The ideology of feminism and the propulsion of female empowerment has, in the last couple years, exploded. Stand silent in the middle of a crowded subway car; walk down a busy street; sit at a sunny patio with more than just bees buzzing around. Listen. Or, as some people might call it, eavesdrop (insert bashful emoji). You might notice how the conversation has shifted. Yes you might also overhear the daily mundane, yet in between those updates and observations are stories with a new type of hero — the empowered female.

As with many things, empowerment starts with awareness, knowledge and conversation. The explosion of modern feminism has lit up so many shared and singular issues, inspiring another statement I’ve come to believe wholeheartedly: Empowerment (female, male or un-gendered) is empathy. As much as we don’t want to admit it sometimes, because it can seem counterintuitive, we need to empower others as much as we need to empower ourselves. It’s how we truly become understood, building a cohesive society that respects and cares for each other.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting my old high school stomping grounds, the Scarborough Town Centre, to check out a pop up celebrating just this. Created by female-driven agencies Kastor & Pollux and August in Bloom, GRL PWR features 15 toronto brands curated specifically for their celebration of this very topic. It was incredible to walk in and immediately be surrounded by both an incredible selection of must-have products as well a like-minded people shopping with a purpose. To be exposed to brands that effortlessly embody this movement is inspiring and motivating — especially since many of them are small, local and still growing.

It was hard to know where to begin, but eventually I was able to hone in on some stand-out pieces. Here are my top ten finds from the GRL PWR pop-up:

1. Ephermal Magazine

2. Orange cantiliever from Make Moves Vintage

3. Gel pens from Paper Plus Cloth

4. Gender Freedom Club merch from NEW FRDM

5. Guschlbauer puffs

6. Love Yo Self tee from Peace Collective

7. Common Goods Studio ceramics

8. Snaffle & Mane’s plant collection

9. Bath salts from Cardea Auset

10. Greenhouse Juice

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to Burt’s Bees headquarters in North Carolina. I didn’t know what to expect. I’d been a longtime fan of the brand (a love affair that started with its tinted lip balm), so I was definitely excited. Beyond that, I had no expectations. Yet I couldn’t have imagined just how all-encompassing the short trip would be.

There’s so much I can talk about, so I’m going to split this into a three-part series. Since everyone pretty much associates the brand with its beauty products, I wanted to start off this series by going beyond the beeswax. This company does more than create sustainable products, it has pooled much of its efforts to help third world communities and, of course, save the bees.

Above is an amazing video detailing how committed it is to conscientious partnerships. It summarizes how Burt’s Bees looks past numbers to focus on its direct impact on the world better than any sentences I could put together. This thoughtfulness and care trickles into every facet of the internationally recognized company.

Another example of how determined the brand is to change the way businesses can operate is its reclaiming of the American Tobacco campus. Although it only occupies a portion of it, Burt’s Bees has partnered with surrounding businesses to place regulated hive conservations on roofs in order to stall rapid bee population decline. Yet the true gem of this particular endeavor is the observation hive, an installation dreamed up by Leigh-Kathryn Bonner, founder of Bee Downtown, and built by Bill Thering, a Pikeville beekeeper.

Enclosed in glass, it houses an 15,000 Burt’s Bees “employees” as the company endearingly refer to the bees as. Through this particular hive and Bee Downtown, with the support of Burt’s Bees, Bonner’s mission is to spread the word about “colony collapse disorder” and encourage interest in urban beekeeping. This is a cause close to the heart of the brand’s founder, Burt Shavitz.

In fact, a beautiful reminder of his down-to-earth sensibilities and values has recently been reconstructed on the campus. The company disassembled Burt’s modest cabin in Maine, shipped it across states and reassembled it in front of its headquarters. Reconstructed exactly as it last stood, it symbolizes everything Burt’s Bees works towards. I’m honored that I was able to see how he lived, which encouraged me to reflect on my own impact on my surroundings and the world at large.

That’s just a glimpse into the good Burt’s Bees is trying to do. Next up (as teased by my cover photo), I’ll be talking more about what they have cooking in their labs. Stay tuned!

Believe it or not, but I’m super low maintenance when it comes to my beauty routine — considering my job, that is. I’m not saying my bathroom isn’t brimming with product. I’m just saying that I don’t use half of it. Not because I don’t want to, but because I want to use everything to the last drop. That said, there are some things I never gave an honest try until recently. One being dry shampoo.

For someone as active as I am (bless the fitness blogger gods), you’d think I’d try to save my hair by not washing it as much as I do. Yet up until now, I’d never found a dry shampoo I could stand leaving in my hair for prolonged periods. I hated the feeling, the weight and even the look. Yet so many of my best girlfriends raved about the benefits of dry shampoo. And then my attention was brought to Cake Beauty.

Right off the bat I was instantly taken with the brand design. From there, the quality of the products sealed the deal. Of course, I have my favorites:

THE ‘DO GOODER

The first thing that stands out about this volumizing dry shampoo spray is the incredible sent. I think I understand why the brand is called “cake.” Its like dessert for your locks. Beyond that, of course, is the true purpose of the dry shampoo. It immediately soaks up the oil without leaving a residue.

THE WAVE MAKER

I’ve always wanted wavy hair and this texturizing beach spray grants that wish in as delicious a way as THE DO GOODER. Although I’m waiting for summer to really put it to use, I’m impressed with the fact that it forgoes the use of salts for sugar in order to avoid the typical day-of stickiness, day-after dryness and future damage.

Overall, Cake Beauty uses natural ingredients and, wait for it, came to life in Canada by Ontario native Heather Reier. So it really is hard not to love it.

When I think of a balanced lifestyle, I think of it from every aspect of my life. It’s not only about making healthy choices in terms of food and activity, it’s also about making quality time for loved ones as well as myself. Balancing career, family and health as an independent business woman can be tough, but when it comes down to it, it’s really all about the proper mindset.

Yet aside from prioritizing, organizing and simply being aware, there are many ways in which balance can be achieved with the help of quality services and products. When it comes to my skin (which often reflects the stresses of imbalanced life moments), I’ve been experimenting with a slew of new products. A standout line has definitely been belif.

As I’ve spoken about before, I have an affinity towards Korean beauty products since a) I’m half Korean and b) they have one of the best cult followings. belif doesn’t disappoint. Comprised of everything from cleansers to toners and, my current favorites, moisturizers, it’s a one-stop shop for all your skincare needs.

And you get a chance to try them out! RSVP (belif@faulhabercommunications.com) to a free yoga class hosted at Moksha Yoga Downtown and you’ll not only get your sweat on, but also get to walk away with a swag and product gift bag as well as an in-store discount. There’s no excuse not to come since there’s plenty of time to prepare: Sunday, February 26, 2017, at 3:45pm. Hope to see you there!

Photo by Lauren McPhillips

I have a lot of resolutions this year. Roll your eyes if you want, but I’m a huge work-in-progress and I’m proud to be like everyone else by using January 1, 2017, as the optimal starting point for a slew of crucial improvements I’m making.

I’ve already tripped up on a few, but that’s ok, change doesn’t come easy. But I’ve got my eye on the prize — the prize being a happier and healthier me that glows from the inside out.

Today, however, I’m going to keep it light and simple. One of the things I’m trying to improve is my beauty routine. What you might not know about me is the fact that I’m VERY laid back when it comes to skincare and makeup. I’m blessed with great genes that keep me looking forever young and I’ve always been attracted to that common mantra: less is more. Yet that hasn’t served me very well when it comes to a few important upkeep habits.

So here are my beauty resolutions for 2017:

1. Wear makeup with SPF every day. I’m terrible at using sunscreen because my skin type has for the most part been very forgiving. Yet it’s easier than ever now to remember to wear SPF thanks to foundations and concealers which have high SPF built right in, including an assortment of Almay products – they’re even hypoallergenic! I’m especially loving the Almay Healthy Glow Makeup + Gradual Self Tan, which has broad spectrum SPF 20 and leaves a natural glow even after it’s removed. Multi-tasking products such as this fit perfectly into my quick and easy beauty regime as it protects from the sun, gives me flawless coverage and leaves me with a healthy glow!

2. Workout regularly. I’m lucky that my job focuses on health and wellness. Unfortunately, I relied too much on my industry last year to keep on track instead of doing it for myself. I plan on implementing a nutritional meal plan and a steady workout routine that I can’t ignore. Gotta work on my beauty from the inside out!

3. Take care of my possessions. I’ve always been very negligent when it comes to material goods. From shoes to makeup brushes, I’m rough and tough with everything I own. This is the year that I appreciate everything I have by taking care of them. For instance, I plan on washing all my makeup brushes thoroughly at least once a week.

I’m a huge work-in-progress

4. Drink more water. Like working out regularly, drinking all of the water will do wonders for my skin. It’s such a simple habit to get into and super easy to forget unless distressingly parched. But one thing I’ll also keep in mind that quantify isn’t everything here. It can be just as detrimental to drink too much water as it is to drink too little.

I want to #KeepGlowing in 2017 and I believe these beauty resolutions, along with my more personal ones, will help me do just that. Let me know if you have any tips for me!

I’m half Korean and I had no clue how to say “Take Good Care” in my mother’s language until I Google Translated it. I probably would still butcher the pronunciation if I tried to say it out loud. But that’s besides the point. What is the point?

That you can take good care of yourself using the beauty philosophy perpetuated by this one culture. Korea has amassed a cult status for almost all of its beauty products — at least it feels that way. If it hails from the Land of Morning Calm, it immediately has a seal of approval no FDA regulator can refute. That’s not to say some brands deserve greater worship than others.

Take Good Care, a newly launched Canadian site specializing in K-beauty, has made it its mission to bring only the best into the country. And I’ve been lucky enough to test out a selection of the best over the last few weeks (minus my time in Cali because I refused to check luggage). The verdict? Don’t sleep on this service.

I specifically tried out products from its Korean Skincare Starter Kit along with a couple other extras. Here are my personal favorites:

SHEET MASKS

The starter kit comes with a few amazingly nourishing sheet masks, but my favorite had to be an additional one I requested: The Cremorlab Perfection Hydrating Mask. Not only is the packaging beautifully designed, it does exactly what it promises. I love sheet masks in general because they’re so easy to use and are pretty versatile. How so? Lifehack: There’s usually a lot of product on each mask, which can be used on other parts of the body is massaged through.

SOROCI ESSENCE & SERUM SET

Also an additional request, this duo has made my night routine a lot more sophisticated. Now that I’m in my 30s, I’m very conscious about my skin care regimen. I knew the usual cleanser and lotion pairing needed an update and with these serums, I got just that.

BLACK SUGAR MASK WASH OFF

Talk about a holy grail. My skin has never felt so smooth after using this specific mask. It leaves me feeling not only fresh, but glowing. Made with Brazilian black sugar, macadamia oil and lanolin, if there’s anything you take away from the starter kit, it’s definitely this product.

If you’ve ever wondered what I get up to on a typical work day as a full-time blogger, today’s your lucky day. With the help of Almay Canada, I documented a full day complete with my beauty looks. Suffice to say, I slept soundly after getting everything done.

Wake Up and Smell the Lemons

I try to start every morning with a cup of hot lemon water and a workout in my building’s gym. Not only does it start my day off on the right foot, I make sure I don’t skip a workout either.

I’m not ashamed to admit it, I workout with a bit of makeup on too. On this morning, I used Almay’s Age Essentials Concealer,, Brow Pencil and Age Essentials Lip Treatment. I particularly love the Brow Pencil, it creates the perfect soft yet sculpted brow look thanks to its ultra-fine tip and easy-to-use spoolie.

Coffee Shop Writing

Although I have a great home office set up, I love sitting in a local coffee shop from time to time. It can get lonely working by myself sometimes. The buzz of a cozy cafe keeps me fuelled in more ways than one.

Getting ready to head out was just as easy as going to the gym. After a quick shower, I reapplied the concealer and brow pencil, then added Almay’s One Coat Multi-Benefit Mascara, Smart Shade Blush, Pen Eyeliner and Smart Shade Butter Kiss Lipstick. I’m officially OBSESSED with this eyeliner. It has a unique ball-shaped tip that gives the smoothest, even lines with essentially no smearing and stays put all day.

Lights, Camera, Action!

I’m always taking photos, whether in front of the camera or behind it. This day, I happened to be in front of the lens to showcase an amazing holiday look.

To make sure I felt flawless from head to toe, I added Almay’s Age Essentials Foundation and Everyday Neutrals Eyeshadow while touching up my concealer, blush and lipstick. The eyeliner didn’t budge an inch!

Make an Appearance

After wrapping up the photoshoot, I made a quick change at home before attending a holiday charity event. It was a cheerful yet casual atmosphere so I didn’t have to do much in terms of touch-ups.

Who Runs the World?

After that, I jetted to my weekly media run with Nike. Although I tend to keep my makeup on when I workout, I don’t normally wear foundation on an every day basis (photoshoot days are clearly an exception). So I used Almay’s Oil Free Makeup Remover Towelettes for a cleaner sweat. It boasts a botanical blend of aloe, cucumber and green tea, which made it smell so good. Once I got home, I used the Oil Free Gentle Eye Makeup Remover Pads to get everything else off. And that was that! A very full day.

In my line of work, which is often distilled into two boring terms “blogger” and “influencer,” I do get a ton of free product — often unsolicited. Surprisingly, I don’t get as much as I could because very early in my career I quickly began to hate how random knickknacks began to pile up in my storage spaces. That’s not to say I hated everything…I don’t know what I would do without my Dyson or the incredible makeup and shampoos I get. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had to buy shampoo.

But I’m a minimalist at heart, and so this year I decided what better way to express my gratitude to everyone who makes my job possible than to share the fun stuff that comes in the mail! Here were some of the top things I gave away:

HAMMAM & GOMMAGE

Ok, so this definitely didn’t come in the mail — at least not physically. I get a lot of opportunities to try amazing services and had already given this Miraj Hammam signature a go twice. So when I got the opportunity again, I knew someone else would appreciate just as much as I had. Who doesn’t want to experience a relaxing exfoliation in preparation for winter?

TOMS WATERPROOF LEATHER SUMMIT BOOTS

I do get things that I want to keep for myself. These TOMS boots were one of them. It just so happened the already generous brand was down to give me a second pair so that I could open up this giveaway to feet of all sizes — no Cinderella hunt for me! I put these boots to a true test last night and did they ever hold up! Unavoidable puddle after unavoidable puddle and my feet were completely dry when I got home.

TAKE GOOD CARE

One of the things I get the most of is, hands down, beauty products. But when Take Good Care reached out to me (via my friend Bryan Brock), I knew I hit the jackpot. There’s no denying how obsessed the beauty industry is with Korean skincare products these days and I was about to get a starter kit with some of the top ones. That’s right, Take Good Care specializes in Korean beauty.

To enter, I simply asked what people’s favorite thing about the holiday was. The answer was so obvious, I was half expecting creative answers. Yet out of the countless of DMs I ended up getting, it was clear no one cared to exaggerate or steer clear of the true meaning for this time of the year.

FAMILY.

Everything revolved around spending quality time with loved ones. It was beautiful to see that in spite of the jaded feelings I’ve been having towards social media these last few weeks, core values still reign. A deep appreciation for the general kindness and cheer associated with the holidays also came through. It made me wonder why we couldn’t just smile at a stranger any time of the year. So my next challenge is this: Smile. It might lift someone’s spirits in a way you could never expect.

Last note: Of course, I had a lot more than 12 items to giveaway. The remainder of the stuff I had lying around went into a big bag and straight to Coco & Cowe, who had been collecting donations for its chosen charitable organization, Sistering.

For any of you who follow me on Instagram, you probably noticed that I just got back from a trip to Berlin. (The post about why is coming shortly!) Although extremely exciting — I’d never been and had always wanted to go — it was also extremely last minute. So I hardly had any time to prepare.

Thankfully, I’m a traveller, so I already had all the essentials. I also, perhaps surprisingly, travel pretty light. But to feel truly put together, I needed a few fun “essentials” taken care of before leaving. Honest to god, high up on my list was a pedicure. I’ve said this before, I can go out without makeup, but if my nails aren’t done, I don’t feel like myself. It’s weird, but it’s true. Everyone has their thing.

JustGotThat! to the rescue. Earlier this month, I wrote about the launch of this helpful app and I finally put it to use. It was as simple as clicking through a few steps, choosing the best time and voila! I had my pedicure appointment — at one of my favorite salons, no less. Cures Studio.

And just like that, I had one important item on my to do list done before I knew it. If you want to give JustGotThat! a go, make sure you use my promo code “meghanyoung3″ to get 10 JustGotBucks!

Officially, it’s called microblading — an accurate name. The process involves the tiniest blade in order to achieve the realistic look of thicker brows. But tiny doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt AF. Thankfully Emma, the aesthetician at Tips Nail Bar (yes, a nail salon offers this service), had been experimenting with different numbing creams before I booked my first appointment. I’ve heard from others that the experience is excruciating. It wasn’t pleasant, but it wasn’t torturous.

Why put myself through it at all? Most people would agree that I had pretty great brows to begin with — fleeky, some would say. First, the opportunity presented itself. As a blogger, I’m lucky enough to try things out in order to share my experience. Second, like getting eyelash extensions, I really just wanted to cut down my daily beauty routine. What is worth it? YES.

Pain during and the intense itching that came with the two week healing process aside, getting my eyebrows microbladed has only been a boon. One thing I didn’t expect was the shaping Emma would do. She essentially elevated my existing brows in more ways than one. I also don’t have to think about them. I can even still fill them in a bit if I decide I want a slightly more dramatic “Instagram” brow.

What can you expect?

1. It’s a two-step process. The price accounts for the initial microblading and a touch-up. It’s a brilliant process since the aesthetician will likely go on the safe side first and then adjust the look (shape, color, strokes) depending on how it healed the first time.

2. The healing process sucks worse than the procedure — that is if you have the numbing cream Emma used. The summer humidity didn’t help. Although I wasn’t supposed to get my brows wet for two weeks, I couldn’t help but sweat. Tip? Get them done in cooler weather — that way you might be able to sneak in a workout here and there as well.

3. Don’t pick the scabs. You have to let them peel away on their own to ensure the ink truly settles into the skin. This was the hardest because as they peeled away, my brows became itchier. And it just looked downright gross.

4. Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind in regards to what you want and expect. Learn more about what products they’re using (for me, the numbing cream Emma used was a huge plus). This ensures you know exactly what you’re getting into. After all, the tattoos might be temporary — but they still last 1-3 years depending on the color, care and, of course, how your skin takes it.

5. But lastly, trust your aesthetician. When Emma created the outline of my “new” brow, I was nervous. It looked as though they would be too big and dramatic. Yet they were there as more guidelines than an outline.

I genuinely love my new brows. They are definitely a luxury for me, but a luxury worth having. But minor cosmetics aside, microblading can transform the confidence of so many, especially those suffering from hair loss for a number of different reasons. It’s a service that caters to a slew of needs and wants.