One drugstore brand that does great eyeshadow? Milani. Previously I reviewed their Earthy Elements palette and loved it. Lately, the brand has been changing their eyeshadow range and are now doing 12 pan square palettes that are a bit more pricey, but that took the beauty community by storm. Because even though they are a bit more expensive than most drugstore eyeshadows, they are truly phenomenal. To see if that is truly the case, we will be having a closer look at their Soft & Sultry eyeshadow palette today.
Milani Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette // Review, Swatch, Makeup Look
Let’s talk price point for a minute, because if I say it is more expensive: it is more expensive. And it completely depends on where you get it how much you pay. It seems to retail for around the $20 mark in the US, but over here in the Netherlands it retails somewhere between €25 and €30. Not only is that a steep markup, but it has also gone up in price. I bought mine when it was at €25, but it seems to cost €27.95 in most places now. Luckily for me, I bought this during a sale and got 25% off, which made it a lot more worthwhile.
The Packaging
You have to give it to Milani: their packaging is not only on brand, it is also pretty and super practical. The square shape of the palette makes this easy to carry and store and it has a good sized mirror in the lid. Layout wise this really reminds me of the Stila palettes. The gold packaging looks sleek and a lot more luxurious than you might expect from a drugstore brand.
The Palette
One thing I love about this eyeshadow palette is its layout! Look at how easy this is to use. You pretty much have 3 quads that you can use if you go from left to right. Another thing I like about this is that it is on the cooler side of the undertone spectrum. It is not as cool toned as some people make it out to be, but it is definitely more cool toned than most eyeshadow palettes on the market today.
The third aspect I love is the fact that there is a good shimmer to matte ratio. You get 4 shimmers and 8 mattes. Enough to create some stunning neutral looks with. Lastly, the palette also has enough depth and dimension so it can cater to many different needs for different skin tones and makeup preferences.
The Swatches
And then I haven’t even gone into the quality of these shadows. Look at that pigmentation! Isn’t that some of the best you have ever seen from a drugstore brand? The mattes are smooth and butter, the shimmers are intense and do not need much help to apply well either. The blendability of all shades is excellent and in terms of lasting power these shadows also hold well in the course of the day when applied over an eyeshadow primer.
Three Makeup Looks
Look 1 – Column 2
When creating looks with this palette, I decided to go with the layout of the palette. I used one column for each look at its basis, but sometimes supplemented the look with shades from other columns. That basic matte cream and basic mid toned crease shade are staples that can be used to build up any look.
For my first look I went straight in with my favorite column in the palette: the middle one. And as you can see on my fair skin these shades pull quite dark and sultry. The taupes in this palette are a bit deeper than I had expected, but they still work to create a great work appropriate look.
Look 2 – Column 1
For my second look I went in with mainly the warmer tones of the first column. And this is also why I feel this palette isn’t super cool toned. The taupes are, but the browns in this palette are still warmer tones. The shades still work great together despite this being a mix of warmer and cooler tones. However, I feel it makes the palette a little less unique. A look like this I can make with about 10 different palette I already own and therefore this look is my least favorite.
Look 3 – Column 3
That this palette can easily take you from day to night is showcased by look number 3. As you can see here, the latter column gives you a great basis for a grey toned smokey eye. This is a super classic look and it pairs well with a bold red lip. The palette is therefore a great one to chuck into a makeup bag for touchups throughout the day or if you have a dinner or party after a long day at work.
My Final Thoughts
Does it come as a surprise if I say that I truly love the Milani Soft & Sultry palette? Yes it is more expensive, but the quality you get in return usually retails for at least double the amount. These shadow work well, stay put and give you something more unique than most palettes at the drugstore do. If you love cooler tones and are looking for a palette that can take you neutral look into the new decade, then Milani’s Soft & Sultry is a great one to try!
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