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$5.49 for a MAC Lipglass? Almost (But Not Quite), With Milani Crystal Gloss

February 23rd, 2012 by Karen 21 Comments

Milani Crystal Gloss raspberry
Wearing Milani Crystal Gloss in Raspberry Icing

I was having dinner with friends a few weeks ago when one of the gals asked to see a picture of Tabs, and since that’s a request I’m always happy and quick to oblige, I grabbed my purse and reached in to fish out my phone, which at any given time contains at least 700 pictures of Tabs on the camera roll.

As I fished and fished, rooting around inside the purse, I kept coming up phone-less, with fistful after fistful of gloss.

“Um…” said one of the girls, “just how many lipglosses do you actually have in your purse?”

You know, I wondered, feeling my cheeks flush, that’s a good question… “A lot?”

And now, thanks to Milani’s five latest $5.49 Crystal Glosses, I don’t see myself scaling back any time soon. 🙂

Glittery fuchsia Raspberry Icing, hot pink Fruit Punch, the succinctly named Clear, pinkish coral Pucker Up and berry Sheer Dark Honey, all new for spring, have set up shop inside my current handbag.

Sometimes referred to as drugstore MAC Lipglasses, Milani’s line of Crystal Glosses have a similarly thick texture, slick when applied and slightly sticky on the lips, and come in a wide range of colors. They range in coverage from sheer to almost fully opaque.

Beyond that, they’re not big on bells and whistles, and that’s fine by me. A good price, a convenient doe-foot applicator, lots of colors to choose from, and I think they work really well.

I also like the shiny finish and how the pigments don’t seem to separate or do any other funky stuff as the day wears on. I get about three hours of wear time out of them, and all the while they feel comfy on my lips.

Milani Crystal Gloss
From the left: Clear, Sheer Dark Honey, Fruit Punch, Pucker Up and Raspberry Icing

Milani Crystal Gloss swatches
Swatches from the left: Clear, Pucker Up, Fruit Punch and Sheer Dark Honey

Milani Crystal Gloss swatches
Raspberry Icing

Milani Crystal Gloss sheer dark honey
Sheer Dark Honey

Milani Crystal Gloss fruit punch
Fruit Punch

Milani Crystal Gloss pucker up
Pucker Up

The only two things I wish I could change about these glosses are the flavor and scent. The scent reminds me of a just opened box of Band-Aids (so odd!), and the flavor, like a plastic toy dipped in artificial vanilla.

Weird, but thankfully, both of them fade within a few minutes.

A few standouts among the new spring shades…

  • Raspberry: How fun is this fuchsia!? I bet it’ll look great paired with a simple cat eye in black.
  • Sheer Dark Honey: Okay, this one might look a little haunting in the swatch, but on my lips it’s a very sheer berry with silver micro glitter — like a shimmery version of Clinique’s Black Honey Lipstick or Urban Decay’s Lip Love in Stung.
  • Pucker Up: Because Urban Decay gets kisses! From Milani. Pucker Up sure reminds me of UD’s Lip Love in Failbait.

Despite their funky flavor and scent, I’m hooked on these Milani Crystal Glosses. They’re simple, pretty, effective, and priced just right. I’m really enjoying the spring colors and can’t wait to try more.

Perfect for a quick drugstore pick-me-up after a long day. 🙂

PRICE: $5.49 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now at drugstores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+/A-

New workout wear?

I’m always on the lookout for cute new workout wear because it helps me stay motivated to sweat, and I recently spotted some pieces at Nordstrom from a line called Zella that caught my eye.

I’ve heard they’re like a more affordable Lululemon.

What do ya think? I really like the look of this skirted capri and loose layering top…


Zella Skirted Capris ($54) on the left Back Cutout Layering Tank on the right ($38)

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

$5.49 for a MAC Lipglass? Almost (But Not Quite), With Milani Crystal Gloss / Originally published February 23rd, 2012

There are 21 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Lips, Makeup, Milani, Product Reviews Keywords: milani

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. claudia says

    February 23rd, 2012 at 5:29 pm

    I really want to now what font and what program you use to edit your photos ly<3

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 24th, 2012 at 9:26 am

      Just good old Photoshop!

      Reply
  2. shiny says

    February 23rd, 2012 at 6:40 pm

    Raspberry Icing looks like a dead ringer for Lychee Luxe!

    Also, you asked what the MAC blush was, that I mentioned in a previous post of yours. It’s Fabulush / Fabublush, and it’s a cream blush.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 23rd, 2012 at 6:44 pm

      I have Lychee Luxe and adore it to bits (my mom introduced me to it!). Raspberry Icing has shimmer like Lychee Luxe, but it’s a bit more pink and less reddish coral (at least on my skin). Both are very pretty though!

      Oooh, and thank you for the blush name. Will have to check it out!

      Reply
  3. Chris25 says

    February 23rd, 2012 at 10:00 pm

    I’ll keep an eye out for these at my local CVS. I could always use a new lip gloss. *says the girl who has a drawer filled with lip products* 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 24th, 2012 at 9:26 am

      Hee hee, I feel you on that, my friend. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Sunny @ Mostly Sunny says

    February 24th, 2012 at 4:11 am

    I like Raspberry Icing and your potential new workout wear! It’s weird how I was never a lip product girl (I’m more about eyes), but when I finally started going into them I started with lipsticks instead of their friendlier, glossy sisters. But oh well, I definitely have space for both 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 24th, 2012 at 9:26 am

      Well, the great thing about lip products is that there’s a huge world of products for you to discover! 😀

      Reply
  5. artemis says

    February 24th, 2012 at 4:55 am

    pucker up looks very pretty on you! your eyeshadow looks cute too <3
    i like the loose layering top, cute color too
    skirted capri? a skirt and a capri..hmmm, i don't see the point. long leggings look hot

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 24th, 2012 at 9:25 am

      Hi Artemis,

      I guess it’s supposed to give your bum more coverage so that if you were them outside of the gym the look is more modest!

      Reply
  6. Nina says

    February 24th, 2012 at 5:54 am

    i <3 Raspberry Icing!!!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 24th, 2012 at 9:24 am

      Do you have it? It’s so fun!

      Reply
  7. Ruchita says

    February 24th, 2012 at 6:24 am

    These look great! I love Raspberry Icing.

    I keep a small makeup bag in my purse specifically to keep all my lip products. It makes it easy to when I change purses. My phone is also filled with pictures of my cats. I even created separate folders for each of them so I could keep the pictures organized. 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen says

      February 24th, 2012 at 9:24 am

      Hi Ruchita,

      This is a GREAT idea. I honestly don’t know why I never thought of it before! I’ll have to gather all my glosses and put them in a tiny purse now…

      Also, I admire your organization with your kitty pics! 😀

      Reply
  8. corallista says

    February 24th, 2012 at 9:54 am

    Fruit punch is such an easy to carry shade! I generally prefer shades like these for everyday wear when I don’t have time for full makeup. The packaging is adorable!

    Reply
  9. Megan says

    February 24th, 2012 at 10:09 am

    I love a bargain – I must look into these! I love a nice gloss for spring and summer.

    Reply
  10. Kim says

    February 24th, 2012 at 11:02 am

    I think Dark Honey looks great and, of course, laughed at your gloss story. I recently pulled 3 lip products out of my jacket pocket which is a ton for me. I felt like a hoarder. 🙂

    Love the skirt/leggings combo but I’d be sweating to death in it. After about 5 minutes, I’m usually looking to strip down to shorts and a sports bra only (at home, naturally). If I was out and about working it, I’d be all over that skirt combo, though. Whether I died of heat exhaustion or not!

    Reply
  11. Gina says

    February 24th, 2012 at 4:09 pm

    I tried one of these, and I just couldn’t deal with the scent 🙁 It smelled like rancid vanilla to me! Just opening the tube made me cringe. I guess I’ll be sticking to good ole Lipglass 🙂

    Reply
  12. Aging_Beauty says

    February 28th, 2012 at 6:47 pm

    I’m fascinated by Sheer Dark Honey! My lips are so pale, this might darken my lips’ natural shade.

    Reply
  13. Molly says

    March 1st, 2012 at 7:48 pm

    This is great. I have only one limited edition lipglass so I’m not very familiar with their consistency. I’ve added two ‘wants’ from seeing this post! 😀 I’d read another blog about these but hadn’t seen swatches or pics on the lips and I think I really like the Sheer Dark Honey and Pucker Up.

    Reply
  14. Alexandra says

    March 3rd, 2012 at 11:08 am

    Its so not fair the us has so many nice makeup brands we can get in england 🙁
    Need to rob a bank so i can catch a flight and shop till i drop lol.

    Reply

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