Gooped
What does Hollywood and I have in common? Besides loud, exciting fans, I’d like to say self-care. As a person who lives by the mantra, “go find time for yourself”, I was in the market to find some products that helped prioritized my well-being. That being said, I was super ecstatic when news broke that Goop would be opening a Toronto pop-up between now until September 22.
Established 2008 in Santa Monica, California, Goop was introduced to the world by founder, Gwyneth Paltrow, as a weekly email subscription that shared tips to living an optimal life. As a pre-teen, I first heard of Goop on MTV’s After Show. Hosts Jessi Cruikshank and Dan Levi, frequently mocked Paltrow’s advice describing it to be unsolicited, pretentious, and expensive. However, 11 years later, I experienced the Goop Mrkt first hand and entered the world of Hollywood A-Lister, Gwyneth Paltrow.
Located in Toronto’s Hazleton Hotel, Goop housed a generous selection of skincare, home goods, and ready-to-wear. The store’s design consisted of pale beige walls and curtains that were complimented with neutral-coloured decor that encapsulated the vibe of a minimalistic, Californian beach house. There were many products to sample and purchase, which is not the norm of a typical pop-up store. Usually pop-ups have a scarce selection of goods making it difficult to understand what a brand has to offer. However, Goop did a great job showcasing what “a lifestyle focused on self-care” had to offer.
I purchased the G.Tox travel kit which retails for $56 CAD. The kit contains 4 travel-sized products including the glacial marine clay body cleanser, the himalayan salt scrub shampoo, the salt detox body scrub, and the detox 5 salt bath soak. I was drawn to these products due to their fresh, minty scent and since I have never heard of salt scrub shampoo. Furthermore, I have been an advocate of David Tea’s Detox, so I was intrigued to see how a detox would play out on the surface of the skin, instead of inside the body. I found $56 reasonable for all the products, especially since each product individually ranged between $49 and $54. I just wish the kit included a travel pouch since it was packaged in a large box that was significantly larger than the actual products.
After my experience at Goop, I must disagree with Cruikshank and Levi that the goods were pricey. Goop’s products were roughly the same price as other vendors that sold similar wares. I will definitely be heading back once more before September 22 - ideally to see if a new selection of products (a.k.a. menswear) will be in stores just in time for fall. In the meantime, if you have been infatuated with the Hollywood lifestyle or are in the market to amp-up your skincare, fashion, and home decor game, I recommend checking out Goop before they close their doors for good.
Candidly,
Jonah
