Most shampoos, conditionesr and body washes are over 70% water. Everist saw an opportunity to reduce unnecessary waste in the hair/body category by introducing 3x concentrated pastes that are packed with good for hair and skin ingredients and activated by the water in your shower. I was an early customer of the brand and currently have my eye on their new travel sized shampoo and conditioner.

Cheekbone Beauty

Cheekbone Beauty is an Indigenous-owned and founded beauty brand that makes high quality, cruelty-free beauty products  and cosmetics designed for low environmental impact and maximum wearability. 

The brand manufactures in-house and even repurposes manufacturing equipment to lower their environmental impact, only making what is needed. Their raw ingredients are sourced from plants and bio-based materials, and they are constantly innovating their packaging to be either recyclable, reusable, biodegradable or compostable. 

Bather

Bather is a Toronto-designed and manufactured street-inspired beachware line. They recently launched their flagship store in downtown Toronto, where they sell a mix of Bather-branded wares alongside other lifestyle brands (including yours truly).

Trunks are made from eco-friendly materials, like their new proprietary 100% recycled polyester line, created from 100% post-consumer recycled bottles - or their Solid Swim trunks that use 100% recycled nylon. I love everything they make and get the trunks for my sons, husband, brother and myself. The shirts and beanies are great too.

Ela Hand Bags

Ela Hand Bags and accessories are crafted from vegan materials, and all bags use their signature purple 100% recycled plastic bottle lining. They offer hot-stamp and hand painted monogramming, the perfect touch to holiday gifs. I have my eye on their mini Saddle Bag...

Alder Apparel

Alder believes that outdoor recreation = happiness and the outdoor industry should be focused on fun, not exclusively performance and be a real leader in inclusivity, diversity and sustainability. To that end, Alder offers sizing from XS to 6X in a variety of colours and styles.

The Toronto-based brand uses pre-cycled* nylon and recycled polyester that's certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). Using recycled polyester uses up polyester waste and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing. *Pre-consumer recycled means the nylon is a by-product of other manufacturing processes, instead of a consumer good. Using pre-consumer nylon saves a lot of energy and makes the best use of manufacturing resources.

I just got their Go Far Fleece as a holiday gift and might go back and grab one for myself.

Izzy Zero Waste Beauty

Izzy is the world’s first zero waste beauty line. The brand is taking big steps to reduce plastic waste with clean and cruelty-free products that are 100% reusable, 100% recyclable, 100% certified CarbonNeutral^®, and 100% gorgeous. Izzy's closed-loop system enables them to reuse the same materials over and over again to create new products for purchase. In the process, they conserve natural resources and divert waste from oceans and landfills.

I have the mascara, which also comes in a reusable mailer that you can send back when you're done to get your next zero-waste order.

More to come!

We'll release another small business gift guide in December. What are some of your favourite small businesses to gift during the holidays?