Location

Carson, California, United States

Founded

2015

Price range

$1 – $68

Shipping

USA, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel + 15 more

Catalogue

12 products

CLE Cosmetics Brand Logo

CLE Cosmetics

Independent brand — verified
About

CLE Cosmetics is a Korean-American beauty brand built on the argument that a good routine needs fewer products, not more. Founded by Lauren Jin and based in California, with all manufacturing carried out by top-tier laboratories in South Korea, it bridges Korean formulation expertise and a distinctly Western appetite for simplicity. The range is deliberately compact. The CCC Cream, a colour-control complexion product that adapts to skin, remains the brand's signature, joined by melting lip powder, complexion gel, blot powder, lipstick and a small skincare line including a vitamin C elixir and moisturisers. Every item is chosen to earn its place, and multitasking formats do the work of several conventional products. All CLE products are vegan and cruelty-free, and the brand is Leaping Bunny certified, a third-party credential rather than a self-declaration. Formulations are made with clean, non-toxic ingredients and are either fragrance-free or free of artificial fragrance, which matters for anyone with reactive skin. The aesthetic follows the philosophy: minimalist packaging, restrained shade ranges and marketing that treats makeup as self-care basics rather than transformation. Products sit in the mid-range tier, roughly eighteen to forty-eight dollars, competing on formulation quality rather than volume. Shipping is handled directly by the brand, and the small catalogue means restocks are frequent rather than seasonal. For shoppers searching for vegan, Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free clean beauty with Korean manufacturing behind it and an everyday, minimalist approach to colour and skincare, CLE Cosmetics is one of the most coherent small ranges available. It is a brand for people who would rather own five things that work than twenty that almost do.

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Brand Details

Contract manufactured
South Korea
FSC
Leaping Bunny
Recyclable
Last reviewed
Oct 2026
Independent brand
Verified
L
Lauren Jin

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Frequently asked questions

Is CLE Cosmetics good quality?
CLE Cosmetics earns praise for its highly pigmented Melting Lip Powder and glowing cushion highlighter, though its vegan claims have been disputed by independent auditors.
Who founded CLE Cosmetics?
CLE Cosmetics was founded by Lauren Jin, a former fashion designer who spent seven years developing the brand before its Los Angeles launch.
When and where was CLE Cosmetics founded?
CLE Cosmetics was founded in 2015 in Los Angeles, with products manufactured in South Korea to reflect its Korean American identity.
What makes CLE Cosmetics different?
CLE Cosmetics differentiates itself with a minimalist, multi use approach, standing for Cosmetic Lifestyle Essentials rather than a large sprawling product catalog.
Is CLE Cosmetics cruelty free and vegan?
CLE Cosmetics markets itself as vegan and Leaping Bunny certified, though independent auditors found pearl powder in one product and dispute the certification claim.
What's the bigger story behind CLE Cosmetics?
CLE Cosmetics opened its first pop up store in West Los Angeles in May 2023, timed to celebrate Asian American Heritage Month.

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