Makeup Talk // Beauty Counter Review

Hi friends! Happy 2017! I am not sure how weather in your state has been, but in Ohio, we've had 68 degree weather one day and 20 degree the next (literally). If I didn't have a job to venture out to I would probably just stay inside and hibernate for the rest of the "winter". Choosing clothes daily has definitely been a back and forth unwanted guessing game. Anyway, at least my makeup isn't changing drastically like the weather each day! Today I wanted to show you my "everyday" makeup look (I do tend to switch one product for another some days, but the basic look is the same). I also will be reviewing three products from the Beauty Counter line and showing how I include them in my daily routine. Side note-since I work as an RN, sometimes even this amount of makeup is just too much (especially if I am running late). On those days, I stick to moisturizer, a primer, concealer under my eyes, a translucent powder and mascara.

Beauty Counter has a goal to make safer beauty products accessible to whoever may be interested. Why does this matter? According to BC's website,

"Over the past two decades, the European Union has banned more than 1,300 chemicals in the product formulas of personal care products and restricted the levels of over 250 more in such products. The United States has only partially banned 30 to date".

In order to provide a product that does not include many of these chemicals that are not banned, BC made the decision to ban over 1,500 of the questionable and/or harmful ingredients in the use of their products. To me, that is a step in the right direction. I hope that more companies transition to this mindset so more products that the public has more access and more choices when it comes to "safer" products. Another great thing about BC is that their website does have an ingredient glossary, as well as the "Never List" which are some of the ingredients that you won't see in their products.

Products pictured (clockwise): Flower Beauty Glow Baby Glow Blush/Bronzer Duo // Flower Beauty Daily Brightening Under Eye Cream (shade DB2) // Tarte SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner, shade "brown" // Beauty Counter Lengthening Mascara "soft black" // Tint Skin Foundation (2 shades shown; swatches and shades listed later in post) // Lip Sheer "Rose" //

Tint Skin Foundation 
This product claims to be "lightweight and creamy", with sodium hyaluronate, which helps to retain moisture, promote smoother looking skin and reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The coverage can be sheer to medium per the website, depending on how you apply it.
For me, I tend to use it on the days that I want a "no makeup" look.  I would say the coverage is definitely buildable. I honestly wear it to run errands or when I am going to work-I have not tried to get more coverage than in between sheer/medium. I did find that it wears well, about 6 hours before I start to notice the coverage is fading. I think this product would be amazing for someone with normal to combination skin. A primer or a great moisturizer is necessary (from my experience) to get a smooth application. I do have combination oily skin, and found that the foundation flaked up around my smile lines and nose. From the four shades I received to test out, I could easily go between two of the shades (linen and sand) depending on if I self tan or not. Since this product is pretty sheer, the shades are very forgiving. While testing this out, I did have a breakout; after switching a few products around, I realized it was actually a moisturizer I was using and not this foundation, so it has not caused any breakouts (win!) As you can see in the following pictures, it gives a satin/natural finish, but I always end up setting with a translucent powder due to my skin type.

Retail price: $41 USD

Shades from top to bottom: Porcelain, Linen, Sand, and Honey.

I used Linen without a self tan, and Sand with a tan.

No makeup. My camera for blogging is currently out of commission. The iphone 7 puts a slight filter on the skin with pictures (I haven't figured out how to turn it off). My skin isn't bad-just slightly red, with noticeable pores. 

 Coverage with the Tint Skin Foundation, shade linen. Even though the picture has the slight filter (sorry), you can see the coverage and finish it provides. 
Dry patches around mouth.

Lengthening Mascara  
This mascara was made to create a daytime or dramatic look, while also hydrating the lashes and defining the eyes. The product states that the brush provides "clean application without smudging, clumping, or flaking. My take? I would agree with most of this! It has not smudged or flaked-nor has it clumped. I found that the brush really does help to define and separate the lashes. I have slightly long lashes naturally, so this mascara is perfect for helping to really make them stand out. I did find that my mascara was dry; I spoke with the consultant and she confirmed what I had noticed from most of the reviews: the product is usually really creamy and completely opposite of dry! Since I couldn't just give up on this new (to me!) product, I decided to put some contact solution into the container/barrel? I think I may have received a dud, because with a little extra moisture, the mascara was performing as it said it would. I will say, if you are looking for volume, I didn't really find it in this product. The name states it is lengthening, which is what you will get! I received the color black; I think this is the only shade. 

Retail price: $29 USD 

Finished look (mainly showing the mascara here!)

Again, finished look (including the Lip Sheer). Pre-gym and errand running!

Lip Sheer

This product is meant to be a lightweight, moisturizing and safe formula to give a sheer wash of color. There are no synthetic fragrances-just pure vanilla planifolia. It promises to condition lips without feeling oily or waxy. It is gluten free, vegan, nut free, and soy free. This product states that it could also double as a cream blush (have not tried that yet!) To cut to the chase, I will just say I absolutely love this product. The packaging of the full size product is beautiful, and I really adore how the product applies and wears. It's one of those items that you want to keep using but you also don't want it to run out. I have a few more shades on my list to purchase full size. It is listed as a Best Seller on the site, and I totally know why. If I could just shell out all the cash for the whole collection I would! 

Retail Price: $30 USD

If you have any questions regarding these products, or are interested, I highly recommend reaching out to the consultant that I worked with, Jenny Pittman. Her Beauty Counter link directly is www.beautycounter.com/jennypittman; her instagram page can be found by searching "jennypittman, her Facebook page is located at www.facebook.com/groups/BeautycounterwithJenny. She also has an email, beautycounterbyjenny@gmail.com. She has been super helpful with these products and I am so glad I got to work with her for this post!

Thanks for reading!

XO, Kelsey

Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

*I was not paid for this review. I did however receive the Beauty Counter Samples for review.
**Primer used under Tint Skin Foundation was Pacifica Jasmine Iris Oil Control Primer (a primer that deserves its own review!)

Makeup Talk // Jane Iredale Makeup Review

Have you ever tried packing for a trip but halfway through packing your makeup you think, "this is way too much-but what if I need it?!" Yes. Yep. Story of my life. Even going away for the weekend (to visit places such as my hometown) I feel like I over pack just about everything. Luckily, an amazing makeup company has kind of solved my [makeup] packing problem! If you have been around this blog for awhile, you'll know I have previously written about Jane Iredale (post here). Now, I am back with a review of more of Jane's products-and spoiler alert-I am in loooove!

I received the Color Sample Kit ("medium" shade), the LipDrink SPF 15 Lip Balm ("buff" shade), and two Just Kissed Lip Plumpers (shades "Sydney" and "Milan").

First, I want to talk about the LipDrink SPF15 Lip Balm. On the Jane Iredale website, it is stated that the product "smoothes and softens, soothes, and has antioxidant benefits". As a lip balm, it definitely surpasses the performance of other balms. It feels soo so soft on your lips-not only does it feel soft, but it really does moisturize your lips at the same time. I chose buff as my shade because on the site, it does look the most neutral and wearable. As a nurse, I feel like I always "need" to carry a lip balm. It is one of those things that is nice to have on hand during a 12 hour shift. The "buff" shade is wearable for work, which I love! These balms are vegan and gluten free, if you are interested in that!

Next, I want to talk about the Just Kissed Lip Plumpers!  This plumper reminds me of a lipstick balm-pretty sheer color with a bit of moisture. The plumping effect comes from ginger, mint, and special peptides. I love that the product contains mint, because once applied, it feels cooling/soothing. When it comes to actually plumping my lips, I cannot say I noticed a huge difference in fullness, but I did notice a slight amount of plumping. Overall,  I feel that the product is great for creating a hint of fullness, moisture, and a sheer wash of color. These plumpers are not vegan, although they are gluten and cruelty free.

Wearing the Just Kissed Lip Plumper in shade "Sydney". Perfect for the summer and spring months!

 Here, I'm wearing the Just Kissed Lip Plumper in shade "Milan". This shade is perfect for everyday wear//I have fallen completely in love with it!

The last product I received is the Color Sample Kit in shade "medium". This kit includes sample/travel sizes of the PurePressed Base in shade "Golden Glow" (see my past review for the PurePressed Base here!), PurePressed Blush in "Whisper", PurePressed Eyeshadow in shades "Cream", "Supernova", and "Suede", Circle\Delete 2 Concealer, PureMoist Lipstick in shade "Lily", and PureGloss Lipgloss in shade "Beach Plum". The kit also contains a Blush Brush and a Duel Ended Eye Brush.

 Just to save this post from being too long, I encourage you to check my review out from a few years ago on the PurePressed Base. I still agree with my previous post, but I love the product even more now! I am obsessed with the gorgeous glow the base gives, and the wear time of the product. Since I use a primer I like, I think it really helps with the staying power of the product. The blush gives a very pretty glow on the cheeks and wears well throughout the day. 

 The gorgeous sheen of the blush in natural lighting!

Wearing all of the products/showing the glow from the blush.

 The  three eyeshadow shades do not have any fallout, wear well, and are more pigmented that the Urban Decay Naked Shadows (in my opinion!) The kit obviously is meant to be used as a one stop shop, which is why the 3 eyeshadows look so great when paired together. Side note: Usually I fill my brows in with some sort of pencil or powder. For the purpose of this post, I sort of filled them in with the eyeshadow "Suede". One weekend while away at my boyfriends' house, I realized I did not bring any brow products. Luckily, I had this kit and used "Suede" to make do. Surprisingly the "Suede" shade is almost perfect as a brow shade, which comes in handy when I am on the go/traveling.All 3 shades are gluten free; 2/3 of the shades are vegan-"Supernova" is not vegan.

Wearing all the eyeshadow shades (light application). Here, you can also see me wearing the lipstick and gloss that comes in the kit. 

When it comes to the Concealer, you will see in the picture that it really brightens my dark under-eye area. I was pleasantly surprised when I used this product, because most cream concealers tend to crease on me, which this did not. For those interested, this product is gluten-free, but not vegan.

A before and after shot of the Circle\Delete 2 Concealer

I honestly did not use the two lip products very often from this kit, just because I was so smitten with the Lip Plumpers I received. However, the times I did use the 2 lip products in the kit, I was happy with their quality. The lipstick was moderately pigmented, while the lipgloss paired perfectly over it. I will say that I felt the gloss was slightly sticky, but not in an overwhelming way that would keep me from using it. Since it is a bit sticky, I find that the gloss tends to last a bit longer than most other glosses, which some may be very happy with. Find a shot of me wearing both products above. Both the lipgloss and lipstick are gluten-free and vegan.

 Swatches of all products from the kit (excluding the lip products). From left to right: "Suede", "Supernova" and "Cream" Eyeshadows. Circle\Delete 2 Concealer, PurePressed Blush in "Whisper" and the PurePressed Base in "Golden Glow". 

 From left to right: Just Kissed Lip Plumpers in "Milan" and "Sydney", PureMoist Lipstick in "Lily" and PureGloss Gloss in "Beach Plum". 

For anyone looking to try out a few of Jane Iredales products and shades, this kit is perfect. It is also great for those who travel, because it makes packing SO much easier. I took this with me to California when I went last month, along with a liquid foundation, mascara, and eyeliner, and I was all set. I can not say enough good things about this kit and the products I am reviewing today. I highly recommend trying out Jane Iredales products (especially if you have ever been curious!) I don't think you will be disappointed! 

A few products that are either new or I absolutly want to try next from Jane Iredale:

1. Smooth Affair for oily skin primer

2.  Liquid Minerals Foundation

3. PlayOn Lip Crayon

Have you tried Jane Iredale products before? Let me know below!

Thanks for reading!

XO, 

Kelsey

Connect with me: twitter here // instagram here// pinterest here // 

*All products in this post were provided free of charge. All opinions shared are strictly based on the month long review process I used.

Makeup Talk // Review of Cowgirl Dirt Makeup

Hey beauties! Today I am bringing you a review of Cowgirl Dirt Makeup, a natural and organic brand based out of Texas. According to their website, the brand stands for "the best of Western Tradition". If you check out their website, you'll learn a bit more about the brand and see the fun western-inspired makeup names. When it comes to reviewing the products, I always test them out for 2-3 weeks at least before giving my opinion-I hope this review can be found helpful for anyone curious about a great natural and organic brand!

 Wearing most of the products I was sent! The blush, bronzer, 3 eyeshadows, highlighting concealer, and foundation. 

From L to R: Under Eye Highlight Concealer, Eye Firming Cream, Mineral Powder Foundation in shade "Grullo 4", Wild West Blush in the shade "Rawhide", Mineral Powder Foundation in shade "Grullo 5", and the Dusty Bronzer in shade "Arena". 

Top picture: natural lighting. Bottom picture: with flash. From L to R: Under Eye Highlight Concealer, Mineral Powder Foundation in shade "Grullo 4" and then "Grullo 5", Dusty Bronzer in shade "Arena" and the Wild West Blush in shade "Rawhide" heavily swatched and then lightly swatched. 

The first product I used was the Eye Firming Cream, which is said to firm and tone the under eye area. I do not think I have had enough time nor sample to really confirm the benefits, but so far I do know that it leaves my eye area feeling soft and moisturized.

Next, I used the Under Eye Highlight Concealer. This is a peachy toned cream concealer that helps to brighten the under eye area. For a girl like me (with hereditary dark circles, products like these are a must.

As you can see, the right under eye is a ton brighter than the left after using this product. I believe I tapped on a bit of the product, let it set for about 30 seconds, and then tapped on a bit more to get more of a brightening effect. If you are someone with only minor dark circles, I think this product could be a huge help to your beauty routine! Since mine drive me so nuts, I add a bit of concealer on top of this to really get the coverage I want.

After priming my face with my usual moisturizer and primer, I applied the Mineral Powder Foundation in shade "Grullo 5" to half my face. I find that this powder foundation gives a sheer to medium coverage (buildable) and leaves a natural finish. This foundation wears amazingingly (not a word but oh well). I have worn it to work-sweating and running around-and it still holds up. The same goes for the Pressed Powder Foundation, which wears just as well, with more of a medium to semi-full coverage (buildable). Something I love about both these foundations are their ability to photograph well. Not only do they look great in person, but they also look awesome with flash photography, which is hard to come by when you have mineral makeup products.If you look at the picture below, you can see how airbrushed the makeup looks-I didn't edit my skin at all. The shade "Grullo 4" is a tad too light for the summer months for me, but it would probably be a go-to for the winter! As for my skin type, I have combination-oily skin and I was impressed with how the foundations did not cause any extra oil, and it was helpful in keeping excess oil from breaking through.

As you can see, the pressed foundation gives a bit more coverage. I think the pressed foundation is a tad bit darker than the loose foundation (even though they are the same shades), but maybe that has to do with the coverage they offer. 

Matte/Semi-Matte Eyeshadows in shades "Mud", "Arena Sand" and "Rodeo Rose".

 Swatches of the same shades with flash photography (top) and natural lighting (bottom). 

 A light application of all 3 shades.

 The last items I used/received are the Matte (and semi-matte) Eyeshadows. The colors are pretty and definitely pigmented, and were easy to blend. I didn't have any issues with fallout or the product smudging throughout the day, but I also tend to use concealer as a base on my eyelids, which acts as a primer. 

  Another shot with all the products! This is a picture with natural lighting-you can see how smooth the foundation still looks. It is almost like a "your skin but better" finish!

Well, if you made it through this super detailed post, thank you! I always try to be as detailed as possible, in the the hopes that my opinions could be helpful for someone trying to decide if they should try a product or not. I honestly have nothing bad to say about any of the products; I have spoken up before about products I was not happy with, but that is not the case here! All in all, I would 100% recommend and back up in product that I have spoke about on this post. I actually am interested in a few more of Cowgirl Dirt's products (such as the cream foundation, organic facial serum, and lipsticks) because I was so impressed with the products I already have. I could definitely see myself buying Cowgirl Dirt products and using them for a majority of my makeup needs-they are amazing! Give them a try if you are on the fence, I dont think you will regret it!

Thank you for reading!

XO, Kelsey

 

Connect with me on twitter here // connect with me on instagram here// pinterest here //

**These products were sent to me free of charge. As always, nothing has influenced my opinion other than the products performance itself.

Makeup Talk: Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Beauty Products

If you are a beauty lover, you know how much it can bum you out when you run out of your favorite product, or the feeling you get when you "hit pan". Today, I wanted to share a few tips with you for extending the life of your products, getting the most out of what you have, and when you should throw out makeup! I also want to share two of my favorite tips from Lara, from the HSN blog! You can find her post here.

1) Broken pressed powder product? Add a couple drops of rubbing alcohol, press the pieces back together, and wait for it to completely dry. In no time you'll have it back to its [almost] new condition.

2) Don't like your conditioner? You don't have to toss it! Use it as a shaving cream-it should moisturize while giving you a smooth base for shaving!

3) Dig! If you are running low on one of your lipsticks and can no longer use it directly on your lips, use a q-tip to dig a little out and then apply to your lips! Even better? Use it as a 2-in-1 product to get the most for your money; take a little and dab it on your cheekbones as a cream blush! The result will be a really natural glow!

4. A tip from Lara:

-I think this is key in making the most out of your products! I myself have bought the same shade of lipgloss or eyeshadow, even though I know I already have something similar. Instead of letting it go to waste in the future, really think about what you are buying before you get it.If you know that it can be duplicated (or almost duplicated) by something in your collection already, hold off! Reward yourself with that new item when the similar one is gone!

5. Does your eyeliner break off too easily? If it is too soft and falling off (or losing its shape!), you may find yourself constantly sharpening it, which consequently means you are using it up faster than you need to. Store your pencil liners in a ziplock baggy in your fridge-the cool temperatures will help it keep the shape! You could also just pop it in the freezer for a bit before applying it!

6. If you find yourself going through facial cleansing wipes too fast, cut them in half! You'll be surprised that half a wipe actually can take a fair amount of makeup off! Fold it up and use different sides; that way, you are getting the most out of the wipe!
7. A tip from Lara:

-Please keep this tip in mind! What good will your brushes be if they become frayed, caked up, or germ infested? Lara makes a great point when she says that you are also extending the life of your products doing this! Case in point-your favorite pressed powder gets a slightly darker "film" over it, and it seems like no matter how many times you try, you just can't pick up very much product from that area. That "film" is likely face oils that have been deposited by your makeup brush (or sponge!)

8. Don't pump! When you pump your mascara wand up and down in the tube, it puts more air into the tube-drying out the product and leaving more room for bacteria to grow inside.

9. Running low on your favorite liquid foundation? Mix a liquid concealer that is the same shade as your skintone in with your favorite moisturizer. The extra pigment from your concealer can mimic the coverage your foundation could give you. Apply it as you would your foundation and save the last of your real foundation for a special occasion!

10. When to throw it out:
-Mascara: After 2-3 months, especially when you notice it is becoming clumpy or has a weird smell.
-Liquid foundation & concealer: After 6-12 months; when you notice the color is becoming lighter and separation has occured in the product.
-Lipstick: After 2 years; when it becomes noticeably dry.
-Lipgloss: After 1 year; when it becomes extra sticky.
-Nailpolish: After 1-2 years; when separation occurs that doesn't blend after shaking, or when it becomes extra "goopy".
 -Powder, eyeshadow, blush: After 2 years; when it becomes extra dry or flaky.


I hope these tips were helpful! What is your makeup saving tip?
Want more of Lara's tips? Find her post here.

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey 

*This post is based on my own opinions and tips from experience. The tips from Lara were used with permission, as a way to do a shared post. No commission was made from this. This post is solely for the benefit of anyone that wants to read these tips! :)

Makeup Talk: Jane Iredale PurePressed Base SPF 20

Hi lovelies! Lately I have been trying out yet another foundation-and it just so happens to be another mineral one! My obsession continues! Since I have combination/oily skin, I try to look for powder foundations, since they are supposed to help control excess oil. Recently, I looked into a product, and gratefully received the *Jane Iredale PurePressed Base SPF 20. I had heard of the product before, and had researched it for awhile. For reference, I always look to Youtube, Sephora, and Makeup Alley for reviews on products before buying or using them. I tend to lean more towards Youtube and Makeup Alley for reliable reviews though, as Sephora can be biased (an employee has even told me!) On MA, this product had a glowing review, which made me very interested in trying it. Below is my personal review!

On the Jane Iredale website, it states that the "look is sheer and semi-matte". When I applied this for the first time (and many times since) I have to say that the feeling of the powder on your skin feels sheer and weightless, but you can build the coverage to about medium. As for the finish, I agree that it is semi-matte. It somehow makes your skin glow, but it isn't glittery or shiny at all. I chose to apply this with a kabuki brush for more coverage, but if you are looking for very sheer coverage, you could always use a large powder brush! The shade that I am wearing is "golden glow". 

To me, it makes my skin look "healthy" if that makes sense. I didn't airbrush this picture at all...the powder just makes you glow! As for the wear-ability, I would say it lasts about 6 hours before needing touched up (coverage wise), although I tend to blot and apply my Mac Blot Powder after about 4 hours to extend the wear time. I did not notice any oxidation (darkening of shade) with this as I wore it. The website also states that this product is water-proof for up to 40 minutes, which is great for those that use it as sunscreen in the summer while outside, swimming, boating, etc. Since it does have SPF in it, I did not think it would photograph well, as SPF reacts with flash photography and creates a white cast. For some reason, this actually looks good in pictures despite having SPF. As for the ingredients in this, I didn't notice any that caused irritation to my skin.

As you can see, the packaging is beeeeautiful. I didn't want to put my brush into the design in the powder actually! The compact has a bit of weight to it, which makes it feel even more luxurious than it already is. What is great about the compact is that when you run out of your powder, you can just buy a refill pan instead of buying a whole new compact. The price for the filled compact is $52, and a refill pan is $40. You can also buy a new empty compact for $12, if yours ever becomes broken or damaged.  The only complaint I have about this product is the price, but for the quality of the product and the way it wears on the skin, I think it is worth it!

What is your favorite powder foundation?
Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey

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*This product was sent to me complimentary of PR at Jane Iredale. I was not compensated for this post. All thoughts are my own honest, tried-and-tested opinions, as always.

Wishlist for September

Oh hey there. So I have decided that I want to make it a regular thing around this blog to do a monthly "wishlist". I did one last month, and I am here this month with another. Not only does this get some of the urge to go shopping out of me (putting this together is like serious window shopping-if you love shopping, you'll know what I mean when I say that window shopping can be just as fun as real shopping!) but it hopefully is slightly entertaining to see products that others like!

fall blush // leggings // face // mask //  music //  top // 

Lets talk about that blush up there. I have to admit, I do have a berry-toned blush already, but this is more of a red-berry color, versus my purple-berry toned blush. I think it would be perfect for the cooler months! The leggings are nothing special, but I do need a pair of dark gray to match a lot of my tops and dresses-sometimes black doesn't look as good as I think gray would look! For the "face" item, I have been looking into products suited for oily skin. I literally can't seem to find the perfect foundation to control my oil. I am so uncomfortable with having extremely oily skin, which is why I chose to wear foundation-to serve as oil absorption. The best products I have found so far for my skin have been a couple of the mineral foundations I reviewed during the summer! A couple yearsago, I purchased the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation, and I think it worked well for my skin, but the color was wrong, so I returned it and didn't get a new one. Now I am wondering if I would like it as my winter foundation! For the "mask" product, I have been hearing SO much about Michael Todd products. I love watching beauty videos on youtube, and this organic brand has been ALL over youtube lately! This mask is supposed to draw out toxins and impurities...which sounds right up my alley! The "music" product is actually used for plugging your ipod into your car stereo...which I need soon! My radio is so messed up (super old car!) and I get tired of listening to Pandora on my phone because it kills my battery...so I think I will have to purchase one of these soon so I can have my music! Last but not least is this gorgeous top! I love the detail on the collar, and how it can be dressed up or down. I think it would make a great addition to my closet! 

What is on your wishlist?

XO, Kelsey  

Makeup Talk: Purely Cosmetics Mineral Makeup

It's no secret that I love makeup...love love love it. However, I always go through phases where I become super conscious of what I am putting on my skin. I have never been one to hate on drugstore beauty products, but I do like higher-end products when I can afford them, and when the ingredients make up for the price. The past few years I have wanted to use more natural products, and I have experimented with a few different brands-but just can't settle on one I love, so I go back to the products that may not have the "safest" ingredients, according to websites, news story's, etc. With all that being said, I think its about time that I get back into incorporating the mineral products I have been searching for these past few years! This is where experimentation comes in, and today, I want to talk about Purely Cosmetics Mineral Makeup*. In the hopes of keeping this post short, as I know I like to ramble most of the time, I will sum it up here for those that don't want to read into this post: in terms of wearing time, texture, and oil control, I do recommend this product highly, and over Bare Minerals. In terms of comparing this brand to the two other brands I have recently reviewed (here and here), I would say that Monave and Purely Cosmetics are basically tied (although Purely Cosmetics is less "heavy" feeling on the skin than Monave), and then the Everyday Minerals Brand comes after.

For a more in depth review [and pictures] read on!

Since I have previously included pictures with no makeup on (before any foundation), I decided not to include them this time. You can see those pictures in the previous posts listed above. My main concern when looking for foundation is to cover any redness, even out skin tone, and control oil. My skin tone and texture isn't too bad (thankfully), so oil control is definitely the biggest concern! Below is a shot of me wearing the foundation.

It definitely covers what I need it to, and wears well throughout the day. I have been working 6 days a week as a waitress, and even through all the sweating and running around, it is still on me after a long shift! I do wear a primer with it, as I wear a primer with any foundation I wear! I would say that after about 5-6 hours, I start to see a little shine coming through. I haven't noticed any breakouts or skin issues since using it, and I really feel good about having it on my skin. I apply this foundation with a dense Kabuki brush, using swirling motions (as I would all my other mineral foundations!) The color I have been using is "Olive Beige".

With my samples, I recieved a blush, three eyeshadows, two bronzers, and 3 different shades of the foundation. Below are swatches of all of these samples!

 L to R: Pearlescent Blush in "Blushing". Eyeshadows in "Cappuccino", "Emerald", and "Soft Moon". (How gorgeous are these?!)

L to R: Bronzers in "Deeply Bronzed" and "Lightly Bronzed". Both are swatched lightly, and then with more product.

Adorable sample sizes!

Foundation swatches, L to R: "Maria", "Neutral Medium", and "Olive Beige". As you can see, these are swatched on the inside of my arm, which tends to be a little lighter than the rest of my body. I think that on my face, "Olive Beige" is a pretty good match! The "Neutral Medium" shade is just a bit too pink for me, and "Maria" is a tad too light.

 Foundation ingredients.

Here is a good picture of the blush on my skin-it looks so nice when light hits it!

 Now that I have talked about all the colorful samples I received, I want to tell you about three other items that came in the package! One is the Silk and Pearl Powder Primer. It is exactly what it states-and it makes your skin feel so smooth, while helping the foundation to apply even easier. I have always been one to use my liquidy/gel primers, but this product is really interesting, and it does its job well! Next, I received what is called Oil Absorb. Uhm, yes. Yes you absorb. You are the center of my makeup universe currently. I am trying so hard to ration this out-it is that good. You all know I have super oily skin (I always complain talk about it in makeup posts) that just doesn't want to be controlled, so to find something like this? Heaven. I have been applying it before using just about any foundation lately, and find that my skin does not stay as oil-free when I skip it! Lastly, I was sent the Diamond Perfect Finish Powder. I won't lie-I didn't use this as often as everything else. I am so in love with my Mac Blot Powder that it was just plain hard to use any other finishing powder. However, the times I did use it, I felt that it was finely milled, and left my skin feeling soft, and seemed to make me look a bit airbrushed? (That is good, right?)

To wrap it up, again, I recommend this line of makeup! If you are looking up for a mineral makeup especially, I think this is a good choice! It works for oily skin, but I think those with dry or combination skin could like it, if they moisturize first-also, it isn't a completely matte finish, so it shouldn't look cakey on dry skin! I encourage you to read up on any and all makeup you wish to purchase; it definitely makes a big difference when buying products! A lot of information regarding products I mentioned can be found on the company's website, which can teach you a lot more in depth about each thing I was sent :)

*These products were sent to me for consideration. I did not get compensated for this post, and have tried out this brand for over 3 months now! All thoughts are my own and honest! 

What is your favorite mineral makeup brand?
See the Monave Mineral Makeup Review here.
See the Everyday Mineral Makeup Review here.
See my latest outfit post here.
See my latest makeup look here.

Thanks for reading!
XO, Kelsey