Hello fellow makeup fiends! My name is Skylark and I've been a long time lurker, and this is my first post. I have recently become obsessed with Milk Makeup and I began looking for reviews, especially here on reddit since ya'll are really great about being honest about products. However, I could not find in depth reviews of most of the products I was interested. My goal in this post is to create the largest, most comprehensive review of Milk Makeup to date. I will add periodically as I purchase items, so feel free to add your own mini review in the comment section. Thank you!
((Side note: My skin type is combo/sensitive. I am currently getting the last bit of my acne under control and my main concern is hyperpigmentation. I currently wear MAC NW 20 and I have brown hair and hazel eyes))
Note that Milk Makeup’s philosophy includes potentially irritating oils (Coconut, Avocado, Lavender, and the photosensitive Citrus) and products are made to be applied with the hands.
PRODUCTS THAT I OWN:
Eye Pigment ($24 for .34 oz/10 ml): 10/10
All I can say is WOW this stuff is incredible. I swear it's made from crushed unicorn horn, angel tears and stardust. This is my HG eye color product. It currently comes in 11 shades and all of them are lovely. I own After Party (a light pink) and Jam Room (iridescent lavender). The pigmentation is astronomical and I would encourage you to stop reading and go run and buy them ALL. Now, for those of you who have watched Milk Makeup videos or are kids at heart and want to squeeze errything outta da damn tube; STOP. Literally all you need is dot the size of the head of a pin. A little goes a long way. Additionally, instead of smearing the whole gob on your eye and call it a day, lightly tap your finger in the dot of cream and smudge it on in layers. You have about 30 seconds to adjust before it dries but when it dries it will last until the day after the end of time. This shit STAYS. Some say that it is a single use color but I find it is incredibly versatile. You can use it by itself and sheer it out, make it into a pop of color graphic liner or use it as the lid color for a killer cut crease. There's definitely a bit of a learning curve but it's worth it. Also on the Milk website it shows that you can use it as face paint; the pastabilites are endless! I will be trying to purchase ALL the colors at some point. Next two on my list are Silent Disco (brown) and Gig (copper).
Blur Stick ($36 for 1 oz./28 g): 9/10
Undoubtedly one of the most expensive items in the collection (second only to the Skin Tint), this pore filling, grease controlling, emotional baggage eliminating primer stick definitely deserves to be expensive. I have a very oily t-zone and sensitive skin that breaks out if you look at me the wrong way. Other mattifying primers would break down or break me out. This has been my HG as far as primers go. It is SILICONE FREE!!! It swipes on clear and it automatically begins to soak up excess oil. It feels powdery soft and dry afterwards. This threw me for a loop when I put it under my normal foundation before a day of extreme ups and downs (a panic attack, hysteric crying, a greasy brunch at Denny's, a baseball game in the sweltering Texas heat, more sweating, more crying, another anxiety attack and dinner) and I was still serving when I went to take my makeup off. It does add another 6-8 hours to my normal foundation wear time (around 8 hours) and I have not had any sort of breakout from this. It does fill my pores but it does not make me poreless. Not that pores bothered me but it's a nice touch. I also received a mini blur stick that I throw in my bag for touch ups :) I would highly recommend this, and I would definitely repurchase!!! (It does not get a 10/10 because sometimes it catches on dry skin and bunches up, but can be smoothed out))
Lipstick ($22 for 0.1 oz/2.8 g): 9/10
Okay, let me just say I hate stuff on my lips. I'm always talking/eating/drinking and I can't ever find a lip product that works. Milk Makeup to the rescue! They have 10 shades including various mauves and nudes with a couple of reds and fuschias. I own CREAM (peachy nude) and Wifey (perfect mauve). They are my ideal mix of matte but not flat. They are durable enough to stay in place for talking and drinking and some eating but don't dry my lips out like most matte lippies. They boast a 30% pigment load so one swipe and you're done. The packaging is a bit long for a lipstick but that's neither here nor there. One thing I'd like to point out is that the pigments that they use are not colorfast meaning that the pigments break down over time. I noticed this in Sephora that one of the fuschias was white. It scraped off the top layer of 'bleached' product and it was the correct color underneath. While none of us would subject our lippies to bright direct light for several hours a day, I'm curious about the longevity of the pigment/product over all. Just a thought though. I'd highly recommend these if you like durable lipsticks in 'normal' colors! I would definitely repurchase in many other colors.
Holographic Highlighter ($28 for 1 oz): 8/10
This was one of the products that put Milk Makeup on the map in terms of cosmetics. It is a stick form of highlighter in a unique iridescent lavender (supposedly universally flattering). In their May 2nd launch a new shade of the highlighter was introduced and its a peach/hot pink shift. I own both and I love them! The lavender is quite beautiful on my NW skin and the peachy pink is just as stunning. While not 'holographic' it does certainly show a shift in color when put under bright light. A note about the colors: since they are relatively sheer, they don't reflect a lot of light. Under yellow light it is impossible to see either color. Bright white or blue light emphasise it best. My issue with this product is that it is a balm so it does not dry down or melt into the skin. For those who don't wear foundation this is irrelevant but it doesn't sink into foundation and can feel sticky and get hair caught in it occasionally. It makes a nice base for powder highlights as well. I have had my lavender highlight for about 2 months and I have barely made a dent. I would definitely repurchase!
Cooling Water ($24 for 1.2 oz) : 8/10
This was one of the first products I had purchased from the line when it launched at the beginning of the year. I've had this for ~5 months and it's about halfway gone. I use this every other day so it's a decent amount for what you receive. Does this feel like a cool, sensual kiss from the sea? Yes. Does it do anything significant skincare wise? Probably not. It is a wonderful depuffer for eyes in the morning and reduces redness as well. It also makes a great under eye moisturizer and it has helped some seriously flaky skin throughout the day. If used on the skin alone it moisturizes and leaves a slightly tacky feel which is great for BB creams and tinted moisturizers, though it does not increase longevity. Scent is light and goes on colorless. I would most likely repurchase. It also feels wonderful if left in the fridge for a bit and then put on after a hot day/workout!
Eyebrow Pencil ($18 for .042 oz/1.2 g): 7/10
((Disclaimer, I have naturally full brows and only need to fill in and shape the tail)) This pencil is quite lovely and I'm glad that I bought it though I'm unsure if I'd repurchase. The formula is slightly gel like despite being in pencil form. The tip sharpens nicely but I found since it is so soft that the sharpener will continue to sharpen down the nub if you don't pull it out. The pigmentation is nice as well and lasts through the day, however it is prone to smudge a bit if your face gets oily. Currently there are only 3 shades available and they are all very cool and yellow skewed. I own Dark Brew and it's a tad darker than my natural color. It comes with a sturdy spoolie on the other end which I enjoy but I'd rather have a longer pencil than another spoolie ( it's the size of your average pencil, nothing extraordinary). I've had it for about a month and I've gone through roughly 1/4th of the pencil. It's nicer than others but it's not extraordinary.
Eye Vinyl ($22 for .07 oz/2 ml): 7/10
Want to achieve the glossy eye look but don't have time to allow a day's worth of oil to accumulate? You can create a glossy lid in moments with a swipe of Milk's Eye Vinyl stick! The formula is unique. For those who have tried Nyx's eye gloss, Milk's formula is much thicker and stickier. There are currently 4 shades available, a transparent nude, a transparent iridescent lavender, a royal purple and a black. The formula is the same for all but the transparency is different. The nude is the clearest, followed by the iridescent lavender, royal purple has an opacity of about 30% and the black at about 50%. I own the nude color and it looks edgy but also youthful. It doesn't tend to run surprisingly but it has a tendency to crease. The formula isn't sticky however, you don't really feel it when you blink. The applicator is unique and I think it helps spread the gloss evenly. A downside is that you cannot wear anything else on your lid without is creasing and migrating horribly. However I think the product nails the glossy but not sticky aspect. Would most likely repurchase!
Weekend Lash Stain ($22 for .46 oz.): 7/10
Raise your hand if you have ever been personally victimized by Regina George waterproof mascara. hand raise I like waterproof mascara but it still manages to flake and burn the ever loving shit out of my eyes when I take it off. I was skeptical of the Weekend Lash Stain but now I have come to love it like you love your grade school best friend who you know would back you up if you asked even though you ya'll rarely talk. My qualm with this product however is the application. The formula is quite runny and pigmented, and the wand bristles are very shallow. You really have to scrape the product off the wand and use a very delicate hand to apply a thin coat. It takes a minute or two to dry but once it is dry, it will last through showers, makeup, parties, swimming, makeout seshes, and so much more. My tip is to put on the stain and then grab a spoolie and distribute it more evenly. Keep in mind this formula is for darkening and defining, not volume and definition! It does not come off evenly, even with waterproof remover or cold cream! I really enjoy it overall despite being a pain to put on. I'd recommend this if you have problems with even the most powerful mascaras staying or are an active person who likes to look good while working out. ((Note; when I bought this about a month ago it was already taken off the Milk website and is no longer available through them. I bought mine in store at Urban Outfitters.))
Lip+Cheek ($26 for 1 oz): **6/10**
This is my first 'duo' product and I like it well enough; there are pros and there are cons. My biggest issue with this product is that there is GLITTER in the balm stick. It is not finely milled glitter either. I have the shade Rally and it is a medium mauve. There are 3 additional shades including a bubblegum pink, a coral and a deep berry. These are sheer tints to smudge on your lip and cheek so do not be frightened by the bold colors, they sheer out very nicely! Back to the glitter thing- on the website there is no indication that there is glitter in the product. Though when you swatch it under the bright, judgmental and sobering light of Sephora, it is very obvious there is glitter. It is almost unnoticeable in the bubble gum pink, noticeable in the coral and mauve shade and pretty much non existent in the berry shade. It seemed strange but I purchased anyway. It's a natural flush and the glitter isn't too noticeable on the cheeks. I like how nicely it blended out! Lips are a different story. The art herpes known as glitter made itself very clear on my lips. I looked like a middle schooler with that sparkly ass Bonne Bell lip gloss. The glitter is not finely milled and I could feel every gritty little piece. Wear time on the cheeks is just as well as any other blush and the lips last decently. Also; it applies best on liquid foundation straight from the stick. If you have powder on your face after your foundation, run a brush/finger/beauty blender over the balm and then put it on so it does not disturb the makeup underneath. Overall, a great concept and good amount of product and shade range (I use like 2 colors of blush, it gets overwhelming. Why would you need more than that?) but the glitter takes the concept and mugs it, beats it within an inch of it's life and leaves it for dead.
Matcha Toner ($26 for 1 oz/28 g): 4/10
Probably the most disappointing of all the Milk products that I own. This was part of their May 2nd launch. I've had it for a few days and I just can't find a reason to like it. It arrived slightly melty so I allowed it to cool before placing it in the refrigerator. It works similarly to the Cooling Water but I do not see/feel any noticeable difference. I used it after I washed, after I washed and moisturized, before makeup, as a moisturizer, before bed, when I got up, and it does...nothing??? This product doesn't really absorb and leaves a very tacky layer on top of the skin. It also does not 'tone' or reduce redness. I was also a bit disappointed that it had no smell (no matcha smell :( ). I'm debating if I want to send this back. The only reason I gave it a 4 was because it looks very pretty on my vanity. Disappointment in a stick really.
Skin Tint ($42 for .7 oz): 3/10
***** I was considering whether or not to put this in the review. While I do not OWN the tube of Skin Tint I have two samples of it and have swatched it in store and feel I have enough of an impression to make a rating. ****** The formula is not what I expected, as it comes out a little oily and runny, it dries down to a semi matte finish with a slight tack which is nice. The coverage is definitely very light, and slightly buildable. It does feel hydrating and its not patchy but it does tend to get oily throughout the day. The formula is nice but I wouldn't say it's remarkable or worth the $45, especially at the consistency of a BB cream. The rollerball applicator is indeed unique albeit not functional. I was trying to swatch in store and it was a struggle to get product out. The clicky pen is finicky and either you get a smudge or half the tube out; Russian Roulette style. Also the rollerball isn't meant to apply the makeup perfectly, you roll it over and then smudge with your hands (ew; my acne is screaming). The rollerball is just as temperamental and doesn't do a very good job. On the website Milk claims that there is no preservatives and is kept fresh with a bit of antimicrobial silver. Additionally there are only 8 shades and 6 of which skew very yellow (I swatched them all personally). While it does have a boost of SPF 30, the amount you use wouldn't make a difference. I would pass on this, as there are so many problems with application and the formula isn't particularly remarkable. More like Skin DisapoinTint...
PRODUCTS I DO NOT OWN BUT HAVE SWATCHED IN STORE: ((These scores are provisional as of now. These are based on 3+ swatches at different times and applications to the face and arm))
Balm Stick ($18 for .07 oz): 4/10
I love me a good lip balm and this just straight up doesn’t cut it. This balm uses ‘Milk Melt Technology’ it’s fucking coconut oil and it really does melt...in a bad way. It becomes a runny mess and it’s gross and smeary and tastes bad. Also what really gets me is the packaging. It says on the website ‘This product clicks up but not down’. The stick concealer does the same thing. They have cute colors but I can’t overlook the fact that it is messy and the packaging is inefficient. Honestly you’d be better off spending $12 at Glossier and get 7 TIMES the amount of product in their Balm Dot Com (.5 oz v.s. .07)
Liquid Strobe ($24 for 1.3 oz/3.8 ml): 5/10
As much as I love a liquid highlight, this one doesn’t quite hit the mark. While in the tube, it looks iridescent but when swatched, it is very runny and there are the crappily coarsely milled sparkles and ‘pearl flakes’. They are quite large and distracting and it certainly does not look like that on the website. We also encounter the same problem as the Skin Tint with the clicky pen conundrum as it does not come out or completely nuts all over your hand. The consistency is like a shiny liquid that had gross sparkles suspended in it. There are three shades, a iridescent pearl, light pink and pale gold. Pretty, but unremarkable. I would pass…
Oil Lip Stain ($18 for .355 oz): 7/10
I was intrigued by this, as I was expecting a lipgloss, however it comes out oily and quickly dries down. It’s comfortable and doesn’t taste bad. Wear time is okay, but not bad. There are only 3 shades available and the plum and red swatch almost identical. I was a little grossed out by the light pink one though as it also seems to be made of the same non lightfast pigments that the other lipsticks have. The light pink, under bright direct light on the Sephora shelves has often become discolored and yellow. It’s gross honestly, so I would pass on the pink but I am interested in the red/plum!
Blush Oil ($26 for 1.35 oz): 8/10
This beautiful formula also comes in the nutting clicky pen rollerball. As much as I despise the rollerball ‘hahahaha 90’s kids remember’ vintage retro grunge agenda they are trying to push; this formula is quite nice. It has the same consistency as the Liquid Strobe but without the chunky glitter. Points deducted for the packaging and the fact that there is very little work time with this. There are only three shades as well and all of them are fresh and lovely. Ripe has to be my favorite and is next on my list!
Matte Bronzer ($24 for 1 oz): 8/10
I haven’t been one for bronzers (especially the sparkly orange kind- did you feel me shudder, dear reader?) but this definitely drew me in. Milk has marketed this as a bronzer that is well…matte. Which is awful hard to find these days. They recently came out with a slightly darker shade for our deeper friends. It works similarly to the blush and highlight as that it comes in stick form. This formula feels slightly drier and does dry up a bit. It blends out nicely and looks natural but definitely skews warm. An ideal bronzer if I do say so. I enjoy it and hope to own it soon!
Overall we have winners and losers and a lot of inbetweens. This is just my personal opinion with these products and I hope this list helped you! If an item is not listed it is because I have not bought it or swatched extensively. Additionally, this review is in no way sponsored. I bought all these products with my own money and this is my honest to god opinion! Please feel free to comment or DM me if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
Stay Milky!
-Skylark
Submitted May 11, 2017 at 03:47AM by fine-skylark http://ift.tt/2qtjEKF MakeupAddiction
