Under-the-Radar Canadian Beauty Brands You Need to Know
Everyone knows that Canada is home to some pretty major beauty brands. There’s the global phenomenon that is MAC Cosmetics but also younger brands like Nudestix, Bite Beauty and Consonant Skincare. Yet in addition to these big names, there are plenty of under-the-radar lines that are worth getting to know.
See some of our faves below:
Made for millennials by a millennial (29-year-old Brittny Skylar Robins), this Toronto-based company takes the guesswork out of skincare with foolproof products, such as its hero item: the Flawless by Friday five-day hydrogel mask system consisting of treatments for each day of the week — Moisture Monday, Toning Tuesday, Wrinkle Wednesday, Tightening Thursday and Flawless Friday. This system, along with the rest of Flawless by Friday’s products, which include gel masks for eyes, serums and a masking system marketed to men, combine natural ingredients with Asian-inspired gel technology for effective results in a considerably short amount of time.
Handmade in small batches in Toronto, Poetic Blend offers luxury facial and body oils made from all-natural and plant-based ingredients. Brand owner and co-founder, Mikayla Tran, launched her line after discovering oil was the trick to balancing her oily skin. She now sources materials for her three products — the Hero Oil, the Timeless Oil and the Ghost Oil — from suppliers around the world, being careful to choose ingredients free of preservatives, dyes and fragrances.
Graydon proves that plant-based skincare can be luxurious, from its all-natural ingredients to its chic packaging. Though it comes from humble beginnings (founder Graydon Moffat started off by creating the products in her kitchen), it boasts sophisticated, clinically-formulated products made from ingredients sourced from Canadian growers.
Eco-conscious mamas will appreciate Montreal-based Énamour by Marie Custeau. “I had a hard time finding products that were free of harmful toxic ingredients. Plus, even though I love baby animals, I quickly tired of seeing them all over children’s products,” says Custeau. Her line consists of 100 hundred per cent natural and plant-based products housed in sleek packaging that are worth displaying rather than shoving into the drawer of a change table.
Former Electric Circus host, Monika Deol, created STELLAR* after realizing there was a gap in the market for medium skin tone makeup. She describes her line, which boasts 22 foundation shades, as “high performance and accessible makeup” that’s all-inclusive, but “pays serious attention to the skin tones in the middle.” Only a few months old, the line launched into Sephora, a pretty impressive feat for a brand right out of the gate.
As the name suggests, Alberta-based Rocky Mountain Soap Company started off with bars of soap, but has since extended its product range to lotions and oils made from 100 per cent natural ingredients. We’re particular fans of the Body Butter that comes in a stick form for easy application and their mini egg-shaped bath bombs. Bonus? Their packaging and store design are also environmentally-conscious.
Founded by mother-daughter duo, Joyce and Erica, Toronto-based Island Joy offers a small selection of handmade sugar scrubs, inspired by Joyce’s childhood spent in the Caribbean. Each scrub contains carefully-sourced ingredients and is free of fillers, petrochemicals phthalates and dyes and are so delicious-smelling, you’ll want to eat them. We don’t recommend it though.
Vancouver, B.C.-based Harlow Skin Co. uses organic and non-GMO ingredients that are ethically sourced to create its range of face and body products which include body whips, scrubs and cheek and lip tints.
While Zoologist’s perfumes are inspired by animals, they aren’t actually made from any animal-derived musks. Instead, Toronto-based founder Victor Wong works with perfumers to capture the essence of the animal kingdom, creating unusual, innovative fragrances. Their newest launch, Dragonfly, is a “fleeting aqueous floral scent” featuring rice and papyrus.
, this Toronto-based company takes the guesswork out of skincare with foolproof products, such as its hero item: the Flawless by Friday five-day hydrogel mask system consisting of treatments for each day of the week — Moisture Monday, Toning Tuesday, Wrinkle Wednesday, Tightening Thursday and Flawless Friday. This system, along with the rest of Flawless by Friday's products, which include gel masks for eyes, serums and a masking system marketed to men, combine natural ingredients with Asian-inspired gel technology for effective results in a considerably short amount of time.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTPdOqbjfR7/
Handmade in small batches in Toronto, Poetic Blend offers luxury facial and body oils made from all-natural and plant-based ingredients. Brand owner and co-founder, Mikayla Tran, launched her line after discovering oil was the trick to balancing her oily skin. She now sources materials for her three products — the Hero Oil, the Timeless Oil and the Ghost Oil — from suppliers around the world, being careful to choose ingredients free of preservatives, dyes and fragrances.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BT_7bDjF2lZ/
Graydon proves that plant-based skincare can be luxurious, from its all-natural ingredients to its chic packaging. Though it comes from humble beginnings (founder Graydon Moffat started off by creating the products in her kitchen), it boasts sophisticated, clinically-formulated products made from ingredients sourced from Canadian growers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQNq2LXAEaM/
Eco-conscious mamas will appreciate Montreal-based Énamour by Marie Custeau. "I had a hard time finding products that were free of harmful toxic ingredients. Plus, even though I love baby animals, I quickly tired of seeing them all over children’s products," says Custeau. Her line consists of 100 hundred per cent natural and plant-based products housed in sleek packaging that are worth displaying rather than shoving into the drawer of a change table.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVYL0EflDtp/?taken-by=stellarbeautyofficial
Former Electric Circus host, Monika Deol, created STELLAR* after realizing there was a gap in the market for medium skin tone makeup. She describes her line, which boasts 22 foundation shades, as "high performance and accessible makeup" that’s all-inclusive, but "pays serious attention to the skin tones in the middle." Only a few months old, the line launched into Sephora, a pretty impressive feat for a brand right out of the gate.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSz9N6SAf6Y/?taken-by=rockymountainsoapco
As the name suggests, Alberta-based Rocky Mountain Soap Company started off with bars of soap, but has since extended its product range to lotions and oils made from 100 per cent natural ingredients. We're particular fans of the Body Butter that comes in a stick form for easy application and their mini egg-shaped bath bombs. Bonus? Their packaging and store design are also environmentally-conscious.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUPXMpPgiVc/
Founded by mother-daughter duo, Joyce and Erica, Toronto-based Island Joy offers a small selection of handmade sugar scrubs, inspired by Joyce's childhood spent in the Caribbean. Each scrub contains carefully-sourced ingredients and is free of fillers, petrochemicals phthalates and dyes and are so delicious-smelling, you'll want to eat them. We don't recommend it though.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVX9_tRnsAr/
Vancouver, B.C.-based Harlow Skin Co. uses organic and non-GMO ingredients that are ethically sourced to create its range of face and body products which include body whips, scrubs and cheek and lip tints.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTA2nZalrw-/?taken-by=zoologistperfumes
While Zoologist's perfumes are inspired by animals, they aren't actually made from any animal-derived musks. Instead, Toronto-based founder Victor Wong works with perfumers to capture the essence of the animal kingdom, creating unusual, innovative fragrances. Their newest launch, Dragonfly, is a "fleeting aqueous floral scent" featuring rice and papyrus.){kind=link}