Why the need for Eye Shadow Base?

What are the benefits of priming your eyes before applying your mineral eye shadow? Why would you need to prime your eyes to begin with?!?

Well ... let me tell you ...........

First off mineral eye shadow are generally loose powder eye shadow, which means they need something more to adhere to than your eye lids.

Second of all , in general if you have a lids that are at all on the oily or dry side, your eye shadows may crease or may not apply smoothly.

What can you use to prime your eyes?? ... you can use your mineral foundation, concealer, or actual eye shadow primers, they all work well. Just experiment and see what works for you.

What are the benefits to priming your eyes before applying (in this case) mineral eye shadow?

1. It will aid in preventing your eye shadow from creasing (making that line in the middle of your eyelid that you can see when you blink by the middle of your day)
2. The primer is meant to create a barrier between your eye lid and the oils on them and your eye shadow. It forms a barrier and the primer absorbs the oilies from your eye lid rather than your eye shadow so it stays fresh longer.
3. A primer creates a smooth surface for you eyeshadow to adhere and apply to. Essentially making it easier to place your eyeshadow/blending them on your lid.
4. Overall a primer creates a more smooth work surface and help the minerals have something to adhere to.

I personally feel it's important to prime before applying your loose mineral eyeshadow, as well as pressed eye shadows. Not only will this step prolong the colour on your lid, but in some cases it helps in bringing out the vibrancy in certain colours amd ,even more so when foiling.

So you see, there really is a need for eye primers, maybe that should be on my list of things to attempt to make naturally ...

How to Apply Mineral Foundation

I often get asked about application tips for mineral foundations from new buyers, so I figured it might be a good idea to dedicate a post to it.

Let's get started thenwith: we know what the appropriate tools are to apply our mineral foundations ... so the obvious next step is the application.

At first it may seem a little overwhelming, but just think back to when you first started out with makeup. You had to practice a bit to make sure your foundation wasn't caked on and your bright blue eyeshadow wasn't all over your face. Well, I know I had to have a few practice sessions, although looking back now, i certainly could have use a few more "practice sessions" lol

To apply your mineral foundation you will need your kabuki brush and the lid to your foundation's jar or a shallow dish.

To start tap a few "crumbs" of your mineral foundation into the lid or your shallow dish.

• remember: with minerals less is more!! Mineral foundation is very concentrated, it's not like your tradition loose powder
• you can always add another layer if you desire, but it's much harder to take off one very thick layer of mineral foundation
• often the reason why some women find that mineral makeup cakes on their face is due to the fact that they are applying one thick layer as opposed to two thin layers to achieve the same coverage, but without the caked on look

The key to flawless mineral foundation application is THIN LAYERS. You may add as many layers as desired to achieve the coverage you want, however generally most find two thin layers to be adequate.

Now that you have your crumbs in your lid or dish, take your kabuki and swirl it in the lid in a clockwise our counter clockwise direction to disperse the minerals into your kabuki's bristles.

• No need to press down hard on your kabuki brush while you swirl, this will only damage the bristles.

Once your kabuki has picked up the minerals from your lid, gently tap the brush on a hard surface like your counter top with the bristles facing up. This ensures the minerals get deep into the kabuki brush, rather than just on the tip of the bristles.

Now your all set to apply your mineral foundation to your face.

Take your foundation filled kabuki and starting at the outer edge of your face - like your jaw bone, in a circular motion gently buff the mineral foundation from the outer edge of your face working inwards towards your nose. Repeat this till you achieve your desired coverage. You don't need to rub your brush harshly into your skin to buff in the minerals, they will disperse just the same if you buff gently. :)

At first you may need to practice once or twice to ensure your not buffing too much mineral foundation on your face to create a cakey look, but it's very simple and not any more time consuming then your usual traditional foundation & powder routine.

As always, practice makes perfect .. :) Now get to practicing !!

Top 5 Reason to try Mineral Makeup

Here is my top 5 reasons why everyone should give mineral makeup a try. There are many more reasons that I could list, I just don't want to keep you here for an hour. :)

Reason #1

• Mineral makeup does not contain any chemicals, it's made with all natural ingredients. This means that should you fall asleep with your makeup on one night, you won't wake up to clogged pores and blemishes.
  

Reason # 2

• Samples, Samples, Samples!! You can try most of my mineral makeup in little samples that won't break the bank. So really what have you got to loose?
  

Reason # 3

• Easily customize your foundation shade, by mixing your own. If one shade is too light but the next is too dark, simple mix whatever ratio of the two to achieve your shade. With every full size foundation jar, I always include a sample of another shade of foundation of your choosing.
  

Reason # 4

• Mineral makeup is great for all skin types - acne prone, dry, oily or even rosacea. Since mineral makeup contains no chemicals it's safe & works with all skin types and some even find it soothing.
  

Reason # 5

• Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are commonly found as top ingredients in mineral makeup. These ingredients provide safe & natural UVA/UVB sun protection.
  

Like I said before, there are many more reasons for everyone to try mineral makeup, but these 5 I think are my top reasons.

Mineral makeup is a much better alternative to traditional cosmetics, especially with everyone leaning towards the natural side of things.

Primers and Finishing Powders

Good News, but small problem .....

I have been working really hard this past month to get all my foundations formulating completed, and I have!! (Good News)

However, I don't have the warm and cool listed since my camera has been acting up and decided not to work any more, so no pics!! (Bad News) I'd rather not list the warm and cool foundations till I can also get pic's up.

On the brighter side though, I did manage to get my Primer & Finishing Powder listed along with the Illuminater. I am very excited about both of those, especially the Illuminater. I like the subtle glow it gives me, without looking like a grease monkey or a glitterati.

The whole idea behind the primer & finishing powder combo was the convenience. I can simply dust it on before I apply makeup, and it offers a great canvas for my mineral foundation to adhere to. After I do my makeup routine I dust my primer/finishing powder all over my face again for totally polished and shine free look. I also use it as a primer for my mineral eye shadows as well. I just sweep it over my lids as I prime my face for my mineral foundation. It works great, as I sometimes have a little oily lids. :S Ya I just admitted that ...lol .. but this keeps my shadows on and help them not crease.

The Illuminater .... I use off and on, not daily, just when I feel like it. I do LOOOVE it though. It's so subtle, but you can see the glow on your cheek bones and forehead, it just gives me this radience!! It reminds me of fall when you go outside in the morning and you see the dew glistening on the leaves.... well I feel like that's the effect this Illuminater gives me.

I'm going to work on formulating a light pink, neutral and maybe a little bit of a yellow toned Illuminater and also Finishing Powders. I am always working on more creation and the wheels just can't stop!!!! However this will all have to wait till after the holdiays, as I am going mad with all that I have to do!!

In the works right now:

Multi - Taskers
Blush
Dry Skin Primer
Oily Skin Primer
and of course more eye shadows!!

New Shimmer Eye Shadows

NEW SHIMMERING EYE SHADOWS!!!!

I just created 6 gorgeous shimmering eye shadows and their up for sale in my Bonanzle and Ecrater stores. Their all vibrant bright colours but more on the sheer side. You can control how sheer you want them by applying one layer or multiple for a deeper and brighter shade. If your really looking for drama, try them foiled (applied wet). WOW, talk about colour!!!

Samples are just $ 1.50 and shipping is always FREE .. can't go wrong with that.

Next, I will be listing cool and warm matte foundations. It took some time to formulate but they are ready to go, I just have to take some photos and they will be up.

I'm also working on some primers and finishing powders ... in the works is a dry girl primer, oily girl primer, a matte finishing powder and a hi-def finishing powder with the magical ingredient silica. As well as am "illuminater" finish powder, which will give you that dewy/glow. I am very excited as I have so many new products in the works.

MMU Supplies

I am super excited!!! I just want to jump out of my skin. I ordered my supplies Sunday afternoon, so they should be here by the end of this week at the LATEST!! So I hope. I am so impatient, and it doesn't help that I am anxious to get started working on formulas!! Can't wait to creating new and beautiful eye colours and blushes. I am going to try my hand at making foundations and veils as well. I think though, since I'm just a beginner ... maybe I should stick to the easier stuff at first. LOL Who am I kidding!! I like to jump in with both feet, I want to try everything and be done yesterday.

Also, since I have been doing nothing but research for months, and absorbing all sort of information. It makes me so much more impatient to start actually doing rather than just reading about it. At least though, I have a basic understanding of all the ingredients and how they work with each other. So I think. hahaha The jury is out on that one till I actually start to make my mineral makeup.

The only thing that I am worried about is the color theory part. I still have to get a good understanding of that stupid color wheel, it's haunting me. I know I have to learn it but I just don't want to cuz every time I try it de-motivates me cuz I just don't get how it works. People tell me it's real easy, so now I feel all silly cuz I just don't see how it all makes sense. Hopefully though, since I am a hand on kinda learner, as long as I keep good notes in theory, I should with time understand what colors make what. So wish me luck on this adventure, and I will post any and successful colors I have created.