Kosas Brand Introduction Review and Swatches

Cult Beauty have added lots of new and interesting beauty brands over the last twelve months or so, and one of their newest acquisitions is the Kosas brand. Kosas was founded by multi-talented LA artist Sheena Yaitanes, and they believe in free, easy, unrestrained beauty that celebrates simplicity and defies convention. Their branding is very simplistic, and they only stock four different products, but in lots of different shades, and I’ve had the pleasure of trying four products over the last few weeks.

“Kosas is a visionary collection of nourishing, skin-flattering color cosmetics. Limited only by our own imagination and not bound by tradition, we create unparalleled blends that feel better, last longer, and make an impact. We take our name from the philosophy of the five “kosas” of self.

According to this philosophy, there are five intersecting and connected layers of self that communicate with each other: a physical layer, a vitalizing layer of energy, a sensory mental layer, a discerning intellectual layer, and a layer of truthful bliss. Beauty lives in each of these layers, not just in the physical.

At Kosas, our clean, skin-loving, botanical formulas and expert color pigmentation honor the beauty in every layer of the self. We undo conventional rules and create products that are beauty rebels, effortlessly applied, flattering across skin tones, and enriched with beneficial skincare ingredients. With our eyes always fixed on transformation and the future of cosmetics, we are proud to be at the forefront of a beauty revolution, and we’re not about to stop.”

Kosas Tinted Face Oil 30ml £40

“Tinted Face Oil is a feather-weight medium coverage foundation and deeply hydrating skin elixir. Three types of mineral pigment are delivered in a base of six active botanical oils to instantly even the appearance of skin tone, minimizes pores, and erases the look of imperfections.

Designed to be as easily applied as a daily serum or moisturiser, the breathable silky formula’s oils are quickly absorbed by the skin, leaving behind a perfecting layer of self-adjusting color with a velvety finish, with no blending required.“

The Tinted Face Oil is packaged within a plastic bottle, and contains a ball bearing to fully blend the liquid without separation. The consistency is very thin and feels very similar to the Giorgio Armani Maestro Glow Nourishing Fusion Makeup Bi-Phase Elixir, and feels very nourishing on the skin.

I have two shades from the sixteen available and they are the two palest; 01 and 02. 01 is described as being a ‘porcelain with cool undertones’ and 02 is described as a ‘porcelain with neutral undertone’s.

I have to admit I was pretty surprised by how dark both shades are considering they’re supposed to be porcelain tones. I think even fair skin would struggle to get a shade match, never mind the palest of skins like mine.

I have to add lightening drops to lighten both of the shades which is worth it as the oil infused formula sits so nicely on my dry, and dehydrated skin. I have to disagree with the whole ‘self adjusting color’ and ‘no blending required’ claims as there aren’t any products that can adjust to a skin tone unless they’re created by genies. It does look very natural on my skin, and is quick and easy to apply once I’ve lightened the shade.

Kosas Weightless Lipstick £26

“The Kosas lipstick edit includes universally flattering shades with our unconventional, clean, non-toxic formula that melts comfortably into the lips and stays throughout the day to hydrate, heel and nurture.“

The packaging is so sleek with metal casing, and it feels so weighty and luxurious. There are ten different shades to choose from and I have the Rosewater shade, a ‘cool tone sheer pink’ which is definitely my favourite shade from the range. This is my favourite Kosas product I tried as it has a beautiful balmy formula that glides across the lips, and always looks forgiving even when my lips are particularly dry.

I am going to get a lot of wear out of this lipstick over the winter as it’s such a pretty colour, and does a lovely job at nourishing my lips. The lipstick formula contains mango seed butter, shea butter, cocoa seed butter, green tea seed oil, rosehip seed oil, jojoba oil and sweet orange oil, so it’s no wonder it has a super hydrating, comfortable formula.

Kosas Color + Light Palette £32

“An ultra-blendable cream blush and highlighter palette in versatile duos of balancing, brightening, foolproof, clean, and skin-conditioning formulas. Each duo has two levels of intensity for color that compliments every skin tone.“

Kosas offer two different formulas of their Color + Light Palettes; a powder duo formula or a cream duo formula. The shades are also divided into two types – an original formula, and then an high intensity formula which is more appropriate for deeper skintones.

I have the Velvet Melon Cream formula and it’s absolutely gorgeous both in terms of colour and in formula. The compact contains a pretty peachy coral cream blush, and a stunning dewy pale bronze highlighter.

Both the blush and highlighter have a buildable formula allowing you to apply a very sheer layer for a hint of colour and shine, or built up for a more intense effect. Both sides of the compact apply beautifully with fingertips or a sponge, and the highlighter half of the duo really reminds me of the formula of the RMS Living Luminizer, whilst the blush is extremely similar to the Stila Color Convertibles – both of which are holy grail formulas within my collection.

You can purchase Kosas products over on Cult Beauty.

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