Smooth operators: Toronto boutiques for hand and body creams
Summer sun and winter dryness can wreak havoc on your hands and feet. You can combat that irritation with soothing creams and lotions, and fortunately, Toronto is stacked with skincare boutiques and apothecaries who are experts in just that. Be kind to your skin with smoothing and rejuvenating lotions from these Toronto shops.
LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics
312 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A2You’ll lather on the lotion in good conscience when shopping from LUSH. Their handmade body care products are made to a high ethical standard with safe, organic ingredients and no animal testing. When they say “fresh,” they mean no preservatives (products have an expiry date). Try their Helping Hands lotion to relieve chapping and dryness or their Salted Coconut hand scrub, which sounds good enough to eat. Their famous Charity Pot feels good on hands and in the heart – 100% of the pre-tax proceeds go to grassroots organizations dedicated to the well-being of people, animals and the environment.
L'OCCITANE EN PROVENCE
3401 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON M6A 2T9L’Occitane sells upscale skincare products based on original formulas developed and refined since its origins in France in the mid-70s. Their best-selling products include Shea Butter Hand Cream, Almond Supple Skin Oil and Immortelle Precious Cream. Their pure shea butter sourced from women’s cooperatives in Burkina Faso (West Africa) is organic certified and fair-trade approved.
Pure + Simple King West
725 King Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 2W9Consider them your ally when shopping for safe and effective hand and skincare products, free of synthetics, chemicals and other potentially harmful ingredients. Pure + Simple prides itself as an industry leader in researching and developing formulas based on natural botanical and vegetable extracts, some of which are certified organic. For example, their Nourishing Sunflower Cream contains certified organic seed oil and vegetable-derived emulsifiers, making it an ideal moisturizer for everyday use.
The Body Shop
528 Church St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2E1This popular chain with multiple locations in the GTA offers a wide range of value-priced body care products using ethically sourced, vegetarian ingredients. Best-sellers include a line of skin moisturizers based on natural botanicals and rich body butters. Men can find all-in-one skin cleansers and conditioners that use organic honey and masculine scents. For very dry hands, we recommend the Hemp Hand Protector and soap-free Almond Conditioning Hand Wash. Frequent specials make it economical to buy multiples of your favourite Body Shop items.
Jacob & Sebastian
622 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1E4Their two downtown locations carry dozens of brand name body care products for men, women and children. They carry products by Coola Baby, makers of gentle chemical and preservative-free sunblock for infants. The SPF 50 Unscented Moisturizer contains organic sunflower, sesame seed and avocado oils and organic shea butter. Particularly intriguing is the Binchotan line of charcoal-based facial cleansers sourced from Japanese oak. For the guys, they have Baxter of California general hygiene, shaving and facial cleansing products.
Kiehl's
2518 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4P 2H7Their attractively-packaged and retro-looking body and hair products have a classic apothecary feel, but at a more premium price point. If you’re already a Kiehl’s fan, you’re probably aware of the economy of their mixed gift packs and other product bundles. The Facial Fuel men’s face cream is a vitamin-enriched hydrator; Deluxe Hand & Body Lotion with Aloe Vera and Oatmeal is a popular everyday moisturizer.
Consonant Skincare
2479 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4P 2H6“What goes on your body goes in your body.” Now there’s a scary thought. If you’re coming around to the view that many hand creams may have negative consequences once absorbed by your skin, then Consonant may be perfect for you. Their products are 100% natural and chemical-free. Their line of Organic Body Lotions promises fast absorption for deep moisturization without greasy surface residue.
