A Beautiful Sight

Posted by Canadian Gift Guide on November 19, 2013 · 161 Comments

Regular readers of this blog will know of my long-time affinity for MAKE UP FOR EVER, a French brand created by makeup artist Dany Sanz back in the 80s. To bring newbies up to speed, the idea behind the brand was to create a collection that was up to Dany’s intensive makeup requirements – products that would seriously last the test of time; whether standing under hot lights and in front of a camera all day, or bustling about town but still wanting to look fresh-faced each day. Today, the line is crazy popular, with legions of professional artists and everyday gals diehard fans. It’s primarily available in Canada at Sephora, which has locations throughout the country and a great online shopping site. With that, I thought I’d highlight some of their very desirable, very awesome ideas for gift-giving this holiday season.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Midnight Glow Palette – $44 @ Sephora
This petite palette features eight ‘cool’ shades that are perfect for creating winter-inspired holiday party looks. Nearly all of the shades have a bit of shimmer to them – from icy blues and greys to glittery pinks and plums – but there are also two matte shades of black and brown that work great as liners. Beyond the actual shadows, this cute set also includes two mini brushes and a mirror, making it a perfect choice to toss into your bag to go from a day to night look. One of the best features of the set is the price – at under $50 you can afford to gift this to a close friend or sibling, and still have room to tuck in a little something extra.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Extravagant Glamour Set – $44 @ Sephora
Same price point, different idea. While I’m a big eyeshadow junkie, I get that a lot of people aren’t. Many gals are happy with a swipe of mascara and a bit of gloss to get on with their day, but this three-piece, full-sized collection encourages you to ramp that look up a bit. Make your eyes appear bright and beautiful with a few waves of their Smoky Extravagant Mascara, and thicken up your lash line with a smoky smudge of Aqua Eyes in Matte Black. Finish off the look with the brand’s signature shade of siren red: Moulin Rouge. These 3 items work well to create a classic Parisian look, but I love that they can also be split up and incorporated into your other makeup looks. Altogether, it’s a great introduction for anyone that hasn’t yet tried this awesome brand.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Ever Lasting Liners Set – $47 @ Sephora (online only)
Some girls have their ‘thing’ that they really love to play around with. For a lot of them – it’s liner. An artfully applied slash of liner can make your peepers seriously pop, your whites appear brighter, and your natural eye colour appear more striking than ever. MAKE UP FOR EVER had a similar set out last year, only this one actually comes with three full-sized and three mini-sized Aqua Eyes liners in shades of brown, blue, black, purple, green, and cream (the last of which is great for rimming your inner eyes with). Having used these liners many times myself, I can tell you that their promises of being waterproof and smudgeproof are indeed true, making them a poignant pick for a bridesmaid-to-be. Also cool? Consider splitting this value gift up (you’d otherwise be paying over $100 for it) so three of your gal pals each score one regular and one mini liner each.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Makeup Artist Picks – $362 @ Sephora
Have you been a ridiculously good wife / daughter / girlfriend / sister this year? If yes, don’t be shy about putting this top-of-the-line set on your wish list. Featuring 23 products valued at over $560, it is the ultimate pick for a MAKE UP FOR EVER diehard, or honestly just for the makeup junkie in general – even better if she’s got a business on the side prettifying her pals for photoshoots or special occasions. Beyond that, it’s also just a great assortment of what the brand has to offer. Every product is long-lasting. Every product delivers on colour and texture. And every product will make you feel beautiful. Mix and match them in endless combinations and you’ll honestly be set for makeup in the new year.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultimate Long Lasting Lip Collection – $168 @ Sephora
Confession: I have been afraid of lipstick for most of my life. However, after seeing how beautifully it popped for my bridesmaids in my wedding photos, I’ve come round to the idea of playing up my pout – in large part thanks to this incredible set. It may seem pricy on the surface, but you’re actually getting an amazingly valued, fool-proof set of 12 full-sized products. I say fool-proof for a number of reasons. First, the liners and glosses match perfectly, meaning no guessing games as you rifle through the makeup racks. Second, it includes easy peasy instructions for novices (like me) and experts (who’d kill for this set) on how to use the liners and double-ended lipsticks properly. What’s interesting is that although the Aqua Lips are in liquid form, they aren’t tacky or difficult to apply. They are insanely pigmented yet promise not to bleed (as long as you avoid oily foods) – so much so that applying the top clear layer actually left my brush colour-free after a few swipes. The range of colours is great too. If you’re scared of being loud & proud, there are a few neutral, daytime-appropriate shades that work even if you’re fair-skinned like I am. But there are also three punchy colours of red, fuchsia, and coral for when you’re feeling a little more bold.

You have have noticed how much I ranted about the awesomeness of the Ultimate Long Lasting Lip Collection in particular. That in part because I am very excited to give one of them away! I hope whichever lucky gal (or er, guy) snaps this up adores it as much as I do – I’m completely ready to take on the holiday party scene with a powerful lip! Want to win it? Here’s how to enter:

1) Check out everything MAKE UP FOR EVER has in store right now at Sephora. Leave a link below by December 6th to the MAKE UP FOR EVER product you’d most like to receive (or gift).

2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 7th to select the winners, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.

3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.

4) Bonus Entries: Tell MAKE UP FOR EVER how much you’d love to open up a gift from them this holiday season on Facebook, Twitter or both and leave a link back to your activities below. Be sure to Like / Follow them too! You’ll score one bonus entry for FB and one for Twitter. Note that on Facebook, you’ll only be able to comment on MAKE UP FOR EVER’s actual posts.