Makeup Forever Aqua Shadow - Review

I like shadow pencils. In all honesty, I actually like eyeshadows in general, but I really like shadow pencils, because they're awesome color bases and seem to be more creamy than potted cream shadows. When I discovered MUFE's Aqua Shadow pencils, I had to have one. After much internal debate, I decided upon an easy to wear neutral, 20E.

Aqua Shadows are a chubby pencil cream shadow. They are cased in black plastic, with a color coded cap and end, so you can easily tell which color you're reaching for. They retail for $20 on Sephora's website, and contain 0.14 ounces of shadow. Urban Decay's version is also $20, and contains only 0.1 ounces. From Sephora's website:

Aqua Shadow’s intensely pigmented, waterproof formula provides immediate, rich color that will not smudge, crease, or fade. Created with silica powder, its ultra creamy texture glides effortlessly on the eyelid and blends easily for an even result. Incredibly simple to use, Aqua Shadow quickly creates a multitude of dynamic and colorful looks.

I'm not totally convinced the shade I selected, 20E, is "intensely pigmented." It is pigmented, but no more or less than the UD 24/7 shadows I have. 20E is described as a "pearly taupe." It's a bit deeper than UD Sin, but lighter than Juju or Rehab. It's shimmery, rather than pearly to me. As a base, it's a great substitute for Sin, but they are different.

20E performs almost identically to Sin - it lasts a long time on my lids, blends well enough with my finger, and enhances the color of the powder shadow I put over it. The shadows appear a touch more rich and saturated, without any creasing after an 8 - 10 hour day.

Overall, I really like this pencil. They're a better value than the Urban Decay, and have a pretty good color range. If only there were multiple sources for them (as Sephora is the exclusive U.S. retailer for MUFE, where Urban Decay can be found in a multitude of stores). I also wish they'd give their colors names rather than numbers only, but I can live without, I suppose.

Makeup Forever HD Microperfecting Primer in #1 - Review

One thing I would love to change about my skin is the ruddiness on my cheeks - it's hell to get a blush to look even when you have surface redness going on. After much deliberation, I broke down and bought MUFE's "Microperfecting Primer" in #1, the green shade.

This retails from Sephora for $32. As with all MUFE, Sephora is the exclusive retailer of their products (unless you happen to live near one of the MUFE stores) in the U.S. According to Sephora, this is "A lightweight, oil-free complexion corrector that enhances the skin's texture and primes the skin for makeup application. [This product] deeply nourishes, moisturizes, and softens the skin, creating a glowing effect. Creates a protective layer on the skin allowing foundation to glide on easily and last longer." The green shade is supposed to "minimize redness."

For the price, you may be questioning the value. Packaged in a taller, more slender tube than it's foundation counterpart, the HD Primer gives you 1 fluid oz of product - which isn't bad, considering I only use a fraction of a pump with each use.

The amount above is enough for me to cover the red on my cheeks, and have a bit left over for my nose, if I need it. I've had my current tube of this primer for about 10 months, and am about halfway through it. As you can see, the product is very pigmented. Texture-wise, it feels like a gel. It does feel hydrating, but I wouldn't want to use this as a moisturizer, due to the pigmentation. The first time I used this, I used it all over my face - HUGE mistake. This is meant to be a targeted-use product. When overused, at least in my experience, you look a bit jaundiced, which isn't exactly flattering.

I can't say I have noticed my foundation applying any better (or worse) than usual, or lasting any longer where I have this product applied. My cheeks tend to be normal/dry. Because of the texture, I think this primer would be okay on oily skin, too. Because of the pigmentation of this product, it really does allow me to wear blushes and have them show up without piling them on.

Overall, this is a fantastic product! Because so little is needed, I feel the price is fine. Sure, it'd be awesome if it were cheaper, but you get a ton of product, and don't need a large amount. I'd strongly recommend this product to any one who has redness, like moi.