Toronto born cosmetics, skin care and beauty brands are few and far between when walking the aisles of Shoppers Drug Mart or Sephora. Why should the 100-mile diet end in your stomach? Take a trip off the beaten track and you'll find Toronto is brimming with locally produced brands that are as good for your skin as they are for your wallet. Cosmetics companies, big and small, have been popping up in Toronto, taking a direct approach to making our city just a little bit more beautiful. Not to say you can't look your best au natural (I sure as hell can't be bothered to make myself up on a daily basis), but why not indulge in something local when freshening up in the AM.

Here's a look at 5 Toronto beauty brands making their way into our makeup bags.

Bite Beauty (@bitebeauty)
"Edgy, edible, innovation for lips" is the mandate Susanne Lang, founder of Bite Beauty, lives by when crafting her wide range of completely organic and edible lip colors. Makes putting on lipstick in the morning a little less daunting when there's the possibility of it doubling as an afternoon snack, no? With a wide range of bold lipsticks ($24), luscious lacquers ($24) and even naturally-plumping cinnamon tinted lip oils ($22), Bite is just as chic as it is scrumptious. Available at Sephora .

LoveFresh (@LoveFresh)
Why lather yourself with chemicals to get clean and fresh when you can treat your body to a taste of what nature gave us. LoveFresh, the brainchild of Toronto native Stacey Davis, promises "a simple moment of luxury" with every application of her wide range of products. If you've stepped in a spa (Stillwater, The Ten Spot and Lux Spa to name a few) in Toronto in the past year or so, it's likely you've had the pleasure of trying some of Davis's products which range from body oils and lotions to liquid eyeliners and eau de parfums. A personal favorite is the LoveFresh Sugar Scrub ($30) which comes in a variety of scents and scrubbing of dead skin seem ultra-glam.

Rebels Refinery (@rebelsrefinery)
Who ever said skin care was just for the gals? It certainly wasn't Eric Fallon, founder of the brand new men's skin care line Rebels Refinery. Fallon, along with three good friends, decided to start the line when they took a look at the toll their lifestyle was having on their skin and realized it was time to put down the Irish Spring. Launching a simple skin care regime in January of this year (ranging from $13-$17 each or $57 for the full kit), Rebel Refinery seeks to ease the oft hesitant "manly man" into the wonderful world of clear, clean and smooth skin. Available at 889 Yoga and Wellness Spa and Jacob and Sebastian

Province Apothecary
I first discovered Province Apothecary while perusing the goodies at the Junction Flea one weekend, hosted at The Great Hall. Founder Julie Clark began her foray into natural skin care while studying Aromatherapy and Holistic Health in 2010. Certified as a Holistic Health Practitioner, Clark also offers skin consultations and custom organic aromatherapy facials. Find all of her products available on her website (ranging from $8 for lip balm to $80 for skin serums), or visit the studio in the heart of Little Portugal.

Crawford Street Skincare
Oftentimes the best things in life are born from unfortunate situations. Such is the case with Crawford Street Skin Care, the aptly titled line of organic and natural products from Gaelyne Leslie, who launched the line of skin care after experiencing a severe allergic reaction to store-bought cosmetics. Using fair trade or organic products when possible, Leslie aims to provide her customers with a healthy glow free of chemicals, artificial dyes and fragrances. Personally, I've been holding my Mint-Vanilla Lip Balm ($5) closely all winter to keep my lips pucker ready. Available at The Big Carrot or Ecotique.

Did we miss your favourite local beauty brand? Tell us about it in the comment thread below.