Sephora Birthday Gift 2014 - Yay or Nay?

Sephora does a yearly birthday gift if you're a member of its Beauty Insider loyalty program. I picked up my 2014 gift a few weeks ago and finally got around to trying the products out. I thought I'd do a quick review. I know, I know, totally late to the party on this one but one can't help having been born a winter baby! 

So really quickly, the gift included the Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara and the Make Up Forever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in Copper Pink (N9).

Re: Mascara

I'll let the pics do the talking.

Before. Lashes? What are those?

After: vavavoluminous lashes

Edited on 3/24/2015.

I gave this mascara a mediocre review when I first published this post on Jan 23. I stated the following...

"It performs okay. The huge, fat brush is daunting at first, but gives a visible lift to the lashes. You can't tell by the picture, but they do look a bit spidery up close. It could do a better job of defining the lashes. At $24 for a full size, I would take a pass. There are plenty of drugstore mascaras doing the exact same thing for a fraction of the price."

Fast forward to today, I've had some more experience with it, wearing it in different conditions and the formula has aged a bit so I wanted to give you an update on how my thoughts have changed.

This mascara does not smudge nor does it flake on me, which to me is extremely rare. I've even worked out wearing this mascara and it still performs every single time. Though I maintain that the mascara brush is not my style, since it makes it difficult to use on my bottom lashes and get that really separated look I crave, I have to admit that it gives amazing volume. I've taken to applying this mascara as my first coat to pump up my lashes, and then applying a second coat of a lengthening and defining mascara. I still believe that there are drugstore mascaras that give similar results, however, I could be swayed to repurchase this again due to its resilience against smudging and flaking.

Re: Lipstick

MUFE Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in Copper Pink N9

The formula is nice. It's actually not creamy/buttery, nor waxy. It's right in the middle and that's how I like it. Eh - I'm not a big fan of the shade. It's the definition of wearable, but there's something off about it. It looks a bit dated to me. It's not natural enough for that fresh faced no makeup look, and I don't think it would pair nicely with a dramatic eye. It kind of makes you look like an early 2000's newscaster. I would recommend it perhaps for a muted office appropriate look. At $20 for the full size, I recommend the lipstick for the formula. I've looked up some swatches online and I think a nicer nude may be N5 Nude Beige.


So there you have it folks, my incredibly entitled post complaining about free things is through.

Shop the post 

Smoky Extravagant Mascara $24.00 at Sephora
Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick $20.00 at Sephora


Did you pick these up?
Will you be repurchasing?

-Joan



P.S. The 2015 booty is said to be a set of NARS lip pencils. By the way, it seems they've changed the policy this year. You don't have to wait until your actual birthday to pick up your gift.

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