Kat Von D Sanctuary, OG Lolita, Lolita II Studded Kiss Crème Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Sanctuary
Kat Von D Sanctuary Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark mauve with neutral-to-warm undertones and a cream finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation, which wasn’t buildable, that applied evenly with minimal color that gathered in my deeper lip lines (and wasn’t noticeable from a normal viewing distance). The texture was smooth with a touch of slip, so it didn’t drag on my lips like most shades have in this formula. It wore well four hours and was non-drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dior Ultra Tough (600) (P, $37.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Beach Waves (P, $21.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Coloured Raine Cameo (P, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Rock Sand (P, $20.00) is warmer, less glossy (85% similar).
- NARS Just What I Needed (P, $26.00) is warmer, less glossy (85% similar).
- KVD Beauty Crucifix (P, $20.00) is darker, less glossy (85% similar).
- Coloured Raine Soul (P, $17.00) is darker (85% similar).
- MAC Cocktail Kiss (LE, $19.00) is lighter, warmer, less glossy (80% similar).
- Bite Beauty Chutney (DC, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Tarte Honey (LE, $20.00) is lighter, warmer, less glossy (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
Sanctuary
PPermanent. $19.00.
OG Lolita
Kat Von D OG Lolita Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium, pink-coral with warm undertones and a satin finish. It had good color payoff in a single layer, though it wasn’t opaque and did not build up to full coverage with additional product. The consistency was drier, firm, and dense in the tube, so there was some dragging on my lips as I tried to apply it in a fluid motion–short strokes were best to minimize unevenness in the application. The color stayed on well for four hours and pulled into my lip lines noticeably after two hours of wear, while the formula felt a bit drying overall.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Mrs. (LE, $7.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Dior Ultra Lust (485) (P, $37.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Intriguing (P, $27.00) is more muted (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Inescapable (P, $32.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Brink (P, $7.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- NARS Anita (P, $34.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar).
- NARS Tahaa (LE, $25.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Laissez-Faire (P, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Uber Pink (DC, $37.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Double Dare (DC, $21.00) is darker (90% 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
OG Lolita
PPermanent. $19.00.
Lolita II
Kat Von D Lolita II Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium, muted coral with warm undertones and a satin finish. It had opaque pigmentation that applied evenly, but it did have a tendency to separate around and get into my lip lines, so it wasn’t the most flattering of finishes on my lips. The texture was lightweight, looked creamier on than it felt going on, as the denser formula still tugged a bit during application for me. It wore well for five hours and was slightly drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Walkyrie (P, $27.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Chai (DC, $26.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Dreamy (PiP, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Money Moves (P, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Orange Enigmatique (838) (P, $45.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Verbena (DC, $26.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Besame Chocolate Kiss 1970 (PiP, $22.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Epigram (LE, $18.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (85% similar).
- NARS Melody N (LE, $27.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- ColourPop Candy Floss (DC, $5.00) is warmer (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.
Happy Sunday! Great review!
BTW, I’m amazed at your productivity and work initiative. Many thanks for this website.
Thank you, Kitty! 🙂
Uh oh, I’m liking all of these a bit too much!
Even though all 3 look nice on, I’m just not feeling them. For one thing, I will *never* understand what the reasoning is behind having 3 or more shades in one line, in one formula, all being named Lolita! Just a lack of creative naming process, or something. NVM it being cringe-worthy on top of that.
This version of Sanctuary could possibly be my personal best greigey lipstick. Possibly being the key.
Lolita is such a pretty dusty pink on you. I’ve noted shades always pull browner on me, so I’m not going to be buying but I might if it was the same dusty rose.
Pretty shades, especially Lolitta 11 – but they still aren’t as good as Colour Pop’s Lux. Gorgeous eye look Christine. So nice to see you in taupe shades.
I am surprised by how much I like all three of these. I have Lolita in the liquid lipstick and it is one of my favorite shades. I always use a balm to make the formula more comfortable to wear. I didn’t care for
Lolita II in the liquid lip formula. It pulled way to brown/orange on me but this seems softer. However, my favorite is Sanctuary. Such a lovely color on you Christine. I will have to swatch it when I go to Sephora next.
I love the two Lolita shades but am concerned about the “slightly drying”. Your eye look is incredible.
Sanctuary is amazing! Must not buy…
I’m wanting sanctuary, but leery. If a brown looks good on you, it usually looks crappy on me.. You are the anti-me for anything in the brown/nude catgegory.. 🙂 LOL.. it’s true. Please take in jest. You do so much better than me over a much larger colour range.
Hey, the better you know 😉