Make Up For Ever #54 Aqua Cream ($23.00 for 0.21 oz.) is described as a “lilac shimmer.” It’s a medium lavender purple with red undertones and a frosted finish. Guerlain Attrape-Coeur #4 is pinker. Giorgio Armani #1 Spring 2012 is lighter and a powder. Tarina Tarantino Violet Storm is a powder product but similar in color.

Purples can be tricky, but Make Up For Ever managed to produce a lavender that applies fully opaque with little effort. It’s nicely pigmented, buildable, and blendable–so long as you work quickly as the Aqua Cream formula, while it lasts and lasts, sets within thirty seconds (or less) and once set, does not want to move. Sometimes I find applying a thin layer, lightly blending the edges, and then working with other colors in the same fashion is more practical; and after I’ve gotten the basic shape and color scheme going, I apply another thin layer on on the colors I want more opaque. #54 wore like iron for twelve hours; no creasing, smudging, budging, or fading during the entire time I tested it.

Make Up For Ever #54 Aqua Cream

Make Up For Ever #54 Aqua Cream

Make Up For Ever #54 Aqua Cream

Make Up For Ever #54 Aqua Cream

Make Up For Ever #54 Aqua Cream

Make Up For Ever #54 Aqua Cream

Make Up For Ever #54 Aqua Cream