Have you noticed
...how nearly all the major department stores brands have added minerals to their lineup?

...and that Mary Kay re-formulated all their eyeshadows, blushes, bronzers and highlighters a short while back to be minerals? And they brought out a mineral foundation?

...and that drug store brands added minerals even earlier?

...and that Avon and Beauticontrol each have minerals now?

And it doesn't hurt that they are supposed to be good for you.
...there are even products for correction and prevention, not just cosmetic effects.

Is there anyone who hasn't joined the bandwagon?
...or the craze as has been said.

Who was first with a home run?
...was it Bare Essentuals who changed the face of cosmetics, and did it so well that major brands took notice and wanted a piece of the pie?

...how about all the other lovely lines (in alpha order) of minerals like About Face (I've never used them), Aromaleigh, Coastal Scents (never used them yet), Fyrinnae, Joppa (never used them), Meow, Purely Cosmetics (which I haven't tried) ... the list goes on and on and on and... taking their well earned piece of the pie.

...or lines like Lime Crime , so bright it's a crime, with plenty of glitter, whether mineral or not...

For the fashion conscious
...how about all those glorious shadow and blush colors?

...no major line matches the colors that can be found in the Indie lines I've used: Aromaleigh, Fyrinnae, Meow...they just don't compare...and Hip colors, while hip (and a clever name), are not as hipster...

How about texture? Is this the next frontier?
Do you like the loose texture?
...once you get used to loose (and maybe using ziplocks) it's a synch and it's not messy.

Have you tried pressing any of them? I have not.
...Mary Kay's products are all pressed -- lovely colors too, but just not quite so Indie.

How about foundations?
You can find minerals in liquids, creams or powder form. The most popular form is likely the powders.

Purists choose by ingredient additives (or not) and by color and texture. Some lines have a much wider choice in color range -- from lightest to darkest -- and hue -- neutral, pink, yellow based... But with the ability to order samples for a reasonable price, it's not impossible to find a color and a coverage that is just what you want.

I'm not a good one to ask because I don't think the liquids or creams are that different from ones without minerals. This is the form of foundation I usually use. To be honest, BE foundations are too dark for me. And I think irritating. And because I don't like a powder or a heavy look (I prefer sheer or dewy) I haven't pursued any other lines. I'd be willing to try. I just haven't. I'm using up the BE, mixed lighter with some AL, on my neck.

Do you use mineral foundations?
What is your favorite and why? What kind of coverage do you like? Are you warm or cool complected? pale? Asian? dark?

Do you use mineral shadows and blushes?
Do you have a favorite line?

Be sure to mention any lines I may have forgotten or don't know.

One for the money, two for the show
....with the Internet so easy to access, Internet companies are giving the companies with counters or wall space a run for their money.

And well they should.

Originally posted 2009-04-06 08:47:54.

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I was happy with the way this turned out.

I spread out my Meow samples and thought what did I want to try:

Eyes:
Base: Nude Frost (there is some question as to whether this irritates me, but so far, so good today -- I gave it a rest, then tried again today) then my sparkly eye mix
Lid and Crease: Meow VandalEyes Misdemeanor (lime)
Crease and drylined top and lower: Meow VandalEyes Shoplifting (deep vibrant purple)

The lime is a little lighter and brighter than it photographed. You can see the glitter liner on the eye to your right.

Lined: Estee Lauder Plum Grey pencil (which turned out to be more grey than I remembered, so I went over the line and past the line with Meow)
Glitter lined over the top of liners: GirlActik Lavender -- gorgeous color, this line was my first foray into glitters, before AL Rocks! glitter
Mascara: (top, to your left) Mark Scandalash Indigo (purple)
Mascara : (top, to your right and lower lashes) Estee Lauder MagnaScopic purple
The EL is a tad darker.
Brows: La Prairie pencil

Finished look:

Primer: Smashbox Purple Primer
I like the color lift that this gives.

Foundation: Revlon Age Defying Liquid Color 04
I like this foundation and use it often.
Rouge: Mary Kay stick from a limited line
Powder: Lustre Aromaleigh Twilight supernatural powder
Nice gleam. Used my normal powder brush, not a FO.
Blush: Meow Masterpiece Water Lilies Love this color!
Lips: NYX Round Gloss Apricot 19
This is gorgeous and vibrant when applied heavily. Later it softens to a delicious stain-y look, but it is still moist with product on the lip. You can see how it looks here.

I quite like Meow mineral shadows. I am sampling several types, but they all seem to be equally pigmented and equally easy to use.

VandalEyes are our newest, most highly pigmented collection of multi-purpose eye shadows. Silky smooth and designed to be extra long wearing, they're intense and powerful but they are *not* for the faint of heart...Can be applied dry for a bold look, or foiled (applied wet) for the most intense color and sheen.

I'd love to try more of their Masterpiece blush line.

Masterpiece Blush Gallery: Our newest blush collection, uniquely formulated and unlike any other blush you've ever tried. They're sumptuously sheer, and sweep on your cheeks invisibly, leaving only a pure wash of gorgeous colors behind!

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-23 13:32:53.

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There are a number of brushes you need in your arsenal in order to apply your colors in the best possible and easiest way. In general, I like real hair brushes, except for ones that are meant to be synthetic (foundation and concealer.)

Keep them clean
Clean them whenever you see residue in the brush. If you are oily or prone to acne, this will be more often (even daily) to keep the brushes clean. And you won't contaminate any of your product.

Some people use a conditioning shampoo.

I use a cleanser made for brushes by Merle Norman. I do not use a whole capful. I use 1/4 of the cap, filled with 3/4 water (that is the percentage). Put it in the sink. Swirl my brush(es). Add more water to it. Swirl some more. Empty basin. Squeeze excess out of brush. Fill basin with water and swirl brushes. Empty and repeat until brush is clean and water is clear.

Why do you need so many brushes?
Because using the right brush makes application easier.

Much less blending is required. In general, I believe if you lay it down right, you don't need to do much blending.

And you won't look like a clown with too much blush, for example, unless that is the look you are going for.

And if you have sensitive skin, where blending can actually feel hurtful, the better the brush, the softer or less pull on the skin.

Do I have to have them all?
No, but these work. Use what you have, but begin to collect others as you need them. If you buy good brushes (consider buying them when there is a gwp offered), they will last nearly forever.

Several of these brushes have hit the market only in more recent years, so it is possible that a brush we can't live without will be offered in the foreseeable future that meets a need we didn't know we had.

BE gives their brushes as part of many of their sets for face or eye. They are really good, and many are only offered in their sets, they cannot be bought separately. That's an added perk for buying their sets.

You can also look in places that sell brushes for arts and painting. These may work just as well and cost less than something you find at a cosmetic counter. For the most part, I have shown shapes so you know what you are looking for.

Brands I like
Bare Escentuals -- every brush I've used has been top notch -- often included in sets

Clinique -- the two I have are great; one type I've only seen at Clinique, a large fluffy eye brush (will add the name later, if it is on the brush) (works great for laying down strong color without being too much)(which is how the SA used it on me and therefore sold me on it -- I don't have anything like it)
CVS -- nice quality; not so easy to use as they are dual ended (they won't stand upright in a container -- they have to be flat)
Estee Lauder -- I'm still using a 20 year old set.
Lancome -- nice quality, I especially like the L'angle brush for eyes and use it daily.
Update: Lancome's mineral foundation brush is superb! It feels like velvet -- you are transported to a spa. If you use mineral foundation, do yourself a favor, go to a Lancome counter and try this brush. Let me know if you do! Do you know if there is anything out there that is identical to this brush in a different price range?
Mary Kay -- nice quality for the price.
Sephora -- every one I've tried has been top notch; they have great travel sets.
Trish McAvoy I have a couple of hers. They are good. Hers was the first brush similar to the Lancome L'Angle that I bought, but it is bigger and fuller than the Lancome.
Ulta -- I just bought a very small angle eye liner brush (I wanted something similar to a drugstore one that I can no longer find -- this is smaller, but it works for what I want to use it for. I used it to line my FOTD today)

Brands that are said to be good, but I have not tried
Aromaleigh edit: I love their fiber optic brushes.
MAC -- edit: I use a fiber optic brush of theirs for blush.

Types of brushes that you should have at a minimum
Anything else you have is just a plus. These should be in your staples.

Eyes
Angle eye brush to lay down the crease
Medium fluffy eye brush to lay down a base color
Short almost semi-circular eye brush to lay down the outer corner color
Sephora makes one called a Smudge Brush. It's perfect.

Denser round eye brush to use with Chanel type colors, if possible.

Fiber Optic eye brush as much for fun as anything. I have a BE one. Aromaleigh's are supposed to be very good. I really like their fiber optic eye shadow brushes.

Brush you could use for blending, if necessary
Angled or flat eyeliner brush for laying down shadow as eyeliners, usually dry, but works with gel also.

Regular shaped eyeliner brush for doing a wet or gel liner or
Regular shaped eyeliner brush with bent handle This is surprisingly easy to use.

Brow Brush if you use a powder form. Often these brushes come with a comb on one side. I rarely use the comb.

Face
Use any soft good sized fluffy brush for blending away any mistakes, if necessary.
Concealer brush(es), synthetic (or use your clean fingers)
Some concealers feed through a brush, in which case you might not need one.
Small thin one, for spot concealing.

Medium one for under eyes.

Fluffy dense brush to apply mineral makeup with, if you use it. BEs is very good.
Take your pick:

Fluffy brush, not so dense angled or not, to apply powder or BE Mineral Veil. Just like the above only a bit smaller in diameter.

Medium sized fluffy angled brush, to apply blush

Dense, flat round brush to apply blush, for certain colors

Fiber Optic Brush to apply blush or bronzer, when the color is strong and you only want a bit. It looks similar to this. I have one by BE and by Prescriptives. I have a smaller one by MAC. Aromaleigh's are supposed to be very good. I really like their fiber optic eye shadow brushes.

Specialty
This is a nice brush. The one end applies dry liner nicely.

Optional
Lips, only if you use one
Or, use the brush on the end of a lip pencil, if you have one, rather than buying an extra brush.
Lip brush, only if you use one.
Lip brush with a cover for your purse.

Makeup foundation brush
Synthetic brush to apply liquid or cream makeup, if you desire. Using your fingers is just as good and there is no product waste. You could also use a sponge.

Eyes
Dense round eye brush Sephora makes one, for laying down intense colors, such as Chanels. See above. (You can use the half round flat brush above just as easily, maybe more so)
Brush suitable for applying shadows wet -- I sometimes use an older brush that gives it new life.

Travel Set if you travel a lot or if you should need one for your purse.
Sephora has some good sets. Check for the one that has the type of brushes you like the most. Chanel often has one, but expensive.
Aromaleigh carries a set too, see link above.

This is a quick run down, and I might have forgotten one or two.

Which brand of brushes do you know and love?
It looks as though ELF and NYX have brushes reasonably priced, but I have not tried them. I have used several from CVS that are good.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-06 16:54:13.

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I changed the lippie from yesterday and used a different liner on my eyes. Instead of black and brown, I used bright green.

Eyes:
Base: Nude Frost, then Meow Nicole S
Lids: AL Torment
Crease: AL Basil
Lined top and lower with Sephora Flashy Green. Then drylined on outer edges with Torment. It looked striped on the lower, so on outer edge and through the middle I drylined with basil. That made it blend right.
Mascara: BE Buxom

Primer: Revlon
Foundation: EL stick, discontinued
Rouge: Beauté liqui-gel stain Harlot
Powder: my sparkly mix, followed by BE mineral veil as bronzer
Blush: none

Lip: NYX Diamond Sparkle lip gloss Copper Sparkle, rimmed with Clinique Whisper, also used in the middle. This is a really pretty color. It looks similar to Mark Metalicious glosses which I love.

The green really gave it some jazz. I liked it with green. I also liked it with black.

You can see it more here:

Karin

Originally posted 2009-04-12 15:45:16.

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Rio Rhythms and Rio Bikini are the latest in Avon's (Mark) travel evocative, instant vacation, fragrances, this time evoking Rio. Because I have liked the other ones in this series, I felt I might like these, or at least one of them, and I was not disappointed.

I tried them from samples attached to a postcard. I will be order a bottle, maybe two. The price of $18 for 1.7 oz certainly makes them affordable. I am not a fragrance snob. My fragrances are all over the board. Just because something is expensive doesn't make it automatically better.

Rio Bikini
This one is my favorite of the two. Though Rio Rhythms is a close second. It is luscious, but not overpowering. Not too sweet or sticky feeling. Just right.

All the fun and playfulness of Rio, captured with a blend of
Notes: pitaya fruit, kiwi, coconut milk and exotic flowers, beachy notes and sandalwood...
a warm, sunny feeling.

It is bright and sunny, a little bit like some of the Estee Lauder's sun tanny ones that everyone seems to like so well (Bronze Goddess and others brought out yearly for a bit) (that I can't wear well) with the addition of the fruit and floral notes.

In case you wondered what Pitaya fruit, sometimes called Dragon Fruit, is, as I did, here is a link to wikipedia that has a picture and other info.

Rio Rhythms
On me, this is pure vanilla, albeit a nice one, until the last hurrah, in which the wood and amber comes out. I get nothing but vanilla the rest of the time. Well, maybe a hint more, when I try it the second time today. I think this was envisioned as the evening scent. As I smell it today, I get a hint of the daytime Rio Bikini underneath it all, but just a hint.

Rio's intense energy and unmistakable sensuality inspired this vibrant floral blend, a combination of
Notes: jasmine petals, coconut water, peony, gardenia and lilac, vanilla, warm wood and amber...
alluring warmth.

My take:
I expect I will buy both, and I might layer them up, going from Rio Bikini to Rio Rhythms. They both smell true to me; neither has that artificial note to it that I dislike. They are fun and summery and just right to evoke a memory or to create one.

Have you tried either of these?
Get thee to thy Avon rep and order!

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

AVON INSTANT VACATION MARK. FRAGRANCE MIST RIO BIKINI

US $14.44

10h 18m

Mark by Avon Instant Vacation Rio Bikini Fragrance Mist, New & Boxed

3 Bids

US $4.24

15h 34m

RARE AVON mark. INSTANT VACATION FRAGRANCE MIST RIO BIKINI - 1.6oz NIB

US $16.99

3d 8h 52m

AVON Mark. Rio Bikini Instant Vacation Fragrance Mist

US $9.99

4d 6h 26m

Avon Mark RIO BIKINI fragrance mist spray 1.6 FL.OZ

US $14.99

5d 6h 5m

AVON INSTANT VACATION MARK. FRAGRANCE MIST RIO RHYTHMS

US $14.44

10h 22m

~nib~AVON MARK RIO RHYTHMS INSTANT VACATION FRAGRANCE MIST 1.6 FL. OZ.

US $9.77

2d 4h 12m

AVON *MARK*. RIO RHYTHMS INSTANT VACATION FRAGRANCE MIST - 1.6 FL. OZ.

0 Bid

US $8.00

2d 7h 47m

RARE AVON mark. INSTANT VACATION FRAGRANCE MIST RIO RHYTHMS- 1.6oz NIB

US $16.99

4d 5h 23m

AVON Mark. Rio Rhythms Instant Vacation Fragrance Mist

US $9.99

4d 6h 19m

AVON LOVE TO THE FULLEST BY REESE WITHERSPOON FREE BAG

US $21.59

17m

Avon Forest Lily EDT Spray 1.7 oz NIB

US $19.99

22m

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49m

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Oh, yummy, is all I can say. You can't go wrong for $4.

When I made my recent trek to an Ulta, I bought two colors (they had very little selection and do not sell NYX through their website, darn!). (On my second visit they had a good selection, but only 1 or 2 of each color.) You can find them at cherryculture. The online color selection looks like there is a great range. Another color I'd like to try is Copper Sparkle...Ginger Sparkle...Orange Sparkle (why not!) ...Rose Sparkle ...I can't choose just one. Now if only the Ulta was nearer to me, I'd check it out again. Why pick the same o same o, when it is reasonable to try something totally different. I might love it!

I took these first two pictures down. Next time I wear them, I will update the photos.
Fuchsia
Just what you'd think -- gorgeous!

Paprika
This photographed to the pink side, but it is really more apricot.

Wow, these are great colors. In the wand, they look metallic, similar to some of the Mark metallic glosses (which I can't find online any more.) They cover well, but are not quite as opaque or metallic as the Mark's are. They are definitely a gloss and not a liquid lipstick. They feel so much better than the Rimmel I talked about the other day. They feel great and moisturize well. Two hours later, it is still holding up well, not migrating, and -- did I say -- feeling great.

Have you tried these? what colors have you tried? Do you love them as I do?

Here's Pink Sparkle
Light, bright almost orchid shade. I've rimmed it with a Lancome Starlight. See the technique here.

Here's Copper Sparkle:
It looks like a beautiful rose copper in the tube. Rimmed with Clinique Whisper, also dotted in the middle.

Orange Sparkle:

You know, when these are so good, you don't need to spend the money on a Chanel. For the price of one Chanel, you could have several of these. Go for it!

Karin
5 for color
5 for staying power, do not migrate
5 for formula, metallic with a bit of sparkle shimmer, but not frosted
5 for no taste or smell, but no ingredient taste/smell either
5 for the feel, simply yummy
I'll say it again, my lips feel great!

Originally posted 2009-03-07 20:39:53.

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Saturday's look: still trying out the samples I ordered from AL.

This was my inspiration: I thought she was gorgeous.
An ad for Rocks Jewelers. I could not find it online so I took a picture of it.

Eyes:
Base: Nude Frost + BE Queen Phyllis
Inner corners: AL Soul Takes Flight les papillons
Outer corners and drylined lower: AL Morphing Moon les papillons
Tightlined upper and wet lined lower: MAC blackgraph
Tightlined lower: MAC earthline

Blush and highlight: Arbonne

Lips:
Avon Mark Queen Peine Metallicious + BE Ruby


When I was finished

I started out thinking I would do the colors exactly as she did, knowing of course that my eyes are brown, but when I finished I realized that I had pulled the color of her eyes into mine by using the green Morphing Moon. That was serendipitous; I hadn't planned it; it was just how it morphed (pun intended.)

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

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