Product Review- Makeup Forever Smokey Lash Mascara

Makeup Forever Smokey Lash Mascara Review

 

Makeup Forever Smokey Lash Mascara Review

From the Brand:   

What it is:
A mascara that gives the lashes curl, volume, length, and intense pigment.

What it does:
This ultra-pigmented mascara was specially designed to give the lashes an exceptional volume-enhancing effect with infinite lengthening and immediate curling.

What else you need to know:
The tough, dense brush of this Sephora-exclusive mascara penetrates into the roots of the lash to ensure that lash is completely coated with mascara.

Retails for:   $23.00

Where to Buy:    Sephora is the exclusive beauty retailer for this product.

My Thoughts:   I love the wands on these mascaras.  If I had to pick my favorite high end mascara, this would definitely be it.  When I was in high school and college, I was obsessed with the Lancome mascaras, and I thought nothing would ever surpass them in my mind as the be-all end-all of mascaras.  This has done so!  I started using the Makeup Forever Smokey Lash Mascara probably about 5 years ago, when I first started my makeup career full time.  I bought it from Sephora on a whim, and it was one of the best buying decisions I've ever made.  Now, whenever I go to the Makeup Show in New York City every spring, I make sure to stop at the Makeup Forever booth to stock up on these with the 40% discount.  It's worth the 30 minute wait in line every year even if they are the only thing I buy.  (Who am I really kidding?  40% off on Makeup Forever?  I buy waaaaaayyyy more than just mascara every year! haha)

So now let's see how it holds up to its claims:

1. Volume- Absolutely.  The difference between naked lashes and lashes with the Smokey Lash mascara is immediate with just a single coat.  The brush head is very densely packed, and the bristles sort of overlap each other, which I believe helps it coat both sides of the lash with each stroke.  The formula of the mascara is also very thick in consistency, so you don't need a ton of coats of mascara to get a ton of volume.
2. Length- While the formula is thick and coats each lash for volume, it does also add some length to the ends by making them fatter and more noticeable.  I'm not a huge believer that any mascara can truly add length without fibers, but it can absolutely increase the perception of length.  And the Smokey Lash does that.
3. Curl- This is one of the few mascaras I've tried that can actually help my lashes hold a curl.  I could perm my lashes, and they probably wouldn't stay curled for more than about 30 seconds.  This mascara formula dries quickly, helping to lock the curl in place before it falls.  I do have to curl them first with an eyelash curler, so the mascara itself doesn't add curl, but it does help it hold curl which is more than most do for my stick straight eyelashes.

The only drawback I can find with the mascara at all is that the regular formula can start to flake after about 12 hours.  Considering that most people aren't too concerned with what their makeup looks like after that long, for an every day mascara that's pretty darn good.  If you have oily lids, live in a humid climate, or want to avoid that, I'd recommend using the waterproof version instead.

The mascara is currently available in five colors- black, brown, green, purple, and blue.   Brown is gorgeous on redheads wanting a more natural yet full look.  Purple is great for green eyed girls looking to enhance their eye color.  And the blue is great for blondes or anyone who wants to whiten the appearance of their eyes.  It's not a bright cobalt blue when on the lashes, more of a deep navy, so it's not a "hey she's wearing blue mascara" kind of look.  The green, I'm not sure there's really an everyday situation you'd wear this for, but if you have an idea I'd love to know!  It's more of a fun look in my mind, but I could maybe see it being used to counteract redness?  Still, I think that green is too far from the natural lash color to be on the natural looking end of things.

Final Verdict:  A total must for everyone to try at least once.  I dare you not to get hooked!

 

 

**Disclaimer: As with all my product reviews, I was not paid by the cosmetic company to provide feedback or review/promote their products. All the opinions expressed in this article are my own. These items were purchased with my own money. For more information on my policies, please view my Let's Chat page.

HD Foundation Product Review

With all the talk about HD television and the amazing details it shows, many cosmetic companies are developing lines of makeup designed to provide flawless results under such high scrutiny.  Unlike previous years, loading on tons of makeup and hoping the camera blurred or washed out the masklike texture is no longer an option.  Viewers at home see makeup as if they were there in person, and the technology of makeup needs to keep up.

HD foundations claim to even your skin tone and minimize the appearance of large pores and fine lines while remaining fresh and natural to the naked eye.  They come in a variety of textures and finishes to suit the wide range of personal taste in today's market, while many off more shades in multiple undertones to accomodate the skin tones of today's consumer.  Here I've taken three of the most highly recommended HD foundations on the market by professional makeup artists and given you the pros and cons of each so you can decide which one is right for you.

Graftobian HD Cream Foundation:
Formula- Cream
Number of Shades- 53
Application Method- Foundation brush or dampened cosmetic wedge; removed from package first to prevent bacterial contamination
Available At- http://www.paintandpowderstore.com/, http://www.camerareadycosmetics.com/
Double Duty- Doubles as a concealor
Price- $11.50-$11.99 1/2 oz
Pros- This creamy foundation has a lot of pigment, so a little goes a LONG way.  The formula has lots of slip, which means it glieds across the skin beautifully, and it blends seamlessly.  Huge range of shades.  Sold individually or as palettes for those who like to mix colors. 
Cons- It can feel al ittle heavy on the skin vs the lighter weight of liquids, and a foundation brush or dampened sponge may not be the preferred way to apply for some.  It's also not available in stores, so finding the perfect shade can be a hit or miss.  Paintandpowderstore.com sells samples sizes so you can get a few and try them out first.
Bonus Tip:  Prefer powder foundation?  This brand offers a powder version, too.  But it only comes in a very limited number of colors and can be hard to match to skin.

Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation:
Formula- Liquid
Number of Shades- 13
Application Method- Foundation brush, cosmetic sponge, fingertips
Double Duty- Has SPF 15 and time released anti-oxidants and moisturizers
Price- $38 /oz
Available At: http://www.smashbox.com/, Sephora, Ulta
Pros- With its pump, there's no risk of contaminating the rest of the makeup, and it gives you a premeasured amount so you don't use too much product.  It's very silky feeling and lightweight and goes on sheer for buildable coverage. Plus, it does have SPF and the skin benefits.
Cons- The coverage is very sheer, and for those with skin tone issues, the amount of product needed to get the results they want may not be comfortable for them.  The consistency is also an issue.  It's a love it or hate it kind of situation.  I highly recommend trying it out first before purchasing it.  Not a wide range of shades.
Bonus Tip:  Buying anything from Smashbox?  Try it out in person from Sephora or Ulta first (visit http://www.sephora.com/ or http://www.ulta.com/ for locations near you) and then purchase the products online from Smashbox's website.  They offer free shipping on all purchases, 3 jumbo samples with every order, a rewards program, and a fabulous program called "let's do lunch". (LDL- purchase between the hours of 9 am and 2 pm on Tues or Thurs and receive a free full sized product. Different products offered each Tues/Thurs valid only on that day.)  Seriously, what other company rewards you that much for buying from them?  Is it any wonder that half my kit is Smashbox? ha ha

Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Foundation:
Formula- Liquid
Number of Shades- 26
Application Method- Foundation brush, cosmetic sponge, fingertips
Double Duty- higly pigmented, so you usually only need the tiniest bit of concealor for heavy coverage areas
Price- $40/ oz
Available at: Sephora stores and online at http://www.sephora.com/
Pros- Liquid makes this the most versatile product in therms of application method and it's very comfortable on the skin.  Its silicone-based formula is also very long wearing and oil-absorbing, making it great for oily skin and brides.  (It's oil-free, too.)  It's extremely pigmented, so a little goes a long way, and like the Smashbox liquid, it comes in a pump so 1-2 pumps is enough for an entire face.  The colors are very true to life in multiple undertones (golden, pink, and neutral), and there are a lot to choose from.
Cons- Priceist brand and available only at Sephora or their boutique store in NYC.

Copyright Makeup Forever.  Image from the Sephora website.

While makeup companies want you to believe that their lines of HIGH DEFINITION products are better than traditional lines for everyday use, I personally don't agree.  They do have some great shades and formulas that make it easier than ever to get foundation that looks like actual skin while still giving you the coverage you want or need, but the chances of you appearing on HD tv are probably small.  If you have a foundation that works for you, dont' rush out to buy the newest invention just because marketing hype tells you it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.  On the opposite hand, if you are leary of foundations in general, or don't like the finish of your current brand, these formulas can give you a renewed sense of satisfaction in the way your skin looks, television appearances notwithstanding.