Latest news with #JennHarper
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cheekbone Beauty is Canadian, Indigenous-owned and sustainable — and these celebrities are 'adamant' about using it
From the do-it-all product she is "not living without" to her favourite Canadian beauty products, here are five things Jenn Harper is Adding to Cart. Sustainability requires "intentful action," Jenn Harper, the founder of Cheekbone Beauty, told Yahoo Canada. "It has to become a practice. Sustainability isn't something you can say you are but not do." Cheekbone Beauty is one of Canada's first Indigenous-owned and founded cosmetics companies. It focuses on what Harper — an Anishinaabe Ojibwe entrepreneur from St. Catharines, Ont. — says is "missing" in the beauty industry: true sustainability. "We know that [clean beauty] is safe for humans, but what about the planet? What about the environment?" she said. There are so many ingredients that are considered clean, they're checked off as safe, but are known to impact the environment and ecosystems negatively, she explained. "We really want to look at the whole picture." Is the packaging sustainable? Is it biodegradable? What does the raw material formulation look like? "That's where we take our Indigenous roots very seriously." Have you ever wondered what the world's most interesting, successful and talented people are adding to their shopping carts? Yahoo Canada's new series, Add to Cart, is exploring just that. From the supplement regimen of professional athletes to supermodel-approved skincare, this is what celebrities actually spend their money on. Harper and her team at Cheekbone Beauty care deeply about sustainability and how Indigenous people are represented in the beauty space. At the time of our call, the founder had recently teamed up with Nice Cans and chef Charlotte Langley to launch a limited-edition lipstick, Haki, with 100 per cent of proceeds going directly to Indigenous student scholarships. The reason why Cheekbone Beauty has gone viral, however, isn't solely because of its social do-gooding. For starters, the Canadian brand became a fast, homegrown favourite when U.S. President Donald Trump instigated a tariff war — and a buy Canadian movement — earlier this year. Many of the brand's lip products are manufactured in Ontario, and it works with partners in Italy for the rest. "You could really see [a rise in sales] from January to April," after Trump took office, Harper revealed. "Even into May." Another reason Cheekbone has skyrocketed in popularity in recent months is, in part, thanks to its growing celebrity fanbase. Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness told Yahoo Canada that the brand's Balance Blush Bronzer was their "gateway drug" into blush. Which, by the way, made Harper "so, so proud and happy" to hear. Actress Lily Gladstone, who made history in 2024 as the first Native American nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, was "adamant" about her makeup artist using Cheekbone Beauty, according to Harper. Celebrity sisters Erin and Sara Foster spotlighted the Horizon Lip Pencil in Sand on their podcast, "The World's First Podcast with Erin & Sara Foster," which resulted in hundreds of sales shortly thereafter. We sold "800 [units] in eight hours. That's insane for a small business," Harper recalled. The Fosters "keep coming back," Harper said. "They buy three sand lip pencils every time for the past like, three years." It "is so hard building a business," Harper admitted. "So when you hear feedback like that" from JVN, Gladstone, and other public figures, "it's still a massive pinch-me moment. [...] It's incredible." From the do-it-all product she is "hands down [...] not living without" to her favourite Canadian beauty products, here are five things Cheekbone Beauty founder Jenn Harper is Adding to Cart.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cheekbone Beauty is Canadian, Indigenous-owned and sustainable — and these celebrities are 'adamant' about using it
From the do-it-all product she is "not living without" to her favourite Canadian beauty products, here are five things Jenn Harper is Adding to Cart. Sustainability requires "intentful action," Jenn Harper, the founder of Cheekbone Beauty, told Yahoo Canada. "It has to become a practice. Sustainability isn't something you can say you are but not do." Cheekbone Beauty is one of Canada's first Indigenous-owned and founded cosmetics companies. It focuses on what Harper — an Anishinaabe Ojibwe entrepreneur from St. Catharines, Ont. — says is "missing" in the beauty industry: true sustainability. "We know that [clean beauty] is safe for humans, but what about the planet? What about the environment?" she said. There are so many ingredients that are considered clean, they're checked off as safe, but are known to impact the environment and ecosystems negatively, she explained. "We really want to look at the whole picture." Is the packaging sustainable? Is it biodegradable? What does the raw material formulation look like? "That's where we take our Indigenous roots very seriously." Have you ever wondered what the world's most interesting, successful and talented people are adding to their shopping carts? Yahoo Canada's new series, Add to Cart, is exploring just that. From the supplement regimen of professional athletes to supermodel-approved skincare, this is what celebrities actually spend their money on. Harper and her team at Cheekbone Beauty care deeply about sustainability and how Indigenous people are represented in the beauty space. At the time of our call, the founder had recently teamed up with Nice Cans and chef Charlotte Langley to launch a limited-edition lipstick, Haki, with 100 per cent of proceeds going directly to Indigenous student scholarships. The reason why Cheekbone Beauty has gone viral, however, isn't solely because of its social do-gooding. For starters, the Canadian brand became a fast, homegrown favourite when U.S. President Donald Trump instigated a tariff war — and a buy Canadian movement — earlier this year. Many of the brand's lip products are manufactured in Ontario, and it works with partners in Italy for the rest. "You could really see [a rise in sales] from January to April," after Trump took office, Harper revealed. "Even into May." Another reason Cheekbone has skyrocketed in popularity in recent months is, in part, thanks to its growing celebrity fanbase. Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness told Yahoo Canada that the brand's Balance Blush Bronzer was their "gateway drug" into blush. Which, by the way, made Harper "so, so proud and happy" to hear. Actress Lily Gladstone, who made history in 2024 as the first Native American nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, was "adamant" about her makeup artist using Cheekbone Beauty, according to Harper. Celebrity sisters Erin and Sara Foster spotlighted the Horizon Lip Pencil in Sand on their podcast, "The World's First Podcast with Erin & Sara Foster," which resulted in hundreds of sales shortly thereafter. We sold "800 [units] in eight hours. That's insane for a small business," Harper recalled. The Fosters "keep coming back," Harper said. "They buy three sand lip pencils every time for the past like, three years." It "is so hard building a business," Harper admitted. "So when you hear feedback like that" from JVN, Gladstone, and other public figures, "it's still a massive pinch-me moment. [...] It's incredible." From the do-it-all product she is "hands down [...] not living without" to her favourite Canadian beauty products, here are five things Cheekbone Beauty founder Jenn Harper is Adding to Cart.
Global News
22-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Global News
Beauty through an Indigenous lens with Cheekbone Beauty's Jenn Harper
The Curator independently decides what topics and products we feature. When you purchase an item through our links, we may earn a commission. Promotions and products are subject to availability and retailer terms. It all started with a dream. In January 2015, Anishinaabe-Canadian Jenn Harper had a vision in her sleep of Indigenous girls playfully smearing on lip gloss. 'I woke up and wrote it all down. At the time, I didn't even know what to do with it,' Harper says. 'But it sparked something in me. It felt like a sign that I was meant to do something bigger.' A decade later, Cheekbone Beauty is a powerful force in the beauty world, bringing long-overdue representation to Indigenous peoples and carving out space in the mainstream, including a coveted spot on Sephora's shelves. The brand is rooted in Harper's heritage and a profound respect for the planet. From biodegradable packaging to ethically sourced ingredients, it aligns with the traditional Indigenous belief of caring for the land. 'Our cultures have always embraced sustainability, long before it became a buzzword,' Harper says. 'I'm just honouring what my ancestors taught me.' Story continues below advertisement Despite Cheekbone Beauty's success, the journey hasn't been a breeze. Harper has faced the usual hurdles of building a brand from the ground up, plus the weight of being a trailblazer in a predominantly non-Indigenous industry. But her mission keeps her grounded. 'It's more than lipstick or blush,' she explains. 'It's about reclaiming narratives and building a future where Indigenous youth see limitless possibilities.' Cheekbone Beauty continues to grow, gaining loyal customers who are drawn not just to the quality of the products, but to the brand's unique blend of ancestral wisdom with modern beauty. And the best part? Each shade and formulation celebrates diverse skin tones and natural finishes. As Harper puts it, 'Beauty is powerful. It can either exclude or empower. I want Cheekbone to always empower.' In honour of International Indigenous Peoples' Day, read on for our top picks from Indigenous-owned beauty brands you should know. The multi-use complexion pencil Cheekbone Beauty Unify Multi Pencil A versatile must-have, the Unify Multi Pencil is designed for seamless colour correction. Use it to line lips, highlight features or conceal with precision. Its creamy, buildable formula works across skin tones for a natural finish you'll love. $25 at Sephora Story continues below advertisement The holistic soap Mother Nature Cleanse: Sacred Soap Inspired by the sacred Medicine Wheel, this four-piece soap set blends traditional Indigenous teachings with natural ingredients. Each bar–Sweetgrass, Tobacco Patchouli, Wildmint Sage and Cedar Balsam—honours one direction and offers a cleansing, grounding ritual. $36 at Mother Earth The nourishing face oil Sḵwálwen Botanicals Kalkáy (Wild Rose) Nourishing Facial Oil Sḵwálwen's best-seller for a reason, this nourishing face oil blends vitamin-rich rosehip seed–known for its restorative properties in Squamish culture–with sweet almond and jojoba oils to soothe irritation and restore balance. $64 at Sḵwálwen Botanicals Story continues below advertisement The potent acne set Wildcraft Acne Prone Skincare Set A clarifying daily ritual for oily or breakout-prone skin, this five-step set uses powerful natural ingredients to help reduce blemishes, balance oil and reveal a clear, healthy glow. $142 at Wildcraft The two-in-one blender brush Blended Girl Cosmetics Pro Foundation & Concealer Brush This dense, angled brush is designed to reach tricky areas like the base of the nose, under the eyes and around the chin. Bonus: it's vegan & cruelty free. $10 at Blended Girl Cosmetics Story continues below advertisement The *dreamy* bath bomb Spirit Earth Holistics Dreamcatcher Bath Bomb Made by hand with natural ingredients and certified organic essential oils, this dreamy bath bomb is a blissful treat. Infused with nourishing coconut oil and soothing witch hazel, it leaves skin feeling soft and refreshed. $10 at Spirit Earth Holistics You may also like: Courage Cream Lip & Cheek – $27 Harmony Lipgloss – $28 Story continues below advertisement Balance Blush Bronzer – $30 SUSTAIN Lipstick – $34 Uprise Mascara – $34
Calgary Herald
18-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
‘Buy Canadian' boosts local beauty industry. Will tariffs end up reversing that?
Article content For Indigenous-owned Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics Inc., the impact of the Buy Canadian movement has been unmistakable. Article content Article content Jenn Harper, founder of the St. Catharines, Ont.-based cosmetics brand, said the company saw a 52 per cent increase in business in the period between January and April, compared with the same period last year — with a 190 per cent surge in March specifically. Article content Article content Harper said her company has seen significant growth during politically driven events before, such as in 2020 with the Black Lives Matter movement. But they have always been temporary boosts to the business. She is more optimistic about the current growth Cheekbone Beauty is experiencing due to the number of customers who have become repeat buyers. Cheekbone Beauty's sales revenues are in the seven-figure range, with e-commerce sales for 2025 anticipated to grow 40 per cent from 2023, the company said. Article content Article content '(We want) to really become a Canadian makeup brand that all Canadians know about,' Harper said. 'We are here to build a brand that's going to last generations, just like our Indigenous roots.' Article content Article content Article content Cheekbone isn't the only Canadian cosmetics company that has seen heightened interest and loyalty from Canadian beauty buyers in response to the trade war launched by the Trump administration in January: Industry players both small and large told the Financial Post they are seeing sales surge, and are optimistic the change will last. Article content Article content 'We have seen a groundswell of activity and ultimately maybe a permanent shift in consumer behaviour to support Canadian business,' said Charles Wachsberg, the co-founder of Apollo Healthcare Corp., a major Canadian health and beauty private label manufacturer headquartered in Toronto. Wachsberg said the company has produced more than 64,000 products, including lotions, shampoos, baby products and pet products. The company was taken private for $327 million in 2021 and has nine-figure sales, the company said.
