Kosas Heatwave & Malibu Wet Stick Lip Shines Review & Swatches
Heatwave
Kosas Heatwave Wet Stick Moisturizing Lip Shine ($24.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a light coral with moderate, warm undertones balanced between pink and orange paired with a natural sheen.
- Semi-sheer, buildable pigmentation (marketed as sheer)
- Balmy, moderate slip, lightweight
- Applied evenly, forgiving of lip texture but settled a bit into lip lines
- Average-wearing (3 hours), lightly moisturizing over time
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Status Quo (LE, $7.00).
- ColourPop BB Spice (P, $8.00).
- Becca Tulip (DC, $24.00).
- Cle de Peau Hummingbird (P, $65.00).
- Guerlain Pink Beige (08) (P, $36.00).
- Pat McGrath Blow Up (P, $40.00).
- Fenty Beauty Glazed (P, $22.00).
- Chanel Sensibilite (194) (P, $45.00).
- MAC Patisserie (LE, $19.00).
- Makeup by Mario Bare Glow (P, $22.00).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.13 oz. - $184.62 Per Ounce
It's supposed to have "sheer coverage" (that can be built up) with a "soft shine finish" and be hydrating. The shades ranged from semi-sheer to medium and buildable in their pigmentation, but there was a fair amount of variance from shade to shade.
The texture was lightweight, balmy, and had moderate slip, which made it comfortable to apply and to wear. There was a touch of product that settled into my lip lines, but it wasn't enough to be noticeable--for most shades--from a normal viewing distance or even as the product wore away. I also felt like the formula was fairly forgiving of lip texture.
Unsurprisingly, they had shorter-than-average wear for a "lipstick," as that balmy feel came into play. Some shades lasted as short as two hours while the longest was four hours, which wasn't the no rm. I found the formula to be lightly hydrating overall.
The formula had a subtle, sweet vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our Kosas Wet Stick Moisturizing Lip Shine swatches.
Ingredients
Squalane, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Octyldodecanol, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Microcrystalline Wax, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Glucomannan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tribehenin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Ceramide NG, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Trihydroxystearin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Vanillin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol [May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Heatwave
PPermanent. $24.00.
Malibu
Kosas Malibu Wet Stick Moisturizing Lip Shine ($24.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a pale pink with moderate, warm undertones and a natural sheen.
- Medium, buildable pigmentation (marketed as sheer)
- Balmy, moderate slip, lightweight
- Applied evenly, forgiving of lip texture but settled a bit into lip lines
- Short-wearing (2.5 hours), lightly moisturizing over time
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Gamer Girl (LE, $10.00).
- LORAC Foodie (LE, $17.00).
- Bite Beauty Souffle (DC, $26.00).
- MAC What in Carnation (P, $22.00).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.13 oz. - $184.62 Per Ounce
It's supposed to have "sheer coverage" (that can be built up) with a "soft shine finish" and be hydrating. The shades ranged from semi-sheer to medium and buildable in their pigmentation, but there was a fair amount of variance from shade to shade.
The texture was lightweight, balmy, and had moderate slip, which made it comfortable to apply and to wear. There was a touch of product that settled into my lip lines, but it wasn't enough to be noticeable--for most shades--from a normal viewing distance or even as the product wore away. I also felt like the formula was fairly forgiving of lip texture.
Unsurprisingly, they had shorter-than-average wear for a "lipstick," as that balmy feel came into play. Some shades lasted as short as two hours while the longest was four hours, which wasn't the no rm. I found the formula to be lightly hydrating overall.
The formula had a subtle, sweet vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our Kosas Wet Stick Moisturizing Lip Shine swatches.
Ingredients
Squalane, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Octyldodecanol, Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Microcrystalline Wax, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Glucomannan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tribehenin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Ceramide NG, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Trihydroxystearin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Vanillin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol [May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850)]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Heatwave is quite a lovely shade, and 3 hours wear time for such a balmy lipstick isn’t bad at all! Do I have straight up dupes? Not quite, or so I believe.
If Malibu was just a hair darker I might give it a try. I like the tone of it and the look on the lips but still a bit lite for me.
Heatwave is the better pick of the two and would be quite comfortable to wear of a hot day.