Milani Bella Eyes Eyeshadow Review

It seems that drugstore brands are getting pretty good at wowing us with their new products.  These new gel powder shadows by Milani are no exception.  They are classified as a gel/powder hybrid because during the the production, they begin as a gel but a "special process" magically turns them into a powder.  I don't know about you, but I would LOVE to see this in person. It sounds awesome.    Per Milani's website, they were designed to be easily blended with your fingers "to light up your eyes."  Milani created 30 shades, so there is a HUGE variety.  And they are only $3.99 a pop, so they are certainly affordable.  But are they any good?

The Bella's (Pitch Perfect reference, anyone?) come in different textures, including metallic, satin matte, and shimmer. So there is a little something for everyone. All of them have a really nice texture, but the satin mattes are a little more smooth, which is to be expected.
I currently have five of the shades, and I am fairly pleased with the quality. Especially when you consider the price.

Shades

• Bella Bronze: bronze metallic sheen
• Bella Champagne: shimmering champagne pink
• Bella Cappuccino: light red brown satin matte
• Bella Teal: teal metallic sheen
• Bella Ivory: ivory satin matte

Bella Bronze

Bella Teal

Bella Cappuccino

Bella Champagne

Bella Ivory

Top to bottom: Bella Champagne, Bella Bronze, Bella Cappuccino, Bella Ivory, Bella Teal

Wet Swatches

Swatched Over Primer: Bella Champagne, Bella Cappuccino, Bella Ivory, Bella Bronze, Bella Teal

For the most part, the pigment of these shadows is really nice.  In general, the metallics seem to have the most pigment while the satin mattes have a little less.  Bella Cappuccino was the most disappointing pigment wise, but it pairs well with Bella Ivory for a natural look.  The wear time is also good.  I haven't experienced any creasing and fading is minimal.  With the exception of Bella Ivory, they are not powdery and none of them are chalky. You can use these shadows wet or dry. I personally never, ever use my shadows wet.  It just feels odd to me and it honestly never crosses my mind.  In this case, it doesn't really make a significant difference in the pigment or application with the exception of the metallic shades (Bella Bronze and Bella Teal).  The metallic shades became more opaque and less of a sheen.  I have also never applied these with my fingers, but I can see where it could be done with ease.  The Bella Shadows apply easily and blend well.

Bella Teal and Bella Bronze

All in all, these are worth trying out and they are nice shadows. For $3.99, you cannot go wrong.  Especially when CVS or Walgreens often has BOGO 50% off, or if you are a CVS extra care member, there are always coupons to be had. =)