The Makeup Box

Milani Haute Flash Full Coverage Shimmer Lipglosses (lip swatches and review)

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I might be a little late to the Haute Flash game, but I found out not too long ago that Milani has come up with a line of full coverage Shimmery Glosses which remind me suspiciously of MAC and Lime Crime ones. 

Of course, I was curious if a drugstore brand could really match up to the high-end ones, so here’s the run-down.

There are 6 shades I believe, but I only got 4; 

102 Flashy: Neon sparkly blue-pink (below)

103 In a Flash: Deep sparky plum-purple (below)

106 Quick Flash:  Soft sparkly baby-pink

101 Hot Flash: Red on red sparkle (below)

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Smell: 

Not discernible

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Texture/Feel: 

Medium-thickness, like a Plushglass, but a lot less sticky. Not as thick as Lime Crime Carousel Glosses, and only moderately buildable in coverage.

Slight minty tingle on the lips, which is quite pleasant and inoffensive even if you dislike minty feeling products.

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Opacity:

If MAC Dazzleglasses are a 3 and Lime Crime Carousels an 8, these are about 6. I wouldn’t say they are really full-coverage, but you definitely get pretty good color payoff. All lip swatches shown above were done with just gloss over bare lips, without base or liner. 

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Application:

I really like the flat doe-foot paddle. The wide surface picks up more product than the typical doe-foot applicator shape, and allows you to apply a thicker layer of product without sacrificing control.

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Wear/Tenacity:

These wear like the typical gloss. They aren’t sticky, which is a plus for those who hate a gummy texture on the lips, but this also means it does not stay on as long as stickier glosses do. I’d say you can go 3-4 hours without touch-ups. 

It also goes on fairly evenly and does not gunk up in the center of your lips or in cracks. 

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Colors:

The colors are really pretty of course. My initial favorite shade was 102 Flashy, the hot pink, but then this particular gloss also has the poorest texture, as it is slightly gritty and lumpy.

The one I reach for most is Quick Flash because it’s so pretty and wearable for everyone. My least-favorite shade is 103 In a Flash, because it’s a deep prune-purple which does not wear as evenly as the other shades, although it does make a statement. You will need to apply a thick layer and keep touching up to keep it looking its best.

If you like really strong color, these are probably not going to have enough of a kick for you. If you want more color than regular glosses but don’t want anything too high-maintenance or dramatic, then you should try these.

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Finish:

These are not very glossy compared to other tube glosses. The texture is more like that of stick products like Revlon Lip Butters or MAC Sheen Supremes but in a tube, so you get sparkle but not dramatic shine. 

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Price:

At $7.25 per tube from Beautyjoint.com, these are not cheap compared to some drugstore glosses but definitely way cheaper than similar department store equivalents. (Use coupon code: MAKEUPBOX for an additional 5% off.)

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Verdict?

If can’t bear to shell out for MAC Sheen Supreme lipsticks but find Revlon Lip Butter shades a little too “tame” (which I do) then these are great for giving color, sparkle and some shine. I wouldn’t put these in the same category as other full-cover glosses and lacquers.

BARGAIN ALERT: 15 Piece Cool Eyes Kit on Everyday Minerals going at $20! (Regular price: $67.50)

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If you’re a fan of Everyday Minerals or just sparkly loose powder shadows in general, you need to check out this deal because you get 15 regular roller-sized shadows at US$1.33 each.

 Now, I don’t know about you but even if you’re shipping internationally, this is still a deal.

Note:

Unlike loose pigments from brands like MAC and Lime Crime, these are pure minerals (no silicones and synthetic lipids) so you will need to use an eye shadow primer for maximum color intensity. Otherwise the color may fade a little throughout the day.

But if that happens, you can always whip out your neat little portable roller containers and reapply anyway. 

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To stay updated on other bargains, click here!

Rich Green Smoky Eyes: Coastal Scents Kiwi Green Hot Pot Shadow

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I wanted to do a green eye look, which I haven’t done in awhile.

Some people do not enjoy wearing green but if you pair it with the right shades to make it richer and smokier, it doesn’t look all gosh-golly Barbie-esque and is incredibly flattering and sultry on all skin tones. This is also a great look for brown eyes.

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Step 1: Apply a mossy green base to the lids. I used MAC Paint Pot in Moss Scape, but  any cream shadow or even pencil that’s olive-green or khaki would work.

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Step 2: Gently brush on a rich metallic forest-green like Coastal Scents Kiwi Green Hot Pot.

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Step 3: To add some depth, I used a reddened-brown (Coastal Scents Cherry Chocolate) to deepen the outer corners and along the hollow of the eye socket. You can use a regular brown but the green will make it olive/khaki, so I used a red-toned brown instead as it shows up richer brown over the bright green.

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Step 4: Use a black cream shadow (MAC Paint Pot in Blackground or any black or charcoal gel liner) and apply thickly along the upper lash line and the outer 2/3 of the lower lash line as well, using the BEST idiot-proof brush for applying a thicker swatch of gel liner. Don’t worry about being precise since you’ll be covering it up later.

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Step 5 : Use a firm brush to pack the reddish brown OVER the black paint/liner you just applied on upper and lower lash lines, smudging back and forth briskly to blend out the line. and “set” it into a glossy brown.

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Step 6: Then to add just a hint of coolness against the warm golden green, apply a little transparent aqua sparkle (try MAC Reflects Transparent Teal)  onto the inner corners and then apply black mascara.