Makeup Forever Ultra HD ~ Real Life Photo Shop for Your Face!

What better way to inject a little beauty back onto the blog than with a GLOWING review for a cracking product range. You'll remember I was freaking out just a touch about the new TV3 HD cameras for Midday? Well one of the most on the ball PRs I know saw my panic and introduced me to one of the most impressive makeup lines I've ever used,  Makeup Forever Ultra HD.

This entire range are basically real life photoshop for your face. The lightweight formula of the foundation buffs in effortlessly with a stippling brush or can be applied in outward strokes with a flat foundation brush and can be built to a fuller coverage than the medium level of a standard application. The beauty of it? It takes little or no time to perfect this foundation when applied correctly. 

My normal/ occasionally dry skin adores it. The inclusion of hyaluronic acid & 'luminosity spheres' means this satin finish foundation sits weightlessly on my visage. Though those inclusions also give me an inkling that oilier gals might not be as enamoured. If that's you and you didn't get on with this formulation, definitely let me know. 

The real beauty with the formulation of every product in this line is that they work effortlessly with each other. Particularly impressive is the fact that even once your full face is set with the HD Powder, you can still use the HD blush and it will sit beautifully on the skin; unheard of to do so successfully with any other line.  

MUFE Primer for Fair Skin Tones: €33

The combined finish for me is glowing rather than greasy & never settles into my fine lines, no matter the wear time (which is seriously impressive on camera & off). Though primer is essential to ensure MUFE Ultra HD products can work their magic effectively, they truly are just that for me. There's a whopping 40 shades to choose from so I reckon they could be just that for you too. I've have a serious WANT on me for the MUFE yellow toned primer (for fair skin) but right now both my Cargo HD primer and the Max Factor Facefinity are both getting the job done. 

Price wise the Ultra HD line is high end and priced as such at €43 for the foundation, the concealer (which contains Silica to glide over fine lines) is €25 & the powder €33.50. You know I'd never steer you astray in a recommendation when it comes to dropping serious change on products but I can tell you, hand on heart, these are worth every cent to me. 

You can buy Make Up Forever products online HERE, very soon from Debenhams or, my recommendation, with a visit to the Clarendon Street store in Dublin. The gals in store are some of the most approachable and knowledgeable I've ever had the pleasure to chat with and I'll definitely be popping back in for a full face when needed next. 

Tell me, have you been converted to the Ultra HD ways yet? 

Wanna see more Beauty reviews around these parts and not primarily on Instagram once more? 

Perhaps most importantly,*in Ron Burgundy's voice* 

have you SEEN how good this makes me look on Midday? 

New Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation & Concealer in One!

I'm all for cutting a minute or twenty off my morning routine, more so when that routine is done in the office loos just to eek out as many precious zeds of a morning as I can. As soon as I laid eyes on Clinique's upcoming Beyond Perfecting Foundation & Concealer in One before the Christmas break, I knew it, I and my snooze button would get on very well indeed. 

There's 21  shades incoming with one of the lightest feeling full coverage formulations I've used to date. Aimed at the over 30 lady with a tendency toward oiliness, I've found it's worked a boon on my normal 30ish skin this past several months. 

Just one large doe foot of product is enough to do your entire fizzog. I know, I was doubtful too when makeup artist Florrie White gave me the lo-down but she is entirely right. The formulation feels dry on application but blends in nicely and is buildable as and where needed. Despite initial Saharan worries, I found it felt hydrating during its 12 hour wear time. Full comfortable coverage with very little product so that it never feels 'masky', that's a feat in itself but Clinique have pulled it off. 

Less than half a buidéal left - that's good going!

I've been so impressed with this double duty formulation that even when trialling other bases I've been reaching for Beyond Perfection as my concealer of choice. Now that's unheard of for me. I find the consistency ideal for my under eye area with enough slick so that it never creases or dries into fine lines. That's a sure fire sign of a product I'm loving, when I'm reaching for it unbeknownst to myself. 

Clinique Beyond Perfection Foundation & Concealer in One hits counters on February 6th and might just be the answer to many a busy woman's prayers. 

What say we? Will we be giving it a looksee when it drops? 

Introducing The Dr Hauschka's Pure Care Cover Sticks Addition for Medium to Dark Skin

Listen up medium to dark skinned lovelies, Dr Hauschka have just extended their Pure Care Cover Stick range with you specifically in mind. Their new addition, 03 Sand, joins 01 Natural and 02 Beige to provide not only first class coverage for problem areas but also to help heal the skin and return your visages to their natural balance.

Pure Care Cover Sticks in L-R 01, 03 & 02

Ingredients such as tea tree and manuka oil, kidney vetch and calendula all work to calm the skin and restore it to its former glory. Because of the healing properties of the Pure Care Cover Sticks, it’s recommended that they’re used at the first sign of a blemish. Place your chosen shade onto the affected area and blend gently to build up cover before applying your foundation. Finishing your look with a translucent powder, such as Dr Hauschka’s Illuminating Powder will set your make up in place and prevent slippage throughout the day.

Pure Cover Stick 01 Natural for light skin tones

Pure Cover Stick 02 Beige for light to medium skintones

New Addition: Pure Cover Stick 03 Sand for medium to dark skin tones

Because, thankfully, I’m blemish free at the mo, I decided on a little ‘speriment: here’s hoping you’ll never have an outbreak brighter than red ink on your poor kisser but just look at the coverage achieved with one stroke of my perfect match 02. It blends to a matte soft finish, with this and your foundation in place blemishes should be near invisible. Good, right?

Bright red ink is all but covered in one simple stroke

Like the Lipstick Novums from the Decorative range, Pure Care Cover Sticks are blended with natural waxes so they’re pleasantly scented (With the lippies it’s lavender (a joy to use) and this time it’s a slight woody aroma) they almost melt into the skin and prevent dryness associated with healing blemishes.

I’ve said before that I love the ethos behind the Dr Hauschka brand; their natural approach to everyday skin care problems is hugely refreshing in a world of chemical solutions. The fact that this product not only gives you flawless coverage but works to treat your skin and gently heal problem areas makes it a winner in my book.

Priced at €16.95 the Pure Care Cover Sticks are part of the Dr Haushcka Skin Care Range that is stocked in selected Health Stores, Pharmacies, Avoca & Harvey Nics, though if none of the above suit you, there’s a full list of stockists on www.drhauschkaireland.ie.