Category: Illuminaré

Products I’m excited about

Cold Cream 'n' Roses

Generally, I am pleased with the cosmetics I try and use. However, here are three products that genuinely excited me:

Illuminare All Day Eye Color in Espresso and Cafe Americano. I’ve already raved about Illuminare All Day Eye Color as an eyeliner. I’m always on the lookout for products to tint my eyebrows that provide full coverage, as the color applied at the salon when I get my hair colored doesn’t last. I’ve tried various solutions, such as eye shadow or eyeliner, LORAC Brow Wax, and Laura Mercier Brown Definer, but Illuminare All Day Eye Color in Espresso or Cafe Americano is the best solution I’ve found to date.

Beautyblender– see my February 6, 2008 review.


Suki Pure Cream Stain in Clay

Suki Pure Natural Creme Stain in Clay. I’ve always relied on powder blushes, but it’s true that creme blush seems to meld with one’s skin better. Here is one example where a “natural” cosmetic functions as well as conventional cosmetics. The Suki Pure Natural Creme Stain is described as a “[very] versatile chocolaty pink rose neutral with brown undertones,” but I think that this description overemphasizes the brown in this creme. It’s better described as a pink subdued by brown undertones.

All the shades of Suki Pure Natural Creme Stain look beautiful. You may find Suki Pure Natural Creme Stain and other Suki products at Futurenatural.

Illuminare

Cold Cream 'n' Roses

After Ruthie Malloy of Illuminare Cosmetics wrote to me concerning my article on Mineral Madness, I was curious to try her products. I sent off for the 3 Foundation Formulas in 3 Middle Shades – Introductory Pack of 9, All Day Eye Color Trial Kit, and the Fast Application Pad.



Top: 3 Foundation Formulas in 3 Middle Shades – Introductory Pack of 9
Bottom: All Day Eye Color Trial Kit

Illuminare is described as ‘liquid mineral makeup.” The selling point is that these products are rated SPF 21. The sunscreen is provided by minerals such as titanium oxide and zinc oxide that provide a physical barrier to solar rays.

Actually, the consistency is thicker than liquid – it’s more like cream. Illuminare is certainly the most opaque makeup that I’ve ever used, but that’s the point, as it provides a physical sunscreen. It will take me time to get used to the coverage. I used the Portofino Porcelain shade for my light complexion, applying it with the flocked Fast Application Pad.

I found the Latte eye color shade too light for me, but Cafe Latte was great as an eye shadow base. Precision is needed to use the middle shades in the crease – you’ll want to use brushes here. I found the middle shades too dark for the crease. One can mix these shades with Latte, Perla Blanca, or Perla Rossa to lighten them. Nonetheless, I wish that Illuminare would create shade variations between Cafe Latte and the middle shades for the crease.

My favorite Illuminare eye color is Espresso, as it’s the sort of brown-black I like for creating the smoky eye look; moreover, it creates a thick line. I’ll be a repeat customer for this one.

More mineral madness

Cold Cream 'n' Roses3 Comments

When I went to Target last week, I was surprised to see Bare Escentuals kits at the end of the aisle. I shouldn’t have been surprised. Target always strives to be up-to-moment, with its tie-ups with various designers. As for Leslie Blodgett (as she’s the CEO and face of Bare Escentuals, I’ll target her), she never misses an opportunity to push her product, whether it’s through TV ads, half hour informercials, QVC, Sephora, Ulta, or Bare Escentuals boutiques.

My previous article Mineral Madness struck a chord with readers. Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog commended me on the article. I was surprised, however, to receive messages from founders of startup beauty lines who were glad that someone had finally called out companies on claims about mineral cosmetics.

Ruthie Malloy of Illuminaré Cosmetics wrote, “Most women are judging mineral makeup brands by which is most “pure”, or which doesn’t have parabens or bismuth oxychloride and yet they totally are missing the most important feature and benefit that mineral makeup should provide,” namely sunscreen. While Bare Escentuals’ bareMinerals has obtained the seal of the Skin Cancer Foundation for being rated SPF 15 (another brilliant marketing ploy by Leslie Blodgett), it’s hard to believe that a light dusting of its powder foundation will provide adequate sun protection.

Jennifer Bradley of Goddessy Rx wrote, “I am so happy to hear that someone is finally mentioning how the mineral makeup companies are using the terms ‘mineral’ and ‘all natural’ in such liberal terms. These companies are merely scamming the average consumer with this marketing ploy. Talc, of all things, is for one, an all natural occurring mineral. It is not even toxic, as many of these companies claim!” Indeed. Talc has been used in cosmetics safely for years.

Both Ruthie and Jennifer make excellent points. Be skeptical about the claims for mineral makeup, know your ingredients, and recognize that “mineral” is just another marketing construct.