Shipments already with Canada Post

Unfortunately, some of your shipments may already be in the hands of Canada Post or within their network.

If you have received a recent notice that your order has been shipped with Canada Post or Passport (with Canada Post as the final delivery partner), and you have not yet received it, you will be impacted by the strike and your package will be delayed until Canada Post resumes their operations. All mail and parcels in the postal network will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible on a first-in, first-out basis once operations resume. 

Still have questions?

If you still have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at info@provinceapothecary.com.

Apologies for any delays, but we appreciate you for supporting us while we solve these issues for you and to make sure you get your order.

Thank you for your patience during this time and for your continued support.

Raspberry Seed Oil, Olive Oil, and Pomegranate Seed Oil have emerged as valuable ingredients in the realm of skincare, especially within Province Apothecary! These natural oils are rich in essential nutrients, antioxidants, and fatty acids, making them potent allies in the pursuit of a glowing complexion.

Raspberry Seed Oil is celebrated for its high content of essential fatty acids, particularly linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids. These fatty acids not only provide deep hydration but also reinforce the skin's lipid barrier, preventing moisture loss and enhancing the skin's natural resilience. Additionally, the oil's abundant antioxidants, including Vitamin E and polyphenols, shield the skin from oxidative stress caused by environmental pollutants and UV radiation. You can find Raspberry Seed Oil in our Moisturizing Oil Cleanser + Makeup Remover, Clear Skin Advanced Face Serum, Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum! 

We believe in the power of nature to heal and nourish the skin, and our Healing Eczema Balm is a perfect example of this philosophy in action.

Made from a blend of organic and wild-crafted ingredients, this balm is designed to soothe, heal, and nourish dry, itchy, and inflamed skin.

One of the key ingredients in this balm is calendula oil, which has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for skin conditions due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It helps to reduce inflammation and redness, soothe irritation, and promote the healing of damaged skin.

Another important ingredient in this balm is chamomile oil, which is known for its calming and soothing properties. It can help to calm irritated skin, reduce itching, and promote healing. Chamomile is also rich in antioxidants, which can help to protect the skin from environmental damage. 

Beeswax is another key component of the Healing Eczema Balm. It acts as a natural emollient, which means it helps to lock in moisture and prevent the skin from drying out. Beeswax also creates a protective barrier on the skin, which can help to reduce the risk of infection and promote healing.

Jojoba oil, which is easily absorbed by the skin and can help to regulate oil production, and lavender essential oil, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to soothe and heal the skin.

To use Province Apothecary's Healing Eczema Balm, simply apply a small amount to the affected area as needed. The balm can be used on any part of the body, including the face, and it is safe for all skin types- even babies! 

Province Apothecary's Healing Eczema Balm is a wonderful natural remedy for eczema and other skin irritations. Its blend of organic and wild-crafted ingredients work together to soothe, heal, and nourish the skin, providing relief from itching, inflammation, and dryness.

If you're looking for a natural solution for eczema, I highly recommend giving this balm a try.

What is Facial Jade Rolling? 

Facial Jade Rolling is a beauty practice that involves using a (typically) jade facial roller. We recommend our Dual-Action Jade Facial Roller! A Jade Roller typically features two sides which work to reduce puffiness, improve circulation, and enhance the benefits of skincare products! 

5 Benefits of Facial Jade Rolling! 

1. Promotes lymphatic drainage: Rolling a cool jade stone over the skin can help to encourage lymphatic drainage, which can reduce inflammation and puffiness in the face
2. Increases circulation: Rolling the jade over the skin can help to stimulate blood flow, which can improve the overall appearance and health of the skin!
3. Helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles: Using a jade roller can help to promote collage production, which can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time.
4. Enhances the absorption of skincare products: Jade rolling over the skin after applying skincare products helps to absorb them effectively into the skin, providing you with all the benefits your products have to offer. 
5. Relaxing, soothing experience: Many people find that using a jade roller feels calming, soothing, and relaxing- the perfect addition to any skincare routine! 

Our 

Our Vegan Facial Dry Brush is also an excellent (more affordable) dry brush option as well! Made from Post-Consumer Recycled materials and ultra-soft bristles- our brush helps to improve the overall appearance of the skin and reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and better absorb skincare products! 

Benefits

The benefits of facial dry brushing are endless, here are a few of our favourites:

• Smooths fine lines and brightens appearance
• Reduces puffiness and dark circles
• Detoxifies to help clear congestion
• Tones + firms’ skin
• Gently exfoliates and stimulates cellular turnover

Why We Love Facial Dry Brushing 

We are absolutely obsessed with facial dry brushing! This involves using a soft-bristled brush to gently massage the face and stimulate blood flow! We’re especially excited about Julie’s Facial Dry Brush, which is a fantastic way to incorporate dry brushing into your daily routine. By consistently dry brushing, you’ll start to see and feel all the amazing benefits that this technique has to offer! 

Dry brushing helps to remove dead skin cells, increase circulation, and promote lymphatic drainage, which can leave your skin looking and feeling more radiant and refreshed. It’s an incredibly simple but effective way to take your skincare routine to the next level! 

Follow Julie’s Dry Brushing Ritual Below:

Why Dry Brushing Works

At Province Apothecary, we believe that understanding the science behind skincare is key to achieving healthy, glowing skin. That’s why we’re excited to share with you the incredible benefits of facial dry brushing and how it works! The body’s lymphatic system plays a vital role in ridding the body of toxins and waste through lymphatic fluid, which travels through an extensive system of vessels. When there’s a buildup of lymph fluid in the face, it can result in. dull, tired-looking, and puffy skin. That’s where dry brushing comes in!

By gently dry brushing the face, lymphatic fluid help just below the surface of the skin is pushed into lymph vessels, which then travel to the lymph nodes and are expelled from the body. This helps to reduce puffiness and leave skin looking more radiant and refreshed!

For Acne-Prone Skin: Dry Brushing can be incredibly helpful for those struggling with acne. When there’s a lot of inflammation on or under the skin’s surface, our lymph nodes can swell as they produce and store white blood cells and immune cells to fight off infection. Dry brushing can help to move lymph along the channel and clear up any excess white blood cells and inflammation near cystic lesions, which can help to shrink faster and reduce pain.

About Our Brush

We have collaborated with Sweden’s IRIS HANTVERK to bring you a brush consciously hand-crafted by their collective of visually impaired artisans.

The oak handle is certified responsibly forested, and the goat hair bristles come from a chain of reliable suppliers. The owners of Iris Hantverk have been purchasing from their supplier for over 40 years and take a personal interest in the collection and quality of the material. They provide the same materials to large retailers across the globe who have strict regulations around the ethical collection of animal materials, and Iris Hantverk complies with all of them. The goats are never killed for their hair, they are shorn like the way that wool is collected from sheep.

Brush Care for Our Daily Glow Facial Dry Brush

• Do not get brush wet.

• Do not wash with soap and water.

• Store in a dry place.

• To clean; sprinkle bristles with clay or cornstarch. Massage into bristles gently and then shake out all the powder. Repeat weekly to absorb and remove dirt + oil.

• The handle can be re-oiled as needed.

• Minimal bristle shedding is normal for first use

Brush Care for Our Vegan Facial Dry Brush

• Clean regularly 

• Wash with soap and water

• Store in a dry place

• Avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning 

• Replace when necessary 

Cautions

• Do not use on damp or wet skin

• Do not use on irritated, extremely sensitive, broken, or sunburned skin.

• Do not share your brush

• Always perform an allergy patch test before use.

Hello there! If you’re looking to boost your skincare routine, Vitamin C is definitely an ingredient you don’t want to miss out on. It’s a powerful antioxidant that helps slow down the aging process, even out your skin tone and texture, boost collagen production, and repair free radical damage. Now, you might be wondering, what are free radicals? Well, they’re pesky molecules that cause premature aging and can come from environmental factors like sun damage, pollution, and oxygen. With the help of Vitamin C, we can protect and support your skin against these external factors. 

Regularly incorporating Vitamin C into your skincare routine can provide a range of benefits to keep your skin healthy, bright, and glowing. It can brighten scarring and pigmentation, reduce redness and inflammation, repair and rejuvenate your skin, improve your skin’s overall tone and texture. Plus, when used alongside sunscreen, Vitamin C can help prevent UV damage. 

If you want to reap the benefits of Vitamin C, using a serum rich in this ingredient is the most effective way to go! Our serums, whether derived from ascorbic acid or plant oils, are more concentrated and can penetrate deeper into your skin. While masks and moisturizers with Vitamin C are great, they may not be as effective in the long run. 

Speaking of plat oils, we love using Rosehip Oil, Sea Buckthorn Oil, and Black Cumin Oil; all of which naturally contain Vitamin C. Rosehip Oil is rich in nourishing Vitamin C, essential fatty acids, and phenols that have been shown to be anti-microbial, ait-inflammatory, and gently exfoliating. Sea Buckthorn Oil on the other hand is a great option for hydrating, regenerating, and protecting sensitive or reactive skin types. Last but not least, Black Cumin Oil is an excellent choice for nourishing and softening your skin while boosting cellular circulation. 

To get the most out of your Vitamin C skincare routine, here are a few tips to keep in mind. Apply your serum both morning and night to protect your skin from environmental damage, UV rays, and pollution. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen on top of your vitamin C to boost its effectiveness! 

Not only can you use our Vitamin C rich products (Clear Skin Advanced Face Serum, Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum, and Radiant Bath + Body Oil) nourish your skin with the goodness of pomegranate! Packed with antioxidants, pomegranates aid in the regeneration of skin cells and promote circulation while their high Vitamin C content promotes collagen formation, resulting in firmer and softer skin!

Our first instinct to treat dry lips is to lick them, right? This only leads to more dryness and irritability! To understand how to treat dry lips, we must understand the true cause of this dehydration is essential in healing from the inside-out!

Weather plays an important role when it comes to our skin, in the winter our skin becomes chapped and cracked- in the summer we are exposed to the sun which can lead to damaged skin. It becomes hard to maintain hydrated skin during these times, so we suggest always layering in extra hydration in the colder months and extra sunscreen and skin protection! Our lips can also suffer from sun exposure, believe it or not. They can burn and blister and need just as much protection than the rest of our skin! 

Weather is not always the reason behind dry, dull lips! It is possible that there are a few underlying reasons like hydration, diet and internal balances, or even low stomach acid. These issues cause dry lips commonly start in the digestive tract, as our body pulls water away from other parts when we are dehydrated. To fight dehydration, it is important to add electrolytes to your water or even try coconut water! 

Heartburn is the worst, and this can also be an underlying factor as to why you have dry, chapped lips.  There is a gate between the stomach and esophagus which should always remain closed (except when eating). When our stomachs produce enough acid, this “gate” can close. Many think heartburn stems from high stomach acid, but it’s the opposite! Low stomach acid causes the “gate” to stay open after eating, which produces excessive saliva while we sleep at night. This can lead to dry and cracked lips in the morning. One way to reduce heartburn and increase stomach acid is to practice mindfulness prior to each meal! When we take a moment to think about our food, - our stomachs release acid, which primes us for optimal digestion. We also recommend consuming something bitter 10-15 minutes before you eat- anything from lemon water in the morning to apple cider vinegar at night! 

Food! Yes, Food. This plays a role in your stomach acid and digestive tract. Consuming foods that nourish the TCM spleen- this means warm cooked foods, broths, stews, and warming spices like ginger and turmeric. Foods that can damage the TCM spleen are typically colder foods, like raw salads, fruits, and dairy products! Lastly, an important aspect of keeping our skin and lips well hydrated is to consume high quality fats- fish oils, coconut oils. These help to moisturize the intestines, leading to reduced inflammation and boosted hydration! Fish oil can easily be added to your diet as a daily supplement, or you can even add coconut oil to your morning coffee! 

We hope that these few simple steps help you in your journey to smooth lips! We highly recommend that you use our Repairing + Conditioning Lip Balm, which is loaded with our special blend of rich plant-based oils that soothe and nourish the lips, providing long-lasting benefits without feeling sticky or greasy! Made with Lavender Oil, Beeswax, and Peppermint Leaf Oil- our lip balm not only tastes amazing but harnesses the healing benefits of our plant-powered ingredients!

Aromatherapy at Home

Essential oils have so many benefits to our health and wellbeing, and there are numerous ways of incorporating them into our home lives. Whether you want to clean the air in your home, induce relaxation after a long day, or recover from a cold, here are some of the best ways to use essential oils at home:

1. Use a Diffuser

Nebulizing diffusers are often considered the most powerful type of diffusers. They do not need water or heat to get the essential oil in to the air and they work by using an atomizer to create fine, airborne particles of essential oils and blowing them in to the air. They keep a near-continuous stream of essential oils in the air.

Ultrasonic diffusers work in a similar way to nebulizing diffusers by creating a fine mist. The difference is that ultrasonic diffusers use water and essential oils to create a cool mist of water/oils that releases in to the air. They double as a humidifier, so they are beneficial in winter, but they don’t put out as strong of a concentration of essential oils since they also use water.

2. Herbal Steam Inhalation

Great for when your sinuses are feeling stuffed up, a steam inhalation is one of the best ways to get the most out of the antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiinflammatory benefits of essential oils. Simply warm up some water on the stove until steam begins to rise. Turn off the stove and let the water cool down just a bit, add 3-5 drops of essential oils such as Eucalyptus, Rosemary, or Lavender to the water. Place your face a safe distance from the hot water but close enough to inhale the steam, and cover your head and the pot with a towel to keep the steam from dispersing away from your face. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. You'll begin to feel your sinuses clearing out within a few minutes.

Bonus: You can also use this method to brighten your complexion. Check out our post on Herbal Facial Steams for beauty here.

3. Add Oils to the Bath

After a long day, or when your muscles are feeling sore, draw a bath and add a few drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil, which both are helpful for relieving tension, whether it be mental or muscular tension. The warm water will help loosen up your muscles, and your pores will open up allowing for the oils to be more effectively absorbed into the skin and tissues. Add a carrier oil such as olive oil, jojoba oil, or almond oil for some extra moisturizing.

We're so excited to announce that our Founder, Julie, is offering facials in Thornbury. 

Julie started offering facials in 2012 as part of her mission to help her friends and family with their skin issues, she herself has suffered from eczema and allergies since birth. 

The results she was seeing from the facials and our products for herself and her clients were so outstanding and she fell in love with helping people with their skin.

She took a break from facials to concentrate on running Province 
Province Apothecary and focused on training our facial team and our retailer that offers our facials, but now she is back and is so excited to be offering facials again :) 

Facials have always been an important part of Province Apothecary and she has never stopped learning and deepening her knowledge. She has studied Holistic Health, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, reflexology facial reflexology, gua sha, facial cupping, and advanced facial massage. 

Her facials are customized to your skin and she helps reduce fine lines, pigmentation, acne, congestion, texture and much more.

Her goal is to empower you and educate you on how to take care of your skin 365 days a year.

She is offering facials in Thornbury, Ontario. 

To book a facial with Julie, click here. 

Step 1. Cleanse | Use our Moisturizing Cleanser + Makeup Remover at night and remove with a damp face cloth.

Step 2. Tone | Apply our Invigorating + Balancing Toner morning and night before other products to rebalance and feed the skin.

Step 3. Water-based moisturizer (cream) | Apply our creamy Nourishing + Revitalizing Moisturizer next to hydrate the skin, working from lightest to heavier products.

Step 4. Oil-based face serum | Apply our Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum or Clear Skin Advanced Serum on top of our moisturizer (add a spritz of our Toner to help the oil absorb faster). This waterless, concentrated product is rich in phytonutrients and vitamins.

Step 5. Oil-based moisturizer (balm) | Apply our Vital Nutrient Face + Eye Balm all over the face if you have dry, mature, or sensitive skin, otherwise, apply around the eyes to reduce puffiness and dark circles and target any of your Fineline with it.

Step 6. Beauty Tool | After applying your products it is great to use some of our tools to help seal them in (Reusable Silicone Sheet Mask Set for Face + Eyes), stimulate blood flow and product penetration (Dual Action Facial Jade Roller), and lift and firm your skin (Sculpting + Toning Facial Cupping Set). Use our Daily Glow Facial Dry Brush every morning to stimulate your lymphatic system and wake up your face before you apply any products.

Step 7. Targeted & Treatment products | after you have applied all of your products and used our tools, it’s time to add these targeted products to your routine. On pimples and inflammation, our Clear Skin Advanced Spot Concentrate. To boost your brows, our Full Brow Serum. On red, dry, and inflamed areas, our Healing Eczema Balm. And on your lips, our Repairing + Conditioning Lip Balm

*Use our Regenerating Exfoliator and Resurfacing Mask every 3 days before you start your routine :)

Our Women We Admire series is our way of supporting and sharing the stories of incredible women whose values match ours. Today, meet Mona Sharma.

Mona Sharma Wants To Heal You From the Inside Out

Mona Sharma is the founder of Xicama™, a line of beverages made from jicama and a nutritionist to stars like Jay Shetty and Hrithik Roshan. 

Tell us about yourself.  What first inspired you to start your business or go into the field? 

Having grown up living at the Sivananda Ashram, I have first-hand experience seeing the healing power of food, yoga, and mindfulness. As a nutritionist, my approach is rooted in the philosophy, “food as medicine, movement as therapy, and mindfulness as the journey to optimize health.” This was the foundation that led to my recovery from two heart surgeries, debilitating anxiety, and changing my career path from a high-profile corporate job. 

I am also the founder of Xicama™, an innovative line of functional beverage products that deliver gut health and immune-boosting benefits from superfood jicama. My mission is to guide my students to honor their personal constitution, to optimize health and energy for life.

What motivates you?

Living in flow, my children and husband, helping as many people as possible and guiding others to optimize their wellness and pure potential.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve learned from your industry?

Quality matters. Don't believe everything you read. Comparison is a killer of joy. Live to love every day with intention, and attune to the feeling you want to feel in this life.

What’s your greatest accomplishment? What do you still hope to achieve?

My greatest accomplishment is giving birth to my two children and learning to love and celebrate my body for doing so! Another accomplishment I’m proud of is launching two companies aimed at helping people heal from the inside and out. The future holds a lot more with a wellness brand in the works and global wellness retreats.

What would you like skincare lovers to know? 

What you eat is just as important as what you put onto your skin. Read your food labels closely and eat whole colorful foods with high vibration if you want to glow from the inside out.

What are your favorite Province Apothecary products and why?

I love the Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum for its amazing hydration and base for makeup and the Invigorating + Balancing Toner to refresh my skin throughout the day. 

Where can people find you? 

https://www.instagram.com/monasharma/ https://www.monasharma.com/ https://xicamalife.com/

Monica Samuel on Building a Community with Black Women in Motion

Our Women We Admire series is our way of supporting and sharing the stories of incredible women whose values match ours. Today, meet Monica Samuel.

Tell us about yourself.
I’m an equity and anti-violence educator and consultant, community builder, and social entrepreneur. I’ve spent over 12 years in the non-profit sector, with much of my work focusing on anti-oppression, equity, mental health, gender-based violence, and consent. In addition, I have 10 years of experience in culturally-relevant program design and implementation for Black youth across the Greater Toronto Area.

What inspired you to start BWIM?
In 2013, I had the privilege of doing community development work in the Jane and Finch community, where I met a group of Black women and girls from an afterschool program called the Butterfly Project. Their stories of survival and resilience deeply inspired me. So when they defunded the program, I knew that I needed to create space for them. I wanted to ensure Black women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ survivors of gender-based violence had services and support created by and for them. Somewhere they could be seen, understood, affirmed, and loved. Where they could access the necessary tools to thrive socially, mentally, and economically.

When we look at gender-based violence globally, but specifically here in Canada, there is the complete erasure of gender-based violence statistics and experiences of Black women, girls, nonbinary, and gender-non-conforming communities. This erasure is not an accident; it is by design. The rise in gender-based violence is happening across the country. Certain voices are prioritized, amplified, heard, and believed, while the violence against Black and Indigenous communities is essentially rendered invisible in Canada.

Black Women in Motion and its programs and services state that Black survivors matter and have a right to be included and centered.

What motivates you on a daily basis? Where do you get your power from?
My team. My ancestors who came before me. I stand on the shoulders of Black women and Black queer and trans people who have moved mountains and disrupted systems since time memorial. I am because they were.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve heard?
A no to others is a yes to yourself. You must choose yourself every day.

What does it mean to you to be a female entrepreneur?
I’m an entrepreneur. Period. Building. Connecting. Community Care.

There’s been an incredible push for awareness and support of BIPOC-owned businesses. Where is greater support still needed?
As we know, long-term support and federal funding and resources are a fraction of what is made available to non-black/POC entrepreneurs and organizations. Elevating the voices, and work of black entrepreneurs through brand partnerships, funding and authentic partnerships is crucial.

How do you ground yourself (during the day)?
I reconnect with the land.

–

In honor of Black History Month, we will be donating a portion of our sales to Black Women In Motion — a Canadian organization that empowers the advancement of Black women and non-binary survivors of gender-based violence through education, advocacy, and support.

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Brittany Thomas on Being A Fearless Female Entrepreneur

Our Women We Admire series is our way of supporting and sharing the stories of incredible women whose values match ours. Today, meet Brittany Thomas.

Tell us about yourself. What do you do?
I am Brittany Thomas, also known as SkinBae. I’m a licensed esthetician, professional makeup artist, digital creator, freelance writer, and self-care connoisseur.

What made you feel passionate about lifestyle?
I think passion is derived from a place of freedom — whether it’s the intense desire to be “free” or to live and create in a space that nurtures it. For my specific lifestyle, skin and self-care is my place of freedom. Creating intimacy and a dedicated time to check in with myself has allowed me to learn, love, and let go of parts of myself that I once avoided.

What motivates you?
First and foremost, my community. My community, my tribe, the amazing humans who continue to speak life in and over me. I am so blessed to be surrounded by people who see more of me than I can see in myself at times. The safety of having family, friends, and peers that support your growth but are not hesitant in reproach is such a gift.

I’m also motivated by my testimony. If there is a word to describe my life thus far, it would certainly be full. I am 33 (I’ll be 34 in August), and I have already lived such a full life. It has been full of love, tears, laughter, faith, and lessons that carry me through daily. I desire more because more was required and expected of me to get where I am.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve learned from your industry?
Wow, this is a loaded question. However, I've learned that it’s important to remove the ideology that conformity translates into success. I have always been someone who marched to the beat of her own drum. I also like to think that it's rhythmic and regal. Lol.

But, seriously, the moment I decided I no longer needed to fit in is when I began to see manifestations and blessings come into my life.

What’s your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment has been loving myself enough to say, see and know that I am worthy. Once your faith and self-worth are solid, anything is possible!

What does it mean to you to be a female entrepreneur?
Being a female entrepreneur is automatically equivalent to fearlessness. In today's society, when a woman decides to bet it all on herself, despite the glass ceilings, funding/pay gap, and gatekeeping, please know that you have already won! It takes a strong heart and intense perseverance to declare that the space I hold is my own, with or without validation.


There’s been an incredible push for awareness and support of BIPOC-owned businesses. Where is greater support still needed?
Whew! Ok, so awareness is very low on the list of needs for BIPOC founders. We need funding, more representation, and solid foundations to build our brands. We deserve the same logistical and operational follow-through that our white “counterparts” receive. We are already “aware” of the ingenious inventions and necessities created by the BIPOC community. We need to even the playing field. We need to be giving the same manual/SOP’s that abundantly flow through other spaces.

We also need respect. I shouldn't have to work 400x harder just because of some preconceived notion that my “lack” is tied to an inability to learn, build, carry out the goal. We are power. We are strength. We are examples of what it looks like never to quit, despite curated spaces of calamity and defiled business practices.

What are your top two favorite Province Apothecary products and why?
First and foremost, the Clear Skin Advanced Facial Serum (currently out of stock) is my whole heart and the Sculpting + Toning Facial Cupping Set.

The cupping tools literally save my life and the lives of those whom I've recommended them to. It destroys the appearance of any bloat, fine lines, and dry/dull skin to start the blood flow for supple, hydrated skin immediately. Also, how could I not love a multifunctional tool? I use it everywhere!

The Clear Skin Advanced Facial Serum (currently out of stock) is a glow in a bottle. The jojoba, vitamin E, and vitamin C soothe and catapults the skin’s radiance! I also love it because it's great for EVERYONE! Cocktail this product with your other skincare steps, and it is sure to send your routine into overdrive.


What would you like skincare lovers to know?
Honestly, it would be not to complicate things. (Literally how I feel about life.) I call it “skintimacy.” Skintimacy is bridging the gap between skin, spirit, and sensuality. Start simple, address the infected/trouble areas, then heal and protect.

It's such a beautiful space to submit to each and every season of your life. If there's a blemish that won't go away, get to the root of it. What is your body trying to tell you? Healing comes by way of submission. Figure out what you need, what really works and stay the course. You earned the right to say yes to the “more” of your life. You deserve this!

Our Women We Admire series is our way of supporting and sharing the stories of incredible women whose values match ours. Today, meet Jessie Lyon.

How Jessie Lyon Built A Social Enterprise With Blankets

It all started with a VW Jetta full of artisan-made blankets from Ecuador. Now, Pokoloko is a full-blown social enterprise that curates and sells unique, high-quality artisanal goods from around the world. Read our interview with Pokoloko’s Brand Director, Jessie Lyon, where she talks about the importance of finding meaning in your work, giving back, and her favourite Province products, of course.  

Tell us about yourself.  What first inspired you to start your business or go into the field? 

As I started my career, I sought something truly meaningful and something that reflected my values. 

My happy place was working in different cultures abroad and challenging myself on cultural and linguistic levels while managing projects that demonstrated positive social impact.

I returned to my hometown from a year in Nicaragua, where I helped a youth group start a bike rental service. Not long after, I met my now business partner and boyfriend, Case. Case suggested we start our own conscious business selling blankets made by his Ecuadorian artisan friends he met on a recent trip. So we filled Case's VW Station Wagon, called Goldie, with these blankets and sold them to boutiques across the Ottawa Valley. Gradually, we created the first Poko customers, so the Pokoloko story began.

What motivates you?

I'm motivated by the community surrounding me, my team, our customers, our artisan partners, my partner Case, and the greater Poko community of family and friends that have been an integral part of what makes Pokoloko real. 

I'm also driven by a belief that anything is possible and a genuine love for my work. I love connecting and collaborating with other people and building something out of nothing. 

Pokoloko is a social enterprise, and the opportunity to keep growing our funding to local and global philanthropic partners keeps me inspired and focused on what is most important to me.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve learned from your industry?

When a global pandemic stops the world, the things that matter most are the relationships surrounding you.

What’s your greatest accomplishment? What do you still hope to achieve?

My greatest accomplishment is the network of connected human communities and the resulting positive economic and social effects. I'd love to continue to hone in on how Pokoloko can benefit our world. I'd like to craft our business so it can support an ever-increasing philanthropic funding channel that invests in our natural spaces and the quality of our communities.

What are your top three favourite Province Apothecary products and why?

Moisturizing Oil Cleanser + Make Up Remover because it makes removing make-up seamless. Hydrating Rescue Balm because it's so effective. Sleep Well Wellness Roll-On because it calms so nicely.

Check out Pokoloko’s incredible artisan-made items here and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest @pokolokoltd.

Our Women We Admire series is our way of supporting and sharing the stories of incredible women whose values match ours. Today, meet Natalie Matias.

Natalie Matias is a Mindfulness Coach + Consultant, Tkaronto, Canada

Tell us about yourself.  What first inspired you to start your business or go into the field? 

I believe my inspiration came from a tapestry of experiences and conditions that directed me on this path. I will say that the deep-knowing to take the leap became more evident every time I held space for a meditation circle that my best friends and I started called the Peace Warriors. 

My lifelong healing journey began when I lost my mother at 13 years old. In my youth, I engaged in self-soothing and breathing practices through the form of Qi-gong to cope. 

I rediscovered meditation after attending a weekend retreat that reunited me to an intimate space of feeling at home within myself. Once I connected to this sacred place, I wanted to deepen that practice and also be able to hold space for others to discover "home" within.  

Fast forward to today, my days are filled with holding community circles (including the Peace Warriors), workplace meditations, and mentoring BIPOC facilitators to find their voice in being a meditation guide. 

What motivates you?

Mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice, and from my perspective, a gift—a true blessing of meeting each moment with intention, without judgment and attachment. 

Being present in each moment deepens my connection and develops my compassion for the self, others, and my environment. 

This present moment of awareness also invites a childlike wonder and a place of curiosity, motivating me in how I want to show up personally and professionally. Mindfulness connects me on a deeper level to my values and purposeful living and acts as an internal compass for motivation.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve learned from your industry?

“Get to know yourself.” Get intimate with the person behind all the thoughts, plans, and achievements. 

I love meditation so much because I've discovered liberation and freedom of the heart. In a silent place, you can really get to know yourself, and in that place, there is the only truth. Doubts and worries can't co-exist with your truth. 

Getting to know myself has been a gift in embracing and celebrating my uniqueness, learning how to set boundaries that uphold my self-worth, and intuitively knowing I am not on the "right" path, but I am on MY path.

What’s your greatest accomplishment? 

That's a big question. But, I believe my GREATEST accomplishment so far has been the one thing that has challenged me the most, and it is to let LOVE IN.... pure love, spiritual love, forgiving love, radical love, self-love, otherly love, radiant love, infinite love. My hopes live in the energy of this love and the many ways it can continue to blossom in my personal and professional life.

What are your top three favorite Province Apothecary products and why?

Hands down, I love the Invigorating + Balance Toner to prep the skin; I use it on all my makeup clients (I also am a Makeup Artist). I am also obsessed with the Moisturizing Oil Cleanser + Make Up Remover and use it daily. And when I am in full spa mode at home, I love the Regenerating Exfoliator + Resurface Mask.

What would you like skincare lovers to know?

I believe our skin and its present condition hold wisdom. Having experience with a broad range of ongoing skin conditions from eczema, psoriasis, and cold sores, I have learned these conditions flare when my stress levels are high. So now, when I detect the first signs of skin problems, I consider from a holistic perspective what could be the mix of factors contributing to what is happening on the surface level.

www.nataliematias.com

IG: natalie.matias

Love them or hate them, New Year’s Resolutions are on many minds right now. The start of a new year is, unequivocally, high time for a fresh start. The reality is: just 22% of Canadians who make New Year’s resolutions actually see them through. Can you relate?

We don’t have to scrap the idea of making a new year’s resolution altogether (this can be a powerful practice if you feel called to it!) we just need to do it our way. This year, set intentions rather than make resolutions and watch how transformative your year becomes.

Intention vs. Resolution

How is an intention different from a resolution? For one, intentions come from a place of love - not lack. They are not a set of any defined, specific actions that will bring about a desired outcome, rather, they are a thought-form of our choosing that implies and affirms that we are good, whole, and that we have everything we need to be our best self.  

Intentions work by connecting us to our deepest values (not judgements from our mind) to propel us toward positive actions. So for example, if you would like to change your body in some way, rather than setting a specific goal, create an intention that anchors you in your authentic why, such as, ‘I want to change my body in ____ way so I’m able to have kids and be healthy for them.’ Or, say you want to start a blog this year. Your intention might be, ‘I want to connect my ideas with the world so I can plant seeds of positivity in my generation as part of my legacy.’

A good intention reminds us what we truly want, and why. Being mindful of it through the year can help instil our movements with a sense of purpose, and empower us to start living in alignment with our values. And any number of desired outcomes can find us. Intentions, unlike resolutions, are not limiting. Nor are they opportunities for ‘failure.’

To identify your new year’s intention, set aside some time to ask yourself: ‘What does my heart truly want, for myself, and my world?’ You might do this in your journal, or in meditation or quiet contemplation. Try putting it into a statement that feels good to you – something you might hold in your mind like a mantra (try filling out a sentence like, ‘I am______’ or, ‘I can _____’).

Next, to go a step further, ask yourself: ‘What is preventing me from devoting yourself fully to this intention, in all I do?’ Your commitment to releasing what stands between you and living out your heart’s truest desires will make for a powerful year.

Being in alignment with what you want is rewarding in and of itself. Make 2019 the year you do it.

Kait Fowlie is a Tarot Reader, Reiki Healer & Blogger living in Toronto. 

We often receive questions from women regarding the safety and use of our products during pregnancy and breastfeeding. We are happy to tell you, our products are safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding!

Julie is an aromatherapist and Holistic Health practitioner and she has formulated all of our products with the goal that they would work for all skin types and for everyone, during the various stages of our lives.

Julie is also a mother, and used all of our products during her whole pregnancy and breastfeeding journey.

Essential oils are potent and powerful ingredients and we use only the highest quality essential oils, that are safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If you are in that stage of pregnancy where you might be sensitive to scents, we also have some effective unscented products for you.

We have broken our products down into 3 groups so it is easy for you to select the products that will work for you and your skin.

Group One: 1% essential oil or less

All of these products have a safe amount of essential oils, 1% or less. Remember, less is more when it comes to essential oils :)

Moisturizing Oil Cleanser + Make-up Remover
Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum
Nourishing + Revitalizing Moisturizer
Clear Skin Advanced Face Serum
Radiant Bath + Body Oil
Invigorating+ Balancing Toner

Group Two: More concentrated products

These products are more concentrated, and still safe. We recommend using 1-4 drops a day.

Clear Skin Advanced Spot Treatment
Full Brow Serum

Group Three: Unscented products

Super effective and unscented products that work all the time and when you are feeling sensitive to scents.

Regenerating Exfoliator + Resurfacing Mask
Vital Nutrient Face + Eye Balm
Hydrating Rescue Balm
Healing Eczema Balm
Sex Oil

Fall is a transitional period between the super hot and humid days of summer to the cold and dry winter. That means your skin needs to be extra prepared for the effects of this transition. There’s a good chance the cooler weather and the additional dryness of turning on the heat in your home and office will leave your skin craving for moisture and hydration. Find our favourite transitional products below to help your skin to feel fresh, hydrated, and nourished throughout the crisp fall season.

Exfoliator

As our sun-kissed summer skin begins to fade, you might experience dull, dehydrated skin with some uneven tone. If you’re noticing this, it's time to try exfoliating. Our Regenerating Exfoliator + Resurfacing Mask is gentle and effectively brightens and evens the skin tone and encourages hydration. Because of the powder formula, it’s so easy to add extra nutrients like raw honey, whole yogurt or matcha for a boost of skin loving nutrients.

Body Oil

Fall is also a time to relax, repair + cultivate the routines that bring us (and our skin) into balance. Using our Radiant Bath + Body Oil is a great way to ensure your skin stays healthy and hydrated and to enliven our spirits stay as we move into hibernation season. We love applying this beautifully scented oil after a shower to keep the skin nourished and hydrated. Another great way to use this is by adding a few drops into a warm Epsom salt bath for a relaxing weeknight ritual.

Lip Balm

As the temperature drops, it is impossible to get by without a lip balm. Small but mighty, our Repairing and Conditioning Lip Balm works to prevent dry, cracking painful lips we all know too well. The blend of Sunflower oil, Olive oil and beeswax with a touch of lavender and peppermint oil help to protect and refresh dry lips.

Layering with Cream or Balm Moisturizer

Fall is all about layering - sweaters, scarves, and your skincare! During the hot humid months of summer, we tend to use less products on our face as added moisture is not always necessary. In the colder, drier months of fall we recommend using our Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum followed by a lotion or balm on top. The face serum will penetrate to the deeper layers of your skin, and the lotion or balm will protect the top surface. This is a great way to protect your skin from becoming dehydrated, chapped and irritated by harsh winds.

Facial Treatments

Getting a facial treatment as the seasons change is great to support the health of your skin with the dramatic change in weather. Our team of expert Holistic Skin Therapists use several modern and traditional techniques and a series of effective plant botanicals to support your skin's needs for effective, seasonal home care. We are currently seeing clients and taking every health measure to assure the safety and security of our clients and team. To book an appointment and find more information click here.