US beauty giant Sephora hit our shores in December, bringing a whole new dimension to the Australian cosmetic market. Brands we’ve had to buy from international sellers are now available from the Pitt Street store and a few vegan friendly brands came along for the ride. I was given the opportunity to try a few of these vegan friendly, cruelty free products from Cover FX and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC).
I had heard for quite a while that Cover FX was the brand to try when it came to vegan foundation but had never had the opportunity to take their stuff for a spin. I kicked things off with the Cover FX Anti-Aging Primer ($52 AUD). This feather-light gel glides onto your skin and is absorbed almost immediately, leaving a velvety smooth base to work from. I don’t often wear a primer except for the times I wear a heavier coverage of foundation however this stuff was so light you could wear it everyday and not notice it was there.
Next I tried the Cover FX BB Gel Anti-Blemish Treatment ($61 AUD) and while I was expecting a lighter texture, the product does feel invisible on the skin while giving a good amount of coverage for everyday use with a pretty solid amount of wear throughout the day.
The final product I tried from the Cover FX range was the Natural Finish Oil Free Foundation ($52). This was the stuff I was super excited to try because while I do like my regular foundation, I felt like it was time to branch out and try a product with a little more coverage for evening wear. Like the BB Gel, the foundation was thicker than I had anticipated but once on the skin feels quite light while providing great coverage that can be built up from sheer to full.
All Cover FX products are free of the Inflammatory Five: gluten, mineral oil, fragrance, talc and parabens and most products are suitable for vegans. I was so stoked with these three products that I went out and purchased more of the Cover FX range to try!
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetic Lip Tars have been a staple in my beauty bag for years now and when I found out Sephora was on its way I just new OCC would be coming along too. Knowing that OCC is a 100% vegan brand means that you can pick up any of their products and know that you can wear them, woohoo! Over the years OCC have brought out a range of new and exciting products and I got to put a few to the test!
I kicked things off with the Lip Tar Primer ($25 AUD) and Anti-Feathered Cosmetic Colour Pencil ($22 AUD) which make the perfect based to any OCC lip look. The Primer is designed to keep your colour in place for longer while the Pencil prevents your colour from feathering outside of the lip line.
Choosing which colour to pop on top of your primer is always a struggle because OCC have what seems like one billion to choose from. Not only do you have to choose a colour, but you have to choose an effect! Do you want a matte, metallic or gloss finish? Each have their appeal and I gave them all a try to find out what I like best about them.
If you’re looking for a splash of colour with some shine, Lip Tar Stained Gloss ($25 AUD) is for you. Great for a casual day look, one of my favourite colours in this range is Aurora, a pretty pink coral. For a bolder look, Lip Tar Matte ($25 AUD) is the right up your alley. With over 40 shades to choose from, there will a colour to match any look. Pop-art pink, Nylon is perfect for making a statement, while the more subdued Hush is a fantastic neutral tone. For a dramatic evening look, Lip Tar Metallic ($25 AUD) is perfect for making heads turn. Black Metal Dahlia creates a glam, almost goth look which is perfect for a night out.
Each Lip Tar is highly pigmented, packed with vitamins and comes with a pocket-sized applicator brush.
While the US Sephora is packed full of vegan-friendly brands, the Australian store has some way to go to catch up however the addition of Cover FX and OCC to their shelves is a fantastic start. I’m looking forward to seeing more vegan cosmetics coming our way soon and will keep you in the loop when more brands head down under!
