Kester Black

Kester Black products are vegan, cruelty free, 10-Free

Anna Ross, Founder.

Growing up on a farm in the lush hinterland of New Zealand, Anna Ross hugged trees as much as she did her mother. Her passion for natural beauty led her to create Australia’s most ethical beauty brand, Kester Black – the first of its kind with B Corp certification (aka the official hat-tip to nice people, doing nicer things for the environment). Inspired by her natural heritage, with Kester Black Anna is initiating a new code of ethics for cosmetics that other brands can follow – there’s a lot of catch-up to do, yet.

Style, meet substance.

Plenty of beauty brands claim to be ethical. But here at Kester Black, sustainability and social justice aren’t just glossy marketing buzzwords. They’re the driving force behind our good-weird kind of beauty company: the kind that’s certified carbon neutral, that donates 2% of all revenue to social causes, and that makes vegan and sustainable products that are both all class, and all conscience. Ultimately, they’re what fires and fuels us with enthusiasm – the original renewable energy.

From silver to Black, via 60 shades of green.

Kester Black was never a plot to shake up the industry. In fact, it began as a boutique line of silver jewellery – the side hustle of fashion grad Anna Ross. Anna wanted her pieces to incorporate enamel accents, so she began experimenting with low-tox, cruelty-free nail colour. Instant (energy efficient) lightbulb moment. A decade and 60 shades later, Kester Black is Australia’s most ethical beauty brand, and has absolutely nothing to do with silver (except for a few shimmery shades). Instead, we’re more about green. We’re carbon neutral, vegan, and the first beauty brand – anywhere on Earth – to get the ultra-gruelling B Corp certification. So while we may have left jewellery far behind, when it comes to upending the status quo, we’re still pretty damn shiny.

We’re B corp certified
We meet the most rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.

Community initiatives
We donate 2% of all revenue, including in-kind donations, to registered charities every year.

Vegan and cruelty free
None of our products contain any ingredient derived from animals, and our products have ever, and will never be tested on animals.

Carbon neutral
Kester Black and all of our products are 100% certified carbon neutral.

With Cruelty Free, B Corporation, Halal, Vegan, and Carbon Neutral certifications – it’s not just beauty bloggers and environmentalists that are singing our praises. The world’s most rigorous ethical standards mean no testing on animals. If our furry friends could, they’d be singing our praises too.

Nailing it, where others aren’t

We’re fixing nail polish for good. Which is why the top ten most damaging ingredients you find in others, aren’t in ours. High shine, chip resistant and in a double-rainbow of fashion colours and finishes – we use natural ingredients wherever we can. That means everything from biodegradable glitter to breathable polishes infused with certified organic avocado oil and kefir.