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Foundations That Are Good For Your Skin

Michelle Smith — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:48:52 +0000

I was looking back through my posts and I see that I write about mineral makeup a lot. A whole lot. Ladies, there is more to eco-friendly, good-for-you-beauty, than mineral makeup. Here are a few options that I found at Sephora…

Tarte Smooth Operator SPF 20
$35

Smooth Operator is an oil-free foundation that gives a light to medium coverage. It has a light feel on your skin, “…”water-in-silicone” formula blends into your skin as easily as a moisturizer…” It’s formulated without Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petro-Chemicals, or Phthalates. It is made with antioxidant ingredients like Vitamin A, C, or E.

Korres Wild Rose Foundation
$28

This is a brightening foundation, so it’s a good choice for someone whose skin is beginning to show some signs of aging. The coverage is long-lasting and it has an SPF of 20. It’s made with Vitamin C and Wild Rose extract. Wild Rose extract has been proven to brighten skin tone, repair fine lines and wrinkles. It’s moisturizing, but oil-free. It’s made without Parabens, Sulfates, Mineral Oils, Petro-Chemicals, Propylene Glycols, Ethanolomines, or GMOs. This foundation is also helpful for post-acne problems.

NVEY Organic Moisturizing Fluid Foundation
$45

This foundation is both moisturizing and “aromatic.” It’s been certified organic by OFC Australia and the Australian government. It’s lightweight and the coverage is sheer. It’s breathable, so it’s a great choice for someone who has oily or acne-prone skin. Some of the ingredients include chamomile, cucumber, calendula, and rose absolute.

Image credit: Sephora

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Picking the Proper Makeup Brush

Michelle Smith — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:10:33 +0000

A beautiful faces requires a few basic steps. The first would be a good skin care regime. In order for makeup to look even and fresh, your face should be clean, exfoliated, and moisturized. The next step is to chose makeup formulas that work best with your complexion and your makeup needs. I’ll go into choosing the perfect foundation later, but for now, lets focus on the next important step – make up brushes. The right brush makes makeup application practically effortless.

I have a few basic makeup brushes that I use all the time:

*Kabuki brush- A kabuki brush is a short, full brush. It’s used with mineral foundation application.

*Cover Up brush- This is a short brush, sort of thin, tapered at the ends. I use mine to apply powder concealer. You might chose a smaller, narrower brush for liquid or stick concealer.

*Eye Shadow Brush- I use a small, square-shaped brush for applying eye shadow. It’s soft, but has a bit of firmness to it. You want it to apply color, but not scatter it all over your cheek.

*Eyeliner brush- This is a small, firm, angled brush. You can use it either wet or dry with a powder shadow/liner.

Sephora carries a collection of synthetic (vegan) antibacterial brushes that has each of these brush types in it.

You don’t have to buy a collection – my brushes are a ragtag bunch of brushes that I’ve collected over the years because they fit my needs. This brush set is a customer favorite with a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Once you find your perfect tools, remember to care for them properly and they will last for years.

Image credit: Sephora.com

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Bare Escentuals Radiance Rocks

Michelle Smith — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:19:09 +0000

When I first started wearing makeup, there were these little pots of all-in-one color available. One part hippie-chic, one part magic potion, the pretty little pots held powder in a single tone – rose, pink, gold, peach. They were ceramic and sealed with a cork. You’d pull the cork out and run a fluffy brush over the powder. The color could be used on checks, eyelids, or you could mix it with a small amount of clear gloss to form a lip color.

I loved that powder. I loved the big fluffy brush that I used with it. That’s when I realized that makeup was fun, that the tools, the powders, the glosses – they were toys for big girls.

Bare Escentuals has a few fun new makeup products available. These products are available for a limited time and you can only find them at Sephora. They are packaged in bright shiny containers – an early holiday treat just for you.

The Radiance Rocks are very similar to the makeup pot idea. Three solid mineral rocks are in each case. They come in Bronze, Champagne, and a Warm Rose. Included in the package is a Kabuki Brush.

Three glistening bareMinerals Radiance Rocks are compressed together solely by water—resembling minerals in their most natural state. Simply swirl the Heavenly Kabuki Brush on top of rocks, and buff these gorgeous 100% pure bareMinerals shades on your eyes, cheeks, and body. The result is a glimmering, sheer wash of color with a refreshing, cooling sensation.

How you use the rocks is up to you. Try a single color alone or use your brush to swirl the colors together. After reading the reviews, I see that some people actually rub the rocks on their faces. When they dry, they can be “recharged” with water. The effect you get with this product is a sheer, glow. If you are looking for something more dramatic, then take a look at the Bare Escentuals All Over Color.

Image credit: Sephora.com

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Organic Foundation Makeup from NVEY

Michelle Smith — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:53:22 +0000

If you have a medium to deep complexion tone and are looking for a healthier foundation choice, NVEY ECO Organic Creme Deluxe Foundationis carried by Sephora. They have formulations for both pink and yellow undertones. The foundations is available online only and they ship for free.

NVEY ECO Organic Creme Deluxe Foundation
$58 at Sephora

With a harmonizing blend of safflower, jojoba, and castor oil, its base is formulated to soften and soothe the skin while antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E protect the skin from free radicals.

Jojoba, commonly known as an ingredient in hair products, is used in this foundation for it’s ability to heal the skin. Using a makeup with healthful ingredients means that it improves skin health while making it more beautiful looking. NVEY ECO Organic Creme Deluxe Foundationis made without Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petro-Chemicals, or Phthalates. I suggest using a sponge or brush for smoothest application.

Image credit: Sephora.com

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ColorOn EyeEnvy Mineral Makeup Kits

Michelle Smith — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:29:01 +0000

Have you seen those EyeEnvy Mineral Eye Shadow kits from ColorOn? They contain oval appliques that are pre-applied with a mineral eye makeup look. You take the oval, fit it against your eyelid, smooth along the back of the applique, then peel off. You smooth and blend with your finger to perfect the look. The last step is to set the shadow with a GetSet Powder.

Designed by a celebrity make-up artist, the ColorOn Professional EyeEnvy Flaunt Kit contains peel-off mineral cream eye shadows that are 100% hypo-allergenic, long-wearing, and crease-proof. With stunning colors and avant-garde designs, these appliqués fit every eye size and shape and can be applied in minutes.

The ColorOn kits are only available at Sephora. Each kit contains 5 sets of shadow appliques, a jar of the GetSet, and a brush.

They are formulated without Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petro-Chemicals, or Phthalates. There are 8 different kits available.

I read the reviews and it sounds like the application process can be tricky, but once mastered, users love them. I think it would be very hard to produce a look like the one to the right without a kit. I bet these would be a lot of fun for Halloween.

Image credit: Sephora.com

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Best of Korres Color Natural Wonders

Michelle Smith — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:02:59 +0000

Korres is a company known for it’s high-quality natural beauty products. If you are new to the line and aren’t sure where to start, Sephora is offering a new kit called Best of Korres Color Natural Wonders. It’s only available at Sephora and it’s an $88 value for only $45.

The colors in the kit would work best with a medium to light complexion and they are universally flattering for any age.

The products are free of Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, and the eyeliner and mascara are made without synthetic fragrances. No synthetic dyes were used to color either the mascara or eyeliner.

Some of the good-for-you ingredients include Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, Cherry Oil, Guava Exract, Sunflower oil, Provitamin B5, and Rice Bran. These ingredients provide antioxidant properties, they moisturize, and they allow the makeup to look fresh and natural on your skin.

The kit includes Cherry Full Color Gloss in a mauve-pink, Provitamin B5 and Rice Bran Mascara in black, Soft Eyeliner Pencil in black, Evening Primrose Eyeshadow in a silvery-shimmery white, and Guava Lipstick in a neutral pink called Natural Pink 13.

Everything is packed into a roomy makeup tote, which makes it easy to throw the entire kit in a bag for a quick weekend getaway. If you are picking it up today, try the code KORRESOAK which should get you a free Korres Oak Cream age-reversing sample.

Image credit: Sephora.com

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Carol’s Daughter Ocean Collection

Michelle Smith — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:44:27 +0000

Have you had a chance to check out Carol’s Daughter Ocean Collection? The line features a unisex scent comprised of the essential oils of brisk Rosemary and relaxing Lavender combined with the fresh scents of Watermelon, Hyacinth, and Cucumber. It’s the next best thing to a day spent at the shore.

All the products in the Ocean Collection are free of Parabens, Sulfates, Petro-Chemicals, GMO, Triclosan. All products, except the 2 ounce Eau de Toilette spray, are free of Synthetic Dyes andPhthalates. The Eau de Toilette is basically scented oil suspended in alcohol. The scrub and moisturizers contain skin-smoothing Soy Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, and Wheat Germ Oil. The Sea Salt Scrub contains both Orange and Apple Slices.

The Ocean Collection ‌includes a 16 ounce Shea Souffle, 16.9 ounce Sea Salt Body Scrub, 12 ounce Body & Bath Oil (Very pretty bottle), and the 2 ounce Eau de Toilette Spray.

Image credit: Sephora.com

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Best of Korres Natural Wonders Set

Michelle Smith — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:21:13 +0000

Are you interested in using a more nature-based makeup palette? Korres , a leader in the natural beauty industry, has a new set of their best-selling makeup colors and formulations available in a handy cloth tote that is perfect for travel. These good-for-you products contain natural soothers, smoothers, and moisturizers, as well as anti-aging ingredients like guava, vitamin E, and jojoba.

Best of Korres Natural Wonders
Only $45 for an $88 value

*Provitamin B5 and Rice Bran Mascara in Black
*Cherry Full Color Gloss in Light Purple 23 (mauve pink shimmer)
*Evening Primrose Eyeshadow in White (silvery white shimmer)
*Soft Eyeliner Pencil in Black
*Guava Lipstick in Natural Pink 13 (warm neutral pink)

These are soft, universally flattering shades that go great with Summer-warmed skin. Each product is formulated without Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates. The mascara and eyeliner are free from Synthetic Dyes or Fragrances.

Image credit: Sephora.com

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Beauty On the Go: Refillable Buffing Brush

Michelle Smith — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:24:54 +0000

Fans of Bare Escentuals bareMinerals makeup will love this – bareMinerals® Refillable Buffing Brush. This portable brush is refillable and the perfect way to travel with your favorite mineral makeup foundation.

The brush works with a two-click system. “Simply turn once to raise the full, tapered brush and then twice to get more precise, even strokes.”

It won’t leak in your bag, because it has a locking mechanism. The brush head comes off for easy cleaning. You can find it at Sephora for $29.50.

Not a bareMinerals user? I don’t see why this wouldn’t work with any loose mineral-powder foundation.

Image credit: Sephora.com

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Sephora Favorites – Natural Beauty Sampler

Michelle Smith — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:45:01 +0000

It’s Sephora Favorites time and boy are you lucky, you natural-beauty-loving lady! The Naturally Gorgeous Skincare and Make-up Sampler is packed with favorites from some of the top names in the industry including Korres, Tarte, Bare Escentuals, and Josie Maran. For only $40, you get $111 worth of goodies. Yay!

Here’s a complete list of products:

- 0.338 oz Korres Silicone-Free Vitamin E Face Primer
- 0.0005 oz Tarte EmphasEYES in Black
- 0.1 oz Tarte Lash Hugger
- 0.5 oz Ole Henriksen Truth Serum
- 0.08 oz Bare Escentuals 100% Natural Lip Gloss in Rose
- 100 Sheets Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens
- 0.17 Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Cream
- 0.1 oz Plant Love Blush in Peony
- 0.13 oz Josie Maran 100% Organic Argan Oil

Image credit: Sephora.com

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