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Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick ($21.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as a “metallic candy apple red.” It’s a brightened, medium red with warm, orange undertones and a matte finish with a metallic shimmer. NARS Mondore (LE, $25.00) is more muted, darker, no shimmer. Estee Lauder Emotional (140) (P, $30.00) is browner, glossier, no shimmer. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Role Play (P, $18.00) is darker. NARS Majella (P, $25.00) has no metallic shimmer. Milani Cherry Crave (P, $5.49) is brighter. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Super NSFW (P, $18.00) is warmer. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Kat Von D’s redone their lipstick formula, and it’s been repackaged with a glossy, black studded cap and base. It’s decreased slightly in size (0.11 oz. to 0.10 oz.), but the packaging is a lot sturdier than before. The packaging is quite light, though, and the plastic felt a bit thin though not to the point where it seemed fragile. I purchased a few shades when they launched earlier this week, and I was intending to review two or three at a time, but Adora lasted so long that it will probably take a day to test each shade!

Adora topped in at ten hours of wear and lasted through two meals and two cups of coffee; even at nine hours, it was only a little bit faded. It’s worth noting right away that the metallic finishes have a different texture/consistency (from what I can tell) compared to the (shimmer-free) matte finishes. The consistency has a light creaminess that keeps it from tugging on the lips, and it applied with even, opaque color coverage. The formula is vanilla-scented to me (though Sephora describes it as creme brulee) but has no discernible taste. I worried that this was going to be drying, but it seemed to maintain the state of my lips from start to finish, so it never really felt hydrating, but it wasn’t drying and my lips felt fine after wearing nothing but this for ten hours. It’s not transfer-proof, though if you blot once or twice, it is almost transfer-proof from thereon. I didn’t experience any bleeding or feathering with the richer red shade of Adora. The reformulated Adora seems slightly drier and less metallic compared to the original, though the reformulation wears a lot longer on me.

Adora

DCDiscontinued. $21.00.
A
A
9
Product
10
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
10
Longevity
4.5
Application
93%
Total

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick
Kat Von D Adora Studded Kiss Lipstick

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Giorgio Armani Maestro Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Finishing Powder
  • Chanel Dentelle Precieuse Illuminating Powder

97 Comments

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Nikki Avatar

Be careful. I have most of the colors and some come right off. You can’t base how they all perform off of swatching ONE or TWO lipsticks. Also, their are matte formulas and shimmer. I have 10 from this collection and some do not perform well. Look at different reviews to compare to be safe ;-). My favorite (as far as color) is Wonderchilde, there is no other color like it and it is so unique, BUT it applies sooo patchy. It take forever to build up the color, it is drying, and it applied VERY patchy. I would look up several reviews on the specific color you are thinking of getting because not all these lipsticks perform the same. Take care lovely!!

Ashley Avatar

I think we also have to consider the fact that all lips like everything else is different. I tried a matte (Lovecraft) and it was great, just didn’t want to spen money on an MLBB when there are SO many other kooky colors in this line. I also actually purchased Wonderchilde and it’s great! I have usually dry lips, but I actually just exfoliated them, prepped with balm and I was good to go!
It does build up, but I didn’t experince any ‘drying’ or tackiness, which is common for me with anything said to be ‘longewearing’!
I didn’t even use lip liner?! Lol

To each their own!

Helene Avatar

Impressive wear! I like the colour. It looks really good on you. I’m looking forward to the other Kat Von D lipstick swatches.
It’s a big range of colours. A lot of really interesting colours in it.

meganlisa Avatar

I really like the two I’ve tried. Hexagram and Motorhead. Great wear, as you note, and lovely colors. Distinctive but still wearable. And I’m a huge matte fan…even with a stiffer formula. Even my daughter, who doesn’t like dark lipsticks, likes them. The formula is a little stiff…and since it wears so long…I find I need to be very careful in the application (because it stays exactly like that and adds so very much color). I got two other colors but may swap them for other shades. A little drying but not enough to deter me. So I really am looking forward to your other reviews!

JJ Avatar

This is pretty on you, not my usual pick for lipsticks. I’m excited to see what you’ll be reviewing. I love Kat Von D’s lippies! I own Vampira and Underage Red in the Liquid Lipsticks.

Rhea W. Avatar

This shade looks awesome! I’m in love with reds right now and it’s different from what I have. I can’t wait to see your swatches! What shades did you get? I want motorhead, hexagram, wolvesmouthwolvesmouth, and maybe poe and vampira.

Andrea Avatar

Maybe is just the shade I tried but found it painfully drying. Had my lips moisturized and all. Felt do uncomfortable had to remove it right away. Though yeah, the shades were super pretty. Maybe is just me.

Andrea Avatar

Uh…. Let me try to remember… Was a red orange matte shade. Pretty sure it was Countess. I really love the color range, but The dry feel on my lips was not comfortable, and hard to apply.

Ester Avatar

I can’t wait to see the rest of these! I have a mini of Adora in the older formula from a lip set from Sephora, and love it, especially for the holidays! I rarely wear lipstick, but when I do I go for bold and interesting colors, so I think some of the new colors in her range are right up my alley!

Joyce Avatar

Well, short story long…

I remember reading your review of Adora from the original formula. Christine, it is one of those product reviews in the entire expanse of LIFE that my jaw dropped, and I thought, “HOW GORGEOUS! I MUST MUST MUST HAVE THIS LIPSTICK!” Of course it sold out before I got my paws on them so I went about life lowly in spirit 😛

And then Sephora released Adora under a different formula! Foiled Love! So Adora has seen Painted Love, Foiled Love, and Studded Kiss. Anyways, I immediately grabbed Adora from the Foiled Love formula. It has since become a holiday red favorite of mine!

And you’re not kidding about the wear. I just wore it for kicks and giggles around the house the other day, and it lasted for over 9 hours on me! Through a pasta dinner and multiple cups of coffee! And then when I removed it, washed my face, went to bed, and woke up–it was STILL there! The red stain I mean, of course.

I feel like the Foiled Love formula for Adora is more blue-based, which I like better. Even still! Kat Von D’s Adora has a soft spot in my heart ever since your first review of it!

Have a lovely day! Thank you for all your reviews.

Christine Avatar

Aww! 🙂 I’m glad you were able to get Adora in one of its many forms and better yet that it ended up being slightly bluer and better for you as a result. The wear is pretty incredible. I was like, “GO AWAY! I NEED TO TEST SOMETHING ELSE GAHHHHHHH!” then I reread Sephora’s description for it as a 10-hour wear time and settled in for the long haul.

Martha Avatar

Could you possibly spill the beans on which shades you will be reviewing? I am in the UK and planning on ordering some, but obviously cannot check them out beforehand so I am relying on the internet (and your fab swatches and dupe lists as always!) so I was wondering which ones you will be looking at 😀

MichelleChefNYC Avatar

Kat Von D has some of the best lipsticks I have ever tried… I love her vintagey reds and oranges… I am sorry to see so few colors still available in the Painted Love formula, but hoping this will be awesome as well.

xamyx Avatar

This is such a pretty shade, but it’s not for me (stunning on *you* though!). I really like the original formula, and actually plan to (eventually…) grab about 15 of these, based on what I’ve seen.

kohimiruku Avatar

Girl, you can seriously rock a red!

I’m looking forward to your reviews of the other colors you’ve gotten, especially to see what you think of the matte finish. I splurged and ordered two colors (Slayer and Homegirl, because I’ve had one helluva time trying to find a matte dark lip) so I’m hoping that the wear time is good on the matte shades, haha. I hate worrying about my lipstick when all I really want to do is tuck into a huge pasta or a tasty chicken sandwich!!

Also I’d like to say that the best thing about your reviews is that they’re calm and impartial. The ‘reviews’ on Sephora for these bad boys are insane–there’s some condescension and rudeness going on over there currently :/ I always feel relieved when I come to this site because I know the only madness here will be the good kind, like fangirling over a new launch or something fun we can all enjoy! Keep it up, your hard work is definitely appreciated 😀

Christine Avatar

Aww, thank you SO much!! <3 <3 It really means a lot that you feel like you can come here and just enjoy both the content as well as the comments' section.

Homegirl sounds very interesting - let me know how it looks on you! I don't think I bought Slayer, only because I felt like there were more interesting colors to share (of all the unconventional shades you can find, black doesn't seem to be quite so hard!).

Andrea Avatar

Christine, I truly truly admire what you do. I mean, you review products, do the most thorough exam, trying to be fair and impartial. Spend hours and hours researching and testing, and have been doing for a long while, yet still manage to almost all the time reply to our comments. That is so generous and thoughtful of you. Most bloggers or youtubers barely acknowledge the fact that we are reading, watching or commenting and act as if they were on a different category. And sure some are, but a gesture of politeness and kindness is always appreciated. And I see you always replying and saying something nice and trying to be fair.
Just wanted to say whatever has been on my mind for a long while. Some criticize your judgement sometimes, but is *your* honest opinion, and we should not all agree. And I appreciate and see that.
Im rambling… Just wanted to say ‘thank you’ I guess.

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