I really wanted to be able to go with a mineral makeup, but every one I tried felt heavy on my skin and made it itchy and break out in acne, plus my eyes got sore and puffy. Not sure why this happened. I must be allergic to it. So after all the samples and even buying a few small items I gave up on the mineral makeup. I’m not saying its bad, its just not for me.

I’m no longer going to buy any drugstore junk. My skin has changed over the last few years. Wearing  CoverGirl, Maybeline, Revlon or any of the cheap brands just isn’t going to do it anymore. All those brands turn orange on my skin. I might use eye liner from them but not much more.

This Christmas Mom gave us all some money as a gift and I took some of it and decided I would buy new makeup. First, the reason I am going with Clinique. Its allergy tested, fragrance free and they don’t test on animals. These are important to me. I don’t think animal testing is necessary. This company has been around long enough that I trust they know what they are doing. Second thing, I hate it when I can smell my makeup. YUK!  And the third thing, I don’t turn orange! That’s right, the foundation doesn’t turn orange on my face. I knew then that this would be the makeup for me.

I know that the Clinique makeup costs a bit more and I figured I would be spending about 200 dollars. So Gregg said “why not look on Ebay?” Hmmm, so I did. Instead of buying at full price at the store I bought it for a quarter of the cost on Ebay. I is happy!

What did I get? Well, I got all of this…

8 lipsticks and 2 mascaras. 3 of the lipsticks were doubles. The colors are “Beauty, Pink Beach, Rose Spectrum, A Different Grape and Raspberry Glace.

This little 6 pack is perfect! I love all the colors!

And I had to go buy my foundation. I didn’t want to buy it on Ebay. I needed to try colors and find the right one for me. I didn’t want to buy the wrong one.

What did this all cost me? Well, the foundation was 32.00 including the taxes. The rest came to a total of  62.58 that included all the shipping too. If I would of bought this at the store I would of paid about 180.00. I think I got a pretty good deal. The only things I still need are blush and moisturizer. Which I will buy on Ebay if I can find a good deal.

Now what do I do with all my old makeup?LOL

All the colors are great. I really like the product. This is the best line of all 4 samples. But once again, it was a bit messy. Working with powders is just not for me. I wish it was easier. I always end up with eye shadow on my cheeks when I apply it to my eyes. The only way to avoid this is by adding water. I also noticed that all the samples did two thing the same, enlarged my pores and showed the creases under my eyes.

The foundation colors are a perfect match for my skin. The blush is very subtle. Natural looking. I will order this in the future. I think that any mineral makeup that I will use, will only be done when I travel. It lasts all day and doesn’t melt. So it will be great when we head to Mexico again.

I have decided to go back to regular makeup. I ‘m going to be going to Clinique. I trust their products. I have never had a problem with them in the past. At least now I know more about mineral makeup. I wasted 30 bucks but I have all the samples I can use for traveling. Good thing is, it will never go bad, so it will last and last.

After my morning coffee I was checking my emails. I signed up at a few sites the day before and was waiting to get email back. I got email from Red Robin‘s telling me to come get a free Birthday burger and Dairy Queen saying I can have a 16oz blizzard for free. So my lunch was planned!

We got dressed and headed to Red Robin’s for lunch. I ordered a Guacamole burger with fries.

After that we drove down the road to Dairy Queen where I got a Fudge brownie cookie dough with Reese’s peanut butter cup blizzard.mmmmmm! We took our blizzards and headed back home. Gregg gobbled his up right a way. I still have half of mine in the freezer. I was stuffed from the burger. So I get to finish it today.

As you can see from the picture, the colors are vibrant and a full teaspoon! It cost me 10.00 cdn for 5 samples and that includes shipping. The bright orange one is actually blush. The 3 purples are eye shadow and the white is the free one called “fluff” and right at the bottom in the oil control foundation.

So I now have it all on and I like everything but the blush. The color is nice but you really need to be careful when applying it. A little too much and you end up looking like a clown. I love the eye shadow colors. They are the best purples I have ever had. A bit messy. They flake to the cheeks when applying with a brush. So I used my fingers and it was a much better result.

The white oil control foundation goes on nice and blends in perfectly. Its very light coverage, but thats all I need. It feels good too. No heaviness to it. I think I will be buying this one in the future for summer wear. I didnt try the free sample since I wasnt sure what it was and I couldnt go to their site to find out.

I have one more sample still to come. After trying this one I think I’m getting closer to deciding what I will be doing.

I really liked the Camelyn. It blended well with my natural coloring. The Neutrala is a slight tone darker and was a bit noticeable. It showed wrinkling under my eyes. Both colors did hide the darkness under my eyes so that’s something I was happy about.

This stuff didnt feel heavy or oily. I also didnt put any moisturizer on before hand. I wanted to see how it would feel and look with out it. I had moisturizer on when I tested the Skin FX. I will do the Skin FX without moisturizer tomorrow, might make a difference on my review of that product.

Now I have washed this off and trying it with moisturizer. It feels good. Not itchy or heavy. I tried the Vanisha again, but its definitely not my color.

Now I’m not sure if its me not doing it right or if all mineral makeup does this, but I see more wrinkles in my face. Especially around my eyes. And when I smile my skin looks almost like it has tiny cracks in it. Is it possible that this will change and melt into my skin? Or am I doing something wrong? I blend it in and it still looks a bit caked.

I added blush on top and that did seem to make it look more natural. Still lots to learn!

Camelyn, Vanisha and Neutrala.

I will test all three today and blog again this evening.

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Well, I wore it all day and it didn’t change. Not one bit. I did feel that it was there. Something I’m not used to. My skin looks like it has a nice even tan. Everything matched all the way down my neck. It was nice to see my face and neck the same color. Most of the time my neck stays very white. But this stuff made it all blend nicely. It did look a bit caked at first, but after about 20 minutes I noticed that it sort of “melted” into my skin. It looks very natural. I read that it is water proof and it is! I tried to wash it off. Nope. I had to use my face wash to get it off. So I think this well be great when traveling in Mexico. Put it on and I can even go swimming in the ocean and still look great.

So, will I use Skin Fx again? Yes I think I will. I won’t decide until I have tested the other samples. I like this so far but it is only the first one I have tried. Once I have tried them all I will make a decision what I will buy.

I found a few sites and have added them to my links page under “Mineral Makeup”. All the links are for makeups that are pure minerals no organics in them as far as I saw. Remember, if you want pure mineral makeup, read the ingredients lists. Anything organic may be natural, but its NOT a mineral and is not needed in mineral makeup.

I took the baggies and emptied each one into a shot glass. There is about a half a teaspoon in each sample. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but its enough to try them a few times. The instructions tell you to apply the colors to your forehead. So I did that. 3 different colors. They all look good for me. One is a bit light so I could use that as a winter foundation when I lose my tan.

After about 20 minutes I looked in the mirror and noticed no orange tint…yippee! I tend to turn orange when it comes to foundations. So I applied the colors to the rest of my face and neck in 3 sections. I also applied the eye shadow. Its a nice pink color, but a little to light for me. I like colors that pop.

I’m not too sure about using it all over. It does look a bit heavy. It has left creases under my eyes. The coverage is good. I do look like I have flawless skin. It hides pores and evens out skin tones. Now for the true test. I will wear it for the day and see how it looks after a normal day. I’ll blog again this evening with the results.

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I ordered my fourth and final sample for now. This time its from Fyrinnae Cosmetics. They have lots to choose from and it took me a bit to go through it all, but so worth it. So many beautiful colors! It was really hard to pick. I finally settled on some very dark plum. I think its very close to real plum colors.

Only problem with ordering from this company is that they say it can take up to 23 days to get it here. I sure hope not. I guess I’ll find out.

I hope that my first set of samples show up tomorrow. I’m still hunting for more. I’m just limited in the money department. It can get costly if I’m not careful. All these samples add up. And after when I finally make my choices and buy items. I’m looking at a bit money I’ll be spending. In the long run it will be worth it. I know it will save me a ton of money. No more buying drug store brands and finding out they dont work for me. That is a major waste of money.

Off I go!

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This morning I made my second order of samples from a company Here in BC. Its called “Natrual Beauty Canada“. They have only the main mineral ingredients that I am looking for. No extra junk added. I should be getting my samples by the end of the week. I will keep you updated.

I am looking at 2 more companies also from Canada. I will probably be ordering samples later today.

Here is a list of all the bad ingredients that you don’t want in your mineral makeup. If it has organics in it, this is when you get bacteria growth and expiration dates.

BAD LIST

Talc: is similar to asbestos in structure and has been linked to respiratory diseases, and can easily be contaminated. Although talc is a natural mineral, and can be purchased in fine grades which do not pose any risks, most choose to avoid it. In addition, there’s some evidence that it can permanently stretch pore walls! The main ingredient in most “powder” makeup is talc.

Bismuth Oxychloride: This is a mineral that is found in most of the mainstream mineral cosmetic companies. It imparts a very shiny finish, which may be desirable to some people, but it can be an irritant to certain skin types.

Synthetic Colors: are used to create colors that are impossible to create with natural minerals. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C Green No. 6. Synthetic colors are believed to be cancer-causing agents.

Synthetic Preservatives: such as the parabens or urea. Mineral cosmetics are inorganic pigments with no liquid or oils added; therefore they do not need preservation. They are basically crushed rocks that have been in the earth since creation.

Carmine: (found in lipsticks, glosses blushes, and eye shadow) This bright pink/red extract from the carmine beetle in South America, has been connected to heart problems. Obviously, it is not a mineral!

Cornstarch: Completely natural, but used as a filler, less product. Is a vegetable starch and has a shelf life. It does then have an expiration date.

Now the GOOD LIST

Titanium Dioxide: is a white colored inorganic salt that is produced as a white powder. This non-irritating ingredient is also a broad spectrum UV absorber. It is used as a main ingredient in mineral cosmetics due to its ability to produce good coverage and adhesion.

Zinc Oxide: is another white powder that is used as a natural sun-block, astringent, and antiseptic. This mineral sooth’s and heals irritated skin, making your product great for acne prone or sensitive skin.

Sericite Mica: is a white, silky, shiny pigment derived from a fine crystalline clay mineral. It provides medium coverage, good spreadability and a smooth texture when applied to the skin.

Red and Yellow Iron Oxides: are purified iron salts. They are used as the main ingredients to pigment your foundation.

Ultramarine Blue: is a clay that has been heated to a high temperature. Discovered by the Egyptians, this mineral is used to balance the warm pigments in your foundation formula.

Mica: is a reflective mineral which is used in foundation formulas to add dimension and sheen, making your skin look “alive”. Mica is also used in shadows, and blush to provide a satin finish. Most only use which are coated with natural minerals as opposed to dyes, lakes and carmine.

Silica Microspheres: Because of the size and shape of this mineral, it has the ability to diminish the look of fine lines on the skin, giving it a soft focus effect. Because the particles are round, they produce a ball bearing effect, which imparts the finished product with a silky elegant texture, enhanced slip and better blendablity providing a “cream to powder” texture. For those concerned, silica is not crystalline/amorphous hydrated silica.

Boron Nitride: Boron Nitride is a soft, silky white mineral powder that is said to have anti-bacterial properties. It is used as an additive to improve the “slip” of a product (how smoothly the product applies) as well as “adhesion” (how long it stays on the skin).

Calcium Carbonate: is found in chalk, limestone, marble and travertine. Even eggshells are 95% calcium carbonate! Calcium Carbonate’s main function is to absorbs moisture.

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Well I have made my first sample order. I ordered from a company called “Skin Fx“. I have been researching companies for about 10 days now and this one has filled all my requirements. I wanted to make sure that I get a product that doesn’t have any extra ingredients. Skin Fx has only the basics, no extra fillers as far as I can see. They are also a Canadian company from Alberta. And I like to try to stay in the homeland.

Many companies add “bismuth Oxychloride”. Some people have reactions to this ingredient. It seems to irritate the skin and give some people breakouts and even rashes. Since I have sensitive skin I don’t even want to try anything with that in it.

“Talc” is another offender. I already know that I can’t use it because I tend to get IC flare-ups. “Corn starch” is also like Talc for me. Its something that you don’t want since it has a expiration date. A shelf life cause its made from vegetable starch.

They don’t add any oils or fragrances. I will know for sure when I smell it. I hate it when makeup has a odor to it.

I guess that’s it till I get the samples next week. I’ll do a full review then. I guess its back to finding more samples…

On my search for the right brand for my skin type(foundations and powders turn my face orange), I am finding that there is lots to learn. I have only just begun to scratch the surface in this new world. I honestly didn’t know that all the brands from drug stores that I have tried over time, are really not that good for the skin. I was shocked at how much “crap” goes into regular make-up. What bothers me more is that there are still companies that do animal testing when its just not needed anymore.(this is a topic I wont go into right now)

Anyways, So far this week I have found a few companies that I think I will be trying out. As I do I will blog about each company and how I like the products. Keep in mind, that I will have to place an order for a sample or a full size item(this depends on what the company offers) and have to wait for it to arrive. So in the mean time I will find other things to post about.

I wonder how long this journey will be? There are so many brands to try. I don’t mind, I love playing with make-up. I also have to make sure that anything I try doesn’t give me a IC flare-up. Some brands have fragrances in them and having to smell them and absorb into my skin, can start up a nasty reaction. So this will be a challange for me. It will be a good way to find out more of what I can and can’t handle with my IC.

I think the products that don’t work for me I will give away on my blog. Maybe do some contests too. Could be that some products that I can’t handle, someone else might be able to. When is comes to cosmectics, each person reacts differently.