Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation

I remembered seeing Elizabeth Arden's version of mineral foundation some time ago and what caught my eye was the innovative packaging that included a grinder mechanism in the compact. I never got around to purchasing it because I was on a liquid foundation craze at that time.

I was browsing around the EA counter a few weeks ago and decided to test out the foundation. I felt it was a little warm on my skin tone, even the lightest shade (01) but it did give my face a "sunkissed" glow. It was a look I quite liked. I did not intend to get another foundation but I had several cash vouchers available and only had to pay half price :-)

The compact is actually a little bigger and heavier than the regular loose mineral foundations available. That's due to the grinder inside. But it is very sturdy and I like the fact that you can swirl your brush directly within the compact, which is less messy.

Product Description:

Mineral Makeup from Elizabeth Arden comes in a portable grinder compact. It releases a fresh layer of microlight makeup for each application, allowing you to achieve a look of pure perfection that's skin brightening, non-drying, and comfortable to wear every time. No waste. No mess. No kidding.

The grinder mechanism works by twisting the ring around the compact right and left. The powder is not as finely milled as some loose powders but it does apply very smoothly and has a slightly creamy texture. The coverage is quite sheer and I'm not sure how many layers you'd have to apply to achieve full coverage. I have been using this on top of my regular liquid foundations or BB creams to leave that slightly glowy look on my skin. Oil control is not that great in this warm and humid weather though. I have to blot after 4 hours of use. On it's own, it will not cover any spots or redness because the coverage is light.

Extra Blurb (from Elizabeth Arden):

• New fresh ground technology delivers a microlight powder, virtually weightless, that blends perfectly on the skin.
• Takes the mess out of loose powder mineral makeup to control just the amount you need. No more powder everywhere.
• Non-drying. It's skin brightening and comfortable to wear.
• Smooths imperfections. It doesn't cake or settle into fine lines.
• Infused with minerals rich with antioxidants, vitamins A, C and E and natural skin smoothers.
• Enriched with sea water complex which contains elements such as calcium and magnesium known to strengthen skin and support natural mineral equilibrium.
• Buildable formula, it's easy to create your own customized look from light to full coverage, without a made up look.
• Pure, luminous natural finish.
• SPF 20 sun protection. UVA and UVB protection.
• For all skin types. Sensitive skin tested.
• Clinically, dermatologist and allergy tested. Talc free. Fragrance free.

Availability:
The Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation is available at all Elizabeth Arden counters for RM139. I think they sell the Face Powder Brush separately but I'm not certain how much it is.

Revisiting: Lumiere Cosmetics Cashmere Silk Foundation

When I returned onto the beauty bandwagon a couple of years ago (yes, I went through a phase of not caring at one time), I started experimenting with mineral makeup. It was fairly new to me and I was so intrigued by this idea of "natural" makeup.

Last year, I came across Lumiere Cosmetics at The Bodybar in Sunway Pyramid. The collection available was not wide but they had what I wanted, which is foundation of course. You will soon see why I am such a foundation junkie after the jump because I will be revealing my naked face (gosh!).

Lumiere has 4 foundation base options; Veena Velvet, Flawless Face, Luminesse and Cashmere. I got the one in Cashmere, which is meant for all skin types. It was also the only one available at The Bodybar during that time.

mini haul from loving minerals

Since trying out the Loving Minerals Handy Kabuki, which was my first synthetic face brush, I was really liking how soft the bristles were and how lovely they felt on my face. In fact, I was so impressed with it that I ordered a few more synthetic brushes from LovingMinerals.com for my new-found mineral makeup application.

I received the goodies within two days and must say I am really pleased with their service as they kept me updated on the order and delivery status. They had also included a couple of makeup samples and a 5% discount code. I am going to place another order quite soon because they carry a number of wonderful products, not just from Lumiere Cosmetics but a few other mineral makeup brands too.

* from left : flat top kabuki, handy kabuki, powder brush *

See how cute they are? And so girly too! I bought a pink concealer brush but did not include it in the photo because the three short handled face brushes were too adorable together :-) The brush bristles are all very dense yet extremely soft. They are well made and honestly the most darling brushes I own. They are also very affordable at only RM39 each.

Besides the brushes, I had ordered Lumiere's concealer in Rested as well. My dark circles are terrible and I really need a good concealer although I have been using the mineral foundation to cover up as much as possible. The loose eyeshadow sample that Loving Minerals included for free (in quite a generous amount) is called Honey Brown and it is a gorgeous shimmery bark brown shade. I cannot wait to use it although I need to go see some tutorials because this is the first time I'll be applying an eyeshadow in a loose form. They had also included a sample baggy of Lumiere's Silk Powder in Sand.

The goods came packaged in a bubble pack envelope and each of the brush had individual plastic sleeves which can be re-used. I am a very happy customer and will gladly go back for more. Their service is friendly and helpful. Loving Minerals has made quality mineral makeup and tools easily available to locals, which is a good thing because there aren't that many readily accessible around these parts.

If you do plan to buy something from them, I would recommend their brushes especially if you're into mineral cosmetics. Their pricing is reasonable and you save on paying expensive shipping fees when compared to ordering from other mineral makeup companies online.

website link : lovingminerals.com

makeup with minerals

There has been an explosion of mineral makeup in recent years. I have read about it quite some time back and even the mainstream cosmetic companies have jumped on the mineral bandwagon. Upon doing some research, I was surprised to find that brands like Dior and Laura Mercier had their own line of mineral makeup.

One of the better articles that describes what mineral makeup is can be found at The Mineral Makeup Blog. The main selling point is that they do not contain ingredients that are harmful to your skin. As with any skin care or cosmetic item, there are always potential allergens and one of the common ingredients that may be problematic is Bismuth Oxychloride. However, many companies produce mineral makeup that are bismuth-free.

The first time I tried a mineral foundation was Maybelline's Clear Smooth Minerals. The ingredient list states that it may contain bismuth. Luckily, I don't seem particularly allergic to it but I did feel a slight itching sensation when I was sweating. I had taken my dog out for a walk in the sweltering tropical heat that day. When I wore it to work the next few days, I did not suffer any adverse reactions.

I thought of getting a bismuth-free foundation anyway... you know, just in case the bismuth starts to become a problem. I was hesitant about ordering online because I was afraid the shades won't match. Also, it seemed a bit of a hassle to purchase a few sample jars to test. To my delight, I came across Lumiere Cosmetics at The Bodybar in Sunway Pyramid when I was out shopping over the weekend and got to test the shades there and then.

Mind you, the range at The Bodybar is rather limited but it had what I was looking for. I bought the Lumiere Silk Powder and Loving Minerals synthetic kabuki brush as well. The Ultimate Foundation brush you see in the photo is from Youngblood Cosmetics and yes, I had purchased their mineral foundation too (it contains bismuth though).