Do you ever just stop and ask yourself what will they come up with next in the beauty world? There’s primers for just about everything, lip oils, colour correctors, basically makeup is no longer for the faint of heart.

One of my favourite makeup brands has extended their popular HD line to include some new products that go above and beyond basic makeup application. Not only is HD good enough anymore, but the next generation is Ultra HD, which helps you get a flawless complexion.

The Ultra HD Skin Booster is a plumping serum that instantly hydrates and smoothes once you apply it. You apply this before your primer and it’s supposed to increase skin’s moisture by 400 per cent and prepares it for makeup application. This serum, housed in a little bottle, contains hyaluronic acid, which hydrates and improves the skin’s ability to hold makeup, as well as collagen and argan oil extract with vitamin E, which helps plump and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

I apply this serum after my moisturizer and before my primer. Since it’s a little jar and retails for C$51, so have only used it on days where I am really doing my makeup for going out. This colourless serum is suitable for all skin tones.

Now, do I really notice a difference in my skin? Not really. And especially not for $51. I think this is a cool idea, but just another step to add in my always-growing makeup routine that I think may be pointless. I have read that people have just used this as a serum and have liked the results, and since serums tend to be pricey anyways, if you’re going to use it for that purpose, then I can totally see why this would be justifiable to purchase.

Make Up For Ever has also released an Ultra HD Lip Booster (C$29) in this collection, which instantly repairs, smoothes and hydrates lips. The formula is designed to repair dry lips with the key ingredient, hyaluronic acid, as well as loofah oil, which moisturizes and prevents dehydration.

From the beginning of your makeup routine to the end, they have rereleased their micro finishing powders, which have been a favourite of mine for a long time. Their new Ultra HD Microfinishing Loose and Pressed Powders are compatible with 4K technology and are improved formulas of their cult-favourite Microfinishing & Pressed Powders and they help to invisibly blur and smooth skin imperfections.

Make Up For Ever has released these powders in two formulas, a loose powder and as a pressed powder.  The loose powder is translucent, whereas the pressed ones come in three shades for different skin tones, translucent, banana, and peach. I received the loose powder of this since I have the original formula and love it so much that I wanted to see how this compares. This is a setting powder that blurs and diffuses skin imperfections while also reducing shine. The formula provides a transparent blurring effect and is very light on the skin. The only problem is that this can tend to get messy, however, I feel like they improved the packaging for it as there is a sifter top, so it doesn’t get absolutely everything when you tip it into the container (or travel, it’s a mess when you travel with it).

If pressed powder is more your jam, then check out the compacts. Available in three shades (banana to finish a medium complexion or add warmth to a fair complexion; peach to finish tan complexions and to add warmth or create a natural contour in medium complexions; and translucent for all skin tones), these are definitely more handy for travel, however, they do tend to be used up faster. I have the old formula of this, which is more than half hit pan on, whereas, the micro finish powder that is loose from the old version will literally be with me until the day I die.

These retail for C$44 for the loose powder and C$45 for the pressed. I love these products and have been using them for years. A good powder is always a staple to have on-hand to set your makeup since it will make it look more flawless and last a lot longer throughout the day. I wanted to keep it all in the family, so I applied the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD foundation over the serum and used it with the loose powder as well (in fact the majority of the makeup I used in these photos is Make Up For Ever).

I’m always down for when brands reformulate an existing cult product I haven’t really noticed a huge difference between the original formula and the Ultra HD formula of the powder, as they both seem to work the same. My face makeup lasts forever when I apply it, so if you’re looking for a great powder, this is it.

Have you tried any of the new Ultra HD products from Make Up For Ever? What are your thoughts?

Please note, products sent by PR. All opinions are my own.

Like what you read? Check out these related posts:

• A different take on swimsuit shopping: essie summer 2012 collection
• NOTD: essie Mint Candy Apple
• Essie Leading Lady winter collection 2012
• Fast and dry: Poshe Top Coat