Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Liner: #9L
Make Up For Ever #9L Aqua Eyes Liner
($17.00) is a pale gold with a high sheen. While it does have shimmer, it doesn’t look like it–much more like a sheen. It’s a nice shade to use in conjunction with blues, browns, greens, and teals. I don’t have a liner quite this color from other brands, because it’s not quite a true gold–it’s more like a golden yellow, where it looks more yellow than gold. It’s much paler, lighter, and yellower in comparison to Urban Decay’s Honey Liner.
I love the Aqua Eyes formula because it really does what it’s supposed to! It’s a long-wearing eyeliner that’s waterproof that won’t migrate to anywhere you didn’t apply it. You can smudge it if you want, but it’ll set after a few minutes and stay put. I also like that they have such a wide shade range available (25 colors available on Sephora!), because who doesn’t want to collect them all? (And I know some of you have the Aqua Eyes Collector Set… I’m totally jealous!)
The only thing I could think of to improve the formula is to make it just the tiniest bit creamier. They’re not stiff or hard on the eyes at all, but I’ve found that I definitely prefer more of the ultra glide-on creaminess of liners like Urban Decay. I keep my Urban Decay and Make Up For Ever eyeliners separate from all my other eyeliners–and I’m constantly reaching for one of the two!
What’s your favorite shade of Aqua Eyes?
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! 
- Product: 29/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you need a long-wearing eyeliner, Aqua Eyes has an incredible formula that really holds up well for all-day-long wear. They’re easy to use, come in a variety of shades, and look fantastic on. Maybe #9L isn’t your cup of tea–but surely one of the other 25 is!
Make Up For Ever HD Blush: Truth or Dare, Walk of Shame, Quickie
Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush
($25.00 for 0.33 oz.) is an incredibly lightweight, cream blush. The HD Blush really surprised me, because I wasn’t quite sure whether this was going to be as amazing as the buzz over it already was. (Buzz makes me skeptical, I can’t help it!)
Much anticipated, it is now available through Sephora. The blushes are reasonably priced, and I imagine one jar will last you quite awhile as you hardly need any for enough color on your cheeks. These are pigmented if you want them to be, so go easy on the amount you use if you want subtle color. They also dry down quickly, so work fast to blend the color out so it looks natural and luminous. I used my 188 brush to apply it to my cheeks, and I found it worked just right to apply and blend out the color. (I used #6 Quickie very lightly in this look!)
When I wore these to test (I worn #6 Quickie on one cheek, #4 Walk of Shame on the other!), they lasted a solid eight hours without fading or budging. I think these are going to be perfect for summer, particularly for those in more sticky and humid climates. What is particularly nice is there is a huge shade range of fourteen different shades.
- #3 Truth or Dare is a vibrant fuchsia pink. Even when used lightly, it still packs plenty of color. It has a satin-y finish–slight sheen but not shimmer.
- #4 Walk of Shame is a pretty bubblegum pink that can be applied very sheerly or built up for a more intense pink. On me, I find this color a little too light/pale — it’s not a go-to shade for my medium, warm-toned skin, but it can work.
- #6 Quickie is a coral-orange with a satiny feel. It can be sheered out nicely if you want just a light coral flush or used more generously (and still, by “more generously” I mean, use just the tiniest bit more) for a deeper flush.
I can’t speak to the packaging, as the samples I received were in sample jars, but the packaging looks similar to other pump-jar packaging (but I imagine it might be smaller/shorter). The only thing I would be a little wary about is whether the pump pushes out too much, because you really need a tiny bit. Not even a pea-size amount!
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!
- Product: 29/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 3/5
Recommendation: If you are a cream blush fiend, I think you’ll like the newest ones from Make Up For Ever!
Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in #4L
Make Up For Ever #4L Aqua Eyes Liner
($17.00) is a reddened plum with subtle red shimmer. I like Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Eyes a lot–it’s budge-proof, smudge-proof, water-resistant, and it just really hangs on all day long. There are also many shades to choose from, so you’re bound to find at least one that appeals to you!
I personally wish they were a softer pencil eyeliner, though; they’re not too hard, but I definitely prefer mine to be on the softer, creamier side. They’re about average in price–not falling in the “affordable” category, but they’re not prohibitively expensive either. The packaging is straightforward; it looks like a pencil with a glossy black casing.
I also reviewed Aqua Eyes in several other shades (seven, to be exact) last year.
What are your must have Aqua Eyes?
If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!
- Product: 29/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you’ve been looking for a pencil eyeliner that stays put, Make Up For Ever might have your number!
Cream/Gel Eyeliner Breakdown
Cream/gel eyeliners are usually thick creams (the consistency of a cream, but the thickness of more like a paste… or a lipstick, for a better beauty reference!). They usually require a brush to apply it, and most use these on the upper lash line (they can be irritating on the lower lash line, particularly for those with more sensitive eyes). They’re a very, very popular item with numerous brands having their own take on the cream/gel eyeliner product type.
At the end of the day, they’re all quality cream/gel eyeliners and none are not worth paying for. As with many cosmetic products, some will work better on others–we’re not all going to fall in love with the same formula–but I do think these are all good picks. Personally, I tend to choose by the color/shade rather than the brand! If I had to give you a top three (in alphabetical order), they would be: Bobbi Brown, MAC, and shu uemura.
Here’s a comparison across eight different brands and their cream/gel eyeliners… Continue reading →
Make Up For Ever #205 Lipstick
The Scarlet Season: Make Up For Ever #205 Lipstick
Make Up For Ever #205 Lipstick
($19.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a deep, blue-based red. It’s fairly bright and most definitely noticeable, but it’s deep enough that it doesn’t come off too bright. It has a slightly glossy sheen, and it’s surprisingly hydrating. One of the best parts about Make Up For Ever’s lipsticks is how well they wear and how long they wear for. I find I get no less than four solid hours of amazing wear, but it easily extends into six or more, if I’ve only eaten a light meal or had one or two drinks. #205 is richly pigmented, goes opaque in just one layer, and it hugs lips.
What about you? Would you wear this red?
The Scarlet Season is a series of posts showcasing and featuring my favorite shades of red lips–from glosses to lipsticks that runs through December 2009. You can sure expect to see a lot of red this holiday season!
See more swatches and comparison photos… Continue reading →
30 Days of Make Up For Ever: The Final Wrap-Up
We did it! Today concludes our feature on Make Up For Ever, and I’ve finally shared with you the entirety of my IMATS haul (where did you think most of this stuff came from?! thank goodness for discounts!). I hope you’ve enjoyed the coverage and learned a little bit about the brand!
Looks
Ideas
Reviews
