Bare Escentuals

Introducing New Bare Minerals Skincare...The Cleansers

8:22 AM


As you all know, I use Bare Escentuals Foundation religiously each morning.  I've tried numerous other types of foundations, liquid and powder/mineral, but I always end up coming back to the BE line.  Well, they have decided to take the mineral technology they use in their foundation and apply it to a full skin-care line that has recently launched.  Specifically, the line has RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex (which has three times the antioxidant capacity of blueberries, by the way).  Amazing, isn't it!





PURIFYING FACIAL CLEANSER
What it is: We believe in what works. In our underground prelaunch of this product, customers called this a super cleanser and gave it stellar reviews. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, it removes makeup, dissolves impurities and rebalances skin for a soft, smooth complexion. Skin is left perfectly clean, instantly hydrated and renewed. It’s also gentle enough for eye makeup removal. Sulfate free.

Directions: Splash face with water and massage cleanser over entire face to create a light, creamy lather. Rinse with warm water. Use morning and night for best results.
Price: $20, 177mL/6 Fl.Oz. Click here to buy.
DEEP CLEANSING FOAM
What It Is: This, luxuriously rich cleanser deep cleans pores and lifts away impurities. Powered by our RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, this non-drying formula bursts into a rich lather when activated with water to clean and instantly refresh skin for a soft, smooth complexion. Sulfate free.

Directions: Work a small pearl-sized amount into a rich foam with lukewarm water. Massage onto skin in small circular motions and rinse thoroughly. Use morning and night. Avoid eye area.
Price: $20, 119g/4.2 Oz. Click here to buy.

EXFOLIATING TREATMENT CLEANSER
What It Is: The original mineral cleanser, this effective powder formula powered by RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex delivers a potent concentration of ingredients for a brighter, smoother complexion with noticeably smaller pores. Sulfate free.

Directions: Splash hands and face with water. Pour a small amount into wet hands and activate by rubbing hands together to form a light froth. Gently massage over face, then rinse thoroughly. Use morning and night. Close cap after each use. (It can also be used as an exfoliating mask twice weekly. Or, here’s another tip, mix it with Purifying Facial Cleanser for a gentle exfoliating cleanser.)
Price: $26, 70g/2.5 Oz. Click here to buy.
I don't know about you, but I am very excited and anxious to try these out.  I had been a loyal user of some Avon products for my skinecare line, but they are no longer available, so I have been on the lookout for something new to try.  Perfect timing I say!

Blushes

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Mood Boosting Blushes in "Rose" and "Natural"

8:35 AM



I'm sure by now you have seen and heard about the Physicians Formula Happy Booster Mood Boosting blushes, but I do think these deserve as much press as they can have.  Talk about adorable - how can that package and product not make you smile? 


Each blush is infused with pearls, the scent of violets and natural plant extracts to help promote the feeling of happiness.  All of the hearts have coordinating, but different shades that end up blending together to create a nice color on the cheek.  As the website says...

Ultra-soft and blendable blushing powder features a fresh and vibrant mix of blushing tones infused with a pop of color to create a healthy glow.

Multi-reflective pearls provide a soft iridescence to highlight contour and add radiance to cheeks.

Infused with our Happy Boost Blend, featuring Happy Skin and Euphoryl, natural plant extracts which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins and helping protect the skin from environmental stress.

The sweet scent of Violet provides a feeling of joy each time you apply.
 
I don't know about you, but sometimes the packaging or how something looks is enough for me! 
 
These blushes are nice and pigmented, so as a result use a light hand and you can build up to the color payoff you are looking for.  I use my Bare Escentuals skunk brush to apply these blushes.  They do have a hint of shimmer, but nothing over the top.  I actually go over each blush with the Happy Booster Mood Boosting  Translucent Face Powder as a highlight, and it works really well.  I will say, I can smell the violet fragrance more in the translucent face powder than I can in the blushes.  Its a light floral fragrance...not exactly rose, not tropical...I guess it's violet! 
 

The swatches above show the hint of shimmer quite well.  The Rose shade has a couple of bright pink hearts that help make it more of a pinkier color than the natural, which has more corals and peach hearts throughout, giving it a warmer shade.  Both are quite beautiful, and I tend to lean towards these each day when I'm ready for my blush. 

I will take pictures of the Translucent face powder, and swatch it as well for you to see in an upcoming post. 

Have you tried these?  Who has tried the bronzers?  I am debating on picking these up, but think I may need them for summer since they don't appear orange.

Almay

Almay Intense i-Color Eyeliners Swatches & Review: Purple Ameythyst (Brown Eyes), Brown Topaz (Blue Eyes) and Raisin Quarts (Green Eyes)

10:39 AM


Having never tried Almay's products before, I decided to give their Intense i-Color eyeliner pencils a try.  I was in need of a purple eyeliner, and having seen these on a display I grabbed the purple, brown and raisin shades. 

Bring out your eye color with rich, contrasting color! Pearlescent eyeliner defines your eyes with rich tones that make your eye color pop. Built in sharpener ensures precise application, and color resists smudging and fading throughout the day.



Hypoallergenic. Ophthalmologist tested

These liners come with a built in sharpener, claim to be smooth, smudgable, but long lasting. 




The pencils have a nice, fine point which makes application precise.  The pigmentation is quite nice, and overall they glide on smoothly without tugging.  I will say application requires a couple of passes for the desired intensity (for me), but overall application is quite smooth and seamless.  There is a slight shimmer to these liners, nothing over the top, but just enough to brighten the eyes. 


The Brown Topaz is a really pretty color, but really not that unique.  I have plenty of bronze eyeliners - I will say this is probably the darkest bronze I have without becoming brown or brown/black, and also not being so light it would be considered copper or gold.  That is a plus for me.  Raisin Quarts is quite unique.  I find that a lot of times the purple/raisin shades end up making me look tired - like I have red-rimmed eyes.  This doesn't - it's just raisin enough in color to offset my hazel eyes, but deep enough that it doesn't blend into my skintone and make me look like I've got dark circles or bruises under my eyes.  Of all three, the Raisin Quarts was the least pigmented, in my opinion.  Purple Amethyst is a "blurple" - perfect for green eyes.  I don't have any color quite this blue of a purple, so it is a nice addition to my collection.  This is the most pigmented of the three in my opinion. 

Overall these glide on quite smoothly, last well, and have good pigmentation.  Would I buy them again?  Probably not, only because I have fallen in love with some of the Urban Decay 24/7 liners, and I think they have a bit more "pop" than the Almay.  But, I will say, if you are looking for some unique colors in the drug-store variety that are wearable, last well, and are easy to use, these Almay Intense i-colors might be just the thing!  Also, keep an eye out because sometimes these are a freebie on an eyeshadow - packed together.  That would be a great way to give them a try!  Retail is about $5 for these liners. 

I'll have some EOTD's with these liners soon...


Bonne Bell

Bonne Bell Eyeshadow Stick "Sage Shimmer"

9:13 AM


Another little gem from the Bonne Bell line - the Eyeshadow Stick in Sage Shimmer.  This is a chunky pencil with a soft but extremely pigmented eyeshadow in stock form.  These are very creamy, smooth, and easy to apply.  As Bonne Bell's site says:

"Eye Shadow Stick™ is an eye shadow and an eye liner in one and is available in a beautiful range of illuminating shades."

The glitter in these is very minute, and really gives the color more of a mirror effect than actual glitter.  Like I said, this is very smooth and creamy, so I'm anxious to try it out as not only a liner, but eyeshadow and even a base.  I haven't worn it yet - just swatched for the pictures below. 


The color itself is truly a silver-sage.  There isn't a whole lot of warm undertones to this one, so for those of you who have enough olive pencils, this might be a good option.  It is very bright, springy and cheery.  I'm anxious to give this one a whirl!  The retail is about $3.50, give or take your store.


Have you seen or tried these pencils yet?  What did you think? 


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