Beauty Archives - Page 3 of 40

The Perfect Pedicure for Summer

Trends come and go, but a flawless pedicure is always the hottest summer accessory. Before you begin your safe at-home pedicure, it’s important to make sure your feet are pedi ready! So, let’s go over the steps for pedicure perfection.

What you’ll need:
• nail polish remover
• lint free pad (ideal) or cotton pad/paper towel works
• nail clipper/nail file/ buffing block
• two sided pedicure file
• manicure stick or a clean stainless steel cuticle pusher
• favorite essie nail polish shade, base coat, top coat and essie apricot cuticle oil

Step 1: Prep

Start by removing any remaining polish from your toenails with nail polish remover and a lint free pad. Next, wash and soak your feet in warm soapy water.

PRO TIP: Indulging in a relaxing footbath for 8 to 10 minutes is the perfect amount of time for heels, stubborn callouses and cuticles to soften. To save on time, you can always give yourself a pedi after a long bath or shower.

Step 2: Shaping
Now that your feet are clean and prepped, the pedicure can begin. First, get your toenails in shape. Start by trimming them with a nail clipper and then refining the shape with a nail file.

PRO TIP: Remember, it’s important to always keep nails short to prevent lifting and in a square shape to prevent ingrown toenails.

Step 3: Smoothing
Next, with a two-sided pedicure file, smooth your heels. With the coarse side, remove any callouses and build-up you may have. After, follow with the finer side to smooth and refine the all-necessary areas. Keep in mind, callouses don’t just build up on the heels and balls of our feet, they can also appear along the sides and pads of our toes.

Step 4: Cuticle care
Once your toenails and heels have been filed and softened, it’s time to move on to cuticle care. Because your feet have been soaking in water for ten minutes prior, this step can be managed without the help of a cuticle softener or oil. With a manicure stick or a clean stainless steel cuticle pusher, gently guide the cuticles back into place.

PRO TIP: Remember to not over-push or scrape the nails. When over pushed, our nails are vulnerable to inflammation and infection, so it is best to use a light touch.

Step 5: Exfoliate & nip

Next, it’s important to give the nails a light exfoliation. With a buffing block, give each nail a light buff to smooth ridges and remove any residue, leaving behind bright, healthy nails. With a stainless steel cuticle nipper, gently trim these away. Remember, this step is only necessary if there are hangnails or dry skin. Healthy nails and cuticles don’t need to be nipped, so less is more!

PRO TIP: Buffing the nail can lift hangnails and dry skin surrounding the nail. Untrimmed, these can tear further along your nail and lead to painful cuts.

Step 6: Moisturize & cleanse
To extend the life of your pedicure, always remember to moisturize. After the filing, buffing and softening, your feet will quickly absorb foot lotion and leave your feet feeling baby soft. Just as we do with our hands, don’t forget to always cleanse the nail plate with nail polish remover first before polishing since our natural nails carry a lot of residue and oils

Step 7: Your favorite polish!

Now that nail and cuticle care are complete, it’s time for the pièce de résistance: nail polish! If using an essie enamel nail polish, apply one thin layer of base coat. This step is often overlooked, but it is essential for a healthy longwearing pedicure.

PRO TIP: Base coat protects natural nails from the stains that polish can leave behind and acts as a bond for color, preventing chips. essie boasts a few extraordinary base coats that cater to your own individual nail needs. Looking for a longwearing finish? Reach for here to stay base coat with color-lock technology that extends the life of your pedicure color. Need added strength? Use biotin-infused strong start base coat. (*note: This step isn’t necessary when using the essie gel couture two-step system as the base coat is already formulated into the color coat! Same for our quick dry on-the-fly expressie nail polishes.)

After base coat – or if you’ve chosen an essie gel couture or expressie shade, apply two coats of your desired nail polish color. The first coat should cover the entire nail, keeping a hairline space between the nail and your cuticles. The second coat will deepen the color.

PRO TIP: Remember to wait 2 minutes between coats for a faster drying time and to prevent dragging the previous coat down the nail. It’s also important to remember to run the nail polish brush along the tip of the nail with each step. “Capping” the nail ensures a chip-free barrier.

For lasting shine and wear, top off your nail polish with a layer of top coat. Whether you choose a glossy high shine top coat, like gel setter top coat or a quick-dry ally, like speed setter top coat, this step is necessary for a longwearing pedicure. For essie gel couture, use the specially formulated gel couture top coat as part of the easy 2-step system at home.

PRO TIP: Just as they do in the salon, you may want to slip your feet into your open toed sandals before polishing. Otherwise, be sure to allow enough time for your nails to dry before stepping in!

Step 8: Maintenance

Don’t forget! Once the topcoat is applied, your pedicure is not over. Cuticle care, buffing and cleansing the nails with nail polish remover can strip the nails and cuticles of the natural moisture needed to stay healthy and strong. To keep your feet in shape, frequently apply essie’s apricot cuticle oil. Dry summer months and days in sandals can take a toll on our pedicures, so this lux treatment will keep your pedi shiny and your feet happy and healthy for weeks!

Browse our full selection of nail care products online here.

Proudly Canadian Brand Stories – Province Apothecary

Skin care that’s Truly Canadian, from Coast to Coast

Representing a country as big as Canada sounds like an impossible task for a growing brand. But for Province Apothecary, it’s built right in to their product line.

“The most Canadian thing about our brand and product are our ingredients,” says Province Apothecary founder Julie Clark, “We source them from each Canadian province. That’s actually where we got our name!”

Some of Julie’s favourite ingredients are organic seaweed from Nova Scotia, maple syrup from Quebec, organic sunflower oil from Ontario, organic beeswax from Alberta, organic lentil flour from Manitoba, and organic raspberry oil & glacial clay from British Columbia.

“Holistic, Clean and Effective.”

Those are the words Julie says best describe the Canadian values of her company, which started with a personal journey to find better skin care.
”The product I’m most proud of is our eczema balm,” Clark says, “This is the reason I started the company. I’ve had eczema all my life and it was my goal to make an all natural product to heal my skin.”
Now the Province Apothecary line has grown to include oils, cleansers, face serums, toners, lip balms and more – always free from petroleum, parabens, synthetic fragrances and ingredients, endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, dyes, alcohol, solvents, pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), palm oil and toxins of any kind.

Canadian Care That’s More Than Skin Deep

Julie is passionate about skin care, but Province Apothecary also cares about the land and the farmers that plant and harvest their ingredients. That’s why they source from small farms and companies across Canada, for ingredients that are ethically and sustainably sourced and support fair-trade. Province Apothecary also donates a percentage of yearly sales to Canadian Organic Growers, Canadian Honey Council and 1 % for the Planet.

Looking at the Big Picture in a Big Country

Julie Clark was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but she clearly sees all of Canada in her vision. “It’s important for people to buy #ProudlyCanadian products, because it really helps support our local economy. I love to support other Canadian brands. There’s so much talent in this country and there are so many amazing products.”

Shop our full selection of Province Apothecary products here: https://www.londondrugs.com/province-apothecary/

To find out more about our Proudly Canadian program, click here.

Steps to Achieving the Perfect At-Home Manicure

There’s nothing quite like a fresh manicure to make you feel “polished” and put together. With many nail salons being closed now, you can give yourself a manicure at home, provided you have all the right tools. Keep reading for steps on giving yourself the ultimate nail salon experience from home!

Out with the Old

The first step is making sure you have a clean, blank canvas by remove any old polish on your fingernails. Using regular nail polish remover is great for dark colours and glitter, but if you want something a bit more gentle, you can find one that is acetone-free.

Shaping Up

First, use a nail clipper to cut nails to desired length. Next, use a nail file to shape your nails. TIP: Don’t file in a back and forth motion, but rather in one direction. Make sure to hold the file flat against the nail tip. If you file at an angle, it will thin out the nail. You can also use a 3-way nail file that has sides for smoothing, buffing and adding shine to your bare nail.

Warm Water Bath

This is probably the most relaxing part of a manicure-soaking your fingers in warm water. Add in your favourite gentle facial cleanser or body wash. However enjoyable this part may be, keep it to 3 minutes or less, as the goal is to just soften the cuticle. Over-soaking nails may actually damage them.

Cuticle Care

After you’ve soaked your fingers, your cuticles will be soft enough to push back. You can use a nail grooming tool to gently push them in. Once that’s finished, apply cuticle oil by adding a drop to each nail and massaging it in after a couple of minutes. This will help to moisturise the cuticles and hydrate nails.

Apply a Base Coat

Applying a base coat not only helps your nail colour to last longer, but it also helps prevent your nails from staining, especially if you are using darker shades of polish. Try Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat for a quick-drying base that protects and anchors colour. The Essie Smooth-e Base Coat helps to smooth over ridges and strengthens the nail with keratin.

Apply Your Shade

This is the fun part- choosing a shade! If you’re wanting quick-drying colour, browse Essie Expressie Quick Dry Nail Polish. If you’re looking for natural options, check out Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure. Vegan Nail Polish. It’s their line of plant-based polishes that still offers great colour payoff. Once you have your chosen shade, carefully apply the first coat and let it dry for 5 minutes. Depending on how solid you want the colour to appear, apply a second coat. TIP: Don’t worry about getting polish around the nail, you can always soak a q-tip with polish remover and gently clean up the edges.

Apply a Top Coat

Seal the deal with a top coat. This will help extend the life of your colour, but also add a super glossy finish. Plus, the options available are endless! If you hate waiting for your manicure to dry, try Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat, which dries in seconds. If you’re wanting one that gives an ultra glossy, raised shine that mimics gel manicures, try Essie Gel Setter Top Coat.

BONUS: If you’re feeling up to it, add a fun design before sealing off your manicure. There are a ton of fun design examples you can find on social media and they are easy to achieve using makeup sponges, tape or toothpicks. Check out this gorgeous ombre effect that @cosmeticproof created using Sally Hansen Good. Kind. Pure nail polish and learn how to get the look here.

Finish Up with Moisturizer

Although you’ve spent the bulk of your time on your nails, you can’t neglect your hands. Complete your manicure by massaging on some lotion to get the full nail salon experience (just make sure your polish has dried!) Go natural with Lavido Nurturing Hand Cream or if your hands are on the drier side, opt for the water-resistant Uriage Bariederm Insulating Repairing Hand Cream.

Home Hair Cuts Contest

Social distancing at home means doing a lot of things yourself-including hair cuts! Whether for your family or for yourself, show us how you’ve been managing. Share a tip or photo of your home hair cuts for a chance to win 1 of 3 $25 London Drugs gift cards! In the meantime, check out our selection of hair clippers here.

Home Hair Cuts Contest– Official Rules

1) To enter on Facebook
Share a tip or photo of your home hair cuts for a chance to win one of 3 London Drugs gift cards!

April 20 – May 3, 2020 11:59pm PST

2) No purchase necessary. Limit one (1) entry per social network per contest. Limit one (1) prize may be won per household. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Time on May 3, 2020. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected.

3) Contest is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who, as of the date the prize draw is made: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since May 3, 2019; (ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside as at April 20, 2019 (iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee.

4) The winners will be randomly chosen on the day the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must have correctly answered the skill-testing mathematical question on the entry for on the online entry form and must sign London Drug’s declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes.

5) There will be 3 (three) prize(s) awarded to 3 (three) winners: each receiving a London Drugs gift card valued at $25. Prize(s) must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. London Drugs reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should any prize become unavailable for any reason. Prize will be awarded at the closest London Drugs location to the winner.

Contests dates: April 20 – May 3, 2020 11:59pm PST.
Draw Date: 12:00 PM Pacific Time May 5, 2020.

6) Selected entrants will be contacted by email, or social network they were drawn from. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winner does not respond then she/he will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winner still does not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.

7) The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.

8) London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).

9) This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at www.londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.

10) The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

STATEMENT OF DECLARATION AND RELEASE

All selected entrants will be required to sign the Statement of Declaration and Release attached before they can be declared a winner and receive a contest prize.

9 Tips & Tricks for Hair Colouring at Home

Staying at home doesn’t mean the end of gorgeously coloured hair! With trips to the hair salon on hold for now, it may be time to turn to colouring your hair at home. Follow these tips and tricks below to mimic a hair colouring session you could easily get at a salon.

Pick your technology. With so many choices for hair colouring, it may be overwhelming. We’ve broken down your options to make life easier for you:

Permanent: Contains ammonia and hydrogen peroxide and results in long lasting colour that fades slightly over time. Requires touch-ups every 4 – 6 weeks for root coverage.
Semi-Permanent: Requires no developer or hydrogen peroxide and lasts up to 15 washes.
Temporary: Conceals roots in seconds and washes away immediately after one shampoo.

Find the right hair dye colour. When purchasing, make sure to look at the side of the packaging. Here, it shows you how the colour turns out, depending on the undertones in your hair. Also, stick with one colour and don’t try to mix shades! You may end up with an unpleasant hair colour surprise.

Purchase 2 boxes. There’s nothing worse than running out of hair dye in the middle of colouring. Having 2 boxes on hand gives you peace of mind that you’ll have enough to get the job done. Plus, you can always use the other at a later date if you only end up using only one box.

Prep your work station. Lay all your tools out on the counter to avoid looking for anything, maximize your time and thus avoiding all potential mistakes.

Conduct a strand test. Apply some dye to a small patch of hair at the base of your neck first so you can see the result before you commit to colouring your tresses.

Don’t dress to impress. Wear an old shirt, robe or even garbage bag to avoid staining your clothes. Also, make sure to cover the floor and your surrounding area with newspapers and garbage bags as well, so clean up is a breeze.

Nip staining in the bud. Before applying the hair colour, apply a small amount of Vaseline or even clear lip balm to your hair line to avoid the dye staining your skin.

Protect your ends. Touching up your roots? Apply conditioner to the ends of your hair before you wash out the dye so that they are protected and don’t get stained while rinsing.

Hair care after colouring counts! After all that work and to get the most out of your hair colour, make sure to use shampoos and conditioners that help to prolong colouring instead of stripping it away. Also, wash your hair at the end of your shower to reduce water exposure. Even better, use dry shampoos to extend time between washes.

See? There’s nothing to fear when it comes to postponed hair appointments. Try out these tips and tricks and enjoy your beautifully coloured locks!

Lise Watier Spring Giveaway

Lise Watier Spring Giveaway – Official Rules

We’re kicking off our Spring Luxury Event by giving away a Lise Watier Spring 2020 Skin Care Set, which includes their Sublimessence High Hydration Probiotic Serum, Hydraforce Hydra Protective Comforting Riche Crème and Supreme Micellar Water.

Click here to shop our Spring Luxury Event. See full contest details below:

1) To enter on Instagram:

🌸 Follow @LDBeauty_
🌸 Like this post
🌸 Check our ig stories and comment below which product you’re most excited to try!

March 13 – 16, 2020

2) No purchase necessary. Limit one (1) entry per social network per contest. Limit one (1) prize may be won per household. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Time on March 16, 2020. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected.

3) Contest is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who, as of the date the prize draw is made: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since March 16, 2019;(ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside as at March 13, 2020 (iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee.

4) The winners will be randomly chosen on the day the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must have correctly answered the skill-testing mathematical question on the entry for on the online entry form and must sign London Drug’s declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes.

5) There will be 1 (one) prize(s) awarded to 1 (one) winner: each receiving a Lise Watier Spring 2020 Skin Care Set valued at $139. Prize(s) must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. London Drugs reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should any prize become unavailable for any reason. Prize will be awarded at the closest London Drugs location to the winner.

Contests dates: March 13 – 16, 2020
Draw Date: 12:00 PM Pacific Time March 18, 2020

6) Selected entrants will be contacted by email, or social network they were drawn from. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winner does not respond then she/he will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winner still does not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.

7) The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.

8) London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).

9) This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at www.londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.

10) The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

STATEMENT OF DECLARATION AND RELEASE

All selected entrants will be required to sign the Statement of Declaration and Release attached before they can be declared a winner and receive a contest prize.

Garnier Giveaway

Garnier Giveaway – Official Rules

1) To enter:
To enter:
◽ Follow @LDBeauty_
◽ Comment below which product you’re most excited to try
BONUS ENTRY: Share this post to your ig stories!

Feb 21 – 24, 2020 11:59pm PST

2) No purchase necessary. Limit one (1) entry per social network per contest. Limit one (1) prize may be won per household. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Time on Feb 24, 2020. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected.

3) Contest is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who, as of the date the prize draw is made: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since Feb 24, 2019; (ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside as at Feb 21, 2020 iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee.

4) The winners will be randomly chosen on the day the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must have correctly answered the skill-testing mathematical question on the entry for on the online entry form and must sign London Drug’s declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes.

5) There will be 3 (three) prize(s) awarded to 3 (three) winners: each receiving the Gariner Bio Collection valued at $176.91 Prize(s) must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. London Drugs reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should any prize become unavailable for any reason. Prize will be awarded at the closest London Drugs location to the winner.

Contests dates: Feb 21 – 24, 2020 11:59pm PST
Draw Date: 12:00 PM Pacific Time Feb 27, 2020

6) Selected entrants will be contacted by email, or social network they were drawn from. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winner does not respond then she/he will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winner still does not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.

7) The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.

8) London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).

9) This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at www.londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.

10) The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

STATEMENT OF DECLARATION AND RELEASE

All selected entrants will be required to sign the Statement of Declaration and Release attached before they can be declared a winner and receive a contest prize.

The Perfect Pedicure for Summer

Proudly Canadian Brand Stories – Province Apothecary