Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation in Y405 and Y415 {review & swatches}

Sometimes I just can’t come up with a snappy title, my apologies ~bor-ing!~

I’ve been sitting on this review for too long, for no good reason other than I wanted to get full face shots and kept forgetting to take them, or just not wearing foundation half the time. I finally got my butt in gear and took a few this week – the weather (and so, the lighting) has been gorgeous this fall! We (meaning Ryan) even got a bit of yard work done yesterday because it was so beautiful outside.

Make Up For Ever’s newest foundation, the Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($50CAD), is a step-up from their original HD foundation in that it looks flawless and undetectable even under a 4k lense, which apparently is the highest definition on camera these days [blah blah technical jargon blah]. Essentially what that means to me is that if you can’t see it under a super-microscopic lense, you probably can’t see it in person either. SWEET. As someone who definitely favours the no-makeup makeup look (at least where skin is concerned), this PLEASES ME GREATLY.

I wasn’t actually a huge fan of the original HD foundation – I found that I *could* detect it on my skin and it felt a bit heavier than I prefer. The Ultra HD foundation however, is so totally up my alley – it’s insanely lightweight, blends seamlessly into my skin, and covers beautifully with only the smallest amount (no more than a pea-size for the entire face, if that!). The stick version (also $50CAD) works similarly in that it blends in easily – and is made even more efficient as you can just swipe it on, blend and and I’m ready to go. Both are buildable to a medium-full coverage if desired. Many have noted that the stick is better suited to drier skins, and I did find in the summer it was a bit too hydrating for my normal-oily skin (my t-zone got quite shiny). But in this cooler weather I’m actually having no issues with it, especially after lightly powdering around my nose and the centre of my forehead, and I prefer the ease of use of the stick for day to day – I can just spot conceal, blend and go!

Swatches, left to right: Ultra HD (liquid) foundation in Y415, Ultra HD (liquid) foundation in Y405 and Ultra HD (stick) foundation in Y405 

Swatches (blended), left to right: Ultra HD (liquid) foundation in Y415, Ultra HD (liquid) foundation in Y405 and Ultra HD (stick) foundation in Y405 

As usual, MUFE has a HUGE shade range to choose from, and if you used the original HD foundation you can find your match that route – for example, I was 153 in the original HD which corresponds to Y405 Golden Honey in the Ultra HD. I’ve still got a hint of a tan from the summer so this shade is a hair too light but if I blend well and don’t use it all over I can get away with it no problem. Interestingly, Y415 Almond, the other shade I have, is similar in ‘darkness’ but it’s more cool-toned as you can see in swatches above. It matched my skin better when I was more tan in the summertime.

Overall I’m really happy with these foundations, I adore the finish more than any other foundation I’ve tried (really!). The only caveat is that it does contain fragrance – and while sometimes fragrance in products doesn’t cause any issues for me when used in small amounts as it is here (I don’t even notice a smell), I have found that this irritates the skin around my mouth significantly if I apply it there. I have periodontal dermatitis off and on so I have to be very careful what I use in that area as it is – so that’s kind of a bummer, but not a deal breaker as it looks so good and wears so well everywhere else.

Have you tried the new Ultra HD foundation? What are your thoughts?

 

Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows in M-656 and ME-612: Autumn’s perfect pairing

Alright, so I’ve been trying to get this post up for a week but so far it clearly hasn’t happened. I have an hour or so before pre-natal yoga but I MUST talk about these awesome new(ish) shadows from Make Up For Ever NOW before I get way-laid again, so let’s get ‘er done!

The Artist Shadow collection includes 210 shades (which is CRAZY, by the way…think of the possibilities!) in 5 different finishes – matte, satin, iridescent, metal, and diamond. 3 years in the making, the formula was designed to maximize colour delivery through mega-concentrated pigments, and their Water-Blend technology aims to enhance blendability and texture.

I received shades M-656 (a Chestnut shade) and ME-612 (described as a ‘silver brown’ but which I feel is more rose-bronze). The ‘M‘ before the colour number indicates a matte shade; while the ‘ME‘ denotes a metal finish. Other formulas within the shade range correspond as follows: S = satin, I = iridescent, and D = diamond. The numbers indicate a specific area of the colour wheel (above).

Left to right: Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows in M-656 Chestnut and ME-612 Silver Brown

Initially when I saw these shadows I was pretty pumped – they’re perfectly neutral, easy-wearing shades and that bronzey-rose metallic shade is SO my kind of colour.

Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in M-656 Chestnut 

Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in ME-612 Silver Brown

The chestnut shade is soft and buttery smooth, and swatches exactly as it looks in the pan. However, on first touch, the ‘silver brown’ shadow felt a bit stiffer to the touch, and didn’t translate its beauty as well as I’d hoped – it’s not as pigmented as I imagined it would be, and appears slightly faded rather than the rich texture I was expecting.

M-656 Chestnut (left) and ME-612 Silver Brown (right)

Additionally, I was a bit let down with the chestnut shade in that it seemed very close to other shades I already owned: MAC Saddle and Laura Mercier Truffle (from last year’s Artist’s Palette).

Left to right: MUFE M-656, MAC Saddle, and Laura Mercier Truffle

However, in swatching I realized that while the MUFE shade is quite close to Saddle (the former being a bit cooler), its pigmentation and texture is FAR superior – Saddle is more stiff and took many more passes to build up the colour, while M-656 was full-on colour from first swatch. Additionally, you can see that the LM shade doesn’t even compare in terms of pigmentation – much, MUCH more subtle (aka wishy-washy, in my opinion!). While the LM shade is part of a the one palette I haven’t destroyed, and therefore I’ll keep it around, I am most definitely getting rid of Saddle as it just doesn’t compare in terms of formula.

MUFE M-612 (left) and MAC Sable (right)

While comparing Saddle, I noticed that beside it in the MAC palette it’s housed in was a shade that looked remarkably similar to ME-612 – Sable. Of course, I had to do a comparison swatch of the two, and lo and behold – they are very similar! Sable has a more metallic finish, and is a touch cooler than ME-612, but for all intents and purposes they are very near dupes. Given my initial thoughts on ME-612, you would think I’d choose Sable, right? HOWEVER.

ME-612, while nothing to write home about in a swatch, looks beautiful when worn. It melds seamlessly with my skin so that it gives an extra little sparkle to my eye without being obvious, or even looking much like makeup! This is where is trumped Sable by far, as when I wear Sable (which is infrequently), I find it looks like I am wearing eye makeup, and it annoys me because it SEEMS like it should be a shade that almost matches my skin tone. Indeed, I have a *brown* friend who wears this every day and it looks like magical goodness on her. Where I think it goes wrong on me is the slightly thicker texture, the more metallic finish, and it’s ever-so-teensy cooler leaning, which just doesn’t work for me. When I wear a ‘natural’ shade, I want it to look natural, dammit!

Wearing ME-612 on the lid, with M-656 in the crease.

What I particularly like about this duo (which the MUFE PR gal so expertly put together for me!) is that it’s not SO warm that it clashes with any makeup you might pair with it that’s cooler-toned. In fact, I wore this duo when I showed you all my Ilia Beauty lippies – as you can see below, it works equally well with both the warmer tones of Femme Fatale, and the cooler tones of Call Me.

Wearing MUFE M-656 and ME-612 with Ilia Beauty Femme Fatale Lipstick

Wearing MUFE M-656 and ME-612 with Ilia Beauty Call Me Lipstick Pencil

So, it seems that once again, I took a bit of time before I was WOWED by a product. Guess I’m getting harder to please in my old age, huh?  The moral of this story here is simple, however: Don’t rely on swatches to give you a true idea and full picture of how a product looks and performs. It’s just not telling you the whole story! Sure, it gives you a good place to start, but honestly since I actually wore this duo on my eyes, I find myself reaching for it again and again because it just works so well with every look I pair with it!

Oh, and one last comment – when you purchase these new shadows, its a good idea to buy in bulk, as there is a discount added for two or three shadows bought at a time. I have conflicting information – the press release I have says that one shadow is $25CAD, two shadows is $39 and three is $50, but on Sephora it indicates $24CAD for one, a $9 discount for two (so, as stated, $39) and a $20 discount for three (ringing in at $52). Either way, it’s a good deal, and it only makes sense to buy a few at a time (I mean, there are 210 shades, so if you can’t find 2-3 that you like…WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU!?)

Will you be checking out the new Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows? What type of finish do you like best in eyeshadow formulas?

New favourite eyeshadow: Make Up For Ever Aqua Matic in ME-50

This probably sounds silly, but sometimes I don’t like getting press samples. I adhere a lot to the ‘if you can’t say something nice, don’t say it at all‘ philosophy, and when I receive an opportunity to review something I’m unsure I’ll like, I almost want to decline the offer altogether (and sometimes I do!). I feel especially conflicted when a brand I like comes out with a product that receives mixed-reviews, as my loyalty runs deep. I was recently in just that situation when I had a chance to try out the new Make Up For Ever Aqua Matic eye shadow sticks ($25CAD) – Christine at Temptalia was the first blog through which I read reviews about the product, and on the whole they were not great. Make Up For Ever is one of my favourite brands (and it doesn’t hurt that their PR people are lovely!) and I wasn’t keen on writing a subpar review against them – I know not all products will be winners, but my softy heart just feels bad in instances like that, and I am far too honest and up-front to lie or mar the truth.

Thankfully (and long-winded intro aside!), once I received the press sample of one of the Aqua Matic shadows, in ME-50, not only did I not have to write a crappy review, but turns out this shadow is genuinely one of my absolute favourites of all time!!!!! <— 4 exclamation points are needed to express just how much I love this shadow!

Pretty multi-faceted shimmer 🙂

First of all, there is the colour – on me, this ‘metallic golden taupe’ is the perfect bronze-y neutral tone on my skin, which sometimes is hard to achieve, as shades like this tend to be too ashy, too light, or too brown to be considered neutral. It has the most amazing sparkling quality to it that gives it a little bit something more, yet it’s not over the top or unwearable for day in the least. For those of you who regularly love wearing bold lips like I do, a shade like this is invaluable – sometimes I don’t want to leave my eyes bare, but I don’t want my shadow to compete in any way with my lip colour. This fits the bill perfectly.

In some lights it looks more taupe…

…in others, more golden (photo above blurred to show shimmers and sparkle!)

Secondly, the wear time on this bad boy is excellent – we’ve been having a heat wave the past week or so here (not complaining! About damn time!) and this resists fading and creasing like nobody’s business. This could be in part to the fact that the colour melds with my skin tone so well, I don’t notice any fading – but upon close inspection after a full day’s wear, it still seems pretty intact to me and that gorgeous sparkle is still in effect.

In direct sunlight

Indirect lighting/shade

Lastly, though I know for some the application of these is a bit tricky – they do set rather quickly – I actually don’t mind it, again due to the subtle shade on my skin tone, but also because it’s such a one-and-done shade that not a lot of blending is required. I just ensure that I apply it first to the lid and blend a bit, then add a bit more in my crease separately so I have enough time to buff it out with my finger. I really didn’t even notice it was a bit more difficult to blend until I really started paying attention – with a shade this wonderful, I really don’t care if it’s a bit more work – it’s just so damn FABULOUS!

In the photo above, I’m wearing it paired with Marc Jacobs Lovemarc Lip Gel in Dizzy Spell, a soft peachy nude that I quite like with my skin tone (though it does pick up on any flakes on the lips if you aren’t careful). It’s the only bit of makeup I’ve bought from his line so far.

As you can see, the effect of the shadow is subtle, but IRL trust me when I say that its nowhere near boring. For me, the shade and longevity combined with the ease of use (note it’s a twist-up pencil, that has a sharpener on the other end for precision) make this a win-win-WIN product! If this were a limited edition product I would buy backups upon backups – which is UNHEARD of in my world! All this to say: don’t let a review necessarily sway you from trying a product that you’re curious about – sometimes you’ll have an entirely different experience! And in this case, Christine didn’t actually review this particular shade, either 😉

Have you tried the new Aqua Matic pencils? How do you feel about giving poor reviews on a product?

*Product was provided by the PR company/brand for my unbiased consideration.

Make Up For Ever’s new HD Blush is PERFECT for spring!

Last week I worked at Sephora for the Clinique kiosk for the first time EVER. Guys, let me tell you – that is one HARD FRIGGIN’ JOB, keeping your hands to yourself and trying to stick to your ‘station.’ DAMN!  The first two shifts were pretty slow, so I had ample time to mosey around and check out the wares…but honestly, I don’t know how they get anything done! (and for the record, pretty much everyone was on the ball, 99.9% of the time. ALL BIZNESS, ALL THE TIME).  Personally, there were so many fun things to look at that it was tough sticking to my ‘area,’ but I made it work.

One of the items that kept catching my eye was the new Make Up For Ever HD Blushes ($31cAD), which I believe replace their old HD *liquid* blushes? These are creams in a pot, whereas the older versions were a pump mechanism. Needless to say, these newer iterations are by far easier to use (though I wish the shade range was as exciting as the old…anyone ever check out #2 or #3, both bright hot pinks? YOWZAAAA). I think the idea is to showcase more natural-looking shades, that suit a variety of skin tones – for example, the 200 series is generally best suited for fair complexions; the 300 series for medium complexions, the 400 series for medium-dark complexions (like mine), and the 3 500 series shades are great for the darkest of skins. The exception is shade #410, a bright coral, which was created with all skin tones in mind.  I guiltily admit however, that I don’t give one iota to all of this info, because….I just WANT THEM ALL.

The shade I was sent to try was #420, described as an ‘Indian Rosewood‘ shade. As I tend to lean toward more bright, obvious blush colours, I figured it was time to opt for a more natural tone that would meld with my skin without effort. #420 does just that.

It almost looks like a warm bronze-y tone once applied to my skin; the reddish-brown hue melds with my skin tone to produce a really wonderfully natural ‘glow.’  I was unsure when I opened the box that this was going to be *my kind of shade* but it’s so foolproof on my skin that I really have to argument against it.  It just plain LOOKS GOOD.  And application is a breeze – just use a stippling brush (my pick is MAC’s #130) to dab it on the cheeks and then blend out; honestly, it was one of the easiest cream products to use and I had zero issues in placement or blending – my kind of product! The finish is reminiscent of Chanel’s new cream blushes, except I actually find the MUFE version a little more dewy and a little bit less cream-to-powder finish, which I personally prefer. It retains a fresh quality that I really like, especially come springtime!

As you can see, it’s quite natural-looking on, and I admit that I kinda slapped this on haphazardly for these photos because sunlight is fleeting these days. I can already see the absolute necessity of buying several more of these – cream blushes are my new *thing* as I’m all over the natural, glowing skin look, and these are hard to beat. Radiant without being greasy or shiny, and a cinch to use. I’m a goner!

When it comes to blush, what is your preference: powder, or cream (or liquid)? Do you opt for natural tones or more in-your-face brights?

*Products were provided by the PR company/brand for my unbiased consideration.

Holiday Color Pairings

When I start to think about it, it’s not really a surprise to me that I love makeup.  When I was a kid, I use to spend hours pairing my crayons together in color combinations I thought looked good together (which was also a great indication of my obsessive tendencies toward organization, but that’s a whole OTHER topic in itself!).  While I don’t feel societal pressures to follow trends in shades (woohoo, Emerald for 2013!), nor feel like I ‘should’ wear darker colors in winter and brighter colors in summer, I choose to follow these paths often because it just makes sense to me.  I love the idea of changing the shades I wear according to seasons – heck, I even do it with the change in weather!  Rain means somber shades of grey or blue; sun means warm tones of gold, or brights like aqua and orange; and snow equals icy silvers and cool pinks and purples.  Its just how I roll, ya’ll!

As it’s the holidays, of course I imagined an array of festive shades to represent the season, and since the work was already done, I thought I’d share them with you!  On the weekend for the first time I matched my lips to my tips, and it was a lot of fun.  I’m not entirely sure I’d do the same with eyeshadow, but the colors below all complimented a polish I own so well I figured what the heck.  I hope you enjoy!

Bobbi Brown Chrome Eye Shadow in Pewter; Chanel Le Vernis in 529 Graphite

Chanel Graphite; Bobbi Brown Pewter

Both of these silvers are so much more than plain ol’ silver.  They both veer into a warmer tone rather than stark icy shades, which means they’re quite wearable for all skin tones.  Pewter is currently unavailable as this was an LE shade, but at times Bobbi Brown brings it back in palettes and such, so keep your eyes peeled!  Graphite has had a ton of reincarnations over the past year since it was released (though I don’t believe it’s LE anyway) – the best being Sally Hansen’s Shoot the Moon which was just featured on All Lacquered Up.

Essie Limited Addiction; Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural in #46

Essie Limited Addiction; MUFE #46

MUFE’s #46 Rouge Artist lippie was the red shade I wore on the weekend to compliment my red manicure (done with China Glaze Ruby Pumps).  I ADORE this lipstick; it is by far my favorite red that I own.  It’s more of a true red I think, and looks so darn good on!  The moistness of the lipstick keeps it looking so juicy and festive without being overwhelming in the least.  It feels amazing on and I just can’t get enough!  The only downside is that it’s only available at MUFE Pro stores and kiosks, but well worth the effort.

Essie Limited Addiction was, unfortunately, limited edition, but there are a billion reds out there I’m sure that are similar – just a bit deeper than your typical shade and neither warm nor cool.

MAC Jealousy Wakes; a-England Saint George

a-England Saint George; MAC Jealousy Wakes

Hot DAMN Saint George is beautiful!  I don’t wear this polish nearly as much as I should, mainly because when I bought it last year, I wore it about three times in a few weeks – obsessed, I was!  I’m wearing this to my work Christmas party this week and I’m super excited!  Its one of the few greenish hues I own, and one of the few of that color palette I like.  In truth it’s more teal than green but whatever – evergreen, shall we say?  I LOVE IT and all it’s prismatic shimmer.

Jealousy Wakes is also another shade I rarely wear, probably because I don’t wear color in my shadows nearly as much as I used to, but I still enjoy it from time to time when I do pull it out.  I dislike the texture of the shadow immensely – it’s so stiff and rough! – but it IS a lovely shade.

Sephora Brand She Sparkles; SpaRitual Aurum

SpaRitual Aurum; Sephora Brand She Sparkles

Oooh, sparkly indeed!  Though Aurum is sort of a crap color on me – probably on most people, it’s so damn blingy I’m going to HAVE to pull it out for the holidays!  Look at that sparkle!  It’s a bit more greenish-gold than the orange-y gold of She Sparkles, but they both shimmer prettily together, don’t you think?  I wore She Sparkles like crazy the last holiday season (when I purchased it), but haven’t given it much love since.  I’ll surely be pulling it out again this month!

MAC Dark Soul Pigment; Illamasqua Creator

Illamasqua Creator; MAC Dark Soul

Though I’m not a huge lover of black nail polish, Creator has won me over with its glittery goodness, and looks both elegant and edgy at the same time.  It compliments Dark Soul so perfectly!  I could totally see rocking these two shades together, it’s like they were made for each other.  I rarely wear Dark Soul for sort of obvious reasons (its a shimmery charcoal shadow – the rockstar look doesn’t exactly work at the office), but I’m trying to find ways to implement it more when I can.  It’s definitely a perfect shadow for the holidays!

It was fun making these pairings and a huge throwback to my formative years 😛  It’s also scary to see that I happen to have enough polish and makeup that I can actually make pairings that coordinate so well… ~shrugs~ I’m a collector, what can I say?

Have you gotten into the matching trend?  Would you be willing to try it, or do you avoid it at all costs?  What colors say ‘holiday’ to you?

Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Shadows in 8E and 32E: Review and Swatches

I really wanted to come up with a good title for these shadows, because 8E has been rocking my socks off in particular the entire week, and deserves a ‘hallelujah’ or something!!  But, alas, my brain is slow today and I got nothin’.  Forgive me, my friends 🙂

Monday I was home sick, feeling run down and just plain tired from all the excitement and hubbub of my birthday and the upcoming move.  There I was, all vegged out like a sloth, when around 10am the doorbell buzzed (more like screeched – its goddamn AWFUL), and to my delight was 2 (out of 12 shades) of the new Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadows ($23CAD) for me to play with!!  Even better, one of the shades was the main one I was lemming HARD – 8E, described as a ‘matte green,’ though SO much more – it’s a rich, deep teal that is just beyond gorgeous.  The other shade, 32E, which is described as ‘pearly white‘ (which is bang-on), isn’t so much my scene, but I can make it work.

Designed to be long-lasting and easy to use, I got busy right away snapping pics and trying them out, not only because of my major love for the teal shade, but also because I had read such a drab review regarding the application and wear from Christine at Temptalia, and I was determined to discover otherwise.  So, this review is going to be much more in depth than my usual ones, as I tested this out two days in a row for wear, and really took note of how these worked and how to make them work.  First, however, swatches:

As I noted, 8E is a beautiful teal shade that is jewel-toned and more my speed than most other teals, which tend to be either a) shimmery (and therefore quite in-your-face), or b) medium-to-light in shade, which makes them, again, far too obvious, bordering on gaudy for my skintone, depending on how I wear it.  As 8E is matte, it’s so much more wearable too, which I love.  32E, on the other hand, is very shimmery, and because it’s a pearly white (almost stark white with just a touch of warmth to it), it’s very contrasting on my skin, and not in a flattering way, so I have to be careful how I wear it.  Likely it will be relegated as an inner eye highlight for the most part, which is how I wore it for the first of my looks below and which worked quite well.

Waa! Mad scientist hair!All photos above with flash

Above shots in natural light

So, in the look above, I wore 8E as a shadow – I applied it via the pencil itself to my lid and then blended with a finger – and used 32E in the inner corners of my eyes.  I will concede that these pencils are difficult to apply and blend, as they are sort of an odd combo of waxy and dry, so I had to take the time to make this look good.  However, I wore this for 8 hours (sans primer, and with a 2 hour nap in between!) and these did not fade or crease AT ALL (contrary to Christine’s review), which I attribute to the tough-as-nails formula (which is a combination of waxes, oils and polymers which create a long-lasting, crease- and smudge-proof color) .  Worn as a shadow, it might not be your quick look-on-the-go solution, but honestly, the shade itself was such a standout, and the wear was so good, that I don’t mind the drawback of the application.  Note that after my nap, it did smudge slightly under my eye, but obviously most people don’t nap with a full-face of makeup on regularly, so you’re probably safe 😉  And I have more proof of that below, in my next look with 8E:

With flashiPhone pic, sorry for poor quality!

In this look, I just wore 8E as a liner, applied directly to the lash lines and smudged a bit with my finger. This was as easy to do as any other pencil liner would be, and lasted 13 hours sans primer and without fading or traveling (no naps that day!).  I like both looks and would wear either depending on the situation – if I had more time I’d go with the full shadow as I prefer to wear this glorious shade at its full impact if I can.  But as a liner its still pretty lovely and I like that I have the versatility to switch between the two.

I honestly want to wear this shade every single day, which is pretty huge for me as I get bored almost the instant I’ve worn something once.  It just brought out the color of my eyes so well and complimented my skintone better than almost any other shade I’ve tried.  If you don’t mind working with it a bit, I REALLY think you should check these out – in my opinion, 8E is THE shade to own, but they have a ton of others that are much more neutral, and a few key shades like navy and black that would look excellent as well.  So hop to it!!

Have you checked out these Aqua Shadows yet?  What’s your favorite long-wearing eyeshadow?

*Products were provided by the PR company/brand for my unbiased consideration.

Review: Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush in #12 First Kiss

I don’t know when it happened, or why (though I have my suspicions), but somehow over the past year I have become developed a serious passion for blush – probably one of the only makeup areas that used to leave me cold.  Where eyeshadow used to be my ‘thing,’ blush has swiftly replaced it as the new ‘must buy’ purchase.  I am trying to curb this impulse before it gets too crazy – I’ve seen how that turns out and it’s not a pretty sight (well…it IS technically…very pretty indeed…but you know what I mean!).  I’m determined to make my most recent blush purchase, Make Up For Ever’s HD Microfinish Blush in #12 First Kiss, tide me over for a couple months anyway.  My goal is to be able to keep my blush purchasing to one per every three months.  Though, I made that decision last week, and then broke it in about three days, so you can see how well that worked out!  I really want to try Buxom’s new True Hue blush, as well as one of the Tarte Amazonian Clay blushes, and I’m not sure I can hold out that long.  We’ll see.MUFE’s HD Microfinish blushes are designed with both mattifying and light-reflecting powders to create a soft focus effect while still creating a radiant look to the skin, and are supposed to be longwearing.   First Kiss is labelled as a ‘bright apricot,’ and I think that’s pretty near the mark.  Initially when I was swatching colors at Sephora, First Kiss scared the bejesus out of me – what came out seemed so bright and intense that I couldn’t imagine anyone wearing it!  However, once I blended it in, it left the prettiest coral-orange glow behind, I had to have it.

Sunlight

Natural light

I thought perhaps it would be a bit tricky to apply, as it’s a creamy liquid formulation that comes out via a pump, but once I got the hang of using the pump and dispensing the right amount (you only need very little), everything else was a breeze.  I put a small dot of product on the back of my hand, then dipped my MAC #130 brush into it and swirled it around my cheekbones to diffuse the color.  It doesn’t take long to blend, and it doesn’t set too quickly so that you’re left with streaks.  It’s really very, very easy to use!  The wear on First Kiss throughout an entire work day was quite good, only the slightest fading.  In the photos below, I’m wearing MUFE’s HD Foundation in #155 underneath First Kiss (all shots are in natural light).

Another one of my ‘beach’ faces 😛

For fun, I thought I’d swatch First Kiss, NARS Torrid, and MAC Early Morning side by side to compare the shades.  As I’ve noted before, these types of colors seem to look best on my skintone.  I actually think that I prefer First Kiss and Early Morning over Torrid now – they just impart the perfect healthy glow on my skin, whereas I sometimes find Torrid a bit TOO much.  It’s definitely better on me with a tan, that’s for sure.  On the cheek, they’re all fairly similar, but in swatches you can see the differences quite clearly:

Sunlight (left to right: First Kiss, First Kiss blended, NARS Torrid, MAC Early Morning)

Natural light

I’m so pleased with MUFE’s HD Blush that I’ve been eyeing a few more shades I’d like to add to my collection.  It’s ease of use and color selection and formula make it a total win in my books!  It’s perfect for all seasons and all occasions.

Have you tried Make Up For Ever’s HD Blush?  What blushes do you think I absolutely MUST try??

Wild & Chic Best of Make Up For Ever Kit, Part Two: Smoky Lash Mascara

Mascara has got to be one of the most frustrating beauty products – I’m sure many of us spend more time looking for the perfect mascara than most other cosmetics.  Its the easiest way to beautify the face, I think – it opens up the eye, which is often our best feature, and makes us look more awake and youthful.  Personally, it’s not my end-all, be-all; I love when it’s effective but I have bigger fish to fry (concealer, anyone?).  Nonetheless, I am constantly on the look-out for a newer, better version – so join me in checking out the mascara Make Up For Ever offers up in their Wild & Chic Best Of Kit: Smoky Lash ($24CDN).The back of the product notes that the color is ‘Extra Black’ and that the mascara provides ‘volume, length, and curl.’My initial thoughts were tentative at best – the brush looks kinda wonky, which had me wondering just how this mascara would apply – would it be haphazard, and make my lashes go every-which-way?  The description on Sephora notes that the brush is ‘tough and dense,’ which allows the wand to ‘penetrate into the roots of the lash to ensure the lash is completely coated with mascara.’  Uh, okey dokey!Thankfully, any fears I had were unfounded.  Here’s what I did find: while not terribly dramatic, this mascara does give nice length to the lashes (which always seems like a funny claim to me, because – you’re coating your lashes with product, don’t they ALL lengthen?), and I do notice an increase in volume – as in, it looks like it catches every lash I have to that it looks like I have more than usual.  It sort of makes them look feathery, which I haven’t had in a mascara much.  I think I like it!Again, sadly, I cannot report on it’s curling power, as my lashes are just so darn curly as it is, that the effect is totally lost on me.  I read the description after wearing it a few times, and I think the brush does get into the base of the lashes well, as it’s not too flexible – though not so rough that it jabs at your lash line (I hate that!!).  It is nice and black – no charcoal formula here (which I also hate) – and wears all day without flaking.  It wasn’t too hard to remove; your regular cleanser that you normally would use does the trick.

My overall opinion of this mascara is a good one – it’s more of a basic mascara than anything ground-breaking, but sometimes its nice to have a mascara without a ton of bells and whistles and tricks to using it.  Certainly if you’re interested in purchasing it, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

*This product was provided to me for consideration by the brand/PR company.

Upcoming Event: MAKE UP FOR EVER Smoky Eye Event at Sephora

Good day everyone!  I just received a media alert from MAKE UP FOR EVER about an event coming up this weekend at Sephora stores across Canada (that includes our new store here in Hali!) – the Smoky Eye Event, on August 26th, 27th, and 28th.  This event is focused on the launch of the new Smoky Couleur Collection for Fall 2011 (all products out this month).The collection is described as “eye make up essentials inspired by the rich, jewel tone fabrics seen on the Fall 2011 runways,” and is a “vibrant new take on an all-time classic,” the smoky eye.  It provides “a number of different ways to wear the eye catching look and adapt it to every mood,  occasion and outfit.”

Check out details and pics of the collection below!

The Smoky Couleur collection includes a limited edition Smoky Eye Shadow Palette, four new shades of dramatic Smoky Lash mascara and three new ultra-creamy Khol Pencils — all in an array of bold, yet wearable colors.

NEW LIMITED EDITION SMOKY PALETTE

This customized, collector’s palette features eight MAKE UP FOR EVER Eye Shadows that can be used to create five different smoky looks in brown, blue, purple, green and classic black. Expert application instructions, as well as a mirror and two individual applicators, are included to help consumers achieve a professional smoky eye at home.

MAKE UP FOR EVER’S highly pigmented pressed shadows contain nylon powder for intense, lasting color and are easily blended and shaded. The palette includes:

• Eye Shadow #04 – matte black
• Eye Shadow #79 – deep plum shimmer
• Eye Shadow #81 – metallic navy blue
• Eye Shadow #80 – iridescent peacock green
• Eye Shadow #122 – metallic copper
• Eye Shadow #127 – metallic taupe
• Eye Shadow #126 – iridescent yellow beige
• Eye Shadow #07 – white shimmer
Retail value: $50

NEW SMOKY LASH COULEUR

The ultimate mascara for volume, length and curl is now available in four new hues. Boasting the same lash boosting formula and unique elastomer fiber brush as the original best seller, Smoky Lash Couleur delivers a dramatic faux lash effect in seconds. Each new shade is extremely concentrated with brown, green, blue and plum pigments so the mascara instantly coats the lashes with intense color.

• Smoky Lash #3 – deep brown
• Smoky Lash #4 – green
• Smoky Lash #5 – dark blue
• Smoky Lash #6 – plum
Retail value: $24.00 / each

KHOL PENCIL

These soft, creamy pencils have an extremely blendable texture and are now available in pearly deep blue (#8K), matte mocha brown (#9K) and pearly black purple (#10K). Khol Pencils can be used to line the eyes for a more intense, striking look, and can easily be smudged for the perfect smoky eye. Additionally, the soft texture makes them ideal for rimming the inner eye. Apply above and/or below the lash line and blend to create a pigment-rich smoky eye.

• Kohl Pencil #4K – intense pearly green
• NEW Kohl Pencil #8K– pearly deep blue
• NEW Kohl Pencil #9K– matte mocha brown
• NEW Kohl Pencil #10K– pearly black purple
Retail value: $19.00 / eachNo RSVP is necessary to participate in the event, just stop by any Sephora store across Canada to enjoy a free touch-up with a MAKE UP FOR EVER expert!  In addition, you’ll receive a complimentary, limited edition MAKE UP FOR EVER carry-all tote with a purchase of two or more MAKE UP FOREVER products.

I’ve always wanted to try some of the eyeshadows from MAKE UP FOR EVER so this might be a great opportunity to do so.  The Kohl Pencils also look fantastic! I love jewel tones 🙂

Be sure and let me know if you stop by Sephora this weekend to check out the event.  If anyone does and is brave enough, send me a snapshot of the look you got!  I’d love to see what look you get – Christine from Temptalia had a makeover at MAKE UP FOR EVER recently, and it was amazing!!

Enjoy the rest of your Monday everyone!