Tag Archive for career


Five Minute Makeup Routine for an on-the-go PR Professional

By Dana Sondak

Mornings can be tough, and having to apply your makeup at 8 a.m. can be a daunting task, especially when it can be hard to even get your eyes open. We’ve put together a five-minute makeup routine to make your lives easier.

Skincare

Having a skincare routine will make your makeup application easier, faster and flawless. Cleanse and hydrate your face at night and first thing in the morning. Consistency is key for clear skin. We love The Ordinary line which is under the umbrella of Deciem: The Abnormal Beauty Company. There are three products we love, which will help hydrate your skin and get it ready to apply makeup. Prices range from $4.90 to $17.80. All the products are lightweight and fragrance-free. No fuss, no frills; truly “clinical formulations with integrity”.

Step 1: Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG | Price: $6.70

This water-based solution will help with those pesky undereye bags and puffiness.

Step 2: Salicylic Acid 2% Solution | Price: $4.90

Use this to help clear any current breakouts and prevent future ones.

Step 3: Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA | Price: $5.80

This lightweight and fast absorbing cream is the last step to leave your skin hydrated and prepped for makeup. Price: $5.80

Now we’re ready for a quick makeup routine that will leave you feeling polished and professional.

 

Primer

Start with an illuminating or dewy primer to make your makeup last longer, look smoother and give your skin a healthy glow. NYX Cosmetics Born to Glow Illuminating Primer is a great option for a low cost ($20 CAD).

 

Concealer

Next, spot conceal under your eyes and on any blemishes, you want to cover up. No need for a full face of foundation. Using a bit of concealer will still give you the coverage you want, and take away the chance of having cakey foundation throughout the day.

 

Powder

Most people wouldn’t consider this a necessary step; we think otherwise. Dust a light layer of any powder over the concealer to make it last longer, look more natural and keep oil at bay.

 

Bronzer or Blush

If you want a more bronzed contoured look, use any brush and dust your favourite bronzer along the hollow of your cheeks (line your brush up with your tragus and the corner of your mouth as a guide) and the corners of your forehead. You’ll look sunkissed and put together.

If you’re more into a rosy flush, use a bit of blush on the apples of your cheeks to add some colour and life to your face and skip the bronzer (or use both if you’re feeling rebellious).   

The Elf Beauty Blush and Bronzer Duo have both in one convenient package.

 

Eyebrows

This step may be unnecessary for some but lightly filling in or shaping your eyebrows can make you look polished. Use a tinted brow gel, like the Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel and comb through your brows to help fill in sparse areas by mimicking real hair strands, and keep the hairs in place (and going in the right direction).

 

Mascara

A bit of mascara goes a long way. Apply on top and bottom lashes (yes, even the baby bottom lashes). This will open your eyes, making you look more awake and complete the look. Don’t waste your money on a high-end mascara. The Colossal Volum’ Express mascara by Maybelline has a mega brush to separate and lengthen for clump-free lashes.

 

Tinted Lip Balm

Finish the look by using a tinted lip balm to hydrate your lips and give them a light wash of colour. You can throw one in your purse and reapply without worrying about smudging your lipstick, or sticky lipgloss.   

 

Tips

For an even faster makeup routine find multi-use products. Nudestix Nudies is an all over face colour that’s quick and easy to use. Swipe on your cheeks, lips and eyes and blend with your finger or the brush conveniently on the other side of the stick, for a natural “no makeup” makeup look.

Use a hydrating mist for a midday boost. This will freshen up your makeup and add some moisture giving you a fresh glow. The Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater retails for only $9 CAD, and is small enough to keep in your purse.

Have your own makeup tips and tricks? Let us know in the comments!

Follow us!

Twitter: @glo_comm

Facebook: @glocommunications

Instagram: @glo_comm

 – Team Glo

6 Coffee Shops Perfect for Every PR Meeting

By Dana Sondak 

Coffee culture in Toronto is booming.

From Thornhill’s Sorelle & Co., to Fashion District’s Quantum Coffee, there’s sure to be a coffee shop with latte art you can Instagram.

With coffee shops popping up in every area, it’s easy to find a cozy spot to have client meetings.

The benefits of having meetings outside of the office?

  1. You get to leave the office for a bit, giving you a break from sitting at your desk.
  2. Creates a comfortable space for both parties. Meeting in a public setting relaxes the meeting, and makes it easier to connect on a more personal, rather than just a professional, level.
  3. Coffee is always a perk.

Here are six coffee shops in Toronto and the GTA that are perfect to take your clients to while experiencing Toronto’s growing coffee scene:

 

1. Sorelle & Co. | Thornhill

Located in a revamped post office, this cafe is sure to bring out your inner Prince/Princess attending a tea party. The interior is decorated with sparkling round, diamond chandeliers, white couches and chairs fit for Royalty. Not only is Sorelle & Co. a worry-free* cafe with a ton of sweet treats to choose from, they also serve soup, salad, wraps and paninis.

What we recommend: Crinkle Chocolate Cookie and a Soy Milk Latte. No dairy here.

* Worry-free: They are completely gluten-free, soy-free, sesame-free, nut-free, preservative-free and vegan.

Click here for more on Sorelle & Co.

 

2. Rooster Coffee House | King St. East

With it’s laid back, hipster vibes and comfy couches, Rooster Coffee House is the place to take your chill clients. The staff is super friendly, the latte art is always on point (and delicious), and their baked goods are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. Because you can’t have coffee without a cookie, right?

What we recommend: any latte. Let them amaze you with their latte art skills.

Click here for more on Rooster Coffee House.

 

3. Dineen Coffee Co. | Financial District

Located walking distance from Union, King, and Queen subway stops, Dineen Coffee Co. is a convenient spot for meetings. It’s impressive size compared to most Downtown Toronto coffee shops with lots of seating adds to the great atmosphere.   There may be peak hours but you’re sure to find a quiet spot to sit and chat with your client or co-worker.

What we recommend: The Temperance Espresso Blend, and a fruit and yogurt parfait.

Click here for more on Dineen Coffee Co.

 

4. Cafe Neon | Queen St. West

This Queen West cafe offers more than great coffee. Taking inspiration from Greek Cafe’s (Kafenio) for the name and the overall feel, Cafe Neon serves as a great place for any business meeting, or extended coffee break.  With tons of seating and a great lunch menu you can please your clients with just a coffee, or a lunch meeting.

What we recommend: Winter Salad Bowl (add the goat cheese and grilled chicken).

Click here for more on Cafe Neon.

 

5. Five Elements Espresso Bar | Yorkville  

Yorkville is a hub for great coffee but 5 Elements Espresso is our favourite.  A ton of comfortable seating to hold a meeting, spread over three levels. There are also a great selection of snacks, like protein balls or energy cookies to go with your warm drink, and lunch options.

What we recommend: Matcha Almond Cookie.

Click here for more on 5 Elements Espresso Bar.  

 

6. Quantum Coffee | Fashion District

This spacious and airy coffee shop on the corner of King and Spadina is a great option for business meetings. Though there’s minimal seating inside the cafe itself, if you walk towards the back it opens up into a larger room with tables and chairs. This area is open to the public during the day and is an event space at night.

What we recommend: Ethiopian Sidama Guji Pour Over Iced Coffee.

Click here for more on Quantum Coffee. 

 

Follow us on our social media accounts for more fun!

Twitter: @glo_comm

Facebook: @glocommunications

Instagram: @glo_comm

 

Happy sipping!

      – Team GLO

 

 

Day-to-Night: How to take an outfit from office chic to night time party

By: Elizabeth Voss

In the ever changing business world, it is not uncommon to go straight from the office to an event and Public Relations professionals have mastered this technique. Being in the media industry, it’s critical to always be prepared, that means bringing extra shoes, a blazer, food, and other key pieces to accommodate you throughout your busy day. All this can make you feel a like a crazy bag lady at first, but rest assured we got you covered.

We’re giving you access to our tried and true outfit solutions for the girl on the go.

The Pantsuit

The pantsuit is one of the hardest (but not impossible) outfits to pull off as everything needs to be impeccably tailored.  Some of us are fortunate enough to have a more relaxed workplace but for those gals that aren’t, we found the perfect way to make the day-to-night transition seamless, no pun intended.

Day: If you know you will have to head out after work make sure your daytime outfit incorporates a white shirt; a crisp white shirt as it is the perfect canvas for spicing up an outfit.  Keep it simple and clean, this will make it easier to accessorize without having to carry around a whole new outfit.

Night:  For transitioning to night, layer on the accessories.  Find a necklace, earrings or even a bracelet that easily brings some sparkle to your outfit, this trick can be used for anything from a company dinner to a networking social. Remember you aren’t married to your blazer, if the evening event is super casual you can always forgo the blazer and leave it in the office.

*Tip: Keep a statement necklace or earrings at work, it’s an easy way to dress something up.

Dress

One of the biggest problems a girl faces when wearing a dress or skirt to work is that it’s hard to find a balance between office appropriate and girls night out. This can be especially tricky if you have an event to go to later that day that is a little more upscale.

Day: Comfort is key, when working in an office all day. Knee length dresses or skirts are appropriate for almost all situations and are the easiest to find when shopping. For a day look, throw on a scarf, minimalistic watch and a pair of classic pumps or booties. A scarf helps to make it casual without a ton of effort.

 

Night: For transitioning to night ditch the scarf, and add a cute belt and sophisticated pair of earrings for an effortless way to bring your day dress to a night time event. The best part of wearing a dress is that you will most likely already be wearing heels, so bringing along an extra pair isn’t necessary.

*Tip: Mixed metals can add some fun to an outfit but are more casual, for a formal event stick with either all gold or all silver jewelry.

Casual Office Wear

Let’s be real, not all offices are business casual especially in an industry as creative as PR. Some of us are lucky enough to roll into the office in our favourite band tee and a pair of ripped jeans. This is all fun and games until we’re asked to attend an event afterwork. For most of us this would mean lugging around a bag big enough for a three day getaway, filled with different shoes and outfit options. Or risk being the only girl in the office dressed up that day.

Day: Keeping is simple and casual is easy, a great pair of jeans and a tee shirt will take you far, but since most events are last minute this can make dressing your outfit up a little tricky.

 

Night: If you’ve been paying attention to any of the other tips in this blog you will remember that keeping a pair of heels, a statement necklace and even a fun blazer or jacket, are your key pieces to dressing up your outfit. These same tips apply to casual office wear. The more prepared you are with extra items in the office the less you will have to drag around with you on any given day.

 

*Tip: ACCESSORIZE!!!

Now that we’ve loaded your brain with information, the key things to remember are: (1) almost any outfit can be elevated with a jacket, (2) accessories are pivotal parts in changing any outfit, and (3) keep a pair of classic heels at the office. Keep these things in mind a you are good to go for any unexpected event or dinner that may pop up. 

What are your office styling tips?! 

Share with us on Twitter or Instagram

@GLO_comm

Tech Apps PR Pros Need To Know About

By: Elizabeth Voss

If anyone understands the importance of time management it’s a Public Relations professional. PR like many other professions are quickly jumping on the tech bandwagon for it’s innovative and time-saving benefits. Today there is virtually an app for every task you can imagine. Whether you are trying to quickly pitch a client to a major news source, plan a meeting, save a media clipping or simply just looking for a new contact the tech world has no shortage of tools for you to use. We’ve compiled a list of our favourite apps for your personal and professional life that work!

Slack

Slack is a business communicator for teams. The app is easy to install on android and Apple products and best yet it’s FREE! Create to-do lists and share them with team members, assign roles and easily call, email or text anyone on the team right from the app. The app also allows teams to integrate and edit documents in Google Drive, Dropbox Twitter and more.

Upitch

Upitch is an app designed to help Public Relations practitioners pitch ideas and stories to media. Easily upload a concise pitch through the desktop or mobile app and wait for the media to swipe right to open a chat between you and the journalist. Users can also browse through other pitches for a little inspiration.

Nuzzel

Every PR pro knows that keeping up to date with current events and trending topics can be a little overwhelming at times. Like Twitter’s “trending” section, Nuzzle allows users to get personalized news recommendations and top news stories shared by friends right to their phone. (This app is also free!)

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a holy grail app for all PR professionals. The app allows you to post informative content about the industry, search for job posting, connect with others in your field and grow your network on a virtual platform. LinkedIn is also great for keeping in touch with classmates and old co-workers without having to filter through the clutter that comes with Facebook.

 

CamScanner

We’ve all been task with sifting through the newspaper in search of a new contact, new product, or to collect a media clipping at least once in our careers, once you find what you were looking what do you do? CamScanner allows you to take a picture of the article or text and save it to your phone as a PDF. This is vital for PR professional as we can’t always be shuffling papers around with us. Once the PDF is saved you can easily send it in an email or text message right from your phone.   

What are your go-to apps? 

Share your thoughts!

@glo_comm

 

 

 

Connect with Us


GLO Communications
85 King Street East
Suite 401
Toronto, ON
M5C 1G2

P: 416-892-4833
E: jessica@glocommunications.ca

Social Media