Breaking Beauty Podcast – Episode Summary
🇨🇦 The #DamnGood Canadian Brands We Personally Love (and Think You Will Too!)
Release Date: May 7, 2025
Hosts: Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins | Producers: Dear Media
Introduction: Embracing the Studio Shift
In this episode, Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins celebrate a milestone by recording their highly anticipated #DamnGood segment in the Dear Media studio in Los Angeles for the first time. The hosts express their excitement about elevating their popular segment from a basement setup to a professional studio environment, enhancing the visual and production quality for their audience.
Notable Quote:
Carlene Higgins [00:41]: “We always say these are our top performing episodes, and yet we record them in our basement. So they're now being given, like, the love and the worthiness and the lighting deserve.”
The move to include YouTube allows listeners to visually engage with the products discussed, addressing audience feedback requesting a more immersive experience.
Celebrating Canadian Beauty: A Heartfelt Tribute
Jill and Carlene delve into the core of the episode by celebrating Canadian beauty brands. They highlight the unique passion and dedication Canadian brands bring to the beauty industry, often driven by compelling founder stories and a commitment to quality amidst challenges like tariffs and market competition.
Notable Quote:
Jill Dunn [03:22]: “Canadian brands always have a lot of heart because you have to work so much harder. They often have the best stories.”
Spotlight on Indie Beauty Collective
The hosts introduce the Shop Canadian Beauty Collective, a directory created by Canadian beauty founders to support and showcase indie brands. This initiative emerged swiftly in response to global tariffs, uniting numerous Canadian beauty entrepreneurs under one platform.
Notable Quote:
Carlene Higgins [04:28]: “There's so many brands on there, some of them I didn't even hear of. So I'm learning as well.”
Listeners are encouraged to explore this collective to discover new and innovative Canadian beauty products.
Carlene’s Upcoming Skincare Launch
Carlene shares insights into her forthcoming skincare line tailored for women over 40. Emphasizing the meticulous formulation process, she assures listeners that the final product will be "hashtag, damn good," promising to meet the high standards expected by their dedicated audience.
Notable Quote:
Carlene Higgins [07:57]: “It will be worth the wait.”
Listeners can follow Carlene on Instagram @CarleneHiggins and her Substack, "The Elevens," for exclusive updates and previews.
Featured Canadian Brands and Products
Sahajan by Lisa Matam
Sahajan merges traditional Ayurvedic ingredients with clinically tested formulations. Highlighted products include:
- Nourish Cream: A luxurious, earth-toned face cream designed for barrier protection with natural fragrances. $55 CAD.
- Radiance Face Serum: A gentle, vitamin C-packed serum aimed at enhancing skin radiance without compromising sensitive skin.
Notable Quote:
Carlene Higgins [09:41]: “Canadian skincare brands do really well in barrier protection because in Canada, we have nowhere to hide from the cold.”
Eva Issa by Sunscreen Company
Jill praises Eva Issa’s mineral-based SPF offerings, notably their Every Morning SPF 30 Broad Spectrum, which boasts 25% zinc oxide for superior protection and a sheer finish.
Notable Quote:
Jill Dunn [14:03]: “She doesn't hold back. And a lot of brands claim to be 100% mineral, but Eva Issa's 25% zinc oxide makes it a standout.”
Salty Face
Salty Face’s Liquid Bronzer and Self-Tanner receive accolades for their natural-looking results and suitability for pale skin tones. The bronzer’s matte finish and botanical ingredients offer a balanced, dewy glow without the typical orangey undertones.
Notable Quote:
Carlene Higgins [17:08]: “It's not greasy at all. It gives you shiny, glowy legs – perfect for Canadian winters all summer long.”
Nuda
A Montreal-based brand, Nuda is celebrated for its high-quality self-tanners that provide a natural tan without harsh chemicals. Both hosts commend its effectiveness and appealing branding.
Skin Fix by Jill Dunn
Skin Fix’s Triple Lipid Peptide Cream serves as a dupe for high-end moisturizers, providing deep nourishment and barrier repair. Their new Barrier Balancing Water Cream is highlighted as ideal for acne-prone and oily skin types, offering lightweight, non-pore-clogging hydration.
Notable Quote:
Jill Dunn [25:27]: “It's a weightless moisturizer that delivers a burst of refreshing hydration lasting three days.”
Seven Virtues by Barb Stegman
This Halifax-based fragrance brand is lauded for its high fragrance oil concentration, ensuring long-lasting scents. Their latest fragrance, Clementine Dream, and popular vanilla variants are highlighted for their elegance and depth.
Notable Quote:
Carlene Higgins [28:07]: “Their fragrances are long-lasting, giving a beautiful, enduring scent that rivals high-end brands like Le Labo.”
Persons of Interest
A men's brand from Ontario, Persons of Interest is recognized for its upscale offerings and stylish merchandise, including leather duffel bags and sunglasses, merged with high-functioning beauty products.
Kaya Naturals by Madame Sweat
Kaya Naturals introduces their Underarm Bar, a pioneering product in natural deodorant solutions. Designed to detox and reset the underarm environment, it effectively prepares the skin for natural deodorants.
Notable Quote:
Jill Dunn [40:02]: “It's a soap you keep in the shower that lathers up to kill odor-causing bacteria, allowing natural deodorants to work more effectively.”
1999 Beauty
This inclusive makeup line offers gender-neutral products with a wide shade range. Their soft blush sticks and precision multiple sticks are praised for their pigmentation and versatility.
Notable Quote:
Carlene Higgins [44:25]: “It's age-inclusive and suitable for all genders, with campaigns that reflect diverse beauty standards.”
Ilia Beauty
Ilia’s new Eyeshadow Sticks inspired by Renaissance paintings offer a blend of matte and shimmer finishes, designed for easy application and versatile looks.
Indeed Labs
Celebrating 15 years, Indeed Labs is famous for its Nanoblur primer. Their Snox into Under Eye Patches and Goat Milk Toner are highlighted for their effectiveness and affordability.
Notable Quote:
Jill Dunn [52:48]: “I absolutely love these eye patches. The deals keep coming.”
Vintage Noon
A new entry focused on redness recovery, Vintage Noon’s overnight masks combine Canadian-sourced ingredients like maple leaf extract and calendula to soothe and reduce inflammation.
Basma Beauty
Founded by Basma Hamid, Basma Beauty offers a comprehensive range of foundation sticks catering to all skin tones. Known for their high coverage without texture unevenness, these foundations are lauded for their inclusivity and performance.
Notable Quote:
Jill Dunn [47:12]: “She really nailed the formula, ensuring coverage without making skin imperfections more apparent.”
Conclusion: Supporting Canadian Excellence
Jill and Carlene wrap up by encouraging listeners to support Canadian beauty brands, emphasizing the importance of backing indie and homegrown businesses. They provide links to their refreshed website, where listeners can find detailed product information and exclusive promo codes.
Call to Action:
Jill Dunn [55:02]: “Please send them our way. We want to show as much ransom love as we can.”
Listeners are invited to join their private Facebook group, follow them on Instagram, and engage with the podcast through various platforms to stay updated and participate in the beauty conversation.
Final Thoughts
This episode is a comprehensive celebration of Canadian beauty brands, offering listeners insightful reviews and heartfelt endorsements from industry veterans Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins. From skincare innovations to inclusive makeup lines, the hosts provide a curated guide to supporting and discovering the best of Canada’s beauty landscape.
For more detailed product information and exclusive offers, visit breakingbeautypodcast.com.