Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams: Review & Swatches

Make Up For Ever launched a new product, Aqua Cream, a couple months back.  Since I don't live in NYC I had to wait for them to be released at Sephora, which they finally were to Beauty Insiders, just a couple of weeks ago.  After reading some of the initial review from the lucky NYC ladies who were able to snap them up immediately, of course I wanted to try them!  Creamy, pigmented, superior staying power.  A shadow lover's dream!

Since I have quite a few cream shadows already, I picked colors that I didn't already have.  I went for #4, a bright, shimmery white, #5, peach with golden shimmer, and #12, a golden, shimmering bronze with the prettiest golden glitters (super subtle, so no worries about being a disco ball).

More after the jump.

These are supposed to be long-wearing and crease-proof. I don't have super oily lids, but I do have problems with pretty much everything creasing on me. I tested #5 under the ultimate conditions, heat and humidity. Unfortunately, I experienced not only fading, but creasing, even when topped with a powder shadow.Not wanting to give up, I tested #4 with Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP) underneath and had fantastic results. No fading or creasing, whatsoever. Incidentally, these are a multi-use product. I use cream products pretty much exclusively as shadows, but #5 does make an excellent blush.

I won't lie, I was a little disappointed that they didn't work out for me as they have for others.  I would be nice to skip that extra step of applying UDPP, but I'm not so lazy that I'd pass up an otherwise great product.  But, I did like the consistency, and these being shimmer bases, applying and blending shadow over the top was much easier that with other shimmery bases.  These are also a bit pricey ($22), as are many MUFE products.  However, in that same vein, they are incredibly pigmented, so a little goes a very long way. 

Left to Right:  #4, #5, #12

Overall, I give these 4 paws up.   I'm sure I will be purchasing more in the future.

And of course, swatchcat C and swatchcat D were ever so helpful in the swatching process...NOT!  Lazy beasts fell asleep!  Good to know I can count on them