There are a lot of beauty brands sold in Italy are recognized around the world. From Mac to L'Oreal, from Laura Mercier to Revlon, Italy has it all. But how many makeup and beauty brands are truly Italian?
One of the most famous brands in Italy, KIKO Milano has been around since 1997. It was started by Italian entrepreneur Antonio Percassi and the Percassi company in Italy as a way to provide luxury cosmetics at a lower price mark. Now the company now has its roots in 34 countries world wide.
KIKO Florence sales associate Diletta has been working with the company for two years and is passionate about the brand. She said that the makeup made by the company is recognized and used by beauty lovers of all ages: it's the perfect brand for anyone at any stage of their life.
“Italian people know KIKO,” Diletta said.
More economic than other Italian makeup brands on the market, and KIKO has several options of products to choose from. With a store and online shop full of makeup, nail products, skin care and more, it's truly a one-stop-shop for all things Italian beauty.
Not only is KIKO affordable, but it is also constantly running promotions and sales in its stores and online. Sometimes the deals are only focused on one range of products, while others are storewide (buy two products, get two free, etc.).
There are two different lines that KIKO customers can choose from when they’re shopping. According to Diletta, one is the smart line, which is more economic, and the other line includes medium price products that are usually more popular.
With a cosmetics brand that sells makeup, skin care, nail polish and more, it’s hard to sort through what products are truly worth the money. Diletta said that out of all of the products KIKO has to offer, make-up is the best because the company started selling only cosmetics - and they’ve been doing it for a while. According to KIKO staff, the skin care is almost just as good. Even though its skin care line is young, it’s now very famous among Italians.
There's a lot to choose from, so here are some best sellers suggested by KIKO staff in Florence and highlighted on KIKO's online website.
Best Sellers
One of KIKO’s best-selling items doubles as both a skincare product and a makeup product. The CC Blur Primer comes in four shades and is given four and half stars on its website. A smooth and liquid base, this product is designed to blur and minimize imperfections on the skin. Its also non-comedogenic, which means its oil-free and won’t clog your pores.
Next up on the list of best-sellers is the Unlimited Double Touch Matte liquid lipstick, which claims to stay on for 8 hours. This lipstick goes on smooth and dries quickly without drying your lips. The packaging is double sided - liquid lipstick on one side and a gloss on the other so you can add shiny finish to your look. It's also is non-transferable and smudge proof, so you can sip as many cappuccinos as you like without ruining your lipstick. If you go on KIKO’s website you’ll see that this product is reviewed with four and half stars.
Another favorite in stores and online is KIKO’s Pure Clean Eye Wipes: eye, lip and face makeup removing wipes. Made with avocado oil, these wipes are nourishing and won't irritate your skin. They even get rid of tough, hard-to-remove waterproof makeup. Also given four and a half stars on its website, this product comes with 25 towelettes in a pack.
If you’re a nail polish junkie, KIKO is the place for you. In most KIKOs you will see a corner of one of the display walls brimming with colorful nail polish colors. Usually KIKO runs promotions on its nail polish, but even without a discount the polishes are five euros or under.
Locations
While spending some time on a busy street in any big Italian city, you're bound to run into a KIKO. You'll find three stores in Florence, 17 in Rome's city center and and 11 in Milan.
Internationally, KIKO has spread its wings and even has stores in the United States. There are just three locations in the US - two in south Florida and one in New York. If you're little far away from any of those three shops the company does ship internationally. Just recently KIKO started shipping to the US. But the prices for regular shipping are not through the roof - if you spend more than $15 on products from KIKO you can get free shipping.
Whether you're looking for gifts for your favorite makeup junkies or you want to channel your inner Italian style icon, KIKO is a shopping destination you simply cannot miss.