The back to school season has a different ring to it this September for university and college students—especially during their first year. It’s so long high school, hello lecture hall! Exams will be much more difficult (uh oh), but it’s also the beginning of amazing adventures, new friendships, and life-long memories.
Whether you’re a student living on campus in a dorm room or commuting to early morning study sessions, it’s always smart to be equipped with tech that has your back. From note-taking to playlist-making, we’ve gathered the top five gadgets for first-year university students.
Create, learn, work and play like never before with the Apple iPad with WiFi. This version has all-day battery, so it will stay powered up during every long lecture. The immersive 9.7-inch Multi-Touch Retina display now has Apple Pencil capability—you can take notes, annotate, or sketch with virtually no delay!
As a first-year, you’ll be experiencing campus life and making so many memories at college and university! Make sure all those photos don’t just stay on your phone—print them out with the HP Sprocket portable printer. Post them up in your dorm or share them with Mom and Dad back home (you know they’ll love them).
Music can be the best way to create soothing background noise as you study—or pump you up for a run to clear your head before exam day! The bluetooth-enabled JVC Flats are fashionable, lightweight headphones that have 11 hours of listening time. Choose pink, blue, black or grey, depending on your personal style.
As a student, it’s always nice to have tech that makes your life easier. Just place your Android or iPhone X on the Logiix QI wireless charging stand to charge wirelessly from anywhere. At a fast 10W speed, too! Now, you won’t have to go digging for a cord in your backpack anymore.
After cramming for tests, sometimes it’s nice to chill out and play a few games. The Nintendo Switch is designed to go wherever you do, transforming from home console to portable system in a snap. If you’re not at home or at your dorm, take your game with you in handheld mode—even to study hall for a quick brain break!
Head to London Drugs in-store or online to find everything you need for back to school tech! Our LD Experts would love to help.
We <3 Canadian photographers! We’ve just climbed out of another Instagram rabbit hole, and we wanted to show some love to a few of our newest favourite Canadian shutterbugs.
Sonika is a Vancouver-based photographer who specializes in cityscapes and landscapes. Her work is dreamy and moody, and beautifully captures the stunning vistas of Vancouver, rain or shine. Be sure to check out her Stories – she’s already made wallpaper for your smartphone for you!
Living in the city, we sometimes forget about the wild side of Canada. Colleen Gara is here to remind us that most of this great country is covered in wilderness, inhabited only by the colourful characters she captures on camera.
Ryan is an Englishman living in Canada, and shows his appreciation for his new home by blessing us with his gorgeous landscape and nature photos. Who needs postcards when you have talent like this?
Edmonton is a fantastic city – great food, vibrant nightlife, diverse arts scene – but “beautiful” might not be the first word that comes to mind when you think of the City of Champions. Don’t try to tell that to Sameer Ahmed – Edmonton is breathtaking through his lens.
Yes, it’s undeniable that Canada has gorgeous landscapes and cityscapes. Saskatoon photographer Tamarah Hodgson instead focuses her lens on the beautiful people of the Great White North. As one half of Meraki + Light, she captures weddings, engagements and other family events, and her personal Insta feed is full of quiet, intimate beauty from the smaller moments of her own life.
Craving that rosy tan glow your face gets from a day at the beach? Our Beauty Advisor Sara will show you how to get the look any time of year – no sun required! Sara starts with a St. Tropez Self Tan Express Face Sheet Mask the night before to develop a nice natural-looking base tan for the look. Then she’ll show you her trick for getting the perfect rosy tan look: combining Rimmel’s Natural Bronzer and Mineral Fusion Blush together and sweeping them over the apples of her cheeks and nose. She finishes off the look with a spritz of Lise Watier’s Aqua Terra Energizing Mist which gives a refreshing glow to her newly ‘tanned’ complexion. Watch the video to see the complete look step-by-step!
Maintaining positive mental and physical wellbeing at work allows us to stay at the top of our game and succeed at our job. Of course, trying to balance our busy lives with work can get in the way of self-care and leave us feeling run down and lacking energy. The Mental Health Commission of Canada explains that decreased wellbeing at work can lead to a loss of productivity, absenteeism, and presenteeism, too (that’s working while sick). This is why it’s important to try simple tricks that boost our daily vitality.
Don’t worry! Whether you’re managing stressful deadlines, long hours, or physical demands, we’ve got five simple self-care steps to keep you healthy and energized at work.
Step 1: Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated at work helps us to feel alert and think clearly. A common recommendation by HealthLink BC suggests consuming six to eight 250 mL (8 fl oz) glasses of water each day. Buying a funky new water bottle, trying a new tea, or setting an alarm on your phone are great ways to remind yourself to drink more! You can also check out this video for 4 ways to trick yourself into drinking more water.
Step 2: Perfect your posture
Improving your posture involves a bit of mindfulness practice, but the rewards offer renewed, sustainable energy throughout your day—as well as long-term health benefits. Start by trying a new seating position, or a laptop stand to go on your desk. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has great guidelines for good body position, and what to avoid.
Office furniture also impacts your posture. If you’re sitting at a desk all day, try using an office chair with different ergonomics or a standing desk to increase your circulation and decrease fatigue.
Step 3: Quick office desk makeover
Whether you work from home or in an office, your environment can affect your vitality, productivity, and wellbeing. Get creative and give your desk a makeover! Spruce up your workspace with positive quotes, plants, and pictures. Aromatherapy products are great too—try a diffuser, salt lamp, or blend of essential oils from London Drugs, which help to boost energy and mood, and relax the mind.
Step 4: Take time to stretch or walk the block
Rest breaks, stretching, and movement all help combat the 3pm afternoon slump. Try setting an alarm each day to complete a few new desk stretches, or take a short walk around the block. Exercise is a golden way to recharge, increase stamina, and promote brain health at work—read more and discover 6 ways exercise benefits your mental health.
Step 5: Treat yourself (and a coworker!) to lunch
What better way to boost your energy than great food and great company? Break up your workday by taking a coworker out for lunch or treating yourself to a new healthy spot. Social breaks can take your mind off of work and allow you to return refreshed and rejuvenated. Eating healthy food can also increase energy levels—you can create your own food guide to make healthier menu choices, as well as gain inspiration for future lunch recipes.
Self-care requires commitment and time, so it’s ok to go slow and try one new tip a week. Little steps make a difference, and patience and persistence are key! You’ll be on top of your game, sustaining your energy, and doing backflips around the office in no time. Stay well!
When we’re already surrounded by so much natural beauty, it’s easy to forget that there are other amazing places to explore outside of Vancouver. And they’re not far away! At London Drugs, we’re proud of our Canadian roots and we love discovering new places to travel—right here in our beautiful country. So, if summertime has you feeling like it’s time to pack up the car and hit the road, here are some great ideas for local travel this summer.
Yoho National Park, BC
760 km from Vancouver
Cruise the Trans Canada Highway to the spectacular Yoho National Park, located on the western side of the Rocky Mountains, in eastern BC. Named for a Cree expression of awe and wonder, Yoho has an abundance of natural beauty including waterfalls, 400 km of trails, crystal clear lakes, and four campgrounds. Train buffs can watch trains entering the spiral tunnels near Kicking Horse Pass.
Nelson, BC
650 km from Vancouver
Known as the “Queen City” of the Kootenays, Nelson is a rare gem. It has maintained its heritage feel while still providing plenty for visitors to do. It has more restaurants per capita than Manhattan or San Francisco, so it’s a foodie’s paradise. Wander around the downtown core and take in the restaurant scene or one of the many coffee houses or breweries. If you’re more of an adrenaline junkie, Nelson also boasts impressive river rafting or kayaking on Kootenay Lake, as well as ziplining over the Kokanee Creek Canyon.
The Okanagan Valley
400 km from Vancouver
Known for its sunny and dry climate, the Okanagan Valley provides a stunning backdrop for boating, water sports, golfing, and wine tasting. This region has long been a summer playground for visitors from Vancouver and Alberta alike. Whether you’re exploring the many vineyards in Kelowna, the desert oasis in Osoyoos, golfing in Penticton, or boating on Kalamalka Lake in Vernon, there’s always something to do in the Okanagan Valley.
Pemberton, BC
158 km from Vancouver
Most of us think of Whistler when we think of a quick getaway close to Vancouver. But just 20km north of Whistler is Pemberton, a quieter option which also has a lot to offer. There’s hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, golfing, and fishing, to name a few. With plenty of lakes in the area, water sports are popular and visitors can enjoy white water rafting, kayaking, and jet boat tours. Pemberton is also an agri-tourism hot spot and features u-pick farms, a distillery tour, bustling farmers markets, and the slow food cycle every Sunday in the summer.
Rathtrevor Beach in Parksville, BC
115 km from Vancouver
Located in the 347-hectare park near Parksville, Rathtrevor Beach is surrounded by Douglas Firs. It’s perfect for exploring the wooded trails as you make your way to this wide sandy beach. At low tide, the ocean recedes one-kilometre into the Strait of Georgia, providing lots of space to enjoy the sand and surf. This spot is ideal for lovers of wildlife and many varieties of birdlife, including eagles, hawks and owls. It’s also home to the Rathtrevor Beach Nature House. You will need to ferry to Nanaimo and then drive to Parksville to access Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park.
Whatever sort of summer getaway you are after, there’s plenty to offer right here in our Canadian backyard. Wherever you go, London Drugs is your first stop for local Canadian products. Happy travels!
Most of us are pretty good about slathering sunscreen on our body before heading out to the beach, but are you protecting your face with SPF, too? And not just when you’re at the beach?
If you tend to avoid applying sunscreen to your face because it feels greasy, uncomfortable, and doesn’t work well with makeup, you’re not alone. But what if we told you there are some great products that you can find at your local London Drugs that will not only protect your face from the sun’s harmful rays, but will also make you look fantastic in the summer heat?
Our Beauty Advisors are here to help you find ways to add SPF to your summer beauty routine, without feeling like you’re sacrificing the look and feel of your makeup. One important thing to keep in mind when looking for products with SPF is to be wary of SPF products that are only approved in the US. Canada has much more rigorous standards for SPF than other countries like the US, and so if you’re researching a product online, you want to be 100% sure that that product actually has been approved by Health Canada to say that it has SPF.
Sounds a bit confusing? Don’t worry. We’ve done the research for you, and narrowed it down to the best SPF products that are Health Canada-approved. Watch the video to see our Beauty Expert Candice’s sun safe summer beauty routine with SPF, and then keep reading below to get application tips and learn more about the products she used.
The Best Primer with SPF
If you’ve been searching for a sunscreen for your face that doesn’t smell at all like sunscreen, and makes a good foundation base, THIS is your answer! The Lise Watier Sunsmart UV Shield (SPF 30) feels like a silky primer on the skin, and creates an excellent base for your foundation. It’s also oil free and paraben free. Just apply after your everyday skincare routine, and before your makeup.
The Best BB Cream with SPF
Tinted creams, or BB creams, are a great way to get the benefits of sun protection while also getting some basic makeup coverage. Shiseido’s Suncare Sports BB has an SPF of 50+ and is water resistant for 80 minutes, making it a great choice for if you’re planning to take a dip – or even if you’re just out in the sun. Its SuperVeil-UV 360 technology helps to provide an even, protective layer on the skin, while naturally covering uneven skin tone and pores.
The Best Foundation/Contour with SPF
Use the new Bioderma Photoderm Mineral Compact (SPF 50+) as an all-over foundation, or choose a darker shade and use it as a contour (with the added bonus of SPF!). The formula is perfect for hot summer days: non-greasy, non-sticky, with a powdery finish. It’s also fragrance-free, paraben-free and preservative-free! Going to be sweating or hopping in the lake? It also resists water and perspiration.
The Best Lip Product with SPF
Finding a product that gives lips a good dose of colour, as well as protects with SPF, isn’t easy. That’s why our Beauty Advisors actually recommend using two products: an SPF lip balm first, and then a lip stain over top. First, apply a layer of The Green Beaver Company Mineral Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 15, and then sweep the transfer-proof, non-sticky Clarins Water Lip Stain in Red Water over top to add some colour! A stain is recommended, as opposed to a gloss, because glosses can reflect the sun’s light and actually damage the delicate lip area. So make sure to choose a stain or other matte lip product.
Or, if you’re looking for only a very sheer wash of colour, try the Revlon Kiss Balm. It has an SPF of 20, and comes in Berry Burst, Fresh Strawberry, Juicy Peach, Sweet Cherry and Tropical Coconut.
The Best Way to Re-Apply Sunscreen to the Face
This is probably one of the most asked questions our Beauty Advisors get when it comes to sunscreen application: how do I re-apply sunscreen to my face without ruining my makeup? The idea of re-applying a thick layer of goopy sunscreen on your face over top of your makeup doesn’t seem like a very viable option. Especially when you should be re-applying SPF every two hours. So our Beauty Advisors scoured the aisles of our beauty department for a more ideal solution. They found two great SPF products that can help both to protect the skin and mattify throughout the day. How great is that?
They recommend first using the Shiseido Ultra Sun Protection Spray (SPF 50), spraying into your palms, and then patting onto your face. The formula is safe to use on the face, and is clear and lightweight, unlike similar spray sunscreens, which are usually white and thick. For this reason, it applies nicely to the face without adding any greasiness. And the patting motions help to avoid ruining your makeup.
Secondly, our Beauty Advisors recommend applying the Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Airbrushing Pressed Powder (SPF 30) in Translucent over top of the Shiseido Spray, all over the face, to help control shine. This powder is also one of the only drugstore powders that has an SPF, so you’ll be adding one more layer of protection to your face. LDBeauty tip: apply some of the powder onto your hairline and the part in your hair as well, where you may not have applied your other sunscreen products. It won’t make your roots greasy, and will give a bit of protection to that sometimes forgotten part of the face!
Subscribe to London Drugs on YouTube and stay tuned for more beauty videos!
If you’re nervous about starting the potty training process with your child, don’t worry—we’ve all been there! Potty training can be a tough journey for parents. This is why we teamed up with Kimberly-Clark for an exclusive Facebook Live Q&A discussing the must-know tips to help your child as they potty train and how to make the process much less daunting for parents.
Potty training is an important milestone on the path to becoming a big kid. Kimberly-Clark’s Potty Training Expert, Renee Booms, is the Senior Marketing Research Manager for the North American Baby & Child Care Division. She’s been studying consumer behaviour for almost two decades with a focus on potty training in the last four years. This mother of two young children is here to answer your top questions and comments on the strains (and joys!) of potty training.
4 signs your child is ready to potty train
Remember there is no “right” age to start! Every child is different and will start potty training at different times. As a parent, look for cues from your child’s behaviour. There are typically signs of readiness that start to show up around two years old, but don’t be too worried if your child waits until two and a half or three years old. A few notable cues to look for are:
Copying ‘potty behaviours’ of parents or older siblings—showing interest in the potty by flushing or asking questions
Having a diaper that’s dry for a longer period of time than usual or waking up dry from a nap
Tugging at a dirty or wet diaper, or verbally asking to be changed
Verbally asking to use the potty themselves
Know your child’s potty personality
As parents know firsthand, there’s no one-size-fits-all method for raising children. This extends to potty training too! Each child has a ‘potty personality’ and working with their personality is one of the keys to successful potty training. Take the Potty Personality Quiz by Pull-Ups to find out which personality your child most resembles.
The Puppy: Ready, willing, and eager to please. A lot of energy but easily directed to what you want them to focus on. Once they learn the rules, they are quick to potty train!
The Owl: Careful, detailed, and likes to follow direction. It’s important to lay out what the expectations are and they will learn very quickly. These children tend to resist a bit if pushed too hard.
The Bear Cub: Independent, free spirited, and fun-loving. Usually busy playing with toys or eating food—too busy to be interrupted to use the potty! It’s important to make potty training fun and engaging. Try to be silly and change things up (plus: patience).
The Turtle: Shy, nervous, and resistant to change. Comfortable with the status quo—they might be interested in potty training but are skeptical about what it means to them. They may seem stubborn, but they have a strong sense of preservation! Treat them with kindness and patience. Introducing potty training concepts gradually without pressure can help.
The Squirrel: Driven, energetic, and highly distracted. Lots of energy and go from activity to activity—they can’t be slowed down to potty train! They may show interest but don’t take the time to pause and use the potty. Use games to keep things focused and make sure they get enough playtime to burn off some of that energy.
Learn so much more in the Facebook Live!
Watch the recap for more of Renee’s tips and tricks for potty training. She also covers how long potty training should take, nighttime bed wetting, and more tips to help along the entire journey. If you have any further questions about potty training, please let us know in the comments. Thanks for watching!
