ROCK FOR EVER: Aqua Eyes

The holiday season is almost upon us and that means lots of posts on the perfect holiday beauty gifts! This one comes courtesy of Make Up For Ever, Rock For Ever.

While you can choose from 3 different rocking gifts, my favorite is the mini Aqua Eyes collection ($36.00). Housed in a snazzy rock n roll inspired box, you get 5 mini waterproof eyeliner in matte black, silver, gold, copper and dark grey. All of the colors are so wearable and they are the perfect size to fit in your night time clutch!

Other gifts include the Rock For Ever Eye Shadow Palette with 4 full-sized shadows in beige shimmer, black shimmer, white shimmer and silver iridescent ($45.00).

You can also splurge on Creator and Artistic Director Danny Sanz's 29 all-time favorite products ($299.00). Set includes everything from HD Microfinish Powder (a fave) to Faux Lashes. It comes in a fab rocker makeup case complete with studs!

Unleash your inner rock star.... available November 1, 2010.

Flash Forward: Flash Color Palette

I've been on the hunt for spring makeup colors -- and I've come up with some mighty fine finds.

My first find is a truly genius palette by the master minds over at Make Up For Ever: Flash Color Palette 2009 Collector's Edition. ($95.00, $216.00 value).

It's one palette filled with 12 cream colors ranging from gold to white to black and everything in between. Great for eyes, lips and face these colors blend together to create an array of individualized hues just for you. I can't stop playing with my palette. I've tried gold eyes, pink lips, coral blush and there is so much more fun to be had.

Here is a look I created using the palette. Let's call it the pink pout:


ON EYES: Gold on the lid, followed by MUFE Aqua Cream Waterproof Cream Color in Shade 15 (available in June) for the crease (not part of the palette). I then lined my upper lid with the black flash color using a thin liner brush. I finished the look by applying the white color to my brow bone and inner corner of my eyes.

ON CHEEKS: I mixed a dot of fuchsia with coral and applied like a cream blush.

ON LIPS: I took the same mixture as my cheeks but used more coral to bland out the color. I then applied Dior Addict Crystal Gloss (new product; Sephora exclusive) on top for brilliant shine.

I'm going to try a more bold, daring and colorful look this week and will post some pics.

Do you have the palette?
Send me pics of your looks!
beautybanter@gmail.com

LOVING... Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush

I'm a huge fan of anything that gives color to my cheeks. I like a nice pink glow to my cheeks but I really love when said glow looks natural (or sun-soaked) as opposed to made over. This is where blush comes in. Blush can be tricky - too much makes you look like you're channeling your inner clown, none at all makes you tepid and translucent. Discovering the proper balance is an art in and of itself.

And then HD was born. High Definition makeup was initially created to meet the demands of film and TV make up artists, giving the most natural looking complexion while still providing coverage that a zoom lens can't see. Make Up For Ever's HD Powder is one of my absolute must-haves (I'm also an avid user of the HD foundation). Well, ladies, Make Up For Ever has done it again. They've created the newest rave in blush: HD Microfinish Blush.

Here's what it does:

• The "second skin" cream formula shows no texture to appear extremely natural
• The extremely fine granulometry of the formula allows the product to be invisible to the high def camera and naked eye
• A combination of mattifying and reflecting powders create a soft focus effect on cheeks to blur imperfections.
• The formula is elastic and supple, allowing it to go on smoothly
• Long lasting

HD Microfinish Blush is created in 14 shades from natural to bright, light to deep, pink to peach.
I'm loving NIP SLIP and TRUTH OR DARE.

PRICE TAG: $25.00

Black Magic

I've divulged my passion for the perfect lined eye (how to create cat eyes refresher here) in the past, now let me introduce you to my latest obsession: Make Up For Ever's Aqua Black Waterproof Cream Eye Shadow.
Yes, it's a cream shadow but used with a thin bristled brush it's the greatest liner out there. Long lasting, creamy, rich in pigment, can use wet for more precision or dry for a bit of smudge and it's waterproof so once you apply it doesn't move... all night long.

I apply with a slanted brush - my fave is still Smashbox's #21 that has the faintest curve at the top so that the bristles hit the eyelid at an angle. I start at the inner corner and apply lightly, getting thicker as the line veers further out.


TIP: As my good friend, contributing Vogue Editor, Lauren Santo Domingo, says, “When applying liquid eyeliner, close the eye and look down- do not stretch out the eyelid with your fingers. This helps to make an even, consistent line.”

How do you draw your lines?
Leave a comment below and let us know!!!

Faking Flawless Skin

If you're an avid reader of this blog, than you know my obsession with Make Up Forever's HD powder - it's like a primer and a translucent powder all packaged in one jar, absorbing oils, creating a smooth, pore-free face. I have never loved a powder like I do this one. It's truly become my go-to, never leave home without it, product!

I also have another saving grace for flawless skin - MUFE HD Foundation! It's the perfect compliment to the HD powder (use prior to the powder), giving skin the effect of porcelain. I have recommended both of these products to countless friends and fellow beauty enthusiasts who dream of perfect skin. The combination of HD Foundation and HD powder will bring you as close to flawless skin as you can achieve sans dermatology services -- and it won't look like you are packing on the cover-up!

Here are some of it's benefits:

• Oil-free
• Non-cakey
• Fast absorbing
• Medium to full coverage
• Creates a look of flawless skin even under harsh lighting
• Evens out skin tone
  

**Editor's Trick** For daytime application, mix a tinted free moisturizer (I heart the Laura Mercier Oli-Free Tinted Moisturizer) with a tiny dollop of the HD Foundation for radiant, glowing skin with added coverage that's totally hydrated. The face never appears cakey, but always gives off the appearance of a spotless complexion!

PRICE TAG: $40.00

The ULTIMATE Palette

Here's a Christmas gift sure to make Santa's wish list (yes, I still believe in Santa)...
Make Up For Ever just launched a limited edition all-you-can-ask-for palette of 30 shadows and blushes!

What you get:

• One 10-palette of Brights
• One 10-palette of Diamond Shadows
• One 10-palette of Neutrals
• Signed and numbered palette from Dany Sanz - Creator and Artistic Director of Make Up For Ever

And guess what: There are only 100 palettes available and YOU are the first to know! What more could a beauty whore possibly ask for??? VIP treatment... we likey!

Hurry to buy as these palettes are sure to go as quickly as Jen Aniston's newest boy-toy (she sorta has the worst luck with men... sadness)! Click here for the deets.

PRICE TAG: $390.00 ($640.00 value)

P.S. I met Dany Sanz years ago when my father was the owner of MUFE in the United States. She's AMAZINGLY French... with a personality that could rival those colorful shadows that have become her company's staple product!

Make Up For Ever Goes HD

Everyone knows that regular television pales in comparison to high definition T.V. Everything is being shot in HD these days (I shot my film with an HD Varicam and it looks pretty spectacular). HD just has this flawless, precise, non-pixelated quality to it. So, if you wanna keep up with the times, well, your makeup's gotta change too!

And, now HD comes to your makeup collection in the form of a loose-milled powder. Make Up For Ever recently launched HD Powder, one of many HD products hitting the market.


Says MUFE: "Created to meet the demands of new digital imagery and high definition techniques, HD Powder is a universal, invisible finishing powder that gives a “soft focus” effect to skin. Tested by professionals in front of HD cameras, the satin textured HD Powder not only sets foundation and slightly mattifies skin, but completely evens out the complexion for a glowing, radiant look."

There's a lot of buzz in the business about this product... people are going crazzzy for a jar of the white powder (no, not that kind... naughty minds!). So, of course, I had to check out the hype.


I decided to administer a test on my skin: I used the HD powder on the left side of my face and let the right side of my face stay bare... ALL DAY!

Here's what I concluded: Not only did the left side of my face feel silkier, it also looked smoother - more even. Shine was gone, pores were significantly diminished in size. And, the best part, no need to reapply. This product is virtually better then ANY primer on the market (it runs a close race to my personal favorites, Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer and Clinique's Pore Minimizer).

As for the right side of my face, it was a shiny mess - enough oil to fill up my hybrid gas tank!

I was literally amazed by the effects of this product. The finely milled powder is white in the jar, but once applied to the skin, it's actually translucent so it's perfect to wear over foundations, bronzers, blushes - to "settle" makeup into place. It also contains Mineral Silica which give the powder that smooth, refined look and feel (while absorbing those nasty surface oils). My only complaint is that since it's a loose powder and not pressed, it has a tendency to get very messy - more powder ended up in my sink then on my face! But I guess I can learn to deal... After all, the pros definitely out way the cons!

A Makeup Artist once told me that every woman should have a good translucent powder in her bag of tricks.... I'm quite certain I just found mine. Thanks MAFE!!!

I'm DYING to try the rest of their HD product line.... like NOW!!!

Make-Up IS Forever...

Fall 2007. Make-Up For Ever. Purples, lots of eggplants and lilacs.

I have a soft spot for Make-Up Forever... I find their stardust powders (especially the gold) to be irriplaceable and the Liquid Lift Foundation (in number 2) to be one of the best foundations I have ever put on my mug.

So, it's no surprise that their Fall 2007 line is bold and brilliant. I had the pleasure of trying the diamond eyeshadow in 311 - a burgandy mauve with copper shimmer, and the Aqua Creamliner in 5, a deep plum hue. Together, they look super powerful. The great thing about Make-Up Forever products is that you put them on in the morning and they stay put through out the day.

If bold is what you're looking for, look no further. Make-Up Forever has again suceeded in creating powerful make-up that transcends beauty!