Milani Sparkling Top Coat Mascara ($4.99 for 0.32 fl. oz.) is described as a “glamorous sparkling mascara top coat that adds a beautiful shimmer to lashes … the gel based formula allows for easy, even application.” It’s not shimmer, it’s glitter–it’s definitely larger and chunkier, which is really a good thing as shimmer would be harder to see, but in case you were thinking, “oh, fine shimmer!” it’s really glitter-sized particles. It’s also a top coat, which means it can be used over mascara, not just bare lashes, and it will perform better over mascara (more to cling to).
The formula is very wet, not too thick or too thin, but wet. When the glitter gets caught on a lash, it does adhere, and it doesn’t fall out during wear, but the glitter applies in a scattered, sparse way. If you apply it similarly to mascara, where you’re running the wand through the lashes, you’ll need three coats or more to get visible sparkle. Now, the problem with this, is it has a tendency to clump and pull lashes together, so you’ll also need a lash comb or clean spoolie to help bring back definition and lash separation. It’s a lot easier to just use the glitter that’s on the tip of the wand to sort of tap and press and slide through the lashes, as you’ll get a denser application and minimize how much of the gel base on lashes.

The major upside of this product was once on, it stayed put, but the downside was in the application and lack of density of the glitter. I had better results with this formula than I did with Chanel’s glitter top coat, though you can get similar results using a liquid glitter eyeliner and dabbing or combing through lashes.

Just as a note (this had no impact on the rating), but you might concentrate the glitter on the tips of lashes, rather than the whole lash, as I saw pops of blurred sparkle throughout the day, which might be distracting for some!

Golden Eyes Sparkling Top Coat Mascara ($4.99 for 0.32 fl. oz.) is described as “gold shimmer.” It’s true, metallic gold glitter particles suspended in a clear base. Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy (P, $19.00) is a liquid eyeliner, and it is a paler, less yellow gold. See comparison swatches.

Bronze Glare Sparkling Top Coat Mascara ($4.99 for 0.32 fl. oz.) is described as “bronze shimmer.” It’s a warm-toned, gold and copper mix of glitter suspended in a clear base.

Silver Gaze Sparkling Top Coat Mascara ($4.99 for 0.32 fl. oz.) is described as “silver shimmer.” It contains light-medium, metallic silver glitters suspended in a clear base. Urban Decay Glamrock (P, $19.00) is a liquid eyeliner but is similar. See comparison swatches.

Milani Golden Eyes Sparkling Top Coat Mascara

Milani Golden Eyes Sparkling Top Coat Mascara

Milani Golden Eyes Sparkling Top Coat Mascara

Milani Golden Eyes Sparkling Top Coat Mascara (Eyeshadow look here)

Milani Bronze Glare Sparkling Top Coat Mascara

Milani Bronze Glare Sparkling Top Coat Mascara

Milani Bronze Glare Sparkling Top Coat Mascara

Milani Silver Gaze Sparkling Top Coat Mascara

Milani Silver Gaze Sparkling Top Coat Mascara

Milani Silver Gaze Sparkling Top Coat Mascara

Milani Silver Gaze Sparkling Top Coat Mascara (Eyeshadow look here)