Vancouver Loves Natural Beauty: Gwen Richards of Fable Naturals

Vancouver Loves Natural Beauty is a semi-regular column that highlights organic and natural beauty and skincare brands founded in our fair city.

When I think "perfect hostess gift," I think Fable Naturals. This up-and-coming, Vancouver-based beauty label combines cheerful packaging with fair-trade ingredients and all-natural ingredients. The result? Skincare, handcrafted soaps, and yummy-flavoured lip balms (in biodegradable tubes, no less) that will please anyone and fit into any beauty regime. What's more, whether you're buying it for yourself or for others, Fable Naturals does the community as much good as it does your skin. I caught up with Fable Naturals co-founder Gwen Richards to find out more.

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31 Little Luxuries To Savour Everyday

Call it maturity or a newfound joy in the simple pleasures of life. These days, the definition of "luxury" doesn't just mean designer handbags and fancy vacations to me anymore; it also extends to the nuanced delights that make daily living worth savouring. These delights are different for everyone, I'm sure, and thankfully for my pocketbook many of mine cost little to nothing as you'll see below. So why 31? To celebrate my upcoming 31st birthday this Friday, of course.

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Vancouver Loves Natural Beauty: Warren Brander of Thera Wise

Vancouver Loves Natural Beauty is a semi-regular column that highlights organic and natural beauty and skincare brands founded in our fair city.

So you've greened up your beauty and skincare routines, replacing as many conventional products as possible with natural and organic versions (hooray!), but what about the ointments in your medicine cabinet? Founded in 2003, Vancouver-based Thera Wise believes you can have all-natural medicinal ointments that are just as effective as Preparation H, Vick's Vapor Rub, Lanacane, and so on.

Skeptical that Thera Wise products would measure up, I've been using Ac+ Acne Ointment (which has 0.5% salicylic acid) to control and prevent breakouts, and Dpr Natural Baby Diaper Ointment (which combines soothing calendula, chamomile, and aloe) to relieve itchy bug bites all summer. Conclusion? This stuff really works! Come fall/winter, I'll probably be relying on the Vpr Vaporizing Ointment to combat congestion during cold and flu season.

I caught up with Warren Brander, co-founder of Thera Wise, to learn more about his background and the range of ointments.

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Newly Reformulated Dior Addict Lipsticks: Photos & Review

Remember my last Dior post where I promised the lowdown on all the fall 2015 launches? Well, it turns out I was unintentionally lying to you all, dear readers, because right as I was putting that post together another piece of beautymail was winging its way to me, bearing the newly reformulated Dior Addict Lipstick ($42, available now at all Dior counters and The Bay). Shall we take a closer look? Many more details and photos after the jump!

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Q&A With Linda Stephenson, Founder Of Mèreadesso Skincare & Beauty

When Nordstrom opens its doors to the Vancouver public this Friday at 9:30am, beauty lovers should keep their eyes peeled for a very special homegrown success story amongst the Dior lipsticks and Chanel fragrances: Toronto-based Mèreadesso, whose claim to fame is a simple two-step skincare system that will replace your cleanser, makeup remover, toner, eye cream, serum, and day/night creams combined. Mèreadesso founder Linda Stephenson holds a degree in chemistry and botany, and boasts 20+ years' experience at companies such as Estee Lauder, MAC, and Mary Kay; needless to say, she knows her skincare and makeup inside and out.

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Product Review: LUSH Fresh Face Masks — Cup O' Coffee, Don't Look At Me, Rosy Cheeks

Fresh season, fresh face forward: LUSH has added three new formulations to their bestselling Fresh Face Masks lineup—Cup O' Coffee, Don't Look At Me, and Rosy Cheeks. Ready for a closer look? More details after the jump!

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My Fall Goals

Necklace from Happiness Boutique (c/o)

If September is the January of the fashion world, this month marks the start of a new year, which means new dreams and new goals to look forward to. Fall—with its crispness and coziness, its back-to-school (or work) connotations, its promise of fresh beginnings—always brings with it such a sense of renewal. Of course, the fact that I'll be celebrating my birthday later this month doesn't hurt either! So here, in no particular order, from the significant to the absurdly mundane, are the goals on my list.

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Latest Outfit: #everydaymadewell

Madewell cardigan, tee, necklace, and jeans | Dolce Vita boots | Chanel 2.55 bag (similar) | Lips: MAC Lip Pencil 'Rebellious' | Nails: Dior Vernis Gel Shine 'Cosmopolite'

You know how some style experts say most people wear 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time? Lately, I feel like that 20% is made up exclusively of Madewell. This is not a sponsored post at all, but rather a testament to how much I love the brand for its wear-all-the-time cardigans, classic-with-a-twist tees, well-fitting jeans, versatile ankle boots...the list goes on.

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The Best Labour Day Long Weekend Sales

1. Chambray shirtdress | 2. Wallet | 3. Cardigan | 4. Earrings

Happy Labour Day long weekend, dear readers! I hope you've been having as relaxing a time as we have. Yesterday I met up with an old friend for Indian food, and afterward the boy and I went on his semi-annual clothes-shopping spree. While he's more of a "I came, I saw, I bought new shirts and a sweater" type, I prefer to take my time browsing and picking up a few essentials here and there like the ones pictured above. Regardless of your shopping style though, you'll want to check out these sales if you're gearing up for fall. All the details after the jump!

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Lazy Girl Approved: MAC Vamplify Lip Gloss

Lazy Girl Approved highlights long-lasting, goof-proof, fuss-free products that can fit into the most minimalist of regimens. If you consider yourself a low-maintenance beauty lover, these product reviews are for you!

A bold lip colour is the easiest shortcut in the book for looking glam in a hurry, and they don't come any bolder than the new MAC Vamplify lip glosses ($20 each). If you suffer from dry lips but adore pigmented lip colours like I do, do yourself a favour and swing by a MAC counter this weekend. I'm not usually a fan of lip glosses, but I adore this one. Lots more details and photos after the jump!

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Dior Fall 2015 Launches: Cosmopolite Collection, Addict Fluid Shadows, Fix It Concealer, Sourcils Poudre Brow Pencils & More

Of all the Dior posts I do, this has to be the most epic one yet. There are so many new goodies this season that I spent all of yesterday photographing, testing, and writing—all to bring you this post for your viewing pleasure on the first day of September. You might want to go to the bathroom or grab a snack before you start reading, because what follows are loads of photos and swatches. There are some brilliant wins in there (yay, Diorblush Cheek Stick!) as well as products that almost, but didn't quite, win me over. Much, much more after the jump!

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