Bronzer is truly a must-have, good bronzer that is, the kind that creates the perfect sun-kissed glow. A bad bronzer, on the other hand, can look too obvious, or worse, muddy. Or even worse, a bronzer with shimmer overload can make you look greasy and shiny like a disco ball. Which brings me to this…

Isn’t it odd that bronzers devoid of shimmer are hard to come by?? I just don’t get it. It’s one thing to carefully choose where to place highlights on my face, and quite another to sweep shimmer ALL OVER it.  Maybe if I were 12…

SO… Make Up Forever has done it again with their fabulous products, and has me head over heals for their newest addition Mat Bronze ($30).

Packaging

Mat Bronze comes in a metallic bronze case with a magnetic snap-closure. Very attractive with a luxurious feel.

The compact top pan flips open to a another pan that has a puff applicator. Why the powder puff?? It’s useless. I know this sounds harsh, but use a bronzer or contouring brush for optimal result.

The formula

An oil-absorbing bronzing powder for the face, MAKE UP FOR EVER Mat Bronze was created especially to give skin a tanned complexion – without a glimmer of shiny-looking shimmer. The powder absorbs any skin slickness while adding a healthy natural-colored glow.

This is all true, my lovelies!

The texture of Mat Bronze feels like butter. It’s so smoooooth and blends effortlessly into the skin, disappearing, and leaving behind the perfect color. It gives a healthy glow without the actual glow.

Another plus, the powder finish of the formula literally sets my makeup, ensuring a long-lasting matte finish. It makes my clients and me so happy, especially when dealing with the South Florida heat and humidity.

Shades

There are 4 shades available, which I love:

• 10 Apricot
• 20 Honey
• 30 Cinnamon
• 40 Amber

I often find bronzers to be too intense on light skin. With 10 Apricot, even the lightest beauties will be able to enjoy a very natural sun-kissed glow.

 

10 Apricot

20 Honey

30 Cinnamon

40 Amber

Love this stuff!!!
Studio Marie-Pierre Rating: A+

Thursday June 10, 2010

Hellooooo Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream ($22), oh the fabulousness of it all!

These are not only waterproof but also multi tasking.  There are a total a 21 shades, some meant to be used on the lips and cheeks and others are formulated for the eyes and cheeks.  I’ve received my new 12 shades last week and I’ve been enjoying them a lot.

Eyes & Cheeks: #1 Anthracite, #2 Steel, #3 Silver, #4 Snow, #11 Gold, #12 Golden Copper, #13 Warm Beige, #14 Satin Brown, #15 Taupe, #16 Pink Beige, #17 Plum, #18 Purple, #20 Intense Blue, #21 Turquoise, #22 Emerald Green

Lips & Cheeks: #5 Peach, #6 Fresh Pink, #7 Fuchsia, #8 Red, #9 Coral, #10 Orange

(Did they have something againt the # 19...?) :sideways:

Makeup Forever is the official partner of the french federation of synchronized swimming, and the aqua products were originally developed for those swimmers.

I love the texture.  Silky and blendable like you wouldn’t believe, they go on effortlessly and dry to a non budge finish in about 1 minute.  The pigmentation is blinding.  My favorite ways to use them are on eyes (BTW they don’t crease) as a base or an accent, and on the cheeks.  You go on ladies with some cheek to cheek dancing no rubbing off whatsoever!!!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COLOR SWATCHES!

Thursday March 25, 2010

Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush ($25.00 for 0.33 oz.) is the latest in the HD MUFE family.  I really wasn’t sure what to expect, creamy blushes are just not my thing, but I thought it’s gotta be good, it’s MAKE UP FOREVER!

Absolutely worth the moolah

The bottle is tiny and for $25 most of us would want more product.  Don’t be fooled by the size, the pigmentation of the blush is incredible and a little goes a long way.  Just to clarify, when I say a little, I mean half a pump max otherwise you’ll end up either wasting a lot of product or looking like a clown which is exactly what happened to me the first time I applied. LOL. GO EASY.

HD Blush won’t move

CONTINUE READING…

Tuesday August 18, 2009

Hi my name is Marie-Pierre and I’m addicted to all things make-up.

(Hi MP!)

Case in point.

I don’t really know what possessed me the other day, but an incredible urge to purchase almost ALL the MAKE UP FOREVER eye shadows started to torment me and wouldn’t let up.  There was no way around it, the evil :devil: temptation got the best of me…  I’m so glad it did.  Hehe!

I have 50 more eyeshadows coming next week — I’m pinching myself.

The pro palette, like of a jewelry box

These are by far the most stunning pro palettes I’ve come across.
They resemble traveling jewelry boxes, covered with nice thick black leather all padded on the inside, so the shadows don’t risk breaking as I’m stuffing them in my kit, and a strong clasp to keep them securely closed.

CONTINUE READING

Friday July 24, 2009

My weekend started off with a bang, a visit to the MAKEUP FOREVER boutique in Paris!

Located 5 rue De Boetie in the 8th arrondissement, the store is hidden in a very old building.  The location, away from tourists in a true local neighborhood, is extra appealing, but the boutique set up, is really what makes this spot a true make-up haven.

CONTINUE READING

My first encounter with a cream liner was with MAC blacktrack fluid eyeliner, way back when.  Purchased it once, used it twice and dropped it out of my kit entirely.  Determined to find a multipurpose creamy waterproof shadow that I would love, I went on trying pretty much every single brands of gel or cream liner.  Liked some OK – smash box, Bobbie brown -  but no love.

Enters MAKE UP FOREVER Aqua Black Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow — Da bomb.

How versatile is it?

This is THE most versatile creamy eye product I’ve come across.
Can be used:

1.  as an eyeshadow for a smokey eye.
2.  as a liner for the ultimate, thick or thin, defined line.
3.  can be smudge for a softer look.

What else?

Highly pigmented, waterproof, crease proof super long lasting, MAKE UP FOREVER Aqua Black Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow won’t move even after a dip in the pool, stays put on the water line for hours.  I use it to blend the seam of false eyelashes with my client’s lash line and it applied like a dream.

Live gorgeously.

:heart:

Friday January 16, 2009

Regular lovely readers know how I feel about mascara…. It’s an addiction simple as that.

Consequently, when one of my favorite companies, Make Up Forever, launched Smoky Lash, the inevitable happened… I HAD to get it, no way around it.
Mr. Studio is actually starting to wonder if some other women live in the house.  How can one single person be capable of amassing that many tubular containers?  It’s not that hard, really.  He won’t understand either. :tongue:

Lashes are so important to me that I even tried to grow them, remember that?  I unfailingly recommend false eyelashes to my brides (they look so fab in pictures) and to this day, I’ve never, NEVER, encountered someone who didn’t love their falsies.

My own set of lashes is pretty average, nothing to be wowed over, so when it comes to mascara I am rather demanding.  I need volume, length, separation and, oh let me not forget, it has to be super dark.  I told you the girl wants it all.

Today I found my Holy Grail mascara.  MUFFE Smoky Lash has officially dethroned Too Faced Lash Injection. Similar in the way it separates and lengthens, Smoky Lash leaves too faced in the dirt when it comes to building volume.  After 2 coats of that baby, VAVOOM, my lashes were transformed.

A word of warning for those of us who like to answer their phone while applying make-up….Do not to let the lashes dry in between coats, or else lovelies you will end up with a massive clumpy mess.  Aside from that, this formula is greatness all around. ($22)