I have recently gone on a shopping spree on the world wide web to stock up for the coming months. I bought some new accessories, clothing, books and of course makeup, and that's why I'm writing this review today. I heard many good things about MUA (also known by the brand's full name 'Makeup Academy') and decided to try it out for myself. The brand is not available in Malta unfortunately, so I browsed their website for everything I needed and other little pretty things too. The first thing I noticed was the price! £1/€1.30 for a lipstick is unbelievable and all of their products don't exceed €10, I thought that the product couldn't be that good for such a low price, but I did do my research - read some others' reviews and watched tutorials with MUA's makeup being used and it seemed like a safe choice to give it a shot. I came to the conclusion that if the make up was in fact rubbish, well then at least I wouldn't have spent a fortune on it.Undress Me Too Palette
I'm guessing most of you have heard of Urban Decay's Naked 2 Palette, which is quite pricey considering MUA have the exact same palette called Undress Me Too for £4. Comparing the two, all I can say is that Urban Decay's eyeshadows are more pigmented, however since I have quite a light skin tone, the pigments in the Undress Me Too palette are more than enough to stand out on my eyes, and that makes me content with my choice of repurchasing this palette once it finishes.
Undress Me Too is made up of 12 neutral eyeshadows with a mix of matte and shimmery shades ranging from the lightest natural pigment to a very dark black. It's perfect for lighter looks during the day when you are out and about doing some errands or at work, as well as creating a more defined, darker look for during the night.
Shiny // Matte Lipsticks
I have been in desperate need of purchasing more lipsticks lately since many of mine seemed to finish all at once, and I took the opportunity to order lip colours I haven't owned previously. I have a particular liking for matte lipsticks, I love the fact they are not gooey/sticky and their colour seems to last longer on my lips, for this exact reason I purchased two matte lipsticks from MUA : Lilac Belle and Peachy Keen. As their names suggest, they are lilac and peach in colour, respectively. Since Winter is slowly fading and Spring will very soon be here to greet us on this Mediterranean gem, I wanted to make sure I had light, fresh colours to add to my lips to match with many beautiful upcoming fashion trends (post will soon be out).
Besides these two matte lipsticks, I also opted for a classic shiny lip colour - red. I already have a common Russian Red and wanted a darker version of it for some bolder looks. The one I have purchased is Shade 1 and although it is not a matte lipstick, it is not a sticky type either - it has more of a shiny but moisturizing effect, and I like that since my lips do seem to get quite dry if I don't exfoliate them regularly (the wind in the current months doesn't help either). Next up on my list is the Wild Berry colour - late according to seasonal trends but cool nonetheless in my books, then again I could buy all the colours available at the price of £1.
Cream Blusher in Blossom
This is my first time using a cream blusher, embarrassing I know, I can't believe I hadn't tried it sooner! Luckily, I am extremely pleased with the results this £2 baby has given me. To begin with, my skin is of a normal complexion however during the winter months it does seem to get drier around my cheeks because of the harsh weather, because of this, powder blush has not been doing me any favours at all, if anything it has given the impression that my skin is very dry and made it more noticeable. I chose MUA's Cream Blusher in Blossom which is a very pretty pinky-peach tone that goes perfectly with my skin tone. "It creates a soft dewy finish for sweet blush perfection" , just as its description states! Loving it.
Pro-Base Primer
This primer has an interesting consistency to it of being rather watery when first squeezed out - turning into a velvety finish on the skin once it is rubbed in gently, creating a very smooth texture, evening out the complexion. It can be worn alone or under foundation. For my days at work I prefer wearing it alone because I like having my skin light and fresh, as for my little outings here and there, that's when I put it as a first layer before adding any foundation, and it really helps the makeup stick to my face and last twice as long as usual. Bought for £4, highly recommended!
Precision Felt Eyeliner
I have bad luck with felt liner - whenever I purchase one, it goes missing within a week - I don't understand how or why, but I have my fingers crossed that this one will triple its lifetime in my hands! What I like about MUA's Precision Felt Liner is that although it is not the thinnest tip I have seen, it is in fact very precise in its lining (hoora!). It is not waterproof as far as I know, however it is very long lasting, which is great for me because my eyelids are always getting moist and in return smudge everything everywhere - this liner does not budge! Keep in mind I have not swam nor had any shower with the liner on, and my best bet would be that it would run, so be careful if you're planning to wear some on a night that you plan to cry on - you don't need any more reasons to cry. Rejoice for paying only £2 for this elegant pen!
Baked Merged Trio Eyeshadow - Legendary
Last but not least is my Baked Merged Trio Eyeshadow Palette in Legendary. This palette is made up of three gorgeously-blended, shimmery colours that are perfect for a golden, smokey-eye look. The pigments in these shadows are quite literally 'legendary', they are very beautiful to look at. They sort of remind me of planets with craters, but that's probably my imagination taking over. There's a mid shade to start off with by applying it on the lid, a lighter shade to highlight the brow bone and inner corner of the eye, and a darker shade to define and line the crease of the eye and lashline. What is great is that the lightest shade from the trio is light enough to highlight other parts of your face with, and the fact that they are baked eyeshadows mean that they can be used wet and dry, depending if you want to go for a more natural or intense look (using eyeshadows when they are wet will help pick up many more pigments and so the colour will be more dramatic). It is a very nice palette to use for a look when going out with your friends for some cocktails on a summer evening or also a great look with an all-black/all-white outfit on a winter night, pair with a dark berry lipstick for the ultimate demeanor. A bargain for £3.
-
So, that is my review on all the products I have received until now from MUA. All I can say is that I am impressed by the quality of the brand's products and for such a low price! It is absolutely incredible, if you haven't tried any of their products I highly recommend you do. I am a full fan of MUA and will definitely be ordering more of their products very soon.
P.S. I would like to ask if any of you female readers use tinted moisturizer? I have tried many brands and ALL of them turn out to be too dark for my skin colour and tone, and that's when I choose the lightest tint available! Help? Is there any brand that you have heard of that is good, or one that you use that you find moisturizing with slight coverage?
2 comments