Elegant Minerals

This is another long overdue post of my mineral makeup haul i ordered months ago. This one is from Elegant Minerals,a trusted and verified online merchant located at Corpus Christi, Texas.

I ordered three sets of their foundation samples in Light Warm shades, they include the following:

Light Bisque- for light skin with peaches & cream complexion, with pink undertones.

Golden Wheat- a shade for light skin with slightly yellow undertones & some pink.

Cornsilk- for light-medium skin, with neutral and yellow undertones. (for Asians and Latins)

Beige- light-medium shade. Great balance -slightly darker than Golden Wheat.

I also ordered passion glow blush & pink glow bronze, pale roses lipstick, setting powder in sheer neutral shade and a small spatula for scooping and measuring mmu.

They have the tiniest sample jars i've ever seen, much like a size of a peso coin. So cute!! Although they don't have sifters, each jar is sealed and properly labeled. Each sample foundie is good for 2 to 3 applications only. (Now i have empty little jars to fill in with some eyeshadow samples.)

I asked them to have one of the sample sets gift-wrapped. It's one of the options they offer with no extra cost. It looked like this, wrapped in metallic red ribbon, and i gave it away as a small present.

The foundies are weightless and considerably long-wearing. And their customer support is remarkable, i was able to chat with one of the representatives online thru Yahoo Messenger before i finalized the shades i want.

They claim that their products are free of preservatives, bismuth, talc, dyes, parabens, carmine and fragrances. And most of all, just like most mineral makeup companies, their products are cruelty free- and no animal testing. =)

Product Review: EARTHEN GLOW MINERALS

Earthen Glow Minerals is a promising mineral makeup store launched at the last quarter of 2008. I ordered two sets of Get Acquainted Sample Kit. Each kit contains my choice of 3 loose mineral foundations, 1 finishing powder and 1 blush. My orders took only less than two weeks to arrive.

It’s fun browsing the color chart but because of the many shades available to choose from, it could also cause you headache in selecting a foundation that is most suitable for you in every way, color, texture, and coverage. But one good thing about mineral makeup stores, they allow us to order a sample or better yet a sampler kit. This way, it allows us to select several foundation colors and more with minimal investment.

Price:
Sample Kit (in jars): $5.00
Sample Kit (in bags): $3.50
Shipping (First Class International USPS): $2.50
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Total (payment thru Paypal): $11.00

Plus $0.75 (P35.00) Philippine Postal Fee (grrr..)

All samples in jars (foundie, finpow and blushes) came in a round sample jars with black covers and sifters. But three of the samples arrived with loose caps. I tried to tighten the cap coverings but it seems that the cap and the jar don’t fit together. I wished that the sifter holes were sealed so the pigments shouldn’t have spilled. It turned out that the cheaper samples in bag ($3.50) contained more pigments than those in jars ($5).

BLUSHES:

Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Premium grade serecite (colorless mica), Iron Oxide.

I got Blush of Youth and Peaches n Cream. A little dusting of blush in the apples of the cheeks gives a lil color and depth (not flat!) The blushes have enough sheen for a radiant glow. For me, Blush of Youth is a reminiscent of my favorite blusher/bronzer- E.L.F. Glow, but the former is a bit darker.

FOUNDATION:

Earthen Glow Minerals offers four (4) Mineral Foundation formulas:

• Youthful Glow- Offers medium coverage with a natural and Youthful Radiant Glow.
• Cover Me- Heaviest mineral foundation, providing a beautiful, natural finish with the slightest Glow.
• Light & Natural- Feather light coverage, Mineral foundation. Rice Based Formula. Light coverage, Matte finish, good for oily skin.
• Liquid Minerals- A natural liquid mineral foundation that contains Primrose oil, it provides medium coverage with a matte finish.

These foundations cover a wide range of complexions, and it is interesting to note that Earthen Glow Minerals have more than a hundred shades available that are categorized into four groups:

• Beige - Neutral Family
• Cool - Olive family
• Yellow Family
• Warm - Peach Family

Here’s what I got:

Youthful Glow Foundation:

Medium coverage with a natural youthful glow, producing that beautiful natural look.

Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Oxides, May contain Ultramarine Blue oxides.

Adya (Yellow Family)







Mailee (Yellow Family)





Sung (Yellow Family)






Janelle (Cool and Olive Family)

Light & Natural Foundation:

Light coverage foundation. A rice based formula that is good for all skin types and naturally effective controlling the oil secreted by oily skin.

Ingredients: Rice Powder, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Oxides, May contain Ultramarine Blue oxides.

Kelly (Yellow Family)

Melissa (Yellow Family)

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The texture and feel is not chalky, instead, it glides smoothly and I feel like it melts onto my skin quite nice, it reminds me of Lumiere (one of my HG foundations). It’s just the way I want the finish: dewy, radiant, and with “youthful glow”. However, use a proper concealer if you need to cover up blemishes. It caters those who prefer medium coverage. It is not that longwearing but I think a makeup primer would solve this.

Light and Natural on the other hand, is more concerned on controlling the oiliness. The rice powder ingredient is an important ingredient if you desire light coverage with a matte finish.

Up to this writing, I still haven’t found my exact shade without mixing. But Mailee is a favorite, and a close match. Also with Sung + Janelle. Kelly is almost like a second skin too. I can also wear Adya. Well, I really can’t figure out because they are all so nice.

FINISHING POWDER:

High Definition Pro
Ingredients: Silica Micro spheres, Micas.

”High Definition Pro Finishing Powder is excellent for those with oily skin who may need a little additional power before and after applying the foundation.”

-from EGM website

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I have never seen any loose powder so finely milled as this powder. It feels like I am touching cornstarch when I swipe the colors. It's that fine and smooth. There is hardly powder flying around unless I swipe it hard. Using a stippling brush, it just glides onto the skin effortlessly and evenly. I can use it solely over moisturizer and concealer, but I find better outcome when used with Earthen Mineral foundation underneath. It doesn't offer coverage nor does it change complexion much. But I don’t regret choosing only High Definition Powder for my two kits, as I was not that tempted to try the other variants (Silk Botanical and Soft Focus)- guilty about my Dream World Crème Toppings that I haven’t been touched.

According to Earthen Glow Minerals website, their formulas are kept as natural as possible and do not contain artificial fragrances, colors, waxes, preservatives or fillers in loose mineral cosmetic formulas. The ingredients/ agents mentioned are believed to often lead to skin irritation.

Furthermore, their mineral cosmetics have no organic materials in them except their rice powders such as the Silk Botanical finishing powder. These organic ingredients have indefinite shelf lives provided they are kept in cool, dark, dry areas.

Shelf Life:

Ordinary Foundation: 6 to 12 months
Mineral Foundation: No expiration date as long as kept dry

Traditional Blush: Powder: 2 years, Cream: 1 year
Mineral Blush: No expiration date as long as kept dry

Traditional Eye Shadow: 2 years, Cream: 6 to 12 months
Mineral Eye shadow: No expiration date as long as kept dry

Mascara: 3 months
Lipstick: 2 years

CONCLUSION:
No bumps or allergic reactions were experienced with the foundation and finishing powder. Despite the spillage experience, Earthen Glow Minerals has become one of my favorite mineral makeup available online.

My MAD Minerals Mini Haul

I had the chance to try Mad Minerals mineral makeup thru MMU swapping with my friend Jessica. In return, I sent her samples from Coconut Bay Cosmetics & Ellana Minerals. Look what i've got:

Ingredients:

Mica (CI 77019), Zinc Oxide (CI 77947), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77492, CI 77491), Ultramarine Blue (CI 77007)

I got three shades of foundations: Olive Light Medium, Light Golden and Olive Light.

Olive Light Medium Foundation
(for a light medium complexion with yellow undertones)

Light Golden Mineral Foundation

(for light complexions with golden peachy undertones)

Olive Light Mineral Foundation

(for light complexion with yellow undertones)

Among the three shades, the Light Golden shade is my closest match. I also got a sample of the yellow corrector:





Loose Mineral Apricot Corrector
(Warms up yellow skin tones and sallow complexions)

The foundation samples went onto my skin easily enough; it controls oiliness and the finish is just alright, but I noticed a little bit of chalkiness that I was able to buff away. Not to mention a few small bumps I had on my face that I thought were just signs that my skin was still adjusting to this brand. But they did not disappear until the 3rd day, so I discontinued playing with the samples. This would be good for people who want a heavier coverage. I prefer light coverage especially during the summer months because in my experience, heavier coverage (in most brands I’ve tried) tends to “cake” at the end of the day. However, what works and does not work on my skin does not mean that the product is not totally worth trying. Remember, we have different skin sensitivities and preferences to consider. So still, it’s for you to find out and decide on what you like, and maybe you could share your stories too. =)

By the way, I’m intrigued with Mad Minerals liquid foundation. As it claims the following with regular use: anti-aging, antioxidant, collagen renewal, hydration, protection from environmental damage and diminishes lines/ wrinkles.

Hopefully, next time I'll be able to try them and make another review.







*Photos of liquid mineral foundation and shade chart were taken from www.madmierals.org for reference.

Aubrey Nicole Mineral Make Up Review

Here's the sampler pack i ordered from Aubrey Nicole, they even gave me free blushes in Rosetta and Sunrise plus a cute little brush:

Aubrey Nicole offers two types of foundations, soft coverage and full coverage. I prefer soft coverage because I have better control over how much coverage I actually get. The foundation applies very nicely for me, and the foundation color is a perfect match for my skin color. The powder seems to melt into my skin, so you can’t tell that I am wearing foundation.

I’m happy with my Aubrey Nicole Foundation for as long as it did not cause me breakouts.

I ordered 5 sample jars of foundation in warm and golden shadest: light golden (soft coverage), light golden (full coverage), light warm (full coverage), medium light golden (soft coverage) and medium light golden (full coverage).

I love their sample jars! Unlike most of the mmu lines i've tried, their sample jars come with sifter and are neatly sealed. The jars are "square" just like the ones i ordered from Lumiere. They are also generous in filling the jars with samples.

I found my not-so-perfect matches in Light Golden and Light Warm.

Addicted to MMU =)

MMU is a must-try!
WARNING though: It can get very ADDICTING.

Once you've been hooked in wearing mineral make up, there could be no turning back.

There are so many mmu brands especially online that you just want to try more and more. And they’re actually cheaper to use than traditional make-up/ non-MMU brands, imagine, these stuff do not have expiration dates and you just have to use very little amount of pigment. With proper application, you'll only be needing a pinch or so at a time.

I have tried brands such as Blusche, Coconut Bay Cosmetics, Ellana, Lumiere, Lauress, Everyday Minerals... and the list goes on.... It is important for me to try different MMU brands to find the perfect shade and brand for me. Ordering online is not always hassle-free, especially on finding the proper shade and choosing the right formula. That's why it is really important to start in ordering samples before committing to full sizes.

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My LHK is Here!

Yipee! Happy mmu day again!
The Air21 boy just came to deliver my EDM's Original Glo Multi-Tasking and my so-much-awaited Long-Handled Kabuki.

Thank you Kitz! *mwah!

*still waiting for 3 more packages: Cory, Aubrey Nicole & Elegant Minerals*

Lauress Samplers

It's a happy mail day! i received my Lauress package this morning.

Will soon post updates here!

Elegant Minerals

It should be a *no-buy* mode for me but was tempted again to try another mmu brand.

Good thing my friend wanted to try mmu too, so we divided the shipping cost for our orders.

I hope mmu will work for her VERY sensitive skin. (*crossing-fingers*)

**waiting for my Lauress, EDM, Cory, Aubrey Nicole + Elegant Minerals packages**

Holy Grail

Still roadtesting my Lumiere samples. . i receive good compliments while wearing cashmere & luminese formulas.. and i ask myself: "Did i find my HG this early??" Parang i'm still not convinced coz i still want to try MORE brands pa.. haha.. adik.

**waiting for my Lauress, EDM, Cory & Aubrey Nicole packages**

Lumiere Starter Kit

After reading rave reviews about Lumiere Mineral Cosmetics (formerly Must Have Minerals), I gave in and ordered their popular Try Me! Starter Kit. I was able to avail of their "Summer Sale" offering discounts on most items. The sample kit is on sale for $9.00 (and the shipping is FREE!), from its regular price of $15.50.

Lumiere has 4 different formulas for their foundation to choose from:

• Luminesse - all skin types (normal, oily, dry)
• Cashmere - all skin types (normal, oily, dry)
• Veena Velvet - normal to oily skin
• Flawless - normal to dry skin

I chose flawless, luminesse and cashmere for comparison.. I placed my orders on July 7, received their shipping confirmation the next day, and received my Lumiere loot on July 19.

Here's what i got:

I am so thrilled with the packaging. The samples were neatly wrapped in plastic and vacuum sealed. They also gave me a unique coupon code for a $5.00 off on my next order. Sulit 'di ba?

The kit includes 4 foundie shades, 1 finishing powder, and 1 blush/bronzer, in cute mini square jars (without sifter).

• Cashmere- Fairly Light Golden
• Cashmere- Fairly Light
• Flawless- Light Cool
• Luminesse- Light Golden
• Pearlfecting Powder (finpow)
• Neutral pink (blush)

While all the formulas in my starter kit provide a "not-made-up look" and flawless finish, my favorite is cashmere because i find it more creamy but blendable. I was so right in choosing fairly light golden and fairly light shades. They match my skin tone perfectly, while light cool and fairly light are okay too.. i think i need another mmu shade with deep yellow undertones and experiment in playing with these shades.

My Lumiere Loot

Surprise! I received my Lumiere loot today.

You should witness how happy i am! Ang saya saya After i placed my order online two weeks ago, i started counting the days. I read a lot of good feedback, and convinced with the recos from my fellow GTers for this mmu brand. I'm itching to try ASAP.

Will post some reviews soon!

Blusche

BLUSCHE (pronounced blŭsche) is Middle English of blush which means glow,

gleam or glimpse..
--copied from their website

What i like about this Canada-based mmu company is their friendly customer service. Thanks to Monica (she's a pinay!) who patiently answered my queries on selecting my shade before i placed my orders. I also got my orders fast. By the way, they recently opened their Blusche PH Store to cater their many customers here.

I bought Blushing Pink blush/bronzer in a 10 gram sifter jar and also got the following foundie shades to try:

• Colombian
• Butterscotch
• English Toffee
• French Vanilla (in OLD formula)

I find Blusche foundies creamy except for the old formula (in French Vanilla) which is a bit chalky. They offer medium coverage and felt light on the skin. It controls oiliness and the matte finish is just alright. I have achieved my perfect mix with English Toffee and Butterscotch on a 60:40 ratio.

Photo copied from

www.blusche.com

ELLANA Minerals

When they opened their store in Manila last year, i received a few samples from Coney, one of the people behind Ellana Minerals. The sampler set includes foundation, finishing powder and a blush. The shades that i got were the following, all in their Premium Blend* formula:

• French Vanilla Latte (foundation)
• Hazelnut (foundation)
• Toffee Mocha (foundation)
• Espresso con Panna (finishing powder)
• Heaven (blush)

*one of their two foundation formulas, the other one is Glow Enhancer Blend.

French Vanilla Latte is a light shade with warm golden undertones;

Hazelnut is a medium light shade with warm golden undertones; while Toffee Mocha is a medium shade that suits those with olive undertones. Among the three, French Vanilla Latte is my favorite. The foundation shades offer full coverage and matte finish, really good for those with oily skin.

I wish i got Glow Enhancer Blend instead, i just saw in their website that this formula provides a light to medium coverage. I prefer to have that look with sheen, not glittery but natural glow.. and long lasting coverage at the same time.

I like how the finishing powder (Espresso con Panna) helped in keeping my make-up lasts the whole day. It works like a concealer too, it minimizes the appearance of small imperfections and fine lines. For oily skin, it can be used prior to putting foundation.

I got a nice shade Heaven, a matte, deep muted pink shade with a hint of lavender. Very pigmented that the sample size will last a long way.

Photo copied from

www.ellanaminerals.com

My Very First MMU

In my previous post, i mentioned about the reasons why i became curious, if not totally convinced to give mineral make up a try. Actually mmu isn't "new" to me anymore. I have tried using mmu in the past (months ago) and posted some reviews about it in my old site. And now i know that i'll be talking more of mmu again in the following days, i should write those brief reviews here, as far as i can remember.

The very first mmu brand that i tried was Coconut Bay Cosmetics-- where i was one of the lucky people who were able to avail of their TOTALLY FREE samples. Yeah right, i did not pay a penny even for the shipping. Lucky me! (When i checked their website recently, there's a certain fee for samples already plus shipping).

It took about 3 weeks for me to get hold of it after placing my order online. The 6 foundation samples were sent via First Class International Mail. These were the shades that i chose based on the color chart provided on their website:

Light Beige

Ivory
#2
#3
#4
#5

Although i did not get the perfect match for my shade on each sample, i followed the trick of mixing two or three shades to create my desired shade. The different color samples are great because you can can mix and match for a customized color to perfectly match your natural skin tone.

Coconut Bay has great coverage and it lasts all day, and the best of all, it did not caused me to break-out. I will never forget that one time after attending a late-night party i fell asleep with my foundation on, and upon waking up the next morning i was so surprised to see my face so fresh and as if it has been moisturized overnight. Amazing!

Converting to MMU

There is a lot of hype about mineral makeup in the beauty scene recently. Browsing through different beauty sites and forum discussions, I became more aware of the significant benefits of mineral makeup over chemical-based cosmetics (traditional cosmetics).

Mineral Makeup is made from naturally occurring pigments from the earth which are sterilized and pulverized into a very fine powder without any of the chemicals, dyes, and preservatives found in traditional makeup. It usually includes beneficial ingredients to guard the skin from the sun’s harmful rays and to feed and nourish it. Zinc oxide is a key ingredient that is beneficial for acne prone and inflammed, irritated skin, as well as titanium dioxide, which provides sun protection to the skin.

Many dermatologists report that because mineral makeup frequently eliminates classic "irritants" – like fragrances, binders, synthetic dyes, and preservatives-- it is considered "purer" and can be kinder to the skin. It’s non-comodegenic (non-pore clogging) and so does not irritate the skin or even penetrate it but instead allows the skin to breathe – it’s a perfect solution for sensitive skin and mature skin and an alternative for all of us who want to keep our skin beautiful and problem free. So for those women who suffer with skin ailments such as acne and dryness, using mineral makeup permits them to take advantage of a skin-friendly product which will not exacerbate their problems.

The fact that the ingredients are inorganic also means that no preservatives need be included and that the makeup will have a long shelf life, so long as reasonable care is taken to apply the makeup with clean brushes.

We all are aware by now that the majority of the things put in cosmetic products are at the least unhealthy and with continued exposure, can even be life threatening. These are just a few reasons for me to give mineral make up a try-- a second try, actually.