Beauty Industry

Kylie Gets Backlash for Makeup Lab Photo Shoot

Commenters on social media were quick to criticize the famous founder and face of Kylie Cosmetics—and said she wasn't following sanitary protocols.

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By: Marie Redding

Senior Editor


Makeup mogul Kylie Jenner is getting heat from commenters on social media. She’s wearing a lab coat in recent photos posted on @kyliecosmetics and appears to be mixing up her own makeup formulas herself in a lab in Milan. (See the screenshots above.)

Jenner’s Instagram post says, “we can’t wait to share all the new products we have coming. is that foundation we see?” 

Jenner may have intended to show fans how involved and ‘hands-on’ she is while overseeing Kylie Cosmetics—but many commenters were critical. Brand consultant and cosmetic developer Kevin James Bennett posted on Instagram:

“I’m a cosmetic developer and work with cosmetic manufacturers (and their labs) as part of my job. I have very short hair, and I’ve NEVER been allowed into the lab or onto the manufacturing floor without a hair net, shoe covers, mask…and disposable GLOVES.”

“Kylie is gaslighting her followers into thinking she is creating cosmetics…Folks, this is not the way we create cosmetics and misrepresents how our industry works. Credible manufacturers follow STRICT sanitation protocols to protect you.”

Kylie Responds to Bennett’s Post

Jenner commented on Bennett’s Instagram post—writing:

“kevin – this picture is not taken in a manufacturing facility. i would never bypass sanitary protocols and neither would any other celeb or beauty brand owner. that’s completely unacceptable i agree.”

Jenner continues to explain the photo-op, writing:

“this is a small personal space creating my own fun samples and taking pictures for content nowhere near the mass manufacturing. no one is putting customers at risk ! shame on you kevin for spreading false information !!!!”

Bennett replied with another Instagram post—this time it was Selena Gomez watching her makeup being mixed up in the lab.

In response to Kylie’s comment, Bennett said: 

“Photo-ops that put customers at risk in our new normal of heightened awareness of airborne germs and viruses coming out of COVID?
NOT OK!”

Coty relaunched Kylie Cosmetics last year with clean formulas—and the brand is wildly successful even though Forbes removed Jenner from its Billionaires List after recalculating her net worth. She joined the list in 2019 as Forbes’ youngest-ever self-made billionaire. Rihanna, who created Fenty Beauty, now holds the top spot. 

Jenner is no stranger to harsh critiques, and we’re sure her legions of devoted fans will still be lining up to purchase whatever she launches next.  


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