Mineral Makeup - Alima Venetian H C

Venetian Holiday Collection

I got this from a CozyCot spree! It looked so nice on the website, I had to order one set for myself!

I thought that the "Leone" (described as 'sparkling sand') would be a nice nude brown colour for the eyes. But when my set arrived, I saw that the eyeshadow was too golden. Applied on my eyes, it is goldy and strange. I don't think I would wear it on its own. However, when I mixed it with Alima's Lilac eyeshadow, it transformed the dull dead purple brown into a lighter, sparkly taupe brown colour, suitable for everyday use!

(Taken from the Alima website)
Escape the dog-days of summer with this gorgeous holiday in a box. This complete color kit is ideal for summer travels, with everything you need for a simple but elegant face. (With no liquids, its also airline-friendly!) The set consists of a blush, a shadow, a liner and a tinted lip balm, but as always with Alimas gorgeous mineral products, they can be worn in many different ways.

Leone - the lion is the symbol of Venice, and this sparkling sand that bears it's name may well become your signature shadow.
Rialto - the famous bridge is complex and beautiful, the colors of the stone difficult to categorize. You'll see them reflected in this eyeliner's deep shimmering grey with hints of green. Rialto can also be used as a contour shadow.
Sospiro - named for the Bridge of Sighs, this shimmering blush is a rich pink with golden highlights that will make you sigh. Sospiro can also be worn on the eyes.
Bellini - like the sparkling, fruity cocktail that bears its name (and was created in Venice), this lightly shimmered, muted pink lip balm is ideal for a leisurely afternoon in a sidewalk cafe whether in Venice or Main Street, USA. It comes in a skinny little tube that slips easily into a pocket or handbag.

Mineral Makeup - Lightening

I've been asked on CozyCot Forums about light coloured Mineral Makeup Foundations. How do you make sure that the foundation is light enough for you, yet you don't end up looking chalky or unnatural?

Here's my take. The solution depends on the reason why the foundation is not light enough for you.

1)Not light enough because face is oily underneath / oxidisation.
What works is a primer or makeup base (with or without colour). If you don't already have those Japanese brands (they have 'white' base primers), then what Chiaberry said is really good advice: "Why don't you try 100% silk powder? In the summer, apply this as a primer before your foundation, so that it can act as a buffer to lessen the effect of oil on the foundation itself."

If the MMU you use (Everyday Minerals or others) oxidise, check if it's your skin, or the MMU. I just hate it when I go to cosmetics counters, and they tell me that it's because I didn't use their brand's primer/base for face or eyes, that's why my foundation darkens, or eyeshadows don't stay on. Such an excuse for not making good quality and pigmented products! You're better off experimenting to find a better brand. But of course, if your skin is super oily, then you would have to use oil-control skincare or a primer/base. :P

Also, do remember to put loose powder (MMU or otherwise) on top to help the foundation stay on. Some people don't do that, and the foundation will darken after a few hours, or slide off.

2)Not light enough because the foundation colour is not suitable.
- Email to the MMU company to explain the problem. If you like the formula and continue to buy from them, ask if they could LIGHTEN the foundation for you. Or CUSTOM BLEND if the colour is not quite right. Do offer suggestions so it's easier for them to help. Of course, this works only if you're buying full-size. :) Alima didn't lighten for me, but Skin Story (Central at Clarke Quay) helped me ask Alima for lightener and blended for me. Can also check if they will sell just the lightener to you.

- If you don't intend to buy anymore, but don't want to waste what you have, you have no choice but to
a)Mix with existing lighter foundation.
b)Order an untinted base, to lighten the colour you have. It should be a neutral or untinted colour.
c)Check with Skin Story if they sell samples of Alima's C-0 foundation colour ($2 for a small container). It would work in lightening because it's almost colourless. BUT! Note: I tried mixing Alima's Cool (C-0) which looks colourless with my N-0 and W-0 foundation. However, the cool tone made the foundation look very chalky and fake on me! This method is for those who have very yellow dark foundations, it should work.
d)I tried mixing White eyeshadow from Alima with my foundations. It seemed to work. Then I checked in sunlight - I look fair, BUT CHALKY! Heh... I solved this by adding Alima's light golden eyeshadow ("Leone") to the foundation. It made it more Asian/Yellow toned and natural. Surprisingly it works (but add just a bit). It looks shimmery in the container, but can't see any sparkles on the face.

If you don't want to waste what you have bought, you just have to mix until it suits you.

Cosmetics Puff & Sponge Cleaner

My must-have item is the Cosmetics Puff & Sponge Cleaner.
It looks something like this (I got this photo from the Hi Japan website, it's a Taiwan site selling lots of cool Japanese makeup, skincare and accessories.).

It removes dirt, residue and colour better than any shampoo, shower gel or even detergent when you use it on your cosmetics sponges, puffs and applicators. I also use it on my brushes.











But you don't have to pay a high price, buy online or travel to Japan, Hong Kong or Taiwan to purchase this handy little bottle.

You can just get a similar 80ml bottle for $2 at Daiso! Like the original cleanser (which I have bought and tried), it is fairly concentrated, fragrance-free and cleans really well.

It has a similar packaging to the sold-in-Taiwan bottle. I've included a pic (on the left) so that you can recognise it. It's found in the cosmetics section in Daiso. It's usually sold out, so I usually buy at least 2 bottles when I see it.

In Taiwan, they have also have the Brush Cleaner! Unfortunately, they don't have the equivalent in Daiso yet.

I suppose they would include some conditioning properties in the Brush Cleaner, so that your makeup brushes stay soft?

I use the Daiso Puff & Sponge Cleaner on my brushes too, but I'm not sure if this makes the hair more dry and coarse. So I follow up with a conditioning shampoo as a final wash, just in case.

Mineral Makeup - Meow

Oooh... Was so happy to receive my Meow Mineral Cosmetics today in the post. Click on the hyperlink to see their website. http://www.meowcosmetics.com/ Bought samples because the shipping is cheaper. It came in a cute animal print cotton drawstring pouch, with 2 free samples!
Click on the photos, and then click on the 'expand' function to see the words on the samples.

Here are my foundation samples... all in the lightest colours (0). Took 2 photos with my Canon Digital Ixus 75.

The first photo was taken in a darker setting. The second was taken by the window in the setting sun. I chose all the lightest range. Finishing powders at the end.
They are all very light, yellow-based colours in the (0) lightness, rather suitable for Asian skin tones. I'm surprised that the colours are this light. Normally, even the lightest cosmetic store colours seem a little dark in the container.

Inquisitive Siamese (in Pampered Puss formula) seems the darkest and most brown of the lot. Even though I ordered the lightest in all the colour tones. Inquisitive Angora (in Flawless Feline formula) is the most yellowish, almost gingery yellow.
And here are the eyeshadows (top row) and blushers (bottom row) that I had ordered. Together with the free drawstring pouch!

Eyeshadows - Crouching Tiger Hidden Kitty is shockingly Goober Grape Purple! Don't know how wearable the colour is.

I love the blush colours! Peddle Pink is a bit too orangey coral for me though. But I love the cool (but not purplish) pinkness of Flirt and Tickled Pink!

Finding the Right Liquid Foundation, Part 2

Here's my posting in Cozycot Forums. It is an indication of my quest to find the right liquid foundation, and I think that (for now), the right one is Kanebo's FairCrea liquid foundation in PO-B! Makes me look fair especially when I use their FairCrea White Brightveil base in 'Lucent'.

Yesterday, 03:02 PM
Originally Posted by CherLove
ANyone tried Revue Superior Stay foundations or their MU base?
Hi, CherLove, I bought $120 worth of Kanebo items from Robinsons Raffles City over the weekend. They gave a full sized FairCrea liquid foundation (old packaging, but this is still being sold when I went to JB recently), and I got it in OC-B. This is free for Robinsons card holders. I bought their Makeup base - FairCrea White, White Brightveil in "Lucent", $62.

After trying Chanel, Clinique, Avene, IPSA and quite a few other brands, I think I like the FairCrea liquid foundation best. It depends on your skin type. Mine is combination, towards the slightly dry side. The FairCrea goes on smoothly, coverage is good, doesn't slide and looks slightly dewey and nice. Chanel Whitening is not too bad too, but thicker. What are you looking out for? For me, I need something that is fair coloured enough, does not cake up (especially around the nose), stays on thoughout the day with minimal touch up or none at all.

For the FairCrea White Brightveil, it is a makeup base / sunscreen. Comes in skin colour, green and white (the one I took). It has a bit of alcohol in side, not much, to ensure your foundation or powder will stay true. It is not bad, just started using it, but because it is slightly opaque white in colour, I find that I must blend it in when it is almost dry, to avoid patchy colour. Also, if your foundation is the matte type, it would become even more matte with this base. So to make sure foundation is blended in properly on top of the FairCrea base, I have to apply when the base is still drying, and do it quickly so that it will be smooth application.

You could try FairCrea and Revue since they are both are from Kanebo. I think the Revue is the 'shake bottle' type containing some alcohol, whereas FairCrea is in a squeeze tube. Both are liquid foundation, but the sales people have told me that Revue is for oilier skin.Hope that helps!

THanks lladyrain,it really helps!Thanks for the wonderful advice!=P

Yesterday, 04:18 PM
Dear CherLove, you are most welcome. I think it is best if you could bring small containers to get the foundation samples home to try - the colours as well as the formula. It really is trial and error, and I find that when the salesgirl puts makeup on you in the store, it looks okay, but when you buy the foundation and try it at home, it is cakey, patchy,dry, oily, doesn't stay, etc. I find it very frustrating to buy liquid foundation!

Some Kanebo counters allow you to put the foundation in your own container, some don't. I usually just quickly put some and leave. But that is if you don't mind the risk that the foundation is contaminated or dirty, cos people would have tried from it. I don't mind, cos the mistake of buying wrong foundation colour or texture is too costly!

For the makeup base samples, I have gotten the FairCrea BrightVeil base at Robinsons City Hall. You could try getting the samples from there. If you are into trying the foundation, I think the Kanebo counter at Robinsons City Hall has the best gift with purchase, plus the free FairCrea liquid foundation. Oops, I got mine in PO-B (not OC-B as previously stated). They had OC-C and OC-D when I was there last Saturday. That will be a good way to try Kanebo foundations, if you don't like it, it is still a free gift. And you could buy the makeup base or skincare stuff to top up to $120 to get the gifts. With Robinsons Card, you get the free liquid foundation plus the mirror, FairCrea samples, Kate eyeshadow (green), white bag, lip gloss and nail polish. No card, you only get the other items, no foundation.

Yesterday, 05:19 PM
Posted by soliloquy3
hi lladyrain, you tried the chanel whitening liquid foundation is it? so you would prefer Kanebo over Chanel? do you apply loose powder from kanebo as well? i'm currently using powder foundation, but thinking of changing to liquid ones

Today, 01:01 AM
Hi Soliloquy3,
Did you get the free Estee Lauder CyberWhite liquid gel creme foundation sample from Metro Paragon? You can bring your Saturday's Straits Times LIFE! section (pg 3), or just request for it by registering with them. I just got it today (Wednesday), and Thursday is the last day. It is in a small glass vial, they'll give you the colour match. Worth a try since it's free. I brought an empty container and got their CyberWhite "Radiant" formula (liquid) to try too. Turns out that the Radiant formula is whiter than the new gel creme they're promoting. Better to try both.

Yup, I've tried the Chanel Whitening liquid foundation (Blanc Essential) in 10 Beige Clair. I brought home the sample in my own container to try. I would say between the two, Kanebo's FairCrea (I use PO-B) is easier to spread than Chanel's. It's strange, cos Kanebo comes in a squeeze tube, which you'd expect to be heavy and creamier than Chanel's which comes in a glass pump bottle.

The Kanebo FairCrea is less thick, but the coverage is still rather good. Somehow it is smoother, and towards the end of the day, after sweating and running around, the Kanebo looks nice and glowy. Chanel is a bit more 'flat' in effect, even though it is supposed to be light reflecting. I think it is because it's in a matte formula. Chanel also looks okay (it lasted without touchup when I went to JB for a day trip, and that I find amazing! Cos with L'Oreal's True Match, it oxidises and slides off the face). Both Kanebo and Chanel, for this range of foundation, does not oxidise so much especially if you use a base.

For the Chanel whitening liquid foundation, the effect is much better when I used a damp sponge. I could apply a thick layer and still look okay, but if I use fingers, I have to be careful because can't blend that well. Especially when it is almost dry, when I add on more foundation, it would cake up and have obvious streak marks. And you have to be more careful in blending this foundation around the nose and upper lip area, cos it is thick!

For both, it seems to be oil free, definitely mineral oil free. The old formula Kanebo FairCrea which I got as a free item from Robinsons has mineral oil, but small amount, so it's not oily.You really have to try. Because it depends on whether your skin is Normal to Dry, Normal to Very Dry, Normal to Oily, Normal to Very Oily etc. Best is to get both Chanel (can try their different formulas) and Kanebo and go back and try. Get the one that makes your face match your neck and rest of the body. I usually would go back and put stripes of the different foundation on my face to see the colours. Then I put loose powder on half of each stripe. After about half an hour, I see how it looks. And I "pat pat" on both the powdered and non-powdered portions, and see how the foundation stays. Then you can guess how lasting the foundation would be.

For powder foundation / two way cake, I like Christian Dior's whitening range. I've been buying for a couple of years, but I don't like it scented, prefer a fragrance-free one. I heard and read that the Chanel's whitening range powder is good too. I tried it on my hand, it is rather light.For powder foundation, I find that Christian Dior's whitening powder foundation and Kanebo's FairCrea range really 'melts' into the skin and provides good coverage without looking clumpy.

I bought the Kanebo Revue loose powder, would not buy again. It has mineral oil in it, and I guess that's what makes it clump up? In the container, it looks like little beads of powder have formed. The minute I puff the powder on, it clumps up! Very irritating, especially when I tried the Fancl foundation for normal to dry skin, it made my face look diseased and dry. Sigh.

You have to be careful about applying loose powder over liquid foundation, cos this can change the colour of your face. E.g., I thought the Kanebo FairCrea was too dark on me and oxidised quickly. Later when I tried different powders, I realised that it was my MAC loose powder that oxidised or was too yellow (it is a very old powder I kept, about 3 years, heh heh...), and affected the foundation colour. Solved the problem by adding other loose powders to mix.

It is a headache. I would say, keep your powder foundation for touch ups. And continue using it while you're in search for your perfect liquid foundation! Just have to test and trial and error. Loose powder is another headache. Get the wrong one (too dry or too oily), and your eyebrow and nose area would look powdery or scaly!

Today, 01:11 AM
Forgot to add. The "stripe test" of putting foundation samples on your face is best done at night before you clean your face or shower. Don't wear it the whole day (yes you'd look strange with a streaky coloured face ). After I do the "stripe test" on my face, I'll shortlist one or two foundations that I like. The next day, I'll put it on the whole face and blend onto the neck. Loose powder on top. Then I'll test how it performs in humidity, going in and out of air conditioned areas, etc. Hope that helps!

Finding the Right Liquid Foundation, Part 1

I think getting the right liquid foundation make-up requires a lot of trial and error, perseverance, luck and a degree in Rocket Science. Make that a PhD in Rocket Science.

Almost every liquid foundation I've ventured to try on my face came out too oily/dry and too dark. I've come to the conclusion that most cosmetic brands produce orangey or pinkish foundations to cater to their main Caucasian market. The last I heard, China is the most populous country in the world. And the Asian subcontinent makes up *some* proportion of planet earth. So why on earth won't they make more natural looking, yellow based but not too yellow (we are NOT from the species Banana, thank you!) for the rest of the world. Even Europeans and Americans and all the rest that go online that are not Asian, do comment that they would prefer a more neutral and slightly yellow-based liquid foundation.

Hope that my somewhat extensive experience in trying foundation would be of help. I've long given up on buying liquid foundation without trying it out on my face first. How I do it? I take small, clean containers to cosmetic counters. And I pour in the foundation colours that I want. So that I can try them out over the course of a few days. After all,
1)If you try it in the store, where do you put on the foundation? On the back of your hand? Why, should think that very few people have such poreless, fine, 'thirsty' skin on their faces. The back of our hands don't produce much oil, so how would you know how the foundation would interact with oil?
2)The colour of your hand is not the colour of your face. Neither is your neck the colour of your face. So best to put the liquid foundation on your FACE and see if your face then matches your neck and the rest of you. (I've seen far too many heavily made up cosmetic sales people with their faces whiter than their necks. My problem is that foundation on my face looks darker than my neck and the rest of me.)



"Why of course his face is kinda white and lighter than the rest of him. He's a clown. What's your excuse?"








3)You'll need to see how the foundation blends in with your skin colour and texture when your face and neck is nice and clean, before you leave home. Notice how it looks after you've dusted some loose powder on top. Then look again how it performs after a whole day of being outside, where the foundation has a chance to be thoroughly acquainted with humidity, heat, cold, changes in temperature, dust, pollution etc.

When you've had the chance to get some foundation samples home to try, put it on after your usual moisturiser, sunscreen and primer/base routine.

What to look out for:

• Formula - is it for oily, or dry, or combination skin? Is it mineral oil-free?


• Texture - is it cream or fluid? Is it too heavy or too light? Can it blend well into your skin?


• Colour - is it too dark or too light? Too yellow / pink / orange? Does it oxidise at the end of the day?


• Coverage - is it too heavy or too light? Cakey? Does it make your pores look bigger?


• Others - is it lasting enough? Does it slide off your face? Is the make up still there at the end of the day?

My Pet Peeves:
1)I just hate it when make up oxidises at the end of the day. Sometimes, using a primer / make up base only helps to a certain extent. You should get foundation that does not turn a darker or muddy colour on you. Instead of extolling the virtues of a make up base (sold by them, of course), these cosmetic companies should be making good quality foundations that don't change colour on you. Sometimes, I wonder... do these cosmetic companies make Oxidising Liquid Foundations, so that we poor unsuspecting consumers have no choice but to add another step to our make up routine and buy yet another (pricey) product?

2)I just can't find the right colour! Everything is too dark on me. I guess the best match overall is Chanel's Light Reflecting Fluid Foundation SPF20. The lightest colour, 10 Beige Clair is by far the best colour match I've gotten so far. It's okay on the face, can look a little cakey at the end of the day. But I tried using a damp sponge to put it on, and it is a huge improvement! Guess I'll have to cough up some $$$ and get a bottle of this. Sigh, do they have to really price it so high?

In terms of texture and appearance on skin, Kanebo's FairCrea range is really good. It looks glowy and smooth on the face, can hardly see pores or blemishes, and yet is not cakey or heavy on the skin. Unfortunately, their lightest colours, PO-B and OC-B, are too dark for me. I don't understand it, how do those Japanese women achieve that pinky whiteness? I don't think you can get it from Kanebo's foundation colours. Too dark! So I will still have to get the Chanel foundation in the end.

First Posting in Cozycot - Lavshuca

Today, 04:04 PM #305 lladyrain

Join Date: Feb 2007

Location: Singapore

Posts:1

Quote:
Originally Posted by bleucheeze
pinkrevolver: i bought liquid rouge for HKD$96 in hong kong. to add on to duckiee, to get to Aster @ Mongkok, just take the Bank Centre exit at mongkok MTR station, after you come out, there is a Bodyshop on your left, and Aster is just opposite Bodyshop. HTH

Quote:
Originally Posted by duckiee
you can get it from a drugstore called Aster at Sai Yeung Choi St (next to Ladies Market). not sure on prices in Japan, but i got the blush for HKD120 (S$24).

Thanks to Bleucheeze and Duckiee for the info. I asked a friend who was travelling to HK for work, to get some Lavshuca items for me. Aster Cosmetic Centre ("Ya Shi") http://www.aster.com.hk/ sells Lavshuca but not Majolica Majorca. Places like Lung Shing Dispensary in Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui will sell Majolica Majorca but NOT Lavshuca. Mutually exclusive.

My Lavshuca haul as follows:

1)Loose Powder Foundation (it's just loose powder, don't know why they added the word "Foundation" to the name, makes it sound like a 2-way cake but it's not), in OC-B 18g, for HK$120.

2)Liquid Lips (lip gloss) in PK-2, 7g for HK$96.

3)Liquid Eye Liner in PU-1 (the one that Flecks has reviewed), 2ml for HK$96.

4)Color Control Base in WT-1, 15g for HK$85.

5)Eyeliner Pencil in BR-1 (comes with a capped smudger sponge at one end), 0.09g for HK$92.Just divide by about 5 for the price in Singapore dollars.

In response to asakura:I've asked the Metro Sengkang Kanebo sales people. They said that the Faircrea powder foundation refill case will fit into the Revue casing (and vice versa). I've read in another thread that the Kate refil can fit in also - i.e. Revue, Faircrea and Kate powder foundation cases are interchangeable. Not sure about Lavshuca refils, but seems very likely?

22-02-2007, 08:47 PM
bleucheeze
lladyrain: you're welcomed Lung Shing Dispensary sells MM? I didn't see that when i was there... anyhow, MM is really overpriced in Hong Kong. I would rather get it from Taiwan auction or CP from japan...

23-02-2007, 08:56 PM
Hi Bleucheeze, yup, Lung Shing Dispensary sells MM and Anessa sunscreen (by Shiseido, this Anessa range is available in Japan, HK and Taiwan.... it's in a clear plastic box and has "Perfect Pearly", gold version and silver version, different from what's sold in Singapore, which is in a yellow and gold cardboard box).

The Lung Shing Dispensary sells MM: liquid eyeliner at HK$105, the pen refil eyeliners, eyeshadows (singles... I didn't seem to see the Majolook when I was there) etc. Not the full range because quite a few things are sold out when I went last year, but my friend who helped me buy said that there are quite a lot of things. But sadly, no Lavshuca.

I asked my friend to get MM things from "Lan Lan Cosmetics" which is also a chain store. But the Shiseido items (MM, Anessa) are more expensive there, though they do stock a lot of nice hard to get items at the Miramar Hotel and Causeway Bay outlet. If you have time to shop around, then can go back and forth Lung Shing Dispensary and Lan Lan Cosmetics to see the price difference. Yup, Bleucheeze, you're right that MM is more expensive in Hong Kong, sometimes it's cheaper to get even in Yahoo Auctions Singapore.

Anyway, back to Lavshuca... I think it's very reasonably priced in HK, in the Aster chain shops. It is very expensive to buy Lavshuca items in Singapore, through the auctions or online shops. E.g. the make up base that I bought is about S$17. But most Singapore sellers would price it around S$32. Will rate it once I used more of the item... so far so good. The Lavshuca make up base in WT-1 is so much better than the Bourjois one. But I've yet to determine if it is as good as or better than the Ettusais (by Shiseido) Base Control Pearl.