Mad About Makeup

Rockwell Bazaar haul (Leyende and Bare Escentuals)

2009-03-14T03:21:00.000-07:00

Dropped by the Rockwell Bazaar. Bought a couple of Leyende products and one full-size backup jar of Bare Escentuals foundation in Golden Medium.

Descriptions from the Leyende products' packaging:

O'Hara Lavender Body Bar: Soothing lavender essential oils combined with skin-softening organic sweet almond oil give a luxurious lather in the shower, perfect after a long day.

Cool Hand Soup: Hand sanitizer with organic sugarcane alcohol and aloe vera extract.

MAC haul

2009-02-12T06:09:00.000-08:00

I bought Studio Fix Fluid Foundation and Select SPF15 Foundation, both in NC40, for mixing with my NC37. I can wear NC37 straight but it can be a tad light under some kinds of lighting, while NC40 is a tad dark, so I'll be mixing them.

Descriptions from the MAC website:

Powder Blush in Harmony: Muted rose-beige brown
Eyeshadow in Dreammaker: Frosty yellow gold (Starflash)
Eyeshadow in Retrospeck: Bleached blonde (Lustre)
Lip Pencil in Stripdown: Creamy brown-beige

Cremestick Liner in Creamola: Soft tan

UGloGirl full-size foundations

2008-11-20T17:47:00.000-08:00

Got two full sizes of UGloGirl's foundation. I love the color match and the smooth, natural finish so I got a backup. The packaging is so cute and girly!

Here's a closeup of the foundations:

Adorned With Grace roadtest

2008-11-15T17:13:00.000-08:00

AWG passed the Camera Test! I used AWG's foundation and rice powder last night for a dinner out with friends, and a lot of pictures were taken. The photos look great! No white cast, very minimal shine (good oil control), smooth and even-looking, and best of all, it matched my neck seamlessly.

eBay MAC mini-haul

2008-11-12T20:05:00.000-08:00

Scored a couple of MAC items off eBay:

Lipstick in Soft Lust: Tan with white pearl (Lustre)

Lipglass in 3N: Neutral brown with gold and pink pearl (Cream)

Charm Travel Brush Pro Set

2008-11-11T21:07:00.000-08:00

My Charm Travel Brush Pro Set, purchased from Beauty and Minerals on a pre-buy, arrived today. They look so pretty! Now I don't have to jam my full-sized brushes into a small case when I have to bring them along to get ready for an event later at night. I do have a brush set which I bought from Sephora, but that one consists of only 5 brushes and I often need more than that. So I end up bringing that 5-brush kit, plus the full-size brushes I need in another case, plus the bag containing the makeup I'll be using... which is kind of a hassle. This new set takes care of my problem because it has practically all the brushes I need, packed in a space-saving container. So now I'll only need to bring two cases -- this all-in-one kit and the one with my makeup. Definitely a good buy!

Hong Kong mini-haul + MY FIRST MSF!!!

2008-11-09T05:55:00.000-08:00

I am now the proud owner of a Mineralize Skinfinish! Yes, my very first MSF! A big thank you to my aunt who got it for me (together with a 222 brush) on a business trip to Hong Kong.

It's in Soft and Gentle, described on the MAC site as a "gilded peach bronze."

Adorned With Grace samples

2008-11-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

Today was my last day of testing my Adorned With Grace samples. I'm done!

Verdict: Beautiful! I love the finish; not too matte nor too glowy. Covers imperfections without looking thick or cakey or mask-like. Perfect color match; I don't have to mix. HG/hoard material for me! Truly FS-worthy. As soon as AWG announces a sale, I'm buying!

Best foundation match: Hope 4.2
Next best: Faith 4.2

Best finishing powder match: Medium/Dark Tint

Top row, L-R: Heavenly Rice Powder in Medium/Dark, Heavenly Rice Powder in Light/Medium, Divine Oil-Control Primer, Celestial Silkening Powder

Middle row, L-R: Hope 3.5, Hope 3.8, Hope 4.2, Hope 4.5

Bottom row, L-R: Faith 4.0, Faith 4.2

Aromaleigh stuff

2008-10-30T06:02:00.000-07:00

I've read a lot of good reviews about Aromaleigh, but it was inaccessible to me so whenever there was an opportunity to get hold of their products, I would jump at the chance. Thanks to three of my fellow mineral makeup fans, I've managed to collect a few of their stuff - Voile and Glissade foundations in 3Y and 4Y, and Ultra-Resolution Finishing Powder in Clear and in Translucent.

MAC haul

2008-10-17T05:33:00.000-07:00

Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus
Lipsticks in Malt and Syrup
Studio Finish Concealer in NC35
242 Brush

Shiseido Perfect Smoothing Foundation

2008-09-30T05:09:00.000-07:00

I saw an advertisement of Shiseido's Perfect Smoothing Foundation, and being the Shiseido foundation collector that I am, I had to get it. Its color is closest to the Supplist Poreless, but it's a tiny bit more powdery. It also applies smoothly and evenly. Like with Shiseido's other powder foundations, the case is sold separately and is refillable.

MAC Mineralize Blushes (Sonic Chic Collection)

2008-08-08T05:50:00.000-07:00

I bought three mineralize blushes from MAC's Sonic Chic collection.

As described in the MAC website:
Love Joy: Warm mid-tone brown with gold pearl
Nuance: Mid-tone peach with gold pearl
Warm Soul: Mid-tone beige with gold pearl

MAC Neo Sci-Fi haul

2008-08-02T20:27:00.000-07:00

Just a few items from the Neo-Sci Fi collection. I chose shiny, shimmery browns to spice up neutral looks.

Lipstick in Astral: Mid-tone brown with red pearlized pigments (Lustre)

Lipglass in Supreme: Bronzed brown with white pearlized pigments (Frost)

Eyeshadow in Magnetic Fields: Black brown with silver pearlized pigments (Veluxe Pearl)

MAC Sculpt and Shape Powder

2008-07-31T09:57:00.000-07:00

The local MAC stores had run out of Sculpt and Shape (am kicking myself for not getting them sooner) so I resorted to eBay and luckily, I found the shades I needed.

As described in the MAC website:
Accentuate/Sculpt: Pale blushed beige/soft taupe brown
Lightsweep/Shadester: Soft peachy beige/mid-tone leathery brown

UGloGirl haul

2008-06-04T02:07:00.000-07:00

My UGloGirl package has arrived! I got full sizes of their finishing powder in Translucent and concealers in Buttercup and Golden Honey, as well as foundation samples of Almond and Butter Pecan (yellow-toned). Haven't tested them yet, but here's a photo:

Eyeballing the samples, I think my best match would be Butter Pecan.

EDIT: Yup, Butter Pecan!

Shiseido haul

2008-05-31T02:03:00.000-07:00

I'm always thrilled whenever a foundation -- be it mineral or traditional -- is a great color match. So when the Shiseido makeup artist found a shade for me and in the mirror it looked almost exact, I just had to buy it. I ended up getting two powder foundations and two liquid ones.

The powder is really smooth, and the liquid spreads easily. As a result, both types had an even application. The oil control could use some improvement, but it's nothing that blotting paper can't take care of.

The Supplist Poreless is slightly yellower than the White Lucent, and it covers pores better. On the other hand, I find I'm a little less oily/shiny with the White Lucent, and its finish is a little more matte. The powder compact is reusable, so when you've hit the bottom of the pan, you can just push the pan out and get a refill pan. You don't have to buy another case, which means savings on the consumer's part.

As for the liquid foundations, the Lifting foundation is for dry skin, so I just use it on the areas that need more moisture - my chin and the areas around the mouth. On all the other parts of the face, I use the Dual Balancing.

Smashbox bronzer and highlighters

2008-04-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

I hauled in some Smashbox goodies earlier this week on Monday. I can't find a match among their foundations (can't seem to find any that's both medium and yellow enough at the same time), but their bronzer (Fusion Lights Dusk) and highlighters (Soft Lights Lens and Soft Lights Shimmer) are GORGEOUS! I haven't been using bronzer-with-highlighter for very long, and these are idiot-proof; I didn't look like a sunburned orange or a disco ball. Looks very natural, and you only need to use a few light strokes for them to show up. Definitely a good deal, especially since there's a lot of product in the pan. And they're not glittery at all, so you don't have to worry about huge specks of glitter falling down your face. Just a nice, soft sheen.

Aubrey Nicole haul (again)

2008-04-12T08:11:00.000-07:00

I ordered full sizes from Aubrey Nicole during their Mardi Gras free shipping sale last February, and I received my package yesterday. I'm happy just looking at the huge 3oz jar of foundation. My haul:

Elegant Minerals samples

2008-04-11T19:47:00.000-07:00

Today I tested my samples from Elegant Minerals. I ordered only two foundation shades - Cornsilk and Sandstone. Based on the website descriptions, it was pretty easy to narrow down my choices to just two.

I tried Sandstone first. To my eyes it looked yellow-peach. I think it had some peach undertones; I didn't bother doing a full face. I swatched both shades - applied wet - on the back of my hand. Sandstone looks peachier, while Cornsilk looks more yellow-olive.

When I tried Cornsilk, it was a perfect match! I wore it the rest of the day. I love the powder - it has light to medium buildable coverage, great slip, and a velvety matte finish. The pores on my nose appeared smaller, and it evened out the surface of the skin, making my cheeks look really smooth. I have to get a full size of this!

Chapped Lips: Remedies!

2008-04-08T00:08:00.000-07:00

I used to have chapped lips. As in really dry and flaking. I've tried a number of balms and creams, and these are the ones I've found most effective in healing, softening, and smoothening my chapped lips - Skinfood's Cocoa Lip Blam, The Face Shop's Lip Care Cream, and Kiehl's Lip Balm #1:

Blusche haul #2

2008-04-02T05:09:00.000-07:00

I still have full sizes of Blusche, but I couldn't resist the cute new packaging! So I went ahead and bought more full sizes of foundation (what will I do with four jars of Creme Brulee?) , concealer, and primer.

DreamWorld samples

2008-03-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

If you order DreamWorld foundation samples and creme toppings, the first thing you'll notice about them is the generous amount of powder! It'll take a while before the baggie runs out, so you'll really get value for your money.

Another thing is that they run a bit light. The only ones I'll be testing are Amenti, Ashnan, Themis, and Hebe, which appear to be the closest to medium.

EDIT: I got the Sands formulation for everything, and the coverage is fantastic! Enough to cover imperfections, but not cakey. The finish is matte, but not dry-looking. Definitely fullsize-worthy. My best match seems to be Amenti, which belongs to the yellow-olive family, but I've only tested it under one kind of lighting so I can't say for sure yet whether Amenti is truly my shade. More testing is in order.

Buff'd samples

2008-03-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

Buff'd is a heavy coverage foundation with a smooth, creamy finish. Because of its density, you only need a small amount of powder to do your whole face. A little really does go a long way. Shipping for their sample baggies is inexpensive, so it's budget-friendly as well.

The shades I got, with their website descriptions:

Ginger: Light shade with heavier yellow undertones.
Almond: Medium light shade with subtle yellow undertones.
Moccasin: Medium light shade with heavier yellow undertones.
Saffron: Medium shade with heavier yellow undertones.

The shades, to my eyes, run a little dark. My best matches: Ginger and Moccasin. I want to narrow it down to just one, so I'll have to test some more under different kinds of lighting.

Joppa haul

2008-03-08T02:08:00.000-08:00

Joppa held a free shipping sale and so I ordered last February 6 and I received the package March 4. I just estimated the shades and ended up buying 4 full sizes because I wanted to take advantage of the free shipping! Free shipping (or even just reduced shipping) is always a great thing for international MMU addicts like me. ;)

At first glance, the Full Coverage Foundation in Medium #3 looked a little dark in the jar, and I was thankful that I ordered the Medium Light #3 too. But since I've always been a Medium, I opened the Medium #3 first. On application, the depth was just right. I would have liked a bit more yellow, but it's fine as it is. Not a perfect match, but close enough. It had good coverage - smooth, even, and not cakey. On my next order, I want to try the Soft Coverage.

The Bronzer Foundation in Bronzed Sienna looked a bit dark as well, but just like the Medium #3, it was just right when I brushed it on. It glides on smoothly (didn't clump) and has a nice, brownish-bronze sheen, perfect for summer. It's a pretty shade, not orange at all. And I liked the fact that it combined bronzer and foundation in one - how great is that?

The Simple Radiance Foundation in French Toast has a good amount of yellow. I didn't bother doing a full face, because it was already a great match when I swiped the brush in one stroke along my chin. It looks to be a better match than the Medium #3.

I was lucky I picked the right shades. Overall, I'm satisfied and will purchase again.

Ellana haul #2

2008-02-29T20:40:00.000-08:00

I love Ellana so much that I got myself a second haul: Patience (a soft, light brown blush), Smile (a concealer), Harmony (a golden bronzer), a backup Hazelnut Latte foundation, and a backup Espresso Con Panna finishing powder.

Skinfood: Rice Concealer

2008-02-11T23:14:00.000-08:00

The first item I decided to try from yesterday's Skinfood haul was the Rice Concealer.

The SA convinced me to buy it when she said it was good for dark undereye circles, which is a problem I have. The doefoot applicator made it easy to apply, using it to dot tiny amounts under the eye and to cover two small dark spots on my chin.

The spots virtually disappeared. As for the undereye circles, at first I was concerned that it was too light, making me look like a reverse raccoon, but in a while it settled wonderfully and blended into my natural color. And the staying power is remarkable. I applied it in the morning, and when I came home at around 8:30pm, it was still in place. It didn't crease, cake, or melt. But because of that staying power, I had to remove it with an eye makeup remover instead of just simply washing it off.

I would recommend this for times when you'll be out the whole day and won't be back 'til late, because it doesn't budge and lasts so long.

Fyrinnae: Ametrine

2008-01-31T00:26:00.000-08:00

When I opened my Fyrinnae package yesterday and saw my full pot of Ametrine, my first thought was that it was a bit pale for my medium tone.

But I tested it today, using a light layer of application, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that I didn't look sick or ghostly. And I love the formulation of the powder! It felt feather-light, it spread easily and didn't clump, and it did a great job with my pores. It wasn't a waste of money after all.

However, I have yet to try it with a heavy-handed application or additional layers. But as it is, as long as I keep the application light and thin, I can definitely wear this shade.

I might have to buy Sunstone, though. It's the next darker shade. Just for peace of mind. ;)

Fyrinnae haul

2008-01-30T06:48:00.000-08:00

Received my Fyrinnae package today! It arrived exactly 2 months since I ordered. It was a long wait, but I do appreciate Fyrinnae's honesty in informing customers about their order creation/processing time. At least their customers aren't left wondering what happened to their packages.

I ordered a full size of foundation in Ametrine (a yellow shade), two full sizes of glow blush in Hypnotize (a light, dusty peach), and a full size of eyeshadow in Snow White (matte black). A sample jar of eyeshadow in Njordr (a lovely, shimmery dark green) was included as a freebie.

I really like the neatly-printed labels and the fact that the full pots are packed to the brim.

The Ametrine looks a bit light in the jar; maybe I should have gotten the next darker shade. At any rate, I'm testing it tomorrow.

Milan haul

2008-01-29T22:03:00.000-08:00

I availed of Milan's holiday sale last year and I got full sizes! Two foundations, Kiana and Olivia, two jars of Oil At Bay, two jars of Perfect Presentation, and a short synthetic flat top brush.

The Kiana looks a bit light for me, so I might have to sell it or give it away. I didn't include it in the picture anymore. Olivia was a great match! The powder is very creamy and gives great, full coverage. I only needed a light dusting to do my entire face, so I'm sure this jar is going to last me a long time. I still have to test Oil At Bay and Perfect Presentation, but I've read good reviews so I went ahead and got full sizes. :)

Aubrey Nicole haul

2008-01-28T07:13:00.000-08:00

Received my Aubrey Nicole package containing brushes and full sizes!

Taylor Made haul

2008-01-16T01:07:00.000-08:00

Received my Taylor Made full sizes today! One jar of foundation in Katherine and two jars of blush in Buff. Katherine is a deep yellow shade, and Buff is a peach color with a very slight sheen.

Laura Mercier's Mineral Line

2007-12-29T18:31:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-21T23:21:00.000-08:00

Samples ordered from bareFaced:

Smashbox: O-Glow

2007-12-14T19:07:00.000-08:00

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!

MAD samples

2007-12-13T19:24:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-11T07:53:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-11T00:16:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-08T02:12:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-08T01:13:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-03T23:16:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-27T07:28:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-26T23:37:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-25T20:56:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-25T04:24:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-24T18:15:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-22T04:48:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-22T03:05:00.000-08:00

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

Everyday Minerals samples

2007-11-20T23:43:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-20T22:43:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-17T07:09:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-17T02:26:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

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

2007-10-24T03:38:00.000-07:00

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.