Cool Canadian Companies
How has 2020 come and gone so quickly? Sure, we’ve been stuck in our homes for almost the entirety of the year, but I cannot believe December is upon us in just one week! And while there hasn’t been too much to look forward to lately, giving and receiving gifts is always my favourite part of the season. I love being able to get something thoughtful and special for my loved ones, and it makes for lots of heart-felt family moments in a year full of such uncertainty.
Over the last few months, I’ve been taking extra special care to support local and Canadian businesses. It is important to me to keep Canadian businesses afloat, and taking this into consideration when purchasing your holiday gifts this year is a great way to show your support for your fellow Canadians. Each one of the brands mentioned below have some great Black Friday and holiday season sales going on. So, if you’re like me and you’re a biiiiit tight on cash this year, I’m sharing with you some of my favourite items from some fellow Canucks.
Groupe Marcelle
Image courtesy of Strategic Objectives PR
One of my favourite gifts to give, or even items to purchase for myself, are gift sets. They’re especially great when they include skincare items, but that is obviously not a requirement. SO many brands come out with gift sets for the holiday season, so you won’t be too pressed to find one that suits your gift recipient. This one from Groupe Marcelle is awesome because it includes all the necessary essentials for makeup removal and cleansing. I particularly love the ‘Essentials’ line of products, and the Oil-Free Multi-Defense Lotion with SPF 15 (not pictured) has been in my rotation for something like 2 years now. These gift sets are also a good way to try out the products before committing them to your routine, as they often come in smaller sample sizes.
Ten Degrees
Image courtesy of tendegreesinc.com
While some of the options from Ten Degrees, such as the Ontario Ring shown above, are a bit pricier, they are more than worth it because they serve multiple purposes. A brand fully focused around representing Canada and prioritizing embracing life’s journey, Ten Degrees has a wide variety of jewelry that is both pre-designed or customizable. Building your own spinner jewelry like rings or pendants is a fun way to make your gift feel more personalized, and spinners are a great way to relieve stress. I bought myself a customized spinner ring from Ten Degrees, and I use it every day to ground me and positively channel any nervous energy I may be feeling. Choose from over 2000 different custom combinations, or opt for one of the 13 different designs in the Strong + Free Collection that are inspired by the Provinces and Territories of Canada.
Coral Lashes
Image courtesy of Coral Lashes
If you’re following along on my social media, you’ll have seen me share these lashes recently. A local company founded by one of my fellow Creative Industries graduates, Coral Lashes donates a portion of the proceeds from each sale to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) projects. Now that’s what I call a gift that keeps on giving! The cool thing about these lashes is that they’re magnetic, which means no muss and no fuss of your regular everyday lash glue. By applying them in tandem with the Magnetic Eyeliner Lash Adhesive, you’ll get a fabulous cat-eye (if that’s your style) and lashes that literally snap on and off your eye. The Xenia lash has got you covered for all of your holiday Zoom call needs.
Yummi Candles
Image courtesy of yummicandles.com
One of the best gifts I gave last year were these 2oz soy wax candles from Yummi Candle. They’re extremely affordable and are a good way to (like the gift sets) try out a scent before buying a full sized candle. An awesome stocking stuffer, these mini candles come in a wide variety of scents including some of my seasonal favourites like Quebec Maple + Pumpkin Pie and Atlas Cedar + Vanilla Musk. You can find Yummi Candle in tons of different retailers, or grab your favourites curb-side from their Mississauga Factory location. Share your favourite seasonal scents with your loved ones or stock up yourself to make your home smell delicious and create a personal sanctuary away from the snow.
Have you been supporting more Canadian businesses this year? Which ones should have been included in this post? If you have your own Canadian business, share it in the comments so that other readers can support YOU! And stay tuned to the blog for some more seasonal content and my #CanadianCreative 2020 Gift Guide, coming at you soon.
