Kosas Papaya 1972 Color & Light Pressed Palette Review & Swatches
Papaya 1972
Kosas Papaya 1972 Color and Light Pressed Palette ($34.00 for oz.) is designed to be the more buildable-coverage version, though it was a lot more pigmented than described (which some may have no issue with!). The duo contained a lighter orange blush paired with a warm, yellowy-peach highlighter. Both shades were on the more powdery side, so there was excess kicked up in the pan, though they looked smooth and flattering on my skin–not dry at all–and lasted for eight hours.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Formula Overview
$34.00/0.28 oz. - $121.43 Per Ounce
The formula offers two levels of intensity--a standard level and a "High Intensity" version--that allows the customer to pick the level of pigmentation and depth desired. The standard intensity offers "buildable, blendable" blush and highlighter that is "easy-to-apply," while the "High Intensity" offers "double color payoff."
The texture of both the blush and highlighter seemed drier, more powdery, but I was surprised--and impressed!--by how beautifully the powders applied, blended, and sat on my skin. They went on with almost no effort at all with an even lay down of color that diffused easily along the edges, didn't look flat or dry on, and were fairly true-to-color.
The pigmentation of the standard intensity level was more medium to semi-opaque, buildable coverage, while the pigmentation of the High Intensity versions were nearly opaque to opaque and were a bit darker/deeper in tone overall. The highlighter formula seemed marginally dustier compared to the powder blush, but both lasted between eight and nine hours on me.
Browse all of our Kosas Color and Light Pressed Palette swatches.
Ingredients
Papaya 1972
PPermanent. $34.00.
Papaya 1972 (Blush)
Papaya 1972 (Blush) is a light-medium orange with moderate, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had good color coverage in a single layer–so more pigmentation than anticipated–that could be built up to full coverage.
The texture was moderately powdery in the pan, so I’d recommend using a lighter hand to avoid kicking up too much excess powder. Despite the more powdery, drier feel, it actually applied beautifully to bare skin. It melded particularly well and looked seamless to the point where it nearly blended itself! This shade lasted well for eight hours before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Shook to the Coral (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia Miami (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC That's Peachy (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Cali Dream (P, $22.00) is darker, brighter, cooler (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Mickey (Shade) (DC, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Kosas Papaya 1972 (High Intensity) (Blush) (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Fame (LE, $29.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Excuse My French (LE, $8.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Foxy (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Fortunate (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula offers two levels of intensity--a standard level and a "High Intensity" version--that allows the customer to pick the level of pigmentation and depth desired. The standard intensity offers "buildable, blendable" blush and highlighter that is "easy-to-apply," while the "High Intensity" offers "double color payoff."
The texture of the blush seemed drier, more powdery, but I was surprised--and impressed!--by how beautifully the powders applied, blended, and sat on my skin. They went on with almost no effort at all with an even lay down of color that diffused easily along the edges, didn't look flat or dry on, and were fairly true-to-color.
The pigmentation of the standard intensity level was more medium to semi-opaque, buildable coverage, while the pigmentation of the High Intensity versions were nearly opaque to opaque and were a bit darker/deeper in tone overall. The majority of the shades lasted between eight and nine hours on me.
Browse all of our Kosas Pressed Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Nylon 12, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Boron Nitride, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera (Moringa) Seed Oil, Lecithin, Barium Sulfate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Tocopherol May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77499, CI 77491, CI 77492), Yellow 6 (CI 15985) Lake, Red 6 (CI 15850), Ultramarine Blue (CI 77007)
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.
Papaya 1972 (Blush)
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Papaya 1972 (Highlighter)
Papaya 1972 (Highlighter) is a light peach with warm, yellow undertones and flecks of gold micro-sparkle over a pearly sheen. It had more noticeable shimmer compared to most highlighters in the range, though it definitely didn’t emphasize my skin’s natural texture.
The texture was moderately powdery–so use a light-hand!–with a soft, slightly drier feel to the touch. It packed opaque coverage in a single layer, though one could use a lighter hand to pick up less, and I noticed that it sheered out to more semi-opaque coverage in practice. The highlighter stayed on nicely for eight hours before showing signs of fading.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Tell All (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Kaja Luna (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Cover FX Sunlight (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Gnomie (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Kosas Tropic Equinox (Highlighter) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Benefit Dandelion Twinkle (P, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Solar Exposure (Highlighter) (LE, $60.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer (PiP, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Too Faced Warm Glow (Right) (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Tarte Moonlight (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Formula Overview
-
The formula offers two levels of intensity--a standard level and a "High Intensity" version--that allows the customer to pick the level of pigmentation and depth desired. The standard intensity offers "buildable, blendable" blush and highlighter that is "easy-to-apply," while the "High Intensity" offers "double color payoff."
The texture of the highlighter seemed drier, more powdery, but I was surprised--and impressed!--by how beautifully the powders applied, blended, and sat on my skin. They went on with almost no effort at all with an even lay down of color that diffused easily along the edges, didn't look flat or dry on, and were fairly true-to-color.
The pigmentation of the standard intensity level was more medium to semi-opaque, buildable coverage, while the pigmentation of the High Intensity versions were nearly opaque to opaque and were a bit darker/deeper in tone overall. The majority of the shades lasted between eight and nine hours on me.
Browse all of our Kosas Pressed Highlighter swatches.
Ingredients
Mica, Zinc Stearate, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Nylon 12, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Boron Nitride, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Moringa Oleifera (Moringa) Seed Oil, Lecithin, Barium Sulfate, Fluophlogofite, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Tocopherol May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77499, CI 77491, CI 77492), Yellow 6 (CI 15985) Lake, Red 6 (CI 15850), Tin Oxide
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.
Meh. I’m just not feeling it. For some reason, it just seems very lackluster and uninspiring to me, and I can’t put my finger on why.
Hmmm – this shade could be very popular but the rating was a tad average. For me, the orange and yellow undertones of the respective shades would not work on my cool undertones.