Review: Milani Make It Last setting spray

Setting sprays were a beauty item that I could never figure out. What is it for? What does it do? Do I need one? It turns out I did and that is where I fell down the rabbit hole.

I experimented with several different sprays and even tried using moisturizing sprays to set my makeup but nothing really stuck. For my skin (which is dehydrated and combination) I needed a spray that:

  • sets my makeup (obviously, amirite?)
  • doesn’t smell overly fragrant
  • won’t break the bank
  • just works

I ended up with a travel size of Skindinavia’s The Makeup Finishing Spray which I really liked. I liked it so much you can see I re-purchased it in it’s full size at IMATS 2017. Unfortunately, the travel size sort of masked the smell of the spray and I wasn’t aware until the first couple of spritz of the full size 🙁

I can’t really explain it but I can say that it’s not a perfume or floral scent. It’s more chemical and just did not do it for me.

Around this time I started seeing the news that Milani was introducing a new setting spray and picked it up during my trip back to NJ (first time in 9 years) for my sister’s wedding. Now that I’ve finished the bottle, I feel ready to write a full setting spray review.

Milani Make It Last

Brand: Milani
Type: Setting Spray
Size: 2.03 fl oz / 60mL
Price: $9.99
Where to purchase: Drugstores, ULTA, Wal-Mart, Target, and online

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Alcohol Denat., Niacinamide, Pvp, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Polaxamer 407, Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Fragrance ( Fragrance), Citrullus Lanatus ( Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Citrulline, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate

Scent: There is a light perfume smell that isn’t overbearing and dissipates almost instantly. It reminds me of a Tresseme hair spray.

Consistency: It’s very light-weight and non-sticky. The mister is also very fine and gives a nice, even spray. You can let your face air dry or fan your face.

Does it work?

Yes. The setting spray claims to prime, set, and correct without settling into creases. I have only noticed small creasing under my eyes and my chin but that’s after a whole day and those areas are my problem areas to begin with. It didn’t leave a matte or dewy finish. I would say it’s closer to satin.

Re-purchase?

Yes. The bottle is practically empty in my photo because I’ve used it down to it’s last drops. For the price of $9.99 (cheaper during sales or with points) and how it performs it has become a holy grail item for me.

Comparable Products

These are products I have tried and tested that I believe perform just or almost as well at different price points.

Skindinavia The Makeup Finishing Spray – $30
Colourpop All Star Matte Setting Spray – $10
NYX Dewy Finish Makeup Setting Spray – $8.50



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Recap of IMATS LA 2017

It’s been one week since IMATS has come and gone and I’m super excited to share how my experience went. This was my first ever show and I spent countless hours reading, researching, and preparing for it. I even went on a low-buy and budgeted out how much I was willing to spend. In the end I learned some valuable tips for next year’s show and I hope you guys are able to utilize some of them for next year!

So what is IMATS? The name is an abbreviation and stands for “International Makeup Artist Trade Show“. The first stop of the year is usually in Los Angeles (Pasadena, really) and then takes off from there, worldwide. The show is for both industry and enthusiasts to come together to learn, network, and buy.

The discounts run deep if you work in the industry and/or are a student at a school (proof is required). Don’t be alarmed, the discounts are awesome for enthusiasts as well! There are classes throughout the day that you can sit in on as well as live demos on the show floor. If you’re still excited to learn how my day went, keep reading on!

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Welcome to Tiny Piles

Hey look, I’m blogging again! It’s been a while since I’ve actually sat down and typed out my thoughts.

It was much easier as a teenager in the early beginnings of “web logging” since I had a shit more exciting things happen to me. Gone are the days of sipping wine coolers and getting “totally wasted you guys.” The days of lying to parents and tell them I’m sleeping over Justine’s house and then heading to a nightclub. Worst of all, gone are the days of no responsibilities.

I used to run a blog back in the late 90’s up until the mid 2000’s over at monkee-poo.net. It was when Greymatter was the popular blogging platform of choice and when “plugs” were the “Likes” of yore. I used to write about everything and anything, shamelessly, and if I were to read it now I’d probably die from cringe overload.

So, here I am  now. Actually, first I moved onto Livejournal, Vox, Tumblr, and then made my way back. Let’s see, I stopped when I was about 18/19 and heading into college. I’m 30 now. Welcome to my adult life!

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