Throughout my twenties, I've found plenty of beauty products I like: ones that do the job, sit in my makeup drawer then become quickly forgotten when I've reached the end of the bottle. It's a rarer occurrence to find one I really love: that earns a permanent place in my handbag and my makeup routine. Even rarer than that? Finding a product that I adore so much, I'll repurchase it enough times to make it feel a part of my identity.
KIKO's 3d Hydra Lipgloss falls firmly into that latter category. I've repurchased their bestselling £13 lipgloss more than 10 times – and I don't plan on stopping. Even my friends have become obsessed (which is pretty handy on a night out, if I leave my 3d Hydra at home).
.jpg)
The love affair started sometime circa five years ago, when I first got pulled (via magnetic force) into their brightly-lit Regent Street store: a space packed full of affordable foundations, bronzers, skincare and mascaras (among much else). I picked up the lip gloss on a whim. It's a formula enriched with 3D Lip Complex – a unique blend of bidens pilosa extract, cottonseed oil and linseed oil – that promises soft, hydrated lips with regular use. Online, KIKO promised me that it'd lasts up to ten hours, have a non-sticky finish, and that my lips would appear plumped after 28 days of use. So long, lip-plumper.
I tend to be a ‘find something I love, I’ll keep using it forever' type of girl. From my signature perfumes of Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau de Parfum and Armani Si Eau de Parfum to my staple Chanel Bronzing Cream, I don’t tend to veer out of my lane when it comes to make-up bag essentials. And from my very first application, this KIKO lipgloss was cemented as a small luxury and a serious hard worker.
So many lip glosses promise comfort, instead falling short: either drying out my lips or leaving behind that uncomfortable stickiness. I've tried plenty that taste horrible, too: those that makes your prosciutto and mozzarella baguette taste of artificial strawberry. KIKO gets it right with the 3D Hydra gloss, every time, balancing hydration with its lightweight feeling, no stickiness and no gross taste. Re-applying during the day is a pleasure, rather than a chore.
I also love its versatility; another reason I always come back. Whether I’m on my way to work, popping into a coffee shop or just need a top up in the gym – so I can look like a ‘pretty’ sweaty mess – it serves me a fresh look: one I can also dress up on top of a lipstick or a quick lipliner for those date night dinners. It enhances my natural lips, adding enough shine to make them look healthier and fuller, while not being too much when I smile.
Colour-wise, lots of the shades offer a subtle wash of colour, but today, there's an impressive selection of 30 (!) to choose from. It's no surprise one of these lipglosses is sold every second.
What I love most is how many life moments this KIKO lipgloss has been alongside me on — from drinks at the pub with friends, holidaying in Bali, going to my first Women of the Year Awards with Glamour UK, to wholesome Sunday morning coffee dates with my boyfriend and little boy. It might sound cringe, but this is more than just a lip gloss; it's a little boost of confidence and finishing touch that makes me feel put-together and acts as a moment of self-care when, sometimes, I'm existing among chaos.
Oh, and I won’t gate-keep; my favourite, go-to shade is 35 — but please leave some for me, I’m running low.
Ahead, more KIKO products I love:
.jpg)
.jpg)
Save when you shop KIKO makeup and skincare with these KIKO discount codes at checkout.
.jpg)
