Céla’s New Launches Are Quintessentially Canadian (Win!)

Today, one of our fave Canadian beauty brands and Toronto spas, Céla, is launching two products that pay some major local tribute. We chatted with founder Celine Tadrissi to learn more about new Northern Face Oil and Northern Eye Cream, which boast an ingredient list of cruelty-free, sustainably-sourced Canadian ingredients like red maple bark extract and Bakuchiol that are moisturizing, anti-aging and brightening. —Noa Nichol

When and why did you launch Céla? What niche were/are you aiming to fill? 

I had a somewhat unconventional start to the wellness industry as I started my career as an accountant. Despite this, I’d always known I wanted to pursue a career in beauty. I decided to leave the world of finance when I started travelling extensively and was inspired by the range of beautiful spas I came across. I was particularly amazed by the rituals of Turkish hammams, Moroccan spas, and Korean bath houses. After opening Hammam Spa by Céla’s first location in 2005, I noticed a gap in the market while searching for products to use in treatments. At the time, everything we used was imported from overseas or the US and I was becoming increasingly frustrated with the high shipping costs and lengthy delivery times (on top of not having the ‘perfect fit’ for most products used in our service protocols). As a 12th-generation Canadian, I am endlessly fascinated with the wide range of quality ingredients that are native and available across the country. When I started Céla, I was surprised to learn that other companies weren’t leveraging these ingredients in their formulations. As a result, I decided to dive into developing Céla by Celine Tadrissi, a product line that could bring the experience that Hammam Spa by Céla had perfected to consumers’ homes, and celebrate Canada’s local ingredients.

What products do you offer, and what makes them unique? 

Céla is one of the only Canadian skincare brands offering luxury products formulated with sustainable, cruelty-free Canadian-sourced ingredients. The Céla by Celine Tadrissi range includes products for body, face, and hair, all formulated with the goal to elevate your simple home skincare routine into a restorative self-care ritual that you will return to every day. 

And when did you open the Toronto spa? How did that add to/enhance your brand offerings?

My entrepreneurial journey all began with the opening of Hammam Spa by Céla’s first location in 2005. The goal was to create a space that customers could return to and make part of their ongoing self-care routine. It’s hard to believe that it’s already been more than 17 years since we first opened our King St. location’s doors and 4 years since we opened our second location in Bayview Village. Hammam Spa and Céla go hand-in-hand. The majority of our treatments incorporate Céla products and the Céla product line really allows our customers to bring the spa home with them!

Now, you are launching two new products: Northern Face Oil and Northern Eye Cream. Please tell us all about them! What ingredients do they contain, how do they work, who are they for? What inspired you to formulate these? Will they feature in any spa offerings?

This is the most excited I’ve been about a new product launch in a long time––the formulas are so perfect, and I can’t wait for customers to test them out! Both the Northern Face Oil and Northern Eye Cream contain cruelty-free, sustainably-sourced Canadian ingredients perfect for incorporating into skincare routines for a range of ages. We’ll also be using these products in the Céla Mineral Facial, a new treatment launching at the spa this spring. The Northern Face Oil is the first product we’ve launched in partnership with the students and faculty at the School of Biological Sciences and Applied Chemistry at Seneca College. Formulated with red maple bark extract (derived from sustainable Canadian red maple bark), the face oil helps the skin produce collagen and elastin, leaving you looking (and feeling) younger. The Northern Eye Cream is formulated with one of my favourite ingredients that is getting attention of industry professionals and consumers alike; Bakuchiol, which is a natural substitute for retinol without the irritating side effects. I have extremely sensitive skin and have never been able to use retinol, so I’m excited to share this with customers who’ve experienced the same (and with any pregnant or breastfeeding women who aren’t able to use retinol)!

As we approach summer, what are some of your top hot-weather skincare tips?

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! I often find people forget that moisturizing the skin is just as important in the summer heat as it is in the winter. The concept of “skin-flooding” has blown up on TikTok recently and is something I always incorporate into my routine by layering on products in a particular order and piling on the moisture. This is a great thing to incorporate into your summer skincare routine. 

And, finally, we have to know: what’s your personal favourite treatment/experience to indulge in at the Hammam Spa by Cela?

It’s so hard to pick one! If I had to choose, I would say our Signature Seed to Skin treatment performed on our heated marble tables. I like to keep this one as a surprise as it’s truly an experience that sets us apart from other spas in the country. Come in and visit Hammam Spa so you can try it for yourself!

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Win! A Céla Beauty Prize Pack!

Congrats Sharmain M. of Medicine Hat, AB, who will receive both products mentioned above! Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadaily.ca. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.