At PURA, we were first drawn to Mamas for Mamas through our involvement in last summer’s Jilly Box. As mother’s ourselves, we were immediately inspired by their mission - to create a community without barriers to raising happy, healthy children. Founded in Kelowna, it is only recently that an Edmonton chapter was formed. Once we met Marcie from Mamas For Mamas Edmonton, we knew that we had to introduce her to YOU - our PURA community. May you be inspired and moved by Marcie’s enthusiasm, dedication, and how she was able to channel a time of personal grief into a legacy of beauty and significance with Mamas for Mamas.

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At PURA, we are consciously committed to creating a sustainable and beautiful future together. One of the ways we achieve this goal is by partnering with local suppliers to reduce our carbon footprint as well as to promote other local businesses like ourselves. Keep reading to learn more about our local suppliers and how they, too, are contributing to a sustainable future for us all. In PURE we trust.

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Holly Baker is a self-made interior design sensation. With her focus on airy, spacious interiors, she draws on inspiration from her hometown in Northern Alberta as well as the deserts and architecture of California. Appearing on HGTV and A&E interior design programs south of the border, Holly's unique style is both accessible and inspiring to many homeowners. In this blog post, she shares her journey as a designer, how she has pivoted during the current pandemic, and how she endeavours to make every home she works on the very best version of itself possible. 

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When Edmonton native, Megan Lawrence, started sewing she only thought of it as a hobby. Eight years later in 2020, she still had a fabric stash on hand, completely unaware of its impending significance. She started selling handmade face masks out of her home and eventually created a company called Brick House Goods. She recently designed an exclusive face mask in collaboration with PURA Botanicals.

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A PURA Muse is a woman who inspires us with their content, business, work ethic, values or beliefs. This woman is aligned with the goals and motivations that we strive for each day here at Pura Botanicals (if they are already a Pura lover, it makes it all the better!). Our monthly muse is working to elevate their community through their business, volunteerism, or their commitment to wellness, and they consistently advocate for well-being & intentional living.

The PURA Muse November 2019: Sarah Chan

Having grown up in the City of Edmonton, how do you think the city has evolved in the past five years?

There has been a surge in local creators building their reputations and businesses! There is cross-promoting and collaborating within those spaces as well! Our food scene also continues to get better and better. Yum! 

We love your passion for music & dance. Can you tell us about being a piano teacher, and how music and dance have impacted your life?

I never planned on having a career in the arts, I always thought I was going to be a lawyer. The reason I have continued to work as a musician and teacher is because it brings me so much joy. Nothing comes close to the deep connection I feel with my students and their families. Nothing is more gorgeous than playing music every day, it is beautiful and therapeutic.

I was playing a student’s song the other week and his mom said, “what a gift, to be able to do that” - I sometimes take for granted that what I do is a gift. On the logistics side, owning and operating my own business has given me flexibility over my time. This is especially important as I handle the bulk of parenting at our place, and I invest a great deal of free time in social advocacy within our community.

As for performing arts - music & dance - these creative outlets are my foremost resources for self-care and neuroplasticity! I am learning more & more that if you want to build your capacity and think differently, you need to have arts in your life. They help your brain sparkle - creating is fun! 

I wear so many hats. It can often be disorienting and I sometimes feel misunderstood. The lowest common denominator, though, is that I am 'Miss Sarah'. My values and work ethic translate across all my roles. Whether it’s being a mom, teacher, social advocate, citizen, wife, mentor… my integrity, instincts, and sense of humour are always present.

What I’ve learned within myself is to trust my instincts. There are so many people, priorities, and it is noisy out there. It has been quite a journey for me, to return to my confidence in knowing who I am. And, discovering new depths within! I’ve learned a lot about myself and the big, wide world out there. Sometimes I feel like public life has chewed me up and spit me out. I had to gather new tools; I needed to rely on the love, support and encouragement of the best friends you can imagine. I had to face the saddest and most wounded parts of myself and dig deeper than I ever have before. 

I am happy to report that challenge has been purifying and galvanizing - I am stronger than ever! I have gained much through struggle. I love the power in being softer, more refined and, leading through love. 

What do you find to be the greatest challenge that you face when trying to balance the many things you are passionate about?

I’ve gotten much better at this! I try to always ]trust my gut and ask myself a series of practical questions including...

• Am I the best person for this job?
• Does it have to be me or do I know someone who would be a better fit?
• Do I have enough time to do my best?
• How can I best help & serve?
• How does this request align with my work and my values?
• Is it fun? 

We are inspired by your infectious energy and passion for community engagement & volunteerism! Can you give us an idea of what a day in the life of Sarah Chan looks like?

A lot of people ask this, and I find that each day is a little different. I have also refocused much of my time on self-care (hence the return to trusting my instincts). I think my life is better represented as a week. Regular things I do each week include...

• Getting the kids all breakfasted and off to school each day
• Yoga, pilates, or somatics
• Hip-hop at Kore Dance Studio every Tuesday night 
• An unsatisfying amount of administration
• Connecting with my friends & loved ones
• Teaching 33 students per week
• Sexy mom stuff like planning meals, grocery shopping, making lunches, laundry, project managing the kids, taking kids to appointments, and cleaning. Working from home has its advantages and disadvantages!
• Spending time at Spruce Ave Junior High with my mentee from BGCBigs
• Meeting with one of the organizations or initiatives I am involved with.
• Attending events with Mayor Iveson 
• Snuggling my babies

The great thing about my schedule is that there are lots of weird curve balls that are random and fun! This fall I have guest-hosted a Drag Queen Bingo in support of The United Way, and I went as a DRAG KING! I got to go to Jasper on a sweet vintage train as a member of the CN Community Giving Board, and the family enjoyed an outdoor concert at the new Jim Venas stage. I raced as “Secret Spice” in a University of Alberta plasma car derby - in support of United Way. I was Honourary Co-Chair for the annual BGCBigs Lobster Lovers dinner. I visited a different school or sometimes two every day during read-in week. Finally, I delivered a keynote on wellness to grades 4 to 9 at a local school. 

Each week has hilarious, joy-sparking stuff peppered throughout it - I am really lucky!

Can you share some of your favourite self care rituals with us? Do you and your husband have any joint self care rituals or ways you like unwind together? We know Don is a fan of our Nobleman Face Oil, but we have heard that he enjoys using your Cocoa Honeycream Mask once & a while.

I am ALL about the self-care these days! I love seeing every little opportunity to do something nice each day. I’ll treat myself to a Kashmiri Chai at Remedy Cafe. Buy myself flowers. Drink a coffee in bed. Have lunch with a friend. Write down things that make me happy or hilarious stuff my students say to me, so I’ll remember it later. And, of course, PURA is a huge part of my life. Each time I use a PURA product, I pause & focus on how good it smells and how I am using clean products made of real ingredients by real people. It is totally luxurious. Those moments are golden for me, especially on the days when I feel like a pile of trash. 

As for rituals Don and I practice together - we’ve recently started going to yoga! It’s a game-changer for mindfulness and release. At home, I force him to wear whatever mask I happen to be wearing, if he is within arms reach. He often invades my bath soak! Cost of entry is applying my Cocoa & Rose Body Oil for me. 

We're flattered that you have loved and supported PURA for such a long time - even before we rebranded, when our original logo was an egg with a flower growing out of it. What attracted you to using our potions and how do they make you feel?

My first Pura Botanicals product was a rose facial mist. It was divine. PURA products are gorgeous, smell amazing, have fantastic results, and are extremely flexible. I love that there are no rules to using the products. You can tailor them to what you need that day and be your own chemist. I like to mix the Overnight Masks on my face as I have combination skin; the acne parts are REALLY bumpy and the aging/dry parts are elsewhere. 

I am currently really into the Ambrosia Beautifying Serum. Massaging my face every night has become ritualistic and I even say nice things to myself while I do it. It’s sort of embarrassing but, I’ll tell myself good job on something that went well that day or just something gentle & kind like, “let’s be nice” or “now you get to rest”! It is just one of the ways I appreciate myself each day. 

Overall, my PURA potions are an everyday treat, and an incredible value - They go a long way! Plus, I feel really good knowing real, very fine, and loving people are behind creating and producing the brand. It is a win-win-win! 

XOXO, Sarah Chan

@misssarahchan

Miss Sarah Chan

From Left to Right: Overnight Garden Mask, Zingara Gypsy Mist, Cocoa & Rose Body Oil, Ambrosia Beautifying Serum, Rosemary Clarifying Mist, Seashell Mane Mist, Nurturing Nova, Overnight Watermelon Mask

My name is Dr. Mecca Fayad and I am a chiropractor living and working in Edmonton. I am extremely passionate about providing individualized & evidence-based treatments to all of my patients...

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Our incredible team has put together 10 'Pura Hacks' - that you can use to turn your Pura favs into multi-tasking, skincare superheroes. Who knows...maybe some of these will inspire you to imagine new ways you can use your Pura potions! 

Lane Edwards: Pura's Founder

Tip #1: When I use the Overnight Masks, I like to use each mask in a different area of my face to target different skin concerns or goals. The Overnight Watermelon Mask is great for areas in need of deep hydration, the Overnight Garden Mask balances an oiler t-zone or blemish-prone areas, while the Overnight Mango Mask is perfect for fine lines, discolouration, and wrinkles. 

Tip #2: I enjoy using Pura's Neroli Eye Ritual as a hydrating and preserving lip oil. When I apply this throughout the day, I find that it adds a beautiful glow to my cupid's bow and softens my lips with its gentle ingredients. The Neroli Eye Ritual also works as a luxe perfume oil; it has a soft & gentle scent that fades beautifully throughout the day.  

Tip #3: When I feel like my evening cleaning routine needs to be taken up a level, I enjoy mixing a small amount of Exotic Pink Coffee Dust into my Countess Cleansing Nectar. By adding this exfoliating mask to the facial cleanser, you create an incredible creamy cleansing experience. This blend is so aromatic and leaves the skin GLOWING! 

Sophie: Wholesale Lead

Tip #4: I add a few drops of Radiant Face Drops to my Exotic Pink Coffee Dust, after I have mixed it with water. It adds additional nourishment & hydration to my face mask ritual. 

Tip #5: Whenever I use an Overnight Mask, I take whatever is left over on my hands and apply it to my elbows or the tops of my hands. These masks are extremely luxurious & hydrating, so it is is wonderful way to treat some areas of the body that are often forgotten about. 

Tip #6: Our Cocoa & Rose Body Oil is an incredible treat for the skin and when I am feeling like my nails & cuticles need a little love, I use this oil as a beautiful hand treatment. 

Tip #7: To make sure that I get the most out my Pura potions, I like to mist either the Botanical Bloom Essence or the Rosemary Clarifying Mist into my hands and then gently pat it into my skin. 

Emily: Digital Development Lead 

Tip #8: I like to add a couple of drops of Ambrosia Beautifying Serum to my Overnight Garden Mask, for an extra luxurious treat for my skin. I find that it really helps when my skin is dull, tired, or breaking out. 

Tip #9: I have also found that the Overnight Garden Mask works as a great foot treatment, perfect for after you have done an at-home pedicure. The ingredients in this mask are incredibly refreshing and hydrating, and fresh-smelling - the best thing for tired, achy feet.  

Lindsay: Community & Content Lead

Tip #10: The Neroli Eye Ritual is a staple in my evening skincare routine; I apply it around my eye area, as well as on my brow bone & eyebrows. It is great after I have tweezed my eyebrows - the jojoba oil and aloe vera are both incredibly hydrating & soothing.

Share with us your Pura Hacks using the hashtag #puramoments - we want to see how you use your Pura!

My name is Nimi and I’m a lover of all things natural when it comes to health, wellness and beauty. Most would call me a kind and fiercely passionate ECO-Warrior! The idea of HauteCoton came to me while sitting in a nutrition class about organic farming vs. conventional farming. That’s when I made the connection between food and natural textiles. Not many people realize the textile industry is one of the most toxic industries and one of the biggest polluters of our time. I started questioning what I was putting in and on my body through food, bath and beauty products, then eventually textiles. Our skin is our largest organ and we spend 1/3 of our lives in bed. I didn’t want to lay in conventionally grown ‘natural’ fabrics and synthetic materials that were laced with formaldehyde, petroleum and microplastics every single night. We all deserve to be informed and have the power of choice. That’s when HauteCoton was born.

Tell us about your inspiration for HauteCoton. Is there someone or something that drives this vision you have for the brand?

There are many reasons but first and foremost it was my health, my family’s health and realizing the impact our choices have on our collective home…our planet. I also became ‘awakened’ of what actually goes on in the textile industry. It was heart-breaking to learn that textile workers were developing disease, illnesses and serious health implications such as cancer and nervous system dysfunctions just by being in contact with textiles and fabrics that were conventionally grown, man-made and chemically dyed. It upset me enough to do something about it. Especially knowing that I too almost developed cervical cancer from basic lifestyle choices. Thank goodness we caught it early enough and I made the decision to live a preventative lifestyle.

What is it like to have created an eco-friendly brand here in Edmonton? Is there anything interesting or surprising you have learned about your community throughout this journey?

I’m humbled by the excitement and the community we have here supporting a natural living lifestyle. You can even see the shift happening through food and more plant-based options being available everywhere. It’s beautiful to see. We still have a long way to go but you can see change is happening and people are starting to put two and two together. They’re paying more attention to their health, not only through food and physical exercise but what they put on their skin through skincare and bath and beauty products. I’m so glad businesses such as Pura exist. It shows people that clean, green beauty and conscious products can be good for you without having to use all the toxic and synthetic preservatives that conventional beauty products do. It shows that natural beauty products can be good for us, be kind to our planet and offer powerful results all at the same time. Sustainability X Luxury. It’s possible.

Do you have any simple tips or special tricks for making your home for clean and environmentally-friendly?

Plants! Lot’s of plants. It’s a natural air purifier. Using simple things from your own fridge as cleaning products such as vinegar, lemon and a few drops of essential oils. Getting rid of plastic containers, having reusable shopping bags on hand for grocery shopping and definitely environmentally friendly cleaning and laundry products.

What are your must-have products from your own line? 

Definitely our most popular products are our Sheet Sets, Duvet Covers and our Crib Sheets. Parents-to-be only want the healthiest, safest and purest product for their little ones, especially when their skin is in direct contact. People love buying our products as gifts or to indulge for themselves. And with our natural colour, you can actually see the cotton seed embedded in the sheets. I personally love slipping into my sheets at the end of a long day. There’s nothing like when your head hits your pillow at night and you slip into pure softness that feels like your sleeping on a cloud. Our linens have a sateen finish so they only get softer and more comfortable as you wash them. They’re temperature regulating as well, so they will adjust to your body temperature helping you sleep better at night by allowing your skin to breathe. In the summer they keep you cool and in the winter, warm and cozy. It’s great for people with partners who are the opposite body temperatures from each other. Everybody wins! And we always get compliments on the lining of our duvet covers. They’re lined with buttons made from coconut shells from the communities in which we work with in India. We’ve visited the factory ourselves and seen with our very own eyes the coconut shells being hand-sewn onto the duvet covers.

Are there any Pura Botanicals potions that you cannot live without?

You can tell how important it is to me that our skin only gets the safest and purest products, especially while sleeping. We spend 1/3 of our lives in bed and we’re doing the most rejuvenating at night. For the past 2 years now I’ve been using my Overnight Watermelon Mask from Pura! It’s a product I can’t live without. It was given to me as a gift and now I can’t go to bed without it. My bedtime ritual consists of doing a little self-care before falling asleep. I’ll first cleanse my skin with Pura’s Countess Cleansing Nectar, put on my hydrating Overnight Watermelon Mask and gently massage my skin with Pura’s Jade Face Roller to help with circulation and rejuvenation and then I slip into my luxuriously soft HauteCoton sheets. Nothing beats that feeling! My bedtime routine with Pura products leaves my skin feeling so hydrated and nourished and the texture of my skin feels so incredibly soft every time I wake up. These are products that are must haves in my daily and nightly routines!



I’m incredibly happy to see that self-care comes in many forms of health and wellness for most people now, not just the mainstream way of manicures, pedicures and massages. Yes, they too are relaxing ways to take care of oneself but self-love extends beyond just spa treatments. It’s in the little things, life’s simple pleasures. If we all take the time to invest in quality lifestyle products that make us feel good in our daily lives as we trek-on with our busy days, we can always, quickly revert back to the things that make us feel comforted, taken-care of and nourished at the end of the day. That in itself is a form of self-care.

Enjoy 15% off anything on HauteCoton.com & free shipping in North America on purchases over $100 CAD, use the code PURA15 at checkout!

XOXO

~ Nimi Kelloway, Founder HauteCoton  @hautecoton