Our Ultimate List of the Best Canadian Beauty Brands

If you haven’t heard, Canada is turning the big 1-5-0 this year. Over that century and a half, we’ve created many amazing things (basketball, zippers, butter tarts, etc.). But our beauty-obsessed minds are focused on all the skincare, makeup and haircare that’s being produced right in our backyards. 

To remind you that you don’t have to go international for everything you need to stay looking your freshest, we rounded up some of the best Canadian beauty brands and their outstanding products. Click through to find out what brands you should know about, and what products you’re about to fall in local love with.

Lovefresh

Coffee Sugar Scrub, Vanilla Bean, $36, lovefresh.com

Why we love them: Like so many of our favourite natural beauty companies, this one started in a kitchen. Founder Stacey Davis wanted to create natural products that work, and home experiments and recipe development evolved into a full line of skincare and bodycare products still made in Toronto.

Their stand-out product: Did you know exfoliating with sugar improves circulation and helps get nasty toxins out of your body by stimulating the lymphatic system? Lovefresh’s Coffee Sugar Scrub does all that, and it’s so gentle, you can use it every day.

Consonant Skincare

One For All Skincare Kit, $33, available at sephora.com on June 5

Why we love them: If you’re on the quest for amazing skin, Consonant is your local one-stop shop. All of their products, from cleansers to bath bombs to deodorant, are 100 percent natural with no parabens, sulfates or phthalates.

Their stand-out product: For Canada’s 150th, Consonant has released their limited edition One For All skincare kit. The kit contains their best-selling Natural Foaming Face Wash, Ultra Moisturizing Organic Face Cream, DHE Mask and their newest product, Come Clean 100% Natural Cleansing Cloths. It’s the perfect way to test drive a great selection of their offerings before making a full-sized commitment.

Zorah Biocosmetiques

Gaspé Detoxifying Mask, $40, zorahbiocosmetiques.com

Why we love them: Based in Montreal, this beauty company does everything in Canada, from designing packaging to sourcing ingredients. And to top it all off, every product is eco-friendly, organic and fair-trade.

Their stand-out product: If you’re looking for a deep cleanse to really detoxify your skin, try the Gaspé Detoxifying Mask. This mask packs a double whammy, brightening the skin and tightening pores. You can feel it working, too, thanks to a cooling sensation courtesy of green clay and willow bark extract.

Saje

Au Natural Crystal Fresh Deodorant Stick, $11, saje.com

Why we love them: Founded in 1992, the Saje husband-and-wife dream team, Jean-Pierre LeBlanc and Kate Ross LeBlanc, wanted to showcase the healing powers of 100% plant-derived products. To this day, all of their products are all-natural and filled with luxurious essential oils.

Their stand-out product: If you’re sensitive to scents, then you’re in luck, because the Au Natural Crystal Fresh Deodorant Stick is fragrance-free. It’s made with natural ingredients that won’t clog your pores or stain your clothes, and it contains mineral salts to keep you feeling fresh and clean all day.

RMS Beauty

Cream Eye Polish in Lunar, $39, rmsbeauty.com

Why we love them: Founder of RMS Beauty, Rose Marie Swift, set out on a mission to create cosmetics that would help women claim their right to healthy beauty. This Vancouver-based company makes outstanding organic colour cosmetics that are non-toxic and help heal and nourish the skin.

Their stand-out product: This this unique eyeshadow is light-reflective, so it gives your lids a pretty glow. Lunar is our fave shade, but every one of these creamy shadows contains raw mineral pigments that won’t dry out your lids.

Pura Biotanicals

Overnight Watermelon Mask, $64, purabiotanicals.ca

Why we love them: All of Pura Botanicals’ products are handcrafted and prepared in their studio in Edmonton. Each ingredients is sourced ethically and sustainably, and the majority are made with materials grown and harvested right here in Canada.

Their stand-out product: Their Overnight Watermelon Mask is infused with natural silk peptides and pure watermelon extract to give your skin a brightening boost. Super luxe ingredients like neroli, witch hazel and chamomile gently remove dead skin cells and give you a youthful glow.

Province Apothecary

Full Brow Serum, $36, provinceapothecary.com

Why we love them: Founder Julie Clark wanted to create a skincare line that wouldn’t irritate sensitive complexions, so she only uses uses the highest quality ingredients that are certified organic and cruelty-free, sourced from every province across Canada.

Their stand-out product: Full brows are still on-trend, and if yours need a boost, try Province’s Full Brow Serum. It helps fortify hairs and encourage fuller-looking brows with its blend of organic castor seed oil and rosemary leaf.

Bite Beauty

Multistick in Papaya, $28, sephora.com

Why we love them: This Toronto-based cosmetics company has been taking the lipstick world by storm, expanding across the border last year with their Bite Beauty Lip Lab in SoHo—before opening a much-anticipated location at home, too. All of their lip products are made entirely by hand from natural, organic ingredients that you can literally bite into (all of the ingredients are food-grade).

Their stand-out product: When you’re on the go, grab a Multistick. They’re super pigmented and creamy, and perfect for blending into lids, lips or cheeks. Papaya flatters lots of skin tones, and it’s just right for summer.

Harlow Skin Co

Body Balm in Mist, $28, harlowskinco.com

Why we love them: This company is dedicated to supporting local producers and consumers. Based in Vancouver, Harlow’s organic products are as simple as they are effective, each with no more than 12 ingredients.

Their stand-out product: Harlow’s Body Balms are the bomb. The rich formula, made with unrefined shea butter, extra virgin coconut oil and cardamom seed oil, is perfect for quenching dry skin. There are six scents to choose from, but the calming, cedarwood-y Mist is our favourite.

Graydon Skincare

Hair Smoothie, $24, graydonskincare.ca

Why we love them: This brand’s skincare and haircare is plant-powered. That means all the nutrients in their products come from things like broccoli, berry seed oils, manuka honey and rosewater. They also try their best to get as many Canada-grown ingredients into their products as possible.

Their stand-out product: Hair need a hydration boost? Look no further than Graydon’s Hair Smoothie. Filled with a blend of scalp-stimulating parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, this conditioner treats and detangles hair in an instant.

Nudestix

Nudies All Over Face Color Bronze + Glow, $33, sephora.com

Why we love them: This Toronto born-and-bred company is all about the natural look. Sisters Ally and Taylor created simple and easy-to-use makeup for anyone looking for just a hint of colour and a fresh-faced look. Their products are enriched with antioxidants and moisturizers to keep you glowing all day, every day.

Their stand-out product: Need an easy way to bronze and highlight? The Nudies All Over Face Color Bronze + Glow creates a sheer but buildable glow that blends like a dream for that subtle, everyday look.

Rocky Mountain Soap Company

Pomegranate Day Cream, $35, rockymountainsoap.com

Why we love them: Based in the gorgeous Rocky Mountain town of Canmore, AB, this company handcrafts soaps, lotions and oils with 100 percent natural ingredients. They search for organic and non-GMO ingredients, too, and every single product they create is non-toxic and cruelty-free.

Their stand-out product: The Pomegranate Day Cream is superfood for your skin. This antioxidant-rich cream will keep your skin hydrated all day thanks to pomegranate and coconut oils, and it’ll also help fight the signs of aging.

This post is part of The Canada Project, a representative survey of Canadians from across the country. You can find out more right here.