Behind the Brands: Kat Von D Beauty
Posted on May 22 2017
Image / ClearlyVeg.com - LAIKA Magazine - melissjs
She is known as a famed tattoo artist, but Kat Von D changed the game with her vegan and cruelty-free makeup line, Kat Von D Beauty. Her most popular Everlasting Liquid Lipstick is a favorite with makeup artists, celebrities, bloggers and influencers, and makeup lovers everywhere. We are so excited to feature the shade Lovecraft in our June/July box - in addition to being vegan and cruelty-free, we were thrilled to discover the new formulation of the lipstick is also toxin-free!
We had the chance to chat with Kat about what inspired her to go vegan and what she loves about her BFF (and our guest curator!) Skully Smith...
What inspired you to go vegan?
After watching the documentary, Forks Over Knives, the connection between what we put in our bodies and our health really hit home with me. I had been a vegetarian for years prior to watching that film, but after that, I dropped eggs and dairy right away and have never looked back. But it wasn’t until I learned about the thousands of ways we exploit animals on a daily basis, that I really became vegan for reasons outside myself. I encourage everyone to watch the documentary, Earthlings, to really get a grasp on what we as human beings are doing to the animals and to the environment.
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Image / Instagram thekatvond |
What made you decide to re-formulate your Kat Von D Beauty line to be vegan and cruelty-free?
When I first created KvD Beauty ten years ago, I was not vegan at that time. Hell, I wasn’t even sober yet! So it was only natural that the more I learned about veganism, the more I needed the ingredients in my beauty products to align with my morals. And yes, it took a lot of work, a bit of money and patience, but it was well worth it! |
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Image / LAIKA Magazine - melissjs |
We love that you support Farm Sanctuary like we do! What is it like volunteering at their sanctuaries?
Volunteering at Farm Sanctuary is truly a selfish act for me, considering how much joy it brings me. Being able to spend time with these lucky animals who have survived the tortures of factory farming and animal abuse gives me a certain amount of hope. As an animal activist, I find it vital to be able to see the other side of the harsh truth out there - and it's a perfect place for people like me, who somehow became so disconnected with the human and non-human animal connection. |
What is your favorite vegan restaurant?
Crossroads in Los Angeles. Hands down. I could eat there forever and die happy.
Three words to describe yourself?
Trying my best.
How do you stay balanced in your life?
Hm. I wish I truly knew balance, but in all honesty I think its my instability that makes it possible for me to do so much. I think being as hyper sensitive and obsessively passionate about creativity makes it extremely difficult to balance relationships and socializing in general. I tend to be the happiest in my solitude.
What is your daily morning routine?
My daily routine varies depending on what projects I’m working on or my travel schedule. But for the most part I wake up quite early, cuddle cats in bed before working out and breakfast, and then dive straight into whatever the day may offer.
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Image / Skully Smith |
You are friends with our guest curator Skully Smith, what's your favorite thing about her?
I love Skully for many reasons - but one of the things I admire the most is her ability to be a modern day representation of a vegan. No offense to the stereotypical vegan out there who likes to eat granola and wear hemp Birkenstocks, but I myself, am a modern vegan. And I think its important to show the world that standing up for animals doesn’t mean sacrificing ones personal style, and Skully makes being vegan sexy as fuck. |
