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)

0 Comments Leave a comment

Preview: Sephora’s New Nail Bar!

Hello, dear readers!

I’m back from vacay at Disney World but am in the throes of moving to a new place. Moving stinks but where I’m moving to is just amazing. Plus I’ve got a great garden view right where my blogging ‘workshop’ will be.

Anyways, this past weekend I was at Sephora in the Willow Grove Mall and happened to notice the new nail bar. Why is this nail bar so exciting? Because the top row of polishes was all Illamasqua! ::makeup addict squeal::

Illamasqua polishes line the top row of Sephora's new Nail Bar like tropical Skittles

DISCLOSURE > I own stock in LVMH which is the parent company of Sephora and Dior.

There are very few Sephora stores that carry Illamasqua. For me the only two I know of are in King of Prussia, PA (which I frequent) and 5th Avenue in NYC. Illamasqua is my favorite nail polish in the $12 – $16 price range and the fact that it is available in a Sephora closer to me in location is an excellent bonus. No more motoring to the KoP mall or waiting for the order from Sephora or overseas directly from Illamasqua.

And look what was on the Illamasqua row? Nail Varnish shades in Nomad and Stance from Human Fundamentalism.

Speaking of Sephora, has anyone seen the Human Fundamentalism nail polishes in stores yet? I lucked out and found Nomad and Stance among the polishes at the Nail Bar and yes, pickings were very slim for these two shades.

2nd row is all Dior polishes while the 3rd row is all Julep polishes.

Nicely ensconced in the second and third rows of the Nail Bar display were Dior and Julep polishes. Dior polishes are an indulgence I’ve recently gotten into as I adore the long-wearing formula of the nail polish and the sophisicated yet edgy chic of the color palette. Julep is a brand I’ve heard very good things about but haven’t tried as yet. From what I saw in the display, Julep has a color palette very similar and ‘out there’ like Illamasqua. Julep polishes are definitely on my ‘must try’ nail polish list.

Bottom rows: SpaRitual polishes!!! Love these!

Just when I thought the Nail Bar couldn’t offer any more goodness, what do my eyes spy? A whole slew of SpaRitual polishes! I was introduced this wonderful brand when I got a manicure at Disney’s Grand Floridian Spa. The innovative rubber cap aside, the color palette is very diverse, exciting and the formula is one of the smoothest I have ever used at around a $10 price point polish. Previously I could only get SpaRitual at Disney World or from etailers such as Beauty.com and SkinStore.com. I’m so glad Sephora is now stocking their shelves with a sampling this wonderful brand.

From what I hear these are gradually rolling out to some Sephora stores so keep an eye out. Nail Polish is getting bigger and bigger in the beauty biz so I’m very pleased to see all of these great brands in one place. If a nail bar isn’t in your local Sephora (and I don’t believe Sephora @JCPenney will be getting them at this time) ask when it’s coming.

So who’s excited?

0 Comments Leave a comment

Sephora V.I.B. Discount Event!

Yes, it’s that time again when Sephora sends their shopaholics the coveted event bringing shock and awe. Look what landed in my mailbox today…

Sephora VIB Spring Event - 29 March 2012 - 6 April 2012

Billed as “9 Full Days of Savings For a Stylish Spring”, Sephora invites all VIBs to a special Chic Week event with a special ‘preview day’ on March 29, 2012 in all Sephora stores, Sephora inside JCPenney and Sephora.com (use code CHICVIB for US checkout only). The event runs from 29 March through 6 April of 2012. If the preview day is anything this year like it was last year, be prepared for sheer craziness, long lines and people acting as if they’ve never seen a Sephora before in their lives. If you aren’t a VIB but know one, try to ask politely/bribe/kidnap one as VIBs can bring a friend with them on March 29 to also get the discount. Pay it forward, folks!

Sephora VIBs -- Resistance, is futile.

So, any of you VIB readers planning on hauling anything for 15% off? I’d highly suggest snagging the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer and the Illamasqua Human Fundamentalism palettes.

My bank account hates it when these postcards arrive from Sephora

0 Comments Leave a comment