I attended the LA Makeup Show last weekend, which was a great experience. ย Imagine Sephora with no rules, and you’ll have a good picture of the size of the event and the number of cool items available. ย Naturally, I have a lot to share about specific trends, but at the moment I want to focus on one line that particularly caught my eye.
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics stands out for its 100% cruelty-free, 100% vegan pledge. ย That really is a big deal. ย Even now that many major companies have steered away from animal testing, animal byproducts like beeswax andย carmine are still commonly found in makeup. ย There are a few other products manufactured to vegan standards, but since OCC has made this commitment so central to their brand, it’s a great choice if animal welfare is a top priority for you. ย Likewise, their products make thoughtful, original gifts for veggie-conscious friends.
Originally, OCC was designed primarily with professional makeup artists in mind, so their skin foundations rely on airbrush application. ย Obviously, that’s not happening for most of us, so I zeroed in on their bold, pretty color. ย Check out my two favorite products:
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Lip Tar
I’ve never seen a product quite like this. ย It has very dense pigment but without the uncomfortable, dry caking that typically goes hand in hand with bold lips. ย The application almost feels like lip balm, and it has a subtly glistening finish.
I found it had great staying power with no “creeping.” ย There’s a nice range of colors available and becauseย the consistency allows for seamless blending, you canย combine colors to customize your shade.
It’s well-priced at $12.50 and a fabulous find for makeup junkies.
These are definitely lacquers rather than polishes, so keep in mind that the coverage is slightly sheer. ย They have a very smooth application and dry fast.
OCC offers a pretty diversity of color options, and at $8, this item is a particularly excellent gift for any vegan or PETA-friendly friends. ย It will definitely make its way into my gift rotation this year!
Lucie Amberg is the Director of ZinaBeverlyHills.comย
UPDATE: Click here to find out what happened to OCC Makeup and how they vanished from the face of the earth, overnight.