How it all began...

Stark started back in 2011, when Adri, my then-boyfriend and now-husband, and I would take long walks by the river in Montreal. I was in my late-20s, under-employed and unsure what was next.

With my background in herbalism and aromatherapy, I'd been making my own skincare for years. Could this passion become a business? It remained my secret ambition until Adri encouraged me to pursue it.

During our walks, we noticed how native plants thrived despite Montreal's harsh, extreme weather. This resilience inspired a skincare line designed to help skin adapt to its environment, honoring the intelligence of hardy plants.

What began as riverside dreams has become Stark—thoughtfully crafted skincare that celebrates nature's wisdom and helps us all thrive in changing conditions, just like those determined plants that survive Montreal's concrete jungle and dramatic seasons.

-Jess

FAQ Products

Which Stark product is right for me?

Our products are made for all skin types, but every skin is so unique! 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, subtle discrepancies happen from batch to batch when it comes to scent, texture and colour. The efficacy remains the same.

FAQ Shopping with Stark

Where do you ship from?

We are a Canadian business, and we ship from our studio in Canada every weekday. 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* or international MAY be subject to customs, duties, tariffs etc, according to your country's rules and regulations. Stark is not responsible for these fees!

* At this time, only orders over $800 USD are subject to extra fees when crossing the border.

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 in our newsletters and on Instagram.

Discounts are sometimes offered through our newsletter to our customers, and a first-purchase free-shipping is available to new subscribers to our newsletter.

Stark prioritizes newsletter subscribers for offers and announcement. We do not send out many newsletters (no weekly or daily spamming!), so signing up is highly encouraged!

FAQ Our 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! :) 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, but always maintained a love of herbalism. She was eventually able to explore using herbs thoroughly when starting Stark at the age of 28.

Most of our products contain herbal preparations (extracts, decoctions, infusions, macerations), for example, using horsetail and nettle in City, calendula and yarrow in Midnight, etc.

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 squalane, 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 (Everlasting) 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.

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 has 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.