Product Review: Midnight Paloma

This product review is going to read more like a PSA for tired summer feet than a proper product review. You know what I'm talking about: It's now mid-August and after a season in sandals our feet are a little worse for wear, especially if we haven't kept up a regular pedi regimen. Think blisters, and in my case, bruised toenails that are the aftermath of salsa dancing in too-tight shoes in Toronto. To the rescue? Midnight Paloma Charcoal + Grapefruit Mini Fizzy Bath Soak and Charcoal + Blood Orange Mini Body Wash ($10 each).

For a relatively new line, Midnight Paloma is pretty impressive. Founded locally by Tayler Mariles (former co-owner of the much-loved BeautyMark store in Yaletown), it features 100% natural skin and body care and a slew of complementary skincare tools. Add in hero ingredients like charcoal (an ingredient known for its purifying and detoxifying properties), a dash of millennial pink, and adorable Instagram-worthy packaging, and voila! You have a beauty hit on your hands.

The body wash and fizzy bath soak are lovely as a body wash and a bath soak, respectively. They smell great thanks to the citrus essential oils in the formulas, the body wash lathers well, and the fizzy bath soak feels like a luxe treat. But my favourite way to use them is in a restorative foot soak. I draw a basin of warm water, and then add 1-2 teaspoons of each product. The fizzy bath soak soothes achy arches and soles with its blended epsom salt formula; the body wash softens and cleanses; the essential oils from both products are an aromatherapeutic boost for the senses while the detoxifying properties of the charcoal help my feet feel like new. In fact, typing this review is making me want to draw another foot bath soon. Perhaps a quiet self-care evening is in order tonight!