My latest wow product absolutely HAS to be brush protectors. I am honestly floored at how useful and simple these are.

If you haven’t seen them then just imagine a Chinese finger trap like the one you used to torment siblings when you were younger.  Unlike the brightly colored, one size, finger trap versions that you can still find at the dollar store on occasion, these clear plastic covers come in several sizes. I am beyond thrilled with these covers. They are perfect for travel, for shoving your brushes in your bag, or for keeping your brushes in shape when you have a 2 year old with curiosity to spare. You know that perfectly shaped contour brush that you spent entirely too much money on which ends up squishing into an unrecognizable shape every time you throw it in the bottom of your bag? (more…)

We are half way through March and things are looking up!  The promise of spring brings warmer temperatures, the appearance of flowers and leaves starting to bud.  Spring is all about renewal.

One nice way to celebrate spring is to enter for a chance to win a fabulous Erno Laszlo Value Set at Mythbuster Beauty!!!

The EL Complexion Value Set contains:

• Multi-pHase Complexion Highlighter -  Your skin will look more even and more polished, as if softly bathed in a veil of light.  Flatters every skin tone.  Who doesn’t need a more even, glowing, flawless complexion?
• TranspHuse Lip Plumper - Plumper, sexy, kissable lips?   Sounds pretty nice!
• Retractable Powder Brush - this high quality brush and perfect to use with the EL highlighter.

And this set has a total value of over $90.00!

Rules:  To enter this giveaway enter your name, email address, and what you love about Spring in the contest machine box below.  One entry per person and the deadline is at midnight (EST) Tuesday, March 31st, 2009.  One winner will be chosen and will be announced on Mythbuster Beauty, PRIZEY.Fetch, and contacted via email.  MBB will not share your email address with anyone, and only uses your email address to contact you if you are a winner.  This giveaway is open to residents of the USA and Canada only.  The winner will receive one Erno Laszlo complexion value set (highlighter, lip plumper and brush), this complexion set has the retail value of $90.

DecoDiva created a stunning Green and Silver Eye that you could create this New Years Eve, or any evening where to really want to “knock their socks off!”  This is her step-by-step tutorial to walk you through this look.  And if you are on a budget – no worries, Aromaleigh and Meow Cosmetics offer generous sample baggies of many of their products for just $1.  Now we can all afford to get a wonderful selection of cosmetics and get a chance to try this look  for ourselves!

Start with a clean, moisturized face.

1. Put on Eye Shadow Primer.  (Eyeshadow Primer and Base from Aromaleigh in Light)

2. Put some black shadow on the outer vee area and a little in the crease. I used MAC Paint Pot in Blackground.

3. Apply some silver eye shadow all over the eye area, from lash line to eyebrows. I used Aromaleigh Fume (25% off, now $6). (more…)

I was fairly content with my foundation choice this year (Prescriptives Flawless Skin with SPF 15), however, after reading several five star reviews about Make Up For Ever’s HD Foundation, I had to try this one for myself.

HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($40): An oil-free medium-to-full-coverage liquid foundation that covers skin imperfections flawlessly while remaining invisible on-screen and in real life. This Sephora-exclusive foundation comes in 25 different shades to suit all skin tones.

You will particularly love this foundation if you have oily or combination type skin, this is an oil-free formula that absorbs into the skin easily and blends beautifully. No breakouts or irritation while using this foundation! Because of the large selection of shades, you will also be sure to find your exact skin color match. The light diffusers are very subtle and give your skin a natural glow. The build-able coverage is very impressive, and a little bit goes a long way. The $40 price tag may scare you, but if you are looking for a lovely foundation, HD Invisible Cover Foundation is a must try. This foundation has become one of my top beauty finds for 2008.

One perfect way to apply this foundation is by using the BeautyBlender. Mo reviewed this amazingly versatile and wondeful sponge applicator, and we cannot say enough great things about it! Seriously, it is like these two items were custom made for each other.

I idolize Ginger Rogers.  So this year I am attempting a Starlet look for Halloween.  I think I still need to kick it up a notch and possibly run to the store for some false eyelashes and a feather boa! 

Classic Starlet Features:  Precisely defined eye brows, flawless skin, dark matte lipstick, black mascara with dark top eyeliner, and beautiful cheekbones.  Its all about Glamour!

My Starlet Look:  Laura Mercier’s Bleu Marine Eye liner applied with a flat eyeliner brush, L’Oreal’s Telescopic Mascara in Black, Cargo’s blu-ray Pressed Powder (all over face and on eyelids), ECO Nvey Lipstick in Dark Ruby,  Anastasia’s All About Brows Kit, Sugar’s Blush and Bronzer duo (used extra bronzer in hollows of cheeks to emphasize cheekbones). (more…)

Meli recently asked a question at the Bare Escentuals VS. Drug Store brand Mineral Makeup post:

I would be happy to get your thoughts on Bare’s Get Started kit. Quality vs price? Which one of the following would the best pick?  Bare, Maybelline or Everyday Minerals? What about L’Oreal?

Sincerely, thank you for your precious answers,  Meli

Hi Meli, so great to hear from you!  There are so many mineral makeup lines and so many factors to take into consideration.  Hope this information will help you make an informed decision!

Here are a few things to consider in choosing the best mineral foundation for you:

• Skin type.  Finding the right match of formula for your skin type, oily, dry, combination…
• Skin color. Is your skin tone difficult to match, or do you tend to find a compatible shade easily?  Some complain that certain mineral makeups can look ashy or orange on their skin.
• Convenience. Do you prefer to purchase this at your local drug store or do you mind ordering on-line, or going to a department store counter?
• Price. A large range of prices when it comes to mineral makeup.

Here are my feelings on the specific mineral makeup brands you listed:

1.  L’Oreal’s mineral makeup is formulated with talc, so if you have sensitive or breakout prone skin, watch out!  Not recommended.
2.  Maybelline’s mineral makeup is best for those with normal or dry skin.  This is based upon many comments from a review at the Makeup Moxie website.  Another comment was that while they love this mineral foundation, but do not like the brush that is included.  I would suggest purchasing your own kabuki brush for optimum application.  If you have oily skin it will not work well for you, but it is a great value and you can purchase it at your local drug store.
3.  Bare Minerals is the most popular of all the mineral makeup lines, and many people love it.  I think it is best suited for those with oily skin.  For individuals with drier skin, it can accentuate fine lines and look flaky.  This line is more expensive, but their starter kits offer a better value ($30), and can be purchased online, department stores, and at Target.
4.  Everyday Minerals is a wonderful line and offers different formulas for different skin types (Original Glo, Semi-Matte, Matte, and Intensive) and at very reasonable price ($12 for a large container).  Their samples are generous and allow deciding which formulas are best for your skin.  Highly recommended for both quality and value.

My personal experience with mineral makeup is mixed.  My best results have been with the Everyday Mineral line, and that could be due to my specific skin type (combination skin and sensitive to breakouts) and I have liked their Original Glo and Semi-Matte formulas.  Ideally, I still prefer a liquid foundation or a tinted moisturizer. 

My biggest complaints with SOME mineral makeup foundations are:

• The “itch” factor, my skin feels coated and slightly irritated by the mineral makeup
• Some mineral powders can accentuate fine lines on my skin, and deposit in my laugh lines
• My skin ends up looking too matte and chalky
• The powder can emphasize flaking and dry patches on my face

But I realize that with the right formula and the right skin type, your skin can look amazing while using a mineral makeup foundation.  Here are some other MBB posts on the subject of mineral makeup:

• Mineral Makeup + Prime Time = LOVE
• Drug Store Mineral Makeup: Maybe Not So Good
• Attack of the Orange Foundation
• Follow Up: Mineral Makeup Mania

Best wishes Meli, and hope to hear what you end up using and how you feel about it.  JEN

Laura Mercier’s Flawless Face Kit looks like a fabulous makeup kit and at a pretty decent price.  Allie from My Wardrobe Today mentioned that she purchased this kit for herself, and I couldn’t help but drool when I read all that is included in it. (more…)

A bronzer gives you a nice toasty glow without the threat of skin damage.  

May I introduce, Urban Decay’s “baked” bronzers!

Urban Decay’s “baked” bronzers are literally baked in an Italian oven on a tiny terra cotta disc for 24 hours, then hand-finished by a factory full of motherly Italian women. The result is an ultra-smooth, sheer-finish bronzer that can be used wet or dry and always goes on streak-free.

Apply dry with a fat brush (like Urban Decay’s Good Karma Big Buddha Brush) for a light dusting of summer sun, or use it wet with a sponge for a deeper St. Tropez shade.  Because the formula is cooked, not pressed, the powder returns to a micro-fine feel after being wet – without glazing! 

Baked:  bronze and golden shimmer

Toasted: matte -if you want to keep the shimmer away

 

New! Gilded:  bronze shimmer with veins of gold (great for fair skin)

Coverage is streak-free, and gives your skin a beautiful natural glow.  And like all of Urban Decay’s products, you can either “love it or leave it” and return the product in 45 days for a full refund.  The Baked Bronzer retails for $24 at Urban Decay.

P.S.  Urban Decay is looking for smokin’ hot new looks created entirely of vegan-approved products.  (Mo and Decorative Diva, I am thinking of you)!  Selected winners will receive a gift certificate for $50 to use on UrbanDecay.com, and hey—just for entering, they will give you free shipping on your next order.   Enter at the Urban Decay website before 7.31.08.

In a recent post, a fellow blogger asked:

I use Bare Minerals now and love it. It seems to last a really long time for the money, but its a huge ouch in the pocket book to buy it. So…what info do you have? As a favor to my friends who want to know if target & drug store brands are any good?

This type of question really gets me excited. Sure, Bare Escentuals is a wonderful cosmetic line. But at $25 a pop, we must ask, “Wouldn’t it be nice to know if anything at the drug store might suffice?”

The best source of information on the Internet answered this question directly. It was an article written by Jazmin from Makeup Moxie entitled, “What’s the Best Drugstore Mineral Makeup?“ She compared the quality, price, and value for 7 different drug store cosmetic mineral lines.

And the winner might surprise you! Jazmin claims that the best drug store mineral foundation is Milani Minerals Loose Makeup, but it is poorly packaged. IsaDora Mineral Foundation came in close second. Walgreens is currently discontinuing the entire IsaDora line and they are marked at clearance prices, about $8.00 for .28 ounces. This would be a great time to try IsaDora! Do not bother with Neutrogena, it rated as one of the worst for value and performance. L’Oreal’s was okay, but contains TALC, goes on heavy, and caked in hot weather conditions. The Almay line performed better, but it had weird container issues like Milani’s.  Another mediocre performer was Physician’s Formula’s mineral makeup.

If you love Bare Escentuals bare Minerals, here are some products you might also think about:

• Bare Escentuals Prime Time – this amazing primer prepares skin, has antioxidants, and smooths the skins surface . Making their mineral foundation look even better.
• Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil – finish off with this oil-absorbing light diffusing powder and really get that soft focus camera lens look.
• Invest in a high quality kabuki brush, like the one from LooseLipsNY,  i.d.’s Full Coverage Kabuki Brush, or Cat’s Kabuki Brush.

Other Mineral Makeup Lines to consider:

• Everyday Minerals:  Offering free samples on their website.   I ordered their samples and have been very pleased, this mineral line is fabulous.   You can read my review about Everyday Minerals.
• LooseLipsNy.com:  Sherry sent me free samples of their Mineral Loose Powder Foundation and Mineral Shimmer Powder.  Visit and tell them Jen at MBB sent you!  You can also receive $10 off when you purchase both their signature mineral foundation and kabuki brush together. Simply use the code kabuki10 at checkout.
• Alison Rafaelle Mineral Foundation - her concealer is heavenly and feels like silk; it heals as it covers. I would imagine her mineral line is equally as fabulous.  Alison Rafaelle has redesigned her entire cosmetic line and it will be released on March 3, 2008.  I cannot wait to try it.
• e.l.f cosmetics loose mineral foundation – good recommendations and only $5.00!
• Maybelline’s Mineral Powerâ„¢ Natural Perfecting Powder & Liquid Foundation is getting a lot of favorable reviews for being a great mineral based foundation at a great price.  Check out this offer for a free sample at Bionic Beauty:  “Yet Another Freebie of Maybelline’s Mineral Power Makeup.”  I just read a thumbs down review from the Mineral Makeup Blog.  As with all makeup reviewers, not everyone agrees on what they like or dislike!

Actually, I am not a huge fan of the loose mineral foundations. I have tried minerals at different times with mixed results.  I don’t like the powdery, too-matte look. If you have fine lines/wrinkles, dryness or patchy skin, mineral foundations can accentuate them.  Right now I have been using two wonderful water-based foundations, Tarte’s Smooth Operator, and Model Co 3 in 1 foundation. I love the feel and coverage of these foundations, but usually by noon have “oilies” breaking through.  Combination skin can be tricky!

However, the beauty addict in me is thinking. If I use mineral makeup with a primer?…Hmmm…Maybe, it is time to give mineral makeup another try!