Laura Mercier's Mineral Line

After browsing around Amazon, I discovered that Laura Mercier has a mineral line! I didn't know that. :) I just assumed that it carries only "traditional" makeup. So off I went to Rustans' Essenses to inquire if it was available locally, and I was pleasantly surprised when the SA said that the primer, foundation, and finishing powder were already here!

He looked at my color and recommended Rich Vanilla, then proceeded to apply a little on my face. It was a perfect match! I ended up buying the three: Primer, Foundation, and Finishing Powder.

I roadtested them last night during a party, a few days after buying. The Primer has great slip and disappears into the skin (no white powdery clumps), the foundation had a creamy, polished, silky-looking finish, and the Finishing Powder did its job of minimizing oil.

Of course, during the 8 hours that I had the stuff on (6pm to 2am), some oil broke through, but it looked more dewy than oily, and there wasn't even much to begin with.

Am quite satisfied with them. :)

bareFaced samples

Samples ordered from bareFaced:

Smashbox: O-Glow

On my weekly trip to Beauty Bar, the SA suggested that I try Smashbox's bestseller, the O-Glow.

According to Smashbox's website, it's an intuitive blush that reacts with your unique, personal skin chemistry and turns your cheeks into the color of your natural blush. It's a clear, non-sticky gel that transforms into your customized flush, so it's wearable by all skintones. Isn't that amazing?

What I liked about this is that the color was immediately visible after the inital application, unlike some gel blushes that take a couple of swipes before the color shows up. Also, the O-Glow pretty much stayed intact during the day and didn't disappear. A very good buy; I'm glad the SA talked me into getting this!

M*A*D samples

Received my M*A*D samples after only 12 days! I ordered Light Medium Olive and Medium Olive, described on the website as being suited for skin with yellow undertones. I thought of getting samples of Golden as well (described as having "golden peachy undertones"), but I lean more towards yellow than peach so I just got the Olive samples. The picture is a little dark because it's nearly night time, but here it is:

I looked pale and wan wearing Light Medium Olive, so that one's definitely out. Medium Olive was perfect! Rich, beautiful color that blended right into my skin and evened it out nicely. Good oil control, too - it took several hours before I had to reach for blotting paper. It has medium coverage, so you only need one or two layers. I think I've found the foundation I can wear everyday - one that's not too heavy or too sheer, just right for class or work.

Ocean Mist haul

My Ocean Mist package has arrived! I took advantage of their Thanksgiving Sale last November, where it was buy-one-take-one for foundations and concealers/veils/finishing powders. Two for the price of one, wow! One of the best sales ever! So now I have two jars of Dandelion foundation, two jars of Saffron yellow concealer, and one jar of Black Sea eyeshadow.

Although it's a little pale for my undereye circles, Saffron is excellent at toning down redness. The areas near my nose are a bit reddish, and Saffron does a good job of neutralizing the red and making it closer to my skin color.

I love how Ocean Mist's foundation is so light yet makes me look put-together, perfect for days when I don't feel like using creamy and heavy coverage foundations. It gives a clean, pretty finish that makes me look like I have naturally great skin. I've tried putting on three layers, and somehow it still doesn't clump or look cakey. Highly recommended if you prefer light to medium coverage.

J.Lynne samples and lipcreams

Received my J.Lynne samples and lipcreams in less than a month! Yay!

First off, the foundation was great. Smooth texture, silky finish, and great coverage. Good oil control, too. It took several hours before I needed to use a blotting paper. Light Golden was a bit too light. Medium Golden was the best match; a tiny bit too tan if you look close enough under natural light, but hardly noticeable. A mix of the two is perfect, but I'm not a fan of mixing shades so I'm getting a full size of the Medium Golden when my samples run out. To adjust the color, I can always put a light dusting of yellow finishing powder, which J.Lynne thankfully has. I can definitely see why this brand is the HG of many girls!

I love the lipcreams even more! I needed to rub the stick a few times on the back of my hand to warm it up, but afterwards, it glided on easily and smoothly. Sheer, very pretty colors with a lovely bit of shimmer that isn't overpowering at all. I got Judy (described on the site as "neutral rose with brown undertones"), Mae ("neutral rose with russet undertones"), and Sophia ("soft, neutral pink"). I wish I had gotten more. I also discovered that they had the added benefit of making my chapped lips smoother. I just might get all the shades on my next purchase!

LaurEss samples

This holds the record for fastest shipping. I received my LaurEss samples in only SEVEN days! I paid on November 28, and the package arrived on December 5!

LaurEss has such a wide range of colors... It was because of their shades that I realized Gold may still be different from Yellow! I used to think they were exactly the same. :D

The shades are very forgiving; I can actually wear three. Pure Yellow is my best match. It's so dead-on, I might have to buy two jars of this so I could have a backup. Another HG added to my list! Pure Gold is also an excellent match, but I chose Pure Yellow because it makes my skin look a little brighter. I can also wear Soft Gold; just right in person but a tiny bit too light in pictures.

I love the texture of the powder; super smooth and fine. Glides on like a dream, and blends into the skin effortlessly. After sampling, I immediately went to their website to see what other products I could buy. :D

Fusion of Color samples

Received my Fusion of Color samples yesterday, after only 15 days!



Descriptions from the website:

Angie - medium with yellow
Butternut - light/medium yellow
Jonquil - medium yellow
Saffron - medium/light with yellow
Sandi - light yellow
Tifflee - light medium with richer yellow

I ordered nearly all the shades that had yellow in the description. The sample jars have a generous amount of product, enough to last for several applications. A sample jar can probably last me for at least a week!

Tifflee is my best match. I love the color match, oil control, and the even, matte finish. Will definitely be ordering a full size of this!

ArtDeco: Camouflage Cream

Browsing around Essenses led me to purchase ArtDeco's Camouflage Cream.

Unlike most concealers, it comes in a range of color choices so you don't have to settle for something too light or too dark; you're assured of finding something that suits your skintone.

For ladies who tend to get oily around the eye area like I do, I wouldn't really recommend this product for covering up undereye circles because it didn't stay put on me and melted a little by the end of the day. On the upside, it's a great concealer for dark spots and blemishes and did a good job in that department. The cream form made it easy for the foundation to adhere to it, and its consistency allows heavy coverage and layerable control over the parts that need concealing. Definitely a welcome addition to anyone's makeup kit.

Meow samples

Meow samples galore! Foundations:

I got Frisky and Naughty Abyssinian (yellow-beige), Angora (yellow), Korat (golden beige), and Manx (yellow-peach), all in Flawless Feline.

The Friskys were too light, just from visual examination, so I didn't bother testing them. I didn't test both Korats too, because they looked too neutral. I only tested Naughty Abyssinian, Angora, and Manx. Naughty Angora was too light, Naughty Manx was better but still a bit light and peach, and Naughty Abyssinian was the best out of the three. But I could see a bit of ashyness, so I think I'd have to try more shades and order a second time.

I also ordered eyeliner and blush samples:

I haven't tested everything, I've actually only tried just two - Kitty Kat and Figment. I love them! Works both as a blush and a contour shade. I'm going to get full sizes of these when my samples run out.

Back to testing!

Blusche Concealer

Out of the Blusche stuff I hauled in a few days ago from the Greenmeadows Bazaar, the first one I decided to try was the Concealer, in Medium...

...which turned out to be the HG undereye concealer I've been looking for.

The mineral concealers I've seen so far were of the light yellow variety, which is excellent for neutralizing redness and uneven skintone, but didn't work on my dark undereye circles because it looked ashy applied over the area and made me look a reverse raccoon. I was in search of that concealer which was deep enough to match my skintone closely, and yet light enough to camouflage dark areas.

And this was it.

Using a taklon concealer brush, I applied the concealer in a few light layers until the dark circles were hardly noticeable. I was so pleased with the results!

Around 9pm at the end of the day, I checked the mirror and saw that the concealer had faded and melted somewhat, but I'm sure that can be remedied by a primer or a base under it, because I tend to get oily around the eyes and I didn't put any primer or base that morning (so I could test the concealer alone without any extraneous variables).

Overall, I found it to be a great undereye concealer, and I'll be using this everyday.

Luminare haul

Hauled in stuff from Luminare this week! Foundation in Creamy Olivine, mineral veil in Heaven Sent, refine powder in Caramel, and blush in Radiant Glow.

Aubrey Nicole samples

Received my Aubrey Nicole samples - 6 foundation shades and 6 blushes. They came in neatly labeled, very pretty square jars with sifters, different from the usual round ones of most MMU companies. They were packed so full that I had to tap the jar vigorously to get the powder out.

Descriptions from the website:

Beautiful - a perfect neutral pink with darker undertones.

Blissful - combines both earthen shades and a light pink.

Eden - soft medium pink.

Lust - a gorgeous blend of peach and pink shades.

Passion - a light peach shade with slight pink undertones.

Sorbet - a matte, earthen peach shade.

The blushes are very pigmented; the color showed up on my cheeks on the first brushstroke. It'll be a while before I buy full sizes, because I'm sure the samples will last a long time before they run out.

Although I'm usually Medium, the best match was Light Medium Golden. I wore it the whole morning and afternoon. I really like the foundation - it felt very light and matte, not heavy or creamy. It evened out my skintone and it looked completely natural, as if I had no foundation on my face at all. Perfect for those days when you don't want to look too made-up and instead want a fresh, simple look that's still polished and put-together. I'm going to get the big jar the next time I place an order. I found a winner in this one!

Blusche and Micabella hauls

I went to the Greenmeadows Bazaar, and it was MMU heaven! A corner of the bazaar was devoted solely to MMU, and of course, I spent all my time there. The clothes, bags, and accessories were practically non-existent to me (and that's saying something!).

Belle, the makeup artist at the Blusche booth, gave me a makeover and I was so pleased with the results, I ended up getting two full-sized foundations in Creme Brulee, two mineral veils in Shelley (one matte and one glow), two concealers in Medium, one primer in Medium, and one concealer brush.

I also had a Micabella mini-haul. I was completely convinced by Mrs. Cora Garcia, so I bought foundation in Honey (a rich yellow shade), and eye primer as base for my eyeshadows.

I hope there will be an MMU Weekend again soon!

Pure Luxe samples

Received my Pure Luxe package. Here's a photo of the foundation samples:

Autumn and Warm Honey appear to be the closest matches. Will be testing them in the next couple of days.

SunCat samples

Received my SunCat samples earlier today, in less than a month. Five foundation shades and two bronzers:

Everyday Minerals samples

Everyday Minerals was my very first online MMU purchase, and I hold it responsible for getting me addicted to buying MMU online. *grin*

I availed of their free Sample Kit, in which you could choose samples of 3 foundations, 1 blush or face color, and 1 concealer. You only pay for the shipping, and the samples are quite generous, so it's a great deal.

From a visual examination of the jar, the Light (described on the Everyday Minerals site as having "soft yellow undertones ideal for light and medium of complexions") looked too pale, so I didn't bother trying it on.

I then tried the Winged Butter. Described on the site as "ideal for light to olive complexions with strong yellow undertones", it was a PERFECT match on me. I was so enamored with the shade that I got kind of brush-happy with it and put on 2 more layers - I was pleased to see that it still didn't look mask-like; in fact, my complexion looked even more flawless! Another HG added to my list - I might have to get 3 full sizes of this!

Lastly, I tested the Golden Medium, described on the site as "a versatile soft golden shade ideal for light to medium complexions." It was a very close match, too. But it was a tiny, tiny bit more olive-beige than the Winged Butter, and I felt that it needed more yellow.

Overall, I loved the feel of the foundation - light and not cakey at all. It minimized my pores and had a velvety, matte finish. It looked completely natural - my skin but better.

Signature samples

Received my sample jars from Signature Mineral Makeup! I had a slight technical problem upon checkout and had to e-mail them, and I must say that they definitely deserve two thumbs up for their customer service. Quick, generous, and just plain great!

The powder was packed in tightly, so you really get a lot of product in the jar. Great value for money. The sample jars would probably last at least 2 weeks! I ordered four blushes and two foundations:

Descriptions from the website:

Buff Apricot - A beautiful warm peach with a just a dash of pink.
Adobe Sun - A warm shade of earthy clay.
Terra Cotta - A warm, peachy shade of earthen clay. A bit richer than Adobe Sun.
Damask - A pretty pink with a hint of rose.
10.0 - Has deep peachy-yellow undertones.
11.0 - Has deep yellow undertones.

The blush shades looked very rich and pigmented. They'll definitely last me a long time, especially since I apply blush really lightly. I tried brushing on some of the 10.0 foundation on my cheek, but it looked a little too tanned. Hmm, maybe I should have gotten lighter shades.

EDIT: After browsing around, a girl with similar coloring posted that 6.0 was her match. I'll be ordering that one in a few weeks, along with full sizes!

Ellana haul

After being completely won over by the Ellana samples, I ordered full sizes. One Premium Blend foundation in Hazelnut Latte, one Glow-Enhancer foundation in Hazelnut Latte, one Oil-Absorbing finishing powder in Espresso Con Panna, one concealer in Awake, and one eyeshadow in Ethereal (matte black). I love the packaging - wide, clear jars and pretty labels. My haul:

Taylor Made samples

Received my Taylor Made lipglosses and samples yesterday, after only 16 days. I ordered two pots of lipgloss (Bubbly and Aster), two foundation samples (Gertrude and Katherine) and a blush sample (Buff).

Gertrude is a yellow shade with peach undertones and Katherine is a deep yellow shade. Since there were only two foundation samples, I tested them today by doing a half-face to be able to compare both shades side-by-side. Katherine ended up being the better match, as Gertrude was visibly lighter than my neck.

Taylor Made gives medium to heavy coverage (perfect for concealing problem areas), and has a creamy, silky finish that makes the skin look smoother. I'll definitely be buying a full-sized jar of foundation.

As for the blush, Buff's color looked completely natural on my cheeks in the sunlight, and at the same time, it could double as a great evening blush because of the slight shimmer. It could easily be worn from day to night; just brush on another layer or two before heading out to that dinner or party. I'm sorely tempted to get two jars of this. :D

Lure samples

I got Lure's Pick 16 Anything Kit, so lots of new samples!

The foundation shades were a bit fairer than I expected. Y9, the darkest of the lot, was the closest match. The foundation feels light and is very fine, recommended for days when you want a fresh, natural, no-makeup look. It doesn't feel heavy or creamy or cakey, and you don't have to worry about the powder clumping, because it stays put.

The Setting Powder in D is really, really good. It didn't change the color of my foundation, and didn't make me look ashy. It did a great job of controlling oil and shine. Like the foundation, it's very light, and you won't feel like you just put on another layer of makeup. TWO jars of this one when I order my full sizes.

As for the blushes, I've only tried Dusty Rose so far, and I'm loving it! Pink enough for blush, and dark enough for contouring. Can't wait to try the other blush shades!

Youngblood: My first HG and my first MMU

My very first HG foundation, and the one that introduced me to the wonderful world mineral makeup: Youngblood Pressed Mineral Foundation in Warm Beige.

All the previous foundations or face powders I've tried were either too light, too dark, too pink, too brown, or too orange. For years, nothing quite matched my yellow undertones. I was actually okay with my then-foundation of nearly a year; although the initial application was a little bit lighter than my skintone, after an hour it would settle and melt into my color anyway, so it was fine. But I had yet to experience what makeup articles said about finding the right shade when it disappears into your skin soon after application, and when the color of your jawline matches that of your neck.With this one, I finally understood what they were talking about. It looks as if I didn't put anything on my face at all!

Youngblood has a smooth slip and application, and good, buildable coverage. The finish is matte, with a slight glow. In addition, it comes in both loose form and pressed form, so I could always carry around the compact in my purse.

As my first HG and my first MMU, it will always have a special place in my heart – and my dresser drawer.