Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Review | Affordable Drugstore Blush Alternatives

In 2014 brands like Glossier and Milk Makeup became extremely popular. Six years later, they still retain a strong hold on the market. Their products are perfect for beginners like me and women that prefer a natural look over colorful glam. As much as I love Milk Makeup and Glossier’s products, as a college student, their products are not always in my budget. Today I present to you my favorite drugstore dupe for the Milk Makeup Blush Stick and other affordable alternatives I hope to try in the near future. 

THE PERFECT DRUGSTORE DUPE FOR MILK MAKE-UP STICKS

 Wet n Wild Megaglo Makeup Sticks Blush and Contour 

For two years now I have been using the Wet n’ Wild MegaGlo Makeup Stick Blush n the shade Floral Majority. It is the perfect color match to Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek Stick in the shade Perk. I also recently picked up the Wet n Wild Megaglo Contour stick in the shade Call me Maple and have loved it so far. 

 Swatch test of Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek in Perk vs Wet n Wild Megaglo Makeup Stick in Floral Majority 

Photo on the left: Courtesy of Small Town Beauty Addict 

While I don’t have a sample of Milk Makeup Stick on hand, in these images you can tell how similar the shades are. Even the creaminess of the product is the same, but the Wet n Wild Megaglo stick retails for one third of the price. 

HOW DOES THE WET N WILD STICK COMPARE TO MILK MAKEUP?

Milk Makeup is a clean brand at Sephora and the product description for the blush stick promises a buildable and blendable tint. In this post, I will review the blendability, pigmentation, and quality of ingredients used in the Wet n Wild Megaglo Stick.

BLENDABILITY: 

    Blendability is crucial to create a seamless look, so you can imagine my disappointment when I first used the Wet n Wild Megaglo stick and found that it was hard to blend. In fact the product looked a little splotchy on my skin. Luckily, I didn’t give up on the product right away. I learned that there is a waxy film that makes the dome-shaped top look like hard plastic when you unbox it, and this wax prevents the product from blending as smoothly. To overcome this issue, I recommend wiping the product on your hand a few times before applying it to your face. I also prefer using my hands over a brush or beauty sponge because the warmth from my hands helps melt the product and blend it in seamlessly.

PIGMENTATION: 

A swatch test on your wrist will make you think this product is extremely pigmented. The reality is that the MegaGlo Stick quickly blends out to an extremely natural flush for those with light to medium tan skin. I do not believe the shade Floral Majority would perform well on those with darker complexions, and unfortunately, this is the only matte blush shade. The other shades in the range function better as a highlight, even for someone with fair skin. My biggest issue with this product is that I find the color wearing off quickly. However, I never use any primer or base to help the product last longer

QUALITY OF INGREDIENTS:  

At a glance, it is clear that Milk Makeup has a natural and clean ingredient list in comparison to the Wet n Wild Megaglo Stick. Now more than ever clean ingredients have been a priority for makeup and skincare gurus. This current trend has helped brands like Ilia, blow up. While the Wet n Wild skin does not have hydrating ingredients like Avocado Oil or Mango Butter you see in the Milk Lip + Cheek Sticks, the Megaglo Blush Stick has never made me break out or changed the texture of my skin.

WHERE TO BUY WET N WILD MEGAGLO STICKS:

This product is less than $5.00 at most stores. Below are links to some of the sites where you can purchase the product. 

Wet n Wild $4.49

Rite Aid $3.99

Ulta $4.49

To avoid shipping costs, I recommend checking out the beauty section at your nearest drugstore first. 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:  

If you’re looking for a Milk Makeup alternative that has clean ingredients designed to improve the skin, I recommend checking out Physicians Formula Natural Defense Triple Defense Multicolor Stick SPF 20 ($11.49). Although I have never tried the product I have read many positive reviews. For just $7.00 more than the Megaglo Stick you will get some of the same ingredients featured in Ilia Multi-Stick Cheek & Lip, which retails for $34.00. 

If you try the Wet n Wild Megaglo stick or the Physican's Formula Natural Defense, I would love to hear about your experience!