Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow Collection

I have been on the lookout for these gems ever since I heard about them over at Nouveau Cheap. There are 30 shades in the collection and I was able to purchase 17 of them. I have Bella Ivory, Bella Sand, Bella Cappuccino, Bella Caffe, Bella Espresso, Bella White, Bella Navy, Bella Charcoal, Bella Black, Bella Pink, Bella Violet, Bella Purple, Bella Champagne, Bella Emerald, Bella Teal, Bella Gold and Bella Bronze.

I got them for $3.99 each at Walgreens. I used my points to purchase them (yes, I saved a lot of points and I only buy stuff that will get me points) so I only forked out I think $6.

According to the Milani website…

A gel powder – what would that even look like? We’ll tell you: It looks like rich, vibrant color that glides on in a single stroke, delivering a stunning multi-dimensional effect. What makes it a gel powder? Well, the formula starts as a gel and then is transformed by a special process into a stunning powder eyeshadow with pure color and power wear.

The unique process allows you to blend this incredibly innovative, weightless formula easily with your fingertips to light up your eyes. Even more to entice: It can used wet or dry, resists creasing,and comes in satin matte, shimmer and iridescent metallic finishes. You just have to try this gel powder. It’s that different.

They are housed in plastic, gold packaging. Pretty much like the baked blushes except that it’s smaller.

There is a dip at the center and in close up photos one will notice that the surface is slightly textured.

So my thoughts/review here is in general as I love the shades that I have from this collection.

• the product itself is not housed in the normal round metal container like the regular shadows, instead they look like they are baked on ceramic bottoms which could mean nothing or a lot depending on whether you depot your eyeshadows or not.
• I am not sure about the gel part in the name of the product because at first swipe, in my experience at least, it was and still is powder.
• the texture is beautiful, reminds me of a finely milled powder with the exception of Bella White and Bella Ivory which was a tad powdery and Bella Black which is also powdery but less than the previous two mentioned.
• all of them really blends well in my experience, with or without a primer, even the three shades I have mentioned previously I did not have trouble working with.
• I did not experience any fall out
• pigmentation is top notch, more so with primer underneath it
• I have really oily lids and without a long-lasting primer I have trouble making eyeshadow last and this product is not an exception. In this 90 degree weather with my oil glands in full throttle, it only lasted around 3 hours before it started fading.
• no creasing

Here’s the ingredient list (from Milani website),

Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica,Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer,Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Nylon-12, CaprylylGlycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Polyisoprene, Talc, PentaerythritylTetra-di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate. +/- May Contain: Tin Oxide, TitaniumDioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), ManganeseViolet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510),Carmine (CI 75470).

I have posted separate posts of pictures and swatches. Please take a look…

Bella Ivory, Bella Sand, Bella Champagne and Bella Gold – click HERE

Bella Cappuccino, Bella Caffe, Bella Bronze and Bella Espresso – click HERE

Bella White, Bella Charcoal and Bella Black – click HERE

Bella Emerald, Bella Teal and Bella Navy – click HERE

Bella Pink, Bella Violet and Bella Purple – click HERE

Thanks loves for dropping by and please share your thoughts on this new offering from Milani.

xo, Emilie

CLOSED – First Ever Blog Giveaway Featuring Le Metier de Beaute Summer’s Kiss Bronzing Kit

UPDATE: giveaway is now closed. I will post the winner soon. Thanks to all who joined. I have another one lined up. Should we do Chanel or another LMdB? What do you think?

Le Metier de Beaute Summer’s Kiss Bronzing Kit

Hi guys! Not many knows this but my daughter had surgery last week. It was a scheduled surgery (a very much needed one) that was supposed to be a very “easy” one. She has a VP shunt (read about it on wikipedia HERE) and sometimes it malfunctions due to a number of reasons. To make the long story short, this is her 7th shunt revision. And you’d think everything will be easy and routine and this time I was reminded that despite the surgery being routine, there is still a number of issues that can go wrong. Well, she stopped breathing for a bit while at the recovery room and I was reminded how precious life is. I’m happy to say that she survived that episode and that she’s home, safe, healthy and happy.

To celebrate, I would like to hold my very first blog giveaway and I am giving away a product from one of my favorite beauty brand, Le Metier de Beaute. Up for grabs is the wonderful Summer’s Kiss Bronzing Kit. I got it as a gift with purchase from the Camp Gorgeous event at Neiman Marcus held last week. It includes the Bella Bronzer in a new packaging and a mini Blushing Bronzed Duet in Traviata. It is a duo consisting of Echo Radiance Rouge and Sun Kissed Bronzer. I am a fan of both especially the Bella Bronzer. I was under the assumption that it will make you dark but this is different. Mixed with Peau Vierge tinted treatment, it imbibes a healthy glow very appropriate for the impending summer season. Giveaway ends at 12:01am on June 27, 2012 PST.

Here’s how to join:

1. In the comments section below leave your name, email using the format name(at)domain(dot)com, twitter username and/or Facebook username
2. Like Cogitation Project on Facebook by clicking HERE
3. Follow @nuts4pilinuts on Twitter by clicking HERE
4. Tweet the following message on Twitter – I just entered @nuts4pilinuts giveaway for @MetierBeaute’s Bella Bronzer Set http://bit.ly/1stEver

You have to do all four steps to be eligible. If you’re missing a step your entry is disqualified. I got the product for the giveaway as a gift with purchase. Although it has a monetary equivalent, it cannot be exchanged for cash or any other product. Winner(s) will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. Contest open internationally. I will make sure that it gets packed properly and will send it via UPS.  If it gets damaged and/or lost in transit to you, I cannot guarantee that I can replace it. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send me an email at nuts4pilinuts(at)gmail(dot)com.

Hope you join and good luck!

xo, Emilie

Find nuts4pilinuts on Hellocotton