Category: makeup

IMAN BB Crème giveaway ends midnight April 8

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IMAN Cosmetics is launching its first BB Crème. As with most BB Crème, it evens out skin tone and protects with SPF.  What makes this BB Crème special is that it’s geared to “women of color” and has 6 different shades, an unusually wide selection for a BB Crème.

IMAN has three basic shade ranges:

  • “Sand” for Olive Skin, 
  • “Clay” for Dark Olive to Light Brown Skin and 
  • “Earth” for Medium to Ebony Brown skin.

The BB Crème shades are:

  • Sand Light
  • Sand Medium
  • Clay Medium
  • Clay Medium Deep
  • Earth Medium
  • Earth Deep 

To find your best shade, visit the shade finder on the IMAN website, http://imancosmetics.com/findyourshade.

In-store events are being held across the U.S. To RSVP, visit IMAN’s Facebook Event list, http://www.facebook.com/IMANcosmetics/events.

http://www.bandrx.com/facebook/events.php?theme=custom&page=imancosmetics&bgcolor=ffffff&textcolor=000000&linkcolor=555555&max=5
In conjunction with the rollout of IMAN BB Crème, The Style Page is hosting a giveaway for 2 IMAN prize packs.  Each prize pack contains:

  • IMAN BB Crème trial size in Clay Medium
  • IMAN BB Crème trial size in Earth Medium 
  • IMAN Luxury Lip Shimmer in Crystal 
  • IMAN Luxury Lip Pencil in Tan 

a Rafflecopter giveaway//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.jsFTC disclosure: The Style Page received a sample of IMAN BB Crème for participation in this promotional campaign. These items are not intended as payment for any favorable opinions.

Argania 1640 100% pure argan oil

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Argan oil is all the rage now. Think Moroccan Oil and Josie Maran’s argan-oil infused cosmetics line. Moroccan Oil, in actuality, is mostly silicones.

Argan oil is an organic oil pressed from the seeds of the Argan tree (Argania Spinosa), which grows only in southwestern Morocco. Argania 1640 works directly with Cooperative Agricole Argan Mogador in Had Draa, Morocco to support female artisans who grind the seeds and press the oil by hand.

The argan nuts are cracked to release the seeds
Argan oil is pressed from the seeds

[googlemaps https://www.youtube.com/embed/B4wjumLNjOM” width=”420″>

I was delighted to receive a 15-ml bottle of Argania 1640 100% pure argan oil from the company. With my package, I received a note that the argan oil was hand-pressed only weeks earlier. The bottle is made of brown glass with a dropper in the cap.

Argania 1640 100% pure argan oil

I use Argania 1640 100% pure argan oil to smoothe and add shine to my hair, treat dry patches, and moisturize my dry, ratty cuticles. In my experience, plant oils are the best for moisturizing cuticles. Argania 1640’s web site describes other ways to use argan oil. I want to try the recipe for strengthening nails.

Patriotic makeup

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Beautypress had a feature on Patriotic Makeup Looks for 4th of July incorporating red, white, and blue.

Patriotic makeup – from beautypress.com

Get the look:

  • Red – Wear a cherry red stain. it “would guarantee the light and airy feel you love, with the lasting power you desire!” 
  • White – Apply white eye shadow to your inner corner.  “It instantly brightens your entire eye up and gives you that wide awaken look!”  Apply a neutral skin tone color to the entire lid.  
  • Blue – Apply a blue eyeliner to your upper and/or lower lash line. “It can really make your eye color pop and make the whites in your eye look whiter!”

CoverFX NaturalFX Water-Based Foundation

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Ever since I finished my bottle of MAC Satin Foundation and the MAC salesgirl tried to sell me on a peach-toned foundation (that was years ago), I’ve been on a quest for the perfect foundation: one that feels good on the skin, evens out my complexion, and matches my skin tone.

I went to Sephora to find a new foundation.  I was interested in MUFE’s HD Invisible Cover Foundation for its wide variety of shades and Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Foundation as I thought that a crème foundation would be good for my dry, maturing skin, but the salesgirl sold me on Cover FX Natural FX Water-Based Foundation.

Cover FX Natural FX Water-Based Foundation

Sephora’s website says that Cover FX Natural FX Water-Based Foundation provides “sheer to medium coverage” and “a natural-looking, satin finish.”   I had to spread it very thin to obtain sheer coverage, and it did not provide a satin finish.  Cover FX Natural FX Water-Based Foundation can double as a concealer: I wonder if the thickness has something to do with Cover FX founder Lee Graff’s background as a corrective MUA .    As I moisturize nightly, I have some sheen on my forehead, and the foundation’s finish did not match the finish of my forehead.

CoverFX Natural FX Water-Based Foundation is rated SPF 15, which suggests that you should apply it fairly thickly.  Its active sunscreen ingredients are octinoxate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone.

One good thing about Cover FX Natural FX Water-Based Foundation is the wide variety of shades for various skin tones:

  • B Series: Golden brown to ebony undertones
  • C Series: Primarily pink undertones
  • E Series: Pink and yellow undertones 
  • M Series: Yellow and olive undertones

The salesgirl selected E10 Warm Ivory for me, which seemed to be a good match for my skin tone.

To quote U2, I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.

CoverFX is available at Sephora stores and www.sephora.com.

The fine print: this article contains links for the Sephora affiliate program, through which I can earn nominal commissions.

Laura Geller Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation

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Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation is yet another addition to Laura Geller’s collection of baked collection of products. It is marbleized with shades of tan, yellow, and white to correct redness and balance the complexion.

Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Baker Color Correcting Foundation

The QVC site says that you can use Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation instead of or top of your regular foundation. I use it alone, and find that applying it on top of my regular foundation to be overkill. I apply a face primer before applying Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation: for application, I use Mineral Optics by Beauty Strokes® Optic Allover 75 Brush, which diffuses the powder.

I was surprised by the matte finish of Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation, particularly since the main ingredient is mica. You can build up coverage by applying several layers, and it has a fair amount of opacity with repeated application.

I am always looking for solutions to neutralize a red spot on my cheek (although I have recently come to the conclusion that I’ve developed an unhealthy obsession about it). I’ve used Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation as a spot treatment using a flat lay-down brush, and it does the job satisfactorily.

You may buy Laura Geller Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation for $31.00 from QVC and QVC.com. Currently, only Tan is available. Mine came in Regular.

The Style Page wishes to acknowledge blue sky communications for sending me a sample of Laura Geller Balance-N-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation for review.

Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup SPF 15

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I’ve been critical of the marketing of so-called mineral cosmetics: in a previous article Mineral Madness, I wrote:

The term “mineral” had referred to loose powders, but now it’s being associated with products such as lipstick, liquid foundation, and pressed powders that contain other ingredients in addition to minerals. Thus, all cosmetics can be considered mineral cosmetics! Be critical, and recognize that “mineral” is just another marketing construct.

Pür Minerals is seizing on the marketing construct of mineral makeup being “pure.” It is a line of pressed powder foundation, blushes, and eye shadows that contain ingredients other than minerals.


Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation With SPF 15

Despite my criticism of the marketing of so-called mineral products, I do like Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation With SPF 15. I took it along with me on my recent trip, in addition to Daniel Chinchilla Flawless Finish Liquid Foundation and Paula’s Choice loose powder (no longer available). I found that Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation With SPF 15 met my needs (particularly coverage of redness on the cheeks) and that I could have done without the last two products and lightened my makeup bag.

One can easily pick up powder from Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation With SPF 15. To apply, I use the tools and techniques recommended by Pür Minerals founder Joli Baker:

I remind everyone that a light dusting of powder will not provide adequate protection from the sun. I wear smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15 and Dermaxyl under Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation With SPF 15.

Find out what others say about Pür Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation With SPF 15.

You may find Pür Minerals at Ulta and Dillard’s in the U.S. and Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada.

Introducing Daniel Chinchilla Cosmetics

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Daniel Chinchilla Cosmetics is a new line of cosmetics: it’s so new, in fact, that online shopping won’t go live until Sunday, March 8, 2009!

Daniel Chinchilla Cosmetics debuts with 3 different formulas of foundation (liquid, creme-to-powder, and dual wet/dry powder), each of which comes in 16 shades: in short, there’s something for any skin type and skin tone. It will also feature bronzer in two different shades and cover-up trio in five different shades.


Flawless Finish Liquid Foundation from Daniel Chinchilla Cosmetics

Daniel Chinchilla is a fashion, beauty, and editorial make-up artist. He was recently featured on Get Your Face On, TLC’s reality TV series starring Napoleon Pardis. By listening to his clients, Daniel learned that many of them still found it difficult to find makeup shades that suited their skin tone. Daniel sought to address their needs by starting his own cosmetics line.

Advice that works

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I recently bought the latest edition of Paula Begoun’s Beauty Bible. Her advice to use matte foundation as a base for eyeshadow was terrific. I patted Maybelline’s Dream Matte Mousse Foundation on my eyelids before applying eyeshadow and my eyelids didn’t get that oily appearance, as when I used cream eyeshadow base. Thanks, Paula.

I have dry cheeks and a nose that’s prone to oiliness and pimples. While I use moisturizing makeup on my cheeks, I use the same Dream Matte Mousse Foundation on my nose. It’s better than blotting tissues and pressed powder.

To remove eye makeup, I saturate or even soak cotton pads in eye makeup remover, lie back on the recliner (who says that recliners are for men only?), and place the pads over my eyelids to dissolve the eye makeup. No tugging and pulling – let the eye makeup remover do the work and gently wipe the makeup off afterward. I use Neutrogena’s dual-phase eye remover.

Even better Re: Bio-fond makeup

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After trying Bio-fond makeup, I found a creme makeup that I like even more. It is Goddessy Rx 4-in One Smart Makeup.


Goddessy Rx 4-in-1 Smart Makeup

Why do I like Goddessy Rx 4-in One Smart Makeup better?

It lacks fragrance. The packaging is very functional, with a large mirror, a cover for the makeup itself, and a perforated well for the sponge.

Plus, I found a better shade match. I initially tried three different shades of Goddessy Rx 4-in One Smart Makeup on my fingertips:

#2 – light shade, nearly the same intensity as #4, more pinky than #4
#4 – light shade, with yellow undertones
#3 – deeper than #2 and #4, appeared orangish

#4 was the best match for me. I err on the side of yellow undertones. On the other hand, the Bio-Fond makeup shade had pinkish undertones. To say nothing about the fragrance!

Thanks to Jennifer for giving me the chance to sample this product. You may shop Goddessy Rx at Amazon.com.