03-05-2025
We review 100s of products a year — here are 9 we would actually recommend from April
April showers bring May flowers — and lots of extra time to try new products while waiting out the rain. Our small but mighty team of shopping editors tested dozens of products in April. One beauty-obsessed editor used this under $20-mascara almost every day of the month, while another logged hundreds of kilometres in these plantar fasciitis-friendly sneakers.
Because we love testing products — "Is it worth buying?" is one of our favourite questions — we've curated a list of things we've tried and, importantly, actually liked from the past month. The products listed below got our editors through first dates, spring cleaning sessions and weird transitional weather.
Scroll ahead to shop the products we reviewed in April that we would wholeheartedly recommend — and get a sneak peek of the items we're testing in May.
Not to be hyperbolic, but this is the best basic tee I have ever owned. Don't believe me? I have four of them. This Uniqlo T-shirt is everything you want in a white tee: it's high-quality, the collar doesn't stretch, and it's a thicker material — unless you're wearing a super dark bra, the shirt isn't see-through. I will keep buying these Uniqlo tees for as long as the brand keeps making them. I can't recommend it enough. - Kayla Kuefler, Senior Shopping Editor
Elbows — er, feet — up! Socks may not be the most exciting acquisition, but these ones from Canadian shoe brand dr LIZA have me doing a happy dance. They feature arch support, moisture wicking yarns, strategic venting and compression to help boost circulation, which makes them great for travel. They'd also make a great last-minute Mother's Day gift idea. I have the maple leaf pair for a bit of Canadian pride with every step, but they also come in a few other colourways. — Hilary Hagerman, Lifestyle & Commerce managing editor
Meet my transitional weather sidekick: the vest. Specifically, the Grandview Cropped Vest from Canada Goose. It's down-filled, very warm and cropped at just the right length — plus (and this is very important), it goes with basically everything in my closet. It's perfect for when you don't know which side of the weather to commit to. It will always have your back, no matter what temperature is thrown your way. April has been the perfect month for it!
Alternatives:
- Canada Goose Freestyle Vest- Aritzia The Super Puff Vest- Lululemon Wunder Puff Cropped Vest
— Melina Brum, Shopping Editor
I love high-end mascara as much as the next girl, but at the end of the day, it's the under-$20 drugstore mascaras that I buy time and time again.
My current favourite — Revlon's ColorStay Xtensionnaire Lengthening Mascara — is one of the best drugstore mascaras I have tried of late. The brush is excellent; it defines and lengthens lashes, and I have yet to see any clumping or fallout.
I've been using it almost daily and whenever I swap it up with one of my (many) other mascaras, I find myself missing it. It's the perfect under-$20 mascara for mile-long lashes. - KK
After testing five pairs of Amazon sneakers (more on that in the near future), I realized that sneakers aren't something I want to cheap out on. As someone who logs about 500 kilometres of walking or running a month, I was looking for a pair of lightweight and supportive sneakers that could work for everything from the treadmill to daily dog walks. Believe me when I say that these are totally worth the hype. They were comfortable right out of the box and don't bother my plantar fasciitis — which is quite the (no pun intended) feat. If you walk or run, or are simply on your feet all day, these are a worthy investment. The rose gold/black colourway I purchased is nearly sold out, but I'm eyeing this pretty mint pair. — HH
I usually reach for my reusable makeup remover cloth to take off my makeup at the end of the day. However, since using this Pro-Collagen Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm, I haven't gone back. There's something so luxurious about this product, and my face feels super clean after using it. Even if I still go in with my cloth, I immediately follow up with this to ensure everything is removed. It's so hydrating, and the best part? It doesn't clog pores. — MB
This is hands down one of the best bags that can be purchased on Amazon Canada. Seriously, this is coming from a self-proclaimed handbag aficionado who has an unhealthy amount of purses. If you're a fan of the Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag (which I also own), this is like a more elevated version. You can easily dress it up or down, and it fits so much stuff without being too heavy. And my favourite part is that there's no prominent hardware, so you can wear it with silver or gold accents without anything clashing. — MB
Slowly but surely, I am transitioning all of my regular cleaning products to those from Canadian brands. Following the threat of tariffs earlier this year, I found dozens of fantastic made-in-Canada laundry and cleaning brands for those, like me, who wanted to make the switch. One of the brands I discovered was Soja & Co.
Soja & Co. products are hand-crafted in Montreal, Quebec. It's an eco-conscious brand that sells fantastic cleaning products and candles. Over the past several weeks, the brand's all-purpose cleaner has become a staple in my daily home maintenance routine. It has a beautiful, light scent, and, importantly, its natural, vegan formula cleans up messes brilliantly. I love it, and I will be refilling my bottle once it's empty. - KK
If you (or a loved one) are interested in seeing what critters pop into your yard, this smart bird feeder is a really cool buy. I purchased this for my mom for her birthday earlier this year, and since then, my parents have been texting me photos of all the birds they see in their yard. It's super easy to set up and sends a ping to your phone whenever there's motion detected.
Looking for a cheaper alternative? This one from Dzees has great reviews and is on sale for $120. — HH
GymProLuxe Band and Bar Set
TANG PIN Matcha Set
Reformation Balia Linen Dress
The Unscented Company Laundry Tabs
Watier Solution Confort Melting Cleansing Balm
