Bathing and Beautifying with Little Luxuries at Jacob & Sebastian

Joel R. Dart is owner of Jacob & Sebastian, a Queen Street West bath and beauty boutique in Toronto that carries everything from handmade toothbrushes to a bathtub in the middle of the store. This is a place where one can indulge in “little luxuries” sourced from incredible brands you might never have heard of. Joel tries all the products in store so with his wealth of knowledge, we asked him to share some skincare advice and tips with us. Treat yourself to a bubble bath or a candlelight dinner this weekend; you might just have to visit the store to thank Joel later.

As a skincare boutique owner, we think you might have some tricks up your sleeve and we’re hoping you can share some of your secrets with us! What products do you recommend for oily skin? Dry skin? Combination skin?
When a customer comes in with oily, even acne-prone skin, I turn right to Mario Badescu. The line is simple, tailored for any skin type, and really gentle and balancing. Customers have seen amazing results with their enzyme gel cleanser, oil-free moisturizer and seaweed toner.

My favorite dry-skin recommendations include: Tata Harper’s Hydrating Floral Essence, a facial spray that provides deep hydration; RODIN’S Olio Lusso, a light-weight facial oil that immediately absorbs and nourishes; followed by a rich, protective cream like SW Basics’ Cream, which does not need to be reapplied throughout the day!

For combination skin types, I would suggest following the same procedure, but swapping the SW Basics’ Cream for a lighter moisturizer, such as Kahina’s Facial Lotion, and applying it to the drier areas only.

What are some key ingredients you look for in your skincare products?
I look for items that are full of highly active ingredients. Vitamin C and aloe are two of my favorite ingredients because they make a visible impact to my skin tone and texture.

We’re hearing a lot of hype about oils. What is your opinion on facial oils?
Facial oils are a big thing these days in the world of skin-care, and can truly produce remarkable results if you find the right one for your skin type. At Jacob & Sebastian, we recommend testing out any facial oil before taking the plunge and purchasing one. My favorite oil (of the moment) is made by La Bella Figura and is used to de-puff and brighten the under-eye area. I have chronically puffy eyes, so I was really happy to see that this product actually works. Tata Harper’s Nutrient Complex is another personal favorite of mine. Loaded with vitamins and nutrients, this low-weight blended oil feeds the skin but also produces an immediate “non-greasy” looking glow.

How should we protect our skin from the sun?
To protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun, use a daily moisturizer that contains concentrated anti-oxidants to protect from free-radicals, and also make sure that it contains a non-toxic sunscreen of SPF 20 plus. Personally, I love my anti-oxidant based moisturizer, Tata Harper Rebuilding Moisturizer, but it doesn’t contain a sunscreen so I layer it with Coola’s amazing Plant UV Face SPF 30 Moisturizer. The combination is a light-weight, but highly protective, layer that doesn’t clog my pores or make me look greasy – no one wants that!

What are some of your favourite drugstore beauty buys?
I love soaking in Epson salt, so I buy bulk amounts of Epson at the drug store. Epson is Epson, there is no need for fancy packaging!

What “little luxuries” do you indulge in on a day-to-day basis?
I truly believe that surrounding yourself with “little luxuries” (of any kind), add to a person’s overall well-being. I use amazing hand soap by Savon de Marseille in fig, and smile every time I use it. I also splurge on candles so I’m burning Tobacco Toscano by Santa Maria Novella, which transforms my home (well worth it!). I consider my Rahua shampoo and conditioner quite indulgent, but use only a coin-sized amount, which does wonders for my wiry hair. As I grow older, I find that “little luxuries” can be quite economical because they last longer than cheap throwaways. I will covet and use these indulgent items to the last drop, as opposed to getting bored of them and forgetting about them.

Jacob & Sebastian is located at 622 Queen St West, Toronto

jacob & sebastian, toronto