-up to the Rosacea Care range that made its debut in February 2012, Damage Care was created to treat cellular injury caused by the sun, pollution, and trauma.

These regenerating gems work by strengthening the immunity of the skin with powerful anti-oxidants, proteins, and essential fatty acids. They also feature all-natural pigment-fighting ingredients like Bearberry, Sea Oak, Norwegian Kelp, Rosehip, and Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil which diminish uneven color without depleting skin tissue.

The Holistic Vanity Damage Care line is made up of five revitalizing products:

Rejuvenating Rosewater Cleanser ($30, 100ml)

A nourishing face wash that softens and supports delicate skin types.  This cleanser is in a base of vitamin-rich Rose Water and laced with rejuvenating active ingredients like Ginseng, Tamanu and Geranium. *89% organic content

Repairing Rosehip Skin Tonic ($38, 100ml)

Packed with anti-oxidants and vitamin C, Rosehip has been found to reduce pigmentation and treat texture damage.  Made up completely of the nectar extracted from the rosehip fruit, this tonic is cultivated in a sustainable, resource-regulated way.  It is harvested once a year in made-to-order batches to avoid waste, so is available only while quantities last. *100% organic content

Brightening Hyaluronic Lotion ($68, 100ml)

A lotion to revive dull and dehydrated complexions. This Hyaluronic Acid-charged moisturizer bolsters hydration and invigorates tired skin.  It also contains two pigmentation-treating seaweeds that help heal sunspots and scars. *80% organic content

Regenerating Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil ($58, 100ml)

A wonderful protective oil that shields damaged skin from environmental stressors.  Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil is a natural UV absorber, which also promotes cellular regeneration and tissue healing.  This oil has been loosened with anti-aging Evening Primrose Oil, so it will not stain the skin. *100% organic content

Restorative Raw Argan Oil ($58, 100ml)

Found during creator Kristen Ma’s travels to Morocco, Holistic Vanity’s Raw Argan Oil is made completely by hand in an all-female West Moroccan cooperative using traditional methods.  This anti-inflammatory oil soothes and nourishes damaged, sensitized skin types. *100% organic content

Midnight Madness 2012 is Here!

Sunscreen 101

Sunscreens are of two types: natural blocks, using zinc and titanium, which create a physical barrier against UV rays, and chemical ones which neutralize and absorb UV rays into the skin’s tissues. While chemical sunblocks are popular because they are easier to formulate into bases and cosmetics, natural sunscreens are generally less toxic, less irritating and cause fewer allergies.

Hormones, Toxins, Burning and Safety Concerns

The highest SPF in most natural sunblocks is SPF 30. While we, in our sun-fearing society, may wish to up that number, chemical sunscreens can actually heighten the likelihood of cancer because they contain proven carcinogens. Two steps forward, one step back.

Many sunscreen agents, like octyl-methoxycinnamate, octyl-dimethyl-PABA (OD-PABA), benzophenone-3, homosalate (HMS) and 4-Methyl-benzylidene camphor (4-MBC) are also endocrine disruptors, upsetting the body’s hormone balance. In particular, they have been shown to disrupt levels of estrogen, even allowing traces of their chemicals into breast milk. The higher the SPF, the more toxic, which is why there’s movement to outlaw any higher than 30. This is already the case in Australia.

Natural sunscreens sit on the skin’s surface like a shield. This means they don’t need to be reapplied to stay effective. Chemical sunscreens need reapplication every 1-to-2 hours as the sunscreen agents they contain become inactive. Researchers have found that people who are unaware of this get more sun damage because they’re under the illusion they’re protected.

Studies have also found that people who wear sunscreen have a higher incidence of skin cancer because they spend more time in the sun in the belief that reapplication restarts the protecting action; however, once erythema (burning) begins, reapplication does not stop it. You must reapply the block before this happens. And, with each reapplication, more chemicals are absorbed.

Other Benefits of Natural Sunblocks

Natural sunblocks, using zinc and titanium minerals, provide a beauty benefit as well as a health one. Zinc possesses soothing, disinfecting properties. This means it is anti-inflammatory for sensitive skin and anti-bacterial for acne. Many chemical sunscreens clog pores and irritate due to their toxic and petroleum content.

Measuring Sun Protection: Understanding What’s Important

The general misconception is that the higher the SPF the more protection, but SPF only describes how long the sunscreen will remain active. It is the amount of time it takes for skin to burn, multiplied by the SPF protection number. Example: if it takes five minutes to burn without sunscreen, with an SPF 15 it will take 75 minutes (15 x 5 minutes).