Makeup envy is the worst. Nothing is more frustrating than hearing an amazing brand being raved about by every beauty addict on the planet whilst their range isn't easily available in your country, at least without the shock of being landed with extortionate customs charges after ordering from overseas! One unattainable brand that I've been most eager to get my hands on has been Milani, the affordable American favourite. Fortunately, Just My Look's Milani range is now available online, so their products are finally more accessible for those of us in the UK! The two products first on my list to try were the Milani Conceal + Perfect Foundation and Milani Make It Dewy Setting Spray.

Milani's Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation* has had amazing praise from many highly-regarded beauty bloggers, so I was expecting it to live up to the hype. Thankfully, it didn't disappoint.

This foundation provides a generous coverage, towards the upper end of medium-full, and promises to be long-wearing, water-resistant and sweat-proof. All with a lightweight, oil-free formula. The quality that makes this base stand out from the rest, is that it's marketed as a 2-in-1 foundation and concealer. Realistically, any high-coverage, buildable base is bound to work well however it's used, so that's an unnecessary gimmick. Whilst Conceal + Perfect performs well as a full-on foundation, or alongside a lighter base to cover any blemishes and imperfections, I never use it to mask my dark circles. Preferring to apply a lighter shade under the eyes, to brighten any shadows, I always reach for a separate concealer no matter which foundation I use. For anyone on a tight budget, though, this versatile makeup hybrid can be used as one multi-tasking product.


Consistency-wise, it's one of the thickest, creamiest foundations I've ever used. Less is definitely more with this one. To prevent it from sitting on the skin and looking heavy, it's crucial to apply this foundation in light layers. Although Milani recommend applying it with a brush, I find it works best with a damp beauty blender. Dipping the sponge in a tiny drop of product at a time and bouncing it over the skin, working from the center of the face outwards, creates the most natural, flawless finish and helps to avoid going overboard. The result can be flattering with a brush, but as the formula is so concentrated and doesn't spread very easily, I find it takes much longer to get it looking totally even and perfect. Because it's seriously creamy in texture, it doesn't start to set until a few minutes after application, which means it tends to slip around and can look slightly streaky when using a denser brush to blend it in.

As this foundation is seriously intense, it instantly perfects the look of the skin on contact. Once it's well blended, the finish is totally seamless, flawless and glowing. Despite camouflaging redness and blemishes with ease, the finish looks so much more natural than you'd ever expect from such a high-coverage formula. Obviously, it's not similar to a second-skin finish achieved with a water-based foundation or tinted moisturiser, as you can definitely see that you're wearing foundation, but the result is super smooth and even. Usually high-coverage foundations have more of a matte finish, but Conceal + Perfect feels and looks hydrating and dries down to more of a demi-matte, with a satiny sheen to it. It's not dry, powdery or chalky whatsoever. Thanks to the water-resistant formula, it lasts all day with incredible staying power, resisting sweat, heat and humidity. Even if I skip applying a primer first and don't bother setting it with powder, the longevity is seriously impressive.

I imagine this foundation would suit most skin types. Mine is on the dry/dehydrated side and I love it, but I also know people on the oily/combination side that like it too. It may be slightly too heavy and matte for extremely dry and mature skin and, at the other end of the spectrum, the slight sheen it has may be undesirable for those with very oily skin. The formula is delicately scented, so bear that in mind if you're sensitive to fragrance. Unfortunately, the shade range lets the Conceal + Perfect foundation down, massively. The palest options aren't particularly light and the entire range seems to lean very yellow and golden-toned. 00 Light Natural is only just a match for my skin-tone and, considering it's the palest shade available, it would definitely lean too warm on very fair skin. The colour also oxidizes significantly after application, which makes it even more of a nightmare!  

If I tried the Milani Conceal + Perfect Foundation without knowing the brand or £13 price-tag, then I'd guess it was a premium formula, so it's just a bonus that it's so affordable. I don't often say this about many products, but I'd be happy to pay even double the price for a bottle. The weighty glass bottle isn't ideal for travelling, but it has a pump, which keeps everything hygienic and mess-free.