Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow Pencil in 26E and 4E - Review, Swatches and In Action!

When I was offered to review Make Up For Ever's new Aqua Shadow Waterproof eye pencils, I was ecstatic. The Aqua Shadows are meant to be long wearing, waterproof shadows used for layering as a base, or on its own, and have received quite good reviews on the blogosphere at the moment. I received shades 26E and 4E and would like to share my experiences with them! 

The product comes out of a sturdy plastic encasing.

I like that the packaging corresponds with the color inside the tube! No more searching for small lettering on the tube!

26E on the left and 4E on the right.

26E is a peachy shimmery warm shade and 4E is a neutral ashy/grey dark brown.

I can absolutely attest to the fact that these are waterproof. The picture below was taken after swatching it on my hands and vigorously trying to rub them off with water. Nothing. It would not budge. However, it wiped off easily with my Nuxe makeup remover.

I also found them relatively easy to blend - the trick to blend them evenly is to layer the product and keep blending as you go. I tried out the look below with the 26E and 4E exclusively. And mascara of course!

The durability of these products is very good. As tested on my hand, they are indeed waterproof. However, the do wear off after about 7 hours on my very very oily lids. They last a few hours longer with a base. I also found 4E lasted longer on my lids than 26E, perhaps because of the glitter particles. These were also a pleasure to use under powder shadow and I found 4E was especially beautiful with a lighter champagne/brown shade like MAC's Patina or Woodwinked.

All and all, these are great. I highly suggest them for those of you who do not have very oily lids to use on their own, or over powder shadow. For those of you who have extremely oily lids like mine, it might be advisable to use a base. This isn't an issue for me because I use a base all the time anyway (specifically Two-Faced Shadow Insurance).

I hope to purchase more of these in the future - perhaps a navy (6E) and a silver (20E) color? I'm particularly happy with the 4E shade as I have found it quite hard in the past to find a non-shimmer dark cream base. I was dissatisfied with MAC's Blackground because the shimmer in it. And I see from Karla Sugar's swatches here that there are many options of darker non-shimmer shades to choose from. Exciting!

Do you like using cream products such as these? Do you find yourself using them alone or with powder shadows?

* I have received these products for consideration but my opinions are always my own. I am not being compensated for this review and I always strive to review products with honesty.

Face + outfit of the day - Wedding edition

I had it all planned. I was going to wear my Banana Republic strapless dress - I hadn't worn it in a while and it fit better than I remembered when I tried it on again after two years. I was all set for the wedding on Saturday afternoon but then I ran into the most beautiful dress at my local Winners. It fit like a glove. It was on clearance. I had to do it.

My boy taking pictures while I makeup my face. He's proud of this one because I'm in focus in the side mirror. Skilzz.

Outfit breakdown: Andrew Marc Dress, Rebecca Minkoff Bag, What on Earth Ring and a sterling silver bracelet I got at my local Winners. Also, silver leaf earrings I got at a local boutique. My shoes (below - someone doesn't understand the concept of full length picture...) are B. Makowsky and super comfy. And my toenails have China Glaze Pink Plumeria on them.

My face consists of: Estee Lauder BB Cream, MAC Moisturecover in NW20, Nars Laguna Bronzer, Tarte Amazonian Clay in Blissful, applied a bit patchy.
My eyes: Two Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Shadows in All That Glitters, Shroom, Omega and Brun in the outer corner, Revlon Colorstay eyeliner in black, and a nude Pixi liner in the waterline. I have Annabelle Le Big Show mascara on my lashes, my fave.
Eyebrows are MAC's Brun eyeshadow and a Marcelle pencil mixture.
Lips are a mix of Dior Addict Extreme Plaza and a bit of Guerlain Bal de Mai. 

And that's it! I tried to go a bit more natural with this makeup since I was wearing such a fancy dress and the wedding was pretty low key. Do you tend to go natural for wedding makeup?

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream - 02 Review + Swatches

Having read countless reviews raving on the amazingness of the Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams, it was a given that I would pick it up at my newly opened local Sephora. Of all the colors I had to pick from (and there is quite a varied range!) I settled on the shade 02, thinking it would be perfect as a smoky base, or on its own.

First off, the product is indeed waterproof. It was quite funny to be rubbing it actively in water without it budging. Secondly, the shade is gorgeous. The silvery shimmer isn't too sparse - it applies evenly and it easily blended with fingers or a brush. The shadow does set though, so I suggest working relatively quickly with the product. The fact that the Aqua Cream sets makes it easy to keep packing on layers for more intensity.

Heavy swatch on my hand.

Lighter swatch on my eyes. Yes, my brows are outta control! They are better now ;)

Since I have very oily eyelids, this didn't stay on perfectly all day. Again, I have weird lids that tend to crease anything I put on them. I wouldn't judge this product too harshly on this claim. Besides, it lasted most of the day and only had minor creasing, without base, which is quite an accomplishment for me. I find that powder shadows are easily combined and blended with the Aqua Cream. As a base, the 02 shade is perfect for a smokey eye.

Have you tried any of the Aqua Creams? Any suggestions as to which shades are most versatile?

Currently, in pictures...

Just thought I'd post pictures of the last couple weeks while I catch up on reviews.

 My new Joe Fresh sunnies, hanging next to NARS Laguna.

 Makeup station in disarray. Notice my favorite summer drink, Perrier and orange juice.

 My new favorite mug my friend has brought me back from Sweden! I love it so much!!

 My favorite candle ever. It smells so delicious and fresh.

 My current read.

 A Bare Escentuals palette for my mom. She loves it!

 My makeup stations, less in disarray.

Gettin' ready for a wedding.

Hope your week is off to a great start! I will post soon with more reviews!

Butter London Muggins is a must have

When I wore Butter London's Muggins a few weeks ago, I got so many compliments on my manicure. Perhaps it's the general softness of the color - not quite a typical pastel but not quite a pale lavender. I'm not sure what makes its so soft and flattering - maybe a smidgen of gray in the color? A tad of blue? Either way, it is now a staple in my collection.

How cute is this little bird on the cap?

Muggins had a great application. It took two coats for this picture, and I have a Seche Vite topcoat. I don't think I've ever been truly disappointed by Butter London yet. I have a pretty hefty list of my most wanted shades too, so hopefully, I won't. But I think I can almost say that Butter London is a brand I trust... almost.

Hope your weekend is off to a great start! I've got a wedding to attend today - I'll update with face and outfit of the day later this weekend!