Discover Milk Makeup’s most-loved items, & try Sara Wren’s top application tips
Calling all make-up lovers! Milk Makeup has officially landed at Boots, and we couldn’t be more excited about it. You can now purchase the New York-based brand at boots.com, as well as exclusively in store at Boots Battersea.
Not heard of Milk Makeup before? Not to worry. We’ve rounded up all the need-to-know info to introduce you properly, plus an edit of your soon-to-be favourite items from the brand.
Scroll down for our pick of the top 10 Milk Makeup products you have to try. We also asked Sara Wren, Milk Makeup’s Director of Artistry, to share her top application tips to get that perfect finish, every time.
What is Milk Makeup?
Milk Makeup is an innovative make-up brand from the US. Playful and fun, it focuses on easy-to-apply products that fit seamlessly into a busy, on-the-go lifestyle.
The brand has roots in downtown New York City, at creative hub Milk Studios. It was founded by Mazdack Rassi, Dianna Ruth, Georgie Greville and Zanna Roberts Rassi.
Milk Makeup’s philosophy is refreshingly simple, with a focus on quality ingredients and effective formulas. They’re committed to vegan* and cruelty-free formulas, so you can feel as good as you look while wearing it.
Why is Milk Makeup so popular?
If there’s one word to sum up Milk Makeup, it’s cool. It’s easy to see how the brand’s bold visual appeal and celebration of self-expression delights their 2.5 million followers on Instagram. Milk Makeup’s focus on diversity, inclusion and community, plus a rallying cry to #LiveYourLook, all adds to the charm.
And that’s all before we get to the actual products, which have clocked up rave reviews and a cult-like following. From innovative skincare to next-generation cosmetics, Milk Makeup have reimagined the items we reach for day after day and made them multi-purpose, multi-benefit and super easy to apply. Think swipe-and-smudge sticks of bronzer, contour and blush, all-in-one tints for lips and cheeks, or skincare-infused concealers that work to perfect skin while providing coverage.
Is Milk Makeup sold in the ROI?
Yes! Milk Makeup is sold in the ROI, and you can find it right here, online at boots.ie.
What are the best Milk Makeup products?
With so many items to try from Milk Makeup, it can be a bit overwhelming to know which ones to go for first. Luckily, you can’t really go wrong with this brand, so scroll down and see which treats take your fancy.
Try: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
• Size: 45ml
• 94% natural
• Vegan* and cruelty-free
• Free from parabens, silicone, oil, fragrance and gluten
This next-generation, award-winning Milk Makeup primer is changing the game when it comes to keeping make-up looking fresh. The secret ingredient? Blue agave extract, which grips make-up for up to 12 hours, plus skin-loving hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to hydrate skin for a smoother application.
Sara says:
“Less is more with Hydro Grip Primer – one pump is all you need to smooth over your skin for a hydrated, long-lasting base. Remember to let the formula dry down for 60 seconds to activate grip before applying make-up to avoid any patchiness.”
Try: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Dewy Makeup Setting Spray
• Size: 100ml
• Vegan* and cruelty-free
• Free from parabens, alcohol, sulphates, phthalates, fragrance, gluten and talc
This non-sticky Milk Makeup setting spray is yet another award-winner (we’re starting to notice a pattern here…). With a skincare-inspired formula featuring hydrating hyaluronic acid and glow-boosting niacinamide, it lends a dewy finish to skin while keeping make-up perfectly in place for up to 12 hours.
Sara says:
“I love using this to set make-up of course, but also in between layers of make-up for added moisture and to lock in each step. Using it before and after powder is one of my signature steps for a flawless finish that doesn’t look cakey or dry.”
Try: Milk Makeup Multi-Use Lip + Cheek Cream Stick (Shade: Enigma)
• Size: 6g
• Vegan* and cruelty-free
• Non-comedogenic
• Free from parabens
You can’t beat a two-in-one formula for on-the-go convenience, and this Milk Makeup blush and lip colour combo is no exception. The creamy, buildable formula is packed with skin-nourishing ingredients including mango butter, avocado and apricot oils.
Sara says:
“Enigma is such a great shade because it really looks like a blush with a dash of bronzer. It’s amazing for those no-make-up looks or for a super easy nude lip. I love pairing it with brown lip liner or taking it across the bridge of my nose for a warmed up ‘day in the sun’ look.”
Try: Milk Makeup Multi-Use Matte Cream Bronzer Mini Stick (Shade: Baked)
• Size: 6g
• Vegan* and cruelty-free
• Free from parabens and gluten
Let’s be real, we could all do with a little more glow in our lives – and with this subtle, shimmer-free formula, sunkissed skin is only a swipe away. Try the Milk Makeup matte bronzer on the cheeks, nose and forehead as a bronzer, on the lids as an eyeshadow, or anywhere that you’d like to add some natural warmth.
Sara says:
“This is a classic! Cream bronzer is still so underrated. It’s the easiest, fastest way to get a super natural looking summer glow. Because it’s cream, it blends seamlessly with other cream and powder products or can be worn alone on top of moisturiser for a quick glow.”
Try: Milk Makeup Sculpt Stick Cream Contour Stick (Shade: Sizzle)
• Size: 6g
• Vegan* and cruelty-free
• Non-comedogenic
• Free from parabens
Who can resist a sculpted look? This easy-to-apply Milk Makeup contour stick is ideal for adding depth and dimension with a matte, cool-toned finish. As with all the brand’s cosmetics, the formula is designed to be kind to skin, with a nourishing thyme extract blend and calming sunflower seed oil.
Sara says:
“It can be so difficult for deeper skin tones to find the right shades for sculpting. Typically, they are too light or too warm in tone. Sizzle is a very deep cool toned so it actually mimics the look of shadows on a deeper skin. Great for adding dimension to the skin while still looking natural.”
Try: Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint (Shade: Burst)
• Size: 5g
• Suitable for all skin types
The Milk Makeup Jelly Tint really is a new beauty icon. Simply glide it on for a sheer tint that you can build into a vibrant, watercolour-like finish. Plus, vegan collagen, aloe and seawater work to firm, soothe and hydrate skin.
Sara says:
“The viral sensation Cooling Water Jelly Tint and bestselling shade in Burst is an instant classic in anyone’s make-up bag. With a cooling, refreshing feel upon application and a long-lasting stain for lips and cheeks, Cooling Water Jelly Tint has mastered innovation and making make-up fun again!”
Try: Milk Makeup Future Fluid All Over Medium Coverage Hydrating Concealer (Shade: 24N)
• Size: 8.5ml
• 92% natural
• Vegan* and cruelty-free
• Free from parabens, alcohol, silicones, fragrance and gluten
The search for a concealer that does it all is officially over. The skincare-inspired formula of this Milk Makeup concealer cares for skin while providing lightweight coverage.
Sara says:
“Future Fluid All Over Cream Concealer is a crease proof hydrating cream concealer that provides medium to full coverage while being chock-full of skincare ingredients. Hyaluronic acid, caffeine, aloe, arnica, defensil and revivyl all work together to help brighten, smooth, hydrate and restore your skin barrier.”
Try: Milk Makeup KUSH Volumizing Mascara
• Size: 8ml
• Vegan* and cruelty-free
• Free from parabens, alcohol, silicones, fragrance, gluten and coal tar
Want super thick lashes? Meet the new apple of our eye: Milk Makeup’s KUSH Volumizing Mascara. It’s effortless to apply, with a fluffy brush boasting unique crisscross bristles to help grab each lash from root to tip.
Sara says:
“My secret weapon when I don’t have time for false lashes is KUSH Mascara. It’s a conditioning formula, made with hemp seed oil and vegan waxes, that keep lashes soft, never crunchy. KUSH Mascara also contains heart-shaped hollow fibres that fill with the conditioning formula and grab onto each lash, giving full volume without the fallout!”
Try: Milk Makeup KUSH Clear Lamination Brow Gel
• Size: 4.5ml
• Vegan* and cruelty-free
• Free from parabens and alcohol
Brush up on your laminated brow game with this clear gel, which locks hairs into place for up to eight hours. Use the long-bristled side of the brush to coat eyebrows evenly, then lift and hold with the shorter side.
Sara says:
“This formula not only keeps brows locked in place, but it’s alcohol free! A lot of brow gels contain alcohol to keep the hold but KUSH Brow Lamination Gel is filled with the same conditioning hemp seed oil to keep brows soft. I love pairing this on top of my favourite brow pencil, powder or pen to keep my ‘brow style’ in place all day!”
Try: Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Matte Translucent Setting Powder (Shade: Medium)
• Size: 7.65g
• Talc-free
For a your-skin-but-better finish, this loose setting powder is a must. Formulated with oil-absorbing lentil extract, pore-blurring microspheres and smoothing bakuchiol, it’s available in translucent shades to suit a wide range of skin tones.
Sara says:
“This weightless formula is talc-free – which means it won’t dry out skin and leave a cakey look. I love using this to set concealer – I call it ‘spot-powdering’ to blur the look of pores, absorb shine but not take away skins’ glow. This formula also sets make-up for up to 16 hours!”
So, there you have it: 10 must-have products from Milk Makeup, plus some top application tips. Excuse us while we add to basket…
Best for travek
Try: Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blur & Smooth Tint Stick
• Available in 25 shades
• Longwear formula
• 100% recyclable packaging
After a skin tint you can apply on-the-go? Reach for this super simple option from Fenty. The creamy, crease-proof formula is packed with hydrating ingredients, such as murumuru butter and sodium hyaluronate. We love the portable twist-up stick formula that you can glide on anytime for an instantly blurred, second-skin finish.
Best for a natural finish
Try: Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Skin Tint
• Available in 18 shades
• 12-hour wear
• Resists fading, creasing, sweat and humidity
• Pigment-Flex Technology adapts to a wide range of skin tones
• Uplifting grapefruit & geranium scent
This moisturising option from Bobbi Brown is part make-up, part skincare, perfect for those days when you want to care for your complexion while adding a hint of coverage. True to its name, it’s chock-full of good ingredients, from nourishing vitamins B, C and E to conditioning and softening shea butter. It also helps shield skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays, with SPF15 added into the mix.
Best for a second-skin finish
Try: ICONIC London Super Smoother Blurring Skin Tint
• Available in 15 shades
• With plant-derived amino acids, peach flower & pea extracts
• Vegan*
If you’re after a flawless, soft-focus finish, this hydrating skin tint from ICONIC is sure to tick every box. The lightweight formula is buildable, so you can use a lighter touch or work up to a medium coverage if you prefer. The clever blurring complex instantly enhances, for a your-skin-but-better finish. The result? Skin that looks fresher, plumper and smoother – everything we want in a skin tint.
Best for redness
Try: Avène Antirougeurs Unifying SPF 30 Tinted Moisturiser for Skin Prone to Redness
• Protects skin against UVA & UVB rays
• Suitable for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin
Redness or rosacea can be difficult to deal with, but if they’re regular concerns for you, this skin tint from Avène could help calm skin while providing instant coverage. The hydrating formula works to unify skin tone for up to six hours while hydrating, protecting and leaving skin feeling comfortable. Plus, it’s full of active ingredients that help to soothe sensitive skin, including thermal spring water
Best for added sun protection
Try: Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense SPF 30
• Free of chemical sun cream, essential oils, silicones & fragrance
• Cruelty-free
Want to combine your skin tint and SPF into one simple step? Drunk Elephant have you covered. This formula includes a hint of tint along with UVA and UVB protection to help keep skin shielded from harmful rays.
Best for light coverage
Try: Natural Collection Skin Tint
• Available in 20 shades
• 92% natural origin ingredients
• Vegan*
• Fully recyclable
After a super lightweight skin tint that you can wear all day, every day? Try this skin-enhancing option from Natural Collection. The blendable, dewy-finish formula contains hydrating chamomile extract, and melts into skin for a sheer-to-light coverage that’s perfect for an everyday look.
