Milani I Am Cool, I Am Powerful, I Am Victorious Bold Matte Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
I Am Cool
Milani I Am Cool Bold Color Statement Matte Lipstick ($6.99 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium purple with soft, warm pink undertones and a cream finish. The color payoff was fantastic with rich, opaque coverage delivered in a single stroke. The consistency was smooth, lightly creamy, and a little denser compared to most shades in the range, which I felt helped the lipstick sit better on my lips as it did not emphasize my lip lines like most of the other shades did. It stayed on nicely for five and a half hours, was neither drying nor hydrating, and left a faint, fuchsia stain behind.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dior Superstitious Matte (789) (P, $35.00) is darker (85% similar).
- MAC Heroine (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Anastasia Vintage (P, $20.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- Too Faced Unicorn (P, $21.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Grapevine (LE, $12.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- Dose of Colors Dark Secret (P, $16.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Anastasia Rage (P, $18.00) is cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
- Maybelline Vibrant Violet (P, $7.99) is lighter (85% similar).
- Colour Pop Shay Day (LE, $6.50) is darker, warmer, less glossy (85% similar).
- Kat Von D L.U.V. (P, $20.00) is brighter, warmer, less glossy (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$6.99/0.14 oz. - $49.93 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "bold, hydrating color" with "intense color in just one swipe." The finish is more of a "soft matte" to true satin (a little more sheen than "soft matte" to my eye), and the finish will wear down to a more matte finish within an hour or two of wear (or faster if one blots).
The texture felt lightweight, thinner on my lips but felt lightly creamy with more of a velvety slip as I glided the product across my lips. It didn't tug, but the product had good hold and wore between four and seven hours on me, depending on the shade.
In my experience, the more velvety slip seems to result in the color pulling away a bit more along my lip lines and can be more prone to accentuating any imperfections of my lips (texture, flakiness, and so forth). A few shades were on the drying side, while most were non-drying. The majority of the range was pigmented with payoff typically ranging between semi-opaque and opaque. The formula has a sweet, vanilla scent but no discernible taste to me.
Browse all of our Milani Bold Color Statement Matte Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecanol, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Isononyl Isononanoate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Polyethylene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax (Candelilla Cera), Silica, Mica, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil (Cocos Nucifera Oil), Ethyl Vanillin, Lauroyl Lysine, Gardenia Taitensis Flower, Tocopherol. (+/-) MAY CONTAIN/…: Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Red 22 Lake (CI 45380), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
I Am Cool
PPermanent. $6.99.
I Am Powerful
Milani I Am Powerful Bold Color Statement Matte Lipstick ($6.99 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium-dark berry with cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff that adhered evenly but was difficult to build up much beyond semi-opaque coverage. The texture was lightweight, thin without being clingy, and felt velvety as the lipstick glided easily across my lips. It wore well for five hours and was a touch drying over time, and it left a faint, pinkish stain behind.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Colour Pop Doin' Fine (LE, $7.00) is less glossy (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Deep Orchid (P, $40.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Babes and Balls (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Givenchy Violine Retro (P, $37.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Plastics (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Zipped (LE, $27.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Alchemist (P, $7.50) is warmer (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Persuasion (LE, $6.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Hel's Bells (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Got a Callback (P, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$6.99/0.14 oz. - $49.93 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "bold, hydrating color" with "intense color in just one swipe." The finish is more of a "soft matte" to true satin (a little more sheen than "soft matte" to my eye), and the finish will wear down to a more matte finish within an hour or two of wear (or faster if one blots).
The texture felt lightweight, thinner on my lips but felt lightly creamy with more of a velvety slip as I glided the product across my lips. It didn't tug, but the product had good hold and wore between four and seven hours on me, depending on the shade.
In my experience, the more velvety slip seems to result in the color pulling away a bit more along my lip lines and can be more prone to accentuating any imperfections of my lips (texture, flakiness, and so forth). A few shades were on the drying side, while most were non-drying. The majority of the range was pigmented with payoff typically ranging between semi-opaque and opaque. The formula has a sweet, vanilla scent but no discernible taste to me.
Browse all of our Milani Bold Color Statement Matte Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecanol, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Isononyl Isononanoate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Polyethylene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax (Candelilla Cera), Silica, Mica, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil (Cocos Nucifera Oil), Ethyl Vanillin, Lauroyl Lysine, Gardenia Taitensis Flower, Tocopherol. (+/-) MAY CONTAIN/…: Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Red 22 Lake (CI 45380), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
I Am Powerful
PPermanent. $6.99.
I Am Victorious
Milani I Am Victorious Bold Color Statement Matte Lipstick ($6.99 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep, purple-burgundy with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly opaque color coverage, and it was even opaque in some areas, but it struggled to apply as well to my inner lip area (where it was the least pigmented). The lipstick had a smooth, velvety consistency that was comfortable to apply and to wear, as it was lightweight and thin without clingy to my lips. There was a bit of product that gathered in my deeper lip lines, though it wasn’t noticeable from a normal viewing distance. It wore well for six hours, was a touch drying after four hours of wear, and left a fain, plum stain behind.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dose of Colors Saváge (LE, $18.00) is less glossy (95% similar).
- Colour Pop Dukes (P, $6.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Screamer (LE, $7.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Sephora Wanderlust (33) (P, $8.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Blackmail (DC, $22.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Blackmail (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Powerhouse (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Kat Von D Homegirl (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Griselda (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Colour Pop Mamacita (P, $6.50) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$6.99/0.14 oz. - $49.93 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "bold, hydrating color" with "intense color in just one swipe." The finish is more of a "soft matte" to true satin (a little more sheen than "soft matte" to my eye), and the finish will wear down to a more matte finish within an hour or two of wear (or faster if one blots).
The texture felt lightweight, thinner on my lips but felt lightly creamy with more of a velvety slip as I glided the product across my lips. It didn't tug, but the product had good hold and wore between four and seven hours on me, depending on the shade.
In my experience, the more velvety slip seems to result in the color pulling away a bit more along my lip lines and can be more prone to accentuating any imperfections of my lips (texture, flakiness, and so forth). A few shades were on the drying side, while most were non-drying. The majority of the range was pigmented with payoff typically ranging between semi-opaque and opaque. The formula has a sweet, vanilla scent but no discernible taste to me.
Browse all of our Milani Bold Color Statement Matte Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecanol, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Isononyl Isononanoate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Polyethylene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Euphorbia Cerifera Wax (Candelilla Cera), Silica, Mica, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil (Cocos Nucifera Oil), Ethyl Vanillin, Lauroyl Lysine, Gardenia Taitensis Flower, Tocopherol. (+/-) MAY CONTAIN/…: Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Red 22 Lake (CI 45380), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
I Am Cool is gorgeous. I’d definitely pick it up if I didn’t already own MAC Heroine!
I Am Cool looks just like an old LE Maybelline lipstick I bought over 5 years ago. I will need to check mine to see if it’s turned. But the name of this is cringe worthy in a different way…it sounds very teeny-bopper-esque.
I Am Victorious also looks amazing and fits my winter mood! Might wear Nars Nancy today 🤔
These are each gorgeous, particularly I Am Cool. It feels like an edgy Autumn shade, something that deviates from the standard Fall berry shades while remaining in the family, but more as a cousin. Love the eye look!
I love I am Victorious – what a gorgeous deep berry shade that it.
I”m loving I am Cool. What a great purple. I quite like the other two colors, too. I am Powerful is a beautiful berry ( and reminding me that I don’t wear berry shades enough), and I am Victorious is a nice vampy shade.