The collection features vegan, cruelty-free products that range from lipsticks, highlighters, concealers, and tinted foundations. Kosas is made for skincare fanatics looking for natural, clean makeup alternatives.
Kosas boasts an impressive 215k Instagram followers and has been mentioned in notable media outlets including Forbes, Marie Claire, Byrdie, The New York Times Style Magazine, and Allure. Kosas also won the 2019 Allure Best of Beauty Award for Clean Beauty.
This Kosas cosmetics review will take an in-depth look at their bestsellers and assess customer reviews, promotions, and more to help you decide if their makeup is right for your skin.
Overview of Kosas
The Kosas founder, Sheena Yaitanes launched the brand in 2015 with a mission to revolutionize color cosmetics and a commitment to “free, easy, unrestrained beauty that celebrates simplicity and defies convention.”
The Los Angeles-based brand serves customers worldwide, with a Vedantic philosophy concept of the “kosas” of self. This meaning that every person contains five intersecting and intercommunicating layers:
“a physical layer, a vitalizing layer of energy, a sensory mental layer, a discerning intellectual layer, and a layer of truthful bliss.”
According to this concept, beauty lives not just in the physical but in all of these layers, which speaks to Kosas’ focus on enhancing your natural features rather than concealing or remaking them.
Above all, the brand creates vegan, cruelty-free products that are inclusive of all skin tones and include only clean ingredients. Appropriately for a women-centric business, 95% of Kosas employees identify as women.
Next in this Kosas cosmetics review, we’ll go over pros and cons of the company and its products:
Pros
- Wide variety of makeup products and accessories
- Vegan, gluten-free, clean ingredients
- No talc, aluminum, parabens, petrolatum, phthalates, sulfates
- No undisclosed fragrances, silicones, BHA/BHT, formaldehyde
- Cruelty-free/Leaping Bunny-certified
- Installment payments available with Afterpay
- Free shipping on all US orders
- International shipping
- Free returns on all US purchases
- Gift with purchase
Cons
- Some customers report problems blending, issues with oxidation, and adverse reactions
Kosas Makeup Review
Your skin absorbs the products used when you apply makeup; whether you’ve created a barely-there look, channeled Cleopatra herself, or something in between.
Too often, makeup is the cause of breakouts which people douse with foundation or cover-up, only for those pimples to rear much uglier heads. Thankfully, the Kosas line works to improve your skin’s quality using clean ingredients.
Makeup doesn’t have to hide imperfections: it can simply enhance your natural features. This Kosas cosmetics review will showcase some of the company’s most sought-after products.
Be advised that most of the products shown in this review can be bought with Afterpay. From comfortable concealer to hydrating lip gloss and natural deodorant, check out the makeup that Kosas fans love most.
Kosas Tinted Face Oil Foundation Review
The Tinted Face Oil Foundation is a light, breathable skin tint that also acts as a nourishing skin elixir with a velvety finish.
The formula features 15 skin-nourishing ingredients, including Avocado Oil, Meadowfoam Oil, and Jojoba Oil to soothe and moisturize the skin while acting like your average, lightweight, easy-to-apply foundation.
The Kosas oil foundation also contains mineral pigment delivered by 6 active botanical oils that even out the skin tone and unclog pores. You may be able to kiss your toner days goodbye!
Get this hassle-free Tinted Face Oil Foundation for $42. Be sure to check out the Kosas tinted face oil swatches above to find your perfect shade.
Kosas Revealer Concealer Review
Turn on your best skin with the medium-coverage, super-creamy concealer, eye cream, and spot treatment within the Revealer Concealer. This versatile 3-in-1 formula visibly brightens and helps reveal better skin over time.
The Kosas concealer’s health-packed ingredients hydrate, visibly plump, and give a smooth, radiant finish.
The formula contains Caffeine + Pink Algae to brighten the skin, while the Arnica + Provitamin B5 soothes. It’s the ultimate tool for breakouts, as it helps reduce blemishes and soothes irritation and redness.
Throw this on with some tinted foundation and finish with the Kosas velvet melon blush for a seamless “no-makeup” look. Get the triple-duty Revealer Concealer for $28.
Kosas Weightless Lipstick Review
The Weightless Lipstick is a game-changing clean lipstick made with active botanical oils and butters to hydrate and nourish.
The formula of 6 botanical oils and 3 hydrating butters creates nourishing, long-lasting color that’s buttery and pigment-rich, while the pure, weightless formula gives you the payoff without feeling heavy.
The 11 flattering, energetic shades are made for every day and every mood, ranging from soft, natural swipes to rich, full-coverage pigment.
You can check out the Kosas lipstick swatches above to see what each shade looks like on different skin tones. Get this easy, wearable Weightless Lipstick for $28.
Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss Review
Buy your lips a drink with Kosas’ Wet Lip Oil Gloss. This hybrid lip treatment and gloss are packed with hydrating active ingredients including Hyaluronic Acid, Peptides, and Evening Primrose Oil that visibly plump the lips while providing a juicy slick of color.
The Kosas wet gloss is made with a non-sticky formula that slides on smoothly to give you a soft, comfy feel and a sleek vinyl look that can also be layered for more color payoff.
Prepare to slide, smack, and shine with the Wet Lip Oil Gloss for $27. While you’re treating yourself, why not grab the Kosas Mini Wet Set for a trio of glosses? The more, the merrier.
Kosas Color & Light Palette Cream Review
The Color & Light Palette – Cream is a super-blendable, skin-conditioning cream blush and highlighter palette that gives a dewy pop of color.
The Kosas cream blush is easy to swipe on, and the clean formula combines refined pigments with active botanicals for an extra-creamy feel that’s also good for your skin.
This cheek dream team comes in Pink, Peach, and Bronze and each is also available in a high-intensity version that gives you double the pigment for double the payoff.
Pair this ideal everyday blush with the Color & Light Palette – Cream and you’re ready to take on the day. Get this sweet and subtle palette for $34.
Kosas Color & Light Palette – Powder Review
The Color & Light Palette – Powder is a blendable, skin-cushioning blush and highlighter palette made with a clean formula that nourishes the skin.
The finely milled, optically blended pigments give you a silky feel and even color and the highlighter perfectly coordinates with and picks up the undertone of the blush, delivering the most flattering finish.
Pair this cushiony cheek duo with some Kosas 10-Second Eyeshadow and finish with the Weightless Lipstick for perfect everyday glamor. Get the Color & Light Palette – Powder Kosas blush and highlighter palette for $34.
Kosas The Sun Show Bronzer Review
Get a sun-kissed glow every day with the Sun Show Bronzer. This moisturizing, clean Kosas special provides a radiant sunset shimmer to pair with your favorite highlighter. The shades offered have soft, natural pigmentation without the overbearing cakiness.
Shea Butter and Meadowfoam Oil give a creamy texture that looks and feels amazing on your skin, while the buildable, lightweight formula sweeps on easily for a smooth finish.
Pair it with the Color & Light Palette blush for a naturally dewy and flushed look. The Sun Show Bronzer comes in three shades and is available for $34.
Kosas The Big Clean Mascara Review
Give your lashes some love with the Big Clean Mascara. The clean formula is powered by haircare actives such as nourishing Castor Oil and reviving Provitamin B5 that give you that big and fluffy effect you want while helping support stronger, healthier lashes.
The large, rainbow-shaped brush with flexible yet firm spiraled bristles ensures every lash is volumized, lengthened, and curled. Pair this mascara with the Kosas Lipfuel Hyaluronic Lip Balm for effortless glam.
Get high-octane lashes with the Big Clean Mascara for just $26.
Kosas Cosmetics Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
By now you may be wondering, is Kosas a good brand? So let’s take a hard look at what customers honestly think of these products.
Before we jump in, note that it was challenging to track down reviews of the brand as a whole. Instead, this section will focus exclusively on buyer feedback for individual products.
According to our Kosas cosmetics review, customers are delighted with the:
- Inclusive shades
- Clean ingredients
- Lightweight formulas
- Buildable coverage
Take a look at how some of the featured products perform on various makeup and review sites:
- Weightless Lipstick: 4.8/5 stars on Sephora out of 126 ratings
- Tinted Face Oil: 4.1/5 stars on Influenster out of 760 ratings
- Tinted Face Oil Foundation: 3.7/5 stars on Sephora out of 1,508 ratings
- Revealer Concealer: 4.2/5 stars on Sephora out of 1,200+ ratings
- The Sun Show Bronzer: 4.8/5 stars on the Kosas website out of 248 ratings
- Color and Light Palette – Cream: 4.7/5 stars on the Kosas website out of 477 ratings
One review from Influenster compliments the Weightless Lipstick on its variety of colors and quality:
“I have a lot of different shades of Kosas lipstick and love them all. They are moisturizing, fade well, and last well for a clean lipstick. There’s a great selection of shades as well.”
A glowing review from Sephora on the Tinted Face Oil Foundation claims the product is perfectly splendid:
“The tinted face oil is my most convenient beauty product. The plastic squeeze bottle is perfect for travel, and this product applies better with fingers than a sponge, so that saves a tool. The best part is how natural and skin-like it looks. It feels like velvet upon application and then settles into a natural dewy finish.”
The most prominent complaints among customers are problems with blending, smell, and adverse reactions. Some customers state that the brand’s tinted foundation clings to dry patches, enhances pores, wrinkles, and fine lines, and is nearly impossible to blend.
Others have said that the foundation has a “rancid-like” smell due to all the oils, while some claimed that the products caused breakouts.
One negative testimonial from the Kosas website regarding the Revealer Concealer details the commenter’s experience:
“I was excited to try this product after hearing so many good reviews. Unfortunately, it made me break out. This saddened me because I loved the coverage it gave me on my acne-prone skin.”
Is Kosas Cosmetics Worth It?
This Kosas cosmetics review believes the brand is worth buying.
Firstly, it is a woman-owned business making woman-focused products, which indicates a genuine connection with its customers and a knowledge of their needs.
Secondly, their makeup is:
- Cruelty-free
- Includes only clean, non-toxic ingredients
- Features many vegan items
Combined with the range of products, inclusive shades, and skincare benefits, these are more than enough reasons to give Kosas a try. That said, we must also acknowledge the complaints about some products in the customer reviews above.
We know that adverse skin reactions and makeup malfunctions are the worst. Even so, there are considerably more positive experiences than negative ones for Kosas customers.
Thankfully, if you find one of Kosas’ products is not up to par or causes you to break out, they offer a 30-day no-charge return policy for all US orders.
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times: makeup is not one-size-fits-all, what works well for one customer won’t necessarily work well for another. Every woman’s skin is different, and any makeup brand claiming to satisfy 100% of its customers is simply dishonest.
But, if you’re looking for clean, cruelty-free makeup that combines convenience with classiness, Kosas is totally worth it.
Kosas Promotions & Discounts
At the time of this Kosas cosmetics review, there are a few promotions you can get in on:
- Use Kosas promo code ‘LIQUIDIV’ to get a free Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier with any order over $25
- Use code ‘OLIVEANDJUNE’ to receive a free nail polish and topcoat on orders over $25
- Get 10% off your first order by signing up for their mailing list
Where to Buy Kosas Cosmetics
To shop the entire makeup collection, visit the company website, Kosas.com. For retailers in your area, scroll down to Find a Store.
You can also access the Kosas Sephora, Mecca, Neiman Marcus, Goop, The Detox Market, and Credo collections.
FAQ
What does Kosas mean?
Kosas means “sheath” in Sanskrit. As described in the Kosas cosmetics review above, in Vedantic philosophy this word is used to describe the layers that encase the innermost self.
Is Kosas makeup clean?
Kosas founder, Sheena Yaitanes studied organic chemistry, and when developing her makeup she “prioritized eliminating unnecessary chemicals, such as parabens, phthalates and sulfates,” according to The New York Times Style Magazine.
The Kosas website notes that the line bans over 2,700 ingredients, and adheres to the Sephora and Credo clean standards.
Is Kosas natural?
Kosas uses natural ingredients in their products, but Yaitanes notes that it was “important to me to choose ingredients that weren’t just natural for the sake of being natural[,] because a lot of natural ingredients can be harsh or sensitizing, too.”
According to The New York Times Style Magazine, Yaitanes instead “opted for healing botanicals—rose hip, grapeseed oil and mango butter among them—that hydrate and impart a remarkably long-lasting stain.”
Is Kosas ethical?
Kosas is a cruelty-free brand that is Leaping Bunny-certified, as noted in the Pros and Cons section of the Kosas cosmetics review above.
The internationally recognized Leaping Bunny logo is awarded by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) to companies that adhere to the CCIC’s single comprehensive standard for animal-friendly products.
Is Kosas vegan?
Kosas is not 100% vegan, as some of its products contain beeswax, lanolin, and/or carmine.
A September 2020 report by ethicalelephant.com identified the following Kosas products as vegan:
- 10-Second Eyeshadow
- Chemistry Deodorant
- Color and Light Palette (both Cream and Powder)
- Lip Oil Gloss
- Revealer Concealer
- Sun Show Bronzer
- Tinted Face Oil Foundation
What is Kosas’ Shipping Policy?
As noted at the top of our Kosas cosmetics review, the brand ships worldwide, except for Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and Russia. All US orders receive free shipping.
The cost of international shipping is calculated at checkout. Shipping times may vary, and there are no guaranteed delivery dates. There is no information regarding tracking or customs fees and taxes.
What is Kosas’ Return Policy?
If you’re not satisfied with Kosas products, you have 30 days to return the item(s) for a refund or exchange. To initiate a return or exchange, email [email protected] and provide your name, order number, and reason for return.
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