Beauty journalist Sarah Bradbury has tested thousands of products over a decade and found a new favorite: Kess, a Berlin-based makeup brand launched in 2019 that recently entered the UK market.
Brand philosophy and product design
Founded by Kaspar von Mellenthin, Kess aims to simplify makeup routines with a 'no makeup, makeup' approach. Its formulas are sheer, buildable, and multifunctional, including lightweight balms, creams, and color-correcting complexion products. The brand emphasizes refillable packaging and modular design: bronzers, blushers, highlighters, and brushes can be mixed and matched into a dual-ended stick.
Top product recommendations
Blush & Glow Duo Stick (£35)
This dual-ended stick allows mixing and matching four shades of bronzer, eight shades of blush, two highlighters, and a brush. Bradbury recommends the red-toned blush 'Flirt' (satin matte finish) paired with 'Champagne' highlighter (luminescent payoff). The colors are sheer and natural, blending easily without feeling heavy.
Concealer Stick SPF 20 (£25)
Designed for all-in-one use, this waxy-textured concealer covers breakouts, redness, and dark circles. Its slight tackiness ensures it stays put without fading. Bradbury notes it requires only a tiny amount and fingertip blending, making it ideal for breakout-prone skin.
Jelly Treat Lip Oil (£20)
A tinted lip oil with a wide doe-foot applicator and sheer color payoff. It provides high-shine, hydrating finish without stickiness. The shade 'Jam' closely matches natural lip color; other shades include clear, red, brown, and pink.
CC Cream SPF 30 (£33)
A multifunctional base product offering hydration, color correction, and SPF30. The shade range accommodates very light to deep skin tones, with pigments that adapt to skin tone. It evens skin tone without cakiness or settling into fine lines, and does not oxidize orange.
Lengthening Day Mascara (£28)
This mascara coats lashes evenly, leaving them fluffy, lengthened, and defined without clumping or smudging. It performed well even in a heatwave.
Overall impression
Bradbury states she has been using almost exclusively Kess products since discovering them weeks ago, praising their efficiency and multi-purpose design that leaves skin looking healthy and radiant with minimal effort.
