Your skin is dealing with a lot. Seasons that swing from one extreme to another, city air, stress, hormones, the slow realization that what worked five years ago doesn't anymore. And the skincare industry's answer is usually more: more steps, more actives, more products promising to fix you.

You don't need fixing. Your skin needs support.

That's why Stark exists.

I'm Jess. I started this company in 2011 from a tiny apartment in Montreal with a background in herbalism, aromatherapy, and a growing frustration with an industry that treats skin like a problem to solve rather than a living system to work with.

While my husband Adri was finishing up his PhD in Physics at McGill (I had to flex for him!!), he and I used to walk along the river in Montreal, and we kept noticing how the native plants handled genuinely extreme conditions. Not by being delicate or protected, but by adapting. Building resilience season after season. That became the foundation of everything I formulate.

Stark products are designed around one idea: your skin already knows what to do. It just needs the right tools to do it well. Botanical ingredients that support your skin's own intelligence rather than overriding it. Lab ingredients (that are "clean") to support the formulas. Simple routines that flex with your life instead of demanding perfection.

I've spent fifteen years refining these formulations. I still hand-make everything in small batches in my studio near the Ottawa River. Every ingredient is something I'd put on my own face (and I do, daily). No filler, no shortcuts, no trendy actives at percentages that trash your barrier because some algorithm said so.

If your skin feels reactive, overtreated, or just tired of the constant noise of the beauty industry, you're in the right place.

Start with what your skin needs today. I'm here if you need help figuring that out.

— Jess

PS. I'm really glad you're here. :)

View all

FAQ Stark Products

Which Stark product is right for me?

Our products are made for all skin types, but every skin is so unique! Our quick skin quiz is a great place to start. We suggest reading the product descriptions/ videos (when available) and checking out the customer reviews for a deep dive into each product.

You can also email our founder Jess anytime at jessica@starkskincare.com for her specific recommendations for you.

Is Stark clean / green / vegan?

To us, sustainability and product performance are our top concerns.

But to answer the question, yes, and technically yes and mostly! We're not huge fans of those terms/labels/marketing tactics, but we don't use any animal-derived ingredients (except in Moondance), our products are cruelty-free, and we use plant-based, fair-trade, and organic ingredients that are considered sustainable and/or EcoCert approved.

We have chosen not to apply and (pay for) certifications at this time.

Do you offer free samples?

Being a tiny company, we cannot offer free samples. For sustainability reasons, we are also not offering small sizes of our products at this time. However, we do take your satisfaction seriously so any concerns before or after purchasing, should be directed to jessica@starkskincare.com.

Why is this product a little different than the last time?

Because Stark is made by hand with natural ingredients in small batches, subtle discrepancies happen from batch to batch when it comes to scent, texture and colour. The efficacy remains the same.

FAQ Stark's Formulas

How does Stark choose ingredients?

Stark intersects traditional herbalism, modern plant-based "green beauty" formulation and solid, scientifically-backed cosmetic chemistry plus a tiny pinch of aromatherapy!

We are very concerned about the impact the beauty industry has on the environment, and continually improve on our sourcing and ingredient selection, to maintain high-quality products with the smallest footprint we can. Which means not choosing rare/exotic/precious plant materials, rather opting for efficacious materials used in other industries that would otherwise become waste (lumber industry, sugarcane, organic soy, "lab-made" materials, etc.) We haven't quite perfected this yet, but are always doing our best, and we keep getting better! :)

We prioritize local and Canadian-sourced ingredients as much as we can.

The "bulk" of any Stark product is always a natural, high-quality ingredient (be it organic aloe, organic meadowfoam seed oil, organic fair-trade cocoa butter, etc.)

We do not believe in "fillers", which makes a little Stark product go a long way.

Do you use herbs?

Stark's founder Jess studied traditional French herbalism in her 20s, in Vancouver, BC. She went on to study other topics at UBC then at Concordia in Montreal, but always maintained a love of herbalism.

Most of our products contain herbal preparations (extracts, decoctions, infusions, macerations).

The herbs are chosen for their supportive role in the product, used to "buttress" the effects, but not relying solely on them. We feel this creates a well-balanced, efficacious yet gentle product.

Do you use lab-made ingredients?

Some of our carefully selected ingredients aren't directly sourced from a plant, but rather are naturally derived ingredients modified in a lab. Such as antioxidant superstar Ferulic Acid, which comes from plant material such as rice bran, but has been isolated, extracted and made into a stable cosmetic ingredient.

Other examples are sugarcane derived hemisqualane, our ceramide complex, the vitamin C we use (tetrahexadecyl ascorbate), our vitamin E, the gentle surfactants and solubilizers, modifiers and thickeners we use. However, we still use "all-natural"/ Eco-Cert approved preservative systems.

These are important ingredients in our formulas as they make gentler, more efficacious and ultimately, more environmentally sustainable, products.

Does Stark use essential oils?

Stark's founder, Jess, is a certified aromatherapist. We use a very small amount of essential oils, expertly blended for maximum effect, with the smallest amount possible used.

The essential oil blends are chosen for how they make us feel, for the specific properties the oils impart both physiologically and psychologically.

Our %s are listed in product descriptions, but range from no essential oils (Equinox, Persephone & the unscented version of products) to 0.03% in Petrichor, to around 1% in Aurora.

Our products each have a distinct, beautiful aroma that matches the "personality" and function of the product. We believe scent is important to develop a relationship, and therefore a ritual, with your skincare which over time leads to more consistent use and better results.

Sensitive skin? Some products are now offered without any Essential Oils.

FAQ Shopping with Stark

Where do you ship from?

We are a Canadian business, and we ship from Ottawa every Monday, Wednesday and/or Friday (depending on volume and/or life). You will receive an email with your shipping confirmation, and in most cases, a tracking number (when available).

Are there customs/ duty fees?

There are no extra fees for shipments going to Canada.

Packages being sent to the USA are not subject to tariffs, fees, etc. AT THIS TIME.

International MAY be subject to customs, duties, tariffs etc, according to your country's rules and regulations. Stark is not responsible for these fees!

Do you accept returns?

Because we are a tiny, indie business, and for health and safety reasons, we cannot accept returns.

Should you have any questions or concerns before or after a purchase, do not hesitate to contact jessica@starkskincare.com and we're always happy to work something out.

Do you have sales or offer discounts?

Generally, we have two big sales per year; autumn and spring, which are announced first in our newsletters and then on Instagram.

Random discounts or promos are sometimes offered through our newsletter to our customers, and a first-purchase discount is available to new subscribers to our newsletter. (In other words, GET ON THE NEWSLETTER! Please. :)

Stark prioritizes newsletter subscribers for offers and announcement.

About Stark

  • How it's Made

    Stark products are both simple and sophisticated, by combining old-world plant wisdom with modern cosmetic science. We love our craft and are constantly refining our skills...since 2011!

    Every product is created by hand in small batches by Jess, herself (Jess is the "we"!). 

    We've kept our brand small, and thus, nimble. We have been able to adapt and change with the evolving beauty industry.

  • Ingredients

    Skin is smart... but it needs help. Stark fortifies skin against external aggressors such as airborne VOCs, smoke, UV damage, temperature fluctuations and pollution. Creating more resilient skin is kinda our thing! Stark uses hardy, resilient plants such as adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms, antioxidant-rich oils, ingredients that soothe inflammation and carefully selected ingredients to help skin function it’s best. Soothing, repairing and nourishing skin is what Stark does best!

  • Sustainability

    Choosing natural and plant-based is not enough. Since our products focus so much on the environment, we’re concerned about our own impact as a business. We modify our ingredients every few years to reflect the pressures the beauty industry imposes on the environment... making increasingly sustainable choices, instead of following trends. One way is by increasing the amount of "bi-product" ingredients we use, usually up-cycled from the food or forestry industries.

Want a custom routine?

Take the Skin Quiz