Monday, November 12, 2012

Make Up Forever Aqua Cream #2 Review and Swatches


MAKE UP FOR EVER is famous for their waterproof line of makeup, originally created for use by synchronized swimmers. Today, MUFE's line of waterproof eyeliners, eyeshadows, mascara, and foundations are used by synchronized swimmers and anyone who simply wants their makeup to stay put all day. I picked up one of their Aqua Creams to test out recently.

Aqua Cream is MUFE's waterproof cream colour for eyes, lips, and cheeks. It comes in 22 colours, ranging from bright green to neutral beige. Some of the shades are formulated for both eyes and cheeks and others are for lips and cheeks. 

I selected #2 - Steel. It's described on the Sephora website as a silvery grey shimmer. It's more of a taupe-grey with warmth and yes, a lot of shimmer. 









Aqua Creams are 0.21 oz for $26.00 CDN. This is a good size as these shades are highly-pigmented. You don't need a lot to get an effect, so this is good value, if you're using this as a regular shadow. If you're using this in more dramatic and extensive ways, you'll go through it faster.

I chose this shade because it seems like a good basic shade to have. It can be used underneath other shades, blended into a smoky look or worn on its own for a simple but dramatic effect.

#2 is very, very shimmery and has that smooth, creamy sheen to it that we look for in a cream shadow. Below, it's swatched on my hand and it was difficult to get a good photo because my camera struggled to focus on it since it was so shiny. 



As with most cream shadows, you need to work pretty quickly to apply it as it will dry and set swiftly. And being waterproof means that it's not easy to remove if you don't get it in place before it sets. 

I typically use baby wipes to remove swatches when I'm photographing for Beauty Squared and this is what the swatch looked like after an intensive scrub with a wet wipe. I was able to remove it all only with soap and water. 


In summary, I was impressed with the application and wear of this Aquacream. It's a great, wearable shade and it certainly does as it says - it lasts and lasts, even without a primer underneath. 

Grade: A

Sunday, November 11, 2012

MAC Holiday 2012 - All For Glamour Preview


Fabulousness – Available online October 23, 2012; available in stores October 25, 2012
The Colourways of the MAC All For Glamour Face Kit/Gorgeous Bronze includes bronzing powder in Golden, eyeshadows in Hearts-A-Flutter, Romance Me and Shadowy Lady and lipsticks in Headturner and Barely Lit. 
MAC All For Glamour Touch-Up Kits include blot powder/pressed to reduce, Shine and Sheen Supreme Lipstick, which delivers intense colour with the gleam of Lipglass. Three palettes: Medium, Medium Dark and Dark. 





All For Glamour Face Kit in Gorgeous Bronze
Hearts-a-Flutter Eye Shadow - Warm pink with silver pearl (satin)
Romance Me Eye Shadow - Warm plum with gold pearl (lustre)
Shadowy Lady Eye Shadow - Blackened plum (matte)
Golden Bronzing Powder - Muted golden tan-beige with shimmer
Barely Lit Lipstick - Neutral pink with gold pearls (lustre)
Headturner Lipstick - Mid-tone cool cream plum (cremesheen) 
$59.50 CDN/$49.50 U.S.


All For Glamour Touch Up Kit in Medium
Fashion City Sheen Supreme Lipstick - Neutral coral with pink (sheen supreme)
 Medium Blot Powder 
$47.50 CDN/$39.50 U.S.

All For Glamour Touch Up Kit in Medium Dark
Bare Again Sheen Supreme Lipstick - Pinky neutral beige (sheen supreme) 
Medium Dark Blot Powder 
$47.50 CDN/$39.50 U.S.

All For Glamour Touch Up Kit in Dark
Can’t Resist Sheen Supreme Lipstick - Golden purplish red (sheen supreme)
Dark Blot Powder 
$47.50 CDN/$39.50 U.S.


MAC Holiday 2012 - Fabulousness Preview


Fabulousness – Available online October 23, 2012; available in stores October 25, 2012
Too pretty not to show off! These chic, satin-tufted compacts are a touch of modern romance with its demure black patent bow accent. Fabulousness with haute class, stylish inside and out. Elegant eye shadow compacts reveal a palette of five perfectly coordinated colours that blend for softly chic or deeply dramatic holiday looks. All for Glamour colourways face and touch up kits. And, for M∙A∙C fanatics who long for the new and fashionably exclusive, this is it, Devine Desires. Four of our finest products, in two softly sensuous colour palettes.


Neutral Eyes
Brun Muted blackish-brown (satin)
Blonde Mink Grey taupe frost (lustre) 
Enviable Cool mint green with pearl (veluxe pearl) 
Smut Muted black with red shimmer (velvet) 
Magical Mist Metallic taupe (lustre) 
$47.50 CDN/$39.50 U.S.




Smoky Eyes
Spellcaster Matte aubergine (matte)
Taupeless Lavender pink (lustre)
Black Slip Rich blackened plum with pearl (veluxe pearl)
Satin Taupe Taupe with silver shimmer (frost)
Love Spice Mid-tone rosy pink with pearl (frost)
$47.50 CDN/$39.50 U.S.

Warm Eyes
Glamour Light Soft beige frost (satin)
Sketch Burgundy with red shimmer (velvet)
Honesty Pewtered bronze (lustre)
Cognac Frosty golden bronze (frost) 
Retrospeck Bleached blonde (lustre)
$47.50 CDN/$39.50 U.S.


MAC Holiday 2012 - Fabulousness Primped Out Preview


Fabulousness – Available online October 23, 2012; available in stores October 25, 2012
'Tis the season to be chic. MAC Primped Out Lip Look Bags include a full-size lipstick, cremesheen glass and mini lip pencil presented in two colour palettes: Lavish Coral and Luxurious Pink. MAC Primped Out Eye Look Bags dramatize eyes with eyeshadow x2, Powerpoint Eye Pencil, Opulash and 275SE Medium Angled Shading Brush in three colour palettes: Sensual Peach, Decadently Pink and Drama Taupe. 

MAC Perfectly Plush Brush Kits deliver professional results.


Eye Look Bag in Decadently Pink
Radial Pink Eye Shadow - Powder pink with silver sheen pearl (frost) 
Shadowy Lady Eye Shadow  - Blackened plum (matte) 
Bordeauxline Powerpoint Eye Pencil - Soulful deep rich plum 
Bad, Bad, Black Opulash Mascara - Black 
275SE Medium angled Shading Brush 
$55.50 CDN/$46.50 U.S.

Eye Look Bag in Drama Taupe
Filament Eye Shadow - Platinum silver (lustre)
Black Tied Eye Shadow - Black with silver sparkle (velvet)
Engraved Powerpoint Eye Pencil - Rich black 
Bad, Bad, Black Opulash Mascara - Black 
275SE Medium angled Shading Brush 
$55.50 CDN/$46.50 U.S.

Eye Look Bag in Sensual Peach
Dazzle Me Eye Shadow - Light peach with gold pearl (frost)
Mulch Eye Shadow - Red-brown with bronze pearl (velvet)
Stubborn Brown Powerpoint Eye Pencil - Deep rich brown 
Bad, Bad, Black Opulash Mascara - Black
275SE Medium angled Shading Brush 
$55.50 CDN/$46.50 U.S.

Lip Look Bag in Lavish Coral
Kiss Me Softly Cremesheen Glass - Soft peach with gold pearl (cremesheen) 
Shy Girl Lipstick - Creamy neutral coral beige (cremesheen) 
Boldly Bare Lip Pencil - Dirty red brown 
$47.50 CDN/$39.50 U.S.

Lip Look Bag in Luxurious Pink
Call Me Gorgeous Cremesheen Glass -  Bright fuchsia with gold pearl (cremesheen)
Lickable Lipstick - Bright, clean blue pink 
Great Catch Lip Pencil - Bright cream fuchsia
$47.50 CDN/$39.50 U.S.

Perfectly Plush Brush Kit in Advanced
167SE Face Blender Brush 
168SE Large Angled Contour Brush 
217SE Blending Brush 
239SE Eye Shader Brush
212SE Flat Definer Brush 
$59.50 CDN/$49.50 U.S.

Perfectly Plush Brush Kit in Essential
129SE Powder/Blush Brush 
190SE Foundation Brush 
275SE Medium Angled Shading Brush 
226SE Small Tapered Blending Brush 
266SE Small Angle Brush
$59.50 CDN/$49.50 U.S.

Perfectly Plush Brush Kit in Mineralize
187SE Duo Fibre Face Brush 
130SE Short Duo Fibre Brush 
282SE Duo Fibre Shader Brush 
286SE Duo Fibre Tapered Blending Brush 
$59.50 CDN/$49.50 U.S.

MAC Holiday 2012 - Guilty Passions Preview


Guilty Passions
Available online November 1, 2012; available in stores November 8, 2012
Giving in to Guilty Passions, from champagne and macaroons to a dazzling party dress and seductive stilettos, to eyes that shimmer and lips that glisten. M∙A∙C mini kits for eyes and lips, packaged in round, chevron-print boxes trimmed with a patent black bow; in shades and finishes too irresistible to resist.



4 Cocktail Coral Lip Gloss
On the Scene Cremesheen Glass - Peach with pink and white pearl (cremesheen) 
Steppin’ Out Dazzleglass Creme - Clean yellow pink with red pearl (dazzle)
Sublime Shine Dazzleglass Creme - Light coral brown with gold pearl (creme)
Geo Pink Cremesheen Glass Strawberry pink (cremesheen) 
$38.50 CDN/$32.50 U.S.

4 Lavish Rose Lip Gloss
Demure Dazzleglass Creme - Warm pink with blue pearl (creme)
Going Casual Cremesheen Glass - Sheer lilac (cremesheen)
Boys Go Crazy Dazzleglass Creme - Deep amethyst (dazzle)
Colour Saturation Cremesheen Glass - Dark cool wine (cremesheen)
$38.50 CDN/$32.50 U.S.

4 Nicely Nude Lip Gloss
Fashion Whim Cremesheen Glass - Light beige (creme)
Satin Slip Dazzleglass Creme - Soft beige with gold pearl (creme)
Get Rich Quick Dazzleglass Creme - Warm yellow brown (dazzle)
Kiss Don’t Tell Cremesheen Glass - Warm chocolate creme(cremesheen)
$38.50 CDN/$32.50 U.S.

4 Brilliantly Cool Crushed Metallic Pigments 
She’s Got Class - Silver frost 
Spruced - Teal frost 
Moss Garden - Light green blue frost 
I’ve Got a Crush on You - Browned teal frost 
$38.50 CDN/$32.50 U.S.

4 Sweetly Smoky Crushed Metallic Pigments
Femininity - Cool pink frost
Maribu - Lilac frost 
Prettified - Mauvey frost
Dusty Desire - Rich purple frost 
$38.50 CDN/$32.50 U.S.

4 Tenderly Warm Crushed Metallic Pigments
Silk Stocking - Beige
Darling Coquette - Soft beige frost
Dreamy Little Thing - Rose with copper sparkle
Ever Elegant - Copper frost
$38.50 CDN/$32.50 U.S.

MAC Holiday 2012 - Making Pretty Preview


Making Pretty – For those in your life you want to spoil
Available online December 6, 2012; available in stores December 13, 2012
Every opulent element and dramatic detail is expressed in M∙A∙C’s luxurious Making Pretty collection. Modern makeup darlings are dressed up in richly textured faux shagreen in a pale dusty pink, detailed with a rose-gold signature bow.


Brush Set/Face & Eye
282 All Over Eye Shader
136 Face Powder Brush 
$120.00 CDN/$100.00 US

Iridescent Loose Powder in Silver Dusk
Pinky beige with silver shimmer
$78.00 CDN/$65.00 US

Lipstick in 3N
Milky pastel pink (lustre) 
$33.50 CDN/$28.00 US

Lipstick in Runaway Red
Rich red-blue (satin)
$33.50 CDN/$28.00 US


Sheer Mystery Powder in Light Medium
Pale ivory 
$78.00 CDN/$65.00 US

Sheer Mystery Powder in Medium Plus
Tan beige 
$65.00 US/$78.00 CDN

Sheer Mystery Powder in Dark Secret
Deep caramel
$78.00 CDN/$65.00 US

Beauty Squared Round-Up

 In this week's Beauty Squared Round-Up:


Five gorgeous holiday looks from Sam and Nic of Pixiwoo.



There's a shortcut that you're most likely taking in your skincare routine. Want to find out what it is and why you need to start taking the long way? Click here.



Drugstore brand foundations rarely have testers. Here are some tips for choosing the right shade without testing first.



TLC's What Not To Wear's Carmindy shares her perfect eyeliner tips and tricks.


Check out this gorgeous modern cat eye on Kristen Stewart.



How to keep looking and feeling fresh during an abnormal situation. Inspired by New York City's recent black out. 

This Caviar & Oyster palette from Bobbi Brown's Holiday 2012 collection is GORGEOUS. 

A genius trick for making an eyeshadow mistake look great! And for giving your eyes a lift too.