Have you ever wondered where the buzz about spring's hottest colors begins? Look no further than Pantone, known worldwide as the authority on color. They produce a color report for each season (check out their forecast for Fall 2012), that is used beyond the fashion industry, into interior design, beauty and more.

Make Up For Ever took note of Pantone's Spring 2012 Color Report and color matched their products across categories to help you achieve on-trend beauty this spring. In the gallery below, see how designers like Peter Som, Tracy Reese, Pamella Roland, Barbara Tfank and more interpreted the shades of spring, plus what Make Up For Ever products can help you easily add that color into your beauty look.

A couple of weeks ago (yes, I am THAT far behind), LesleyKat and I headed to SoHo for a preview of the new Make Up For Ever Boutique in Sephora SoHo, which officially makes that location my favorite.

The new boutiques (SoHo was the first to open, with locations at The Venetian in Las Vegas and South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA following) not only allow MUFE to create beautiful, branded experiences for customers, but it allows all 1200 of MUFE's SKUs to be carried in one location. This is especially important for makeup pros who may not have previously had access to freestanding locations (which until now are the only locations to carry every product in the line).  

Make Up For Ever's vast pro-friendly product assortment and pigmented colors can be intimidating to the average consumer, however the new technology-focused boutiques are staffed with the friendliest makeup pros (like the adorable Rusty, kindly posing with me at the event) to make navigating the sea of shades as easy as possible.

In fact, these pros can teach you nearly anything related to looking your best, with classes ranking from novice to pro, available in the studio space at the back of store. Match up with an artist and they will create the look on half of your face while guiding you through the process on the remaining half. While these mini classes aren't "free" - $40 per lesson - the cost is redeemable in product.

In addition to carrying all 1200 SKUs - to give you a frame of reference, most Sephora locations carry 300-600 from MUFE - the store is equipped with iPads pre-loaded with stunning face charts to inspire you or you can create your own look via an especially fancy smart board.  Plus, these charts are shareable via email, so you can take your digital creation with you anywhere.

The amazingly talented LesleyKat snapped (and swatched) her way through the boutique - check out her shots in the gallery below.

Make Up For Ever boutique in Sephora SoHo

555 Broadway

Between Prince & Spring

New York, NY

If you know me in real life, than you can attest to the fact that I believe you can never own too much makeup.  It's just absolutely, 100% not possible.  You can, however, interact with too much makeup in one weekend, and that is exactly what I did this past weekend at The Makeup Show NYC.  There were so many vendors catering to the press & professional makeup artist, including brands I had never heard of, that I had no idea what to do.  Instead, I took pictures to share with all of you.

Here are a few tidbits I learned while cruising the show floor:

• Make Up For Ever is releasing a HD Concealer to accompany their award winning HD Foundation this Fall
• The Balm is a family owned company, with each eyeshadow being named for a family member or employee
• The Balm's mini-pencils are based on their Grandmother breaking standard length pencils in half so she could have one in each handbag
• Lord & Berry has created The Black Wardrobe - a collection of black eyeliner pencils in varrying textures (matte, shimmer, glossy, etc)
• Face ATELIER founder Debbie Bondar doesn't believe that the world needs another pink lipstick
• Lifetime reality show Blush contest Maxie is as nice in person as he is eccentric
• Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics has highly pigmented, vegan products under $10
• MAC's Gordon Espinet might possibly be the most jolly man ever
• Stila is going to come back with a bang, and Simply Stila will revolutionize the drugstore market

If you need more makeup tidbits and tips, come back tomorrow - I'm all tired out ;)