Let’s dish more about the world of beauty.

Sit. Let’s reapply and chat…..                              

My beauty and skincare knowledge, while extensive, is just my opinion, cultivated by several years of hunting.  So, if I say, “that didn’t work for me”, that is not to say it might not be fab on you…. It’s just that MY expectations were to look EXACTLY like a blonde Cindy Crawford 2 minutes post-use. 

So, while I could type of the equivalent of War & Peace right now, let’s take it slow and start with some of the bigger beauty buzzwords and trends lately like….

Mineral Makeup: What is a mineral makeup and why do I hear about it all day, even overnight on infomercials?

A mineral makeup is simply a foundation or ‘base’ that is formulated into very fine particles and made of minerals. Of course Bare Minerals was the first to really go big (that Leslie woman is a marketing genius) but every company, from Wet-n-Wild to Laura Mercier makes one these days.  Mineral makeups can be worn by anyone, but are best suited for people with sensitive and/or normal to oily skin. I personally have DRY skin and I have tried upwards of 35 companies’s minerals.  True!  They are different than a powder foundation in that they have more coverage and can, if skin is prepped correctly, be very great on people with somewhat dry sin.

MMU’s can be applied with a chisel or flat brush, kabuki or loose powder brush, for MOST to LEAST coverage (in that order).

Chisel or Flat brush.  www.purminerals.com

Purminerals is also available in some Dillards now and at Ulta.com

Kabuki brush. This one gets great reviews.  www.CatCosmetics.com  Bobbi Brown makes a glorious one, too.

The Bare Minerals kit comes with a loose or powder brush. Remember loose is going to give you less coverage.

~~~~Let me take a minute to discuss Bare Minerals specifically since they are the biggest, most publicized mineral makeup on the block.    The kit was the thing that really made this great.  Notice most things do come in kits these days, from the Chaz Dean Wen Haircare to Philosophy’s microdermabrasion?     The BM kit comes with 2 powder foundations (of 2 closely related but different shades), a Mineral Veil (a setting powder) and their bronzer called Warmth (which REALLY does rule. It reminds me of the Rubiglo clay pot back in the day. I feel everyone could wear this shade Warmth). Bare Minerals kits are the #1 selling SKU at Sephoras. Probably cuz so many women have seen this on tv and think:  “What, I can get customizable coverage that is hydrating and GOOD for my skin with a powder?”  I have never been in a Sephora when someone didn’t come in and ask the consultants about it. Literally.  Bare Minerals for me was not great  becausee I am a MORE IS MORE person and when I went for one more layer, this one made my pores look big.  It also contains something called Bismuth which can produce a sheen. NOT TO DISS BARE MINERALS (the actual company is Bare Escentuals- this foundation product is the Bare Minerals) since I have hundreds of dollars of her shadows, bronzers, blushes, brushes, glosses, etc upstairs.  My suggestion regarding this first-to-big-time-marking products is IF you buy the kit and it DOESN”T work for you, take it back. Take it right on back. Every place will take it back. I should know.

Mineral Makeup is a great concept but is a trial and error deal.  Some of my favorites over the years include:

* Lancome’s: this is new. It is finely milled (meaning tiny tiny flecks instead of clumps), has a great color palette, lovely coverage. It is neither shiny (think  “Luminous finish” or Matte).

* SheerCover:  Leeza Gibbons and her cute hair.  This kit is avail on TV and in Bed, Bath & Beyond.  You can pick what  shade choices- Lt/Med or Med/ Dark. Most people are Lt/Med.  Inside is 3 different actual tubs of the mineral foundation in slightly different shade choices.  Also inside is the world’s best concealer (OR… the best one that works for me).  The brushes aren’t great but who cares.  It no longer comes with it’s version of Warmth (remember that’s Bare Mineral’s Bronzer) and that stinks cuz it was really pretty.

* Laura Mercier: Found now in all big dept stores and Sephora.  AGain, good color choices, good product.

* PurMinerals: a pressed mineral makeup.  Again, in a kit. Comes with the chisel brush. 

* Jane Iredale: you see this one in lots of plastic surgeons offices (what? I’m just HEARING that I don’t know haha). This is wise of the plastics folks to recommend a mineral makeup for people who are post-op on face procedures. She has the MOST extensive color palette of them all. She also has a rocking- I mean it is opaque- could probably cover a tatoo – concealer.  This is pricey.  and if you buy any of Jane Iredale’s things from a medi-spa or Dr.’s office, there’s a good chance you can’t take it back so try it on there, wear it home and then come back for it. Sometimes they have teensy sample pots you can buy. Ask!

Most Mineral makeups are sold in a kit. Most are sold with a ‘finishing’ veil dust or powder to emmulate the first-to-market which was Mineral Veil by, you guessed it, Bare Minerals,  The finishing veil does help to set. Doesn’t seem like it would help adding a layer of powder to a layer of powder but ~ it does.  Bare Minerals even sells hydrating & tinted version of Mineral Veil.   Most have a brush. Sometimes the brushes are a good find, sometimes not. The way to tell if a brush is worth anything is if it sheds and, in my opinion, if it becomes more soft and supple after washing it.  My Bobbi Kabuki and Trish McEvoy bronzer brush do.

Finally: application:  I cannot stress enough: START AT THE OUTSIDE.  You do want to dunk whatever brush you chose into the product and then blow some off or as they say in the infomercial “Swirl, Tap and Buff”.  Then starting at the outside of your cheeks work your way in using small circular motions. Remember, the type of brush will alter the application so if you are 14 with beautiful skin, maybe use the large powder brush. If you are like me and need to cancel out years of sun damage (my mom is SOOO dead for not making me wear more sunscreen), I prefer the chisel brush.

What about the pressed minerals? Like PurMinerals?  —– the exact same, just formulated in pressed form and thus, less of a mess.

Jill

I am now taking questions on this or any other beauty related topics. I figure if you’ve read down this far, you MUST be as interested as me in all these groovy things!   Send any questions in!!!!