Category Archives: Mineral Makeup

The Best Mineral Foundation for Dry Skin

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Women with dry skin want the benefits a mineral foundation but adding a powder to already parched skin doesn’t give the hydration or nourishment the way this combo will. I paired h.wood.beauty’s popular Mineral Powder Foundation with One Love Organics Skin Savior Waterless Multi Balm made with cold pressed oils of coconut, soy, mango, and a few other plant based good-for-your-skin essentials to create a custom mineral foundation balm perfect for dry skin. Check out my step by step guide on creating a soothing mineral foundation to treat and perfect your dry skin.

Pictured: One Love Organics Skin Savior and h.wood.beauty Mineral Powder Foundation. I chose h.wood’s powder because it carries a lot of pigment and its formula is non-drying, a natural fit for a dry skin treatment.

This balm is incredible for everything. Cleansing, makeup removal, moisturizing, and of course, making a custom mineral foundation balm.

Sprinkle out a pile of the mineral foundation on one side of the lid and add a dab of the Skin Savior to the other with a concealer brush and mix them together.

You’ve just created your very own custom blended mineral foundation in seconds.

Now, I tried mixing the foundation with a face cream which worked but not as well because the cream didn’t capture the pigment as densely so the coverage was very sheer and blended into the skin quickly leaving only a small amount of coverage behind. It’s the balm’s unique properties that really make this combo really work. I’m so in love with this custom creation that I’ve been pre-mixing a lid of it (like shown above) when I work with clients so I can have it ready if I want to use it to highlight the cheekbones, as an eye concealer, or to finish dry skin without using powder by pressing a bit over their foundation. I can pretty much drum up a reason to use it on everyone, no matter what their skin type might be.

bareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment

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My friends who work at bareMinerals swear that their Pure Transformation Night Treatment does it all. Literally, another employee there used it on some weird rash on her arm and it apparently cleared that up in days. Not that it’s meant for rashes, but a special ActiveSoil complex combined with minerals work to turn over skin cell production quickly the way an AHA, Glycolic, or Retinol would but without the use of chemicals so it’s meant to address skin clarity in general. In the past few months since I started using it, I’ve noticed that it also shrinks pores and gives my skin a healthy glow making it a good primer under my mineral makeup during the day too. It’s so simple to use and at night it’s meant to be the last step in your routine, even over moisturizer.

It’s mineral and soil based that looks like a tinted powder.

Give it a little shake when the lid is closed to transfer the powder to the brush, then dab the powder into each section of the face and go back with a clean brush and buff it all in. I’ll do this a few times, I like to use a lot.

Though it doesn’t matter since you’re technically supposed to wear it over night, it comes in different shades. I have it in light which blends in fine, but you will see some luminosity on the skin, it’s not meant to blend in like a makeup would. On top of smaller pores, I’ve also noticed that my skin just looks really fresh in the morning when I wear it overnight. It’s one of those products that works great with what you’re using already, and just makes your skin look great. Verdict; I’m not in love with the $60, but I’d buy it again.

glo minerals Pressed Base, the Cure For Your M.A.C Studio Fix Addiction

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I think I finally found the perfect detox to quit a serious M.A.C Studio Fix Powder addiction – that foundation we’ve all tired for its coverage but quit wearing it because of what it does to your skin (many experience small bumps that are difficult to chase away), and also because of how dull and chalky it can leave skin looking. Pressed Base from glo minerals is a complete coverage foundation with mineral benefits and a pretty finish that isn’t harsh or heavy. I feel like it was so thoughtfully created to be a good makeup first and foremost – it’s essentially a full-coverage foundation that just happens to be mineral-based.

If you lean more toward a liquid to get your coverage, you have to check out their Protective Liquid Foundation available in either a satin or matte finish. It’s the best liquid mineral foundation I’ve ever tried, hands down. The coverage is outstanding, it glides right into the skin, gives a natural looking finish, and it lasts all day.

Also well worth checking out is this Corrective Camouflage Kit, the first of its kind where I’ve actually used all colors involved especially the lavender. Just a little of this light purplish cream over cheekbones or anywhere you’d want to highlight the face adds a brightness and vibrancy that’s hard to beat.

glo minerals

Alima Pure Mineral Makeup

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Using 4 or fewer ingredients for most of their formulations, Alima Pure is an incredibly clean mineral makeup.  (Check out their safety scores from CosmeticsDatabase.com) I was so enchanted by their equally clean website that I scooped up a ton of $1.50 sample jars. I love when companies sample, it just says to me that they’re confident in their products and know you’ll come back for more. And I will…

Foundations etc: They offer dozens of colors to ensure a perfect match. It’s not a heavy formula but it’s certainly buildable, especially when you use it with their Primer Powder (great to block shine), and buff a Finishing Powder over top. I’ve also been using the Lavender Color Balancing Powder on my forehead and upper cheek area for some added brightness. It sounds like a lot to put on, but it really works together and never gets heavy or cakey. I like to spray a little Avene Thermal Spring Water over top and press it into the skin with a Beauty Blender for a natural, undetectable finish in any light.

Balancing Primer Powder in Light, Concealer in Beige, Satin Matte Foundation in Beige2, Color Balancing Powder in Buttercup, Color Balancing Powder in Lavender

Cheeks: I’m in love with their Bronzer, it isn’t the slightest bit shimmery and it’s a perfect warm shade. I wanted more from the Luminous Shimmer Powder though, it’s just okay – the shimmer isn’t special enough to move me to a purchase because it’s so slight and flakes away.

Satin Matte Blush in Bisque, Luminous Shimmer Powder in Luna, Bronzer in Mauna Loa

Eyeliner: You can’t see it well from my photo, but the black is deep. Use it wet for a liner, or dry to smoke out any look. Illusion is a pretty shade, I like it best for a shadow. If you like a rich, pigment-dense look from your shadows, use a liner as a shadow or choose colors slightly deeper than you normally would.

Satin Matte Eyeliner in Black, Luminous Shimmer Eyeliner in Illusion

Eyeshadows: I found the finish of the Pearluster and Shimmer shadows to be almost identical, and using them wet gives a more intense metallic gleam. Stick with their matte formula if you have more mature lids, it isn’t totally flat and its lack of sheen won’t settle into lines or extenuate dryness. As with any shadow, I’d recommend using a primer first so the powders have something to cling to. I liked their color selection and formula. I wish I’d chosen some brighter shades though, why do I always do neutrals?

Satin Matte Eyeshadow Chocolat, Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow Tigereye, Pearluster Eyeshadow Taupe, Pearluster Eyeshadow Grace

Eyeshadow Swatches: Same order as above. Matte, Shimmer, Pearluster, Pearluster.

Satin Matte Eyeshadow Chocolat, Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow Tigereye, Pearluster Eyeshadow Taupe, Pearluster Eyeshadow Grace

Sample Jar Sizing: You could get a few months out of the sample jars since just a small amount does the trick.

If you’re looking for a reasonably priced color line with safe ingredients, Alima is as pure as it gets. Check out their site and wrangle up a few samples of whatever strikes your fancy, $1.50 is a heck of a deal.

Alima Pure

Powdered Eye Liners

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Eye liner; friend and foe. Perfectly lined eyes are so beautiful and the cornerstone of most looks, but getting it on evenly is the bane of most women’s morning routines. This new generation of powdered liner is easier to apply than a gel or a pencil because they don’t slip around. You won’t get a completely precision look like a liquid liner gives, it’s much more of a laid back, casual look that’s quick and simple to maneuver. Here are a few powdered liners to check out.

Jane Iredale can pretty much do no wrong as a line as far as I’m concerned. It’s a personal fav and a go-to for a lot of my daily routine. Their new Mystikol dual ended powder liners give bold, rich color on an easy-to-draw sponge tipped applicator on one side, and a highlighter shade on the other to fire up your inner corner or brow bone.

Novice liner gals will love their ease, but I think their strong suit is their total blendability from a liner into a smudgy shadow.

Color Options:

Malachite: A sparkling moss with buttery beige

Amethyst: Royal purple with luxurious pearl

Dark Topaz: Rich brown with velvet rose

Lapis Lazuli: Vibrant blue with shimmering ivory

Onyx: Otherworldly black with creamy pearl

In Bloom Soft Focus Powder Eye Liners from Smashbox use precision wand applicators to apply soft shades effortlessly without any dragging along the lid. They’re available in day-friendly shades for a lighter look that isn’t harsh, if you’re not a fan of the black eye liner look then these are for you.

Color Options:

Dark Brown

Heather

Guerlain’s Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl Liner has a fine tip wand for a thiner line and some pretty fiery shades with just a dash of glimmer for the ultimate in sexy eyes.

Color Options:

Black

Brun (with golden flex)

Blue (teal)

Mirage (dark neutral brown) limited edition