Beauty – C. Militar Writes

I tried this TikTok-famous lip gloss – is it worth the hype?

Anyone who has a TikTok account might be familiar with the US cosmetics brand Kikiz Cosmeticz.

Created by Makena Quesada, this brand creates lip glosses that are supposedly “long-wearing, hydrating, and non-sticky” and advertises them through many video streaming platforms.

Since its creation in 2020, this brand has gained popularity amongst the younger generation, amassing over one million followers on TikTok and around 1.3 million subscribers on YouTube. And whether it be through their lip gloss pouring videos or their lip gloss making clips, you can’t help but be drawn in by the product and what it offers.

Like many online users, I too was intrigued by their lip products; so last year, when I traveled to the US, I decided to buy one of their lip glosses online.

Here are my thoughts about it:

The packaging was well-designed and well-thought of

The outside packaging is a shiny, pink bubble mailer that contains the phrase, “Self love looks good on you,” along with the brand’s social media pages. What I like about this is that Kikiz Cosmeticz even extended its branding on the outside, teasing customers on what goodies lie inside.

The reason I mention the external packaging is because not all brands do this, especially because there is an added cost to customising packaging. So, I appreciated the extra effort Kikiz Cosmeticz did to extend its branding to the outside.

Inside the mailer, there contains a thank you card with the brand’s social media pages (so we know where to tag them when we use their products) and a piece of candy (which is a very welcome treat for us, sweet tooths!).

The lip gloss is also safely packaged in a box that contains the full list of ingredients.

From a marketing standpoint and from my opinion as an advertising graduate, I applaud the company for its consistent branding throughout the whole package. Because of this, customers, who receive their orders, will surely remember the brand, especially when they start sharing stories and reviews about it online.

You all have to try Starlight

The lip gloss comes in a 6mL tube with a pink cover (I purchased it last year before they changed their covers to the purple one) and a thick lip gloss wand.

I like the thick lip gloss wand, in particular, because it allows you to get a large amount of product with just one swipe on the lips.

As for the lip gloss variant, I chose Starlight, which according to the website, is a “lemon-lime flavored, long wearing, non-sticky lip gloss that has a color-shifting shade with blue and gold glitters.”

Upon application, the gloss does have a thick consistency but it’s not that sticky, which is great for everyday wear. And even though it has glitters, the gloss doesn’t feel chunky on the lips and works great when applied over a matte lipstick.

As for its color-shifting feature, I see a bit of it when I move my head from side-to-side. It gives off a different colored shine when light hits it at a certain angle.

Starlight also has a fizzy scent (think of Sprite or 7-Up), which I like, given that I am a soda drinker. But it may not be for everyone, so keep that in mind if ever you’re considering buying the lip gloss.

Overall, I am very happy with how it looks. It gives the lips a very finished look on its own, without it looking over-the-top.

The lip gloss delivers on its promises

The Kikiz Cosmeticz lip glosses boasts of a hydrating, nourishing, and long-wearing formula; and for me, the brand delivers on its promises.

Since applying the lip gloss on my lips, it doesn’t feel drying and it kept my lips moist throughout the day.

Also, after 2-3 hours of wear, the product is still shiny on my lips. This required me only one additional application to wear it for the rest of my night. So, I definitely recommend giving their lip gloss a try!

It can be a bit expensive so save up first if you want to buy it

For a third world citizen like myself, the lip gloss can be a bit pricey, with one lip gloss amounting to 567.53 PHP (without shipping). It’s best to keep that in mind when you’re considering buying at least one of their lip glosses in the shop.

Finally, you’re probably wondering, is it worth the hype? In my opinion, it is.

Based on my experience using the Starlight lip gloss, the product lives up to its expectation and provides a long-wearing and shiny look on the lips. It’s also very sweet-smelling, which makes both the wearing and application process that more enjoyable.

Kikiz Cosmeticz offers other lip gloss variants, which I have yet to try of; so, my opinion might change if I ever get to try the other lip gloss shades. But for now, I am very satisfied with the product and am eager to get to try more of what the brand has to offer!

If you’re interested in knowing more about this US-based makeup brand, you can visit their website, kikizcosmeticz.shop. Happy shopping!

*NOTE: This is not a branded post, but an honest review of the brand and its product. All the items used for this review was purchased with my own money and was not sponsored by the brand.

***

If you want to stay updated on my latest articles and stories, you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

Reviewing the Vice Cosmetics lip oils – should you give them a try?

*NOTE: This is not a branded article. I purchased these lip oils through an online shopping platform, with my own money, and decided to give my honest opinion about them. Hope you’ll enjoy what I have to say about these products.

Unless you were living under a rock these past few years, you’d know that lip oils are all the rage in the makeup industry today. Brands like Dior, Fenty Beauty, and most recently Rare Beauty, have each created their own version of the in-demand lip product. In fact, the fashion and lifestyle website In Style explains that Rare Beauty’s lip oils are “bound to sell out” due to its popularity with the makeup and beauty community.

Given this, it should come as no surprise that local makeup brands like Vice Cosmetics have also jumped on the trend and created their own line of lip oil products.

Introducing the Vice Cosmetics Perfect Kizz Lip Oils.

According to the brand’s Shopee store, the Perfect Kizz Lip Oils are “high-shine lip oils [that] are infused with sweet almond oil to soothe and hydrate the lips for a healthy, juicy lip lewk (look).” They also reportedly come with a “plumping variant” that can emphasise your lips and make them appear fuller.

These lip oils come in three types, namely Kendi Glaze, I Lava Yew, and Dynamint. For this review, I’ll be going through each kind of lip oil and giving my opinion on them.

Kendi Glaze

The Kendi Glaze lip oil is the brand’s tinted pink variant. It comes with a sweet, candy-like smell and gives a light pink shade to the lips.

What I like about this particular variant is that the smell is very pleasant and addicting. It kind of reminds me of the strawberry-flavoured lollipops that you can buy at the drug store or supermarket––a reminder of my childhood when my parents would indulge me with these candies (definitely nostalgic).

Plus, its light pink hue gives the lips a little bit of colour in the most natural way. It’s not over-the-top and it’s not too understated that you won’t notice you’re still wearing the gloss.

Of the three, this one is definitely my favourite and one I recommend everyone to try first if they’re considering buying the lip oil.

I Lava Yew

I Lava Yew is the makeup brand’s second lip oil variant. It comes with a glittery finish and gives off a (very) subtle yellow hue on the lips.

Unfortunately, this one is my least favourite of the three lip oils. The reason for this is that I found the smell of the product very off-putting. I’m not exactly sure how to describe it other than like a wilted rose scent––not a fan of it.

Other than the smell, the product does apply well and gives off a nice glittery finish on the lips, which is perfect if you’re planning to apply the oil above your matte lipstick.

Dynamint

Dynamint is the brand’s third lip oil variant. Although it appears blue in the container, the lip oil gives the lips a clear, gloss finish and comes with a mint scent.

What’s nice about this variant is that the added minty scent gives a cooling sensation, which feels great on the lips. It’s also clear, which means you can apply it over any lipstick shade to give it a glossy look.

Performance as a lip oil

As a lip oil, these three variants do their job well.

First, these items provide enough shine to give the lips a fuller and more put-together look.

Second, the lip oil formula feels very sheer and light and does not feel sticky on the lips––making it ideal to wear under your mask when you’re going out of the house.

Third and more importantly, these lips oils feel hydrating to the lips. Not once did I feel my lips feel dry or crack while wearing the product, which is a major bonus to this item.

However, what I do find that is lacking in this lip oil is the longevity. There were a few times I needed to re-apply this product on my lips because they came off during the course of the day.

Overall, I’d give these lip oils a solid 7/10.

The question remains though, can this local brand of lip oils compare to the popular, international ones?

Now, I can’t speak for brands like Fenty Beauty and Rare Beauty (since I have yet to try their lip oils) but I can compare it the Dior Lip Glow Oil, which is in my possession and is an item that I have been using for quite some time now.

Let’s discuss the differences:

First of all, the Dior lip oil has a vastly different price point compared to the Vice Cosmetics lip oil. In the Dior store, the lip oil amounts to 2,500 PHP while the Perfect Kizz Lip Oil costs only 195 PHP. The Dior lip oil is clearly a luxury item, while the Vice Cosmetics lip oil is an affordable lip product.

Second, the two products have different formulas and I think this makes a huge difference in the longevity of the product on the lips. For example, the Lip Glow Oil, from my experience, is more long-lasting in the lips and requires less re-application compared to the Perfect Kizz Oil.

It’s also good to note that it’s because of this formula that Dior has been such a hit with the online beauty community. According to an article by Byrdie, the reason for Dior’s lip oil success is because it has met the needs of the younger generation––which includes quality ingredients such as cherry oil.

I mention these differences not to undermine or uplift one brand from another but to compare them. And in my opinion, the Dior Lip Glow Oil is still the better lip oil between the two.

However, if you’re tight on a budget and are just looking for a hydrating, glossy lip oil that can give your lips the plumping effect, then the Vice Cosmetics Perfect Kizz Oil can be your go-to product since it is still a very solid lip oil.

Via GIPHY

Hopefully, this review gives you an insight into this local makeup brand’s lip oil products and can help you decide whether or not you would like to try it out.

Until the next blog!

***

If you want to stay updated on my latest articles and stories, you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

From ‘boob mugs’ to makeup, here’s a review of my most recent online purchases

Just like many millennials nowadays, I like to look through online shopping websites for new items or accessories. Most of the time, what I buy are necessities like toiletries or stuff for my dog (and yes, I do classify those items as essential). But this time around, I was lured by the much-awaited payday deals of these local, online platforms–and I (inevitably) ended up giving in and checking out some items.

Here’s my review of those purchases:

Boob Mug

I’ve been eyeing the boob mugs of peek a boob ph ever since I saw them on Instagram. They were cute and quirky; and they celebrated the feminine body in all its imperfect glory.

They even stated in one of their posts, “Our boob mugs are meant to express the value of women in our lives–how individuals, represented in boob form obviously, are perfect in all shapes and sizes.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PEEKABOOB (@peekaboobph)

Given this, I was excited to get one of these mugs… and as luck would have it, the store offered a 10% discount on some of their on-hand items. Through this month-end sale, I was able to purchase a medium-sized Birthday Sprinkles Boob Mug for only 630 PHP (original price was 700 PHP).

The ceramic mug measured at around 4 inches tall with a diameter of 3.5 inches. According to the brand’s post, it can hold 300 mL of liquid.

What I liked about it was that you can clearly tell it was handmade. It had a large handle that drooped down and a pair of sculpted breasts that were not 100% symmetrical (just as most boobs are). But it’s this rustic look that makes it that much more unique and special.

I also liked how it was handcrafted by Filipino artisans. This just goes to show how innovative and creative many of our artists are.

I’ve been drinking from this mug for a few days now and I enjoy it’s size and its colorful appearance–it really does make my morning coffee sessions that much more enjoyable!

2. Benefit lip tints

I’ve been a fan of Benefit Cosmetics ever since I tried their eyebrow gel in 2017. Although I absolutely love their products, any makeup enthusiast would tell you that their items are NOT cheap.

Thankfully, National Lipstick Day happened and with it, came an awesome deal for their lip tints. Because for the price of 1,190 PHP (and free shipping), I was able to receive (1) 6.0 mL BeneTint, one (1) 2.0 mL ChaCha Tint, and one (1) 2.0 mL Love Tint.

These lip tints all came safely in a colorful Benefit box.

I first tried BeneTint, which had a see through, light red hue to it. What I liked about this product is that since it’s water-based, you can easily build color by dabbing some more of the liquid on your lips and cheeks.

It’s also long-lasting–I barely had to reapply throughout the day–and it has an addicting rose scent to it.

I highly recommend this product for those looking for natural-looking and buildable lip and cheek stains for their virtual meetings.

Next, I sampled the Cha Cha Tint from the package. It had a light orange hue and was much thicker in consistency than the BeneTint.

It also had a pleasant mango smell and when applied, it gave your lips a subtle peach color.

This item is definitely for people like me, who like to rock the subtle makeup look.

Lastly, I tried the Love Tint. This lip and cheek tint had a thick, dark red color to it and definitely gave your lips a striking scarlet look.

Personally, it’s not my favorite color out of the three; but it is very pigmented and easily buildable when worn both as a lip tint and blush.

Overall, I am very happy with the Benefit products I received and will surely use them during many of my virtual meetings.

Here’s to hoping my next shopping haul can be as nice and awesome as this one!

***

If you want to stay updated on my latest articles and stories, you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram.

This online shop proves that vintage wear will never go out of style

Much like technology, fashion evolves through time. For instance, back in the 90s, people couldn’t get enough of bell-bottom jeans, baby shirts, and all-denim ensembles. But this time around, you would rarely see people donning that kind of get up.

Now, it seems that wearing the “basics” is what’s trending–from simple colour-block shirts to the quintessential sweatpants. (Case-in-point, the new Yeezy clothing line)

It’s true that fashion continues to change as the years go by. But there are some essential pieces that seem to never go out of style. And among them is vintage wear.

From the puff sleeves to the long, flared out skirt, vintage wear defined the 60s through the 80s. And even though it’s been decades since that time, the style never seems to go out of date. In fact, you would still see celebrities and other prominent figures sporting the look during special events.

Princess Beatrice wore her grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s 1960s gown on her wedding last July 17, 2020.
Photo Credit: Facebook.com/TheBritishMonarchy

But what makes the style so timeless?

Well, for one thing, it gives off a casual yet chic vibe. For example, wearing a button-down blouse makes you look more put together than just the regular crew neck shirt.

And second, it’s a style that can be fused with a more modern look. Think about it, you can pair a puff-sleeved blouse with some denim shorts for a more effortless, semi-casual look, or even wear a flared skirt with a graphic tank top for a more unique style. Seriously, the possibilities are endless when you think about it!

To prove this point, Pampanga-based shop Style for LESS PH shows you how to combine vintage wear with a more modern look.

With their second collection, the owners remind people how fashion can be fused together for the perfect #OOTD. Here are a few examples of the styles you can do with the items in their new lineup.

Photo Credit: Facebook.com/StyleForLessPHbySnC

Moreover, these items are super affordable. Priced at 150 Pesos per blouse, you can definitely get your desired look without breaking the bank.

So, if you’re interested to know more about their collection, click here to open the album. You definitely won’t regret the purchase!

NOTE: This is not a paid, branded post, which means the author does not receive any money from the clicks or purchases on this article. This article was made in an effort to help a friend better advertise her products and online store.