Shop Canadian. You've seen it everywhere. But there's a big difference between makeup that's made in Canada and makeup that just has a maple leaf on the box.
So let's talk about what Canadian made really means, and how we do it at MisMacK.
Where It All Started
I've loved makeup since I was three years old. I studied makeup artistry at Blanche Macdonald and graduated with honours. By 20, I was managing a MAKE UP FOR EVER counter. At 21, Shoppers Drug Mart recruited me to manage what was then its largest cosmetics boutique in Western Canada.
Then in 2016, I was hired for a campaign for a new retailer, Portia Ella, featuring natural and Canadian made cosmetics. I walked onto that set expecting the products wouldn't perform to the standards I needed as a professional artist.
At the time, they didn't.
But that shoot made me start asking questions about ingredients. And once I started learning, I couldn't look at my professional kit the same way again.
So I decided to build what I couldn't find.
Made in Canada, From the Very First Formula
I networked until I connected with a Canadian female chemist who believed in what I was trying to create. Artistry met formulation, in a small town basement in Canoe, BC.
In 2018, MisMacK launched inside a Shoppers Beauty Boutique in Calgary with GAIA Gloss, our first multi use product, and GlitterEnvi™, Canada's first biodegradable glitter available for retail.
When our MisMacK'ers asked for skincare, we partnered with a manufacturer right here in Salmon Arm to create Nourishing Cleansing Balm and Nourishing Skin Oil.
Today, MisMacK cosmetics and skincare are still proudly made in Canada. Our flagship store, logistics space and team are all in Salmon Arm, British Columbia.
What "Clean" Means at MisMacK
Clean can mean a lot of things on a label. Here's what it means to us:
- Made without silicone or dimethicone. In our Foundations, Lipsticks and GAIA Gloss, a proprietary ingredient derived from the fatty acids of coconut oil does the job silicones usually do.
- PETA certified vegan and cruelty free.
- Short, intentional ingredient lists. Flawless Foundation has only 9 core ingredients and took a year and a half to perfect.
- No microplastic glitter. GlitterEnvi™ is corn starch based and biodegradable.
- Full ingredient lists on every product page, so you can see exactly what you're putting on your skin.
And clean never means giving up performance. That has always been the whole point.
Canadian Made, Award Winning
- 2020: ART Shadows won our first Global Clean Beauty Award for Best Eye Colour. We beat out major established brands, from my basement.
- Sunday Body Glow Oil won Best Clean Sun Care at the Global Clean Beauty Awards, beating competitors from Korea.
- 2025: We debuted on Dragons' Den with GamePlay™ Eye Black, the first eye black ever made in Canada.
- 2026: We grew from zero to 32 Pharmasave locations in three months.
Rooted in BC
Being Canadian made isn't just about where the factory is. It's about where your heart is.
Every ART Shadow now carries the name of a place in British Columbia, nominated by you. It all started with a labelling mistake on our Salmon Arm shade. Read the full story in A Typo That Spoke Louder Than Words.
And our Ay Lelum Palette features the Spindle Whorl artwork of Dr. William Good, Snuneymuxw First Nation Master Artist and father of the Ay Lelum Sisters.
How to Tell If Your Makeup Is Really Canadian Made
- Read the wording carefully. "Made in Canada" is different from "designed in Canada" or "Canadian owned."
- Look for the full ingredient list on the brand's website, not just a few highlighted ingredients.
- Ask the brand. A Canadian made brand will be proud to tell you where its products are made.
Find Your Canadian Made Favourites
- Shop online: Cosmetics and Skincare
- Not sure of your foundation shade? The Flawless Foundation Sample Pack is free. You just cover shipping.
- Shop in person: Visit our Salmon Arm flagship at 231B Alexander St NE, or find a MisMacK retailer near you.
Shop Canadian. Every Age. Every Stage.
with Gratitude and Grit,
Missy
