Make Up For Ever #1 Diamond Powder

Make Up For Ever #1 Diamond Powder ($24.00 for 0.07 oz.) is described as “white shimmer.” It’s the first shade of Make Up For Ever’s Diamond Powder range, which is a product line that interwines the finely milled texture of their Star Powders with the shimmering nature of glitter. It can be used for eyes, cheeks, lips, or body. This is the kind of product that’s meant to be mixed with other products. Make Up For Ever recommends using it over a creamy surface for “longer lasting hold.”

I wanted to check out this product for myself, because Nicholas Lujan used it on me when I visited the Make Up For Ever Boutique in Las Vegas. I loved the way it shimmered without being chunky or gritty–and, best of all, it stayed put! #1 is like a white-beige; it sparkles a warmer white when the light catches it and more of dark beige when it doesn’t–looks a bit like sand, I suppose. It’s a fine glitter that feels more like glitter than a powder, but it’s not gritty or chunky.

It works well with mixing mediums/bases/sealers (like their Eye Seal). Just dampen the brush, pick up the product, and pat gently where desired.  You can also pat them over Aqua Creams, while they’re still wet, and then lock them in with Eye Seal.  This is easy enough to work with for consumers, though I mentally categorize it as a more advanced or prosumer product overall.

Have you used Diamond Powders before? How do you use them?

See more photos & swatches!

Make Up For Ever #1 Diamond Powder

Make Up For Ever #1 Diamond Powder

Make Up For Ever #1 Diamond Powder

Make Up For Ever #1 Diamond Powder

Bright Purples with Make Up For Ever by Nicholas Lujan

While I was in Las Vegas last week, there was one mission I KNEW I had to accomplish: visit the (relatively) newly opened Make Up For Ever Boutique in Sephora at the Venetian. I’ve never been to Make Up For Ever’s flagship boutique in NYC, and their range is more extensive than what you normally find at Sephora, so I really wanted to see what else they had! I popped by on Tuesday afternoon and met with the oh-so-fabulous Nicholas Lujan. He was absolutely phenomenal–so knowledgeable but even more? infinitely passionate about all things makeup and Make Up For Ever.

Over the years, I’ve found myself getting less and less “makeovers” by artists at counters because I recognize more now than I did before that for many, those are just jobs (and retail ones at that)–which is OK but we, as beauty aficiandos, have to understand that. Too often there is a lack of emphasis on artistry and technique, and instead, artists (even those who would love to teach and show more) are compelled to push product. If you’re lucky, you’ll find and connect with the artists that are passionate about their job and makeup, and then you can learn so much from them.

Make Up For Ever is ALL about artistry. Lujan (along with the others who work at the Las Vegas boutique) were trained in a one-month long makeup “bootcamp” and had hands-on training with Dany Sanz herself (founder of the brand). It’s easy to tell when someone is passionate about what they do, because you can hear it in their voice.  He knew the brand’s history, products’ history and development, and most importantly, he knew how to use everything.

I recommend visiting the boutique if you get the chance, and if you have some time, book a session with one of the artists working that day. They have shorter sessions (30 minutes or so, approximately $50 redeemable in product) and longer sessions (60 minutes or so, approximately $120 redeemable in product)–and it’s not hard to spend either amount on their products. My session was complimentary, as I came as press, but I could not leave without purchasing their Liquid Lift Foundation–I was willing to find a way to cram it into my quart-sized liquids’ bag!

The look you see in this post was created by the talented Lujan–I wanted to give him freedom to do something he thought would look good and work for me. Surprisingly, the black liner on the upper lash line was not as irritating as liner typically is, so I’ll be testing that out myself over the next few weeks.  He called this his “spotlight” look, because of the brightness popped onto the center of the lid.  Lujan also told me that my eyes are set far enough apart that I can get away with wearing dark eyeshadows on both the inner and outer creases/corners.  He also told me to go nuts with the lower lash line, because it works well with my eye shape!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Make Up For Ever #2 Aqua Cream (steel), Make Up For Ever Eye Seal, Make Up For Ever #116 Eyeshadow (lilac), Make Up For Ever #92 Eyeshadow (vibrant purple), Make Up For Ever #940 Star Powder (white iridescence), Make Up For Ever #1 Diamond Powder (white), Make Up For Ever Aqua Black Eyeliner (black), Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Lash (black)
• Face:  Make Up For Ever Liquid Lift (02), Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (170), Make Up For Ever Velvet Finish (01)
• Cheeks:  Make Up For Ever #6 HD Blush (coral-orange), Make Up For Ever #5 Eyeshadow (orange)
• Lips:  Make Up For Ever #1C Aqua Lip Liner (beige-brown), Make Up For Ever #23 Rouge Artist Lipstick (nude), Make Up For Ever #16 Lab Shine Lipgloss (sheer beige)

For eyes, Lujan applied #2 Aqua Cream with Eye Seal using the 6N brush. He then applied #116 eyeshadow in the creased with the 17S brush. He applied #92 eyeshadow in the corners with the 14S brush. He patted #940 Star Powder underneath the arch and the inner corner. He then mixed #940 Star Powder with #1 Diamond Powder onto the center of the lid. He lined the upper lash line with Aqua Black eyeliner. The eyes were finished with Aqua Smoky Lash on lashes.

For cheeks, he applied #6 HD Blush onto cheeks with #5 eyeshadow used as a highlight. Lujan contoured with #170 HD Foundation and set with #1 Velvet Finish.

For lips, he used #1C Aqua Lip Liner to line lips, and then applied #23 Rouge Artist Lipstick for a nude lip. He topped the lips with #16 Lab Shine Lip Gloss for shine and shimmer.

Check out more photos!