Updated: Feb 17th 2024
This is not an exhaustive list, but as I use up Paula’s Choice (owned by Unilever), Nivea, and anything under Estée Lauder or the Unilever umbrella (they’re staunch supporters), I have turned to the following below.
I am trying my best, but I will make mistakes, so please let me know in the comments below.
Some brief notes:
You can basically assume anything in a grocery store or pharmacy is not “safe” unless it is a local brand made by an independent company. Even the store-branded items.
I am looking at Korean skincare and makeup products as a good starting point, as well as to not shop at Sephora if possible as it is under the LVMH umbrella.
Nanami Cosmetics is a retail chain that stocks Asian beauty products, and they’re in Montréal, but you can buy skincare online.
Home
Ethique concentrates (referral for 20% off here)
- You simply pour it into a bowl, boil up some water, pour it in, and mix until it dissolves. To make it go faster, I blend it.
- Kitchen cleaner
- Bathroom cleaner
- Stain remover bars
- Hand wash
Hair
Ethique concentrates (referral for 20% off here)
- You simply pour it into a bowl, boil up some water, pour it in, and mix until it dissolves. To make it go faster, I blend it.
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
Oneka Elements
Makeup & SKINCARE
Shiseido brands
- NARS
- Bare Minerals
- Laura Mercier
- Buxom
AS Beauty Brands
- Laura Geller Beauty
- Julep Beauty
- Mally Beauty
- Cover FX
Farouk systems brands:
- Chi haircare and tools
- Biosilk hair products
- Sunglitz hair products
- Royal Treatment hair products
The Dirty Lamb
Three Ships Beauty
Simihaze Beauty
Toulane Essentials
Clé de peau
Revolution
Morphy
Huda Beauty
Ilia
Milk
Infinity Naturals
Favelin
Cheekbone Beauty (Indigenous brand!)
BKIND – local Montréal brand with great nailpolish
Ethique concentrates (referral for 20% off here)
You simply pour it into a bowl, boil up some water, pour it in, and mix until it dissolves. To make it go faster, I blend it. You can buy:
- Deodorant
- Lip Balm
- Lipstick
- Moisturizer
- Body wash
Oneka Elements
BKIND – local Montréal brand
CosRX
100% Pure Cosmetics
Round Lab
Isntree
Farmacy
Stila Cosmetics
Jane Cosmetics
Banila Co.
iUnik (for serums)
The INKEY List
Genuine African Formula
Eucerin
Aquaphor
Nivea
Coppertone
Nair
Nubian Heritage
Palmers
Ulta
Acure Organics
Algenist
Amorepacfic
Belif
Belli
Black Up Cosmetics
Black Opal
Boscia
Caudalie
Clearogen
Dermadoctor
Drunk Elephant
Embryolisse
Eve Lom
Herbivore
Jack Black
Josie Maran Cosmetics
Jurlique
Kenzoki
Koh Gen Do
Lush
Mario Badescu
NUDE Skincare
Pangea Organics
Pixi Beauty
Radical Skincare
Burt’s Bees
Güd
Sunday Riley
Tata Harper
