10 Tricks, Tips & Ideas We're Loving This March

Shape, your way

When it offers the right support, cover­ age and silhouette, shapewear can give us the confidence to rock an outfit that’s been hanging in the closet with the tags still attached. Designed with PerfectCut technology, the new shapewear line from Toronto-­based inti­mates and apparel brand Knix allows us to adjust our under­ garments to fit our needs. With just a quick snip along the lines, the leg length can be customized to wear with a shorter hemline and the back can be adapted for your new low­back dress, all without rolling or fraying.

Knix Customizable Shaper Bodysuit in Warm Sand, $115

Knix Customizable Open Bust Shaper Bodysuit  in Sola, $130

Butter me up

A type of clarified butter with roots in India, ghee is commonly used for cooking, but it’s also an important part of traditional Ayurvedic medicine, where it’s used to soothe burns and nourish dry skin. Canadian beauty brand Ghlee harnesses the healing power of this superfood in its lip balms, masks and scrubs, as well as its newest offering, a pain-relieving balm for muscle aches. Full of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins, this nourishing range gives a modern twist to this tried-and-true ingredient.

Ghlee Lip Balm, $16

Ghlee Muscle Recovery Balm, $44

Sweet tooth

Calling all bakers! If you’re looking to serve up some sweet treats that are also allergen-friendly, Enjoy Life has you covered with its delicious baking chocolate. Free from 14 allergens, including dairy, soy, egg and tree nuts, and made in a gluten-free facility, these chocolate chips and chunks make it easy to bake treats that are safe for the whole family to enjoy. Whether you add them to cookies, melt them down to coat strawberries, or eat them straight out of the bag (they’re that good!), the rich and creamy taste will make these sweet morsels your new go-to.

Enjoy Life Dairy Free Semi-Sweet Chunks, Semi-Sweet Mini Chips, Milk-Like Chocolate Morsels, $7 each

Save/splurge

Get a smooth, makeup-ready canvas, whatever your budget.

Save: For a flawless application and long-lasting finish, reach for this silicone-based mattifying primer.

The Ordinary High-Adherence Silicone Primer, $8

Splurge: Smooth and blur facial texture and pores with this cult classic that’s infused with vitamins A and E.

Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer, $46

Boots on the ground

It’s that awkward time of year when it’s raining on Monday, snowing on Tuesday and warm and sunny on Wednesday. The right footwear, like a pair of ankle boots, can make it a breeze to dress for this transitional weather.

Reformation Katerina Leather Lug Sole Chelsea Boots in Black Tumbled, $428

Maguire Palma Leather Boots in Silver, $270

Olang Glee Boots in Argilla, $280

burst of hydration

Tangerine, peach, freesia, rose, cedarwood and musk—this combination of intoxicating notes isn’t the olfactory profile of a high-end luxury perfume. It’s actually the scent of Vaseline’s new game-changing Pro VitaB3 Serum-Burst Luminous Glow Lotion. Packed with hydrating lipids, hyaluronic acid and vitamins B3 and E, this serum-lotion hybrid delivers 10 times more antioxidant power than vitamin C for a radiant, healthy-looking glow. We love the soft-as-velvet feel that’s left behind with every application.

Vaseline Pro VitaB3 Serum-Burst Lotion Luminous Glow, $7

Going through changes

As much as we love TV series with otherworldly sci-fi and fantasy elements (the success of shows like Stranger Things and Game of Thrones proves it!), there’s something special about a show with characters that seem just like us and our besties. CBC’s new comedy Small Achievable Goals is a hilariously relatable tale of two women in the throes of menopause brought together to produce a podcast. Through dating drama, office politics and health concerns, the duo navigate this phase of life with humour and friendship. 

Espresso yourself

Cast-iron and ceramic cookware company Staub is celebrating 50 years of high-quality cocottes, pans, baking dishes and more. All sorts of newness has been released to mark this milestone, including a six-piece ceramic set perfect for caffeine lovers. Inspired by the delicate beauty of French macarons, this collection of pastel espresso mugs is great for daily use or pulling out for your guests on special occasions. Oven-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe, these little ceramic stunners are easy to care for and are stackable for easy storage. Happy sipping! 

Staub Macaron Espresso Mug Set, $140/6-piece set

Get inspired

March 8 was International Women’s Day! With so many inspirational, powerful women in the world, we have so much to celebrate. The theme for this year, Accelerate Action, encourages quicker and more decisive steps to achieve gender equality across the world. To reach full gender parity at the current rate of progress, it will take 134 years, and we’re all about putting the pedal to the metal to speed up that timeline. For more information and tips on how to support the movement, visit internationalwomensday.com.

when life gives you lemons

These sour citrus fruits are so much more than a grocery staple. In fact, they have a whole list of handy household uses. Here are a few of our favourites.

1. Get stains and odours off cutting boards by rubbing them with the cut side of a lemon.

2. Remove mineral deposits with
a lemon run over the chrome fixtures in your bathroom and kitchen.

3. Freshen the air in your home by simmering lemon slices in a pot of water.

4. Make an all-natural furniture polish with lemon juice, olive oil and vinegar.

5. Brighten your whites by adding lemon juice to the wash cycle
in place of liquid bleach.