Beauty influencer meltdowns: How scandals and gossip are damaging the careers of Laura Lee, Manny MUA and other makeup gurus

August 28, 2018

by Yvette Thomas

Laura Lee and Manny MUA
Laura Lee and Manny MUA

The year 2018 will be remembered as a dramatic turn in the industry of social-media beauty influencers who became famous for their postings, usually about makeup, on YouTube and Instagram. As a result of offensive posts on the Internet, beauty influencers Laura Lee and Manny MUA have lost thousands of YouTube subscribers and have taken a temporary break from social media.

Within a period of two weeks, Laura Lee had her Laura Lee Los Angeles business terminated by Ulta, Morphe, Diff Eyewear, ColourPop Cosmetics and BoxyCharm after racist comments that she tweeted in 2012 were exposed. In the racist tweet, she said, “Tip for all black people if you pull ur pants up you can run from the police faster.. #yourwelcome.” She also made several fat-shaming tweets in 2013 that were exposed in mid-August 2018.

Before the scandal, Lee had 5 million subscribers on YouTube. After the scandal, she lost approximately 533,000 subscribers from August 15 to August 28, 2018, according to Social Blade. When the racist tweet was first exposed, Lee did not address the matter for a few days and continued doing her usual videos about makeup. After the scandal became too big to ignore, she temporarily deactivated her Twitter account, and deleted thousands of tweets, and then posted an apology on Twitter. When companies started dropping her, Lee then posted an emotional apology video on August 19. However, the apology video seems to have done more damage to Lee’s reputation than done any good because people have blasted her for being insincere in the video. For example, she insisted that the offensive comments were retweets from other people, not tweets she actually wrote. Screenshots taken of the comments show that they were actually tweets from Lee’s account.

In addition, Lee received a lot of criticism for her demeanor in the apology video, with many commenters on the Internet calling her remorse “fake” and her tearful wailing “bad acting.” Her apology video currently has a 92 percent “dislike” disapproval rating from people on YouTube.

Lee’s close friend Manny MUA has also felt the sting of a massive public backlash. His association with Lee and his refusal so far to publicly comment on her offensive remarks have caused him to lose more than 313,000 subscribers (from August 15 to August 28, 2018, according to Social Blade) and announce that he is taking a break from social media. His YouTube subscriber base is barely hanging on to a range of 5 million.

Lee’s scandal came on the heels of Manny MUA making an apology video after old footage surfaced of him seeming to mock a female fan by rolling his eyes and laughing at her when she walked past him at a meet-and-greet. The fan, who happens to have a form of autism, had posted a video detailing how hurt she was by the alleged insult. In his apology video, Manny MUA explained that he was not mocking the girl but was embarrassed because she had bypassed him to hug fellow makeup guru Jeffree Star. Manny MUA’s apology video also has a majority of “dislikes” on YouTube.

Manny MUA also lost a lot of goodwill in July 2018, when his company Lunar Beauty botched sales of its first palette, Life’s a Drag, by mistakenly giving refunds to some PayPal customers after the customers received what they purchased. In an embarrassing PR move, Lunar Beauty then sent an email to those customers to inform them of the error, and asked them to send the money back. It’s unknown how many of the customers actually complied with that request, but the mistake was no doubt a costly one for Lunar Beauty.

Lee isn’t the first social-media beauty guru to have been hit by a scandal over offensive remarks made years ago. In 2017, Jeffree Star (a former friend of Lee and Manny MUA) was slammed when videos from 2009 showed him making racist comments, including using the “n” word and a video where he suggested throwing battery acid on a black woman’s face so her skin would be light enough to match shades of foundation.

Star, who owns his own eponymous makeup company, made an apology video where he said, in part: “In these videos, I say some really disgusting, vile, nasty and embarrassing things … I look at them and I see them resurface and it makes me sick to my stomach because I do not know who that person was . . . the person that said those horrible vile things, that person was depression, that person was just angry at the world, that person felt like they were not accepted, that person was seeking attention.”

Star, whose makeup is sold worldwide and at U.S. retailers such as Morphe and Beautylish, did not suffer any significant damage to his career, as his business partners continued to work with him. The difference between what happened to Star and what happened to Lee comes down to timing and the perception of sincerity.

In Star’s case, he addressed the scandal right away, and the feedback that he got from most people who commented on his apology video was that his apology seemed sincere, and people believed that he had evolved into a better person since those racist videos were made. Star has also gotten ahead of any other potential scandals by teaming up with with fellow YouTube star Shane Dawson to do a series of confessional videos where Star reveals secrets from his past, including his history of self-mutilation.

However, the #MeToo movement has ushered in sweeping changes in how people are punished for offensive comments and behavior, so if Star’s racism scandal had happened in 2018, he might not have recovered as quickly, even with the best apology.

Star has famously feuded with other beauty gurus such as Kat Von D and Too Faced co-founder Jerrod Blandino. But Star’s videos that show him self-exposing his vulnerabilities have endeared him to fans, and what appears to be his sincere ownership of his flaws has apparently made him more “forgivable” than the beauty gurus who are more reluctant to own up to their mistakes.

Kat Von D, who became famous as a tattoo artist on reality shows “Miami Ink” and “LA Ink,” started her Kat Von D Beauty company in 2008. In June 2018, she faced major backlash when she posted on Instagram that she and her husband would not be vaccinating their son because they believe that vaccinations are dangerous. Von D lost thousands of subscribers on Instagram, the social-media platform where she has the most followers (about 6.6 million), but she held firm and did not make an apology. According to Social Blade, in recent weeks she hasn’t been losing Instagram followers, but she hasn’t made any significant gains either.

Social media’s influence in the beauty and fashion industries cannot be under-estimated, as numerous beauty influencers have become multi-millionaires based on how they market themselves on social media, not from having any experience or training in the industry. The biggest example is reality TV star Kylie Jenner of Kylie Cosmetics, who has a net worth of $900 million, according to Forbes.

Beauty influencers with millions of followers on YouTube and Instagram usually command “sponsorship” fees to give positive reviews or recommendations of products. Those fees can be upwards of $60,000 to $80,000 for a YouTube video or $20,000 to $30,000 for an Instagram post. A typical beauty influencer posts hundreds of videos and photos a year, so it’s easy to see why people want a piece of the action to get rich.

With all that money to be made and with competition so fierce to gain new followers/subscribers, the gossip that has swirled around social-media beauty influencers has exploded and spawned a growing number of YouTube channels specifically created to cover the drama around these beauty influencers. The need to expose these influencers’ pasts in a tabloid-like manner is a sign of how much things have changed in how people react to YouTube stars.

In August 2018, a group photo of social-media beauty influencers Lee, Manny MUA, Gabriel Zamora and Nikita Dragun showing their middle fingers with the caption “Bitch is bitter because without him we’re doing better” caused an uproar on social media because people speculated that it was an insult aimed at Star. All of this “drama” over one photo actually caught the attention of several media outlets such as Cosmopolitan, Teen VogueVox and Clevver News. Zamora also came under fire after it was exposed that he used the “n” -word racial insult in a past tweet. In an apology video on YouTube, Zamora said he was sorry for his past racial slurs. Zamora also admitted to adding the derogatory caption to the group photo without the other photo subjects’ knowledge, and that the caption was meant as an insult to Star, who accepted Zamora’s apology in a separate video. In the video, Zamora publicly ended his friendship with Manny MUA, whom he called “toxic.”

The apology worked for Zamora. After he posted his video on August 21, he gained 341,000 YouTube subscribers in one week, with more than 204,000 gained on the day after the video was posted, according to Social Blade. In the week before posting the apology, he lost more than 6,700 subscribers. As of this writing, Zamora has 778,700 subscribers on YouTube.

Reality TV has spawned its share of “15 minutes of fame” stars, but YouTube stars are a different breed. The biggest difference between today’s YouTube stars and today’s reality TV stars is that YouTube stars don’t have to rely on being cast in TV shows to keep their fame going. Unless they do something that gets them kicked off of YouTube and kills their careers, YouTube stars will have their YouTube channels, which they control, as their way to get the fame and money that most people don’t have. But as Lee, Manny MUA, and others have learned, with that fame comes the scrutiny of people who can’t wait to expose more scandals.

Kat Von D Beauty releases limited-edition 10th anniversary collection

May 21, 2018

Kat von D Beauty

The following is a press release from Kat Von D Beauty:

This year, Kat Von D Beauty celebrates its 10-year anniversary with a limited edition collection of eight products for eyes, lips and face that are vegan, cruelty-free and dripping in gold. The curated mix of products range from throwback favorites like the all-star icon Tattoo Liner to new classics like Everlasting Glimmer Veil in Gold Skool. The collection launched online on Cinco de May (May 5), and sold out almost immediately. Now, you can shop the Kat Von D 10th Anniversary Collection in Sephora stores and Sephora inside JCPenney, while supplies last.

Kat Von D Beauty’s 10th Anniversary collection is one-of-a-kind: it was inspired by Kat’s 10th Anniversary muses – men and women who redefine beauty and strength. Each muse’s name can be found on the 10th Anniversary eyeshadow palette, and you can watch their full stories unfold on Youtube.com/KatVonDBeauty.

Kat Von D Beauty 10th Anniversary Collection (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)

“I wanted to tell the story of @katvondbeauty through 10 of my modern-day muses. These 10 muses have blessed me with so much inspiration, not just with their surface beauty, but for what they contribute to the world through their art.”
– Kat Von D 

Originally launched as a collection of four red lipsticks at Sephora (which sold out immediately), today Kat Von D Beauty has grown to over 350 SKUs sold in 35 countries, winning numerous industry awards along the way for product performance and innovation. Through it all, Kat’s core mission of delivering accessible, high performance, vegan and cruelty-free makeup remains the same. Dedicated to fans across the globe, the collection pays homage to the brand’s humble beginnings, while sharing a glimpse of what’s to come over the next decade.

Kat von D Beauty 10th Anniversary Collection (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
  • 10th Anniversary Tattoo Liner in Trooper Black ($20) – A fan and industry favorite – and one of the most awarded liquid liners – in exclusive gold packaging.
  • 10th Anniversary Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick in Sante Sangre ($19) – One of Kat’s favorite shades dressed up in collectible gold studs.
  • 10th Anniversary Everlasting Glimmer Veil in Gold Skool ($22– A new, exclusive shade of Kat’s long-wear, weightless formula with a liquid-crystal finish.
  • 10th Anniversary Metal Crush Highlighter in Gold Skool ($30) – A single shot of gold-drenched shimmer that you can use anywhere.
  • 10th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette ($52– 16 bold, colorful shades in matte, metallic and shimmer finishes, with names inspired by the 10 campaign muses and limited-edition packaging featuring new artwork drawn by Kat herself in celebration of the 10th anniversary.
  • 10th Anniversary Makeup Brush Collection ($125) – The essential tools to help unleash your creativity with limited-edition gold-tone handles.
  • 10th Anniversary Train Case ($150– A roomy case with tons of space for your makeup stash, decorated with Kat’s original artwork.
  • 10th Anniversary Signed Vault ($348) – Extremely limited quantities of this ultra-special vault are available only on Katvondbeauty.com.

The anniversary campaign features 10 muses of all backgrounds, ages and skin tones, who represent the many faces of Kat Von D Beauty.  These are the artists, poets and lovers. The insiders and the outsiders. But if you really want to know who Kat Von D Beauty is, all you gotta do is look in the mirror.

#Vegan! Kat’s passion for animals means that all products are 100% Cruelty Free Forever. The Kat Von D Beauty 10th Anniversary Collection is 100% vegan. Share your looks and find more inspiration at KatVonDBeauty.com, @KatVonDBeauty, #KatVonDBeauty #10YearAnniversary

ABOUT KAT VON D BEAUTY: LONG WEAR. HIGH PIGMENT. FULL COVERAGE.
Kat Von D Beauty was created and launched in 2008. Inspired by the inks of her world-famous tattoo shop, High Voltage Tattoo, Kat created an unstoppable, beloved makeup brand that specializes in long wear, high pigment, and full coverage beauty products that empower you to unleash your inner artist.

In her nonstop pursuit of creating the most perfect beauty products you’ve never imagined, Kat Von D tests and wears everything she makes, drawing endless inspiration from her experience as an artist, tattooer, musician, animal-rights activist, social media leader, and creator. Praised and cherished for her artistry, authenticity, innovation, and quality obsession, Kat Von D is one of the fastest-growing beauty brands in the industry.

As a passionate animal-rights activist, Kat Von D is committed to ensuring 100% Cruelty Free beauty and 100% Vegan makeup within her line. In recognition of her work, Kat was the recipient of the Animal Rights National Conference’s Celebrity Animal Advocate Award and named Vegan Celebrity of the Year in 2017. Kat Von D Beauty has twice been awarded Best Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Company by peta2 in their Annual Libby Awards.

Kat Von D Beauty is distributed in 35 countries across North AmericaLatin AmericaEuropeSouth East AsiaAustralia, the Middle East, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and Ireland — exclusively at SEPHORA, Naimies, Debenhams and www.katvondbeauty.com.

ABOUT KENDO
Based in San Francisco, CA, KENDO creates or acquires beauty brands and focuses on developing them into global powerhouses. The portfolio consists of Kat Von D Beauty, Marc Jacobs Beauty, OLEHENRIKSEN, BITE Beauty and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. The name KENDO is a play on the phrase “can do.” What characterizes KENDO is its dedication to product quality, innovation and authentic storytelling. Brands within the KENDO portfolio are distributed in 35 countries worldwide.

Kat Von D Beauty launches ultra long-wear brow collection in three formulas

April 20, 2018

Kat Von D
Kat Von D Beauty Brow Collection (Photo courtesy of Kat von D Beauty)

The following is a press release from Kat von D Beauty:

Introducing Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade, Brow Struck Dimension Powder, Signature Brow Precision Pencil, and two new brow brushes unlike any others. With three first-to-market waterproof, long-wear, and high pigment formulas in pencil, pomade and powder, these vegan and cruelty-free brow products give you the power to personalize your brows any way you want, in any shade you want!

Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade, Brow Struck Dimension Powder, Signature Brow Precision Pencil, Pomade Brow Brush #70 and Powder Brow Brush #75 are available April 20, 2018 on Katvondbeauty.com, Sephora.com, and in Sephora and Sephora inside JCPenney stores.

Brows are uniquely personal. To create her own distinctive bold brow, Kat used Tattoo Liner for years because she couldn’t find a product that delivered the high-intensity color and waterproof long-wear she wanted. Now, she has pushed the boundaries of innovation to create the ultimate brow collection for herself…and everyone! In a sneak peek post on Instagram, Kat Von D lauded, “Are you guys ready for THE BEST bullet-proof long wear eyebrow product of all time?!”

Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade ($19)

Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade (Natural Shades)

This weightless waterproof pomade delivers high-impact, budge-proof and smudge-proof brows that don’t come off until you want them to. This sweat-proof formula is the best brow product for the most intense activities – Kat even tested its stay-put power at a super-sweat-inducing fitness class! Super Brow comes in 7 neutral brow tones, 7 rainbow colors, plus “White Out” and “Bleach” for a total of 16 unprecedented shades that can combine to create over 100 colors for any and every hair color.

https://www.katvondbeauty.com/eye/brow/24-hour-super-brow-long-wear-pomade/10038.html

https://www.sephora.com/product/24-hour-super-brow-long-wear-pomade-P430718

Apply 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade with the new Kat Von D Beauty Pomade Brow Brush #70 ($18). The brush’s firm, angled bristles are made from the highest quality synthetic fibers to deliver extreme control and effortless strokes. The tapered brush handle doubles as a mixing spatula to make creating color combinations a breeze.

https://www.katvondbeauty.com/eye/brow/pomade-brow-brush-70/29314V1.html

https://www.sephora.com/product/70-pomade-brow-brush-P430304

Kat Von D Beauty Brow Struck Dimension Powder ($20)

Kat Von D Beauty Brow Struck Dimension Powder

Create the perfect natural-looking brow with Brow Struck: a unique 3D semi-metallic powder that mimics the natural sheen of real hair for real-deal dimension and volume. This hybrid 2-in-1 primer and powder formula is the first brow powder to deliver waterproof, smudge-resistant brows for up to 12 hours. Use one of the seven brow-toned shades to instantly fill-in and even-out your shape for perfectly full and balanced brows that look great on camera and in real life.

https://www.katvondbeauty.com/eye/brow/brow-struck-dimension-powder/10039.html

https://www.sephora.com/product/brow-struck-dimension-powder-P430306

Apply this long-wear, high pigment powder with the Kat Von D Beauty Powder Brow Brush #75 ($18). The brush features a unique combed design that actually deposits and blends the powder as it grooms brow hair!

https://www.katvondbeauty.com/eye/brow/powder-brow-brush-75/29321V1.html

https://www.sephora.com/product/75-powder-brow-brush-P430305

Kat Von D Beauty Signature Brow Precision Pencil ($20)

Kat Von D Beauty Signature Brow Precision Pencil

This ultra-skinny pencil features the first-ever 1 x 1.5mm oval tip, for a microblade look that you control. Signature Brow is all about precision and is perfect for drawing fine lines and hair-like strokes with an artist’s control at any angle. The long-wear, break-resistant formula is extra-hard yet softens on contact with the natural oils of your brow hair for buildable payoff, so you can layer color with confidence to achieve any custom brow look. The built-in spoolie on each of the 7 brow-tone shades lets you groom and blend with ease.

https://www.katvondbeauty.com/eye/brow/signature-brow-precision-pencil/10040.html

https://www.sephora.com/product/signature-brow-precision-pencil-P430307

Kat Von D Beauty celebrates self-expression and positivity with Kat Von D x Divine Collection

February 22, 2018

Bejean, Max Morse, Kat Von D and Timothy Hung: Divine Transformation by Artistry Collective Artist Steffanie Strazzere (Photo by Mariano Vivanco)

The following is a press release from Kat von D Beauty:

The KAT VON D x DIVINE Collection is a symbol of self-expression, artistry and positivity, celebrating Divine, the beauty of a true original. Divine is an iconic drag queen and entertainer, and one of Kat’s muses. Known for his larger-than-life persona – and the makeup to match! – Divine embraced his authentic self with unwavering confidence. Divine’s makeup is so iconic that it has been the inspiration for movies, cartoons, actors and performers globally. Today, Divine’s legacy continues to inspire. Available for a limited time only beginning February 14 on Katvondbeauty.com, February 17 on Sephora.com, and March 2 in Sephora stores. #Vegan! All products are 100% Cruelty Free and vegan. Made with love, not animals.

“Divine Official Enterprises, LLC is excited to be working with Kat Von D Beauty on this collection. Divine and Kat connect on so many levels. From artistry, fashion, and makeup, to a genuine love for animals and music. Kat and Divine embody beauty, glamour, and attitude, which is reflected in this collaboration that makeup wearers and cosmetics junkies everywhere will find irresistible.” – Noah Brodie, CEO, Divine Official Enterprises, LLC @divineofficial

Kat Von D x Divine Collection: I Am Divine Eyeshadow Palette & I Am Divine Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)

KAT VON D x DIVINE I Am Divine Eyeshadow Palette Limited Edition ($38 USD)
This 8-pan eyeshadow palette features high pigment matte, shimmer and metallic shades inspired by Divine’s famous look, with a selfie-friendly cover design: Hold the palette over your eyes, snap a selfie! Shades include: Babs, Hard Magic, Baltimore, Waters, Filthy, Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, and Hairspray.

KAT VON D x DIVINE I Am Divine Studded Kiss Lipstick Limited Edition ($19 USD)
Kat also created a never-before-seen nude shade of Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick, called Divine, in collectible neon green studded packaging, that delivers luxuriously rich texture and intensified color payoff with Kat’s signature long wear.

https://www.katvondbeauty.com/eye/eyeshadow/kat-von-d-x-divine-eyeshadow-palette/27365.html

https://www.sephora.com/product/i-am-divine-palette-P428667

https://www.sephora.com/product/studded-kiss-creme-lipstick-P428666

Bejean, Max Morse, Kat Von D and Timothy Hung: Divine Transformation by Artistry Collective Artist Steffanie Strazzere (Photo by Mariano Vivanco)

Get The Look and Get Inspired:
For the campaign (shot on Divine’s birthday), each of the 4 KVDB Artistry Collective Artists transformed Kat and her 3 muses to Divine-inspired icons for the KAT VON D x DIVINE campaign: transformation and makeup artist Timothy Hung, character stylist and YouTuber Bejean, and 14-year-old skater, surfer and drummer Max Morse.

KAT VON D: @thekatvond
Divine Transformation by KVDB AC Steffanie Strazzere (@sstrazzere)

Kat Von D: Divine Transformation by Artistry Collective Artist Steffanie Strazzere
Kat Von D: Divine Transformation by Artistry Collective Artist Steffanie Strazzere (Photo by Mariano Vivanco)

“I’ve always been a huge Divine fan. He was so iconic and so ground-breaking, especially for the time that he was around because he was not only breaking barriers in the regular world just being openly gay, but in the drag world as well. He made people question the conventional idea of beauty and he made something that could be scary to most people very appealing. That’s so powerful.” – Kat Von D

TIMOTHY HUNG: @timothyhungcom
Divine Transformation by KVDB AC  Kelseyanna Fitzpatrick (@kelseyannaf)

Timothy Hung: Divine Transformation by Artistry Collective Artist Kelseyanna Fitzpatrick (Photo by Mariano Vivanco)

“I love the idea of changing myself into different characters to express myself freely, differently, and artistically.” – Timothy Hung

Timothy was excited to pay homage to Divine. He especially loved working with Kelseyanna Fitzpatrick for his Divine transformation as she was one of his past students!

*MUA Trick from Timothy: Use “Bisque” (orange undertone) from the Kat Von D Beauty Crème Contour Palette to cover a beard!

BEJEAN: @malibudollface
Divine Transformation by KVDB AC Tara Buenrostro (@juscallmetara)

Bejean: Divine Transformation by Artistry Collective Artist Tara Buenrostro (Photo by Mariano Vivanco)

“I truly love people like Divine for giving me the opportunity tobe who I am and stand in my truths. I also love Kat Von D Beauty because it caters to everyone. In fact, it was one of the first brands that had foundations in my shade.” – Bejean

Bejean was tapped for the campaign by Kat via Instagram, and he was delighted to say the least.

MAX MORSE: @maximushenrymorse
Divine Transformation by  KVDB AC Leah Carmichael (@iamleah)

Max Morse: Divine Transformation by Artistry Collective Artist Leah Carmichael (Photo by Mariano Vivanco)

Fourteen-year-old Max Morse met Kat when she tattooed his father, Toby Morse, a motivational speaker best known as the vocalist for punk rock band H20 and Hazen Street. Max and his mom watched Divine’s movies when he was a child.

“He (Max) doesn’t care, just like Divine didn’t care what people thought, and that’s how we are trying to raise him. Just be yourself, don’t be a follower, be a leader.” – Toby Morse, Max’s Father

“As soon as the makeup went on, it was like POOF! He was in the mirror, striking poses.” – Moon Morse, Max’s Mother

ABOUT KAT VON D BEAUTY: LONG WEAR. HIGH PIGMENT. FULL COVERAGE.

Kat Von D Beauty was created and launched in 2008. Inspired by the inks of her world-famous tattoo shop, High Voltage Tattoo, Kat created an unstoppable, beloved makeup brand that specializes in long wear, high pigment, and full coverage beauty products that empower you to unleash your inner artist.

In her nonstop pursuit of creating the most perfect beauty products you’ve never imagined, Kat Von D tests and wears everything she makes, drawing endless inspiration from her experience as an artist, tattooer, musician, animal-rights activist, social media leader, and creator. Praised and cherished for her artistry, authenticity, innovation, and quality obsession, Kat Von D is one of the fastest-growing beauty brands in the industry.

As a passionate animal-rights activist, Kat Von D is committed to ensuring 100% Cruelty Free beauty and 100% Vegan makeup within her line. In recognition of her work, Kat was the recipient of the Animal Rights National Conference’s Celebrity Animal Advocate Award and named Vegan Celebrity of the Year in 2017. Kat Von D Beauty has twice been awarded Best Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Company by peta2 in their Annual Libby Awards.

Kat Von D Beauty is distributed in 35 countries across North AmericaLatin AmericaEuropeSouth East AsiaAustralia, the Middle East, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and Ireland — exclusively at SEPHORA, Naimies, Debenhams and www.katvondbeauty.com.

ABOUT KENDO
Based in San Francisco, CA, KENDO creates or acquires beauty brands and focuses on developing them into global powerhouses. The portfolio consists of Kat Von D Beauty, Marc Jacobs Beauty, OLEHENRIKSEN, BITE Beauty and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. The name KENDO is a play on the phrase “can do.” What characterizes KENDO is its dedication to product quality, innovation and authentic storytelling. Brands within the KENDO portfolio are distributed in 35 countries worldwide.

 

Kat Von D Beauty launches 40 new vegan #StuddedKiss Lipsticks

January 12, 2018

Kat Von D in Kiss Me All Over – Kat Von D's Studded Kiss Vegan Lipstick Campaign
Kat Von D in Kiss Me All Over – Kat Von D’s Studded Kiss Vegan Lipstick Campaign (Photo by Mariano Vivanco)

The following is a press release from Kat von D Beauty:

Kat Von D’s iconic Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick is back to rock your lips with a covetable new formula, explosive new shade range, and reimagined new look! When Kat set out to create the perfect lipstick – romantic yet edgy, classy yet sexy in unbelievable colors – she created the iconic Studded Kiss. Today, Studded Kiss Lipstick is more badass than ever with a higher pigment formula that delivers luxuriously rich texture and intensified color payoff with Kat’s signature long wear and commitment to cruelty-free makeup that’s completely vegan.

The new Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick launches with 40 incredible colors in three rad finishes: Satin Matte, Glimmer, and Metallic. Kat’s largest, most disruptive shade range ever includes timeless best-sellers, resurrected fan-favorites, beloved icons from her Everlasting Liquid Lipstick collection, and the all-new White Out, an artistry-inspired opaque white to use as a base or to mix and customize your own perfect lip shades. From nudes to brights to bold pops of color, Studded Kiss offers a full spectrum for any one.

Kat Von D Beauty New Studded Kiss Vegan Lipsticks in 40 shades (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)

As always, Kat personally tested and approved the formulation of each 100% Vegan, cruelty-free shade to ensure consistent pigmentation, and comfortable, virtually weightless wear. Kat was even involved in designing the iconic Studded Kiss Lipstick packaging and lettering. The Studded Kiss lipstick bullet case was inspired by the black studs on her favorite cuff bracelet.

https://www.katvondbeauty.com/lip/lipstick/studded-kiss-creme-lipstick/40006.html

Get The Look:
Kat Von D Beauty Artistry Collective Artist Tara Buenrostro (@juscallmetara) shares her passion for the new Studded Kiss Lipsticks:

  • “The newly reformulated Studded Kiss Creme Lipsticks are truly unlike any lipsticks out there. They are the longest-lasting lipsticks with the most insane color payoff. From the perfect nudes for any skin tone, classic reds, all the way to those weirdo-pops and Everlasting Liquid Lipstick shade faves – we have any color your heart desires!”

Tara dishes on creating the look seen on Kat Von D in the Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick campaign, which inspired the “Kiss Me All Over” tagline:

  • “I always love collaborating with Kat on ideas for campaigns, so when she approached me with the idea of lipsticks all over her face, my first thought was that I was going to have to kiss her… A LOT. In order to accomplish the campaign look, I created custom stencils and with the help of the three other Artistry Collective members we filled them in with different shades of Studded Kiss to truly showcase the amazing color range, intense pigmentation and color payoff to give Kat the perfect, Studded Kiss Me All Over look.”

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick ($19 USD) will be available in the US on January 12 onKatvondbeauty.comJanuary 19 on Sephora.com, and January 26 in Sephora stores.

#Vegan! Kat’s passion for animals means that all products are 100% Cruelty Free Forever. Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick is 100% vegan. Share your looks and find more inspiration at KatVonDBeauty.com@KatVonDBeauty, #KatVonDBeauty and #StuddedKiss

ABOUT KAT VON D BEAUTY: LONG WEAR. HIGH PIGMENT. FULL COVERAGE.
Kat Von D Beauty was created and launched in 2008. Inspired by the inks of her world-famous tattoo shop, High Voltage Tattoo, Kat created an unstoppable, beloved makeup brand that specializes in long wear, high pigment, and full coverage beauty products that empower you to unleash your inner artist.

In her nonstop pursuit of creating the most perfect beauty products you’ve never imagined, Kat Von D tests and wears everything she makes, drawing endless inspiration from her experience as an artist, tattooer, musician, animal-rights activist, social media leader, and creator. Praised and cherished for her artistry, authenticity, innovation, and quality obsession, Kat Von D is one of the fastest-growing beauty brands in the industry.

As a passionate animal-rights activist, Kat Von D is committed to ensuring 100% Cruelty Free beauty and 100% Vegan makeup within her line. In recognition of her work, Kat was the recipient of the Animal Rights National Conference’s Celebrity Animal Advocate Award and named Vegan Celebrity of the Year in 2017.

Kat Von D Beauty is distributed in 35 countries across North AmericaLatin AmericaEuropeSouth East AsiaAustralia, the Middle East, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and Ireland — exclusively at SEPHORA, Naimies, Kaufhof, Debenhams and www.katvondbeauty.com.

ABOUT KENDO
Based in San Francisco, CA, KENDO creates or acquires beauty brands and focuses on developing them into global powerhouses. The portfolio consists of Kat Von D Beauty, Marc Jacobs Beauty, OLEHENRIKSEN, BITE Beauty and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. The name KENDO is a play on the phrase “can do.” What characterizes KENDO is its dedication to product quality, innovation and authentic storytelling. Brands within the KENDO portfolio are distributed in 35 countries worldwide.

 

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