If any of you Londoners have been brave or foolhardy enough to attempt navigation of the heaving mass that currently populates the spangly new Westfield Stratford City – yes ‘City!’ You may have happened upon a gleaming, indeed almost blinding little store called Kiko. Hailing from Milan, it is the first of its kind to arrive on our fair shores. 

In passing you may be inclined to sniff at the somewhat gaudy posters and disarmingly cheap offers – yes, the prices are low but fear not! The quality is excellent. Kiko have achieved something enviable here: a comprehensive range of varied cosmetics at extremely reasonable prices.

Of particular interest to me were the Colour Sphere Eyeshadows – generous helpings of baked mineral shadows that cost £6.90 each. These are packed with shimmer and swirls of subtle colour – comparable to the recent Mac Semi Precious Collection retailing at over £20! This collection sold out at lightning speed in the London stores, and at such a hefty price, it really is a no-brainer for us mere recession saddled mortals to go cheap and cheerful. Application is smooth, the colour easily buildable and remains in place for a pretty respectable amount of time. 

The nail polishes too are worthy of mention, in a wide array of colours and effects (and handily arranged in groups of these) at under five pounds. Though not on a par with O.P.I or China Glaze, with a decent top coat these can remain good for around a week. Application is even and streak-free after two coats in the shades I tried, with vibrant colour that fades slightly in time. 

There is a real buzz around this shop at the moment and from its beginnings in Stratford I’m sure Kiko will spread across the city. Sure, it’s nice to see some Chanel or NARS peeking from your make-up bag, but it’s also pretty cool to be able to not feel a crushing sense of guilt at buying bronzer when you should be stocking up on Value noodles.