Make Up Forever Smoky Lash Mascara Review!

Make Up Forever Smoky Lash Mascara

Make Up Forever Smoky Lash Mascara ($23) is an ultra-pigmented mascara that delivers curl, volume, length and intense-pigment for some seriously bold lashes.

Make Up Forever Smoky Lash Mascara is available in (5) shades: Rich Black, Deep Brown, Dark Blue, Plum and Green.

It's not too often that I'll venture out into pricey mascaras. Considering a tube of mascara only lasts me a month, it's not something I really want to continuously replace - unless there is a mascara that magically transforms my lashes into drag queen lashes, I'm content with my $5 drugstore mascara. Anyways.

I've always wanted to know what the big fuss is with MUFE Smoky Lash, so I got a hold of a sample recently to try it out.

I really like the brush on Smoky Lash. It's a pretty traditional large, fluffy brush - that isn't too large or awkward, reaches my smaller corner lashes, and doesn't get all over my eyelids.

Often times when a mascara claims to provide both intense volume and length, the formula can tend to be clumpy. Make Up Forever Smoky Lash on the other hand seems to define/separate my lashes incredibly well. No matter how many coats I apply, I don't experience any clumping. Lash comb? Who needs one.

My eyelashes before and after (two coats)

Make Up For Ever #5 Nip Slip HD Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

Make Up For Ever #5 Nip Slip HD Blush

Make Up For Ever #5 Nip Slip HD Blush ($26) is a matte, neutral mid-tone pink. Because it has a good balance of cool and warm tones, #5 is a flattering pink on most skin tones. It has a little bit of vibrancy to the color, but it's also not too "barbie doll". It warms up quite nicely on my warm, medium skin tone.

If you aren't familiar with Make Up For Ever HD Blushes; they are a lightweight, yet dense cream that is dispensed in a pump tube. The formula is intensely pigmented, and a little goes a long way.

My favorite application method is using a duo-fiber stippling brush. I usually pump a small amount of product on a clean surface (I sometimes use the lid of one of my freshly sanitized mirrored compacts) and dip the brush in the product with light tapping motions to evenly coat the ends of the bristles. Then, stipple it on my cheeks, and blend upward until blended. You kind of have to work with it quickly, as it does dry pretty fast.

The formula might take a little getting use to at first, but after using it a few times, it should be a breeze.

#5 Nip Slip

Make Up For Ever #139 Eyeshadow Review, Photos and Swatches!

Make Up For Ever #139 Eyeshadow

Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow ($20) are high-intense powder shadows that come in a huge variety of shades (over 100) and finishes (matte, semi-matte and iridescent). Some of the brighter shades can even be used as a blush.

The eyeshadows are cased in small, slim black plastic compacts (no mirror) and are very lightweight and great for travel. They are a bit flimsy, and dare I say cheap, but as they are a pro makeup artist brand, they are meant to be placed in palettes. The Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow Palette holds ten eyeshadows.

Everytime I go to Sephora I have a "routine" of the brands I'll visit, and I always stop by Make Up For Ever. I've tried many of their products through the past five years, but I never actually purchased any of their shadows. I always thought they were a bit expensive, so I would purchase MAC as an alternative. For reference,  MUFE shadows actually contain a bit more product than MAC (MAC - 0.05 oz, MUFE 0.08 oz) not that it's hugely significant.

I'm typically drawn to all shades of brown, and shades that are versatile and can be worn often. #139 is described on the website as a Iridescent Brown Black. I would describe it as a neutral, dark brown with a satiny/matte finish.

MUFE #139 on my eyes

Make Up Forever #10 HD Creme Blush Review!

Make Up For Ever #10 HD Blush

Make Up Forever HD Creme Blush ($25) is a lightweight, cream blush that is uniquely dispensed in a small, plastic pump tube.

Make Up For Ever HD Blush is available in (14) shades: #1 Innuendo, #2 Caught in the Act, #3 Truth or Dare, #4 Walk of Shame, #5 Nip Slip, #6 Quickie, #7 One too Many, #8 PDA, #9 In the Spotlight, #10 Skinny Dipping, #11 Mistaken Identity, #12 First Kiss, #13 Smooth Talker and #14 Star Struck.

#10 Skinny Dipping is described on the website as a light, orange brown. It also has a hint of rosy-red in there. I'd describe it as a warm, spicy terracotta. A very flattering color for medium/tan skin tones.

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)

Make Up For Ever Eyebrow Corrector Review, Photos and Swatches!

Make Up For Ever Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector

Make Up For Ever Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector ($20) is a waterproof eyebrow defining cream in a tube. Fills, defines, and intensifies brows with natural-looking, stay-put color. The result remains flawless throughout the day and holds up under all conditions (water, heat, etc).

The Make Up For Ever Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector is available in (4) shades: No.1 (light taupe brown), No. 2 (medium warm brown), No. 3 (dark ash brown) and No. 4 (dark brown black). No. 3, a deep, milk chocolate brown is a perfect match for my dark brown hair.

I was skeptical about this product because I've never used a cream product on my brows. The last thing I want is for my eyebrows to look fake or painted on. But, when I was at Sephora, one of the sales associates actually told me it's what she uses on her brows and her brows looked very natural and put-together.

The trick with making this product look natural is by only using the tiniest bit. And when I'm saying tiny, I mean the tiniest drop you can get. A little goes a very long way - even the residue left on the tip of the tube goes a long way.

Any brow brush will do, but I like using a small angled, firm brow brush. I usually start by tracing the underside of my brows (the area that should be the most harsh) and with whatever is left on the brush, make small brush strokes in the sparse areas until the brow is completely filled in.

What's great about this cream is that you can control how light or dark you want it to be. The more product you apply, the darker/harsher your brows will be, and the less product you use, the lighter and more natural your brows will appear.

The product dries fairly quickly to a matte finish.

The lasting power is amazing! My brows don't budge all day. I'm sure it'd be great for oily skin types or you live in a hot/humid climate and you have a problem with your brows melting off! haha.

Make Up For Ever Brow Corrector can be found at Sephora for $19.

Various swatches of #3; as you can see, the color differs with the amount of product used. 

Here is my eyebrow before and after using the Eyebrow Corrector in shade #3.

Have you tried this product?

Make Up Forever HD Foundation Review, Photos and Swatches!

Make Up Forever HD Foundation

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation ($42) is an oil-free liquid foundation with medium-buildable coverage and a flawless finish. Designed specifically for making the skin look perfectly natural in video, photographs and in person. It's also said to remain flawless even under bright lights (harsh studio lighting).

Let me start out by saying that this is the most difficult foundation I've ever tried in terms of finding a color match. Right now I'm a MAC NC40 or medium with yellow undertones. The first time I went to Sephora to get color matched, I had my eyes on #140 (for medium skin with dark yellow undertones), but the associate talked me into trying #150 (for medium skin with dark beige undertones) because she thought the beige complimented me better. After using 150 for a few days.. I liked it a lot.. but then realized in certain lights I looked pink. So, after doing some heavy duty researching and heavy duty swatching at Sephora.. I decided to go with #128. I do find 128 to be a good color match for NC40, but 128 is definitely less yellow than NC40. #128 is said to be for medium skin with beige undertones. So, if you are in the NC37-42 range and you prefer foundations not to have strong yellow tones.. it should be a good match for you. I didn't realize when I purchased it that it has a beige undertone. When I swatched #127, it looked more pink than #128.. which is strange because 127 is for medium skin with yellow undertones. It must of been the lighting in the store or something.. because I would of definitely chose #127. Nevertheless, 128 works perfectly fine.

So let me do the breakdown of shades you can use if you are in the NC30-NC40 range.

123 - For light skin with olive undertones. Suitable for NC30-NC35 range if you have light/med skin and olive skin. (many Mediteranean ethnicites.. yellow undertones that almost appear slightly green)
125 - For light skin with beige or neutral undertones. A perfect NC30 color match.. but can probably work for NC35.
127 - For medium skin with yellow undertones. Suitable for NC35-NC40.
128 - For medium skin with beige or neutral undertones. Suitable for NC37-NC42. One shade darker than 125.
140 - For medium skin with dark yellow undertones. (almost olive) Suitable for NC35-NC37.
153 - For medium skin with olive undertones. Suitable for NC40-42. (I think moreso 42, because it was a little dark for me)
155 - For medium skin with dark beige undertones. Less Pink than #150, which is also for med skin with dark beige undertones. Suitable for NC40-NC42. (Again, this was too dark for me and I think it's moreso NC42)