Cosmetics & Beauty News November 2009

Bianca's Beauty Blog's first giveaway
Skin MD Natural have kindly offered to give away a full size bottle of their Shielding Lotion, which I have also been sent and will be reviewing soon. It promises to serve as a makeup base and all-over face and body moisturiser to soothe skin conditions and send dry skin packing. Full of good stuff like arnica and camomile, it should moisturise and heal without irritation, especially since it is also free of parabens and is hypoallergenic. And you can win it for free just in time for the harshest winter months :)

To win, go to the Skin MD Naturals website (www.skinmdnaturals.com) and have a look around, and then email me 50 words on why you deserve to win and how this product will benefit you, along with your name and address and with "Skin MD Natural Giveaway" in the subject line. Entries close on December 15th 2009. Good luck!

Be a winter warmer
Following its launch in the UK earlier this year, Jergens is now searching for a Winterless Weather Forecaster. By logging onto www.jergens.com, and following their 'enter today' link, you can win daily prizes as well as being in with a chance to win a cash prize when entries close in January. Just upload a video explaining your tips to help keep skin looking soft, beautiful and 'winterless' throughout the year.

Happy Birthday to Nars
Makeup brand Nars is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a celebrity portrait book, entitled 15x15. Available exclusively at www.15x15project.com until December 15 as a limited edition, François Nars has made up, styled and photographed 15 celebrity subjects including Marc Jacobs and Naomi Campbell, and is donating all of the book's $80-price-tag proceedings to charities chosen by the celebrities.

Strange and beautiful
Liberty is launching a new nail varnish collection in time for Christmas, inspired by a spectrum as varied as Oscar Wilde and dark purple ink. Sold in collections of eight at £45 a collection, this should make a great value present this holiday season.

Elemental Beauty Mineral Foundation

RRP: £0.85 per sample canister (0.5-1g); £10.99 per full size pot (9-10g)
# of shades available: 15 in sample size; 20 in regular size

--What does the promo say?--
"At Elemental Beauty we know that not everyone has the same type of complexion or skin qualities, so we have created a range of Soft Focus and Healing mineral foundations to help meet your skin’s individual needs. Our Healing mineral foundation contains Allantoin to help heal and regenerate damaged or irritated skin and therefore a good choice for those suffering from acne or rosacea. Our Soft Focus mineral foundation contains a much larger content of Silica Microspheres. These have light scattering properties and a silky feel to reflect light away from lines and wrinkles and give a soft focus appearance. Our mineral foundation powders are soft matt in appearance and can be layered and built up effortlessly to give your required coverage."

--Packaging--
The full-size pots are in keeping with the usual pot design used by Elemental Beauty. The sample sizes (of which I was kindly sent four, in an adorable little chiffon bag) come in tiny plastic vials with flip-top lids. The sample sizes are extremely practical for travel, so this is a viable option in many respects, whether you're off on holiday or just want to try out some shades.

--Application--
Load up your brush with a little of the powder and sweep it evenly over the face. Several lighter layers will look better than one heavy one. The Elemental Beauty site also suggests applying them with a damp brush or sponge to give fuller, complete coverage of blemishes and dark circles, meaning that in fact you have a dual-use product (foundation and concealer) all in one pot. Nice.

--Appearance--
As mentioned, I was sent four shades: Luminous (Soft Focus), English Rose (Soft Focus), Nude (Healing) and Barley (Healing). Barley was a tad too dark for my liking and Luminous almost made me look ghostly (rare in a foundation! But nevertheless, it's probably fine for me for the winter months). In terms of colour match, English Rose and Nude were probably the best for me. Truthfully, I did not notice any difference in the finish between the Soft Focus and Healing variations: both finished soft and matte as promised.

--Texture and consistency--
As with all of the Elemental Beauty products that I have tried so far, my foundations were non-irritating and were pleasant to use on the skin. All good things.

--Coverage--
Excellent; I couldn't wish for better.

--Longevity--
Use of a finishing powder of some description is advised just for general hold (for the sake of the foundation itself as well as to help the company's mineral concealer along a bit). However, the results were generally good.

--Effects on the skin--
My skin has improved lately, but I can never tell what has affected it, especially since I have also been using a few different skincare products, so I don't feel that I can attribute any improvement solely to the foundation, but I'm sure that it didn't do any harm either (particularly since the Soft Focus versions also contain kaolin, a healing clay, which would have also helped any skin recovery).

--Value for money--
Marginally cheaper than Lily Lolo's foundations, which are £12 for the same amount of foundation, so the price is certainly competitive. You need such a tiny amount each time that I'm sure one full-size pot would last months (I've used each of my vials several times and it barely seems like I've made a dent in them). This, combined with generally good coverage and durability, would make this a sound choice for any skin-conscious female.

Elemental Beauty Mineral Lasting Eyeshadow

RRP: £4.99
# of shades available: 40

--What does the promo say?--
"Our Mineral Eyeshadows come in a range of 40 pretty, wearable colours that are crease free loose powder minerals and last all day long. Each eyeshadow can also be used as an eyeliner, simply put a bit of powder into the lid and mix with a damp eyeliner brush into a paste and apply."

--Packaging--
Visibly part of the Elemental Beauty range, using the same packaging as all of the other products. As such, it has the same advantages and suffers the same pitfalls (see my other Elemental Beauty posts for more information).

--Application--
Carefully load an eyeshadow brush with a very small amount of the eye dust and sweep over your eyelids, starting at the crease/in the middle of the eyelid and working down to your lashes as the amount of powder in the brush is lessened (thus preventing you from getting eye dust in your eyes, hopefully). This stage of application, where there is less powder in the brush, is also helpful for when you want to apply just a little shadow to the brow bone.

--Appearance--
The shade I was sent, Silver Lining, is great for blue-grey eyes like mine, but ultimately should suit most eye colours and general complexions. A shimmery silver-grey that's subtle enough for work but could be built up for a more dramatic look.

--Texture/consistency--
No irritation was experienced around the eye area during the use of this shadow. The eye dust is of a very fine consistency and the shimmer particles are of a good size too.

--Longevity--
Really excellent; arguably a market leader in this category. These shadows are real winners - you won't need to reapply all day.

--Value for money--
The durability of this product once applied is arguably down to the format of the shadow: other eye dusts such as the ones by Stargazer and MAC also perform flawlessly. However, neither of the above mentioned brands are mineral brands, and MAC is considerably more expensive than both Stargazer and Elemental Beauty. Elemental Beauty also trumps its other mineral competitors, with its prices coming in more modestly than the mineral market leaders. In short: choose this and win.

Elemental Beauty Mineral Concealer

RRP: £3.99 for 2-2.5g; £6.99 for 5-6g
# of shades available: 6, including one marine-colour for colour correction

--What does the promo say?--
"Our healing mineral concealers contain Allantoin to heal damaged skin and promote skin regeneration which makes them perfect for use on blemishes too. You can also use them to control oil and they are particularly effective if brushed onto the T-zone before applying foundation and will keep your complexion matt and shine free all day. You can also mix them with foundation for heavier coverage. They can be applied dry in powder form or used with a damp brush or sponge to give heavy coverage that will last and protect all day[...]Our concealers easily mix with foundation to give heavier coverage or with each other to achieve different shades for an exact skin match. You should be able to achive most shades with a mixture of Fairly Light and Buff in varying quantities."

--Packaging--
My comments are largely the same as for the blusher; there needs to be holes actually in the protective tray (rather than blocked dents) so that it's easier to shake the concealer into the lid for use as a palette, and I definitely prefer the font that's used on the website to the one that's used on the product lids.

--Application--
The Elemental Beauty website recommends mixing the concealer with a little moisturiser to create a healing and concealing cream. While I haven't attempted this technique yet, it sounds like it could be a good idea to make application more controllable: in its usual form, there's no way you could apply this on the move as the powder does tend to 'fly' a bit during application if you put too much on the brush (though using a slightly damp brush could help to remedy this as well).

--Appearance--
The shade I was sent, Bright Eyes, struck me as having a rather sandy colour that appeared a little patchy on my skin, although this was no longer the case once it had been blended with foundation and finishing powder. Pale types would be best with this or with Fairly Light (or, if you suffer with redness, the colour-correcting shade).

--Texture/consistency--
Smooth, light, and non-irritating.

--Coverage--
Clings to dry patches somewhat, so won't be helpful if you have any blemishes in these areas. You also definitely need to apply before foundation to allow the colour to blend and so that it can be set in place with the foundation and with any finishing powder that you wish to use. If these guidelines are followed, though, there should be no problems with coverage.

--Longevity--
Not the best concealer I've used in this respect and definitely not the worst, though I found that this concealer's durability was weakest around my nose. Prepare to top up once or twice a day.

--Value for money--
This is a very affordable concealer that easily beats many of its high street competitors on price; bear in mind that you are also getting a concealer from a specialist mineral company that should be perfect for sensitive skin. However, I'd really like to see them expand their range of concealer shades and perhaps also work on the long-wearing nature of the product before I bought this.

Elemental Beauty Mineral Blusher

RRP: £6.99 for 5-6g; £3.99 for 1.5-2.5g
# of shades available: 10

--About the brand--
"At Elemental Beauty we are passionate about mineral makeup and its beneficial properties to your skin. Our goal is to bring more affordable mineral makeup to women in the UK and Europe, but, we do ship worldwide. We want to offer a healthy alternative to the conventional high street brands of makeup through our hand crafted range of mineral cosmetics. As our makeup is designed with the best health of your skin in mind, we do not use Talc, Bismuth Oxychloride or fillers in any of our makeup. We are a manufacturer so all our products truly are hand crafted and we can offer a bespoke service creating tailor made colours exclusively for you. If you are finding it difficult to get the shade you want please contact us and we will be delighted to make something especially for you. We want to preserve our planet, so our choice of packaging is easily recyclable and pretty and practical enough for you to hopefully re-use rather than throw away. So, please continue the good work. Our gorgeous jute gift bags are stylish and practical - they can even be re-used as a cute handbag! Our love for animals means that we could never test our products on them.... All our products are tested on humans (consenting of course!) and made from natural ingredients approved for cosmetic use."

--What does the promo say?--
"Mineral makeup is so much more than mineral foundation on its own. Our Mineral blushers, mineral bronzers and mineral highlighters can be used however you like to add colour and definition to your face. They can also be used as eyeshadows or mixed with your mineral foundation or finishing powders to give endless different looks.

Ingredients: Sericite Mica, Zinc Oxide, Iron Oxides, Mica, may contain Ultramarine."

--Packaging--
Even the sample products (which I was kindly sent for free by Elemental Beauty) are beautifully packaged (lab samples are often sent out in very plain packaging which is nothing like the finished product) - my tiny foundation samples were held together in a cute chiffony bag and the blusher, concealer and eyeshadow were all housed in separate screw-top white plastic pots, with lids bearing a see-through window and the Elemental Beauty logo, all presented in a white box with pink ribbon. The flower logo is a really nice idea to sum up the notion of natural beauty and it's always good to be able to see the product through the lid. The only two (minor!) criticisms I'd make are that the tray that comes inside the pot is engraved with dents, which means that the minerals collect inside them and serve no practical purpose there, as it's quite messy to try and get them out (a smooth tray would be better for use as a palette). I also don't especially like the font used on the lids of the products for the company logo; I much prefer the font used on the website. Nevertheless, neither of these issues cause any real problems.

--Application--
Elemental Beauty gives some application tips on its website, but you can just tip some of the blusher into the lid of its pot, work some of the mineral powder into a blusher brush, and sweep over cheeks, gradually building up the layers.

--Appearance--
The shade I was sent - Candy Floss - is undoubtedly the most natural-looking blusher shade I have ever used, and the easiest to make look 'balanced' on the skin. No clown moments with this one. Doesn't look too heavy or obviously powdery; looks seamlessly blended with skin tone rather than sitting on top.

--Texture and consistency--
Powdery and light; not cloying or irritating.

--Longevity--
Not fantastic; will not last five hours. Expect to reapply once or twice during the day.

--Value for money--
I don't think anyone can complain much at a maximum of £6.99 a jar. While you can get cheaper blushers (by Bourjois, Max Factor, Rimmel and Maybelline to name just a few), many are more expensive, and they may not all produce such a flattering colour and such kindness to your skin as this does. An excellent buy.

Lancôme Tonique Douceur

RRP: £18.50/200ml; £30/400ml

--What does the promo say?--
"This alcohol-free lotion enriched with soothing plant extracts is the perfect finishing touch to makeup removal for dehydrated skin. It gently tones and refines the skin, removing any remaining impurities, without depleting its natural oils. Leaves skin feeling clean, soft and refreshed and ready for your daily treatments."

--Packaging--
Modern, sophisticated and subtly voluptuous, the Lancôme flower logo is carved into the curved blue bottle, and the brand name can be seen adorning the clear lid. Would be a perfect match for any modern bathroom.

--Application--
After cleansing, pour a small amount of toner onto a cotton wool ball and sweep over your face. Your skin is then ready for a face mask or your usual moisturiser.

--Appearance--
A transparent liquid. Nothing too unusual here.

--Scent--
While this contains papaya to hydrate, and pineapple to heal, my first impression of this was actually of violets. However, now that I'm aware of the description, I'd definitely say that it's the papaya that comes across more strongly.

--Texture and consistency--
Refreshing and non-irritating; just what you need to wake you up in the morning.

--Effects on the skin--
Again, this was just a sample trial, so any effects that I saw will have been highly limited. However, while it was pleasant to use, I think most of the legwork had already been done by Lancôme's Exfoliance Clarté exfoliator, so use of this toner lacked the wow-factor for me that my Clinique Anti-Blemish toner provides.

--Value for money--
If given the choice, I'd definitely plump for this over Molton Brown's toner, which at roughly the same price was extremely average. It also has the advantage of keeping your skin soft and supple without the tightness that comes immediately after using Kiehl's Blue Astringent Lotion. However, I'd need to see some seriously impressive results for me to opt for this over Clinique's Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion and Liz Earle's Instant Boost Skin Tonic (both of which are cheaper and deliver stellar results).

perfect partners
Photogénic Ultra Confort SPF12 foundation, £22.50
Nutri Intense mask, £29.50
Galatée Confort cleanser, from £19.50
Bi-Facil cleanser, £18.50

Lancôme Exfoliance Clarté

RRP: £25.50/100ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Brighten up lacklustre skin with this refreshing gel formula for normal and combination skin. Formulated with white wax micro-beads, ultra-fine exfoliating grains and a cocktail of Pineapple and Papaya extracts to gently slough off dull skin layers and remove impurities. Leaves the skin clean, smooth and toned for a simply radiant complexion."

--Packaging--
The pale blue squeezy tube combines Lancôme's usual sophistication with practicality and prettiness, with the dark blue dots in the background proving a nice contrast to the brand's trademark flower logo. The brand name is also embossed onto the opaque white screw-top lid, and the overall effect is very pleasing.

--Application--
Mix a little of this in your palms with your cleanser and some tepid water, and rub gently over your face with your fingertips. Remove with a damp face cloth, gently buffing as you go.

--Appearance--
Slightly unusual: as well as artificial blue exfoliating beads, the clear gel is also populated by white lumps (the wax beads that contain spot-busting salicylic acid), which don't seem to stick to the skin after you've finished using the exfoliator (sometimes exfoliating agents can be difficult to be completely washed off the skin, but it wasn't problematic here).

--Scent--
Strangely, none: I was surprised to read of the presence of pineapple and papaya, since I couldn't smell them at all.

--Texture/consistency--
While the gel is mild, refined and comforting, you also simultaneously feel that the exfoliants are really doing their job (and all with no discomfort whatsoever). It washes off easily and there is no greasy, oily or otherwise unpleasant residue left on the skin after use.

--How does your skin feel afterwards?--
Squeaky clean! Really like all excess dirt and oil has been properly penetrated and removed without harshness. Smoothened and retextured.

--How does your skin look afterwards?--
Having only tried this on the basis of a tiny sample, it's tricky to tell, but given the depth of cleaning mentioned above and given the inclusion of salicylic acid, it's highly probable that visible improvements would be seen over time. Dry patches are also quickly banished, and this is something that can be seen more immediately.

--Value for money--
This is a tad pricey, yes. It's the most expensive exfoliator I've ever used, clearing the next most expensive (L'Occitane Almond Apple Sweet Peel) by about £6. While its efficacy is undoubted, it's a bit expensive for me to be able to use all the time, so I'd have to make do with it as a treat. Nevertheless, this is definitely one for the Christmas wish list.

perfect partner
Hydra Intense Hydrating Gel Mask, £29.50