It was a drizzly, Saturday morning and I was waiting outside with hundreds of other fanatics for the Philadelphia appearance of the traveling Hello Kitty Café. I made sure to arrive a half hour early so as to not miss out on the highly-Instagrammed cute kitty confections. While killing time on a line that kept getting longer and longer, I decided to try another kitty product, the Max in Pocket lip balm by the brand Too Cool For School.
Max in Pocket, is made in Korea and is like Hello Kitty’s wiser, older cousin. He was designed by German illustrator Anke Weckmann, as is all of the products in the Too Cool For School Artify line. It’s kind of like the grown-up version of the mini Hello Kitty cosmetics I favored as a child. If you love the super cute packaging, the Artify line has everything from BB Creams to mascara and blush with Weckmann’s illustrations.
Normally I carry a small mirror in my purse, but I didn’t have to pull it out because the Max in Pocket comes with a little mirror and a key chain. Ideal for traveling, right? The shade I sampled is called #1 Kiss Kiss and looks like a bright red. However, when applied Kiss Kiss is more of a sheer berry on my lips.
L – R: #1 Kiss Kiss, #3 Dolly Dolly
The good news is that Max in Pocket is free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. It has a slight fruity fragrance which is the mango seed. Have dry lips? The shea butter will repair any dryness and keep your lips moisturized. Overall it felt very light on my lips the entire time I was in line with my fellow Hello Kitty fans, which is a break from my usual heavy feeling lip glosses.
Retailing for $12 on Sephora, the Too Cool For School Max in Pocket is also available in two additional shades and compact colors: #2 Pink Pink and #3 Dolly Dolly. I think it would be the perfect gift for a nearly ancient Hello Kitty fan like myself!
So was the Hello Kitty Café sold out? Did I get a chance to purchase the ridiculously saccharine swag? Luckily it was not, and the line moved very quickly once the truck opened for business! I am now the proud owner of a T-shirt, $3 water bottle, free button, and some already digested, but delicious, Hello Kitty treats.
