Review: Concrete Minerals

Lately I have been falling in love with loose eye shadow.  Although I find it more difficult to work with, the range of colors and formulas seems endless: a makeup lover's dream!  It allows for truly creative looks.  Couple all of that with skin-loving ingredients and you've got Concrete Minerals.  Founded in 2009, Concrete Minerals boasts a generous line of 56+ eye shadows, both matte and shimmer, and 14 lip tints.  CM is also 100% vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, and made with pure pigments and ingredients without fillers.  

 

The above photo was shot without a flash but under artificial (indoor) lighting.  The swatches were done on dry skin without any primer or moisturizer.  The photo has not been retouched or edited/filtered in an attempt to capture the true colors.  Colors from top to bottom:  Deviant, Storm, Sweet Catrina, Brat, Blood and Guts, Black Metal

The top two colors (Deviant and Storm) were free samples included with my order of the other four, full-size shades.  Each pot contains approximately 1.5 grams of product.  Deviant and Storm are wonderfully wearable gray tones; Deviant has a shimmer while Storm is a lighter gray matte.  Sweet Catrina, the most flattering shade, is a gorgeous pink champagne color with hints of silver shimmer.  It is wonderful for blending or highlighting.  Brat is a must have for girls who love all things pink and girly: the perfect shade of shimmering magenta!  Blood and Guts is a curious shade of rusty brown with a very faint green shift/shimmer, definitely a conversation starter.  Finally, Black Metal is most accurately named.  It's a deep, dark black with a silver/gun metal shimmer that is ideal as a liner or for a sultry smoky eye. 

The above photo was taken in artificial (indoor) light, but hasn't been edited/filtered.  I used Brat, blending well, which proves that even a vibrant shade can be totally wearable for day or night.  I smudged Deviant along my lashes as a liner.

The above photo was taken in artificial (indoor) light, but hasn't been edited/filtered.  For a base shadow along the lid I used Sweet Catrina.  I used Storm for the crease and then topped it with Blood and Guts across the brow bone.  By dipping an eye liner brush in water or primer, Black Metal makes a gorgeous liner!

The Pros:

First off, these shadows are a steal for the price, just $7 per full-size pot.  Considering there is no talc or fillers, you're getting true, honest-to-goodness mineral shadows that even sensitive skinned beauties can use.  There are also various promos and coupon codes ongoing that make for an even better value.  If you want to discover a "just right" amount of shimmer, Concrete Minerals is it.  Even the brightest colors are completely flattering and shine in a "grown-up" way.  These shadows are versatile: use them dry as usual, or wet as a liner or for a more vivid look.  Lastly, the packaging is fun!  Their collectible tins will surely appeal to the consumer that craves cute and sexy on the outside.

The Cons:

To be fair, I always try to look at the ups and downs of products; however, it's difficult to complain about such a quality line.  As with any loose shadow, it can be difficult if you're used to pressed eye shadow - there's fall out during application and storage can be an issue.  With a little practice and a big plastic bin to store it all in, you'll easily avoid those minor concerns.

Overall, Concrete Minerals offers a fun and flattering line of products that are perfect for us health conscious consumers that want the total package.

Review: The Chequered Lily Apothecary

Handmade cosmetics are a wonderful way to support small business, avoid animal testing and find vegan friendly items.  Finding the cream of the crop can be tricky, but when you stumble upon a hidden gem, you know the search is worthwhile.  The Chequered Lily Apothecary, opened in 2011, offers various cosmetics, though I was focused on their 150+ eye shadow shades in various finishes and textures.  The pastry chef turned cosmetics creator touts cleanliness and ServSafe practices and labels everything to ensure you know what you're getting.

Of the countless shadows, I chose four; I was pleasantly surprised to find four complimentary samples in the pretty Alice in Wonderland-esque packaging.

The above swatches are the sample colors I received.  The picture was taken in natural light without a flash.  I do not Photoshop or filter any of the photos so as to properly represent the colors.  Additionally, these are swatched on bare skin - no primer or lotion.  The colors, from top to bottom:  #12 Snow, Glass, Apples, #64 Hyacinth, #10 Milky Way, #32 Seafoam.  #12 is perfect for a highlighter shade and brightens brow bones or the inner corner of the eyes.  There's a subtle shift in color from silvery white to pale blue and even green.  #64 is a princess perfect pastel purple.  #10 appears deep purple or gray depending on the lighting.  #32 is a surprisingly wearable pastel mint green to gold shift.

The colors I purchased from left to right: #128 Grimoire, #137 Midnight Show, #117 Moving On, #07 Caterpillar.  Each container holds 1 gram of product.  #128 is my favorite of the bunch.  Depending on how it is applied, tapped versus brushed or smudged, it can appear purple, magenta, brown or bronze.  It is gorgeous for a unique, smoky eye look.  #137 is a vivid dark purple, navy blue shift.  #117 cannot be photographed properly; this amazing, peachy gold color is so sparkly and is beautiful as a highlighter on cheekbones.  #07 is a pale gold, yellow, green that makes a fun base shade for any pastel look.

The Pros:

I am always pleased when handmade cosmetics are so meticulously made.  Allergy warnings, ingredients, uses - all labeled clearly.  In addition, vegan and non-vegan products are kept separate to avoid contamination.  The shades are all vivid and highly pigmented, offering great color payoff at just $6.50 per pot.  There are so many colors to choose from, you're bound to find something to your liking.

The Cons:

If you're not a fan of loose shadow and prefer pressed, you won't find it at The Chequered Lily.  The packaging doesn't allow for stacking (e.g. interlocking lids or bottoms) so it'll test your storage space.  The darker shades, namely #128 and #137 can cause a bit of staining on the skin, but are easily removed with makeup remover.

Beautiful, well made and affordable: Take a trip through the looking glass and see what The Chequered Lily Apothecary has for you.

Review: My Beauty Addiction Cosmetics

I have a tiny obsession with lipstick, stains, glosses, etc.  I find lip cosmetics a simple way to update your look in a flash.  In my never ending search for fun and fabulous lip colors, I am always pleased when I stumble upon cruelty-free brands that offer various formulas and tons of color options.  I was delighted to find 5-year-old handmade brand MBA Cosmetics.  With over 600 items to choose from including eye shadow, body products and, of course, lipsticks galore, I was sold.  Lip sticks and glazes range from $4.75 to $7.50 - how affordable!  Not to mention bundle specials (5 for $20 on Sugar Babies? Yes, please!).

As pictured above, I purchased the Whipped Soap Souffle in "Hello Sugar," Petite Lip Paint in "Burlesque," and Sugar Babies in "Breathless."  The "Passionfruit" loose shadow was a freebie sample.  The souffle is the consistency of room temperature butter, all creamy and smooth.  The first two ingredients, glycerin and almond oil, are incredibly moisturizing and leave skin feeling soft even without a separate moisturizer.  Delicious!  But onto the cosmetics...

The HD lip paints are described as being the most highly pigmented lipsticks of the bunch.  Velvety smooth and hydrating, they offer superb, opaque coverage with a semi-matte finish.  The photo above is "Burlesque" and was taken in natural light, no flash and no filtering or editing has been done.

The Pros:

This little tube is packed with pigment and feels wonderfully smooth on the lips - no dry out!  I got wonderful coverage from just one coat and didn't feel the need for a lip liner.  There are so many colors to choose from; novelty colors like brilliant green and banana yellow, and nudes and pinks galore.  There are also various forms of the lip paint.  You can purchase the same formula in a tube or in a pot for application with a brush.  Depending on what you choose, prices range from under $5 to $7.50.  For the price, this is a must have.

The Cons:

The main issue for this lipstick is staying power.  Because this is a very hydrating formula, you may not get the longest lasting wear without a lip primer.  If cutesy packaging is a must for you, this very functional brand may not initially catch your eye - however, it appears from some of the photos on the seller's site that the packaging may be getting an upgrade to sleeker black tubes.

The aptly named Sugar Babies apply like a gloss but deliver the pigmentation of a lipstick.  They smell like a sugary vanilla cupcake and offer a shiny, non-sticky finish.  The photo above is "Breathless" and was taken in natural light, no flash and no filtering or editing has been done.  Depending on how the light hits it, it's a dark, stormy gray/blue/purple.

The Pros:

They smell sweet enough to eat and come in an amazing selection of colors.  Given the reasonable price tag, I wanted to try a color I'd never consider otherwise.  This jojoba oil based gloss is not sticky, yet delivers lots of shine.  This formula mixes easily with other lip glosses to boot!  At just $4.75 I could easily see myself stocking up on many of the colors available.  The coverage is quite impressive for a gloss, though not quite what I'd consider a liquid lipstick.

The Cons:

Again, don't let the simple packaging fool you - unless simple packaging just isn't doable for your personal collection.  This particular color, "Breathless," does temporarily stain my lips, but can be wiped away easily with makeup remover or plain old cleanser and water. 

If color and value are important to you, look no further than MBA Cosmetics.  I am quite sure I'll be placing another order in the near future.