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Skincare routines have a way of falling apart the second a suitcase comes out. TSA bottle limits, weird hotel lighting, the dry recycled air on a plane—by the second night somewhere new, most people’s skin is acting up, with nothing to turn to but the hotel shower soap. That’s the gap Vintage Noon‘s Vacation Skin is trying to fill.
About Vacation Skin
Vacation Skin is a moisturizer and an overnight mask in one bottle, formulated for sensitive, dehydrated, and redness-prone skin. The ingredient list does the work you’d hope it would:
Centella asiatica to calm visible redness
Ceramides and Vitamin B5 to support the skin barrier
Calendula and squalane for hydration and comfort
It’s fragrance-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and made in Canada. It’s a product that checks a lot of boxes for those with sensitive skin.
Our Experience with the Product
First impression: a calm, soothing feeling and a wash of moisture. It doesn’t actively do anything dramatic, and that’s the point. There’s no tingle, no warming, no heavy film sitting on top of the skin. This is the kind of product to reach for after a windy day, an night you overdid it on retinols, or a long flight that left you looking blotchy. It’s rich enough to feel nourishing, but not so heavy that it sits there. By morning, my skin was feeling softer, more even, and less tight.
We tested Vacation Skin over 2 weeks (morning and night), and we were surprised to see that it really did live up to it’s claims of reducing redness. During testing, we used our other usual skincare products: serum and sunscreen during the day, serum and a drop of facial oil at night. I have a spot of rosacea that won’t budge, and while this didn’t eliminate it, I noticed that spot looking less red than usual while I was using Vacation Skin. Meanwhile my hands, which have been looking particularly dry lately, seemed to soften and weren’t as immediately dry after washing like they normally are.
It also works well beyond the face. Necks, hands, dry patches on elbows after a flight—all fair game. It’s earned a spot in my handbag and on my nightstand, and I’ll be packing it as an all-purpose moisturizer when I pack my suitcase from now on.
One Thing We Would (Maybe) Change
The only place this product left me wanting is in the scent department. The product is fragrance-free, and from a formulation standpoint, it’s absolutely the right call for sensitive skin. But there’s a case to be made for a softly scented version. Nothing too in-your-face, but something quiet, but just to add another dimension of experience to your skincare routine. My skin is fairly tolerant of most fragrances, and I wouldn’t be at all disappointed to see a scented version of this product be launched in the future.
For anyone with reactive skin, though, the lack of fragrance is the whole point. Definitely not a dealbreaker, and definitely won’t stop me from reaching for this again and again.
Who It’s For
Vacation Skin is a strong fit for:
Sensitive or redness-prone skin
Anyone trying to streamline a too-complicated routine
Frequent travelers (or anyone who’s just tired of carrying five jars)
Skin that gets cranky from climate shifts — winter air, plane cabins, over-exfoliation
The Verdict
Vacation Skin manages to feel both practical and a little bit luxurious, which is rare. It simplifies a routine without leaving the skin feeling like something’s missing — and in some cases, it makes things better than the longer routine did in the first place.
For anyone building a more intentional approach to skincare, or just trying to pack lighter without taking a hit, this one earns the suitcase space.
The Canadian Edit is built to help you discover incredible Canadian brands. We share things that we love, and think you might too. If you purchase through an external link, we may earn a commission.
There’s never really an off-season for sunscreen in Canada. UV rays come through the cloud cover, bounce off the snow, and quietly do their thing whether we’re lakeside in July or shovelling the driveway in February. The good news? Canadian beauty brands have made it easy to find a favourite you’ll reach for daily. Whether you want a feather-light mineral serum, a tinted moisturizer that doubles as your makeup, a body-and-face all-rounder for the dock, or a drugstore staple your wallet will actually love, there’s a homegrown option for it.
Below are nine Canadian sunscreens we’re reaching for this season — from Indigenous-owned botanical brands in B.C. to Montreal heritage labels and dermatologist-led lines that started in the clinic.
Skwalwen Kalkáy Tinted SPF 30 Face Cream
Skwálwen Botanicals is the Squamish, B.C.–based skincare brand founded by Leigh Joseph, an Indigenous ethnobotanist of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. The mineral formula uses 20% non-nano zinc oxide for broad-spectrum protection, while iron oxides soften any dreaded white cast and leave skin looking luminous and evenly toned. Cranberry seed oil, jojoba, chamomile, and rose flower oil are included in the formula, so it feels like skincare rather than sunscreen. Best for: anyone who wants their morning ritual to feel a little more grounded. Made in Canada.
Vancouver-based Blume built its following on cult favourites like Meltdown (their breakout-fighting gel cleanser and oil) and the Milky Fade scar-and-spot serum, so Sunburst feels like the obvious next step: a mineral SPF 50 designed specifically for the breakout-prone crowd who’ve historically been told they had to choose between sun protection and clear skin. The 12% non-nano zinc oxide delivers broad-spectrum, and the formula is layered with skin-soothing ingredients, meaning it pulls double duty fading post-acne marks and calming angry skin while it protects. The texture is sheer enough to disappear under makeup, and the light mandarin-and-orange scent is a lovely wake-up when you’re applying in the morning.
The Montreal-based brand has been a fixture in our cosmetic bags for decades (we’re looking at you Portfolio Professional Correctors), and Sun Smart is the workhorse you can slot in over (or under) whatever else you’re already using. Think of it less as a stand-alone sunscreen and more as a clear, silky finishing layer that adds SPF 30 to any morning routine without disturbing your skincare underneath. It’s mineral-based (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide), oil-free, paraben-free, and dries down to a velvety, no-shine finish that wears beautifully under makeup. Made in Canada.
Quebec’s OMY Lab is the country’s leading personalized skincare brand, and now a Certified B Corp, which tells you something about how the brand thinks about everything from formulation to packaging. Their SPF 50+ Mineral Solar Serum is exactly what the name promises: a mineral sunscreen with the lightweight, fluid texture of a serum. Twelve per cent non-nano zinc oxide does the heavy lifting on broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, while niacinamide, bisabolol, and vitamin E support the skin barrier and calm anything reactive. It’s water-resistant for 40 minutes, dermatologist-tested and punches well above its price point. Made in Canada.
Developed and formulated in Canada under medical guidance, Vivier is the kind of line your dermatologist hands you a tester of after a peel. SHEER SPF 30 Mineral is the elevated, no-fuss daily SPF in the lineup: 100% mineral filters (10% titanium dioxide, 8% zinc oxide), with vitamins C and E built in to brighten and soften the look of fine lines while you protect. The finish is dewy and luminous in a way more matte mineral sunscreens never quite manage, and it’s fragrance-free, oil-free, gluten-free, and vegan. Made in Canada.
Tanit Moisturizing Mineral Sunscreen with Prickly Pear Seed Oil
If your idea of summer is a long weekend at the lake with family and friends, and not enough table real estate for separate face and body products, Tanit’s Moisturizing Mineral Sunscreen is your one-bottle solution. The Canadian-made brand specializes in natural, plastic-free essentials, and this sunscreen is packaged in a fully compostable tube made from wheat-straw fibres. The formula leans on 12% non-nano zinc oxide alongside organic prickly pear seed oil (a quietly heroic antioxidant), argan, jojoba, and shea butter, so it sinks in without a white cast or sticky finish. Available in SPF 30 or 50, in coconut-vanilla or unscented, it’s reef-friendly, water-resistant for 40 minutes, and gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Born out of a Vancouver dermatology clinic, Dr. Jason Rivers founded Riversol for his own patients with sensitive, post-procedure, and rosacea-prone skin. The new Daily Glow Mineral Sunscreen is a 100% mineral SPF 50+ built around 12% non-nano Kleair™ zinc oxide, paired with niacinamide, allantoin, and bisabolol to keep things calm and comfortable. What sets it apart is the finish — a soft, lit-from-within glow rather than the chalky cast mineral SPFs are often guilty of — and the fact that it comes in three options: Untinted, Shade 100, and Shade 200, so it can pinch-hit as your foundation on low-effort days. Made in Canada.
Marcelle has been in Canadian homes since 1874, and the new Multi-Defense range is a worthy update to that legacy. The Replenishing Lotion is a featherweight chemical SPF 45 (octocrylene, octisalate, avobenzone, ensulizole) layered over hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, so it pulls double duty as your morning moisturizer and sun protection in one step. In the brand’s consumer testing, 88% of users said the formula left no white cast and delivered a radiant, glowy finish. Hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, oil-free, paraben-free, non-comedogenic, and tested under dermatological control. At just under $23, it’s the most accessible pick on this list.
The Sunscreen Company Ava Isa Sun-è-Serum Drops SPF 35
The Sunscreen Company is basaed in Grimsby, Ontario and quietly powers some of Canada’s most respected SPFs. The hero product of the Ava Isa line, Sun-è-Serum Drops SPF 35, was one of the first mineral sunscreens on the market to genuinely feel like a silky serum on skin, with zero white cast and a high concentration of zinc oxide. It also features the brand’s globally patented Bio UVA Ultra technology, which boosts UVA protection by up to 60%, a meaningful difference if you spend any real time outdoors.
The truth about sunscreen is the same truth about flossing: the best one is the one you’ll actually use every day. With this many Canadian brands offering options that range from $22 drugstore lotions to clinic-grade serums, from feather-light tints to compostable-tube reef-safe formulas, there’s really no excuse not to find one that fits. The bonus? Every dollar spent on these picks is a dollar staying in Canada — supporting Indigenous-owned brands, multigenerational family businesses, dermatologist-led labs, and a whole generation of independent founders building something thoughtful here at home.
If you’re trying to shop Canadian — but don’t want to give up your Sephora routine — you’re not alone. From skincare staples to cult-favorite makeup, a surprising number of Canadian beauty brands are stocked on Sephora’s shelves (both in-store and online), though they’re rarely grouped together in one place.
Whether you’re looking to support homegrown companies, reduce shipping fees, or simply discover something new, this guide highlights Canadian beauty brands you can buy directly at Sephora Canada right now.
SAHAJAN
Sahajan brings Ayurvedic skincare into the modern beauty aisle, blending South Indian tradition with clinically backed formulations developed in Canada. Founded by Lisa Mattam, the line features nourishing botanicals like turmeric and coconut oil, reimagined for contemporary routines. At Sephora, it stands out as a thoughtful option for those seeking gentle, results-driven skincare rooted in centuries-old wisdom.
Indigenous-owned Cheekbone Beauty blends high-performance makeup with a purpose-driven approach rooted in Anishinaabe values. Founded by Jennifer Harper, the Canadian brand emphasizes sustainability, inclusivity, and community impact. At Sephora, it stands out as a meaningful alternative to conventional cosmetics brands.
Skinfix is a Canadian skincare brand rooted in dermatology and known for its barrier-repair expertise, particularly for sensitive and compromised skin. Originally inspired by a pharmacist-formulated balm, the modern line focuses on clinically tested solutions featuring ingredients like ceramides, lipids, and peptides. At Sephora, it’s a go-to for shoppers seeking gentle yet effective formulas that strengthen and restore the skin barrier.
Lise Watier is a pioneering Canadian beauty brand founded in Montreal, known for combining French-inspired elegance with performance-driven formulas. With decades of expertise across makeup, skincare, and fragrance, the line is especially celebrated for complexion products designed to enhance natural beauty. At Sephora, it offers a sophisticated, homegrown alternative to international luxury brands.
Founded in Halifax, The 7 Virtues creates clean, cruelty-free perfumes using responsibly sourced natural oils and sustainable practices. The brand is known for its fresh, approachable scents and commitment to ethical production from ingredient to packaging. Its Sephora lineup makes it easy to find a signature fragrance that aligns with both style and values.
Canadian brand Blume specializes in skincare for sensitive, acne-prone skin, with gentle formulas designed to calm inflammation and support healthy skin over time. Founded by sisters Taran and Bunny, the line champions simple routines and confidence-first messaging. At Sephora, it stands out as a friendly, low-stress approach to treating breakouts.
Canadian brand BASMA Beauty specializes in skin-like complexion products developed by color expert Basma Hameed. Designed for easy blending and customizable coverage, the formulas deliver a polished yet natural finish. At Sephora, it stands out as a thoughtful option for achieving radiant, real-skin results.
If you want salon-level results with a cleaner ingredient profile, AG Care delivers thoughtfully formulated haircare developed and manufactured in Canada. Founded by industry professionals, the brand combines performance-driven science with vegan, cruelty-free formulations. Its Sephora lineup makes it easy to upgrade your routine with products designed for shine, strength, and healthy hair.
Known for redefining the at-home lash experience, Velour Lashes has become a go-to for effortless, elevated falsies that balance comfort with impact. Founded in Toronto, the brand built its reputation on ultra-lightweight, natural-looking lashes designed for all skill levels—making them especially appealing to both beginners and longtime beauty enthusiasts. With a focus on innovation and wearability, Velour’s lineup spans from everyday, barely-there styles to more dramatic options, alongside user-friendly tools and adhesives that simplify application.
As more Canadian beauty brands continue to expand into major retailers like Sephora Canada, it’s becoming easier than ever to support homegrown businesses without compromising on quality or convenience. To discover more amazing Canadian brands, visit our curated directory.
The Canadian Edit is built to help you discover incredible Canadian brands. We share things that we love, and think you might too. If you purchase through an external link, we may earn a commission.
Canadian photographer Andy Skye is known for creating visually rich imagery for beauty and lifestyle brands. Her work blends photography with hands-on craftsmanship, resulting in product imagery that feels sculptural, tactile, and intentionally designed. Skye runs an independent creative studio specializing in product and brand photography, and her work supports brands across a range of needs, including product photography, creative direction, and social media visuals.
Photography by Andy Skye for FirstBase Skincare
Before stepping fully into photography, Skye studied interior design and spent more than 16 years working as a professional painter. That background continues to shape her visual style today. Rather than relying on standard studio setups, she often builds her own environments using materials like plaster, clay, paint, and natural elements. The result is photography that feels considered and dimensional—more like a constructed scene than a simple product shot.
Storytelling through photography
In an increasingly visual online marketplace, the imagery a brand uses can shape how consumers experience it. Photography plays an important role in helping brands translate their identity into compelling visual storytelling.
Photography by Andy Skye for Sueet Skin
Skye’s work moves beyond traditional product photography by creating immersive scenes that highlight texture, materials, and atmosphere. Her imagery doesn’t simply document a product; it builds a world around it. Through sculpted backdrops, natural elements, and carefully considered lighting, she creates scenes that evoke calm, warmth, luxury, or exploration—depending on the brand’s story.
Supporting Local
For Canadian brands in particular, collaborating with Canadian creatives helps strengthen the country’s independent design ecosystem. Supporting local photographers, stylists, and artists keeps creative production rooted in Canada while showcasing the talent behind the scenes of the brands consumers love. Skye has worked with brands featured on The Canadian Edit, such as Vintage Noon, Cole, Nala, FirstBase, Ever Amid, Sueet and Damascus. Recently, she launched an initiative offering complimentary photography services to Canadian brands, helping emerging companies elevate their visual storytelling.
Photography by Andy Skye for Damascus Soap, Nala
Her work is also shaped by an environmental commitment—each shoot offsets its carbon emissions through contributions to Tree Canada.
As more Canadian brands invest in thoughtful, elevated visual storytelling, collaborating with local creatives becomes increasingly important. Photographers like Andy Skye are helping define how Canadian brands show up visually—bringing artistry, craft, and a distinctly Canadian perspective to the images behind the products.
Canada’s fashion and beauty industry exceeds $35 billion—yet it’s rarely documented with the rigor of other major sectors. Vainqueur was built to change that.
Vainqueur Magazine is an independent platform covering the people, products, and market forces shaping the country’s fashion and beauty economy. Through data-led reporting and cultural analysis, it positions Canadian designers and brands within a global conversation defined by innovation, craftsmanship, and influence.
We spoke with founder and editor-in-chief Danica Samuel about building independent fashion media in Canada, why data-driven storytelling matters, and what it takes to give Canadian talent the visibility it deserves.
What gave you the idea to start Vainqueur? What was going on in your life when you started?
Looking back, I realized that Vainqueur was an idea that lived with me long before it became a platform. Back in my Tumblr days during university, I was already documenting Toronto’s fashion and beauty scene. I remember steaming garments backstage at Toronto Fashion Week, reporting on underground fashion events and treating Holt Renfrew pop-ups as something worth posting about.
Over the decade that followed, I explored different career paths in Canada and across the globe, but all surrounding culture and identity. I built a lot of creative skill set but most importantly a question that kept coming up: why didn’t Canada have a dedicated platform that treated its own fashion and beauty industry with the same depth, seriousness, and narrative power seen elsewhere?
The turning point came after I relocated to Montreal in 2022. Being in a new environment gave me the clarity to stop circling the idea and actually build it. So one day, sitting on the couch of my condo in Outremont, I decided to bring everything into focus. I created an initial video manifesto featuring only Canadian talent, which became the first expression of what Vainqueur would stand for: documenting, analyzing, highlighting, and elevating our industry in a way that hadn’t existed before.
Why did you choose to focus on Fashion and Beauty? How do you differentiate from other fashion and beauty magazines?
Vainqueur is an outlier in Canada’s fashion media landscape because we are one of the only platforms focused solely on Canadian talent, culture, and industry. We operate with a very intentional editorial lens. If you asked my team what our story meetings sound like, you’d often hear questions like, “But are they Canadian?” or “How is this impacting the Canadian economy?” That lens guides everything we publish.
I think we’ve been conditioned in Canadian media culture to silo fashion and beauty into lighter coverage, the slow news stories, click-driven lists, or international reporting with Canadian mentions. Success is frequently framed as validation abroad. At Vainqueur, we didn’t want our cultural identity and industry to be treated as a sidebar or a trend listicle.
As for the beauty component. I must say, fashion was the primary focus from the beginning, but last year I realized that Canada has a massive and innovative beauty ecosystem. Many of these brands are working with domestic ingredients, Indigenous methods, laboratory innovation, and highly specific formulations. That realization led to the inception of our CanBeauty report, where we began focusing on the impact of Canadian beauty in the global conversation.
Your website references “Data-driven coverage of Canadian fashion and beauty”. What does this mean, exactly?
The million-dollar question! Collecting, tracking and analyzing data in Canada is a big issue overall. Without consistent documentation, accountability becomes difficult whether that’s within institutions, industry bodies, or government. When organizations close after decades without clear public reporting on impact, growth, or outcomes, it exposes how fragile our documentation systems are.
At Vainqueur, “data-driven” means we are actively documenting what’s happening in our fashion and beauty ecosystem instead of just reacting to it. We track patterns: runway trends, brand growth, consumer response, public financial data, and purchasing behaviour.
These insights are valuable not only to business professionals, but also to designers, students, policymakers, and curious fashion observers.
Do you see an evolution of Vainqueur? What’s next for the brand?
The next phase for Vainqueur is turning the editorial vision into a sustainable institution with a strong audience. My focus right now is building the platform into something fully independent and financially viable. I’m currently part of the CJF NextGen Creator-Journalists Training Program, where I’m strengthening the platform’s business infrastructure for long-term longevity. The foundation and creativity are there; what we need now is funding and structural support to grow it into a lasting resource for Canadians. That evolution includes expanding our paid subscriber base and attracting supporters who believe in the vision, because every dollar we generate goes directly back into paying the journalists, photographers, researchers, and contributors who make the work possible.
Let’s talk a bit more about you. What’s the life of a magazine founder like? Do you have a day-to-day routine, or is everyday something different?
Honestly, there are slow stretches, and then there are intense, anxious periods where everything needs attention at once. But, I will say from an emotional standpoint, building something that doesn’t follow the existing standard can be incredibly lonely. Rejection is constant, and not being invited into certain rooms because you don’t subscribe to a particular approach can feel isolating. I think people often observe newness from a distance especially in a media culture shaped by parasocial relationships. They’re waiting to see if it succeeds before fully supporting it. I’m building this without the safety net of a traditional job, so a lot of it is faith, discipline, and a very clear vision.
To stay grounded, I’m intentional about my personal routine. I work out consistently, read to keep my imagination sharp, journal, and maintain a social circle where we genuinely uplift one another. I make space for small joys like early morning ice skating or exploring farm-to-table dining while looking for free.99 activities. I refuse to be a miserable founder. Then there are days when multiple stories need fact-checking, editing, and writing, and I’m up until 3 a.m. It’s unpredictable and demanding, but never dull.
Photography by Sloane Bartley
What has been your biggest win on this journey? Your biggest challenge?
I’ve had many small wins that mean a lot to me like successful event coverage, watching my interns grow at Vainqueur, publishing our first data-driven piece, and most recently being accepted into the CJF NextGen Creator-Journalists Training Program. I’ve applied to countless funding programs and received many no’s. So being accepted into something where I can learn, grow, and potentially access funding genuinely made me emotional. It felt validating to know that the vision is being recognized and has room to expand. Another win was realizing I needed to pivot our journalistic approach; after speaking openly about that shift, we saw immediate growth in our following and readership. That clarity felt powerful.
As for the biggest challenge…honestly, it’s the day-to-day reality of building something from the ground up. The uncertainty, the funding gaps, the constant need to evolve. It’s all challenging. But that’s also the nature of the journey.
Working in Fashion and Beauty, you must be exposed to so many emerging brands and products. What are some of the (Canadian) favourites on your radar lately?
Lately, I’ve been closely watching the talent coming out of the Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute (SRFI). I’ve also been on a personal mission to highlight designer-led footwear in Canada, and I was genuinely excited to discover Nadine Mos (@nadinemos). She’s no longer based here, but those nude mesh heels she did in collaboration with Reike Nen live rent-free in my head.
I also have my eye on Yibri (@Yibri_Official) the architectural abstraction, the modernist silhouettes, the neutral palette it’s very much aligned with my aesthetic. Serena Li(@srna.li) is another standout; she makes casual wear feel futuristic and elevated. It’s not quite streetwear — it feels like a redefinition of comfort dressing. Outside of SRFI, Anton Styntsov (@styntsov_anton) has been on my radar since his debut in 2024. He has a strong sense of narrative in his couture work. Valmora (@valmora_official) is also doing the kind of abstract, innovative design that really excites me. On the beauty side, Éleva Wellness stands out for bringing lymphatic treatments into the at-home space that’s a smart intersection of wellness and beauty. I’m also watching Ginny, which is incorporating adaptogens into non-alcoholic beverages and positioning it as a modern vice. That kind of cultural marketing is what sticks. And since being on TikTok I discovered a Toronto-based creative Chloe Christian (@chloexchristian) her leather patchwork work is incredible. She made a laptop case and a corset with detailed top-stitching and patchwork that I genuinely can’t wait to see available for purchase. I think she’s going to blossom into a designer to watch.
And are there any Canadian brands you use everyday, or love to treat yourself with?
I have a long list, but I’ll narrow it down to what I’m genuinely reaching for right now and truly, my wardrobe, home, and bathroom are overwhelmingly Canadian right down to the incense that I burn!
In my wardrobe, I love my Golshaah cinch top it feels architectural and Afromodernist chic. I even wore Golshaah for my 2025 press photos, and seeing Golnar become an LVMH Prize finalist felt so deserved. I’m also a Kaothaisong girl. They exude this sultry confidence that really celebrates the female form, I have a piece from their Flawless capsule and many more in my cart My Le—Febour handbag was an investment piece that, to me, defines Canadian luxury. And I constantly receive compliments on my sculptural earrings from Anne-Marie Chagnon. When spring hits, I’m always excited to bring out my capris from Tyrell The Brand again.
Made in Canada
Made in Canada
