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.

Via GIPHY

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.

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Holiday royal romance movies are cheesy and predictable–but that’s what makes them so fun to watch

Almost all of my family and friends know that I am a sucker for this subgenre of romance movies. For years, I have watched a lot of these kinds of films from Hallmark and most recently, Netflix

So, when my good friend Niña came across this video of YouTuber Jack Douglass discussing the “terrifying world of ‘Princess Christmas’ movies,” she knew I had some thoughts on this matter. 

First off, I actually agree with everything Douglass had to say about these movies, especially on the following points: 

– These kinds of movies revolve around three plots, namely the “ordinary woman becomes a princess,” “a princess pretends to be an ordinary woman,” and “a princess and an ordinary woman swap places.” 

–  The names of these movies sound similar (if not the same).

– All of the royal romances take place in imaginary countries that all sound the same–citing examples like “Belgravia,” “Aldovia,” and “Maldovia.”

– The Prince always seems to have a “pronounced english accent.”

– How these kinds of movies use the same actors and actresses in other films that feature the same plot. 

He even makes a valid point in saying how strange it is to know that even though these movies follow the same formula, they manage to become franchises–citing the Christmas Prince films as an example. 

With all of this in mind, you, as a viewer of his video, would even start to wonder, why would anyone want to watch these films after knowing this? 

Now, I can’t speak for everyone… but as someone who has seen many of these holiday royal romance movies (and would probably continue to watch them in the future), what entices me is its predictability, overall feel-good vibe, and Christmas spirit. 

From the get go, I can already tell many of the things that are going to happen in these kinds of movies. For instance, I know there will almost always be some grand ball wherein the prince will be left in awe over the girl’s appearance or that the prince will always choose the “normal girl” over his betrothed. 

But it’s this cliched storyline that keeps me interested because there is a certainty that it will always end in a “happily ever after.” And in this world where anything can go wrong, it’s nice to watch something that promises a happy ending.

Via Giphy

Moreover, these are the kind of feel-good movies that won’t leave you stressed or worried about the characters. Since it’s predictable, you won’t have to agonize about the girl not getting the guy or of someone dying during the course of the film. It’s almost like the ideal kind of thing to watch when you are tired from work or household errands and you just want to relax.

Via Giphy

Lastly, it features a picture-perfect version of the holidays, where everyone is happy and together. And I am guessing this is almost everyone’s ideal scenario when it comes to Christmas.

Via Pixabay

So, before you write off holiday royal romance films, I recommend you try watching a few of them first. You never know, you might even end up actually enjoying them!