We believe you don’t have to sacrifice your beliefs to have science-based and results-driven natural skincare. Our products are the best of both worlds – they have long-lasting results and are kind to the planet.
Scientific, sustainably-driven skincare that works
Bold Formulations
Our approach to product formulation lies at the intersection of science and nature, aimed at enhancing your skin health while maintaining environmental integrity.
We meticulously choose every ingredient for its specific skin function, formula stabilization and preservation, and environmental footprint. Our products blend scientifically-proven actives, innovative botanical extracts, and organic and upcycled plant oils, with a growing emphasis on sourcing locally-sourced Canadian ingredients.
In essence, we are a brand that prides itself on being plant-based, clinically active, and sustainably driven.
My Story
I first became interested in skincare as a teenager when I struggled with acne. However unlike most people, my acne didn’t go away as I became an adult, it got worse. Treating my own sensitive cystic acne-prone skin was the initial motivation to launch Étymologie, though our formulas cater to all skin types and are by no means exclusive to people struggling with acne.
Growing up in Switzerland in the Swiss Alps I was inspired by the natural plant life and how Swiss medicine blends traditional pharmaceuticals with natural remedies. I remember many times as a child my family Dr would prescribe a homeopathic remedy alongside traditional medicine, the idea was that both nature and science can be complementary, it doesn’t have to be one or the other.
This definitely influenced my approach to skincare and cosmetic formulation. You won’t find long lists of ingredients not found in our products, or ever see us using fear-based marketing to sell products. We use both natural and synthetic ingredients at the right concentration to be effective in our formulas, as demonstrated by scientific research.
After graduating high school in Switzerland, I completed a BSc in Biochemistry and an MSc in Food Science at McGill, during which I spent time in Milan studying cosmetic chemistry and assisting in the development of cosmetic formulas for other companies in the area of sun care, skincare, haircare and colour cosmetics.
Étymologie was effectively born at McGill University, with the goal of creating elevated daily essentials and gentle targeted treatments that effectively replenish the skin barrier whilst delivering a potent dose of active ingredients. You will notice quite a few African botanicals in our products such as Kigelia, Devil’s Claw, Ximenia and Bulbine as a nod to my family’s South African heritage.
I hope you enjoy discovering Étymologie’s product range and that our formulas help you look forward to your skincare routine, and embrace your natural, unfiltered and healthiest skin!
– Raquela Cheesmond, Founder & Formulator
OUR VALUES
OUR PROMISE
We believe you don’t have to sacrifice your beliefs to have science-based and results-driven natural skincare. Our products are the best of both worlds – they have long-lasting results and are kind to the planet.
To us, honest communication and accountability are the key to building long-lasting relationships with our clients. You can find a full list of science-based ingredients on each product page, in addition to a blurb about why we’ve decided to include these actives in our formulas. Furthermore, we have spent years deep-diving into the sustainable beauty industry and we are more than happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Shoot us an email at [email protected].
Being a female-led company, we are passionate about empowering women. We support Artistri Sud in their mission to empower women in developing countries through entrepreneurship.
We are a natural skincare brand founded by scientists. We understand that there are a lot of misconceptions regarding chemicals in skincare products, but chemistry is part of our everyday life – and an important one at that. We are committed to using safe, ethically and sustainably sourced scientific actives, as long as they adhere to our skin and environmental safety standards.
We don’t believe in fear mongering. Instead of building endless lists vilifying ingredients, we choose to focus on educating our audience on the actives used in our formulas and the reasoning behind them.
EcoCert certified organic ingredients.
We choose EcoCert certified organic ingredients whenever possible because they are produced according to the highest standards for sustainable agriculture. Organic agriculture allows for water conservation, requires less energy, and prevents soil erosion, which protects local biodiversity, and results in safer, greener products.
Proprietary Formulations.
We formulate, own and test each and every one of our formulas. We control every part of the process, that’s why we can confidently back up all of our claims and stand by each of our products.
FREE OF SYNTHETIC ingredients.
We believe every ingredient in a formula should serve a purpose that directly benefits the skin or helps stabilize and preserve the formula. Fragrance ingredients are completely unnecessary and serve no purpose in improving the quality of the skin, so we choose not to use them.
PETA-CERTIFIED VEGAN AND CRUELTY FREE.
As passionate animal lovers and advocates for animal welfare, we see absolutely no valid reason to test our products on or use any ingredients derived from animals. We are proudly PETA-certified vegan and cruelty-free.
ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING.
We package our products in infinitely recyclable glass bottles and 100% recyclable boxes made of FSC-Certified paper. Packaging is not just a minor detail for us, it’s an opportunity to bring you genuinely sustainable products.
ETHICALLY SOURCED AND TRACEABLE MATERIALS.
The same way you can trace the etymology of a word back to its origin, we can trace the ingredients within our products back to the fields and laboratories that helped create them.
