Aaaahaa!! I hardly ever review something while it’s still sorta new, so this is a big “huzzah” moment for me!
Alright, quick background in case if you haven’t heard it yet: Milani released these limited edition liquid lipsticks back in late 2015 as exclusives to Walgreens, and they were sold out before a lot of people had a chance to get them. The original shades are now discontinued, but for Spring 2016, they released a whole new 18 shades, a few being dupes for the old ones. I grabbed five of em.
According to their twitter, these are the duplicated shades, new ones going first:
Adorable – Adore
Precious – Lust
Loved – Beloved
Devotion – Romance
Obsession – Embrace
Covet – Crush
Now, seeing as how I only owned Lust and Adore, I can’t comment personally on how exact these are, buuut going by everyone else’s reviews and swatches, it looks like Obsession/Embrace, Precious/Lust, and Loved/Beloved are the only real dead ringers. I can speak from experience that Adorable is absolutely not a dupe for Adore!
Since it’s been hard to find swatches for these on my own skin tone (and it’s not exactly a rare shade…), I’m going to go ahead and do the swatches right now and save the formula for last. (I’m so excited you guys have no frikkin clue I’ve been dying for these since August!)
Starting off with 02 Adore (discontinued), a very light and pale peach, and then the new 10 Adorable next to it, a darker and greyer tan nude shade. Definitely not dupes! Keep in mind, both shades looked super light on everyone else, but since my skin is ridiculously pale, these actually both pull fairly dark on me. If you’re darker than NW10, these will look much, mucher lighter on you!
02 Lust (discontinued) is a darker, very subdued, pinky mauve. I like it, but it’s too dark on me to be a real natural lip colour. It’s a bit greyer in real life than the top picture shows, the closeup is more accurate. Please ignore the “drunk at 4 am” application on this one, and every one to follow.
Now 12 Loved! I didn’t expect this to be anywhere near so dark, brown, or red. Wow. It’s really pretty though. It’s like… a less bold red lipstick. 😛 It’s a fairly deep, yet not saturated, reddish brown. It didn’t make my teeth look too yellow either, so bonus!
By the way, here’s ColourPop Ultra Matte liquid lipstick in 1st Base, a light and bright warm pink. A comparison for both colour and texture. Check out how drying it is on my lips! Geesh. I should just pitch it, honestly…
Here’s 16 Sweetheart (I just love the names… am I the only one cuckoo for cutesy naming schemes?), a bright, warm based hot pink.
And here’s ColourPop’s Ultra Matte in Mars. Sweetheart is a touch darker than Mars, and a bit cooler.
Here’s 15 Gorgeous. Another warning: on everyone else, this was a deep, yet not really dark, berry. On me, this was a very vampy dark berry (a bit darker than the pictures show). I’d say cooler undertones, but I’m rubbish at undertones, so don’t quote me on that!
And finally, 14 Devotion! This is another one where I was completely thrown by the colour. I was expecting a classic blue based red that was just a bit darker than the norm. On me, it’s a super, super, super dark berry red that my mom swore she could see some purple in. It’s pretty… but definitely not the Summer friendly colour I had imagined. I did notice that this one wasn’t just because of my skin tone, and it looked pretty dark on everyone I saw who swatched it (just not that dark), so be warned!
All in all, I loved every single shade! My favourites were a surprise underdog winner this time around, Loved and Sweetheart. Both of them I picked up just expecting to like but not love, whereas I expected to completely adore Devotion and Gorgeous. Loved I just found extremely flattering with my hair and eye colour, and I love how Sweetheart is bright without being neon like Mars. Gorgeous and Adorable are the runner ups, with Devotion being my least favourite – the red! I know! So out of character for me. But I just don’t like how berry it pulls on me, rather than true red. It’s still lovely, and I’ll still wear it, but it was a bit of a disappointment.
So, let me run through the formula with the same questions I had before I bought these…
Are they drying?
I’m not going to lie here, they’re not exactly moisturizing. You do feel them on your lips for sure, but it’s not too aggravating to me, and they do feel a little drying, but nothing too major. It’s certainly tolerable! I’d say they’re a little less drying than the original formula, a little more drying than NYX’s Liquid Suede formula, and far less drying than ColourPop’s original formula.
Do they dry down completely?
Yes! They take a little bit of time to dry down (around one to two minutes), but they do dry down 100%. Using the same examples, they dry down much faster than NYX’s Liquid Suede formula, and a bit slower than ColourPop’s original formula.
Are they patchy?
I’ve heard complaints of Sugar being patchy, but as far as these go, they weren’t patchy at all – as a matter of fact, they streaked less than the original formula for me.
Can I eat with them on?
Yup! I ate out yesterday with Sweetheart on and it didn’t budge, you just have to be careful not to get all slobbery, as saliva breaks these down (just like Mr. Krabs’ paint). Can’t attest to kissing/making out though, as I’m a single lonely soul, and my cats just weren’t up to the challenge. 😛
How long do they last?
All day, easily, for me. I didn’t notice any fading at all after five hours, then I promptly fell asleep with it on, and lo and behold, it was still vivid when I woke up. The darker shades especially have a tendency to stain, so watch out.
Can you layer coats?
Absolutely, but you will be trading opacity for some comfort. With one layer, these are only a little drying and a little noticeable. With two, these starting to feel a little annoying on my lips, and I wanted to keep putting chapstick on.
Speaking of which, can I put lip balm on over these?
Actually, yes! I wore Sweetheart all day yesterday with a thick layer of lip balm (the kind from a squeeze tube, not a stick), and the colour stayed on just fine. It just made it wear more like a cream lipstick rather than a liquid lipstick – that is, it wasn’t budgeproof.
Is the formula like the original?
Now, a lot of people have been fussing over this, but I’ll say… yes. Actually, I like this formula more, as it has a few slight differences. The original formula was more liquid, while this is just a touch moussier/more whipped. The original formula had a tendency to streak on me, while this one goes on much easier. Aside from that, I couldn’t find any differences whatsoever.
How’s the packaging?
Same as the original. If you missed out: you get a flat paddle applicator that gives you ample product for both lips without redipping. You will have to scrape off some of it, though, as it can give you too much and just be a little messy. These have a tendency to explode out of their container, so remove and replace the applicator slowly. I think these will be as spillproof as the originals, which I often carried around in my crowded purse without any mishaps.
Are they smudge/budge proof?
100%. 🙂
Any smell or taste?
Yes, they smell like cake batter when you first remove them and apply them, but it goes away completely as soon as they dry.
Do I need to get them?
I don’t think anyone “needs” any sort of cosmetic, but yeah, these are lovely. I’d highly recommend them if you want a high quality liquid lipstick for a somewhat low price (lower than midrange, at least!).
Are they cruelty free/vegan?
Milani is a cruelty free brand. 🙂 These are the vegan shades: 10 Adorable, 11 Precious, 12 Loved, 13 Craze, 14 Devotion, 15 Gorgeous, 16 Sweetheart, 17 Fancy, 18 Obsession, and 19 Covet. These are the non-vegan shades: 20 Sugar, 21 Flame, 22 Amore, 23 Babe, 24 Cherish, 25 Allure, 26 Fling, and 27 Fascination.
Where can I get them?
You can buy them online at Milani’s website for $8.99 apiece. The shipping itself was very fast for me, only taking about three days, even though the processing took significantly longer. You can buy them in stores (I think people have had the best luck with CVS and WalMart), but these were nowhere in sight in my city, even in places they had stocked the rest of the Milani Spring 2016 collection. I think they’re a buck cheaper in stores, but I am not positive!
How do you guys feel about these? Do you own any, or want any? Has anyone actually seen them in stores, or are these guys just like Bigfoot??
They look so good! Which is your favourite shade?
Isabelle x
https://mysmallcornerisabelle.wordpress.com
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They’re lovely! Aha, that’s a good question, I should edit that in… I’d say Loved and Sweetheart! =) Thanks for looking!
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Ooh, they look so nice! 😍
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They’re very beautiful, in real life especially! =)
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That number 10-Adorable looks like the perfect nude I’ve been looking for!
Thanks for sharing xx
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No problem, if you find it, I hope you enjoy it! =) It might pull a little grey on you, but I bet it’d be beautiful on you… it looks a lot more “corpse-y” in the tube than it does applied!
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This is actually the reason I was avoiding buying it! But now I want it so badly!
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awesome post! love the shades x
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Thanks! =)
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I really like 12 Loved on you! I also really like 02 Lust on you but it’d give me corpse lips. Were you really drunk at 4pm… 😉
How did you remove them for these swatches? Makeup remover? I bet your lips were raw from all the swatches!
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Lol! More like wide awake at 8 am, but sshh… =D
I used lotion and toilet paper, actually. =x Takes it off real well! My lips were definitely twice the size they were when I started when I was all done, but at least I didn’t have to exfoliate that day. ;P
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Actually I remember I used to take lipstick and makeup off my face with lotion. It does work surprisingly well! I wouldn’t be surprised if the cream cleansers aren’t just lotion!
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Hah! I bet. Lotion seems to work best for me, I tried using the liquid cleanser and it never got my mascara off and burned like a son of a gun. =( All hail the big pink tub.
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Stunning looking shades and I wish to have all those gorgeous shades as mine.
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You’d be beautiful in all of them! I hope you can pick some up where you’re at, or order them online.
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I would love to and just now, I’ve got a 4 pack lipstick from Rimmel London as a gift which I’m cherishing at the moment
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Oh good! I’m glad you’re enjoying them. =)
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Ooh I like the look of Loved! Great swatches.
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Thanks! =) It would probably look gorgeous with your skin tone!
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I’ve been lemming after these like crazy but so far they’re nowhere to be found here. I may break down and place an order online too.
These shades all look so good on you!
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Aw, thanks so much! =) Order online, take the risk! ;P An awesome lady online swatched em all, here’s a cruddy screenshot compilation I made from her video… use it if you please!
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Girl, you are the bomb!! Thank you!!
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No problemo! =)
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Amazing review, I love 10 and 12! I wish I’d read this earlier, would’ve picked these up today when I was out xx
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Aww! Better get them next time! 😉 So glad you liked the review, thank you!
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Would you believe the shades that I chose isn’t the reds. Loved and Adorable. Lately I noticed having a huge fascination on browns and nudes. Why is that?? Adorable pretty much reminds me of Kylie Jenner’s Dolce K.
They all looked good on you.👍🏻
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Right?? I used to be all about the bold reds, blues, oranges, corals, etc but for some reason I’m just nutty about nudes and pinks right now. *shrug* Must be the weather! Nudes and browns look good on you anyway. 😀
Thanks! ❤
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Thank you! :))
I’m thinking of doing some pinks next time, inline with the coming summer. I just hope I could pull it off. *cross fingers*
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Hey fowlalpha, do u have a photo with milani adorable on your lips? Can i see please before i purchase? I am a filipino too so we have the same skin color. 🙂
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Hi! I’m sorry but I think I have said it wrong from my previous comment. I chose Adorable amongst the variation but I haven’t own any yet. I know the urge of buying it is so strong, I also felt it in every lip product of this color but I see that we suit well on the pinky nude side. Which isn’t the case on this. Basing on the swatches the girl has ( which I pretty think is also asian) we would tend to look wash out on this. I hope it helped. 🙂
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Of all the swatches yours shade 10 is closest to what I got on eBay! Where did you buy these lipsticks as I’m almost convinced that mine was from a problematic batch as the colour looks so different to where it should be. Bear in mind that shade 10 is supposed to be the lightest colour in the entire collection however it looks nowhere near a nudey pink on my lips just like you and I’m a bloody NC20-25 Asian! It looks rosy brown on my hand when blended and awfully deep dusty purple toned nude on my lips. I swatched a few colours on my hand and shade 10 ended up the darkest among 10, 11, 12 & 22, which I firmly believe is because it came from a defective batch.
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Oh no! =( Can you return it on eBay, or does the seller have a no return policy? That’s rotten luck. They might not have even been aware that it was from a bad batch if it hadn’t been opened.
I bought mine directly from Milani’s website, and I’d recommend it, as they’re fast and the shipping seems pretty affordable! Are you in the US?
I can most definitely assure you that 12 is darker than 10 in the line – it might be that your lips are pigmented enough that it can cause slight discoloration, though, I still think that’s probably a lipstick “mistint”, so to speak. I guess you’ve tried dabbing a light bit of concealer on your lips prior to applying to see if it makes it more of a tolerable colour to you? =(
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Wow didn’t expect your reply at all which is a big surprise! Thanks for the hint! I guess it’s just not for me anyways, and I’m Australia so I’ll have to keep it as the return postage actually exceeds the price itself lol. And guess what, turns out the colour discrepancy doesn’t even bother me anymore after I tried shade 23or24 Babe which is a bubble gum pink. The formula of that one is soooo streaky n patchy, which happens a lot to neon colours, and you’re so lucky to not have picked up that one:D In my opinion Bourjois velvet lipstick has a much better formula than Milani Amore in general, both have matte finish but bourjoise is way more comfy on the lips, sort of moisturised moussey feel yet completely matte. I’m a big fan of Milani’s colour statement line but probably a bit neutral on these liquid lipsticks given so many dramas been through lol!
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Oh lord yes, shipping costs are nutty. =( Wow! I hadn’t heard any complaints about any of them being streaky except for Sugar, so that’s definitely good to know!! Yikes, what a lot of troubles with this line for you, that’s horrid. D= At least you had the Bourjois line! I swear, liquid lipsticks are about as unique as face cream, haha.
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Hi! I love your review on this! Im a newbie on liquid lipsticks and i just wanna ask which one for you is better ? Is it the Milani Or the Coloupop Matte liquid lipstick? 🙂
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Hey, sorry for the late reply, I don’t blog much anymore! Thanks for commenting. 😀 I’d definitely say Milani’s is better than both Colourpop’s matte and satin liquid lipsticks.
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