Category Archives: Mineral Makeup

Makeup I Use & Jane Iredale’s Latest

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Jane Iredale BB Cream

What you see below is the makeup I packed for our California trip (brushes and skincare not included obvs). All were things I bought (save for the CARGO bronzer and theBalm shadow) in spite of there being plenty of makeup scattered around my office sent by companies wanting me to review it all. I do have a Japonesque case filled with makeup that I love using when time allows and there’s a reason to doll up, but most days I edit down and use at least one or two things from this pile.

Bronzer: CARGO
Mineral Foundation: Jane Iredale in Warm Silk
Laura Mercier: Eyeliner for Tightline
White Eye Pencil: Jane Iredale
Lip Gloss: Jane Iredale in Soft Peach (my all time fav shade)
Lipstick: Aveda Oyster Pink (limited)
Cheek Color: Jane Iredale Parfait
Single Eye Shadow: theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer
Shadow trio: Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio in ‘Filter’
Foundation: Boscia BB Cream
Concealer: Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal
Not Pictured: Mascara CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion (the purple tube)


Click to enlarge

I use the Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup over the BB Cream for a little more coverage. In a hurry, I just brush on the Iredale powder solo.

Speaking JI- their new Smooth Affair primer is amazing. It’s a light weight nourishing formula with good-for-the-skin ingredients and antioxidants that really help makeup stay put. I’ve even used it a few times in place of a morning moisturizer when my skin isn’t feeling dry because it’s the perfect amount of hydration and it makes my skin look and feel great. She also introduced a mineral BB Cream that will soon replace the Boscia I’ve been using once it runs out. It has tons of coverage and a beautiful finish. I like it better than the Boscia because of the natural ingredients and it comes in darker shade selections rather than just one ‘universal’ shade that really isn’t.


Smooth Affair Primer


Glow Time BB Cream

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint

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Jouer is really an every-woman sort of line with genus ‘snap together’ packaging and colors for grown ups that flatter and work together in an effortless way. I wasn’t surprised that I really liked their new Matte Moisture Tint foundation, I liked it so well that it went straight into my personal kit. It’s something I’ll wear regularly and buy again once I’m out.

It’s an oil-free, mineral rich formula with big coverage that blended so completely into my skin that it was undetectable. It disguised red blotches and even darkness around my eyes so well that I didn’t need to use any concealer for my skin to look all glowy and perfect. All skin types can enjoy it because in this case oil-free doesn’t mean drying and it looked as perfect at the end of the day as when I first put it on without needing to set it with powder or any touch ups.

Find Jouer online HERE, or in select Nordstrom stores where we’ll hopefully be seeing more of them. soon

Makeup Before and After: Jane Iredale and the Case for Purple Shadow

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Every now and again in this wedding makeup world of neutrals and more naturals, I’ll get a bridesmaid who’s ready to smoke it up. In this case, it was a purple-hued inspiration pic via Pinterest that lit her fire. You want purple? You got it girl, lets have some fun.

Smokey plums, black liner, big lashes, and pink lips was what made the look.


Before


..After


A little closer

Like most Makeup Artists, I I carry only the best in my kit which is typically professional lines, so having a mineral line in there is a big deal. Jane Iredale made the cut because of their Eye Steppes shadow palette in goCool, a compact containing 4 plums and a pink highlight that pop like crazy. Purples are beautiful. They’re the other neutral as far as I’m concerned and they look great on everyone. Grab a lavender shadow next time instead of another boring brown and see what a difference a little color makes.

Pure Gloss in Pink Candy is all I used on her lips. This color and Soft Peach are my two most used glosses that I order again and again. Full of pigment and just the right amount of moisture, they aren’t sticky and give a long wear time.

Glo Minerals Under Eye Primer

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Under Eye Primer $24 from Glo Minerals is well worth a bonus step in your routine. It’s a lightly tinted silicone based primer for the area under the eyes to fill in fine lines and prime the skin so it can hold onto concealer and keep it looking fresh. I’ve been loving it on my clients with dry skin or anyone with slight (or prominent) crow’s feet to instantly freshen the look of tired eyes by blurring those lines and not allowing concealer to settle which accentuates everything. I have tons of primers in my kit that I’ve used around the eyes, but this one seems lighter and better suited to specifically improve this delicate area. It’s great investment if drawing attention to your eyes is your thing.

Alima Pure Let Them Eat Cake Collection

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If you’re named after something it’s called a namesake, but if you’re named after a cake would it then be a cakesake? Namecake? Anyway…These 4 totally adorable shadows from Alima Pure’s Let Them Eat Cake collection are the ‘cakesakes’ of the yummy desserts they resemble. I like Alima Pure’s shadows – versatile with good pigment and with one of the cleanest formulations around. Each of these 4 shadows are of the everyday variety with the deeper shades allowing for some options in depth. Red Velvet reminds me of Stila’s epic Twig shadow while Angel Food gives a nude shimmer similar to their popular Kitten shade minus the orangy tint that can make Kitten a challenge on fair skin. Strawberry Shortcake is a delicate pink shimmer while Devil’s Food can be used for a punch of drama or as a liner.

Check it-


Left to right: Red Velvet, Strawberry Shortcake, Angel Food, Devil’s Food

I’m slowly transitioning into mineral formulas when I find ones with good pigment and wear time, not an entirely easy task but these 4 made the cut into my kit. You can use them wet to punch them up, or pat them right over a still-tacky layer of shadow primer for a better grab and a heightened look.

bareMinerals Holiday Palette for Eyes

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I was visiting a friend last week who works at one of those beautiful Bare Escentuals stores. Now keep in mind that I’m not a huge fan of the line or anything but the brightly lit chandeliers cascading over the candy colored powders is pretty mesmerizing. It’s not that I was in the market for anything BE, but the whole experience of being inside the cozy store sipping my Pumpkin Spice Soy Latte with holiday shoppers buzzing around is like taking an alcoholic to a bar and expecting them not to drink. So of course, while my friend was off helping a real customer and not just someone who came in to chat, I cracked and became like a dog with a bone over an eye shadow palette. I just couldn’t let it go.

I justified the $40 purchase by processing though the following emotions:

Fear: It’s seasonal so I’ll NEVER SEE IT AGAIN once it’s gone!

Guilt: I can’t just stand here and not buy something, I’d totally be wasting Corey’s time.

Reasoning: Whether I love it or not. I’ll at least squeeze a blog post out of it.

Anticipation: I can’t wait to use all of these colors every single day and do my makeup perfectly even if I’m just sitting around the house. Editors note: this did not, and will not never happen

Bottom line: I bought it and I remain absolute about my decision to purchase.

These pressed shadows are night and day different from their loose ones in a pot we all know so well. First, the color payoff is better and not just better than the loose ones, better than most shadows. I’d rank them up there with an Urban Decay for their intensity, blendability, and longevity – you get a ton of color in just one swipe. I also love ratio of bolds to nudes which way outnumbers most palettes. With only 2 ‘safe’ shades, you get colors you don’t have (like the green and mustard yellow) along with rich shimmery spins on a chocolate, maroon, and ivy. I like the damn thing way more than I thought I would – this along with my free gift of a Big & Bright Eyeliner (full review to come) has kinda changed the way I see bareMinerals. Aside from its really lame music based theme (it’s called READY Eyeshadow 8.0 – The Playlist) and even worse color names (Pumped, One Hit Wonder, Speaker Box, etc.) it’s pretty perfect.


The shiny bright red packaging reminded me of foil wrapping paper.


And the gold is bright like an ornament.


A glimpse of the shades – hard to capture and convey their intensity on a screen, check it out for yourself.

Click HERE to see the palette, and HERE for a glimpse of the plum version if browns aren’t really you’re thing.