Name: Smart Lipstick in Plum Red
Brand: Kiko
Size: 3ml/0,1fl.oz
Price: €2,50
From Kiko’s website:
Moisturizing and shiny lipstick available in classic, mat, shiny, creamy and light versions. Light and comfortable on the lips, provides an adjustable finish. Available in 30 shades.
What I liked:
– lots of shades available
– very pigmented
– slightly shiny finish
– long-lasting
– the packaging
– the price
What I didn’t like:
– feels a bit drying on the lips
I’ve received Kiko Smart Lipstick in Plum Red last year in a swap, but because the color looked too dark and scary for me in the tube, I left it laying in my drawer for months. Even though I like crazy color combos for my eyes, I’ve never been very adventurous with my lip shades until recently. So, I decided to take this lippie out for a whirl and I was so impressed I think I’m gonna stock up next time I order from Kiko.
(Please excuse the crap application, I put it on in a rush just so that I could show you the color)
Plum Red comes in a sleek black tube and its name is pretty spot on because once applied on the lips, it looks a bright plum color with reddish undertones and a slightly shiny finish. The color is very pigmented and I just need a swipe to get a fantastic and opaque coverage.
The texture is quite creamy and glides on smoothly and, although I didn’t have any bleeding problems, I think that, because the color is so bright and a bit dark, it’s best to apply a lip liner beforehand to help define the lips. I didn’t bother with that in the lip swatch and it shows, but when I use a lip liner (and a brush) application is much more precise.
The staying power was another nice surprise. Plum Red stays on the lips for hours, unless you have a meal or kiss 
, before it starts fading and, when it finally does, it leaves a very nice natural-looking stain behind, which saves me from having to reapply the lippie. And it’s not hard to remove the stain when you want to.
Now, for the catch.. Before wearing Plum Red, you need to moisturize your lips well with a lip balm, otherwise the lipstick will dry out your pout and get in the lines of your lips, accentuating them. These lipsticks are so insanely cheap, pigmented and longlasting, that having to use a lip balm with it doesn’t bother me at all. But still, I think it’s something to think about before purchasing.
Summary
Overall, I love Kiko Smart Lipstick in Red Plum. It is a hella pigmented lipsticks with a slight shiny finish that lasts for hours and is very inexpensive. However, it can dry out lips if you don’t use a lip balm underneath.
Rating: 4/5
Disclaimer: I got this item in a swap. The review is based on my own personal and honest experience with the product. For more information, please see my disclaimer.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I’d love to try Kiko stuff but there isn’t any supplier here. I live at the back of beyond concerning interesting brands. But thanks so much for your good review! I always love to read them.
.-= Mylanqolia´s last blog ..I feel like a millionaire or My Sleek Make Up prize =-.
Mylanqolia, that’s too bad. It’s the same for me, I live in a small town in a small region where most makeup brands aren’t available and so I’m forced to do most of my shopping online.
I heard a rumour that Kiko is thinking about starting to shop internationally and I hope it’s true so everyone will be able to try their products.
Same thing here, but at the moment I’m without any paypal due to payment issues. I had to ask a mate if she could do it for me but she very busy at the moment, too. Anyways, I know that Kiko is available in some larger cities, maybe I’ll go there in my holidays. I’d love to test them in the shop.
But good to know that they try to change something for us mossbacks.:-)
.-= Mylanqolia´s last blog ..The Sleek Series: Hard as Graphite =-.
Mylanqolia, that’s too bad, but I hope you can visit one of their shops soon. I still haven’t been to one but only got their stuff online or through swaps. Despite Kiko being an Italian brand, they don’t have too many stores here but they are slowly expanding and I hope it won’t be long till everyone will be able to purchase their products, at least online.