Spring 2020 Editor’s Picks

Cue the florals and the light jackets, because spring is springing. Welcome the season in a myriad of ways, including with these timely and unique conversation pieces.

Beautycounter Countermatch Hydra-Gel Radiance Toner

Minimize the appearance of pores and prep your skin for the rest of your routine with this smoothing toner from clean brand Beautycounter. What makes this product extra special is its gel formula, which means you can apply it either with a cotton pad or just your hands. Made with plum oil and squalane, it’s antioxidant-rich, nourishing, and moisturizing.

Happy Birthday, Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel

This beloved Vancouver property turns 10 this year, which is certainly cause to celebrate. Locals and travellers alike can indulge in the stunning property’s anniversary offerings, which range from a pop-up of The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar from April 15 to 18; to limited-edition Go for Gold overnight stays for some extra pampering; to a special pop-up shop featuring the gorgeous books of Taschen.

Barbie celebrates Black History Month

In honour of Black History Month, official Barbie Instagram account Barbiestyle collaborated with stylist and costume designer Shiona Turini to create a campaign featuring gorgeous Black Barbies. With an array of hair styles, sizes, skin tones, and, of course, outfits, these dolls celebrate the richness of Black culture and champion the fact that representation matters. There’s even one doll in a wheelchair, because Black women come in all forms—and they’re all beautiful.

“How Beauty Routines Provide the Escape Chronic Illness Sufferers Need”

Skincare and makeup are often seen purely as vanity or as self-care marketing tools, but they can be so much more than that. This Dazed article explores how women with chronic illnesses use skincare to feel empowered, beautiful, and even more human. As Marianne Eloise writes in the piece, “what we forget when we say these things are unnecessary is that, for some people, they’re not solely about vanity or conforming to standards or following trends. Many routines are on a sliding scale of effort and cost, making them an accessible way of finding control over an uncontrollable body and connecting with ourselves.”

Where The Wing cofounder Audrey Gelman got it wrong

Instead of outlining her many successes, cofounder of women-focused coworking and networking space The Wing wrote an article for Fast Company listing her major failures thus far. “As a society, we decry the dismally low number of women who scale successful companies,” she writes. “The myth around female leadership is partly to blame. We’re still sold a dazzlingly unrealistic image of a superwoman—or in 2020, a girlboss. She raises capital without raising her voice. She has it all and does it all, without error.” By discussing some of her very real missteps in an honest and sincere way, Gelman is opening the door for healthier social discourse around women entrepreneurs. We all fail sometimes, and there’s nothing wrong with that; as always, it’s how we acknowledge our wrongdoings and pick ourselves up that matters.

“Dear Evan Hansen”

There’s a reason Dear Evan Hansen won the 2017 Tony Award for best musical—this touching, quirky, and heartfelt show is unlike anything else on the stage. Following along with a depressed and lonely high school kid named Evan Hansen, the musical outlines very real feelings about social anxiety, bullying, grief, and acceptance. This author was lucky enough to see Broadway Across Canada’s production in Vancouver, with Evan Hansen played by the incredible Sam Primack. Click here to see if the tour is coming to your city, as this is one show you don’t want to miss.

Ulla Johnson Giada Tank

Spring on a tank top? This is it. Hand-crochet flowers give this delicate Ulla Johnson piece a whimsical quality—it’s both youthful and sexy. Perfect for wearing with a skin-coloured bra, a bandeau, or even a bikini top, it’s a beautiful way to get your first dose of spring flowers.

Sanko Kitchen Essentials

Anyone with a love for beautiful home goods will find something to covet at Sanko Kitchen Essentials in San Francisco. With a focus on Japanese design and utility, the store sells an array of items, from thoughtful ceramics to chopsticks to pen cases and notebooks. If visiting the Bay Area, the Kimpton Buchanan hotel right across the street is a great option (be sure to take advantage of the 5 p.m. happy hour for free wine and sake); and just a short walk down the road leads to Fillmore Street shopping at the likes of goop, Credo Beauty, and Reformation.

“Green: Plants for Small Spaces, Indoors and Out”

We all know that plants are good for us. They purify the air, and looking after them gives us a sense of purpose—not to mention, they’re also beautiful to look at. Whether you’ve got a green thumb of not, Jason Chongue’s Green: Plants for Small Spaces, Indoors and Out will provide gorgeous inspiration and easy tips for choosing, styling, and caring for plants. Learn how to deter pests in different seasons, how to create microclimates for specific species, and how to prune and shape various leaves and stems, all paired with clean imagery that’ll have you running to your local garden shop to pick up some new friends.

Livia Sweets pasta dinners

Those in Vancouver should take advantage of the fact that Livia on Commercial Drive now does dinner. Appetizer options include succulent prosciutto and creamy whipped ricotta with house-made sourdough, while the handmade pasta is sure to have everyone singing. A recent visit also revealed a decadent chocolate hazelnut tart, but the menu here is always changing, which means you have no shortage of excuses to keep going back. Because nothing says spring—or any season, really—like an unforgettable meal.