We are blessed here in Canada to have a growing number of clean beauty options that value our skin, animals, and the environment. In my opinion, that should be the bare minimum. I’ve put together this easy-to-follow list of 14 brands local to Canada with great ingredient lists, ethics, and colour payoff. The brands are mentioned in alphabetical order.

Bite Beauty

Bite Beauty based out of Toronto sells beautiful lip pigments crafted with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids that will leave your lips soft and subtle. All products are vegan and food-grade, allowing you to safely slather on your favourite lip colour without ingredient fear. Their inclusive shade range and long-lasting formulas are sure to impress as they continue to help the ageing and hydration of your lips as you wear them for longer.

Elate Clean Cosmetics

Elate Cosmetics does it all; low waste, fair trade, ethical marketing, vegan & cruelty-free. They’re committed to empowering their customers with the best possible products for their daily rituals. Elate also has an amazing donations program in place to impact the communities around them. Their Amplify line donates 100% of the proceeds every day to the charity of the season, and on the 11th day of every month, 10% of all sales from the day go to the charity/organization chosen for that term.

I recently purchased a few makeup products from Elate and so far, I am satisfied with it.

Ilia Beauty

Ilia is a growing name in the clean beauty scene containing active skincare ingredients for powerful impact that shield the skin from environmental stressors. Their skin products also have a strong focus on SPF and the actives that keeps them effective for the entire product’s life. While all of IlIa Beauty cosmetics are cruelty-free, they have a specific section for those deemed 100% vegan. There are some beautiful choices to pick through.

Lise Watier

This well-known Canadian cosmetics company has been around since the 70s. They have always been against animal testing and ensures product safety through “in vitro” or “self-testing” methods on humans. While the entire company is not vegan, they do have a growing number of products that are in fact vegan friendly.

LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

You’re likely familiar with LUSH’s beautiful bath bombs or shampoo bars, but did you know they sell makeup too? The company has not only not participated, but actively fought against animal testing for the past 20 years. They only purchase ingredients from ethical companies and support global sustainable and environmental efforts through the sales of their products and sourcing.

NUDESTIX

This might be a makeup brand you are surprised to learn is Canadian. The family trio founders Jenny, Taylor and Ally Frankel understand the need for natural makeup in the current age of sustainability. Jenny is a chemical engineer that worked co-founded Cover-FX before starting NUDESTIX with her two daughters. All products are paraben-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free with vegan options available.

Marcelle

Marcelle has been a Canadian company since 1973, with a history spanning over 150 years. Their tagline “beauty without compromise”, holds true through their affordable pricing and wonderful ingredient lists that are great for sensitive skin. The brand is recognized by the Canadian Dermatology Association for skin health.

*While the Marcelle brand is cruelty-free, it is not 100% vegan.

I tried their mascara and it didn’t work out for me.

Plume COSMETICS

Best known for their effective lash and brow enhancing serum with an all-natural, long-lasting, preservative-free, safe, and effective formula. The products are 100% cruelty-free and non-toxic. While they try to be vegan wherever possible, it is not a guarantee. I would confirm ingredient lists if this is a determining factor for you.

Pure Anada clean Cosmetics

Pure Anada’s formulator and founder Candace Grenier's goal has been to “create a natural, safer alternative to traditional, mainstream cosmetics.” They thoroughly research supply chains of ingredients and purchase fair trade. Their mineral-based products come from their mines in India, where the owners fund schools and daycare centers for their workers to help maintain an ethical environment. All their products are clearly labelled with logos for their certified PETA Cruelty-Free and Vegan where applicable.

Sappho

Sappho is a beautiful, high-quality, organic makeup brand offering some of the cleanest and most sustainable products available in the country. The founder JoAnn Fowler is a well-known makeup artist in film and television for over 30 years. The entire brand is cruelty-free and vegan and they hold a high standard for their packaging and planet impact. A yearly donation is made to the Breast Cancer Support Fund supported by the purchase of their talc-free Silky Setting Powder.

Sweet Leilani Cosmetics

Founder LeiLani Kopp is one of the only specialists trained in paramedical corrective makeup and scar - repigmentation in the country. She is conscious of the impact skin conditions can have on makeup performance and vice versa and created a natural, plant-powered line that is conscious of its carbon footprint and quality. Sweet Leilani is 100% vegan, paraben-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free, fragrance-free.

True Glue

If you are a lover of fake eyelashes, you will be thrilled to discover True Glue if you haven’t already! They are a vegan, latex free, and cruelty free brand carrying beautiful lashes, liners, and most impressively an all-natural glue. It is near impossible to find a vegan lash glue that performs well and is free from irritants. The formula is susceptible to water, and takes a bit longer to dry but is a fair sacrifice to make for a natural, truly eye and environmentally safe product.

Vasanti Cosmetics

If you haven’t heard of Vasanti yet you are truly missing out. While it isn’t makeup per say, their bestselling Vegan Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator is literally a microdermabrasion facial in a bottle. It will improve skin texture to help your makeup last longer and look better. Their entire makeup line is cruelty free and vegan and filled with incredible pigments that will make your makeup really stand out.

Hey, Claudia here

I am a senior graphic designer, a dog mom, an advocate for a zero-waste lifestyle, climate change, and sustainability. My articles are based on personal experience and well researched to give you the best source of information for all things zero-waste.