If there's one thing that’s grown right alongside my age, it’s my obsession with skincare, and thankfully, Saint John doesn’t disappoint.
Best-Kept Skin Secrets
One of the best excuses to head to vibrant Uptown is the sheer variety of things you can dab, spray, and slather on your skin. When I first moved here, a little snooping around the Saint John City Market led me to my all-time favourite bath and body brand: The Blue Pelican.
Don’t let the size fool you. This one-woman operation packs serious quality into every soap, lotion, and serum. The essential ingredients are front and centre in every product, and the scents? They rival the likes of Jo Malone, no exaggeration. Lately, I’ve been obsessing over the Peach Bellini fragrance oil, especially in the leave-in hair conditioner and body spray. Another favourite? Blueberry Cheesecake. It's almost good enough to eat. But instead, I slather it on my skin as soap and lotion (a little goes a very long way!).
On the skincare front, The Blue Pelican’s cleansers and creams have officially replaced anything I used to grab from drugstores, Sephora, or even fancy department store brands. The Mushroom Plumping Lotion deserves a special shout out. It gives a firming, retinol-like effect without the harshness, and it’s so popular it’s often sold out. If you're local, it’s worth popping into the shop in person; not everything makes it onto the website.
Another uptown favourite is Juniper, tucked away on Prince William Street. While it’s known for gorgeous homewares and clothing, it also carries a curated selection of high-end Canadian (and New Brunswick-made) skincare. Natural, vegan, cruelty-free, it’s skincare you can feel good about. I always end up back near the beauty section, eyeing anything promising to turn back the clock. Right now, I’m loving The Cure’s Face and Eye Cream, which glides on beautifully and leaves skin dewy and hydrated. My absolute must-have though? The Boosting Mist, a gentle, glowy alternative to more intense anti-aging treatments like Botox or microneedling. It’s also perfect for setting makeup or freshening up throughout the day.
Juniper also stocks artisanal soaps from Sussex that smell like gourmet desserts and seem to last forever — a win for any bath lover.
Bonus: Both The Blue Pelican and Juniper offer refill stations, so you can bring your own containers to top up on soaps, lotions, and more, cutting down on waste while treating yourself.
And if you're stopping by The Nest Yoga on King Street, don’t miss their selection of organic skincare from Eminence. After several months of attending yoga classes there, I finally gave in and grabbed the Sun Defense Minerals powder. Lightweight, nearly invisible, and available in six shades, it’s a great preventative step that leaves a soft matte finish, perfect for anyone who wants to protect their skin without the heavy feel of traditional sunscreen.
Whenever you feel like a pick-me-up, or just want to spoil your skin a little, uptown Saint John has you covered. Literally.
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