MAC At-A-Glance

[November] 11/26 - Monogram - MAC's annual couture collection, 11/30 - Perfect Style
[December] 12/26 - Dame Edna, Chill

January 3, 2008

Product Review: Everyday Mineral Foundation Samples

I warn you now: Be prepared for all the bare faced pictures :)

Mineral makeup has been on the market for years but is now more evident in becoming a more mainstreamed product. Cosmetics companies like Bare Escentuals have been in the mineral makeup biz for years while companies like L'Oreal have expanded their makeup line to include a mineral alternative such as their Bare Naturale line.

Whether you're a vegetarian, do yoga, choose water over soda, or make the simple decision to take a shower, there's always a part of us that wants to make healthier choices for our mind and body. And when it comes to makeup, we're lucky we have such an alternative to a safer and more natural approach.

As you know, I received my Everyday Minerals haul the other day. This is my first time ever diving into mineral makeup. So needless to say I'm a mineral virgin and have no expectations other than knowing I'm supposedly doing something good for my skin. I'm also learning how to identify potentially harmful ingredients that are usually found in regular cosmetics, but at times it just looks like random letters put together with the word "oxy" stuck somewhere in between. Clearly I'm new here.

As part of my order, I had 3 samples of foundation: Medium Deep (Golden), Medium Tan (Golden), and Sandy Medium (Warm) all in the Intensive formula. I chose this formula because it says that it gives "an extra boost of lasting intensive coverage with a silky near-matte finish". I've always been a matte kind-of-gal due to the shine that my face produces. And I'm in dire need of lasting coverage as I don't have time to be touching up because of these little people called kids.

After swatching the colors, I knew that Medium Tan and Sandy Medium were more in my territory. Medium Tan definitely has more yellow in it whereas Sandy Medium has a bit more pink. In the following pictures I started with a sheer layer of Sandy Medium, a few layers of Medium Tan after, and then topped off with Sandy Medium on the outer parts of my face.

Bathroom Lighting
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Natural Lighting
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This is so you can see the transition from face to neck.
Pretty darn good, huh?
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MAC Foundation Range
NC42-43

Color Payoff
Seamless and natural if you find which shade(s) match(es) you best. It's also very lightweight and like they say, "less is more". I applied sheer layers of the foundation to build the coverage I wanted and the color melded into a flawless finish.

Ease of Use
Applying mineral foundation is a fairly easy process. Tap a small amount of product into a ceramic bowl or into the lid of the container. Infuse the powder into the brush, tapping off the excess. Then build your desired coverage using a circular motion. Depending on your current application method of liquid foundation (i.e. stippling, buffing, etc...), applying mineral foundation will probably take the same amount of time unless you just use pressed powder. During pressed times, I normally swirl my kabuki in my Sheer/Select Pressed Powder which doesn't take long at all, so applying mineral foundation does take a tad bit longer, but only by a couple minutes.

Tools
I used the MAC 182 since it's the only kabuki brush that I have. I wouldn't mind getting a flat-head long-handled kabuki brush.

Using this is great if you...
-are looking to give mineral foundations a try. You can choose 3 different shades of foundation so you're bound to find one that's close to your skin tone. And if not, then you have the option to mix and match your selections. And on top of the foundations, you can also try out a concealer and blush/face color. All you pay is shipping.
-want to take that natural approach to makeup.

Using this is not so great if you...
-think the process of applying mineral makeup may be too time-consuming.
-are just purely not interested in the benefits that mineral makeup has to offer... couldn't think of anything else :)

Overall...
I really like the product. It smoothed out my skin and hardly felt like there was anything on. I think I'd like to try out their pressed powders just because I'd like something convenient when I don't have the time to swirl, tap, and build. But aside from convenience, it's worth paying for shipping. Who could go wrong with that?

Aloha,
Mrs. Lynne

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5 makeovers:

Shawnta said...

yay for minerals! You look pretty even in both, but I think the sandy medium alone looked the best and sounds the easiest instead of having to multiple layers with different colors. I was thinking about the pressed powders too, but I was hesitating because they usually matte me out too much.

Vanessa said...

Lynne! You are stunning! Momma you don't need ANY makeup!!! Natural beauty over here! LOL.

Happy New Year!

Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said...

-Shawnta: I think so too. I like easy, hah. I wish those colors came in pressed powder form. I use my kabuki to apply my MAC pressed powder and it swirls very nicely AND EVENLY in the compact. What kind of skin do you have? And after putting on mineral foundation, do you use anything to touch it up during the day?

-Nessa: You're sweet hun :)

Christiana Divine @ Memoirs of A Shopping Addict said...

love, it looks great. :D i agree with nessa too, you don't need makeup! :P

i think that sandy medium alone looks good too. :]

i've read BAD reviews on their pressed powder. i've heard they break easily., lots of people don't like the packaging of the product, and they don't have too many shades to pick from yet. :P they only have light shades right. :P what you CAN do is use the little 5 gram jars for travel size and get a baby buki brush. :] that's what i do. :P but oh, make sure you keep your baby buki and travel size jar in a ziploc... there is some leakage sometimes.

Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net said...

Chris: Thanks for the tips girl! When I checked out the pressed powder I was taken back that there were only 3 shades. I'd definitely be more interested if they had more variety. Also, do you use anything else throughout the day to manage shine, if any?

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