MIRROR WATER Reading List

A selection of recent (and recent-ish) fiction swapped between the MW team.

Sorrow and Bliss, Meg Mason

Meg Mason’s debut novel in which we follow Martha come to terms with the breakdown of her marriage alongside a battle with an unnamed mental illness. Alongside the sorrow the title describes, there are intense highs of love and wit that will have the reader falling in love with this honest, chaotic and endearing protagonist.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Michael Chabon

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 2001, Kavalier and Clay is a great American epic about the glory years of the US comic industry (1939-1954). It is a true testament to Chabon’s writing that he manages to span multiple eras, travel multiple contents and cover everything from superheroes to war, without ever losing the reader’s grip. This novel is a must-read.

Your Silence will Not Protect You by Audre Lorde

With accompanying material by Reni Eddo-Lodge and Sara Ahmed, this posthumous collection of Lorde’s poetry (and some essays) explores the notion of silence as violence, making this relevant reading in order to avoid complacency and maintain the momentum of major movements like BLM and MeToo.

A Manual for Cleaning Women, Lucia Berlin

This unique piece contains 43 short stories inspired by Berlin’s highly diverse life. Berlin chronicles through the vast number of jobs she has had during her life and explores some of the roles often taken for granted. She has astute powers of observation that make this collection a deeply-layered and dynamic reading experience.

When you’re not admiring the shiny tiled walls and terrazzo flooring, steal away to the treatment rooms, complete with retro reclining chairs imported from Japan. Here, skilled aestheticians work their magic using high-quality products and innovative techniques.

Our words to live by are ‘give a fig’. We believe in creating thoughtful, immersive experiences that transform your everyday. We have four principles that guide everything we do, internally and externally: curiosity, communication, community, and consistency.

The collaboration with MIRROR WATER came about organically after Estée booked her first treatment at Formula Fig in Vancouver as a birthday treat.

“I had never heard of them and a quick Google search told me that this was the best place to go,” she says. “I saw the unique and impressive curation of products on their wall and knew MIRROR WATER had to be on those shelves. I can be slightly relentless and luckily on this occasion, it paid off. Working together has been a dream and I’m excited for this partnership to grow.” - Estée Lalonde

At Formula Fig, guests can now enjoy a curated selection of MIRROR WATER products, including the SMOOTH Body Oil and RUB Solid Balm. These products complement Formula Fig's immersive skincare experiences, extending the benefits beyond the facial treatments.

At the heart of both brands is a “dedication to nurturing yourself from every angle”. Formula Fig specialises in rejuvenating the skin, while MIRROR WATER focuses on promoting relaxation and self-reflection through bath and body care.

We love partnering with skincare brands who embrace a whole-self approach: the notion that caring for ourselves begins with the rituals we take the time for each day. MIRROR WATER offers a great assortment of skincare and body care products that our guests can bring home with them to complement their treatment routine.

It’s not uncommon for someone to book in for a facial because they’re feeling stressed or drained and just want someone to take care of them for an hour,” adds Estée. “That’s the same person who might benefit from the essential oils in our body oil for example. Something to carry on the relaxation at home between treatments.

In line with this holistic approach, Estée's personal journey and passion for wellness have shaped MIRROR WATER into a community-driven space that encourages mindfulness and balance. It's more than just products; it's about fostering a sense of wellbeing that extends beyond skincare routines.

Uniquely female-founded, owned, and operated, Formula Fig is powered by its deep beliefs in community, design, and service – helping all of its guests #GiveAFig about their skin. Book your treatment in Vancouver, Toronto, or Los Angeles via their website.

WRITTEN BY: Emma Gibbins