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Daily Deals – Save Big at London Drugs December 3-23

Everyone could use a little help around the holidays. That’s why starting December 3 we’re offering more than three weeks of daily deals on products to help simplify your holiday season. From scrumptious holiday treats to designer clothing to the latest in smartphone technology, each day we will feature a great product at an even better price.

Check back here daily from now until December 23, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest Daily Deal, then stock up and make your holidays that much easier.

December 23

Silk’n Flash & Go Express Hair Removal Device is on sale for $249.99 (regular price $349.99)
Save 50% off our everyday low prices on London Premiere Makeup Brushes

December 22

Save 50% off our everyday low prices on Relaxus Salt Lamps
London Drugs Aromatherapy Diffusers are on for $19.99

December 21

Save 20% off our everyday low prices on cat and dog toys
Method Hand Wash is priced at $2.69 each
LOL surprise Under Wraps Dolls are 9.99 each

December 20

Ferrero Rocher (375g/30pc) are $8.99 each
Bonus $20 London Drugs Gift Card with a purchase of a $100 London Drugs Gift Card. While quantities last. Limit of five (5) $100 gift cards per transactions. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer valid in store or at londondrugs.com for in store pick up.

December 19

Save 15% on all regularly priced vinyl records
Beauty 101 9-shade Eyeshadow Tins are $6
All Profusion Sets are 40% off

December 16: Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board

It may be cold around these parts, but it’s sunny and warm somewhere. Just imagine the warm breeze blowing through your hair as you glide through the sun-kissed water on your Zray Sports X2 Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board. Today we have an amazing deal on this summer water sports staple. At just 379.99, this can’t be passed up. Happy holidays (and vacation) to you!

December 15: Cobra Remote Control Helicopter

Buying for the kid who has everything? Here’s something to delight them: the Cobra 3.5 Channel Remote Control Helicopter. At just $19.99, you’re saving $20 off our everyday low price, so it will delight you too, and it’ll provide hours of amusement for the kids (or adults!) in your life.

December 14: Telus iPhone 8 (64 GB)

We’re making it easier to give them what they really want this Christmas: a new iPhone. Today you can get the Telus iPhone 8 (64GB) for $0 on a Telus two-year Premium Plus Plan. To sweeten the deal, we’re also throwing in a bonus $200 London Drugs Gift Card on new activations.

December 13: Conair Infiniti Pro Hair Tools

Do you have a style maven on your holiday shopping list? A trendy friend or sister-in-law who always looks sleek and put together? The Infiniti Pro range of hair styling tools by Conair is what every fashionista needs. And you’ll save 30% off our everyday low prices, so it’s a win-win!

December 12: Lindt Excellence Chocolate Assortment

The holidays can be an exhausting time with shopping, prepping, and decorating adding to already long to-do lists. Need a little pick-me-up? Treat yourself to a box of Lindt’s Excellence Chocolate Assortment (515g) and at just $12.99 (our everyday low price is $22.99), this really is a treat. Go on, you deserve it!

December 11: Jackery Titan S Portable Power Pack

Do you have a techie on your holiday shopping list this year? Shopping for someone who is attached to their device at all times? One thing all on-the-go techies need is a portable power pack. The Jackery Titan S 20 100 mAh Portable Battery is a great tool for keeping them plugged in no matter how far they stray from an outlet. At $39.99 you’re saving $60 off our everyday low price.

December 10: Christmas Cards

If you’re keeping the tradition of giving annual holiday cards, then this is the deal for you. We’re offering 60% off our already low everyday price for American Greetings Boxed Christmas Cards. With hundreds of beautiful designs to choose from, there’s a card for everyone who is special to you.

December 9: Koodo iPhone 7 (32 GB)

Due for a phone upgrade or have someone on your gift list who needs a phone? Then you’re going to like this deal. We have the Koodo iPhone 7 (32GB) for $0 on a Koodo Tab M and we’re throwing in a bonus $150 London Drugs Gift Card on all new activations! Start the car!

December 8: Hamilton Beach MultiBlend Blender

If you’re hosting the festive get-together this year, you’re going to need some help in the kitchen. We have just the tool: the Hamilton Beach MultiBlend Blender will have you whipping up sauces and pâtés in no time, and at $24.99 (50% off our every day low price!), this is quite frankly, a steal. Grab one while they’re in stock. Bonus: If you’re an LDExtras member, any Hamilton Beach purchase until December 24 will get you automatically entered for a chance to win a 2019 Toyota Prius C!

December 7: Calvin Klein T-shirts

Gents, here’s your chance to spiff up your daily wear this holiday season without blowing your budget. You’ll be sure to make an entrance with one of our Calvin Klein T-shirts in assorted styles and colours. At 60% off the ticketed price, these stylish shirts will have you looking your best without breaking the budget. Available in select stores only.

December 6: Revlon Hair Tools

The festive season means parties, lots of parties. No need to hit the hair salon before every gathering if you’ve got the right tools on hand! We’re taking 30% off Revlon Hair Tools — from dryers to curling irons, flat irons, and hot rollers, we have everything you’ll need to get your crowning glory looking absolutely fabulous for all your holiday soirées.

December 5: Pot of Gold and Lindt Chocolates

It wouldn’t be the holidays without a whole lot of chocolates, whether they’re left in a stocking by Old Saint Nick or offered to guests during holiday parties. We have an amazing price on Pot of Gold Chocolates (206g-247g) and Lindt Swiss Classic Bars (300g). Just $10 for 2 or $5.49 each. That’s a deal even Santa couldn’t pass up!

December 4: LD Gold Roasted Cashews and Mixed Nuts

No holiday party is complete without a bowl of mixed nuts. At just $15.99 for almost a kilogram of mixed nuts or LD Gold Cashews, you can keep your bowl brimming all season long.

December 3: Select Braun Men’s and Ladies’ Shavers

You’ll want to look your best at all those festive get togethers this holiday season, so we’re kicking things off with 40% off our everyday low prices on Select Braun Men’s and Ladies’ Shavers. From traditional razors to wet/dry razors and even mobile men’s shavers, we have it all in store and online.

For all things holidays, visit any of our London Drugs locations or check us out online and peruse our everyday low prices for everything you’ll need this festive season.

8 Tips for Taking the Perfect Holiday Card Family Portrait

We all know that one family that kills it at the holiday greeting cards every year. The card is always beautiful, the message inside is so thoughtful, and most importantly, their family portrait looks flawless. What’s their secret? They’re probably following these 8 tips for taking the perfect holiday card photo:

1. Decide on a style

You want your family portrait to properly reflect your family. If no one in your family would ever wear a suit and tie, then a dress code that formal won’t be a good fit. The opposite is also true – if everyone is excited to get all gussied up, go with it! Just make sure everyone is on the same page – you don’t want one kid in jeans and the other in a fancy holiday dress.

If you want to go with a cute and quirky photo, you could also add some props to the mix! Hand out some funny antler headbands, or some Santa hats.

2. Pick a colour scheme

The key to a great looking family photo doesn’t lie with matchy-matchy outfits. It does, however, lie in finding a good combination of colours, textures and patterns that work together. So skip the ‘everyone wear red’ mentality, and instead have your family work within a broader colour scheme.

3. Choose a location

Your location may depend on who plans to take your photos. If you’re planning to take the photos yourself (with a self-timer), your best bet is outdoors or somewhere in the home where you have lots of natural light. Otherwise, lighting your photo properly might be a struggle if you’re not an expert. If it’s snowed recently, there’s your chance for some great ‘winter wonderland’ shots, as well as some possible snowball fight candids!

Also keep in mind the style and colour scheme for your family portraits when deciding on a location as well, so that they all fit the look you are creating.

4. Keep your subjects happy

Not everyone loves taking photos, we get it. Sometimes, preparing a little reward is an easy enough way to keep your subjects happy during the shoot. Plan ahead and order in some pizza or have some other yummy snacks on-hand. Or if you’re shooting outside in the snow, consider having some hot chocolate on-hand to keep everyone cozy and warm in between snapshots. It’ll go a long way to avoiding the usual groans when you ask to take ‘just one more’ photo!

5. Go pro or DIY-it

You have the option of hiring a professional photographer, or taking the photos yourself. If you have smaller children, you may prefer to hire a photographer, so you can simply focus on making sure the kids are all under control and happy, instead of also having to focus on lighting, framing, and everything else that comes along with shooting.

If you’ve got a little (or a lot) of photography know-how though, then you may decide to shoot the photos yourself. The biggest advice our LDExperts can give you is to take lots of photos. That way, you’ll have plenty of options to work with later on – so you can find that one perfect shot where everyone’s eyes are open. Have a tripod and self-timer remote with you, so you can easily set up the shot, join your family and then hit the shutter release.

6. Schedule a time

The last thing you want is to feel rushed during your family photo shoot. Especially with the shorter winter days, you’ll want to make sure you schedule enough time so you’re not running out of sunlight (if you’re shooting with natural light). Ideally, the weekend will give you the most time. If you can schedule your shoot on an overcast day, that will be your best bet!

7. Get everyone in focus

The size of your family is going to help you decide what aperture you want to use with your photos. A nice wide aperture (ex. f/2.8) will give your family portraits that beautiful blurry background, but you have a lot of people in your frame, you might find that some of your family members end up out of focus. If this is the case, you’ll want to go with a narrower aperture, to ensure everyone stays in focus!

8. Keep it simple

While you might be tempted to get very creative with your photo-taking, don’t forget the true purpose of the photo: to show your family and friends how your family has grown and/or changed over the last year! So while some art direction isn’t bad, just remember that you want to have a good photo that features all your family members’ beautiful faces – not the backs of their heads, or their silhouettes.

Sharing your holiday portraits

Once you’ve got your picture-perfect family portrait, it’s time to start creating your holiday greeting cards! We’ve got lots of tips for designing your own greeting cards to give out over the holidays – check them out in this post.

Another way to preserve that beautiful family photo is by having it printed as a fine art print, like an ultimate enlargement, aluminum metal panel, or canvas gallery wrap.

And if you snapped some other great gems during your family photo shoot, you can also create some beautiful gifts and decor with them. We can put your chosen photo on a mug, a Christmas tree ornament, or even a Christmas stocking!

You can find our entire selection of customizable greeting cards, fine art prints and personalized gifts on our London Drugs Photolab website, or you can always visit us in-store or simply download our London Drugs Photolab App for iOS and Android to order on-the-go!

Craft Your Own Unique Gifts on Make a Gift Day!

Let Your Kids Be the Artist with our Take and Create Photolab Books

The best gift you can give this holiday season is something from the heart. That’s the inspiration behind Make a Gift Day, which is celebrated on December 3^rd each year. Make a Gift Day encourages us to hand craft our own gifts, employing a little DIY skill and whole lot of love, to create something entirely unique and thoughtful.

With Christmas just around the corner, Make a Gift Day is the perfect opportunity to make some extra special Christmas gifts for your loved ones. Don’t worry if you’re not an expert-level crafter – we’re here to help!

Our London Drugs Photolab can print your photos, and customize all kinds of creative products like mugs and fleece blankets with your photos – but did you know we also print your (or your kids’) artwork on these items too? All we need is a paper copy of the artwork, and we can scan it and put it on any of our creative Photolab products.

To celebrate Make a Gift Day and make the process of customizing your own gifts easier, our Photolab now has free Take and Create Books for you to use! Inside you’ll find templates for designing your own personalized ornaments, bookmarks and 11oz mugs.

Just pick up your free Take and Create Book from your local London Drugs Photolab, bring it home, and let the kids have some fun with drawing their own designs on the templates. If you fancy yourself an artist, why not fill in a couple templates yourself, too? Once you’re all done, just bring in the book with the templates you chose to colour in, and we’ll scan each one and create your unique gifts for you!

(Right) Metal tree ornament template

We have all kinds of ornament designs to choose from in the book – from stars and Christmas tree shaped ornaments, to hearts and marquee shapes. When you order your custom ornament, you’ll also be able to choose from a variety of surfaces, including metal, ceramic, crystal and pewter. Our personalized 11oz mugs can be ordered in a selection of colours, or we can even put your drawing on our Magic Mug! This mug will magically reveal your hidden artwork once hot liquid has been added to it.

(Left) Bookmark template, (Right) 11oz mug template

To start crafting your own unique gifts, just visit your local London Drugs Photolab to pick up your free Take and Create Book!

8 Heavenly Hanukkah Recipes to Savour this Season

Photo via DPM Does

At Hanukkah, Jewish families celebrate an ancient miracle, when one day’s worth of oil lasted for eight days. It’s not a surprise, then, that oil-based cooking is an inspiration for this holiday’s decadent feature dishes. But whether or not you celebrate Hanukkah, these must-try comfort foods are sure to warm your belly and satisfy family and friends on any cold winter night.

Latkes (Potato Pancakes)

Your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Your favourite breakfast foods (hashbrowns and pancakes) have combined into one glorious stack of onion-y dinner goodness. Making these is a family affair: they don’t taste right if there aren’t half a dozen people crammed into your kitchen hand-shaping the patties, fighting over flipping duty or trying to sneak a bite. Load them with sour cream, applesauce, or caviar if you’re feeling fancy.

[Find the recipe at ToriAvey.com]

Photo via ImpromptuKitchen

Jewish-Style Braised Brisket

With all of the pre-dinner shmoozing (read: chatting) that goes on at family events, waiting for that meat course can be tantalizing. Likewise, preparing this mouthwatering masterpiece requires a long-game strategy—we’re talking 3-4 hours in a good roasting pan—but it’s worth the wait. Bonus: This dish can be made in advance and stored in its braising liquid up to 4 days before your party. Extra marinating time, anyone?

[Find the recipe at SeriousEats.com]

Photo via Serious Eats

Sufganiyot (Jelly Doughnuts)

This globally recognized treat has a special place in Jewish tradition. It’s easy to fry up a batch in your own kitchen using a cast iron frying pan. Customize with different jams, or swap the milk and butter with coconut milk and coconut oil to make them dairy-free. These treats are best enjoyed fresh. (This also serves as justification for eating several. Right now. You’re welcome.)

[Find the recipe at SmittenKitchen.com]

Photo via Smitten Kitchen

Sweet Noodle Kugel

Noodle Kugel is an ultra-comforting casserole, and it’s unbelievably simple to make. This creamy dish is lightly sweetened, which might seem surprising at first, but have a little faith…it’s a must-have at Jewish holiday gatherings for a reason. Serve it warm or cold next to your main. Adding raisins and a dash of cinnamon is highly recommended.

[Find the recipe at ChowHound.com]

Photo via Rebecca Seigel

Classic Challah Bread

Challah is a type of braided egg bread that’s traditionally shared on the Jewish sabbath. After it rises, each braid loop forms a scrumptious little bun that can be broken off as the bread is passed down the table. Move aside, dinner rolls! This moist, luscious loaf is the perfect complement to any hearty meal.

[Find the recipe at The Nosher]

Photo via The Nosher

Rugelach Pastries

These flaky spiral crescents are made with a special cream cheese dough, and can be filled with dried fruit, chopped walnuts, chocolate, poppy seeds, or whatever else your heart desires. Consider them a timeless treasure. They’re found in Jewish bakeries and cafes all year round, but rugelach-lovers will find any excuse to bring them out, and nobody ever argues.

[Find the recipe at MarthaStewart.com]

Photo via Martha Stewart

Homemade Chocolate Gelt

In old Jewish tradition, money (“gelt”) was given out at Hanukkah. Nowadays, most families distribute chocolate coins wrapped in gold or silver foil. They’re often store-bought, but personalized gelt can be made at home if you’re crafty. Prefer white chocolate? Try mixing in some matcha powder for added flair.

[Find the recipe at dpmdoes.com]

Photo via DPM Does

Hanukkah Chocolate Gelt Cake

Very lucky kids get a Chocolate Surprise Gelt Cake at Hanukkah. These cakes typically have a hollowed-out core filled with (you guessed it) chocolate gelt. One slice reveals the spoils, and havoc ensues! For a less messy but equally delicious option, people with a sweet tooth can chop up the gelt and use it for cake layers. In the spirit of the holiday, some recipes call for olive oil in place of the eggs and butter.

[Find the recipe at Kitchen-Tested.com]

Photo via Kitchen-Tested.com

Tasting is Believing: Werther’s No Sugar Added

Great caramel taste, without the calories: Did you know Werther’s Original caramel candy also comes in a delicious variety of No Sugar Added flavours?

Hand-crafted in Germany, Werther’s Original No Sugar Added candy comes in original, coffee and chocolate. It’s rich and creamy with no aftertaste, and is made with real butter and fresh cream — just like Werther’s Original caramel.

“Tasting is believing,” so try all the great Werther’s Original No Sugar Added flavours today! Whether you have a sugar restricted diet, a sugar-reduced lifestyle, or sensitivity to sugar, Werther’s Original No Sugar Added candy is the perfect indulgence.

Tell us which Werther’s Original No Sugar Added flavour you love the best! Tag us at #Werther’sOriginalNoSugarAdded #londondrugs!

2018 Holiday Gift Guide: Hot Gifts for Kids of Every Age

Christmas is coming! Time to start making your list and checking it twice. Christmas is such a magical time for children, so it’s important to choose the right toys and gifts for them. Don’t worry, London Drugs has got you covered with the hottest gift for kids as well as a few other toys you might not have considered.

For Kids Aged 0-3

Your little one will be ahead of the class with the Mega Bloks 123 Counting Bus Set and 123 Learning Train, which feature big printed numbers on the blocks so kids can learn to count while building a friendly train or bus.

The Mega Bloks ABC Train offers a similar, engaging opportunity to learn the alphabet during play time.

For children who just want some fun, the Mega Bloks First Racers Fast Tracks Racing Rig and Block Builders Fire Truck Rescue encourage hands-on play and tons of excitement!

Some things never go out of style, like My Little Pony and friendship. The My Little Pony Celebration Castle offers both in an adorable purple playset. What’s more fun than a dance party with Pinkie Pie and StarSong in a spinning castle turret?

For Kids Aged 3-5

L.O.L. Surprise dolls are the gift that keeps on giving, since each one of them offers seven layers of surprises, including which doll you get. These highly collectible toys even make use of the sphere they’re packaged in, which become a doll display or purse carrying case. Go big with the L.O.L. Glam Glitter Surprise dolls!

Your child can join Paw Patrol favourites Marshall, Skye, and Zuma in amazing adventures with the Paw Patrol Fire Truck Set. With a ladder, siren, mini hose and water cannon (that actually launches three included projectiles!), the Paw Patrol is off to the rescue.

For Kids Aged 5-8

Fingerlings, the adorable animatronic toys that cling to your fingers, were so popular last year that people were selling counterfeit versions to meet the demand. This year you’ll want to get the Fingerlings from the Untamed Dinos set: Blaze, Fury, Razor, Stealth, Scratch, Ripsaw, Tracker, and IronJaw. Or grab the Untamed Jailbreak set with an exclusive T-Rex! The Glitter Panda Fingerlings are popular this year too.

Pomsies are kind of like furry Fingerlings. These soft fuzzy toys are interactive, like Fingerlings, but they can clip on to a backpack, wrist, clothes or wherever you child wants. With up to 50 different reactions, your child will never tire of their cute new friend!

If your child likes Pomsies, they’ll love Squeezamals. These round, plush toys are even cuter, with giant sparkling eyes and sweet smiles. Think stuffed animals, but super squishy and tons of fun.

For Kids Aged 8-11

Older kids are a little more dextrous, so they’ll do well with toys that involve more pieces as well as those that stimulate them intellectually. The Ideal Street Magic Wizard set is a great gift for your budding magician, with supplies and instructions for over a hundred different magic tricks. Your child will be enthralled for all of Christmas break!

Another great hands-on toy is the LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Great Hall. This set includes a buildable Great Hall and tower, complete with house tables and banners, fireplace and food, as well as 10 minifigures of everyone’s favourite characters. Grindelwald’s Escape LEGO set is a great complement to this, and it ties in nicely with the latest Fantastic Beasts film.

Board games are still popular gifts this year, including favourites like Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, Codenames, Pandemic, and Trouble.

For Kids Aged 12-15

Video games are still the hottest gifts for tweens and teens, especially Fortnite, currently the most popular video game in the world. For kids new to video games, grab the Fortnite Double Helix Bundle that comes with the game and a Nintendo Switch console. If they’re already playing Fortnite, give them the new Deep Freeze bundle available for PS4, Xbox One, or the Switch.

Funko POP toys are big hits with this age group too! Try the Star Wars Wobblers with bobble heads, the Rock Candy Marvel superheroes, or the Marvel Captain America set with two classic Funko POPs and two pocket POP keychains.

We’ve got all kinds of gifts for all kinds of gifters. Need more holiday gift help? Shop our selection of toys for other great gift ideas.

5 Ways to Boost Your Holiday Self-care with Essential Oils

Ah the holiday season is definitely in the air. For many of us that means putting up twinkling lights, decorating the house, and getting ready to exchange gifts with our loved ones. It also means a long to-do list of extra errands we need to check off as we get ready for the festive season. It’s very easy to put self-care on the back-burner at this time of year, which may leave you feeling burned out and exhausted by January. To avoid ringing in 2019 already feeling weary, we have some tips on how to take care of yourself with essential oils this holiday season.

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are liquids extracted from trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, and seeds, and can be used for a variety of ailments. They can be used for aroma (in a diffuser or bath), topically (applied to the skin), and internally (ingested).

Using essential oils is called aromatherapy and has become increasingly popular in recent years. Fans of aromatherapy typically use diffusers to enjoy the aromatic effects of essential oils. London Drugs has a wide array of diffusers — from the small and discreet to the eye-catching and decorative.

How to Use Essential Oils

Essential oils can help with everything from calming down stress levels to boosting your immunity. They can also help ensure you’re getting enough shut-eye between buying the perfect gifts and baking those scrumptious holiday cookies.

For Sleep

Scents like valerian, lavender and curated relaxation mixes are great sleep aids. Place them in your diffuser or bath an hour before bed and you’ll sleep like a yule log.

For Stress

When it all feels like a bit too much and you feel your stress levels rising, there are several oils (and oil blends) that can help restore calm. Bergamot, chamomile, and rose are frequently used to treat stress.

For an Immunity Boost

You may find yourself coming down with a cold or virus during the festive season. No one has time to spend several days in bed nursing the sniffles, so ward off any bugs with immunity boosters like oregano, peppermint, or lemon oil. If you do come down with a cold, put a few drops of Eucalyptus oil in your diffuser or bath to open up the airways and help soothe your lungs.

For Aches and Pains

Using essential oils topically (applying them to the skin) can help with a multitude of issues such as headaches, neck pain, colds, and injuries, none of which are on your to-do list this holiday season.

Topical oils are popular because they easily penetrate the skin and specifically target problem areas. Be sure to read the instructions and ensure you don’t apply undiluted oils to the skin. Unless they already come diluted, they should always be mixed with water or a carrier oil (coconut oil or olive oil are popular) before use. Also check for skin sensitivity to any oils before using.

For an Energy Boost

Most importantly at this time of year we want to feel energized. Some great essential oils that will boost your mood are citrus blends, rosemary, vanilla, or lavender. You’ll feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle all the festivities this season.

Shop our selection of aromatherapy products for other resources that may help you destress and nurture your health this holiday season. If you are looking for some more self-care inspiration and support, you can also talk to an expert at the LD Pharmacy.