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Milani Glamorous Gems Eyeshadow Palette Review, Photos, Swatches


Quick Review: Milani Glamorous Gems

Milani Glamorous Gems Eyeshadow Palette ($8.99 for 0.32 oz.) includes six shades of eyeshadow, all coordinated and in thin, raised strips. They can be used wet or dry, but I found the color pay off too sheer to work with when used dry that I had to use them wet (all swatches are of them wet). I liked the colors in the palette and felt like they coordinated well with each other.

When you use them wet, the color pay off is decent for the first three shades and a little better for the bottom three shades. The palette contains a shimmery white, soft grassy green, teal-tinged forest green, pale yellow gold, softened copper, and bronze. The first three shades have a frostier finish, while the bottom three shades have more a metallic finish.  They all looked more intense in the palette than when swatched, though; most of the shades looked rather muted.

My biggest issue with the palette is actually the packaging/set-up. Each strip is very thin, so it can be difficult to maneuver your brush so that you only get one color–it’s very easy to pick up whatever shade is above or below. The shadows also break down very easily, so use a light touch or else you risk crumbling.

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  • Product: 24/30
  • Value: 9/10
  • Ease of Use: 4/5
  • Packaging: 2/5

final thoughts: If these colors popped a little more swatched as they do in the pan, I think it could be a real winner.  I also wish these could be used dry–they just weren’t holding together for me when I tried to swatch (and later attempted to apply).

where to buy: Milani







23 Comments

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Chloe Avatar

I’ve tried this palette and I feel the exact same way- great colors, but they could be a little brighter. I was also wondering, when will you be posting your review of the Wet n’ Wild eyeshadows? I’m really curious to hear what you have to say!

Ally Avatar

I’ve look at these in stores before, but I never understood how you could even pick up any shadow with such a tiny little strip. It’s a really cute idea but I guess it doesn’t work so well in theory – the colors actually do look very pretty, though.

CeeBee Avatar

I hate the packaging of the e/s, those thin strips just put me off completely. Even if it were really awesome product I still couldn’t buy it because even looking at it makes me unreasonably irritated, LOL!

Catherine Avatar

I have each of these palettes – I love them! It is a little difficult to maneauver the brush to get only one color but I’ve gotten used to it, I guess. I love the coordinating colors and like that I can use only one palette for a whole look

Helena Avatar

I bought this back when I thought I had to have every green eyeshadow ever, and I agree that the strips are infuriatingly small. I usually use smaller brushes, though (I guess I have small eyelids?), so it’s not too much of a problem for me.

Alexis J. Avatar

I just wanted to let you know that some of the font on the mobile site (the final grade, for example) is showing up incredibly tiny. Other than that, it looks great! Very easy to navigate.

theRothstanator Avatar

I just bought this one about a month ago. I had been wanting it for a while, but thought the price was kind of steep for a drug store brand. I wish I had waited until I read this review! I agree, the colors were super sheer and the colors made a mess. This palette was a huge disappointment for me.

Danny P Avatar

The palettes seems like you get the most bang out of your buck…but the pigmentation is okay to below average. Not worth it. Plus, they have more than enough fall out.

j533j Avatar

It’s an ok palette. I’ve had it for a year and a half, and have used it maybe 4 times. It’s much better if you use the colors wet (the two bronze colors are the best of the group).

Gia Avatar

I love these! The pigment seems to vary with diff palettes! The blue one is very pigmented it’s crazy! The only thing I hate about them that makes me not buy them is that after a few uses they fall apart! Literally the sticks break off and fall and then the palette is useless. I wish they had a better design. 🙁

Polly Avatar

I hate when different colors are mixed in a palette, I want them stay bright and clean.

And easily breakable? Not for heavy-handed girl (like me)!

Maybe my first Leave It!

Cherokee Avatar

I have this palette along with another one. I really don’t have an issue with using the palette. I use either a Sonia Kashuk small eye shadow brush or the MAC 239 brush. I swipe from the ends and it is not a big issue. I thought about breaking up the eyeshadows and repressing them in circular pans.

Amy Atomic Avatar

The packaging on these palettes baffles me. I considered picking one up while at CVS the other day, but ultimately decided against it because of the packaging. The thin strips of product just seem silly, and like a waste of money. I’d rather receive more product than packaging, not the other way around.

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