I’m a matte shadow lover. I own more matte palettes than anyone I know. But I also love cream shadows. So when Milani sent me all four of their Fierce Foil Eyeshine palettes several weeks ago, I knew I had to move out of my matte shadow comfort zone.
Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine are metallic cream eye shadows that pack a serious shimmer. I’m not kidding, they really shine. Though they photograph with a glittery sparkle, they don’t look like teen makeup. They have a glow.
Here’s how Milani describes them: “Ground-breaking gloss technology formulated especially for your eyes. Instantly create sexy and glamorous looks inspired by the runways of Milan. Use one shade or more depending on the look you want.”
I’ve worn all four of the palettes, each of which contains four shades. Each palette is named for one of Italy’s major cities:
- 01 Milan: cool-toned champagne/diamond pink/copper/burnt gold
- 02 Rome: neutral/cool pink/purple/eggplant/deep purple
- 03 Florence: warm-toned ivory/rose gold/bronze/dark brown
- 04 Venice: cool-toned blue/teal/silver/black
I took my time writing a review of these shadows because I really wanted to spend time using them. Plus, I had read some not so positive reviews. I like the Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine shadows a lot, and I wear them often. But you can’t use and apply them in the same way you use your powder shadows. It just won’t work.
Make sure you use eye primer to provide a good canvas for the Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine. Usually when I receive an applicator with a palette, I don’t use it but instead use my own brushes. With Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine, I recommend using the plastic applicator to pick up a small amount of shadow, and then tap the shadow on to your lid. Some women blend from there with their fingers, but I prefer tapping with the applicator. Most of the time, I use just one shade because Fierce Foil Eyeshine does not blend easily the way powder shadow or traditional cream shadow does. Using the plastic applicator and sticking with one or possibly two shadows, I don’t find it too difficult to apply. In the crease, I use another powder or cream eyeshadow. I find that Fierce Foil works best on the eyelid. Sometimes I use it just in the middle of the eyelid for pop while using powder or cream traditional shadows in the inner corner, outer V and crease.
So Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine shouldn’t be used to create your entire eye look (unless you want to go with one shade on the lid, period, the end). It should be used as an accent in conjunction with other easy blending shadows.
To be honest, the shades differ in the amount of foil they have, in their creaminess and in ease of application. I wish they were a bit more uniform. As a result, I tend to use some shades more often than others. Here are the swatches applied on bare skin using the applicator they came with. They definitely benefit from eye primer. Applying them on the eye is much easier than swatching, since the swatched area is much bigger than my eye!
I wore the silver from Venice on Valentine’s night when Jeff braved the huge snowstorm to take me out to dinner. I thought the silver shadow was appropriate for the snowy evening! I have used the pink and violet shades during the daytime because they’re so light and pretty! Here are a few of my looks from shades in the different palettes.
The silver shadow is from Venice:
The rose gold is from Milan:
The bronze or deeper rose gold is also from Milan:
Violet shadow from the Rome palette:
Pink shadow from the Rome palette:
I still have a lot of the shades yet to try, but so far I love them! The Milan, Rome and Florence palettes are my favorites. Have you tried the Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine palettes yet? What did you think of them?
You can buy Milani Fierce Foil Eyeshine palettes on the Milani display at CVS and on the Milani website. They are made in the U.S. and each contains is 0.14 oz/14 g. The price is about $10+ per palette. Milani Cosmetics are not tested on animals.
INGREDIENTS: Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl GlycerinSebacic Acid Copolymer, Mica, Isopropyl Myristate, Ozokerite, Cera Alba Beeswax, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Caprylyl Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Stearate, Magnesium Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Tin oxide, Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron Oxides CI 77491, CI 77499, Bismuth Oxychloride CI 77163. + May Contain Iron Oxide CI 77492, Yellow 5 CI 19140, Aluminum Powder CI 77000, Chromium Hydroxide Green CI 77289, Ferric Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide CI 77510, Carmine CI 75470.
The colors look great! I love how you worked with different colored backgrounds for all the shades 🙂
Kiss & Make-up recently posted…Review | Bobbi Brown Face Mist
Thank you, Melissa! I love color so I did it. Maybe a white background would’ve shown the true shades off better but then I have swatches for that. It was fun to do
These are so pretty to look at, but I just can’t wear anything with foil finish on my oily eyelids – it will crease and look gross after one hour at best.
I guess that’s one of the benefits of having dry eyelids! These last on me for hours and hours.
Thank you for the thorough review! I wouldn’t have known you can’t wear this all over and would probably have gotten frustrated and thrown them away. Now I know the best way to apply and wear them!!
Krystal E recently posted…KBShimmer Funky Cold Patina
Thank you, Krystal! I definitely thought there was a learning curve with these, but I do like ’em a lot!
I love these, and think that you really knocked it out of the park with this fabulous review! This is a truly awe-inspiring review, Allison!
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Thank you, Helen! You are always the sweetest of the sweet <3<3<3
These are so pretty. Can you believe I haven’t played with them yet? I need to. 🙂
Shipra recently posted…What Does Black/Brunette Hair Say About Me?!
They’ll be stunning on you, Shipra!
Love these! The Milan and Rome palettes are officially on my to-buy list!
Chelsea recently posted…No Heat Beachy Boho Hair Tutorial
I hope you love them! I think the shades are gorgeous
Oooh, those Milani palettes look amazing. They look fab on you! I must pick up a few of these to try for myself xx
Brigette Ramos recently posted…Peachblow Color Box Lipstick Review, Photos & Swatches + 10% off Discount Code
Thank you, Brigette! I think the shades are gorge
They look beautiful on you, giving such a nice twinkle! I think I’ll pick up the Milan palette if I can find it. Then, I’ll probably try another one 🙂
Thank you so much, Valerie! I hope you can find ‘Milan’ because the shades are so beautiful and on trend! Let me know how you like it. There’s a bit of a learning curve with it but definitely worth it IMHO 🙂
These are so pretty! The colours look really great on you.
gio recently posted…Product Review: Vichy LiftActiv Retinol HA Day SPF 18
Thank you, Gio!
I’m loving Venice, Rome and Florence, but foil finish is probably a bad idea on my super-oily lids (ended up with pencil eyeliner on the lids at the dentist’s today, ugh). Interesting that these work better with the plastic applicator than brushes!
Renu recently posted…Six cooling drugstore foot treatments for Spring/Summer
Very surprising that the plastic applicator is the best way to apply! And yes, these are good for my dry eyelids.
I like the purples!
Phyrra recently posted…Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potions
The violet shade is beautiful!
Venice is def perfect for a snowy Valentine’s Day!! =D
We got several feet in that snowstorm. It was a white-out. The silver definitely worked 😉
These take some practice – but the colors are SO pretty!
Jess Scull recently posted…Dollish Polish – CULT Movie Classic Series | Swatches & Review
Agree, Jess! When I started out, I used a brush. Big mistake. But I find the plastic applicator pretty easy to use to tap it on.
I think these are really pretty!! I would so rock Rome all over my lids! On my quick days, I really don’t have time to fuss with crease and out v shades, so something quick and luminous like this would be perfect. That silver looks so pretty on you!
Julie recently posted…Physicians Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Stick Review!
Thank you, Julie! Yes, Rome definitely has your shades!
Yours is the first review that really explained how to use these. I avoided them because I thought that working with more than one shade would be a mess but now I see that I can just use one and get the glow that I like.
MarciaF recently posted…Transport yourself to Sicily with Spadaro
Thank you, Marcia! That is the limitation of these shades, using one at a time, unless you are highly skilled. Frankly, I love the look of one on the entire lid or with a “normal” shade in the V and crease.
these were just too sparkly for me.
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I can understand that, Cindy. I am the matte queen so I was shocked that I actually like the sparkle. Go figure. I think it’s because of the creaminess and sheerness of some of them
I purchased two of these and was seriously impressed with the pigment, but was a little confused at first with the application. After playing with them for a bit, I’ve figured them out. They aren’t my favorite, but they do give a fantastic shimmer to my lid! They look amazing on you! On me, they didn’t hold up so great, which was a bummer!
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Maybe because I have dry lids and use primer, Christine, they don’t budge on me. When I first got them, I used a brush rather than the applicator and they were a disaster. Then I read the instructions about tapping them on. Also, I realized I just can’t blend them so I use ’em one at a time. And I agree, a fantastic shimmer, and I usually am a matte girl 😉
I really wish that Milani products were available in the UK as I have a couple of their blushes that I love! These shadows look pretty good, I love the rose gold shades xxx
WhatLauraLoves recently posted…The Stress Free At-Home Manicure with Nails Inc
I hope some day that Milani will be available internationally. It is such a great brand for the money!
That bottom one in Florence seemed kind of messy. All in all, super cute though. And I love your hair!
Justina recently posted…How Much SPF Do You Need?
As I mentioned, that is one of the problems with these, they are inconsistent. Some are smoother and easier to apply. However, showing swatching is kind of misleading. These are best applied by tapping them on a small area because they are not blendable.
I’ve read mixed reviews, mostly negative on these e/s. By looking at your swatches, I’m betting these will work best when applied damp.
Kath TheFabZilla recently posted…Dermatologist-Recommended and Clinically-Tested For Compromised Skin: Lindi Skin (Review)
They’re cream shadows so I don’t think applying them damp would help at all. Tapping them on with the plastic applicator works well. However, these are not like regular eyeshadow. You can’t really blend them. They work best as color for the entire eyelid or to tap on after applying traditional powder/cream eyeshadow as a pop of shimmer. I like them but they’re not like any other eyeshadows I’ve tried.
I am a big fan of one of these palettes. Such pretty sparkle
Laura MyNewestAddiction recently posted…Suave Luxe Style Infusion | Volume
Agree!!
All the shadows look WOW! on you but I am especially digging the silver.
The silver was super-shiny, Laura! I seem to wear the rose gold most, but I think I like the violet shade best. Did you try these?
I have not tried any of them. Before I saw the swatches I was most drawn to Rome and Florence. After I saw them I surprised myself by liking the Venice.
The silver and black in Venice are beautiful. I just don’t wear cobalt or turquoise so I haven’t tried those yet. Milan and Florence were my favorites till I tried the pink and violet shades from the Rome palette, and they are so pretty and wearable even for daytime
Maybe try lining your upper lid lightly in the blue shades? I do sometimes especially if I am looking tired which is often. Oh and I am guessing those shades work well with a wet brush as well????
I have never heard that trick, Laura! I’ll try it with a blue eye pencil!! Frankly, the Fierce Foils have serious limitations in spite of being very pretty. You cannot use them, or I cannot use them, like a traditional cream or powder shadow. As you could see in the swatches, they vary in their “spreadability”. They do not work at all with a brush – wet or dry – so that’s out. Only the weird plastic applicator that comes with the palette works for me to scoop up a little bit and tap it on.
I love foil eyeshadows as an accent, anything super sparkly is so fun! Florence looks really pretty.
Exactly right, Molly! That’s what these are: an accent. I love Florence too!
The pink is perfection on you. I think the violet would be my jam. I love metallics so hard right now.
Nidia – Lit From Within recently posted…Yellow and Black on Point
I adore the violet, Nidia! I think it’s my favorite on. It really packs a punch but in a good way
These have definitely taken me some practice and getting used to. I enjoy them but notice that it’s easiest for me to apply with my fingers, which means it’s not ideal for looks I want to accomplish quickly. I love the colors though.
Honeygirlk recently posted…Ageless Mommy – My Weekend Skin Indulgence With Stemology
I agree. I tried using my fingers when I first got them, and it didn’t really work for me but I can’t remember why. I’ll try it again with my fingers. I find the flat plastic applicator easiest to just tap on some color, mostly as an accent. I agree too that they’re not great for a quick look! But the colors are so lovely
Ooh, thees look great on you! Loving the rose gold shade in Milan.
Bailey recently posted…Make Up For Ever Spring 2015
Me, too, Bailey. But then I love so many of the shades in these Milani quads 🙂
I just love everything and have to have it
Thanks, Betzy! They are very pretty
Great review. We don’t have Milani where I live, so I am not able to give them a try :-(. I am going to try and explain what I think would look nice, but I might use some weird words haha :-D. So, I think this kind of eyeshadow/cream/metallic would look great as the finishing touch to your eyelook. Like in the middle of your lid, dabbing a bit of the product. Gives it a bit of shine, but not too much. Using these all over your lid might be a bit too overwhelming as you say you can’t blend them properly 😀
Natasja LoveLifeLacquer recently posted…Couture Gel Nail Polish Perfect Fit & Bubble Bath | Swatch & Review
I’ve used them both ways, Natasja, and it works! Often, I will apply my usual matte eyeshadow and use the Fierce Foil for a pop of shimmer in the middle of the lid. That looks great for both daytime and evening. But sometimes I want the full foil effect and I don’t have any trouble applying one shade to my entire eyelid. Where the problem lies is in trying to blend more than one of the Fierce Foils together, just doesn’t work. I hope Milani will begin to sell internationally one of these days. Their makeup is so wonderful and fun too. Thank you for going to your computer to comment <3
I have two of these but right now they’re just sitting in my drawer because I don’t really know what to do with them. I need to get over my cold feet and just play around!
Kristin Bassett recently posted…April Showers Bring …
Just tap ’em on, Kristin. For me, the plastic applicator works much better than a brush. And I don’t find them blendable, so I wear one shade at a time. The shades are really pretty. I think you’ll like that aspect, but they’re much different from regular shadows
I have these and still haven’t gotten them out! I need to now!
Oh, you should try them! The colors are beautiful and fun!
Those palettes are gorgeous! I’m especially loving Rome.
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I love that palette too, though I was surprised how much I like the purple palette, Florence
Milan and Florence are right up my alley but I generally don’t like cream shadows but Milani is pretty affordable so I may have to try at least one.
These are not your usual cream shadow, Asja, and not everyone loves them because you can’t use them like regular shadows. But for a pop of sparkly color or an eyelid full of glittery shine, they’re great. The colors are gorgeous!
Love your review on Milani Eyeshadow quads…I am glad you did a little more time on the review aspect plus skin swatches of eye quad and review the colors on your eyes!! Great job!!
Thank you, Ursula! Have you tried the Milani Fierce Foil quads yet?