November 2007

Mineral Makeup Review : Mineralogie Pressed Mineral Foundation & Matte Finishing Powder

Mineral makeup is just god sent, and I have been telling that to myself and to my friends for almost a year already! But then, alot of my friends and readers have been expressing interest with ready-to-go, mess-free mineral makeup packaging, because they fear for their handbags! Haha! Well, I think some of you would love this entry because I am featuring two very bring-me-anywhere mineral makeup products, Mineralogie Pressed Mineral Foundation and Matte Finishing Powder.

Let’s start with the Mineralogie Pressed Mineral Foundation

Mineralogie’s loose mineral formulas provide amazing coverage, giving a woman’s skin a next-to-nude look and feel. Choose from a variety of color options created to offer something for everyone - or go for a custom blend, specifically designed with your skin in mind.

Mineralogie’s Pressed Mineral Foundation comes with the benefits of our loose mineral foundation but in a convenient pressed compact. Made with natural ingredients and pressed with sweet almond oil, it is paraben free, promoting healthy skin and giving complete coverage with a natural finish.

Okay, first, the highly initially (well, just initially! ) superficial me will rave on the packaging. The mineral powder is packaged in a posh square acrylic jar that offers a classy feel. Well, it had a very thin sponge applicator that came with the pressed powder, and I used my trusty ol flat top brush instead ( I ditched using sponges a long time ago already ). At first smell, it smelled different from other pressed powders out there. Same thing that I have noticed with Larenim Pressed Powder, and some pressed mineral foundations. The reason behind that just might be of the pressing and preserving ingredient used. I emailed the people from Mineralogie about it, and they said that they do not use parabens or chemical pressing ingredients, but rather use Sweet Almond Oil for that purpose. That explains.

Another thing that I learned from Mineralogie is that the owner, Anne, strongly recommends pressed powder because they are minerals in the purest form, and can give maximum results, but pressed minerals are really more easier to carry and bring, so we’re now to the roadtest!

The shade I chose was Agate, a warm, yellow-beigy shade, that is perfect for those have light shades and warm tones. For reference, I am a Bare Escentuals Light, Monave Hyeyeon, Jlynne I/L Golden.

To start, the coverage that the pressed mineral foundation offered was medium coverage, and can be layered maybe up to three layers for full coverage. One must buff lightly and circularly to ensure an even application of the foundation. At first, it seemed like there was makeup on my face - the secret is to let it stay on for five minutes as it transforms beautifully into a very creamy, flawless, even finish, in such a way that a whole new layer of creaminess was layered on top of your skin. Beautiful.

My verdict? I like it! For the staying power, let me just say that the finish became more and more beautiful as the day progressed. In fairness, I didn’t itch a bit. I wore it for a day and went home, checked myself in the mirror, and saw flawless skin greet me. Yes, that is a good sign.

Okay, we go next with the Mineralogie Matte Finishing Powder

This silky formula can be used to add the perfect finishing touch to oily skin and refine large pores. It is so light, that it moves easily with the skin. This product will not settle into fine lines and provides a smooth, flawless complexion time after time.

Whoopee! What do we have here? A dispensing brush! Now this would be the perfect retoucher. I used to dread dispensing brushes fearing that their bristles would be as rough as my old Body Shop dispensing brush ( with gold highlight powder ), but this one made me believe in dispensing brushes again. The bristles are soft enough to ensure you that your skin won’t be scratched in any way.

I got the Matte Finishing Powder in Warm since my skin tone is warm, and with one pump, I started using it. I might add to be careful not to pump it twice or thrice as it would give off more product than you might need and you would end up wasting product or putting too much on an area on your face.

As I swiped the finishing powder on my semi-made up face ( since the finishing powder “finishes the look ), I noticed that it finished my makeup flawlessly -it was able to even out all that it needed to even out from my foundation application, and it gave me a slight sheen and glow. My skin looked healthy and radiant. I love it.

For the effectiveness of its mattifying property, I would have to say that the matte , baby soft feel lasted a good 4 hours on me. But that’s alright - I have already accepted long ago my the condition of my hopeless sebaceous glands. This worked pretty well, and I think would work well on other people. I’m just glad to have this on my makeup purse to use to retouch, together with my blotting powder.

Overall, these are two very good products that I can recommend to those who are not bismuth-sensitive. I swear by the creamy finish it gives as the day progresses! Another great thing about Mineralogie is that they offer alot of packaging options for every product - they can put your mineral foundation in round shakers ( the round pots ), dispensing brushes, or square acrylic pots. Very impressive. Stay tuned for more Mineralogie reviews!

Ingredient List for Mineralogie Pressed Mineral Foundation :
Bismuth Oxychloride, Mica, Zinc Oxide, Octyl Hydroxy Stearate, Sweet Almond Oil, Aloe Barbidensis Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis ( Rosemary ) Leaf Extract, Lecithin, Retinyl Palmitate ( Vitamin A ), Tocopheryl Acetate ( Vitamin E ) Other Ingredients : Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ultramarines, Chromium Oxide Green, Chromium Hydroxide Green

Ingredient List for Mineralogie Matte Finishing Powder:
Active Ingredients : Micronized titanium dioxide (6%), micronized zinc oxide ( 6% )
Other Ingredients : bismuth oxychloride, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, mica, boron nitride, tocopheryl acetate ( Vitamin E ), Retinyl Palmitate ( Vitamin A )

Source: Mineral Makeup Review : Mineralogie Pressed Mineral Foundation & Matte Finishing Powder

Vogue 1990; Model: Milla Jovovich

Photographer - Vincent Alvarez
2011 Rugby World Cup plans
The skinny

Source: Vogue 1990; Model: Milla Jovovich

Get the 411 on Beauty, Fashion & Shopping with Your Splendicity Weekly Round-up [Teen Style Lounge]

Here are the week’s best posts from our Splendicity members.

Beauty

Beauty Secrets Revealed announces a spectacular contest that she will be running soon.

Savvy Skin reviews the new book Beauty Junkies.

Spa Beautifully shows us how to do our own at home facial.

Beauty and Fashion Tech is giving away MAC’s Antiquitease Collection.

Viva Woman reviews Keys Solar Rx.

Temptalia has a thorough review of the MAC Curiositease Collection.

Fashion

Petite Fashionista shows us how to spice up our wardrobe.

Painfully Hip has some of the most outrageous street styles on the web.

CelebLOOK takes a look back through the celebrity looks of the month.

Style…A Work in Progress has a problem that not even the best doctor can cure.

Her Accessories shows us her favorite Cocktail Ring, perfect for the upcoming Christmas parties.

All That and A… crushes on this Tango and Valssi purse.

Indie Style File points us to this Bon&Ging Skirt.

Shopping

The Latest Luxe has her eye on this Tribal Spy Bag from Fendi.

Shoe Blitz lists her shoes that she says are divine and down to Earth.

Shopalicious has us lusting over this pendant from SpoonFedArt.

Layas Eye has us all eyeing this Hayden Harnett bag.

Adventures in the Stiletto Jungle shares with us a great deal on this Kenneth Jay Lane beauty.

NY $pender shares with us some warm winter coat picks.

Shop Diary is giving away the must-read The Little Black Book of Style.

Beauty & Style Pals, Blog Love, Splendicity, Tell Your Friends

Source: Get the 411 on Beauty, Fashion & Shopping with Your Splendicity Weekly Round-up [Teen Style Lounge]

Could Plus-Size Women Find Indie Looks, Too? [Dapper Diva]

I was taking a look at this cool top over at Indie Style File and I started to wonder if I’ve been missing out on indie style for 14+ women. Can someone fill me in on whether or not they’ve found indie styles in larger sizes? I’d love to know whether or not I’m missing out, and where I can find some cool indie pieces in larger sizes!

If not, then there’s always accessories!

independent designers, indie clothes, plus size fashion

Source: Could Plus-Size Women Find Indie Looks, Too? [Dapper Diva]

So Hillary Clinton Is A Woman! As A Woman, How Do You Feel About That? [Polls]

Hey guys! Are you still there? Okay losers, it’s Friday so the real question would be why, but since we bloggers generally favor the ephemeral over the existential I’m going to ask you something else. This week, the fact that the front-runner for president is a woman was even bigger news than it is every other week, starting with a maybe-auspicious election in Argentina, which was followed up by a gang-up by the “boys” at the debate, which was followed by her last-minute decision not to pose for Vogue, which was followed by an appearance at Wellesley, although not necessarily in that order I lose track sometimes. Anyway, it reminded me I hadn’t really asked you this yet: how does Hillary Clinton being a woman make you feel about her? Because I’ve gut-checked myself here, and I’m drinking a beer which is like truth serum, and anyway every reservation I can think to have about this woman has way more to do with my femaleness than it does hers. In other words, as I’ve said before, Hillary appeals to my inner dude. But how do you feel? Take the poll if you can summon the energy!

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you’re viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

Source: So Hillary Clinton Is A Woman! As A Woman, How Do You Feel About That? [Polls]

We Celebrate the Sweater Coat

Sweater coats! Longer, and more coat-like, than cardigans. Not to be used in lieu of actual coats. We’ve done that, and rued the choice, more than once. In fact, we did that just tonight, with our Havaianas, and looked like big, roly-poly, sweater coat morons.

Doesn’t this model look totally impervious to the cold? It reminds us of that field where they planted that giant tree in the old Six Feet Under credits. Joie Roxy sweater, $295

We are not totally in agreement with the perspective that “this cardigan is perfect for any holiday occasion”, unless by occasion we are talking about sitting in front of the television because it is too cold to go outside. Which is, if we think about, how we spend most of the holidays, anyway. A+E cardigan, $49.50

We hate Abercrombie, but we admit we like some of their knitwear. But. That. Stupid. Moose! Argh. Cassie sweater, $79.50

This is really quite lovely and professional looking, no? Idaho cardigan from French Connection, $128

And this: We are not necessarily endorsing this. It’s a “cashmere peacoat sweater.” So it is super sweater-coat-y. It’s freaking us out a bit. We thought, at first, that it was just a cashmere peacoat, but it’s a cashmere peacoat sweater. We include this mostly as a question of interest, like when we called our friend K. to tell her about this meerkat we saw at the zoo. Cashmere peacoat sweater, $325

And again: Doesn’t this look rather bizarrely like an actual coat, rather than a sweater coat? Maybe it’s just us. All Wrapped-Up cardigan, $168

Source: We Celebrate the Sweater Coat

JJ and Kel sharing a laugh in the Big Apple

above is Gucci boy Jared Jones with his agent Kelly Streit sharing a laugh in New York. Jared is without a doubt one of mode’s all time favorite models!! Have an awesome week! ( and our new lead page will be up soon for our site )

Source: JJ and Kel sharing a laugh in the Big Apple

Technical Virgins: Do Oral And Anal Count As “Real” Sex? [Losing It]

You probably gave a blow job or got eaten out before you ever had vaginal intercourse (assuming you’re straight, natch). So if you did everything except letting the boy put his Linus in your Snoopy, did you consider yourself a virgin? A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that 70% of kids age 12 - 16 believe that oral sex doesn’t count, and 16% believe that anal doesn’t either. It’s interesting because, like, what really is sex? ‘Cause the whole “penis in the vagina” thing seems, I don’t know, too biblical or something. Besides, if that’s the real definition, then that means that pretty much every gay person–unless they had a “bisexual” transition period–is still a virgin.

I lost my virginity at 17, and had oral sex in the months leading up to that, and I definitely considered myself a virgin until that Saturday morning my boyfriend half fit his ween into me for the two and a half minute commercial break during a Real World marathon. Lemme tell you, the licking was so much better than the sticking. But it’s like that for most girls, right? So if our first go at vaginal intercourse is kinda whatevs, then why do we consider it the event?

PSST - ASK YOUR KID ABOUT S-E-X [NY Post]

Source: Technical Virgins: Do Oral And Anal Count As “Real” Sex? [Losing It]

Is This Freakin’ Day Over Yet? [Snap Judgment]

[Knut the polar bear, Berlin. Image via Getty.]

Source: Is This Freakin’ Day Over Yet? [Snap Judgment]