Get this Glow Stick! Stila’s New Lip Crayon Glows in the Dark
Posted By Eden on May 22, 2013
We all have our day makeup and our night makeup, each look with their its own selections of shades and products. And the reason we’re loving the latest high-octane lip crayons from Stila is that they work in both contexts. Brightening up your look under the daytime sun and then glowing by night,After Glow Lip Colorcan take you from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde (without having to swap out your lip product for something more dramatic).
The chunky pencils, in six shades vibrant enough to bring you back to the ’90s, are part of the brand’s new throwback summer collection (see alsothese 70s-esque tie-dye shadows). The blend of special fluorescent pigments are, according to Stila, three times brighter than conventional lip colors. Then, at night, they’re designed to glow under UV light, so be prepared—this cosmetic glowstick has the ability to illuminate your mouth like a Lite-Brite.
Night: Glow or No-Glow?
The glow-in-the-dark claim comes with some fine print—we could only get it to really work under ultraviolet black light. So while it may work in the right party situation, there aren’t many everyday situations where you’d get that full effect. If you do wear this clubbin’, make sure your lips are super moisturized, as the bright, matte look shows every crease and crack of a dry pout. Luckily, the ingredients include algae extract, glycerin, sunflower seed oil, and vitamins C and E, so repeated use could actually help soften and nourish lips.
Day: Natural Beauty
Even without the glowing effect, Stila has produced a great crayon with the After Glow. First, it smells like a scented marker (cherry to be exact), and has a smooth consistency that glides on easily and allows you to build coverage. The effect is stain-like and good for long wear. The crayon itself is chunky enough to allow for easy and full application, but can also help with lining, which is good, because you’re not likely to find a liner to match these colors. The Electric Pink (pictured) shade goes on in a distinctive fuschia tint we haven’t really seen from other brands. When glowing under the black light, it’s more like Gwen Stefani’s hair circa 2000. The other shades (Vivid Violet, Tangerine Dream, Party Pink, Festive Fuschia and Rave Red) would be a fun, funky addition to any summer makeup regime. But be ready for the looks you’ll get.
OPI A Definite Moust-Have Swatches & Review
Posted By Anton on May 22, 2013
OPI A Definite Moust-Have is now the 3rd nail polish I’ve reviewed from the OPI Couture de Minnie Collection. When I first saw the bottle, I can’t say that it made my heart race like Usain Bolt. But, when I cracked it open and applied it, it won me over like a balcony serenade. In no [...] (more…)
How to Contour: The Basics
Posted By Joseph on May 21, 2013
According to Los Angeles–based makeup artistBrande Bytheway, all makeup applications involve contouring on some level. But to many, the thought of doing it at home seems inaccessible and a little too tricky. But it’s easier than you think! “Basically, all makeup is contouring,” says Brande. “When you contour, all you’re doing is accentuating your natural features.” To get the technique down, we had Brande walk us through the how-to’s and tools to create a basic look.
This approach will look different on every person, depending on the shape of the features. Brande’s one piece of advice: practice, practice, practice. Try it, play around, and discover what works on your face. “It’s not as complicated as it seems,” Brande swears. “Some people do it every day!”
There are two main techniques used for basic contouring: lowlighting and highlighting. Lowlighting refers to using a darker color wherever there’s an area of the face or feature you want to recede or de-emphasize. Brande recommends a hue about three shades darker than your own skin—and making sure your product is matte, never frosted or shimmery. The opposite of lowlighting is highlighting—this you do on areas you want to emphasize or bring forward. For highlight, you can use either matte or frosted/shimmery color, whichever you prefer.
Here’s how to do a basic highlight for the cheeks, nose, eyes, and jaw. For this tutorial, we usedpowder eye shadows from Inglot.Make Up For Ever’s sculpting kitsalso get Brande’s thumbs-up; check out this quick guide tocontour kits at every pricefor more ideas, too.
Cheekbones
According to Brande, the first thing most people want to contour are the cheekbones. To start, try receding the hollow of the cheek. You can find the hollow of cheek right underneath the cheekbone—there, apply your darker lowlight shadow using an angled medium or large brush. We used taupe-y brown here.
Every area you lowlight, you want to balance with a highlight. After receding the hollow of the cheek, counter that by making cheekbones stand out. To do that, brush on a frosted gloss or light shadow along the cheekbones, and blend out toward the temple.
Nose
This is a basic strategy to slim down the nose just a bit (which remember, may not work on every face). For the nose, use the same lowlight shade you used for cheeks. Start at inner corner of brow and apply down either side of the nose.
Next, apply your highlight down the bridge of the nose. For the nose, always use matte product, even for highlighting. “Generally speaking, people don’t want the nose or T-zone to look shiny, so in those areas, I’d stay away from frost or shimmer,” Brande explains. Finally, blend the two together using a brush.
Eyes
To make the eyes pop in two simple steps, start with your lowlight. Apply into the crease of the lid and blend well.
Then, counter that with a highlight, brushed right along the browbone.
Jaw
To lowlight, apply your darker shadow below the jaw along the jawline, right where the jaw meets the neck. Then blend down into the neck using a clean brush, so you don’t have a line.
Then, highlight right on top of the jawline, and blend together.Be careful not to go all the way around to the chin here. You want to highlight on the sides, along the mandible. “If you go all the way forward to the chin, it can make the chin look bigger, like it’s jutting forward,” says Brande.
Do you contour? What are your favorite products, tips, and techniques? Tell us, and show us your looks below!
OPI Chic from Ears to Tail Swatches & Review
Posted By Iren on May 21, 2013
While crazy nail-polish shades intimidate some people, bubblegum pink lacquers usually have that effect on me. In the past, I avoided pinks because some made my hands look dirty. But, as I’m opening up to trying new shades, I’ve discovered a bunch that are flattering. And, much like red nail polish, pinks such as OPI Chic [...] (more…)
Get The Look: Gilded Tiffany Nails for Prom!
Posted By Lily on May 20, 2013
Inspired by theawesome Beautylish community(includingIndira E. andPaulina A.), we put together Tiffany-inspired mani that’s as easy to do as it is elegant. Here, we paired a classic Tiffany robin’s-egg blue with gold glitter and sparkly gemstones to give it a super luxe feel for prom season. But the look would also work great with a neon base for festivals, or with any shade to match (or complement) your dress. No matter what shade you choose, the techniques are the same, and easy to master. Just follow the simple steps below.
Materials
• nail polish of your choice (Here we usedAnna Sui Nail Color N111)
• topcoat
• glitter (We usedLit Cosmetics in Vegas S3)
• rhinestones
STEP 1: Apply two coats of the nail color of your choice. Cover with a topcoat.
STEP 2: While topcoat is still wet, use a fine brush to add glitter to the base of the nail. Pull glitter toward the tip to get a soft fade effect. Apply another coat of topcoat to create a sticky surface and place a rhinestone at the base of each nail.
STEP 3: To create a diamond accent nail, use topcoat to create a sticky base and apply rhinestones of different sizes on the nail. You may need to refresh the topcoat if it dries before each rhinestone has been placed. For maximum sparkle, cover the entire nail.
STEP 4: Apply a final layer of topcoat to seal the glitter and rhinestones, giving nails a finished look. Using a dry detail brush with stiff bristles, clean the edges of the finger to get rid of any unwanted glitter. Once your nails have dried completely, washing your hands will help remove any pesky strays.
And there you have it! A simple nail that sparkles in the moonlight and will be sure to make you look like a million bucks.
OPI Magazine Cover Mouse Swatches & Review
Posted By Iren on May 20, 2013
This week, I’ll be reviewing each shade in the OPI Couture de Minnie Collection. Perhaps this will entice you to enter my giveaway for the entire collection, Canadians? Today I’m reviewing the shade I was most excited to try in the collection - OPI Magazine Cover Mouse! It has the Liquid-Sand finish that you know I’ve been [...] (more…)
Pilates Abs Workout With a Chair: Part Two
Posted By Jack on May 19, 2013
If you enjoyedthe first installment of this two-parter, try this routine, too. It challenges the core in different ways than the first group, focusing more on your obliques. We designed these to kick up the intensity while increasing flexibility. You can do these three moves separate from the first on an alternate day, or—if you really want a challenge—try all six moves together!
To recap: Make sure the chair is strong and sturdy, has back support, and doesn’t swivel. Start by sitting at the very edge of the chair. You want the tip of your tailbone at the edge of the seat. Then lean back into the chair and pull the knees into the stomach. Make sure you feel balanced. You might have to adjust yourself, moving down or up the chair to find your center. Once you feel stable, you can begin.
Hold onto the bottom or seat of the chair with both hands. Lift the left leg straight up to the sky and lower the right leg straight toward the floor. Keep both legs as straight as possible, and make sure the right leg never touches the floor. Inhale and pulse the left leg in toward your head two times, and then switch legs on the exhale. Each time the leg lifts up, it pulses in toward you for a nice hamstring stretch.
Do this 10x each leg.
Hold onto the bottom or seat of the chair with both hands. Bend your knees and bring them in toward your body. Pull your lower abdominals in. Inhale and bring both knees to the left and then extend the legs straight at the diagonal. Squeeze your inner thighs. Then bend both knees and repeat the same move on the right side.
Do this 10x each side.
Hold onto the bottom or seat of the chair. Bring both legs straight up into the sky and scoop into your lower abdominals. Now separate your legs about hip-width apart and make a V shape. Circle the legs out, around, and down toward the floor. At the bottom of the movement, bring the feet together and lift the legs back up to starting position.
Repeat this 5x, then switch directions for a total of 10.
See Part One of ourPilates Abs Workout with a Chair series here, and read the rest of Kit Rich’soutFit with Kit series here.
Building Your Kit Part 8: The Complete Guide to Eye Shadow
Posted By Stella on May 18, 2013
Eye shadows offer endless creativity. They just may be the most exciting product for both makeup artists and makeup lovers to buy. These days, the number of colors, textures, and formulations is near infinite. But with all the choices, compiling a makeup kit or adding to your everyday shadow regime can get a little mind-numbing. Here are a few things to think about as you build your perfect eye kit.
Even in the basic powder shadow category, brands can be very different due to the amount of pigment versus filler they use, as well as the process in which they press product into pans. Experiment and find the formulas that work best for you and deliver the results you desire. For instance, you might prefer a highly pigmented powder with a small amount of filler that feels dry to the touch, or favor a shadow that feels soft and creamy on your brush and has a lighter pigment load and color payoff. It’s all about discovering your preferences and finding your favorites.
Putting a Palette Together
I’ve found that palettes are the perfect way to carry makeup for professional work, and they also fit well into a tote or makeup bag. You can purchase pre-made palettes—available in pretty much every price point—from many brands, or buy brand-specific empty palettes (such asInglot’s) and build your own customized collection within one color range. You can also buy empty palettes or containers that allow you to add in pans of eye shadow from multiple brands. Some of my favorites are fromZ•PaletteandAlcone.
A word of advice: keep it simple. When compiling your palette, don’t get caught up in the excitement of buying the most daring shades. So many artists want to get all of the brightest and boldest colors and textures, but basic shadows will be the basis of your application and lay the groundwork for great makeup.
Check for Quality
I recommend checking the quality of the product before you purchase. Look at reviews online and speak to other artists about what they love or perhaps dislike about the product. I’m not a product snob, but the difference in quality between pro and prestige versus mass products can be obvious and measurable. A few key questions to ask yourself:
• Does the shadow allow you versatility in application? Meaning, can you apply it both sheer and with more full coverage?
• When using a variety of brushes, will it have a smooth consistency?
• Is it durable for high-intensity jobs and situations? In other words, does the product cause a lot of fallout on the face during application?
1. The Highlighting Palette
A highlighting palette made up of lighter shades and base shadows is an absolute must-have. This group includes white, light beige, cream, vanilla, peach, and buttercream shades, as well as soft pinks and apricots. The lighter colors can be used to draw attention to a feature, cause a certain area to pop, or simply make a part of the face look more dominant.
I prefer to keep these shades in matte or satin consistencies, because you don’t always want your highlight shades to have texture. Base shades should always be matte, or else the shimmer or frost will show through.
2. The Contouring Palette
Next, to build in shape and definition, think about a contouring palette which include darker colors that will recess an area or make it appear smaller. You can also use contouring shades to line and define brows, eye lids, or any area that needs depth or dimension. This group of shades should contain matte shadows in various cool and warm browns, deep burgundies, rich greys, and neutrals on the darker side of the spectrum—including black.
3. The Color Palettes
Once you have your fundamentals for shape and form, let your creative side come into play by building your color palettes. Here, let your imagination run wild. But still, be strategic and think about what you can combine for unlimited possibility.
I prefer to separate palettes into warm and cool, and then arrange into common color families. I also like to keep matte and satin textured shadows separate from frosts, shimmers, and glitters so loose particles don’t end up compromising your flat shadows. Think about what works on your clients and what you need to complete the job at hand. Represent all of your primary and secondary colors, tints, shades, and tones. Then, go crazy with an endless array of your faves: deep rich reds, bright yellows, cool blues, greens, pinks, violets, indigos—whatever your heart desires in both soft and strong colors!
4. The Texture Palette
You will also need a texture palette—something made up of various frosts that highlight, change the surface, or add impact. Metallic eye shadows also fit well into this group and allow you to transform any eye into numerous looks. Stay aware of seasonal trends and what’s on the red carpet and runway for the latest must-have shadow shades.
Now you know how to meet the needs of any client. Eye shadows can lay the groundwork for a look’s shape, texture, or tone, from traditional to bold. Be smart about your palettes and arm yourself with the right shadows, so you can truly transform any application with a simple swipe.
Check out Parts1–7 of James Vincent’s Building Your Kit series here, and stay tuned for Part 9, coming soon!
From Punk to Makeup Artist and Organic Beauty Advocate: Rose-Marie Swift of rms beauty
Posted By Iren on May 17, 2013
New York City–based makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift has come a long way since her career’s unlikely beginning. Her earliest recollection of cosmetics? “Using green food coloring to do my little sister up as Eddie Munster,” she says with a laugh, adding “I think we did a Spock look, too.” These childhood memories speak to the fact that doing makeup is something that just came natural to her.
For more than 20 years, Rose-Marie has drawn on that innate talent to build a successful artistry business. She counts Miranda Kerr, Gisele, and Paloma Picasso among her many clients, and her work has appeared everywhere from Vogue to The Wall Street Journal to campaigns for Louis Vuitton and Calvin Klein. But today, she’s more well-known for her popular line rms beauty,which we’re thrilled to welcome to Beautylish Boutiques! We recently sat down for tea with Rose-Marie in her downtown NYC studio and chatted all about her line, the importance of high-quality ingredients, and her beginnings as a ’70s punk.
on her approach to makeup artistry
“My touch is light and ethereal. Never heavy. I’m also known for being fast. If you tell us 4 a.m. call time, we can get there at 5:30 and still be ready to shoot on time. For me, it’s all about luminosity and letting skin show through, rather than covering it up. And: absolutely no mineral powders or tacky frosted shadows. I just do what I like and use what I like based on color and the look I’m creating. I don’t always know products by brand name or shade. I just don’t pay attention to that stuff!”
on powder
“I’m anti-powder (hence a single, universal shade of‘Un’ Powder, which works with my’Un’ Cover-UpsandBeauty Oil). Generally speaking, the older you get, the worse powder looks. Powder bronzers might look good in photos, but they don’t work in real life, in natural light. People usually don’t notice how their skin looks with powder all over it—it’s hard to look at yourself objectively, especially when it comes to makeup. My Buriti bronzer will be out later this year, in one shade that works on all skin tones. It’s not gray, not orange, not pink, but right in the middle. I designed it to let the complexion shine through.”
on why she doesn’t use soap
“I haven’t washed my face or body with soap since I can remember. Traditional cleansers and soaps to me age the skin and have absolutely no positive effect on the skin except strip it. We do too much to our skin and overstimulate it. The skin doesn’t like to be washed and scrubbed to death. Easy, easy, easy. Skin is not a barrier to the outside world as we once thought. What we put on it gets into our system.”
on deodorant, fragrance, and other potential irritants
“Toxins are the reason we stink. I only use natural deodorant, and even then, only when I need it, maybe once every two months. ‘Fragrance’ as an ingredient is synthetic. If you see ‘fragrance,’ run! Petroleum-based products can clog pores. Essential oils, whether organic or not, can be very irritating to sensitive skin. Over time and with continued use it actually dehydrates and ages the skin—I’ve never use all of that stuff, and look at my skin! I’m 58!” (Note: head-to-toe, her skin indeed looks amazing.)
on her beginnings
“Being a rockstar is what I really wanted to do. I was in a band in the ’70s, and we backed up the Ramones. But makeup came so easy to me. Even today, I like working on developing the products more than I love doing makeup. Makeup was never my passion! The hair stylists I’ve worked will vouch for that, ha! I started out in Vancouver, and got a break doing a cover shoot when a famous model came to town. I did a monochromatic look—all light pink! And then after I did everything that was possible in Vancouver, I moved on to Toronto. And so on.”
on using food-grade ingredients
“As you know, I do not favor steam-distilled essential oils. I prefer to use CO2s, which are considerably more expensive than essential oils, but it’s worth it. We minimize heat used in the manufacturing process to preserve vital nutrients. And we use food-grade, organic ingredients in their most natural state. Our stuff is more like having an organic raw juice or green salad rather then french fries. You can literally scoop our raw coconut cream out of the jar and put it in your mouth, and you know it is good for you.”
on her raw coconut cream
TheRaw Coconut Creamis best makeup remover ever. It’s all I use to clean my face and take off product. It even works on waterproof mascara. If I could only use one product every day, this would be it. The process we use to extract it from the coconut preserves the highest amount of lauric acid, a rare beneficial substance you can find pretty much only one other place—in human breast milk. It’s all of the ‘anti’s’: antioxidant, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-fungal. All of this means it’s suitable even on acne-prone skin, and even helps improve it, while fighting free radical damage and premature aging.”
on mixing in non-organic, non-natural products
“Yes, I do. As a professional, I have to. I can’t always use completely organic lip colors or makeup, especially when I’m going for a more highly pigmented look or under major heavy lights on a shoot. I make cleaner choices when I can when working with clients. What’s great about my line is that you can combine all of the products to create new colors and textures. They all work together. And my products are designed to work synergistically with the skin.”
on cost versus quality
“Quality ingredients are the key. I always say ‘organic is a guarantee of safety, not quality.’ Most of what you see out there is made with cheap coconut oil, cheap jojoba oil, etc. When I first sourced the high-end stuff, even my lab said, why not go with the stuff that’s three-fourths of the cost! And then they were shocked at the increase in quality and performance between cheap and expensive ingredients—even ones labeled organic.”
Wonder Ingredient: Coconut
Posted By Iris on May 16, 2013
Once considered a fatty foe by health advocates, coconut oil made a comeback afew years ago on the foodie scene. Now there isn’t a Trader Joe’s or a vegan bakery you’ll enter without tripping over the stuff. Coconut is one of the only natural sources of lauric acid (it’s also found in breast milk), a beneficial substance noted for its antibacterial, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties.
Used topically, coconut is thought to soothe, hydrate, and balance skin of all types. So it isn’t surprising that coconut-derived ingredients are popping up in more and more cosmetics. Here are some of our favorite products of the moment made with this skin saver, from basic soap to highlighter.
Caldrea Coconut Fig Leaf Perfume
A brand new light and fragrance that smells good enough to eat, we’re in love the tiny, travel-perfect rollerball bottle. The base (musk, sandalwood, and cedarwood) balances perfectly with the sweet top notes of white fig, coconut, and plum.
Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme
You’ve been seeing this yellow tube on drugstore shelves for quite some time now for good reason: it’s classic, natural, and it works. The North Carolina–based company is best known for its lip balm, but the coconut foot creme has a cult following, too. The products thick, honey-like consistency works best overnight. Slather it on, cover with socks, and wake up to super-soft feet.
RMS Beauty Coconut Cream
Just a dime-sized amount of this 100% organic coconut oil, extracted in its most raw, pure form, is enough to take off even the most stubborn waterproof mascara (and all of your other makeup, too). Its antioxidant and antibacterial properties make it excellent for all skin types, acne-prone included.
Perfect Organics Grapefruit Lavendar Coconut Body Glow
For such a simple formula (there are just six ingredients) in such a simple jar, this product is a star multi-tasker. Use it to hydrate and repair parched skin or hair with a blend of organic shea butter, organic coconut oil, organic jojoba, and non-GMO vitamin E. It’s especially great on bare legs, adding a subtle glow sans stickiness or sparkle.
Metropolis Soap Company Ginger and Lime Artisan Soap
Each paraben- and sulfate-free bar from Metropolis is hand-crafted in Brooklyn from plant-derived, sustainable ingredients including coconut, sunflower, and palm kernel oils. The entire line is also vegan and gluten-free; founder Megan Brame-Finkelstein was in part inspired by her cousin Ronnie’s severe food allergies. Our pick is the ginger and lime, refreshing and citrusy with a spicy kick.
Indie Lee Coconut Citrus The Body Scrub
A heavenly blend of coconut, vanilla, lemon balm, and lemongrass, this scrub captures the essence of a luxurious island vacation. We love to use it before shaving to prep the skin, leaving legs and underarms silky smooth and invigorated. (Note: this product will be launching in new packaging within the next month or two, so it may look a little different!)
Pacifica Natural Minerals Radiant Shimmer Coconut Multiples
This trio of universally flattering cream highlighters work equally well on the eyes, cheeks, and lips—dab on with fingers for a sheer touch of color, or build up the pigment using a brush for more full coverage. The coconut-water base warms with the skin for a more even application, and gives the product a lightly sweet scent.
China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle Swatches & Review
Posted By Natalie on May 16, 2013
I have a lot of aqua nail polishes, so really, I bought China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle from the Sunsational Collection just for the name. It makes me think of a smug nail polish with its nose turned up thinking that it’s all that and a bag of chips. And I picture it wearing a J [...] (more…)
Day and Night Spring Makeup Looks: Illamasqua’s Paranormal
Posted By Parker on May 15, 2013
We already told you all about our love for Illamasqua’s new spooky-chicParanormal collection. So we decided to give the products a spin ourselves. Using the fresh, glowy colors as a jumping-off point, we created two looks—one easy day look, and another, more amped-up version that’s perfect for dewy spring evenings.
Look 1: Fresh and Pretty for Day
Using the quad Paranormal Palette, we started with the eyes, applying Paranormal (vivid cerise) in the crease. Then, we added Aura (warm copper) on eyelid and inner corner, and used the same shade to line lower lashline with a flat brush.
Next, we highlighted cheekbones and temples withGleam in Supernatural.
And finally, the signature element of this collection: the purple lip. Here we usedInglot Freedom Lipstick#18.
Look 2: Fierce and Fiery for Night
From the Paranormal Palette, we applied Trance (soft violet) in the crease and then blended the color out toward the temples. Then we filled in the entire lid with the same shade. We applied Aura along browbone, directly under the brows, using a flat brush. Then, using a fuller brush, we blended the violet shade up into the copper.
After lining both upper and lower lashlines withToo Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyelinerin Perfect Purple, we smudged lightly using a brush.
To define the brows, we brushed onMake Up For Ever Aqua Brow#25. Multiple coats of Too Faced’s Lashgasm mascara on both the upper and lower lashes helped us get a super long, dense effect. We then highlighted cheeks withInglot Freedom Eyeshadow #431 pearl.
To cap it off, we used Inglot Freedom Lipstick, blending together #36 and #18 to get a lighter lilac hue.
What’s on your spring beauty wishlist? Tell us, or post your spring looks and ideas below!
How To Tell If Your Makeup Is Truly Vegan
Posted By Adrian on May 14, 2013
It seems that we’ve entered a new age in the world of makeup. These days finding vegan cosmetics is easier than ever before, thanks to numerous new beauty companies working hard to create a rainbow of animal-conscious products that don’t skimp on quality. Beauty no longer has to be about pain—at least not where animals are concerned.
But with all of the terms floating around out there—from “vegan” to “cruelty-free” to “animal-friendly”—product labels can be tough to decipher. For instance, while “cruelty-free” on a lipstick or lotion may mean the company doesn’t test on animals, there’s no guarantee all the ingredients listed are from plant, synthetic, or otherwise animal-free sources. Similarly, if a manufacturer favors animal ingredients over synthetic alternatives, they may deem it “all-natural,” making it even less vegan-friendly than a drugstore dupe. Perfumes, lotions, soaps, and lipsticks can contain everything from animal fats and oils to ground-up feathers and fish scales.
While many lines still use animal ingredients, others are going completely vegan and creating a range of high-performance beauty products that are produced without animal testing or animal-based ingredients. So many fantastic new vegan beauty products are coming out now—includingOCC Lip Tars,Too Faced’s Shadow Brushes Set,Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eye Liners, and most products from the super-affordableE.L.F. line. This is all great news for true vegan beauties!
Yet there are still some surprising animal derivatives in many everyday cosmetics. If staying vegan is a priority for you, consult our list below to see common animal-based additives that may be hiding in your go-to stash. While this guide is not comprehensive, it outlines many common ingredients you’ll see that could be animal-derived. If you spot one of these on a product label, do some follow-up research on the brand to see how the ingredient was sourced.
Ambergris: Used as a fragrance fixative in perfumes. Whales produce ambergris is their intestinal tract and it it is commonly extracted from their excrement.
Beeswax: Extracted from the honeycombs of honey bees, this is a prevalent cosmetics-grade wax found in most lip products, creams, lotions, mascaras, and sometimes eye shadows. It’s also used in foundations and face paints, and some whitening products.
Carmine / Cochineal / Carminic Acid: A red pigment often found in red, pink, and warm-colored makeup and cosmetics that is created by crushing the female cochineal—a type of beetle. PETA reports that 70,000 beetles must be killed to produce just one pound of this red dye.
Casein / Caseinate / Sodium Caseinate: This protein, generally extracted from cows milk, is used widely in hair products and beauty masks.
Cholesterol: This steroid alcohol is derived from numerous animal sources including fat, nervous tissue, eggs, and blood. It’s used in many cosmetics including eye creams, shampoo, and yes, hair cholesterol.
Collagen: A fibrous protein derived most often from animal tissue and used in face and body lotions, as well as cosmetic lip plumpers.
Estrogen / Estradiol: This female hormone can be found in restorative creams, lotions, and perfume. It is typically extracted from the urine of pregnant horses.
Glycerin / Glycerol: Used widely in the cosmetics world in lip products, lotions, balms, toothpastes, and soaps, glycerin is a byproduct of animal fat. Many companies have begun to swap it out for vegetable glycerin.
Keratin: A common ingredient in hair products, this animal protein is found in rinses, treatments, shampoo, and perm products. It is made from ground hooves, horns, feathers, quills, and even hair and fur.
Lactic Acid: Found in many skin products including exfoliators, animal lactic acid is derived from both blood and muscle tissue. But the times are changing: many companies are moving toward using a form of lactic acid sourced from beets!
Lanolin: This emollient is mostly extracted from the oil glands of sheep and found most commonly in lip products including lipstick, chapstick, balms, and glosses. It is also used widely in hair products.
Lecithin: Found in creams, lotions, soaps, shampoos, lipsticks, and other waxy cosmetics, this wax-like substance found in nervous tissue like milk and blood, but often derived from eggs. The vegan-friendly version is nearly always labeled as “soy lecithin” and comes from—where else?—the soybean!
Monoglycerides / Glycerides: These animal fat derivatives are more common in processed foods than cosmetics, but they still sneak into some glycerin-based products. Can also be labeled as monodiglycerides or even triglycerides.
Musk: This common fragrance ingredient traditionally comes from the genital secretions of a variety of animals including musk deer, beavers, otters, and wild cats. The painful, wasteful practices for harvesting animal musk have pushed many companies—Chanel is one of them—to swap the real thing out for synthetic alternatives.
Oleic Acid: This fatty acid is found in tallow (a form of animal fat) and often used as an emollient. You may spot it in both liquid and bar soap, hair-perming solution, nail polish, and skin products. Good news for vegans: the ingredient can also be derived from nuts and olives.
Placenta: A vitamin-rich organ found in pregnant mammals meant to provide nourishment to the fetus, placenta is used widely in skin and hair treatments, anti-aging products, shampoos, and masks. Though the extraction of the placenta is natural during birth, many animal rights groups and activists insist commercial placenta is being harvested from the uteri of slaughtered animals. Weirder still, while many companies refuse to speak about the source of the placenta in their products, others have come forward admitting to using human placenta, bought from maternity wards.
Polypeptides: Typically an animal-based protein found in various cosmetics, most commonly anti-aging products. Some polypeptides are synthetic.
Polysorbates: An edible fatty acid derivative used as an emulsifier in a range of cosmetics.
Progesterone: Used in anti-wrinkle creams, this steroid hormone is animal-based in many cases.
Retinol: This source of vitamin A is always animal-derived and used in many popular skin products for its powerful anti-aging properties.