Make Up ForEver Products: Review and Swatches

Just wanted to pop in and share an overview on some Make Up For Ever products.

This year, I decided I was going to brave the horrific lines at IMATS and pick up some Make Up Forever products. MUFE is a brand that I do not have a lot of products from, as a lot of times I feel like their products are marketed towards seasoned, full-time makeup artists versus the average beauty junkie/consumer or beginning makeup artist. For example, I own one of their liquid HD blushes, which I find to be a very tricky product for a layperson to work with. I have also tried some other bits and bobs in the past, but do want to delve a bit more into the brand as the whole, as I am frequently reading posts on their high quality products. Selecting which products I wanted to get from the IMATs booth was relatively pain-free, but the waiting in line to get said products was absolutely torturous; it reached a point where I decided that it wasn't worth it to wait in line any longer, and the only reason I persevered was thinking about the time I had already wasted waiting. Anyways, I picked up the four items which follow:

Aqua Cream in 18: The aqua creams were all 50% off, so I had to pick one up. I settled on this lilac shade with a blue duochrome. I actually already owned a couple of aqua cream shadows prior to this purchase (the champagne one and taupe brown one), and while I like them and do get a fair amount of use out of them, they are definitely not my favorite cream eye shadow formulation. I think I am going to do a cream shadow comparison post in the future, so I won't go into a huge amount of detail here, but I just find them to be a little gritty upon application, and on me, they fade throughout the day. Also, I have never heard anyone else mention this, so maybe it's just me, but I think they smell toxic and rife with chemicals (I don't even have that great a sense of smell.) They don't crease, but do fade considerably throughout the day. I am glad I got this color though, as I don't have anything like it, and it's perfect for spring and summer. A sheer wash of it over the lids with some mascara is surprisingly very brightening. It can also be built up to be quite bold in color if that is the look you are going for.

From left to right: 16 and 2

Sculpting Powder Blushes in 2 and 16: This is a product that I never would have tried, had it not been for a random free makeover I had at Sephora a few months back. The artist used the color 10 on me, and I absolutely loved it (so of course it came home with me that day). These are kind of a strange product, as they are not impressive when swatched as they come across dry and chalky, but when applied on the cheeks are really lovely. I really recommend this formulation if you are pale, as they are more on the sheer and buildable side, and it is difficult to overapply. I also adore the packaging of these; they are extremely compact and sleek; mostly black, but with a peekaboo window which lets the color show through. 2 is a pale matte baby pink with mauve undertones. It is similar to Illamasqua Katie, but the mauve is much stronger in this one. 16 is a light peach with a hint of coral. I would say it lies somewhere between Nars Sex Appeal (lighter) and Illamsqua Lover (brighter and darker). I like this line quite a bit, but am not sure how well they would work on someone with a medium or dark skintone as they are on the sheer side.

Rouge Artist Natural lipstick in N36: It's a mid-tone pinky coral lipstick. Not too much that can really be said about this one...I really like the formualtion of this, but don't think I would pay full price for it. I will say that I think the packaging is so sleek and cool. Also, I was a bit concerned when I got this home to discover that it has a little bit of frosty microshimmer to it which I couldn't see in the dim IMATs lighting. I absolutely abhor any sort of frosted lip product, and such products automatically induce a bit of a shudder in me, as it brings me back to my early teenage days of favoring a frosty lip. I had this lip gloss thing by NYC that was like a frosted pink with a green-gold duochorome that I was a particularly big fan of. The added bonus to the obviously stellar look it produced (just so we're clear, that it is some heavy sarcasm) was that it smelled like paint thinner. Anyways, I am pleased to report that the shimmer of this product doesn't show up at all on the lips, and it just serves to add a luminous look to the lips. What a relief. It's turned out to be a really pretty lipstick for summer.

From left to right: lipstick N36, Blush 16, Blush 10, Aqua Cream 18

Overall, I would say I am liking but not loving my MUFE products. Does anyone have any recommendations for products they love from this brand?

Review and Lip Swatches: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

From left to right: Romantic, Sweetheart, Charmed, Darling

       For a while, I hadn't seen these at the main drugstores, but I did spot a nearly empty display at Harmon’s/Bed Bath and Beyond. This is a product along the lines of higher-end Tarte Lipsurgences and Clinique Chubby Sticks. Now, I have not personally tried the Clinique product, but I do have a quite a few of the Tarte ones that I have accumulated in various sets and kits over the years. I happen to be a pretty big fan of the Tarte incarnation, but would have a hard time parting with the $24 cost when they are sold individually. It just strikes me as being quite high for what it is. The display at Bed, Bath, and Beyond looked like it had been positively ransacked, with only a few shades left. I picked up a reddish shade called Romantic, and the lilac one named Darling. I actually ended up picking up two more shades when I finally spotted them at my CVS: Charmed, a peachy nude shade, and Sweetheart, a hot pink.
       First off, I really like the packaging. I love it when companies make the outside packaging match the color inside, as it helps immeasurably when you have a large collection and have to sort through a lot of items to find a specific shade you are seeking. It seems sturdy, with the lid fitting securely on the top, unlike a lot of drugstore lip products. The stick also rolls up without need for a sharpener, just like it’s higher end counterparts. My favorites would have to be Romantic and Sweetheart.  Romantic imparts a sheer red look to the lips on first application, which leaves you looking like you just had a popsicle, but can be built up to a much more opaque and bold level of coverage. I love Sweetheart, which is probably the most pigmented of the bunch. It comes out on my lips as a very vibrant hot pink/fuschia with the first swipe. I like the lilac shade, but wouldn't say it's a must have; on my pigmented lips, it shows up like a subtle baby pink/lilac. Pretty, but I don't think I needed it. The one that gets a big miss from me is Charmed, which really doesn't show up on me. I really should have known better to pick this one up though, as these light shades in sheer lipstick formulations tend to never really work out for me.
       My biggest complaint is the marketing with this product; the name describes it as a “kissable balm stain.” In my opinion, this is neither a balm nor a stain. The product lasts maybe slightly longer than a normal lipstick, so I would not venture to call this a stain or a particularly long-wearing product. I could let Revlon get away with that claim, but I think calling this a balm is a bit of a stretch. I do not find these products more moisturizing than your average sheer lip product; they do have a nice feeling slickness when you first apply them, but after a while my lips feel a little dry. Please keep in mind though that I do have quite dry lips, and products that are often touted as being moisturized in the beauty community, ie Revlon Lip Butters and EOS lip balms, actually dry my lips out. So these might be just fine for you! It is not such a problem that I wouldn’t use them, but I just get a little annoyed with Revlon and drugstore brands in general making outlandish claims about their products that they really have no shot of living up to. In comparison to the higher end brands, I would say these are just as pigmented, and really only fall short with the texture being slightly less creamy, and the application less smooth.

Sweetheart (couldn't capture it as bright as it is in real life for some reason)

Romantic

Charmed (look how washed out and ill it makes me look!)

Darling

       Overall, I really do like this product despite the tirade above, and will be interested in picking up a few more shades when these start showing up in stock everywhere. I think the reasonable price tag of the $7 dollar range makes me much more likely to pick these up over the high end alternatives.

Recent Nail Loves, and Random Pop Culture Ranting

I just wanted to do a quick post on some current nail polish obsessions; pretty self-explanatory, so here goes...
 

From left to right: Butter London Slapper, Illamasqua Jomina, Maybelline Color Show Green With Envy

Butter London Slapper: Now, I am not a huge fan of this brand of polishes across the board; I feel like for the price the quality could be increased a bit, as it is not uniform. I have tried some absolutely amazing shades from this line, but have also regrettably purchased a couple of shades that I found to be amongst the most difficult polish applications I have ever attempted (shout out to Teddy Girl). That being said, this might be my new all-time favorite summer nail polish. Maybe that's too bold a claim for someone who has 5 boxes of nail polish (hangs head in shame), but it is definitely a contender. This is a bold and bright teal color; I personally don't own another teal polish that is so close to being neon. Also, a lot of teals end up looking a bit murky and dark on the nails so that you can't even tell it's a color, which I don't like so much. This is unmistakably teal, and I love it! The application is a dream as well; smooth, with minimal streaking.

Illamasqua Jo'mina: This was previously my undisputed summer fave, and although it is being challenged by Slapper, this will most likely always hold a special place in my mammoth collection. It is a very bright  lilac/lavender with a creme finish; it is not a pastel, and I have never seen another polish quite like it. The application is amazing, which I have heard is true for the majority of the Illamasqua nail polish line. Surprisingly, this is the only polish I own by them, but I have been tempted by a few others in their line. In particular, I have been in lust with Nomad, which is their recently released shade of unusual green. Since unusual green polishes are as much my weakness as taupe eyeshadows and red lipsticks are, this will probably find a way to work itself into my collection. I think this is well worth the $14 price tag.

Maybelline Color Show Green With Envy: This is the surprise sleeper hit for me. I am pretty sure I paid less than 4 bucks for this, and although that shouldn't lead me to expect a lesser quality formulation, I still was blown away when I applied this mint green shade and found it more or less applying itself perfectly, with no streaking, and the need for only two coats. The shade is very dupeable, and I am a little bit afraid to compare it against all the other mint greens in my collection as I will probably find at least one dupe. But if you don't really have a mint shade, this is a definite must have. Did I need this? No, but I am glad I took a chance on it. The only complaint I have is that it does seem to be chipping easily, but I am not sure I can blame the polish for that, as I have been very rough on my hands the past few days.

Julep America: Yes, I am a subscribed Julep Maven, but I usually skip the month as most of the time I either am underwhelmed by the shade selections, or I think the price is a bit steep if I only want one of the polishes, etc. However, when I saw this glitter polish packed with red and blue glitter and sprinkled with silver stars, I let out a little squeal of excitement (yes, I know; I have issues). It didn't disappoint upon arrival, and made a great 4th of July manicure. I put it over a coat of Essie Red Nouveau even though it probably would have gotten opaque on its own, and I loved the effect. I will say that taking this polish off was by far the most difficult removal process I have ever experienced. It took me nearly an HOUR of soaking and vigorous scrubbing to get my nails clean, so in the future I will probably limit myself to using it as an accent polish. I am actually looking forward to doing that for the upcoming Olympics.

Hope everyone is having a nice week so far...I have to say I am still reeling a bit from yesterday's episode of the Bachelorette. Spoiler alert if you haven't seen the episode yet, but I couldn't believe she sent Sean home! He was perfect for her, and definite husband/father material; maybe he is slightly less exciting than the other two, but he is completely dependable, and Arie and Jef come across as so fake to me (sorry Jef with one F fans...and I know there are a lot of you.) Anyways, kind of questioning Emily's judgement now...in other TV news, has anyone been watching Bunheads? Terrible name, but it's actually a quick-witted and well-done show. We are just a few episodes in so far, but the dialogue is great, and the ballet makes me nostalgic for my childhood. Oh, and PLL comes back tonight! I think this season has been solid so far. Okay, enough rambling for now!

Stila In the Know Palette: Review and Swatches

I attended IMATS LA a couple of weeks ago, and it was an amazing experience. It really is heaven for a beauty junkie. I went last year as well, and this year it was even better than before; the shopping and discounts are of course the main draw, and did not disappoint in the least, but I also enjoyed meeting and chatting with bloggers and Youtubers, some of whom I have followed for years. Seriously it is such a fun experience, and if you are ever able to attend one, don't hesitate at the chance! Anyways, I ended up with basically the biggest haul of my life, so have decided it might be best to break down the items I purchased to some standouts and by vendor.  This little gem has to be what I am most excited about from my whole haul.

Now, for anyone who read my 7 deadly sins post, you will recall that I mentioned my serious love/hate relationship with matte eyeshadows. I absolutely love the idea of a matte shadow for definition in the crease, highlighting, blending, etc, but I find that in execution a lot of them are extremely difficult to work with, even from some of the highest end brands. While I was at the Stila booth, I spotted this entirely matte palette; I surprisingly hadn't heard anything about it (I found out later that it hadn't been released yet), but I decided to swatch it on a whim, and more or less expecting to hate it. And I have to tell to you that I was completely blown away. These matte shadows are so creamy and pigmented, I really couldn't believe it, and I knew I had to have it.

June 2012 Favorites

Sorry this post is a little late; the last few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind, but I've noticed that I've really switched up my makeup for summer, and I wanted to share some of the products I have incorporated into my  routine to do so.

NYC Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny: This is the real standout product for me. I am not usually a big bronzer fan, as usually I embrace the pale, but I do rely on bronzer in summer when I find I can get away with it a tad bit more. Also, I have really been enjoying sporting a bright lip this season, and sometimes find that it looks a bit too shocking if I don't add some warmth to my face. To do that, I have been loving this bronzer, and I really can't think of a better option that I have tried for fair skintones. It is light, but not orange; matte, but doesn't make me look muddy.I also find that I get an even more natural look if I use my Sigma F50 Duo Fibre Brush (essentially any big stippling brush should do the trick). An added bonus is it is dirt-cheap, but I would be willing to shell out a lot more for this since it really works for me. I cannot rave about it enough!

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder: Face powder is another product I only use in summer, since the rest of the year my skin is so dry that I don't need to use any, plus can't really as it just emphasizes all my dry patches. In Summer though, I do get a little shiny on my forehead, so I pulled this out of my stash, and it really is a high quality powder for setting your t-zone. Finely milled and fairly invisible on the skin, it does an excellent job of keeping shine from creeping through. Another great drugstore find.

Milani Liquif'eye in Brown: I personally think that gel and liquid eye liner can look a little harsh for the softer look I aspire to in the warmer months, so have been loving this pencil liner for smudging into the top lash line for a natural yet defined result. This particular formulation is creamy and gives you a little time to work with it before it sets, but once it does it stays put on me all day.

Bare Escentuals Eye Shadow in Chic Nude: This has been the perfect complement for the statement lip I have been wearing. It is a mostly matte, slightly darker version of my actual lid color. A pretty basic color, but it does a good job of concealing the veins on my eyelid and creating a uniform look.

BE shadow in Chic Nude

Revlon Moondrops lipstick 712 in Hot Coral: This is the epitome of a crazy and bold Summertime lip, IMO. I would describe it as a neon red/coral, and gives off a very retro vibe to me. (This may be because it is one of the Revlon shades that it has been in their line since the 1950's). It has a matte finish, but I don't find that it is too drying. It can look a bit clownish, so sometimes I mute it down a bit with a lipliner like Covergirl Lip Perfection in Passion. This is definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you have the courage to wear it, I cannot recommend it more.

Rimmel London Kate in 12: This is from the Kate Moss collection, and is extremely similar to the Revlon one, but is more subdued and a little more coral and orange; it also has a sheen. I personally love the bubblegum scent of these lipsticks, but it might bother some people, so maybe see if you can check out that aspect before you purchase.

Hard Candy Painted Lady Lip Color in Rushhour 120: The packaging it pretty tacky, but the formula on these lipsticks is lovely. I can't believe I never hear anyone talking about them. It is a glossy and somewhat sheer formula, so it isn't the longest lasting, but it is so easy to reapply I don't consider this a detractor at all. This might be my favorite hot pink lipstick. The finish looks really natural, as if your lips are just naturally a bright pink color. Check this line out when you are next at Walmart!

From left to right: Rimmel Kate 12, Revlon Hot Coral, Hard Candy Rush Hour, and Covergirl Passion underneath

I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July!

Review and Swatches: Sephora Pantone Universe Collection

         First, a disclaimer. I usually find it considerably more helpful when bloggers photograph what a product looks like applied to their face, rather than just on their arm. However, as much as I would have liked to do that for the blush in this post, my skin has been fairly atrocious as of late, and I am not comfortable posting pictures of it on the internet. I thought it would be better to post this while still relevant rather than waiting for the scarring on my face to subside, so the arm swatch will have to do for now.

       
       
      On to the review! This collection is a collaboration between Pantone, the color experts who recently declared that the color of the season is Tangerine Tango, and Sephora.  The items in this line incorporate various shades of orange and coral to echo the trend of the season. This new release by Sephora has generated some buzz (although it was rather unheralded when compared to the likes of a MAC collection) but it did successfully pique my interest for the first time ever in the actual Sephora line.  When I walked into my local Sephora to take a perusal, my initial impression was that the collection was quite large.  It is comprised of eyeshadows, brushes, blushes, lipsticks, glosses--really anything you could possibly want.  As this can be a bit overwhelming, I was first tempted to pick up the overview/highlights set, but after swatching some of the products included in it, I concluded that I would not get a great deal of use out of some of them, and found the quality to really vary from product to product.  For example, I had done some virtual drooling over the online promo images of the chroma blush (one of two blushes included in the collection), which is a beautiful metallic apricot, but upon swatching it found it to be rough in texture and not possessing the high level of pigment I usually like my blushes to have.  Therefore, I ended up picking up just two of the products (pat on the back!) and I feel like they are the real standouts of the collection.

       The first item I picked up is the blush duo. First off, I have to say that I was extremely impressed with the expensive looking packaging of both the boxes the products came in and the products themselves.  While not as cheap as say a drugstore product, these are still reasonably cheaper than most comparable products sold in Sephora yet I feel that they blow a lot of the higher-end competition out of the water with their packaging. The actual blush duo itself is nestled in a white compact with a transparent, magnetic lid reminiscent of the Inglot Freedom system; it’s simple, yet chic and modern. The duo comes with a mostly matte coral color, and a highly shimmery coral-red. The product itself is smooth and extremely pigmented.  I would most likely wear either the matte blush on its own, or mix the two together, as I feel sporting the shimmery blush alone could lead you into the dreaded disco-ball territory, as it is just so shimmery. Overall, I am impressed with this duo, and recommend picking it up if you are looking for a versatile blush to wear all summer.

       I also purchased the lipstick, which seems to have been marketed as the cornerstone of the collection.  This is allegedly an exact copy of the patented tangerine tango shade, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.  Let me state again that the packaging is great; the actual lipstick bullet is quite short, yet heavy and expensive feeling.  I cannot rave enough about the lovely texture and pigmentation of this lipstick.  Is it the most wearable color for someone with my skintone (fairest of the fair?) Probably not, but it is such a creamy, high-quality lipstick that I can certainly see myself reaching for this time and time again when I want a bold lip for summer.  My one complaint is that the color does make your teeth look quite yellow, but that it is an attribute shared by all orange-toned lip products I find, alas. I actually do find that this particular shade flatters me more than most orange lipsticks do, since it pulls red-orange on my naturally pigmented lips.

Swatches from left: Tangerine Tango Lipstick, Coral side of duo, Desert Flower side of blush duo

       Overall, I think Sephora really did a great job with this collaboration.  My only complaint is that the quality was not uniform across the board, but otherwise from the packaging to the on-trend colorsm I think this is such a pleasant surprise.  I hope Sephora continues to collaborate with Pantone for each season on!

Product I Regret Buying, Vol 1: Revlon Colorstay Quad in Decadent

Now, I don't usually end up with a multitude of products I strongly dislike, since I tend to do quite a bit of research before I purchase a makeup item; I really am not an impulse shopper for the most part when it comes to cosmetics. However, this Revlon Quad was purchased on a whim, and I have to say, I basically hate it. I was lured in by a few endorsements of this new product in the beauty community, and by the display at Walmart, accompanied by a price tag in the vicinity of $5 dollars. These new quads really do come in a great variety of colors, and there is probably something for everyone's taste in the color selection, as the shades range from neutrals to brights. The packaging is inoffensive, and actually pretty sleek as far as drugstore packaging goes. It is simple, black, and easy to store.

The product itself is where I really find fault. The Decadent quad comes with a glittery creme/pink shade, a tannish gold, a peachy pink, and a warm brown. I was really drawn in by the assortment of desert shades, which screamed summer to me. However, when I reached my car and eagerly swatched the shades, I was pretty much aghast at the poor pigmentation and chalky texture. You can see from the swatches pictured here that the shades hardly show up! The highlight shade on the top left corner actually grosses me out to swatch; it has one of the chalkiest textures I can recall swatching in recent memory. When I do, though, it basically looks like white powder with chunky glitter, and it fares no better when applied on the eye, even as a highlight shade. The shade underneath is actually a good dupe for MAC's Naked Lunch in terms of color, but the finish is so powdery, and the pigmentation, while better than the first shade I discussed, is still fairly lackluster. It is wearable though, which is more than I can say for the first shade. The gold shade reminds me of a less nice version of Stila Oasis; it, unlike the Stila shadow, has the same powdery texture and poor color payoff as the other shades in this Revlon quad. It barely shows up when I swatch it, and I can assure you I do not have a golden tan skin tone. The brown shade is a little better in that it actually shows up, but that might just be because it is the darkest shade in the palette. As to the claim by Revlon that this is a "Colorstay" product that wears 16 hours, I didn't find that these wore any differently than other eyeshadow. I still need a primer to get them to last on me.

This is all four shades heavily swatched, and they hardly show up on my pale skin!

If you couldn't tell from the disparaging comments above, I more or less hate this quad. I don't know if the other shade variations are any better in terms of quality, but I can say with certainty that I won't be finding out, as I will not be wasting any more money on these. I think that drugstore makeup has really stepped up it's game in the past few years, and lately seems to be churning out some innovative products, and legitmate dupes for high end items, which is what really makes this eyeshadow pretty much unacceptable to me. Since you can get amazing eyeshadows for even less money from Wet N Wild, and also some great options with L'oreal, Milani, and even some Maybelline shades, I don't know why Revlon expects to be able to compete with this offering. Sorry to sound so negative, but I really don't like wasting money, even if it is only $5 dollars, and that is what this quad is in my opinion, a waste of money.