Kiko Haul Autumn Winter 2015

As most of you will know, I recently got back from my cruise around the Western Mediteranian, which stopped off across 7 different places such as Barcelona, Pisa, Florance and Cannes. During this time I popped into a Kiko shop, or two, or three… And picked up some bits and bobs which I had been eager to get my paws on! Watch here my Kiko Haul Autumn Winter 2015 video or continue reading to see exactly what I bought…

It’s always a little tricky to do swatches on video without having someone to help, so I thought I’d take some pretty pics of each item too, to describe how the product looks and how pigmented each item is. I did my research before hand and these were on a little list that I had prepared, so I like to think of these as my best Kiko picks!

The item that I was most excited to try from Kiko was the eagerly anticipated Kiko Contouring Pencil Set as part of the new Kiko Rebel Romantic collection. This range is Limited Edition so won’t be around for long, so wanted to get it whilst I could! It contains two contouring pencils (duh – the name gives it away!) one for highlight and one for contour. I chose the shade ‘light’ because we all know I am pale as a ghost, but unfortunately the highlight just gets lost on my skin as I am pale as heck. The contour pencil however is just the right shade and blends nicely with a brush of sponge – so it’s a 5 out of 10 from me on this one.

The second two items I picked up were also on my researched list as these have received great reviews from other blogs across the world; the Kiko Long Lasting Eyeshadow Sticks. I picked up shade 07 Golden Beige and 38 Golden Taupe, one of which was half price so costing only 3 Euros something. Both of these are so highly pigmented, creamy to apply and are indeed as long lasting as the name suggests. At around 10 Euros for both of them I would repurchase in a heartbeat, these are possibly my favourite of all the things I bought.

Now, as a self-confessed lipstick addict, I had to pick up two new colours when I saw these two on special offer, reduced to only 3 euros each! These are the Kiko Unlimited Stylo Long-lasting Lipsticks, in shade 13 Cocoa and 11 Peachy Orchid. I can’t comment on how long lasting Peachy Orchid is as I’ve not given it a proper test run yet, but it’s colour is beautifully pigmented and could perhaps be a dupe for Mac’s Rebel Lipstick. However, I have had chance to try Cocoa – which is a lovely nude colour for pale skin, as doesn’t make you look like you have foundation lips – and this literally lasts all day. I even wore it on holiday during a sweltering hot day in Cannes and by the time I got back on ship after a whole day sweating around in the sun it was still perfectly applied and I only had to touch it up for dinner!

Now, I may be a lipstick hoarder but I am certainly not a lipliner hoarder! Again, these little beauties were on special offer – seriously, Kiko has some great weekly deals! – and were reduced to 1 Euro each. Such a bargain – in fact I didn’t plan to buy these but the price enticed me in. I purchased the Kiko Precision Lip Pencil in shades 300 Cafe Latte, 308 Bordeaux and 306 Geranium Red. That way I’m set for a basic nude, dark purple or deep red lip. Sorted.

On whim I picked up an eyeshadow – my sister bought a few and I was enticed in by the special offer again. I think this was about 1.50 so I couldn’t resist. I am pretty sure this is the basic (cheapest) Kiko Eyeshadow and although of course it’s not as pigmented as my Urban Decay or Clarins eyeshadows it’s decent for the price and a lovely sparkly highlight colour. I can see myself using this a lot for brow bone/inner corner colour.

I didn’t purchase this Kiko Unlimited Lipgloss but was given it as a free gift with purchase. It only costs 3 Euros or so anyway but it’s a nice gesture! I didn’t realise this was a deal so when the lovely Italian shop assistant was gesturing to try and tell me about this (honestly, I wish I was clever enough to speak two languages!) I panicked and went for a red gloss. Of course. Red lips always! This is still wrapped as I plan to give this to a friend – I don’t use lipgloss myself really.

I have purchased a Kiko Compact Powder on my European holidays every year for the past few years and this year was no exception! This stuff is great. A lovely little mattifying powder that pops in your bag with a mirror and sponge to boot, making touching up an oily nose throughout the day very easy! It was the most expensive item I bought at 11 Euros, but it is totally worth it – I have had one for over a year now that I use several times a day for patting my face at work and it’s still going! And still, 11 Euros compared to the similar looking Mac Blot Powder compact remains very affordable.

As a holiday gift from my jollies last year I bought my sister a Kiko mascara, which she hails as the best mascara she’s ever used! Slightly jealous, I indulged in yet another half price special offer over a range of eyeliners and mascaras in a Kiko I visited in Barcelona. I bought the Kiko Unforgettable Mascara which was reduced to 2.40 Euros – so cheap! – and comes in black with a lovely curled brush. I also couldn’t resist picking up a liquid eyeliner considering I do use them every day, so bought the Kiko Precision Liquid Eyeliner in black which was also half price. The lovely sales assistant actually recommended this to me after seeing my own cat eye liner that day (and probably realising I was a soft touch for make-up purchases)!

These final items I can hardly swatch as they are make-up tools, but have included so you can see just what they look like. I popped a Kiko Eyelash Curler in my basket as I curl my eyelashes every single day without fail, and once they get a bit used and grubby they risk pulling out lashes, so I thought a new one couldn’t hurt. It’s pretty basic and does the job, although more expensive than I would have thought at about 5.50. The only other tool I bought was the Kiko Make-up Blender. Obviously this is an imitation of the Beauty Blender, and I have a very old and tatty Real Technique’s Miracle Complexion Sponge which I love and regretfully need a replacement for, so this seemed like a good chance to try something I wouldn’t usually buy.

So, I appreciate it might look like I bought a lot but I saved up my pennies and did my research. Hey, a girl’s gotta treat herself every once in a while, right? If you have tried anything from Kiko yourself, please leave me a comment below and let me know – I am relatively new to the brand as I have only been able to buy bits and pieces on my holidays in the past, so wold be interested to hear what’s hot and what’s not!