Photo: via @bitebeauty, by @tomtakesphotoss for @intothegloss

Canada is often disregarded as a makeup powerhouse, but the truth is many successful companies have their roots planted in the True North. You may be surprised to learn some of your top-shelf beauty products actually come from local brands.

MAC Cosmetics

Prior to joining the Estee Lauder Companies in 1998, MAC Cosmetics got its start in Toronto. It specializes in professional makeup and is often used backstage during fashion weeks globally. The brand finds its way into the makeup bags of anyone from beginners to professional artists. Anyone care for a little bit of Ruby Woo?


BEST SELLER

Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo, $22, maccosmetics.ca

Bite Beauty 

Weekend plans: make the perfect shade – ? @christaledding #LipLabxBITE

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Bite Beauty specializes in food-grade lip products, meaning the ingredients are natural and safe enough to eat. Bite also has Lip Labs in Toronto, San Francisco and New York where you can make an appointment to customize your own lipstick. You select the finish, scent and of course, your perfect shade. The Bite Beauty Lip Lab is located on Queen St. W. in Toronto.


BEST SELLER

 Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Honeycomb, $30, sephora.com

Nudestix 

As teenagers, sisters Taylor and Ally Frankel co-founded Nudestix with the help of their mother, Jenny Frankel. Jenny had previously worked as a MAC product developer and was co-founder of Cover FX. The sisters operate as the face of Nudestix. The brand creates cosmetics for people who love the no-makeup makeup look. Crayon-like pencils for your lips, cheeks and face make their products travel friendly and easy to use.


BEST SELLER

 Nudies All Over Face Color Matte, $33, nudestix.ca

RMS Beauty

Rose-Marie Swift founded RMS Beauty with one goal in mind – to create a line of cosmetics free of chemicals and heavy metals. The makeup artists, whose credits include work for Dianne Von Furstenburg, Calvin Klein, and Victoria’s Secret, started her company out west in Vancouver. The most popular products are the cream highlighters, which Swift designed to give the skin a youthful lift.


BEST SELLER
Champagne Rose Luminizer, $38, rmsbeauty.com

The Ordinary

Colours has (or debatably have) arrived! All 42 of them! Colours is an evolving collection of colour formulations from The Ordinary. The offering begins with lightweight Serum Foundations and highly-pigmented Coverage Foundations with each form available in a comprehensive shade range across 21 shades. Serum Foundations are very low in viscosity and offer moderate coverage that looks natural with a very lightweight serum feel. Coverage Foundations contain higher pigment levels in a non-oily cream texture but still offer a smooth finish that avoids the heavy makeup look that can make skin appear more aged. The pigments used in both formats are treated for a rich, highly-saturated effect. These pigments are suspended in our proprietary spreadability system that allows pigments to look natural on the skin, resist collecting within fine lines and stay on for longer. Both formulations offer SPF 15 protection that's mineral-based and avoid the use of chemical sunscreens entirely. The formulations are and will be the same in all markets but the packaging will claim SPF 15 only in the European Union initially while regulatory processes for claiming SPF in other markets are carried out individually. Serum Foundations: £5.70 (UK)/$6.70 (US/CA); Coverage Foundations: £5.90 (UK)/$6.90 (US/CA). (Hint 1: it's April 1st. Hint 2: Monkeys are always late. Hint 3: It's all coming mid April because everyone wanted pumps instead of droppers and caps ?) ?❤️

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The Ordinary is a skincare brand owned by Deciem aka The Abnormal Beauty Company. Since its launch, it has taken the beauty community by storm thanks to the medical-inspire packaging, fair prices, and of course – effectiveness. This summer, the company dipped its toe into the world of cosmetics when it launched a $7 foundation with a serum base. The foundation comes in 42 shades and has sold out several times since the initial release.


BEST SELLER
Serum Foundation, $7, theordinary.com

 

Have you tried any of these brands? Let us know your favourite products in the comment section! For more HOLR Magazine check us out on social media: @holrmagazine