Kat Von D Plan 9, Poe, Zero Studded Kiss Crème Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Plan 9
Kat Von D Plan 9 Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium green with subtle, warm undertones and a metallic shimmer. It was drier, and I could feel the pearl particles as I applied it, but it was not painful or gritty. The consistency was thin, tugged a bit as I applied, and had a tendency to clump up on itself and get into my lip lines (and it further settled into them over time!). It had semi-sheer coverage, which wasn’t buildable, and applied unevenly. The color wore well for five hours and was slightly drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Hawkeye (DC, $18.00) is darker (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Plan 9 (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery, more pigmented, better quality (90% similar).
- ColourPop Bunny (LE, $7.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Guerlain #111 (P, $36.00) is darker, better quality, glossier (85% similar).
- Sephora Cash Money (47) (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, glossier (85% similar).
- Dolce and Gabbana Smeraldo (LE, $33.00) is darker (85% similar).
- NYX Risque (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented, cooler (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Mellan's Luck (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Maybelline Serpentine (P, $7.49) is darker (80% similar).
- Sephora Margs (70) (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.12 oz. - $158.33 Per Ounce
Per the brand, the new formula is supposed to be "the creamiest, most cushiony and unbelievably pigmented lipstick to ever cross your lips" that is "comfortable" to wear. I don't know if the brand has actually tried the plethora of other lipsticks on the market, because I can tell you that after swatching all 40 shades back-to-back, these are nowhere near "the creamiest" or "most cushiony" or even "unbelievably pigmented." They were, on average, much creamier than the original formula, but a fair number of shades were firm and dense enough that short strokes was better for application otherwise there was noticeable tugging. Some shades were pigmented, some shades were uneven or sheer. The mid-tone shades seemed to be the best overall in terms of application, pigmentation, and how they looked on the lips, whereas the shimmery shades were often sheerer, gritty, and drying while the deeper, vampy shades were lacking pigmentation and could apply streakily.
They seemed to have longer wear than most lipsticks (five to eight hours) but have been lightly to intensely drying, depending on the shade, and I found that wearing them back-to-back made the drying aspect more pronounced. They had a strong, sweet, burnt sugar kind of scent that was noticeable when initially applied, but I didn't detect during wear.
I did not review all shades in the original Studded Kiss formula as it wasn't feasible for me to purchase all of those at the time, and after trying what I did purchase, they weren't promising (often very dry, stiff, and painful to use with a drying formula). From what I can tell, some are better (see: LUV (Original) vs. LUV (New); Coven (Original) vs. Coven (New)), some are worse (see: Gold Blooded (Original) vs. Gold Blooded (New); Poe (Original) vs. Poe (New)). The shimmery shades seemed worse for the reformulation, and the glittery shades are like the grittiest sandpaper across one's lips; I felt like I was ripping my lips off when applying both Gold Blooded and Piaf with Poe not being far behind.
Browse all of our KVD Beauty Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Plan 9
PPermanent. $19.00.
Poe
Kat Von D Poe Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a blackened navy blue with cool undertones and flecks of micro-glitter. It was so terrible; it was significantly worse than the original formula. The texture was drier, thin, and clingy on the lips, which made an application that tugged and was generally uncomfortable. It had sheer coverage that applied unevenly, pulled into lip lines, and had the audacity to clump in places. The color lasted for five hours but looked horrible the entire time. The formula did not seem to be drying (but not hydrating either) on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Time (P, $18.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC Anything Once (LE, $19.00) is lighter, less pigmented (90% similar).
- Sephora City Beat (45) (P, $8.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Time (LE, $18.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Poe (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, more pigmented (90% similar).
- Smashbox Deep (P, $21.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Moon Landing (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Frostbite (LE, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Ritual (P, $18.00) is less pigmented (85% similar).
- Sephora Ice Breaker (46) (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter, glossier (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.12 oz. - $158.33 Per Ounce
Per the brand, the new formula is supposed to be "the creamiest, most cushiony and unbelievably pigmented lipstick to ever cross your lips" that is "comfortable" to wear. I don't know if the brand has actually tried the plethora of other lipsticks on the market, because I can tell you that after swatching all 40 shades back-to-back, these are nowhere near "the creamiest" or "most cushiony" or even "unbelievably pigmented." They were, on average, much creamier than the original formula, but a fair number of shades were firm and dense enough that short strokes was better for application otherwise there was noticeable tugging. Some shades were pigmented, some shades were uneven or sheer. The mid-tone shades seemed to be the best overall in terms of application, pigmentation, and how they looked on the lips, whereas the shimmery shades were often sheerer, gritty, and drying while the deeper, vampy shades were lacking pigmentation and could apply streakily.
They seemed to have longer wear than most lipsticks (five to eight hours) but have been lightly to intensely drying, depending on the shade, and I found that wearing them back-to-back made the drying aspect more pronounced. They had a strong, sweet, burnt sugar kind of scent that was noticeable when initially applied, but I didn't detect during wear.
I did not review all shades in the original Studded Kiss formula as it wasn't feasible for me to purchase all of those at the time, and after trying what I did purchase, they weren't promising (often very dry, stiff, and painful to use with a drying formula). From what I can tell, some are better (see: LUV (Original) vs. LUV (New); Coven (Original) vs. Coven (New)), some are worse (see: Gold Blooded (Original) vs. Gold Blooded (New); Poe (Original) vs. Poe (New)). The shimmery shades seemed worse for the reformulation, and the glittery shades are like the grittiest sandpaper across one's lips; I felt like I was ripping my lips off when applying both Gold Blooded and Piaf with Poe not being far behind.
Browse all of our KVD Beauty Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Poe
PPermanent. $19.00.
Zero
Kat Von D Zero Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium, lavender gray with cool undertones and a cream finish. It had opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which applied fairly evenly across the lips. The consistency was lightly creamy, smooth, and comfortable to apply as it did not tug or drag on my lips. There was a slight amount of color that gathered in my deeper lip lines, but it wasn’t noticeable from a normal viewing distance. The lipstick stayed on well for five and a half hours and was non-drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- KVD Beauty Zero (LE, $21.00) is less glossy (95% similar).
- ColourPop Marshmallow (P, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Galaxy Grey (DC, $21.00) is darker (85% similar).
- MAC Lightly Charred (P, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Huda Beauty Silver Fox (P, $20.00) is darker, less glossy (80% similar).
- Smashbox Punked (P, $21.00) is darker (80% similar).
- MAC City Slick (LE, $19.00) is lighter (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.12 oz. - $158.33 Per Ounce
Per the brand, the new formula is supposed to be "the creamiest, most cushiony and unbelievably pigmented lipstick to ever cross your lips" that is "comfortable" to wear. I don't know if the brand has actually tried the plethora of other lipsticks on the market, because I can tell you that after swatching all 40 shades back-to-back, these are nowhere near "the creamiest" or "most cushiony" or even "unbelievably pigmented." They were, on average, much creamier than the original formula, but a fair number of shades were firm and dense enough that short strokes was better for application otherwise there was noticeable tugging. Some shades were pigmented, some shades were uneven or sheer. The mid-tone shades seemed to be the best overall in terms of application, pigmentation, and how they looked on the lips, whereas the shimmery shades were often sheerer, gritty, and drying while the deeper, vampy shades were lacking pigmentation and could apply streakily.
They seemed to have longer wear than most lipsticks (five to eight hours) but have been lightly to intensely drying, depending on the shade, and I found that wearing them back-to-back made the drying aspect more pronounced. They had a strong, sweet, burnt sugar kind of scent that was noticeable when initially applied, but I didn't detect during wear.
I did not review all shades in the original Studded Kiss formula as it wasn't feasible for me to purchase all of those at the time, and after trying what I did purchase, they weren't promising (often very dry, stiff, and painful to use with a drying formula). From what I can tell, some are better (see: LUV (Original) vs. LUV (New); Coven (Original) vs. Coven (New)), some are worse (see: Gold Blooded (Original) vs. Gold Blooded (New); Poe (Original) vs. Poe (New)). The shimmery shades seemed worse for the reformulation, and the glittery shades are like the grittiest sandpaper across one's lips; I felt like I was ripping my lips off when applying both Gold Blooded and Piaf with Poe not being far behind.
Browse all of our KVD Beauty Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
This makes me so sad because the original Poe was so beautiful and interesting! I could never pull off blue lipstick (and believe me, I tried) but I was actually tempted to buy this in its original iteration.
Now I’m wishing I picked up Piaf while it still existed in the original formula, because I’m sure that is going to suck too.
It is interesting how the metallics/shimmers seem worse (overall) when those were the more unique colors/finishes in the original line-up!
Yes, especially because in normal lipstick lines I expect those to be the worst colors (for some reason atypical colors like blue or green always seem to sheer out, especially when shimmer is added) and somehow they were the standouts in the last Studded Kiss line while normal colors like mauve or burgundy looked awful.
If I never see another semi-sheer green lipstick, I will die happy.
I mean honestly, has anyone ever seen anyone wearing one of these sheer greens outside of swatching? Why do brands keep making them? Just so they can say “Look, we’re so edgy, we make green lipstick?”
It’s all I can do not to go buy Fenty’s Midnight Wasabi out of spite so I can wave it at other brands and say “THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT!”
(Hello, my name is AJ and I have opinions about green lipstick)
‘I mean honestly, has anyone ever seen anyone wearing one of these sheer greens outside of swatching? Why do brands keep making them? Just so they can say “Look, we’re so edgy, we make green lipstick?” ‘ SO MUCH THIS. They need to do the greens right or not make them at all.
THANK YOU JESUS that I stocked up on a few of my favorites while the old formula was still available!! Unfortunately Poe was not one of them…. I cant wait to see what’s been done to two of my go-to shades, Motorhead and Homegirl. I am certain I will enjoy those reviews…. not.
Agreed that for green lipsticks, the company needs to make those full-coverage or what is the point? I don’t wear green, but still.
I loved the very first lipsticks she came out with. I wear Oh My Goth all the time. I bought backups. The formula seems to be getting worse, and they discontinued some of the other colors I liked. I do like her liquid lipsticks, and the same shades are in the new lipsticks. I don’t think I am going to buy any. I have looked at other swatches, and they just look patchy and painful.
Zero looks far more comfortable than its predecessor. I may have to put it in the wishlist. The colourpop dupe is a liquid, isn’t it? (Checking).. i will always go for a bullet lipstick over a liquid even if it costs me more.. personal pref.
AJ, you cracked me up..
I’m Wendy and I hate liquid lipsticks ?
Wow? Poe and Plan 9 are so bad!!!! I have the original formula of Plan 9 from the Studded Lipstick Vault. I have a lot of the original shades from this set. I’m not planning on buying any of the new ones unless one of them really blows me away and I don’t already have that shade.
Plan 9 just became Plan 0, Poe became poop. What a messed up “reformulation”! Look, if brands already have something as perfect as the previous version of Poe, leave it the Sam Hill ALONE!!! ? Not that I could pull off a blue lip all that well, but I sure DO appreciate seeing one made well that looks beautiful on others who can!
I still can’t believe how KVD ruined Poe. 🙁 🙁 🙁 Plan 9 was never an “A,” but I like it in the former formula. Now it’s just awful. At least Zero is still good.
Zero is a really interesting color! I’d look like a zombie if I wore it, but I can appreciate it on cool-toned people! 🙂
Plan 9 is just…yikes.
This is so disappointing. Poe is one of my favorite lipsticks; it sucks that other people can’t get the same experience now.
What epic fails on those first two lipsticks! Whilst these shades are definitely not for me, I think the reformulations have not been successful.
I really don’t know if this reformulation was worth further compromising an already hit/miss formula, (even if it means they can tout the products being fully vegan) but to be totally honest, this release represents an altogether confusing direction that the brand is taking in 2018. (Which started even before the new year with the Metal Matte Mini and all the hints they’re dropping toward a colored brow-specific product lineup) It doesn’t matter if makeup is vegan if it isn’t even good.
ColourPop’s new range is all vegan, so I don’t even know how these aren’t better!
OH my goodness, I had no idea! Colourpop is REALLY slaying the game. They are putting all these higher-end brands to shame!!!
Zero looks so amazing on you!! Looks so wearable!!! Poe I think looks worse in this iteration than the previous one! That’s a shame!!! Plan 9 could’ve been been such. Beautiful color but it’s just so patchy!!! What a shame!