*FYI, this swatch photo looks a tad washed out,
the lipstick is the slightest bit brighter in real life
Forbidden Flower is a peachy cream color. It’s rich and creamy with a soft fig scent. It looks orangey in the tube sometimes, but doesn’t go on orangey at all. It’s a soft peachy-coral. I find it works best when applied from the tube directly on the lips, blotted, then reapplied. Otherwise it can look a bit streaky. Blending with a lip brush helps too. Still love it. I got mine from Bergdorf Goodman in NY. The ladies there are fabulous and very helpful. So is Edward 🙂
See my other Edward Bess Lipsticks here. I’ve done a few other lip swatches with Pure Impulse + Soft Whisper, Bare Rose Lipgloss and Forever Yours. You can get a better idea of my skintone by checking my foundation swatches (see sidebar). I’m a Chanel Shell Teint Innocence in the liquid formula.
Edward Bess products can also be purchased on EdwardBess.com.
It seems many of my recent purchases have been inspired by others. The new Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams $22 (from Sephora) are no different. This post I dedicate to Lakshmi. She had her eyes on these as soon as they came online and e-mailed me “gorgeous taupe eyeshadow alert!” the moment her Sephora received their shipment. I immediately went to Sephora the following week to check them out and my first try, I was not impressed. I’m not sure if it was just the questionable sanitary tester conditions, poor lighting, or use of my fingers that had me leaving empty handed. The first time I tried it, it didn’t blend well and looked extremely muddy on the eyes.
However, after getting more info from Lakshmi and reading Karla’s post about her swatch adventures with the MUFE Aqua Creams, I decided to try it once more. I have to say I agree with Karla that applying with fingers isn’t the best way to apply them. Spreading the color on the eye with my finger leaves an uneven application since it sets fast and doesn’t blend well. It applies much better when you use a brush. I used my MAC 242 and Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Brush (one on each eye today) and I can definitely see a difference in the application.
Those not familiar with MUFE Aqua Creams – they are a new high pigmented cream shadow that is long-wearing and waterproof. I can’t attest to the waterproof part. I have tried their Aqua Lip Liner in 1C and I can’t say that it was longlasting. However the Aqua Creams do indeed last a long time without fading. Right now they are a Sephora Exclusive in the U.S. When I was at Sephora, the sales rep told me he recommended that I apply with a brush in thin layers. He said the pigmentation/texture of the cream was such that if you apply too much at first, you will get a cakey layer that will crack when dry. I’m not sure if this is true or not, but his input/advice did make sense.
I ended up coming home with #13 Warm Beige (which is a pale champagne pink) and #15 Taupe (a shimmery taupe):
I tried #2 Steel at Sephora with a Q-Tip applicator and it lasted from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm without any smudging or fading. The only reason it came off was because I removed it in the shower. I passed on it at the store because it seemed similar to Bobbi Brown Galaxy (which I don’t find myself wearing frequently). I wasn’t able to compare it side by side, but knew I most likely wouldn’t use it a lot.
Those wondering, I swatch tested a few shades meant for cheeks. I personally didn’t see how it was possible to blend them on the cheeks since it’s a bit tricky for me to apply on the eyes. Some of the colors are stunning, but the texture seems too thick to be able to blend well for a natural blush.
I’ve been eyeing the Paul & Joe Eye Glosses for over a year and finally decided to purchase them to try them out. Another lemming-inspired purchase influenced by bloggers I adore and trust. I am a skeptic by nature and for me reviews are sometimes hard to decipher. We all have different tastes, opinions, and preferences, so what works for some might not be my cup of tea. I don’t have immediate access to Paul & Joe in person, so these reviews gave me a good idea of what to expect. Each have their own unique style, but there are multiple items they’ve reviewed on occasion that I love, so I found their perspective and descriptions extremely helpful. Check out their reviews:
Lotus Palace’s review of Halo 04 + eye swatch here
Josie’s review of Celestial 01 and Murmur 05 + swatches here
Gaia’s review of Moonlight 03 and Murmur 05 + swatches here
The Eye Glosses retail for $24 each and come in a tube with a sponge tipped application with a whipped gel type of formula. My picks from Beautyhabit (online) & Bergdorfs (instore) in 01 Celestial (sparkling pale gold), 04 Halo (light frosted cool pink), and 05 Murmur (shimmering grey-taupe) are shown below:
The first one I played with was Murmur 05, a shimmering grey-taupe. It took some experimenting before I could get the application right. My first tries left me with either a finish that was too sheer or lop-sided (because they dry pretty fast). I found this one works best when applied in light layers. They dry and set pretty fast once brushed onto the eyelid, so I had to use my cream eyeshadow brush to apply in quick strokes blending fast. I like this one just by itself with mascara.
Next, I tried Celestial 01, a super sparkly pale gold. When it comes to shimmer, we all have our own personal preference for how much shimmer we feel comfortable with. I have to say this one is a lovely shade of pale gold, but the sparkle factor is extremely intense! Gaia from The Non-Blonde described it perfectly when she says it’s more for date night. We have similar tastes in brands and products, just typically pick colors on different ends of the spectrum. I’m all about shimmer, but I’m pushing 30 and this seems a bit over the top for conservative-me. It’s borderline glittery. Gorgeous, but it’s definitely out of my comfort zone.
Halo 04 was the last one I tried out, a cool pale pink shimmer. It’s sparkly as well, but the finish is less glittery than Celestial. This one blends to a lovely pink shimmer wash.
So the verdict – I like the packaging and the lasting power. They dry fast, but once they are set, they stay put. Murmur is lovely when layered properly on the eye and is subtle enough for everyday wear. Halo and Celestial are a few notches up in the shimmer factor. I think these are better suited for going out. I could possibly wear Halo (the pink one) for every day, but only when applied with a light hand.
If you’ve tried these – what are your thoughts? Are there any other colors you feel are must-haves or must-try-outs? If you’ve reviewed it feel free to link in the comments below 🙂
Or if you have any suggestions on what you coordinate with these I’m all ears!
*FYI, this swatch photo looks a tad washed out,
