Adorned With Grace Minerals Premium Small Duo Fiber Brush Review

I have had the opportunity to try Adorned With Grace Minerals' Premium Small Duo Fiber brush that is best used for glows and highlighters, but it can also be used for mineral or pigmented blushes. I am such a sucker for glows and highlighters because they say that the illusion of dewy (as opposed to greasy) skin makes it look youthful (hence the term "youthful glow"). I have a lot of mineralize skinfinishes from MAC that impart this glow, as well as different kinds of beauty powders and loose mineral glows that I often use on top of blushes or on the cheekbone.

However, the brushes I used for highlighters have big heads that are not really ideal to apply glows just on the cheekbones or to a very small area of the face. Highlighters and glows are not supposed to be used all over the face, or else you will look like a discoball. That's why it is important that a duo fiber brush with a small head is used to apply glows. MAC probably thought that it was sensible to create a baby sister for the 187, hence the 188.


MAC 187 compared to Adorned With Grace small duo fiber brush


L-R: Adorned With Grace small duo fiber, MAC 187

Adorned With Grace's small duo fiber brush is an almost dupe for the 188 for half the price. I have tried Adorned With Grace's version and I personally like it. The handle is sturdy and is not made of flimsy plastic; it is made of wood and the ferrule is made of aluminum. I really like the head - the hairs are not too sparse that the head becomes flimsy, nor is the head too dense. It has just the right amount of duo fibers to properly apply glows or pigmented blushes. I have washed this brush and I am happy to note that the fibers didn't splay or went out of shape. It also didn't shed, which is what I hate the most about makeup brushes.

I guess the best part is the price. It is only $16.99 on the Adorned With Grace website and of course is significantly cheaper than the 188.

The Shades Of U Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Franchesca of Adorned With Grace has really good minerals (I personally have bought several foundations, eyeshadows and shimmer blushes or glows from her), and I am glad that she has this new brush to complement her wide array of quality minerals.

Check out the brush and Adorned With Grace Minerals at www.adornedwithgrace.com

Note: A sample was provided by a representative of the company.

Greens and Olives Using L'Oreal HIP Eyeshadow Duo

Here's a green and olive look using L'Oreal HIP Eyeshadow Duo in Gunmetal. I've been a long-time fan of L'Oreal's HIP line (short for High Intensity Pigments), but I've never been able to create a lot of looks using these because I've only had that beautiful peacock blue/teal duo in Showy. Gunmetal is another great duo from L'oreal. True to its name, the pigments are intense and apply easily; blending was a cinch as well. I love the dark blue and the olive in this duo since I love green eye looks.



I also used the green mineral eyeshadow from Adorned With Grace Minerals called Exuberant. I applied it dry and it was quite pigmented even without foiling.

Here is a step by step. All products L'Oreal unless otherwise stated.


Apply Urban Decay primer potion all over the lid and lower lashline. Apply MAC paint pot in Moss Scape on lid. Using a stiff shader brush like the MAC 239, apply Adorned With Grace mineral shadow in Exuberant dry on lid in quick patting motions.


Using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply the olive side of Gunmetal on outer V.


Using the same brush, apply the dark green side of Gunmetal on crease.


Blend with the MAC 224.

Pinks and Purples Using Mineral Shadows and Blushes

I was able to get some samples of the beautiful Les Papillons eyeshadow collection from Aromaleigh. I had high hopes for these shadows, and they didn't disappoint. The colors are beautiful, the pigmentation rich. In fact, these babies are hella pigmented. In the look below, I used the Aromaleigh eyeshadows dry, and yet they stayed vibrant on my lid for hours and even withstood a long nap.



Here are the four eyeshadows I will be using for this look. Flying Flower is described on the Aromaleigh site as "A joyful cool frosted pink with soft violet highlight and sparkles of copper. Silvery metallic heart." Dormant Dream is "dramatic and vivid fuschia purple with a metallic heart and pearl frost finish (A customer requested a "Gucci" purple, and this is the result!)". Fragile Charms is "a muted mauved purple with fuschia and burgundy undertones. Slight blue highlight, silvery metallic smoothness and brilliant diamond glints", and Emergent Beauty is "The deepest pearlescent mauved burgundy with smoke tones, deep metallic red and sparkles of russet and aqua." I love the names of the products, and Kristen's descriptions are out-of-this-world!

Here's a step-by-step. All eye products Aromaleigh unless otherwise stated.


Apply MAC Butternutty shadestick all over lid and lower lashline. Using a fluffy brush, apply MAC paint pot in Fresco Rose on lid.


Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" brush, apply Flying Flower dry on lid.


Like so.


Using the other side of the same brush, apply Dormant Dream on outer V.


Using the Sonia Kashuk premium blender brush (black handle), gently blend the edges of the shadows.


Using the Loew Cornell shader brush, apply Fragile Charms on the outer-most part of the lid.


Blend all harsh lines with the SK premium blender brush.




Using the Loew Cornell brush, apply a tiny bit of Emergent Beauty on the crease, and add more Flying Flower and Dormant Dream as necessary. Blend with the SK blender brush.


Using the Stila No. 5 brush, apply a pearly light pink shadow to highlight.


Using Sonia Kashuk bent eyeliner brush, apply MAC Blacktrack fluidline on upper lashline.


Rim eyes (waterline and tightline) with Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero. Using the MAC 219 brush, apply Flying Flower on inner lower lashline, and Emergent Beauty on outer lower lashline. Apply Red Cherry false lashes #503. Apply mascara.







Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Cory mineral foundations in Beyond Cream
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil concealer
Bare Escentuals Well Rested mineral concealer
Lumiere all over face enhancer (Radiance) in Island Sands
MAC Taupe blush to contour
Lumiere veena blush in Violaceous
Adorned With Grace mineral shimmer blush in Dainty over blush

Lips:
Estee Lauder artist's lip pencil in Tawny Writer
MAC lipstick in Aristo-chic
MAC dazzleglass in Money, Honey

Earthy Shimmery Eye Look Using Aromaleigh Mineral Eyeshadows

In a recent sale of Aromaleigh, I snagged these gorgeous earth-toned shimmery shadows called Satin Petals Frost. This is one of my favorite eyeshadow collections from Aromaleigh, mostly because of the amazing texture and pigmentation. Satin Petals Frost gives a satiny sheen that is very pretty without going overboard. I bought full sizes of the ones I was eyeing, because they were on sale at 45% off retail price. I am very particular about my mineral shadows- I want pigment, I don't want all-shimmer-zero-color-payoff mica bombs. Aromaleigh is one of those select mineral makeup brands that deliver. The shadows remain vibrant even without foiling; all they need is a good eyeshadow base. Second, the texture is very smooth, not gritty like some mineral shadows I've tried, and they glide like butter on the skin. Their range of colors is also mind-boggling- so many finishes, textures, colors, highlights and lowlights to choose from - just perfect for an eyeshadow 'ho like me. :D Most of all, I like how quick the turn-around-time is with this brand. I get my products usually in three business days, and for someone as impatient as I am, quick shipping (coupled with great quality products and accurate order processing) is high up on my list in choosing products that I fork out hard-earned money for.





Above are some swatches of the full sizes I got. I bought neutral colors that can be used as an all-over lid color. I also bought some darker ones that can be used as crease colors. Amaryllis is a beautiful terracotta color with taupe lowlights and copper highlights. I used this as my crease color for this look. I also used Balsam, a cool muted brown with grey tones. Foxglove is a lovely all-over lid color, a silvery pearl taupe.


I was glad to use one of my favorite mineral blushes, Lumiere Fresh Roses.




I used some of the most amazing glows/shimmer blushes I've tried, mineral or otherwise. These are from Adorned With Grace Minerals. For this look, I applied Glamorous.


I also used my favorite bronzey lipstick from MAC, Brave New Bronze.


I used my beloved coral bronze lipgloss from Jouer, Pink Sand.

Here is a step-by-step. All eye products Aromaleigh unless otherwise stated.


Apply MAC Butternutty shadestick all over lid and browbone, brows and on the lower lashline. Blend with finger. Apply MAC Layin' Low paint pot on the lid using a fluffy shader brush. Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" brush (or MAC 239 brush), apply Foxglove on the lid using MAC Charged Water.


Using the same brush, apply Balsam dry on crease.


Using the same brush, deepen the crease by applying Amaryllis. Blend with the 224 brush.


Apply a little Ivy on the outer V.


Blend with the 224.




Using the same brush, apply a little Willow (not in pic) on the outer V. Blend the colors together using the 224.


Highlight the browbone using a light beige eyeshadow.


Line upper lashline using Indelible gel liner in Tanzanite. Apply mascara. Rim eyes with Urban Decay 25/7 kohl liner in Zero.


Apply Balsam on lower lashline.





Face:
Monistat gel as primer
MAC Prep + Prime Refined Skin Zone on t-zone
Shills Natural Science BB Cream SPF 30 (review coming soon!)
Earthen Glow Minerals in Helena over Shills
Urban Decay pencil concealer
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
DreamWorld whipped creme in Butterscotch (finishing powder)
Lumiere mineral silk blush in Fresh Roses
Adorned With Grace Minerals Glamour glow (shimmer blush) on top of Fresh Roses

Lips:
Soft Lips lip balm
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Brave New Bronze
Jouer lip gloss in Pink Sand

Orange Kiwi Smoothie Look Using Aromaleigh Mineral Eyeshadows

Here's an orange-kiwi smoothie look using some of my lovely Aromaleigh mineral eyeshadows. I used Tigrilla and Cricket from the limited edition L'orchidee collection, Amarante from the Bete Noire collection, and Holy Grail Pure Hue eyeshadow. I went to the MAC counter wearing this, and two MAC MAs complimented me on the look. I really love the combination of colors, and I think this would be one of my favorite looks.

Here's a step-by-step illustration. All items Aromaleigh unless otherwise noted.


Apply Urban Decay primer potion all over lid, brows, lower lashline. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply MAC paint pots in Perky on inner lid, and Greenstroke on outer lid.


Using a stiff shader brush (MAC 239 or Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8", apply Tigrilla dry on inner lid.


Using another stiff shader brush, apply Cricket dry on middle of the lid.


Using the same brush, apply Amarante dry on outer lid.




Using the same brush, apply Holy Grail dry on the outer V and crease. Blend the colors in quick, sweeping motions in one direction with the MAC 217 brush.


Apply a light gold eyeshadow on the browbone using Stila brush no. 5.


Using a Loew Cornell American Painter 4300 taklon brush, apply Tigrilla damp on inner lower lashline. Wipe color down using a wet wipe, take Cricket and apply on mid lower lashline, and Holy Grail on outer lower lashline.


Like so.


Apply MAC Blacktrack fluidline on upper lashline. Apply Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero to tightline and on waterline. Apply Red Cherry falsies #66. Apply mascara.















Face:
Monistat gel as primer
MAC Prep + Prime Refined Skin Zone on t-zone
Joppa mineral foundation in Medium Light 2.5
Urban Decay 24/7 concealer on undereye area
Dayna's Rested mineral concealer on undereye area
Aromaleigh Ultra Resolution finishing powder in Peaches & Cream
6-piece contour blush palette to contour
10-piece blush palette

Lips:
Softlips lip balm
MAC lipstick in Lightly Ripe
MAC lipglass in Live & Dye