Though it opened this summer at 142 N Larchmont, we got our first chance to buzz over to Lip Lab by Bite Beauty this week, to learn more about the store. Lip Lab artists help customers create their own personal, one-of-a-kind color lipsticks, made from 100 precent natural ingredients — no parabens, no gluten, petrochemicals, phthalates, no sulfites — and it’s all cruelty-free tested, explained store manager Marie Chan Konya.
Chan Konya said the company was founded in Canada by Susanne Langmuir in 2009, after Langmuir was inspired to create her own products after struggling to find natural cosmetics that performed like her favorite luxury goods. This was the beginning of the trend of making lipsticks with food grade ingredients. (Local entrepreneur Kristen Tostado launched her line Social Paint in May at Pickett Fences.)
Bite Beauty chose to locate its signature Lip Lab on Larchmont because the owners want to be part of a neighborhood community. There’s room for 14 customers at one time, so it’s also an ideal spot for a special event or birthday party. The Larchmont location is still a bit quiet, said Chan Konya, but the New York store is so crowded — the wait time for an appointment is three months — that some east coasters are coming to the Larchmont store while they’re in LA. And Chan Konya said she’s expecting the Larchmont location to take off soon, too, as more people are discovering the fun of creating your own personal lipstick. For now, though, walk-ins are welcome, though you can also make an appointment.
Here’s how it works: Lip Lab offers two options for making your own lipstick. The first is choosing from an a la carte menu of more than 200 colors, with four different finishes — matte, luminous, stain and sheer — and nine different natural fragrances. The prices is $55 for one shade of lipstick and $80 for two lipsticks.
The other option, called Bespoke, is equally popular with clients. This is where you work with a Lip Lap artist to create the color you want. Then you select the finish and the scents. The cost is $150 per person, and you get to create two shades that are made into your own personal lipsticks. They will even monogram the lipstick tubes.
