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”
Danish-born New York makeup artist, Kirsten Kjaer Weis, has created a line of makeup that elegantly merges the worlds of design and green beauty. These sleek and weighty compacts won a 2011 Wallpaper design award for best new grooming product while also achieving certified organic status from the CCPB, Italy’s organic certification agency. The compacts are refillable, and the packaging of both the compacts and the refills are recyclable. When you purchase your first Kjaer Weis product, it’s filled with the color of your choice and it will indeed feel like a substantial investment. This is a high-end luxury item to be sure.
Take a deep breath if you clicked on the above link, let the sticker shock wear off, and read on because Kjaer Weis products perform beautifully. At least the ones I tested certainly did. I started with Cloud Nine which would have a happy home in any champagne eyeshadow collection. This one is unique as it’s cream in color but leans pink with a subtle golden iridescent sheen. It’s in no way over-the-top and I love wearing it as a wash over the entire eyelid. For those of you who like to highlight the brow bone, I can’t think of a lovelier color. As for performance, the consistency is silky and creamy, blends effortlessly, and creases very minimally without a primer.
I also tried the Lip Tint in Passionate, and even though I love Cloud Nine, if I were pressed to choose between the two, I’d go with the Lip Tint. Passionate is everything I want from a lip color. It’s rosy and warm, a very “my lips but better” shade that feels really good on my lips. Since it’s a tint, it has a much thinner consistency than a gloss and isn’t quite as thick as a balm. I’d say it feels and wears closest to a sheer lipstick, but it doesn’t give a shiny finish, more of a satiny one. I prefer to apply the tint with a lipbrush which intensifies the pigment more so than using your fingertip. The color lasts for several hours but honestly, I do so more frequently than that since it’s a pleasure to reapply. It’s a beautiful design that holds an excellent product, and it’s all natural to boot. I can’t ask for much more.
See below for my pics of Kjaer Weis Cloud Nine and Passionate. Click here if you would like to read The Non Blonde’s review of Passionate that she posted today as well. She’s also crazy for Kjaer Weis taupe eyeshadow, Wisdom.
Kjaer Weis Eyeshadows and Lip Tints are $44 and $48 for a filled compact, and $20 and $22 for the refills alone. Available online at The Detox Market.
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:
I have a lot of love for Vapour Organic Beauty. Their original Atmosphere Foundation turned me into a stick foundation believer as it is so easy to use, travel with and gives my skin a natural, even tone. I also found it on par, if not better than other foundations with silicones, parabens, and a long list of synthetic chemicals I stammer through when reading aloud. By contrast, Vapour Organic Beauty’s ingredient list reads like a botany text as their products are 100% natural and have a high percentage of organic ingredients.
Camellia Seed Oil, the first ingredient in their new Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation, is rich in anti-oxidants including Vitamin E, essential fatty acids and non-essential fatty acids including oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid. It provides the Soft Focus Foundation with a silky hydration for the skin and gives a healthy and radiant “satin” finish which is neither matte nor overly dewy. While I do love Vapour’s stick foundation, I have become partial to this new liquid foundation. I like the creamy texture and find it faster and easier to apply than the stick. My typical regimen is to apply it over evanhealy’s Rosehip Treatment Facial Serum in Rose after cleansing. Most days I prefer the light coverage of a tinted moisturizer, so I blend one pump of the Soft Focus Foundation with one pump of evanhealy’s Light Moisture Replenishing Fluid. After warming the mix in my palms, I apply it on my face just as I would a moisturizer. The coverage is smooth, even and radiant. If you like medium to full coverage, you will achieve that by using Soft Focus Foundation over your moisturizer. My skin tone is light to medium olive and looks best with yellow leaning foundations rather than pink so I chose S120, the same color as I have in their stick foundation. My first look at the liquid on my skin had me questioning if I chose correctly as it seemed kind of pink, but once on my face, it was a perfect match.
S120 Soft Focus Foundation top, S930 Skin Perfector bottom not blended
S120 Soft Focus Foundation top, S930 Skin Perfector bottom both blendedVapour also came out with a liquid version of their stick Skin Perfector, and in my opinion, the liquid is a huge improvement. I found the stick to be drying, especially in cold winter months. Like the liquid foundation, the liquid Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector has Camellia Seed Oil as its base, so with that comes a soothing moisture for your skin. On its own, the Skin Perfector is a subtle highlighter. When used underneath your foundation, it’s an excellent primer as I noted my makeup (blush in particular) lasted a whole day at work, no touch-ups needed. I ordered the more golden toned S903 for my skin, and again, it’s a terrific match.
Elixir Gloss in TwinkleWith my order came a free gift, the Elixir Lip Gloss in Twinkle. To be honest, I didn’t have high hopes as I have been disappointed in their “lipsticks” which feel like tinted balms without much staying power. Thankfully, I am thoroughly impressed with my Twinkle GWP! The gloss is nourishing and smooth with just enough texture to make it last, but without any gummy or tacky consistency. I love the color Twinkle, as it’s a neutral baby pink that has enough pigment to get it out of the “nude” realm. I find it useful to wear over lipstick that needs some toning down, and I also reach for it when I want a soothing salve for my dry lips. And I love, love, love that it’s all natural, with 70% of its ingredients being organic.
Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation is $50 for 1.14oz,
Stratus Instant Skin Perfector $56 for 1.06 oz
Elixir Lip Gloss (Now in wand style) $24.
Disclosure: A sample of Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation was a PR sample. I purchased the Stratus Skin Perfector myself. The Elixir Gloss was a GWP. The opinions in this review are my own. This post contains affiliate links.
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
Some mornings I need a little more tending to than others. Whether it’s lack of sleep the night before or allergies wreaking havoc, dark circles under my eyes tell me that I need more than a light dusting of powder to get me through the day. Even though I am crazy for makeup, I don’t wear a lot of it, and prefer a minimalist look and minimal effort in my routine. As a result, applying concealer usually falls by the way side.
Fortunately Rose Marie Swift, founder of rms beauty, created Un Cover-Up, an incredibly effective and easy to use concealer. I am in love with its consistency. It’s creamy without being too heavy and provides ample hydration so use of a special cream prior to application is not necessary. There is no chalkiness in this formula and it’s not thick. Actually, it goes on deceptively sheer as it effectively covers up dark circles while imparting a lovely soft focus glow.
My skin is light to medium and olive in tone, so my choice was 22. It’s slightly lighter than my skin which gives an illuminating effect that I like, but a mix of 22 and 33 would probably be a perfect match. I don’t feel the need to do so since 22 is working out very well for me. As you can see from the above image, the color range is limited so I hope they offer darker tones in the near future.
Not everyone is going to be thrilled that the concealer comes in a pot, but my preference is to apply concealer with my ring finger, so the frosted glass pot is convenient for me. The price tag of $36 might also make some of you reluctant, but I seriously cannot imagine going through my Un Cover-up in the next five years. And considering the high quality ingredients- they are organic, food grade, and unprocessed- as well as the fabulous efficacy of the product, it’s worth it.
rms beauty Un Cover-Up is available at SpiritBeautyLounge and Nature of Beauty, $36 for a 7gm pot.
Update: Total coincidence, just saw this on Twitter. 20% off RMS Beauty (and all makeup) at SpiritBeautyLounge today, Monday July 12th!! Use code “tweet071210”
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
At this time of year, we’re all feeling a little pasty aren’t we? I guess I should qualify that and say here in the Northwest we certainly are. I’ve got an extra pallor at the moment as I am recovering from an unexpected surgery last week. All is well, but I will be counting on the above blushes to do their job by giving me a pop of pretty springtime pink.
My newest pink blush is Dr. Hauschka Rouge Powder Duo. When I first opened it, I fell for its sheer prettiness. I love the two-toned pan and the embossed floral design. The product is large enough to pick up one of the colors with your brush, or swirl over both to blend. The lighter pink is very subtle and perfect for a hint of color. The warm rose gives a deeper color, and both have more peachiness than the above photograph. Rouge Powder Duo is somewhere between the swatches to the left and the above group shot. This duo is matte and provides a natural flush, especially when applied with a “skunk brush”. I use the one from Lancome that I have had for years. Eco Tools includes one in their set if you prefer a greener option.
NVEY ECO #955 blush is a warm baby pink that is similar to the blended color from the Dr. Hauschka Rouge Duo. #955 might be your preferred choice if you like a subtle shimmer in your blush. NVEY Eco uses jojoba oil as their blush binder, so it goes on smoothly and creamy and never looks dry or chalky. Again, it’s difficult to get the exact color from a photograph, so imagine #955 somewhere between the close-up at the right and the group shot above.
Everyday Minerals has so many pink blushes that it’s hard to decide which one to pick. I have a few them including Walkie Talkie, Nick Nack and Soft Touch. But Apple is the one that escapes from my blush drawer most frequently because its warm, reddish pink color is really flattering on my light-medium olive skin (MAC NC30 for reference). I always use my skunk brush when dusting Apple on my cheeks because it is intensely pigmented. A little bit goes a long way and my full-sized pot will last me forever. And for $8, it’s an incredible bargain. Like the Dr. Hauschka and NVEY Eco blushes, Everyday Minerals blush is all natural, cruelty free, and highly recommended for adding beautiful, pure color to these last days of winter.
Everyday Minerals Blush is available for $8 at the Everyday Minerals Website.
Nvey Eco Organic Powder Blush is available at Nvey Eco
Dr. Hauschka Rouge Powder Duo is available for $29.95 at Amazon.com
“Group Shot” and Nvey Eco close-up are my photographs. The other two are stock, manufacturer photos.
Lip color, whether it’s in gloss, stick or tint form, makes me most happy when I can apply it without a mirror. Happiness is also achieved when I can do two things at once, like make my lips look better while protecting them from the sun. I didn’t realize Hemp Organics would be the giver of such good cheer in my life when I impulsively grabbed two lip tints and tossed them in my grocery basket a couple months ago. Oh, and did I mention they are $5.99 each?
First, let’s check out the ingredient list: Organic jojoba oil, organic hemp oil, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, organic olive oil, castor oil, vitamin E, mica, iron oxides, titanium dioxide. (Vegan lip tint colors, those without carmine are: Terra, Amber, Earth and Kiss).
Three cheers for such a short ingredient list on a makeup item, one where you actually 
recognize every word! Titanium Dioxide might not be entirely familiar to everyone, but it is a natural, physical sunblock that provides Hemp Organic Lip Tints with their SPF of 15.
I bought Berry and Wine as I am partial to neutral reds and I get the most use out of Berry. Berry is a true rosy red, not too pink or brown that requires no mirror to get the application right. Wine is a richer red and actually works as an evening color. The lip tints make your lips slightly glossy and glide on like an ultra-smooth Chap Stick. They are unscented, feel really nourishing and are tiny little things so they fit nicely in a small purse or pocket.
Hemp Organics Lip Tints are available at most health food stores and VashonOrganics (whose color descriptions aren’t very accurate, IMO).
Posted by ~Trish
thefloraesthetic.com 