Think Dirty is proud to be founded and operated in Toronto. As a small Canadian company, we know how important it is to support our fellow Canadian businesses making positive changes in the beauty and personal care industries. Our Canadian partners are helping put Canada on the map and pushing the industry forward by making safe products that are accessible and effective.
To celebrate Canada Day this year, we wanted to share and celebrate their inspiring stories and brands. Read on to learn all about them!
We had them answer these 5 questions:
- What inspired you to start your beauty brand?
- What does being a Canadian mean to you?
- How do you feel about the clean beauty revolution in Canada?
- What was your journey to discovering clean beauty for yourself?
- What’s your go-to Canadian made clean beauty product?
Ashley Meston: Basd
What inspired you to start your beauty brand?
We wanted to create products that made people feel like the babes they are! That meant it had to perform great, smell great and be free of chemicals.
What does being a Canadian mean to you?
It means we have a responsibility to hold each other to a higher standard in our lives and with our products. We are going to push for more while creating an environment of empowerment.
How do you feel about the clean beauty revolution in Canada?
Beyond excited! Consumers are starting to demand more from brands and it’s creating meaningful change to the industry, our bodies, and the environment.
What was your journey to discovering clean beauty for yourself?
It started with understanding and feeling the benefits of clean nutrition and the impact it had on my body. Once I understood that I began to take a closer look at the importance of what goes on my body.
What’s your go-to Canadian made clean beauty product?
Other than basd, there are lots of amazing Canadian brands! Currently, I’m a fan of using the jade roller from Province Apothecary as my go-to night time routine.
Julie Clark: Province Apothecary
What inspired you to start your beauty brand?
I started Province Apothecary in 2012 out of a personal need for effective and clean skincare. I’ve always had allergies and sensitive skin and I’ve suffered from eczema for my whole life. Frustrated with the synthetic treatments, I became determined to find a natural solution. So I studied aromatherapy, aesthetics, and herbalism and began blending holistic skincare products in my kitchen. I was so excited by the results I was seeing that I wanted to share them.
What does being a Canadian mean to you?
The name Province Apothecary was born from a desire to use Canadian grown ingredients that help support our skin. All of our products are made from the highest quality natural, organic and clean ingredients which we blend into effective, nourishing skincare. We source many ingredients from Canadian provinces. Canada is a rich resource for beautiful natural ingredients that enhance our formulas and feed the skin.
How do you feel about the clean beauty revolution in Canada?
Love it! So exciting to be part of it!
What was your journey to discovering clean beauty for yourself?
My eczema led me to only want to use natural products. I started searching for products in 2006 and had a hard time finding effective and clean products.
What’s your go-to Canadian made clean beauty product?
Province Apothecary Moisturizing Oil Cleanser & Makeup Remover
Jennifer Carlson: Thirsty Naturals
What inspired you to start your beauty brand?
My teenagers. I was looking for clean, natural products that would address their specific needs (teens are typically oily and smelly) and couldn’t find any on the market. I wanted products that would speak to them, ones they would want to use and ones I would feel good about buying.
What does being a Canadian mean to you?
Being Canadian means I have freedom. The freedom to travel, breathe fresh air, build businesses, be welcomed by other countries. I feel fortunate and proud to be Canadian.
How do you feel about the clean beauty revolution in Canada?
I am thrilled that clean beauty has evolved and continues to grow. We are becoming leaders in North America and I hope we continue to innovate and set standards on the global market.
What was your journey to discovering clean beauty for yourself?
I spent 13 years building Canada’s leading brand of organic baby food (Baby Gourmet) and after spending so much time focusing on what goes in your body, it was a natural shift to start focusing on what goes on it, which is just as important.
What’s your go-to Canadian made clean beauty product?
Karina Birch: Rocky Mountain Soap Company
What inspired you to start your beauty brand?
I’ve loved experimenting with natural ingredients since I was a little girl. I inherently believed that if it came from nature it was the best you could get. There are over 85,000 chemicals in use in our industry today and only a fraction of them have been tested for long-term effects. I don’t think that is good enough. Our industry needs to change.
What does being a Canadian mean to you?
As Canadians, we are spoiled with clean air, access to nature and open spaces. Living in a country that is respected worldwide also means we get to travel easily to other countries, which is important to me.
How do you feel about the clean beauty revolution in Canada?
I’ve been formulating natural skin care for 20 years. This is an exciting time in clean beauty as the quality of products is high and more companies are switching to clean ingredients. It’s still important to read labels and know for yourself how good the ingredients are.
What was your journey to discovering clean beauty for yourself?
I didn’t have a lot of money to spend on my skin, so my journey to clean beauty began as DIY. I started by just using simple ingredients in the kitchen to achieve skin results and it worked.
What’s your go-to Canadian made clean beauty product?
My favourite product is the Transformative Cleansing Oil. I use it to cleanse my skin every day, remove make-up, add to my bath and use in my hair. I truly can’t live without it.
A big thank you again to all our Canadian partners who have worked with us over the years! Be sure to check out all their brands and their wonderful products in-app or on our website. Enjoy your holiday!
Celebrating Our Canadian Partners for Canada Day! was originally published in Think Dirty on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
In your shop it would be so handy if you marked the canadian companies on your brands page with a flag or something. I personally try to shop only canadian if possible. Also helps to controls costs because of duty taxes & shipping.