March 1, 2014

Milani Brow & Eye Highlighters - 3 shade duos - pics, swatches, review

Hello, Beautiful!

Another new Milani product! They've really been coming out with some great new products for their Spring 2014 collection. In this post, I have their new Brow & Eye Highlighters, which come in three shades and I have all three shades to share with you. Only one of the three shades could be used to actually fill in your brows, but each shade duo has their special use. Check out all the product info below, along with my full review, after the pics!

Milani Brow & Eye Highlighters
Shades: 01 Matte Beige/High Glow, 02 Matte Cream/Luminous Lift, 03 Vanilla/Natural Taupe
Continue scrolling down to see more pics of each individual shade.


 







Milani Brow & Eye Highlighters
Shade: 01 Matte Beige/High Glow








Milani Brow & Eye Highlighters
Shade: 02 Matte Cream/Luminous Lift








Milani Brow & Eye Highlighters
Shade: 03 Vanilla/Natural Taupe







Milani Brow & Eye Highlighters Info & Review:
Cost/Availability: $6.49 depending where you shop (0.17 oz full size). Available on the Milani website, at CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Kisses for the first two shades, 3.5/4 out of 5 Kisses for the last shade

Product Info...

This perfect duo brightens, highlights and lifts/shapes brows. Each pencil has two sides; the matte side is a creamy, non-creasing formula and the pearl side is a cream-to-powder formula with light diffusing pigments. Shade 03 is the only duo where both sides are matte.

Can be used as a brightener, highlighter and eyeshadow. Brow lifting, light diffusing pigments. Defines the eyebrows and emphasizes a fresh complexion under the brow arch. Easy to use and blend. Sharpens with Milani's Duo Pencil Sharpener (or any chubby/fat pencil sharpener you have). Suitable for all skin tones. Made in Germany.

Available in three shade duos:

01 Matte Beige/High Glow -- Both sides can be used underneath the brow bone as a highlighter. Matte Beige can be used as an eyeshadow or eyeshadow base. High Glow can be used in the inner corners of the eyes to brighten.

02 Matte Cream/Luminous Lift -- Both sides can be used underneath the brow bone as a highlighter. Matte Cream can be used as an eyeshadow or eyeshadow base. Luminous Lift can be used in the inner corner of the eyes to brighten.

03 Vanilla/Natural Taupe -- Both sides are matte. Vanilla can be used underneath the brow bone as a highlighter. It can also be used an an eyeshadow or eyeshadow base. Natural Taupe can be used to define and fill-in brows and also be used as an eyeshadow or eyeliner.



My Review...

I was excited to try these out - especially for the matte side of each pencil that would work as a matte highlight, brightener and even concealer.

The first shade, 01 Matte Beige/High Glow, has more of a yellow toned matte cream on one end, and a golden shimmer on the other end.

The second shade, 02 Matte Cream/Luminous Lift, has more of a pink toned matte cream on one end, and a pink shimmer on the other end.

The third shade, 03 Vanilla/Natural Taupe, has a more neutral beige cream on one end, and a matte taupe brown on the other end.

Out of the three shade duos, only one of them - 03 Vanilla/Natural Taupe - could be used to fill in your brows. However, I personally do NOT like it for my brows. I find it's too chubby of a pencil end to really be precise about it, and it's also very creamy. The shade looks okay from a far, but up close - and in the before & after photo - you can see how off the shade is for my brows. The taupe brown shade is just a bit too warm of an undertone and I prefer an ashy undertone to my brow products. That's not to say it won't work for your brows, because it very well could, but for me this isn't a brow product I would use. Instead, I would use the matte brown side as a shadow base.

There are other products out there similar to this, including many high-end versions. I think the most similar high-end version is the Anastasia Brow Duality - which are $23 each. They come in two shades duos that look awfully similar to two of the Milani duos (01 Matte Beige/High Glow, and 02 Matte Cream/Luminous Lift). I don't own the Anastasia Brow Duality, but just by what I could find online, the Milani one's seem awfully close to being a dupe! Benefit also makes a one-sided pencil, their High Brow, and they have a shimmer version of it as well: their High Brow Glow. Each are $20 and seem like they could be close to one of the Milani duos, but without having tried them I don't want to say if they would be closer to the more yellow/golden toned Milani duo or the more pinky duo (just by my guess, I'd say the more pinky duo). Then there is the Clinique Instant Lift for Brows, which would be similar to the one duo from Milani that has the brown shade (03 Vanilla/Natural Taupe). The Clinique version is $16.50 and both ends are automatic, in addition the brow end seems thinner. Also, the Clinique highlight end seems to have a shimmer to it. Antoher high end version is the It Cosmetics Brow Power Lift Pencil, which is $24. It seems like it may be close to one of the two duos from Milani. As for a drugstore product similar, there is the NYX Push-Up Bra, which is $9.99, and most resembles the one shade duo from Milani in 03 Vanilla/Natural Taupe - except the NYX Brow Pencil side is much thinner of a pencil. Also, e.l.f. Cosmetics has their Studio Eyebrow Lifter & Filler, which has a brow shade one one end and a matte highlight shade on the other. That option is cheaper than the Milani, but doesn't offer the matte/shimmer duos like Milani does. I'm sure there are other brands that offer similar products, but I just wanted to name a few.

I personally LOVE the matte sides to these pencil duos. They're great for highlighting without any shimmer. Depending on your skintone, you could even use them down the bridge of your nose for a highlight or even as a concealer. Use on the inner corner of your eyes for a non-shimmer highlight that will still brighten (even makes a great brightening base for other lighter shadows so they really pop).

The pearl/shimmer side is nice for an inner corner eye highlight or shadow base. If you like a shimmer highlight under your brow bone then you could also use it in that way. I don't find them to be as creamy as the matte side, and I find they take a bit more work to blend in, but they're still really nice.

If you have a cool undertone, then you may want to try the 02 Matte Cream/Luminous Lift.

If you have a warm undertone, then you may want to try the 01 Matte Beige/High Glow.

I personally wouldn't re-purchase 03 Vanilla/Natural Taupe, as I don't think I would ever use the matte brown side other than for a shadow base - but I already have plenty of matte brown cream bases (including one from Milani, one of their Shadow Eyez, which will be coming in a future review).


Final Thoughts...

I think this is a great addition to have in your makeup collection if you want to amp up your brow routine. It will really clean up and highlight the brow area, as well as useful for inner corner highlight and as an all-over base to your eyelids.

If you've been curious to try one of the higher end versions then maybe this is the perfect place to start!

Now let me know what you think...
What do you think of this product? Have you tried this or is this on your beauty wish list? Discuss in the comments below.

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