We were at the Holistic Beauty Experience last week and came upon a booth that touted magnesium products in balm, spray and cream form, called Remedium. While we had heard of taking magnesium in supplement form to help get a good night’s sleep, the thought of using it as a topical and holistic beauty product was new.

We chatted briefly with the brand founder, who claimed that topical application of magnesium offered a range of benefits. For example, the Magnesium Balm product could be applied twice daily to specific areas of the body to help with feelings of depression and anxiety, reduce instances of insomnia, while also offering anti-inflammatory benefits for joint pain and arthritis. Topical treatment of magnesium is completely safe, and also offers skin and muscle joint benefits that can’t be found with supplements.

As per Remedium’s site, magnesium is “considered a vital mineral involved in over 300 biochemical reactions that regulate our health and wellness”. However the majority of people are not getting enough magnesium, and therefore suffering from symptoms that are unknowingly tied to a magnesium deficiency. Recognized symptoms of magnesium deficiencies include anxiety, depression, insomnia, fatigue, muscle cramps and poor bone health.

1 – Supporting Bone Health 

Magnesium helps assimilate calcium into the bone, while helping to activate vitamin D in the kidneys, which is also important to maintain optimal bone health.

2 – Good for the Heart

Magnesium helps support and maintain heart health and aids in the transmission of electrical signals in the body. Ensuring your magnesium levels are adequate can help lower the risk of high blood pressure and manage cholesterol production.

3 – Anxiety and Depression

Magnesium can work to balance neurotransmitters and reduce brain inflammation, thereby offering support for our mental health. An increased intake of magnesium has been connected to a reduction in regular feelings of depression, anxiety, fear, and panic, as it works to control your body’s stress-response system.

4 – Insomnia

If you’re struggling with insomnia or restless sleep, it may be time to check with your magnesium intake. Magnesium supports a deep and restorative sleep by maintaining a healthy level of GABA, the neurotransmitter that promotes sleep.

5 – Menstrual Symptoms

A balanced intake of magnesium has been associated with the reduction of PMS symptoms such as cramps, irritability and headaches.

So these are the internal benefits of Magnesium. What about magnesium as a part of a holistic beauty routine? According to the Remedium site, their face cream can work to protect the face from free radicals, regulating cellular replication and repair. And we believe it. We’ve been using the face cream since the Holistic Beauty Experience and can honestly say that this is one luscious and highly nourishing skin care product.

Magnesium has been recognized for aiding in skin care matters such as acne, rosacea and dermatitus.

So long story short, magnesium is all around amazing both in supplement and in beauty product form. We are beyond impressed with the quality of the Remedium brand and highly recommend.

While essential oils have become a pretty buzzy topic in the wellness space the past few years, some of us are still a little confounded as to where to get started with them. A great way to dip your toe in the scene if you’re still on the fence about what oils you should buy is to explore their benefits in beauty products.

We’ve rounded up our favourite essential oils that can act as a guideline as you start your journey, along with our picks of Canadian beauty brands that offer up the additional benefits of essential oil blends and diffusions.

GRAPEFRUIT

Benefits: This fruity oil ups your energy, immune system and positivity, making the mood-boosting benefits of citrus-based scents perfect for your morning routine.

Our Product of Choice: Spritz on some Triple Citrus Blend Hair and Body Mist from Cake Beauty to make your a.m. a breeze.

Image from Cake Beauty website

FRANKINCENSE

Benefits: This oil has stood the test of time with its ability to soften your skin when applied topically plus it calms your mind while reducing negative thoughts.

Our Product of Choice:For smooth skin and moments of pure bliss, use Crawford Street Natural Skin Care’s Hand Cream in Frankincense.

Image from Crawford Street Natural Skin Care Instagram 

LAVENDER

Benefits: Its properties to de-stress, reduce anxiety and help you sleep work with your body to keep your mind and soul relaxed, creating the perfect oil for your nightly routine.

Our Product of Choice: Sink into its benefits with Cocoon Apothecary’s Touchy Feels Bubble Bath in lavender and rosemary.

Image from Cocoon Apothecary Instagram 

PEPPERMINT

Benefits: This super oil is great for combatting headaches, nausea, sore muscles and even a stuffy nose, keeping the pep in your step.

Our Product of Choice: Lather up with some basd invigorating mint body wash and experience peppermint’s cool and soothing sensation.

Image from basd Instagram

LEMON

Benefits: Its antibacterial and antifungal properties disinfect while the oil detoxifies and reduces your stress, making this master of many trades ideal for cleaning.

Our Product of Choice: For a fresh and squeaky clean home try Lemon Aide’s All-Surface Cleaner, Kitchen Hand Wash and Dish Liquid.

Image from Lemon Aide Instagram

Feature Image from Logical Harmony Instagram

As you may have heard, wet n wild is being put on blast with the accusation that they are not, in fact, a cruelty-free beauty brand. Images surfaced on social media of their products being sold in Shanghai, China and were released to Cruelty Free Kitty , a popular advocate and educator of cruelty-free beauty products. Details of the matter were also uncovered on May 20th by another cruelty-free beauty expert, YouTuber and Blogger Logical Harmony, a.k.a. Tashina Combs.

Image Source: Cruelty Free Kitty

The Summary

The real scandal began during the morning of Tuesday, May 21st when wet n wild claimed they don’t sell their products in China in a response to an inquiry put forth by Cruelty Free Kitty. Later that day, they released the below statement reporting that they actually do sell their products in China through a pilot program in 30 Watsons stores.

The Issue

By selling their products in China, brands are required to follow China’s laws for mandatory pre-market and post-market animal testing. Thankfully wet n wild hasn’t done pre-market animal testing because the law was changed in 2014 and they started selling their products in China in 2018. The change allows brands to bi-pass animal testing if they follow specific guidelines such as making products domestically in China and using certain ingredients, which wet n wild has been doing.

However, there’s no way around the post-market animal testing law. This law dictates that the government can test products on animals after being released to stores, without having to notify the brands. Sadly, wet n wild was aware of this law as all brands are required to sign a statement agreeing to the post-market animal testing law before selling in China. On top of that, the cost of the tests are included with what brands pay the government to sell there.

This means that yes, wet n wild has been aware that their products in China could be tested on animals, while still stating that they’re cruelty-free and not selling in that country.

What About The Fans? 

Wet n wild is taking blows with this issue and it has caused quite a bit of confusion and disappointment for those who were loyal to the brand specifically for their cruelty-free claim. A quick scan on the comment section of  the wet n wild Instagram accounts shows that fans are feeling lied to and extremely misled. Wet n wild also been removed from the Logical Harmony Cruelty-Free Brand List and we’re certain they will be removed from more lists to come. For updates and more information check out @logicalharmony‘s Instagram.

While the weather hasn’t been entirely favourable, we’re finding refuge in prepping ourselves for when the sun is finally here and we can step out in all our goddess glory, our mineral-sunscreen protected faces to the sky.

There is nothing like stocking up your beauty shelf for spring. Right now we’re favouriting products that help us achieve an all-over,  post-winter glow naturally.

1. Cocoon Apothecary’s Carotene Glow Antioxidant Booster 

If you buy one new and interesting beauty product this season, make it THIS! While serums have been hyped up to no end, the Carotene Glow Antioxidant Booster will take your moisturizing game to the absolute next level. Add a few drops to your serum or cream-based moisturizer and you will see an immediate glow that lasts all day. The carotene base protects skin cells from UV damage and converts to retinol, which is an active vitamin A that keeps skin smooth and firm.

Carotene Glow Antioxidant Booster consists of the organic sea buckthorn, organic rosehip and organic pomegranate seed to repair skin’s barrier, replenish hydration, and protect skin cells. Wild-grown frankincense derived from the resin of the Boswellia tree offers soothing and rejuvenating properties.

2. 1’Lux Body Brush and Velvet Blonde Emolient Oil 

New to the skincare scene, 1’Lux is an actual unicorn of #zerotox product lines that focus specifically on the body. The scents and quality of the capsule product line are immaculately luxurious, formulated with nourishing botanicals such as aloe, apricot, calendula, camellia, chamomile, chia, green tea, jojoba, meadowfoam, rosehip, rosemary and sunflower. Fruit infusions include almond, avocado, blueberry, cocoa, coconut, cranberry, goji, grapeseed, mango, raspberry, shea, squalane, and strawberry.

Our favourite ritual is a quick once over with the SRSLY BUFFED dry brush, followed by the indulgent Velvet Blonde Emolient Oil.

3.Wildcraft Face and Body Scrub

While many drugstore scrubs can rip away your skin’s natural moisture and protection barriers, this mineral rich exfoliant for the face and body from Wildcraft consists of nourishing ingredients that gently remove blemishes for a supreme glow. Ingredients such as arrowroot powder, apricot kernel shells, chamomile flowers, peppermint oil leave skin polished and refreshed.

4. Cardea AuSet AURORA Facial Oil 

AURORA, (aka The Goddess of Dawn) is the the perfect way to embrace the morning with a glow. This skin-firming oil is enriched with vitamin’s A, C, D, E, and lends omega fatty acids from avocado oil, the building blocks of cellular membranes. The presence of jojoba and apricot work to reduce inflammation while firming skin and the refreshing tones of grapefruit will brighten you skin for the day.

As our new year’s resolutions are often focused around grand goals for wellness, spirituality and physical fitness, we often forget about our daily routines and how small changes can go a long way towards helping us feel better, lighter, nurtured and more conscious.

One of the simplest ways we can enhance our daily wellness is by turning a conscientious eye to our make-up counters and beauty products. Mindful beauty purchases not only benefit our bodies, they are also a great way to nurture our hearts and planet. Further to, when we purchase from companies that are conscientious about their ingredients, we are supporting brands that have oftentimes chosen to put the well-being of their customers ahead of mass profits, by sourcing responsible, quality ingredients that are truly beneficial to our bodies. And as part of our 2019 resolutions, why not absolve to part with our hard earned money responsibly and exchange it for products that serve us not only from a beauty perspective, but from a heart perspective as well?

Here are 5 of our favourite Canadian clean beauty products and companies to try this year:

Boosh Lipstick 

Boosh is a small-batch lipstick company from western Canada that develops bold and fun lipstick shades without the chemicals, food-dyes and petroleum-based fillers. All colours are limited to season so get them while you can!

Image from boosh instagram 

Altilis Beauty 

With a strong focus on sustainability, Cambridge, Ontario-based Altilis Beauty focuses on incorporating environmentally-sound and highly effective natural ingredients such as breadfruit into its soothing and nourishing products.

Image from AltilisBeauty instagram

Woodlot

A sublime combination of self-care products for your skin and and home, Woodlot offers a stunningly simplistic line of soy-based candles, room sprays and skincare inspired by the rituals of previous generations and aligned to a planet-forward lifestyle of the future

Image from Woodlot instagram

Graydon Skincare

Graydon Skincare is developed with superfoods (think chia, avocado, blueberries and more!) and pure plant-based ingredients which the company strives to source from Canadian growers and manufacturers as much as possible, creating products that feel luxurious while being effective and highly nourishing.

Image from Graydon Skincare instagram

Cocoon Apothecary 

Beautifully crafted with quality organic botanicals and high-end green chemicals, Cocoon Apothecary is a plant-based vegan line that is biodegradable and highly effective with top tiered serums that perform amazing on all skin types.

Image from Cocoon Apothecary instagram

We’re thrilled to be going to this Thursday’s True Beauty Talk hosted by The Truth Beauty Company. This is the perfect event for anyone who is looking for the latest and best in green and clean beauty. True Beauty Talk is an exposition designed to bring together thought-leaders in the space and connect them with consumers who are invested in beauty options that are better both for themselves and the planet.

This year’s True Beauty Talk will bring together panelists, tutorials and curated shopping experiences from companies like Rocky Mountain Soap Company, Indie Lee, Well Told Health, Elate Cosmetics, Woodlot, Graydon Skincare. 

“We wanted to delve deeper this year, truly giving leaders in the space the opportunity to share more than just the latest trends and best products for certain results. The independent clean beauty space is a unique market, one that is highly value driven. It is incredibly inspiring to see how brands like Rocky Mountain Soup Company and Elate are able to stay true to their initial values while managing impressive growth and reaching larger markets”, says Jennifer Freitas, CEO and founder of The Truth Beauty Company and leader of the True Beauty Talk.

The event will be held at the Burroughes Building, with doors open to the public starting at 1:30. Guests will have the opportunity to engage with founders, discover the latest trends in green beauty and tools, as well as enjoy make-up tutorials. Also, if you are looking for an intimate shopping experience that allows you to test and try products and learn about them from actual company representatives before you buy, this will the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite and going FAST. Make sure to snag yours quickly and get a head start on your beauty new years resolutions.

While this is an article about natural beauty oils, it actually starts with a journey to find a cruelty-free, vegan solution for long, lustrous lashes. Last year, a Canadian brand called Luna Nectar manifested its way into our vortex with claims that it could provide a “Moon Boost” for lashes. We were sold before we even opened the cute little box.

Not only was the branding and eco-sustainable packaging on point, but the product also worked, delivering stronger, fuller lashes with daily use.

So when Luna Nectar announced a new all-natural skincare product, Heliophilia (a word that means addicted to the sun), we were intrigued to learn more. This combination skin and hair serum claims to address inflammation, redness, severe dryness, and skin concerns relating to transepidermal water loss, with a strong infusion of 15 powerful natural oils and serums including Squalane, Baobab, Meadowfoam, Seabuckthorn), Camellia and Rosehip.

We spoke with founder Mia Fiona Kut to get the scoop on what the best natural oils for our skin and to learn little bit more on how Luna Nectar was founded.

How did Luna Nectar come to be?

Luna Nectar was born out of a need for an all-natural alternative to a chemical lash serum that my sister was using! While the serum worked, I was concerned about the side effects my sister was experiencing, and when I found out that many women and young girls were using these types of chemical products, I was shocked. With my lifelong relationship with herbal medicines and holistic wellness, I set on a journey to create a 100% natural, vegan, and organic solution.

What inspired your new product Heliophilia?

To put it simply, a change occurred in my skin, probably due to age. I was experiencing eczema again after about 10 years of being completely free of it. My skin was becoming very dry, as if the barrier was cracked. I needed a solution to combat these issues, and to my surprise, Heliophilia turned out to be very helpful for combination and oily skin as well, and also fading scars!

What are the top five best natural oils for your skin?

Squalane – Gives your skin that extra strength protective barrier.

Rosehip – chock full of vitamin A, C, and essential fatty acids, which really help to refresh and add a glow to the complexion. It penetrates very deeply and increases collagen production

Argan –  it’s so lightweight yet rich, and full of vitamin E which definitely helps with fine lines

Meadowfoam – the lightweight, more environmentally friendly cousin of jojoba oil (it is typically grown as a rotation crop). It helps with anti-aging, and contains over 98% fatty acids. Softens the skin and penetrates deeply without being greasy.

Hemp Seed – protects the skin from free radicals, and with anti-inflammatory properties, it is excellent for treating TEWL conditions such as eczema and psoriasis

Heliophilia

Store Link

Lash and Brow Moon Boost

Store Link

Image By

Eric Ward

As of late June, 2018, Canada has reached the official halfway mark towards becoming a cruelty-free cosmetics marketplace. Bill S-214, the Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, has received an endorsement from Senate and is now on its way to the House of Commons. If the bill is passed, the act will ban the testing of domestic animals for cosmetic purposes and the sale of any new cosmetics that have undergone new animal testing after the bill becomes law.

While we are extremely pleased to see this (finally) come to play, it is important for the conscientious consumer to remember that should the bill pass and become law, we still have the buying power to boycott brands that choose to conduct animal testing in other markets

For example, any large brand that you love and support and buy in Canada could still be selling their product in China, where their product has to undergo animal testing due to government requirements. Case in point, in a controversial move last year NARS started animal testing so they could sell in China. Regardless of whether a brand conducts in-house animal testing or contracts the animal testing out to a third party in order to be sold in China, their cosmetics are being tested on animals in a cruel fashion for capital gain.

Therefore, by purchasing NARS in Canada, where their products must be cruelty-free by law, one is supporting their acts of cruelty on animals. Other brands that are still conducing animal testing in order to be sold in China include Revlon, Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Johnson&Johnson, and more. By purchasing these products in Canada, we are essentially ok-ing practices in other markets.

We are 100% proud and supportive of B S-214 and all the immense efforts that have gone into getting it to the House of Commons. Canada is setting an example for other cosmetic markets and joining the likes of Norway, Europe, Israel and India that has banned animal testing completely. We do however want consumers to remain conscious about how powerful their wallets are. With many amazing independent brands having adapted cruelty-free ethos from the start and becoming only more accessible, there’s no better time than now to clean up your beauty routine and positively impact the planet and the lives of our little animal friends, even those in other countries.

Image By

Clique Images

What does it actually mean to detox? How important is it to detox and is the only way to do it by starving ourselves with a 5 day juice cleanse once a month? Because, between you and us, we’re super over that practice. The term “detox” gets thrown around quite a bit and we wanted to get the full story, once and for all. Because we’re super down to eliminate toxins from our bodies, but would love to know what that actually means.

We spoke with one of our favourite “Healers of Humans”, Dr. Erica Grenci on the topic of detoxification and her tips for how we can incorporate the practice of detox throughout the summer and in our daily lives.

BACKGROUND

Quick background; education, training and what brought you to start your own clinic?

My background all began with a passion for health and learning how to become the most vibrant version of myself. After university, I entered the 4-year Naturopathic Medical program at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine which gave me a strong foundation in both clinical medicine and natural healing modalities. From there I branched outward into learning more about my favorite modalities and so I’ve pursued my masters in herbalism, certification in regenerative detoxification (by the incredible Dr. Morse!), advanced training in homeopathy, certification in facial rejuvenation acupuncture, bio-electric cranio-sacral therapy, reiki, and yoga. I believe that healing occurs on all levels – physically, emotionally, and energetically, and so I sought out tools to bring about this balance in all its forms.

With immense gratitude in my journey of gathering this knowledge and experience, I yearned to start giving back. So just this May 2018 I opened my clinic at Keele and Dundas St. West.

WHAT IS A DETOX?

There is a lot of “detox” advice floating around out there. Can you explain a bit about what it means to detox and what the benefits are?

Detoxing is integral to living – what comes in, must come out! Especially since we live in a world where it’s impossible to escape environmental pollutants, it’s essential to assist the body’s natural cleansing mechanism so it doesn’t become overburdened and stressed. Your body does a fantastic job on its own, however, combined with unhealthy living practices it may well need a boost. When the body is overburdened we begin to see lots of fatigue, mental fogginess, afternoon crashes, poor skin health, headaches, digestive issues, hormone imbalances, and more. Essentially these are all signals that the body is sending for our attention that something is amiss. If we suppress them (i.e. with pharmaceutical medication) it does not correct the root of the issue but instead places a temporary band aid. Why do this when we can dig a little deeper and nourish the body’s ailments from within? This is detoxing and it’s benefits include balancing the body so that it may heal itself – the most powerful form of medicine.

Essentially, detoxing supports the body in all its eliminative capacities. This is through the bowels, kidneys, lungs, and skin, as well as the supportive organs such as liver/gall bladder. Often as well, other organs need to be supported if there are any imbalances – for example, the pancreas may need some love if there are any digestive issues at hand, the parathyroid should be considered if there is a lack of calcium utilization (i.e. depression, varicose veins, easy bruising), the adrenal glands if there is a lack of energy or appropriate sugar metabolism, and even the pituitary gland if there are menstrual issues or hormonal imbalances, etc. The body is an intricately beautiful symphony of life!

In practice, detoxing includes dietary modifications (choosing the right foods to strengthen and cleanse your system), lifestyle practices (a targeted exercise regimen, self-care tools), herbal/botanical medicine (i.e. milk thistle for your liver, poke root for your lymphatic system, juniper for your kidneys), and supportive habits (i.e. meditation, deep breathing, positive thoughts).

DO WE NEED TO JUICE CLEANSE?

For those of us who are over the “juice cleanse” and fasting, are they easier, more nutritional ways to detox?  If so, how often should we be doing them?

Mmmmm, simply add more fruit to your diet! Fruits are very special and the highest food form of choice for detoxing because they are self-cleansing, alkaline, astringent, and carry the highest electrical vibration of all the foods (12,000 angstroms in raw fruit vs 9,000 angstroms in raw vegetables vs. 1000 angstroms in cooked vegetables vs. 0 in meat). Fruits are absorbed the quickest by the body (under 30 minutes) and don’t require the digestive energy it takes to process other foods. Therefore, your body can utilize this energy to repair itself instead of always being in digestive mode. As well, the astringent factor of fruits work to pull out toxins from the interstitial fluid of our cells – whereas no other food can do this for us? This is a practice you can easily incorporate into your daily routine. I always tell my patients to start their day with a tall glass of freshly squeezed lemon water and keep their first meal only fruit to take advantage of these benefits. My favorite detox fruits are: red grapes, blackberries, lemons, and watermelon.

SIMPLE SUMMER DETOX PRACTICES 

What are some simple daily practices we can incorporate this summer to ensure our bodies are detoxing on a more regular basis?

Dry Brushing

There are so many wonderful and easy practices to assist your body’s natural cleansing process. For one, I absolutely love dry brushing (aka lymphatic brushing) – this is a natural bristle brush that is massaged onto dry skin in circular movements along the lymphatic channels. By stimulating your skin in this way, lymphatic flow is also stirred and so is the movement of toxins. This simple method even improves circulation and leaves your skin exfoliated and glowing! I use the Province Apothecary Face Brush and the Saje Body Brush to cover my entire body.

Gua Sha

Another tool I absolutely love to use on my face & body is called a “Gua Sha”. It’s used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to reduce inflammation and promote healing and this is credited to the fact that it’s excellent for moving lymph and toxins, while enhancing circulation and blood flow. Even more, it’s often used as an anti-aging tool on the face since it’s stimulating action also increases collagen production. Simply glide the tool with firm pressure in the direction of the arrows over your face until you create redness (best to do this in the evening before bed! This can be a daily practice.)

Photo credit: Pinterest

Herbal Regimen/Teas

Another daily practice for detoxing is using a customized herbal regimen. Herbs are fantastic because they are targeted to specific organs and body systems to tonify, cleanse, and maximize their function. These are programs I create in office on an individual basis, however, there are also detox herbal teas I created which are an excellent and gentle way to get you started. I alternate the Detox Passport herbal teas daily or whenever I feel a bit sluggish and could use a boost. I also love drinking the liver tea after I’ve had a night out of celebratory fun 😉

Smudging

This ancient spiritual practice has a tremendous cleansing effect. There are multiple levels of cleansing and often it’s easy to forget about the energetic aspects of it all. Smudging with sage or palo santo for example, is an excellent way to clear the air of any negative energies and intentions, help to remove blockages, while also providing a renewed sense of energy.

Rebounding

Something else that really gets the lymph flowing is rebounding! Keep in mind that your heart pumps your blood to circulate your body, but your lymph requires the movement of your muscles to get around. In fact, something as fun and simple as jumping on a trampoline can increase your lymphatic flow and drainage up to 20 times its normal rate! Combined with a regular exercise routine, this will support your body to rid itself of the accumulated bacteria, toxic waste, trapped fat globules, and cell sewage.

What products do you recommend for this and how (and how often) should we use them?

Province Apothecary Face Brush – I use this x3-4/week

Saje Body Brush – I use this x3-4/week

Gua Sha – Daily in the evening

Detox Passport Tea (Colon, Lymph & Blood, Liver/Gallbladder, Kidneys) – I alternate these teas daily (I love the kidney and lymph ones the best!)

Sage Bundle – I do this daily for renewed energy or whenever I feel the energy is a bit stagnant in the air.

Mini Trampoline (aka Rebounder) – A few times/week.

Click on the images below to find out where to purchase Erica’s detox picks.

Facial Dry Brush

Store Link

Dry Brush

Store Link

Gua Sha

Store Link

Detox Passport Tea

Store Link

Sage Bundle

Store Link

Mini Trampoline

Store Link

For more information on Dr. Erica Grenci, please visit her website. For online bookings, please visit: https://drericagrenci.janeapp.com/ To follow on social: Instagram| Facebook | YouTube

Image by Christine Gottardi

Whether you’re travelling this summer, living by the lake or just staying put, it’s great to have a few useful items ready to go no matter what adventures or chill-out sessions come your way. We’ve curated the best of the best for a summer of conscientiously chic self-care and practicality (and everything is Canadian too).

Bamboo Turkish Towel/Blanket 

If you don’t have a stash of Turkish towels and blankets already, now is a great time to start your collection. Traditional Turkish towels are recognized for their supreme absorbency. They dry quickly so they don’t absorb much moisture from a humid climate, rendering them extremely useful for beach days and travelling. They are also eco-friendly, with a luxurious feel and beautiful in quality. Their versatility makes them a must-have for summer, perfect to use as sarongs, picnic blankets, shawls, towels, table cloths and more.

Our Pick – Bamboo Turkish Blankets by House of Jude

Thick enough to act as a blanket or shawl for around the camp fire and thin enough to travel light and compact as a perfect beach towel.

From House of Jude Instagram 

Zero Waste Self-Care Products

As we transition our focus to more ethical beauty practices, we couldn’t be more excited to see so many brands step up to the plate by providing conscientious beauty lovers high quality products that actually work. And while many are taking care to ensure their ingredients are ethical while maintaining that luxurious effectiveness, there are few that are considering the actual packaging that their products come in. This summer, we are minimizing our plastic footprint and officially putting a hard stop on buying shampoo and conditioners that come in plastic bottles. Luxe, sustainable brand Unwrapped Life offers a stunning range of high quality, zero waste self care products. It has never been easier to be part of the solution AND enjoy high quality beauty. While we are smitten with their #zerowaste shave bars and vegan soaps, our product of choice is the shampoo and conditioner duos. Not only do they smell amazing (and look great on Instagram) they actually work as good if not better than salon-purchased products. Plus they are perfect for cottage life and lake-friendly hair washing.

Our Pick – Shampoo and Conditioner in Bora Bora 

Hydrating Electrolyte Powder

While we all know the importance of drinking plenty of water, we love the idea of getting added benefits for our efforts, like an extra energy boost and a glow that comes from the inside out. Electrolytes (sodium, calcium, potassium, and phosphate) and their powders enhance our hydration efforts with electric charges that stimulate our muscles and nerves and also regulate the fluids in our bodies. Our powder of choice is one that adds extra beautifying benefits with each dose. A glass of water infused with Age Quencher’s HYDRATE Beauty Electrolyte promotes radiant skin and gives a boost of energy as it works to hydrate all the body’s cells and combat fatigue and free radical damage. It also works to prevent signs of premature aging by hydrating our skin along with our insides. We also love Age Quencher’s powder because unlike other powders, it can work to reduce inflammation, brighten skin tone and aid in digestion.

Our Pick – HYDRATE Beauty Electrolyte from Age Quencher

Eco Friendly Produce Bags

Whether you are a Farmer’s Market fiend in the summer or picking up produce at your super market, we all know that plastic is out. While increasing our intake of fruits and vegetables is always encouraged, it is vital to remain mindful of our packaging habits. Single use plastic produce bags are detrimental for our planet. This summer, we’re investing in our bodies and the earth with a reusable produce bags made out of sustainable fabrics.

Our Pick – Mesh Produce Bags from credobags

Breathable, Eco-Friendly, Flowing Clothing 

We could not be more over compression black tights and tight tops that keep our beautiful energy sucked in and pulled tight. This summer, we’re saying goodbye to plastic clothing and embracing eco-friendly fabrics and flowing clothes that keep our minds free and our bodies at ease. We’re opting for clothing made of fabrics such as luxuriously twilled bamboo, soft linens and ethical practices (and special nods for being made in Canada).

Our Pick – Unisex Crossover Bamboo Capri from Zen Nomad