Make Up For Ever Chromatic Mix Oil Base 15 Brown

 

 

   If you're an NW45 like me (or darker) you know there are no shortages of foundations that are lighter then our skin tone, especially when it comes to the Drug Store. This is something that Maybelline continues to do. The darkest shades of their foundations are always a touch too light or too golden for my skin tone.

   I decided to give up on the drug store and start buying high end foundations. While I was browsing the Sephora website I happened upon the Make Up Forever Chromatic Mixes. After trying to figure out which colour would safely deepen my foundation without making it too grey I settled on the brown (Sephora Canada says they're online only but I found mine in-store so check your local Sephora if you're interested in buying) I picked the oil base because MUFE says the oil based one is meant for foundations with oil or silicone bases and all of my foundations are silicone based.

     This Chromatic Mix retails for $17 for 13ml at Sephora. MUFE's claims: Chromatic Mix is a liquid pigment that can be mixed with any type of oil or water product base to create your perfect color, and meet each and every need.

Here's the Ingredients List because I couldn't find one online: Aqua (water), Cyclopentasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Neopentyl, Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Talc, Mica, C1 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), Phenyl Trimethicone, C1 77491 (Iron Oxides), Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Lauroyl Lysine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Methyylpropanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Myristoyl, Glutamate, Chlorphenesin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Hydrolyzed Yeast Protein, Propylene Carbonate, Biosaccharide  Gum-1, Parfum (Fragrance), Butylene Glycol, Benzyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Benzoic Acid.

    I was afraid the brown wouldn't be deep enough but it's really perfect. Brown is a pigmented, cool chocolate brown. It's deeper then my natural skin tone so it'll work great with all of the foundations that are too light. The texture is thick and creamy and the liquid is incredibly pigmented. The bottle and amount of product seems small but the product is incredibly pigmented so you don't actually need a lot to adjust your foundation.

    It mixes very well with my foundations without changing the texture or the finish. I haven't worn it long enough to test it's longevity but I will update this post with the results later on.

   

 

   The foundation I used here was Maybelline's Better Skin Foundation in #95 Coconut. The top swatch is the foundation mixed with a single drop of the MUFE Chromatic Mix in Brown. The bottom swatch is the foundation just by itself. As you can see the foundation in the top swatch is much cooler and darker while the bottom swatch is very yellow and lighter.

   So all in all this pigment does exactly what it I wanted it to; to adapt my foundations and give me a better fit. Now I don't have to buy a new foundation when the summer comes back and I can try a couple drug store foundations that I ruled out as being too light (like Maybelline's Matte + Poreless!)

 

Likes:

 

1. Perfectly adapts my foundations

2. Doesn't change the texture or the finish

3. Not too expensive

4. Very pigmented

 

Dislikes:

 

1. I'd like a larger size!

 

 

A+

Beauty Empties #3

 

    I didn't have to wait long to accumulate these empties! Usually I keep my empties for more then a month to make sure I have enough to show you guys but this is just for September. Looks like I had a very productive month.

1. Softsoap Spring LE French Macaron Body Wash: I mainly bought this because I'm in love with French Macaroons (isn't everyone?) but this doesn't smell anything like macarons. In fact it smelt exactly like Softsoap's usual Milk and Honey body wash. It's a nice body wash - moisturizing, creamy, doesn't dry out your skin - but I wouldn't purchase this again.

2. L'Oreal Sublime Soft Micellar water: I review this micellar water every time I have an empties post. I definitely adore this micellar water and I can't wait 'til it goes on sale so I can stock up!

3. Olay Essentials Sensitive Skin Lotion: I was using this lotion as a night cream and I didn't really like it. It was hydrating but didn't afford me the deep hydration I want for night time.

4. Clean and Clear Brightening Cleanser: I said I wouldn't buy this cleanser again but there it is! My mom accidentally bought it and she lost the receipt so we didn't bother trying to bring it back. I like how well it removes makeup but it's a drying cleanser that's full of extra additives for those colourful bursting beads that don't do anything. This cleanser doesn't brighten my skin at all. I'm not repurchasing this.

5. Sephora Sleeping Masks (Honey, Lotus and Rose): These are absolutely fantastic. At five dollars a pop and a generous size (I get 7 uses out of each mask) these are my favourite skin care pick me ups. I love how fresh and hydrated my skin feels when I wake up. And they don't stain my pillow or make my face sticky! I've even noticed a slight decrease in my t-zone oil thanks to these. These all had similar effects on my face; nice dose of hydration and a boost of evenness and radiance the next morning.

6. St. Ives Even and Bright Scrub with Pink Lemon and Mandarin: This is a nice scrub with a nice smell. I like a more abrasive scrub to really buff away dry skin and clogged pores. My skin always looks more even after I use this scrub, but the effects are temporary and very fleeting.

7. Degree Women Dry Spray in Clean: Great spray deodorant. It didn't feel like it was working - I'm used to my stick deodorant - but it really works. It kept me dry and smelling great. And it lasted me nine weeks - and I used it daily - so it served a good purpose.

8. Thayer's Unscented Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Toner: Great toner, horrific smell. Smells like Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB cream which smelt sour and acidic. I loved how hydrating and refreshing this toner is. I loved it so much I purchased the Rose Petal version of this toner to use.

9. Mane 'n' Tail Carrot Oil Crème: This is such a nice leave-in conditioner. In the summer my hair was texturized and I used this to hydrate my thirsty hair. It smells so delicious; exactly like carrot cake. It's got this hydrating, light texture that didn't weigh down my strands or cause them to revert. But lately I haven't been able to find the crème in stores but when I do find it, I will repurchase it!

10. Clean and Clear Deep Action Cream Cleanser for Sensitive Skin: It's a nice cream cleanser but nothing revolutionary. Didn't leave my skin as dry as a foaming cleanser but didn't leave my skin as comfortable as well as my current cleanser (Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Foaming cleanser). I won't repurchase this.

11. Now Solutions Sweet Almond Oil: This oil was a gateway oil for me into the world of oils. I bought this back in 2014 and it's lasted me until now. This is an excellent oil that feels so silky on the skin and didn't break me out when I used it on my face. I used it as a moisturizer on my extra dry bits, as an all over body moisturizer, as a moisturizing treat for the bath, as an ingredient in my DIY leave-in conditioner sprays, and the list goes on. Definitely going to repurchase a bottle of this stuff.

12. Maybelline Dream Wonder Liquid Touch Foundation in 90 Coconut: I bought this foundation in the winter and it worked well for me because I was paler then I am right now. I reviewed this foundation here. I liked how light this foundation was and how well it blended in but it really dried out my skin with prolonged used because of the alcohol denat in there. Wouldn't buy it again.

13. Hask Hair Oil in Keratin (Silver Cap) and Monoi (Peach Cap): These saved my hair this summer. I used this as a daily treatment when my hair was out of braids and texturized. These vials of oil might look small but each one last me a full month (I used the monoi oil up to three times a week). You don't need a lot of oil to work it through your hair and that's what makes these vials last so long. I definitely loved the monoi oil more - smells exactly like pina colodas! - and it's not as drying as the Keratin protein one (which is good for strengthening but you're not supposed to use high protein hair products too often).

14. Bath and Body Works Pumpkin Pecan Waffle Nourishing Hand Cream (Fall 2014 LE): This was a great concept but I didn't realize how weird it was going to be to walk around with hands that smelt strongly of maple syrup! The texture on this hand cream was so rich and creamy but the smell drove me up the wall. This would've been better as a candle.

15. Live Clean Baby Shampoo and Wash: I picked up this little sample size to wash my makeup brushes and it did a fantastic job. Had a great smell and rinsed my brushes clean and left them soft. I don't like it as much as my Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo but it's a nice option.

16. Nyx Retractable Lip Liner in Cocoa: One of my favourite lip liners. I've got four of these stocked up. The tawny colour is just perfect for altering lipsticks. Love this colour and I love this formula. It's pigmented and glides on so creamy with a lovely matte finish. I will buy this liner as long as Nyx makes it.

17. Bath and Body Works Caribbean Escape Pocketbac: I really like the fresh, coconut smell of this pocketbac. I love having this on the go and using it to keep my hands clean.

18. Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara: This is my Holy Grail mascara. This is the fourth tube of this mascara that I've used. I love the small wand and how easy it is to maneuver on my lashes. The formula is so dark and smooth. This mascara just makes my lashes so plush and long.

19. Maybelline Baby Lips Crystal in Pink Quartz: My favourite baby lips ever. I love the slight pink flush and soft pearly shine it gave my lips. The smell is delicious too; like juicy raspberry. I wish it had SPF in it (and was a thicker and less greasy) then it would be my Holy Grail lip balm.

Sephora Collection Pearl Sheet Mask Review

So I decided to try some sheet masks and I picked up this one from Sephora. My main skincare concern right now is fading all of the dark spots on my cheeks left over from years of acne which is why I picked up the Pearl mask.

Claims from the Packaging: Mask enriched with natural origin white pearl; evens out skintone and helps minimize irregularities, stimulates skin for high luminosity, for skin that is even, fresh and brighter.

This mask retails for $8 at Sephora. It's steep for a one time use mask and I decided if I didn't see some serious results I wouldn't return to them. I mean The Face Shop sells actual Korean sheet masks for much less than this!

There are a whole bunch of other extracts in this mask like rice extract, mushroom extract, Madonna lily extract, broccoli extract, and lastly comes conchiolin powder which is the aforementioned pearl powder.

This mask has an odd, slightly raw smell that wasn't too bothersome as it went away after a while.

Here's the mask after I used it. It's really large! The sides extend to my ears and the part under the mouth goes right underneath my chin. But aside from that my face fit in fine. The mask is really soaked in serum when you take it out of the package.

When I put it on my face I felt a slight stinging sensation but as I continued to wear it, it was replaced with a very cool sensation. The package says I should leave it on for 15 minutes but I leave it on as long as I can. I left this mask on for an hour before bed and when I removed it my face looked more even! My dark marks looked slightly faded! After throwing out the mask, I poured out the remaining serum in the packet and smoothed it over my face and massaged the liquid into my face. The package says you don't have to rinse, so I didn't, I just waited until my face had dried enough for me to go to bed without soaking the pillow. While in bed I noticed my face was a little sticky so I splashed my face with some cold water, patted dry and went back to bed.

The left over serum is so hydrating I didn't feel the need to apply a night time moisturizer. When I woke up the next morning my skin looked great! Hydrated, even, and slightly more luminous then usual! This mask does work, it doesn't offer dramatic results but there is a difference I've noticed in my skin.

I wish I had known about sheet masks earlier because they're remarkably easy to use and give my skin such a nice boost. I love how hydrating his mask is on my skin!

Likes:

1. How much more even my skin became
2. How easy it is to use
3. How hydrating it is
4. Doubles as a night time moisturizer

Dislikes:

1. It stung my face so I'm worried about negative reactions
2. It's really expensive for a one time use mask
3. It smells raw

A-