Review & Swatches: Milani Powder Eyeshadow Singles

It seems like since the economic downturn started a few years ago, most brands affiliated with drugstores and mass retailers decided to step up their game. These new Milani powder eyeshadow singles are further proof that you can get prestige quality at a mass price. The quality bar is consistently being raised for drugstore cosmetics, which is great for us, as they keep trying to outdo themselves.

Available in an array 12 new shades, each Milani Powder Eyeshadow single has a matte or shimmer finish, with pretty great pigment payoff. Here’s the shade breakdown…

White Lie — matte bright white
Pitch Black — matte intense black
Shocking Pink (not pictured) — matte hot pink
Brown Stone — matte chestnut brown
French Vanilla — matte vanilla
Tickled Pink — peachy-pink shimmer
Purple Shock — iridescent violet shimmer
Olympian Blue — matte azure blue
Pearl — medium beige shimmer
Gold Dust — gold shimmer
Caramel Brown — medium brown shimmer
Just Perfect — jungle green shimmer

See more photos, swatches, & details…

White Lie (slightly brighter than it photographed)

Tickled Pink

Purple Shock

Pitch Black

Pearl

Olympian Blue

Just Perfect

Gold Dust

French Vanilla

Caramel Brown

Brown Stone

Overall, they feel pretty smooth to the touch—but what I couldn’t believe were the mattes. Usually mattes don’t even show up on my skin, let alone a matte white! And the black? The swatch was done with a single swipe from an applicator, and that’s how intense it was! Impressive stuff there, Milani. I haven’t worn all of these on my eyes yet, but I’ve worn Pearl, Caramel Brown, Tickled Pink, and French Vanilla with success.

Swatches…

White Lie, Pitch Black, Brown Stone, French Vanilla, Tickled Pink, Purple Shock

Olympian Blue, Pearl, Gold Dust, Brown Caramel, Just Perfect

While not perfect dupes, I did find some similarities between a few of the Milani shades, and those that I have in my personal stash. Here’s what I found…

Pearl — Stila Kitten is slightly pinker
Brown Stone — MAC Brun is a little less red
Caramel Brown — Urban Decay Suspect is more taupe
Just Perfect — MAC Steamy is a touch more blue
French Vanilla — MAC Brule is pretty close

Do you see any possible dupes? Leave a comment!

Bottom Line…

I think some of these shades rival the quality of those of more expensive competitors. Try not to miss shades Pearl, Just Perfect, Caramel Brown, and Tickled Pink. And don’t leave out Pitch Black! It is one of the most intense black powder eyeshadows I’ve ever tried in a single swipe, and will be great for lining.