Milani Bedazzled - Fall 2014

Hey y'all!  So when I saw pics of a limited edition collection called Bedazzled from Milani, I had to run out.  I gave it a few days since it seems like my drugstores take AGES to get new stuff in.  The other day I decided to just hop in the car & go look.  Even if I didn't find anything, at least I got out of the house.


 My first few stores were a bust.  Then, just a few cities over I lucked out at a CVS.  What I was really interested in were the 2 products on the far left.  From swatches, I NEEDED that blue gel liner.  So....lets start with that.

 The blue, just OMG.  The packaging doesn't stay it, but the jar itself does(as others have said) state that the shimmer on top is an overspray.  Underneath there is no glitter.

 Look at that packaging.....HOLO!  The little brush that comes with, is fantastic & sadly the only thing I like about it.

Isn't it purdy?!?!?!  As much as I love how beautiful and blue this is, the staying power just isn't there.  I tried multiple things, setting the swatch with eyeshadow, applying it over primer on my eye AND adding shadow on top, etc.  No matter what I do, it smears off like crazy.  Even hours later on my hand it rubbed off like I'd used makeup remover on it.  It looked SO amazing on my eyes, but if it can't stay on without making me look like I've been punched, I can't deal.  Even the packaging claims it's smudge-proof. 

Now to what I really wanted.  The lipstick in Enchanted Topaz.  This is a little lighter in the tube than my pic shows, but I didn't want to mess up trying to adjust in photoshop.

I love how this almost looks expensive with the gold & the plastic over it.  Sadly, the only place on this entire tube that has the name is that sticker on the lid.  There's nothing anywhere else.

Not only is Topaz my birthstone, but as y'all saw last week I've been on the hunt to dupe an old lipstick of mine.  So when I saw this was a nude color I had to go find it.  It's almost that orange/brown/nude shade that I feel looks perfect on me and it's matte too!

As soon as I got home I had to swatch it on my hand......and put the EMBE Messina Matte on next to it.....

There's only a SLIGHT difference in the two, but OMG it's close enough for me to be a dupe.  It's even more matte than the one with "matte" in the name.   I'm going to have to go back and get backups upon backups.


I wish you luck if you're on the hunt for these.  From what I understand they're available at Walgreens and CVS only.  Sadly, the Wags in my area doesn't sell Milani so I had to hunt every CVS nearby.  Also, there's only 2 of each item in the displays.

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

New from Milani - Color Statement Nail Lacquer

I'm loving these new bottles from Milani.  I don't know why, but I much prefer round or square bottles. 

These are available at CVS, but if you can't find them or don't have one....they're available on the Milani website HERE. 

New from Milani - Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow

Have you seen these in your CVS stores yet?  I've seen reviews and swatches of ALL of these and I really want them ALL......if only I had the money and storage.  If you don't have a CVS nearby, or they're not in stock yet, you can order these HERE on the Milani website!!! 

I think I need a towel to wipe up the drool.

Milani's "What Do Your Lips Say About You?" Contest

MILANI COSMETICS ANNOUNCES “WHAT DO YOUR LIPS SAY ABOUT YOU?” CONTEST

ENLISTING WOMEN EVERYWHERE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES

  

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (May 6, 2014) – Milani Cosmetics, the leader in multicultural color cosmetics announces its first ever nationwide contest, “What Do Your Lips Say About You?”, empowering women everywhere to express themselves through the art of cosmetics.  Understanding that customers and beauty mavens alike use makeup as a creative avenue of expression, Milani Cosmetics encourages women of all ages and ethnicities to embrace their ingenuity and inner-artist to design a bespoke lip-look that speaks to their unique personalities.  Each applicant will have the chance to win the grand prize of $2,000 in cash and $1,000 worth of Milani swag to inspire any makeup fanatic’s look beyond imagination.

The contest is separated into two rounds with the first round kicking off at 12:00 AM EST on May 6, 2014, asking women to enter photos of their lip-fashion while describing what their lips say about them using an eloquent self-expressing hashtag.  Entries will be accepted until 11:59PM EST May 25, 2014, and the first 500 entries will receive one of the most celebrated Milani Cosmetics products, Color Statement Lipstick.  Milani’s Color Statement Lipstick is just one of the many cutting-edge luxe formulations available in a versatile range of shades made for women to accessorize their pout during any occasion.

“Milani Cosmetics provides every woman with the tools she needs and wants to express herself without limits,” says Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Bijou.  “Our colors and products do not discriminate.  They are made for every woman no matter her ethnicity, age, or personality.  In fact, we are dedicated to developing innovative superior cosmetics that not only inspire women to take pride in what makes them unique, but enables women to convey their own personalized message to the world in any situation without saying a word.”

A qualified panel of Milani appointed judges will choose 12 lucky finalists to enter into round two based on the originality of each contestant’s lip-voice as well as quality in skill.  Each finalist will receive $150 worth of Milani product and be asked to create a full lip-focused look using Milani Cosmetics.  Cosmetics provided will include Color Statement Lipstick, Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss, Baked Blush, Even Touch Powder Foundation, Cream to Powder, Liquid Eye Eyeliner, Runway Lashes, Eye Tech Extreme and many more!

On June 30, 2014, the 12 finalists will release their very own Milani lip-inspired makeup look and the voting will be passed on to the general public allowing one vote per person per day.  The winning look will receive $2,000 in cash and $1,000 worth of Milani cosmetics, while the runner-up will receive $500 work of products.

Initial entries for the “What Do Your Lips Say About You?” contest will be accepted on www.mymilanilips.com, as well as on www.facebook.com/milanicosmetics, Twitter and Instagram using #mymilanilips.  All finalist entries will be available for public voting within the Contest tab/application at https://www.facebook.com/Milani.  Winners will be announced on July 14, 2014. For more information on the contest, visit www.mymilanilips.com.

ABOUT MILANI COSMETICS

Founded twelve years ago, Milani is the destination brand for women who love color, love to experiment with new looks and shop for makeup in better drug stores and mass merchant retailers. These women seek innovative products, in richly pigmented colors, that are formulated to work together on a range of ethnicities to complement all skin tones and ages. Milani is the multi-cultural brand that delivers specialty store quality, at value pricing, in hundreds of shades, using technologically superior formulas, in lips, nails, cheeks, bronzers, face, brows, liners and more.  Inspired by Milan, Milani is distributed internationally in over thirty countries. Ralph Bijou, CEO and Laurie Minc, President have a twenty seven year track record in building strong brands, including Milani, both domestically and internationally. They are passionate about the cosmetic industry and are deeply committed to innovation, quality products and sustainable, long term growth.

New Milani Limited Edition Collection

This month Milani is launching 6 limited edition Shadow Eyez 12HR Wear Eyeshadow Pencils.  These will be available at select CVS, Meijer, and HEB stores as well as www.milanicosmetics.com

Milani Limited Edition Naturally Chic Nudes Runway Eyes Fashion Shadows

 

Milani is excited to announce the launch of the Naturally Chic Nudes Runway Eyes Fashion Shadows Limited Edition Collection. This collection is available during the month of March at select Walgreen and Fred Meyer stores. It is also available on our website: http://milanicosmetics.com/p-163-runway-eyes-fashion-shadows.aspx

Milani New 2013 Products & Shade Extensions

I know I'm late in posting this, but I'm taking my kiddo to the dentist today....I actually want everything. 

Milani has launched more exciting new products for 2013! For details see below. 

New 2013

Eyeshadow Primer 01 Nude - Intensifies and extends the wear of any shadow, over 8 hour wear. A lightweight invisible finish works on all skin tones. The primer helps provide a seamless canvas for eyeshadow application and minimizes creasing throughout the day.   Makes any cream or powder eyeshadow long-wearing! Available at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Kmart, Meijer, Fred Meyer, HEB & Kroger.

http://milanicosmetics.com/p-158-eyeshadow-primer.aspx?PC=10&

Eye Tech Bold Liquid Eye Liner 01 Black - The next installment of our best-selling Eye Tech series goes BOLD! The bold felt-tip point creates a variety of dramatic winged looks in one stroke application.  Smear & smudge-proof, this liner lasts all day. Paraben-free. Available at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Kmart, Meijer, Fred Meyer, & HEB.

http://milanicosmetics.com/p-157-eye-tech-bold-liquid-liner.aspx?PC=10&

Shade Extensions 2013

Liquid Eye Liquid-Like Eye Liner Pencil 06 Graphite & 07 Perfect Purple (Sharpenable) http://milanicosmetics.com/p-126-liquid-eye-liquid-like-eye-liner.aspx

Liquid Eye Liquid-Like Eye Liner Pencil 01 Black & 02 Brown (Propel) http://milanicosmetics.com/p-102-liquid-eye-mechanical-eye-liner.aspx

High Speed Fast Dry One Coat Formula Nail Lacquer 24 Quick Teal, 25 Flaming Race, 26 Rapid Orchid, 27 Instant Pearl, 28 Pink Express, & 29 Move on Mauve http://milanicosmetics.com/p-120-high-speed-fast-dry-nail-lacquer.aspx

Glitzology Baby Dragon & Milani Rad Purple....500th post!!!

Today is my 500th post so you get 2 for 1!  I'm getting closer to 1000 GFC followers, so I might do a giveaway for that once it's hit. 

I picked up Glitzology Baby Dragon last month on sale in her shop & snagged Milani Rad Purple on clearance at CVS a few days later.  SO what better to use them than together for a mani. :D

I figured I'd give y'all a little teaser to start out with.  Here's 3, yes 3 coats of Milani Rad Purple with a top coat.  This is a raspberry purple jelly that isn't really neon, except in the fact that it dries matte-ish.

You can still somewhat see some VNL, so I threw 1 coat of Baby Dragon on top of it.

I've just recently started watching Game of Thrones and it reminds me of Daenerys Targaryen, even though it's actually named after her(the maker) BF's nickname for her.  Plus with the colors I had to have it.

Description from the store: "This polish features fuchsia glitter, purple matte glitter, and lots and lots of fuchsia, green, and purple shreds!"

Again, I honestly can't say enough good things about this line.  Yes, it's a glitter bomb, but not difficult at all to apply.  I hate fishing around for glitters or having to put coat after coat after coat on.  With these, one coat(or more if you absolutely want it, but you don't need it) and you're done.



**EDIT 9/9/13 - Glitzology is now defunct and this post is for archive purposes only.**

Milani Sail Away & Pink Dots!

A few months ago my BFF went out in search of a polish that I was lemming hardcore.  She wasn't able to find it, but picked this up for me instead.

I honestly have a love/hate relationship with this polish.  One minute I love the color....the next I hate it.  Sail Away is a denim blue almost metallic.  It's blue with silver shimmer in it, which actually looks like blue jeans.  You'll see below. 

This is one coat, and NO top coat.  I think the top coat makes it look darker & I happen to like it like this. 

Then because I've not really done any nail art lately....I was lazy and grabbed Color Club Hot Like Lava & one of my dotting tools and did some simple dots. 

Again, I didn't use a top coat, to it looks almost matte at certain angles.  This is the first time I've done dots that didn't look horrendous.  Of course, I'll have to play some more. :D

Milani Hot Pink Frenzy

Today I want to show you one of two Milani polishes I own.  Both were given to me by friends.  This one, a special monkey sent to me because she's full of awesome.

And while I'm typing this up I'm noticing something on the bottle that I didn't see before.  This is a High Speed Fast Dry, but it's also a one coat formula.  That, I didn't see before.  And well, it is truly a one coater and does dry really fast.  I didn't even need a top coat.

lamp

lamp

lamp

lamp

flash

sunlight

I'm noticing that I've been too impatient and keep taking pics with water drops still on my nails.  I apologize for that.

I really love this shade, it's bright, pink, and dries quick.  What's not to love about that?

LATER Y'ALL!!!

CVS, Walgreens, and Bed Bath & Beyond haul

After getting out of the house, I decided to take advantage of some of the sales I told y'all about last weekend.  It was a LONG day of shopping, but IMO I got some good deals.  

We'll start off with what I got at CVS.....

The other half saw the hot cocoa set for 75% off (I think) and it rang up for $1.25....the mugs are too cute!!!

These are Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner's in Endless (purple) & Eternal (green).  They were Buy on1, get one half off.......so one was $6.49 & the other was $3.24.  These say that they're 24 hour long wear, waterproof, color intense, and smudge & smear proof.  If you didn't already know, I'm newly addicted to purple eyeliners.  So, I figured I'd give these a go.  And that green will be perfect for St. Patricks Day!!!

Next up, we have items that were not on sale, but I needed a new eyebrow pencil ($7.99) and this Wet N Wild Trio in Cool As A Cucumber is just awesome.  I'd not seen it before anywhere....Walgreens didn't have it.  I can't wait to try that trio.  I wore green & purples from my Holiday palettes. so this is all in one.

 These were sale items that I can't wait to try.  I got 2 of the Rimmel Stay matte foundations in Ivory for 75% off and rang up at $1.75ea.  I just hope the shade is close to my skin.  If not, it wasn't that much.  I've heard they're pretty good.  Also, a Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer in Light at 50% off for $3.75, which I've heard good things about as well.  Below that is a maybelline lipstick in Rum Raisin(G300) which was 50% off, $3.25.  The Maybelline XXL Pro mascara in Very Black clearly has a 50% off sticker on it, but rang up at $9.99.  I had to have that corrected b/c of the sticker & paid $5.00.  It's supposed to last up to 12 hours.  We'll see.  On the far right we have a Rimmel eyeshadow quad in smokey Brun for 75% off, $1.82.  Yet, another neutral quad for me, but it was cheap.  


Lastly we have the Rimmel Eyeful Eye glistener pencils in Stand Out (500)-a pretty green that has glitter on the outside of the pencil and in Talk To Me (400) which looks kinda like it's a duochrome.....purple, green, or silver depending on the light.  I have a better pic below.  These were also 75% off for a cost of $1.87ea.  Looking at the receipt, I think she rang up the Talk To Me twice instead of ringing up the WNW trio.  I can't wait to use these either!!

Here's my receipt & The bottom shows I saved $55.87....just WOW!  

 

Next up...........Walgreens....

 

I had a $2 coupon for Clean & Clear, so I thought I'd try this new acne cleanser to kinda mix it up.  

The Wet N Wild stuff was ALL 50% off at Walgreens......INCLUDING the new nail polish & eyeshadow trio.  From left to right we have....Lipliner in Berry Red ($0.49), Dual Pencil Sharpener($0.49), 2 Creme Shadow Pencils in Pixie ($0.99ea.), Fast Dry Nailcolor in Gray's Anatomy ($0.99), and Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in I'm Getting Sunburned ($1.49).  

The eyeshadow and nail polish are BOTH from the newly released 2011 collection.  I'm kinda upset that I didn't see the other polishes or trio's I wanted, but didn't feel like running all over town to different Walgreens stores to search for them.  I'll see how I like these & maybe get them later.  Below is a copy of my receipt which I saved $7.50.  $5.50 was from the WnW alone.

 

Lastly......we have a nail polish collection I picked up on sale at Bed, Bath, And Beyond.

This picture sucks, I think I had the overhead light on and flash on my cam.

Still in the packaging, light off, flash on.

Out of the package, with flash.

These pictures just don't do this justice.  You can't really tell what the colors are and they don't have any names.  So, I'll go from left to right.  

#1- silver glitter
#2- minty/neon green, not quite one way or the other
#3- a light neon pink
#4- a pretty greenish teal
#5- orange.......this will prolly only be used for Halloween stuffs.
#6- a light brownish purple
#7- a pinky red.

These were on clearance for only $4.99.  I wasn't going to get them, but the other half paid for them anyway.  The name on the packaging is Simple Pleasures Nail Polish Assortment, but I can't find anything on it.  The pic below is from the back of the box & it cracked me up.....I don't want to meet the person who would eat nail polish!

 

 TOODLES Y'ALL!!