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A few of my faves under $30.
The main ingredients are shea butter and oat and it's unscented, so it won't irritate your skin.
My hands are pretty dry already and with increased hand washing, my skin is feeling extra parched. I normally bathe my hands in cream but it's just not enough. Enter these ~handy~ hydrating masks. First, I love that they're gloves. I've tried other masks that have a mitten shape and it's hard to sit still for 15 minutes while they work their magic. With these gloves I still have a bit of dexterity, so I can work on my laptop, clean, or whatever I need to do in the meantime. And afterwards, my hands feel so soft and moisturized.
Get a pair from Amazon Canada for $3.99.
Listen, I love a good body lotion, but I find that I always end up reapplying a few hours afterward. That's why body butter is my one true love. I've been using it since I was in high school and I refuse to live without it. I love the thicker texture and how moisturizing it is and that I don't need a lot to get the job done. Plus, it smells incredible. I'm also a super fan of the strawberry body butter (if you're more of a fruity person). It's my go-to during the summer months.
Get it from The Body Shop for $24.
The regular spatula is great for medium to large sized bottles like lotion, shampoo, or conditioner, and the mini spatula is perfect for makeup bottles. I figure after using these spatulas for a few months, I've probably saved more than a few loonies and toonies on makeup and skincare. Plus, it's super satisfying to see how much product comes out. I knew there was more in there!
Get a pack of two from Amazon Canada for $10.99+. Available in two colours and larger packs.
The thing I love most about this lipstick (besides it's staying power) is the wide range of shades. I tend to gravitate toward deeper purples, reds, and even blues and it's nice to find such a great variety of colours to choose from. I also really like the pointy applicator. It gives me better precision, so I don't have to spend so much time cleaning up my pout.
Get it from Amazon Canada for $9.96+ (available in 15 shades) or from Shoppers Drug Mart for $13.49 (available in 26 shades).
I get gel manicures regularly, so I feel very strongly about taking care of my talons to keep them healthy and strong. I've tried my share of nail creams and cuticle oils, but I keep coming back to this serum. The gel texture and brush applicator make it so easy (and less messy) to apply. It absorbs so quickly into the skin, instead of leaving your hands feeling greasy like typical oils. I keep a bottle on my desk next to my hand sanitizer and hand cream, so I'm more likely to use it.
Get it from Walmart Canada for $8.97.
The mask contains hyaluronic acid, which is an impressive molecule that can hold 1,000 times its weight in water.
I have oily/combination skin, so my cheeks and chin tend to be drier than the T-zone. Even after I remove the mask, there is so much product left on my skin and in the package that I use it the excess serum on my neck. I can immediately see brighter, smoother, and more hydrated skin after just 15 minutes on my face.
Get it from Amazon Canada for for $3.34+. Available in nine scents.
I've been using this product for years and I will repurchase until the end of time, because it's that good. Instead of purchasing a more expensive moisturizer that has only has a dollop of hyaluronic acid in it, I just slather this stuff on my face before I go in with my face cream to really help my skin draw in as much moisture as possible. And it's so affordable, I feel like I don't have to ration it like I would with a more expensive serum.
Get it from Sephora Canada for $8.20+. Available in two sizes.
I love face masks, but applying them with my fingers can get a little messy. These applicators have made it dramatically easier and faster to shellack my face with my favourite clay mask, so I can actually sit back and relax instead of cleaning up my hands. The silicone tip also makes it easy to spread my masks on my face, so I'm not using as much product. It's basically a spatula for your face. They're great for my gel face masks, which tend to be a little more liquid and harder to apply. I also like using them when I'm using multiple masks. I have more control over where the product goes and they're super easy to clean afterward.
Get a pack of two from Amazon Canada for $5.99.
Toronto-based beauty brand Cake Beauty has a collection of body, hair, and skin products that are cruelty free and produced in Canada.
This hand cream just checks all the boxes for me — lightweight, non-greasy, and smells amazing. I also love how tiny and flat the tube is. I can fit it into my teensiest purses along with other essentials.
Get it from Amazon Canada for $6.39.
I don't like spending a lot of time on my brows, but I love the look of a full and fluffy brow. I would normally go for a pencil to fill and shape them, but I actually really like using the clear shade of this stick. There's a teensy silicone brush on the other hand, so after I fluff up my arches with the stick, I can comb through the hairs to shape them. It takes less than a minute to groom my brows and they stay intact all day long.
Get it from Amazon Canada for $17.99+ (available in four shades) or from Shoppers Drug Mart for $18.49 (available in four shades).
I never leave the house without this little tin, because it's just so handy. I know that it's technically a lip balm, but I use it on other parts of my body that are feeling a little dry (read: my hands). The texture is like a more solid version of petroleum jelly, so it'll give my skin a bit of shine without feeling heavy or greasy.
Get it from Sephora Canada for $9.50.
I have very thick hair to begin with, but I normally wear it in long braids that hold onto water like no one's business. I don't use heat styling tools, so after washing my hair, it can take a whole day for them to air dry — and sometimes I'll even wake up with damp hair. These scrunchies are absolute game changers. I just snatch my hair into a ponytail, bun, or a pair of space buns (if I'm feeling cute), and wait for the magic to happen. After a couple hours, my hair is basically dry. And as you can see from the GIF, the scrunchie absorbed most of the moisture.
Get two from Amazon Canada for $22.27+. Available in seven colours/prints.
They come in so many different shades and it's so affordable, I usually buy two or three at a time. I'm currently loving this minty green colour (called 'Express To Impress') from the Expressie nail collection. The shade is bright, fresh, and very calming. And it only takes about a minute for the nail polish to dry, so I don't have to spend a lot of time drying my nails between and after coats.
Get it from Amazon Canada for $8.96+ (available in ten colours) or from Shoppers Drug Mart for $11.99 (available in 40 shades).
It's a pre-shampoo product, so I just massage it into my scalp before I get into the shower. It looks like a creamy conditioner, but it actually has a slightly gritty texture once you warm up the product (don't worry, it washes away easily with water). I've been using it for a few months now and it really works wonders on my dry scalp. I like that it doesn't leave my hair feeling stripped, which has been my experience using other scrubs. I use it about once a month to give my hair and scalp a really good deep clean.
Get it from Shoppers Drug Mart for $7.99 (originally $10.99).
I've got a little collection of these babies, because they're just so useful. I used to go through packs of cotton rounds every month before I discovered these. They're way bigger than the itty bitty single-use ones I normally use. They're made of the same fabric as a regular face cloth but have little pockets on the back that you can slide your fingers into, so you have a little more control when you're wiping makeup off your face. They're perfect for removing my eye makeup and face masks, because they're so gentle. I also use them when I'm applying micellar water and toner, too. The best part is that I can just toss them into the wash with the rest of my laundry. We love a sustainable beauty product.
Get a pack of seven from Shoppers Drug Mart for $14.
I keep coming back to this moisturizer because it's just so good. It has a rich, creamy texture without feeling thick or greasy and it's so gentle that it's one of the only products I use when my skin is freaking out. I also love how multipurpose this product is. I can use a dollop for my daily moisturizer or use a bit more as a sleeping face mask before bed. Plus, it's so hydrating and makes my skin so plump and smooth that I can skip my primer before I apply makeup. I honestly refuse to run out of this product because I don't know what my skin would do without it.
Get it from SkinStore for $22.88.
I try to exfoliate my skin a couple times a week and this peel is the easiest and gentlest way to do it. I just rub it onto my skin in circular motions and watch as it lifts all the dead skin from my face. It takes less than a minute to work and my skin feels so smooth afterwards. It’s kind of gross and also really satisfying to watch. I've been using it for a couple years now and it's completely changed the texture of my skin.
Get it from The Body Shop for $26.
This balm is a go-to in my house, because literally everyone can use it. It’s gentle enough to use on the little ones when they have irritation, and it’s so moisturizing that I love using on the driest parts of my bod (read: my tootsies).
Get it from Indigo for $8.99.
I love the shape of this little gadget. It fits perfectly in my hand and has grooved sides that make it easy to hold for a longer period of time. The design is also really clever. There's the red part that covers and protects the actual file and then there's the white handle part that collects all the dead skin, making it super easy to clean up (all I have to do is separate the pieces over a garbage can). Plus, on the bottom of the red cover there's another file that'll help smooth out any leftover rough edges. It also comes with a nail clipper and mini nail file, so I have everything I need to give myself a mini pedicure.
Get it from Amazon Canada for $12.97 or from Shoppers Drug Mart for $18.99.
My skin can get really, really dry, so I normally use creamy body washes that won't dry it out. But then I discovered shower oils and never looked back. I love that it lathers on contact, so I don't have to use a lot of product and I really like the scent (it's light, without being overpowering).
Get it from Amazon Canada for $22.99.