Review: Make Up Forever HD Foundation

I decided to try the Make Up Forever HD Foundation on whim.  This foundation was recommended to me by Sephora Beauty Consultants many times when I inquired about a new foundation.  I had read mixed reviews on this. I knew that it was a fuller coverage foundation, and I tend to stick with sheerer coverage foundations or tinted moisturizers.  I was a bit disappointed with the NARS Sheer Glow that was recommended to me as well. Don't get me wrong, it was nice.  It just wasn't extraordinary to me and certainly not worth the pricetag.  I decided to just get color matched for this and get a sample when I was at Sephora one day (I don't get over there often.  The closest Sephora stores are bout about an hour away.)  I was matched to 150 and given a pretty generous sample.  I was able to get about 4 days use of it, and there is still some left over.   I fell in love with the coverage and the feel of this foundation.  To me, it was everything it was hyped up to me and more.  It blended like a dream.  It didn't cake up on my forehead (like the NARS Sheer Glow did).  It didn't make me look oily either. It feels so light on the skin, yet it covers so well. The only problem that I found was the color.  It looked okay in person, but in photographs, I had a white cast on my face and looked a bit ashy.  I felt that the undertone wasn't right either.   When I went back to Sephora with my 15% Beauty Insider coupon, I asked to be matched again.  This time, the woman tried 153 and 170 on me.  She tried both of this along my jawline. 170 was visibly too dark, and didn't blend in to match quite right.  153 was a pretty great match, and I ended up purchasing it with the 15% off (huge plus! yay! for discounts!) The shade is called Golden Honey and for Medium Skin with Olive Undertones.  (150 is called Pink Beige and is for medium skin with dark beige undertones.)

My Thoughts:

My skin looks flawless, yet natural with this on.  It photographs really well too.  I had a blemish, and it was literally invisible when I was photographed with this on.  I am never one to look for a full coverage foundation, just because I imagined that they would feel heavy and look cakey.  This definitely does not.  My skin is sensitive, and this doesn't irritate it, which is a huge plus in my book as well.  I also find that this wear quite well, for me.  I don't use a primer with any foundation.  I found this to last all day.  (Everyone's skin is different though.  There are several primers out there that are high rated, including one by Make Up Forever.)  I also love the packaging of this.  It has a pump, just like with the Make Up Forever HD Blushes. Very hygienic & keeps things from getting messy!  The only downside, in my book, is the pricetag.  This retails for $40 (Sephora), and you get 1.01 oz of product.  I plan to use this for days when I want extra coverage and a flawless, yet still natural look, as well as for special occasions.  This would get quite expensive if I used it everytday, but it's well worth it.  Excellent product- Excellent Quality.  There are 25 shades, ranging from very pale to very deep, with a wide variety of undertones.  That's a major plus for accommodating a wide variety of skintones.  I hate when companies only have a few shades to choose from.  

   

Overall/Conclusions: 

This really does give your skin a flawless finish in real life and in photographs, while still looking natural.  The pump is great. There are 25 shades to choose from with numerous undertones to suit a wide variety of customers.  There's an excellent selection of shades for women of color.  This did not irritate my skin, unlike some other face products that I've used, which is a huge plus in my book.  If you have sensitive skin, this is worth a shot.  If you want flawless coverage that looks natural & doesn't look cakey or feel heavy, this is for you! If you have trouble finding a perfect shade, you have a good chance of finding your perfect shade with this foundation.  This is great if you take a lot of flash photography as well.  I highly recommend checking this out.  Get a sample at your local Sephora and try this out for a few days to see if it's suitable for you.  (If you don't have a Sephora near you, you can always order it online and try it out. The return policy at Sephora is really great.)


Price: $40 
Size: 1.01 oz
Availability: Exclusive at Sephora & Make Up Forever Boutiques 

See For Yourself!

*So far, I've tried the Make Up Forever HD Foundation and the Make Up Forever HD Blushes. (I have the blush in #14, which is love.  I purchased and returned #12, because the color was a bit too strong for me. I also have a generous sample of #3.)  I'm impressed with the quality of both of these products, and I would love to try more products from Make Up Forever.  They are giving MAC a run for their money in my book.  I wouldn't mind trying out the Make Up Forever Face & Body for summer.  I have MAC's Face & Body, and I'm not 100% happy with their shades options.  Make Up Forever has a wide variety of shades to choose from.*

FOTD 4/10/2011: Tropical Paradise

  

  

I went for a very bold look today, which is unusual for me.  I went to the local outlet mall on Saturday and purchased some MAC goodies from the CCO.  I'm used two of those products for this look.

Face:
Avon Smooth Minerals Liquid Foundation Pure Beige
Cheeks:
MAC Full Fuchsia Blush (Pro- from CCO)
Eyes:
MAC Eyeshadow Sweet & Punchy (from To The Beach collection- CCO) & Maybelline One by One Volume Express Mascara in Blackest Black
Lips: Random Pink Clinique Lipgloss (freebie from Clinique lol)

It was really warm out today, 79 degrees, which is a heat wave compared to the weather that we've had the past few weeks.  It had been in the 40's and 50's, with a lot of rainy and windy days.  Today, it actually felt HOT outside.  I was out in a tank top and short denim shorts! It felt nice not to have to wear a heavy hoodie or jacket!  I thought that this makeup look complimented the weather quite well, as it has a bold, tropical feel to it.  The bold cheeks are a change for me, but I had a lot of fun with this look.  It's nice to change this up a bit from the usual natural looking makeup.

  

shop my store: http://smathianas.avonrepresentative.com

My HG Foundations & Comparisons!

After much searching, I've finally found two foundations that I consider HG (Holy Grail) status, and surprisingly, they don't cost a fortune (2 thumbs up for saving $$$)!  Those are the two that I currently rotate.  So far, I've tried MAC's Studio Moisture Tint in two shades, MAC's Face & Body foundation, MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, Benefit's Playsticks, Benefit's You Rebel Tinted Moisturizer, L'oreal's Visible Life Foundation, Covergirl's CG Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer and Foundation, Tarte Smooth Operator Tinted Moisturizer, NARS Sheer Glow, Avon Smooth Minerals Liquid Foundation, and Covergirl Natureluxe Silk Foundation.  Out of all of those, two that have currently reached HG foundation status are the Avon Smooth Minerals Liquid and the Covergirl Natureluxe.  (I really like the Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay tinted moisturizer, as well.  That one is my favorite tinted moisturizer for the warmer days when I like a bit more SPF.  I did like the L'oreal foundation.  I HATED the CG Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer and Foundation, but the other foundations that I've tried are give or take.  I'm not really crazy about them.  I could give or take, and I most likely wouldn't repurchase any of them)

Price & Availability:
I think that the Avon Smooth Minerals Liquid and the Covergirl Natureluxe are both awesome products that have a very awesome price tag.  The price of both of these combined (at full price) is $24.99.  The NARS Sheer Glow costs a whopping $42 plus $5 extra if you want the pump for it, and you get the same amount of product (1oz) as you do with the Avon and Covergirl.  (Sheer Glow's glass bottle is crappy and hard to get the foundation out without the pump.  For that kind of money, the pump should be included.)  The Avon Smooth Minerals foundation is originally $11, however, during certain Avon campaigns, you can find this at a reduced rate.  Avon sometimes even has sales for their foundations, where you can get buy one, get one free!  Right now, Campaign 9 is going on, and the Smooth Minerals foundation is $7.99.  I actually got to purchase it from one of the Demo books, because I'm a rep.  I purchased it for $4.39, which is an awesome steal!  The Covergirl Natureluxe foundation retails from between $9.99-$13.99, depending on where you purchase it.  I've seen it on sale at Walmart and Target for $9.99, and I've seen it at the drugstores for $13.99.  However, a lot of times the various drugstores have BoGo sales, where you can get Covergirl (& other) products buy one, get one 50% or buy one, get one free.  I've also seen 40% sales on Covergirl products in various drugstore weekly ads.  The prices are both affordable.  You get 1 ounce of product in each, and a little goes a long way.  A nice thing about the Covergirl Natureluxe foundation is that it's easily accessible.  It is available at supercenters, such as Walmart, Target, & KMart, as well as most drugstores.  The Avon Smooth Minerals foundation is available through your local Avon representative or from avon's website.  If you order directly from a local rep, you avoid a shipping fee that you may encounter if you order online.  However, their are often coupon codes available for free shipping.

Comparisons:
Both of these foundations are lightweight.  The Covergirl Natureluxe performs exactly as described on the bottle.  It truly does have that barely-there feels, while still giving flawless coverage.  It doesn't feel heavy or look cakey at all.  I was truly impressed, because I had been disappointed with the Covergirl Tinted Moisturizer and CG Smoothers Foundation.  I was reluctant about even trying this new one.  I decided to try it after reading and watching reviews online and on Youtube.  I'm glad I gave this one a try.  I purchased this at 20% for Rite Aid with my wellness card.  The Covergirl Natureluxe has an SPF of 10, which isn't very high, but it's better than nothing.  I really like the coverage of this one.  The coverage is light to medium, and it's definitely buildable.  This has more coverage than the Avon Smooth Minerals.  I use this one when I want a little more coverage and want I want a more matte finish.  The Avon Smooth Minerals has a dewy finish, but not overly so.  The Avon Smooth Minerals is described as sheer to medium coverage.  It's on the sheerer side, but it's buildable as well.  I love the natural looking finish of this one.  Both of these foundations look very natural and are light.  These are perfect for everyday use.  The Smooth Minerals is a more liquidy consistency than the Natureluxe.  They both remind me of a tinted moisturizer almost, just because of their consistencies.  I tend to reach of the Smooth Minerals more than with the Natureluxe because the consistency is a tad lighter, and I find that my skin tends to actually look better after I take it off.  The Smooth Minerals is marketed by Avon to be safe for sensitive skin and to be good for your skin even after you take it off.  I think that is true, atleast in my experience with it.  I'm not a fan of mineral powder makeup, but I really like the liquid. With my experiences with mineral powder foundations, they have felt heavy and looked cakey.  I was still interested in using mineral makeup, and this liquid version caught my eye as soon as I saw it a few months ago.  I'm glad I finally tried it, because I really like it alot.  I have sensitive skin.  My t-zone can get somewhat shiny during the warmer months, but my forehead is drier.  Both of these foundations have worked well with my skintype.


Overall:
I'd definitely recommend both of these if you want light to medium, buildable coverage that truly feels lightweight on the skin.  Some foundations can feel heavy on the skin, like you are wearing makeup.  Neither of these feel that way.  You can't even feel that you have anything on your face.  In my opinion, the Natureluxe has more flawless looking coverage (but still natural).  If you're a fan of mineral makeup and have sensitive skin but don't like the mess or feeling of the powder, you are going to love the Avon Smooth Minerals Liquid foundation.  Both of these get an A+ in my book.  Check them out!!


Check out my Avon/Mark store for great deals, as well as the Avon Smooth Minerals line!!  Give the Smooth Minerals Liquid Foundation a try by shopping my store! :)
http://smathianas.avonrepresentative.com -

Benefit B.Right Skincare Part 2

After trying out the items from the B.Right skincare that Benefit had sent me (cleanser, moisturizer, & eye cream), I decided to try out some more items from this line.  I had my eye on the Triple Performing Facial Emulsion SPF 15 PA ++ (oil free lotion) and the Refined Finish Facial Polish (exfoliator).  I saw where Benefit was offering a limited edition B.Right Intro Kit for $12 on their website,  (http://www.benefitcosmetics.com), including a mini Emulsion, Facial Polish, and Total Moisture cream.  They were offering limited time free shipping, so I jumped on the chance to try these products at such a low price.  It didn't take long for these items to arrive in the mail.  I haven't used an exfolitator since I was a young teenager, and I was excited to try one again.  I've heard good things about facial emulsions, and I was excited to try that as well.  It sounds so fancy. I like the fact that is it oil free and lighter than the Total Moisture cream (highly recommend the Total Moisture for dry or aging skin).  Benefit worked with the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy Labs (one of the leading, most advanced cosmetic and skincare research labs in the world), to create the emulsion.  It contains Vitamin E and is supposed to target hydration and main water on the skin's surface.  It includes several vegetable-based sugar and glycol derivatives plus a selected set of hyaluronic acid.  (Hyaluronic acid is said to boost hydration in the skin as much as 73% without two hours after applying the emulsion.)

I tried the Refined Finish Facial after cleansing with the Foamingly Clean facial wash, then applied the Triple Performing Emulsion.  (The instructions that came with the Facial Polish say to exfoliate 1-2 times a week.)  The next morning, my skin seemed a bit softer.  I'm going to try the facial polish again at the end of the week.  Compared to the Total Moisture cream, the Triple Performing Emulsion is a lot lighter in formula.  I would recommend using the Emulsion as a day cream and the Total Moisture as a night cream for dehydrated skin.  As I mentioned in my previous article, I really like how smooth the Total Moisture cream makes my skin look.  My foundation looks so natural over top of it, but I feel it would be a bit too rich for my skin for everyday use.  My skin isn't as dry as it was during the colder Winter months.  The Total Moisture cream would have been perfect then. All in all, I think that the B.Right Skincare line is really good.  I plan to continue to use Foamingly Clean facial cleanser as my new daily cleanser.  It's a bit steep in price ($21) compared to the $3 Clean & Clear cleanser that I had been using.  If it continues to satisfy me, I will definitely purchase this when my complimentary bottle is used up.  With all of these products, a little goes a long way.

Check these items out along with others from the B.Right line at http://www.benefitcosmetics.com, http://www.sephora.com, and look out for them at Sephora stores, Ulta stores, and Benefit counters.

*Disclaimer*: I purchased the limited edition Intro to B.Right set, including the mini Facial Polish, Emulsion, and Total Moisture cream.  I received the full size Total Moisture Cream, Foaming Clean Facial Wash, and It's Potent Eye Cream for free from Benefit Cosmetics to try out.  I am not being paid for this blog article.*

Benefit B.Right Skincare Part 1

I received an email a few weeks ago from the administrator of Benefit Cosmetics' facebook page asking for my contact information.  They said they had selected me (as well as other "Benefit Babes" from the facebook fan page) to become a Benefit Cosmetics advocate.  The advocates are to rate/review the new Benefit products.  I just received my first box of products to review from Benefit on Tuesday afternoon, the same day that I receive my Avon orders.  I was pleasantly surprised to see a box from Benefit.  I tore it open and found three items from the new B.Right skincare line, that I was curious about trying.  (I was actually thinking of ordering them when they were released, the day before.  I'm glad I held off and received the free products.)  I received a full size tube of the Foamingly Clean facial wash (a basic cleanser gentle enough for all skintypes), a full size glass jar of the Total Moisture facial cream (super moisturizing for dry skin), and a small jar of the It's Potent! eye cream (advertised to fade dark circles).  The Foamingly Clean facial wash retails for $21, the Total Moisture facial cream retails for $38, and It's Potent! eye cream retails for $32.  I tried the Foamingly Clean facial wash right away, and I must say that I really like it so far.  I used it for three days in a row and so far so good.  My skin is extremely sensitive.  The more basic of the cleanser that I use, the better. Foamingly Clean feels soothing and calming on the skin, and it is a creamy consistency.  For best results, apply it to your face and then splash your face with water.  That creates a nice lather.  Then, work the cleanser into your face and rinse.  I tried the Total Moisture facial cream the first day that I received it.  I really like how it works under foundation.  I used it under my NARS Sheer Glow, and the Sheer Glow went on so smoothly like a tinted moisturizer.  It looked so natural.  (Usually, when I use the Sheer Glow, I have dry flakes on my forehead.)  I haven't used the moisturizer long enough to know whether or not it suits me, but it seems really nice for dry, thirsty skin.  I've used the eye cream for about three nights so far, and I really like it.  This is my first time using an eye cream!  I don't get nearly as much sleep as I should, and I tend to have tired looking eyes and sometimes dark circles.  This eye cream has made my eyes look really refreshed since I've been using it.  I'm going to keep using it and see how it continues to work.

All in all, I like how Benefit's B.Right skincare line is nice and simple.  Unlike Clinique, who has different cleansers and skincare items for different skin types (which can make things complicated to decide which one is best for you), B.Right skincare is suitable for all skin types.  The cleanser is formulated gentle enough for sensitive skin.  The Total Moisture facial cream is targeted for normal to dry skin.  There is also a Triple Performing Facial Emulsion available as well, which is oil-free with an SPF of 15.  It is said to be lighter weight than the Total Moisture cream.  The Triple Performing Emulsion also had vitamin E to comfort and nourish the skin.  It retails for $28.  Benefit Cosmetics worked wit the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy Labs, which is one of the leading and most advanced cosmetics and skincare research centers in the world to create this product.  I'm more interested in trying this as an everyday moisturized because it doesn't seem as rich as the Total Moisture facial cream.  (My skin isn't as dry right now as it was this winter.) It is something that I would put on in the morning before the rest of my makeup because of the SPF and fact that it is oil free. I'm excited to try it out.  There is also an exfolliater, recommended for use 1-2 times a week for a smooth, radiant complexion.  It is called the Refined Finish facial polish.  I'm interested in trying this as well.  (I never exfoliate, but I bet my skin would look a lot better if I did.)  The Refined Finish facial polish retails for $22.  There is also a limited edition B.Right starter kit, available on Benefit's website for $12.  This kit includes a mini Refined Finish facial polish, Total Moisture cream, and Triple Performing Emulsion.  I'd suggest getting that while you can.  It's a nice sized kit to try out the products before committing to buy the full size.  That way, you can see if the like the products, without breaking the bank.

All of the items that I listed today are available now from http://www.benefitcosmetics.com.  The B.Right skincare line originally wasn't due to launch until the beginning of April, but it launched on March 15th on Benefit's website.  The items mentioned above are also now available on Sephora's website. There are other items set to launch later on this year including a facial mist, makeup remover, and toner.  The products seems to be at an average price for skincare.  I've seem more expensive eye creams and moisturizers in the drugstores.  This B.Right skincare collection is well worth checking out.  Get it online now or stop in to your local Sephora later this month!

*Disclaimer: This items were all sent to me for free from Benefit Cosmetics for reviewing purposes.  I am not being paid for writing this blog.*

3/10/2011 Face of the Night

Face of the Night:

Face: NARS Sheer Glow Barcelona

Cheeks: NARS Taj Mahal Blush with NARS Albatross highlighter overtop

Maybelline (Smashing Seas aqua color) & Hard Candy (Ab Fab pink side) eyeshadow

Maybelline Falsies Waterproof Mascara

Sephora Collection Glitter Liner Gold

 I wore this look for a musical, The King and I, at my alma mater high school.  I was in the musicals for all four of my years in high school, and I had a supporting lead in the musical my senior year.  I wanted to make a good impressions.  I received a few compliments, including one from my old musical director. I've been using the NARS Sheer Glow a lot lately each time that I go out somewhere special, and I wore it on two job interviews.  It photographs really well, and it's really lightweight.  I really like it, but I don't think it's worth the $42 price tag. I think the price should at least be cut in half.  I know a lot of gurus who consider this HG status, but it's not quite there yet for me.  I'm interested in either the MAC Face & Body or the MUFE (Make Up Forever) Face & Body.  I just ordered the MAC one from their website ,because I don't have a Pro store near me (& it's only available online or at the MAC Pro stores).  I'm going to go to my nearest Sephora hopefully this weekend or next weekend for sure and try out the MUFE F&B foundation.  I've heard such rave reviews about those.  Maybe one of those two will be HG status for me.  I really have been loving NARS Taj Mahal blush.  I purchased it awhile back, but I haven't really used it until now.  I had a hard time applying it because it's so pigmented, and I tend to have a heavy hand when applying NARS blushes.  This time, I was able to control it and make it work for me, and I've been using it quite a lot lately.  I love that the color is an orangey/peach shade with absolutely no pink in it (which is hard to find).  It has a really pretty shimmer to it, but it's not obnoxiously shimmer.  It's very subtile and looks natural.  I highly recommend this blush for women of color, particularly deep skintones.  I received the NARS Albatross highlighter is a swap on MAKEUPALLEY, and I really love it.  It wasn't even something that I had every even wanted to try.  The white color in the pan never appealed to me.  I'm glad I tried it.  (I swapped it for my Benetint.  I wasn't really feeling that at all. It made me look feverish.)  Albatross is my favorite highlighter.  It's light on the skin and blends like a dream.  It's so silky and leaves such a gorgeous golden sheen on the face.  I love using it over blushes to tone them now and make my skin glow.  I saw a video on youtube of a women with a very deep chocolate skintone doing a tutorial with Albatross, and it looked so beautiful and amazing on her skin.  I think the Albatross would suit all skintones, both cool and warm.  I highly recommend it if you're looking for an easy to apply highlighter.  It's so much lighter on the skin than the liquid highlighters.  The eyeshadows that I used are by Maybelline and Hard Candy, and I highly recommend them.  Hard Candy makes such great eye products that are super affordable.  (Check them out at Walmart!).  I also highly recommend the Sephora collection glitter eyeliner that I used.  The consistency is really nice and easy to work with.  It leaves amazing shine to the eyes and lasts all day.  It's $12, which is a decent price compared to Too Faced Starry Eyed liner ($17.50) and Urban Decay's Heavy Metal glitter eyeliner ($18).  I've used the Too Faced Starry Eyed liner, and it didn't impress me at all.  It also dried up quickly (maybe I got a dud?!).  The Sephora collection has great pigmentation, and I recommend that one over the more expensive Too Faced liner.  Hope you guys enjoyed my Face of the Night. Have a great week everyone! Stay beautiful!

3/7/11 Face of the Day

FOTD:

Face: Benefit You Rebel Tinted Moisturizer

Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer (medium2)

Cheeks: Nars Angelika Multiple (exclusive to Tainted Love gift set)

Eyes: Inner Crease- Maybelline Expert Eyes Shadow 45D Shocking Seas (aqua shade). Outer crease- Hard Candy Kal-Eye-Descope Baked Eyeshadow Duo (pink side) 059 Ab Fab

Sephora Glitter Eyeliner in Gold (top only)

Lips: MAC Pink Friday

Today's look focused on soft pastel colors, and I focused on my eyed and kept everything else quite simple.  I love the way that the aqua and pink eyeshadow compliment each other.  Using two different eyeshadows together is an easy and fun way to play up your look without spending a lot of time on it.  The glitter liner adds flare to the eyes without being overpowering. I kept the rest of my makeup soft and simple with a bold pink lip.  This look only took about 8-10 minutes.