REVIEW: Make Up For Ever Holodiam Powder in "Plum with Pink, Purple and Turquoise Highlights"

well, hello there!
today, i have something super sparkly to share with you - it is Make Up For Ever's Holodiam Powder. this powder is part of the limited edition Holodiam Holiday Collection 2012. the collection consists of the Holodiam Powders and the Holodiam Collection Eyelashes. i am excited to get to try a holo powder that i can use on my eyes and cheeks especially since i've been having a thing for holo polishes!

Holodiam Powder is a loose fine powder that creates a "hologram effect" when the light catches on the glitters and you can see multiple colors. there are four base colors available (copper, plum, white and brown gold) with different highlighting colors.
i have "#302 - Plum with Pink, Purple and Turquoise Highlights". it is a festive berry shade and downright gorgeous.

i find that the Turquoise color is the most reflective out of the three. the plum shade leans toward both purple and red, depending on the lighting.

bottom right is a bit blurry but you can see the turquoise glitter much better!

i should have known that there would be a seal over the sifter but i could not see it at all! so yes, to make life easier - take that seal off! it got a little messy when i took off the sifter lid so be really careful...

there are plenty of ways to use this powder - you can use a brush, a sponge applicator or your fingers and you can apply it dry or wet. it is suggested that you use a brush for a lighter application. i was surprised that when i did use a brush, that the powder did not fly all over my face. it actually stayed on my eyelid where i applied it to.

left to right: applied using a brush, a sponge applicator, a finger; applied with a brush over primer (Stila Prime Pot), over black eye crayon (Revlon Smoky Crayon); applied using a wet brush

personally, i didn't notice a difference between using a brush, a sponge applicator or my fingers to apply the product - all i can really see from this picture are some glitter particles here and there. this is because i am not under direct light so you can't see all of them. it could also be that i don't really have a "professional" sponge applicator... only the ones that come with eyeshadow quads and palettes. also you can tell that since i swatch from top to bottom, most of the glitter is concentrated at the top. i'd suggest you re-dip a few times into the jar if you want to spread the Holodiam Powder on evenly.

i definitely would recommend a primer since the glitter seems to stay on better when it has something to stick to. using a dark eyeshadow underneath also helps the pretty glitters pop! a wet brush picks up more of the base color than applying it dry.

a strange difference that i noticed with the brush and a sponge is that the two seemed to transfer different colors better. with the brush, i got the berry purple hue whilst the sponge applicator gave me more of a red-orange color. lemme see if i can show you this through pictures (worn over Stila Prime Pot in Taffy)...

warning! many eye looks i attempted up ahead! please excuse the eyebrows and other imperfections :)

on the left: applied with a sponge applicator (slightly more red-orange)

right: applied with a makeup brush (slight more purple)

- - - - -

i found it slightly messier to apply the powder with my fingers. a tiny amount of glitter got underneath my eye and 8 hours later, it traveled further to my cheeks and nose. still, my eyes were as sparkly as ever.
here i am wearing the Holodiam Powder in "302" over theBalm's Matt Batali eyeshadow (it's matte and dark so i figured it'd be perfect underneath a sparkly powder) and a primer.

hello, awkward angle! it was the best way to show you the multi-reflection effect.

- - - - -

one more eyeshot! just one, so bear with me. i sort of tried to recreate the look following the guidelines set out on the MUFE website (but a much tamer version since i was just heading over to my boyfriend's place anyway). anyway, here i used the Stila primer, Revlon Smoky Crayon in "Black Smoke", Rimmel Trio Eyeshadow in "Lynx" and Physicians Formula Gel CreamLiner in "Brown Eyes".
all i'm missing are those Holodiam False Eyelashes!

- - - - -

all in all, it's a serious glitter party that is perfect for the holidays. i have seriously taken an interest into loose eye powders now that i got this one. it is just so much fun! i am sure sparkles and holidays go hand-in-hand. the Holodiam Powder retails for $28 (1 g) and are available now at Sephora or through Make Up For Ever Pro-Loft (remember they are limited edition!). 1 g doesn't sound like a lot but it is plenty for a loose powder! i'd recommend using a primer and a dark base underneath to really bring out the color-changing sparkles.

and what a coincidence that Topbox is giving away a Make Up For Ever gift set right now - the limited edition "All Eyes on You". enter here! the set includes full-sized items of a few of MUFE's best-selling products.

disclaimer: i received this product from Make Up For Ever Canada for review. the opinions above are a reflection of my honest feelings.

REVIEW: Make Up For Ever's Aqua Rouge in "#8 Red"

i did not know the meaning of bold until now.
meet Make Up For Ever's Aqua Rouge #8 - Red.

Aqua Rouge is described as a "Waterproof Liquid Lip Color" that delivers in the long-lasting ability of a lip stain and the shiny finish of a gloss. you can actually wear the lip color alone if you choose to since the gloss does not act as a sealant (the pigment does that itself). i was curious about this since CoverGirl's Smoothwear All-Day Lip Color (another 2-step system) has a top coat for sealing in the moisture.

there are 12 shades available at Sephora or online at Make Up For Ever for $27 each.  the Aqua Rouge claims to be "100% waterproof, kiss-proof that will not transfer" and i am here to test it out!

my first attempt ever with such a powerful red and it took me a long time to get this right - actually, i still have not quite mastered it. i didn't use any lip liner in order to keep it from affecting my review but it is just so hard to get the edges to look perfectly smooth! i found some instructions online (click on Step by step) and it too suggests using a lip liner.

maybe it is the science nerd in me that i have repressed since switching to "Business" from "Biological Sciences" but i decided to test this product over a 3-day period and observe the effects of different variables: the first day being just a complete initial reaction to the product and then the second day, wearing just the "red" side (matte) and the third, using both the "red" and "gloss" side.

* photos are taken after any eating that may have occurred. there was no reapplication of the red throughout the day for day two and three.

day one
i started applying the sponge applicator on the center of my lips and worked outwards. i often crossed my lip line and seeing how this product does not budge after it dries, i had to clean up the edges. plus, i found that i did not spread the color evenly on my lips. after taking some photos, i'd realize there are spots on my lips and i'd go back and reapply - this happened twice so in the end, i had a few layers on.

my first impression of just wearing the red alone (matte version) was that it felt sort of like it was painted on, like something is coating your lips. it doesn't feel uncomfortable or thick though. when i press my lips together, the top lip sticks to the bottom lip. if you do this right after applying it, the color can transfer between the top and bottom.

i applied the gloss (using its brush applicator) and noticed that it was hardly sticky at all. a little color transferred to the applicator in the process. i think this can be avoided if i waited for the red to be completely dry.

transition from the matte lip to a glossy lip:

top to bottom: natural light; artificial light

throughout the day, the gloss will fade and i'll reapply often. i described it sort of as "paint" because after 5 hours, this "paint" started to crack. i believe it is because i moved my lips often (you know how that happens when you talk) and i'd also press my lips together. it felt like i had peeling lips or little crumbs stuck on my lips. this left some bald spots behind and thus, i needed to touch it up - please see below pic [6:00 pm].

what is impressive is that it does not transfer when drinking or kissing AT ALL. you'd think that with such a bold red, that at least some color will transfer, but nope. nothing on my hand, nothing on my boyfriend, nothing on my straw. there is the exception of when you eat though, especially greasy foods.

the first day i wore this, the Aqua Rouge met its match when i ate a bacon-wrapped corn cob. i knew beforehand that it wasn't going to be a good idea but it was confirmed as i watched the red melt away from my lips and all over the corn.
i ventured to the washroom and found that most of the red had rubbed off except for the top half of my top lip and bottom half of my bottom lip [7:10 pm].

to see how well the Aqua Rouge can actually hold up against other foods besides bacon, i decided to do two more days of testing...

day two - matte version

[1:00 pm - application] i decided to try a slightly different approach - i applied a very very thin layer - and i made sure to try to get it right without having to reapply and fill in any uneven edges or bald spots. before applying it on my lips, i'd wipe all the excess off the sponge applicator like you would do while applying nail polish. even if it seems like there is nothing really on the sponge applicator, the color payoff is ridiculous so you really need very little.

[2:15 pm - snack] really odd combination of snacks here - i had some cold mango tofu (i dislike 99% of tofu unless it is sweet) and some McDonald's fries.

[6:00 pm]

[7:15 pm - dinner] sun is starting to go down so i tried to sneak in a quick picture before it disappeared. i had some noodle soup (with duck) and some grapes.

[12:00 am] 

day three - glossy version

[1:15 pm - application] since only wearing a thin layer worked so well yesterday, i did it again on the third day. the gloss wears off often so i had to reapply twice today.

[3:30 pm - late lunch] got the Deluxe Love Boat at Sakana Grill which has some sushi but mostly fried items like tempura, dumplings and chicken. there is a slight gap in the middle of my lips where you could see the color has rubbed off. my boyfriend said it wasn't entirely noticeable unless i was talking.

[6:50 pm]

[10:35 pm - late dinner] had some pizza in between episodes of Dexter.

[11:50 pm] by now i've been wearing the Aqua Rouge for almost 11 hours and the same cracking/peeling effect that i had on the first day came about. the color was peeling into little bits which you can see if you look closely.

a deeper analysis:

wearing the red alone seemed to have the least amount of transfer. with the gloss however, it seemed that the gloss transferred easily (as seen by 1:15 pm lip print) while the red remained intact. at 6:50 pm, i had reapplied my gloss and this time around, it took a bit of the red with it.

arm swatches:

the nights that i wore the Aqua Rouge on my lips, removing it at the end of the night wasn't too too difficult since by then i'd have worn it for almost 12 hours and the color was slowly wearing away from all the meals i've had. however with these arm swatches, i wanted to take it off after i took the pictures but it would. not. budge! soap didn't work, water didn't work and my makeup remover did not work, as you can see in the picture below (only the gloss wore off):

my makeup remover is oil-free though so i started to look for something with oils (due to the earlier experience with greasy food). my shower gel finally did the trick :)

so overall, i'd suggest using a lip liner and also wearing only a thin layer. i only experienced the peeling/cracking after i'd worn it a long time and only when i have been using and reapplying the gloss. this is probably due to the long-wearing pigment being a bit drying and reapplying the gloss accumulates the peeling into little flakes (thanks Ashley K for this realization :)).

i can't get over how much of a show stopper this red is (did you know this is the official red of Madonna's MDNA world tour?). maybe it was also the fact that i never wore such a bright red before but many of my friends (even the male ones) commented on it. even a lady working at one of the perfume counters at The Bay told me it looked good. personally, i still find it a bit intimidating but i am growing to love it! i prefer the matte version on myself since since my lips are already full looking and the red combined with the gloss makes it that much more eye-catching. i'd love to try one of the more wearable colors though since i am a huge fan of the no-transfer ability of this lip color. i was surprised every time i looked in the mirror after eating since i expected all the color to have vanished.

have you tried MUFE's Aqua Rouge collection? what is the longest-lasting lip product you have?

disclaimer: i received the Aqua Rouge from Make Up For Ever Canada for review (thank you Lindsey). the opinions above are a reflection of my honest feelings.

REVIEW: Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in "Yellow"

i had the opportunity last month to review a product - Make Up For Ever's Aqua Cream (6 g) - but did not have a chance until now since i was having a little trouble brainstorming (as you will see).

Aqua Creams are cream colors that are designed to withstand water and heat. many of the colors are multi-purpose in that they can be used on the eyes, lips or cheeks.

i avoid cream eyeshadows since i have had nothing but terrible experiences with them - not only are my eyelids on the oily side, but one of them is also a monolid so smudging or creasing are inevitable with cream eyeshadows. but after hearing about the magical properties behind MUFE's version, i was excited to try it out. on the box, it says that this color can be used on the eyes and cheeks. i have the Aqua Cream in "24 - Yellow" (the name is not actually on the box but can be found on the site).

and let's say, there is no better word to describe this color because really that's what it is - so utterly, completely, very very yellow. i have never used such a super yellow before. i was a little intimidated and unsure how i would use this on my eyes (i don't see how it would work on my cheeks so i gave up on that idea completely...).

swatching on my arm, you can tell that it is very pigmented as well. 

top to bottom: natural light; artificial light

the first swatch is of 1 swipe with my finger, the second is 1 swipe with a brush (the brush i used was a little on the coarser side since it was the only clean one i had - so you can see a few lines in the swatch) and the third was about 4 swipes with my finger to show you how vivid the yellow can be! i think that the product goes on more pigmented when using your hands. taking a closer look, there's actually shimmer! it's quite subtle though. i decided to check the Aqua Cream pot again and noticed that the shimmer can only be seen underneath that first layer. 

the Aqua Cream feels super smooth and creamy when you touch it. once you apply it, it dries pretty quickly. there is also a scent that seems ermm.. manufactured. i am not a big fan of it but i don't usually sniff my eyeshadows so it won't bother me. 

i decided to go for it and try it on my eyes. i must warn you that i am in no way an expert in applying makeup so this is the first eye makeup shot you have ever seen!! i just want to show you how you may incorporate this color into your eyeshadow collection! i only dabbed a tiny bit of the Aqua Cream and that was already more than enough. so be careful! a little goes a long, long way. i decided to blend it out using Maybelline's "Emerald Smokes" eyeshadow quad. the yellow is a little too bright and bold for me to wear everyday so i decided to use darker colors to even it out.
awkward eye shots, here we go!!

i kept the swatches on my arm for more than 6 hours to see how it would hold up. it doesn't budge when i rub it or when i spritz water on it. 

after 2 hours, the swatches changed a bit - the ones i applied using my finger got patchy on some areas. since the cream dried, i move my arm around often so it starts to crack in areas when i bend. on my eyes though, i did not find any patchiness which could be because i only attempted to use as little as possible and blended it with other colors. 

from here, i decided to perform the ultimate test on these cream colors. since MUFE created them to last through "extreme environments", i figured cleaning my room meets that definition. honestly, i have been tripping on those spiked heels i posted last week about 5 times and it hurts!! it was time that i finally moved them. i can now say that there is actually flooring under all that mess. looks great!

and my arm swatches? to be fair, i was wearing a long sleeve but i kept it rolled up most of the time. the swatches are there but have faded in terms of vividness. on my eyes, i find that it has faded even more in comparison. 

still, it was pretty impressive for a cream eyeshadow. as advertised, they do not crease or run - not even when you try to smudge it intentionally. i think that for someone like me with monolids and/or oily lids, i'd try using a primer (or a setting spray afterwards) if you want the color to last longer. one idea i found on MUFE's website is that you can add other products to the cream color, like other eyeshadows or what's more fun - glitter! just make sure you blend it all in before the cream color dries. there are now 25 shades available, 4 of which were launched only this June. the Aqua Creams are available for purchase online or at Sephora for $26. 

disclaimer: i received the Aqua Cream from Make Up For Ever Canada (thank you Charlotte!) for review. the opinions above are a reflection of my honest feelings.

REVIEW: Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick

hello readers!!
i had the fabulous opportunity to review two lipsticks from Make Up For Ever's Rouge Artist Natural collection.

let's start with the packaging: i love it! the lipsticks come in a sleek rectangular casing with the words "Make Up For Ever" divided onto 4 sides. the cap slides off like a regular lipstick and has the clicking noise when it has been closed securely.
each lipstick is 3.5 g and retails for $22 CDN at Sephora. there are a total of 50 shades available within the Rouge Artist Natural collection and 18 of them are sold at Sephora. the rest can be purchased by email or by phone. these 50 shades can be divided into 3 types of finishes: satin, iridescent and diamond.
the two colors i received were: N15 (Pink Brick) and N32 (Diamond Pink Violet).

this Natural collection was released in April this year after the success of the Rouge Artist Intense collection. MUFE decided to expand Rouge Artist Natural just a bit by including two limited edition lipsticks under their La Boheme line.

MUFE uses the terms "wearable", "sheer yet radiant" and "natural coverage" to describe these lipsticks and i completely agree with them. i was initially a little intimidated by the color once i took off the cap. once i applied it though, the color was more translucent. the lipsticks glided on my lips very easily due to their creamy texture. it is possible to build the color if a more opaque color is desired. i find that these felt like a lip butter in that they are moisturizing AND pigmented at the same time. i also feel that i can apply it (pretty) confidently without using a mirror. note there is the "lipstick scent" to it and a slight taste. the wear of these lipsticks are pretty good - if you are careful while eating/drinking, you probably can avoid reapplying it but personally, i prefer to since you'd lose most of the shine factor.

and onto the swatches...

N15 Pink Brick
when i first looked at the sticker at the end of the tube, i thought it would be a light coral-ly color. however, the lipstick itself resembles its name "Brick" but rather than "Pink", i feel as if it's more of a brownish red. on the MUFE website, this color is categorized under the "Brown" family. i believe this shade falls under the satin type of finish. it's a warm color that makes me look older but in a good way (like you know how a hot pink would probably be more of a "young" color?). let's call it a "sophisticated" color.

top right to bottom: artificial light; natural light

N32 Diamond Pink Violet
this one is obviously a diamond finish since it is packed with glitter. the shade has a blue undertone that is just a little too blue for my taste (on that note, a little too sparkly too). this one is listed under "Fresh Pink" on the MUFE website. when first applied, i could feel the grittiness of the glitter when i pressed my lips together but as time went on, it was less noticeable. after five and a half hours in which i had some snacks and drank tea, most of the pink had faded but the glitter was more resistant. i actually preferred this lighter pink hue.

top right to bottom: artificial light; natural light

swatch on my arm - one swipe of each:

left to right: N15 Pink Brick; N32 Diamond Pink Violet

top to bottom: artificial light; natural light

overall, i am very happy with the quality of these lipsticks. i can wear them comfortably when i apply one layer and when i feel a little more adventurous, i can pile a couple more on. i'd like to look into other color options, probably something under "Coral", "Beige" or "Warm Pink" next time i am at Sephora. i don't tend to spend a lot of money on just one lipstick (i usually buy drugstore brands) since i always buy so many but if i find a really nice color, i just might fork it over.

have you tried these yet? what do you think?

disclaimer: i received these lipsticks from Make Up For Ever Canada for review. much thanks to Charlotte for the opportunity. the opinions above are a reflection of my honest feelings. 

TOPBOX: March 2012

eeeeeee! it's here!!!!!!
it was actually delivered yesterday but i couldn't open it til today. Topbox had this thing on Facebook where they tried to get people to refrain from posting about their boxes before a certain date but i was very anxious and had to peek at some comments. i just read the comments (didn't look at the actual products received) and many people were very happy. and so i was even more excited to open this box - and honestly, i was not disappointed!

upon opening this box, there is a little note saying that there is a bonus sample to the usual 4! the lower frame shows what it looks like at first glance (after the tissue paper). (oh yeah, i have new bed sheets! lol).

YES! Topbox has finally answered the call for nail polish!! i know people would've preferred higher-end nail polish brands, but i was just happy receiving nail polish! and they are in such cute little bottles! ok ok i will hold off talking about these for a bit...
the list of samples is different from previously - it is a card with the products listed back to back instead of a card.

samples of the month:
1) Make Up For Ever Sens' Eyes - this is an eye makeup remover that is safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. it is a light blue-green color and does not have a scent. i haven't had a chance to use this yet since i was so eager to post about this box and today was also a makeup-free day - which is not common at all. since i do wear makeup regularly, i will definitely make use of this! i am happy with the size too!
size: 25 mL
retail value: $28 (100 mL)

2) Redken Color Extend - yes this sounds familiar because it was in last month's Luxe Box! however the packaging is slighly different. click here to see the post. on the one i just received, it says "new: interlock protein network" where as last month's said "new: fade resist complex". i don't really understand what either means but okay, great - more hair samples geared towards colored hair... there were also 2 packets of these.
size: 10 mL each x 4 = 40 mL
retail value: shampoo $15 (300 mL); conditioner $17 (250 mL)

3) mark. Gloss Gorgeous Stay On Lip Stain  in "Frilly FrouFrou" - this comes personalized according to the customer. mine is a sheer peachy pink color.

i've seen magazine ads for mark. but since you can only order through Avon, i thought that was a bit of a hassle. so i am glad to be able to try their products (2 in this month's box!). the applicator is a brush and product comes out after about 30 clicks on this pen-like lip stain. i am not a fan of this because i have already accidentally clicked it twice while trying to put the lid back on. wasting product :( as for staying power, it has lasted me the last two hours i've worn it. it doesn't feel too sticky and feels pretty smooth on my lips.
size: 1.5 g (full-size!)
retail value: $12

4) mark. Nailed It Trend Mini Nail Lacquers in "Violet Daze" and "Tickled Pink" - okay, so again YAY for nail polishes! "Violet Daze" is a sparkly deep purple while "Tickled Pink" is a very light baby pink. i like both of these colors but more so the pink - i've been wanting a nice light pink.

i'm not sure why my phone makes "Violet Daze" seem more blue than it is! i apologize!! "Violet Daze" took 2 coats and "Tickled Pink" took 3 coats. excuse the imperfections - either i am extra clumsy since i wanted them to look good for pictures or that it takes a while to dry and i can't help smudging. there is a huge dent on my pointer finger while wearing the purple color.

application was alright, to be honest, i am not very good at painting my nails. or maintaining my cuticles either. i am a little lost on nail care actually. so again, sorry for the horrid pictures. i just wanted to give you some quick swatches.
just a note on "Violet Daze" - when you take it off, it leaves a slightly bluish tinge.
size: 2.7 mL each x 2 = 5.4 mL (full-size! as in these nail polishes are intended to be sold in mini versions)
retail value: $8

5) Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes (bonus) - this product comes from the UK and has 7 sheets. 7!! instead of a lousy one-use only sample previously received from another box. will update you on this once i use it :) it appears to have all the benefits of the MUFE one mentioned earlier. i am glad that it is non-oily! i wonder if the MUFE one is greasy...
size: 7 wipes
retail value: $10.99 (25 wipes)

i am quite happy with this box! i can make use of everything here so definitely great value. it was also nice that there was a variety of items in this box. no hand creams and no perfume samples! quick delivery too! i am happy happy happy.

expecting my Glymm box soon! stay tuned.