As with all of their launches, Make Up For Ever has gone all out with their lipstick line re-launch. With a range of 45 shades in matte and cream finishes, you’re sure to find a colour that works for you! (And they’ve got a single shade that they claim works for everyone!)

The new lipsticks are called Artist Rouge (the line before was called Rouge Artist, so they’ve really just flipped the words around) and all come in similar packaging: a sleek black tube with a silver rim. That silver rim actually helps you get a grip on the tube which means an easy open/close mechanism.

Once you yank the top off, the brand’s logo is embossed on the side of the brushed-metal insert wrapped around the tube. It’s a simple and yet interesting design because it keeps the brand name completely obscured until you pull that top off!

The two shades I got to try out were a M401 (a matte red shade that is apparently limited edition) and C211 (rose wood – this is the shade they say works for everyone). Their method of identification is fairly easy to follow: M for matte and C for a cream finish (errr… okay maybe not. I’m looking at Sephora’s web site and it says it’s not a cream finish but a satin one. I completely disagree with that though. These are definitely creams).

The Artist Rouge bullets are unlike any other shape I’ve ever seen. They come to a very angular-pointed tip which can help with initial application of the lipstick. Of course, as you wear the bullet down, that shape will disappear, but since the slant is quite sharp, you will have that shape for a long time.

Swatched out, you can see that C211 is definitely a cream with a glorious soft sheen to it. M401 is definitely matte, but there is an edge to it that keeps the lipstick from being completely flat matte.

My Thoughts

Before I get on to the amazingness that is this range of Artist Rouge lipsticks, I need to make one very small point in regards to this formula that some people may find helpful. As I have mentioned before, I am *exceptionally* sensitive to scented lipsticks. With Make Up For Ever‘s previous range of lipsticks I was so completely turned off by the scent of them that I found them utterly impossible to wear. With the new Artist Rouge lipsticks, the scent of them is definitely diminished in comparison to the old formula, but there is still a hint of some kind of plastic scent. My cream finish definitely smells a bit more in comparison to the matte. That isn’t to say it’s overpowering – it’s not – but I know some people are as sensitive as I am to this, so I just wanted to mention it.

With that out of the way, let’s get on to the good stuff! The Artist Rouge lipsticks pack an incredible amount of pigment punch. The colours I tried are luxurious and easy to wear. Obviously, the cream has more slip to it than the matte shade does, but they are both easy to apply and wear well. The matte doesn’t feel dehydrating on the lips (always a bonus), but it also doesn’t feel like those silicone-y matte formulas (which I do love, but I’m just saying that this feels different).

While Make Up For Ever does have your standard reds, pinks and nudes in this range, they also have some exciting random shades such as a midnight blue, a pale lavender, an electric pale blue and an aqua shade. Oh and a BLACK!

Let me know if you’ve tried the Artist Rouge line out! I’d also be curious to hear if you’re sensitive to scents in your lipsticks as well. 🙂

The Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipsticks can be purchased on sephora.ca for $27 CAD or on sephora.com for $22 USD.

The products featured in this post were sent to me for consideration.

It’s pretty rare that I like a foundation right out of the gate, and even moreso continue to like it after several weeks of testing it. But when you decide to wear that a particular foundation to your cousin’s wedding – well… that’s when you know it’s up to snuff!

And that foundation is Make Up For Ever‘s new Water Blend foundation for face and body!

Water Blend is a “a lightweight, water-gel, face and body foundation that provides sheer to buildable coverage with a natural-looking, dewy glow and [a] flawless finish”. It’s formulated with 80% water, so you will need to shake this thoroughly before you use it on your face.

Let’s cover a few things right out of the gate. This is a sheer coverage foundation that can be built up for extra coverage, but, because of the consistency, I really don’t feel like you’re ever going to get true full coverage (and really, why would you buy something labeled sheer if you wanted full coverage anyway?). For me, sheer coverage is what I look for in foundations so I was really happy to find that this not only promised that, but delivered it as well. Water Blend gives me an even skin tone without looking cakey or thick. And that’s the best part – this foundation does promise natural coverage and it delivers! (Face shots just below.)

Although I can appear quite pink-toned on my face, I like using yellow based foundations to counteract my pinkness and honestly I think it just brings me up to a more neutral level of skin tone. Y225 (Marble) is a winter shade for me, whereas Y245 (Soft Sand) is more of a summer colour (and I use the same colours in their Ultra HD formula as well). I found it had a bit of a gloopy/gelatinous feel when pumped onto my hand and that it applied best with a damp sponge. I also liked it best when applied without a primer, which is kind of unusual for me since I usually get “itchy face syndrome” (yes, I made that up) when I wear foundation without a primer. No such problem with this one!

This is one layer of Water Blend applies to my face. You can see it evened out my skin tone, but it’s still letting my freckles shine through. It won’t cover deeper redness (for example, around my nostrils) – you’d need a concealer for that if you’re looking for that kind of coverage.

Wearing full makeup with Water Blend as my foundation. Tutorial on this look coming to my YouTube channel tomorrow! – here’s the link!

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And this was me wearing at it at my cousin’s wedding with my shitty front facing phone cam!

Final Thoughts

On me, I feel this foundation is flawless – it really, REALLY does not look makeup at all.. It’s one of the most lightweight, comfortable foundations I’ve ever worn. (It is also *very* reminiscent of Bourjois’ Healthy Mix Serum which has been a longstanding favourite of mine.) It also lasts and entire work day (7:30 am – 5:00 pm), doesn’t make me look or feel extra greasy and it didn’t build up or cake into my forehead lines or around my nose (almost completely unheard for me!).

I was also astounded to find that it did not transfer to a tissue. One of my habits when testing a foundation is to touch my face halfway throughout the work day with a piece of tissue just to see if any product comes off. In general, every foundation has left some kind of residue on the tissue – EXCEPT THIS ONE. What kind of witchcraft has Make Up For Ever done with this foundation??Although the price is a little elevated on this foundation compared to their Ultra HD, keep in mind that you’re actually getting more than your average amount. A typical bottle of foundation is 30ml/1 ounce, Water Blend has 45ml/1.5 ounces of product!

If you couldn’t already tell – I’m in love. Water Blend has completely knocked it out of the park for me!

You can buy Make Up For Ever‘s Water Blend foundation at sephora.ca for $54 CAD or on sephora.com for $43 USD.

The products featured in this review were sent to me for consideration.