In solidarity with the Indigenous peoples in Canada, during July 2021, we will be highlighting Indigenous-owned beauty brands and founders on our Blog. Liv'Ez Co. acknowledges and pay respects to the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations for allowing us to operate on their unceded territory in Vancouver, Canada.

Trigger Warning: the following contains mentions of suicide, alcoholism, and addiction.

Let's Meet: CHEEKBONE BEAUTY.

Known for their Warrior Women Liquid Lipstick, Cheekbone Beauty is an Indigenous woman-owned and cruelty-free makeup brand established by Jennifer Harper out of St. Catharines, Ontario.

Jenn is Anishinaabe-Canadian, and had always struggled with her Indigenous identity. Being raised by a Caucasian mother and estranged from her Indigenous family and tribe, she turned to alcohol to self-soothe. Eventually, she learned of her grandmother’s experience in residential schools, and quickly realized that the generational trauma had severely destroyed her Indigenous familial and personal identity. This prompted her to fight her alcoholism and seek to rediscover her Indigenous identity; first by reuniting with her family, and then exploring her Indigenous history and culture alongside her brother, B.J.  

These days, Jenn is focused on product development and innovation at Cheekbone Beauty's Innovation Lab & Production Facility. She continues to strive towards sustainability in all of Cheekbone Beauty's products and operations; from raw materials sourcing, all the way to the finished product. She's also the proud recipient of multiple awards, including: Social Enterprise Award, Startup Canada’s Social Enterprise of the Year, and named Woman of the Year by Chatelaine Magazine.