Going Vegan in Makeup: Lee Strachan Australia’s Lip Ink & Brow Pomade

As a makeup lover, I always find it exciting when I get to try new cosmetics in the market, especially if those makeup products offer something unique.

So when Lee Strachan Australia, a Filipina-owned beauty brand known for its Australia-certified natural ingredients, sent me some of her vegan lipsticks and brow pomades, I instantly got ecstatic because not only are they distinctive, but are also safe and organic.

Lee Strachan Australia is introducing its Vegan Suburb Lip Ink, a lip tint made of fruit and flower extracts; as well as its Vegan Multi-Task Dipbrow Pomade, an eyebrow pomade made of vegan ingredients.

I got to talk to Lee Strachan herself, founder and cosmetic scientist of Lee Strachan Australia and the brand’s mother company Organic Artisan Lab Corp.. She talked about her mission behind creating “clean and organic” beauty products made of natural ingredients sourced from different parts of the world, and certified in Australia. They offer both skincare like the Rejuvenating Flower Infusion Skin Renewal Set, and cosmetics like the Vegan Suburb Lip Ink and Multi-Task Dipbrow Pomade.

“The only way I can enjoy vegan, organic, natural skincare and makeup products is to create my own and share it with everyone,” the beauty chemist said.  “I only use ingredients that are plant-derived in origin, and infused with fruit, vegetable and flower extracts. No ingredients of animal origin was used so that means absolutely no animal cruelty.”

“I created the Vegan Suburb Lip Ink because I would like to start a basic cosmetic line with the vision of catering to ladies who are fond of wearing lip tints. But I wanted to create lip tints for them that are beautiful, mattified versions that function like lipsticks,” she said. “I was in Australia when I was trying to conceptualize the name of the lip tints, while I was on the train going from my city to one suburb. Thus, I injected the word ‘suburb’ in the name of the collection. Each shade is named after an Australian suburb.”

The Vegan Suburb Lip Ink by Lee Strachan Australia (₱160 each) has seven shades: Paramatta, the bright red color, and Lidcombe, the pink to deep purple shade. Others include Blakehurst, the plum shade; Glendenning, the cottoncandy pink color; Ashbury, the caramel color, Berowra, the crimson red color; and Rouse Hill, the cherry red shade. All lip colors cater to all skin tones: from light, fair, medium to morena. 

On the other hand, the Vegan Multi-Task Dipbrow Pomade by Lee Strachan Australia (₱180 each) is a water-proof, highly pigmented eyebrow pomade. This one comes in two shades too: Taupe, the light brown color, and Choco, the dark brown version.

I tested a couple of shades from the Lip Ink Series, as well as Brow Pomade’s two colors.

Review: Lip Ink in Lidcombe Shade + Brow Pomade in Taupe

I decided to pair the Vegan Lip Ink in Lidcombe shade, the one with pink to deep purplish lip color, with the Multi-Task Dipbrow Pomade in Taupe, the light brown version of the pomade. I thought they’re a good contrast.

Because it’s made of fruit and flower extracts, I expected the Lee Strachan Vegan Lip Ink to have a sting feeling effect when applied on my lips. It’s not as bad as I thought though, plus it tasted like delicious acai. True to what Miss Strachan explained to me, the brightness of the Lidcombe shade would vary on how much you applied it. I layered it twice, which came out as a stunning combination of bright pink and deep purple on my lips.

I love that the formulation felt and looked like a light lip stain at first, but it dried on my lips like a liquid lipstick in matte finish. It’s very pigmented, and long lasting too. I love that this shade went well with the Gold Nectar eyeshadow from my Pat McGrath Labs La Vie en Rose Eye Palette, and Sunnies Face AirBlush in Razz. I also used Fenty Beauty Face Contour and Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara to complete the look, just in case you’re curious.

As for the Vegan Eyebrow Pomade in Taupe light brown color, I love that it toned down my eye look in contrast to my purplish eyeshadow. The formulation glided easily on my skin and brow hairs too, making it easy for me to shape my eyebrows. Because it’s made of natural ingredients, I was not expecting the finish to be so strong-looking, but it actually is quite high-pigmented. A little dab of this pomade using my Wunder2 eyebrow brush really comes a long way. The best thing is it is water-proof, which means it stays put even with sweat.

Overall, the light brown color of my eyebrows matched so well with my purple-themed makeup. I think this kind of look would be ideal for casual social gatherings,  like laidback bonding time with friends.

Review: Lip Ink in Paramatta Shade + Brow Pomade in Choco

Meanwhile, I matched the Vegan Suburb Lip Ink in Paramatta, the bright red lip color, with the Multi-Task Dipbrow Pomade in Choco, the darker brown version of the eyebrow pomade. 

Depending on how you layer it too, the Vegan Lip Ink in Paramatta is basically your bright red, or deep red lip color. I opted for a sorta dark red look on my lips, as my eyeshadows are of nude brown colors from the Solar and Morrow shades of Detail Cosmetics Sunset Dream Eye Palette. For cheeks, I chose Glossier Cloud Paint in Dusk shade. I also used Fenty Beauty Face Contour and Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara to cap off the look.

I think the darker brown color of my eyebrows looked perfectly nice with my overall nude brown makeup. This would pass as my “work look”, perfect for everyday meetings or Zoom sessions.

“These makeup products are made with 100% Australian Certified Organic Ingredients, mainly vegetable-derived ingredients, and plant extracts like sunflower, seed oil, acai extracts, peony flower extracts and calendula flower extracts,” Lee concluded. “I think these products are a great way to start your clean and organic beauty routine, or to support animal cruelty-free cosmetics.”

As for me, I think it is nice that there are options in the market if you’re looking for safer and cleaner makeup products. These cosmetic offerings from Lee Strachan Australia perform just like any other highly commercialized makeup brands. The only difference is, there’s a sense of safety and health-consciousness  you know you’re going to get when you use these. That’s because you’re assured the ingredients are strictly vegan and organic, and therefore, give no risk of exposure to anything harmful. And if you have a choice to go clean, green and safe in your makeup and beauty routine, then why not try that?

You may shop Lee Strachan Australia at lee-strachan.com. You may also follow the company on Facebook  at facebook.com/theorganicartisanlabcorp.