Savvy Thinker » Bare Escentuals

Need input: Choosing between brands of mineral eye shadows

Karin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:15:26 +0000

Since there are a bazillion different mineral eye shadow companies abounding, how do you choose which brands you will investigate to wear, if you wear mineral eye shadows?

Repackaging
I understand there are companies that only repackage. I'd prefer not to buy those, and I don't think I have, but I wouldn't mind if I had made an informed choice to do so. That's what's behind Mineral Makeup Mutiny.

Companies I wear:
Aromaleigh
As anyone knows who has been reading my blog, I love Aromaleigh (which I found via a perfume site.) AL is really cutting edge in my book.
Meow
I also like Meow. The colors are lovely, including the blushes.
Fyrinnae
Fyrinnae is lovely, but different in application techniques. Also cutting edge.
Bare Escentuals
Additionally, I like and own many Bare Escentuals shadows and facial colors. BE may not be quite as cutting edge as AL, but they have some beautiful sets.
Mary Kay
Most of MK's minerals are pressed, which have their place. All of the above companies' minerals are loose. I don't consider MK minerals to be cutting edge. They are better than average, but they are more mainstream. Their 2009 Fall/Xmas shadows come in a wand and are loose, but I didn't care for the look when I tried them, albeit I did not have my proper brushes with me.

Outside of these companies, are there others which are not on my radar screen?
Do you find that you can wear some brands, but others you are sensitive to?

Why do you love them?

Are there any you'd like to see me work with?

Karin

Originally posted 2009-11-17 13:45:06.

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FOTD AL + Lashes + MAC lips

Karin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:54:19 +0000

It's kinda fun to wear lashes again and to get out my stash.
Eyes
Base: Nude Frost + BE Queen Phyllis
Inner lid: AL pavane en pointe
Outer lid: AL odile en pointe
Upper lined inner corner: MAC blackgraph pencilto fit into lashes
Lower lined: Clarins Midnight Flashpencil
Lashes: Ardel Sophisticated
Glitter dry lined: Lancome Hologramme Micro-pallettes (white with multi glitter) to match into glitter line of lashes
More lashes

You can't really tell from the picture, but there are tiny bits of glitter through the lashes. Time will tell if it sticks or falls off.

Lips
MAC Love Alert Dazzleglass

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Originally posted 2009-11-28 09:32:07.

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FOTD BE Rocker Star

Karin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:14:24 +0000

BE Rocker Star is one of my favorite sets. I had some trouble applying it this morning, working around everyone that was getting in and out of the bathroom, then I realized I forgot to start with the sparkly beige powder base I usually begin with. Hello! It looks more even than the photos show, and I accidentally deleted one photo, but these give you an idea.

Eyes:
BE Rocker Star -- great colors and a wonderful brush, the one end does narrow lining
Medium Shade in crease; Darker sparklier shade in outer corners; Dry Lined with darkest black on top.
Inner eyes: flash of bright color from NYX Purple Shadow
Lined bottom: MAC graphblack in waterline; earthline just below it
Lined top NYX Jet Black pen liner -- probably should have bought extreme black.
Mascara: NYX Glitter Wand in midnight Hard to get this to show up on my eye, but it is a gorgeous shade. I might use it as liner.
Brows: Clinique Blond pencil

Cheeks: NARS The Multiple in Riviera

Lips: NYX Chandelier This is really a gorgeous color and very nice formula. The pictures don't do it justice. A really great light-medium orchid pink with a lot of sparkle. Every bit as nice as Too Faced; maybe not quite as sparkly.

I love the way the Purple NYX shadow pops the smokey eye look (though they don't call it their Smokey Eye set.)

What do you think?

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-07 10:23:27.

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FOTD NYX +MAC +Too Faced+

Karin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:11:03 +0000

This is the 3rd NYX trio palette in my amazingly cheap NYX haul.

Eyes:
TS 30 Baby Pink, White Pearl, Baby Blue
These are more my colors than yesterday's!
Base: Lancome pink cream
Pink on my lids; Blue in the crease and lined under lower lashes; White on brow bone.
Brows: Prescriptive pencil -- has a super thin lead, easy to use
Lined top: Lancome Blueberry wand
Tightlined Lined lower: Tidal Wave gel liner
Lined top and lower: Prestige Denim pencil
Mascara: Lancome Hypnose on upper; Tarte Bottom up on lower

Primer: Smashbox purple
Foundation: L'oreal N1
Rouge: Chanel stick
Powder: my sparkly mix + BE Mineral Veil as bronzer
Over powder: Benefit Georgia Peach
Blush: MAC Moon River
Concealer: Dior Skinflash

Lips: I liked this really well!
Too Faced Pink Diamond Gloss from their super Vintage sale
Rimmed with: MAC Baby Sparks Dazzler gloss

I was happy with the way this turned out. The color was nice with my denim top. And much more to my taste than yesterday.

What do you think?
Karin

Originally posted 2009-04-23 20:48:30.

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FOTD Weds NYX eyes +

Karin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:16 +0000

As I said in my earlier post today, I wanted to try the NYX colors I had not tried before. Once in a while a color combo blows you out of the water. This color combo is gorgeous and one of my faves!

Eyes:
Base: Nude Frost on lids, not under brows; then BE Queen Phyllis
Lids: NYX Luxor, square individual shadow with a clear lid, an exact match to my T
Drylined: NYX Red, square loose shadow with micro shimmer
Lined: Chanel blue duo pencil, lightest color
Tightlined: NYX Jet Black Felt Tip liner
Inner corners: Arbonne Illume (white matte)
Mascara: Clinique
Concealer: Guerlain
Brows: La Prairie pencil

Primer: Avon Magix
Foundation: Revlon Age Defying cream
Rouge under my sparkly powder mix: Chanel stick
Blush: Arbonne Promise
Highlight: Arbonne Bashful

Lips: AL Balm + MAC pencil -- see my LOTD for more.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com
don't steal my posts -- you know who you are

Originally posted 2009-09-04 15:29:17.

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FOTD Meow and Aromaleigh

Karin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:12:14 +0000

The trouble with having so many choices is that it is difficult to make a choice! I started out thinking of one thing, and ended up with another, quite happily I might add, but making the choice was just one too many choices today. Is it boring to have only one choice -- or is it supremely simplifying? Don't answer that!

I so totally did not know what I wanted to do. But I was happy with it, when I was done. I thought I was going to do AL, then saw the bag of Meow samples and changed my mind. Somthin' simple.

Base: Nude Frost, then BE Queen Phyllis
Lids: Meow Amy F ScandalEyes (Pale rose)
Crease and dry lined: Meow Jessica R ScandalEyes (Grape)

Blush: Meow Water Lilies Masterpiece

Lips: AL Smitten, rimmed and up the center with Beauté Heroine

Have you tried either Aromaleigh or Meow eye shadows?
I like them both. Each of them apply very easily. I have way more AL than Meow, simply because I started with AL and her colors are so gorgeous.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Originally posted 2009-11-11 17:54:54.

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Images with truth in advertising

Karin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:56:03 +0000

Mascara ads
I know I've spoken about it here before, but it seems rather ludicrous to advertise mascaras with various types of false eyelashes, none of which gives you the true idea of how a mascara really performs. For that, you might have to ask your best friend, or try them out and return them, if you don't like them, or if you are sensitive to any ingredients.

Skin care
How can we know what a skin care line does, when viewing ad that use heavily retouched photos or a model who has had a lot of work done on his or her face to show how much, supposedly, a skin care line does for one's skin/ wrinkles/ firmness/ or etc.

Where are the real folks? and how long will they remain real when bombarded with images that are manipulated (or faces that have been.) I put myself right square in the middle of this one, because I have several friends or acquaintances that have had major work done. Will I at some point? Well, so far, I'd rather travel with the money, if I had the money.

Image of Leslie Blodgett, CEO of Bare Escentuals, in Sephora
Imagine my surprise to come upon a near life size -- or maybe larger than life size, which fits her talents, image of Leslie Blodgett in Sephora. And she looks darn good! In this image she has allowed a few fine lines around her mouth to show. And you know they could have been airbrushed out. She rocks!

I love a lot of Bare Escentuals products, including their brushes. I don't use their mineral foundation, because I prefer a liquid foundation, but I love their lip glosses and eye and cheek colors.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

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Originally posted 2010-05-05 07:58:51.

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FOTD Aromaleigh teals + lippie

Karin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:58:38 +0000

Time for a FOTD again...it's been a while since I've posted a new one.

Eyes: I wanted to go back to some AL old standbys, colors that I love, as well us use a new sample I received.
Outer corner: Lilypad satin petals frost
Crease and lower lash dry lined: Jade pure eyes frost -- looks deep, but goes on brighter
Lined: Black powder on top
Over lined top and bottom: Delilah bete noire glitter -- these glitters look wonderful; I'll be trying out more over the next couple of days.
Mascara: BE Buxom

Face:
comparing two shades and formulas of foundation, applied over Hourglass Veil primer, each side of my face, all else is the same [Olay cream on right; Revlon liquid on left]; Chanel cream blush under my sparkly powder mix; Arbonne Promise as blush; Mary Kay highlighter up the center of my face.

Lippie AL Sweet Tart Gothic Lolita Collection over Down Under Healing lipbalm
This is a beautiful neutral shimmery pink.

Warm mauve pearl from Summer 2009 Natural mineral lip products have an average lifespan of 6-9 months due to the nourishing base oils and butters used in their formulation.

What do you think?
It's no secret I love AL colors. So far my AL lippies have held up well, all but one color which I replaced, lasting over the time frame AL lists for their lippies.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Originally posted 2010-03-09 11:41:50.

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FOTD Weekend look Lancome AL BE Beauté

Karin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:42:16 +0000

Wow, this sure photographed well! This is my new gauze top. I love the style with cut away sleeves.

Eyes:
Base: Beauticontrol Pink, then my sparkly shadow mix
Crease: AL Grape pure eyes matte -- I forgot about this one and how much I liked it until I spotted it again -- I didn't think it went on as easily as the first time, but I was happy when I finished
Lids: AL Dandelion Satin Petals Frost -- a very soft yellow
Lined top and lower: Clinique Blacker Violet pencil
Mascara upper: Lancome Fatale; Lower: Tarte

Primer:
Foundation: Lancome Minerals and Powder; my sparkly facial mix
Blush: BE Beauty
Highlight: M*A*D Alter Ego -- looks beige but pulls iridescent pink on the skin

Lips: all Beauté
Paramour/Heroine 1/2 and 1/2, rimmed with Allure

What do you think?

Karin

Originally posted 2009-04-26 22:50:46.

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FOTD Tues Meow AL Fyrinnae

Karin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:52:27 +0000

I'm running behind, as you can see, but here is my look for Tuesday.

Eyes:
Lids: Meow IdealEyes Cat got your tongue? light pink
Crease: AL Spring Solstice Bellflower purple orchid
Pencil Lined top: Clarins Midnight Flash, great purple, now discontinued
Pencil lined lower: Fyrinnae Iimmortalitythen more Bellflower below that
Brows: Clinique pencil
Mascara Upper: BE Buxom; lower: Stiletto

Primer AL
Foundation 2 Chanels to compare
Rouge under powder: Nars The Multiple Riviera
Powder: my sparkly mix, then BE mineral veil as bronzer
Blush: Meow
Lips: NYX Round Gloss Ballerina Pink 36

This was such a pretty, soft look. I felt like spring even though winter is giving us a last hurrah! It's going to be in the low 40s here tomorrow morning! What do you think?

What are you doing with your makeup to feel more spring-like?
Karin

Originally posted 2009-04-07 23:51:16.

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