CLEAN COSMETICS
> BY LUCY LAU Green Living Presented by
BEAUTY COMES NATURALLY
When cult beauty brand NARS announced in June that it would be entering the Chinese market—a place where animal testing is required for all cosmetic companies—fans were pissed. Within hours, many of them had taken their anger and disappointment to social media, criticizing the label for going back on its cruelty-free stance and, in some instances, even calling for a boycott. NARS responded with the ol’ sorrynot-sorry: basically stating that, yes, animal testing is terrible, but we stand by our decision to sell our goods in China. Needless to say, it did little to ease the pitchforks.
It’s the latest public case that proves that, in an age when a particularly adorable dog likely has more Instagram followers than you, consumers are more savvy, responsible, and, perhaps most prominently, vocal than ever. But it’s not just vegan and crueltyfree they’re looking for: lipsticks, blushes, and liners formulated without damaging chemicals are increasingly sought after, too. (In its Dirty Dozen report, the David Suzuki Foundation lists 12 common ingredients that should be avoided in personal-care items, including parabens, petrolatum, and fragrances, which may be harmful to the body and Earth.)
And though it can be difficult to find cosmetics that tick all these boxes (cruelty-free, sustainably and ethically made, and natural), it’s not impossible. To help get you started in the transition to cleaner makeup, we’ve compiled a short list of our favourite natural beauty brands—some of them born right here in B.c.—that forgo both animal testing and toxinladen ingredient lists.
ILIA BEAUTY Founded by Vancouverite and former graphic designer Sasha Plavsic, ILIA needs little introduction for the city’s beauty-junkie crowd. The brand launched in 2011 with a selection of tinted lip conditioners and has since expanded to include everything from foundations and toners to mascara and shimmery eyeliners. All of ILIA’S products are made with no less than 85 percent bioactive organic ingredients and come packaged in recycled aluminum cases. From $28 at Kiss & Makeup (1791 Manitoba Street and 1545 Marine Drive, West Vancouver).
KJAER WEIS Luxury and sustainability meet with beautiful results in Danish makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis’s eponymous line of certifiedorganic cosmetics. With decades of beauty-industry experience on both sides of the pond, Weis has crafted a collection of cream blushes, shadows, lippies, and more that adhere to her commitment to good-for-you plantbased elements without compromising colour payoff and performance. The best part of the line, though, is the refillable metal compacts that you’ll enjoy replenishing as much as using. From $37 at India Rose Cosmeticary (4850 Mackenzie Street).
ELATE COSMETICS This Victoriaborn and -based brand is a favourite among organic-makeup buffs, and with good reason: the products are vegan, housed in sustainable bamboo packaging, and budget-friendly, to boot. We love the liquid eyeliner, which is suitable for sensitive skin types and glides on smooth and crease-free, and the nourishing peppermint-oilinfused lip-glosses, which leave a cool, tingly sensation that’s perfect for summer. From $16 at Harlow Atelier (655 East 15th Avenue).
RMS BEAUTY All-natural doesn’t have to mean granola, earthy, and boring, as RMS Beauty demonstrates with its rosy blushes, metallic cream shadows, and juicy lip shines. Developed by veteran makeup artist Rose-marie Swift (peep the initials), the products are sleek, minimal, and extremely photogenic, but there’s more to this made-in-the-usa brand than its looks. From the “Un” Coverup concealer/foundation to the bestselling Magic Luminizer, all items are crafted from unaltered, foodgrade, and organic products that offer various benefits to the skin. From $24 at India Rose Cosmeticary.
BITE BEAUTY Lurking in your local beauty behemoth is a made-intoronto gem that, when it comes to lip products, deserves your hard-earned dollars. Formulated with plant-based ingredients like castor-seed oil, beeswax, and shea butter, the lippies are at once creamy, moisturizing, and surprisingly pigmented and come in a myriad of hues fit for a range of skin tones. The Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick is a standout: a cross between a lip-gloss and lipstick, the product comes in colours—whether you opt for a vivid coral or deep nude— that may be easily layered for maximum impact. From $20 at Sephora (various locations).