Launching a skincare brand on Shopify in Canada: what should the store plan for?
A cream can’t be tried through a screen. What the store must plan for, from bilingual labels to discovery sizes.
3 min read
About a 6-minute read
A skincare brand selling in Canada needs three things before launching its store: compliant labels and product pages (ingredient list, English and French), a notification to Health Canada within ten days of the first sale, and claims that stay cosmetic. The rest is experience: helping people choose, letting them try, bringing them back.
This article is for information only and is not legal advice. For your product, consult Health Canada or a regulatory specialist.
A cream can’t be smelled, tried or touched through a screen. So the store has to reassure as much as it seduces. A Shopify store designed for beauty and skincare starts with these foundations.
What the law asks of the product page
In Canada, cosmetics fall under Health Canada. A few rules directly affect your store:
| Requirement | What it changes online |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list using INCI names | Show it as is on the product page, readable on mobile |
| Labels in English and French | Complete product pages in both languages |
| Cosmetic notification within ten days of first sale | Build it into the launch schedule |
| Fragrance allergens | Several allergens must now be named individually, with transitions through 2028 |
In Quebec, the Charter of the French language also requires the store to be available in French. What the law requires in French
The line not to cross: cosmetic or drug
A product “hydrates,” “softens,” “brightens.” If it “treats acne” or “protects from the sun,” it changes category: those claims belong to drugs or natural health products, under different rules. Reread every product page, ad and email with that question in mind.
Helping people choose what they can’t try
By skin type. A few questions lead to the right routine, rather than the whole catalogue.
By routine. Morning, evening, in three steps: sets that make sense at a glance.
By texture. Close-ups, short videos, clear instructions.
By others. Detailed reviews, filterable by skin type.
Let them try, then bring them back
A discovery size or samples lower the fear of choosing wrong. Then a product runs out and gets reordered: refill subscriptions, well-timed reminders and a quiet loyalty program do the rest.
The image: clean, never cold
Beauty online often looks the same: white backgrounds, thin type, superlative promises. To stand apart, a high-end brand relies on visible texture, light with character and precise words. The same care in the bottle, on the page and in the box.
Launch checklist
- [ ] INCI list checked on every product page
- [ ] Complete product pages in English and French
- [ ] Cosmetic notification scheduled within ten days of first sale
- [ ] Claims reviewed: cosmetic only
- [ ] A way to choose by skin type or routine
- [ ] Discovery size or samples
- [ ] Refill subscriptions
FAQ
Do I need a licence to sell cosmetics online in Canada? There’s no sales licence, but each cosmetic must be notified to Health Canada within ten days of its first sale.
Does the ingredient list need to be on the website? It must be on the label; repeating it on the product page reassures customers and answers questions before they buy.
Does Shopify handle subscriptions? Yes, through subscription apps built into Shopify’s checkout.
A question about your project? Let’s talk it through. Write to us
