The 7 Best Purchases Our Editors Made In May

Summer is just around the corner, and we've been busy prepping for the warmer days ahead. From beauty essentials to cute stationery to chic and sturdy sunglasses, here's what our team bought and loved this month.

Monos Minaret Cat Eye Sunglasses, $185

“Monos—Chatelaine’s favourite Canadian luggage brand—now makes sunglasses. And just like their suitcases, they’re both stylish and incredibly sturdy. The frames come in six trendy silhouettes, but the sleek cat-eye was the winner for me—I went for the translucent espresso hue, which is beautiful and unlike other pairs I own.” —Andréanne Dion, senior style, beauty and travel editor

Elate LipStick Pencil in Fierce, $24

“I love a hot pink lip, but I've been searching for a new go-to hue for years after Bite Beauty—the Canadian maker of my favourite fuchsia, Kimchi—went out of business. I'm happy to say I've finally found a suitable replacement from another Canadian brand: Elate's lip pencil in Fierce. The pencil itself is pleasantly chunky (I use it for all-over colour) and the fuchsia hue is my perfect pink. Even better, more than 75 percent of the female-founded, Victoria, B.C.-based brand's packaging is reusable, recyclable or plantable, and a tree is planted for every order.” —Maureen Halushak, editor-in-chief

Huda Beauty Mini #FauxFilter Color Corrector, $21

“Shortly before Mother's Day, the Sephora team treated my mother and me to a little Sunday afternoon makeover, where we received an in-depth consultation on the complexion products we use. This was huge for us, as we were introduced to the magic of Huda Beauty’s colour corrector, a bismuth-pink concealer that completely erased our dark under-eye circles, a longstanding family trait. I only use a tiny bit of it, and sometimes I don't even need to add concealer if I don't feel like putting on a full beat of makeup.” —Chantal Braganza, deputy editor, food

Kaweco Classic Sport Fountain Pen, $38

“From the glittery ones that were trendy when I was in middle school to the affordable fountain styles I now prefer, I've always loved pens. Roaming the pen section of a stationary store is one of my favourite pastimes—I love testing how they glide across paper and trying different ink colours. On a recent visit to Wonder Pens, one of my favourite independently owned stores in Toronto, I purchased the Kaweco DIY Sport Glow in the Dark fountain pen, which is available exclusively in stores, though you can purchase the brand’s other models online. It's a cute and compact pen to add to my collection—and I love that it glows in the dark!” —Aimee Nishitoba, art director 

M.A.C Cosmetics Lipglazer Glossy Lip Liner, $32, and Lipglass Air Non-Sticky Gloss, $34

“My go-to lip combo this month is by M.A.C Cosmetics. The lip gloss gives lips the prettiest glow—without the stickiness—while the lip liner adds a bold pop of dusty rose. I’ve been wearing this everywhere lately: office days, nights out in the city and even grocery-store runs. It’s effortless, polished and imparts a your-lips-but-spicier effect I’ll happily carry straight into summer.” —Sarah Bauly, editorial intern

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, $52

“I’ve been dealing with frustrating comedones on my chin for months now—they’re small, colourless bumps that appear when pores or hair follicles get clogged. I tried a variety of skincare products to get rid of them, but nothing has worked as effectively as this exfoliating toner.

Over the last few weeks, the salicylic acid has been slowly melting my comedones away. I apply the liquid leave-on formula with my fingers, but you can also use a cotton pad. It’s effective, but not too harsh or drying” —Amy Evans, commerce editorial director

Deep Cove Rope Company Rope Doormat, $185

“I was tired of throwing out cheap doormats every year and adding more waste to the landfill, so I was thrilled to come across Deep Cove Rope Company, a brand from Vancouver, at the One of a Kind Show. Their woven mats are incredibly durable and practical. Made from rope used in the B.C. fishing industry, they handle snow, salt, rain and mud without falling apart. They also clean up easily with a quick shake or hose-down. It finally feels like I’ve found a doormat that’s built to last. They come in an array of colours—I bought the sage and navy combo, but a pink and red mat would be incredible.” —Sun Ngo, creative director