Milani is an affordable, American cosmetic brand sold at drugstores, big box retailers, and Ultas across the United States. Like so many trendy brands, Milani is loved by fans for its gorgeous packaging, high-quality products, and affordable price point. But is the Milani Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette truly worth the hype? Keep reading for an honest review.
Milani Brand Ethos
Founded in 2001, Milani is an affordable, American brand that takes its inspiration from the art and culture of Milan. Milani products aim to embody the style and essence of Milan, from formula, to packaging, and shade offerings. However, unlike high fashion sold in Milan, the brand sells cosmetics at an affordable price point. Also, Milani releases products that reflect needs of the multicultural consumer.
Milani Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette Claims
According to the Milani website, the cool-toned, Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette provides buyers with a mix of “iridescent neutrals” and “smoked out metallics.” Also, the palette contains twelve “pure pigments” – a mix of velvety mattes and intense metallics. Finally, this palette empowers wearers to create one-of-a-kind eye looks.
Price & Packaging
The Milani Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette originally retailed for $19.99 on Milani’s website and across most retailers. While the price point puts this palette above that of the brand’s competitors, the price was not unreasonable. Sadly, this neutral palette looks like it is in the process of being discontinued.
The Soft & Sultry Palette packaging looks sleek and luxe. In fact, the overall design of the palette takes inspiration from the Stila Eyes are the Windows Palettes ($49.00).
The front of the palette has a sleek, minimalistic design, while the back of the palette contains helpful product details such as shade names, suggested pairings and as application directions.
Additionally, the large mirror that comes inside the palette makes this palette perfect for travel. Another bonus is that the palette not come with a brush. Thus, the palette minimizes some waste. However, I wish the brand labeled the shade names inside the palette.
Ingredients & Cruelty-Free Status
Unfortunately, these shadows contain Talc, Mica, and Dimethicone (as well as other silicone-based ingredients), and Phenoxyethanol. Although these ingredients are commonly used in beauty products, there are potential health concerns. Milani is Cruelty-Free – discover additional affordable, Cruelty-Free brands in this post.
Milani Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette Swatches
The Milani Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette comes with 12 cool-toned eyeshadows. The palette includes eight matte shadows, one shimmer, and three foiled shadows.
Although swatches are not always perfect, they provide clues to how an eyeshadow may perform in terms pigmentation and ability to blend.
I swatched the Soft & Sultry Palette using my finger and a brush over my bare arm. In the below photos, finger swatches are on top while brush swatches are below. The finger swatches represent one swipe of color, while the brush swatches represent two layers.
Weekday (Column One)
Milani suggests pairing the four shades in the first column of the palette together to create a soft, weekday look. Clearly the finger swatches showed up more pigmented than the brush swatches. However, the ability to build the brush swatches impressed me.
From top-to-bottom: Bare It All (matte beige), Tan-Tation (matte peachy nude), Foxy Lady (foiled chocolate bronze), and After Hours (matte deep taupe)
Weekend (Column 2)
When used together, the four shades in the central column create a bolder look. However, the two lightest shades in this quad, Diamonds & Pearls and Soft Touch, underwhelmed. In comparison, the foiled duo-chrome, Come-Hither, impressed me so much. It remains my favorite shade in the palette.
From top-to-bottom: Diamonds & Peals (shimmering icy white gold), Soft Touch (matte nude fawn), Come-Hither (foiled chestnut with silver reflect), and Untamed (matte expresso)
Funday (Column 3)
Milani describes the last column in the Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette as the go-to colors for a sultry look. The way that the swatches built up using a brush impressed me. However, the matte black shadow needed a lot of work to achieve full opacity.
From top-to-bottom: In the Buff (matte, pale cream), Smokin’ Hot (matte taupe), Sweeter than Chocolate (foiled chocolate with gold reflect), and Naughty-Night (matte jet black)
Application & Wear-time
Each shadow glided onto the eyelids with minimal effort More importantly, the shades built up nicely with a brush. However, given that Talc and Mica are the top ingredients in the Milani formula, I’m not surprised that the mattes performed well.
The Soft & Sultry Palette is a soft, both in terms of pigmentation and formula. Although this palette doesn’t provide intense pigmentation that are common in other affordable formulas, there is something special about the palette.
However, the palette is not perfect. Unfortunately, the lightest shades look nearly identical. Not only do those shades look similar, but they are unlikely to work well for anyone with a medium-to-deep skin tone. Also, formula-wise, the shadows create a lot of kickback.
One of my favorite looks I created with this palette is an ultra-soft Halo Eye. First, I blended Bare It All and Tan-Tation into the crease. Second, I lightly packed Untamed into the inner and outer corner of the eyelids. Finally, I finished by packing Come-Hither into the center of the lids.
When worn with a primer, the shadows do not crease nor do they fade, even after 10-12 hours of wear. As someone with oily eyelids, this is an impressive feat, especially when other high-end brands struggle to create shadows with the same longevity.
Where is the Milani Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette sold?
Milani Cosmetics is sold in drugstores and big box retailers across the US, including CVS Health, Target, Walgreens, Walmart. Additionally, Milani is at specialty beauty retailer, Ulta, as well as online via MilaniCosmetics.com. To purchase the full range of products, visit MilaniCosmetics.com.
Currently, Milani only ships to the United States and Canada. However, Milani is available in Europe through Beauty Bay. To find the closest Milani distributor in the US, check out the brand’s store locator.
Final Thoughts on the Milani Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette
I hate to make such grandiose claims, but the Milani Soft & Sultry Eyeshadow Palette is the best drugstore palette I’ve ever tried. In fact, it was my favorite eyeshadow find of 2018.
From the packaging to the price and the performance of the eyeshadows, this palette has it all. If you like neutral looks or are looking to experiment with cool-toned shades then I highly suggest grabbing this palette.
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Have you tried any Milani cosmetics before? What is your favorite affordable or drugstore eyeshadow palette? Please let me know in the comments below.
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Wow, did you ever do your eyes! Beautiful, LP! This sounds like a great drugstore brand palette. Amazing actually!
Thanks Jennifer! 💜 I really love Milani as a brand and this palette blew me away!
It looks like a great palette, especially for such a great price!
Thank you for your comment. It is so amazing for the price! â¤ï¸
Will have to check this out we have only just got Milani in the uk x
Oh let me know what you think if you see anything – curious to see what they’ll have available in the UK!! 🙂
I think the soft halo eye you created is a perfect representation of ‘soft and sultry’ and it looks particularly good with that sort of eyeliner.
I haven’t indulged in Milani (yet), and I’ve been eyeing their palettes for a while (mostly the Most Loved Mattes), but they cost €25 here in Europe ($28), so it doesn’t feel all that drugstore and I think I have most of those shades already.
I keep hearing about their blushes and highlighters. What do you think of them?
Thank you so much!! 💜💜 That really made my day! ☺ï¸
And omg the price 😱😱 … I agree that these palettes have pretty basic color schemes, so def not a necessity if you have a large collection.
I haven’t owned a Milani highlighter before, but I’ve owned quite a few of their blushes over the years. I love how they give my cheeks a radiant feel without looking glittery. I recently purchased the baked blush in Red Vino and it is so pigmented (almost a little too pigmented for my pale skin), but Luminoso is the fan favorite Milani blush for sure! ☺ï¸
Thanks for the recommendation 🙂
Lovely review, LP! I use Milani’s eyeshadow primer, and I love it! They have so many gems.
Thanks girl! <3 I bought the primer when I was on vacation, but haven't tried it yet!! (I've been trying to finish my NYX Ultra HD Eye Primer first). Totally agree that they have tons of hidden gems! I honestly can't think of a product I've tried from them that I didn't enjoy.
This is such a good review. I love the shades on this palette. If they had it in NZ I would definitely buy it. I love finding affordable palettes that last for extended periods of time!! I really like the weekday shades.
Thank you! 💜💜💜 I love finding affordable treasures like this!
This really impressed me! I am pleasantly surprised with the wear time of these. I did have a blush from Milani a LONG time ago. I don’t remember anything about it except I really liked it! And your eye makeup was tip top!
Christine xx