The Price Of Pampering: Sarah Nicole Landry On The New “Cost of Smelling Good” (Win!)

For many Canadians, the luxury of a long skincare routine is starting to feel like a significant financial strain. With a staggering 79% of Canadians admitting they would swap their premium favorites for a budget-friendly alternative that actually works, the “Cost of Smelling Good Index” reveals a massive shift in our self-care habits. As only 33% of the population currently views self-care as affordable, the arrival of Suave in Canada—exclusively at Walmart—aims to bridge that gap with high-performance body washes and 48-hour protection deodorants priced at just $3.97.

To dive into how we can maintain our standards without breaking the bank, we sat down with body confidence advocate and Suave partner, Sarah Nicole Landry. From navigating the “cost-of-living crunch” to finding joy in accessible everyday rituals, Sarah shares why effective self-care should be a right, not a luxury. —Noa Nichol

Breaking the “Premium” Spell: The Cost of Smelling Good Index found that nearly half of Canadians feel they have to overpay for high-performance products. As someone who champions body confidence and authentic living, how do you think the pressure to buy “prestige” brands has skewed our definition of what self-care actually is?

I think it’s made our perception believe that higher price always equals higher quality or performance! When, the reality is, that’s not (always) true. Do I love a prestige brand product sometimes? Of course. But for me, I always stick to tried and true and well performing regardless of price and not get too caught up in the labels.

The Motherhood & Entrepreneurship Juggle: You’ve mentioned that as a mother and entrepreneur, prioritizing yourself without breaking the bank is key. When 53% of Canadians say the cost of living is actively sabotaging their self-care, what is your best advice for reclaiming those small moments when the budget feels tighter than ever?

Nothing about this surprises me. It can be really a tricky time when you’re on a maternity leave and experiencing new costs mixed with a reduced income and navigating body change and lifestyle change…losing bits of self care in that can be really tough. It’s very nuanced and a much bigger conversation, but at the core of it, I really would love mothers to remember themselves within all of the newness. Remember that they are still a person worthy of love and care in the everyday…even if it looks a little different than it did before. 

Prioritizing Your Future Self: With 42% of Canadians currently cutting back on personal care to save money, self-care is often the first thing to be sacrificed. Why is it so important to maintain these “accessible” rituals—like a $3.97 body wash—to prevent the burnout and stress that come with a high-cost-of-living environment?

At some of the lowest moments and the highest stress points of my life, little routines and systems of self care in place can help things moving along. If you’re cutting back on spending, great! But, it doesn’t always have to be a cutting back on your daily rituals and the tiny things that can really build up to make a difference. Suave coming in with body wash at $3.97 (which lasts a while) can mean you’re creating or maintaining self-care rituals without the added cost, and without giving up something that makes you feel good at the start or end of your day. The little things matter. 

The Ultimate “Scent-Sational” Swap: 79% of Canadians say they’d ditch their luxury brand for an affordable option that works just as well. If you had to convince a “luxury-only” friend to trade their $40 body wash for Suave’s long-lasting $3.97 fragrances, what’s your winning pitch?

I would love to wrap them all in paper and just pop the top and let them decide for themselves based on scent alone! Honestly, I think that’s the winning pitch! Each scent in the body wash lineup is unique to each other and really can play up a persons personality or mood of the day. From spa like to beach like, or nostalgic…like strawberry delight.

The “Trade-Off” Game: The index shows Canadians are cutting back on eating out (42%) and new clothes (32%) just to afford their beauty routines. Between a fancy takeout dinner or a perfectly refreshing 48-hour antiperspirant and a rich-lather shower, why does “smelling good” win every time?

I think for me, it’s because smelling good is an everyday event and take out is just one meal! This is the best part about us all as individuals, we can make the choices that work best for us. If that take out dinner is it for you, amazing! If it’s smelling extra great, also amazing! 

The Bathroom Shelf Confessional: We’ve all been there—overpaying for a product just because the packaging was pretty, only to have it fail us. What’s the most “Priceless” (or perhaps “Pricey”) self-care fail you’ve had that finally led you to embrace the “smarter, more accessible” drugstore hero lifestyle? 

When I was really struggling financially and only shopping the more affordable brands, I always assumed that if I could afford the higher cost items, I would have better results. Honestly, not true. A lot of times you’re actually paying for a label of that brand or their strong marketing campaigns. I still to this day will rely on buying what works best. 

Win! A $100 Suave Prize Pack!

Congrats Tracey O. of Edmonton, AB, who will receive a $100 Suave Prize Pack, including a total of 20 products! Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding. Full contest rules/regulations here.