Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams Review, Photos, Swatches
Monday, May 17th, 2010
#5, #7, #18, #21
Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams: #5 Peach, #7 Fuchsia, #18 Purple, #21 Turquoise
Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams ($22.00 for 0.21 oz.) have finally debuted at Sephora. These are AMAZING. There are twenty-one shades in total, but some are designed for the lips and cheeks while others are formulated for the eyes and cheeks (p.s. why isn’t there #19?).
Lips & Cheeks: #5 Peach, #6 Fresh Pink, #7 Fuchsia, #8 Red, #9 Coral, #10 Orange
Eyes & Cheeks: #1 Anthracite, #2 Steel, #3 Silver, #4 Snow, #11 Gold, #12 Golden Copper, #13 Warm Beige, #14 Satin Brown, #15 Taupe, #16 Pink Beige, #17 Plum, #18 Purple, #20 Intense Blue, #21 Turquoise, #22 Emerald Green
- #5 Peach is a spun-gold peach with such a pretty sheen. It’s such a fresh pop of color on the cheeks. It reminded me of MAC Say Yeah eyeshadow a bit, actually–I was a little bummed to find out it wasn’t meant for eyes.
- #7 Fuchsia is a bright fuchsia-purple with a soft sheen. It’s certainly intense, so go easy for a softer look.
- #18 Purple is a softened lilac purple with a frosty finish. It was the least pigmented of the four I tried, though.
- #21 Turquoise is aqua-teal with a frosty shimmer-sheen. It’s wickedly gorgeous. I’ve seen plenty o’ teal in the past few years, but this one is absolutely stunning.
These are creamy without being ultra creamy–I think I’d actually prefer them to be just a smidgen creamier. They’re blendable, but they dry down quickly. These didn’t budge, smudge, or crease on me one bit, whether they were on my eyes, lips, or cheeks. In fact, you really have to use an oil-based makeup remover to get all the last bits of it off. I tried using these as eyeliners, bases, and blushes, and they worked fabulously at each job. In fact, I enjoyed these four so much that I ordered five more (Fresh Pink, Coral, Gold, Warm Beige, and Intense Blue).
The only complaint I have–a minor one at that–is that the packaging feels a little cheap. They’re easy to store, since they’re small and rounded, but the plastic feels a bit on the thinner side, and there is also a lot of air in the jar from the get-go, which concerns me in regards to whether these will dry out after six months or so. You do get a fair amount of product for your money, which was nice to see.
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- Product: 29/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you love color and rich, creamy textures, you may find the new Aqua Creams right up your alley.
Availability: Sephora
See more photos & swatches!
#5, #7, #18, #21
#5, #7, #18, #21
#5, #7, #18, #21
#5, #7, #18, #21
#5, #7
#18, #21
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I bought 18 and was so iffy on it. I tried it alone and it just didn't pop enough but then I used it as a base for a NYX purple eyeshadow and WOW. It lasted ALL day in the heat and humidity and was so pretty!
I want to buy these so badly, but I can't get past the horrible chemical smell. Is anyone else turned off by it?
Wow these aqua creams get raving reviews. Although, I have a challenge working with them being they dry so rapidly. I would love to see a tutorial on a eyeshadow look. I believe I have 3 from the collection.
Cool colours! Are they only meant for the lips or can they be used on the cheeks as well?
They are eyes, lips, cheeks--but some are not OK for eyes.
Is it just me or does #7 Fuchsia kind of look like Petals and Peacocks? :)
I can kinda see that!
Does anyone know how these would compare to MUFE cake eyeliner?
The texture is pretty different, I believe...
I just wanted to let everyone know that MAKE UP FOR EVER's Aqua Creams are safe for use anywhere you want to...eyes, lips, cheeks! All of the colours were tested in Europe to be safe anywhere. It's only the FDA that says they are not safe for use anywhere. I've used the red, orange and hot pink on my eyes and worn them for 12+ hours with no reaction at all!
Unfortunately, as a U.S. blog, it's important to use the information that I have on hand, which is that they're not eye safe. I don't know what body regulates cosmetics in Europe well enough to verify the information you're sharing.
PLEASE SPEAK FOR URSELF!! I AGREE WITH CHRISTINE!! EVERYONE REACTS DIFFERENTLY AND SHOULD NOT BE LOOKED AT THE SAME FOR EVERYONE!! I HAD A ALLERGIC REACTION TO THE EYES USING THE HOT PINK ON MY EYES!! I READ DIRECTIONS AND EVERYTHING BUT I ONLY BOUGHT THE PALETTE BECAUSE I WANTED TO USE THE HOT PINK ON MY EYES!! WRONG CHOICE! PLEASE DO RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING A PRODUCT AND DECIDING HOW TO USE IT!! <3: KAHGLALIOUS
i bought the #5 amongst others, and wanted to ask a question. What if you did wear them on your eyes? what would happen??
Depends on your personal reaction - it would differ from person to person. Could be swollen lids, hives, nothing. Really anything might happen, so it just depends on what you normally react to.
i haven't tried it yet, but i hope i'm one of those nothing people lol. It is a very pretty shade.
NOTHING WILL HAPPEN! I have super sensitive lids and can wear any of the Aqua Cream colours without any reaction at all..unless you count pigment staining as a reaction. It's only the FDA that says they aren't safe.....
Some people react to products that are eye safe - it just depends on the person. To say nothing will happen is a little extreme, I'd say :)
Sure, I understand that everyone reacts differently, but don't you think it's also a bit extreme to say that someone might get hives?
I said it was a possibility but not something that would happen to everyone; you should be aware of any potential reactions you may get, and if you're allergic to particular dyes or ingredients, hives are very often part of an allergic reaction. I wouldn't say that's extreme at all - saying that everyone will react that way would be, but if you read my comment, I specifically call out that it would differ from person to person in terms of reaction from nothing to swollen lids to hives--depending on your sensitivity.
From all of your beautiful swatches I'll be getting: 5, 13 and 22. Thanks so much. It's a pricey product but your reviews have given me the confidence to buy!
OMG! I am in love with 18 for a spring/summer eye shade.
need that pink and the turquoise... get paid wednesday and saturday-will definitely be in sephora asap
oh my the Peach would look amazing as blush... :O~~~
Ooh! I missed this post! I ALMOST bought some of these the other day but I passed. Some of the colors look GORGEOUS but I was mostly looking for a hot rockcandy pink with lots of sparkle in it (for cheeks). Something creamy, not a powder. The fuchsia one was a great color but didn't have enough of that metallic shimmer I was looking for. I should have asked you in your last "Ask Temptalia" post... Can I ask now? LOL Any suggestions?
Hmmmmmmm... first, I can't believe you didn't get ANY OF THESE OHMYGOODNESS. The only thing I could think of is just to use a lipstick, because nothing is coming to mind that's deliberately designed for cheeks that's hot pink with sparkle in it. Like maybe Lancome Fashion Clutch? I think that has sparkle in it.
Ugh. I know, right? I was really REALLY back and forth with these (I can't help it, I'm SOO SOO spoiled with my MAC discount that spending $20.00 on a single product is an effort for me anymore!) LOL! Two more questions: Do you like the formula more than Shiseido's cream eyeshadow/pot/things or do you think they don't really compare to one another? And have you gotten your Tom Ford lipsticks yet? :)
The texture is pretty different -- these are a lot drier/stiffer to work with. Shiseido is like melted butter! Of course, the shade range is entirely different, haha. No, not yet! Did you?
It's funny talking to you in two places at once. LOL. I ALMOST typed, "of course I know their colors are VERY different." Haha! I haven't picked up Shiseido's yet... But I might go look tomorrow (just for something to do). I haven't gotten the Tom Ford's yet either... :/
I'm hoping they have a displayer out when I head out to the nearest Neiman's... unlikely, but who knows!
Hello :]] Would you use these are an eyeliner like MAC Fliudliner? And is it safe for the waterline and would you use it for that??
Yeah, I would -- I'm not sure if they're safe for the waterline, though!
These look so gorgeous :O
We've had these for about 6 weeks in the Netherlands and I'm still not sure how many I'm going to get, they are all so lovely! I've swatched the color 19 a few weeks ago and I remember it being like the famous color 92 from there eyeshadowrange, but only more opaque :) It's gorgeous! Thank you for all of the amazing swatches and info!
Aww! Sounds like #19 is awesome!
Wah, #5 isn't for eyes?? It would be soooo pretty!
I know, right? WHY NOT?!
I'm excited to buy Fuschia and immediately use it as eyeliner, lol!
the peach one looks gorgeous!
I saw these 2 weeks ago at a MUFE counter... but the MUA there told me they were all ok to use on cheeks/eyes/lips :S Also they're water resistant, she said, so that's why they prob needed some effort to remove :) ...but somehow they didn't really appeal to me. I think they dry too fast and aren't that great bases for eye shadows. And I never go swimming with makeup so I don't see the use of having water resistant makeup... unless you're a makeup artist, I suppose.
question: which ones are blush, lip or eye shadow? How do you know?
Sephora lists them :)
I got sooo excited when I saw that bright pink, but it's not for eyes! How sad.
Nom. Lol.
Christine, I agree with you on this one, the packaging looks cheap!
18 and 5 have my name all over them, haha.
I have the green one, gorgeous!
Have you done a comparison of these next to paint pots?
They're definitely different than paint pots - much creamier, thinner, and more pigmented.
Thanks! And Thank You for your website, and all of the work that you put into it. I stop by here at least every day to see what's new. I shop MAC pretty much exclusively online now, because your swatches and reviews are so reliable.
Thank you :)
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