Color complex // KOSÅS COSMETICS

It's not super often (ok, more like never) that I get to meet a personal hero. So meeting Sheena Yaitanes, founder of Kosås Cosmetics, allowed me to let my true fangirl out. LA-based Sheena made a stop at Credo Beauty in Soho NYC to help women find their perfect Kosås color. Despite it being a blisteringly hot day, she walked in with a huge smile, looking effortlessly flawless.

Sheena Yaitanes, Founder of Kosås Cosmetics

There are currently 8 colors in the lipstick collection, and they are all designed to work as a whole. You could own every color and have no gaps in your lipstick wardrobe for life (no dupes!). I am ALL ABOUT that level of curation. Sheena has done the hard part, so you don't have stress about finding your color in a sea of options. They run the gamut in finish from fairly sheer (almost like a tinted lip balm) to edging into matte territory. The colors also range from more subtle to super vibrant and cover off on warm and cool tones. There is literally something here for everyone, and that's not an exaggeration.

Before meeting Sheena, I had bought the shade 'Darkroom' on a whim after reading about how amazing the brand was. Despite being the darkest color in the collection, it quickly made its way into my handbag as a go-to pop of color. It's a shade that can be applied full-on for a super bold lip, or lightly for a more popsicle-esque berry stain (I typically use as a stain). I never once went a day wearing it without getting a compliment.

As a classic early bird, I was the first one to arrive for the color matching session. After hopping in the chair, we dove in and tried 'Rosewater' first. This gorgeous, sheer dusty pink is not a color I would normally choose for myself (which is why it pays to consult with an artist!), but as soon as she put it on, it felt like magic. Turns out it happens to be an almost perfect match to my natural lip color and with my newish silver hair, cooler tones seem to be more flattering. I asked her how they got all these lipsticks to smell so good, and she said it's a combination of sweet orange oil and food-grade vanilla. The sweet orange is not only a collagen enhancer, but also a natural mood booster. I know this has to be true because the smell kept me smiling from ear to ear (and I'm still smiling now as I wear it). So the line doesn't just look good, it actually makes you feel good too. 'Rosewater' provides a perfect finishing touch a great no-makeup makeup day, and it's a super easy-to-wear choice for summer. Next up we tried 'Royal', a really pretty rose color that leans a bit more purple. This color had a real wow factor, and I could see it being a great shade to wear to a wedding or a special event. It was surprisingly impactful, despite not being one of your more classic bright colors. I held off buying this color (only temporarily, I assure you), because I fell head over heels with the next shade we tried.

'Undone' is a nude (well maybe, depending on your skin tone). This gorgeous browny-pink can cover you from head to toe. Sheena put a little on my eyelids, cheeks, and lips. With minimal effort, she gave me a monochromatic finish that pulled my disparate face altogether. Kind of amazing for one lipstick! We both agreed, this was my color, and of course, it was going to come home with me. She explained that not only was it the first shade in the collection, but was also the most complicated to achieve. It has a lot of layers and small touches of different pigments that make it luminous instead of flat. That paired with a smooth, velvety feel makes it pretty much perfect.

I legitimately left that makeup chair feeling like a million bucks (and happily, a few bucks lighter). But more importantly, each time I have used the lipsticks since, they have put a huge smile on my face. This line is made for me, and I think about that each time I wear them. So, a huge shout out to Sheena for creating Kosås and really caring about her customers. Not just what they look like, but what they feel like! She's as lovely in person as you might guess, and working hard to make this brand a success. Big thanks to Credo Beauty Soho for being the most beautiful brick and mortar green beauty store I've ever seen, and for giving me the chance to meet this awesome woman. There's definitely more to come from Kosås, and soon!

Sheena hinted that as early as September you'll see some new products headed your way, and you can bet I'll be first in line.

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Website // kosascosmetics.com
Price Point // $24
Best For // pampering your lips with luxury all while making you smile inextricably
Claims // free of parabens, phthalates, and sulfates, made with green tea, rosehip, grape seed oils, mango and shea butters, and sweet orange oil