Kosas started as an indie beauty brand with four lipstick shades in 2015; it has since grown into a clean beauty powerhouse with a complete product display at Sephora. Through the years, I have tried most of Kosas products. When they released their Tinted Face Oil, I was thrilled to see them come out with a base product. They have since come out with body products and expanded their makeup range to include enough products for a full-face of makeup. I have tried almost every product from the line, and I am sharing my Kosas makeup review below.
About Kosas
Sheena Yaitanes launched Kosas Cosmetics from her kitchen table because she wanted to create a lipstick that felt good and a long-wearing foundation. Yaitanes set out to create products that were easy and effective. When Kosas launched, the packaging and branding used simple white text with a black background. With the more recent releases in the past two years, we have seen their branding change from sleek and chic to loud and fun. Although Kosas started as an indie brand and was only featured at small indie beauty retailers, it is now retailing at Sephora and has significant investment capital from CircleUp, Beechwood Capital, and Imaginary Ventures. I’ve decided to start this review with originally packaged products, going from Kosas’ indie days to their latest releases.
Kosas Makeup Review Lipstick
Kosas OG product is their lipstick. I have always thought they have a unique lipstick collection because instead of having a ton of shades, they have a curated collection of neutrals and reds divided into cool and warm skin tones. The warm shades include Warm Beige, Stardust, Undone, Thrillest, Phoenix, and Fringe. The cool shades include Rosewater, Royal, Electra, and Darkroom. I fall in the cool lipstick category, so my favorite shades tend to be Rosewater, Electra, and Darkroom.
Kosas lipsticks are creamy and pigmented. Kosas lipsticks are also quite versatile. They can be worn as a lip stain by pressing the lipstick into the lips in three spots and blending out, or opaque as you usually use lipstick. As these lipsticks wear away, they leave a faint stain on the lips. I have an old video of me swatching a bunch of the lipsticks here.
Kosas Color and Light Palette
I have tried two Color and Light Palettes from Kosas, 8th Muse High-Intensity Cream and Papaya 1972 Pressed. I have preferred Papaya 1972 pressed because it is not as pigmented. You heard me right. I like that it is a little more toned down. The blush in this palette is a melon shade with a slightly metallic finish, and the highlight is a creamy shade with a multi-toned pink/purple illuminating shift. Papaya 1972 is easy to use, lasts on the cheeks, and blends out easily. However, I was not fond of the 8th Muse High-Intensity Cream palette. The highlight has too much pigment to give the illuminating sheen I like like, and the blush is too pigmented. I thought I didn’t like this palette because I got the High-Intensity shade, but the Low-Intensity version is also too pigmented for someone as fair as myself. Papaya 1972 is the way to go if you have very fair skin with a pink undertone. Find Papaya 1972 here!
Kosas Tinted Face Oil
The product that put Kosas on the mainstream map is the Kosas Tinted Face Oil. I ordered this when it first launched, and I was impressed with how lightweight and easy to use it was. It has 16 shades, Kosas marketing has claimed that the product “adjusts to different skin tones.” Many have viewed this as a cop-out not to release more shades. I think a few lighter shades would add to the collection. I ordered Tone 01 in this, and although I liked the lightweight serum consistency, the shade was a bit too dark. Find the Kosas Tinted Face Oil here.
Kosasport Hyaluronic Lip Balm
I was surprised by how much I liked the Kosasport lip balm in shade Pulse. It has a balm consistency and feels light on the lips. It is very hydrating and pigmented. It’s so pigmented that it tints the lips as it wears down. The shape is a bit awkward, as it is an oblong oval. Although odd, the ‘points’ help define the Cupid’s bow on the lips. This lip balm smells like peppermint, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it, it may be one of my favorite products in my Kosas Makeup Review! Find the Lip Balm here.
Kosas Makeup Review Wet Lip Oil
I have tried two shades of Kosas Wet Lip Oil, Jellyfish and Jaws. I have REALLY liked Jellyfish. It is a sheer shade that gives lips a juicy wet look. It has a slight glitter shimmer to it as well. It’s very moisturizing and doesn’t leave my lips feeling dry. Jaws, on the other hand, I did not like… It is a bright red shade, and it felt nice going on, but it bled outside of my lip line something horrible. It looked rather messy, so I haven’t tried any more of their tinted shades. Find my favorite, Jellyfish, here.
Kosas 10 Second Eyelight
Kosas recently reformulated and re-packaged their 10-Second Eyeshadows to be their 10-Second Eyelights. The Eyelights are much more neutral than the originals and more muted. The 10-Second Eyeshadow shades were bolder and brighter. They were also waterier in consistency. Now the formulation is creamier. I have shade Strobe in the new formulation, and it is okay. It is a shimmery, iridescent cream shade. I apply it with the doe-foot applicator and then blend it out with my finger, so it doesn’t bunch up. It is okay, but nothing that I am crazy about. Find the new Eyelights, here.
Kosas Makeup Review The Sun Show Bronzer
I did not like this bronzer. It has a nice, creamy, buttery feel, but that’s about it. For me it is too shimmery. It doesn’t have enough pigment to define the face or even add warmth. I view this as a bronzer topper instead of an actual bronzer. Maybe I am too pale for this product? Or maybe it is not my thing. It’s available here in three shades.
Kosasport AHA Serum Deodorant
Another pass for me is the Kosasport Deodorant. This did not work for me, and I began to smell a few hours after I put it on. It has an acidic, citrus scent to it that I don’t like as well. I have been using natural deodorants for the last 10-years, and this just ain’t it. The new Schmidts Spray Deodorants lasts 12+ hours, are clear, and are baking soda free. This is not an ad for them. It’s just an honest observation and opinion after using both. Find the Kosasport Deodorant here.
Kosas The Big Clean Mascara
Kosas has reformulated The Big Clean Mascara since launching a couple of years back. I tried it then and now, and I still find it too clumpy. It has these lumpy balls in it that dry and then falls onto my cheekbones. I have found the new formulation to be less inky than the previous one. There are so many good clean mascaras that this is a hard pass. If you’re curious, find the new formula here.
Kosas Air Brow in Clear
I have enjoyed the Kosas Air Brow in Clear. The formulation is the perfect gel. It dries down and holds the brows in place without leaving them shiny. The wand is a ‘natural’ bristle spoolie brush that is the right size to see but small enough to groom my brow’s small area. This was sold out for a long time, and a little birdie told me it is back in stock! *I have not tried the tinted version, so I can’t speak on that. The Kosas Air Brow in Clear is back in stock here.
Kosas Makeup Review Revealer Concealer
From an unbiased perspective, this concealer is not bad, and I understand why people like it. On the other hand, I am not a massive fan of this formulation. It is very creamy, hydrating, and illuminating under the eye. I prefer something a little more matte, like the Fitglow Beauty Concealer or Han Skincare Cosmetics Concealer. Also, I have yet to find the right shade for myself in this concealer. I have tried Shade 1 and Shade 1.5, and they are either too yellow or neutral for me. I think if someone has drier skin, they may really like this. Check it out here if that’s you!
Kosas Revealer Foundation
Kosas Revealer Foundation is the latest release from Kosas. This foundation mimics their Revealer Concealer. It has a dewy texture and a satin-matte finish. The shades also fall on the yellow/neutral spectrum. Also, the Very Light Cool 120 shade is still a bit too deep for me, and I would consider myself a very light cool skin tone. The wear of it is pretty dewy when it goes on. It leaves some dry patches and settles into my pores as it dries and wears through the day. As I didn’t love the Revealer Concealer, I don’t love the Revealer Foundation. Find the Revealer Foundation, here.
Kosas Airy Cloud Set Powder
Most of the YouTubers I watch love the Kosas Airy Cloud Set Powder, I am not one of them. I purchased this after seeing it in so many people’s “Best of 2021 Makeup Products,” I thought it would be great. This powder is rather dry, which is so weird because they are known for their dewy fresh face products. I really wanted to love this, as so many people I know do but it’s nothing that special. Find the Cloud Set, here.
Kosas Makeup Review Conclusion
I’m curious to know your Kosas Makeup Review products. The top products that I would recommend from Kosas Cosmetics are their lipsticks, cheek palettes, Kosasport Lip Balm, Kosas Clear Brow Gel and the Tinted Face Oil. I have tried quite a few things that aren’t my cup of tea. Please share your thoughts down below on this Kosas Makeup Review!
References
Meet Sheena Yaitanes: The Clean Beauty Founder Behind Kosas Cosmetics. https://www.forbes.com/sites/viviennedecker/2020/01/24/meet-sheena-yaitanes-the-clean-beauty-founder-behind-kosas-cosmetics/?sh=489495bc6096
Kosas About. https://go.magik.ly/ml/1g345/
Kosas Crunchbase. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/kosas
FTC: I do have affiliate links in this blog post. If you purchase something from my link, I will receive a small commission from the sale. This comes at no cost to you, but is paid by the company. I do not take becoming an affiliate with any company lightly. If I am, it’s because I believe in the company and their product.
