Alima Pure has been a longtime favorite of mine so I was thrilled to check out the Smoky Eye Kit. Their blushes are gorgeous and they have a stellar range of beautiful eyeshadows. In addition, their Satin Matte mineral foundation is lovely and customizable. There’s just so much loveliness to explore with this all natural makeup line. For the holidays they have several kits worth checking out before they are gone. Continue reading “Alima Pure’s Smoky Eye Kit”
I love so many things from Alima, but here’s what would be first on my list if I didn’t have them already.
-Satin Matte Blush in Tulip and Mimosa
-Satin Finishing Powder in Hanae
-#35 Eye Detail Brush
-Nourishing Lip Balm in Natural
Here are some links to Scent Hive reviews on Alima:
Organic Lip Balm
Natural Peach Blushes (Mimosa)
General review of Alima’s foundation, finishing powder, blush, eyeshadow, etc!
And the fine print regarding the promotion.
*Offer does not apply to previous purchases. Discount is not applied to shipping and handling costs. Offer valid from Friday, November 11, 2011 through Thursday, November 17, 2011 10:00pm PST. Discount is applied at checkout with code BFF20. Offer not valid on phone orders. Cannot be combined with any other promotion or redeemed for cash. Limit one promotional code per order. Details of offer are subject to change.
I’ve reviewed Alima more than any other natural makeup line, simply because I love everything they do. Their blushes and eyeshadows are richly pigmented and gorgeous, their foundations provide luminous coverage, and their brushes are top-notch. And now that Alima has revamped their lipbalms, I can honestly say I love them too.
The previous lipbalms were perfectly fine, but they were a little thin and frankly the packaging was nothing special. Both issues have been addressed in Alima’s Natural Lip Tint as the texture is thicker like a balm should be, and the packaging has been upgraded to reflect thier overall aesthetic. The tube is sleek and slim which makes application easier than before and I love its sweet yet elegant Alima design. All of the ingredients are organic, save for the mineral pigments, and features the antioxidant action of pomegranate seed.
I mentioned that the new formula is a bit thicker and more balm-like than its predecessor. While this is true, Alima’s balms are by no means super thick or waxy. The texture is silky and feels very sheer but hydrating. I consider them a balm/stain hybrid as they provide excellent pigmentation, without a glossy effect. Therefore, if I want a satiny finish, I leave it as is. If I want more shine, then a lipgloss on top does the trick.
2016 Update: Since I originally posted this review, the colors and packaging have been updated but I understand that the formula is the same. I hope to review the new colors ASAP! Picture above is the newest of the new packaging!
Alima Pure Lip Tints are available at The Detox Market for $14
Ingredients:
On a cold and overcast day like today, I could have spent hours perusing the Alima website. It’s easy to navigate, the product photos and overall design are aesthetically pleasing, and you’d be hard pressed to find another cosmetics line with such a gorgeous variety of colors. Deciding what to drop in your shopping bag might be the only difficult task when you visit Alima, and I find myself discovering another blush I want to try each time I take a peek.
Needless to say, I’m a fan. But when I was sent the new spring eyeshadow collection, Welcome to the Rainforest, I wasn’t sure I’d find the colors all that wearable. Two of them are bright and light colors that I usually don’t go for, and all of them are rather sparkly, so they sat on my bathroom counter for a couple weeks before I decided to actually play with them.
Alima does a fantastic job of describing their colors, so there’s no need for me to change their verbiage: Jaguar is a slinky, golden-brown shimmer, Macaw is a light shimmering teal, Kapok is a deep, dark brown sparkle and Bromeliad is a sparkling light green. It was Macaw and Bromeliad that gave me trepidation with their easter-egg likeness. There was, and still is, no way I was going to use them all over my eyelids and then go near the door. But turns out, they both make absolutely stunning eyeliners. I used my favorite brush for lining, Alima’s #35 Eye Detail Brush, and came away with a surprisingly subtle flash of green from Bromeliad and a darker than expected pop of shiny teal from Macaw. Probably not my quick-run-to Trader-Joe’s-look, but definitely perfect for a night out or enjoying a special lunch on a day off.
Jaguar and Kapok being earthier colors are more in my comfort zone and create a lively take on the smoky brown eye. As a wash, Jaguar is a peachy light brown that sparkles with shimmers, not chunks. Nevertheless, it shimmers enough so I’ll be saving Jaguar for evenings. When paired with Kapok as an eyeliner on the lower lid and smudged out on the top, you get a warmish-brown smoked eye that will look even more amazing with a summer tan and a sundress.
Jaguar on top left, Macaw on top right, Kapok on lower left, Bromeliad on bottom right.
Jaguar on tippy top, Kapok on mid-top, Macaw on mid-bottom, Bromeliad on very bottom.
With every purchase of the limited edition Welcome to the Rainforest collection, $2 will be donated to the Rainforest Action Network. Alima is 100% natural mineral makeup and is cruelty free. Please read more about their safety and standards.
Welcome to the Rainforest is available at Alima for $30.
Posted by ~Trish
Photos except for top pic (from Alima) taken by ~Trish
Alima is one my favorite all natural makeup lines, and definitely my most-used mineral makeup line. Their blush and/or foundation are used by me on a near daily basis, and I adore their brushes, #35 for eyeliner and #17 for blush to be specific. As for eyeshadows, their quality and beautiful colors allow for endless hours of experimenting in front of the mirror. Did any of you watch Mad Men on Sunday night? Peggy’s got it right IMO, we do love the ritual!
For fall, Alima presents us with the Perfectly Tailored Collection, adding more lovely shades to the mix. Two of the colors, Velvet and Jacquard are “almost matte” while Brocade is a true matte, and Tulle is super shimmery. Here’s the color breakdown from the website with my commentary in italics:
“Velvet is a lush, smoky purple with a hint of shimmer.” This description is dead-on. Velvet is a dramatic eyeliner with a very subtle shimmer that is noticeable when the light hits your eyes. Beautiful!
“Tulle a super-sheer wash of golden shimmer, beautiful worn as a wash over other colors.” Another spot-on description. Tulle is buildable for a high, golden shine, but I prefer it with a light application on the upper-lash line for a warm glimmer.
“Brocade is a completely matte medium grey.” I agree that in the pot Brocade is gray, but on my skin it pulls blue. This is my least favorite color as its cool tone does nothing for my olive complexion other than wash me out.
“Jacquard is a pale cream with the softest touch of shimmer.” True again, but what this description does not mention is that it goes on skintone-sheer, like the nude/champagne duo, NARS All About Eve. It’s not an exact match as Jacquard is lighter, but the effect is the same. A question you’ll see frequently on the beauty boards is, “who makes an affordable dupe of All About Eve?” Well, here it is and it’s all natural to boot.
My Swatches
left to right: Velvet, Tulle, Brocade, Jacquard
Perfectly Tailored Collection is $25, with $2 going to the Global Fund for Women, at AlimaPure.com
Posted by ~Trish
clockwise from top: Alima Satin Matte Blush in Mimosa, NVEY Eco 953, Dr. Hauschka Rouge Powder 01, Everyday Minerals Rhapsody in Peach
I’ve always had a preference for pink blushes. Pink is one of my favorite colors and when it comes to blushes, they’re hard for me to resist. This spring, I decided to branch out into the world of peach blushes, and have found four fabulous ones to choose from.
An easy place to start was in the soft peachy pink realm so I chose Alima Pure Satin Matte Blush in Mimosa, which means there is no shimmer but yet it imparts a subtle glow. Mimosa is slightly warm, on the apricot side of peach, but has enough neutral pink to create a soft, pretty flush that never leans orange. NVEY Eco’s #953 looks slightly lighter in the pan than Mimosa, but it gives the identical effect. The only difference between the two is that Mimosa is a loose powder blush and #953 is a pressed pan blush. I love both of them equally, but do reach for NVEY Eco more frequently since the pan is so convenient. (It also costs twice as much as Alima’s blush). Since Mimosa and #953 are my go to blushes when I want a natural, healthy look, I highly recommend them both.
The deeper peach blushes I tried were Dr. Hauschka’s (01) Warm Terracotta and Everyday Minerals’ Rhapsody in Peach. Warm Terracotta is the perfect name for Dr. Hauschka’s blush as it’s a matte, burnished apricot with a hint of brown. It is highly pigmented, therefore I only apply it with a skunk brush. With a light touch, Warm Terracotta brightens your cheeks with a warm peachy color that would move into bronzer territory if it had a bit more brown in it. Rhapsody in Peach is not a terracotta color, but rather a bright pinky peach with fine gold shimmer. It differs from Mimosa not only because is has a shimmery quality, but mostly because it is a much deeper color and would not be suitable for light skin tones. Again, I use this with a light hand and achieve a peach flush that is more intense than either Mimosa or NVEY’s #953 but still looks natural.
All of these blushes are 100% natural and contain no petrochemicals, phthalates or parabens.
–Alima Pure Satin Matte Blush in Mimosa is available at Alima Pure
-NVEY Eco #953 blush is available at Nvey Eco for $28.95
–Dr. Hauschka Rouge Powder is $30 at BeautyHabit.com. Please see Soft Terracotta as Warm Terracotta in no longer available.
-Everyday Minerals Rhapsody in Peach is available at EverdayMinerals.com in their On The Reef Collection for $34
Posted by ~Trish
Photos by ~Trish
I finally went for it. I got all the things on the Alima website that I have been lusting after for months. Thankfully Alima is a very affordable line, and that’s refreshing when most all natural beauty brands can cost a small fortune. The following are photos of the haulage. I have to admit, a second haul came soon after and I’ll be reporting on those items a little later.
Here’s a peek at the nicely wrapped bundle of goodies.
First glimpse inside the beauty that awaits!
Here are the pretty colors and Alima’s extraordinarily soft Buff Brush. It’s a sweet little thing that you can use for blush, highlighters and foundation. I like it for blending purposes as it’s quite dense which gives a heavier application. As for applying blush, I only use this with the sheerest of colors, but that’s my “natural look” preference. The short handle is easy to use and its softness is luxurious!
Below is Sugar Rose, one of Alima’s Luminous Shimmer Blushes. The color is a very neutral pink, in that it leans neither warm nor cool. While this blush is finely milled, it is shimmery and I need to be careful in not applying too much since the coveted “glow” can turn to dreaded disco ball effect real fast. But in small amounts, over a warm pink blush, it’s really, really pretty. The sheen of Alima’s Luminous Shimmer Blushes are better suited to evening for this gal, but on someone more fair and daring than I, Sugar Rose would look gorgeous any time of day. (Note that the true color of Sugar Rose is between the close-up below and the group shot above).
Alima’s color range of eyeshadows is extensive and drool-worthy. I had such a hard time deciding on just two colors. There’s really no rhyme or reason why I chose Paparrazi and Navy, but I’m glad I did. Paparazzi and Navy are listed as “Rich Warm Brown” and “Deep Smoky Blue,” respectively, on the Alima website. I fully concur with the first description, but not so much on the second. Paparazzi is exactly that; rich, warm and brown. It is gorgeous as an eyeliner, and dark enough that I will only use it as such. (I just don’t have the patience or skills to use darker colors in the crease of my lids). Navy is a stunner, but I would not call it “smoky” or “navy”. It is a deep color, but it doesn’t have charcoal-gray tones and it’s not navy blue. It’s a dark shimmering royal blue. This too looks fantastic as an eyeliner, especially smudged a bit on the outer edge of the upper lid.
The six sample pots you see below are Satin Matte Foundations, Satin Finishing Powders, and the green-hued one at the lower right-hand corner is a Color Balancing Powder that helps decrease redness. It’s called Pistachio, and despite my skepticism about its efficacy, I found that it works. I’ve been using a concealer brush to apply it around my nose under Alima’s Satin Matte Foundation and have been pleased with the results.
Figuring out how best to use the foundations has taken time and effort. First, I needed to get the color right, which I have determined is a 50:50 combo of Warm 3 and Golden 3 for my light to medium olive skin. If you visit the Alima website, you will see detailed information on how to find the right color for you. I also had to check out Alima’s “How to use Mineral Foundation” page for some help when things started to get somewhat chalky. To begin with, I needed to use the right brush. After some trial and error MAC’s #187 was perfect. It’s a “stippling” or “skunk” brush that allows a light application and smooth blending. I also discovered that I was using way too much powder. Less is more in this case. Finally, it helps tremendously to spritz a little hydrosol on the powdered brush before you apply it to your face. At least this is the routine that is working for me. And I am so glad I stuck it out because the finish is natural and luminous, and provides light to medium coverage when used the way I have just described.
The Luminous Finishing Powder samples were thrown into my cart on a whim. I never use finishing powders, but I loved the names, Keiko and Hanae. I also read great reviews on MUA, so I spent an extra $2 to get samples. It was money well spent. Both work for my skin tone as they flawlessly meld into the skin. On their own, they give light coverage and a subtle radiance. Over foundation, the Luminous Finishing Powders bestow a polished look and set your makeup for the day. I highly recommend giving these a try.
And finally, here’s a shot of the gift with purchase Baby Kabuki brush and samples I got with my order. Inside the little pot is Alima’s Lip Balm in Fig. It’s a bronzy, sheer red that I loved so much, I got a full size in my next order.
Alima is available at Alimapure.com. Please see links within the post for pricing information.
Posted by ~Trish
Photos by ~Trish
thefloraesthetic.com 