We all know that grains are essential to a healthy diet, but did you know they can play a pivotal role in beauty too? Origins, a company known for embracing all things natural, recently introduced Multi-Grain Makeup, a mineral foundation with SPF 15. Included in the ingredient mix are oatmeal, tapioca, rice flour, barley and wheat germ.

Each ingredient serves a hyper-specific purpose from Oatmeal (a natural skin soother) to Soy (for radiance) and Tapioca and Rice Flour (to smooth and refine).  The resulting powder is soft and finely-milled  - you can blend it easily for anywhere from sheer to heavy …read more

Mineral makeup has never really been my thing, but there are a few exceptions to that rule, including glominerals. I recently had a chance to do an e-mail Q&A with the line’s product developer, Cat Tatman – check out the interview below and be sure to leave a comment with any follow up questions that you have about the line or mineral makeup – I’ll do my best to get them answered by an expert!
What inspired the start of glominerals?
gloProfessional has always worked with licensed skincare professionals, i.e. plastic surgeons, dermatologists, aestheticians. There was a need for a cosmetic line …read more

I don’t know about you, but I’m not much of a mineral makeup gal myself. I usually prefer a dewier finish for my look and loose powders can be tough to work with if you’re not savvy about application.  But Everyday Minerals makes it easy with their Resort Eye Palette.

The packaging on this palette is clever to begin with – each of the four versatile pink and brown shadows are contained neatly within individual compartments and the kit even includes a wee (yet useful!) brush for application.
The color payoff and texture on the Everyday Minerals shadows is quite nice as …read more

Bare Escentuals is Sharing the Love with 20% off! Use promo code SHARE at BareEscentuals.com or print out the coupon HERE to shop in store and enjoy the same discount.
I’ve got my eye on a few goodies thanks to this discount – namely the bareMinerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen.  Packaged in a clever brush-built-in dispenser, this oil-free, natural mineral sunscreen is just so easy to travel with.  No worries about the 3 oz requirement here! 
Do you have your eye on any BE products?
The discount kicks off tomorrow, June 19th and runs through June 21st.
Happy shopping!

Can you feel the heat yet? Joanna Schlip, Physicians Formula’s celebrity makeup artist can, and recently shared a few of her favorite Summer 2009 beauty trends and tips. 
TREND: A NEUTRAL, FLAWLESS COMPLEXION
In the spring and summer, your best feature should be flawless skin. But since it’s warmer outside, you have to use a product that isn’t too heavy and won’t run down your face when it’s humid.
TIP: To make sure you don’t over-do it, use a product that gives you sheer, light coverage that makes it look like you were born with smooth, flawless skin! Apply it just …read more

Though I’m pale and proud, as warmer weather approaches, healthy looking skin equates to glowing skin – even in my eyes.  An easy cheat to glowing skin is, of course, bronzer.  But applying bronzer and achieving a natural looking glow can be tricky. Luckily, Jillian Veran, Prescriptives‘ Director of Artistry, gave Makeup Minute some easy, breezy tips on creating a summer perfect glow using bronzer.  Check out the steps below! 

Never apply a powder or cream bronzer to an un-prepped skin. Bronzer is rich in color and will grab onto dry or un-exfoliated skin creating a choppy and dirty look to the …read more

Spring is officially here, so it’s time to embrace a glowier, more radiant look for daytime and evening.  Enter Elizabeth Arden’s new Pure Finish Mineral Bronzing Powder.
Available in three shades for light, medium or dark skintones, this gorgeous, diamond-embossed pressed powder comes with its own small Kabuki brush for expert application. Brush a bit over cheeks, the bridge of your nose and your forehead for the most-natural sun-kissed look.
Elizabeth Arden’s mineral formula uses “microlight” minerals and natural extracts for a skin-healthy, subtle look. Pick it up for $32 at www.elizabetharden.com.

Grand Duos are MAC’s latest take on the Mineralize Blushes – one side is marbleized with tri-colour veining to enhance and glorify cheekbones and the other, a complimentary mono shade to add a pop of colour. A soft, shimmery pearl on both sides gives skin a subtle glow.
My fave Grand Duo is Love Rock, a gold hued violet paired with a blue toned pink. It’s beautiful on many skin tones, especially if you lean cool.  Try applying  any of the Grand Duos with MAC’s 188 or 187 brush for a diffused glow that seems to come from within.
If pinky hues aren’t for you, there are six other shades available in …read more

Have you heard the word Recessionista? It’s being bandied about these days as so many of us try to keep up with our beauty habits without breaking the bank.
Recessionistas are those resourceful ladies who refuse to let the failing economy interfere with their fabulous looks. They’re bargain hunters, they’re repurposers and they’re all-around smart cookies who keep themselves looking hotter than hot, even on a budget.
Thankfully there are plenty of great cosmetics companies offering fantastic beauty finds to all of us Recessionistas, and I’m thrilled to share some of them with you here. Take a look at where you can …read more

Wondering which products are going to be right up your alley and which ones are total flops? Well stay tuned because in the next few days and weeks I will be reviewing some of the hottest products around.
Here’s what’s on tap:
* Maybelline Stiletto Mascara
* Products by Prescriptives, including a Face Primer, Blush, Eye Cream and more
* DEX loose mineral pigments
* The newest formula of Crest Whitestips
Exciting stuff, huh? I can hardly wait to dig into all this stuff and share my impressions with you.
Have you tried any of these products? Care to give us a sneak peek of what I …read more