Kiko Cosmetics......Budget Beauty and Holiday Shopping

I've recently been away on a lovely family holiday to Murcia, and after hearing that a new outdoor shopping mall had opened since our last visit in April 2012, I had to check it out. After reading lots of good things on various beauty blogs about the new up-and -coming budget Italian make-up brand Kiko, I was thrilled to see a gorgeous Kiko store. (There are two currently in the UK, but only in London, although you can order online of course!).

Walking into Kiko is like being a kid in a sweet shop - wall to wall eye shadows fill one side of the store, and after swatching about a zillion colours on my hands, I went for the three colours below.

 

 

Colours shown are - 213 (top), 216 (left,) and 241( right).

 

Kiko have a system a bit similar to Mac, where you can buy your shadows, and create your own palette with them. They call it the Palette Clics System. You can choose a palette with spaces for either 2, 3, 4, 9 or 24 eye shadows. I went for three to get me started. The eye shadows cost around four euros and the palette was three euros. Their full title is 'Infinity highly pigmented eye shadow'.

 

 

 

 

 

We all know you only get what you pay for, but after trying out these colours for quite a few days now, these shadows really do deliver. The colours are really highly pigmented and almost feel creamy when you apply them. They are also very long lasting. They promise to last up to 14 hours on the eye without creasing. I don't tend to wear them for quite that long, so I can't say if that statement is completely true, but they certainly hold up well after a good ten hours. The palette itself is nice quality, and you are able to chop and change the eye shadows that you put in there, which is so handy if you are travelling.

 

Every girl loves their Mac eye shadows, (me included) the colour choice, the packaging, the quality and choice of different finishes, but for the difference in price, it really is worth giving Kiko a try. You can see below, the colours swatched on my hand and actually on my eyes.

 

 

I am wearing the colour 216 here.

 

After spending around twenty minutes looking at the eye shadows alone, I started to run out of time and had to give the lip glosses a miss (sad face). But if the products I have chosen so far are anything to go by, I shall certainly be checking out the Kiko lip products. They even do a fabulous range of brushes and their own skin care range.....it was like being in beauty heaven!

 

 

I also treated myself to a few other bits and pieces (well it would be rude not to). I got a lovely brown 'Twinkle eye pencil', a base eye shadow brush and a gorgeous rose coloured matt blush. Again, amazing products at a great price.

 

 

 

A little tip, if you register on their website (www.kikocosmetics.co.uk) you get free delivery on your first order. I'm guessing it wont be long until there are more Kiko stores opening in the UK (hopefully in the North East!).