via ERA.
What it is: Annabelle‘s Violet Vibe mineral pigment dust
On… the colour: Violet Vibe is gorgeous; a safe-but-stunning shimmery violet with a lovely finish. “Incredible luminescence” indeed! However, I feel that (especially for a pigment,) it could stand to be a little more… pigmented. If it was a shadow, I’d be fine with it, but I expect a little more punch from something with “pigment” in its very name!
On… the wear: Violet Vibe can be sheered out quite a bit, but with just a spritz of water, it’ll intensify right up! (Thank goodness for foiling, right?) Along my bottom lashes, she holds true all day long, but I do experince some fading throughout the day if I wear Violet Vibe on my lids, even with primer.
On… the packaging: Eeh. I love the packaging of the rest of the minerals line (more on that later,) but I’m not feeling this one. The lid is hard to pop up and snap shut, and it’s a hassle to use! I’d take the packaging for the Studio Pigments over this packaging any day. They feature the same hole-in-lid dispensing methods, but it’s much easier to use the Studio lid, and the packaging feels more solid and secure, at least to me.
On… the ingredients: (from the Annabelle site)
MICA SILICA SORBIC ACID
MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR: TITANIUM DIOXIDE BRONZE POWDER IRON OXIDES MANGANESE VIOLET ULTRAMARINES FERRIC FERROCYANIDE CARMINE ALUMINUM POWDER
The verdict? I thought this product was lovely, but I’m not raving about it. I was expecting something different — in my mind, a “mineral pigment dust” should be pretty, finely-milled, and packed full of pigment. What I found out was that this is certainly pretty and finely-milled, but it’s not as pigmented as some “pigments.”
If this has been called a “mineral shadow dust” instead, I think I would have been happier. But, that’s just me being fickle! Overall, at $8.50/2.5g, I’d recommend these, especially if you’re allergic to parabens or simply looking to use more minerals in your makeup routine. Ironically, the main reason I’m hesitant to say this isn’t just the name. It’s because I know exactly how good drugstore products can get — Annabelle’s worked itself into this hole! If their shadows hadn’t already stunned my socks off, I’d still be wearing socks, and this “mineral pigment dust” could have done the stunning. Of the socks. Off my feet. (Which are now a little chilly.)
Oh, terminology!
… to Amanda Seyfried, for always trying out new looks!
all images via bellasugar.com
What it is: M. Asam Perfect Teint
Warning: the before and afters on the product page are, as always, absolutely ridiculous!
(Photo credit: M. Asam site)
The good: Perfect Teint is gorgeously lightweight — you know the difference between butter and whipped butter? The difference between regular primer and this one is pretty much the same. (Epic.) It literally glides onto your skin, but beware! If you try to use too much, it’ll pill right off. (Tip: if you do want more in one area, press it into your skin, as if you’re blending a cream concealer, rather than rubbing.)
The bad: Unfortunately, I won’t be getting to use this. Hey there, ‘cones! I’m also not a huge fan of the price ($30 for 1.69oz.) It’s a little high if you ask me, but for the amount of product you use each time, I suppose I’m okay with it. I’d be more okay if it was closer to $20-25, though!
The antiwrinklefactor: Like any good primer choc full of silicones, this does “diffuse” fine lines. It won’t make your parenthesis disappear, of course, but it makes quick work with itty-bitty lines (like the ones I have around the perimeter of my forehead due to dryness.) More than anything, though, I think it’s the fact that it gives a smooth, velvety finish that helps — your eye isn’t drawn to wrinkles (and foundation/base products will go on more smoothly,) so they appear less obvious.
If you’ve tried silica spheres and know how much of a difference it makes between wearing and not wearing powder, this effect is very similar. But it goes under your makeup, rather than on top of it!
The ingredients:
CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, DIMETHICONE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, LITHOSPERMUM ERYTHRORHIZON ROOT EXTRACT, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, DIMETHICONOL, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, LIMONENE, GERANIOL, LINALOOL, HEXYL CINNAMAL, CI77891/TITANIUM DIOXIDE
The verdict? If you’re looking for something to give the effect of velvety, matte-but-glowy skin, this could be it! However, it won’t deal with anything more than very fine lines, and certainly doesn’t give the (ridonculous) results depicted in their before and after shots.
I’d recommend this to someone under 30 who a) can make room for a $30 primer in their budget, and b) wants something ridiculously smooth and lightweight!
Edited to add: You can also find M. Asam in the Toronto Eaton Centre and Scarborough Town Centre Sears locations, through sears.ca, and though Science and Nature! However, I do feel that the Canadian price ($42) is a little high for this product.
So the beautyblogosphere (which for the record is not a word, do not attempt to use it in an English paper,) is ablaze with people furious with the NARS line for making the gorgeous Amber Valetta look like “an old matron.”
Here are both versions of the advert:
Personally, I think she looks awesome. Is the look “dated”? Well, yes. But it was supposed to be, and the team did an incredible job “modernizing” the look while still keeping it true to its roots. I love the refined elegance of this photo; in a way it seems timeless to me, keeping the same style but mixing in modern aspects — pinkier blush with a gorgeous golden hilight, semimatte lips, and flawless, luminous skin. (Plus, lots ‘o Photoshop!)
Here’s Catherine in makeup for Sèverine, the very role this look is based off of:
And, for reference, here’s another (gorgeous) photo of Amber chanelling Catherine Deneuve in the NARS Spring 2010 promo:
I wanted to talk about the Marcelle Minerals line, but rather than doing individual reviews (as I usually do,) I thought we’d do them all at once. So, as these reviews won’t be as in-depth, feel free to ask any questions you may have and I’ll answer them as soon as possible! I’m sorry. I tried to do this, and kind of failed — the reviews turned out to be pretty long, plus there are a ton of product photos and swatches, so this post is a little ridiculous in terms of length. But the offer for asking questions still stands, of course!
Just fyi, these photos were all kept inappropriately large, just so you could see the textures of these products on the skin! So feel free to click away and enlarge ’em.
Powder Makeup — Ivory
Light to medium coverage, as far as minerals go, and you can’t use it wet to get more coverage, due to the applicator. Plus, it’s sparkly as heck! I’m not Edward Cullen, nor do I wish to be, thank you very much. While I’m in support of a bit of a glow, the particle size of the shimmer used is just overkill. You don’t just “glow,” you GLOW. Aggressively.
In terms of wear; this did stay on all day… but it didn’t feel like my skin. It felt a little gritty, actually, and made my skin look dry (even after liberal spritzing with a setting spray.) Quite frankly, the effect it gives is more “superdehydrated and wrinkly” than “youthful and glowing” — not impressed.
And don’t even get me started on that brush. “Ultra-soft” my ass! I’m alright with a slightly scratchier brush for bronzers and blushers, but this goes all over my face, and it’s incredibly irritating. C+
Bronzing Powder — Brazil
Holy lustrous lemons! Use in moderation! This is pretty high-pigment, for a bronzer, and is it ever high-sheen! That said, though, Brazil is gorgeous (though too warm for my liking.) Make sure to use a light hand, and she’ll get you summer-ready lickity-split.
For some reason, the quality of the colour products seems to be higher than the quality of the powder make-up. While I think this is ridiculous, it’s a good thing if you’re interested in the blush or bronzers! Unlike their foundation counterpart, they feel quite light and natural. A
Powder Blush — Natural Glow
First off, I am not a fan of this colour! I have a feeling Pink Glow would have worked better with my skintone; this was too dark and warm, coming off as very ruddy, orange, and sunburnt. However, I can see it looking great on other skintones, so I’m not docking any points for that.
The formula of this blush gives a lovely “glow,” with finely-milled shimmer that creates a stunning lustre. If this product does well on the market and sticks around, I’d love to see new shades! There’s currently only two, and both are very… conservative. Additionally, the brush makes it a little hard to get an even application of powder for the first few uses, but this seems to get easier as a) you get used to the built-in brush, and b) the brush becomes saturated with product. With the shade not considered, I’d give this an A-
Overall, I liked the concept behind these — but I really feel like there’s a lot of room for improvement here.
The good
–Very portable packaging
–Impressive ingredient (and “free of”) lists! No talc, oil, perfumes, etc.
–Have you seen these photos?! I love the sleek look of the Marcelle Minerals line!
–None of the products, even the powder, “flash out” on camera
The bad
–With my sensitive skin, I really wanted the brushes to be softer. And if they can’t make all of them softer, then perhaps just for the powder brush?
–Unfortunately, these do contain bismuth oxycholride, a common irritant. If you’ve had a bad reaction to it in the past, avoid these too!
–Shake out too much and you’ll make quite the mess. Consider yourself warned!
See? Aggressive.
Note: we’ll be reviewing two more Marcelle Minerals eyeshadows soon, but in the meantime — feel free to check out our previous review (of Rose Satin and Graphite) here!
Reviews coming tomorrow!
Warning: these photos suck. They just… do. Don’t even try to deny it. But in my defense, it was a long time ago, and I was very rushed!
Another full-face shot (I encourage you to enlarge these if you’re curious about the foundation! Check out my forehead in the first photo. Not impressed, Marcelle.) and eye shots behind the cut!
Products Used:
Marcelle Minerals powder foundation (in Ivory,) bronzer (in Brazil,) and blush (in Natural Glow.)
Marcelle Minerals eyeshadows in Graphite, Rose Satin, and Terra.
Marcelle Vita-Lip gloss in Angelica.
We went over some of this year’s makeup-related posts yesterday, but as you all know… we’re not exactly 100% makeup, 100% of the time. I tend to use the term “beauty blog” loosely — skin is beautiful, as are fragrances, and photographs! (Plus, I have the attention span of a five year old with ADD, so branching out to whatever grabbed my interest was only natural.)
Onto the links:
Gingerbread Crêpes
They’re still delish, and I’m still making them! Highly, highly recommended. 
‘cone free moisturisers with SPF
I still haven’t found one to love, but this list might be helpful if you’re on the lookout for a moisturizer without silicones too! You have to promise us one thing, though: if you do find one, let us know all about it!
Balenciaga Paris
Of course, it would be wrong to post a link list and not give a nod to this love letter to fragrance! The lucky lady in question is none other than Balanciaga’s new perfume, which is sweeping accross the nation and taking hearts. (No, seriously. My bottle woke me up in the middle of the night, cut me ope– I need to stop saying things.)
Fragrances: the quick ‘n dirty beginners’ guide
Of course, by that point in the year, I had fallen desperately in love with fragrance. Doing an introduction to it, therefore, was the logical step forward.
Lash Boosting
Is this considered makeup? Because it’s with the mascaras if you buy it in-store, and I suppose it’s technically also a primer. But all the same — it’s in this list already, and here it’ll stay! I jumped at the chance to check out L’Oreal’s newest innovation, and (hint, hint) totally fell in love with it over a five-week blogging bonanza.
If by “blogging bonanza” we simply mean that I wrote up short weekly updates, with photos.
That’s all for now! How have your weekends been going, girls? I’m writing this Saturday morning and scheduling it to go up Sunday morning, so I can’t actually tell you how mine’s been… what I can tell you, though, is that I had every inention of studying for finals and picking up some Revlon lipsticks.
Finals start on Tuesday, and Revlon SLs are on for $4 at Rexall this weekend. Whether or not I actually followed through on either of those goals? Still TBA.