Make up Forever Aqua Creams

Blog sales can be evil sometimes. You click on it just to see and before you know it you've bought a whole bunch of stuff! Well that's my excuse anyway! So I picked up some Make-up Forever Aqua Creams from Goss's blog sale the other week. They are a fairly new product and I thought it would be good to give them a try.

If you buy them from Guru Emporium or P.A.M.'s they retail for about £16.95 for 6grams of product. A little bit on the expensive side but you honestly don't need much by the looks of things. The product is very creamy (hence the name) and it comes in a variety of colours.I got three: 14/11/19

I had to get the purple (which looks blue in the pic) because purple is my favorite colour. The other two colours of Gold and brown are fabulous too. I'm trying to hone in on my neutral side.

The colours are vibrant and the colours do set. However if you run your finger over them they do shift a bit. I'm thinking they will make great bases and possibly an alternative to MAC paint pots. I'm going to try them out over the next couple of weeks and see how they work out.

Have a fab weekend!

xxx

Make-up Forever 5 Lipsticks Palette Review

Make-up Forever is a worldwide brand that is renowned for its excellent products and amazing range. Personally for me, I have not come across anything from MUFE that I have not liked. I'm sure that says a lot. Today's review is on the Make-up Forever 5 Lipsticks Palette.  

I've had this palette for a long time. I bought it off eBay brand new and it was a total bargain. I suspect the seller didn't realise it's worth at the time. It's since become a God-send in my kit.

This is the No 19 palette (Pink Orchid Harmony) consists of 5 beautiful colours. This is the old style palette though as MUFE has since revamped these awesome palettes to a simple open and shut case with a brush included. My palette looks like this...

Nifty side slider which reveals a decent sized mirror and brush (Which I've long since chucked!)

The 5 colours that come in this palette are No 83, 86 88 22 and 92 and each lipstick contains 2g of product. (1g less than a Mac lipstick if you'd like a comparison. So it's still a fair amount of product)

 And of course because we need to see some swatches, here you go...

I have found this palette to be pretty versatile. The formula is very smooth and they are nicely pigmented. Some colours are more pigmented than others but that is to be expected and you can make them all work. The first colour above, for example, number 83 actually has a duo chrome base to it. On a paler bride with a slick of lipgloss it would look stunning. Or you could use it to add a duo blend to darker colour and create something rather special.

These lipsticks mix well and you can create your own personalized combos if you wish. Their lasting power is pretty darn good and they truly are some of the best lipsticks I've used.

If you're a make-up artist wanting a a good range of lipsticks to choose from, Make up Forever currently does 13 different palettes so you have over 65 colours to choose from! These palettes are also very light and easy to carry in your kit when you go from job to job.

As an individual, can you ever have enough lipsticks? I mean really?! Well you get my jist. One palette could do you right for a very long time ladies so I say check them out if you can!

Now I do realise that these are not readily available at Sephora.com or even on the British High street. I do suspect that the two companies in the UK that stock MUFE, PAMS and Guru Emporium would be able to get these in for you if you request them. USA girls, the MUFE boutique should certainly be able to help you out.

This palette will cost you about 33 Euros which is approx US$45 or £30. Not bad for 5 lipsticks :) Hope that helps!

Stay blessed bellas xxx

IMATS 2010

Hi people!

I hope you are all well. Welcome to my new subscribers, I notice each and every one of you. Most honoured that you have chosen to join Dvoradivine.

So! Last weekend I took a long trip down to London to sort out a few things as well as attend the International Make-up Artist Trade show at Alexandra Palace. I was ill, so it wasn't the most comfortable of trips. And here I am a week later still ill. But whatever.

On Friday after I'd finished my other shenanigans, I headed to Westfield because I wanted to check out Inglot [the polish make-up brand that is cause a storm] for myself. Let me just say I had no intention of getting anything per say. I was just open to what they would have.

Well so much for self control. I walked away with an eyeshadow palette and a lip palette and the intention of going back one day soon to get some more!

Saturday morning I got up at the UNHOLY hour of 0500hrs to get ready for IMATS. I was on a train to central London at 0559hrs and I arrived at Alexandra palace at about 0735 or something like that. It was freezing and I lost the feeling in my toes long before they decided to open the doors. Speaking of which, I would like to complain because they specified on their site that doors would be open at 8am for people to collect their tickets. No such thing happened. the opened them long at 8.30 which was a bit annoying for those of us who got up at the break of dawn to get in early.

Eventually they opened up the door, by which time there were plenty of people waiting to get in. It took me the whole of 5mins to get my ticket but I've read stories of how some people waited 45mins to get theirs. Double dang. I would not have been pleased!

The rest ladies and gents was a flurry of activity. I got most of what I wanted to get. First stop was the Make-up Artist Magazine stand. I was not leaving with a subscription. I had intended on picking up some make-up books but they weren't discounted enough. I knew I could get them cheaper else where.

After that,  I headed over to the Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stand where I got 6 lip tars in Black (Tarred), yellow(Traffic) , red (NSFW), blue (RX), white (feathered) and clear (Clear).

I didn't bother with the other colours because I reckon I can use basic colour theory to mix up any colour I need. I've tried it out already and I've mixed up most of the colours you see those little tubes. Takes a bit of patience but it's doable.The review for these is coming up shortly.

I had intentions of going to a few talks that day but they filled up really quickly. I only managed two in the end. The first was Eve Pearl where she did a look for Women of Colour.

I think she was a bit rushed given the tight running of the schedule and the fact that she only had an hour to do the model's face. She did take the time to explain everything from setting up your work station to sanitation. She spoke very thoroughly on her products and how to produce an easy-go to look that will work for most women of colour.

I enjoyed the talk but I didn't feel like I learnt anything from this talk. It was a bit too simplistic for my liking. No offense to her. I knew most of what she spoke about in terms of techniques. I would have loved a more advanced class on the things you don't necessarily learn from places like You tube.

I did like they way she gave ideas on how you can make an extra income as a make-up artist. It was good to hear it from someone who had gone and done it and become a success. She pushed her products a lot and I'm sure they are very good. However I had my mind made up so I didn't buy anything.

There were several brush companies in attendance some of which included Royal and Langnickel which had a good stand. I wasn't feeling any of their brushes however. I was rather disappointed in them after I had seem the brushes on the website. Somehow they just didn't match up to what I had envisioned.

Crown Brush which was absolutely heaving! I managed to get a few lip and liner brushes after waiting like 30 mins. I tried the lip brushes and again I'm not a fan but I kind of expected this with Crown Brush so I don't have buyers remorse.

For me, the Brush company that stole my heart was Hakuhodo. I had had these brushes on my hit list for a VERY long time now. And after seeing them in person, they have no failed me. In fact I am more impressed with them now than I was before and I've decided to rebuild my brush belt with a good proportion of these. They are THAT good.

The Japanese are masters when it comes to making certain items. Their fude (make-up brush) quality is superb. It will be worth the investment when the time comes. (That is when I can get my hands on the credit card...lol!)

I bought two brushes from Hakuhodo and I had to hold myself from buying more. I had other things I needed to get so I'm gonna do a mega haul of some brushes when I've sold my left kidney.

The funny thing is that you guys think I'm joking :)

Yaby Cosmetics was in attendance. I had really wanted to get a few palettes from them but I could NOT justify the price for the size (£65/palette). The pigmentation is brilliant but those pans were too tiny for my liking. I might build my own palette one of these days but for now I'm happy to sit and watch others use it.

MUD cosmetics was in attendance as well. I went to a talk held by one of their lectures Yvonne which was good as well. I learnt a few interesting things during that talk such curling lashes with a spoon. Yep. You read right. It works too.

There was so much going on and if you are a reader of any of the larger UK Beauty Bloggers you would have seem plenty of pictures. Want some crystal clear ones? Try Lipglossiping. Her stuff is ah-mazing.

I know that some people read my blog. But never did I expect to actually meet one of my readers! Gobsmacked is not the word. If it wasn't forhe high melanin levels in my skin, I would have been blushing! Whilst I was at the Charles Fox stand a lady who was standing next to me recognized me and said she reads my blog. I was way beyond chuffed. I totally forgot myself and simply said thank you and she moved off! I didn't even ask her name! GUTTED! Pretty lady if you are still reading this, it was lovely to meet you. Next time I shall at least ask your name!

The second person I met was a lady called Stella. We literally walked into each other and this time I made an effort to talk to her. What a lovely girl. Oh and she's like tall. Like model type tall. Or maybe I'm just really short. She came over from France just for IMATS. And I thought I had travelled far! Hi Stella!!! Twas fab to meet you!!!She make writing this even more enjoyable!

And then just as I was starting to think I should go home, I happened to bump into a fellow MUA by the name of Kemi. Kemi Kings to be exact! We met on facebook. Yes. I know. But she is one of the most down to earth people I have ever come across. It was like seeing a old friend! Couldn't believe it. So we took some time to walk around bit. Exchanged some notes and helped each other out. She really sealed it for me! Her work is fabulous. If you're ever on facebook try and find her. She had a fan page under the name of Kemi the Make-up Artist. Wonderful stuff!

All in all, I had a fantastic time at IMATS. I know other people were somewhat disappointed by the even but I honestly did not mind. The venue didn't bother me, neither did the location. Certain things could have been better but I suspect at lot changed at the last minute. As a trade show for make-up artists, it served me well. It was excellent for Kit building. I'll know to bring more money next time because for me the deals were pretty awesome. Will I be going next year? Most definitely. I've already started my new list. I have a whole year to save for it too. That's the way to do it!

Finally! Onto the haul!

Make-up Artist MAG subscription*MUFE eyeshadow 10 palette*MAC 15 pan palette*MAC 6 pan Blush palette*Inglot 10 eyeshadow palette*Disposables*Kryolan Invisible Matt*Dermacolour Concealer wheel*OCC lip tars*MUFE HD powder*Kryolan under make-up base*Inglot lipstick palett* brushes*3 MAC lipsticks*mini collapsable bin*PP Pill cases for depotting lipsticks*Kryolan 10 eyeshadow palette.

I am happy with my purchases. It's going to serve me kit well and I can't wait to try out certain items. As soon as I am better I'll be posting a bit more.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

You stay blessed now! xxx