Texture Talk: 7 Local and Black-Owned Textured Haircare Brands to Shop Now

If you’ve been looking for a sign that it’s time to shake up your curl routine, here it is. For those of us with textured hair, the thought of adding new products to our trusted regimen can be somewhat terrifying. With so many of our favourite products being the result of dedicated trial and error — and so much of curly hair styling being unpredictable — it can be easy to simply stick to what you know. We can also understand that while some products may promise benefits, like curl definition and intensive hydration, a lot of what a formula can do for you comes down to your unique curl pattern. Well, fear not. Below we’ve rounded up some incredible textured haircare brands that are not only Canadian-owned, but also engineered by curly haired women who took their hair issues into their own hands to create lines they’re proud of. We’re sure you’ll love them just as much as we do.

CurlShoppe

Co-founders Natasha Sheppard and Rowan McAnoy had similar relationships with their hair growing up: The attempt to tame their curls with a combination of chemical relaxers and straightening tools left them with very little knowledge of how to care for their hair in its natural curly state, and even less hair health to begin with. After her big chop (cutting off all her relaxed ends), Natasha started experimenting with ingredients, and conducting research through different blogs and forums before finally launching Curlshoppe to satisfy what she saw as a gap in the market for quality and affordable haircare for curly-haired folks. The line now carries everything from conditioners to beard oils, and Sheppard and McAnoy pride themselves on having products that cater to every curl type. Their Coconut is Everything collection features a mix of both lightweight creams and stylers that are great for type 3 hair, while their Butter’d Up collection was specifically engineered with thicker, kinkier hair in mind. Oh, and it smells like your mom’s favourite baked treats. Win, win, WIN.

London Ivy

Most of us leave university with a degree, some new friends and lifelong memories. If you’re Monique London, founder of London Ivy Natural and Organic Products however, you leave with an intention to disrupt the natural haircare industry for good. With the help of a few friends who happened to be chem majors, she was able to formulate the perfect conditioner and London Ivy was born. What started off as a few oils and conditioners has transformed into a full-fledged business that includes moisture-replenishing sprays, styling bundles and the brand’s best-selling Smooth Operator Luxe Pomade, which is perfect for creating curl definition when doing twist outs and taming flyaways on 4C hair.

Nancy Falaise

Montreal-based hairstylist Nancy Falaise is a real life natural hair superhero. She’s created a petition for beauty school inclusivity in Quebec, she runs haircare workshops for young girls, and she’s a natural hair salon owner. Also in her repertoire? A multi-collection hairline where each product leads with water. “Water is what moisturizes your hair, everything else just helps to seal it,” she explained over Zoom. As a breast cancer survivor, it was also important for her to include a collection targeted towards those dealing with hair loss and whose star ingredient is biotin, which is known for stimulating keratin production in hair to increase follicle growth.

Simply Go Natural

Founded by Halifax native Joyce Adom, Simply Go Natural Cosmetics are all handmade by Joyce herself. Hero ingredients include shea butter (geared towards kinkier hair) and coconut oil for all hair textures, even relaxed hair. Joyce used some of her coconut oil-based products while she was going through the process of transitioning from chemically relaxed hair to natural hair and can personally attest to how much easier they make the frustrating process. The line also features a collection specifically formulated for those who have skin sensitivities. It includes an unscented conditioner, shampoo and a moisturizing butter that’s so gentle it can be used in your hair and on your skin. Hooray for multi-tasking.

Kalahni’s Treasures

Like most mothers Erika Gutt, founder of Kalahni’s Treasures, wanted what was best for her children. But when she found that the hair products being offered on the market did not fit that mould, she decided to create her own. Best-sellers of of her line include the Butter Me Up, Butter Cup Whipped Butter made with shea and cocoa butters and sweet almond oil. Another product that refuses to stay on shelves is Erika’s personal favourite, the Curls Crush Hydrating Cream, which works great on curl types 3A to 4C. The intensive hydrating cream works its magic by using aloe vera to help draw in moisture to the hair, as well as castor and essential oils to help seal it in.

Graced by Nature

After being involved in a car accident that forced Roxanne Morgan to be mostly homebound, she decided to dedicate more time to increasing her hair health, which led to the creation of Graced by Nature. Though the line was created with type 4 curls and coils in mind, there are products in the line for every curl. For example, the popular Peppermint and Coconut Milk Scalp Renewing Shampoo is available in two different formulas: one for type 4 hair that’s made with heavier oils to properly moisturize kinkier textures and one without as to not weigh down looser waves and curls. Roxanne’s personal favourite? The Vanilla Cream Moisture Replenishing Leave-In Conditioner. It provides long lasting moisture and is perfect for people on the go who want to keep their hair moisturized without worrying about product build-up.

EarthTones Naturals

Determined to have a haircare line that was based and grounded in science, naturopathic doctor Susan Walker did ample research before launching EarthTones Naturals. It all started out with a single product: the Curl Define Curl Enhancing Gelly, which to this day is still her best-selling product and does wonders to define type 4 hair. Today, EarthTones Naturals is a full haircare line and being backed by science means often going against the grain and rejecting what is widely accepted in the natural hair community. Case in point: Glycerin being one of the main ingredients in all of her products despite its negative rep among natural gals. Why? Dr. Walker says “it attracts moisture like no other ingredient on the market, and the products speak for themselves.”

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This Toronto Black Film Festival Fashion Panel Discussion Should Be Required Viewing

As has been the case for most festivals and events over the course of the last year, the 9^th annual Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) is running its programming entirely online this month. Until February 21, you can watch its roster of riveting cinematic offerings — as well as a number of musical performances, workshops and panels — from the comfort of your couch.

One scheduled chat, which launches February 12 on Facebook at 4pm EST, will feature a wealth of locally-based fashion talent: Stylist and founder/president of The Black Fashion and Beauty Gala Awards, Ann-Marie Mystique Daniel-Barker; mycoatisblue’s founder/creative director, Natasha Patten; M3 Mode Masculine Montreal founder, Yves Ulysses; designer Rhowan James; and designer/developer/blogger, Kate Pierre.

The “Fashion ‘Oh So White’ Industry” panel discussion will be moderated by Catherine Addai, founder and creative director of the Toronto-based lifestyle brand Kaela Kay. “Participating in the panel discussion was important to me because being a Black woman in the fashion industry, I’ve faced many challenges, especially around representation,” she says about why she signed on to speak with her peers as part of TBFF. “There was a lot of feedback for me when I first started my business around where to fit me in — as if the industry is already set and I needed to mold to accommodate. So, [it’s] interesting to hear the perspectives of other Black fashion entrepreneurs on their challenges, triumphs and thoughts.”

Echoing this notion, TBFF’s founder — filmmaker/actress/entrepreneur Fabienne Colas — felt it was vital to include the perspective of Black creatives in all arts-based areas during the festival’s schedule. “For the first time in history, a Black fashion designer won an Oscar for Black Panther,” she proudly recalls about Ruth E. Carter’s win in 2019. “There’s no film without a costume design department. They’re industries that work hand-in-hand…. [And] it’s the same Black battle about a lack of representation.”

 

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Colas highlights that while the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement last year may have brought about “cosmetic” changes within creative sectors — that is, hiring Black models as part of a PR move, or the launch of paltry social media campaigns — there is so far to go in terms of BIPOC voices being brought to the table to weigh in and make significant (and much-needed) changes to all industries.

“Too often we hear that brands want to celebrate Black culture, but they don’t have anyone involved in the brand’s [many] departments that are part of the culture they want to celebrate,” she says. “And that’s what results in cultural appropriation. We want people to understand what inclusion really means.”

Panelist Natasha Patten agrees. “It’s where people are making the changes that matters to me,” she says. “A brand saying they’re going to hire more Black models is different from a brand saying they’re going to hire a Black creative director, or [them] having a Black person at the top making decisions.”

 

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For it is decision-making power that lies at the heart of diversity and inclusivity being truly meaningful concepts. “Inclusion is a decision,” Colas says. “It’s not organic — especially when the people making decisions aren’t people of colour.” She highlights the push for parity in the representation of women in higher echelons of power in the past few decades, and how that movement largely left women of colour and members of the LGBTQ+ community out. “We need to be mindful of intersectionality,” she says.

While the February 12 panel discussion will delve into “what’s not working currently, the state of affairs, and how we can move forward better,” as Colas puts it, the larger idea is to motivate concrete action to take place. “We’ve never had a lack of discussion,” she points out. “We’ve been talking about these questions for years and years. I think everyone knows what the problems are. It’s about who is around the table discussing them, and how they take action. And it’s important for everyone to listen to these conversations. Not just Black people, but non-Black people so they can understand how they can be part of the solution.”

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Benito Skinner in Warren Steven Scott + More Canadian Fashion Moments We Loved This Week

To say this week has been a major one for Canadian fashion is quite an understatement, with the likes of poet and all-around icon Amanda Gorman wearing a joyful yellow dress by Greta Constantine on the cover of Time, to actor and writer Benito Skinner sporting two-tone earrings by Warren Steven Scott all over social. Feast your eyes on Benny Drama’s “pretty in pink” look as well as a few other Canadian fashion moments we can’t get enough of.

Benito Skinner in Warren Steven Scott

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L.A.-based laugh-bringer Benito Skinner (a.k.a. Bennydrama7) may say he was inspired by Anne Hathaway in the creation of this retro-glam lewk, but we’re also seeing a smattering of country queen Dolly Parton in the mix…. And we also noticed Skinner’s sculptural earrings, of course, which were crafted by Toronto-based creative Warren Steven Scott.

Lizzo in Lesley Hampton

 

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Inspired by a treadmill run Miley Cyrus did while singing, Lizzo went the extra mile for fans recently in her typical endearingly candid way. And all the while, she was wearing a printed two-piece set by Lesley Hampton that boasts a cannabis-centric print. Miley would surely approve.

Dorian Rahimzadeh in 96 Tears Vintage

 

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Designer Dorian Rahimzadeh is indeed a colourful character, and this look featuring a self-fashioned outsized bow and psychedelic-print shirt from Toronto vintage shop 96 Tears is one of her most winning combinations yet.

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Everything You Need to Know About Antimicrobial Beauty Products

In the last year, we’ve collectively thought about, talked about, and purchased items like hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes at unprecedented rates. The “hand hygiene” category, which includes sanitizers, cleansers, soaps and wipes, is expected to continue to grow, reaching an anticipated $17.2 billion USD in sales by 2026.

Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, beauty brands quickly got to work, releasing hand sanitizers as part of their product offerings, and they’re continuing to do so, with both drugstore brands like Dove and newer brands like CTZN Cosmetics not only getting in on the sanitizer game with their newest launches, but working to improve the existing category. Dove’s hand sanitizers include moisturizing properties and are thus not stripping and drying like many sanitizers tend to be, and also address the issue of scent, a common complaint when it comes to traditional hand sanitizers. Rather than a strong alcohol smell, Dove offers a Shea Butter and Warm Vanilla scent option.

 

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At the end of January, CTZN Cosmetics launched CTZN Care, a multi-purpose sanitizer spray that can be used to sanitize hands, masks and even lipstick and lip products in between use. “There are already many sanitizers out there, so we knew we wanted to create a non-sticky spray formula over a traditional gel that has a strong alcohol smell,” says Aleena Khan, Co-Founder of CTZN Cosmetics. “But beyond that, we realized that with this heightened awareness of personal and public hygiene, there is also a demand for the sanitization of makeup products. This spans from makeup artists that work on multiple clients, beauty stores that need to sanitize testers between usage, brands that need to sanitize testers at pop-ups, even friends who may share a lip product! So we worked on a formula with a lab that has been FDA-approved for usage on hands, fabrics (like masks), and lip products.”

Hadn’t considered sanitizing your makeup? You’re not alone. But John Nguyen, founder of UVé Beauty, did. At the end of 2020, UVé Beauty launched the world’s first range of antimicrobial beauty tools and products, featuring antimicrobial blending sponges, makeup brushes and UV-C sterilization systems that had been in research and development for years before we’d ever even heard of COVID-19. “We started developing UVé Brush Sterilizers over four years ago, long before COVID-19 started,” says Nguyen. “The provisional patents were filed a few years ago and we started to develop our brushes and sponges in the middle of 2019. We saw the need for our products years before COVID came into our lives.” Sure, we’ve always known that regularly cleaning makeup brushes and sponges is crucial for preventing bacteria growth, acne, pink eye, and even more serious infections like E-Coli and Staphylococcus, but because of the pandemic, maintaining good hygiene in all aspects of our lives has never been more important. “It’s funny that we’ll spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on skincare products but we forget to properly clean our tools, like brushes and sponges, daily,” says Nguyen.

 

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“Our products are manufactured and treated with medical grade agents to allow them to repel bacteria from growing on their surface, up to 99.9%” says Nguyen. “All of our brushes and sponges carry this same technology.” That being said, Nguyen clarifies that UVé Beauty products have not been tested on the COVID-19 virus (fair enough — there are bigger COVID fish to fry at the moment), so while the brand can’t make that specific claim, based on the compounds of the antimicrobial agents in the products, Nguyen says that it’s certainly possible.

It’s not just beauty brands that are getting in on the antimicrobial action. Glassie is an LA-based tech company who recently launched an antimicrobial (and customizable!) phone screen protector that is 99% effective in killing germs and bacteria due to a permeation process with copper and silver ions. “The lab test results show it prevents growth of bacteria and surface germs on the screen, which has been shown to have the most germs of anything you touch on an average day — two times dirtier than a toilet seat,” Glassie founders Neels Visser and Christian Sagert tell us. Like UVé Beauty, Glassie’s antimicrobial screen protector has been in the works since pre-COVID days. “The last thing we wanted to do was to put ourselves in a position [where we’re] saying ‘buy our product’ at a time when more important things need to be discussed,” explain Visser and Sagert. However, if a product has the potential to maximize hygiene practices and possibly help in keeping our phones screen, we’re all for it.

Oh, and yes, you should still wash your makeup tools and clean your phone screen, even if you’re using antimicrobial products. As Nguyen explains, using UVé tools will help users on a quest for clearer skin because the antimicrobial agents work to prevent 99.9% of bacteria forming on the products. But, as he points out, “People also need to realize that they should be washing their tools with an antibacterial soap [in order to] kill bacteria.” And if you’re using an antibacterial soap to wash antimicrobial sponges and brushes? Think of it as doubling up on insurance for your skin.

Of course, more research needs to be done in terms of how effective antimicrobial beauty products are in the fight against COVID-19. The bottom line? Using antimicrobial products certainly can’t hurt.

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Show Yourself Some Love With a Piece From De Lovét

When she launched her accessories-centric label in 2017, De Lovét founder Loveth Ezeifeka had one mission in mind. The former bank manager “wanted to do more with myself,” she says. “I wanted to start a line that is remarkable; one that focuses on empowering women and inspiring them.”

Ezeifeka, who moved to Canada from Nigeria as a teenager, began working on bag designs and showing them to her banking customers for feedback. The reception was extremely positive, and it motivated her to add another detail to her line’s offerings — an element conceived with the intention of uplifting her community, and one reflective of her own exploration of independence and creative expression.

“When you open the bag[s], there’s an inspirational quote inside,” Ezeifeka says of the sentiments embossed inside her wares which range from boxy top-handle totes to cross-bodies with an artful zig-zagged flap detail, done in a mix of faux and natural leather fabrications. “For example, one says, ‘It doesn’t matter how slow you go as long as you don’t stop.’” After making it through 2020, these inclusions feel especially relevant.

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Ezeifeka herself has taken such words to heart, thoughtfully assessing and addressing what her customers are buying ­— and wishing for — throughout the pandemic. In addition to now offering a selection of lounge-y basics like a long-sleeved dress and bodysuit, she says that fans of the brand have asked how it could further give back to those in need of encouragement. The question has inspired her to work on an affordable tote bag design which will launch in coming months, with proceeds going to women’s initiatives in Africa.

“I’ve been listening to the opinions of others in terms of how we can grow our brand,” Ezeifeka notes. She adds that while she misses the close interaction she was able to have with her customers via in-person pop-ups, she’s appreciative of her connection to outlets like Black-owned business-focused e-comm site, Yard + Parish, which carries a selection of pieces by De Lovét.

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While for the past year she’s been unable to stay in touch with her customers physically, Ezeifeka strives to maintain their relationship in every way possible — particularly when it comes to stirring up their own ambitions for personal growth. She makes space to post encouraging content on her social media platforms, nodding to her own unexpected journey with the hopes of highlighting, just as her bags do, that no matter what one is facing, tenacity is key.

“What’s keeping me inspired as a Black woman is that when I came to this country, I didn’t come with any expectations,” Ezeifeka says when she reflects on her arrival in Canada with the aim of pursuing higher education. “I didn’t come from luxury; I came here to survive.” But, she acknowledges, she has come so far — building a career first in finance, and now enjoying an entrepreneurial path crafted around caring and creativity. “I know the journey is going to take time, but I know I’m doing [it] right,” she adds. “I’m inspiring people and making the change, and the impossible became possible for me.”

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100 Black Canadian Designers To Be Honoured With an Award of Excellence

Inclusion, representation and Black excellence are the cornerstones of celebrated designer George Sully’s newly announced initiative. In collaboration with his own foundation, Black Designers of Canada (BDC), Sully is set to acknowledge the triumphs of 100 Black Canadian designers from coast to coast with the Inaugural Black Designer Award of Excellence.

After successfully launching BDC, a digital index of Black Canadian fashion creatives, last summer — during a pandemic, no less — Sully will be extending the index’s reach to commend the strength, motivation and commitment it takes for Black designers to be recognized in the country. Criteria for the win includes exceptional social media platforms, website, brand representation, website, among others.

 

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“There is a commonality shared by all recipients of this award, often having to work twice as hard for less than what’s been offered to others,” Sully said in a press release. “It has invigorated the community to do better and stand out as unique designers. That builds excellence.”

He continued: “Any Black Canadian designer who has survived designing in the face of these obstacles, including systemic racism, has earned a level of recognition that this award exemplifies.”

Winners, announced on February 24, will take home a hand-crafted glass engraved award — a symbol of resilience and relentless enthusiasm in the face of adversity.

(Photography: Black Designers of Canada)

As an FGI 2020 Visionary Award Recipient and two-time Bata Shoe Museum Inductee, Sully is a staple in the Canadian fashion world. He’s spearheaded the creation of brands like Sully Wong, House of Hayla and Sully & Co., but his talents have reached far beyond our closets, too — he even designed the Starfleet Boot for CBS’s Star Trek Discovery.

The first of its kind in Canada, BDC is a comprehensive index of Black Canadian designers — in the areas of fashion and interior design — in the fashion world, and acts as a platform to give voice to the community and doing away with exclusion. Inspired by his own struggle to make himself known in the Canadian fashion industry, Sully is using his own platform to lift others up.

Nominations can be submitted at blackdesignersofcanada.com.

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The Best New Beauty Products Launching in February

We may be in the midst of the shortest month of the year, but with winter dragging on and spring so close yet so far, we’ve always found February to be when we need a little extra TLC. Whether it’s a skin-refreshing at-home facial or a must-have new highlighter, or even a bold eyeshadow or nail polish shade to add some colour to your days, we’ve rounded up the February 2021 beauty launches that will remind you that spring is just around the corner.

O.P.I Hollywood collection

O.P.I Nail Lacquer in “I’m Really An Actress”, $13 at Amazon

Launched earlier this month in celebration of OPI’s 40th anniversary, the brand’s Hollywood Collection features 12 shades that celebrate “then” (with a nod to vintage Hollywood glamour) and “now” (with this season’s It shades). The standout of the collection? The launch of “I’m Really an Actress,” a glittery, updated version of the iconic bestselling shade, “I’m Not Really a Waitress.” The brand, which is known for its collections inspired by famous cities and destinations around the world, chose Hollywood as its anniversary collection tribute because it’s the “home state of OPI” says OPI co-founder and brand ambassador Suzi Weiss-Fischmann.

Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder

Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Talc-Free Vegan Powder, $45 at Sephora

Rounding out Kosas‘ tinted skincare lineup (featuring Tinted Face Oil, Revealer Concealer and Sun Show Bronzer) is the brand’s latest release, Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder, which launched on February 9. The sheer powder is formulated with liquid skincare actives (like bamboo stem extract and passionfruit leaf extract) to offer shine control and blurred skin, without clogging pores or feeling (or looking!) cakey. Available in 10 different shades, the light-as-air powder can be used as a finishing touch or on its own for a subtle smoothing effect.

Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick

Westman Aterlier Lit Up Highlight Stick, $64, Holt Renfrew

Launching February 14 exclusively at Holt Renfrew, this gel highlighter stick from Westman Atelier, celebrated makeup artist Gucci Westman’s beauty brand, couldn’t be easier to use. One quick swipe imparts a jelly-like, subtle glow that’s never sparkly or over the top. Formulated with Vitis Vita Grape Extract, the highlighter also promotes the production of hyaluronic acid and collagen in the skin.

CTZN Gold Eyeshadow

CTZN Cosmetics CTZN Gold Eyeshadow, $24 at ctzncosmetics.com

Ready to up your makeup routine again after a dreary January? Launching February 24, CTZN Gold is a gel-to-powder formula in a metallic shade that was specifically formulated to include a shimmering gold hue that’s universally flattering on all skin tones. The vegan and cruelty-free eyeshadow is long-lasting and crease-free, so it’ll stay put (and vibrant) all day long.

Charlotte Tilbury Super Radiance Resurfacing Facial

Charlotte Tilbury Super Radiance Resurfacing Facial, $85 at charlottetilbury.com

Launching February 18, the newest skincare hero from Charlotte Tilbury is an exfoliating blend of glycolic acid, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid and much more, to slough away dead skin cells that contribute to rough texture, dullness and dryness. The Super Radiance Resurfacing Facial acts fast to reveal brighter, smoother skin while simultaneously providing the extra hydration your complexion needs post-facial, all in one easy step.

Missed our favourite beauty launches last month? Check them out here.

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Here’s Everything To Know About the Peloton Tread, Launching in Canada Today

It’s finally here: the long-awaited Peloton Tread is now available in Canada. Can the American company, known for its at-home exercise bike with a months-long waitlist, make a treadmill covetable? If anyone could, we’d bet on them. At the core of Peloton’s success is, yes, its fancy high-end equipment, but also its energetic, hurts-so-good instructor-led classes, from HIIT and bootcamp to cycling and running. The Peloton Tread combines the sleek design the brand is known for with useful functional changes. For instance, it swaps the traditional digital speed and incline buttons for two (highly addictive) knobs that make levelling up your run almost, dare we say, fun. We connected with Peloton superstar instructor Jess Sims to talk about the benefits of running and how to ease back into it, plus why the Peloton Tread completely changes the indoor running game.

Give me the Peloton Tread pitch: why are you excited about it and why should other people be hyped about it too?

My favourite thing about it is the speed and incline knobs. They completely change the game. In class, when I say, “Every time the song says this word, we’re going to add 0.1 to our speed,” it’s so easy to do with that knob. It’s just so user-friendly. It empowers you to go faster and to go higher up on that incline because you know you can take it down as quickly as you put it up.

The other amazing thing is how it makes you feel like you are in a class, which is so important right now when we can’t go to studios. The screen is right there in front of you. It’s so crystal clear that you actually feel like you’re in the room with the instructor. [The instructors are] always looking right into the camera, talking directly to you and motivating you to keep going.

What type of runners is the Tread geared to? Newbies? Ironman racers?

We offer so much content on the Tread. We have walks, we have power walks, we have hikes — and those are at all levels. Then we have a walk plus run, a 50/50 split of walking and running — and those are important. When I talk to anyone who says they hate running because they get so sore, I’m like, okay, well, how long did you run for? And they say 20 minutes. Well, when was the last time you ran? They’ll say, oh, five years ago I used to run every day.

Guess what? In five years, your body has lost its ability to adapt to the impact of running. In order to run long-term and make this a lifestyle, you have to do 30 seconds of jogging, 30 seconds of walking — or 45 seconds on, 45 seconds off — and build yourself up. And that’s exactly what these walk plus run classes deliver. If you’re very, very beginner, it’s going to be a very light jog. If you’re more intermediate, it can be a run.

Once you get into running, all the runs are levelled. There’s beginner, intermediate and advanced. We have 10-minute classes and 60-minute classes, so it really eliminates any excuse or reason as to why you can’t take a class.

On top of all that, we have bootcamp. That’s why we say that our Tread is more than just your typical treadmill, because it’s a full-body piece of equipment. In a bootcamp class, you’re running, then you get off the tread and you go onto your mat and you’re lifting weights, so you get that hybrid.

Peloton Tread, from $3,295, onepeloton.ca. Photography courtesy of Peloton.

How many times a week should someone be running based on their experience?

It depends on your goals and your current fitness level. But in general, for a beginner, I recommend doing walks and walk-plus-runs two to three times a week to start. For intermediate, I would say three times a week starting off with the 20-minute classes. For more advanced runners, like someone who does the Ironman, maybe five times a week. We have tempo runs — which are very important for marathon runners and racers — where you’re running at a very challenging pace for the majority of the class. I would recommend doing a tempo run, an endurance run, some intervals and definitely taking strength classes because we know that helps prevent injury and build the muscles that help you get even faster and stronger.

What are some general tips on running form?

Eyes are always up. Never look down — there’s nothing for you on the ground. Keep your chin parallel to the floor. Shoulders are down, away from your ears. You want to keep your elbows bent at 90 degrees, and you’re going to pump them back and forth, swinging like a pendulum by your side. Imagine that you have ice cream in your hand: you want to have a little bit of tension, but not too much tension where you would crush it.

For your core, you want slight tension. Don’t hold your breath, of course, but think of that [contraction] you would make if someone would sucker punch you in the stomach. Keep your pelvis tucked under – a lot of us accidentally arch our back while we’re running. Pick your knees up and flip your heels up towards your butt. When you’re in a walk, you start on your heel. When you’re in a jog/run, you are more mid-foot. When you’re sprinting, you’re on your forefoot.

What advice would you give someone to get excited about getting back into running?

One thing that I like to say is you don’t have to run, you get to run. Just shifting that perspective. A lot of us, whether or not you’re a former athlete like myself, used to be punished with running. When we shift that experience to this is something that we get to do, it takes the pressure off of ourselves.

And start off doing less: less is more and slower is more. Even if you can go for a sprint right now from here to the next block, it doesn’t mean you should. For someone who is just getting back into it, take your time, understand that it’s a journey and understand that it’s a beautiful thing. It’s a time for you to be alone with your own thoughts, stay super present and not worry about your to-do list.

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’90s Supermodel Carolyn Murphy on Being the Face of One of the Longest Beauty Partnerships Ever

The word “iconic” is tossed around with reckless abandon these days, peppered generously throughout social media captions and comments, making it difficult to avoid and nearly impossible to discern the ironic from the genuine. (Was that Twitter exchange between two fast food chains truly iconic? Debatable.) Luckily, every once in a while we’re reminded of those pop culture figures who have stood the test of time and left a lasting impression on their industry. Enter: Carolyn Murphy. The supermodel was named Vogue/VH1 Model of the Year Award in 1998 and has appeared on countless magazine covers and runways throughout her career, which has spanned over 30 years — and counting.

Photography by Steven Meisel

Perhaps her most well-known role is as the fresh face in over 100 (!) Estée Lauder campaigns. This year, Murphy is celebrating her 20th year with the brand, making it one of the longest partnerships in the beauty industry. Iconic, non? To make things even more celebratory, Murphy’s 20-year anniversary just so happens to coincide with the brand’s 75th anniversary. In honour of these milestones, we caught up with Carolyn Murphy to learn about the last 20 years of her career with Estée Lauder.

 

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Is there a particular moment working with the Estée Lauder brand that you’ll never forget?

“Definitely the beginning. I’d just had my daughter and I was still breastfeeding — there was milk everywhere,” she laughs. “When I first got to the office to meet Leonard and Aerin Lauder, it was kind of like a Pretty Woman moment. I had been living on a farm and was definitely out of touch with beauty and fashion so I had on a white button-down, a pair of slacks and flats, no makeup, my hair pulled back. Aerin Lauder pulled me aside and said, ‘You have a couple of hours, maybe go zhuzh up a little more.’ It was said in a way of empowering me and [encouraging] me to have fun with it. So I got my hair done, I got some makeup, and I bought this really sexy outfit and a pair of heels. Then that first shoot that we did for Advanced Night Repair, I was still nursing and my daughter was on set, and I wasn’t feeling my sexiest because I’d just gotten a divorce. I just remember being on set and feeling so beautiful in this beige negligee. When I saw the ad I was like, ‘Wow I didn’t know I could look like that.’ I didn’t know that I could look sexy. Those moments are special.”

Speaking of growing up on a farm, you’re known for your love of nature and animals. How does that influence your work?

“We all have our places of solace and that is it for me,” says Murphy. “Being more of an introvert, and being raised with a reverence for nature, that’s just what makes me feel good. I think we all have a duality to us in some way or another, and a lot of people, especially during the time of COVID, have learned the importance of being in nature. That has been a real luxury for me. Having the job that I do has afforded me to spend more time with my daughter and to be in nature more.”

 

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Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to your younger self about your industry?

“Relax a bit more and [don’t] try to do it all,” says Murphy. In the past, “I put a lot of pressure on myself to do everything — to be the mother, the father, the breadwinner, to be in the public eye. That pressure can be intense, but I used to feel guilty when I said I needed to take time off. So I would say to my younger self to make sure that I follow my heart and to not [feel the need] to explain myself.”

How has your beauty routine changed during quarantine?

“I have more time on my hands, so I’m experimenting more and indulging more for sure,” says Murphy. “A nightly bath was a real treat [before] but now I’m like ‘OK, it’s that time again.’ Also my daughter and I have our beauty nights on Sundays — I didn’t know this but I guess it’s called ‘self-care Sunday’ — and she’s like ‘Mom, you should probably be taking more pictures and posting when you have your Advanced Night Repair Mask on.'”

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