Dear Lucy is a BC-based high-performance skincare line for sensitive and reactive skin. Born as a love letter from a mother to her daughters, Dear Lucy is committed to quality, transparency, and sustainability. Their line is produced locally with innovative biotech ingredients that are rigorously tested. This dedication to quality ensures that not only are Dear Lucy products sustainable, but they are also safe and effective. We spoke with Caity, the founder of Dear Lucy, to learn more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Our business is called Dear Lucy. We create high-performance skincare for sensitive and reactive skin, grounded in clinical research and tested for real-world results. Right now, we offer one hero product — a dark spot serum designed to brighten and smooth the skin. It’s been independently tested for safety and efficacy and is the foundation for a full line of products we’re developing now.
What made you want to do this work?
It started from personal experience. I spent years navigating uneven and pigmented skin that felt reactive and unpredictable. I wanted something I could trust — something backed by science and designed with a focus on sustainability. When I couldn’t find that in a single product, I started building it. That led to creating a product I believed in — and eventually, a brand others could believe in too.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
There’s a lot of noise in skincare. For people with problematic skin, the constant trial and error can be exhausting — physically and emotionally. I wanted to offer a product that was well-studied and reliable. And I wanted the business to reflect values like sustainability, transparency, not just marketing momentum.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Our community is made up of thoughtful, research-driven people — primarily women in their 30s and beyond. They’re not just looking for something that feels nice — they want visible results, trustworthy testing, and a brand that stands by its process.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
We sell directly through our website and ship around the world. Our only product right now is our Marine Antioxidant Serum, which is independently dermatologically tested and proven to reduce the appearance of dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles. We’re a small operation with a slow, deliberate growth model — each new product goes through years of formulation and testing before we consider releasing it.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
We don’t have a storefront, but we’re based here in BC — made in Vancouver and headquartered in Victoria. If you’re looking to purchase in person, Clinic 138 on Davie Street is one of the dermatologist offices that carries Dear Lucy.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
“How do you validate that your product is safe for sensitive skin?”
Our product has undergone HRIPT (human repeat insult patch testing), which is the gold standard for confirming a formula is non-irritating. We also formulate using well-documented, well-tolerated ingredients with robust safety data. Everything we do is built around trust — earned, not assumed.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part is receiving messages from customers that our product has made a difference for them. The hardest part? Balancing growth with integrity. We’re committed to moving slowly, testing thoroughly, and not rushing launches — and that sometimes means saying “not yet,” even when demand is growing.
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
Not a joke, but it’s funny that people assume my work is glamorous — full of facials and sampling products — when I’ve just spent my morning trying to find a courier that will deliver to a PO Box in rural Quebec.
Where can we follow you?
You can follow us at @dearlucyskincare and learn more at dearlucyskincare.com
