NEW Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Liquid + Ultra HD STICK {Review + Swatches on Dark Skin}

So Make Up For Ever is at it again being on top of the latest tech innovations with the new Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Liquid and get this: new Make Up For Ever Ultra HD STICK. The new formula of the Ultra HD is lighter and more invisible than the original HD foundation but still covers well and meets the demands of the new 4K technology present in video and which will soon be on our cell phones. This means cameras will be picking up EVERYTHING. So good yet so bad at the same time…lol. This is why Make Up For Ever developed this new makeup to help cover well but still look seamless and natural.

MUFE invited me to their press launch last week where they showed us a demo of how the foundation works under a 4K video camera. I was amazed at how the foundation still looked totally natural on the model yet covered all her blemishes and discolorations. I knew the brand enhanced the HD formula because I bought the new liquid at The Makeup Show last month but I had no clue about the stick until the press event. Man oh man.

Official description…

As the original pioneer of the HD makeup category, MAKE UP FOR EVER continues to redefine and elevate beauty standards with the launch of its new ULTRA HD FOUNDATION, the first and only foundation designed for the demands of 4K technology. With 4K technology, the next generation of digital devices will display images with unbelievable detail, stunning clarity, and heightened color than existing HD technology. Completely invisible under the latest, ultra-magnified resolution, these innovative foundation formulas look completely natural on camera – and to the naked eye.

To keep complexions flawless at any resolution, MAKE UP FOR EVER developed ULTRA HD FOUNDATION’s revolutionary 4K Complex. This innovative formula is enhanced with:

• Amino Acid Coated Pigments—reflective particles that blur flaws and provide translucent, invisible coverage
• Hyaluronic Spheres—hydrate and plump the skin for a longer, more comfortable wear
• Sericite—a fine grained mica that adds light reflecting properties to create a radiant and luminous effect, mimicking the vibrancy of naturally beautiful skin

As a result, ULTRA HD FOUNDATION provides complete, silky coverage while staying even more invisible, feeling even more comfortable, and looking even more natural.

The next generation of MAKE UP FOR EVER’s iconic HD Foundation is optimized for the digital lifestyle, offers nearly double the original HD Foundation’s shade range and is available in both liquid and stick formulas. The perfect everyday foundation, ULTRA HD LIQUID FOUNDATION is available in 40 shades and provides medium coverage with a natural finish in a lightweight, oil-free formula. As an alternative to liquid for a flawless complexion and also ideal for touch ups and contouring, ULTRA HD STICK FOUNDATION is offered in 15 shades that blend beautifully onto normal to dry skin.

Here’s a graph showing the 40 (damn, FORTY) shades of the Ultra HD Liquid Foundation and the 15 shades of the Ultra HD Stick Foundation:

My thoughts:

So, Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Liquid Foundation does exactly what it says it will do. It’s super lightweight and covers well. You’ll get medium coverage and a natural finish. I just thought the foundation on its own was just ok. I used it multiple times setting it with Ben Nye Nutmeg powder, Cover FX Matte Setting Powder, and Make Up For Ever HD setting powder. I just thought it was ok—it held up well all day even when it was a bit warm out which is great for my oily skin—but nothing really made me go “OMG!!!” and I’m guessing that probably had more to do with the fact that I no longer wear foundation on its own any more since it can look flat on me—I add highlights and contours to give my face more dimension (see more about that here).

I’m shade 178 which translates to a Y535 in the new Ultra HD—don’t worry they put both shade numbers—the old and the new—on the packaging. See what other shades I wear in various foundation brands here.

Illustrating how the 180 isn’t deep enough to contour. I wound up wiping it off and only using Cover FX N120

But when I tried it with using the Ultra HD Stick Foundation to highlight using shade 173/Y445 (couldn’t contour—the stick only goes up to a 180/R530 which isn’t deep enough for me to contour—if there were a 185 like there was in the liquid, I’d be set) so I used my Cover FX N120 from the Cover FX Contour Kit in N-Deep to contour. The stick is amazing—from the demo at the press event I learned the stick gives a little more of a dewy but not DEWY finish than the liquid does (I have oily skin and foundations with a dewy finish won’t cut it for me in warmer weather but this worked out because it wasn’t super dewy BUT MUFE did formulate this for normal to dry skin FYI). I’m hoping to also get the stick in my 178/Y535 shade and send mind messages to MUFE to make the stick in 185…lol.

I set with MUFE HD setting powder, Ben Nye Coco Tan for highlight and Ben Nye Ebony for contour (see review here). Wearing Inglot blush #41 and you can find the lip colors here. Wearing Sleek MakeUP Au Naturel palette, Urban Decay Perversion + MAC #34 lashes on my eyes.

See my Makeup 101 Video Series on Youtube to see how I do my makeup including highlight/contour

See more foundation posts here

Bottom line: I was way more impressed with the stick than the liquid, but once I used them together I was like HEYYYYY NOW. If you’re a huge MUFE fan (and/or a foundation junkie), I think you’ll love these but I think the liquid may appeal more to makeup artists who work with clientele that are on-camera that use the 4K technology. But from what I heard it looks like that 4K technology is coming to our cell phones, too…lol.

Price and where to buy: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Liquid Foundation is $43 each at Sephora stores, Sephora.com (plus 4% cash back when you use eBates), and Make Up For Ever Boutiques. Make Up For Ever Ulta HD Stick Foundation is $43 each at Sephora stores, Sephora.com, and Make Up For Ever Boutiques and according to the press release is due out in September.

For now the original formula can be found online here.