As a makeup enthusiast with extremely fussy skin, I‘ve tested my fair share of foundations, concealers, primers and more over the last decade. My sensitive skin calls for formulas that glide smoothly, resist transfer, and don‘t clog pores or irritate easily. Suffice it to say, I have high standards when it comes to complexion products.
A few years back when prepping for my wedding, I sampled what felt like countless options for achieving that flawless, Airbrushed Filtered finish for photos. And hands down, Makeup Forever ended up being my holy grail across face, eyes and lips. Their Ultra HD and Matte Velvet foundations truly withstood my 12+ hour wear stint without fading, settling or budging. I ended up recommending to all my bridesmaids too!
Since then, I‘ve incorporated many more Makeup Forever favorites into my regular rotation and expanded to test their hundreds of eyeshadows, lipsticks and liners too. If perfecting finicky skin is your jam too, keep reading for my complete Makeup Forever review!
About Makeup Forever – A Quick Brand Overview
Before diving into product specifics, let‘s start with some background on the origins and approach behind Makeup Forever as a brand:
The Roots
Makeup Forever was founded in Paris in 1984 by renowned makeup artist Dany Sanz. Frustrated by the lack of quality cosmetics that could withstand long photo shoots and harsh lighting, Sanz set out to develop resilient formulas for working makeup pros.
The company quickly took off among fashion and entertainment artists for intense color payoff that endured runway shows, editorial shoots, filming and stage performances. Celebrities and models relied on their sweat-proof, transfer-resistant complexion and eye products that didn‘t smudge under hot camera lights.
The Philosophy
Even three decades later, Makeup Forever still focuses first and foremost on high-performance, longwear makeup. They believe true quality stems from how products hold up during wear – not non-functional frills and gimmicks.
The brand continues expanding beloved, artist-created lines while launching new innovations too. They aim to meet rising demand from pros for diverse shade ranges and camera-ready finishes. All while remaining at the forefront of specialty waterproof formulations.
By the Numbers
Here‘s a numerical snapshot of Makeup Forever‘s current scope and reach:
- 2,000+ makeup products across face, eyes, lips and tools
- 50 foundation shades readily in stock
- 400 Eyeshadow formulations when counting duos and palettes
- 140 Single pan eyeshadow colors to shop from
- 6.4 million Instagram followers and counting!
- 3,000+ Artists in their professional Makeup Collective
I don‘t know about you – but to me these stats signal some serious cosmetic authority! Now let‘s get into reviewing and swatching all my Makeup Forever favorites.
Breaking Down Makeup Forever‘s Most Popular Formulations
Between their bestsellers and my personal faves, I ended up sampling A LOT of Makeup Forever over the years as parts of my kit. From complexion to lips and liner, these selections continue wowing me with their resilience:
Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation
This featherlight fluid foundation earns endless praise for disappearing seamlessly into skin. The oil-free formula utilizes Light-Capturing Technology to instantly smooth. It contains hydrating hyaluronic acid spheres to perfect skin over time.
I love the Ultra HD for both the expansive shade range and the natural radiant finish. It never reads flat, dry or cakey even on my finicky combination skin. This foundation photographs like an Instagram filter in real life – poreless and subtly glowing.
The $43 price slides right in line with mid-tier luxury brands. Yet it yields camera-ready payoff that outperforms most prestige options. I‘d compare the lasting power and blurred appearance to Armani Luminous Silk – for less!
Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in Y245, Y335, Y445, Y545
Matte Velvet Skin Foundation
This beloved full coverage foundation lives up to its sweat proof, life-proof claims for those dealing with oiliness or hardcore activity. The potent matte formula harnesses Flexi-Fit and powder-coated pigments. This keeps even and shine-free from morning til night while allowing skin to breathe.
I love this for bridal trials and events requiring extra longevity. The texture and finish resemble the Fenty Pro Filt‘r Matte formula minus the strong drying effects. It helps stubborn t-zone oils and makeup meltdowns. Plus that substantial $38 price offers more coverage per drop than cheaper drugstore alternatives could ever yield!
Matte Velvet Skin Foundation in Y225, Y315, Y415, Y505
Aqua XL Eye Pencils
Stop your search for vibrant, waterline eyeliners right here. The Makeup Forever Aqua XL pencils check every box from intense color payoff to enduring wear. The ultra-pigmented formula glides like butter before setting firmly in place. We‘re talking zero smudges through sweat, humidity, tears or rain.
These make executing perfect graphic liner looks SO effortless. Pointed tips allow drawing the sharpest points and angles sans skips. And the array of matte, shimmer and sparkle finishes opens creative doors beyond standard black and brown.
I probably own…counts…seven of these babies at last check! They make me feel that put-together even on four hours sleep. If $21 seems steep, remember one lasts six times as long as drugstore pencils that constantly need re-application.
Aqua XL Eyeliner in M-0 (Green), I-20 (Purple), M-10 (Black)
Rouge Artist Lipsticks
Few bullet lipsticks that saturate lips in rich, opaque color also manage to keep them feeling soft and hydrated. Yet the Makeup Forever Rouge Artist lippie formula nails the best of both worlds!
Vitamin E, emollients and shea butter condition lips while coats of pure, intense pigments makes every shade eye-catching. We‘re talking serious one-swipe payoff. The squared shape even allows more precision lining lips.
Other than lasting comfort into day two or three of wear, I adore that the shade diversity spans nearly every color imaginable. We‘re talking all your nudes, vibrant pinks and unconventional blues, greens, grays and whites too. Starting at $23 means yes – you need to catch ‘em all!
Rouge Artist Lipstick Shades in C211 (neon pink), C303 (coral), I302 (fuschia), I604 (blackened red)
Artist Shadow Eyeshadows
Let‘s just say these luxe shadows completely spoiled me for life when it comes to color payoff and blendability! The famously soft, creamy powder formula deposits richpigment in a single sweep. Using coated minerals eliminates all the fallout mess of cheaper shadows.
Celeb makeup artists gush over the ease of achieving sultry, smoky eye dimension thanks to seamless blending. The lineup now encompasses endless dazzling finishes from eye-catching metallics to everyday mattes and satin neutrals too.
Palettes like their Artist 6-Pan run about $48 and satisfy a rainbow of shade needs in one compact. I still find myself reaching for the same trusty pans nearly daily even owning dozens from the permanent range!
Artist Shadows in ME612 (silver), I544 (peacock), D826 (gold), S858 (copper)
I‘m barely scratching the surface on amazing Makeup Forever gems waiting to be uncovered! Their setting sprays, mascaras, primers and tools all excel too. But for now, let‘s move onto how they stack up against competitors.
How Makeup Forever Compares to Similar Premium Brands
Makeup Forever occupies a niche lane combining professional-level performance with accessibility and artist inspiration. But how do their prices, sustainability initiatives and shade diversity compare to other luxe makeup giants? Let‘s break it down:
Makeup Forever vs. MAC
I‘d consider MAC Makeup Forever‘s closest analog targeting both pro artists and everyday makeup fans. Like Makeup Forever, MAC offers hoards of color variety spanning neutrals to brights and darks across eyes, lips and complexion.
They fall neck-and-neck on richness of color and smooth application. But Makeup Forever clinches longest staying power thanks to smudge-proof, transfer-proof and sweat/humidity-resistant claims that MAC can‘t match.
Conversely, MAC eyeshadow singles ring up cheaper per ounce compared to Makeup Forever‘s. If you don‘t require industrial-strength tenacity, MAC brings better value. Plus MAC boasts leading recycling initiatives while Makeup Forever trails on sustainability.
Makeup Forever vs. NARS
luxe brand NARS resides at the top tier of prestige makeup pricing with certain items exceeding even Makeup Forever‘s rates. Yet NARS eyeshadows and blushes also net less than half an ounce of product compared to Makeup Forever pans containing over double that amount.
The brands shine equally on rich color payoff and decadent textures that feel ultra-luxurious to apply. In terms of enduring wear though, Makeup Forever again surpasses preference for longevity in every condition. So if you want your vibrant looks to uphold marathon wear sessions, they pull ahead of NARS.
Makeup Forever vs. Tarte
Like Makeup Forever, Tarte Cosmetics impresses pros and everyday beauty lovers with next-level staying power. Tarte even recently expanded their proprietary Amazonian Clay formulation into lasting complexion and eyeliner products too.
I‘d actually proclaim Tarte the leader when it comes to seamless blended and comfortable matte lipstick. Tarte also comes out ahead on ethical standards too – their portfolio is entirely vegan and PETA-certified.
Yet Makeup Forever leads Tarte slightly on performance, harnessing more advanced polymers and protective pigments (like the Flexi-Fit technology and hyaluronic acid spheres). So if you need makeup surviving ultra long-haul shoots in baking sun or desert storms, Makeup Forever still reigns supreme.
Makeup Forever vs. Urban Decay
Urban Decay built an empire around accentuating natural beauty through artistic edge. Like Makeup Forever, the brand maintains deep artist ties and funding pro education. Urban Decay absolutely goes toe-to-toe with Makeup Forever on saturated shimmers, duochromes and glitter finishes across eyes.
Yet Makeup Forever pulls ahead on complexion and lip pigment tenacity. Urban Decay foundations, concealers, liners and lipsticks simply can‘t withstand the same duration of heat, humidity, food contact, photo flashes, rubbing and friction as Makeup Forever‘s battalions.
For everyday beauty that still pops bright and artistic though, Urban Decay brings comparable quality often at cheaper retail prices. Their eyeshadow primer and setting spray also outperform Makeup Forever‘s versions. So they edge into first place for achieving flawless eyeshadow, especially among oiler lids like mine!
Clearly Makeup Forever holds its own even among the makeup world giants! But a few oversights hold them back from absolute domination…
The Downsides of Makeup Forever – Room for Improvement
Makeup Forever undoubtedly leads industry standards for sweat-proof, transfer-resistant makeup able to withstand professional conditions. But a few drawbacks stand in the way of total market conquest:
1. They lag far behind on cruelty-free standards – Consumers and pros seeking ethical beauty options won‘t discover many with Makeup Forever. A vast majority of products incorporate animal byproducts and testing practices. Vegan shoppers in particular must look elsewhere.
Competitors like Urban Decay, Tarte and Cover FX demonstrate achieving high performance without animal derivatives or abuse is possible. But Makeup Forever has yet to follow ethical makeovers leaving customers with minimal compliant options in their range.
2. Prices often exceed value comparisons – Makeup Forever utilizes luxe ingredients driving up manufacturing costs. But their price per ounce statistics on eyeshadow, lipstick, foundation and more fall beneath competitors.
Mid-range brands like Colourpop and Milani offer on par color vibrancy, feel and aesthetic for a fraction of the price. Shoppers wanting intense color without breaking bank may feel disappointed plunking down $50 for an eyeshadow quad containing mere grams of product.
3. Return and exchange policies need an upgrade – Attempting to qualify for Makeup Forever refunds and exchanges falls painfully short of seamless. Strict windows, complicated chain of approvals and unreliable outage resolutions deter customers from redeeming faulty or unsuitable products. Reviewers frequently bash their customer service specifically too.
I love and stand by dozens of Makeup Forever holy grail formulas in my routine. But shady ethics, lower value rates and corporate bureaucracy frustrate me as a staunch customer advocate. I hope to soon see development in these areas to better align with consumer values!
Final Verdict – Who Should Buy Makeup Forever?
If you identify with any of the following, Makeup Forever offers hard-to-beat products to suit your makeup preferences:
- Professional artists seeking flawless complexion and eye integrity through sweaty shoots, multi-hour wear, rubbing, smudges
- Oily and active skin types needing their t-zone shine and makeup slippage curbed without suffocating skin
- Diversity advocates needing extended foundation shades with yellow, olive, deep complexions well represented
- Color junkies and creators attracted to bold unique lip and lid shades (blues, greens, grays etc.) rarely offered by big brands
- Any skintype valuing makeup investing easily 12+ hours worn indoors and out without fading or transferring
Makeup minimalists and casual beauty fans may not benefit enough from Makeup Forever‘s hardcore formulations to justify costs. Those on ethical beauty journeys won‘t find many vegan picks either compared to Tarte or Urban Decay.
Overall though – diehard artists and devotees will discover well worth investments uncovering Makeup Forever‘s gems. Shop my tried and true favorites for gleaming complexion, vivid eyes and saturated lips that endure among the pros!
