WOC Friendly Makeup: Make Up For Ever Review (Skin)

Hi lovelies! I’m starting a new series called WOC Friendly Makeup to showcase brands that have a good range of makeup shades for all women of color. I wanted to do this for spring/summer since a lot of us have to buy darker shades of makeup to match our ‘summer complexion’ and things get even trickier. Make Up For Ever was kind enough to send me products for review, so the first few posts in this series will be on their products.

First up… skin products!

I got to try three foundations: the ULTRA HD Stick Foundation, Mat Velvet + Foundation, and the Water Blend Foundation. They each have their pros and cons depending on what your personal needs are. For me, I like a mattifying foundation in the summer, but on cooler spring days, I like going for a dewy look.

You can actually tell which foundation is which before they’re even blended out. The top is the Ultra HD Stick Foundation, with the Mat Velvet + Foundation underneath it, and the Water Blend Foundation on the bottom. For reference, my winter shade is normally a NC42 in MAC, and my summer shade as of late has been ‘Mocha’ in TooFaced’s Born This Way foundation.

ULTRA HD Stick Foundation in Y375 (Golden Sand): 4.5/5 
This was my first time trying stick foundation, and it’s definitely my pick for spring and summer travel. You can pack it in your purse, carry-on, what have you – without fuss. It’s not as easy to blend as liquid foundation, which is a tiny bit of a hassle when you want more coverage and need to add a layer or two, which is why I took off half a point, but other than that it’s great! When blended, it looks really natural; it makes your skin look flawless without looking like you have two layers of foundation on. This shade in particular would be my winter color, so I would probably use it as more of a cream highlighter than anything else in the summer.

Mat Velvet + Foundation in 70 (Caramel): 10/5
Yes…you read that correctly. The Mat Velvet + Foundation gets a 10/5. I am obsessed. From the second that I put it on my face, I fell in love. This was my first time trying an exclusively matte foundation, and I really like the formula. One layer is perfectly smoothing for my skin, and the fact that it’s oil-free wants me to sing about it from the rooftops. All of my WOC who live in tropical climates, don’t sleep on this one! Try it ASAP! I have yet to layer it for the velvety finish, but that’s an option as well.

Water Blend Foundation in Y445 (Amber): 5/5
For a more dewy look, I would definitely recommend the Water Blend Foundation. You can tell from my swatches exactly which one this foundation is. The MUFE website describes this foundation as having a satin finish, which I think is pretty accurate. When I applied it to my face, it felt so silky and smooth and blended really, really well. It’s perfect for the no makeup makeup look, and it’s easily become my favorite foundation to wear on days where I want the whole Beyonce ‘I woke up like this’ look.

 From top to bottom, these products are the Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer in 10 (Caramel), and the Ultra HD Concealer in R50 (Orange) and Y49 (Amber).

Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer in 10 (Caramel): 4.5/5
The purpose of this primer in particular is to enhance dark skin. It would be a little too much for me to use in the winter, but perfect for warmer months. I like to use it as a base for the Water Blend Foundation to add to that dewy effect, and it definitely does hydrate the skin as well as take away any dullness. It comes in yellow for tanned skin and mauve for yellow dark skin, so the shade range is pretty solid. There are also primers that are mattifying, smoothing, hydrating, etc. depending on your needs.

I was also sent the Ultra HD Skin Booster (not pictured) that I blend with my foundation when I don’t want to use a heavy primer. It gives a really nice glow without being overpowering.

Ultra HD Concealer in R50 (Orange) and Y49 (Amber): 5/5
The thing that first attracted me to MUFE was their concealer, and it’s been my holy grail for the past couple of years, so I knew these two would be amazing. The orange concealer I use for the dark circles under my eyes, and it is a lifesaver on the days that I don’t get enough sleep. The darker concealer I use for my blemishes, and it camouflages them completely. I actually use the concealer by itself on days that I don’t wear foundation because it blends so well into my skin.

Every product I tried was a winner, but you definitely want to make sure you’re getting the best formula for your skin type or your specific needs. You can purchase them directly from MUFE’s website, or you can stop by Sephora to find your shade match. What I really like about their foundations and concealers is that there are about twenty shades total, half of which are WOC-friendly. I personally have a problem with products being too orange for me when I’m not out in the sun all the time, but Make Up For Ever’s range has so many options.

Disclaimer: Although I was sent products for review, all opinions are 100% my own.