Tag: foundation

All, Beauty, Product Reviews

Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin Liquid and Powder Foundations

by Literary and LovelyLeave a Comment on Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin Liquid and Powder Foundations
Make Up For Ever Matte Velvet Skin Liquid and Powder Foundations

Hello friends!!!

I can’t remember the last time I did a product review, which likely means it was quite awhile ago at a time when grad school didn’t feel quite so demanding. I definitely felt he pressure this term, balancing classes and a clinical externship, but they were good reminders of why I wanted to get into speech-language pathology. Another area of interest of mine is makeup, and today I wanted to review two Make Up For Ever foundation products.

Matte Velvet Skin Blurring Powder Foundation

I fell in love with the MUFE Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation shortly after its release (which I believe was in 2013), and it was my holy grail powder foundation until it vanished off the market earlier this year. I was devastated, and then stumbled upon the Matte Velvet Skin Blurring Powder Foundation. Hopeful that it was the replacement for the multi-use powder I was mourning, I gave it a go.

MUFE Matte Velvet Skin Blurring Powder FoundationThe packaging is nice, with the powder and applicator sponge housed in a sleek, rectangular, matte, black tin. My main concern at first glance was that only half of the tin contains product, unlike the multi-use powder, which filled an entire circular pan and had the applicator sponge beneath it in a separate compartment of the compact. However, a weight comparison indicated that the circular compact was 10g, with a net product amount of 0.35oz, while the rectangular tin was 11g, and housed 0.38oz of product. In short, the new blurring powder foundation actually contains 0.03oz more product, but the packaging is deceiving as to how much product is actually included. Product amounts aside, what I especially love about this product is that a mirror fills the entire lid of the tin. Another fun packaging feature is that the tin is lever-activated. In other words, there’s no way for it to pop open in a makeup bag if it gets jostled around in a purse or during travel; it will only open if the lever is pressed and the lid is lifted. The only downside of the packaging  I can foresee is that, because the exterior is a matte surface, fingerprints and makeup substances may cling to it, but should easily come off with makeup remover, or even simply warm water.

Phew, after that long preamble about the packaging, here are some features of the product itself:

  1. Full coverage
  2. Buildable coverage
  3. Mate finish
  4. Blurring effect (smoothes and mattifies, reducing pores and absorbing oil)
  5. Amino acid- coated pigments offer water-resistant 12-hour wear
  6. No fading, caking, or flaking
  7. Suitable for all skin types, but especially good for use with combination to oily skin
  8. Formulated with MUFE’s unique Flexi-fit puzzle complex that allows for flexible coverage and lightweight feel
  9. Double-sided applicator sponge for sheer to full coverage
  10. Available in 30 shades

Now, not that availability, or lack thereof, is indicative of a product’s quality, but I had a devil of a time getting my hands on my shade in this powder. It had been sold out on the Sephora website for months, but I lucked out and found it at the Pacific Centre Sephora in downtown Vancouver while shopping with my boyfriend. I settled on the shade R210 Pink Alabaster. While it is always better to see a product in person to confirm that the shade is right for you, I especially recommend doing that with this product. Online, R210 looked much darker than what I would imagine ‘Pink Alabaster’ to look like, but it was listed as the lightest shade, and it wasn’t until I saw it in Sephora that I realized it was indeed my perfect shade.

Now, I am not usually one for using applicators that come with products, but the sponge that comes with this product was actually specially designed to offer application flexibility. The black sponge side picks up more product, and is intended to provide a more full coverage look. In comparison, the white velvet side picks up less product, allowing for a more sheer coverage. Something to note is that the applicator sponge retains a lot of product, and it can be hard to get even product distribution on the sponge. If sponges really aren’t your thing, the powder can also be applied with a brush. Of course, MUFE recommends their branded 124 powder kabuki brush, but I’m sure any powder foundation brush would offer the same precise buildable coverage. (Side note, I do own the 124 kabuki brush and it is really great, but also really pricy at $42).

Matte Velvet Skin Full Coverage Foundation

Now this product I did not actually pick out myself. My mother has been on the hunt for a new foundation for several months now (R.I.P Almay TruBlend), and every time she buys a new foundation to try, I sneak in and try it too, and I wanted to share my thoughts.

Features of this foundation include:

  1. Breathable and full-coverage
  2. Matte finish
  3. Up to 24 hours of wear
  4. Suitable for normal, dry, oily, and combination skin
  5. Reduces shine
  6. No fading, caking, or flaking
  7. Formulated with MUFE’s unique Flexi-fit puzzle complex that allows for flexible coverage and lightweight feel
  8. Available in 40 shades

I purchased (or rather, my mother did) the shade R210 Pink Alabaster, which just so happened to be the same shade as the powder foundation I had been on the hunt for for months. The formula is on the watery side, and feels thin, but it applies and blends really well, either with a brush or a beauty blender. It does have a bit of a chemical-like smell to it, and I’m not sure what ingredient or ingredient combination creates that smell, but it’s a little off-putting. It’s nothing major though, and you might not even notice it if you aren’t super sensitive to smells like I am.

I did a wear test across a few days, and noticed that, while the foundation held up well for the most part, there was some drying around my nose, and my skin started to show through. This was easily fixable though with a quick touch up with the blurring powder, but I don’t like to pack makeup around in my purse to fix my makeup during the day. Who has time for that???

So those are my thoughts on the Make Up For Ever Make Velvet Skin Foundation collection. Let me know in the comments below if you have tried either of these products, and your thoughts on them!!!

img_5519

All, Beauty, Product Reviews

Marc Jacobs Beauty Re(marc)able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate

by Literary and LovelyLeave a Comment on Marc Jacobs Beauty Re(marc)able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate

img_0441

img_0443

img_0444

Good morning!!!

School is almost over so my days are getting busier and busier, but I have been loving this foundation recently and I wanted to share my thoughts on it before finals start 😊😊

Features

  1. Unique dot applicator
  2. 2x the pigmentation
  3. Lightweight
  4. Oil-free
  5. 24-hour full coverage wear
  6. Flawless finish
  7. Contains patented Marc Jacobs’ golden pigments that enable effortless blending
  8. Formulated without parabens, sulfates, or phthalates
  9. 22 shades, ranging from Ivory Light 10 to Cocoa Deep 86

I wear the lightest shade, Ivory Light 10, which is very fair but has pink undertones. Unlike a lot of foundations where the lightest shade is yellow tinged, this one completely matches my skin tone. Plus, this product has two times the pigment of other full coverage foundations, making it unrivaled. The full, matte coverage makes my skin look glowing and flawless. Unlike other foundations that can go without being shaken, I find if I don’t shake this one, it doesn’t apply nearly as well.

The dot applicator makes it super easy to control how much I apply and to customize my coverage. I dot my forehead, nose, cheeks and chin, and then blend. It is best to start with less and blend before adding more so it doesn’t not dry or streak. While you can apply it with a buffing foundation brush, I prefer to use my fingers.

A really neat feature of this foundation is the patented patented Marc Jacobs’ golden pigments. They are wrapped in lecithin, which is biochemically similar to skin, making the foundation blend perfectly into skin. Extracts of sunflower, jojoba, and acacia also add to the blendability.

A huge plus of this product, and the entire Marc Jacobs Beauty brand, is that it does not test on animals. While it is not a vegan line, the majority of the products do not contain animal byproducts.

The only downside I see to this product is the price tag: $69. My mother actually bought this one on her hunt for a foundation and I tried it and fell in love with it. I don’t think I would re-purchase this foundation to add to my everyday makeup routine, but the flawless coverage has shot it to the top of my holiday makeup shopping list.

Have you tried this foundation before??? What did you think of it???

Picture 19

All, Beauty, Product Reviews

CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation and Concealer

by Literary and LovelyLeave a Comment on CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation and Concealer

img_0326Why hello there 🙂 🙂 I stumbled upon this product while rummaging through my makeup stores looking for another trial size of Clinique’s High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara, and I realized I had never tried the foundation before. I sometimes use the concealer underneath my CoverGirl Clean foundation if I have particularly dark circles under my eyes, or if there is a pesky little blemish on my face. I thought about reviewing these products separately, but since they are both from CoverGirl’s instaGLAM collection, I wanted to review them together. So here we go 🙂 🙂

Features:

  1. Built-in “powder system”
  2. Medium coverage
  3. Flawless, natural-looking wear
  4. Oil-free formula
  5. Foundation available in 12 shades; concealer available in 6 shades
  6. Shade-matched concealer with sponge-tipped wand
  7. Drug store price tag

This foundation offers good medium coverage and conceals a multitude of imperfections without looking heavy on the face. Plus, it does an excellent job of battling shine. The foundation shades range from Classic Ivory 105 to Soft Sable 320, covering a wide variety of skin tones, while the concealer shades range from Fair 105/110 Deep 315/220. What I love about this foundation-concealer pairing is that the shades are numerically matched for you so you don’t have to test out concealers on the back of your hand in the store to find one that most closely matches your favourite foundation.

The concealer comes with a sponge-tipped wand, making it really easy to apply on imperfections or on dark circles. I did have an unfortunate incident with my concealer though where I cracked the lid. I couldn’t get it open one day so I harnessed my inner Hulk strength and I ended up breaking it . . . So just as a little warning, remember that these packages are plastic and therefore can break.

So the real question for me was how does this foundation differ from CoverGirl’s other ones??? I personally like the CoverGirl Clean foundation better than this one because, though it is wetter and therefore a bit messier to apply, it feels much lighter on my skin than the Ready Set Gorgeous one. But apparently this foundation actually wicks oil and sweat away from your skin to avoid shine instead of letting all of these little nasties stay trapped under the foundation, so that is nice. However, this foundation has a much wider range of shades that other CoverGirl foundations, which is really nice because it is so annoying when you want to try a product and it doesn’t come in a shade that matches your skin tone.

This foundation retails at $7.90, and the concealer retails at $6.65, so these are lovely value products, and since they are available in drug stores, they often go on sale so you can scoop them up at a good price. I use the concealer semi-regularly, so I have one or two unopened ones stashed in my drawer so I don’t have to worry about running out. But, I only have the one foundation and, at this time, I don’t know if I would repurchase it because I am really happy with my CoverGirl Clean foundation, and it’s not like I’m cheating on the brand.

Have you tried any products from CoverGirl’s instaGLAM range??? What did you think of them???

Blog logo

All, Beauty, Product Reviews

CoverGirl Clean Liquid Foundation Makeup

by Literary and LovelyLeave a Comment on CoverGirl Clean Liquid Foundation Makeup

img_0339Hello Hello there lovely readers 🙂 🙂

I have been reading a bunch of posts about peoples’ “holy grail” products, so I thought I would share one of my favourite beauty products with you: CoverGirl’s Clean Liquid Foundation!!!

Features:

  1. Non-comedogenic formula (i.e. does not clog pores)
  2. Water-based
  3. Lightweight and all-day wear
  4. Available in three formulas for different skin types
  5. Available in 12 shades
  6. Drugstore price tag

Where to begin . . . well, this foundation has 12 shades going from Ivory 105 to Tawny 165. There is a wide variety of lighter shades, which is ideal for me because it is hard to find a foundation to match my paper-white skin. However, the selection in darker shades is quite limited, which is disappointing because this is such an incredible product. With different formulas for normal skin, oil control or, in my case, sensitive skin, anyone can use this foundation. And with a drugstore price tag of $6.99 and sales galore, it is easy to get this foundation for less, and a little goes a long way, making it a great value purchase.

This foundation is water-based and therefore is quite wet and runny, but it goes on really smoothly and evenly, and this texture helps to blend into the skin. After application, it doesn’t even feel like I have foundation on so my skin feels light and can breathe. In short, this product just makes my skin look clean and clear, without the look of heavy makeup or concealed blemishes.

While you can apply this foundation with a sponge wedge or a beauty blender, I like just using my fingertips to get greater control and precision. In total, I use 5 small dollops of this foundation: one on the forehead, one on each cheek, one on the nose, and one on the chin. I then blend these dollops outwards to create seamless coverage. I am not prone to acne, but I find this foundation to have good medium to full coverage, while still staying light. If you find you have excess on your skin after application, lightly dab away with a wedge so as not to smear or remove existing coverage. This liquid foundation has an accompanying pressed foundation powder that can be used overtop to set or to create a more full coverage, but other powders work well too. I typically use Make Up For Ever’s Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation in 113 neutral porcelain.

***As a little warning, please note that this foundation packaging is glass. It kind of looks like plastic in the picture but it is most certainly glass and so it can crack and leak in your drawer if you aren’t careful. Please learn from my mistakes and don’t pack this foundation in the bottom of your suitcase on an international flight unless you put it in several plastic bags. It is harder than you think to get 9-hours worth of steeped foundation out of a black dress . . . ***

I have been using this foundation for years now, and I am still in love with it. It is good quality, affordable, and keeps my skin looking flawless.

What is your favourite drug store foundation???

Blog logo

All, Beauty, Product Reviews

Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation

by Literary and Lovely1 Comment on Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation

IMG_5034As I mentioned in my recent Sephora haul post, I picked up this little foundation number after trying and loving Make Up For Ever’s Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation, and wanting to give their liquid foundation a go. After testing it out the past few days on its own and with some of my other makeup products, I wanted to post a review of my thoughts on this product because I like writing reviews and I think this product is worth sharing with you.

So, let’s start with the features, shall we???

Features:

  1. Medium- to full-coverage
  2. Flawless finish
  3. “Soft focus effect,” meaning it stands up against bright, prolonged light
  4. Oil-free
  5. Formulated with Relipidium (moisturizes skin), Fucogel (prevents dehydration), and Sericite (enhances light ray refraction to illuminate complexion)
  6. Lightweight texture
  7. 26 shades to pick from

*Note: This product is a Sephora exclusive foundation*

Shades: 

IMG_5041This liquid foundation comes in a total of 26 shades, ranging from 110 Pink Porcelain to 185 Ebony. I picked up 110 Pink Porcelain and, like I said about MUFE’s powder foundation, I am amazed by how perfectly its lightest shade matches my skin tone. Liquid foundations in particular seem to have their lightest shade airing on the yellowish side, and I end up looking rather like I misapplied spray-on tan, but this one is designed for skin with pink undertones, and not just any skin: porcelain skin!!! Thank you Make Up For Ever for acknowledging a shade lighter than ivory.

The foundation has a pump, which is so lovely because I absolutely detest trying to get liquid foundation out of the bottom of the container. I apply this foundation by pumping a little bit on to the back of my hand, and evenly brushing it directly onto my skin with a foundation brush (actually, with a blush brush, but that’s beside the point). Now, with this foundation, only a little dollop is needed. With some foundations, I have found that I need to use a ton before I start to notice any real coverage, but with this one, less is definitely more in order to maintain its invisibility on the skin. However, I will not be using this as my daily foundation. I love how it makes my skin look, but I want to save it for special events and holidays when I know my grandmother will make me be in family photographs for the rest of eternity no matter what I look like.

Also, I don’t think I would recommend this product to anyone with acne prone skin. My skin is normal to combination, with little to no blemishes or dry patches, so this foundation worked wonders for me to even out my skin tone and give me that flawless look. But after reading many, many reviews of this product, it appears that it does not do so well when trying to cover up acne, and it can stick to dry patches, so I would try it with caution. Actually, if you can, I would recommend popping into a Sephora or borrowing it from a friend so you can test it before buying it.

This foundation was quite pricy at $50, and I really have to stop shopping at Sephora for awhile because these upscale brands are not good for my bank account, but I really do love it, and think it was worth it. Also, because only a little bit is required for full coverage, I am hoping it will last longer than other foundations I have tried.

What do you think of Make Up For Ever’s HD Invisible Cover Foundation??? Is it as invisible for you as it claims to be???

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you have a lovely day 🙂 🙂

All, Beauty, Product Reviews

Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation

by Literary and Lovely3 Comments on Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation

IMG_5028After reading so many praises and raving reviews of Make Up For Ever products, I popped into the nearest Sephora the other day and picked up the Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation to try out. I have been on the hunt for a good powder for quite some time, and this one has far surpassed any expectations I had.

Features:

  1. Can be used as a primary foundation or a setting powder
  2. Buildable, longlasting coverage
  3. Natural matte finish
  4. Fragrance-free, perfect for sensitive skin
  5. Formulated without parabens
  6. Lightweight texture
  7. Mineral oil-free to prevent dehydration
  8. Wide range of shades

Shades: 

IMG_5030
113 Neutral Porcelain

This pressed powder comes in a total of 20 shades, ranging from 110 Pink Porcelain to 185 Neutral Ebony. I picked up 113 Neutral Porcelain, and was surprised by how perfectly it matches my skin tone. As someone who is extremely pale, it is often difficult for me to find foundation, either liquid or powder, that matches my pigmentation, but this powder is incredible. However, I am not sure about the range of shades for darker skin tones, given that there are definitely people out there darker than Neutral Ebony. I would definitely recommend popping into a store that carries Make Up For Ever and trying out the shades instead of simply purchasing one online, because some appear to be slightly unnatural.

IMG_5029
113 Neutral Porcelain

When I purchased this powder, I also invested in the Make Up For Ever Foundation Kabuki Brush 110 straight. At $55, I seriously considered not buying it, as it cost more than the powder at $42, but in my opinion, the brush is worth it and almost a requirement. Without applying the powder foundation with a brush (not necessarily this one), it can look slightly powdery on the skin and somewhat dry.

The underside of the foundation compact houses an application sponge, which can be effective, but I would not recommend it. Using the sponge for application results in medium to full coverage, which may be desirable for some, but it does create a heavy, powdered look. Using a brush for application results in sheer to light coverage, making it look much more natural.

I typically use this powder foundation dry as a setting powder, but for those who would use this as a primary foundation, it can be applied dry or wet: dry for full coverage, or wet for sheer coverage. If applying dry, use a brush. If applying wet, make sure to use the sponge included in the compact, as it does not create streaks, and delivers even coverage.

While the powder is pricy at $42, it has become a must-use in my daily beauty regime. I apply it over my liquid foundation, and it looks as though my skin is naturally flawless, and I have received many compliments on my “perfect skin”. In addition, I find that the powder lasts quite a while, so it does have incredible value. Furthermore, the packaging isn’t massive so it is easy to pack when traveling.

The brush on the other hand, at $55, was hard to stomach. I have never spent that much on a brush, and had a heated internal battle with myself as to whether to purchase it. I kept thinking that it was extremely over-priced, and that I could find just as good of a brush cheaper somewhere else. But after getting it out of the packaging and using it for the first time, I fell in love. Make Up For Ever’s brushes are insanely good quality, so soft, and result in perfect application. Because of this, I now consider the brush to be an investment, a worthwhile addition to my brush collection that will last a really long time, and work really well.

What do you think of Make Up For Ever’s powder foundation??? And do you think their brushes are over-priced or investments???

Blog logo