Kosas is a new brand to me and after hearing a lot of nice things about the brand, I have finally tried a few products from them. I was curious to go see their official website and I am happy I did. It is so fun and there is a vibe that resonates with me – “We believe in free, easy, unrestrained beauty that celebrates simplicity and defies convention.” The product formulations are clean, skin-loving, botanical formulas that are gentle on the skin while providing skincare benefits in makeup.

“We take our name from the philosophy of the five “kosas” of self. According to this philosophy, there are five intersecting and connected layers of self that communicate with each other: a physical layer, a vitalizing layer of energy, a sensory mental layer, a discerning intellectual layer, and a layer of truthful bliss. Beauty lives in each of these layers, not just in the physical.”, Kosas.

I have been using the Revealer Concealer, The Big Clean Mascara, Weightless Lipstick, and Color & Light Palette – Cream. The Big Clean Mascara is the newest launch from the brand and I was impressed with the ingredient list at first sight – it has castor oil which is so good for nourishing the lashes and I have used it in the past on its own. Not just Castor oil but there are many more ingredients – you can find details on their official website. So coming back to how I like it – for my sensitive eye area, this mascara keeps my eyes comfortable. It darkens, lengthens, and separates the lashes while applying it. My lashes look long and think while looking natural at the same. It does not clump. One swipe is good enough for a nice volume. Apart from providing beautiful long lashes, I really like that it helps support stronger, healthier lashes.

Revealer Concealer is a medium coverage concealer that gives a very natural finish without feeling or looking heavy at all. There are natural ingredients to brighten (Caffeine and Pink Algae), soothe (Arnica and Provitamin B5), and plump (Peptides and Hyaluronic Acid) the skin. The concealer is creamy and feels very lightweight once applied and blends nicely without looking cakey or heavy. The finish is smooth and radiant skin. Another great thing I like is that it helps reduce blemishes while covering them at the same time. For my medium skin with golden undertones, shade 5 is perfect for winters.
I have swatched more shades for medium skin tones for your reference.
03 – fair light with cool undertones
3.5 – fair light with golden undertones
04 – Light with golden undertones
05 – medium with golden undertones
5.5 – medium with olive undertones
06 – tan with olive undertones

Weightless Lipstick is one of the most lightweight yet very comfortable and nourishing formulas I have tried. The ingredients include Mango Seed Oil (smooths fine lines), Shea Butter (soothes and softens), Cocoa Seed Butter (supports repair), Rosehip Seed Oil (rich in antioxidants), and Jojoba Oil (Vitamin-packed moisturizer). It is very smooth and creamy, applies evenly, has a nice pigment, and good longevity. It does not dry out my lips. The shade Rosewater is a cool tone of sheer pink and is a perfect everyday shade.

Color & Light Palette – Cream is a skin-nourishing duo of blush and highlighter. The formula is really beautiful – it is very lightweight, creamy, and blends like a dream. Again, I can not stop myself from mentioning the main ingredients which restore (apricot kernel seed oil), brightens and clarifies (rosehip seed oil), soothes and balances (jojoba seed oil). I really like the finish – it gives the most natural radiant finish with a hint of flush and glow. It is super easy to apply, I prefer using my fingers – the warmth from the fingers make the pigment look even more beautiful. The one I am loving right now is the Velvet Melon duo that is a warm peach cream.
Overall, I am glad I tried these products from Kosas. Such a beautiful range of products – I will share again when I try more products from Kosas. Kosas products are available at kosas.com, Sephora.ca, Goop, and The Detox Market.
*Press samplesUrban Decay recently launched their Stoned Vibes Eyeshadow Palette that not only makes you creative with your look but also is infused with genuine tourmaline to block bad energy. Urban Decay Stoned Vibes Eyeshadow Palette has 8 creamy, prismatic shimmers and 4 grounded mattes. The stone-liked speckled eyeshadows were designed to give off good energy and deliver the shimmering colour payoff.

The formula is hybrid powder-cream that gives the benefit of less fallout with maximum shimmer and glitter.

Below are the shades in this palette:
Good Karma – ivory matte with sheen
Jade – green metallic microglitter
Opal Aura – iridescent shimmer
Tigers Eye – copper metallic microglitter with pink shift
Vibes – rose metallic microglitter
Antidote – peach matte
Hexed – red-brown matte
Bloodstone – deep green with red metallic shift
Ojo – royal blue metallic microglitter
Raw Energy – sheer violet sparkle
Meditate – bronze metallic microglitter
Third Eye – deep eggplant matte with sheen

Overall, a really nice colour palette and the formula is very nice, easily blendable. The shades are pigmented and the shimmer is really pretty. I have noticed the shadows do not fade and have good longevity. Urban Decay Stoned Vibes Eyeshadow Palette is available at UrbanDecay.ca, and Sephora.ca.
*Press samples111Skin has launched a variety of holiday gift sets focusing on specific skin needs and concerns. I have always been a fan of the presentation and aesthetics of the product packaging, especially their big black box with matching ribbon – it is perfect to get anyone in the festive holiday mood. And inside that big black box, I am excited to say that the holiday kits are even more beautifully packaged that you don’t need to make an extra effort to decorate.

This was just about the whole feel and vibe of the holidays but now coming the what is inside the holiday kits – yes there is a collection of cult-favourite masks and boosters inside the kits. And if you follow me for some time, you might know how much I love 111Skin range of products and have shared about the products in the past here (Rose Gold Brightening Masks), here (Master Masking Edit), here (Skin Boosters) and here (Day & Night Cream).

I have two 111Skin holiday kits to share with you, both are perfect for all skin types if you want the bright, radiant, hydrated, and supple skin this holiday season – The Radiance Kit and The Intensive Kit.
The Radiance Kit houses 111Skin’s Radiance Collection in a soft-touch pink leather holder that can be re-purposed and reused for as long as you want – I plan to store my 111Skin Masks in the holder or as a makeup pouch. The Radiance Kit includes Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask (2 x 6 ml), Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask (2 x 30 ml), Rose Gold Radiance Booster (10 ml).

The collection, especially the mask, has grown into a global cult product and a staple in the 111SKIN collection. It contains 24k Gold and Damask Rose, that works both to illuminate and calm the skin for a party-ready glow.
On the other hand, the booster soothes and hydrates while leaving the skin with a radiant, illuminated finish. It also helps tired skin transform from dull to fresh and youthful. This booster is formulated with Rosa Damascena extract and pure Gold to enhance the natural radiance of skin for a coveted dewy, radiant complexion.
The Intensive Kit houses products from 111Skin’s Intensive Collection in a black soft-touch leather older. The Intensive Kit includes Vitamin C Brightening Booster (20 ml), Celestial Black Diamond Lifting and Firming Treatment Mask (3 x 37 ml).

The Intensive collection of concentrated, high-performance and potent formulas to intensely preserve, restore and renew the complexion. The products in this collection brighten the complexion, reduce discolouration and combat signs of ageing. The Intensive collection uses fine diamond particles as a method to aid the delivery of 111SKIN’s potent active ingredients deep into the skin.

The Celestial Black Diamond Lifting and Firming Treatment Mask targets zone-specific ageing concerns with this powerful multi- section, triple-formula mask. It tones, tightens, volumizes, and retexturizes the complexion. The Brightening Booster delivers a concentrated dose of active brightening ingredients to target signs of hyperpigmentation, age spots, uneven skin tone and discoloration.

Overall, I like that the kits target specific concerns and needs of skin – I have used the masks from both the kits before and I have absolutely loved them. Excited to have these new boosters into my routine. 111Skin is available at Holt Renfrew and 111Skin.com.
*Press samples