HOMEGROWN HEROES

Think the best beauty brands are French or Korean? Here are 10 incredible companies that have been proudly created within our borders.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEOFFREY ROSS

Looking for an all-natural lipstick that’s made in Canada? Try Bite Beauty. Founder Susanne Langmuir wanted to guarantee what she was putting on her lips (and ingesting) wasn’t harmful, so she created a range of all-natural colour cosmetics made in small batches in Bite’s Toronto factory. The bottom line? The colour you swipe on is as good as it looks.

Bite Beauty Multistick in Gelato, $28, and Bite Beauty Prismatic Pearl Crème Lip Gloss in Rose Pearl, $25, sephora.ca.

2 | PROVINCE APOTHECARY

Founder Julie Clark uses homegrown ingredients as inspiration; her products include beeswax from Alberta, essential oils from Quebec and clay from British Columbia. “My focus is Fair Trade, sustainability and Canadian ingredients,” says Clark, who hails from Toronto. “What we can’t find here, we supplement, but I love having that personal relationship with our local suppliers.”

Province Apothecary West Coast Sea Salt Soap, $14 each, and Province Apothecary Moisturizing Cleanser + Make-Up Remover, $20, provinceapothecary.com. The award-winning skin-care products from Consonant Skincare really work—which was part of the goal for Toronto founder Bill Baker from the get-go. “We wanted Consonant to be a brand you can trust,” says Baker, “so everything is as high quality as we can possibly make it. We’ve formulated our products to be high performance.”

Consonant Skincare Come Clean 100% Natural Bamboo Cleansing Cloths, $9 per pack of 10, consonantskincare.com.

4 | Peoni

Jennifer Brodeur is the brain behind Peoni, a new plant-based skin-care line based in Montreal. Though this four-piece range launched last November, it has already made it onto the most coveted list: Oprah’s Favorite Things. The endorsement is no surprise; Brodeur has been treating Oprah’s skin for almost five years. Free of mineral oil, parabens, dyes and toxins, this clean collection is packed with white peony root, a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

Peoni L’extrait, $225, jbskinguru.com.

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Vancouver-based TV personality Monika Deol (of Electric Circus fame) found a gap in the foundation market for middle-of-the-spectrum skin tones (such as Indian, Hispanic and some biracial complexions), so she decided to fill it. The result is Stellar. “The Stellar woman is a global citizen,” says Deol. “Makeup is not a superficial thing to me. It helps articulate personality and allows women to express who they are.”

Stellar Limitless Foundation, $45, sephora.ca. When we talk about the products from Smith Farms being farm fresh, we mean it literally. Sisters Julia and Rebecca Sinclair-Smith make their collection on their family farm in Quebec from locally sourced and natural ingredients. “The farm inspires a simplistic way of doing things and staying close to nature,” says Julia.

Smith Farms Daily Moisture Body Lotion, $25, and Smith Farms Nourishing Hair and Body Oil, $20, smithfarmsproducts.com.

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This delicious beauty line (seriously, each product smells good enough to eat) started in 2003 in Heather Reier’s Toronto kitchen and is now an internationally recognized brand that sells bath, body and hair products all over the world. It was Reier’s dedication and business savvy that catapulted this grassroots company to where it sits now.

Cake The Wave Maker Texturizing Beach Spray, $19, cakebeauty.com.

8 | Caryl Baker Visage

In 1969, Caryl Baker pioneered the “try before you buy” concept, armed with the ambition to make cosmetics accessible and relatable for all women. In 2013, two Toronto-based millennials, Justin Dumitrescu and Nathan Tam, purchased the company and set out to modernize the brand. It now boasts more than 32 franchised stores and offers 300 cutting-edge treatments, such as microblading, eyelash extensions and advanced clinical facials.

Caryl Baker H2O Restore Hyaluronic Hydrating Gel, $75, and Caryl Baker H2O Restore Antioxidant Cream, $65, carylbakervisage.com. Cover FX cofounder Jenny Frankel was shocked to find her millennial daughters, Taylor and Ally, had no interest in a full face of makeup or endless products. Realizing the industry was not identifying with women looking for easy and effortless beauty, the power trio from Toronto created their own line of easy-to-use chubby makeup sticks. “You’re hearing a lot about authenticity and real-life beauty right now, and that’s exactly what inspired Nudestix,” says Taylor.

Nudestix Nudies Matte All Over Face Color in Deep Maple, Eh and Nudestix Nudies Glow All Over Face Color in Illumi-Naughty, $33 each, nudestix.ca.

10 | Rocky Mountain Soap Co.

Alberta-based Rocky Mountain Soap Co. began with bars of soap and now offers a range of natural and toxin-free items. The company also includes green packaging and sustainable store design. “It’s important that the ethos we apply to our products also carries over into our whole impact as a company,” says co-owner Karina Birch.

Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Wellness Bath Bomb in Serenity, Vitality and Stress Away, $5 each, rockymountainsoap.com.

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DRINK MORE WATER

Staying hydrated is vital for keeping your bladder comfortable HUK\UKLYJVU[YVS4VZ[KH`ZZP_[VLPNO[NSHZZLZVM^H[LY HYLLUV\NO[VIHUPZOKLO`KYH[PVU)\[PU[OLZ\TTLYOPNOLY temperatures make the body lose water more quickly. Up `V\YPU[HRLLHYS`PU[OL KH`LZWLJPHSS`^OLU[OLTLYJ\Y` ZVHYZ[VTHRLZ\YL`V\»YLNL[[PUNLUV\NO

2BUTT OUT

Here’s another excellent reason to quit: smoking can reduce ISVVKÅV^[V`V\YRPKUL`ZHUK SLHK[VPUJVU[PULUJL)\[ILPUN around secondhand smoke — even outside — can make `V\JV\NO[VV(UK[OH[»ZVM[LUHJ\SWYP[^OLUP[JVTLZ[V occasional leaks. Steering clear of smoking is one of your best strategies for staying dry and happy.

RELAX, SUMMER’S HERE!

GLORIOUS SUNSHINE, WARM BREEZES, LONG DAYS AND FUN NIGHTS — THAT’S WHAT SUMMER IS ALL ABOUT.

Our Top 5 tips will help you make this the most comfortable and worry-free summer you’ve ever enjoyed.

3GRAB A SALAD

Summer is when all sorts of amazing fresh vegetables show \WPUMHYTLY»ZTHYRL[ZHUKNYVJLY`Z[VYLZ;HRLHK]HU[HNL VM[OPZIV\U[`(SRHSPULYPJO]LNNPLZZ\JOHZRHSL SL[[\JL YLKWLWWLYZHUKJ\RLZKVU»[PYYP[H[L[OLISHKKLYSPRLHJPKPJ MVVKZ;OL`HSZVJVU[HPUÄIYL^OPJORLLWZ`V\YKPNLZ[PVU humming along and helps relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of occasional incontinence.

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MAKE THAT A DECAF

Hot days are perfect for iced coffee and iced tea. ;OLIHKUL^Z!JHMMLPULPZHISHKKLYPYYP[HU[[OH[JHURLLW you running to the bathroom all day — and all night. Stick to decaf or switch to other bladder-friendly IL]LYHNLZZ\JOHZZWHYRSPUN^H[LYVYJYHUILYY` Q\PJLMVYTVYL^VYY`MYLLUPNO[Z

5PACK EXTRAS

Spontaneous summer getaways are the best — when you’re prepared. Keep your overnight bag packed with the essentials and make sure to tuck in extras of your most\ZLKP[LTZ![OPURÅPWÅVWZZ^PTZ\P[ZZ\UZJYLLUHUK;,5( 6]LYUPNO[<UKLY^LHY;OH[^H``V\»SSHS^H`ZILYLHK`[V take off on your next adventure.

YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY

DID YOU KNOW THAT INCONTINENCE IS JUST AS COMMON AS HAY FEVER? BUT WITH THE NEW TENA OVERNIGHT UNDERWEAR, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO INTERRUPT YOUR SUMMER FUN OR CAUSE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS. TENA GIVES YOU PEACE OF MIND, AND LETS YOU BE YOU.

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RALSTON WILLIAMS

Mary Beth Currie’s brand may be only a year and a half old, but this lawyer-turned-designer has already achieved some great things. The inspiration for her Fall 2017 collection comes from Canadian landscapes, but it’s her fabrication that’s especially impressive: All the pieces are easily stepped into, pulled on or over, or fastened with front closures and magnets—which makes it simple for those with limited hand mobility or who live alone to wear her garments.

Some of the best and brightest brands in fashion hail from the North. We’ve rounded up the most successful notable newcomers and old favourites who are making waves both nationally and internationally.

WE’RE SUCH A SMALL MARKET that, to make our mark, we have to think outside the box and create products that are exceptional in quality, style and function.”

— MARY BETH CURRIE, DESIGNER OF RALSTON WILLIAMS

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2. Cross-body bag, $89, poppyandpeonies.com.

3. Ashley pleated skirt, $375, judithandcharles.com.

4. Delta bracelet, $155, and Cypress bracelet, $225, hillbergandberk.com.

5. Subrosa glasses in Fauve and Loft glasses in Black Granite, $135 each, bonlook.com.

6. Marina sandals in Lemon Yellow, $229, barcelonacollective.com.

7. Peaked-lapel blazer, $695, shopsmythe.com.

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After Penetanguishene, Ont., native Natalie Dusome cut her design teeth at Banana Republic, Fossil and Aldo, she created her own brand. Her design ethos is simple, chic and practical: “My customer isn’t avant-garde. She’s an everyday woman who wants a trendy but functional bag at an afforadable price.”

3. JUDITH & CHARLES

Judith Richardson and Charles Le Pierrès, founders of Montreal-based Judith & Charles, a high-end clothing manufacturer and retailer, have been in business in Canada for 26 years. “The instinct to design and manufacture 90 percent of the collection locally means we’re homegrown and supportive of the local economy,” says Richardson.

4. HILLBERG & BERK

With a few beads, a dream and a ton of hard work, Saskatchewan entrepreneur Rachel Mielke started Hillberg & Berk in 2007. Her handcrafted semiprecious gemstone and silver pieces are not the only reason we admire Mielke: To date, Hillberg & Berk has contributed almost a million dollars to national and international organizations that help women around the world work toward making their dreams a reality.

5. BONLOOK

In 2011, BonLook CEO Sophie Boulanger and her brother, Louis-Félix, the COO, cofounded this web-based fashion-forward eyewear brand, which has swiftly expanded into 10 stores across Canada. The brand engages with the customer directly and designs glasses in house, cutting out the middleman (a distribution company), which allows BonLook to sell corrective glasses and sunglasses at competitive pricing.

6. BARCELONA COLLECTIVE

In 2015, Roxana Esmailji left her corporate career and immersed herself in design, setting out to launch her own shoe brand. “I started the business to make really comfortable shoes for pragmatic women who are also fashion forward, stylish and looking for something fun,” says the mother of two young boys. Each shoe is made by hand using fabrics that are stretchy and washable, including the suede insoles.

7. SMYTHE

In 2004, codesigners Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe exploded onto the scene with their made-in-Canada fashion. The pair gained notoriety for flawlessly tailored blazers, which became a wardrobe staple among international icons. The Duchess of Cambridge first donned the Duchess blazer for the 2011 royal tour of Canada, and everyone from Beyoncé to Kate Hudson counts the brand as a fashion mainstay.

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ELLIE MAE

With an education in fashion from Central Saint Martins in London, outerwear newcomer Ellie Mae is making waves this side of the pond with her sophisticated and refined coats and jackets. A vintage lover at heart, Mae is drawn to fabrics and shapes with a retro esthetic.

Bernard jacket, $695, elliemaestudios.com. Dress, $130, lechateau.com. Necklace, melanieauld.ca.

NICOLE BRIDGER

What began as a wholesale line in Nicole Bridger’s parents’ basement in 2006 evolved into a storefront in Vancouver’s trendy Gastown neighbourhood in 2015. Bridger sought to merge style and social responsibility, citing that “the ethical stores didn’t get the fashion, and fashion stores didn’t get the ethical.”

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Button-front tie dress, $475, horsesatelier.com.

Compassion dress, $418, nicolebridger.com. Choker, jenny-bird.ca. Jenny Bird x Indigo bracelet, indigo.ca. Midi rings, foeanddear.com. Rings, lechateau.com. Shoes, barcelonacollective.com.

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Pavé dainty bands, $65 each, teardrop stacking ring in moonstone, $115, starburst stacking ring in moonstone, $108, and emerald-cut stacking ring in labradorite, $120, melanieauld.ca.

10. HORSES ATELIER

In 2012, Claudia Dey and Heidi Sopinka took their 30-year friendship to the next level when they started Horses Atelier. The goal? To create slipdresses and feminized workwear they love. “When designing, we enter a cave—we don’t look at trends; we make what we want to wear,” says Sopinka. The duo think there’s a frontier quality—“a pioneering independence”—to the pieces, all handsewn in Toronto.

11. JENNY BIRD

The label’s esthetic is edgy and elegant but extremely wearable, and the target market is ageless. “I feel like New York is very influenced by Europe, whereas in Canada and Australia and other northern countries, the design is fiercely original,” says Jenny Bird. “We’re not mirroring the rest of the world. Maybe it’s because we’re on more of an island up here, but I love it.”

12. MELANIE AULD

One scroll through Melanie Auld’s Instagram feed and you’ll be hooked on her impossibly beautiful and delicate jewels. The designs embrace contradiction, so effervescent and quirky touches (think moonstone and labradorite gems and star motifs) mix with classic settings and designs. The key is you can wear these pieces every day, but they’re also perfectly at home at weddings and other special events.

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SOIA & KYO

Montreal-based brand Soia & Kyo knows a thing or two about creating stylish outerwear that protects during unpredictable weather conditions. “We give a whole new meaning to fashion meets function,” says founder and creative director Ilan Elfassy. Since 2004, he’s stayed true to his core vision, continuously evoking a feminine simplicity with the help of luxurious fabrics, contemporary style details and multiuse versatility that carries you from season to season.

Kathryn vest, $320, soiakyo.com. Sleeveless blouse, $50, pants, $60, and sandals, lechateau.com. Necklace, jenny- bird.ca. Bracelet and rings, melanieauld.ca. Matt & Nat clutch, indigo.ca. Danielle Singer draws inspiration from everywhere for Dolorous, her line of everyday jewellery. The Japanese concept of wabi-sabi—beauty through imperfection—heavily influenced her Fall 2017 collection. “My pieces are an understated and accessible kind of elegant,” says Singer. “I think that quality really mirrors the Canadian sensibility.”

16. ELA HANDBAGS

The eponymous label that Ela Aldorsson launched in 2010 with her husband, Martin, is a Canadian-designer success story. “We saw an opportunity in the affordable-luxury segment that bridged the gap between fast fashion and luxury.” Her MILCK (money, ID, lipstick, cell, keys) clutch was the brand’s first offering and is now cemented as a cult favourite.

17. BOUSWARI

Toronto’s Diarra Bousso Niang learned her craft in Paris before partnering with Senegalese artisans to create a modern twist on traditional leather goods. Part of the label’s leather is sourced from Senegal, being cut by traditional knives and embroidered with local techniques.

18. FOE & DEAR

Vancouver’s Katherine Huie started Foe & Dear in 2009 after a summer interning with a jewellery designer in Brooklyn, N.Y. Her delicate handmade fine jewellery skilfully merges dreamlike details with minimalistic design.

19. PROVINCE OF CANADA

Dating back to 1841, before Canada cemented its status as a country, it was called the Province of Canada. When we hear the name now, we think of the tees and sweatshirts from (the brand) Province of Canada that focuses on Canadian-designed, -made and -manufactured products.

20. TRIARCHY

It takes 2,500 gallons of water to make one pair of jeans. Triarchy wants to do better, so it expanded its classic denim brand (also sustainable) with an eco-friendly luxury line called Atelier Denim. The collection is centred on high-quality pieces built to last, incorporating trendier twists such as patchwork and fringe. Each garment ensures a zero-water footprint by reconstructing vintage denim and repurposing old materials.

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15. Cea chain drop earrings, $85, and Allie necklace, $98, dolorousjewelry.com.

16. Mini MILCK clutch with bloom embroidery, $330, and mini MILCK clutch with floral petals, $395, elabyela.com.

17. Touareg bag, $450, bouswari.com.

18. Point stacker ring, $30, and hammered bracelet, $80, foeanddear.com.

19. Crewneck sweater, $118, provinceofcanada.com.

20. Calypso jeans, $600, atelierdenim.com.