Who out there wears makeup? Raise your hand! I discovered Kiko Milano Cosmetics when my friend Jasmine told me about the much raved about Italian beauty brand over the summer and I think you’re going to be just as intrigued as I was.

Why am I majorly crushing on this brand? Well, they make high-quality makeup at an affordable price. Best part? No animal testing. Here’s my Kiko Milano review and why I think it’s worth your time and money.

Kiko Milano review

I can’t believe I only heard of Kiko Milano last year! I’m definitely late to the party. But late is better than never, right?

I admit I’m far from a beauty guru and tend to keep things pretty simple when it comes to products. So you won’t see any pics of my impeccable makeup skills on here or any YouTube tutorials of me showing you how to put on eyeliner. But I am a woman who has worn makeup since high school and someone who likes a good product at a good price.

But department store makeup is expensive and once you find products you love, it’s hard to change.

I used to be a fan of high-end brands and that all started when I first discovered makeup in high school. MAC Lipglass has been a staple in my purse for as long as I can remember. But they test on animals so I don’t wear MAC anymore. It’s also not cheap. These days, I’m more minimalist when it comes to makeup and don’t need to look perfectly primped and coiffed for my day-to-day life.

Know why else I don’t buy a ton of department store makeup in France? It’s CRAZY expensive.

A product that costs US$14 in the USA is more like 16 euros in France, so once you factor in the exchange rate, things get really expensive.

I do wear makeup though and Kiko Milano Cosmetics has it all. Over the past 4 months, I’ve been trying out a bunch of Kiko Milano Cosmetics and they’re a solid choice. I’ve picked up several lip products, eyeshadows, an eyeliner, and more and haven’t been overly disappointed with anything. More on that below in my Kiko Milano review.

The details and my Kiko Milano review

Kiko Milano Cosmetics has over 600 European retail locations in Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, the United Kingdom, Austria, and Switzerland. You can buy online in about three-dozen countries making Kiko majorly accessible. They launched in the US in 2015 and you can also shop online in the US if there isn’t a retail store near you.

Their mission is simple: “KIKO MILANO is constantly committed to a single objective: to allow all women to treat themselves to the most innovative cosmetics without having to sacrifice their budget. Quality is no longer synonymous with high prices.”

Everything you see in this post was bought online on their French site about 20 minutes after Jasmine told me about the brand and then a few other things several months later at a store in Angers, France. I told you I was impressed right off the bat!

Out of the limited number of Kiko products I bought, these were the standouts for me:

Long lasting stick eyeshadow ($9): The stick eyeshadow doesn’t feel heavy at all once it dries and it wears really well (even longer lasting with a primer underneath). The texture is creamy but again not heavy and it goes on really easily. I tend to gravitate toward natural-looking eyes and the color selection here offers something for both dramatic and more natural looks.

Precision Eye Pencil ($6): I didn’t have high expectations for this eyeliner. I admit I was judging it by its price and am pretty loyal to my Urban Decay liner. But… I’m impressed. It’s creamy, not crumbly, and stays in place. Easy to apply and remove.

Smart Fusion Lipstick ($6): Creamy and rich, this is a great everyday lipstick that is medium to full coverage. It’s available in 36 shades. I like putting a gloss over it for a more dramatic look when the occasion calls for it. The lipstick is not super long lasting, though, so be ready to reapply or choose another option for full day coverage.

Jelly Stylo ($10): For a more casual lip, this low to medium coverage lipstick is shiny and fun. I love the packaging. It’s as pretty as it is functional.

Colored Balm ($6): A nourishing colored gloss that’s very natural looking.

I’ve heard their nail polish is great quality although I’ve never tried it myself. Same goes for blush and smart lip pencils. All are quality buys.

One thing that was a miss for me was the eyeshadow palette pictured below. I shouldn’t compare it to the Urban Decay Naked Palettes (what I’ve used for years and LOVE), but for me, the Kiko palette seemed like lower quality than I was expecting. It wasn’t terrible by any means. It’s just that the colors weren’t as rich or blendable as Urban Decay’s so I probably won’t be switching eyeshadow palettes any time soon. I’m OK with paying more for a high-quality palette.

What I love about Kiko Milano makeup:

Color selection: There’s a color for every skin tone.

Quality: Kiko Milano makeup ranks up there with brands that are much more expensive. Products are made in Italy and some of them seem on par with high-end European brands. Try for yourself and let me know what you think in the comments.

Price: Super affordable.

They DO NOT test on animals: Kiko Milano does not carry out or order testing on animals, pursuant to the relative European laws.

Packaging: Minimalist and high quality. Looks count.

My opinion on Kiko Milano‘s quality is based on only the products I’ve tried, but all things considered, they are a solid brand making quality products. I find the quality much higher than Sephora brand products and drug store makeup. Nothing at all was off-putting about the smell or texture of anything I tried either.

Super impressed with them so hope you enjoyed my Kiko Milano review of the best Kiko products.

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Have you tried Kiko Milano Cosmetics? What are your favorite products?

 

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Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post and I bought all of the Kiko Milano products shown here with my own funds. The above post contains affiliate links.