Concealing dark under eye circles

I know a lot of woman have a problem concealing dark under eye circles.  They make you look older and make you look tired.  Dont you just hate it when someone looks at you and says  "Tough night?".
The first step, however, is figuring out just what the problem is.

When dark shadows or bags linger, the cause typically is not something temporary, like a few too many cocktails. It might be something you've inherited. Pigmentary issues that cause under-eye discoloration are common among people of Asian or African descent. Age also contributes to dark circles. With age, the skin around the eye thins, exposing the tiny blood vessels that lie just below.

Eye creams that contain caffeine may help a bit because they constrict the underlying blood vessels.
Other, more expensive options, including treatment with certain lasers such as IPL or intense pulse light. Skin lightening creams that contain hydroquinone or kojic acid may also diminish the darkness.

Makeup can help conceal dark circles. Hiding dark circles with concealer is simpler than you may think. Choose a concealer that matches your skin tone. If you have mild discoloration, pick a liquid formula. If your shadows are more prominent, go for more coverage with a cream or cake concealer. Lightly pat the concealer on from the inner corner of your eye to just past the outer corner.

I however have been using a peach corrector and this works well for me,

My current routine to cover dark circles
First I start off with a hydrating eye cream in the daytime. Claudia Stevens Total Eye Skin Hydration

Claudia Stevens Total Eye Skin Hydration

I found that a hydrating primer works well to create a smooth base for the products to follow,  This one helps keep the moisture in.

Palladio Herbal Foundation Primer

I then follow with a peach corrector which is very creamy.  Peach conteracts the dark blue or purple circles. Dry formaulas will only accentuate the dark dry circles.  This product is labelled as a concealer but it is a dictint peach colour corrector.

DEFENCE COLOR COVER Utra-coverage concealer

Now that the dark circles are covered with a peach corrector, you need to match your under eye colour to the rest of your face.  I use Estee Lauder Double Werar Stay n Place Foundation.  This foundation is full coverage and will cover the peach colour placed underneath.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation

You may, or may not want to set the under eye area, but you need to be careful as to what formula you use. A powder meant for oily skin will dry out the eye erea whch will accentuate every line you may have under your eyes.  I use Smashbox's HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder which does not dry out the skin  but keeps moisture in.

Smashbox's HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder

If you would like to go one step further to make sure the powder does not go cakey and settle in the lines and also to blend all the products applied into the skin, try a setting spray.  You may either spray your powder brush and them dab it under the eyes or just spritz your whole face to set your makeup.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist

Use The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist for dry skin or plain rosewater (with no glycerin) for oily skin. Distilled water in a spray bottle works well for dry skin as well.

April 2012 Favourites

The month of April went by so quickly. I wanted to have my favourites up on my blog by 30th April but that did not work out like I expected.  Its auditing season,  which means working longer hours.  So here is my April 2012 Favourites.

Rooibos soothing cleansing lotion
I previously used a cleansing milk, which I loved but it ran out, and I wanted to try a cleaning lotion to compare against a cleansing milk. Rooibos cleansing lotion cost R49. It has a nice natural nourishing Snell.  It is thicker than a cleansing milk which means a little goes a long way.  I am really enjoying using this product.

Claudia Stevens dark circle eye treatment
I don't know why I stopped using this. I use it at night only before I sleep.  I have seen a small change since I started re-using it two weeks ago in the lightening of my dark circles.  I keep my eye creams in the fridge. So when the coldness of the cream comes into contact with your eye area, it de-puffs and soothes as well.

Estee Lauder Double Wear stay in place foundation
This is an awesome foundation. I apply it with my bionic flat too buffer brush. (Another favourite). Full, but natural coverage and no concealer is required for spots or blemishes.. This foundation lasts all day like the name implies. I wear the shade 2W3 Raffia.

Passion nail enamel in Orchid
I change the colour on my toe nails every month and purple is my favourite colour. It is a medium to dark purple shade with purple shimmers in it.

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme lash multiplying volume mascara
Another awesome.Estee Lauder product. I don't think there is an Estee Lauder product I have tried that I don't Ike. Two coats of this and my wimpy lashes are long, full, thick and very black.

Sleek I-Divine palette in Au Naturel
I used this palette a few times.in April and I love it. Perfect for a night out Smokey eye or a.daytime neutral look. Its a good all rounder. The shadows are very pigmented and are good quality. My favourite shade is Regal which is a purple.Smokey colour, the second to last colour on the bottom next to the black eye shadow.

My lip combo for.the month:
I have used these products so much that I am almost out of them. They work great together.
Model Co Lip Wax Primer
I use this every day and it fills in any lines on the lips so it creates a smooth base for lip products to be applied.  It makes lip products stay on longer than usual.
Essence lip liner in 03 Hot Chocolate
A good quality lip liner with great colour payoff and we all know how inexpensive Essence products are. 
Mac Lustre Lipstick in Jubilee
A mid-tone nudish brown shade which will not wash you out like other nude lipsticks because its not pale.  It goes.with any eye makeup, natural or dark smokey. Since it is a lustre, it is very moisturising.  My tube is almost empty and will need to repurchase.
Inglot Sleeks Cream Lip Paint in 91
This has a really good colour payoff, is creamy and just completes this lip.combo.

Eye makeup for different eye shapes

Glamour & Neutrogena

I was at Gateway mall in Durban the other night with a friend of mine and she spotted a board that showed the Glamour magazine 6 subscription for R100!  So we went to check it out.
Glamour magazine normally costs R29.95. With this special offer you get it for R16.67 for 6 months.

That's not all. Once you pay the R100 and fill out your postal details you get the May issue straight away and two free full sized Neutrogena products!.  I received the Fresh Foaming Cleanser 200ml and the Oil-free Moisture SFP15 Facial Moisturiser 118ml. I have used both these products previously .

The cleanser is a makeup remover and cleanser in one. It is hypoallergenic,  soap free alcohol free, oil free, non-comedogenic and dermatologist tested.

The moisturiser provides all day moisture and sun protection.  It is hypoallergenic, alcohol free, fragrance free, non-comedegenic and dermatologist recommended.
I have sensitive skin so this is exactly what I look out for when I buy products.
I love that these products come with a pump.

The cleanser is a makeup remover and cleanser in one. It is hypoallergenic,  soap free alcohol free, oil free, non-comedogenic and dermatologist tested.

The moisturiser provides all day moisture and sun protection.  It is hypoallergenic, alcohol free, fragrance free, non-comedegenic and dermatologist recommended.
I have sensitive skin so this is exactly what I look out for when I buy products.
I love that these products come with a pump.

There is also a competition to win a trip for 2 to the US with Neutrogena. All you need to do is buy any Neutrogena product and SMS the last four digits of your barcode, followed by your name and age, to 33049 and retain your till slip. For T&C's visit www.NewYorkNo1.co.za.

Also in the May's issue of Glamour there is a free book worth R110!  It is entitled "The Man Diet" by Zoe Strimpel.  Hopefully it is a good read and if so I will definitely pass it on to someone who I think needs this.

The remaining 5 issue will be sent by mail to my postal address.  I normally buy Glamour from my supermarket every month so I was very happy to get it at such a discounted price for the next 6 months delivered to me.  Also the full sized free products was the cherry on the cake.
I don't know how long this offer is running for but it is worth checking out.

Xoxo

BB Creams

BB cream, also known as Blemish Balm, is a cosmetic item sold mainly in East and Southeast Asia, although larger beauty brands are increasingly introducing BB creams to Western markets as well. Originally formulated in Germany by dermatologist Dr. Christine Schrammek in the 1950s the cream was initially used to protect skin after laser procedures and surgery, while also providing light coverage

Introduced to South Korea and Japan in the 1980s, BB cream has been named "the secret of Korean actresses" and has been heavily endorsed by Korean celebrities, which gained it large exposure in these Asian markets.

BB creams come in a variety of different formulations, and qualities mainly perceived as being anti-inflammatory and having a soothing effect.  As companies focused initially on the East Asian market, BB creams have a limited number of shades.
 Due to its "multi-tasking" all-in-one properties — moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock — the cream became a hit in Asia, especially in South Korea, where BB creams make up 13% of the cosmetics market. Moreover, the cream is also used by men in South Korea.

Leading Asian brands include Missha, The Face Shop, Etude House, Sulhwasoo, Skin Food, and Nature Republic.

Companies began in 2011 to launch BB creams in Western markets, namely Garnier and Dr. Jart,  with others such as Dior and Clinique following suit in 2012. BB creams have been tailored for Western markets, for example, although whitening properties are a main selling point of BB creams in Asia, Estée Lauder is not including it in their formulation for North America.

For the purpose of trademark reasons, BB creams sold in western markets are now named  Beblesh Balm (aka BB Cream) instead of Blemish Balm.

Many of the brands listed above are not available in South Africa yet.  I ordered mine online. If you go this route, make sure you are getting an original as fakes are being sold on the internet.

Skin79 Super Plus BB Cream Hot Pink 40g

Skin79 Super Plus BB Cream Hot Pink provides whitening, wrinkle improvement, brightness and elasticity to your skin. Also Skin79 Super Plus BB Cream Hot Pink protects your skin from sun exposure of UVA and UVB thoroughly (SPF 25++ PA), and provides moisture and healthiness. This Skin79 Super Plus BB Cream Hot Pink has excellent coverage as a make-up base and foundation to even out your skin tone naturally.

How to use:
Suggested skin care routine: cleanser>toner>moisturiser> Super+ Beblesh Balm Triple Functions
Blend it evenly to entire face. For areas with enlarged pores or blemish, apply a little more for better concealing effect. Afterwards, you may apply loose powder or foundation for a long-lasting makeup look.
I like to mix this with another foundation and then apply to the face.

This BB cream initially goes on grey and then oxidises and matches my skin perfectly.
Make sure you use a good moisturiser before applying it and wash it off properly at night to avoid clogged pores.  I have sensitive skin and my skin reacts to chemical SPF so I have to apply a sunblock for sensitive skin before I apply it.  Other people who have no problem wearing sunblock in their normal cosmetics will not have a problem. This product comes in a huge container and will last very long.

Tinted Moisturisers

A beautiful, glowing and flawless skin is what almost all women desire to have. Lucky are the ones who are already blessed with such amazing skin. For those unlucky ones, a tinted moisturiser is something you may want to try out. Similar to a foundation, this product helps to balance out uneven skin tones. Additionally it functions as a moisturiser, keeping the skin well-hydrated as well as looking all natural and shining.

Although it provides full face coverage, it is not at all heavy on your face. Unlike heavy coats of make-up, the tinted moisturisers do not the clog the pores of your skin, thus allowing it to breathe.

Choosing best tinted moisturisers is not an easy task. With myriad of online reviews and product claims it’s easy to lose yourself and end up with wrong, unsuitable product.  Most of the major brands have started introducing tinted moisturisers in every possible types and colours suitable for the various skin types and skin tones of people.  Tinted moisturisers come in a variety of types meant for normal, dry, oily and acne-prone skin. So it is important to know your skin type and choose the moisturiser that is appropriate for your skin type. You should understand what your skin needs, whether it is skin hydration, protection from the sun, prevention of acne breakouts or foundation. This will make the selection process simple and less time consuming.

The colour need not be a precise match with your skin colour because tinted moisturisers offer sheer coverage. As you go out in the sun, it is important that you protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. So make sure that the tinted moisturiser you buy has good amounts of sun protection film (SPF).

The cost of the tinted moisturisers may vary largely with the brand. You can find less expensive brands such as from Physicians Formula Tinted Moisturiser and more expensive like Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturiser,

Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Tinted Moisturizer

Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15

Foundation Catergory: Mousse & Souffle' Foundations

So far I have shared my best foundations I have tried as far as powder foundation, liquid foundation, mineral foundation and cream foundation goes.  In this post I want to concentrate on Mousse foundations.

Woolworths Mousse Foundation

A light, easy to blend, oil-free mouse foundation with a matte finish to control shine. Approved by Beauty Without Cruelty.Not suitable for very dry skin types. Formulated according to Woolworths Good Beauty principles.  This foundation is super soft to the touch,  If you have been colour matched well then you can get a medium to full coverage in my opinion although It states the coverage is light to medium.  My skin is now very dry so I can no longer use my mousse foundation.  It is a quality product in a very big glass jar.

Revlon - PhotoReady Airbrush Mousse Makeup

I tested this on in the store and it was a ball of mess.  The amount of mousse that comes out in one pump is unbelievable.  One pump gave me a mousse blob almost the size of the palm of my hand. That would have covered both my arms and legs with that amount.  I could not see myself trying to battle with this every morning, so I did not purchase it.

Another foundation I have heard alot about but have not used is a Souffle' foundation called :

LOreal Paris Matte Morphose Foundation

Product Benefits according to LOreal:
Its feather-light souffle texture extends seamlessly across the skin for a transformation you can see and feel.
Pores appear virtually erased, the appearance of fine lines are reduced and skin feels peachy-soft.. Skin looks smoothed out.  Matt yet luminous result. This sounds good for someone who does not have much to cover up and has oily or combo skin.


Other mousse foundations on the market:
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation
Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse
Maybelline's new Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation
Avon Beyond Color Line Softening Mousse Foundation
Rimmel London Cool Matte Mousse Foundation
Catrice Mousse Mattifying Make Up | Foundation
Bourjois Mineral Matte Mousse Foundation
Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse Foundation (Not sure if this is available in SA)
Clinique (derma white pore minimizing mousse foundation (SPF 20+) (Not sure if this is available in SA)

Foundation Category: Liquid Foundations

I am currently doing a foundation series showing foundations I have tried in the different categories showing which ones I prefer.  I have already reviewed powder foundations, mineral foundations and cream foundations.
In this post I want to concentrate on Liquid Foundations especially the ones I am loving right now.

Liquid Foundations
I have a love / hate relationship with liquid foundations.  I have a draw full of them and I could cry every time I open that draw to see the money wasted on them.  At low end / drug store counters you are left to fend for yourself as there are never any sales assistants to help you.  One tends to start here because you don't want to spend a fortune on high end foundations hoping you can get a lower end one that does a good job without the hefty price tag.  Lets face it, there are good drugstore foundations out there.  A lot of people swear by Revlon Colourstay, Loreal Infallible, Rimmel etc.  I however have a distinct yellow undertone and most drugstore / low end foundations tend to have pink undertones.  So my draw is filled with pink toned foundations which I can never use and since I am fair, no one around me seems to wear the same shade for me to pass it onto.  I have had luck with Max Factor though.  I also have sensitive skin and some ingredients just break me out so I have learnt to read labels to check ingredients and I have also learnt to read reviews on products first.  I also learnt to consult the web first and find out what my colour match I would  be before purchasing a foundation.  The Temptalia website is good for this regardless of the foundation being high end or low end.  For example I purchased the Max Factor foundation in the wrong shade (I was helped by a sales assistant)  the web said I should choose 75 Golden and guess what, it was right, it was a perfect match.  If only I learnt this sooner.  So after trying all that low end foundation, I ventured into Red Square and found my Holy Grail foundation which is worth the $$$.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Makeup SPF 10

I love this foundation.  It is worth the money.  It is marketed as medium buildable coverage, but it is full flawless coverage.  It is for all skin types, but dry skinned girls need to wear a really good moisturiser underneath. I started using this when I broke out in hormonal acne last year and no one knew I had acne and I did not wear a drop of concealer with it.  It made me look like I had perfect skin without the foundation being noticeable. My skin cleared up while I was wearing this foundation.  It is non acne-genic, non comedogenic and dermatologist tested.  I got my bottle during winter when my skin was lighter.  So when the weather warmed up, I only used it as a concealer if I had any spots to cover.  I have since been colour matched again and have back in love with this foundation.  It lasts the whole day until you wash it off at night.  I don't even need to set it with a powder.
There are two downsides to the foundation.  One is that it does not photograph well.  Titanium Dioxide is mentioned twice in the ingredients list.  It gives you a white cast. So if you know that you are going to have photos taken rather use a HD foundation meant for photography.  I do not take lots of photos so it does not bother me.
The second downside is that it does not come with a pump.  You can pour out too much of this foundation because of there is no pump.  I have been told that you can buy a Mac foundation pump and it fits really well.  I took one of the pumps off from another foundation, cleaned it really well, disinfected it with rubbing alcohol and attached it to the Estee Lauder bottle - problem solved.
Also make sure you use at least two makeup wipes before cleansing to get every trace off before you go to sleep.

Bourjois Paris Healthy Mix Foundation

This was voted product of the year in 2011 - Winner makeup category survey.  So I had to see what the fuss was about.  It promises 70% more radiance and flawless complexion for up to 16 hours! Well it does not last 16 hours, more like 8 hours which is good enough for me.  It provides 8 hours of moisture, lets skin breathe and is dermatologically tested.It has the following ingredients
Apricot > radiance
Melon > hydration
Apple > antioxidant
Ginger > energy
I must say that it does give me a healthy look when I wear it.  It it medium coverage which evens out the skin tone but does not cover acne spots or marks.  You need to wear a concealer if you want to cover marks. The main purpose of foundation is to even out the skin tone.  So if you do find one that covers everything and still looks natural then you're  in luck (Estee Lauder Double Wear stay in place foundation).  I looked on the web to see what shade I should be wearing and then purchased shade 53 which was the perfect match for my skin.

My foundation secret:
On the days your skin is very dry but you still want coverage, mix the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation with the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation together.  It gives a lovely finish. The Estee Lauder may look harsh if your skin is dry or you have not exfoliated.  When my skin got darker in the warmer months and I still had so much Estee Lauder left, I mixed the two and the colour matched perfectly.
Another trick the sales assistants tell you at the Estee Lauder counter is to mix a drop of the Advanced Night Repair Serum into the Estee Lauder Foundation and it gives the most gorgeous finish.  Try this if your skin is dry and you need more moisturisation.

The two brands mentioned above are my favourite.  I have received testers for many high end brands for example:
YSL Teint Idole (I like the coverage, received a 10 day sample)
Chanel Vitalumiere (Received a 10 day sample)
Clinique (Used this brand for a while)
Elizabeth Ardin Ceramide (Good coverage, for dry skin. Received a full size bottle. I do like this)
Elizabeth Ardin Intervene (Good coverage, too pink on me. Purchased a full size bottle)
Revlon PhotoReady Foundation (Good coverage. Sparkles in natural light)

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Foundation is by far the Best Liquid foundation I have tried in my opinion.

Foundation Catergory: Cream Foundations

I am currently doing a foundation series showing different types of foundation, powder, mineral, cream and liquid.  My previous posts I have shown powder, loose mineral, cream mineral and liquid mineral foundations. So please check those out if you have not already.
This post is going to concentrate on cream foundations.

Cream Foundations
I have tried my share of cream foundations since I my skin is very dry in winter.  You will find that you tend to run out of  cream foundations faster than liquid foundations because of the texture, packaging and amout of products you get.  My second best cream foundation is MaxFactor Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation.  My third favourite is The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Cream Compact Foundation with SPF 15.  I reviewed this in a previous post since it fell in the category of mineral foundation..  I will recap this foundation in this post though.  My best cream foundation is  Kryolan Ultra Cream Foundation. 

Kryolan Ultra Cream Foundation

This foundation is not so easy to find here in South Africa.  It is only stocked by a few select salons which is not in the area I live in.  So got my hands on this many years ago when my skin was very oily and this foundation does not slide off within a couple of hours, unlike most foundations you find on the market today. Normally a person with oily skin would not go near a cream foundation.  The colour selection is awesome.  I found a  long wearing full coverage foundation to match my yellow toned skin.  It has never caused me any problems with breakouts, allergic reactions etc. It photographs really well.  Makeup artists use this foundation on brides and models.  I would say its one of my best foundations of all regardless of which category it falls into.  I cant rave about this foundation enough.

MaxFactor Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation

This is my second best cream foundation.  It is in a cream compact but turns to liquid as you touch it.  I have been going back to this foundation for years.  75 Golden is a good match for my Mac NC35 skin tone.  It is reasonably price.  It has good coverage and staying power even without a primer.  My gripe about this foundation is that it finishes so fast.  If you wear it everyday, it will not even last the whole month. It only has 11.5g of product.  .I wish they should change the packaging so that more product is included.  The sponge it comes with does not get used but there is a big compartment catered for the sponge.  Otherwise I love this foundation.

The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Cream Compact Foundation with SPF 15

My third best cream foundation when I cant get my hands on Kryolan is the Body Shops Extra Virgin Mineral Cream Foundation.  I already reviewed this foundation under the category "mineral foundation".  I found a good colour match.  Its medium to full coverage.  It does not break me out. Good staying power and it good for the skin because of its ingredients.

Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Foundation with SPF15

The foundation applied well in the morning but then settled into lines as the day went by.  I am not sure if this was because I did not wear a primer underneath.  I did find a good colour match for my yellow toned skin.  It it good to use as spot concealer if you do not want to use it on your whole face.  I liked the soft duo fibre brush it came with which applied foundation really nicely.  But I am not in favour of the creased looked this foundation gave my at the end of the day. 

Almay Line Smoothing Compact Makeup

I also found a good colour match in this foundation.  It was more of a neutral toned colour for me, not too pink and not too yellow.  It is meant to keep the skin hydrated and keep water in the skin which it did.  It is meant for dry skin.  I felt it looked good in the morning and faded throughout the day. I suppose most foundations are like that/   However I did not wear a primer with this, so maybe the wear of this foundation could have been prolonged if I did wear primer.  It did not settle in my lines but did wear off and gave a shine to my face. It is reasonably priced.

Cream / stick foundation I would like to try: 

Max Factor Pan Stick Foundation

I have read lots of reviews on this foundation and most of them have been positive.  I tested it at the store (Clicks) once and was amazed at the creaminess and the coverage.  I thought it would be dry and cakey but it was not.  It would be wonderful as a concealer as well since it gives full coverage.

Foundation Catergory: Cream & Liquid Mineral Foundation

I am doing a series of blogposts about the different categories of foundations.  In previous posts I have already done reviews on powder foundations, loose and pressed mineral foundations. In my upcoming blogposts the foundations I am going to review are cream, mousse, liquid foundations and tinted moisturisers. In this post I am going to concentrate on cream and liquid mineral foundations

Mineral Foundations (Cream & Liquid)
In my opinion, loose powder foundations are messy and are not worth the trouble.  Cosmetic companies have since started producing mineral foundations in other variations such as pressed mineral powder foundations, cream mineral foundations and liquid mineral foundations. Below is a picture of The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Foundation Line. 

Cream Mineral Foundations

The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Cream Compact Foundation SPF 15

Since my skin is dry in winter I started trying cream foundations which will keep the moisture in my skin during the cold season.  I stumbled across The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Cream Compact Foundation SPF 15.  I really like it.  I have tried other cream foundations before I tried this one.  This was the first Mineral Cream foundation I have tried and it was better than most of the normal cream foundations I have tried except one (Kryolan, which I will review in my cream foundations post coming up next).

It is marketed as a cream-to-powder mineral foundation.  I still tend to set it with a powder anyway unless my skin is ultra dry. It contains pure minerals and cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil for an immaculate finish. It has an ultra-blendable formula.  It has smooth medium to full coverage, contains SPF15 and is  Fragrance & Paraben-free .  The brush is supposed to be an Integrated cruelty-free brush 

It matches my skin tone perfectly and gives good coverage without looking fake and does not break me out. So if I get dry skin in winter, this is the cream foundation I will reach for.

Liquid Mineral Foundations

I have tested a few mineral foundations but have never purchased a full size because the coverage is very light.  I would not purchase unless I wanted something that had the same or slightly more coverage than a tinted moisturiser.  Yes I want my foundation to look natural but, I would also like some coverage. If you have perfect skin and do not want want it to look like you are wearing foundation, then you may want to try these out.  Although you could same money and use a tinted moisturiser or just dust your face with setting powder instead.

Physicians Formula: Mineral Wear™ Talc-Free Mineral Liquid Foundation

The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Liquid Foundation

Estee Lauder 'Nutritious' Vita-Mineral Liquid Foundation SPF 10

Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Liquid Foundation

Foundation Catergory: Loose & Pressed Mineral Foundation

In a previous blogpost I blogged about the best powder foundations I have tried.  Instead of concentrating on my Holy Grail foundation I am using at the moment, I decided to write about the foundations I have tried in each category. In my upcoming blogposts the foundations I am going to review is powder, cream, mousse, liquid and mineral foundations.  Mineral foundations come in different formula's (loose, pressed, cream & liquid). I would also like to review tinted moisturisers. So in this blogpost I am going to concentrate on loose and pressed mineral foundations I have tried.

Mineral Foundations
Most people have tried mineral foundations at some stage in their life because it is being marketed as being good for your skin.  However they are generally loose foundations which can get very messy.  These days companies are coming out with different types of mineral foundations which are not so messy and come in the form of liquid, cream and pressed mineral foundations as well. 

Palladio Mineral Loose Foundation

Palladio are  herbal and vitamin enriched cosmetics which are not tested on animals.  I previously tried the Palladio herbal dual wet n dry powder foundation and fell in love with it, so I thought I would give this one a try. Why I was drawn to this is because it is "Talc Free".   This means it will not clog your pores.  Firstly it is reasonably priced and there is a lot of product in the tub.  It lasts forever.  No accessories are needed since a twist-up brush comes built right into the cap. Simply twist, swirl and apply.  I used this applicator only if I needed to touch up.  For my initial application in the morning, I would use a kabuki brush, which does not fit into the applicator slot.  So I would pour out a little onto an empty powder compact, swirl my kabuki brush into the the compact and then spritz my brush with distilled water and then apply onto my face.  It only comes in five shades  PMLP01- IVORY ,PMLP02- LIGHT ,PMLP03- MEDIUM,PMLP04-DEEP, PMLP05- WARM BEIGE.  Pros: Good price, lasts long.  Cons: Messy like most loose powder foundations.  So I will stick to the Palladio Dual Wet n Dry powder foundation although it gets finished really quickly.

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Powder Foundation

All I can say is it is messy and will not repurchase.  If I had to choose between the Revlon and the Palladio loose powder foundation, I would choose the Palladio one just because I know it is Talc free because I have sensitive skin.

Physician's Formula Mineral Loose Powder Foundation

This comes in a huge tub and has a slot for the brush.  The brushes that come with Physicians formula products are very scratchy on the skin.  So although it is a nice sized brush, I could not use it.  I didn't feel it gave me the desired coverage.  It is less messy than the previous two foundations.  I like the fact that Physicians Formula is hypo-allergenic and talc free.  There are a lot of products in this range that I really like but I would not repurchase this product in particular..

Extra Virgin Minerals Loose Powder Foundation

I have not tried this loose mineral foundation yet though I would like to try it more as a setting powder than a powder foundation.  It is supposed to be featherlight powder base that gives a radiant, natural-looking finish. It is non-comedogenic and suitable for sensitive skin like mine. It is dermatologically tested and contains SPF 25.  I have tried their cream mineral foundation which I really like and I am going to review it in my next post.

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Powder Foundation (Pressed)

This is the only pressed mineral foundation I have tried.  It gives good coverage and I applied it like I would apply a normal pressed powder foundation with a kabuki brush.  Since my skin changes between winter and summer (lighter n winter and darker in summer), I cant wear the shade I have all year round.  I will say I like the fact that it is not messy like the loose powder foundations.  But I love the Palladio herbal dual wet n dry powder foundations better than any mineral powder foundations I have ever tried so that is what I will stick to.


In the next blogpost I will cover the other two mineral foundation categories: Liquid and cream.

Thanks for reading.

xoxo