Makeup Forever Aqua Cream #15 + #2 Swatches/Review

I live and die for anything that is long wearing.  Especially in the warmer months.  Makeup melt is something I despise!

For this exact reason I bring you Makeup Forever's Aqua Creams in #2 and #15...

MUFE Aqua Cream #15 + #2

Aqua Creams are a highly pigmented, long lasting cream shadow.  The amount of product you get is 0.21oz/6g.  The cream comes in a plastic, screw top packaging.  The colors above are #2 and #15.

MUFE Aqua Creams #15 , #2

What you get inside of these circular tubs of awesome is a cream shadow that is basically bullet proof, unless you are under pretty intense conditions.  These have a play time of around 30 seconds before they start to dry and become harder to blend.  They dry down nicely and DO NOT MOVE.  I have normal eye lids, after the 6th hour mark, they get a bit oily and my shadow will start to break down.  Under normal circumstances, these have never creased, faded, moved.  It was not until I wore them last summer during an outing where it was 100 degrees in the sun, that I noticed that they started to fade and crease.

Because they are very long wearing, removal can be a bit more work.  I use an oil based cleanser (theBalm's Balmsaway) to remove this, and then wash my face normally.  If not, I do find that I would tug to get it off.  The creams are long lasting, and that may equal dry lids to some of us, but in my experience, I did not get dry lids, flaking, any changes to the skin in the eye area.

MUFE Aqua Creams #15, #2 direct sunlight

Left swatch - #15:

This is described as a shimmery taupe, but I find this to wear more bronze on me and it even looks like that in the tub.  I would personally describe this as a perfect mix between a golden brown and bronze.  Texturally, smooth and easy to blend.  This does shimmer but it is not overtly so.

Right swatch - #2

This is described as a silver, grey shimmer, but to me, especially in real life, this seems more taupey than anything.  The texture is smooth, and it feels a bit more translucent than #15.  I find that with #2, I usually go over it twice to get a good, solid base of color.  Not over the top shimmery, this is a grey that has a lot of brown to it.  It is a complex color that I think will take on different properties on different skin tones.

You can find these Sephora, MUFE online, and other retailers.  They usually retail for around $23.00 USD.

Thank you! :)

What's in my makeup bag? 04/2012

I am one of those people that will walk around with a 1,000 lb handbag.  And most of that is my makeup bag, sadly.  I forget to clean it out and it just piles up!

Yummy makeup bag insides :)

Way too many lip products!  In order are:

• L'Oreal Color Riche Balm in Nourishing Nude
• Mustela Hydra Stick (used for lips and cheeks)
• Dior Lip Glow and Lip Maximizer
• Rosebud Salve
• Benefit's Benetint Balm

Everyday essentials

Items used daily:

• EcoTools baby kabuki
• NYX lipliner in 828 Ever
• LORAC Front of the line Pro liquid liner
• Makeup for Ever Smoky Lash mascara
• A colorscience sample pot (filled with Coty Airspun powder)
• Estee Lauder Double Matte compact in Medium 3
• Rohto V Ice eye drops
• Stila Kohl Kajal in Onyx
• Stila Convertible Color in Orchid #8 (I think, this is not sold stand alone, I got it in a kit)
• Urban Decay De Slick in a Tube sample size

Am well aware I probably do not need this much.  But then again, you never know when you need to look drop dead gorgeous when you are on the go!!! :)

See ya later xoxo

Makeup For Ever Smoky Lash WP - Review

Hello there...I should say you waited long enough for this.  MUFE Smoky Lash mascara, the one and only!

I feel almost bad writing this as I cannot think of anything wrong with this mascara.  But at the end of the day, I have to be as impartial as possible.  This mascara comes packaged the same way the regular formula does, aside from a blue band at the neck that indicates it is waterproof.  As for the wand/brush of Smoky Lash, it does not stray from the original either...

What I will say about any differences is that the formula is a bit tackier and thicker than regular Smoky Lash.    The brush works in exactly the same way, which is huge reason why I love this mascara.   The brush helps to thicken, lengthen, separate and I ADORE the way it holds curl, both wp and non-wp formulas.

When you brush the formula is brushed through the lashes, it feels the same way.  Once the mascara starts to dry down, then you start to feel the difference.  The WP version tends to feel thicker as the formula dries.  When you run it through lashes a few times, you can feel it get tackier and tackier.  It makes it a bit more of a task when brushing it in, though the results are worth it.

I love the definition, the wear, the hold, the color.  Oh my god, this is the blackest mascara I have ever tried!   And for those wondering, this formula is super waterproof!!!  I tested this out at the gym and I am no stranger to a huge sweat when I work out.  This works almost too good.  It is pretty tough to get off in one go.  That is probably the only thing wrong with this mascara.  All in all, it is worth the price point for sure.  You can find this at Sephora for $22.00 USD.

What mascaras are you guys into right now?

Product in Motion - Makeup For Ever Aqua Smokey Lash

Hey there!  Here's a quick snapshot of a mascara I LOVE in a formula I do not always use...waterproof!

MUFE Aqua Smokey Lash

This stuff, like the original Smokey Lash, is no joke!  I love how it thickens, lengthens, holds...I can go on and on.  There will be a more in depth review later.

July Favorites 2011

Hello guys and gals!  GAH!  I feel like I have been away for too long...and I have.  I know this is beating a dead horse, but it has been sooo hot!!!  To top it all off, I live an apartment where the AC likes to blow a fuse every week...ugh!

Enough of that, let us get on to favorites.  This month, with the heat being what it was, I noticed a change in what I usually I use.  I started using a new gel liner (clinique), got my hair cut from it being down to my butt to just above my shoulders(ahhhh), and made my routine quick and summer easy.

I have broken my favorites down to eyes, face,lips and brushes.

Face:

FACE - July Favs

FACE:

• Benefit Cha Cha tint (double duty on lips this summer as well)
• Smashbox Face and Body highlighter in Allure
• Stila Sun powder bronzer in shade 02
• MAC Beauty Powder Blush in Eversun
• Urban Decay Primer Potion in Pore Perfecting (light despite being thicker formula)
• MUFE HD powder
• Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer

Lips - July Favs

LIPS:

• Urban Decay Lip Junkie in Wallflower
• Soap & Glory Mighty Mouth Exfoliator/Balm
• Maybelline Colorsensation Pop balm in Fruit Punch 130 LE (I wish more people liked these, I love the balm formula and the color it deposits).
• NYX ip liner in Bloom (fuchsia)
• Softlips lip balm
• Stila Long Wear Lip Color in Intriguing (a gorgeous matte Fuchsia...I cannot stop using this!)
• Dior Lip glow
• Revlon SuperLustrous Lip Balm in Peach Crystal LE
• Tokidoki Gelato Lip Balm and Stain in Donutella

Eyes - July Favs

EYES:

• MUFE 12 color Flash Palette (amazing for cheeks and as eye bases)
• Smashbox eye shadow single in Nude
• Smashbox Waterproof shadow liner in Ideal Eyes
• Stila Prime Pot in Taffy (nice under shadows, but really nice on its own, so pigmented for a base)
• MACPRO Pigment in Steel Blue
• MAC Pigment in Spiritualize LE
• Clinique Brush on Liner in True Black
• WnW Color Icon single in Nutty
• LORAC Behind the Scenes primer 
• Benefit Instant Brow
• LORAC Special Effects Mascara

BRUSHES:

• Smashbox #33 smudger/precision 
• Sonia Kashuk small tapered face
• Revlon All over shadow 
• Sonia Kashuk small duo fiber 
• Bobbi Brown ultra fine eye liner
• Stila double ended 
• Smashbox #28 shadow
• Ecotools flat concealer

Alright guys, let me know if anyone has any questions about the aforementioned products.  I also am working on a hair care product favorites post...this new haircut has me using all different sorts of stuff.  Hope everyone is staying cool!

Small Haul 7/20/2011 (sephora)

Hey all!  Just wanting to share a quick haul that I got the other day.  This all started with the Makeup Forever mini set that Sephora was giving to VIB's...if you want to learn about becoming a beauty insider or VIB, go here.

Sephora Haul!

I went in to get my staple mascara, MUFE Smokey Lash.  I also added in the Dior Addict Lip Glow :)!  The mini VIB kit contained:

• mini smokey lash mascara
• mini lab shine
• mini hd powder
• mini aqua liner

All the minis are super cute and very practical.  I was hoping the bad would have been a bit bigger, but I love it all the same.  

I also had some points that I was thinking about cashing in...this is what I picked for my 500 point perk...

Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Trio including...

• body butter
• perfume
• body wash

What you all been hauling?  :)