Beauty Obsessed

A couple weeks ago I received Make Up For Ever’s HD Complexion Starter Kit ($89CAD), and I have been giving it the good ol’ college try over the Holidays to see how it performed.  Each product in the kit is designed to create a ‘soft focus’ effect, so that imperfections are concealed and blurred so they’re less visible.  You may remember that I reviewed the Wild and Chic Best Of Make Up For Ever set back in November, which included the HD Microfinish Powder and the HD Microperfecting Primer – both are in the Complexion Starter kit, along with a great Kabuki brush, and your matching HD Invisible Cover Foundation shade, which you choose yourself.  As I have never tried the HD foundation, I was unsure which shade to choose.  I sent a photo of myself to the MUFE color experts, and they chose my shade, #155 (a medium beige), based on that.  Happily, the shade matches (that’s what I call impressive!).  Excitingly, they’ve also launched an interactive shade finder tool so that you can find your perfect shade in a similar fashion: www.hd.makeupforeverusa.com/shadefinder.  This was created due to the fact that so many women are afraid to buy foundation online for the first time because they don’t know what shade they are – been there, SO done that!  I’ve read conflicting reviews online about the HD Foundation, so I was a bit apprehensive initially.  While some people swear by it, others seemed to swear…at it, truth be told.  Being the good little beauty addict that I am, I made sure to read all about how to use it before moving ahead, as I find sometimes *but not always!* poor reviews can be due to incorrect use of a product (“It said to leave it on for 10 minutes, so I left it on for 30 and it burnt my face!  This product SUX!!”). The recommended process is to start with a dime-size dollop of primer, smoothing it gently all over your face with your fingers or a sponge in a downward motion.  Once it sets (in a few minutes), apply the HD foundation, again with fingers or a brush – only a small amount is needed to cover the entire face.  Lastly, apply a small amount of the HD powder all-over with the kabuki brush.  Of course, you can use any of these products separately but obviously will get the best effect with all three. I tried very hard to take photos of my face wearing this foundation, but unfortunately once again, my photography skills (and my camera’s abilities) fell short and it just wouldn’t showcase the foundation and the coverage properly.  Also, as my skin is relatively clear of blemishes or other marks that needs coverage, it’s hard to display it’s effectiveness well.

Barring these shortcomings, here are my thoughts:  After reading several reviews in which people complained it made their skin look oily, I thought the culprit could be using too much product – as it’s clearly specified that only a small amount is necessary.  I personally found that it did NOT make my skin oily at all, and in fact made the two dry patches I have on my forehead a touch dry, if anything.  Additionally, using the HD primer, which nourishes and moisturizes, helped to balance my skin so that the foundation wore better – which helped smooth over rough patches and create a better canvas for foundation.  The difference maker of the three products though, is still the HD powder (and now the kabuki brush – oh my goodness this brush is AWESOME!) – instantly my skin looks flawless  – poreless and smooth.  I know some people are nervous about this product, but I still find it’s very effective and has become a staple in my every day routine.  And I haven’t had ANY mishaps with visible whiteness showing up in photos!Ultimately, I feel that these products can yield wonderful results – if you’re willing to take the time to use them properly.  Not that it takes more time, necessarily, but just learning how to use them and then adhering to the process makes for an infinitely better experience.  Of course, if you don’t want to have to fuss and just want to throw on a foundation and go, then this might not be the system for you – and that’s perfectly legitimate.  But if you’re looking for a flawless finish, I definitely recommend at least trying this regime out – I think it’s worth a chance!

Have you tried any of the MUFE HD products? What are your own feelings on them – love ‘em or hate ‘em?  Are you willing to spend a bit of time in order to look your best?

*The products in this post were provided to me by the PR company/brand.