Make Up Forever

I've always been a bit suspicious of loose powder, especially the kind that is supposed to be used to "set" makeup. On me, it often looks caked-on and masklike. Looks like I'm not the only one. WhiplashGirlchild recently shared her review of Make Up For Ever Super Matte Loose Powder in the Beauty Product Junkies group. Here's what she had to say:

I've been on a quest for a primer, so I asked a sales girl which she recommended for staying power. She told me that what she recommends isn't a primer at all, but this Make Up For Ever loose powder. Then, she did a little demo for me. She rubbed two smudges of lipstick on her hand, and dusted the powder over one, but left the other one alone. Then, after a few minutes, she asked me to rub each smudge with my finger. The one with the powder barely budged, but the one without got smudged. I was sold! She dusted Translucent Natural #12 on me. I liked how it looked in the mirror, so I bought it.

When I got home, I looked at it in natural light, and I hated it. It wasn't translucent natural — it was kind of yellow-y, and it looked caked-on and felt gritty on my face. I tried reapplying with my kabuki brush instead of the pouf it came with, but it wasn't any better. I really do want staying power but I'd rather sacrifice it in order for my skin to look natural and velvety, y'know?

Yikes! Sounds like a real disappointment. (Thanks for your candor, Whip!) Share your stories in Beauty Product Junkies, and maybe I'll post yours here, too!

Make Up For Ever has just launched a two-fold campaign called Lash Pimpin'. The first part includes 55 types of reusable, nylon faux lashes. The second part is Flash Color, 24 shades of highly pigmented eye makeup that was previously available to professionals only.

One of the coolest parts about this launch is that Make Up For Ever has joined forces with Sephora to run a contest to see who can send in images of the wackiest, wildest, and most inventive lash looks. The winner gets $1,000 worth of Make Up For Ever goods, a trip to Paris (for two), and a private makeup lesson with Make Up For Ever founder Danny Sans.

I just had to tell you guys about this. Do you think you'll enter? FYI, there are no rules when it comes to using any product you like you create the most badass lash. Good luck!

Welcome to the second installment of my makeup brush hair types series. Today's topic is pony hair. It's the most common type of hair in fluffy cheek, contour and powder brushes where dense color deposits are needed.

Like goat hair, pony hair does not come to a point — another great reason to use it on cheeks, because the bristles lend themselves well to blending.

Pony hair is a little bit less coarse than goat hair, though. It comes from the mane of young horses and is very fine and soft. In the finest quality of brushes, the hair comes from the belly of the pony.

As you can see in this Make Up Forever Blush Brush ($38) the brush is a cylindrical shape. Stay tuned for more makeup brush hair types all week long!

Welcome back to part three of my series on bright blue makeup. If you've missed the past posts, you can check out some beautiful blue-green and turquoise eye shadows here. Below are three electric aqua eyeliners great for creating anything from an edgy rock-star look to that of a playful party girl!

Starry-Eyed Liquid Eyeliner in Drunk Dial (17.50) is a daring liquid teal blue eyeliner that is packed with glitter. The super-fine brush makes application easy, and it is formulated with good-for-you ingredients like soothing carrot and calming cucumber.

Wear it alone or on top of an already pencil-lined eye for increased intensity And if you think this name is cute, you should see the rest of them. Makeup can be so much fun!

For two more aqua eyeliners, read more

Welcome to the second installment of luscious lip balms. These fabulous lip balms glide on so softy and silky, they leave your lips feeling conditioned and treated. Say goodbye to dry, scratchy smackers forever - those are certainly not allowed under any mistletoe this year!

La Prairie Cellular Luxe Lip Treatment, SPF 15, $40, is a clear lip protector that conditions sensitive lips while also providing SPF 15 coverage. This luxurious Swiss skin care line really knows how to do it right. This lip conditioner is so intense it will leave lips feeling soft and supple for days.

Nars Rain Lip Treatment $23, is a sheer lip balm that conditions and moisturizes lips making them supple and soft. It also aids in the prevention of dryness and makes your lips shiny and kissable.

For one more luscious lip balm, read more

I think that Make Up For Ever is an underdog brand. Though you don't hear about it very often, many makeup artists use this very high-quality line for runways and photo shoots, and for many years, it was the exclusive makeup used for all of the Cirque Du Soleil shows. Its foundations, in particular, are incredible, and the newest addition to the line, Make Up For Ever Face and Body Liquid Makeup is renowned in the biz because of its heavy coverage and incredibly light feel. It's more like a gel than a cream, and it leaves your skin feeling smooth with a powdery and satiny result.

The formula is also long-lasting and water-resistant, which makes it ideal for use as body makeup. Many people are turning to this product to cover up "oops, I made a mistake with that tattoo!" tattoos as well as to smooth out the surface of bare legs and arms. It is also used in theater, because it won't drip, cake, or slide off if you perspire. Beware that if you are going to use this on your body, shake it well, give yourself a couple of minutes to let it dry, and then brush off the excess powder before you put your clothes on. Buy it here for $38. Available in 11 shades.