Solo Lisa Tries: Eliane Hair & Spa

As I said in yesterday's post, a pre-Valentine's Day visit to your local salon is always a welcome idea, whether you're gearing up for a romantic night on the town or you just need to show yourself some love with a little self-care to get through the long winter months. I was definitely in the latter category when I stepped into Eliane Hair & Spa on a sunny Saturday morning. I'd been under the weather with a terrible flu, and I definitely looked and felt run down when I stepped through the doors.

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Solo Lisa Tries: Lily & Roo Nail Salon

After Lunar New Year, the next major February highlight is Valentine's Day! Whether you're celebrating over a romantic evening, doing something special for Galentines Day, or you just need show yourself some love with a bit of self-care to get through the long winter months, a trip to the salon is always a good idea. I recently had the privilege of trying services at two new-to-me salons in Vancouver that are definitely worth checking out if any or all of the above apply to you this Valentine's Day. First up? A gel mani at Lily & Roo.

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In-Depth Review: Vancity Subscription Box

I'm lucky to live in an area full of indie boutiques, but for those of us who don't have the time to window-shop in Mt. Pleasant or live too far away, there is a solution! Enter Vancity Box, a new subscription box service that spotlights Vancouver makers. Marketed as "the city in a box" and "a farmer's market in a box," each month's curated selection aims to introduce subscribers to new-to-them labels and products from the Lower Mainland. The Vancity Box format previously featured one maker's wares at a time, but starting April of this year, this switched things up by offering a hodgepodge of products from different artisans. Here's what was in the April 2017 box I received for review.

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Inside Vancouver's First Aritaum Store (aka #KBeautyHeaven)

As far as forays into Korean beauty go, you may have tried a sheet mask or come across Laneige skincare while browsing your local Sephora. But if you crave a more immersive experience I have exciting news: Vancouver's first Aritaum store has recently opened in Richmond's Aberdeen Centre. Aritaum (whose name means "place of beauty" in Korean) is owned by AmorePacific, the same Korean cosmetics and skincare juggernaut that owns well-known brands such as Laneige, Iope, Mamonde, Sulwhasoo, and Hanyul. Think of Aritaum as a Sephora-like, one-stop shop that showcases the best AmorePacific has to offer, in a 1400 square foot space where you can explore and and test to your heart's content. I was invited to check out Aritaum in person last Friday and was pretty excited with what I saw; more photos after the jump!

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Solo Lisa Tries: A Pure Barre Vancouver Fitness Class

Readers of this blog know that in the last year I've become a diehard Bar Method devotee, but last week I found myself cheating on the Bar Method to try the newest barre fitness studio in Vancouver, Pure Barre. This is Pure Barre's second location in Canada and its first in Vancouver, and in trying out the 55-minute class, I learned that not all barre workouts are created equal. So how does Pure Barre compare to my regular Bar Method classes? All the details are in an in-depth review after the jump!

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Spring Decor Refresh: Q&A With Samantha Pynn About Her New Simons Home Collection

Lattice blush duvet cover set (starting at $225)

Spring: a time for fresh-cut tulips, seasonal allergies, deep cleaning—and perhaps a few design updates around the home? I couldn't help but be inspired to make a few tweaks to the condo after seeing the new Samantha Pynn for Simons home collection. Think patterns ranging from nature-inspired to geometrics, lattices, and stripes; light neutrals and pastels that will add an airy touch to a dark winter palette; and jewel-toned accents of saffron, sapphire, and magenta for fun. The best part? The Samantha Pynn for Simons collection starts as low as $5 and has something for everyone. I caught up with the Canadian design darling—whose resume boasts stints at HGTV, Chatelaine, the National Post, and CityLine on CityTV—to find out more about her inspirations, her best spring decor tips, and what DIY project she really wants to tackle this season.

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Solo Lisa Tries: A MELT Method Class At The Dailey Method Vancouver

I used to do hatha yoga when I wanted physical activity that was slow, restorative, and relaxing. But now that I've upped my barre classes and salsa dancing—and I'm logging long hours at work and on the blog and planning a wedding at the same time—yoga seems to have fallen by the wayside. For all of these reasons, the invitation to try a stress-busting MELT Method class at The Dailey Method Vancouver in early February couldn't have come at a better time. But what was the MELT Method exactly? I was about to find out along with my BFF, whom I'd invited to try the class with me.

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10 Reasons To Book Your Next Mani/Pedi At The Ten Spot

Few things are better than having the day of your birthday off work and indulging in a mani/pedi, which is exactly what I found myself doing at The Ten Spot last Friday. (Ah beauty blogging, what a rough life.) This Toronto-based, new-to-Vancouver beauty bar franchise specializes in manis, pedis, waxings, and facial treatments. If the 45-minute pedicure and 30-minute manicure I tried are any indication, you'll definitely want to book your next mani/pedi at The Ten Spot. Read on for all the reasons why!

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Vancouver Loves Natural Beauty: Warren Brander of Thera Wise

Vancouver Loves Natural Beauty is a semi-regular column that highlights organic and natural beauty and skincare brands founded in our fair city.

So you've greened up your beauty and skincare routines, replacing as many conventional products as possible with natural and organic versions (hooray!), but what about the ointments in your medicine cabinet? Founded in 2003, Vancouver-based Thera Wise believes you can have all-natural medicinal ointments that are just as effective as Preparation H, Vick's Vapor Rub, Lanacane, and so on.

Skeptical that Thera Wise products would measure up, I've been using Ac+ Acne Ointment (which has 0.5% salicylic acid) to control and prevent breakouts, and Dpr Natural Baby Diaper Ointment (which combines soothing calendula, chamomile, and aloe) to relieve itchy bug bites all summer. Conclusion? This stuff really works! Come fall/winter, I'll probably be relying on the Vpr Vaporizing Ointment to combat congestion during cold and flu season.

I caught up with Warren Brander, co-founder of Thera Wise, to learn more about his background and the range of ointments.

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The Bar Method: A Progress Update

Back in January, when I tried the Bar Method for the first time in 5 years, I was so out of shape I couldn't even hold my plank during warm-up. It was a humbling experience, to say the least. After that class, I kept returning thanks to the $80 one-month-unlimited new client special Bar Method had gifted me (blogger perk FTW!). When it expired, I bought a monthly membership.

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WonderBra Canada x Spa Finder Giveaway

When the going gets tough, the modern girl heads for the spa. Evidently WonderBra Canada feels the same way, because they've collaborated with Spa Finder on a very special promotion happening from now until May 10th, and they're offering one lucky Solo Lisa reader the chance to win WonderBra lingerie and a $200 Spa Finder gift card. More details after the jump, and giveaway details at the end of the post!

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The Bar Method Revisited + Giveaway

When the Bar Method opened its first studio in Vancouver five years ago, I tried a class and wrote a glowing review afterward: "The workout definitely lived up to its reputation for being tough and effective. Over the next two days, soreness lingered in my upper arms and quads, and my abs ached a little whenever I coughed or sneezed. But was the Bar Method such a scary workout that it would intimidate beginners? Probably not." Well, I still stand by that glowing review. The Bar Method is the same tough and effective workout it always was, combining exercises inspired by yoga, pilates, and ballet. When done in intervals in quick succession, these small, precise movements isolate and strengthen key muscle groups.

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Papyrus Gift Guide (Plus Giveaway!)

Just off the busy intersection of Robson Burrard, the newly opened Papyrus store (765 Burrard St.) in downtown Vancouver is a veritable treasure trove of paper goods and neat gift ideas. I was invited to check out the store last Monday and do a little shopping myself and curate a gift guide. Well, you can imagine how with this stationery geek, "a little shopping" turned into 2 hours of serious browsing and indecision.

Aside from the stylish social stationery and paper goods for which Papyrus is rightly renowned, they also carry an extensive array of Crane & Co. cards, Kate Spade office supplies, and the best collection of ban.do merchandise I've ever seen in Vancouver. Add to that home decor, bath and body products, candles, jewelry, photo frames, books, products for kids and babies..and well, it was pretty hard to narrow it down to what you see here. Details (plus a giveaway) after the jump!

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Gift Guide: Let's Stay Home

I don't know if it's because I've been working so much or sick so frequently, or if it's because the weather has been inordinately cold/rainy/windy/all of the above. Whatever it is, lately all I seem to want to do is stay at home curled under a throw with hot tea and Netflix. This gift guide is full of unique picks that will make your apartment or house just a bit cozier, cheerier, more comforting. And hey, as long as you're spending the night at home, you might as well indulge in a beauty ritual while your favourite Christmas movie is playing in the background.

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My Skoah Holiday Facial Experience

1. Limited edition holiday trio ($40) | 2. Skoah's minimalist treatment rooms | 3. The glowing, makeup-free "after" selfie | 4. Give someone the gift of year-round pampering: the skin gym membership provides a lucky recipient with 6 facials for $400.

Quick, hands up if you can use: a) a facial; b) a massage; c) some serious "me" time; or d) all of the above. Have I got your attention? Good, because I'm about to tell you that the new Holiday Facial ($80; available for a limited time until December 24th) at Skoah seriously delivers on all fronts. I was invited to try the Holiday Facial—which combines a typical Skoah facial with a hand exfoliation and upper body massage—last week, and I can definitely attest to the sheer bliss that followed.

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Introducing Dior L'Or De Vie La Cure

My biggest beauty splurges to date have been a $54 lipstick (Tom Ford) and skincare products that hover around $100, so imagine my shock when I heard that Dior was launching a ultra-luxe skincare product that costs $2,200. The new L'Or de Vie La Cure is a limited edition available exclusively at Holt Renfrew Bloor Street and Holt Renfrew Vancouver starting December. (If you know a skincare-crazy one-percenter, you should mark your calendars now.)

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Bridal Style: Luxurious Lashes

Photo by Stephen K. Lee

When it comes to a bride's big day (or the holiday party circuit, for that matter), few makeup tricks can rival the allure of long, luscious lashes. After all, with the right lashes a woman can go from doe-eyed beauty to glam vixen in a heartbeat. Strip lashes and lash extensions are usually the way to go if you want to achieve high drama and maximum impact. And thanks to some new ultra-luxurious lash services in Vancouver, I recently had a chance to further explore the pros and cons of each method.

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Jason Matlo 10 Year Anniversary Collection

When you've lasted 10 years as a fashion designer in a city known for Gore-Tex and yoga pants, all the while creating clothes fit for a modern-day glamazon, what do you do to mark the milestone? If you're Jason Matlo, you put on a luxe runway show at the Fairmont Pacific Rim on a Friday night, and you invite Vancouver's industry insiders, media, and fashion influencers.

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My HydraFacial Experience At False Creek Skin Solution Clinic

On Tuesday night, I was thrown out of a liquor store for looking too young and not having any ID to prove otherwise. I'm sharing this embarassing humblebrag with you to illustrate that I'm not exactly in the market for Botox or laser treatments anytime soon, if at all. But that said, I'm always up for a good preventative treatment or product that helps me take care of the skin I have now and prevent problems down the road, which is how I found myself saying yes to a HydraFacial at False Creek Skin Solution Clinic. One Canada Line ride and a short walk from Olympic Village station later, I found myself on the waterfront at FCSSC's doorstep, learning more about the HydraFacial from owner (and former plastic surgeon) Natasa Glogovac.

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The Max Mara Tailored Suit Project

For those who fantasize about reaching the C-suite—or the women who are already there—the Max Mara Tailored Suit Project is the stuff that dreams are made of. The prêt-à-porter collection revolves around the jacket, available in three styles (single- and double-breasted and tuxedo) and made from soft-as-a-cloud wools using tailoring techniques worthy of Savile Row. (Think hand-stitching, an inner canvas, and lapels reinforced with horsehair loops to give them a gentle roll.) The modern businesswoman can build out a savvy capsule wardrobe from the jackets with trousers, skirts, or lightweight sweaters to mix and match. With power dressing as uncompromisingly chic as the Tailored Suit Project, leaning in has never looked so good.

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