SJ
Sophie Julien
Toronto, ON
“The Rose Dew Cream healed the dry patches around my cheeks in under a week. I love reading the ingredient list and actually knowing what each plant does!”
★★★★★
Nature’s touch in every jar
Hand-crafted, plant-based cosmetics made fresh in Ontario. Feel good, look radiant, leave no trace.
Our Story
Purely Handmade Cosmetics sprouted in 2017 from a single fold-up table at the Kingston farmers’ market. Founder Amélie Forrester, a former botanical researcher, mixed her first lavender-oat soap bars at home to solve her own sensitive-skin woes. Word of mouth spread, and soon locals queued every Saturday for her gentle formulations.
“I wanted skincare that honoured both the earth and our bodies. Anything less felt dishonest.” – Amélie
Today we still whip every batch by hand in our downtown Ontario studio, using electricity powered by 100 % renewable sources. We remain proudly independent, fiercely transparent, and forever curious about plants.
Milestones
- 2017 – Launch at Kingston Farmers’ Market
- 2019 – Awarded Zero-Waste Certification (Ontario Environmental Council)
- 2023 – Opened our public studio & refill bar on Princess Street, Downtown Ontario
Best Sellers
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Lavender Lull Bath Bomb
Soak away stress with ethically harvested Lavandula angustifolia and mineral-rich sea salts.
Vegan$9.50 -
Rose Dew Face Cream
Ultra-light daily cream infused with Rosa Damascena water and antioxidant seabuckthorn.
Compostable Label$29.00 -
Citrus Grove Body Butter
Rich shea whipped with cold-pressed blood orange and bergamot oils for glowing skin.
Fair-Trade Shea$23.50 -
Peppermint Silk Lip Balm
Cooling organic peppermint melds with Ontario beeswax to seal in moisture.
Plastic-Free$6.00 -
Charcoal + Clay Detox Mask
Bamboo charcoal and French green clay draw out impurities while aloe soothes.
Fragrance-Free$18.75 -
Vanilla Bean Sugar Polish
Organic cane sugar with real vanilla seeds leaves skin baby-soft and delicately scented.
Refillable$16.25
Inside Every Formula
Calming essential oil steam-distilled in Prince Edward County. Naturally antimicrobial and beloved for soothing inflamed skin. Allergy note: member of mint family.
Sustainably harvested petals from family farms in Bulgaria. Hydrosol hydrates while antioxidants fight free radicals. Safe for sensitive skin; no synthetic rose fragrance added.
Unrefined shea from a women-led co-op in Ghana. Packed with vitamins A and E to lock in moisture and improve elasticity. Naturally nut-derived; patch-test if you have nut allergies.
Handmade, Start to Finish
Extract
We cold-press, steam-distill, or solar-infuse botanicals to capture maximum potency without chemicals.
Blend
Ingredients are slowly blended at low heat to protect delicate vitamins and aromatic compounds.
Cure
Soaps and balms cure in cedar racks for up to six weeks, ensuring a hard, long-lasting bar.
Package
Product is weighed, batch-coded, and tucked into compostable or refillable containers.
- pH & microbial testing each batch
- Certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny
- Carbon-neutral shipping partners
Our Impact, Your Glow
0
Plastic jars saved
through refills
0%
Raw ingredients
sourced within Canada
0
Tonnes CO₂e
offset this year
Refill & Reward Program
Bring back any empty Purely jar and receive 10 % off your refill. Scan the QR in-store to track your waste saved badge and unlock perks.
Plan Your VisitWord of Mouth
KT
Kiran Thandi
Ottawa, ON
“Finally a lip balm that survives Canadian winters without feeling waxy. The peppermint tingle is addictive!”
★★★★★
DL
Derek Liu
Kingston, ON
“I bring my own container to the refill bar and they weigh it with zero fuss. It’s small actions like this that keep me loyal.”
★★★★★
MB
Marc-André Boucher
Montréal, QC
“Shipping was fast and entirely plastic-free. The charcoal mask feels like a spa treatment at home.”
★★★★☆
LM
Larissa Mendez
Vancouver, BC
“The citrus body butter saved my skin after a long hiking trip. Bonus points for the metal tin that I now reuse for snacks!”
★★★★★
Meet the Artisans
Amélie Forrester
Founder & Botanical Researcher.
Fun fact: Collects vintage herbal manuals for inspiration.
Chen Wei, MSc.
Head Formulator & Chemist.
Fun fact: Played percussion in a symphony orchestra before turning to skincare chemistry.
Priya Shah
Packaging Designer & Zero-Waste Advocate.
Fun fact: Can fold an origami crane in under 15 seconds.
Get in Touch
Purely Handmade Cosmetics Studio221 Princess Street, Ontario, K7L 1B3
Tel: 613-555-0144
Mon–Fri 10 am – 6 pm
Sat 10 am – 4 pm
Sun closed info@