Don’t come for Kylie Jenner’s business.
Earlier this week, the 24-year-old makeup mogul took to Instagram to share a series of photos promoting her Kylie Cosmetics brand. The pictures showed her seemingly working on a few new mixes in what appeared to be a manufacturing facility.
“In the lab creating new magic for you guys,” she wrote in the caption. “Better than ever.”
The post drew criticism from cosmetic developer Kevin James Bennett, who accused Jenner of breaching sanitation protocols during her trip to the lab. Bennett pointed out that Jenner was not seen wearing a hair net, mask, shoe covers, or disposable gloves, and then slammed the lab for allowing her to stage a misleading photo-op.
“I need the [lab’s] name because I want to make sure my clients NEVER work with them,” he captioned his post. “Folks, this is not the way we create cosmetics and misrepresents how our industry works. Credible manufacturers follow STRICT sanitation protocols to protect you. #ShameOnYou #kyliejenner.”
Jenner caught wind of Bennett’s criticism and took to the comments section to defend her visit and her beauty empire. She claimed the photos were not taken in a manufacturing facility, but rather “a small personal space” where she creates “fun samples” and takes pics for content.
“I would never bypass sanitary protocols and neither would any other celeb or beauty brand owner,” she wrote. “That’s completely unacceptable, I agree. ... no one is putting customers at risk! Shame on you Kevin for spreading false information!!!!”
Bennett wasn’t buying it, and accused Jenner of gaslighting her fans.
“So you were standing on a platform, looking into an expensive homogenizing kettle that had processed at least 50 liters of a complexion product (the product still covering the mixing paddles) without PPE or your hair tied back, wearing a @weareregi lab coat?” he responded. “But this is not a cosmetics manufacturing facility? It’s a personal space? Wow, there’s some serious gaslighting going on here … Shame on me? NO, shame on you or whoever takes care of your social media for trying to gaslight everyone into thinking I’m the one to blame. Just take responsibility for your mistake and move on.”
Kylie’s reply? “Oh were you there, Kevin? Ugh now I have to change my dog’s name.”
