Hi friends!
I’ve never written or spoken about Kylie Jenner or her eponymous makeup line on this blog before. This is not due to any personal feelings I may or may not have towards her, the Jenners, or the Kardashians in general. It’s simply because I really have no experience using her products (except one of the early lip kits in the shade Posie K). But Kylie Skin launches this week on May 22nd, and I couldn’t help but notice the internet’s response. Spoiler: it’s not great.
This is Jenner’s first foray into the realm of skincare, which is probably a long time coming to be honest. Skincare sales have been growing steadily for a while now, much faster than color cosmetics. More than ever before, consumers are passionately talking about skincare. They check ingredient lists, ask tons of questions, and expect transparency from brands. Kylie Skin is entering a minefield of public opinion, for sure.
I want to start this post by quickly running through the product line, and then I’ll segue into the controversy surrounding the impending launch. According to the Kylie Skin Instagram account, all of the products are cruelty-free, gluten-free, sulfate & paraben-free, vegan & dermatologist-tested.
Read this: My speedy skincare routine for dry skin
KYLIE SKIN LAUNCHES…PRODUCTS!
Foaming Face Wash ($24.00) contains:
- Kiwi Seed Oil
- Glycerin
- Cleansing agents
- Sodium hyaluronate
Walnut Face Scrub ($22.00) contains:
- Squalane
- Glycerin
- Sodium hyaluronate
- Blend of fruit extracts and fine walnut powders
- Ginseng extract
- Fragrance-free
Vanilla Milk Toner ($22.00) contains:
- Squalane
- Avocado Oil& Apricot Kernel Oil
- Apple Fruit Extract
- Lightly Fragranced
- Alcohol-free
Vitamin C Serum ($28.00) contains:
- Vitamin C
- Camellia Oleifera Leaf
Face Moisturizer ($24.00) contains:
- Glycerin
- Shea Butter
- Banana Leaf Extract, Oat Bran Extract, Orange Peel Extract
- Aloe
- Fragrance-free
Eye Cream contains:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Jojoba Seed Oil
- Caffeine, Green Tea Extract, Pomegranate Extract
- Fragrance-free
FYI – all this information was compiled from the Kylie Skin Instagram. (I couldn’t find the price for the Eye Cream listed on there.) If you’re interested to see the products in action, check out this YouTube video where Kylie demo’s everything.
KYLIE SKIN LAUNCHES…CONTROVERSY!
It’s really all about the Walnut Face Scrub. It doesn’t seem anyone is paying much attention to the other five products…yet. I’m absolutely no skincare expert or connoisseur (I’ve said that many times before on here), but apparently a lot of other people are as this product quickly came under fire on Twitter and Instagram.
Many publications including Allure, Cosmopolitan, and BuzzFeed have covered this story. Apparently walnut powder, however finely milled, can cause micro-tears (eww, so creepy!) in the skin over time, allowing bacteria and other nasties to seep into the deeper layers of the skin. Walnut scrubs can also cause redness and inflammation over time as well for certain people.
Kylie herself says in this video that her scrub is gentle enough to use everyday, although she only uses it two to three times a week. Hmm, questionable. From what I’ve gathered online, it’s best to be careful with exfoliation of any kind, whether it be physical (scrubs or beads) or chemical (AHAs/BHAs). Over-exfoliation can cause all the aforementioned symptoms and long-term issues, full-stop. I found this article from Prevention.com particularly helpful as it included info & opinions from skincare specialists and dermatologists on the subject.
I think the large takeaway from this is do your own research, especially when it comes to skincare and products that will affect your overall skin health. Continue to question brand claims. Don’t listen to all the noise from social media from people who may or may not know what they’re talking about. Opinions are everywhere; they may not speak to you and your particular skincare needs. If you’re concerned over whether or not to use a product, talk first to skincare experts and/or doctors who have no stake in whether you buy a certain product or not. Don’t consult Twitter.
But I love how people are out here saying that Kylie Jenner is actively trying to ruin people’s skin. I don’t think that’s the case, hun. If you don’t want to use the product, simply don’t buy it. If you’re offended Kylie Jenner is even producing skincare, well keep being offended. She’s not the first celeb to do it, and she won’t be the last (Madonna’s MDNA Skin, anyone?).
For me, if I were to buy anything from Kylie Skin it probably wouldn’t be the Walnut Face Scrub. I’d probably go for the Vitamin C Serum or the Face Moisturizer since those slot in better with my current skincare routine.
But what do you guys think? Would you use the Walnut Face Scrub, or anything else from Kylie Skin? I’d love to know!
xo, Erica
*All images courtesy of brand’s Instagram account.
PIN IT!
