And Everything Nice

Posted by Canadian Gift Guide on April 26, 2013 · 90 Comments

One thing I really loved about living in Nova Scotia was the amount of pride and support they have in local business. I don’t want to discount that general mentality nationwide, but in a region that is often overlooked by big business, you really gave an extra round of applause to independent shops or companies that brought you something special. One brand that frequently popped up in some of my favourite local boutiques was Pearl & Daisy Natural Soap Company.

As you all know, I’m a big fan of natural beauty and body care lines – even moreso when they’re made right here in Canada. Pearl & Daisy is one such brand. Their beautiful artisan products are crafted by hand, yet feature upscale packaging and fun scents to elevate this from a banal ‘green’ brand to a must-have line for beauty connoisseurs. Today, I’m going to give you a quick intro to each of their product collections so you can get planning for your future gift-giving occasions – from Mother’s Day and housewarming picks to bridal shower and wedding party selections.

The first year I lived out East, I thought it would be fun to bring some local flair into every gift. One of the ways I did was by picking up a handful of Pearl & Daisy’s 100% natural lip balms with flavours inspired by the region like Apple Cider, Blueberry Grunt, and Bread Pudding. Not only did they smell amazing, they’re super conditioning with apricot kernel oil, Nova Scotia beeswax, and cocoa butter. Plus at $3.95 a pop, they’re a total steal – gift them to guests as a party favour at a wedding shower, or get set to stuff stockings come December.

Journey to the other side of the world without ever leaving the tub with Pearl & Daisy’s mineral-rich Dead Sea salt bath soaks. Each package is blended with essential oils derived from fruits and flowers, for a relaxing bath experience that’ll both soothe your skin and your mind. I’m a particularly big fan of vanilla & sandalwood combination ‘Sand Dollar’. Comes in three sizes (starting at just $5.99) to allow your giftee to test the waters, or dive in again, and again.

Like most natural beauty companies, Pearl & Daisy’s proverbial bread and butter is their extensive line of soaps. What’s particularly impressive is the ‘story’ behind each soap. There’s some serious thought and work put into each bar – including handpicking flowers for the Summer Meadow soap to heal damaged, mature skin or infusing the Gift From the Sea soap with mineral-rich Atlantic kelp. Stock up on the $5.99 soaps and have them on-hand for hostess gift emergencies. Looking for a guy-friendly option this Father’s Day? I’d recommend the invigorating-but-unisex St. George soap made with ginger, nutmeg, and cedarwood.

Summertime means re-evaluating your beauty routine. A light skin tonic can be a handy, refreshing substitute for those heavy moisturizers we all tend to slather on in the windier winter months. Pearl & Daisy has three all-natural options – lavender, orange blossom, and rose – that tone your skin and leave it feeling balanced and pure after cleansing. The $12.99 price tag makes them an apt choice for a friend’s birthday gift, or houseguest present.

Don’t be fooled. These uber-moisturizing body balms may LOOK like deodorant, but in fact they’re actually just housed in the handy, adjustable packaging for easy storage and application. Roll your lotion of choice onto those extra-dry areas – like your kneecaps, elbows, and heels – to provide instant nourishment for ‘thirsty’ skin. The solid lotion melts instantly on contact, making it an ideal travel companion and perfect at-home massage treat: consider gifting it as part of a bride’s honeymoon trousseau.

You can buy products from Pearl & Daisy Natural Soap Company at a range of (primarily independent) Canadian boutiques, home, and gift stores, or if you can’t find it locally, shop online. They’ve actually got a bunch of ideas for pre-packaged gift sets, but you can also mix & match to create the perfect combination for whoever you’re shopping for.

In the meantime, Pearl & Daisy Natural Soap Company should quickly top your wish lists, particularly if you’re the winner of one of two $50 gift certificates that I’ve got tucked away for you lot. Here’s how to enter:

1) Like I mentioned, Pearl & Daisy has some really beautiful gift sets. Browse their collection, and leave a comment below by May 15th with a link to your favourite set. No link, no entry.

2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around May 16th to select the winners, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.

3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible to participate in this promotion.

4) Bonus Entry: Join the 1,000+ fans across Canada that have already shown Pearl & Daisy some love on Facebook. Leave a comment on their wall with your favourite (anticipated) scent of theirs and leave a link back to your comment and / or your FB username here so I can credit you a bonus entry.