Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Milani Spring Lips & Tips

  
Milani Pretty Natural swatch and review

  Hi friends!!  Do you ever feel like there are some brands that absolutely would not show up on your radar, were it not for beauty blogs?  Milani is one of those for me, despite its fairly prolific drugstore status.  I've used a couple of their core nail polishes and I adore their holos from a couple summers ago but I've never really delved into their full lineup.  My friend Dani of From Polish, With Love convinced me that I need some of Milani's Spring 2014 polish collection in my life (check out her full collection review HERE; it's seriously THE prettiest set of the season).  I decided I'd try out one of their highly regarded blogger-darling lipsticks, too.

  The nail polish I picked up is a bright hibiscus pink creme (which I find myself absolutely drawn to and loving right now) called Splendid Strawberry.  It also resembles strawberry Nesquik, my drink o' the moment, lol.  I used two coats and it is barely perceptively streaky.  Three coats would've made it too thick for my liking.  The formula is really quite nice and the flat brush makes for easy application.  Finished with one layer of topcoat.

Milani Splendid Strawberry swatch and review

Milani Splendid Strawberry swatch and review

  Milani's lipstick packaging is quite chic for drugstore.  They come in a shiny gold tube with rounded edges and a realistic indicator of the color inside at the base.  I chose one of the new for 2014 cremes, a dusty rose called Pretty Natural.

Milani Pretty Natural swatch and review

  I've heard nothing but excellent things about the Milani formula and I'm happy to report that, at least in the case of Pretty Natural, it's all true.  It's highly pigmented and long wearing, even with the swipe of balm I like to add on top of lighter neutral lippies.  A meal doesn't even destroy the color entirely--  I find I'm left with a healthy tint of color that requires just one swipe for touchup.  It's quite moisturizing for being so pigmented, as well, gliding onto bare lips with ease.  
 
Milani Pretty Natural swatch and review

  Is Milani the benchmark for drugstore lipsticks?  I'm thinking it might be and I'm excited to try some more shades.  I've got my eye on a deep, red toned wine shade at the moment... and in case you're on the lookout for such a color, Milani's got a great selection of vampies.
  The best thing about all this is Milani's price point-- $4.49 for the polish and $5.49 for the lipstick, making both these a relative steal for the quality.

  Thank you for reading and have a marvelous day!! ♥

17 comments:

  1. Splendid Strawberry looks absolutely...you guessed it, splendid on you!! So so gorgeous Liesl and any time I can be an enabler ;-) Actually you've just enabled me to go search out for some of those lippies because Pretty Natural is so pretty!!!

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    1. Thanks, Dani, and you can bet that my Milani spring shopping isn't over, lol :) I think you'll love the lippies, I can't imagine anyone not!

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  2. Beautiful! Both are great colors. I don't own one single Milani polish. The only Milani product I have is a blush. I've been looking for the next best lipstick....perhaps I need to check this one out :) Hope all is well!

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    1. Okay, my heart seriously leapt a little when I saw you'd commented ♥ I've heard amazing things about Milani blushes, especially those baked ones! I'm hoping the new ones with the rose embossing make it my way. There's a great green creme in this spring's polish collection that you should totally cut your teeth on :)

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  3. Both are so pretty on you, Liesl! I know what you mean about beauty blogs helping you discover brands. For me, it's more colors. I don't think I ever would have thought to try some nail polish colors if it weren't for seeing it look amazing on others. And that is certainly true as well for red lipstick. ;)

    ~ Yun

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    1. :D I'm so excited to have been able to inspire you and Christine to rock some red! We all do have a way of enabling each other, don't we? And thank you! ♥

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  4. These both look great on you! I know a lot of people like those Milani lipsticks so its nice to hear you like them too.

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    1. They're pretty much amazing, Lisa! Seriously as nice as anything higher end.

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  5. Get Milani Black Cherry. You absolutely need it! It is my HG vamp lipstick!! This looks gorgeous on you and that polish is lovely as well!

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    1. I kind of have my eye on Cabaret Blend but I might have to get both... CB is more red toned and BC looks cooler; kind of the difference between Butter London La Moss and Julep Lindsay, if you're familiar, and it is of course necessary to own both :)

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  6. I love Splendid Strawberry...no pesky hint of coral to be seen anywhere! :P Dani made me want a couple of the new Milanis too. Hmmmm...I'm curious to see what my next drugstore trip has in store.

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    1. Yes, this one knows what it is, lol. I'm curious about your next drugstore haul, too!

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  7. Beautiful, Liesl!!!! I am sure you heard me squealing all the way from Switzerland!!! This spring I feel unexpectedly drawn to exactly those squishy pinks - what's the matter with me??? And this lipstick is plain elegant yet comes with a trendy dose of edge! Now guess what, most brands I collect nailpolish wise were introduced through Blogs to me. Beauty wise goes the same except for MAC and the biggies like Dior. And guess who finally made me buy two Maybelline lipsticks???? Those glosses are not (yet) available here but I am very happy with the creams I bought - thank you for raising that flag for me xxx

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    1. Oh my gosh, did you pick up some Vivids?? Which ones? Do you love them??? :D We're both ready for some bright on our nails, that's for sure :) And it's funny, I like the color pink but I very rarely feel like wearing it on my nails. It usually feels too safe, but for some reason it's really exciting this spring, you know? And I hear you-- I'd continue to amass OPIs only were it not for blogs, and I've got my sights set on Nire's Desire at the moment ;)

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    2. Oh I should have picked Vivids? I checked the bottom of the cases and there it says Color Sensational??? One is Shocking Coral, the other Vibrant Mandarin (my favorite). Nire's Desire? Oh I am exited - you will love them once you started ;-) <3

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    3. Yep, those are Vivids :) I used to have Shocking Coral but it just wasn't my shade... We seem to be able to wear opposite colors, though, so I bet it'll be smashing on ya, sis <3

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  8. both beautiful colors! love that polish.

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