Category Archives: Upscale Beauty
Makeup Intelligence: Pro Finish Foundation from Make Up For Ever
Looks like Make Up For Ever has a brand new foundation out and in a wide range of shades!
New for Spring 2013: Pro Finish Foundation from Make Up For Ever. FYI: The brown girl in this photo is wearing Shade #177.
Make Up For Ever’s new Pro Finish foundation looks to be direct competitor to MAC’s ubiquitous Studio Fix foundation. Available in a range of twenty-five (25) shades, it can be applied wet for a sheer finish or dry for a matte and full coverage finish. I’ve never been quite pleased with the existing powder foundation from MUFE so it is very exciting to see this new product and formula.
MUFE Pro Finish foundation on display at Sephora. And yeah, the Rouge Artiste lipsticks are great too!
I tried applying this to my bare skin in Sephora using the new tapered foundation kabuki brush. The foundation went on flawlessly and the tapered brush expertly laid the foundation down in those challenging areas of the nose bridge and eye sockets. It was very easy to blend when dry and the resulting finish was nice and matte. I believe a sponge applicator is included with the compact but if you are prone to breakouts as I am, toss the sponge and go with the foundation brush. Even with all of the swatches I’ve shown here, my ideal shade is #175. Why this color was not included in the Deep skintone sample card is beyond me. Interesting how I am #75 in the Velvet Matte formula and #175 in Pro Finish.
MUFE Pro Finish Foundation deep shades on sample card (available for free at Sephora)
Swatches on NW43 skin of MUFE’s new Pro Finish Powder Foundation (w/o flash)
Definitely check out the foundation Kabuki brush. I am beyond impressed with how well it applies and blends this foundation. The bristles are soft and deliver practically mistake-proof application. This is definitely on the list to be reviewed/Florida Tested when I head to Disney World in July.
Make Up For Ever’s new Pro Finish Powder foundation is now available exclusively at Sephora stores and Sephora.com.
NEW! MUFE Pro Finish Foundation. All swatches are on bare MAC NW43/MUFE Velvet Mat+ #75/NARS New Guinea skin.
Swatches on NW43 skin of MUFE’s new Pro Finish Powder Foundation (w/ flash)
MUFE Pro Finish ingredient list. Why is there NO sunscreen in this? ::sigh::
MUFE Pro Finish foundation can be applied either wet (for sheer coverage) or dry (matte full coverage)
MUFE’s Pro Finish Foundation for Deep Skin (free card from Sephora, w/ flash)
Preview: Champagne Too Faced Shadow Insurance
If there was ever one eye makeup product my oil-slick eyelids could never go without, it would be Too Faced Shadow Insurance. And when I spotted this new Champagne shade I had to have it!
NEW for Spring 2013: Too Faced’s Shadow Insurance in Champange. Bottoms up!
Too Faced Shadow Insurance (TFSI) is a waterproof, sweat proof, Florida Hot-proof eye shadow primer that has always kept my eye makeup flawless all day at the office and all day slugging through the parks at Disney World. It is truly one of those indispensible products I cannot live without. Well, I could but my eye shadow makeup would look a hot mess and I’d be stuck using just eyeliner again.
This awesome eye shadow primer is described by Too Faced as a ‘nude shimmer’ eye shadow primer. As compared to Candlelight TFSI, it is more beige. Lemon Drop TFSI is matte and slightly yellow in contrast to Champagne TFSI. Frankly I believe every oily-eyelid gal should own every incarnation of TFSI, and brown girls *especially* need this new Champagne shade.
I picked mine up from Ulta but it is available at TooFaced.com and should be available shortly at Sephora.com and freestanding stores. Look for a review of this product in conjunction with my review of Urban Decay’s Naked 2 Palette coming later this month.
Makeup Intel: Deborah Lippmann Mirrored Chrome Nail Lacquer
While surfing the Neiman Marcus website I spied some more delicious nail goodness from one of my favorite nail brands, Deborah Lippmann. All hail the new Mirrored Chrome Nail Lacquers!
“I am thrilled to introduce my new Mirrored Chrome Nail Lacquer. An elegant new formulathat creates a true mirrored, chrome-like finish. Previously something you could only achieve through pricey salon treatments, now you can get that luxe, highly-reflective look at home with my new formula. It’s like Minx in a bottle!” – Deborah Lippmann
COLORS:
Swagga Like Us – oxidized copper teal nail lacquer
Private Dancer – gilded ultra violet nail lacquer.
Sugar Daddy – antique champagne lilac nail lacquer.
Benefit Cosmetics Boi-ing Concealer in #5: The Rundown
Concealer is a beauty product I discovered was indispensable for ‘erasing’ my sleep-deprived caused dark circles under my eyes from too many all-nighters as an Engineering student in college. It’s also been a godsend for covering my acne scars and any evidence of late night partying. So as soon as I got word from The Muse that her highly-recommedned Boi-ing concealer from Benefit Cosmetics was being produced in darker shades, I was on it in picoseconds. Obviously other gals had gotten wind of this because I had to go to two Sephoras and three Ultas before I finally found one to take home with me.
- Benefit’s Boi-ing Concealer in Shade #5
Benefit Cosmetics has released three new shades of their Boi-ing Concealer in #3, #4 and #5. #3 is a medium neutral, #4 a medium-deep with yellow undertones and #5 a medium-dark with red undertones. Their pitch wording on the product reads as follows:
“You name it, boi-ing hides it! This industrial-strength concealer camouflages dark circles, shadows and discoloration for a seamless, natural-looking finish without creasing or fading. it’s the concealer that goes the distance.”
- Yeah, this is as dark as it gets for now.
Weighing in at a hefty 3.0 grams (0.1 ounces), it comes in a black screw-top shallow plastic pot encased in a paper ‘peep’ box. The cream is slightly stiff to the initial swipe of a finger, but warms to your body heat and spreads nicely when using your finger. If you use a concealer brush the stiffness takes a bit longer to go away as the product warms to your skin. I noticed no product ‘drag’ as I do with my MAC Studio Finish concealer but it wasn’t as smooth going on as my NARS concealer. Unfortunately this product did crease on me (and perhaps because I have very oily skin) and I had to use a little bit of MUFE HD translucent powder to set it and discourage any further creasing. The pigmentation is very good and I was able to cover my light acne scars as well as I have been with my MAC Studio Finish concealer or my MUFE Full Coverage concealer. It is a shade lighter than my MAC Studio Finish concealer and about two shades lighter than my NARS concealer.
- Benefit’s Boi-ing Concealer swatch in #5 (deep) no flash/HDR
- Benefit’s Boi-ing Concealer in #5 (deep).
One of my biggest peeves with Benefit is that their concealers did not come in darker shades for beauties of color. It seems they’ve finally listened to this market. I am dissappointed that there wasn’t a deep color with yellow undertones and a darker espresso-like color for deeper undertones. #4 color is best suited for those NC42 and under while #5 for NW 45 and under. My second pet-peeve is this product contains mineral oil (paraffinum liquidium). While not the first ingredient, if you have sensitive skin and want to try this, I highly suggest purchasing from a retail establishment that takes returns like Sephora or Ulta. I have sensitive skin and haven’t had a reaction to this product so far after almost two weeks of use but I took a chance. Overall I am pleased with this concealer but it is only because Benefit made one that fits my skintone. Were I an NW45 – 47 this may work best as a color corrector rather than a concealer.
- There’s Mineral Oil in this?!? Why?!?
An interesting point to note is this product is made in France, not the US. I find French-made cosmetics to be of very high quality so I believe that has a lot to do with the very nice performance of this product. Benefit’s Boi-ing concealer retails for $19 USD and is available at Sephora, Ulta and other upscale retailers.
- Benefit’s Boi-ing Concealer in #5 (deep)
- Clockwise: Benefit’s Boi-ing concealer in #5 (deep), no flash, no flash/HDR
Preview: Guerlain by Emilio Pucci [Summer 2012]
I love Guerlain. And I love Pucci. Put them both together and it rockets right to the top of my Summer 2102 beauty shopping list.
Natalia Vodianova--the face of Guerlain looking gorgeous for the Emilio Pucci Summer 2012 collection (Source; British Beauty Blogger)
Les Meteorites Pearls D'Azur tricked out with the Pucci art on the tin for Summer 2012 (Source: British Beauty Blogger)
Terra Azzura blush/bronzer with Emilio Pucci motif--amazing! (Source: British Beauty Blogger)
There are eleven (11) pieces in this special collection. According to ChicProfile.com, here’s a breakdown of what’s included:
Terra Azzura Bronzing Powder & Blush
Formed with the iconic Emilio Pucci logo, it has separate bronzer, blush and possible highlighter strips that when all used together provides a bronzy blush glow to the skin. I’m a fan of the Terracotta bronzer so I’ll more than likely pass on this.
Meteorites Perles d’Azur
The world-famous meteorites highlighters that are more than worthy of their reputation. I own the Cruel Gardenia highlighter and the color is amazing on dark skin. If you’ve ever wondered if this would work for you definitely give it a try!
Terra Azzura Brush
This is in pretty Pucci print case! More than likely I’ll get it because it’s Pucci, my mom wore Pucci in the late 70′s so I’m programmed to want it.
Ecrin 4 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette
- #13 Capri (consists of a cream, pink, coral and brown shades)
Mascara Le 2 de Guerlain by Emilio Pucci
- Indigo (dark indigo blue mascara)
Terracota Khol Kajal
I first saw this last year in the Guerlain boutique at the France Pavillion in EPCOT center in Disney World. The creamy smoothness of how this applied to my eye and the pigmentation really impressed me. Turns out this product had been out of the Guerlain product line for several decades but was being reintroduced to consumers. It is offered regularly in a dark black but for this collection it comes in a beautiful cobalt blue. Definitely picking this up.
Terracotta Kohl Kajal (source: ATime4Beauty)
Terra Azzura Vernis
I don’t remember Guerlain ever having nail polish before so this is a first.
- #01 Paradisio (coral pink with a dazzling brilliant finish)
- #02 Riviera (electric blue indigo with a metallic finish)
Terra Azzura Gloss
- #10 Porto Fino (Coral pink)
- #11 Porto Ercole (Chocolate)
- #12 Porto Azzuro (Indigo blue)
The international release date is scheduled for 3 June 2012. In North America (more specifically the United States) It is possible that it could be released earlier by online retailers such as Nordstrom.com, NeimanMarcus.com and Bloomingdales.com. I will keep you posted if anything changes. Lemming for swatches? Then check out ATimeForBeauty’s website for more! The website is in Russian but if you’re using Google Chrome as a browser you can easily get a ‘close to English’ translation.
