With the new Make Up For Ever 50 Shades of Grey set, one does not need to have read the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy to get the gist of the story.
I haven’t read the books, but this set is like the Cliff’s Notes version. There’s a little how-to booklet in it that walks you through a progression of Ana’s looks, starting young and fresh-faced with barely-there makeup, then moving into a sultrier look with black liner and glossy lips, before going full-on fierce with intense smokey eyes.
OK, I think I get it… Homegirl goes into, like, the mansion’s naughty secret room and discovers that she’s totally into it. A good time was had by all. 🙂
I am so far behind on my reading (have you heard that Harper Lee is releasing a SECOND novel?), but I’m tempted to move Fifty Shades up to the front of the line.
My friend Jen read the books, and I asked her what she thought. She said, “I could feel the mind-numbing getting progressively worse…but I couldn’t stop.”
I have to ask, do I really need to read these books?? What say you?
Either way, there’s always the movie, and the makeup in this set, which comes with five pieces for eyes and lips (no cheek love?), all built around three different looks.
The centerpiece? The eyeshadow quad. It houses a shimmery beige (shade I-514), a warm shimmery copper (ME-612), a cool-toned matte taupe (S-556) and a neutral, shimmery golden brownish taupe (I-628).
The quad is joined by a tube of Smoky Extravagant Mascara in black, a black Graphic Liner liquid pen; pinkish beige Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in N4; and warm, shimmering golden pink Lab Shine Gloss in D14.
Everything comes in a cute keepsake box with little catchphrases on the lid (I’m guessing they’re from the books/movie).
If you run the numbers, even at $79, the set’s a great deal. The only piece that isn’t full size is the mascara, and it’s just a little smaller than usual. The eyeshadow pans are also slightly larger than the regular individual MUFE singles you find at their counters.
For me the standouts are the quad, the lipstick and the gloss.
With the eyeshadows, ya know the drill with MUFE. Just plain gorgeous with nuanced finishes and a formula that’s a dream to blend.
Perhaps wear a primer with these particular shades, though, as they fade after around six or seven hours on my combination dry/oily lids. As for the lipstick and gloss, both are perfect pinkish nudes. Comfy and very moisturizing, too, but they don’t last very long. I get 2-3 hours, tops.
The liner and mascara are a tad tricky to work with, but at least the liner lasts a while (like nine hours). It dries to an uber-dark, bad-@ss, whips-and-chains vinyl finish (very much like MAC’s Superslicks), but drawing sharp edges with it takes a little longer than I’d like. I usually end up smoothing out the edges with a gel liner.
With the mascara, be sure to remove the excess product from the brush before using it to coat your lashes; otherwise, your curl may droop. Starting with a primer like Estée Lauder’s Little Black Primer helps to hold up the curl and keep the lashes separated and fully fanned.
If this set could talk, and it asked me to put on a blindfold and go into the secret back room…I’d have to think about it. For a second. 🙂 “Alright, Mr. Grey! I’ll be right there!”
Not a perfect set, but overall, a good value.
PRICE: $79 (listed as a $179 value)
AVAILABILITY: Limited edition, available now at Sephora
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I read all three of the Fifty Shades books and can tell you, with 100% certainty, that the most interesting thing that happens is Makeup Forever doing a tie-in collection for the movie! They are incredibly poorly written and tell the kind of story where you can guess exactly where it’s going well before it gets there! Perhaps a film version can improve upon it some… But, like I said, the MUFE collection is really the best part!
Hi Jason,
Yeah, it looks like my mind will not be liquified by these books, LOL! I will save those brain cells for other things (like makeup).
Have you been wearing the set lately? I really like the quad!
The book started as a work of casual Twilight fanfiction, which had the names changed for publication. It is about an abusive relationship which is portrayed as BDSM. The book is rife with normalizing emotional and physical abuse, and it is kind of horrifying that it has been made into a movie.
/rant
Hi Remi,
I’ve read similar things online about the book online. Hmm, now I think I might have to skip it.
Yep, 100% agree. The Twilight series also romanticizes emotional abuse, so it’s not surprising that this fanfiction bullsh*t also does. The makeup is really nice-looking though!
Really well said.
Don’t bother with the books. I don’t have a problem with the subject matter, but the writing is execrable. I mean it’s AWFUL!!! It makes Twilight seem like Pride and Prejudice. The characters are wooden and one-dimensional, the plot (what little there is) is absurd, the dialogue is half middle-school and half soap opera… it’s just a farcical embarrassing mess. I do like that eyeshadow quad though…
Hi Rebecca,
The eyeshadow quad is really lovely. It’s the best thing about the set!
Oh, and thank you for the 411 on the books.
I haven’t read the book yet either but judging from the comments it sounds like an iffy read lol. I do want to read at least the first one to see what all the fuss is about. This set looks really nice though! The eyeshadows look great
The eyeshadows are lovely. I have a feeling the matte gray will be in my lineup of everyday colors.
I had to double-check 3 times — this collection is MUFE? Looks like MAC! Especially the eyeshadow palette.
And the book tie-in. Very MAC.
I do not own a single big of MUFE except the Lift Concealer. I walk up to their eyeshadows and run away every time.
The overall look is gray-eat on you though.
Did not know about the 2nd Harper Lee book. That’s sad she’s been so reclusive. it happens! (I personally try to cross the county line once a week.)
But did you know that there really is (or was) a Cliff of Cliff Notes. I knew a gentleman who was friends with him in Nebraska. I thought it was a joke until I looked it up!
Today i am wearing Hourglass Color Field in a soft hazy look. I bet those 2 earth-tone shadows would work with them. Gives me an idea!
The reviews just expressed by M&BB readers lead me to ponder if the characters are like one gal I used to work with: her 2 favorite colors were gray and black.
Hey Debra,
Aww, why do you run away from the eyeshadows? They have some lovely satins and mattes.
AND lol re “gray”eat — nice play on words.
What cheeks/lips did you do with your Hourglass eye look?
I have zero interest in the book or movie, but a pretty set!
I have a feeling I will be dragged to the movie for a girls’ day. I can sense it!
How have you been? Good, I hope! I just got back from grocery shopping (without Trader Joe’s I’d eat popcorn 24/7) and some errands… exciting stuff, LOL!
I couldn’t care less about the crappy book and movie, but I like this collection. MUFE’s stuff is so good.
Hi Rachel R.,
I like this collection too. Do you wear a lot of MUFE? I like their lipsticks a lot!
I have quite a few of their artist eye shadows/blushes. Love, love, love them. I don’t own only a couple of their lipsticks, but I do like them. I like the HD cream blush, too. I haven’t tried any of their other stuff…yet.
Oh gosh, thank you for reminding me about the blush! I have some around here that I need to give some loving to.
Want to know something silly? I have the hardest time remembering the names of the eyeshadows. For some reason the way they name them doesn’t stick in my brain.
The coral HD cream blush is heavenly.
Most of their shadows are by number, so I never remember them. Sephora gives them names in their shop. I can remember a few of those. They aren’t very memborable, though.
Ya know, I don’t think I’ve tried that one. I’m a sucker for corals so now it’s on the wish list. It’ll go nicely with my favorite MUFE coral lippe, No. 39! Thanks, Rachel!
Things are very busy at work! I’ve done three days of circus in a row (and am going to tomorrow as well!),since I’m doing a routine in a student showcase at the end of the month. I am sore!
I had cereal for dinner,so I’m in no place to judge!
Wow, you are like professional now! That’s kind of amazing. I bet it’s a good sore, though, right? Will you be doing the routine by yourself or with other performers?
Mmm, cereal!
Music, yes! It’s a hip hop theme, so I’m doing Kendrick Lamar Swimming Pools. Haven’t picked an outfit yet.
Oh nice! Well break a leg. You’re going to do great.
And don’t forget to matte down your skin in case there’s pictures involved!
I say read the books. They are a highly entertaining form of escapism. I laughed, I cried, I had a few Christian Grey fantasies. They’re all in good fun, I think. But then I don’t take anything too terribly seriously. Life is too short.
I’m glad you reviewed the MUFE set. I’ve been eyeing it at Sephora. I love the lipstick and lipgloss color. And it is a really good deal.
Hi Jennifer,
The lipstick and lipgloss are SO pretty! My new favorite pink-nude lip combo to wear.
Will you be watching the movie?
I can’t figure out how to nest comments on my phone! By myself, and it’s definitely good soreness. Love it.
That’s exciting! I know you’re going to do great. Do you have music and a costume and all that jazz too?
Eh, I don’t really want to see the movie because I don’t see how they could pack everything in that happened in the three books. And there’s something in the story that was highly entertaining and I don’t see how they could bring it to life on screen.
But, I will probably get dragged to see it by girlfriends…
I think that is in my future as well. Oh well, if it’s a girls day at least I will be able to eat, lol!
If you’re curious about the book, just get the first one from the library, that’s the only one sort of worth reading, but don’t waste your money on it! (Buy makeup instead, ha!) I don’t think I’ll go to the movie, maybe rent it when it comes out. My mom and I might go to American Sniper on Valentine’s Day since we don’t have dates, haha!
Dude, I read all of your post + comments and all I kept thinking was, ” I CAN’T WAIT TO READ HARPER LEE’S NEXT BOOK!” Really, I’m such a dweeb
I am anxiously awaiting 1) Harper Lee’s next book and 2) Lauryn Hill’s second album (whenever that happens!).
MUFE also released a GORGEOUS cheek set to tie in. It has two blushed and a highlighter as well as a blush brush in a keepsake velvet bag. I want that, the two lip sets, and this fabulous set that you reviewed. By the way, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog!
I haven’t read the book either.. And going by reviews..I don’t think I will be reading it either 😉
Mfe set looks good but I wish the liner had performed better n the eye shadow quad is lovely and that lipstick lipgloss combo is like perfect daily wear lips on the mark!! 🙂
LAUREN HILL’S NEXT ALBUM! Dude, we’re sisters from another mister. I am absolutely certain of it. And your reference to Q-Tip’s vivrant thang kept that song in my head all day. I started thinking, “I wonder what’s on Karen’s Pandora station? We could, like, totally go clubbing together!” And your reference to the Glossier Phase 1 Set being good enough to use the morning after a booty call….tehehehe booty call….we speak the same language. It’s so OBVIOUS that we were switched at birth. #obvs
*sips glass of tea with pinky raised*
Me too. I think if we met in school, or at work, or from just around the neighborhood, we’d totally be like “LET’S GO CLUBBING AND THEN EAT HELLA FRIES.” lol *gently toasts tea cup*
So, I’ve always thought that Lauryn Hill was the Harper Lee of hip hop. I wish she’d start making music again! My BFF work buddy Naaman saw her perform in SF when she was doing random gigs a few years back, and I will always be majorly jealous of him for that. I would LOVE to see her live.
Very cute on you.
I totally agree with Remi’s comment, but will spare you the extensive rant, as I already spammed your IG.
I haven’t read the book and I probably won’t see the movie until it’s on DVD or Netflix, but I definitely like the colors in this little mini collection! I’d definitely wear them.
I’ve been eyeing this set, and now I want it more than ever! I read the Kindle sample of the first book, wasn’t interested enough to continue. The writing is pretty bad, but that doesn’t always stop me. For pure escapism I prefer self-published science fiction.
I like the set. The colors are sort of up my alley and even though I’m not a pink lippie kind of gal, I think these might work. I really like the MUFE 3-color eyeshadow sample I got with a past Sephora order so it makes this set more interesting.
Now for the books. OMG, Karen, do NOT. I tried to read the first one when it came out and got about 1/3 through before I couldn’t go on. I know tons of people love them but if you’re someone who enjoys good writing (and I know you are), this will be tough for you. Because a friend in a tough health situation wants to see the movie for “girls night”, I vowed to try to read it again. I just finished and didn’t set it on fire, but I knew what to expect. I’m about 3/4 through #2 and I had to put it down. When you literally yell at a book out of frustration over the abject stupidity of a character/plot/writing, it’s time to do something else. I chose to work out. So, hey, maybe it’s a good series after all. HAHA!
Yeah, dude, eat HELLA FRIES, indeed. For the record, I wanted to be Lauryn Hill. And Whitney Houston. And occassioally, maybe Prince
Unfortunately I did waste a few hours of my life that I can never get back reading these books. If you bother to read the first one, basically the same stuff happens in the second and third. I would rather kill my brain cells watching E! than see this movie. If you want a great series to read/watch, check out Outlander. My mom introduced it to me and now my sister and I are a little obsessed with Jamie!!! The first book was made into a TV series last summer and the second half of the season starts in April. Trust me, this series is a much better, challenging read. And I can play with makeup at home while watching it!
My mom’s advice when reading these books… Just try not to lick the pages, lol!!!
Karen, trust me. You’re better off waitin’ on good ol’ Harper Lee.
I’m ashamed at those books… They basically glamorize an abusive relationship and try to pass it off as “kinky”. Most of the “kinky” stuff is him trying to control what she eats, where she goes, who she talks to, what she drives.
The psycho has a dossier on her with anything from her SSN to her bank account numbers. It seriously baffles me that anyone finds that sexy.
I love those shadows, but I’ll just buy ’em separately 😉 don’t want to accidentally support this movie!
I don’t know, I had a good time with the books, not the best writing. But not the train wreck as some people go on about. Also everyone who comments says they either didn’t read it or read it “but thought it was really awful or sophomoric or horribly misogynistic”. But SOMEBODY somewhere read, kept reading it and made it a success. In fact enough people read it to make a movie of it….
Sorry,judgy hypocrisy makes me crazy! Although I will pass on the movie, I’m going to see the Kingsman with DH Saturday, more my type of movie.
Anywhooooo, I had the opportunity to pick this set up with Christmas money and I passed. I’m now regretting it and hoping that maybe one will be left for my special Valentines treat to myself. :0)
I agree with you – I more or less just commented the same thing. Someone somewhere liked the manuscript enough to make it into a book series of sorts and now the author is making some good money. As I mentioned, we may not like it, or we tried it and weren’t huge fans, but the author/artist did SOMETHING right somewhere to make someone sit up and notice.
Hi Karen!!
oooh love the pallete. I thought the lipstick and gloss colour would look brighter but it seems to be very natural on our skintone. I was hoping for more intensity.
As for the book, I have not read it and have no intentions on reading it. As for the movie, I think the main actor is hot. That is all and I am not interested in watching the movie.
Hope you are well. How is Mr. Tabs?
Hugs from the Great Up North!!
I have no intention of reading this misogynistic crap. The fact it is a bestseller among bored, heterosexual, middle-aged women just shows how f*cked up the our sexist western culture still is. I am totally OK being judgmental on gender issues – women have been abused and undermined for too long for me to be worried about not sounding too “politically correct” or whatever. I am proud to be a feminist, and it is a pity some women are still afraid to get rid of conservative, traditional gender roles and abuse fantasies. It’s OK to fantasize and get inspired by the “kinky” content, but the kind of relationship depicted in this book is obviously sick and abusive, and it must not be assumed as women’s desired standard relationship goals.
For purely entertaining purposes, I’d rather focus on the makeup 🙂
ALL THE YES TO THIS.
My boyfriend’s family actually winced when he mentioned to them that I was part of a feminist discussion group back at uni.
I had no problem with the “kinky” stuff, but what bothered me was that he clearly doesn’t respect her boundaries, he tries to control her, and he emotionally abuses her… Women are out there thinking that that’s just part of a “dominant” partner, but noooooo. That’s part of an abusive partner.
I just wrote a ton and deleted it all. Heloisa and Estefania have been very eloquent. I’m not that good. I just don’t understand the metality of some women today and it truly disgusts me that some women still feel that they are nothing without a man, abusive or not. ugh…
I’m afraid creepy psychos might be encouraged by the popularity of this thing.
HOWEVER, I’ll probably watch the movie for one simple reason: Jamie Dornan, even without his Irish accent 🙂
Hey Karen! If you’re like me and want to see what all the fuss is about but don’t want to actually read the books, erotica author Jennifer Armintrout did a chapter by chapter breakdown on her blog. She absolutely destroys the book, it’s hilarious and a much better read!
http://jenniferarmintrout.blogspot.com/p/jen-reads-50-shades-of-grey.html?zx=284dab17ab4444df
I’m gonna go buy that lipstick separately, it’s beautiful!
I got this set for Xmas this year (yes I got it a few days before it came out – lucky lucky lucky me!!). I also got the blush kit.
And I freaking LOVE it! I normally shy away from golds and browns with black liner, but it’s my new look now.
And I really love the mascara and the liner. The liner is so easy to use and the mascara wand put extra definition to the outside of the eye for a fun vintage look.
I am very pleased!
my friend mentioned the books to me, saying she heard they were “porn”. so me, being the sick, twisted, fanfic reading psycho that i am, went and read them.
i didn’t think they were too bad; i’ve actually read way worse. it’s not the best writing style but the story about 2 messed up people, their messed up relationships, and their kinky sex lives just SUCKS YOU IN and i couldn’t put the books down.
but now that i know what happens, i don’t need to read them again (like i said, the writing style isn’t all that, there’s better stuff out there) nor do i need to go see the movies.
for anyone out there thinking about trying the books out, just DON’T. you’ll get sucked in. read J R Ward’s Fallen Angels or Brotherhood of the Black Daggar series. they may be paranormal, but they’re AWESOME.
The makeup collection looks very interesting, like some good neutrals. Make Up For Ever always has some good, long-wearing stuff.
My opinion on 50 Shades is this: Yes, I have read all three, and actually enjoyed the writing. My point of view is that when someone says that certain music or books are bad/not worth it, I may not like it myself, either, but clearly someone important did because that author or musician is now making millions off their so-called craptastic idea. I will give everything a try at least once – I was not sold on 50 Shades initially – it was my mom that gave me a copy of the book and said it was worth a shot. If I just can’t get into a book or a song, then I can at least say I gave it a fair shot and an open mind. Just my 2 cents on that.
Love your posts and I read every day, though I don’t always have time to drop a comment.
I read 9 1/2 Weeks a million years ago; same premise. I thought it was really kind of sad. ANyway, I have no interest in the books ’cause I would probably be yelling at them too LOL. I may or may not watch the movie when it makes it to the free tube and that would only be for the makeup and fashion aspects.
I do think the MUFE makeup is really pretty and it does peak my interest but I think there may be other things that I’ll save my money for. (like the new Givenchy highlighter palette due out this spring).
It’s a cute set but I’m loathe to buy it. Mostly because I’m sure 50 shades will be making enough money 🙂
I’d give my personal opinions but I do enough of that and it always bites me in the buttocks 🙂
Oh, I am soooo excited for Harper Lee’s new book! I know there was a bit of controversy surrounding its release, but I’m still excited to read it. I haven’t read the 50 Shades of Grey series–not really my thing–but I like this set! The eye shadows look especially nice.