MUFE HD Invisible Cover Foundation

Maybe 3 foundation posts in a row is overkill.. but then again, maybe it's not. There are thousands of reviews for Make Up For Ever's famous "high definition" make up.. you could definitely say it has a cult following. Thing's never seem to work out for me quite the same as they do for most, though.. so I wasn't surprised that this didn't blow me out of the water. Here's my story of how it worked out for me:

What It Is: Sephora's site describes this as being an oil-free foundation, with medium to full coverage. Marketed (sort-of) as a camera-friendly foundation, it's supposed to give your skin that "soft focus" effect, and prevent you from looking all funky on screen and in pictures. It boasts a few fancy ingredients.. relipidium, to boost moisture content; fucogel (can't science come up with some prettier names?), forms a barrier between your skin and the nasties floating around in the air; and finally, sericite..this, and I quote straight off the website, "enables rays of light to spread more widely across the face". Sounds pretty impressive. Speeding rays of light, beaming across your face, further and wider than any rays of light have sped across it before!
Application: Anyways, I used a classic foundation brush with this, like I do with everything. No stipplers or buffers or sponge eggs. I like the coverage and finish a plain old foundation brush gives me. The consistency was extremely runny, but it blended easily. I needed about 2 full pumps for the whole face.
Feel: The foundation felt extremely light and pleasant on the face. It also felt nice and moisturizing.
Look: The shade I got, 120 (medium-light with yellow undertones), seemed okay at first. But in retrospect, 123 would have probably been better as the shade description is an exact description of my skin tone: light with olive undertones. I definitely noticed that "soft focus" effect it promised. The problem was, the areas that had that looked great, but the areas that didn't look bad in comparison. The upper lip, between the eyebrows, and the nose area all looked kind of weird and drab compared to the rest of my lit-from-within face. The coverage was medium, nothing more. It didn't cover everything, but I'll give it credit for how much it brightened up the under-eye area. What I didn't like was that this did not work well when layered. It quickly turned a orange shade and looked really chalky.
Staying Power: This would probably fall under the "Look" category, but it's such an important point I didn't want anyone to overlook it. This foundation will make you shiiiine! Upon initial application, the finish is pretty close to perfect. But after about 2 hours, my face begins to shine in a way that no powder can cover up. It's the weirdest thing. As far as longevity, the coverage does last throughout the day. The shine factor is just too much for me though.

Final Thoughts: It didn't work out for me the way it did for tons of other people. It looks amazing on camera, but not so much in real life. It's funny because maybe the whole HD thing is what's wrong with it in the first place.. is it just me or does a pixelating foundation sound better than a high definition foundation? I need those flaws blurred out!

Ingredients, taken from Sephora's website: Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Mica, talc, PEG-10 Dimenthicone, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Phenyl, Trimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Lauroyl Lysine, Dimenthicone Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Caprylate, Methylpropanediol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Myristoyl Glutamate, Cyclohexacyloxane, Methylisothiazolinone, Sorbitan Sesquileate, Silver Oxide, Propylene, Carbonate, Fragrance, Methylparaben, Fagus Sylvatica Extract, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, [+/- CI 77891 )titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides).

NP Set Pasarella Powder Foundation

I've never liked powder foundation.. I feel naked with it on. It doesn't cover anything I need covered, and on top of that it never lasts for me. But there are those days when I can't stand the thought of painting on thick liquid foundation. Those would be the hot, sticky days that make up a lot of the year where I live. Now that summer has rolled around, powder foundation has become my new best friend! I recently picked up NP Set's "Pasarella Powder Foundation" from target. Here's what I thought...



What It Is: A compact powder foundation that claims to be unlike other powder foundation's in terms of it's moisturizing abilities. Contains Shea Butter and Pomegranate Extract, which seems to be this line's signature ingredient.
Application: After applying primer, I used the sponge the foundation came with to apply an initial layer on the cheeks, chin, and forehead.. basically where I want the heaviest coverage. Then, using a kabuki or mac 109, I get some powder on the brush and go over the rest of the face, blending everything out as I go.
Look: This gave me medium-ish coverage, heavier than most powder foundations, but still not what I'm used to. It didn't give look chalky in any way.. which is great because that's the reason I stay away from powder foundation in the first place.
Feel: Even though it didn't look powdery, it definitely made my face feel dry. This might not be the case with oilier-skinned wearers, though. I always finish my make-up routine with Fix+ anyway, so I wasn't bothered too much by how it felt.
Staying Power: This foundation's longevity is pretty impressive, it lasted a solid 3 or 4 hours for me (this is powder foundation we're talking about!). What I didn't like was that anytime I rubbed my face with any kind of fabric or cloth, the foundation would transfer right onto it.



Final Thoughts: The results I got from this foundation were definitely beyond what I expected. I love using this on lazy or hot days when I just don't feel like doing the whole enchilada when it comes to my make-up. For it's price, though, I would definitely not buy it again. It didn't do that much better than my previously reviewed Neutrogena powder foundation. My hard-earned dollars would better be invested in quality liquid foundations, and saved when it comes to the powder type...

This retails for $30 at your local Target. You can also find it at http://www.npsetcosmetics.com/.
The ingredients are: Talc, Corn Starch, Ethylhexyl, Methoxycinnamate, Triisostearin, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Zinc Oxide, Myristyl, Trisiloxane, Soybean Glycerides, Zinc Stearate, Chlorphenesin, Potassium, Sorbate, Polyperfluoroethoxymethoxydifluroethy, Peg Phosphate, Shea Butter, Dimethiconol, Tetrasodium Edta, Morus Alba Root Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Silica, Corn Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, BHT, Ascorbyl Palmitate MAY CONTAIN: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ultramarines

Almay Clear Complexion Makeup

So I bought Almay's Clear Complexion liquid foundation about a month ago, and have been using it regularly. At first I was ecstatic about it, amazed that the best foundation I'd ever used I had found at the drugstore. Since then, how I've felt about it has changed. At first, it gave me the smoothest looking skin any foundation had ever given me. The color match was perfect, and although I doubt it has enough salicylic acid in it to actually combat pimples, it was definitely wasn't breaking me out. My review will be for the results I'm getting with this now.



What It Is: A liquid foundation that is made with natural ingredients like meadowsweet (purifies skin), chamomile, and aloe (both skin calming ingredients). It also contains salicylic acid. I got it in the shade "Naked".
Application: I applied this with a regular foundation brush. The consistency is thick, so a little goes a long way.
Look: This foundation gives great coverage. Right after application, my skin looks pretty flawless. The problem for me is that it doesn't always last. Though not all the time, it usually changes it's color on me throughout the course of the day. It also makes me look a bit on the greasy side after 4 or 5 hours.
Feel: This felt very light on the face, and didn't make me feel like my pores were clogging up under it.
Staying Power: The coverage does last me until the end of my (7 or 8 hour) day. Unfortunately, it does make me look oily, and sometime's a little pink..

Final Thoughts: I'm dissapointed that this didn't work out for me in the end. But I guess that's what I get for celebrating too early. I still reach for this on day's I won't be out for a long time. But with it's inconsistent results, I just can't depend on it to last me throughout my typical day.

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation

I've been in the market for a new pressed powder. I havn't had a good enough experience with a high end brand's powder to decide there's a big difference (for me) between those and a good drugstore brand, which is how I ended up in the Neutrogena aisle at Target.
I remembered reading once somewhere that dermatologists suggest those with sensitive skin buy only Almay and Neutrogena from the drugstore. I dont have particularly sensitive skin, but when it comes to face products, I thought it'd be a safe bet to follow that rule of thumb.

I ended up buying the Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation Compact in shade 50, "Soft Beige"



What It Is: A mineral powder foundation pressed into a compact. Neutrogena's website says it's oil-free, noncomedogenic, and frangrance-free. It has SPF 20, but I wouldn't suggest depending on this.. you'd have to pack it on to get the full protection factor.
Application: I used this as a foundation and as a setting powder. As a foundation, I used primer, then applied this with the sponge it came with (actually quite nice), damp. As a setting powder, I sheered it out over my face with a soft kabuki. I liked the added coverage it gave me on top of my foundation.
Look: As a foundation, this gave me medium coverage with a matte finish, but I packed it on. This is definitely a sheer foundation. Over liquid foundation, this mattified any dewiness I got initially. I didn't like this, so I used Fix+. The color was too light for me, and it seems as if all these powders run light (hello mineral foundation). This didn't melt into my skin the way I'd expect a mineral powder to, but if blended really well, there's no powdery finish.
Feel: Although the product is supposed to have moisturizing elements, it left my face dry and tight-feeling when used as a foundation. It felt and looked better after I spray my face with some Fix+. As a setting powder, it did not feel as dry, but I still set with the spray.
Staying Power: As a foundation, (with the primer) this lasted about 4 hours. Not impressive. To set liquid foundation, the powder worked well, extending the liquid foundation's longevity.

After 2 hours:


Final Musings: I think this serves me well for the purpose I bought it for.. to set my foundation. It created a smooth base for blushes and bronzers so they wouldn't apply streaky, and made my liquid foundation last longer. My biggest problem with this is that it doesn't seem like it would last at all used as a foundation. I can't imagine how long it would have lasted had I not used a primer. I would go a color up next time too, although the shade I got is workable. All in all, I don't think this outperforms the next drugstore powder. The difference, I guess, is in the ingredients, so it comes down to you and your skin's needs.

This foundation costs $12 at Target, but I've seen it around with prices ranging from $9.99-$13.99.

Ingredients: Mica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Dimethicone, Oryza Sativa Starch (Rice), Magnesium Myristate, Methicone, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid, Panthenol, Glycine Soja Flour (Soybean), Alumina, Silk Powder, Water, Polymethylmethacrylate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

MAC & Sephora Haul

Last week was really stressful, so it had to culminate in some retail therapy.

From Sephora: Clinique blush in "Aglow" along with Clinique Perfectly Real foundation
From MAC: "Quite Natural" paint pot, "Blankety" lipstick, "Underage" lipglass, "Peachykeen" blush (not shown), and a new Fix+

The foundation was an impulse buy. I got matched with shade 18, which is for fair-medium skintones with neutral undertones. The shades they had were so weird, there was a huge gap in between light and dark. Most shades had really obvious pink or yellow tones. Although the box claims the foundation neutralizes skins varying undertones. I always have a hard time with my neutral coloring. The match was good though, kind of orange upon application but the color evened out once it was blended. It was hard to blend out though (I used a foundation brush); the consistency was thick. Next time I'd use the beauty blender, I have a feeling the application would be better that way. The foundation definitely did not cover up everything. The finish really was nice, but the lack of coverage took away from the whole effect. It does seem like it's going to be medium-full coverage right when you apply it, but it just disappears! This foundation is supposed to be for dry combination to combination oily skin. Weird description.. what does that leave out? It was a bit shiny on me, and I have combo skin that's starting to become oilier as the weather heats up. For the finish and the price ($21), I'd say it's worth it if you can get a good color match.

Swatches:

"Aglow"

I've been eyeing the blush for a while, cause it looked so beautiful on display. I would call it an apricot pink with golden undertones. I actually tend to shy away from pink blush, I think it looks really unnatural on me. I love my peach tones though. Well, I finally got around to trying it, and I'm undecided. The texture was chalky, and it didn't blend out that well. The color didn't look nearly as amazing on my cheeks as it did swatched on my hand. I thought it would be a glowy, beautiful rosy peach color but it turned into more of a flat dirty apricot. The worst part was after a few hours, it turned into a blotchy mess.. but this happens sometimes when I use loose powder. I'm gunna see if I can get a better result next time. This retails for $19.50.

"Blankety"

I have a love/hate relationship with nude lippies. I want to love them, I think they look so gorgeous when I see other girls wearing them.. but I seldom reach for them when I do my own looks. I don't know, its just that nude lips don't ever seem to go with the rest of my makeup. My other mac nude lipsticks include "Peachstock" (hello, walking corpse), and Cherish (beautiful, but once again, one I don't find myself reaching for often). So I came to the conclusion I needed a honey colored nude, not too pink and not too fleshy. Well, I struck gold here. I didn't even try the color on in the store (I know, bad); I've seen so many people wearing it I didn't feel like i needed to. I just got it, and I'm glad I did. It's an Amplified, and I find it way more creamy that some of my Cremesheen's. On my lips it's a honey-ish, mauve-y nude, just what I was looking for. Although it shows up more on the pink side in the pictures, it's way more toned down in real life.

"Underage"

It was between this and Florabundance. I had my mind set on a milky pink, so i went with Underage in the end. Florabundance was so pretty though, it won't be long at all before I cave in ;). Underage is a well known color: a sheen-y, milky light pink. My lips are pigmented, but over Creme Cup (how I intend to wear it), Underage is the perfect frosting for pretty, opaque pink lip. It's extremely pigmented, but I do find it to be sort of spoltchy and hard to get even. When you do though, the result is beautiful.

"Quite Natural"

To me this is a neutral medium brown. I love the texture of paint pots, but I actually don't like to use my flesh colored ones as primers because I think they actually dull my shadows (I totally prefer cream color bases). But as bases, paint pots are amaaazing for their cream-to-powder finish. I'll put up a look using this soon.

"Peachykeen"

This is a "sheertone shimmer". On me its a sheer, warmish pink with golden shimmer, which lends the pink a peachy color.. so its not a straight-up pink. I tried this on in store, and it gave me just what I look for in a blush.. a pretty, subtle glow. Not obvious rouged up cheeks. I though it was similar to Nars' Orgasm when I had it on in the store, but now I see they're completely different. Orgasm is peachier. I actually like Peachykeen's texture more than Orgasm. It's not as gritty and sparkly, and applies way better.

Fix Plus speaks for itself. I cannot live without this; I don't care if it's glorified water. After a long day of classes, a few spritzes of this un-cakes and un-creases all my stale makeup and allows me to touch up my cheeks and shadow without looking like a clown.

Happy Tuesday :)