Cosmetaholic

I started this blog out of a fun passion for trying and testing cosmetics and beauty products.  Over the past few years of writing Cosmetaholic it helped me stay connected to an industry that I one day knew I would find my way back into.  Well, the time has come - I have joined the team at Bare Escentuals! I am extremely happy and excited about my new role, however I will be dedicating the majority of my time to this new opportunity.  For now, I will be signing off in order to focus on this!

Cheers to my Cosmetaholics out there!

Kristin

Bosica created Daily Hand Revival Therapy with SPF 15 to hydrate and revitalize hands and cuticles.  This hand cream leaves them soft and fully moisturized, while protecting them from damaging UV radicals.  It also has a light, non greasy texture and is lightly scented too.

The Boscia Jujube Salve Stick is 100% natural.  It contains jujube fruit and macadamia nut oil, which encourages cell regeneration while plumping lips and smoothing fine lines.  This great lip moisturizer can also prevent lipstick from feathering and refresh any cakey concealer.

The Cover Girl Simply Ageless Concealer contains Olay Regenerist Serum which helps the formula stay suspended over find lines and wrinkles.  The concealer is good at covering imperfections and under eye circles.  It also brightens tired, dull skin.  Use a brush or you finger and blend into the area that you wish to conceal. 

The Icon FREE Conditioner is lightweight, detangles hair and leaves it feeling stronger.  It adds volume to limp or fine hair.  This conditioner is quick and easy to use.  Apply it after shampooing, work through hair and rinse.  The result is healthy hair - fast!

The Kerastase Masque Chroma Riche is a deep, hydrating moisture mask designed to keep hair healthy after color treatments.  Apply the treatment to clean, towel dryed hair.  Then masage into scalp from roots to ends and leave on for 5-10 minutes.  Rinse.  Voila! Beautiful, shiny and soft color protected hair. 

This month, I had the pleasure of receiving some tips from local, SF based Bravon Pascua.  He is a Master Global Makeup Artist with Bare Escentuals.  Read on to find out about new products and more makeup tips & tricks from one of the best in the industry.

Cosmetaholic: What are your favorite new additions to the Bare Escentuals lineup?

Bravon: bareMinerals Big & Bright Eyeliner- I love that the Big & Bright Eyeliner is infused with 100% pure bareMinerals, botanical extracts and antioxidants. The eyeliners provide this rich, longwearing color that glides on the eyelid effortlessly. Plus, the intense color will also visibly enhance the whites of the eyes for a beautiful eye-brightening effect.

bareMinerals Flawless Definition Waterproof Mascara – We just released this waterproof version in time for the summer season.  The formula provides you with flawless looking lashes every time you apply! The state-of-the art brush works like a 360 degree fine-toothed comb to separate all of your lashes for outstanding clump-free definition, length and incredible lift. The waterproof formula is tear-proof, smudge-proof & run-proof and it will stay put all day until you take it off, yet it removes easily with eye makeup remover without tugging or damaging lashes. It’s a must-have for summer or for brides too.

bareMinerals Mineral Veil SPF 25 -Mineral Veil is known as one of our ‘hero’ products. It’s our incredible face-finishing powder that will give your skin the look of airbrushed perfection, while also absorbing excess oil and minimizing the appearance of fine lines and pores. Utilizing a special micronized titanium dioxide has allowed us to add a natural SPF to our formula without compromising the translucent, feather light application and airbrushed finish. I like applying it over our bareMinerals Foundation for that added dose of SPF protection.

Cosmetaholic: What are your classic favorites and do you have any tips for using?

Bravon: My all time classic favorite is our revolutionary bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation. Every woman should try this if they haven’t already. It gives you the look of perfection: beautiful, bare skin without the look and feel of wearing a mask. To apply, you simply swirl a tiny bit into the lid (I always recommend that less is more with bareMinerals) and then tap off the excess.  The magic happens when you buff bareMinerals onto the skin. bareMinerals Foundation will work with the natural oils and warmth of your skin to impart that impeccably flawless finish.

bareMinerals Warmth All-Over Face Color is another one of my all time favorites! Warmth is that great shade, that complexion booster that will give your skin the oomph that we all need. Warmth is not a bronzer or a blush. It’s a complexion booster that will make you look healthy and vibrant. Warmth looks like beautiful color coming from within. My tip for application is to sprinkle a tiny bit in the lid and swirl with the Flawless Application Face Brush, tap off the excess, and simply apply Warmth where the sun would naturally kiss your skin.

Cosmetaholic: Can you give us some basic skincare or makeup advice that you normally give to your clients?

Bravon: Regarding facial moisturizers — don’t overdo it! Smothering your skin with moisturizer can lead to clogged pores. I recommend applying a quarter-size amount of RareMinerals Purely Nourishing Facial Moisturizer into the palm of the hand, warm it up in a circular motion with your finger tip and apply all over the face and neck blending gently to insure immediate absorption. 

Brighten the complexion with any of our beautiful bareMinerals All-Over Face Colors.  bareMinerals Radiances are slightly luminous (not glittery) and will deliver an almost imperceptible glow.  bareMinerals Clear Radiance, as well as Rose Radiance, will complement fair to medium skin tones. Tropical Radiance, as well as Warm Radiance, will complement tan to dark skin tones. Apply the preferred shade with the Tapered Blush Brush hitting the high point of the cheekbones, jaw line, forehead and down the nose. Your complexion will look magnificent!

To increase sheen on cheekbones and brow bones, I recommend using the index finger to press a pearl or slightly shimmery eyecolor over those areas, carefully blending and softening the edges. Color should translate translucent on the skin with a slight pearl shimmer. My all-time favorite bareMinerals Eyecolors that work best for creating this look are: Vanilla Sugar, Cultured Pearl and Hyacinth.

Cosmetaholic: What do you recommend that every woman should have in her makeup bag?

Bravon: Flawless Definition Mascara in Black-There’s no easier way to make your eyes pop than with rich, black mascara!

bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipcolor in Red Delicious & Parfait.  bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipcolor is a must! Wear Red Delicious for that sexy sultry look & Parfait for that everyday shade that gives lips a hint of color.

bareMinerals Mineral Veil -A must-have for quick flawless touch-ups during the day!

As I mentioned in my previous post, Vichy has made significant progress in “regenerative cosmetics.” They also have a new, energizing eye stick, Aqualia Antiox Eyes, that reduces puffiness and shadows.  It has an “ice-cube effect” that works to soothe the eyes and reduce puffiness.  The stick contains the powerful antioxidant, Citrus Polyphenol, which is a unique combination of Vitamin C and E.  Vichy also offers several other anti-aging products in addition to the eye stick, which you can view here.

Vichy’s has made progress in “regenerative cosmetics.” The new Aqualina Antiox Serum works at the heart of the skin cells through the use of two specific ingredients.  The first is Pure Citrus Polyphenol.  This is the active ingredient that is known to boost the regenerative power of stem cells against oxidative stress.  The second major ingredient is a 10% Vitamin C dose.  This comes in a powder form that you mix into the bottle when you are ready to start using it.  The 21 day result provides fewer lines and a more radiant skin tone.  It has a resurfacing effect on the skin and I find that this is extrmely useful if you struggle with hyperpigmentation.  Vichy offers several products for this in addition to the serum, which you can view here.

Hourglass has impressed me again today! The Prodigy Hydrating Lip Gloss that is new for their Spring 2010 line comes in a sleek, new packaging design.  The “tube” is actually flat and conveniently fits into the palm of the hand or a pocket of a clutch.  The packaging and design by Hourglass is unique and amazing, but let’s not forget what is inside! The gloss is extremely moisturizing and silky too!  As I have mentioned before, I have extremely dry lips and this gloss has made them so much better by using Vitamin E in the gloss.  It comes in 6 different colors and I tried the Surreal color, which has a high shine and golden shimmer.   This is one innovative, new product that is a must-have in my cosmetic bag!