Milani Bella Gel Powder Eyeshadows | Review + Swatches

Hello hello!!

Today's review is on the new Milani Bella Gel Powder Eyeshadows which were released in July 2014.
These eyeshadows have a gel powder formula and claim to have pure color with a single stroke application and have a long power wear. 

The two shades I have are 19 Bella Rouge and 28 Bella Chiffon

This collection has 30 available shades that range from satin matte, shimmer and iridescent metallic finishes.

Shades Available: 01 Bella Ivory, 02 Bella Sand, 03 Bella Cappuccino, 04 Bella Caffe, 05 Bella Taupe, 06 Bella Espresso, 07 Bella White, 08 BellaSky, 09 Bella Navy, 10 Bella Gray, 11 Bella Charcoal, 12 Bella Black, 13 Bella Pink, 14 Bella Violet, 15 Bella Purple, 16 Bella Champagne, 17 Bella Khaki, 18 Bella Emerald, 19 Bella Rouge, 20 Bella Silver, 21 Bella Teal, 22 Bella Gold, 23 Bella Copper, 24 Bella Bronze, 25 Bella Cobalt, 26 Bella Fuchsia, 27 Bella Mandarin, 28 Bella Chiffon, 29 Bella Rose, 30 Bella Diamond

Close up of the 28 Bella Chiffon shadow (highlighter/shimmer finish)

Close up of the 19 Bella Rouge shadow (metallic finish)

Finger swatches of the shadows.
Top swatch: 28 Bella Chiffon
Bottom swatch: 19 Bella Rouge

Wet swatches of the shadows.
Left pair: wet swatches using water
Right pair: wet swatches using e.l.f. Mist & Set Spray

Product Description: The formula of this eyeshadow is a gel powder...I know, what would that even look or feel like!? There are 30 shades available in this collection, each shade has a rich, vibrant color that glides on in a single stroke, delivering a 'stunning multi-dimensional effect'. What exactly makes it a 'gel powder'? The formula is stated to start as a gel and then is transformed by a 'special process' into a stunning powder eyeshadow with pure color and power wear. This unique process allows you to blend this incredibly innovative, weightless formula easily with your fingertips or a brush (real or synthetic) to brighten up your eyes. These eyeshadows can be used wet or dry and it resists creasing.

This product has an average rating of 5 out of 5 star rating.

Ingredients: Mica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica,Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer,Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1Dimethicone, Octyldodecanol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Nylon-12, CaprylylGlycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Polyisoprene, Talc, PentaerythritylTetra-di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate. +/- May Contain: Tin Oxide, TitaniumDioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), ManganeseViolet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510),Carmine (CI 75470).

Net Weight: 0.05 OZ/ 1.4g

Retail Value: (Milani site)$3.99

Price Comparison: Walgreens: $3.99, CVS: $4.59, Walmart: $3.97

These eyeshadows look very similar to the Maybelline Bouncy Blushes by size and by how they have a similar thumbprint kind of indentation in the center of the product. Once you touch these, you'd notice their differences, these ones aren't 'squishy' at all...which is a little odd, especially after being given a 'gel' formula...it can be quite misleading. These eyeshadows, without a doubt, are like a pressed powder and not gel at all. I do notice that the 28 Bella Chiffon has an odd plastic smell and the 19 Bella Rouge has no scent at all, I'm not sure if this is because of the different finishes or it just so happened. 

I would definitely agree that you just need one stroke of these eyeshadows to get a very vibrant pigment on your eyes even without a primer underneath. Using these eyeshadows wet, either with water or a setting spray, makes the eyeshadows even more vibrant and intense.

Overall, I am soo impressed with the new Milani Bella Gel Powder Eyeshadows, I'm typically not fond of single eyeshadows so I picked up the shade 28 Bella Chiffon with the purpose of using it as an all over highlighter...now I use it as an all over highlighter and as an eyeshadow itself! With a single swipe with either your finger or a brush, you pick up a lot of pigment! I will definitely be picking up more (maybe even all) of these eyeshadows. I am so impressed with the quality, especially for the price! I would highly recommend it to anyone...everyone! Don't miss out on these great eyeshadows!

I hope you found this helpful!

Thanks for reading!

-Mary