Life Currently // What I Wore // New Faves

Hello? Anyone still out there, checking in on this blog? Hopefully! I can finally say I am motivated to get back into blogging. You know you don't want to read posts from someone that feels like they are just dragging their feet and being forced to write a post just for the sake of having something out there - just posting to keep the blog alive. No thanks! That is one of the reasons I do like blogging.

Regardless of if I have a major following or not, I can always turn to this space on the interwebz to write my thoughts, likes and dislikes, and questionable fashion choices. This little blog has existed for about 4 years, and hasn't disappeared if I chose not to post for a bit. I like that. Here I am - first post of 2016 and hopefully not the last. So, here it goes. 

This past October, I started my career after graduating in May as an RN (got my BSN, yay!) I work as a pediatric nurse, so that in itself is pretty crazy. I work, sleep, meal prep, and workout. Oh, and try to have a social life. I would say I'm slowly starting to find balance in this new chapter as an adult, hence the time to do a blog post!  Overall, I love working as an RN, especially with the little babies. They are the best... even when they decide to have a major fit when you need to go tend to the next little one. Patience is key, for real. 

Beyond the whole career thing, I've been trying to make time for friends, family, and my boyfran, which is another balancing act in itself! I've also been trying to minimize the "stuff" in my life. Going through clothes, makeup, skin care, etc, and trying to get rid of/donate what I do not need/want. Having too much "stuff" really has started to stress me out. Basically, I want to Spring clean my life. Does that make sense? On top of all that, I am still really working  on throwing out and replacing "toxic" beauty and skincare products and choosing more natural and non-toxic brands. This is one task that is super hard and can be expensive if not done slowly. Trust me (from experience, hah). 

Anyway, here is a random outfit I forgot to post on here-I really miss doing frequent OOTD posts! Also, sharing some new products/products I am loving as of late... feel free to make beauty/skincare/makeup suggestions for organic/natural/non-toxic products!

 Outfit details-  Scarf: Rose & Remington (local boutique) // Shirt: Target (similar)/(similar) // Jeans: Old Navy // Booties: Jessica Simpson Brand (from TJMaxx) (similar) //

Products from **Creek Baby Organic: Arawak Face Powder // Coco-Olive Facial Creme // 

*Side note: This Arawak Face Powder has absolutely blown me away. I think I have found a product to replace my Mac Blot Powder, which I never thought would happen, especially with a natural product! I do plan on doing a full review on this!

More favorites, with mini reviews! 

Clockwise: The Body Shop Limited Edition Hand Protector (a percentage of each purchase from this moisturizer will be donated to protect and enrich the planet, the oceans or animals and people-you can choose when you buy!) // Pacifica Kale Detox Deep Cleansing Face Wash (in love!) // Pacifica Jasmine Iris Oil-Control Primer (I will do a full length review on this-still testing this one out!) // Alba Botanica Acne Dote Invisible Treatment Gel (works like a charm!) // Nature's Gate Sunless Tanner (this deserves a review to itself as well; easily one of the best self-tanners I have ever used!) // Ilia Beauty Tinted Lip Conditioner, shade "Blossom Lady" (I now use this every day-it's amazing!) // Nugg Beauty Intense Lip Boosting Mask (all natural, completely vegan...definitely increases moisture and makes your lips seem more plump; I also adore their face masks) // W3ll People Bio Extreme Lipgloss , shade "Nude Rose" (I wouldn't say this is super plumping, but it does a great job of hydrating your lips and has a gorgeous color selection) // 

That my friends, is all for now. Sorry for the longest, chattiest, multi-directional post ever. Please share recommendations for health and wellness books, organic and natural makeup/skincare, and general comments below! 

Thanks for reading!

XO, Kelsey

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

**Depicts a product sent to me free of charge. No opinions or reviews were expected in return. These are my general opinions on these two products that I am happy to share within my blog.

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 // Mineral Fusion Concealer Duo Review

Hey lovelies! Today I have another beauty review for you-this time, featuring just one product, from Mineral Fusion Mineral Makeup! A few weeks ago I was browsing Health Foods Unlimited (they have everything-food, beauty and skincare, household items, etc) and found the beauty section (shocker, I know). I decided to purchase the Mineral Fusion Concealer Duo in the shade "warm". Since trying to clean up my skincare and beauty products, I have yet to find a concealer that even comes close to covering my dark under eye circles. In the past, I have written about how I cover my circles, but the products are in no way non-toxic or natural. You can find that post here.

This concealer duo comes with one light and one dark shade. I sometimes use the lighter shade for a brightening effect, and then layer the darker shade over it. Or I mix the two and apply at the same time.

Natural lighting.

  With flash.

•  Shade selection: There are 4 shades of duos to choose from; cool, neutral, warm, and deep. I have the shade "warm" and find the lighter shade in the duo to be too light/bright for wearing alone. As stated before, I do not wear it alone, so this is not an issue for me. According to the website, you are supposed to use the duo to create your perfect, custom shade. I would give the selection of shades a 8/10. I feel most people could customize the shade to work for them!
• Coverage: This is a medium to high/full coverage concealer. Most days, I just use this alone. Some days, I do use another concealer on top of it (liquid, and unfortunately made with toxic ingredients-I can't find a replacement for it!) Even though this is great coverage, I like using the other concealer to "set it" so to speak. It's probably not necessary! 9/10 coverage wise!
• Application: This goes on sooo smoothly. It does get a bit melted if it gets too warm, but when at room temperature, it is perfect. It feels just like any other cream product. 10/10 on application!
• Wear time: This wears amazingly! Lately I have worked so much; always sweating, working long hours, and rubbing at my sensitive eyes. I give the wear time a 9/10. It looks good when I put it on, and when I get home it still looks awesome after 6+ hours.
• Overall product: 9/10. Great for someone with dark under eye circles and perfect for covering up blemishes. Not sure I will find another natural concealer I love more than this! However, I would love your suggestions if you have any!

See the difference?!

I hope you find this post helpful! Check out Mineral Fusion's Website to look into more of their products here! If you want to learn more about them, go here!

Thank you for reading,

XO, Kelsey

*This product was purchased by me with my own dolla dolla bills ya'll. Mineral Fusion did not encourage me to post anything regarding this product, nor do they know this blog even exists (probably, but it would be cool if they did!) All opinions are 100% mine and honest! 

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

Natural, Organic, and Cruelty-Free // Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Review

Hi all! If you have followed along with this blog for awhile now, you know that I am on a seemingly never-ending search for beauty and skincare products that are made of "better", "safer" ingredients. After researching for hours, I narrowed down a list of companies I would like to learn more about. I reached out to Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques and they kindly sent me a few samples to try out. After using the products a few weeks, I know I am ready to give an honest review!

A little about the company

According to their website, Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques uses natural and organic plant oils and extracts, soothing flower essences, plus beautiful minerals and pigments from the earth. In their products, there are no parabens, chemicals, or unnecessary fillers.

I received the creme foundation as well as a pressed eyeshadow duo. I originally received 9 foundation samples (for finding my shade), but because I found a great match for my skin, I traveled with it...and lost it. So unfortunately I can not share that shade swatch with you!

Creme Foundation

•  Shade selection: 8/10; There are 21 shades to choose from, including cool, neutral and warm options. I did find that many shades would work with my skin tone. Kind of odd, but I almost feel like the shade can adapt if it is semi-close to your natural tone. I used shade "warm no. 3" when not self tanning; I would say my natural skin tone is about light-medium with slightly golden undertones. When self tanning, shade "warm no. 4" worked well for me. 

[top picture with flash// bottom picture in natural light]

• Application: 7/10; The product itself has a mousse like texture. It almost feels whipped! I was kind of nervous that the foundation would make my oily skin even more oily because it is a creme. Totally wrong about that assumption, but we will get to that later! I put a few dots of this around my face and used a buffing brush to buff the product into my skin. It spreads pretty easily, although I imagine it may be a bit harder to buff out if you did not moisturize prior to application.

• Coverage: 9/10; holy smokes! This stuff is magic. I would say it is easily medium to full coverage. I never tried to build up extra coverage, because the coverage was already enough for me. While the coverage is amazing, it doesn't feel heavy at all, which is a major plus. The finish is pretty matte I would say, maybe semi-matte before setting the foundation.

• Wear time: 9/10; This foundation has become one that I rely on for long work days, or a night out. I have had such a hard time finding a natural foundation that would wear well and look good, so I am happy to have tried this! I would say the creme foundation wears for about 6.5 hours before needing blotting with powder, but the coverage still looks great. Around 8 hours of wear I start to see spots wear the foundation is wearing away. (I do wear a moisturizer, primer, and setting powder with this foundation as well).

• Overall product: 8.5/9; The creme foundation is definitely one of my go-to's for everyday wear, as well as special occasion wear. I love that it does work with my oily skin, not drying it out or making me more oily. I can't say where I would look for any improvements on the foundation-if anything, I just can't decide what actual shade I am, because a few shades can work for me, but that is not a bad thing! Buffing the product in is not 100% easy-but I imagine it is because the product is natural, not filled with all the "bad things". One point I want to hit on is that this does not break me out. Some natural brands have caused breakouts, but this one has not caused any sort of reaction or breakouts! I highly, highly recommend this foundation-I feel it may be hard to beat! I would however love any recommendations for other foundations you may have! 

[Wearing the creme foundation in shade "warm no. 3"]

 Pressed Eyeshadow Duo

I received the duo in the shade "Toffee/Sandalwood".  I was curious how a natural pressed eyeshadow would work out, since I had only tried loose natural shadows in the past. I honestly kind of doubted the pigmentation and wear time because it is a natural product, but I was wrong.

 [Pressed eyeshadow duo in shade "Toffee/Sandalwood"]

• Shade selection: 9/10; There are 12 different pre-made duos to choose from, or you can customize you own duo. I this the latter option would be really fun and an easy way to build a collection you know you will get use out of.
• Application: 9/10; I apply this with a standard eyeshadow brush. It applies just as any other eyeshadow would, so there is not much to say when it comes to this!
•  Pigmentation/Fall out: 8/10; I think this product is comparable to any high end eyeshadow. It is just as pigmented as my Naked Palette shadows. I don't notice fall out immediately, but I did notice that my shadow slightly smudged as the day wore on.
• Wear time: 8/10:This shadow duo wears about 6 hours before I notice any smudging or fallout under the eyes. I have been working a ton  since trying out this product, and I get reallllly hot and sweaty (running up and down stairs as a waitress, until I pass my state boards!) so I haven't had a neutral day to test the shadow when I am not sweating, so I would say the duo works pretty well!
• Overall product: 8.5/10; Love the duo colors, love how it applies, and love how wearable it is! Such a gorgeous set of colors for a neutral loving girl like me! 

 [Wearing the duo on a light makeup day-applied with a light hand!]

I hope you enjoyed this review-Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques is a brand that is really impressive and up there with high end brands. I look forward to looking into more of their products since they have already surpassed my expectations!

Also...I am looking for an all natural primer and bronzer. Any recommendations would be super appreciated! Please leave your favorites in the comments below!

Thanks for reading,
XO, Kelsey

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

**The Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques products were sent to me free of charge; I was not paid nor guided to say anything about these products. All opinions shared are my own.

Update//plans and rambling!

It's officially 2015! I can't believe that it is almost February... seriously, where has the time gone? 2014 was a great year for me, with awesome opportunities, life changes, and memories made. I am so excited to see what 2015 brings-in just about 4 months, I will be a college graduate, preparing to take my state board NCLEX exam to become Kelsey, RN, BSN. WHAT?! With everything being said, wow... I have been super busy. I find myself missing this blog, because I love writing, reviewing, and "meeting" people through the blog world. I haven't had a lot of free time to devote to blogging this previous semester, but I think that will change this semester! I am so excited to go back into blogging.

 If you have been following me on here for awhile, you will know I spent a lot of time reviewing mineral/natural products over the past year and a half. Wellllll, that is pretty much one of my main focuses now! I am very interested in purging all of my old, chemical laden products, and slowly replacing them with non-toxic, natural, eco-friendly alternatives. If you love topics like that, I think you will be interested in what I have to post over the next year! I also have spent a lot of time changing up my diet and lifestyle; I want to feel my best, and be the healthiest version of me that I can be. My whole life, I have had cardiac issues and other health problems, and I have really had to deal with those things over the past year-so being as healthy and happy as I can be is something that means a lot to me. Look forward to fun recipes on here, as well as an occasional outfit post!

Lately, I have been into staple outfit pieces that you can dress up or down. I like the idea of creating a simple wardrobe that can be versatile, accessorized, and minimal. The thought of downsizing everything is something that has been on my mind a lot lately; I feel as though sometimes, you can have too much! I hold on to clothing from 6-8 years ago, because it still fits, and "maybe I will need it one day!" But how is it useful at all if it has sat in my closet, untouched for 2 years? Looking at websites such as H&M (for basic tees/leggings), Simons (dresses), Tobi (for sweaters/dresses), Loft (for blouses/sweaters), and Banana Republic (for sweaters/accessories/other basics) has given me a lot of inspiration for basic outfit items that can be worn in SO many combinations-just what I would like! Also, I recently discovered the world of outlet shopping. Oh.My.Gosh. Why did I never go before a few months ago? You can find so many "in style" pieces at the outlets, and barely have to spend money! Example: I went to the Banana Republic and J Crew outlet and got 2 mens button ups, a sweater, a casual jacket, 4 shirts, and a pair of Nikes for around $115. To me, that is a great deal for those brands. (I had to share that story because I went around telling all my friends and family how excited I was for those deals for about a week straight after that, haha).

Now that this post is all over the place, I think I have said enough for now! My next post will be a review, although I am not sure which product I want to share first! My question for you is: What type of posts interest you the most? Do you like beauty/skincare posts? Fashion posts? Recipes or fitness posts? Please share!

Until next time!
XO, Kelsey

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

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.

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