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| Every now and again, a drugstore makeup line does something so right that were it not for the utilitarian packaging one would swear that it was a high-end luxury product. Such is the case with the Milani Illuminating Face Powders. Of the three shades available, I chose the obviously cooler leaning pink Beauty's Touch 03. | | | | | | | | | | |
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| The first, and visceral, reaction is clearly solicited by the embossed roses that look like a gorgeous tightly grouped wedding bouquet. It is so gorgeous that if it were in a Guerlain or Chanel compact that you would be willing to pay upwards of $100.00 for this lovely piece of makeup artwork. The creamy dreamy buttery soft finely milled texture will have you waxing poetic about the many virtues of this wonderful multitasking illuminating face powder. When swirled together it is a lovely soft baby pink. For the über fair, this can double as a blush, but for everyone else this will make for one beautiful and luminous highlighter. Medium to darker skin tones may find this too light- therefore the other shades will likely hold greater appeal. I have been applying it with my beloved Hakuhodo S113, and frankly if I didn't know any better I would swear that this was a prohibitively expensive luxury beauty powder. If you were among the people who missed out on MAC's Chen Man repromote of Play it Proper-- then this is a pretty good dupe! |
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| Perhaps one of the most exciting things about this purchase, aside from the fantastic quality, is the fact that I had a CVS 30% off coupon, plus the cashier handed me an extra coupon for an additional dollar off. When all was said and done I got this beauty for $5.54 plus tax (making it a whopping $6.02)! I can barely get a latte for that price! |
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| Isn't this gorgeous?! |
Light swatch on top, heavier swatch on bottom.
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| New friends sitting side by side. |
In order to produce this Milani swatch I swirled my finger in a circular motion around the entire compact. While it is clearly a touch darker than Play it Proper it could be lightened further by concentrating on the pigment found in some of the lighter roses. Therefore with a highly directed finger or brush you could lighten it up to a hue that approximates Play it Proper more closely. I love both of these powders, but am now less concerned if I hit the pan on Play it Proper- knowing that I can replace it with this gorgeous Milani Highlighter if MAC never repromotes Play it Proper! Who am I kidding though-- they have repromoted it before and it's so popular that I imagine that Play it Proper will be seen in some future MAC collection.
Overall assessment: It's as good as it looks!! I highly recommend checking this one out. Plus, Milani is a Cruelty Free company!
0.35 oz. for around $9.95 CVS, Walgreens. You can also order it from Milani directly.
This looks absolutely beautiful. The colour is stunning too. I need to find this.
ReplyDeleteHi Vicki! It is absolutely beautiful in every way. It simply blows my mind that this is a drugstore find!! Thanks for stopping by! :-)
DeleteI just love CVS for its deals, coupons, ECBs, and clearance sales! Ever since I first saw reviews of this Milani Face Powder I have thought that it was such a beauty. Don't know why I haven't bought one yet! I have a Milani Bronzer/Blush duo that I bought on clearance at CVS a couple of years ago that is such a coveted favorite of mine too! I think Milani is a wonderful brand.
DeleteHi Tina,
DeleteI agree, CVS definitely has some very worthwhile deals. I did exactly the same thing that you did-- I saw some reviews of these illuminators a while ago, and even went to the trouble of looking at them before. For some unknown reason I didn't pick it up- though I do vaguely remember that being around the time that I was on a Revlon Lip Butter bender trying to track down all of the shades. I agree with you that Milani is a wonderful brand, and I can only imagine that you covet your bronzer/blush. Did you review it? I will have to pop on over to your blog and check it out! ;)
It's such a pretty color. I tend to stay away from drugstore blush because I like to try things before I buy them but this looks like a good find.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a very good find! ;)
DeleteLooks like such a pretty color. I generally stay away from drugstores for my blush and shadows because I like to try on and hate returning but this looks like such a great find.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a pretty color, Aleya. I generally avoid lots of drugstore products for the same reason that you do. Truth be told, the reason that I was willing to take the risk with this was because it was so heavily discounted from my coupons. I'm glad that I did, though!
DeleteWhat a pretty color. I wouldn't expect it to be that pretty a pink. At the CVS I go to they have a pretty pitiful Milani display but maybe the next sale I'll check to see if they have this.
ReplyDeleteIt really is pretty. It was an unexpected surprise. The Milani displays at a few of my local CVS stores are routinely pretty picked through. Often what would be of interest is sold out, or turned into a tester by a customer!! I really wish all of the drugstores would start having testers because they have to damage out so many products that people decide to open and try! It's worth at least looking at, and for the price it's quite a bargain! Of course it's no bargain if you don't use it! ;)
DeleteVery very cute! I was admiring this some time back without feeling any particular longing for it. It just makes me smile when I see it on the blogsophere though. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is a pretty little thing! I did the same for a long time, but finally did it when it got so inexpensive that there was no point in avoiding it any longer!:)
DeleteI have this in the peach/coral combo--natch! Milani hit a home run with these!
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy, that one is gorgeous as well! They really did hit a home run with these. This is actually the first thing that I have purchased from Milani, and now I am tempted to try out other things from the line. Any suggestions on what to try, or to avoid? xx
DeleteI agree. Put it in a sleek compact and we'd all be selling our souls for it. I've always thought these powders looked pretty. Great to know they perform well too!
ReplyDeleteExactly!! Milani really knocked it out of the park on this one!
DeleteNice post. That was actually very useful for me as I'm just getting into makeup :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Skin repair. I haven't tried the other two colors, but I think that this is definitely worth taking a look at.
DeleteMe too, Kelly!! This is definitely one of my greatest drugstore finds!! I'm a little surprised by how much I love this!
ReplyDeletei love these!! i have one (i forget what color) and i just love how it makes my skin look!
ReplyDeleteMe too!!!!!! I totally agree- I love the way this makes my skin look as well. I want to take a closer look at the others as well as more Milani products in general. Call me impressed! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI want theses blush! Too bad it's not available here in philippines. I bet I should ask my friend from U.S to bring and buy me this stuffs <3 :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review btw. I'm a new follower! :) Looking forward for your new posts and hoping that you'll check and follow my blog too. :)
http://geekindapiink.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much, Jan Mitchelle Panuela. I would definitely say that it's worth having your friend bring you the Milani Highlighter/Blush-- it's gorgeous!! THank you for stopping by and subscribing!! I will definitely check out your blog as well! <3
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