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.

The Body Shop recently released a new mineral makeup line called Nature’s Minerals.  The Nature’s Mineral Line is best for those wanting to achieve a healthy, radiant complexion with ultra-fine minerals that blend evenly to protect skin and reduce redness and imperfections.

Nature’s Minerals might be a great match for you if you have: normal to dry skin, sensitive skin, and you are looking for light to medium coverage.  This mineral makeup line contains:

• Kaolin clay and Mediterranean clay that are absorbent minerals that provide long-lasting coverage.
• Mica adds luster that has light-diffusing properties to help disguise fine lines and pores.
• Titanium dioxide and iron oxide protect skin from the sun without clogging pores.
• Dermatologist-tested with no added fillers, preservatives or fragrances.

How would you like to try this new mineral makeup line?  This week Mythbuster Beauty is giving away one set of Nature’s Mineral Makeup including one full size foundation, blush, and eye color of your choice (total retail value of $56!). 

Rules:  To enter this giveaway enter your name and email address in the contest machine box below.  One entry per person and the deadline is at 1 am (EST) Monday, November 17th, 2008.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org 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.

Best wishes to all of you and keep posted for two more giveaways tba soon!

Do pre-foundation primers make a visible difference?

Pro makeup artist Molly Stern says primers are meant to serve as a layer between skin and foundation to create a more even surface. But not everyone needs them. “The best candidate for them would be someone who is very oily or has a lot of scarring from acne,” she says. But do primers actually make a difference? We had two women of different ages each test a top foundation primer geared toward their skin type. Find out if their makeup looked better … and if anyone noticed.
See primers

Starting today, tarte is offering a 40% off Friends and Family discount through Sunday, July 27th.  This is a great opportunity to try or stock up on some fantastic tarte cosmetics. 

My suggestions? 

Looking for a new foundation/ tinted moisturizer?   I highly recommend trying tarte’s smooth operator foundation with SPF 20.  This is my absolute favorite… lightweight, protective foundation smoothes and perfects the skin with potent a SPF 20 sunscreen, vitamins and natural extracts.  My skin looks natural – never cakey – always gorgeous.

Need some gorgeous sheer color on the apples of your cheeks?  Try any shade of tarte’s cheek stains and you cannot go wrong.

And finally, for you women that are mascara junkies, tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes!  is a rich, powerful formula, that will really rev up your lashes.

Another tip, don’t hesitate.  At this discount, supplies are limited, and the best sellers will be out of stock very quickly (as we discovered with the Cosmedicine deal).

 Code:  FF08     VALID:  July 24, 2008 – July 27, 2008

Tarte just released a new exclusive at Sephora including some of Mo and my very favorite tarte products. 

Tarte’s skinvigoratingâ„¢ Complexion Collection, (retails for $54 and is a $153 value)

What it is:
A Sephora.com exclusive collection of Tarte’s skinvigoratingâ„¢ complexion essentials.

What it does:
Unlike products that simply hide the problem, Tarte’s skinvigoratingâ„¢ Complexion Collection includes products that help treat the problem while concealing it.  The result?  A healthy, glowing complexion–because natural beauty is always in style!

What else you need to know:
This exclusive kit includes Tarte’s Clean Slate Primer, Smooth Operator Foundation with SPF 20, The Eraser Smooth Concealer, Provocateur Pressed Mineral Powder with SPF 8, and a glam-on-the-go Kabuki Brush.

Between the Clean Slate Primer and Smooth Operator Foundation this is a fabulous deal.  I have also read fantastic reviews about their concealer, and haven’t had a chance to try their mineral powder.  But as Mo says, “Can tarte do no wrong?”  I really don’t think so!

I just noticed that this complexion kit in “light” is temporarily out of stock, but you can request to be contacted by email when they are available.

After reading so many nice things about the Lola Cosmetics line from the women at Megsmakeup.com, I just had to try some Lola, and Lola did not disappoint.  If you love red, you will love the elegant and sleek red containers.   They are beautiful and functional. 

The first review is of Lola’s FOUNDATION DUO ($35).  I loved the silky feel of the foundation, but found it was a bit too dry for my combination skin-type.  My 14 year old daughter needed a new foundation and I sent this her way, and she gladly accepted it.

Amanda’s review:

I am giving Lola’s two very big thumbs up!  This foundation was a success on my oily teenage skin.  I love the way this foundation feels on my face.  It is so light and fresh it feels like I am not wearing any makeup at all!  It is not as heavy as the liquid foundations and it won’t make my skin look all oily. It is a nice powder and won’t leave my skin itchy and dry.  I don’t have to worry about finding the right shade because if it is too light, I can go darker, or if it’s too dark I can go lighter.  I like to use them both together and the colors are really beautiful together.  I will definitely use this product all up, and I suggest you try it!

My review of Lola’s Mascara ($19.50):

Very rich, protein packed mascara.  Brushes on nicely, not too thick, not clumpy, this mascara just hugs my lashes and stays all day.  Doesn’t add incredible length, but is a very nice formula of mascara.  I am really loving it as my daytime mascara. 

And finally, the piece de resistance,  Lola’s PEARL LUMINOUS - Brightening and Light Diffusing Powder ($35):

This is a product that everyone needs, a wonderful pearlized translucent powder that is silky soft and can be used as a highlighter around eyes, on top of cheeks and around mouth to add a soft focus look.  I love the glow it gives my skin, and how it diminished the look of my fine lines. 

These are three great reasons that Amanda and I are both loving Lola!

Last week, I met with my friend Lisa King, owner of The Lovely Boutique at the South Towne Mall in Sandy, UT for lunch.  Lisa has an amazing vault of cosmetic knowledge due to being in retail and is always looking for terrific ways to save money.  

One of the most popular beauty subjects is on mineral makeup foundation, and are there any drug store brands that can “cut the mustard.”  Lisa swears that the e.l.f. mineral makeup foundation is fabulous.  Although, I haven’t tried this yet, for $5.00, I have no problem recommending this product.  If you love it, fantastic, if you hate it, you are out 5 bucks.  Either way you can rave, or complain to me directly about your experience with e.l.f’s mineral line.

Bionic Beauty recently wrote up about her order at e.l.f. (eyes.lips.face) Cosmetics and mentions a great promotion to use while shopping there:

For every product you order, get 50% off another product (of equal or lesser value). This is a President’s Day special sale and ends March 1, 2008. Enter code EGPRESBC at checkout.

Overstock on Applicators! Get a free professional tool (brush, applicator, etc) with ANY purchase! ECAPPCY at checkout.

I just read an incredible article from Makeup Moxie on how to make your own tinted moisturizer.

In my humble opinion, nothing can beat the sheer natural coverage that a tinted moisturizer can give you. If you want a little more coverage use a spot concealer to touch up after applying your tinted moisturizer, such as The Balm’s TimeBalm concealer, or Alison Raffaele’s True Concealer.

“The great news is that the best tinted moisturizer for your skin type and skin tone may already be waiting for you in your makeup bag. Simply mix some of your foundation with your moisturizer and voila! A tinted moisturizer that’s personally customized for your skin.”

How wonderful it that?

In addition, you can blend your moisturizer with your favorite mineral makeup.  Combine your moisturizer with a mineral foundation product like Bare Escentuals or Everyday Minerals, etc… Want to add a little more color?  You could add in a bit of your bronzer. If you moisturizer already has an SPF, you just created your own custom tinted moisturizer!    The possibilities here are endless! 

For a very reasonable price, you can create your own custom all-in-one tinted moisturizer!

After discussing the Drug Store Loose Mineral Brands vs. the ever popular Bare Escentuals, I did some further research and want to mention updates on three different mineral makeups:

1. Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear: *Read Comment Below

At Costco today, I spied a Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear set for about $13.00. The package looks very compelling and includes the face powder foundation and an eye shadow duo. It’s a good price, but if you don’t love it, Costco has an amazing return policy. Just GO EASY on the application! You might want to invest in a high quality kabuki brush to go with it since the price is so reasonable.

2. L’Oreal Bare Naturale:

Clever packaging, with a very cool container and cute little kabuki brush on the top. You think you can trust a name like L’Oreal, but it contains TALC. Not only goes on cakey, can clog pores and trigger breakouts, yuck!

3. Sheer Cover:

I personally tried Sheer Cover a few years ago and had an awful experience with it. The shades did not match my skin well, it went on very heavy, and the brush stinks! You can buy this brand everywhere nowadays, not just on TV infomercials for about $30. Reviewers either love it or detest it. No middle ground with this product.

Recently, I was talking with a woman at our local Target who had clearly overdone it with her foundation, her face looked overly matte and dry, and radiated with an odd orange hue. She proudly announced she was trying “Sheer Cover” and had I heard about it? I quickly tried to change the subject…

If you are like me, you have facial imperfections you are wanting to hide. I have tried so many products that promise a natural feel and great coverage, and after using them are disappointed with the results.

“No orange chalky face please!”

Don’t despair! There are some fabulous foundations out there, every skin is different and hopefully this information can help you find your dream foundation! Some of us really look fabulous using mineral makeup foundations, while others fair better with a liquid or creamy based foundation.

If you are going to use Mineral Foundation, just follow some simple rules:

1. Moisturize and/or use a primer before applying your mineral foundation
2. Look out for TALC in the ingredients list
3. Use a high quality kabuki brush (like B.E.’s, Smashbox, Cat Cosmetics, etc..)
4. You might need to combine two shades to get a good match
5. Apply sparingly! tap off the excess and avoid your eye areas
6. Top it off with a spritz of LooseLipsNY’s Perfect Finish Setting Spray, a light dusting of B.E.’s Mineral Veil, or translucent powder
7. Try using blotting papers during the day; avoid applying more powder to combat oilies!

*MBB’s Best Bets:
Originally, I had recommended this product by Physician’s Formula, but after a comment made by Sarah, take caution with Mineral Wear and keep your receipt!

Maybelline’s new Mineral Makeup Foundations are getting some favorable reviews. Definitely worth considering. I would also strongly suggest looking into some of the private label mineral makeup lines, follow this link to our post on private label companies – DecoDiva Tells All About Private Label Cosmetics.