MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Shadow - Round 2

I liked my first two MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Shadows ($20) so much I bought two more. The first time I ordered two "safe" shades, 20E, a pearly taupe, and 28E, golden beige. If you click on the link directly above, you can see my swatch photos-. This time, I ordered two of the "darker" shades - still neutrals, but with more color: 26E (at left above) and 22E (at right).

Aqua Shadow is a pencil eye shadow that is smudge-proof, long-lasting (they will stand up to the heat of summer), and easy to apply. I love pencils that work well, and these do. I think the 12 shades in both matte and pearl finishes offer something for everyone. While that rich, matte green (8E) may appeal to some, it's too bold for me. I think my newest colors are still conservative.

Aqua Shadow’s intensely pigmented, waterproof formula provides immediate, rich color that will not smudge, crease, or fade. Created with silica powder, its ultra creamy texture glides effortlessly on the eyelid and blends easily for an even result. Incredibly simple to use, Aqua Shadow quickly creates a multitude of dynamic and colorful looks.

I took swatch photos of my newest Aqua Shadows in "almost full sun." It was one of those days when I had to stand outside waiting for each time the clouds cleared to get photos. That's why one of my photos is lighter than the other.

Shade 26E is shown at the top of my arm. It's described as pearly peach. That works for me, but it's so luminous, it deserves a description with more pizzazz. Shade 22E, shown below on my arm, is pearly (or shimmering) copper-toned brown.

I think both of these shades are gorgeous, and I'm very pleased I ordered them. They don't crease on me (remember, my eyelids are dry, and I use a primer). Actually, they are so long-lasting, I have to use a long-wear eye color remover to take off every last trace. That's a heat-resistant eye shadow!

If you love shadow sticks, you owe it to yourself to buy at least one of the MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Shadows. You can find them at Sephora, where I purchased mine.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Shadow Giveaway Contest

I liked MAKE UP FOR EVER's new Aqua Shadow ($20 each) so much, I decided to do a giveaway contest.  The winner will receive both of the shades I purchased for myself, 20E and 28E.

Aqua Shadow is a pencil eye shadow that is smudge-proof, long-lasting (they will stand up to the heat of summer), and easy to apply. I love pencils that work well, so I was intrigued. I think the 12 shades in both matte and pearl finishes offer something for everyone.

Aqua Shadow’s intensely pigmented, waterproof formula provides immediate, rich color that will not smudge, crease, or fade. Created with silica powder, its ultra creamy texture glides effortlessly on the eyelid and blends easily for an even result. Incredibly simple to use, Aqua Shadow quickly creates a multitude of dynamic and colorful looks.

Shade 20E (on left directly above) is described online as a pearly taupe. It is shown at the top of my arm. Shade 28E (at right) is called pearly beige, although I'd call it a golden beige. I took my swatch photos in full, direct sunlight, and they show more much shine than you'll see indoors. These are radiant shades, something I love. They draw attention to the eyes, but do so in an office-appropriate manner. You won't look like a disco ball, I promise - at least in these two shades.

How can you enter to win this contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn. I can't believe the number of entrants I haven't been able to find in the past.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, June 30, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I may not be able to replace it with another prize just like it. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photos by Best Things in Beauty

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Shadow

I'm always drawn to new products at Sephora, so I decided to try the new MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Shadow ($20) shades. I perused the options and chose two that looked very similar online, 20E and 28E. I was hoping that they weren't variations on a single color. Now that I have them, I know that the two shades are different - and they work well together - making me feel good about purchasing them both.

Aqua Shadow is a pencil eye shadow that is smudge-proof, long-lasting (they will stand up to the heat of summer), and easy to apply. I love pencils that work well, so I was intrigued. I think the 12 shades in both matte and pearl finishes offer something for everyone. While that rich, matte green may appeal to some, it's too bold for me.

Aqua Shadow’s intensely pigmented, waterproof formula provides immediate, rich color that will not smudge, crease, or fade. Created with silica powder, its ultra creamy texture glides effortlessly on the eyelid and blends easily for an even result. Incredibly simple to use, Aqua Shadow quickly creates a multitude of dynamic and colorful looks.

Shade 20E (on left directly above) is described online as a pearly taupe. It is shown at the top of my arm. Shade 28E (at right) is called pearly beige, although I'd call it a golden beige. I took my swatch photos in full, direct sunlight, and they show more much shine than you'll see indoors. These are radiant shades, something I love. They draw attention to the eyes, but do so in an office-appropriate manner. You won't look like a disco ball, I promise - at least in these two shades.

I really love my new pencil shadows. They apply easily. A single sweep over the lid deposits creamy color that stays put after it sets. No creasing (on me), and no powder to fall anywhere on my face. It's love. I wish there were more shades I could order. Some of them are too "artistic" for my taste. A pearly copper, 22E, may be the only other shade I order in the future.

The Aqua Pencils remind me of MAKE UP FOR EVER's Aqua Cream shadows in pots. Those combined high-quality pigments with mother of pearl particles to give immediate, rich color payoff with a luminous finish in just one application. MAKE UP FOR EVER says its long-lasting eye shadow formulas will not crease or smudge under the most extreme conditions, and their creamy and elastic texture allows for easy blending. I've found that to be true.

Sephora is the exclusive retailer for MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Shadow pencils. That's where I purchased mine.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

MAKE UP FOR EVER Uplight Face Luminizer Gel

MAKE UP FOR EVER's new Uplight Face Luminizer Gel ($29) was designed to give you the sculpted glow of celebrities. Their complexions always looks fresh and glowing on screen, on catwalks, and on the red carpet. Just take a look at Jennifer Lopez on American Idol. Her skin shines - in a gorgeous way!

How do the stars do it? With illuminators! Uplight enhances the points of light of the face (or body) for a natural, glamorous finish.

Uplight is a silky gel that lights up the face, making your skin appear healthy, fresh, and radiant. It contains reflecting pigments that capture and diffuse light. With its extremely fluid, smooth texture, it is easy to apply - on its own or mixed with foundation - with your fingers or a brush. The texture reminds me of Giorgio Armani Beauty's Fluid Sheer, a product I adore.

What's in this illuminating gel? It's oil-free; there's a lot of water (70%); it contains mango butter to hydrate; and it's enriched with pearls to capture and reflect light. Formulated for the face and body, this product adds a healthy glow to your skin that will last all day.

Uplight is available in eight shades and three effects: silky, pearly, and sparkling. All you need to do is to apply a hint of illuminator in very light touches on the high points of your face - cheekbones, brow bone, temples - and blend. You will glow.

I ordered two shades - sight unseen - from Sephora. I chose one that appeared to be a pink shade (#22, described at Sephora as a pearly pink flesh) and one that appeared more golden (#12, described at Sephora as dewy golden beige). I wanted to try one dewy and one pearly. When they arrived, I was thrilled. They were so much prettier in person than their little color swatches online. Now, of course, I want more of them. I am such a hoarder.

Here is my swatch photo, taken outdoors in late-afternoon sunlight, of my two shades. I applied both with my fingertips and didn't blend them into my skin. I wanted you to be able to see the nuances of the colors. The one shown at the top is #12, and #22 is shown below. The pearly finish of #22 is definitely shinier than the dewy finish of #12. When I re-order, I know I should stick with the dewy finishes, but there are only two dewy shades. I know I will order #11, even though Sephora's online swatch looks goulish. It's probably gorgeous. I would also like to try #23, described as pearly golden flesh. I think the #22 pearly pink is exquisite, and I would like to try another pearly shade. Should I act my age instead? Why start now?

There are good online swatches at the MAKE UP FOR EVER site. Click on one of the little squares, and a larger, better swatch will pop up. I found them after I had received my Uplights from Sephora.

These lovely luminizers are definitely worth checking out. You can order them at Sephora.

Photos at top courtesy of MAKE UP FOR EVER and Sephora

MAKE UP FOR EVER Lab Shine Lip Gloss

MAKE UP FOR EVER's new Lab Shine Lip Gloss ($18) roped me in when I saw it online at Sephora. I love glosses, and this one comes in 35 shades and three finishes! I knew I would find a few I loved, and I did.

This gloss combines camelina oil and mother-of-pearl particles that reflect light to create incredible shine that adds the appearance of volume to the lips (shiny lips look fuller). Formulated with hyaluronic acid, it provides intense hydration with a non-sticky texture for a noticeably moisturized pout. Its subtle apricot fragrance adds a sweet scent to your lips - probably the only drawback from my perspective. I wasn't sure what flavor of Kool-Aid I was tasting when I applied it, but I knew it was sweet. I know I'm extreme in my biases about flavored lip products. Many of you like them.

I can get past the fragrance on this gloss because the gloss is so nice. The three finishes are Diamond, Star, and Metal. The Diamond Collection includes 12 shades that give natural color with sparkling, sheer coverage. The Star Collection has 14 shades with a pearly shine for medium coverage. The Metal Collection consists of nine highly pigmented shades that offer full coverage with an intense, chrome finish.

I decided to try two. I purchased D14, a shimmering "Indian pink" from the Diamond Collection and S14, pearly blackcurrent, from the Star Collection. They are very different. D14 is very sheer. S14 has much more pigment. Both shine, but S14 has slightly less shine. I noticed little micro-sparkles in D14. You can't feel them on the lips, but they are there - and beautiful.

I had to take my swatch photo outside on an extremely overcast morning. I could see the sun behind the clouds, but there wasn't enough to light up my photo well. Sorry it's a bit dark, but it is supposed to rain later, so I don't know when my next opportunity will arise. D14 is swatched at the top, applied directly with its own brush applicator. You can see it's a pretty, warm pink. What you can't see in my photo are the teeny-tiny sparkles. They are very pretty. S14 below is my favorite of the two simply because it has more pigment. It's a grape-rose, an exquisite shade.

These glosses are so nice, I'm trying to decide (based on the fragrance, which does fade) whether I will buy S16, S18, and S20. I like the Star finish, and all of those shades look nice too.

Have you tried them? You can find them at Sephora.

Photo at top courtesy of Sephora

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream - Not Just for Eyes

A couple of weeks ago, I told you how smitten I was with MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream ($22). I had purchased Silver (true silver shimmer) and Taupe (taupe brown shimmer) from Sephora. I was revved by both, so I placed a second order for Gold (yellow gold shimmer) and Warm Beige (champagne shimmer).

They arrived, and I loved them as much as my first two. As an aside, the very slight creasing I noticed when I first started using Aqua Cream disappeared when I switched to a slightly less emollient eye cream.

Feeling the need for more of this long-lasting wonder makeup, I ordered the Golden Copper I had been eying. At the same time, I decided it was time to try a shade I could wear as a blush or on my lips. Peach (#5), a pinky-peach with gold flecks, appeared to be the logical choice for me. Some of the shades looked very bright, and I was ordering from Sephora online.

Peach arrived, and it's beautiful! I took an arm photo in sun to show you how it looks when applied with a brush. I applied it rather heavily to show you the color, and I blended it to show you what it really looks like when applied on fair skin. If you have any pink in your cheeks (or lips), as I do, it will appear pinker than it looks on my arm.

It does have some sparkle to it, but not as much as the sunshine gave it in the photo. I love the Aqua Cream sparkle on my eyes and lips. On my cheeks, its use is limited (for me) to after work. It really adds some zip to banish any fatigue I might feel from my early start and usually full day.

This cream makeup blends like a charm - as long as you blend quickly. No distractions, ladies, because once it sets, it will stay where you put it for a long time. Its long-lasting formula will not crease or smudge in the most extreme heat and humidity. It's said to be waterproof. I believe it!

I hope MAKE UP FOR EVER decides to introduce even more shades of this beautiful cream makeup. I love it!

You can buy it at Sephora, where I purchased mine.

The photos are mine

Sephora's Limited-Edition Value Sets

Sephora has been offering us some especially nice sets. Two very different ones, available now, are definitely worth a look! These sets are limited editions and available only at Sephora.

Benefit To Go Beauty Bestsellers ($10) is irresistible - both because of its price and its products. It has four portable minis of Benefit's best-selling complexion enhancers. These are all popular products. If you have them, you will appreciate the small purse or pocket sizes. If you have never tried them, now's the time.

The set has four products.

• 0.08 oz Posietint: A poppy-pink tinted lip and cheek stain
• 0.06 oz Some Kind-A Gorgeous: The foundation faker
• 0.25 oz That Gal: A brightening face primer
• 0.09 oz High Beam: A luminescent complexion enhancer

The second set I recommend is MAKE UP FOR EVER's Beauty In A Box - Aqua Essentials Kit ($69).

This kit includes seven long-lasting, must-have products that resist water and humidity, even in the most extreme summer conditions. Stay crease-free with Aqua Cream's long-lasting formula, which contains mother-of-pearl particles that provide rich color in just one application. I am absolutely smitten with Aqua Cream! Define your eyes with the award-winning Aqua Eyes, a two-in-one eyeshadow and liner pencil that adheres to the lids and remains melt-proof. You can apply it as a defined line or smudge it to smoke it out. The shades included in the set are black and a dark, metallic grey. Create an extra-black faux lash effect with Aqua Smoky Lash mascara, which delivers lashes with volume, length, and curl. Shape your lips with Aqua Lip in Nude Beige, which contains vitamin E and jojoba wax for comfortable wear. You can instantly remove your waterproof look with MAKE UP FOR EVER's best-selling make-up remover Travel Sens' Eyes. Its gentle formula can be used on even the most sensitive eyes.

The Aqua Creams alone are $22 per shade, and I have both Warm Beige (champagne shimmer) and Taupe (taupe shimmer), the two colors included in this set. Beauty in a Box is a great value.

There you have it! Two great sets worth a look before they disappear.

Photos courtesy of Sephora

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream

I have been searching for the "perfect silver cream eye shadow." I think I found it! MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream ($22) is a highly pigmented, long-lasting, waterproof cream that can be used as an eye shadow, as well as a cheek and lip color. It's available in 22 shades! Certain shades are formulated for use on eyes and cheeks, while others are fit for use on lips and cheeks.

Some of them are bright colors I would never wear (for example, Emerald Green), but a few are must-haves. My new Silver (#3) is one of those.

Aqua Cream combines the highest-quality pigments with mother of pearl particles to give immediate, rich color payoff with a luminous finish in just one application. MAKE UP FOR EVER says its long-lasting formula will not crease or smudge under the most extreme conditions, and its creamy and elastic texture allows for easy blending.

I purchased Silver (true silver shimmer) and Taupe (taupe brown shimmer) from Sephora. I was smitten with both, so I placed a second order for Gold (yellow gold shimmer) and Warm Beige (champagne shimmer). I am still tempted by Golden Copper (soft copper shimmer). You can see all the shades at this Sephora link.

These creams, when used as eye shadows, last all day with very little movement. A teeny tiny bit collects in the crease, but that's an issue I have with most cream shadows. I can live with it as long as even pigment stays on my eyelids too.

Aqua Cream is easy to "over apply" if you go straight from the pot to your eyelid using your finger. I found that it's best to put some in my palm and then pick up the color with a cream shadow brush. That works perfectly. It also works well to go from an intermediate stop on my palm to my eyelid with my finger. In either case, I work quickly because it starts to dry in my palm. Remember, it takes very little of the cream to produce intense color on the eyelids.

Warm Beige and Gold haven't arrived yet. I can't wait to try them. Maybe tonight?

You can find MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Cream at Sephora. It has garnered rave reviews, so it's safe to say it's a hit!

Photo courtesy of Sephora