KIKO Pout

Late last year I headed to central London with my dear friend Shel, and our last shop was one I had never ventured. Shel was adamant that I would love KIKO Cosmetics and as she knows me so well, I was looking forward to exploring what they had to offer, particularly seeing how much the store was heaving as we entered. Just from glancing at some of the product price points, I couldn't believe how this brand had slipped me by for so long, but apparently they're relatively new to the UK, originating from Milano, Italy.

I made a beeline for the lipsticks (because I don't have enough!) and fell in love with so many shades, but for my first trip I restricted myself to my favourite four: 

Note: Click on the shades to be forwarded to the full product and all shades available. 

Smart Lipstick

Shade: Amaranth -914 

No. of shades available: 24

It's no wonder this is KIKO's best selling lipstick. I can't get over how much I love this lipstick and shade, and I also can't believe that this gem of a lipstick is a mere £3.90! The lipstick tip is a little wider than usual which makes this ridiculously easy to apply and the application is made even simpler because the texture is so soft and buttery. This is the lipstick I've been using the most and has become a favourite of mine from my obscenely large lipstick collection. My lips always feel fresh and hydrated with little or no reapplication throughout the day. I'll be heading back to buy many more shades! 

Luscious Cream - Creamy Lipstick

Shade: Dark Scarlett Red - 511

No. of shade available: 25

You can tell by the title that this is the fancy range. It claims to do three things:

• Give lips more fullness

• Keep lips looking healthy with an energising agent

• Give lips a younger look

I can't personally comment on whether it does any of these as I have only worn this particular lipstick a few times, but what I can say is that I love the shade and how the texture felt on my lips. It's a silky texture and easy to apply and I can tell out of the four products I tried that this one will last the longest as I literally applied one thin layer with success. It also has the best packaging I have ever had with a lipstick. 

Unlimited Stylo

Shade: Cherry Red - 007

No. of shades available: 14

This is my new go-to everyday wear lipstick because it really is 'unlimited'. I have worn this numerous times and it hasn't budged. It is the perfect day-wear lipstick when you're working long hours because it has a high pigment formula for a semi-mat finish, to leave you feeling nothing but confident that you can relay on this lipstick to take you through to dinner time. I also adore the shade and think it goes incredibly well with my skin tone. The only gripe I have is the tip. The flat round tip doesn't make it as easy to apply as I would like, but it's a small price to pay for excellent results. 

Creamy Lipgloss

Shade: Carmine Red - 106

No. of shades available: 13

Never judge a book by its cover. I chose this gloss because I was so surprised to see that it was a crayon claiming to give a lovely shine finish - I bought it with scepticism. As soon as I applied a layer to my lips though, there was instant gloss. It's so smooth and easy to apply, but I did find that I had to apply more than one layer due to my darker complexion. Those with lighter skin probably won't have the same issue as the colour is there but if you're darker, it's less prominent. 

With such great products and a price point to make other related brands look embarrassingly extortionate, KIKO will be my go-to place for affordable high-end makeup. 

'til next time.

Love and hugs,

Isha

xxx