NY 2009

I hope everyone had a fabulous and wonderful New Year's! This look is basically a recreation of a look I wore to a wedding last year except I was using Ulta Minerals. I wasn't all that thrilled with the Ulta Minerals so I did a lot of layering of similar colors since we were running late and I did not feel like washing my face and starting over.  Hence the 1000 many shadows.

On eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion
MAC Paint Pot in Quite Natural (entire eye)
Ulta Minerals in Smoke (lid)
Lancôme Color Design in Aspen Nights (lid)
Maybelline Eye Enhancer in Brown Smolder (crease – used to soften lid color lines)
Ulta Mineral in Midnight (outer corner and crease)
NYX Eyeshadow Trio in Lake Moss Blue Shadow (outer corner and crease)
MAC Carbon (outer corner and outer crease)
Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer in Dark 3 (highlight)
Jane Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black (lash line)
Lancôme Color Design Liner in Sparkle Black (waterline)
Lancôme Oscillation Power Booster (primer)
Lancôme Defincils Mascara in Deep Black
Max Factor Volume Couture in Rich Black

Face and Lips:
Skin Prep Nourshing Foundation Primer and Anti-Aging Serum
Bare Minerals Deepest Deep mixed with Borghese Hydro-Minerali Crème Finish Makeup in Espresso (used as concealer under eyes and on chin)
Valana Minerals Foundation in Amber Dream (used to set concealer)
MAC Fix+ Rose
MAC Mineralize Blush in Gleeful
MAC Lipglass in Peroxide

 I also did my friends eyes.  She did her own face and used her own mascara and liner.

On eyes:

Two Faced Shadow Insurance
MAC Paint Pot in Quite Natural (entire eye)
Lancôme Golden Sunrise (lid)
Maybelline Eye Enhancer in Brown Smolder (crease – used to soften lid color lines)
MAC Dark Devotion (outer corner and crease)
Sephora Giraffe Eye Shadow Palette Brown (outer corner and crease)
Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer in Dark 3 (highlight)
Jane Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black (lash line)

FOTD 8/23/09

A Fascinating Ruby Revisit...

 

  

  

On eyes:
Two Faced Shadow Insurance

MAC Paint Pot in Quite Natural (entire eye)
MAC Satin Taupe (lid)
MAC Dark Devotion (crease)
Lancôme Color Design in Dusky Plum (outer corner & crease)
Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer in Dark 3 (highlight)
Jane Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner in Black (lash line)
Lancôme Color Design Eyeliner in Sparkle Black (waterline)
Lancôme Oscillation Power Booster (primer)
Lancôme Defincilis in Deep Black

Face and Lips:
Laura Mercier Foundation Primer
Bare Minerals Deepest Deep (foundation used as concealer)
Valana Minerals Foundation in Amber Dream (used to set concealer)
MAC Fix+ Rose
MAC Mineralize Blush in Lovejoy
HIP Color Presso in Trendy

Mineral Power

My favorite foundation and concealer on earth is mineral based. I am a huge mineral makeup fan! I have used cream to powder, liquid and stick foundations. I love my Perscriptives Custom Blended Concealer but in the end I always go back to mineral. Summer and I are not exactly the best of friends and heavy face makeup is a big no no for me which I realized after having my foundation literally roll down my face. Due to the constant dabbing of sweat on my face liquid makeup tends to smear and shift and I end up looking like a blotchy fool. Mineral makeup is light, a little goes along way and I can sweat and dab all I want and my face still looks good.

Looking for something light I was introduced to Bare Minerals. I think I'm the only woman of color I know who 1. actually likes it and 2. it actually works for. For the most part my friends can't stand how it looks on them. I will admit when I first got it I was heavy handed so I was looking a tad ashen but once I mastered the swirl, tap tap, buff I was good to go. Up until a year ago I also used mineral concealer. Yes you can use mineral powder as a concealer I've done it successfully but switched to liquid because I wasn't getting the coverage I wanted. Bare Minerals has added new concealer colors but I don't think that they're anything to write home about so I don't use them. I actually prefer to use the foundation as a concealer and since I do that I had to find a new foundation.

There are a lot of mineral makeup companies out there but I think that their colors for dark skined women are limited. Since I didn't feel like playing find perfect color I only tried 2 companies. The first company I tried was Everyday Minerals. They'll send you five samples and you pay for shipping and handling. I think shipping and handling was like $3. I got four colors and a blush.


I wasn't really thrilled. The only color I liked was the Deep Tan. As a foundation it doesn't work but it's great as a concealer. Go figure.

The second company was Valana Minerals. I've blogged about them before. It's by a woman of color for women of color so I knew something had to work. Each sample is $2. If you get 6 samples or more you get a $10 off $50 purchase coupon. I got six colors.

and the winner...


I've worn it for a week and I'm very happy with it. I didn't do a swatch because honestly you couldn't see it. It's very light, all I need is a little bit and I'm good. It has a little bit of gold in it which is really pretty in the sun. I will admit that sometimes when I use Bare Minerals Warmth if I sweat there is this burning sensation. It doesn't happen a lot but it happens enough that I don't use it often and I've never tried their blushes. I'm not trying to walk around with my face on fire just to look cute. It really ain't that serious! With Valana Minerals there is no burning!! The best part about the line is everything is multi-use so the samples that didn't work can be used as eyeshadows, blush or bronzers. How great is that?! If you're interested in mineral makeup I say give them a try.

Twinkle Twinkle here is the swatch of the bronzer you asked for. It's Bahia Tan Blazing Bronzer.

FOTD 5/4

Sunday look...



Eyes: UPDD; HIP Meticulous Shadow Crayon; HIP Shadow in Mischief; Valana Mineral Shadow in Mystic Lava; Victoria’s Secret Liquid Liner in Blackout; NYX Liner in Black; Mayeblline Define-A-Lash and Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara


Face and Lips: Smashbox Camera Ready Concealer in 8; Bare Minerals Powder Foundation in Deepest Deep; Bare Minerals Warmth; HIP Bronzer in Thriving; Milani Liner in Black Brown and Sally Hansen Natural Butter Lip Shine

FOTD 4/13

Today I went with a natural brown look.

With flash...


Without flash...

On my eyes: UDPP; HIP Shadows in Brazen (brown side) and Shady; HIP liner in Brown; HIP Shadow stick in Authentic; Maybelline Shadow Stylist in Sultry Black, Define-A-Brow in Soft Black, Define-A-Lash Mascara in Brown Black; Wet-n-Wild Shadow in Cream as the highlight


On my face: Bare Minerals in Deepest Deep & Warmth (used as a blush); HIP bronzer in Radiant; Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer in 8

Lips: Milani liner in Brown Black & Crystal Gloss in Dream ( I think there's no name on it); Urban Decay Shine in Love Junkie

I called myself trying to document my steps so I could post a slide show on youtube. It didn't come out too bad but I really need to work on my lighting and taking pictures of my eye. Not sure if I'll post it. I commend all who post vids on youtube cause that is some serious work.