Lisa Walsh was just 12-years-old when she followed her aunt’s instructions and formulated her first perfume by picking wild roses and white clover from the barrens of Bay de Verde, Nfld., behind her house and infusing them in oil.

As an adult, she built a successful spa and salon business, but had to leave it because of intolerance to the chemicals. Walsh, 46, started Indigena Skin Care in 2009, selling directly to spas and salons across Canada, using natural preservatives like witch hazel and willow bark and sustainably harvested natural ingredients.

Sea Veggie Soak and Labrador Tea Face Creme are made pre-dominantly from local ingredients, including Labrador tea, locally picked berries, and seaweed harvested by her own staff just outside Indigena’s office in Conception Bay South near St. John’s.

Indigena sells amenity-size products to hotels and also does a flourishing corporate gift basket business. Walsh’s ever-growing line of beauty products—still sold in spas but also online—includes the popular Smooch Lip Balm, and Rosehip and Lemon Shampoo.

Walsh’s team, which includes a chemist and a pharmacist, is working with a biologist at Memorial University to investigate the healing properties of Indigena’s natural ingredients, as well as 37 types of local berries and leaves, many of which she plans on using in products. Says Walsh, “We’re putting science behind our brands.”

What’s new?

Muscle Recovery Balm has shea butter, peppermint oil and Labrador tea extract to 
help muscles heal faster after exercise.