Both brands share a word in their name and the same parent company. Both are 100% cruelty-free. Both are US-founded with a global distribution footprint. And both are stocked in the UK exclusively through Hair and Beauty Corp — making us the only place in the country where you can honestly and directly compare the two.
That last point matters more than it might initially seem. Neither Nicka K New York nor Absolute New York will tell you "here's where the other brand is better than us." Neither retailer who carries only one of the two can give you the complete picture. This comparison is only possible from the position of the sole UK distributor for both — which is exactly who we are.
This is a category-by-category, product-by-product comparison. We're going to tell you which brand leads in each area, where the genuine gaps are, and how to build the optimal combined kit from both ranges. No marketing softening, no false equivalence.
Browse both ranges in one place: Nicka K New York and Absolute New York at Hair and Beauty Corp.
The Brands: Background and Philosophy
Nicka K New York
Nicka K New York was established with a focus on inclusive, accessible makeup that performs genuinely well across the full spectrum of skin tones. The brand's particular strength in lip, nail, and cheek formulations reflects its heritage and the diversity of its New York-origin customer base. Nicka K products tend to be formulated with high pigment concentration — the brand doesn't make products that need to be applied heavily to show up.
In the UK, Nicka K's pricing sits at the very accessible end of the market — the Lip Gel starts at £1.30 — making it one of the strongest value propositions in budget-to-mid beauty.
Absolute New York
Absolute New York has positioned itself with a slightly broader scope — encompassing both makeup and skincare — with particular strength in foundation, liner, and skin preparation products. The brand's 2-in-1 Foundation at £8.99 is its flagship product and reflects the brand's approach: multifunctional formulations that deliver professional-level results at accessible prices.
Absolute New York's formulation tends toward a slightly more "complexion" focus — the brand invests more formula development in base products and tools that interact directly with skin preparation and tone.
Category Comparison: Lip
Verdict: Nicka K wins clearly
The lip category is where the gap between the two brands is widest in Nicka K's favour. The Nicka K Lip Gel is a standout product at any price point — a moisturising, highly pigmented gel formula starting from £1.30 that delivers from sheer to near-opaque coverage, stays on for four to six hours, and works across an exceptional shade range that includes bold darks, warm reds, nude browns, and true pinks.
Nicka K also leads on lip liner, with a comprehensive range of shades and a formula that anchors the Lip Gel effectively without feathering or bleeding at the border. The two products are designed as a system — applying Nicka K lip liner before the Lip Gel is the technique that maximises wear time and definition.
Explore the full Nicka K lip makeup range including Lip Gel starting from £1.30.
Absolute New York offers lip products, but this is not the brand's primary development focus. If lip colour is a priority — particularly if you want a wide shade range, bold colours, or deep-skin-appropriate nudes and darks — Nicka K is the correct choice.
[Advantage: Nicka K]
Category Comparison: Eye and Liner
Verdict: Absolute New York leads
The Absolute New York Insanely Black Flexible Brush Eyeliner is the brand's most distinctive product and its most significant competitive advantage. The true-black pigment, the flexible brush tip that enables everything from hairline-fine tightlining to broad graphic liner strokes, and the formula that sets within 90 seconds and wears without cracking — these are specification-level advantages that are rare at this price point.
See the full Absolute New York eyeliner range at Hair and Beauty Corp.
For eyeshadow, the comparison is closer. Nicka K has a strong eyeshadow palette range — well-curated, well-pigmented, with inclusive shade options for deep skin tones. Absolute New York also has palette options. In the palette category specifically, Nicka K's breadth of shade options and their consistent performance on deeper complexions gives the brand a slight edge.
For liner specifically — if you want the best liner either brand produces — the Absolute New York Insanely Black is the clear answer. For eyeshadow palettes, Nicka K is the stronger performer.
[Liner advantage: Absolute New York. Palette advantage: Nicka K. Overall eye category: narrow Absolute NY lead for liner excellence]
Category Comparison: Foundation
Verdict: Absolute New York leads clearly
Foundation is the category Absolute New York has invested the most development energy into, and it shows. The 2-in-1 Foundation at £8.99 is a genuinely impressive product: dual coverage functionality (foundation at light application, concealer at concentrated application), accurate undertone matching across the depth range, a natural-satin finish that suits multiple skin types, and six to eight hours of wear time.
Nicka K's primary strength is not base makeup. If building a complete base — a foundation that matches precisely, covers evenly, and lasts through a full day — the Absolute New York 2-in-1 is the correct choice from these two brands.
See the Absolute New York foundation and concealer range at Hair and Beauty Corp.
[Advantage: Absolute New York]
Category Comparison: Nail
Verdict: Nicka K wins
Nicka K has invested significantly in the nail category — with a shade range that spans seasonal naturals, bold brights, rich darks, and inclusive options for deep skin tones. The formula delivers consistent wear without the rapid chipping that compromises many budget nail polishes.
Explore the Nicka K nail polish range at Hair and Beauty Corp — one of the widest affordable nail ranges available in the UK.
Absolute New York's primary focus is not nail — the brand's development resources are concentrated on face and eye categories. For nail colour, Nicka K is the correct choice.
[Advantage: Nicka K]
Category Comparison: Skincare
Verdict: Absolute New York leads
Only Absolute New York has a developed skincare range. Nicka K's product focus is makeup. If skincare — particularly skincare designed to be compatible with and preparatory for makeup application — is part of your routine, Absolute New York is the only option between the two brands.
Explore the Absolute New York skincare range at Hair and Beauty Corp.
[Advantage: Absolute New York — Nicka K has no equivalent]
Category Comparison: Cheek (Blush, Bronzer, Highlighter)
Verdict: Nicka K edges ahead
Nicka K's blush and bronzer range is broad and well-pigmented, with options that work convincingly across multiple skin tones including deeper complexions. The brand's formulation philosophy — inclusive pigmentation — is an advantage in the cheek category specifically, because under-pigmented blush on deep skin simply doesn't register.
Browse the Nicka K blush, bronzer and highlighter range at Hair and Beauty Corp.
Both brands offer highlighter options, and both perform reasonably in this category. The advantage to Nicka K is primarily in breadth of shade range and consistent performance across skin depths.
[Advantage: Nicka K]
Category Comparison: Ethics and Cruelty-Free Status
Verdict: Equal — both brands are fully cruelty-free
Both Nicka K New York and Absolute New York are 100% cruelty-free. Neither brand tests on animals at any stage of production, and both maintain this standard consistently. For shoppers who prioritise cruelty-free certification as a purchasing criterion, both brands meet the standard.
Explore all cruelty-free options at Hair and Beauty Corp's cruelty-free collection.
[Advantage: Equal]
Price Positioning: Which Brand Offers Better Value?
Nicka K operates at a lower average price point — the Lip Gel at £1.30 is an extraordinary price for the formula quality. Across the range, Nicka K's pricing tends to be slightly lower than Absolute New York's equivalent category products.
Absolute New York's 2-in-1 Foundation at £8.99 represents excellent value given its dual-use capability — replacing both foundation and concealer — but it's at a higher individual price than most Nicka K products.
On a per-product basis: Nicka K is slightly cheaper. On a cost-per-function basis: Absolute New York's 2-in-1 functionality makes it strong value. Both brands represent excellent value compared to any mainstream or premium competitor.
Who Should Choose Which Brand?
Choose Nicka K if...
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Lip colour is your primary makeup focus
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You paint your nails and want coordinated colour options
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You have deep skin tones and want products formulated with inclusive pigmentation throughout
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You want to build a full colour kit at the lowest possible price point
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Eyeshadow palettes are central to your makeup routine
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Cheek colour variety is important to you
Choose Absolute New York if...
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Foundation and base makeup performance is your priority
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You want the best possible eyeliner at this price point
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You want to integrate skincare into your routine
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Graphic or precision liner looks are part of your repertoire
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You want a single product that functions as both foundation and concealer
Choose Both (The Optimal Kit)
The honest answer — and the answer only available from the UK's sole distributor for both brands — is that the optimal kit uses both. The brands are designed to complement rather than compete:
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Absolute New York 2-in-1 Foundation for base coverage
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Nicka K eyeshadow palette for the eye look
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Absolute New York Insanely Black Eyeliner for liner definition
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Nicka K Blush for cheek colour
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Nicka K Lip Gel for lip colour
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Nicka K Lip Liner for lip definition and wear extension
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Nicka K Nail Polish for coordinating nail colour
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Absolute New York skincare range for skin preparation
This combined approach takes the best from each brand across every category and produces a kit that outperforms either brand used exclusively.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Nicka K and Absolute New York?
Nicka K's primary strengths are lip colour, nail, eyeshadow palettes, cheek products, and inclusive formulation for deep skin tones. Absolute New York's primary strengths are foundation, eyeliner, and skincare. Both are 100% cruelty-free and represent exceptional value at their respective price points.
Is Nicka K or Absolute New York better for deep skin tones?
Both brands are formulated with inclusive pigmentation, but Nicka K's specific investment in deep-skin-appropriate shade ranges — particularly for lip, blush, and eyeshadow — makes it the stronger choice for deep skin tone coverage. For foundation specifically, Absolute New York's 2-in-1 covers deep complexions well.
Can I mix Nicka K and Absolute New York products?
Yes, and we recommend it. The optimal kit uses both brands — Absolute New York for foundation, liner, and skincare; Nicka K for lip, eye palette, blush, and nail. The brands are from the same parent company and the formulas are designed to be compatible.
Which brand is cheaper — Nicka K or Absolute New York?
Nicka K operates at a slightly lower average price point, with products starting at £1.30 (Lip Gel). Absolute New York's 2-in-1 Foundation is priced at £8.99 — higher per product but offering dual functionality. Both brands are positioned at the accessible end of the UK beauty market.
Which brand has the better eyeliner?
Absolute New York — and specifically the Insanely Black Flexible Brush Eyeliner — is the clear leader in the liner category. The true-black pigmentation, flexible brush tip, and 90-second set time with flexible long-wear make it a stand-out product at any price point.
Which brand is better for eyeshadow palettes?
Nicka K has the stronger eyeshadow palette range in terms of shade breadth and performance across multiple skin tones. Their inclusive formulation philosophy ensures palettes perform well on deeper complexions, which is a specific advantage over many budget alternatives.
Is there a significant quality difference between the two brands?
Both brands deliver strong formulation quality for their respective price points. The quality difference is more about category focus than overall standard — Nicka K invests more in lip and colour, Absolute New York invests more in base and liner. Both are cruelty-free and produce consistent results.
Are Nicka K and Absolute New York the same company?
Yes — both brands are part of the same parent company and share distribution through Hair and Beauty Corp in the UK, where we are the sole distributor for both. This makes Hair and Beauty Corp the only place in the UK where you can purchase from both brands and compare them directly.
Does one brand have better foundation than the other?
Absolute New York is clearly the leader in foundation — the 2-in-1 Foundation is one of the brand's flagship products and reflects significant formulation investment. Nicka K's focus is colour products rather than base makeup.
Where can I buy both Nicka K and Absolute New York in the UK?
Hair and Beauty Corp is the sole UK distributor for both Nicka K New York and Absolute New York. You can purchase from both ranges in a single order through our website, with fast UK delivery. We carry the widest available range of both brands in the country.
The Distributor Advantage: Why Buying Both Brands from Hair and Beauty Corp Matters
There is a practical reason to purchase Nicka K and Absolute New York together from Hair and Beauty Corp beyond convenience: we are the sole UK distributor for both brands simultaneously. This is an unusual position that gives our customers a genuine advantage.
Authentic Products, Single Source
Parallel import routes — where products are purchased outside official distribution channels and resold — are a documented problem in the UK beauty market. Products acquired through unofficial channels may be older stock, stored incorrectly, or in some cases counterfeit. As the sole UK distributor for both brands, Hair and Beauty Corp is the only authorised source for authentic Nicka K and Absolute New York products in the country. Every product purchased from us is genuine, correctly stored, and covered by the same quality standards the brands apply globally.
Range Breadth
A sole distributor relationship means we stock a wider range than any independent reseller sourcing through secondary channels. If a shade or product exists in the Nicka K or Absolute New York range, we are the most likely UK source to carry it. For buyers comparing specific shades or building a comprehensive kit across both brands, the breadth of our range makes a material difference.
The Comparison Content Advantage
Equally, this guide itself is only possible because of our position as distributor for both. Neither Nicka K nor Absolute New York can honestly compare themselves to each other — they are separate brand identities. Only Hair and Beauty Corp, holding both distribution rights, can provide an objective, evidence-based comparison. This is a unique content perspective that no other UK retailer or distributor can replicate.
See the complete range from both brands at Hair and Beauty Corp — trade and wholesale accounts also available for beauty businesses.
Shop both brands in one place: Nicka K New York and Absolute New York — exclusively at Hair and Beauty Corp, the UK's sole distributor for both.
