To say i was a bit naughty the other day is putting it mildly! It was payday and i decided i deserved a treat! So i logged myself on to MUA's website
http://www.muastore.co.uk/ and made a few purchases! For the purpose of everyone interested in these products, please see my reviews below… (also available through Superdrug
http://www.superdrug.com/events-2011/mua-makeup-academy-introducing-our-new-ps1-make-up-range-exclusive/page/muamakeupacademy
currently on a 3 for 2…)
Apologies in advance for the epic review!
Fashionista Supermodel Length Mascara - Ultra Black £1.50
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/fashionista-supermodel-length-mascara-ultra-black
“Specially formulated with a clever multi-comb wand that transfers lash-like fibres, this innovative mascara is intensely glossy and adds impressive length and definition to your lashes, for sky-scraping length.”
I would say this mascara doesn’t give you a false lash look, it lengthens and separates well, very black, need a good few coats and it has the plastic short comb applicator – which I’m not a massive fan of. However, it’s a great everyday mascara.
MUA Luxe Power Brown - Dark Brown £3.00
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/mua-luxe-power-brow
“Groom you way to perfection with the MUa Luxe Power Brow, a 2 in 1 shape and highlighter pen. Apply the shade using one side of the pen, and finish with the highlighter under the arch to give eyes and instant lift.”
This is a complete must have – I love it! A new take on the eyebrow pencil. I’ve been pencilling in my eyebrows for years to give them that HD effect, prior to this I used the standard Rimmel pencil that you sharpen. This, requires no sharpening, just a simple twist, and bobs your uncle! It stays put, is quite waxy, and the under arch highlighter adds a touch of glimmer to your eyebrows which really helps the HD effect.
Intense Glosses - Kiss and Tell £2.00
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/intense-glosses-kiss-and-tell
“The newest lip gloss in the MUA range! Intense Kisses lip gloss £2 each. They are sealed with a kiss in a high-intensity gloss which comes in a wide range of bold colours adds just the right amount of glamour to lips whether you're strutting down the street or the red carpet. Wear alone or over your favourite MUA lipstick colour for gorgeous kissable lip effect. Now it's time to pucker those lips up and get kissing away with your new intense MUA kiss lipgloss... MWAH!”
It is a very pigmented lip gloss, a bit like a liquid lipstick. Glides on smoothly to apply, and stays put for hours. Beautiful solid colour, perfect for the party season!
Fashionista Vanishing Cream £3.00
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/fashionista-secret-vanishing-cream
“Skin re-texturing primer to vanish lines and pores”
This is my first time using a primer. At 31 I have started noticing a few lines around my eyes so I thought I would try this out. The primer comes in a little pot and is almost that a jelly/creamy texture. I not quite sure if it hid any lines, but it certainly helped keep my foundation in place.
Fashionista Foundation – Nude £3.00
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/fashionista-foundation-nude
“Luminous Foundation makes your skin appear radiantly healthy and flawless”
I would say this foundation is on par with MAC Pro LongWear £25.00. Its deliciously creamy, lightweight, but offers a medium coverage. Doesn’t feel cakey in the slightest. I will certainly be buying this again, and won’t be paying MAC prices for foundation anymore!
F4 Powder Brush £3.75
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/f4-powder-brush
“All-purpose for bronzer, blush and face powder. Full and dense for dusting pressed powder and bronzer on face or body with soft synthetic fibres that form a full, rounded shape that glides effortlessly over skin to achieve the perfect finish. Dip F4 into the powder and swirl. Don't press hard or gunk up your brush with tons of powder. Tap the brush on the side of the container to shake off excess powder. Brush powder onto face using light pressure. Use a small circular motion for the best possible coverage. Start at the jaw line and work your way in to the nose area. Then move to the chin area and the forehead. Apply a small amount of powder to the neck area to create a natural, finished look. Don't forget this step or your face may end up looking like it's a different shade than your neck, especially if you use a darker shade of powder. Cruelty free, Synthetic brushes suitable for all skin types!”
A great brush for putting on your translucent powder. And it doesn’t shed any hairs – fab! Will be getting more of the brushes in this range. Great price compared to other brands.
Secret Gel Eyeliner - Fashion Mogul (black) £1.50
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/secret-gel-eyeliner-fashion-mogul
“This gel eyeliner comes in 13 colours which compliment the eyeshadows and have a unique precision brush held in the cap - it doesn't smudge and lasts all day!”
I have been using the Maybelline gel eyeliner for as long as I can remember. I wear black eyeliner everyday. At £1.50 I thought this deserved a go! Its super easy to apply, isn’t too wet and dries quickly. The black colour stays black all day, and I haven’t managed to smudge it yet. The brush goes into the cap of the pot so therefore your makeup bag doesn’t get covered in eyeliner like the Maybelline brush! Very creamy and very pigmented.
Fashionista Blusher – Glowing £1.65
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/fashionista-blusher-glowing
“15 amazing shades to suit everyone. They are really soft and pretty, apply to the apples of the cheeks”
A lovely blusher, that gives a really healthy glow to the cheeks – a bit like when you come in from the cold. Highly pigmented – less is more!! The circle of blush is quite a small amount but for £1.65 who cares!
12 Shade Undressed Palette £4.00
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/12-shade-undressed-palette
“A fabulous addition to the MUA Palette family, this one is the ultimate must have. It has a great combination of nude shimmers and mattes and the colour selection is great for creating this season’s clean, natural look with highly pigmented colours. Undressed is bang on trend with the spring summer runway filled with nude makeup looks.”
This is a beautiful palette which reminded me as excellent dupe for the Urban Decay Naked Palette. Stunning natural colours, really natural and pretty, perfect for day time wear. Really does give Urban Decay a run for their money!
12 Shade Dusk til Dawn Palette £4.00
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/12-shade-dusk-til-dawn-palette
“Dusk till Dawn is a highly pigmented eye shadow palette that has 12 shimmer shades. This stunning palette contains strong and deep shades as well as natural shades which allow one to uncover their hidden fantasies. Each shade can be applied alone for a dramatic effect or mixed to create a natural look”
Amazing pigmentation in this palette, long lasting and gorgeous! Some serious heavy smokey eye combos here, as well as some great brights. Still can’t get over the £4 price tag – well done MUA!
Sheer Lip Gloss - Let's Meet £1.00
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/sheer-lip-gloss-let-s-meet
“A moisturising sheer lip-gloss in eight wearable shades with just a touch of sheer colour for an irresistible shine in a squeezable tube applicator to provide a smooth and easy application with a sweet scent”
This is a very sheer colour gloss, almost translucent, very nude, but lovely still. Would be great if you were going super heavy on the eyes, or wearing a bright colour. Lovely.
Matte Lipstick - Totally Nude £1.00
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/matte-lipstick-totally-nude
“Totally nude colour glides over lips to give a soft matte finish”
A simple nude colour lipstick which is perfect for everyday wear. Wouldn’t say it was matte matte if you know what I mean, but a great staple.
Matte Lipstick - Wild Berry £1.00
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/matte-lipstick-wild-berry
“Bold berry colour glides over lips to give a soft matte-satin finish”
Gorgeous colour, and nowhere near as dark as the picture on line. Has a satiny finish and is a lovely berry colour, just not the dark purple as advertised. Lovely Winter/Autumn shade.
Prior to the above purchases, I already had the following:
BB Foundation – Medium £4.00
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/bb-foundation-medium
“Inspired by Asian Beauty Balms, our brand new MUA BB Foundation is a full coverage foundation containing a multi-functional formula that conceals, brightens and evens out skin tone for a perfect complexion. Its great range of shades will adapt to suit all skin tones. Apply with a big dense brush and buff into the skin for the perfect flawless finish. Easily the hottest and best product in your handbag – it’s the perfect size too! It comes in three shades, light, medium and dark – all new tones developed for the BB Foundation. With its adapting technologies, you’re sure to find a tone to suit you”
This a lovely BB cream, light coverage, evens out skin tone, I’d say more of a tinted moisturiser, good if you are going for a more natural look. Good colour, matches skin tone and doesn’t go orange.
Matte Perfect Loose Translucent Powder - £2.30
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/matte-perfect-loose-translucent-powder
“Make-up Academy’s Matte Perfect Loose Translucent Powder is an extremely lightweight sheer and silky setting powder. This finely milled loose powder fixes your foundation in place, perfect for minimizing oiliness and unwanted shine. The micro fine featherweight texture means that it never looks powdery or feels heavy over foundation. It disappears on the skin brightening up your make up whilst keeping it in place throughout the day.”
Get your F4 brush out! Right, this is not a translucent powder, it has a slight colour to it, (translucent powders I’ve used in the past have always been white) However, this is a really good powder. Sets foundation really well, matte, no shine, natural and not heavy. It’s a winner, and you get a lot of powder in the tub.
Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder - £3.00
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/undress-your-skin-highlighting-powder
“Undress your Skin Highlighting Powder is a lightweight baked powder designed to provide sheer coverage and a radiant soft-focus effect to transform your complexion with luminescence shimmer. The Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder perfects any look by creating a natural, healthy glow that is suitable for all skin tones.”
I’m a massive fan of Benefits High Beam and use that religiously under my blusher. But as always on the lookout for good cheaper alternatives, I thought I would give this a go. Where you would put high beam under your blusher, you would layer this on top. It makes your face glow! I had so many compliments on this product, its beautiful, a gorgeous frosty pink, perfect for winter. I hate to say it, but it is far more effective than High Beam! You get a lot of product, the size of a regular powder compact. It is so popular, it is always sold out! Glad I got mine when I did!
Cover and Conceal wand - Fair £1.50
http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/cover-and-conceal-wand
“Lightweight cover-up for imperfections with a smooth flawless finish Conceal imperfections, under-eye circles, spots on the face with this concealer wand. The creamy lightweight texture which blends in to create that flawless finish with a natural coverage that lasts all day.”
Smooth, creamy concealer that I use to lighten up the dark circles under my eyes, it lasts pretty well, covers dark circles and has a nice consistency.
All in all, I love the MUA range, it is affordable and it compares and sometimes beats the leading brands – what’s not to try!
Jx
