I recently discovered Milani…well, that’s not exactly true. I’ve seen it at the drug stores, but mostly ignored it. I did make a note that it was one of the only store-brand makeups that openly marketed to women of color. But I have a bit of a prejudice about them, because in previous years the cheaper brands were often loaded with junk ingredients and low pigment transfer. So when the folks at Milani reached out to me, I was a bit skeptical. But when I found out that all their products are certified by PETA and The Leaping bunny Program as cruelty-free I got happy. But…what about the color quality?

So I tried the Eye Shine palette, inspired by the cities of Venice, Italy. The look you see below is “Venice” composed of metallic and pearlized blues, white and gray.

As you can see, it’s gorgeous. But application is kind of tricky. You have silicone applicator instead of a foam or sponge applicator. And unlike eyeshadow, my primer didn’t seem to have any impact on helping it distribute. The cream formula almost seems to work a little better with the oil present on your eyelids.

Pros: Colors are gorgeous. Seriously beautiful. At $9.99 at CVS, it’s a bargain.

Cons: You have to reapply, and the pigments settle in the creases of your eyes, which requires reapplication. This isn’t a look that you wear to the office during an 8 hour work day, but perfect for a dinner date. Just keep it handy in your purse.

Here’s my video review with more details.