America,  Beauty,  Canada,  During the World Tour,  Female Travellers,  TDM,  Tips

Cosmetics to buy in Canada and where to buy

Today, I bring you to discover some of the top Canadian (or non-Canadian) cosmetic brands to bring back on your trip from Canada. Some natural products were recommended to me by Karen, who has been living in Quebec for several years (thank you very much)

This list will certainly evolve, so a tip to choose THE product to buy is to look for the “look” logo in the stores. If they are on the “allure awards” list, you can buy them with your eyes closed.

You will see that in this list, there are a lot of skin care products (more than make-up) because skin care products in America are, I find, more dosed so the effectiveness is seen more quickly. They also use more retinol, acids and peels than we do, to be tested if the desire to have a “new skin” tells you.

Feel free to complete the list as a comment, as I am much less expert on North American products than I am on Asian cosmetics 😀

Please note: all prices displayed in stores or on Canadian sites are always EXCLUDING TAX. It takes 12% tax (in Vancouver), 13% tax (Toronto, Ontario) up to 15% tax (Montreal, Quebec City) in addition. So calculate all this well before buying in Canada because some brands will be cheaper in France.

Where to buy cosmetics / beauty products?

  • In drugstores & pharmacies: Shopper Drug Mart, Pharmaprix, Jean Coutu, Uniprix
  • In supermarkets: Walmart, Price C, …
  • More high-end : Sephora, Nordstrom…
  • In brand specific stores (such as Bite Beauty, Benefit etc.)
  • In stores selling everything (accessories, clothes, cosmetics): like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie…
  • For natural products, made in Quebec: go to the KLOVA store (near the Mont Royal metro station)
  • For Japanese/Korean products: go to Chinatown and Korean Districts, and search for C&C Korean Cosmetics and Nanami Japanese Cosmetics on Google Maps

Part 1: to be purchased at drugstores

Tip: Unlike at home, perfumes are also sold in drugstores and pharmacies. Take a look because the (numerous) promotions are much more interesting than in France.

ANNABELLE: this Canadian brand offers you a multitude of choices of lip liners

MARCELLE: a hypo-allergenic US brand. Idem, a huge choice of lip liners. Very good mascaras too.

LISE WATIER: This Canadian brand offers facial care products as well as make-up. Opt for their Intense 3D Volume mascara and CC eye primer.

PHYSICIANS FORMULA: their bestseller: the tanner.

BH COSMETICS: American brand. Crack for their kit of brushes, too cute, complete of good quality(fluffy as it should be) with an unbeatable quality/price ratio. You can find them in drugstores but also in Urban Outfitters.

IDC: Quebec brand. To buy: EXPRESS 360, All-in-one anti-aging anti-pollution cream-serum. Winner of the Grand Prix de la Beauté 2018 in the category Anti-aging cream. Visibly diminishes the 16 signs of aging. Protects against daily urban pollution. Offers an immediate moisturizing effect. Available at Jean Coutu (often with discounts).

BURT’S BEES : Organic brand. Be seduced by their lip care products, their hand cream and their make-up remover wipes: Burt’s Bees Micellar Cleansing Towelettes

NUDE BY NATURE: an organic Australian brand, to be tested. I liked their lip balm very moisturizing and above all well formulated (very important when you know that in a lifetime you “eat” kilos of RAL). Their eyebrow pencil is also creamy, spicy and well formulated.

PIXI : English brand. If Pixi is sold at Sephora France(see the products already available in France here), it is distributed in Canada in drugstores and there are many more choices and products here especially for makeup. Pixi’s best known product remains the Glow tonic, but this product is also available in France, so buy other things 🙂

CREST 3D WHITE: Whether it is for their toothpaste or the strips to be stuck on the teeth to whiten them, this brand is a sure value

COVERGIRL : their mascara is legendary, don’t hesitate to take several for your girlfriends.

TRESEMME: Sorry for my lack of knowledge about hair products in America. TRESEMME is the only brand I know, I really like their conditioner as well as their dry shampoo, which doesn’t leave a trace on my black hair.

Part 2: to be purchased from Sephora or the “department stores”

Tip: As in the United States, Sephora Canada offers extremely economical multi-brand kits called “Sephora Favorites”, allowing you to test the best-sellers in several categories: face care, masks, perfumes, make-up… in miniature format. I strongly encourage you to buy them, because it allows you to test a lot of brands not yet marketed in France, from 25€

RMS BEAUTY: Organic and simple ingredients for a successful make-up. This Canadian brand is adored by Gisele Bundchen and Miranda Kerr.

BITE BEAUTY: A beautiful Canadian brand, which will never be distributed in France I think, because of their name 😀 Their lipsticks, very spicy, well formulated, with a luxurious design, are absolutely to be tested. They have a physical store in Toronto (and LA & New York too) where you can create your own lipstick, with the shade you want. However, you have to make an appointment well in advance here

NUDESTIX: pencils to do it all: RAL, Blush, Eyeshadow. Created by two teenage girls, flashy colors. This Canadian brand has it all.

IT COSMETICS: a Canadian brand, also distributed in France. The prices are really better here. You’ll love their CC Cream Your Skin but Better (travel size available).

DRUNK ELEPHANT: It is a very organic brand very popular across the Atlantic. The best-sellers of the brand: their famous Baby Facial, Lala Retro Whipped Cream with a strange but very moisturizing texture, and their A-Passioni Retinol Cream, one of the best retinols on the market (I love it, I buy travel size, it lasts forever). I’ve already written a long article on the use of retinoids on my other blog if you’re interested. Their packaging is cute but a bit cheap (plastic). If you don’t have a lot of money, opt for their mini kit. Personally, I tested their Vitamin C and I fell in love with it (it can even be used in the morning and helps to strengthen the sunscreen, very practical).

KATE SOMERVILLE : This American brand offers an SOS lotion for pimples (a dupe of the Drying Lotion by Mario Badescu, but with a much higher price tag ): EradiKate, their Goat Milk Moisturizing Cle anser is also very well known, and their DermalQuench Liquid Lift(TM) is unlike any other product.

PHILOSOPHY : everyone loves their face cleanser: Purity Made Simple Cleanser, number one seller in the United States. With this cleanser, no need for double cleansing, because it removes makeup and cleanses the face at the same time. It is sold, in addition, in mini-size (90ml) for those who are still doubtful.

TATCHA: American brand inspired by Japanese traditions. Their The Water Cream (moisturizing cream), the Silk Canvas (a make-up base, extremely appreciated, look for the travel size) and Tatcha The Deep Cleanse (awarded by Allure Awards 2018) are the bestsellers to test at Tatcha

JOSIE MARAN: Products based on argan oil. Given the price, if you’re looking for pure argan oil, I think it’s better to fall for the Melchior & Balthazar brand with us. However, Josie Maran offers more derivative products, such as Argan Sugar Balm Body Scrub

MURAD: A great brand for acne and acne-prone skin. I really like Murad Rapid Relief Acne Spot Treatment and their anti-spot serum: Murad Advanced Active Radiance Serum (look for the travel size version, less expensive). Some products are available in France via lookfantastic FR.

CLARISONIC : no longer sold through Sephora France, it’s time to stock your Clarisonics brushes here. I particularly like the Mia Fit model so I talked here. Discontinued Brand

FOREOs are a bit cheaper here than in France.

SK-II: Japanese brand, sake-based. After discovering this brand, my routine became so boring because it is the only brand my skin actually needs 🙂 Opt for the discovery kits otherwise your banker might call you, very quickly. If there’s only one product to test, it’s their Facial Treatment Essence: imperfections are less visible, the appearance of wrinkles is reduced, the texture refined, firmness improved and radiance beautifully enhanced. Caution, risk of purging during the 1st weeks of use. Afterwards, you will have a baby’s skin (more info here). It is better to buy this brand at Sephora or other official sellers because there are a lot of fake on the Internet.

LANEIGE: With a muse like Song Hye Kyo, we can afford to fall for this Korean brand. Their bestsellers: Moisturizing Night Mask, and their Night Lip Mask (travel size available), not to mention their BB cushion. I’m a fan of their Bicolore Lipstick. It’s better to buy this brand at Sephora or other official sellers because there are a lot of fake products on the Internet

OMOROVICZA: It’s funny to have to go all the way to America to buy a brand from Hungary. I had the opportunity to test their facial care in Budapest and this brand is seriously effective! I hope I’ll have enough money one day to buy their UltraMoor Mud Mask and Queen of Hungary Mist. This brand is a concentrate of technology and the benefits of Hungarian thermal water. If you’re going to Hungary soon, it’s better to buy them there, because for 200€ of products purchased, the facial care (100€) is free.

Part 3: Other

MARIO BADESCU: I like all of Mario Badescu’s products for acne, blackheads etc. including the Drying Lotion and the Silver Powder (I wrote a specific article here). From France, you can buy them online on the English sites, but if you want to browse the stores, you can find them in Canada at Anthropologie.
Urban Outfitters also distributes them but there are less choices than at Anthropologie. Sephora Canada also sells them but only online

MAC COSMETICS: this is a Canadian brand, so the prices here are – just a little bit – cheaper than in France.

To buy at Klova ‘s organic store: Ayurvedic Antioxidant Serum – PITTA from the Quebec brand Wild Grace. This is Karen’s favorite product. This serum for sensitive skin reduces redness and swelling, helps protect sensitive skin from the effects of the sun. It will also refresh hot and inflamed skin. It calms irritation and itching, while gently moisturizing without leaving an oily feeling. Helps skin prone to imperfections.

Karen also told me about the organic product Sérum n°2 Anti-imperfections from the Quebec brand Culture Sauvage to be purchased online or at retailers (the list is on their website). Powerful serum that helps fight acne in teenagers and adults (contains, among other things, nigella and calophylla oil)

Part 4: Korean and Japanese products

Korean and Japanese products here are obviously more expensive than in Korea or Japan. To know the Korean and Japanese products I like, you can check my articles: for Korean products and Japanese products.

In France, there are quite a few e-commerce sites for Korean products. I use less and less of them (apart from moisturizing masks) because I find them less effective than Japanese products. I would rather recommend you to buy Japanese products in Canada (at Nanami for example). They sell a lot of products that are very difficult to find in France (and even in Japan, which are often on sale or only online).

my shopping booty

Part 5: Face care

I tested the facial care at Etiket in Montreal. I talked about my HydraFacial treatment here (very fashionable Outra-Atlantic), to be tested at least once in a lifetime.

Soon, I also did an Auntie Harper treatment at their home, which I liked very much

Top brands available in Canada but better to buy in France

OLE HENRIKSEN: If you have dark circles, fall for their Banana Bright Eye Cream. Banana powder instantly illuminates the eye contour and this magic cream has a long term anti-wrinkle effect. Look for the travel size version (sold in kit with a cream). The brand is now available at Sephora France

SUNDAY RILEY: U.F.O Ultra Clarifying Face Oil. This dry oil, containing 1.5% salicylic acid, makes acne disappear and eliminates the accumulations and debris causing blackheads from clogged pores leaving skin smoother without imperfections. That’s all there is to it! Youtube users are fans. If I remember correctly, travel size also exists. Beware, the Good genes product, despite the laudatory comments, doesn’t seem to convince anyone. There is a scandal that the brand buys fake reviews on Sephora US, among others, to eliminate the competition. Not fair at all! Bohhh! Brand now available at Sephora France

MILK MAKEUP: offers products with minimalist but so irresistible packaging. I particularly like their 2 in 1 stick, which can be used for both Lips and Cheeks. The colors are very natural. This brand is now on sale at Sephora France

PAULA’S CHOICE: In terms of price, as the brand has just been launched in France, the prices on their official website in France are decidedly more attractive than in Canada. But if you want to test/touch the products, you can find them at Nordstrom . Their bestsellers: Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid With Salicylic Acid, Paula’s Choice Resist 1% Retinol Booster, and Paula’s Choice Resist 10% Niacinamide Booster

TATA HARPER : this organic brand of high quality, is on sale online in Idem, the prices will be better in France, but you can test them in Canada in all Sephora. It seems that their facial care (offered at Spa Le Bristol) is divine. You can also opt for a facial at Etiket in Montreal, the setting will be less luxurious but it will be the same products.

THE ORDINARY: Even if these products of this pretty – Canadian – brand are on sale at Sephora, they are only available online (unless you can go to one of their physical stores). I recommend that you do not buy them in Canada, but through their distributors in France like Sephora France. The bestsellers to test here

GLOSSARY: This is a very trendy American brand at the moment. As there are no stores in Canada, Canadians must order online. The cosmetic brand of the blogger behind “Into the Gloss” is also available in France (online). This will be the occasion to fall for their Boy Brow Brow Gel, Milky Jelly Cle anser and the famous Lidstar eye shadows.

SKINCEUTICALS: on sale in spas or online in Canada, it is best to buy them in France.

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