As TikTok users devour edible beauty trends, it’s not surprising that products look more delicious as of late. The latest example is Milk Makeup’s recent Cooling Water Jelly Tint, a lip and cheek tint that’s harking back to gummy worms, Jell-O, and other gelatin-based desserts. The tint is available in 4 punchy shades (Burst, a vivid fuchsia, Chill, a vibrant pink, Spritz, a warm strawberry, and Splash, a plum) that look juicy within the tube, but are they price sinking your teeth into? (Metaphorically, after all, because we’d never recommend you eat your beauty products.)
Even at first glance, I’d say yes. Remove the cap on any considered one of the 4 tubes to disclose a transparent candy-like cylinder. (They’re like Push Pops, but with a twist.) Tap it against your skin and also you’ll notice a bouncy texture (it’s firmer than jelly you’d find in your fridge or pantry, but still has recoil) and an instantaneous cooling sensation. “The cooling is from the discharge of water upon pressing,” says cosmetic chemist Ginger King. “Also, the inclusion of aloe vera with humectants like glycerin, sorbitol, and polysaccharide with polymers can enhance that effect.”
If you’re a fan of Milk Makeup’s products, you’ll be reminded of the brand’s original Cooling Water as you play with this recent product. The difference between the 2, apart from the apparent tint? The Cooling Water Jelly Tint accommodates “far more humectants,” says King. The moisture magnets make the Cooling Water Jelly Tint more hydrating.
Of the 4 colorways, I gravitate toward Spritz, a warm strawberry shade. When I first swept it across my skin, straight from the tube, I used to be intimidated by its endurance. Seriously, it doesn’t move once it sets onto your skin, which takes only just a few seconds. I assumed, What if I’m left with streaks of red on my cheeks?
To prevent this, Milk makeup artist Sara Wren has two suggestions: “Using a brush permits you to construct up the watercolor-like pigment and offers a more precise application,” she says, and suggests an angled, semi-fluffy brush, just like the Sephora Collection Blush Brush #93.
For much more control, use a humid sponge. “After squeezing out any excess moisture, you possibly can dab the sponge directly onto the stick after which tap into the skin to use and mix out,” Wren says. “The added moisture will provide you with a bit more play time without changing the lasting power of the stain.”
