If you’ve fallen in love with Make Up For Ever’s HD range, you need to check out their new HD Blushes. The HD Blush ($26) melts when applied to skin and provides a natural looking flush of color. While I may not be in front of HD cameras in my day-to-day, I appreciate that my blush won’t look patchy. It’s formulated with silicone oils, dry oils and waxes allows you to blend while the silica powders and synthetic mica provide a smooth texture that delivers a satin finish. There are 16 shades in the cream blush range so there’s most definitely something for everyone. I’ve been wearing shade 215 (Flamingo Pink) and it’s the perfect barely there pink.
Also new the the brand’s lineup is the HD Pressed Powder, $36. The HD Pressed Powder is a talc-free, silky, lightweight finishing powder that offers the same benefit of the brand’s HD micro finish loose powder, but is molded down into a purse friendly compact. No loose powders spilling in your purse, yay! Although it’s powder white in the pan, it didn’t come off as grey or ashy on my skin when applied. HD Pressed Powder is used to help soften the appearance of fine lines and pores while creating a soft focus effect on the skin.
The new MUFE products are available in Sephora, Sephora.com, and MUFE Boutiques.
So when it comes to beauty products, I have two great loves: foundation and lipsticks. (Okay I’m throwing in blush so that makes three, whatever). On any given day, I’m testing out a new foundation o swatching something at a counter to see if it’s my perfect match - or should I say “perfect” match. They can be either too pink, too red, too yellow, too dark, not matte enough — you name it! I know I’m not the only one who has trouble finding the right match - the end all, be all, elusive Holy Grail us beauty junkies clamor over.
MAKE UP FOR EVER commissioned a study from The NPD Group to find out why women are missing the mark when it comes to complexion perfection. The survey found:
72% of women DO NOT change their foundation seasonally (I don’t know who these women are since mine changes weekly ;)…)
62% of women had difficulty applying foundation (only 20% of women use a brush to apply their foundation)
54% of women say finding the right shade is the most difficult (SO surprised this number isn’t higher)
To help us out, MUFE is hosting free Foundation Nation events nationwide to help women learn to solve their biggest challenge, whatever it may be. Simply visit a MAKE UP FOR EVER boutique (or Sephora) where their professional artists will be on-hand for complimentary foundation lessons.
I will be putting the artists at the MUFE NYC boutique to the test since I want slash need a foundation that can even out my skin tone AND deal with the oil production factory that is my face.
With so many beauty products in rotation in my makeup bag, I rarely ever keep the same item twice throughout the week but recently I haven’t been able to leave the house without the items above.
First up are lip products “Force of Love” lipstick and lipglass from MAC’s M·A·C Chenman collection (available now). When I first received the press info, I knew nothing out Chen Man (陳曼) but after researching a bit, I am thoroughly impressed. Chen Man is the star of the Chinese fashion photography world, capturing color and sensuality in every photograph. The M·A·C collaboration was inspired by the artist’s fascination with love and water (represented by the colors pink and blue). Force of Love lipstick ($14.50) is a matte lipstick described as a vivid honeysuckle pink. It’s not a shade for the faint of heart and goes on as seen in the tube. I layer Force of Love lipglass ($14.50) over the lipstick just to add a bit of shine (I’m not generally a fan of MAC’s matte lip colors). The lipglass is the same shade but softer (obviously since it’s a gloss). As a bright pink aficionado, this has quickly become my go to color combo.
Now if you know anything about me, you know I love a good foundation. Anything that can even out my skin tone and deal with the oil factory known as my face is key in my book. Sadly, not many foundations can do both. At the same time. Until now. Laura Mercier’sOil Free Suprême Foundation (available on counter in April) provides ultimate coverage. Oil-free and lightweight, this goes on evenly, lasts all day (no joke) and remains matte. This is a vitamin-rich foundation is made of soothing and anti-aging ingredients including aloe and green leaf tea extract. I’m absolutely in LOVE with this foundation and am amazed at just how flawless my face looks from the start of the day until I wash it off. My only problem is that it dries FAST! If you don’t blend immediately, you run into issues where you’re trying to work settled in foundation and it’s not a good time. I compare this to the holy grail of foundations (in my book), Revlon’s ColorStay, MINUS the heavy feeling. Which means Revlon might be dethroned (sorry guys!).
What are you loving lately?
Pin ItDisclosure: products given for editorial consideration. Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.
As a major foundation buff, any time something new hits the market I’m all over it. I first spotted Maybelline’s new collection, Fit Me!, after reading about it in Allure mag. The quest began and shortly ended after I spotted the collection at my local Walgree’s (I was later sent a couple of more products for review).
As with many women of color - notably with dark skin - I’m two toned. My forehead is darker than the rest of my face and so I use foundation to even my skin tone, not necessarily cover it up with pounds of makeup. My biggest problem are products that are so thick they not only feel heavy on my face but clog my pores. Sure my face is one shade but I don’t want something that goes against all of the hard work I put into my skincare regimen.
Maybelline New York has introduced its first “shade-aligned system” consisting of 18 shades of foundation and powder, 6 shades of concealer, 12 shades of blush and 3 shades of bronzer – the brand’s largest range of shades to date.
At first, I felt the shade I picked up (355) would be too light for me. I have the classic Black Girl syndrome where I assume foundation has to be super dark in the bottle in order for me to even touch it. Thankfully I was wrong. While 355 LOOKS light in the bottle, it matched me pretty well (I wear MAC NW45 as a reference for all of you MAC addicts). I was instantly jazzed at how weightless it felt upon applying it. It blended smoothly, without any streaks, using a small amount (think nickel sized). Best of all, there was no horrid mask-like effect.
Fit Me! is formulated without waxes and oils allowing the skin to breathe and leaving it looking natural. If you’re the type who does not usually wear foundation but find that tinted moisturizer isn’t cutting it - give this a go. The biggest compliment I received the last two weeks were those who doubted that I was wearing any foundation at all. The best part - and I do not advocate this - is when I fell asleep with my makeup on three days in a row and did not wake up to a single pimple.
Huzzah!!
The new collection also makes shopping for makeup that’s truly YOURS super easy. When shopping, you’ll notice that the collection is segmented in rows, with each representing one shade intensity. The lightest shades are on top in the 100’s and the darkest shades in the bottom row, in the 300’s.
Maybelline’s Fit Me! Collection is available now at mass market retailers nationwide varying from $6 - $10. Check out Maybelline’s newly redesigned site and this video of Jessica White (she also wears shade 355).
Not too long ago, I attended a blogger preview of IMAN Cosmetics’ newest baby- IMAN Luxury Radiance Liquid Makeup. When I walked in and saw the mogul herself I nearly keeled over and passed out and quickly cussed myself for not dressing properly. Seriously, the day I meet Iman is the ONE day my hair is a wreck and I’m wearing black skinny pants (H&M).
Iman wearing a dress by DVF
Not only was she present- among a bunch of excited bloggers- she was truly Present. She spoke to us and eagerly encouraged questions. The knowledge this woman holds in nothing short of amazing. It is quite clear that this is HER company and not just a face and a name attached to the label.
Iman pointed out that her products are not just meant for African American women but for ALL women of color. Issues with finding the right foundation aren’t reserved only for African American women and she understood this and sympathized. The result is a makeup company with so many shades, it would be nearly impossible for a woman of color to not find a shade.
The new Luxury Radiance Liquid Makeup ($15) contains minerals along with Acai, Magnolia and Vitamin E to hydrate and enhance skin tone. It’s oil free and weightless meaning it won’t clog pores or feel cakey or heavy on the skin. It’s makeup that allows your skin to breathe. For those who fear foundation- for whatever the reason- I urge you to try this because it is honestly a great product. The pure fact that it is easy to blend and matches my skintone without turning reddish or gray has me pretty committed to this foundation at the moment.
More pictures from the event:
Winner of IMAN’s Latina Face of the Day Contest
DO’s and DON’Ts according to Iman: -DO wear bronzer. Women of color often skip bronzer and deem it unimportant but Iman encourages it since it can enhance our skin and liven it up a little. -DO wear blush. See bonzer above. -DON’T skip SPF. I don’t know what you’re thinking but dark skin is just as susceptible to damage from UV rays. -DON’T fear foundation. You have options.Tip from Byron Barnes, Creative Director and Makeup Artist extraordinaire for Iman Cosmetics: your base foundation should be close to/match your jawline.
Available at select drugstores as well as drugstore.com
Samples were provided for possible review. Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.
The HD Blush ($26) melts when applied to skin and provides a natural looking flush of color. While I may not be in front of HD cameras in my day-to-day, I appreciate that my blush won’t look patchy. It’s formulated with silicone oils, dry oils and waxes allows you to blend while the silica powders and synthetic mica provide a smooth texture that delivers a satin finish. There are 16 shades in the cream blush range so there’s most definitely something for everyone. I’ve been wearing shade 215 (Flamingo Pink) and it’s the perfect barely there pink.
