Kylie Jenner: Reigning queen of liquid lipstick

Alanna Hill

Like a modern day King Midas, anything the Kardashian-Jenner clan touches turns to gold. Kylie Jenner’s “Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kits” were no different. The youngest of the family launched the original round of lip kits Nov. 30, 2015, and the kits sold out in less than a minute.

With Kylie having more than 51.1 million Instagram followers and a modest 14.2-million Twitter following, people are willing to do whatever it takes to get the highly coveted lip kits. Sellers on Ebay are posting the kits — the entire collection and singles — anywhere from $63 for a single to $1,500 for the full set of six. That’s a hefty markup from the $29 retail on KylieCosmetics.com.

The lip kits came about after the world was won over by the “Kylie Jenner lip” color, a ’90s-esque matte light brown. While Jenner maintained the volume, and shape of her pout was au natural, she admitted in 2015 after the viral Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge to receiving lip injections instead of just over lining her lips.

Kylie Cosmetics currently has six shades in its range: Candy K, Dolce K, Koko K, Mary Jo K, Posie K and True Brown K. Each set comes with a matte liquid lipstick and a lip liner to help you try to get that perfect Kylie pout.

While Jenner has hinted on her Instagram that a batch of lip kits will be released every week, patience is not everyone’s virtue. Luckily in this fad of the liquid lipstick, most companies, whether a drugstore, indie or high-end, are coming out with their take on the product. All of these choices give many opportunities to dupe Jenner’s lip kits and let you fake it until you make it.

Candy K is a pinkish nude with mauve and brown undertones. It can be duped with MAC Velvet Teddy ($17.00). Although Velvet Teddy is a traditional lipstick and not liquid, the color is nearly identical and still has the matte finish.

Dolce K is a bit darker than Candy K with more warm brown undertones. Beeper by ColourPop Cosmetics is a great alternative at a great price — $6. ColourPop is an online retailer that is great for college students on a budget — eyeshadows are $5 and the most expensive items are $8.

True Brown K is a deep brown with red undertones; ColourPop’s Limbo is a great affordable dupe for $6. If you’re willing to splurge a bit, Dose of Colors Chocolate Wasted is a bit closer to the color of True Brown K for $18.

Jenner released the three newer shades — Koko K, Mary Jo K and Posie K — on Feb. 5. The new sets managed to last a little longer before being sold out, running out after a cool 30 minutes.

Koko K is a pale pink nude. A close dupe is Anastasia Beverly Hill’s Pure Hollywood and costs $20. Mary Jo K, which was named after Jenner’s maternal grandmother, is a true blue-based red. ColourPop’s Creeper, which costs $6, provides the same finish and same undertones. Last but not least, Koko K is a mauve pink. Once again, ColourPop provides an affordable dupe in Lumiére 2 for $6.

Hopefully these dupes will ease the pain of wanting what you can’t have. Jenner typically announces the launches after the kits go live online — although they’ll likely be sold out by the time you get there on her Instagram — @kyliejenner.

Jenner will also come out with a 20-piece nail polish collection, with Sinful Colors launching Feb. 26. It seems the dynasty of “King Kylie” is only just beginning.