Milani

Unsung Makeup Heroes: Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso

May 9th, 2016 by Nicole Fraser-Herron 33 Comments

The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of our all-time favorite permanent collection products.

Blush was the last, most recent category of makeup I got into, because I’m really fair, and while I’d say that my skin tone is generally more neutral, I do still get rosy. Since I thought that the point of foundation was to even out your skin tone, and getting rosy plays into that, I guess I just figured that blush was sort of a contradiction and would work against my efforts.

So I rocked a pale face for a long time. Then, well, I found Luminoso.

I’m pretty sure it was the first blush I ever tried, too, and what a good choice it was. It’s not just pink, and it’s not just peach. I feel like it’s the color that was meant to be there, like its found a home on my face.

Milani’s baked blushes are wonderful, and they’re not just good for the price (around 7 bucks). They’re good across the board.

I feel like Luminoso, especially, is kind of a one-stop shop. It isn’t matte, and it isn’t overly sparkly. It’s just a healthy peachy glow with a slight and very fine white/gold glow.

I think it looks phenomenal with, like, a really flawless base down, a strong brow, loads of mascara, and a classic red lip. Luminoso just like brings it all together.

Bolder lipstick shades wash you out pretty instantly, and Luminoso brings the life back into my cheeks.

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With the Right Brush, Everything’s Coming Up Roses for Milani’s New Rose Powder Blushes

January 26th, 2015 by Karen 21 Comments

Wearing Milani Rose Powder Blush in Tea Rose on my cheeks — That’s $7.99 Milani Rose Powder Blush in Tea Rose on my cheeks

Everything did not come up roses the first time I used Milani’s Rose Powder Blushes…

I made the mistake of using a cheek brush with a small, dense brush head to apply one and ended up with so much color on my cheeks that I looked like a Harlequin clown doll/vaudeville performer.

Milani Rose Powder Blushes from the left: Coral Cove, Tea Rose and Romantic Rose ($7.99 each) — The Milani Rose Powder Blushes from the left in Coral Cove, Tea Rose and Romantic Rose ($7.99 each)

The three available shades are preternaturally pigmented and matte, and therefore forgiving (pore issues, yo!), but they can look scary intense (think painted circles of bright pink) if applied willy-nilly with the wrong brush, i.e. blush brushes with a small, dense head. Same goes for large, fluffy blush brushes.

In case I haven’t stressed it enough, these blushes are VERY pigmented, and I get the best, most natural-looking results when I chill out and use a medium-sized, moderately dense duo fiber brush.

But I think a fan brush would also work well.

The flat finish looks divine in pics, and I dig the colors, which remind me of beloved shades I wear all the time, like MAC Blushbaby (01 Romantic Rose), and Chanel Malice (05 Coral Cove).

If these blushes didn’t have a logo or any branding, I’d assume they were from Sephora or Nordstrom and quite a bit more expensive (they’re $7.99 for a 0.60-oz. pan). There’s also no funny business with the fine powders. They sit on top of my skin, don’t require a lot of buffing, and last all day long.

Romantic Rose is a matte pinkish beige, Tea Rose a matte neutral rosy pink, and Coral Cove a warm poppy.

You might remember Coral Cove from last spring. This new version is more or less the same, but Milani added rose oil (although I don’t detect a scent).

Milani Rose Powder Blush in Romantic Rose — Rose Powder Blush in Romantic Rose

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Deep Matte Red Milani Lipstick in Enchanted Ruby

September 19th, 2014 by Karen 25 Comments

There’s something kind of vintage ’40s glam about Milani’s new deep matte red limited edition Enchanted Ruby Lipstick in ($6.49). I sure love how the matte finish looks in pics! If your lip sitch isn’t as dry as mine, you’ll probably be able to pull this off, no problem, but I find the texture a tad powdery and dry for me by itself…so I usually end up popping a gloss on top.

Enraptured by Enchanted Ruby? You can find it (and its enchanting cousin Enchanted Topaz) casting spells now at CVS and Walgreens stores.

In a Galaxy Not Far Away (CVS and Walgreens Stores), You’ll Find The Milani Constellation Gel Eye Liners

September 19th, 2014 by Karen 20 Comments

Wearing the new Milani Constellation Gel Eye Liners in Enchanted Emerald and Enchanted Lapis ($6.99 each)

It’s only a matter of time before Ryan and Eva call and ask me to babysit this “alleged” fruit of their loins, and when they do (Guys, seriously, call me. Ryan, I mean you. Please call me.), I could show up dressed like a responsible citizen, perhaps wearing one of these Milani Constellation Gel Eye Liners ($6.99 each and available in three shades) in a thin, tasteful cat eye with a dainty flick at the end…but why would I do that?

The three Milani Constellation Gel Eye Liners, $6.99 each

I don’t want to look responsible… I want to strike fear into Eva’s heart! Girlfriend needs to know that we, as in all of womankind, are on to her.

Gurl, we know that baby isn’t his! Stop playin’ already. 🙂

But seriously, word on the street is that these limited edition liners are flying off the shelves at CVS and Walgreens stores (I haven’t seen them on the Milani website), and I can see why. They exude personality. Technically gel eyeliners, they have a glittery overspray on top, and they sure are eye-catching, aren’t they?

So sparkly! Like gazing at a newly formed galaxy…but, like, in a pot.

Milani Constellation Gel Eye Liner in Enchanted Emerald — Enchanted Emerald

Milani Constellation Gel Eye Liner in Black Opal — Black Opal

Milani Constellation Gel Eye Liner in Enchanted Lapis — Enchanted Lapis

When you get through the overspray, you’re greeted by complex, interesting colors. Take the Enchanted Emerald shade, which from some angles looks like a deep, glossy black, and from others, a peacock blue with an undercurrent of tropical teal…

Super pretty!

I’m into all three of these, but not just because of their dynamic colors. I also like the creamy, almost wet texture and the astronomically shiny finish. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it before.

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Is Rosy Beige Nude Milani Lipstick in Enchanted Topaz a Gem?

September 18th, 2014 by Karen 15 Comments

I am captivated by the thought of an enchanted topaz — this Enchanted Topaz, Milani’s new $6.49 matte nude lipstick for fall because, hello, I’m the girl with five or six nude lippies in her purse at any given time. 🙂

I like how this rosy beige nude looks on my lips, especially when I wear it with a dramatic smokey eye, but I have a hard time with the texture… A dry, powdery matte, it’s unforgiving on any flaky areas of my lips (not a problem if I apply a layer of moisturizing gloss on top).

Topaz is one of three matte lipsticks in the new Milani fall Bedazzled collection. There’s also a purple shade called Enchanted Amethyst and a deep wine called Enchanted Ruby, and all of them are available now for a limited time at CVS and Walgreens stores.