No, I’m not talking about Monica Bellucci or Sophia Loren today. I’m talking about those brands and products from Italy (which happens to be my home country) that I think are worth checking out, should you ever visit the Boot.
COLLISTAR
Collistar is a high-end brand that can be found in profumerie (cosmetics stores) and department stores. Pictured above:
- TWIST Ultra-Shiny Eyeshadow in 106 Bronze: I mentioned it among my travel essentials, as to me this stick is the ultimate summer eyeshadow. It gives your lids the prettiest wet-looking sheen. Just make sure you apply it on top of a primer and pat it in with your finger, otherwise it’ll crease quickly.
- Eyebrow Gel in 3 Silvana Brunette: The thin spoolie dispenses just the right amount of product. It’s a great at setting your brows and making them look fuller and defined.
- Graphic Eyeliner in 3 Valeria Blue: A stunning, opaque electric blue. It’s very long-lasting and super easy to apply, thanks to its thin felt tip applicator.
- Scrub Balm: It combines exfoliating sugar crystals with shea butter and vitamin E to nourish your lips. Plus, it smells like cotton candy!
- TWIST Ultra-Shiny Lip Gloss in 207 Coral Pink: A hydrating glossy stick containing hyaluronic acid and procollagen.
DIEGO DALLA PALMA
Another high-end brand, created by a famous Italian makeup artist. I especially recommend checking out their base products and lip liners (shade 82 is the perfect red liner!). Pictured above:
- Nail Polish in shade 59: Pretty pink, great formula. I’ve had it for years and it hasn’t faded or gotten thicker.
DEBORAH MILANO
This one is in the drugstore price range, but bear in mind that in Italy drugstore brands (like Maybelline, Rimmel, Deborah, etc.) are mainly sold in supermarkets. Our pharmacies only sell medicines and pharmacy beauty brands, such as Bioderma and La Roche Posay. Pictured above:
- Natural Effect Blush in shade 6: If it weren’t for the cheap packaging, it could really compare to higher-end blushes, as it’s silky and very natural-looking. This shade reminds me of Tarte’s Exposed.
- Atomic Red Mat Lipstick in shade 01: I love, love, love this brick red lipstick, it’s a great option for fall. It’s long-lasting, but doesn’t dry out your lips.
KIKO MILANO
I’m pretty sure most of you will know this brand, as it’s sold across Europe and even in the States (online). Well, in Italy KIKO stores are literally EVERYWHERE! In my opinion, some products are amazing, but others not so much. Those pictured above are all great hits:
- Colour Correction Powder: Finely milled and luminous, it sets your base without looking cakey or flat.
- Metallic Shine Eyeshadow in 05 Charming Sage (read full review): A hybrid between cream and powder, it delivers intense color with zero fallout. This impressive formula is limited edition, so grab one before it’s too late!
- Long-Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 06 Golden Brown: I often use it for a quick daytime look, as it’s very easy to apply and blend. If you have green or blue eyes, have a look at 05 Rosy Brown, another pretty shade.
- Velvet Mat Lipstick in 602 Natural Rose: This moisturizing formula feels great on the lips, has good pigmentation and a satin/matte finish.
Other products not to miss include the Water Eyeshadows and the new Power Pro Nail Lacquers (read full review).
WYCON COSMETICS
I find Wycon very similar to KIKO: it is in the same price range and is only sold in standalone stores. Pictured above:
- Long Lasting Eyeliner in 16 Strong Coffee: This pencil lasts longer in the waterline than anything else I’ve ever tried. Strong Coffe is a dark brown that gives nice definition without looking too harsh.
- Soft Mousse Eyeshadow in shade 11: Another super long-lasting item, this time in the form of a pretty rose gold cream eyeshadow. Its texture is like Charlotte Tilbury’s, so way more liquid than MAC’s Paint Pots or Maybelline’s Color Tattoos.
- Matt Sublime in shade 618: A matte lipstick that is very comfortable to wear. The shade I have is a strawberry pink with warm undertones (you can find lip swatches in my previous post about lipstick to try this summer).
Please notice that I bought these products before the company changed their spelling from Wjcon to Wycon.
Have you ever tried any of these brands? Can you find them in your home country? As always, I’m dying to know!
