10 Tricks, Tips and Ideas We Love This Month

1. Skin-care celebration

June is Pride month and we’re celebrating with Canadian-born and LGBTQ+-owned skin-care brand Dew of the Gods. TikTok star Ryan Dubs got his start developing the online branding for Kylie Jenner’s cosmetics line before establishing his own skincare company in 2020. The luxe formulations have something to offer to all skin types, and the brand itself celebrates inclusion with a focus on representation in advertising. “As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I felt a responsibility to build a label on the foundation of inclusivity.

Pride is everywhere in my products; in our colours, our packaging, and the way we speak to our customers,” says Ryan. Our new fave is the Fijifuji Collagen Vitamin Mask, which boasts vegan collagen, vitamin C, lychee extract and hyaluronic acid for a radiant complexion.

2.  Deluxe for him

Get the man in your life onto a new skincare routine. He'll love the scents and textures of these products that are made to make a man feel luxurious.

This brand’s mandate is to reduce its “pawprint” on the environment, with reduced-plastic packaging and sustainable practices.

3.  STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

It’s certainly not news that Canadians are coffee lovers, but it is news that one of our grocery giants is changing its coffee packaging in a commitment to being more sustainable. By the end of 2022, Loblaw will have eliminated its old President’s Choice and no name ground and whole bean coffee packaging and replaced it with a recyclable option, making a huge step in the company’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You’ll find the same great coffees in better, more sustainable packaging.

4. CAESAR SEASON

If you love sipping on the iconic Canadian summertime cocktail, you’re going to swoon for the latest flavour from Mott’s Clamato: Cucumber Basil. Refreshing and crisp, this flavour, made with natural ingredients, will add tasty pizzazz to your Caesar.

5.  SMOOTH OPERATOR

Period products like reusable biodegradable pads and tampon applicators, silicone menstrual cups and absorbent silk sponges have taken the women’s health industry by storm in recent years. And Canadian start-up Marlow is a part of the movement, with its 100 percent organic cotton tampons, plant-based applicators and compostable wrappers which are all free of dyes, fragrance, synthetic fibres and chlorine bleach. The company even sells a water-based lubricant you can dip your tampon in for a smoother application.

6.  MULES OUT FOR THE SUMMER

If you love a slip-on shoe as much as we do, we think you’ll love what Vancouver-based Native Shoes has to offer! Its Bloom collection boasts sustainable and stylish shoes made with repurposed algae, which replaces a percentage of the plastic polymers typically used in rubber-like EVA shoes. The algae harvested for one pair of Bloom shoes restores up to 80 litres of filtered water into the environment. Once the shoes are worn out, you can even send them back to the company through Canada Post, where they’ll be reground into a versatile material that can be used to make playground flooring, insulation and more. Bonus!

7.  Mindset reset

Doesn’t life seem easier when you understand why you feel the way you do? The Ana app, created by body activist and TV star Roxy Earle, along with Dr. Arnold Mahesan, one of Canada’s leading women’s health doctors, is all about helping women better understand the link between their physical and mental well-being. Complete daily checkins feature questions about how you’re feeling based on three categories: mind, body and life.

The program offers boosts and affirmations to get you through the day; plus, you’ll get a weekly program tailored to your hormone cycles. The free Ana app is available on the App Store and Google Play.  

8.  SCENTS OF SUMMER

A brand known for its deliciously scented home cleaning products, hand washes and laundry soaps, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day hits the nail on the head once again—this time in the form of tinned candles! The glorious aromas of Peony, Lavender and Honeysuckle bring the garden inspiration indoors. We know you’ll enjoy them just as much as we do!

9.  In the bag

Looking for a versatile bag to hold your essentials? Marnie & Michael’s 2022 line has got the perfect small pieces for everyday running around. From her studio in Penetanguishene, Ont., Jennifer St. John crafts made-to-order classic leather bags.

We love the new sling-back that can be worn across the body, around the waist or over the shoulder. Plus, it’s a purchase you can feel good about. The brand, which operates as a social enterprise, donates 15 percent of all profits to mental health initiatives.

10.  WELL STACKED

We all know the pain of trying to efficiently store our pots and pans, whether in a cupboard, drawer or on pot hooks. They’re awkwardly shaped and take up a lot of space! Enter the La Cocotte cookware set, which includes a round cocotte, braiser, grill pan and universal lid, all made of high-quality cast-iron. The set conveniently stacks together for easy, stylish storage.