We’re getting into the time of year where “less is more” for a lot of makeup-wearers. There are a lot of quick easy products that are perfect for “no makeup makeup days.” One of my favorites is tinted lip balm because it provides a sheer wash of color that’s still casual, but looks very flattering on the lips. A tinted lip balm that isn’t new, but I recently tried for the first time, is Kiko Milano Coloured Balm.
Kiko launches limited edition collections often, but fortunately Coloured Balm is a permanent item. This has been a favorite of many for years! Please keep reading for my full review where you’ll learn if this tinted lip balm is a new favorite of mine, too!
Kiko Milano Coloured Balm product claims directly from KikoCosmetics.com
Coloured moisturising balm that gives a gentle touch of colour and shine to the lips. Creamy and comfortable texture that delicately caresses the lips.
The lips’ hydration improves 14% after 28 days (results of clinical-instrumental tests conducted on 20 women who used the product twice a day for 28 days).
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Other product details
- Price: $6.50 (or $8.00 from Amazon)
- Net weight: 0.10 oz. | 3 g
- Made in Italy
- Cruelty-free
- Special ingredients:
- Shea butter is moisturizing, soothing, and antioxidant-rich
- Ascorbyl palmitate, a stable form of vitamin C, is an antioxidant
- Tocopheryl acetate/Tocopherol (vitamin E) is an antioxidant that also strengthens skin
- Retinyl palmitate is a retinoid (though not a very strong one) that’s also an antioxidant
- Shelf life: 18 months
- Available in 6 shades
- Where to buy: KikoCosmetics.com and Amazon.com (Raspberry shade isn’t currently available from Amazon)
- Kiko Milano ships internationally, but there are unique websites for each country. When you visit KikoCosmetics.com, make sure the correct country is listed next to “My Country” at the bottom of the page. If it’s incorrect, click on the country name and it will bring up the full list of countries for you to select the correct option.
- Amazon.com ships internationally to over 100 countries, but not all items will ship to every country. Update your default shipping address to see items that will ship to your location.
- Overall rating: 8.6/10
- Shade range/inclusivity: 7/10
- Packaging/ease of application: 8/10
- Hydration: 8/10
- Team Player: 10/10
- Price: 10/10
Please note that I am not a makeup artist. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, as a regular person that loves makeup.
Shade range/inclusivity
The shade range for Kiko’s Coloured Balm isn’t the greatest with only six shades currently available. However, these tinted lip balms are also less pigmented than some others like the Colourpop Just a Tint Lip Crayons. Instead of looking very similar to shiny moisturizing lipsticks, these Kiko tinted lip balms provide a sheer wash of color to the lips. Since they are quite sheer, I think it makes sense that the shade range is on the smaller side. I’ll share all six shades below:
- 02 Vanilla: Coral pink
- 03 Guava: Bold coral orange
- 04 Tutti Frutti: Cool-toned medium pink
- 06 Blackberry: Rose pink
- 08 Almond: Nude beige pink
- 09 Raspberry: Orange red (slightly deeper than Guava)
If these shade descriptions look a bit odd to you, that makes a lot of sense! Kiko doesn’t provide shade descriptions or swatches, so these descriptions are mine, based on the limited photos Kiko provided. Four of the shades are shown applied to models’ lips, but the pure color isn’t swatched. Kiko, if you’re reading this, please provide arm swatches of all shades! 
I have the shade 04 Tutti Frutti and swatched it on my arm in this photo. In this swatch, I swiped a few times to build full opacity. The color is very sheer, but is visible on the lips. It also adds a good amount of shine that looks very pretty!
Since I only have one shade, it’s hard to say if they’re all as sheer as Tutti Frutti. If they are, I’m not sure if these would be the best choice for those with dark or deep skin tones. I will say that the Raspberry shade appears to be quite pigmented, so that would likely be the best choice for deep skin tones.
As far as the variety of shades in this range go, I am surprised that there aren’t any purple or brown shades. Almond is almost brown, but not quite. I think it would be a good idea for Kiko to add at least a couple more shades, but the current shades are very pretty!
Packaging/ease of application
The packaging for the Kiko Coloured Balms is different from anything I’ve seen before. It looks metallic, but the tube is actually plastic and shaped like a capsule. I struggled to open it the first time because instead of snapping closed like most lip products that
look similar, it twists open. It’s not difficult to use, but a bit awkward at first. Like a lot of Kiko products, it has the gold KK logo seal which is a nice touch.
My verdict on the packaging is that it looks pretty and could pass as a luxury product. However, it does feel a bit cheap and I don’t care for the twist-to-open design. This is a very minor gripe and not a concern as I don’t think the material or design will cause the product to break.
The tinted lip balm itself couldn’t be easier to apply. It has a very lightweight smooth texture that glides over the lips. Despite the fact that this lip balm contains beeswax and candelilla wax, there is no drag over the skin. If you’ve ever used e.l.f. Calm Balm, it feels very similar to that!
The low pigmentation of this tinted lip balm also makes it easy to apply. I can throw this on without a mirror and I don’t need to worry about how it looks. This would be a great lip product to keep in a purse or backpack for on-the-go application!
Hydration
Since the Coloured Balm formula is so lightweight, the initial feeling of hydration doesn’t last a very long time. The lip balm comes off quite easily on cups and straws when drinking, and definitely doesn’t last through any meals. Lip balms aren’t designed to be long-wearing, so this isn’t surprising.
When the majority of this lip balm has rubbed off, I do still feel like my lips are hydrated. It’s a light hydration that makes my lips feel healthy without being greasy or sticky. Coloured Balm isn’t the kind of lip product you’d want to rely on for overnight hydration or if you have very dry lips, but for daytime wear on those with “normal” lips, I think it’s plenty hydrating!
Team player
Tinted lip balms are most commonly used alone for a casual wash of color, but they can also be paired with other lip products. I prefer to wear Coloured Balm on its own, but for the purpose of this review I tried it applied over some other products.
In the photos below, you can see how Coloured Balm (in Tutti Frutti) looks on its own compared to my bare lips. After removing the lip balm from taking that second photo, I applied lip liner all over my lips and applied Coloured Balm all over my lips again. The pigment from Coloured Balm doesn’t really show up when applied over the lip liner, but it does provide a beautiful glossy shine.
If you don’t like the feeling of lip gloss over lipstick or lip liner, Coloured Balm might be the perfect alternative for bringing some extra shine.
Price
Kiko Milano Coloured Balm is $6.50 for 0.10 oz. (3 g) of product. $6.50 would be quite expensive for a standard lip balm, but for a lovely tinted lip balm that’s comfortable to wear, I think it’s a steal!
Looking through my makeup collection, the only other tinted lip balms I currently have are two of the ones I previously mentioned from Colourpop. They are $8.00 for only 0.07 oz.! Kiko is usually on the higher end of the drugstore price range, where Colourpop is very affordable. I was pleasantly surprised to see what a great value Kiko Milano Coloured Balm is by comparison!
Lastly, the ingredients. I didn’t do a deep-dive into this product’s ingredients like I would for skincare, but I was shocked to see shea butter, vitamin c, two forms of vitamin E, and retinyl palmitate on the list! These are wonderful nourishing ingredients that add even more value to an already great affordable product.
I’ve gotten a lot of use out of my Kiko Milano Coloured Balm since I received it a few weeks ago. It’s so comfortable and a pleasure to wear. It’s perfect for “no makeup makeup days” or if I simply don’t want to wear a bold lip with my makeup look. I may pick up another shade or two the next time there’s a sale!
Kiko doesn’t make any bold claims about this product. The description “tells it like it is.”
Coloured Balm is indeed moisturizing, provides a touch of color and shine, and contains vitamins A, E, and C, plus shea butter. It also has the creamy comfortable texture they describe. This isn’t a groundbreaking product, but it does combine beauty and comfort!
Kiko Milano Coloured Balm is a great option for a wide variety of people. It’s perfect for makeup lovers like me that want some products with sheer comfortable coverage, but it would also be great for kids that are excited about makeup but aren’t quite ready for “real” makeup.
Do you enjoy tinted lip balms? If you do, have you tried any of the Kiko Milano Coloured Balms? Or do you have other favorites I should know about? Please let me know in the comments below!
Lauren
E.l.f. has been busy expanding its selection of skincare products. One of the new lines launched last year is the Cannabis Sativa Collection, which features hemp seed oil. I purchased a kit with all four of the products from the collection so I could try them all, since hemp seed oil is a relatively new ingredient to me. The collection includes All the Feels Facial Oil, Happy Hydration Cream, Calm Balm, and Puff Puff Primer.
I’m impressed by the design of the packaging for e.l.f. Calm Balm. It looks much more luxe than what you usually see with lip balms! It’s packaged more like a skinny lipstick than a lip balm. Calm Balm comes in a somewhat long plastic tube that twists up. It comes out at an angle which helps with the ease of application. In addition to being great for functionality, it’s also very pretty. The outside packaging is pearlescent white which gives it a high-end feel.
Usually e.l.f. products get an easy 10/10 rating from me for price. I had to give $5.00 Calm Balm a little more consideration before choosing to rate it at 8/10. I did a bit of looking around the internet at basic lip balms and there are several that are two to three dollars. Many of them also include more product than this one does, at only 0.7 ounces, or 1.9 grams.
I watch a lot of beauty-related YouTube videos, so I see a lot of beauty-related 
E.l.f. offers a decent shade range in the SRSLY Satin Lipsticks. There are ten shades that include nudes, pinks, reds, browns, and also a berry, plum, and orange. I think most people will be able to find at least one shade they like in this shade range.
E.l.f. SRSLY Satin Lipstick is a traditional bullet-style lipstick. It comes in a clear plastic tube. In the product details, e.l.f. calls it “
E.l.f. doesn’t make any claims about the staying power of the SRSLY Satin Lipsticks. Since it’s meant to be a satin formula, most wouldn’t expect it to have very good staying power. Earlier in the review, I mentioned that I think this formula is somewhere between satin and matte. That holds true for staying power as well (when assuming that matte formulas are long-wearing)!
I cannot get over what a good value this lipstick is. I don’t wear lipsticks all that often these days, so I don’t like spending very much money on them. E.l.f. makes it easy to try new lip products without breaking the bank!
I haven’t tried the Beauty by Earth Organic Lip Balms, but I do have their 
are 15 shades available and ten of those have shimmer. I think shimmer is so pretty in lip gloss, especially for festive holiday makeup looks. This lip gloss would make an excellent stocking stuffer!
For the makeup lover in your life, 
Soon after the Bite Size eyeshadow palettes were released, e.l.f. put out the Bite Size Face Duos, which include a blush and highlight. These would be another great stocking stuffer because they’re the same small size as the Bite Size Eyeshadows. Not only are they adorable, but these little face duos are highly pigmented. I haven’t reviewed these yet, but I do own two shades: Spiced Apple and Cantaloupe. These are awesome little palettes and they can’t be beaten on price!
The e.l.f. Artist Mixing Palette is a handy little tool to keep on hand for mixing cream or liquid products. Most people use the back of their hand, but this is a cleaner, more convenient option. It’s easy to use because there is an adjustable strap attached to the back, which is used to secure the palette in place over the hand or wrist. I’ve been using this product for a couple of years and I love it! I pump out the amount of product I’ll need onto the palette and then pick it up with a brush or sponge from there.
There is also a limited edition version of this sponge that comes packaged in a holiday ornament. It’s very cute and would make the perfect small gift or stocking stuffer!
I rarely wear nail polish myself and have never owned any from Pacifica, but I trust Pacifica and their nail polishes come in the most beautiful shades. The product description for their nail polishes states that the formula is long lasting and does not include many of the chemicals found in traditional nail polish. The shade “Cinnamon Girl” is a true red and absolutely perfect for the holidays!
If you’re gifting nail polish to someone, you might as well make sure their hands and cuticles are well cared for too! That’s easier said than done with all the hand washing we’ve been doing this year, but 
I never buy sheet masks for myself, but I think they’re a lot of fun to receive as gifts. My mom usually puts one in my stocking and it’s always a fun and special treat! Pacifica offers several types of sheet masks. I haven’t tried these specific products, but I have used a lot of Pacifica skincare over the years and I think it’s all very good quality. No matter who you’re buying for, one of these sheet masks will probably be appropriate for his or her skin’s needs. All of these can be purchased for $4.00 each:
Along the same vein as sheet masks, I think hair mask packets also make great stocking stuffers! They’re compact and inexpensive, but provide enough product for a few uses. Mane Club makes six unique hair masks for a variety of hair concerns. They also have fun names and cute packaging, which are great for gifts! These hair masks can be purchased directly from Mane Club or Ulta.com, but they are more expensive from Ulta. I have not personally used these hair masks yet, but they all received high ratings. All of these can be purchased for $3.00 each:
If you have someone in your life that is passionate about “going cruelty-free,” they might enjoy one of e.l.f.’s cruelty-free pins! These pins are so cute and would be perfect on a backpack or jacket. There are five options and each one features a different animal. The options are:
If you like these gift ideas, but you don’t want to use them as stocking stuffers, a good alternative is to gift them in a makeup bag! You can find makeup bags everywhere, but I think this one from e.l.f. is especially cute. It’s big enough to hold several small items without being too bulky. This would also be perfect for small school supplies if you’re shopping for a student!
I hope this list has been helpful! I tried to provide a lot of good affordable options for stocking stuffers or small gifts.
For many of us, our lips are kind of an afterthought as far as self-care is concerned. There are so many factors, environmental and otherwise, that can dry them out quickly. Think about drying lipsticks, sun exposure, wind, dry air, excessive licking of the lips, and even certain medications. All of these things can cause your lips to get dry or chapped! 
Tired of rough, chapped, sunburned lips? Give them a vacation! Our Piña Colada SPF lip balm soothes tired lips while preventing sun damage. Use it as needed for SPF 15 protection, amazing natural ingredients, and delicious piña colada flavor. 
These Beauty by Earth SPF lip balms have an SPF of 15 which means 93% of UVB rays are blocked. I normally look for an SPF of 30 or higher (SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays), so that is why I took two points away from this category. Unfortunately, most SPF lip balms only provide SPF 15 or 20, so it is not surprising that this one is only SPF 15. I do appreciate that this lip balm provides broad spectrum protection, which means that it protects from both UVB 
Coconut oil
Tocopherol (vitamin E)
Every other lip balm I’ve tried that has SPF, has either left an unattractive whitish cast or has a distinct sunscreen smell. This one doesn’t leave any kind of white cast (it is completely clear) and the scent/flavor is very mild and pleasant. No chemical sunscreen smell here since the SPF comes from zinc oxide (mineral). 🙂
keep them hydrated with a good lip balm. For some people, it’s only an issue during colder months when the air is more dry. Since the colder months do lend themselves to dryer skin and lips, I take the current season into consideration when choosing which products to use in my self-care routine. 
Sugar is the exfoliator in this product, doing the actual “scrubbing”
Despite my complaints about this lip scrub being a bit tricky to use, I think it is a fantastic product. Every time I use it, I wonder why I don’t use it more often! It’s recommended to be used twice a week, and that’s how I’d like to start using it.
There is definitely comfort in reading an ingredients list and recognizing every ingredient as something found in nature! Organic natural skincare has grown in popularity, because if all ingredients are grown organically, there is no risk of chemical residues getting into the individual products. 
Beauty by Earth makes its products with 100% natural organic ingredients. All products are USDA certified organic! To get that certification, a company must use at least 95% organic ingredients in its products. Most of their products are vegan, too! The only products that aren’t vegan (like their lip balm) contain beeswax that is harvested responsibly. 
have a variety of products in the following categories:
Don’t forget tools! E.l.f. is also known for their high-quality brushes. They offer a wide range of face and eye brushes to blend all of your liquid, cream, and powder products. I currently have six brushes from e.l.f. and they are all very well-made (see photo to the right). In addition to brushes, e.l.f. offers other tools like sponges, tweezers, bags, brush holders, and more!
E.l.f. Is dedicated to supporting diversity, communities in need, and animals! They are doing a lot of great things and I’d like to share a couple of statements directly from their website.
E.l.f. Cosmetics is close to my heart for many reasons, but the biggest reason is their business model. E.l.f. continues to make high quality, innovative products, while keeping their prices affordable. I appreciate that they keep their prices low to make their products accessible to all…
I recognize that many people do not have room in their budgets for makeup or skincare items. While many see these items as “frivolous,” I see them as self-care items that shouldn’t be out of reach to anyone. E.l.f. makes that possible, without compromising on quality.
I’ve used many e.l.f. products through the years, and I look forward to trying more! I’d love to hear what you’ve been enjoying from this amazing cruelty-free brand. Please comment below to share your thoughts!
The majority of companies out there only care about the bottom line, but occasionally you’ll find special companies that are doing their part to make the world a better place. One of those companies is Thrive Causemetics. They are having a positive impact on thousands of women and communities in need across the United States.
On New Year’s Eve in 2014, Thrive Causemetics held its first giving event. Women battling cancer were invited to receive professional makeup applications. Thrive also donated 1,000 sets of faux lashes and lash adhesive.