Sweet, sweet summer: there’s nothing better. Celebrate the season with these great finds—from eyeglasses to baked goods to haircare.
Reincarnate
New from glasses company Clearly is Reincarnate: a line of frames made from recycled plastic. Each pair comes in cute colors like navy, tortoise, and grey, is created using five recycled plastic bottles. Which means affordable eyewear can also be eco-friendly. Super lightweight and matte, they’re comfortable and chic enough to wear all day.
Oakridge at Pacific Rim Patio
A special pop-up at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, in collaboration with Oakridge, brings together specialty cocktails and food truck bites on a summer-inspired grassy patio at the front of the hotel. The food, created by executive chef Damon Campbell, is a delight—try the ahi tuna poke bowl with ginger rice, crispy spicy garlic, fresh cucumber and lettuce, and mango (word on the street is that the burger is a standout, too). Pair it with a mocktail or a collaboration beer with Strathcona Beer Company while you’re at it. This is the ideal place to spend a sunny afternoon—or evening, really—listening to the live music and taking in the burgeoning bustle of downtown. As pandemic restrictions ease and people get outside again, it’s a palpable feeling, and this patio—open until September—is a perfect celebration.
GOOPGLOW Glow Lotion
If it’s good enough for Apple Martin, it’s certainly good enough for us. The latest offering in Goop’s clean skincare arsenal is a beautiful face cream called Glow Lotion that is made with Vitamin C, spirulina enzyme, and kakadu plum. It goes on smooth, sinks in instantly, and makes skin oh-so soft and calm. Bonus: thanks to citrus and vetiver, it smells amazing. And looks cute on your shelf, too.
Hydralyte+ System Balance
Promote a healthy microbiome with the newest product from Hydralyte. This all-natural rehydrating powder dissolves easily in water and comes in a refreshing Strawberry Lemonade flavor; System Balance includes seven electrolytes key for hydration, helps promote a happy gut, and contributes to bone health—all important things year-round, but especially in the summer when temperatures run high.
The Bench Bakehouse frozen pastries
The smell of a vitruvi essential oil blend is perhaps only rivaled by the smell of fresh-baked pastries. And why choose when you can have both? Vancouver’s delightful Bench Bakehouse offers some of its delectable treats to-go in frozen form, meaning you can keep them in your freezer at home and pop them in the oven to enjoy warm at your leisure. Cinnamon roll, butter croissant, pain au chocolat, oh my.
Gray Monk Estate Winery Rose
Pouring a glass of Gray Monk Estate Winery’s 2020 BC VQA Rose after a long day at work is a salve like no other. With peach and rose petals on the nose, this medium-bodied, gorgeously dry yet crisp vino will have you cheersing the neighbors, even if their cat’s mews drive you crazy. A finish of pink grapefruit and red berries gives this a lasting palate that will match your summer salads, your veggie grills, your lazy charcuterie boards. A true celebration of summer.
Wirth Hats
Summer means sun, means sunburns—means you need to protect your head as much as possible. Keep it cool and safe with Wirth Hats, an ethical line of headwear that is made in Vancouver using high-quality fabric. These caps are stylish, to be sure, but what really sets them apart is that every sale supports counselling for those who can’t afford it on their own. The brand also has a one-to-one option at a slightly higher price point that means your hat purchase can directly donate an entire counselling session to someone in need. Hard to beat that.
Womaness
Womaness is on a mission to normalize menopause, which is a cause we can definitely get behind. Still, many of the brand’s body and feminine care products can be used by all ages. Take a body cream called The Works: this soft-smelling, lightweight moisturizer makes skin instantly smooth. Free from estrogen, hormones, and the other beauty bads like parabens and phthalates, it’s face-quality nourishment for the body. Also try the brand’s pH-balancing body wipes.
Maguire footwear
Canadian brand Maguire combines ethical production with effortless style. With a focus on small-batch production, comfort, and color, Maguire’s heels, mules, and sneakers are playful, chic, and sculptural. We’ve got our eyes on the new Fuseta sandal in Buttermilk.
Red Rooster Winery Sauvignon Blanc and Rose
The Okanagan is known for its wine, and for good reason—the mix of desert, mountains, and lakes in the region creates a special climate ideal for many types of winemaking grapes. Within the larger areas surrounding Okanagan Lake, the Naramata Bench is renowned for its vineyards and bottles—including Red Rooster Winery. Founded in 1990 and now led by winemaker Elaine Vickers, Red Rooster is a staple of the Bench, and it recently went through a label redesign. Consider toasting Red Rooster’s modern new look with the winery’s Sauvignon Blanc (good acidity, notes of white peach and honey, pairs well with fresh arugula salad and a good book) and Rose (deliciously pink, notes of red berries, pairs well with grilled chicken and a game of chess on your patio). Both are welcome sips for the oncoming summer of magic.
Alchimie Forever
Specially formulated for sensitive skin, Swiss skincare brand Alchimie Forever is a luxurious cruelty-free, vegan, paraben-free, and dermatologist-tested treat. Try the Kantic+ Nourishing Cream, which reduces the appearance of redness and moisturizes instantly. Or there’s the Kantic Brightening Moisture Mask, which quickly smooths, softens, and soothes thanks to ingredients including oats, blueberry extract, and grape extract.
Miantiao restaurant
Refreshing Vancouver’s restaurant scene is Miantiao, a gorgeous new dining concept located inside downtown’s Shangri-La hotel and produced by the city’s beloved Kitchen Table group. With a distinct voice culminating in a delightful intersection of Chinese and Italian influences, Miantiao is both contemporary and familiar, with large glass windows that let in plenty of beautiful natural light. Start with an aperitivo such as the Sbagliato and the Gamberi in Carrozza (shrimp dumplings in crispy shells), and then indulge in pasta heaven. The Spaghettoni with tripe, tomato sauce, and pecorino is a sleeper hit, perfectly smoky and comforting; and the Tajarin with quantum beef seasoning and butter sauce is decadent and warm. And by no standards should any carnivore skip the cabbage bolognese, which is a saucy, slightly acidic (thanks to black vinegar) dish with vibrant flavor and depth. Finish with the meringue and toast to something truly fun opening in this city.
Movement by NM
Online fitness has seen a massive surge since the start of the pandemic. And while many of us are excited to resume in-person classes, many still are happy to continue sweating in our kitchens. Which means the virtual workout industry is ripe for innovation. Enter Movement by NM: an online fitness portal offering classes by elite trainers of various backgrounds. From HIIT to yoga to kickboxing, there is really something for every body.
Odele Volumizing Shampoo and Volumizing Conditioner
Those with thin hair (hello!) can rejoice with Odele’s Volumizing Shampoo and Volumizing Conditioner. Sulfate-free, vegan, and synthetic fragrance-free, Odele’s products are fortified with amino acids to make hair strong and shiny. After just one use, you may notice softer, fuller locks. With cute peach bottles, these products also look cute in your shower.
Opus cocktails
A drink for every occasion—that’s the idea behind Opus, a new line of all-natural canned cocktails. With zero added sugar, these premade drinks are guilt-free sipping; choose between a Gin and Tonic and an Aperitivo Spritz. Even better? Within each of those cocktails, the brand has made two versions: one with alcohol and one without. The zero-proof Aperitivo Spritz, for example, is a light, fizzy, bittersweet concoction (with a gorgeous orange hue), while the Gin and Tonic version is fresh and herbaceous. Made in Canada with a boutique sensibility, Opus is pouring a new path for cocktail and mocktail lovers alike.
