Look good, smell nice, and survive the holidays by giving and receiving some locally made goodness. This round up of products and services inspire and enable self-care.

Harlow Atelier

A visit to Fraserhood’s Harlow Atelier is always a great experience – the staff is super friendly and knowledgeable about their products, including their in-house line of skin care goodies (sometimes you might even be able to peep someone working away on some concoction in the back room). But if you don’t have time to visit the shop yourself, or you are looking to send a gift to someone who lives out of town, Harlow Skin Co. offers several skincare subscription options. Take a brief online survey to determine which products are ideal for your skin – Hydrating, Brightening or Balancing (or find a sneaky way of taking the survey for your friend). The first instalment will keep a skin regime going for two months, after which it can be topped off by the subscriber or a generous benefactor. Find out more.

Sunja Link’s Body Shoppe

We recently spent one opinion-changing hour laid out in the humble yet luxurious hidden spa room at Sunja Link’s Body Shoppe (read about our experience here)…so we can attest that even the most self-care resistant type will appreciative the restorative results of this tiny Mount Pleasant gem. Gift cards for the retail shop and spa are available in $50 denominations (an eyebrow wax plus hand and arm massage is only $40, and the shop is stocked with a thoughtful selection of local and international self-care goodies). Alternately, enable a hardworking person in your life by giving them no option to resist by booking them an appointment. Find out more.

Penny Frances Apothecary

The skin is the largest organ of the body, what you put on it matters! Don’t give your friends and loved ones chemical-loaded ointments! Give natural and luxurious treats with a thoughtful selection from this Vancouver-based apothecary of awesome. Owner and potion sorceress Sarah Craig combines rich and restorative oils, relaxing scents (and a little bit of magic) in every member of  her organic botanical skincare family of products. Because Penny Frances is so focused on making sure that they deliver potent potions to world, they only manufacture by hand in small batches, so a human is behind every jar, bottle and vile of deliciousness – and you can really tell. Go for the Geranium Botanical Facial Serum with a chaser of Blood Orange and Cardamom “am mi lado” Luxury Lip Butter or a Paradiso No:2 (a body & hair elixir of Ylang Ylang, Champaca & Frangipani). Find Penny Frances products at Harlow, Room6 in Deep cove, Chinatown’s Charlie & Lee, and Sunja Link’s Body Shoppe.

Formation Studio

For some people there’s nothing soothing or meditative about being ‘silent  and still’- they need noise and sweat instead. If you know someone who subscribes to the mantra of physical exertion as a path to mental and physical wellness, then hook them up with some classes at Formation Studio. The motto of this new Mount Pleasant dance studio is “Turn off, Turn Up, Get Down.” Classes are categorized into Freedom, Power and Presence, all of which are designed to “strengthen the connection between your mind, body and the beat” in a supportive, fun and funky space. Classes can be purchased individually, in 5-20 class packages or via monthly membership fee. Find out more.

Icaria

If you know good people then probably at least one of them is an amazing, hardworking and busy woman – are we right? If you’re having trouble pinning them down to pick their brain for gift ideas then consider hooking them up with something from Icaria, the local woman-run CDB oil brand was created with this particular breed of super-person in mind. Purported benefits of their line of THC-free oils include: fewer feelings of stress and anxiety; improved focus, memory and attention; better sleep; and mood-boosting abilities. Can you give better gifts than that?  Find out more.

Fleurs Teas

Fleurs Teas (photo at top) combine medicinal herbs and hemp with desired effect in mind – to help facilitate sleep, provide energy and focus, chill out, or to detox your system. Fleurs also makes topical applications, including an anti-stress roll-on and a balm for pain relief, and they even offer a full-on cleanse program. Fleurs Teas can be found across BC, including at The Dharma Temple in Mount Pleasant. Find out more.