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The Best in Beauty From the Boot, Vol. 7: KIKO Milano

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KIKO Milano Italian Makeup
It’s KIKO time! 🙂

The grass is always greener on the other side, isn’t it?

Well, it’s actually not always greener on the other side, but I think it’s human nature to want what we don’t have and take for granted what we do have.

Look at me for example: I always lust after makeup products I don’t have access to, but often ignore those I have within easy reach.

You know, like, KIKO stores here in Italy are literally everywhere, and I can easily walk past them without even entering (sometimes, LOL). But if, say, a ColourPop store magically appeared in my local mall, I’d get as excited as when I heard there would be a Gilmore Girls revival on Netflix (any fellow fans out there?). That is, super. Freaking. Excited. Bordering hysterical. 😉

Which, you know, is totally unfair to KIKO, since they actually make some truly kick-*ss products, like the ones I’m showing you today, for example. Definitely worth getting very excited for!

KIKO Milano Italian Makeup

KIKO Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipsticks in 106 Mauve & 117 Papaya ($12)

KIKO Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick 117 Papaya 106 Mauve
If you click the golden button at the top, the tube comes out the bottom… NICE!
KIKO Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick 106 Mauve Swatch
KIKO Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 106 Mauve (which to me doesn’t look mauvy at all)
KIKO Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick 117 Papaya Swatch
KIKO Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick 117 Papaya

The gorgeous packaging is what first drew me to the Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipsticks, but I was delighted to find out that the formula is not half bad either. Their texture is creamy in a non-slippery way, so that they’re comfortable on the lips, but you don’t need to worry about getting lipstick all over your face and teeth.

Shades 116 Mauve and 117 Papaya are nicely pigmented and pretty long-lasting, but I’ve heard that some colors (the range features 30!) are sheerer and have a shorter wear time than others.

Actually, now that I think of it, I also have 130 Black, which I used for my 2015 wearable Halloween look, and it definitely is sheerer. And, by the way, if you want to go black (or any other very dark shade) on the lips, I’d recommend opting for a matte formula, so that you don’t need to worry about it smearing or getting on your teeth. Just saying…

KIKO Flawless Fusion Bronzer in 03 Cinnamon ($18)

KIKO Flawless Fusion Bronzer 03 Cinnamon

I’ve been using the KIKO Flawless Fusion Bronzer in 03 Cinnamon throughout the winter to give my sallow, corpse-like complexion a pretty healthy glow. It’s one of those sheerer types of bronzers that I usually tend to prefer over the very pigmented ones, as I find them to be more fool-proof and natural-looking.

If you’re interested in a more in-depth review, I have one for you on my blog.

KIKO Long-Lasting Stick Eyeshadows in 05 Rosy Brown, 06 Golden Brown & 07 Golden Beige ($12)

KIKO Long-Lasting Stick Eyeshadow 05 Rosy Brown 06 Golden Brown 07 Golden Beige

I’m pretty sure the Long-Lasting Stick Eyeshadows are among KIKO’s bestsellers, and they are with good reason. 06 Golden Brown is one of my favorite One Wash Wonders, but the other two shades are still very pretty and have the same long-lasting, easy-to-blend formula that is perfect for when you don’t have much time to do your makeup.

KIKO Velvet Mat Satin Lipsticks in 602 Natural Rose & 607 Passion Red ($9)

KIKO Velvet Mat Satin Lipstick 602 Natural Rose 607 Passion Red

KIKO Velvet Mat Satin Lipstick 607 Passion Red Swatch
KIKO Velvet Mat Satin Lipstick in 607 Passion Red

Unlike the Gossamer Emotions, which were launched last fall, the Velvet Mat Satin Lipsticks have been around for years and are a real KIKO classic. They’re the closest you can get to a matte finish within KIKO’s permanent collection, but they’re definitely not completely matte. Their satin-matte finish means they last pretty well on the lips without drying them out.

KIKO Cream Crush Lasting Colour Eyeshadow in 03 Mat Light Mahogany ($14)

KIKO Cream Crush Lasting Colour Eyeshadow 03 Mat Light Mahogany

KIKO Cream Crush Lasting Colour Eyeshadow 03 Mat Light Mahogany
Wearing KIKO Cream Crush Lasting Colour Eyeshadow in 03 Mat Light Mahogany on my eyes, KIKO Velvet Mat Satin Lipsticks in 602 Natural Rose on my lips, and KIKO Flawless Fusion Bronzer on my complexion

Lately I’ve been sooo obsessed with the KIKO Cream Crush Lasting Colour Eyeshadow in 03 Mat Light Mahogany! If you remember, it was one of the very few products in my travel makeup bag when I recently spent a few days in Edinburgh.

I really like its bouncy, long-wearing formula, but what I love the most is the shade. When I swatched it in store I didn’t think I’d love it as much as I do. I mean, I did like the look of the swatch, as it was a lovely warm brown, but it’s on the lids that it really comes to life. It didn’t translate into the pictures, so you’ll just have to trust me on this one, but it makes my eyes pop like crazy!

What I usually like to do (but forgot to do today, oops!) to make sure I don’t look like I have an eye infection is apply dark brown (or black) liner on the waterline. Nude liner would be great as well, but I never use it since I don’t think it suits me.

KIKO Milano Swatches
L-R: KIKO KIKO Velvet Mat Satin Lipsticks in 602 Natural Rose and 607 Passion Red, KIKO Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipsticks in 106 Mauve and 117 Papaya, KIKO Long-Lasting Stick Eyeshadows in 05 Rosy Brown, 06 Golden Brown and 07 Golden Beige, KIKO Cream Crush Lasting Colour Eyeshadow in 03 Mat Light Mahogany, and KIKO Flawless Fusion Bronzer in 03 Cinnamon

All of these beautiful products are from KIKO’s permanent range, and you may find them at KIKO stores or on kikocosmetics.com. Also…have you seen their brand new summer 2016 collection? Let me just tell you it’s a BEAUT! I’ve tested a few pieces and reviewed them for you on carolinapage.eu. See you there! 😉

Carolina Braina


Hey, ladies (and gents), it’s Carolina here, reporting live from Bologna, Italy, to bring you the latest and greatest in beauty from the good ol’ continent! For an extra dose of that timeless Italian glam with a touch of humor and self-irony (because, you know, laughter is the best makeup), come say hi at carolinapage.eu and Instagram.

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Comments

  3. Hi Carolina,

    Ok, now I’ve got to put these all on my wish list! Maybe I’ll even be able to grab them when I go back to Italy (which will hopefully be sooner than later).

    Reply

  4. Yesss, Kiko, one of my favorite brands! You can’t even start to imagine how excited I was when they opened their US e-store last year! It was THE brand I was missing the most from Europe.
    I’m a big fan of the Velvet Mat Satin Lipsticks, I have like 6 of them, and Strawberry Pink is probably my HG listick! I also looove their eyeliners, and their LE collections are fantastic.
    Lulle recently posted … Review: tarte Double Duty Beauty Day/Night Eye & Cheek Palette in Star Power

    Reply

  7. I haven’t tried Kiko yet. Those Gossamer Emotion lipsticks, though! I’ll have to order a couple just for the packaging. 😉 I hope Kiko will expand it’s stores to more locations in the future. I’d even be willing to drive into the city to shop there.

    Reply

  8. I love nearly everything from Kiko! The stick eyeshadows are great, the cream crush eyeshadow thingies are great, I love the nailpolish range (can’t beat the price!), and I think you can’t go wrong with their liners, be it for lips or eyes. Kiko is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me – I used to pop into it all the time and came out with a sneaky little purchase when I lived near one!

    Reply

  11. Hi Carolina. You are so right about lusting after new products and totally ignoring the good products you already have. What would happen if us women lusted after every new good looking guy and abandoning the good one you already have? LOL. I guess with make-up we can get away with craving other products, but for me, the “chase” doesn’t feel as exciting after I realized that I spent too much money and I have more than enough shades of pink bubblegum lipstick! Just curious, how do you control your cravings and how do you justify a purchase and say to yourself, “It’s necessary that I need this product”?

    Reply

    • Hi Michaela! Hmmm… Well, I don’t really think in terms of what’s necessary and what’s not, because the only things I think are REALLY necessary are food, shelter, health, and basic clothing, but, luckily, for many of us there’s more to life than that. 🙂 Makeup is my passion and I really enjoy experimenting and testing new things, so I don’t see spending money on it as something negative… As long as I don’t spend too much!
      Something I do to avoid purchasing too many things is this: when I see a product I like, I don’t buy it immediately and put it on my mental wishlist. If it’s still there after some time, then I’ll get it. Most of the time the urge to buy it will have gone, though.
      Carolina Braina recently posted … Smith and Cult Nailed Lacquer: A Love Affair

      Reply

  12. Enjoying your blog. I discovered Kiko just before I went on vacation in London at the beginning of Feb. Went a bit crazy. Bought a whole bunch of sale lipsticks that I love (Crystal Sheers, etc.) plus some of the gorgeous Rebel Romantic collection. They have become my favorite makeup brand and I can’t wait for them to open in the Bay Area.

    Aside: yes, Gilmore Girls! I’ve just watched the series for the first time on Netflix and now rewatching each ep accompanied by the Gilmore Guys podcast. Can’t wait for the revival.

    Reply

    • Hi Andrea! 🙂 Rebel Romantic was my favorite collection ever!

      Yay, a fellow fan! I’ve watched the show SO many times… When it first aired I was only one year younger than Rory, so I could completely relate to everyhting she did. Now I’ve just started watching it again (you know, in preparation for the revival, LOL!) and I’m almost Lorelai’s age… Mind-blowing!
      Carolina Braina recently posted … Smith and Cult Nailed Lacquer: A Love Affair

      Reply

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