BC Living
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No need to drop after you shop with these 40-plus products ideal for leaning into self-care.
Ready to embark on a self-care shopping spree? From weighted blankets to high-tech relaxation goggles, here are 40+ of our favourite products for resting, rejuvenating, and relaxing.
The Hand Knitted Weighted Blanket from Silk & Snow is available in weights ranging from eight to 25 pounds. Weighted blankets use deep-pressure stimulation to relax the nervous system, mimicking the sensation of a warm hug and leading to reductions in stress, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and pain.
Don a pair of Skullcandy’s Icon ANC noise-cancelling headphones, and let the din of the outside world slip away. The latest version of these fan-favourite Bluetooth headphones is water-resistant, with active noise cancellation.
Settle into a bubble bath with a glass of champagne and The Champagne Letters, and find yourself transported to both Paris of the 1800s and Paris of today. This novel alternates between two tales: that of widow Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, the real-life founder of France’s revered Veuve Clicquot champagne house, and fictional modern-day divorcée Natalie Taylor, struggling after the collapse of her marriage. Vancouverite Kate MacIntosh has crafted a compelling story that will keep you turning pages long past bedtime. Available starting December 10th at Indigo.
Experience the max in relax with a pair of Therabody Smart Goggles, available at Best Buy. By combining compression massage with heat and vibration, these goggles help to reduce stress, boost relaxation, alleviate eye strain and headaches, and prepare you for sleep.
Tender tootsies stay toasty warm in Glerups slippers, available in three unisex styles: slip-on, shoe (pictured), and boot. They’re made from 100% wool, which naturally repels odours and, over time, moulds to the shape of your foot. The slippers come with either a leather sole, for indoor wear, or a natural rubber sole, for occasional outdoor use. Find them in an array of colours at Australian Boot Company and MEC.
The Linen Mod Meditation Cushion from b, halfmoon provides an extra bit of support while you sit, relax, and meditate.
Made using only plant-based ingredients, the 16-piece Vegan Dark Chocolate Collection from Purdys contains four bold but not too sweet flavours, ideal for savouring: fig, raspberry, mango, and tonka. Each luxurious piece has been hand-adorned with shimmer.
Unwind with a glass of Unsworth Vineyards’ 2022 Pinot Noir. This light and vibrant red from the Cowichan Valley pairs well with both harvest veggies and turkey. Find it at British Columbia liquor stores.
Made in small batches in Campbell River, the Sacred Smudge soy candle from Raven Song combines tobacco—considered a sacred medicine by many Indigenous peoples—with the aromas of sage and cedar.
Take the plunge in A&E Bath and Shower’s Carley 1-Person Round Inflatable Cold-Plunge available at The Home Depot, which comes with an inflator and an insulated tub cover. The benefits of dunking yourself in icy water include boosting the immune system, improving mood, regulating blood sugars, and reducing inflammation, stress, anxiety, and depression.
Designed for side sleepers, the Kakun Organic Latex Body Pillow from Victoria brand Resthouse provides support for your top arm and leg, which helps to keep your spine aligned. This cuddly pillow relieves stress on pressure points and reduces pain in your hips, shoulders, and back, making it the perfect nighttime companion.
Stay cozy—and look cute at the same time—in a CSC x Disney Mickey & Friends Half Snap Fleece. Featuring artwork from Disney legend Floyd Gottfredson, this pullover feels like a warm hug from a childhood friend. It’s part of Mickey’s Outdoor Club Collection, a special collaboration between Disney and Columbia Sportswear.
The Waffle Oversized Zip-Up Hoodie and Waffle Wide Leg Pant were designed for lazy Sunday afternoons. Made from a heavy structured and textured cotton-polyester fabric, they’re part of the Waffles collection from Vancouver brand Brunette the Label.
Give your face a gentle massage with a Facial Roller from Graydon Skincare. The rolling motion moves fluids towards the lymph nodes, helping to flush out toxins, resulting in fewer fine lines, less puffiness, and a healthy glow. And it just feels good.
Nibble on naturally sweet and nutritious snacks from OHME! The BC company’s freeze-dried raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, apples, and mangoes go well on yogurt and granola, and they’re equally tasty on their own as a to-go snack. Plus they contain no added sugars. For the ultimate in convenience, sign up for a subscription box.
Slip your feet into a pair of ultra-soft Heather Lynn Cashmere Bliss Socks. These cable-knit socks feel (as the name suggests) like bliss. Cashmere naturally keeps your feet warm on cool days and cool on warm days.
Each Attraction Charm from Vancouver brand Pyrrha contains a semi-precious stone intended to attract something positive into the wearer’s life: clear quartz for serenity, amethyst for balance, peridot for positive energy, labradorite for inner peace, garnet for clarity.
The Hiems (Comfort) candle from Vancouver Candle Co. soothes with its aromas of geranium, patchouli, and cypress.
Soft and slouchy, the Scuba Mid-Rise Oversized Jogger from Lululemon was designed for lazy days loafing on the couch.
Stress Release Tension Reducing Remedy from Saje is helpful for reducing anxiety. The roll-on contains roman chamomile, for calming; lavender, to promote relaxation; and clary sage, to quiet racing thoughts.
After a pre-bedtime bath or shower, sprinkle some of Lush’s Sleepy Dust Dusting Powder on your skin. The soothing scents of lavender and tonka help prepare you for a restful night. Other products in the Sleepy line include shower gel, body lotion, body spray, and a bear-shaped bath bomb.
Pamper hardworking hands with the Hand Care Essentials Trio from eos, featuring three delightful fragrances: Fresh & Cozy, Vanilla Cashmere, and Coconut Waters. These vegan creams are free from gluten, parabens, and phthalates, and they deliver long-lasting hydration thanks to shea oil and shea butter.
Small but powerful, the iComfort Handheld Massager With Infrared from The Home Depot feels heavenly on aching backs, shoulders, necks, and legs. Its heated massage mode and four different massage heads can tackle even the tightest and sorest of muscles.
Lounge in style wearing a Love & Lore Piped Pyjama Pant Set from Indigo. These stylish PJs are made from Lenzing Ecovero, a lightweight and breathable viscose fibre that’s also eco-friendly.
You can use Intimacy Oil from Graydon Skincare on skin—to hydrate, protect, revitalize, and calm—and also on hair, to smooth flyaways. Though this dry-touch oil has the velvety consistency of a serum, it feels light and absorbs quickly. Key ingredients include squalane oil, milk thistle, vitamin E, and blue tansy.
Combat the season’s dreariest grey days with a Verilux HappyLight Touch Light Therapy Lamp available at Best Buy. By mimicking natural sunlight, the lamp’s full-spectrum UV-free light helps you feel happier, and it’s especially useful for anyone with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
To promote healthy sleep patterns—whether at home or while travelling and suffering from jet lag—take three sprays of Melatonin Spray from Genestra Brands at bedtime. This spearmint-flavoured spray is available from Well and Amazon.
Serenity awaits in a warm bath sprinkled with Kalkáy Wild Rose and Yarrow Bath Salts from Skwálwen Botanicals. Using sustainably harvested and sourced organic plants, the Squamish-based company draws upon Indigenous cultural teachings to create products that nourish, repair, and hydrate the skin.
Give your skin some extra TLC with the Calm Lavender Hydrosol Toner from Three Ships. It’s useful for rebalancing, tightening, and brightening the skin, and it also reduces redness and helps to prevent breakouts. Key ingredients include lavender, witch hazel, and aloe vera. Find this delightfully scented toner at Hudson’s Bay.
With its aromas of calming lavender, soothing eucalyptus, and delicate bergamot, the Unwind Candle from Wildcraft helps to reduce stress and encourage relaxation.
Pamper your skin with the Therabody TheraFace Mask available at Best Buy. This LED mask uses red light to promote cellular regeneration, blue light to destroy acne-causing bacteria, and red and infrared light to boost collagen production. End result? Smoother, plumper, healthier-looking skin. Each treatment takes just three to nine minutes.
Lounge in luxury in a Moss Fabergé Silken Gown and Moss Fabergé Velvet Long Robe from Christine Lingerie. Last year the Vancouver company celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Calming and relaxing, Lavender Essential Oil Incense from Province Apothecary contains no synthetic fragrances.
Prepare to have your back and muscle pain melt away with the HoMedics 3D TruTouch Massage Cushion with Heat available at Best Buy. The cushion, which fits onto most chairs, offers both shiatsu and tapping-percussion massage styles.
To ease tension and evoke calmness, apply Vacation in Provence Roll-On Essential Oil Blend from Savon Du Bois to pulse points such as the neck and wrists.
Pull up the hood, tuck your hands into the kangaroo pocket, and stay cozy in a Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho available at MEC. Its nylon shell repels water, while its 650 fill-power duck down keeps you warm even in the worst weather.
Reduce tension and increase blood circulation by giving your head a gentle massage using a VAMA Scalp Massage Comb from VAMA Wellness. The comb’s smooth rounded ends feel heavenly on the scalp.
Scrub your face and body with the deliciously scented Gingerbread & Coffee Bar—a vegan soap that contains no parabens or phthalates—from Standing Spruce. Based in Campbell River, the company combines Indigenous customs with ethically sourced ingredients to produce wellness products such as balms, oils, sprays, and toners.
The cute and comfy Sleep Romper from Joe Fresh is the perfect one-piece garment for chilling, lounging, and napping. It even has pockets.
Indulge in some aromatherapy with Stadler Form’s Jasmine Household Fragrance Diffuser from The Home Depot. It uses ultrasonic technology to turn water and essential oils into an extra fine mist.
