I have loved makeup since I first became aware of it. My mom never really wore makeup - just a little lipstick and some powder. But when I stayed at my Aunt Jo's, I'd watch her put her rouge on before we went to town on Saturday or church on Sunday, and I marveled at the transformation. She didn't so much look different as she became different. I think I was 9 or 10 when I first talked Aunt Jo into buying me a tube of lipstick. I had to keep it at her house, which made going to her house even more special.
I didn't start out knowing what to do with makeup. In fact, my first "eyeshadow" was homemade. I slicked vaseline on my eyelids then caked baby powder over it - instant white eyeshadow, complete with shimmer!
Since then, I've tried just about every cosmetic created. I used to use makeup to look older; now I'm trying to look younger. Go figure. I've found a few gems and a lot of empty promises. Here, then, are my current favorites. Just click the links on the left to see what I'm raving about. Check back often to see updates.
Aromaleigh
I have discovered the perfect foundation. Of course, "perfect" is subjective but I really believe that this foundation would be perfect for many types of skin. I am talking about Aromaleigh Mineral Cosmetics.
I first learned of Aromaleigh while researching mineral cosmetics. I'd seen the infomercials for Bare Essentials and was intrigued. After joining Makeup Alley, a makeup swapping site, I finally had a chance to sample Bare Essentials. I was so happy that I hadn't spent money on the stuff! My skin looked shiny and it made my pores seem huge. Besides, by the end of the day it was practically gone from my face. The worst thing about it was that it made my face itch something awful!
Now, I know a lot of women swear by Bare Essentials. That's great. If it works for you, then use it. It didn't work for me and nothing I did made a bit of difference. So I continued to sample mineral foundations.
I tried Jane Iredale, Youngblood and Canary. Jane Iredale gave me good coverage and wasn't shiny like BE but my face still itched. That was too bad since I found a great color match. I had 6 different colors of the Youngblood but couldn't find a color match at all. It also seemed shiny like the BE. Canary came close enough in color, had good coverage, and didn't make me shine or itch. I was leaning toward that line.
Then I got some samples of Aromaleigh Pure Powder. I loved it from the start. My face didn't itch; the powder was matte; two of the colors were very close to a match. The only problem was that it did not offer enough coverage for my brown blotches. I was disappointed but the whole purpose of using a mineral foundation was to eliminate the 3-step foundation - concealer, base, powder. I continued to use the Jane Iredale sample for the brown spots and Aromaleigh sample for the full face. It's amazing how far these samples go!
That's when a fellow MUAer informed me that Aromaleigh had come out with a heavier coverage powder. That's also when I learned so much more about Aromaleigh and knew that I had found my "Holy Grail" foundation.
Aromaleigh is a one-woman company. The owner is Kristen Leigh Bell, a former advertising art director turned Aromatherapist, a single mother and a rising star in the cosmetics industry. Her background and story are on her website at Aromaleigh.
Kristen frequents the a href="http://forums.delphiforums.com/Aromaleigh/start">forums where the women who buy her products ask questions, offer tips and advice, and make requests for new products. Women wanted more coverage, so Kristen created Pure Coverage, a heavier version of her original Pure Powder. That's quality customer service!
Since my conversion to Pure Coverage, I've also tried the Aromaleigh Lip Balms, Color Wash, Illuminator, Pure Blush, Pure Rouge, Pure Eye Shadows (both matte and frost) and Pure Hues. I can't say enough good things about these products.
The Illuminator and frost shadows are not glittery or garish at all. The Illuminator gives a soft glow; the frost shadows are so gently shimmering that even someone my age can wear them without looking like they're stuck in the 70's. The Lip Balms are getting me through this winter with soft lips and the Color Wash is a perfect sheer "wash" of color for lips and cheeks with real staying power. The Pure Blush is very sheer and can be built up for more color or even used on the lips. The Pure Rouge is a bit more intense but still manages to look very natural. And the Pure Hues...well, those are just a stroke of genius! They're very intense mineral pigments that can be mixed with lip glosses, lip balms, translucent mica powder, moisturizer or other mineral cosmetics to create new colors. Simply amazing! I even created a custom lip balm palette using the Aromaleigh Lip Balms and Pure Hues; you can see a picture of it here.
An added bonus to all of this is the multi-use factor. I had been using BeneFit's Lemon Aid to brighten my eye area and cover dark circles under my eyes. For the record, Lemon Aid worked very well. I got the idea, though, to try the Aromaleigh matte eye shadows in Flaxen and Goldenrod for this same purpose. Flaxen worked liked a charm! Goldenrod would probably work for someone with a darker skin tone.
I've recently started using the Aromaleigh Balance skincare synergy. So far, the results are very pleasing. I'm anxiously awaiting Kristen's micordermabrasion cream, shimmer sticks and new makeup brushes. I'll report back on all of this as soon as I get them.
As if this were not enough to convince someone to try Aromaleigh, Kristen has kept the prices very reasonable. I do believe that Aromaleigh products are the lowest priced of all the mineral cosmetics. The samples are very generous as well so that you can try the powders without a huge financial commitment and determine your best color match.
So, what are you waiting for? Go to Aromaleigh and try these products. And tell Kristen that Marisa sent you!
BeneFit
There is something about BeneFit that attracts me. I can't quite figure it out. The names of all the products are very cute, but that isn't it. Maybe it's because the products are just so irresistible. Maybe it's how unique some of them are. Here are my favorites:
She-Laq: This is a unique item, to be sure. It's multi-purpose, which is something that I just love. Basically, it makes any cosmetic waterproof, smudge-proof, smear-proof. She-Laq comes packed in a round cardboard container with a variety of brushes. It can be swept over lipsticks and glosses, eye shadow, eyeliner, eyebrows, or eyelashes. I mixed a little of Aromaleigh's Pure Hue with it and used it as mascara. It lasted the whole day with no raccoon eyes. Definitely, a staple.
Glamourette: I just love this! I bought it because I was curious and it was just so adorable. I ordered it in Fickle and I must say, the blush is very soft and natural. I haven't used the face powder or the lipstick, though. The lipstick doesn't seem like a color I would like and I don't need the powder since I'm using Aromaleigh. The blush, though, is a keeper. And the compact is beautiful.
Bermuda Betty and Glamorous Gabby bags: These bags hold a lot of makeup for as small as they are. The size and shape of the Betty bag is perfect for a purse and Gabby is great to tote enough makeup for a re-do if you're heading out for a night on the town right after work. I'm really wanting the Luscious Lana Bag even though I'm not planning any overnight trips soon.
Boi-ing: The girl at Sephora used this to cover my brown blotches and it covered all day. This is heavy duty but still looks natural. If I hadn't found Aromaleigh, this would be a staple.
Dr. Feelgood: Yep, it feels good. I don't really need this for my pores anymore but I still use it for those tiny lines under my eyes sometimes. It just smoothes everything very nicely.
Benetint: I admit, I bought this because my horoscope told me to buy it. I know, that's silly. It was originally developed at the request of a stripper who needed a stay-on stain for her nipples. That intrigued me so when my BeneFit horoscope said I should buy it, I did. I may even try it someday, but I won't tell where I'm going to try it!
Bathina Bath Products: I have not tried these yet but I will. I absolutely must try Touch Me Then Try To Leave...Cream, Body So Fine, Sweet Satin Shave and Sandal Scandal.
Brow Zings: Over tweezing in the 70's have left my eyebrows sparse. To make it worse, my brows are curly like my hair so they don't lie down nicely. I'd love to try this product; in fact, I think I'll make it part of my next order.
Wonder Lift and Dandelion Powder: I may request a sample of Wonder Lift with my next order. There are many times when I'd like to tighten and lift my skin, especially around my cheeks and forehead. The Dandelion Powder is new and I just have to have it because of the name. I don't know if I'll ever use it but that doesn't matter. Heck, I collect dandelions!
Philosophy
Amazing Grace: I love this scent. I've heard others say it smells like an old lady. Maybe, but I can't get enough of it. I have the shampoo, bath & shower gel and the candle. The scent makes me feel warm. That's enough for me.
Message in a Bottle: This bath and shower gel smells clean and fresh. It invigorates me. It makes me want to be outside in the sunshine. Sometimes, I need that.
Soul Owner: This makes my feet soft. It just feels so good and I don't even need to put on socks afterwards because it sinks right into the skin. Can't wait to compare it to BeneFit's Sandal Scandal.
Time On Your Hands: I find myself using this all day long. It feels good and makes my hands soft. It moisturizes without feeling greasy. Best of all, there's no heavy perfume smell to give me a headache.
Kiss Me Red: Ahh... my favorite lip balm/lip gloss. I do like Aromaleigh's lip balms but this one from Philosophy is very glossy and has just the right tint of red. Though I've heard that others don't like the taste or smell, I have no problem with it. Just a very good product.
Other Stuff
Vincent Longo Liquid Kiss Lip and Cheek Stain: I like this under a gloss or sheer lip color. It makes my lips just a bit darker so that when the gloss starts to wear off, there's still color on my lips. I haven't tried it on my cheeks so I don't know how it would do there.
Maybelline Lash Expansion: I wear this when I want my lashes full and thick but not clumpy. I haven't been able to find it in a waterproof version so I don't know if it's even available. Even though there are a lot of raves for Maybelline mascaras, this is the only one I really like.
Revlon Lash Tint: They say this stays on for three days and it does. Some have reported having trouble removing it but I haven't had that problem. It doesn't thicken lashes, just colors them. I use it for an everyday mascara for a natural look.
Herbal Logix Acne Wash: Before I tried Aromaleigh's skincare, I used this for over a year. It kept my face clear without drying my skin out. It's very good for middle-aged acne.
Abreva: This is a cold sore medicine. One of my sons used it on his face when he had an acne breakout and his face was clear within two days. Since then, my other son, my nephews, my niece, a few online friends and I have all seen the same results. The trick is to put it on as soon as you see or feel the zit starting. The tiny tube is about $15 but it's well worth it. If you try it just keep in mind that it's meant for cold sores so it may not work for you.
Smashbox Foundation Primer: WOW! This is the best primer I've tried - and I tried several. This makes your pores practically disappear and helps your foundation to go on super smooth. It's high dollar, but well worth it.
Nars Orgasm Blush: A beautiful color, but a bit too much shimmer for me. Nars makes some of the prettiest blushes so if Orgasm doesn't' work for you, definitely try another color.
Lorac Oil-Free Neutralizer: Once again, before I started using Aromaleigh this was a must have for me. It really did even out my skin tone and didn't cause me to break out.
Lorac Oil-Free Moisturizer: I haven't used this since starting on the Aromaleigh skincare but I keep it around because it's a light moisture lotion that doesn't make me break out.
Pretty Pretty Kabuki Brush: Ahhh... this is luxury. I've got more brushes than anyone I know. I love makeup brushes. The Pretty2 Kabuki is the softest I've tried yet. It's like the softest velvet. It's high priced, but I don't regret buying it for a minute. I'm waiting to get the brushes that Kristen will be selling at Aromaleigh and will definitely compare it to this one. The Pretty2 is more than twice the cost of Kristen's Kabuki, so I'll take that into consideration.
Demeter Dandelion Pick-Me-Up Spray: I never thought I'd find a fragrance that I like as much as Clinique's Aromatics Elixir but I have. I had to make sure my opinion wasn't influenced by the name of the fragrance and I don't think is has been. It's a green, citrus-y scent that doesn't give me a headache. It's become an every day fragrance, while Clinique remains my favorite dress-up scent.
