Despite the fact that online shopping has become the go-to for many, discerning shoppers still appreciate a good old-fashioned brick and mortar space. And that’s why you’ll see a proliferation of pop-ups lately, which are well-edited places to pick up gifts that you might not find otherwise. Two that recently opened in Toronto and will remain throughout the month of December are Hammam Spa who set one up at Bayview Village, and Earth Luxe, which has so far been only available on-line. There’s also the MNDFL Green Beauty pop-up but it’s only open for one day this Thursday. It’s massive and worth it, though, trust.
Pop-ups can sometimes fall victim to looking a little unfinished around the edges, but when it comes this one, that statement couldn’t be farther from the truth. Featuring marbled walls and an artistic gold overhanging, the design elements here are actually pretty spectacular. It’s no surprise given that Hammam’s owner, Celine Tadrissi is married to renowned architect Antonio Tadrissi--some of his other projects include Drake’s Toronto and Miami condos.
On offer is a selection of products that can be found at the original Hammam Spa in downtown Toronto including brands like Dermalogica, SkinCeuticals and Tadrissi’s own recently launched line, Céla. There are also two mini changing rooms-turned-treatment rooms that offer a variety of peels and facials.
As for the location, the pop-up is an introduction of sorts as Hammam Spa is set to open a second full-size location at Bayview Village in Fall 2019. The new addition will be even larger than the King Street one and feature an extended list of services. In the mean time though, the pop-up acts as a primer to try out a few treatments and do some holiday shopping. Here are our top picks:
Ok, so it doesn’t have the star power of a Goop pop up, but with everything from essential oils to Himalayan salt lamps, Earth Luxe has the wellness enthusiast on your list covered. It’s also where you can discover the brand’s newest line of self-care products which includes a loofah body scrubber and even a portable USB ultrasonic diffuser. In preparation for their first physical space, Earth Luxe also made sure to provide a ton of testers and samples (including ones of their best sellers like 100% Pure Virgin Coconut Oil and Serenity Nourishing Body Butter), a perk that online shoppers rarely get. Check out some of our favourites below:
Canada is home to a growing number of clean beauty brands from Kaia Naturals to Province Apothecary. So Graydon Moffat, founder of Graydon Skincare, decided to gather as many of them as possible at MNDFL Beauty —now its third year—as a way to showcase them all in one space.
Though preferably pop-ups last a little longer than 24 hours, this annual event is unfortunately a one-day affair. Over thirty vendors will set up shop at The Jam Factory in downtown Toronto and shoppers can descend from 3:30 pm to 7 pm. You’ll have to grab a ticket to gain access, but they actually won’t cost you anything unless you buy the VIP option. It’s only $10 and gets you a complimentary cocktail, snacks and a swag bag worth over $100.
If you’ve always wanted to meet the faces behind your favourite Canadian green beauty brands as well as discover some new ones, secure your spot now. Here are some of our favourites from this year’s vendors:
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