Make Up Forever Mat Velvet + Foundation Review!

Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet Foundation 

Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet Foundation ($36) is an oil-free, water-resistant, medium to full coverage foundation with a matte finish. It's an especially good foundation for oily skin types, and for those who enjoy matte finish foundations.

I've been using this foundation for a couple of years now, and I've repurchased it a few times, so I thought I'd write a review for it! It use to be one of my favorite foundations, but I don't reach for it as much anymore because lately I've been preferring dewy finishes.

These are the color matches for the NC30-NC42 range. (I'm in the NC35-40 range)
#30 - For medium skin with beige/neutral undertones. Suitable for NC30 and lighter.
#35 - For medium skin with yellow/beige undertones. Suitable for NC30-NC37.
#40 - For medium-light skin with yellow undertones. Suitable for NC30. (Yes, the numbers can be confusing- it actually appears a little lighter than 35, but more yellow.)
#45 has a beige pink tone and #50 has a pink undertone.. more suited for NW.
#55 - For medium-deep skin with beige/neutral undertones. Suitable for NC40-NC42.
#60 is for medium deep skin w/ beige/pink undertone.. again, better suited for NW.
#65 - For medium skin with yellow undertones. Suitable for NC40-NC43.

I've used both #35 and #40. They both work fine for me. #35 is good for when I'm around NC35, and #40 is good when I'm around NC30; although it isn't as yellow as I'd like it to be. It's on the peachy side. (Comparisons below)

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation Review!

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation ($42) is a luminous foundation that is promised to enhance your skin without "masking it". It will brighten the skin, while evening out the skin tone and concealing minor perfections.

• For normal, normal-to-dry and dry skin types
• Hydrates for softer and smoother skin
• Contains powerful anti-oxidants to protect against damaging free radicals and turmeric extract to improve skin's radiance and tone
• Dermatologist tested. Non-comedogenic. Fragrance free.

Nars Sheer Glow is available in twenty (20) shades: Siberia (light with neutral/balance of tones), Mont Blanc (fair with subtle pink undertones), Gobi (light with yellow undertones), Deauville (light with neutral/balance of tones), Fiji (light with yellow undertones), Ceylan (light-medium with yellow undertones), Punjab (medium with golden-peachy undertones), Santa Fe (medium with peachy undertones), Stromboli (medium with olive undertones), Barcelona (medium with golden peachy undertones), Syracuse (medium-dark with brown undertones), Tahoe (medium-dark with caramel undertones), Cadiz (medium-dark with caramel-red undertones), Macao (medium-dark with deep yellow undertones), Trinidad (dark with warm yellow undertones) and Khartoum (dark with espresso undertone).

My shade is Barcelona, which is a warm, medium-tan shade with golden undertones - It's not overly yellow and it doesn't look orange on my skin. For reference, I wear NC40 in MAC foundations.

*I now also use Stromboli, which is a shade or two lighter than Barcelona, for when I'm less tan. It has strong yellow (olive) undertones, and is equivalent to the MAC NC30-35 coloring

I'm wearing Nars Sheer Glow in the shade Stromboli in this photo (my lighter shade)

Continue reading for my review...

Small Sephora SALE Haul.

I was at Sephora the other day to purchase a new foundation and picked up some goodies! There was a small sale rack with various Sephora brand lipsticks, lip liner and eye shadows for $3-$5. I was going to buy a bunch of things, especially eye shadows, but I decided to just get a few things, because well, $5 an item adds up if you have a ton of things.

Anyway, here is what I purchased:

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Sephora Colorful Eye Shadow No. 18 $5
Sephora Colorful Eye Shadow No. 19 (not pictured above) $5
Sephora Lips Pencil #110 $3
Sephora Lip Stick No. 12 $5

The reason No. 19 wasn't pictured above is because I made a 2nd trip to Sephora the following day and purchased it.

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No. 19


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L: Sephora Colorful Eyeshadow No. 18, R: Sephora Colorful Eyeshadow No. 19


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Swatches of the two. No. 19 is a deep black pine green with green and silver glitter. No. 18 is a olive green with silver glitter. Both colors are gorgeous. The glitter in No. 19 is a little less day appropriate. I've worn both and I'm in love with them. The pigmentation is really good, especially when applied wet. I won't wear these eye shadows any other way. Really good buys.

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Onto the lip products..

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The lipstick applies like a glaze, and its a sheer golden. It looks like it would apply like a peach, but its just a pearly sheen. I love the pencil.. there were a bunch of other shades but I only purchased this one because it looks just like my beloved MAC Stripdown. I really like it.


This is a swatch of No.18, the lipstick and liner.

I checked on the Sephora website and I didn't see any of this stuff available. Check for it at your local Sephora! :)

MAC Eversun Beauty Powder Blush Review!

MAC Eversun Beauty Powder Blush

MAC Eversun Beauty Powder Blush ($18) is described as a neutral peach bronze with gold pearl. It's one of the two (along with On a Mission) Beauty Powder Blushes released in the '09 Style Warriors Collection.

I received this blush in a swap, but you might be able to find this blush at your local Cosmetic Comany Outlet.

This is one of those blushes that replaces the need for a bronzer. Just a little over my cheeks, and it gives my skin a nice, warm glow. It's great for minimal makeup looks, and for smokey eye looks, as it's not goig to overpower the face.

Beauty Powders are typically softer than MAC's standard blushes, and Eversun is no exception. It's finely milled, and soft to the touch, making it very easy to blend on the cheeks.

(Image Credit: Temptalia)