Quick Review: Make Up For Ever Water Blend Foundation + Swatches on Dark Skin

Another day, another foundation review! Trying to make this one quick because I leave for Europe on Monday and I’ve got a GAZILLION things on my to-do list PLUS I’m still on auntie duty and trying to take my nephew to as many places as possible before he goes back to Georgia. So let’s do this!

It has a nozzle pump—it disperses the foundation well but does leave a little residue at the nozzle

So…Make Up For Ever Water Blend Foundation. The brand sent over three of the deeper shades (I’m assuming the three deepest shades, but I don’t have a shade chart here so I’ll confirm this later when I do) for review consideration. I actually got to check these out early when I was in Atlanta last month speaking at The Makeup Show Pop-Up and couldn’t find a shade to match me. Which I found odd because this is an updated version of the MUFE Face & Body Foundation I LOVED (I was shade 46) and I have a good match in the HD foundation (178 in the former numbering system). I also didn’t have a good match in the three deep shades they sent me. But I tested it out still (in the house—I’m not trying to be out in the streets with the wrong foundation shade on…lol) because that’s what this beauty blogging thing is about sometimes.

Make Up For Ever Water Blend Foundation Official Info:

We combined the comfort of a sheer foundation with the performance that pro makeup artists demand in the new Water Blend Foundation. The buildable, lightweight formula delivers a flawless and dewy finish with a beautiful, even complexion. Available in 20 shades, Make Up For Ever Water Blend Foundation is the reformulation of pro makeup artist’s favorite Face & Body Foundation, delivering the same results with an upgraded formula.

Hyrdating: 80% of the formula is purified water infused with vitamin B5 to provide hydration and improve skin elasticity.

Waterproof & Transfer-proof: Coated micro-fine pigments improve payoff and skin affinity with guaranteed waterproof and transfer-proof coverage.

Easy to apply: The unique, water-gel texture feels smooth and light, even when it dries to a resistant finish for flawless, all-day wear.

My thoughts:

I loved the satin finish—it gives a “my skin but better” type of look. You’re not going to get a ton of coverage—I was able to even out my skin tone, but I’d still need concealer to really cover my dark spots on my forehead. I did have a little more oil-breakthrough with this but that could be remedied by using a primer (I didn’t use one to test this). I’m salty though because it boggles my mind how I don’t have a shade match—like HIGH KEY salty. I mean, it’s not the end of the world because I have a gazillion other foundations I can use but it’s knowing that the former MUFE Face & Body Foundation was an option (ok, an option among many) but now it’s not.

Here are the three shades I received:
Y505: the Y stands for yellow. I’d describe this as a medium golden brown
R520: the R stands for red. I’d describe this as a medium brown with reddish undertones
R540: I’d describe this as a deep brown with reddish undertones

I even mixed the shades together trying to get a match and NOPE. Straight up played me. (See which shades I wear in other brands here). I’m not posting pictures of me wearing the foundation—it’s obviously not the right match for me and I feel like those pics would turn folks looking for a foundation formula like this off…lol. Plus, who knows where an obviously wrong foundation pic will wind up.

See more Make Up For Ever reviews here

See more foundation reviews here

See also Foundation 101: How to Find Your Foundation (Dark Skin) if you need a crash course on choosing foundation.

Bottom line: Not every foundation is going to be for everybody—that’s why there are so many types of formulas and finishes. Make Up For Ever Water Blend Foundation is great for anyone looking for light to almost medium coverage who likes a satiny finish and of course has a shade match in the 20-shade range. This will help even your skin tone out, but it’s not going to cover any pronounced discoloration (my dark spots were still peeking through) unless you of course add concealer or corrector.

Price and where to buy: $43 available July 8 at Make Up For Ever boutiques and MAKEUPFOREVER.com. July 22 at Sephora.com and August 5th in Sephora.