Kosas has kinda perfected the “clean girl aesthetic,” being a better swap for cult conventional brands like Glossier and MILK. This line is all about letting your natural beauty show through, not getting stuck in the full face of makeup rigamarole. And that’s why I reach for this brand again and again (and again). Here are my top picks.
By: Lisa Fennessy
This post is sponsored by Kosas, an ethical, clean beauty line. As always, The New Knew only works with brands who we trust are making the world a better place.
IN THIS POST:
Why we love Kosas
I’m stupid fortunate as a beauty blogger to be overwhelmed with samples of skincare, bodycare, haircare and makeup. So when I use a brand’s products to the last drop, you know it means something (like true love).
Kosas is one of those brands. No matter what product I try, I’m basically scraping the bottom of the bottle to get that final application. Why do I love Kosas?
- The color options. Kosas has been about inclusivity from the beginning and they offer so many shades in all their products. That’s a major win for better beauty.
- The ingredients. No red flags (AKA nothing on TNK’s NO THANKS list) in these products. Plus, love that they often use skincare ingredients in their makeup formulas.
- The performance. Bold colors, perfection finishes and products THAT WORK. (One of the reasons why I keep reaching for the Kosas brow pencil over all the other brow pencils.)
Get it, girl: The semi-annual Kosas sale (20% off sitewide, no code needed) is happening now!
To help you shop, I’ve narrowed down their entire product line to my ultimate top 5 fave products from Kosas. Here they are! 
My top 5 Kosas picks (with pros/cons)
Brow Pop | $24
A twist-up, rectangular-edged pencil + spoolie that I’ve been using since late 2021 (when it made my BEST OF 2021 list), because I LOVE it. The shape of the pencil is angled and rectangular, so you can apply with precision via the tip of the pencil or broad strokes with the wide edge. Comes in ten (YES 10) shades—including gray. In the end, gray was too light for me and black ended up being a better fit. It’s a soft black with no red undertones and it’s pretty much a perfect color match for my salt and pepper hair. I used this pencil to the end as you can see in this video.
What we like:
- No additional application tools needed
- Comes with a built-in spoolie to blend
- Easy to apply with a good color transfer
- Buildable
- Precision applicator
- Also broad-stroked applicator
- Twist up pencil dispenser
- Comes in 10 shades including GRAY
- Good staying power
- Easy to blend
- Ethically sourced mica
- Does not add bulk
- Easy to remove
- Price
What we don’t like:
- Comes in plastic
Weightless Lipstick / Lip Color | $26
Okay, so Kosas JUST reformulated / renamed their lipstick to Lip Color, but the ingredients are nearly the same. The only difference we can see is not all the old shades are available (which is why you should check out their LAST CHANCE sale and grab Thrillist before it sells out!). Otherwise, Kosas’ lip color is MOISTURE and FEATHER-WEIGHT LIGHT. Also love that they are made with mango seed butter to smooth fine lines, shea butter to soften, cocoa seed butter to support repair, rosehip seed oil to deliver antioxidants and jojoba oil to moisturize.
What we like:
- Lightweight
- Moisturizing
- Satin finish
- Lots of shades of “nude” for different skintones
What we don’t like:
- Not a big focus on organic ingredients
- Not longwearing
- Missing the bold shades of the old Lipstick
Plump+Juicy Vegan Collagen Spray On Serum | $48
A top pick from Nic, whose sensitive skin loved this truly juicy spray on serum. The hyaluronic acid combined with vegan collagen makes it literally feel like a cool drink of water for skin. Nic noticed more hydrated, less fussy skin while using it, and the feeling of it morning and evening is great for summer. Also wonderful as a makeup primer.
What we like:
- Great for sensitive skin
- Works as a makeup primer
- Leaves skin feeling plump and full, without an overly dewy finish
- Helps combat redness
- Feels more like a serum than just a toner
What we don’t like:
- The scent is a *little* too sweet
Revealer Concealer | $30
Pretty sure this is the product that launched 1,000 blogs about Kosas. Creamy, silky, easy to blend, doesn’t crease, not heavy, easy to apply…what else could you want from a concealer?! Well, how about hyaluronic acid for hydration, caffeine to help reduce undereye puffiness and arnica to reduce inflammation? You got it (and more!) with this concealer.
Pro tip: use it under eyes, on chin and on the center of your forehead to even skin tone without adding a full face of foundation. Comes in 28 colors.
What we like:
- Comes in 28 shades
- Light, but creamy formula
- Easy to blend
- Lasting coverage
- Doesn’t crease
- Reduces puffiness
What we don’t like:
- Honestly, nothing!
Wet Lip Oil Gloss | $22
The whole team has been reaching for this gloss on repeat this spring and summer. I love the new shade Exposed, a champagne pink shimmer, and Nic keeps the soft, warm pink of Revealed on her desk to apply during the day. We also see hyaluronic acid in this formula (sense a trend?!) for hydration and shea butter + evening primrose oil for nourishment. Love that these aren’t sticky, have a good color payoff and don’t feel too thin. Go with their “build your own trio” and these are just $17 each!
What we like:
- Hydrating
- Nourishing
- Not sticky
- Sheer, but with a distinct color
What we don’t like:
- Not super longwearing
What’s your favorite Kosas product?
TNK Team Note: This article contains affiliate links. TNK uses affiliate links as a source for revenue to fund operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. TNK stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? Feel free to email us.
Kosas FAQ
Sheena Yaitanes launched Kosas, a clean beauty brand, from her kitchen table in 2015. Learn about our top picks from Kosas here.
Kosas says it didn’t set out to create a “clean” makeup line, but the line is considered to be free of major concerning ingredients like mineral oil and harsh preservatives. Learn more here.
