Like other American, It-Girl indie brands, Glossier and Nudestix, Milk Makeup is a hot, new beauty brand known for its inclusive messaging and unique, clean beauty offerings. This brand champions the no-makeup makeup look for the girl of guy on the go. But does the brand live up to the hype? Please keep reading for my Milk Makeup review.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links (*). If you purchase by clicking on my links, I may be compensated at no additional cost to you.
About Milk Makeup
Founded by Mazdack Rassi and Zanna Roberts Rassi, Milk Makeup promises to provide beauty for everyone. The brand emphasizes the importance of creativity, self-expression and #LivingYourLook. Milk Makeup is vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free.
Milk Makeup Review Tip | The Milk Makeup Minis make it easy to test products without investing a ton of money
Milk Makeup Review
Now that we understand more about the brand, let’s dive into the Milk Makeup Review on five of the brand’s cult classic products.
Mini Blur Stick Matte Primer | $18.00
The Milk Makeup Blur Stick Matte Primer* promises to be a silicone-free, oil-free matte primer stick that will blur the look of fine lines and pores.
Blur Stick Claims
The Blur Stick claims to be a lightweight, silicone-free, matte primer that minimizes the appearance pores and fine lines. Milk promises that this clear, velvety primer will provide a shine-free canvas that blurs imperfections and makes your makeup last longer.
This primer can be worn under makeup or on its own. It promises to provide a matte, perfected look without clogging pores. Supposedly, this primer is ideal for all skin tones and for normal-to-oily skin.
Blur Stick Ingredients
The Milk Makeup Blur Stick Matte Primer is Cruelty-Free, paraben-free, vegan, silicone-free, dimethicone-free, oil-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and talc-free. Check out this post for more affordable, Cruelty-Free brands.
Application
The primer is best applied using your fingers to tap the product into the skin. Rub your finger over the top of the stick until the product warms up and softens. Gently pat the primer onto the skin over textured areas.
Reality
This primer is super lightweight. However, it is very stiff. This makes it difficult to apply. To get this primer to do what it promises, I need to rub my finger until the product warms and softens.
Does it blur skin without clogging pores? Sure. Would I purchase this again? Honestly, I want to use something that requires less effort.
Bad or Rad?
This primer hasn’t left a lasting impression on me. Would I buy it again? Most likely not.
Minis of Milk’s best selling highlighters & blush + lip stain
Mini Lip + Cheek in Werk | $15.00
The Mini Lip + Cheek product* is a multi-use, lip and cheek color stick. Werk is described as a dusty rose.
Lip + Cheek Claims
Milk promises that the Lip + Cheek Multi-stick is easy-to-apply, buildable, and blendable. Also, the Lip + Cheek promises creamy color with a single swipe. Finally, the formula is intended to aborb easily.
Lip + Cheek Ingredients
The Lip + Cheek multi-stick is formulated with Mango butter and avocado oil to provide rich color and hydration. Additionally, this product is free from Parabens, Sulfates, and Phthalates. This product is vegan, cruelty-free, and fragrance-free. Discover more clean makeup brands, like Milk.
Lip + Cheek Application
The Lip + Cheek product performs best when applied directly to the skin and blended out with the fingers. As with all cream products, this should be applied before setting the face with powder.
Also, it is important to note that the color payoff is drastically different on the cheeks and lips. On the lips, the color is far too light and pink for my taste. However, on the cheeks, the color applies truer to how it looks in the stick.
Reality
This blush is easy to apply and blend. Also, it adds a beautiful, natural flush to the cheeks without looking greasy or shiny. The product is long-wearing, too. Compared to Glossier’s Cloud Paint formula, the Milk multi-stick is much easier to blend. Check out my Glossier brand review to compare.
All-in-all, this is a great ‘starter’ product for anyone looking to try cream products but is worried about blending and application.
Bad or Rad?
This is definitely a rad product. In fact, this is a must-buy for anyone who loves natural-looking makeup but lacks time.
The Milk minis come in compact, easy to use twist top packaging
Mini Holographic Highlighter in Supernova| $15.00
The Mini Holographic Highlighter in Supernova* promises “prismatic” shine to the cheeks, lips, and eyes. This highlighter comes in three shades. All sizes can be purchased as minis.
Holographic Highlighter Claims
Milk Makeup claims that the multi-use holographic highlighter leaves the skin, lips, and eyes feeling hydrated and glowing.
Holographic Highlighter Ingredients
The Holographic highlighter boasts ingredients like “meteorite powder”, twilight pearls, mango butter, coconut oil, and avocado oil. Also, this highlighter is free from Parabens, Sulfates, and Phthalates. Additionally, the Holographic Highlighter is vegan and cruelty-free.
Holographic Highlighter Application
This highlighter applies best directly to the skin, either bare or overtop makeup. Then, blend with fingers. Apply this prior to setting the face with powder.
Reality
Although I liked this highlighter, I didn’t see a huge holographic effect. Also, I do not typically wear colorful highlighters. Therefore, I don’t mind that the color wasn’t overly silver-purple.
Bad or Rad?
I liked this highlighter. However, I wouldn’t purchase the holographic formula again. Instead, I’d rather pick up another one of the brand’s “traditional” stick highlighters.
L:R: Holographic Highlighter, Lit Highlighter, Werk Lip + Cheek
Mini Highlighter in Lit | $15.00
The Milk Makeup Highlighter in Lit* is a creamy, dewy highlighter promises a beautiful, everyday glow. Lit is a champagne-pearl color, while the shade Turnt is a rose-gold color. Both shades are available as minis.
Mini Highlighter Claims
Milk claims that the cream highlighter is easy to apply with one swipe across the skin. Additional layering promises to provide a more intense, luminous shine.
Also, this highlight adds hydration to the skin with an iridescent pearlescent glow. This highlighter is designed to instantly absorb and blend on the skin once the product interacts with the skin’s heat.
Mini Highlighter Ingredients
The highlighter includes ingredients such as micro-shimmer, mango butter, peach nectar, and avocado oil. This is formulated without Parabens, Sulfates, and Phthalates. Milk Makeup does not test on animals.
Mini Highlighter Application
Apply directly to the skin or dabbed on with the fingers. For best results, apply before setting the face with powder. Also, a brush application is workable (with a dense brush). However, brush application wastes more product.
Reality
Lit provides a natural, effortless-looking glow that makes my skin look radiant and dewy without looking greasy. When wearing this highlighter, I received many compliments on my skin’s radiance. However, I don’t notice any additional hydration. See where this highlighter landed in my highlighter ranking.
Bad or Rad?
Lit is a rad highlighter and the Milk formula is killer. Fans of natural-looking, glossy or dewy highlighters will love this highlighter.
Lift, Lengthen, and condition your Lashes with the Milk Makeup KUSH Mascara
Mini KUSH High Volume Mascara | $12.00
The KUSH High Volume Mascara* is a cannabis-infused mascara that is meant to blacken and volumize lashes.
KUSH High Volume Mascara Claims
The KUSH High Volume Mascara promises lasting volume, length, and curl without clumping, flaking, or drying out the lashes. Also, the cannabis seed oil conditions the lashes. Meanwhile the heart-shaped fibers of the formula provide a longer and thicker looking lash.
KUSH High Volume Mascara Ingredients
As previously mentioned, cannabis seed oil is a major ingredient in the formula. Also, the KUSH High Volume Mascara is cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, vegan, gluten-free, fragrance-free, and silicone-free.
KUSH High Volume Mascara Application
For best results, start at the base of the lash and wiggle the wand upwards. Multiple layers will add additional lift, length, and volume. However, this is a wet formula. During application, this may smudge.
KUSH High Volume Mascara Reality
Not only did my lashes look long, voluminous, and lifted, but the mascara opened up the appearance of my eyes. Also, my eyes looked larger and more awake. Additionally, I received countless compliments on my lashes on the days I wore this mascara.
Bad or Rad?
Of the products featured in my Milk Makeup review, the Kush Mascara was the standout product. In fact, his is a product that I’ve repurchased multiple times. See the other mascaras in my mascara collection.
Where to Buy Milk Makeup?
In the US, Milk Makeup is sold at Sephora and Cult Beauty in the UK. Note, if purchased directly on MilkMakeup.com, students can receive 10% of their purchase.
Final Thoughts on Milk Makeup
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed many of the brand’s cosmetic products. Milk Makeup’s products enhance my natural beauty. In fact, the products speed up my beauty routine in a noticeable way.
I appreciate the cleaner formula for each product. I will purchased more cosmetics products from the brand. Current items on my beauty wish list Those products include the Matte Cream Bronzer, the Micro Fiber Brow Gel, the Hydro-Grip Primer,* and the Blur + Set Matte Loose Setting Powder.*
Although pictured above, I did not include the brand’s skincare in my Milk Makeup review. In fact, I am hesitant to try or recommend the brand’s skincare in the future as both products I tried irritated my skin.
The Watermelon Brightening Serum caused breakouts. Also, the cooling Water Stick caused an intense burning reaction that lasted for days. To read about my experience with the Cooling Water Stick outside of the Milk Makeup brand review, check out my Worst of Beauty 2018 post.
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Did you enjoy this Milk Makeup review? Love the no-makeup makeup look? Check out my Glossier haul and my in-depth review of Glossier‘s cult classic products. Looking for new, everyday glamour? Check out this review of the MAC x Disney’s Aladdin Collection.
Have you tried anything from Milk Makeup before or are you interested in any of these goodies? What is your go-to easy beauty staple? What did you think of my Milk Makeup review? Please let me know in the comments below.