KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla Review

KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla
5.0
/ 10
Moisturizing
0.0 Humectancy icon Humectancy
10.0 Occlusivity icon Occlusivity
Review

Does KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla Work?

 
According to CreamScan AI's analysis of the ingredient list, here’s what KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla has to offer:
 
  • Strong occlusive moisturizing. This exceptionally occlusive moisturizer, ideal for dry and very dry skin, has a moderate moisturizing rating of 5.0 out of 10, impaired by the absence of humectants.

Key Benefits of KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla

 
These are the key benefits you can expect from using KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla:
 

Very Rich Moisturizer with the Right Occlusivity for Very Dry Skin

According to CreamScan analysis, KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla is quite moisturizing, with a moisturizing rating of 5.0 out of 10.

Is it more humectant or occlusive? It is purely occlusive. It has zero Humectancy (we didn't find any humectant ingredients on the ingredient list) and a maximum Occlusivity of 10 out of 10, primarily due to the high content of Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate (est. ≈45.0%), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (est. ≈22.0%) and Beeswax (est. ≈3.0%).

This type of product, when used as a standalone moisturizer, can deliver an exceptional level of occlusive hydration that is adequate for dry to very skin. The occlusive profile of KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla suggests a rich, thick texture, making it perfectly suited for dry skin.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the moisturizing rating calculation.

Please note that this is not a complete list of benefits. We are in the process of enhancing our AI model to incorporate anti-pigmentation, exfoliation and anti-acne ratings.

Things to Be Aware Of: KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla

 
CreamScan AI identified a few things to consider before adding KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla to your skincare routine:
 

Best for Very Dry Skin - May Be Too Thick for Other Skin Types

With exceptional occlusivity, this product is optimal for moisturizing dry and very dry skin but may be too thick for other skin types, including normal, and especially combination and oily skin.

If you have oily, combination, or normal skin and are considering purchasing this product for the first time, it might be a good idea to try a sample before buying.

Needs to Be Paired with Extra Humectants for Optimal Moisturizing Efficacy

An ideal moisturizer for any skin type should balance the right level of occlusivity (depending on skin type) with a significant amount of humectants, while KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla contains no humectants at all.

People with dry skin would definitely benefit from adding water-binding humectants to their moisturizing routine for effective dual-action moisturizing. If this is your only moisturizer, it may be worth including a humectant-rich product, such as a serum, in your skincare routine.

Questionable anti-wrinkle efficacy

If one of your main reasons for choosing KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla is its potential anti-aging effects, please note that, according to CreamScan analysis, it currently has a zero anti-wrinkle rating.

It contains Ascorbyl Palmitate and Retinyl Palmitate, two ingredients often marketed as effective in reducing wrinkles. However, the studies supporting the anti-wrinkle claims of these ingredients provide insufficient evidence of efficacy according to CreamScan Research Evaluation Standards.

While this does not categorically exclude the possibility that these ingredients may reduce wrinkles, their efficacy is not supported by convincing, vehicle-controlled, double-blind clinical studies - at least none that were accessible to the CreamScan team at the time of publication.

Therefore, these ingredients do not generate the anti-wrinkle rating.

Moisturizers, when used regularly, are proven to prevent wrinkle formation and even reduce existing wrinkles. Therefore, this product, like any other moisturizer, can deliver some anti-wrinkle effects through its moisturizing action.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the anti-wrinkle rating calculation.

Pros & Cons of KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla

 
Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of KIKO Milano Coloured Balm Lip Balm 02 Vanilla to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your skincare routine:
 

Pros:

  • Provides the right level of occlusivity to moisturize dry to very dry skin

Cons: 

  • May feel too rich and thick on skin types other than dry
  • Ideally needs to be paired with extra humectants for optimal moisturizing efficacy
  • Questionable anti-wrinkle efficacy

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
45
22
11
6
4
3
2
1.5
1
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Est. %
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Function:
Origin:
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Function:
Origin:
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
Function:
Origin:
Polyethylene
Function:
Origin:
Polybutene
Function:
Origin:
Beeswax
Function:
Origin:
Dimethiconol Behenate
Function:
Origin:
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
Function:
Origin:
Flavor (Aroma)
Function:
Origin:
Soybean Glycerides
Function:
Origin:
Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax
Function:
Origin:
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Unsaponifiables
Function:
Origin:
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Function:
Origin:
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Function:
Origin:
Sorbitan Tristearate
Function:
Origin:
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Function:
Origin:
Tocopheryl Acetate
Function:
Origin:
Ethyl Vanillin
Function:
Origin:
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Function:
Origin:
Retinyl Palmitate
Function:
Origin:
Tocopherol
Function:
Origin:
Citric Acid
Function:
Origin:
Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)
Function:
Origin:
Yellow 5 (CI 19140)
Function:
Origin:
Red 7 Lake (CI 15850)
Function:
Origin:
Red 28 Lake (CI 45410)
Function:
Origin:

Ratings

All humectants
0.0
None
Benchmark
10
All occlusives
74.7
45.0
22.0
3.0
2.0
1.5
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
20
Moisturizing rating
5.0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Raiting
Humectancy All humectants 0.0 10
0.0
None
Occlusivity All occlusives 74.7 20
10.0
45.0
22.0
3.0
2.0
1.5
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Moisturizing rating
5.0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Humectancy
None
All humectants 0.0 10
0.0
All humectants
0.0
None
Benchmark
10
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Occlusivity
45
22
3
2
1.5
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
All occlusives 74.7 20
10.0
All occlusives
74.7
45.0
22.0
3.0
2.0
1.5
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
20
Ingredient
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
when present at, %
in this formula est. %
Rating
n/a
- 0.3 -
n/a
- 0.3 -
Total
0
Ascorbyl Palmitate
-
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
n/a
when present at, %
-
in this formula, est. %
0.3
Retinyl Palmitate
-
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
n/a
when present at, %
-
in this formula, est. %
0.3
Anti-wrinkle rating
0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Antioxidants
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
All antioxidants 1.5 3 No
All antioxidants
1.5
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
0.3
Ascorbyl Palmitate
0.3
Tocopheryl Acetate
0.3
Ethyl Vanillin
0.3
Tocopherol
0.3
Benchmark
3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Soothing
0.3
All soothing 0.3 5 No
All soothing
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
5

Ingredients explained

Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Est. %45
Function
Origin
Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Est. %22
Function
Origin
Hydrogenated Vegetable OilA solid, butter-like substance that is a highly occlusive moisturizer and emollient. It is a mixture of various plant oils (such as soy, olive, corn, canola, peanut, and many others) which has been refined.
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
Est. %11
Function
Origin
Hydrogenated PolyisobuteneA viscous liquid that makes a great oil base due to its smooth sensorial profile. It has emollient features, including good spreadability and little tack upon application. It also has the added benefit of being able to thicken products.
Polyethylene
Est. %6
Function
Origin
PolyethyleneCommonly used in dense plastic packaging, its primary function in skincare is as a film-forming agent, which protects the product from being easily rinsed away by water or sweat. It also controls viscosity by increasing the thickness of oily products.
Polybutene
Est. %4
Function
Origin
PolybuteneA petro-based ingredient that thickens and hold products together.
Beeswax
Est. %3
Function
Origin
BeeswaxA waxy substance made by bees while they are building their honeycombs. It is an occlusive moisturizing and emollient ingredient with wound healing and antimicrobial properties similar to those of honey. Its bleached, purified form is called Cera alba.
Dimethiconol Behenate
Est. %2
Function
Origin
Dimethiconol Behenate
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
Est. %1.5
Function
Origin
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) ButterA semi-solid, buttery fat extracted from the seeds of the Shea tree that is a wonderful occlusive and emollient ingredient mainly comprised of fatty acids. Shea butter contains a large amount of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds.
Flavor (Aroma)
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Flavor (Aroma)Under trade secret law, manufacturers have the right not to disclose what exactly went into the flavor and use the unspecific word 'flavor' instead. Flavor is added to products that have the potential to be consumed, such as lipsticks.
Soybean Glycerides
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Soybean Glycerides
Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) WaxA thick wax obtained from the stems of the Candelilla, or wax plant that is native to Mexico and the southern USA. Its stems are covered in wax to protect the plant from water loss. It is an occlusive moisturizing and emollient ingredient.
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Unsaponifiables
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Unsaponifiables
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Pentaerythrityl TetraisostearateAn emollient ester with high gloss and thickening properties.
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate
Sorbitan Tristearate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Sorbitan Tristearate
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Ascorbyl PalmitateA form of vitamin C derived from ascorbic acid and palmitic acid. It is more stable and less irritating than ascorbic acid. Unfortunately, Ascorbyl Palmitate lacks the studies to prove its anti-wrinkle efficacy.
Tocopheryl Acetate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Tocopheryl Acetate

An antioxidant derivative of tocopherol (vitamin E). It helps to protect cells from free radicals and UV damage through the conversion to active vitamin E in the skin. It is more stable than tocopherol.

Ethyl Vanillin
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Ethyl Vanillin
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideA natural occlusive moisturizing and emollient ingredient, it is a blend of glycerin and two fatty acids, caprylic and capric acid. It creates an oil-based protective layer on the skin, thereby preventing water loss.
Retinyl Palmitate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Retinyl PalmitateAn esterified form of retinol – it combines retinol and palmitic acid into one molecule. Retinyl palmitate is less irritating than retinol but also much less effective in its anti-aging and acne-reducing effects.
Tocopherol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Tocopherol

Simply another name for vitamin E. Tocopherol is a fantastic ingredient and especially beneficial for dry and inflamed skin. It has occlusive moisturizing, emollient, antioxidant, and photoprotective properties.

Citric Acid
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Citric AcidA gently exfoliating AHA that helps to remove the top layer of dead skin cells. In comparison to other AHAs, citric acid has been shown to be one of the least effective. It is also very commonly used as a stabilizing and pH-controlling agent.
Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)One of two the most commonly used mineral sunscreens. It can absorb UV light, including UVB – which causes burning, tanning, and even skin cancer. Also used as a colorant, titanium dioxide gives a product a bright white color.
Yellow 5 (CI 19140)
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Yellow 5 (CI 19140)A bright yellow colorant that is often also listed as FD&C Yellow 5.
Red 7 Lake (CI 15850)
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Red 7 Lake (CI 15850)
Red 28 Lake (CI 45410)
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Red 28 Lake (CI 45410)