Five Foundations We Love, Part 1
Lately we’ve been on a bit of a makeup kick. A couple of weeks ago I got a little emo about my relationship with makeup, and your comments were deeply moving and thoughtful, then I told you about our favorite new blush (slash lipstick). Next, we challenged you to give us your best, glammest clean-cosmetics face, and then Alexandra asked you to share your makeup horror stories with our friend Melissa Dahl.
Now, we’d like to tackle the most basic basics—the stuff we use to hide our zits, even out our complexions, and fake a good night’s sleep. In a word: foundation.
We’re going to do this in five parts, and the first one might raise some eyebrows (or crossbows!). Be gentle with us, and hear us out, because numero uno in the series is….
Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15
“Huh? Laura Mercier? But her line isn’t natural or organic—is it?” Heck no, but her loose minerals contain the same ingredients as almost any other mineral powder on the market, and hers is our current favorite. In fact, it’s the only reason we ever go to Sephora anymore! (No offense, Sephora—it’s just that your stores confuse people about what’s truly natural and what isn’t. Also, the perfumes make us kind of heachachy.) Like many other minerals lines, this one does contain bismuth oxychloride, so if you react badly to it, then this one probably isn’t for you. What we like about LM minerals are the colors and how finely ground they are—it just makes for a nice light touch, but with the same strong coverage minerals provide. As always, you must be very careful not huff the stuff. (One solution? Mix it with your moisturizer or face oil.)
What’s your favorite loose minerals line?
Come back Tuesday for the next!
Image of a pretty girl putting on powder (CC) from Flickr
thanks again ladies! i am so very excited about this segment! natural foundation is my biggest hang up…needing something affordable, light and clean!
It’s not a loose mineral powder, but I like purminerals 4-in-1 press powder. Great coverage, feels light, doesn’t make me look “made up,” & SPF 15.
Any thoughts on her tinted moisturizer?
@Lee To quote my third-favorite Chicago rapper: I used to love her. Here’s the ingredient list for the tinted moisturizer:
Active Ingredients: Octyl Methoxycinnamate and Menthyl Anthranilate. Other Ingredients: Purified Water, Cetearyl Alcohol (and) PEG-40 Castor Oil, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Cyclomethicone, DEA-Ceryl Phosphate, Hexyl Laurate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Propylparaben. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Mica.
Super not interested in putting chemical sunscreens, sillicones, DEA-anything and two different parabens on my face.
Alima Pure. Have loved every product of theirs that I’ve tried so far.
What about Bare Minerals foundation with SPF 15? I know mentioned this one in your book coz that’s what I have been using (guess would have to wait for all the list then)…would love for you guys to also include a listing of natural/clean concealers too!
I’ve been dying to find a great foundation since my concealer I’m using is not a clean brand. I have RMS, but it’s too light for my skin tone, so it’s just sitting in my bathroom cupboard. Looking forward to the suggestions!
I use a tinted moisterizer from Tarte. It evens out my complexion but is light so I don’t feel like I’m wearing thick, heavy make-up. I have tried the Bare Minerals but even that felt too heavy and I didn’t like the thought of breathing in the powder. Yuck!
I second the Alima Pure recommendation. Their makeup is amazing!
Eek! Can you please explain why we should be careful to not huff the stuff? Love that phrase, by the way. Not that I’m going around huffing powders, but what if? Do these same no-huffing rules apply to more natural lines like Alima Pure? I’m only asking because I use Alima’s blush and always blow on it a little to shoo a bit off my brush first…. Harmful?? Thank you.
Oh, also…using Lorac now. Not technically a clean brand, but it is free of parabens, fragrance and phenoxyethanol. When my bottle is almost gone, I’m thinking of trying either Dr. Hauschka’s foundation or Vapour Organics. Would love any ideas for blemish-prone ladies.
I second the huffing thing.. I always wonder about this and use mineral foundation with sunscreen in it.. are my little lungs getting covered by tiny bits of foundation??
I have used Bare Minerals for many years…it was the first and only foundation I would use. It works and I’ve loved it for a long time. In my quest to completely clean up my product act, I tried some Alima Pure, and now I’m doing the big switch! I’ve gotten a better color match with Alima, and while the specific products I used from BE were pretty clean and didn’t cause me problems, I’d rather go with a company that is cleaner overall. I feel good about spending my $$ with Alima, and I like their selection of foundation, bronzer, luminous and matte blushes. Their website gives ideas for other product colors based on which foundation you use. AND you can take their website quiz, get a few suggestions for which foundation is for you, and order their samples for $1.50 each. I was able to find an amazing match and I look like I’m not wearing make-up…I just look like I have nice skin. I swear I don’t work for them either!
LM products do perform beautifully and are really easy to work with!
However,
For those looking to avoid nanoparticles, bismuth oxychloride, or Amway, LM’s uber right-wing, politically influential parent company, Alima Pure is a beautiful alternative. :)
I’ve been thinking about getting the Alison Raffaele Transparent Finish To Go Brush. The only ingredients are Zea mays (corn) starch, silica, mica, zinc stearate, 1, 2 hexanediol, caprylyl glycol.
I try to only use powder lightly on top of a regular foundation to set it. I’ve been using a combination of Vapor Organics and the Physicians Formula Organic Tinted Moisturizer. I use bare minerals sometimes, but I will forever make a mess with those loose powders. The Alison Raffaele one I’ve been debating comes in a brush already that dispenses the powder so hopefully there will be less mess. I’ve had a really hard time finding a good organic pressed powder. They either don’t match my skin or have a bad consistency. I dream of finding that perfect compact with that perfect natural pressed powder that I can just always have with me in my bag.
I am embarrassed to say that I have never used a “mineral line” and don’t really know what one is.
I currently use dermalogica, which was matched to my fair skin tone. I use it alone or mixed with my moisterizer, depending on how much coverage I want or need on a particular day. Often though, I don’t wear any foundation at all. I have no idea how clean or dirty it is, but I like it. I know, that’s bad . . . but I’m being honest here.
I’ve been a little disappointed with mineral makeup. As somebody with a few, er, lines of wisdom and large pores, I find that most mineral makeups just make my skin texture look rougher. I recently tried Alima, but it just seemed to sit on top of my skin, accentuating every nook and cranny!
@ Jessica – I use Jane Iredale’s pure pressed powder and love it! It’s not too heavy and doesn’t make a mess. I would totally recommend it :)
I have used both RMS Beauty \un’ cover-up and Alima Pure foundation.
I love the fresh, dewy look RMS gives me but for long-lasting finish and great coverage I have to say Alima wins out.
I have just ordered Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Luminous Foundation after reading great reviews about it so fingers crossed it’ll become my new fave!
Thanks Kate! I’ve been meaning to try Jane Iredale actually because I’ve heard so many good things but it is slightly expensive and I haven’t had time to get to any location that sells the line to figure out what exact shade would suit me. I have yet to read a negative thing about her foundations.
I love love love Jayne Iredale cosmetics. Light natural coverage. Clean to boot! I use the tinted moisturizer and pressed powder foundation.
I am curious about the Korres Wild Rose Mineral Foundation. It seems to be the same formulation as Bare Minerals without the bismuth oxychloride. Hoping its on your list to review!
Alima Pure! I just read your book and got samples of foundation, eyeliner and eye shadow from them. They are amazing! Who would think your make-up could have just 3 or 4 ingredients! I love the company.
W3LL PEOPLE has an amazing mineral foundation. The finish is very light, and has not caused my extremely any issues!
I made my own from tapioca powder, titanium dioxide, iron oxide brown, iron oxide yellow (ingredients from wholesalesuppliesplus.com)
I don’t wear it much these days, as it leaves a flat finish, but it’s still great as concealer.
My biggest issue with all mineral makeup is transference–I can’t wear anything collared without having it rub off.
Re: B-Bopp’s comment….. Can anyone else speak to this issue, that is, is mineral makeup unfriendly on older faces?
I would love to think that clean mineral foundation is the the way to go, but if the effect is to emphasize wrinkles and pores, then I’m stumped as to how to put on a prettier face :(
Anyone have an opinion?
Rosemaria, I’m 42 and love mineral make-up. I find that the keys are:
1. Choose the right shade and finish – like for any age skin, the wrong shade just looks bad and satin matte is better than a truly flat matte on older skin
2. Moisturize appropriately before you put on your minerals – super important to the process!
3. Spritz with a hydrosol to set (I don’t need this step but some might)
Don’t be afraid to give it a try. I think those with bad experiences probably didn’t happen to hit a successful brand or shade. If you want to try it I’m sure there’s a combo out there that will work for you.
Rosemarie–as Rebecca mentioned, but also use a light hand and nylon bristles so the coverage isn’t too heavy. Eco tools brushes (any drugstore) are really good.
I’m 38, btw, and noticed that unwed a lot less makeup than I used to need to tone down my cheeks–they aren’t as red nowadays so I really only need concealer over sunscreen.
I sell Alima Pure in my salon and LOVE it! Also love 100% Pure’s full coverage liquid foundation. Just tried Vapour Cosmetics and loved it too! Thinking about adding Vapour to my inventory.
I buy all my all natural, vegan mineral makeup through etsy— inexpensive too! covers like a dream!
the one I love the most is : http://www.etsy.com/shop/purenaturalminerals
@ Jessica again. I buy Jane Iredale’s starter kit – it’s $79 bucks but it has a ton of product in it (2 shades of foundation, tinted moisturizer, blush, a lip shade, circle/delete (a concealer), and three brushes) . It lasted me six months and then I bought another as this is what I buy as my base makeup kit. The only other thing I need to add is eyeshadow and mascara :) Overall it’s a good investment. You can find this online at her site. Hope this helps!
Are you talking about only her loose mineral powder? Or her pressed powder as well?
@Anne- I have used Bare Minerals for a few years now. I love the coverage but only have one complaint which is that it makes my face a little itchy…by the end of the day all I want to do is get home to wash it off. After reading NMDL I thought it was the ingredient bismuth oxychloride that was giving me this reaction so I bought Korres Wild Rose Mineral Foundation since it did not have this ingredient. I am not very happy with it and am returning to Sephora. It feels fantastic on my face, very smooth and light but the coverage is not nearly as good and there is a lack of shades in my opinion. I bought the lightest shade available and it is still too dark. It also has an orange tint. I also purchased the Wild Rose concealer which I like even less. It did not blend very smoothly and made dry patches where used. It also seemed to enhance the wrinkles under my eyes.
I love Valana Minerals Stardust Luxury Foundation (valanaminerals [dot] com). It’s an all-natural mineral powder foundation that matches my skin tone perfectly, adds a glow to my skin, covers my hyper pigmentation and feels weightless. It’s perfect!
P.S. I apply my foundation using Eco Tools Bamboo Powder Brush and Eco Tools Bamboo Deluxe Concealer Brush.