“Fresh Friday” is a new MBB series where we explore products from new beauty brand (and veteran brands that are new to me). Let’s discover new makeup!
Two pressing life-related conundrums:
- So…when did 7:30 p.m. become late for me? Because I swear, 7:30 is the new midnight now. When the clock strikes 7:30, I turn into a pumpkin!
- Am I the only person who assumed that because Kaja Beauty refers to their products as “bite sized,” they’d be teeny and tiny for travel?
- Blur Drop Weightless Water Primer ($22): Minimal pore-blurring, feels lightweight, not very moisturizing, dewy finish
- Cat Nap Under Eye Brightener ($19): Doesn’t settle into fine lines, comes in only one shade (peachy) that might be too dark for lighter skin tones
- Don’t Settle Concealer ($19): Demi-matte finish, lightweight and highly pigmented like the Urban Decay Naked Concealers; good color selection for skin types with yellow undertones
- 2’s Company Nude Lipstick & Liner Duo ($16): Smooth, pigmented, doesn’t settle into fine lines
- Beauty Bento Bouncy Shimmer Eyeshadow Trio ($21): Glittery and frosty with a great deal of fallout
From Sephora:
“We create bite-sized beauty packed with Korean innovation that once you experience, you’ll want to share. It’s packaging as beautiful on the outside as our product is on the inside – feel-good formulas made for everyone, all skin types and skin tones.”
How cute is this line? I think their bite-sized hook is a little confusing though, since all of it looks pretty full-sized in person.
Kaja is a new Korean beauty line that launched last (this?) fall exclusively at Sephora, and here’s a fun fact for ya: Apparently, Kaja means “Let’s Go” in Korean!
The brand has a Milk-meets-Glossier vibe, with a pinch of Too Faced cuteness, and while there’s a decent helping of eye, cheek and lip products, the line’s relatively minimalist when it comes to foundation… In other words, you aren’t going to find 20 million foundation shades a la Fenty here. For face makeup, they have one primer, one color corrector and a handful of concealers.
Yup, that’s it! No powder or anything else.
The concept is a fresh-faced, dewy complexion with a kiss of color and glitter on lids, cheeks and lips.
I definitely feel like it’s a line that skews to a younger makeup crowd, like teens and early 20-somethings, but even if that’s way beyond your age group (HELLO, ME), it can be fun, fast and fabulous for quickie looks…which is every day of my life lately, ha!
Standout: The Cushy Vibe High-Pigment Lip Stains
I’ve tested a few of the products so far, and I dig the Lip Stains ($18). They’re REALLY good. They come five bold colors (blue-red, wine, mauve, plum and purple) and have a light whipped texture that glides right over your lips.
Don’t be fooled by the fact that they feel light as feathers, either, because they last a long time. I put Chiffon (the raspberry shade) on my lips in the morning a few days ago thinking I’d need to reapply after lunch, but after two cups of coffee, three glasses (OK, more like jugs) of water, snacks AND lunch, it stayed on my lips and continued to last for practically the whole day.
Also worth your time: Mochi Pop Bouncy Blush
The cream-to-powder blushes ($19 each) are also standouts because they’re like more affordable Chanel Joues Contraste blushes. I’ve been wearing Atmosphere, a rosy shade similar to Chanel Pink Explosion, and it has that gorgeous tell-tale semi-transparency that you’ll find over at Chanel.
Now, let me say for the millionth time that sheer blush ain’t a bad thing, especially if you don’t want to spend hella days blending out the edges, and/or your ultimate makeup fear in life is walking around with clown cheeks.
Take-home message: These look very natural on the skin, don’t appear obviously powdery, and they’re long-lasting as well.
But how about those cream blush stamps?
Kaja’s cushion blushes are very cute; I’ll give them that. Each blush has a ❤️ heart-shaped stamp in the cap, which you dip into the cushion, stamp on your cheeks, and blend.
Fun! I like it on bare skin because, like the Mochi blushes, it’s sheer and allows my skin to peek through. But when I wear it on top of foundation or concealer, it breaks up my face makeup… I don’t wear it often, although you’d think I would because it feels very silicone-y and slippery to the touch. Plus, it blurs pores like a mofo.
A few quick reviews of the rest of the things I’ve tried…
I think Kaja is a young, fun makeup line for folks who like wearing dewy, minimal face products and lots of glitter and color.
Oh! — and definitely check out the Lip Stains!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF.
Shelby says
Hi Karen!
I have the cheeky stamp blush and I find the best way to apply it is with a damp Beauty Blender (or any sponge). I’ve applied it over the Wander Beauty Nude Illusion Foundation (which is major) and it doesn’t separate for me! I’ve been really loving that combo 🙂
Ruchita says
What a fun new line! That’s awesome that the lip stains have so much staying power.
Just in general – thanks for your awesome reviews and photographs! Life has been busy so I haven’t been able to comment as much, but I still try to read all your posts. They are always helpful!
Happy Friday!
Linda Libra Loca says
Okay, so the brand is definitely not for me then. I can’t deal with Too Faced cuteness anymore. I am the cuteness Grinch it seems.
Erica says
Great post! I’m very interested in trying this line out! Maybe during my next Sephora trip ?. As usual, your photos are so lovely!
Genesis says
Thanks for reviewing these. It is a cute line very trendy and subtle. I have been wanting to try the Laneige compact foundation. I have been loving their face cream, moisturizer and toner for my dry winter skin.
Suzanne C says
I have the Cat Nap Under Eye Brightener and it works surprisingly well on my porcelain skin, as long as I go very light on the application. Maybe because the circles under my eyes are so dark? The peachy tone does a nice job of hiding the darkness.
Chelsea says
Oooh, you have me intrigued by those lip stains and the cushion blush!
Sasha says
Hi Karen! This was really helpful, I actually enjoy the bento shadow trio a lot (I have one in rosewater and I absolutely must get the other shadows). Just curious, can you list a couple of your foundation shades? I’m around your skin tone, maybe a little lighter, and I need help picking out a skin tone concealer and a highlighting concealer. Thanks so much for the awesome review!
Karen says
Hi Sasha,
I wear NC42 in MAC Studio Fix Foundation, Beige in Hourglass Vanish Foundation and Honey Bronze in Estee Lauder Doublewear. 🙂 HTH, and let me know if you have any other questions.