A Look Using Gold Mineral Liner and Neutral Eyes

Here's a look using gold mineral shadow wetlined on the upper lashline. I love how versatile mineral liners are, because they can be as dramatic or subtle as you want them to be. You can wetline it if you want a more dramatic effect, or applied dry for a sultrier, smokified effect. This time, I used Tansy from Aromaleigh's Spring Solstice collection as the liner.

As you may notice, I've also been playing with my Cory mineral blushes, and I am kicking myself for not trying all my sample blushes earlier. They are gorgeous!! I am really interested in acquiring full sizes of these, as they are breathtaking even in real life. They also last the whole day on the cheeks. Best of all, if you are just going to get the samples (which are dirt cheap), they last a pretty long time, because a crumb or two are all you need for one application.

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


Apply MAC Butternutty shadestick all over lid and on lower lashline. Smooth with finger. Apply Luster foiled on the lid using MAC Fix+ Rose using a stiff shader brush (I used Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8").


Using the same brush, apply Party Dress dry on the crease and outer V just to brighten up the area and create gold undertones. Blend with the MAC 224 brush.


Using a fluffy shader brush, apply Viburnum dry on the crease, blending into Party Dress. Blend carefully.




Apply Ambre using the stiff shader brush to blend with Viburnum. Apply more of the latter to contour the crease. Blend with the 224. Using Sonia Kashuk's bent eyeliner brush, mix Tansy with a spritz of MAC Fix+ Rose until it turns into a thin paste. Carefully apply on upper lashline.


Like so


Apply mascara. Apply Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero to tightline and on waterline.









Face:
Monistat gel as primer
MAC Prep + Prime refined skin zone
Earthen Glow mineral foundation in Yuan Yuan
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil conealer
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Aromaleigh ultra resolution finishing powder in Translucent
Cory mineral blush in Justice

Lips:
Jordanna lipliner in Tawny
MAC lipstick in Viva Glam V
MAC dazzleglass in Smile

Aromaleigh Mineral Makeup: Spring Solstice Shadows and Gothic Lolita Rouge

It's obvious that Aromaleigh's one of my favorite mineral makeup companies. I love vibrant mineral pigments, shadows and blushes, and Aromaleigh does deliver in that department consistently. There are other mineral companies that I love, but I particularly like Aromaleigh for its mineral pigments. Here are the new ones I'd acquired full sizes and mini jars of.





I love the colors from the Spring Solstice because the shades have a great mix of springy fresh colors and neutrals. This is unfortunately a limited edition collection, but don't worry, Aromaleigh is churning out lots more collections with different colors and textures, and you're bound to find something that is similar to those found in this bunch. ;-)





Also, remember these Gothic Lolita Rouge blushes? These are the best blushes from Aromaleigh that I've tried; the pigmentation and finish are just amazing. As I said, Rococo is a better version of NARS Orgasm on my skin. It gives a pretty peachy-pink flush that is just alluring. I am glad I got mini jars of these blushes that I can play with.

Watch out for looks using these gorgeous minerals!

Pinks and Reds Using Aromaleigh Spring Solstice and Coastal Scents

I played with some more of my Aromaleigh Spring Solstice collection shadows, and I really like the colors, the texture and finish. I am waiting for my order of several full sizes of these eye shadows, as well as mini-jars of the Gothic Lolita Rouge blushes that I am really in love with.



The picture of the Rouges are shown above, and in this look, I used Dolly. All these are amazing, gorgeous colors. I can't wait to get my mini-jars because I know I will be using these often.



I also used some of the colors in the Coastal Scents 28 palette. See the photo above for reference when reading the tutorial.



In this look, I also used my new Joppa mineral foundation in Medium Light 2.5, and just as expected, it is just the perfect shade. Love the flawless finish, amazing coverage and texture.

Lastly, I used Adorned With Grace Minerals' sample of their new lipgloss LG9 (tester name). In the previous entry, I showed the lipgloss and lip tint samples I got from Adorned With Grace. I really love the shimmer in these glosses, and the scent and taste are great as well. Here's a step-by-step illustration. All products Aromaleigh unless otherwise noted.


Apply MAC Butternutty shadestick all over lid and browbone and lower lashline. Blend with finger. Apply MAC Fresco Rose paint pot on the lid using a fluffy shader brush.


Using MAC 239 brush (used 239SE), apply Candytuft wet on the lid using MAC Charged Water.


Like so.


Using a small fluffy shader brush, apply Nasturtium dry on the crease and outer V.


Using the same brush, apply Hemlock dry to tone down the red color.


Apply tape on the edge of the lid. Using the same brush, apply Godetia on the crease. Using Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Shadow A from the 28 Neutral palette (see photo above). Blend the colors together using the MAC 224 brush.




Take off the tape and blend the colors with the 224 in order to soften the harsh border lines. Using Stila brush no. 5, apply Shadow B from the 28 Neutral palette.


Apply Candytuft on inner lower lashline, and Godetia on outer lower lashline using Sonia Kashuk mini crease brush. Apply MAC Blacktrack fluidline on upper lashline. Apply MAC technakohl liner in Graphblack to tightline and on waterline. Apply Red Cherry false lashes #15.









Face:
Monistat gel as primer
MAC Prep + Prime Refined Skin Zone on t-zone
Joppa full coverage mineral foundation in Medium Light 2.5
MAC Studio Sculpt concealer in NC20
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
DreamWorld whipped cocoon in Whipped Strawberries (silk finishing powder)
Coastal Scents 6 Piece Contour and Blush palette to contour
Aromaleigh Gothic Lolita Rouge blush in Dolly

Lips:
MAC tinted lip conditioner in Pink Fish
MAC lipliner in Whirl
Adorned With Grace lipgloss in LG9 (tester name)

Spring Greens Using Aromaleigh Spring Solstice Shadows

Here's a look using Aromaleigh's Spring Solstice eyeshadows from the samples that I got a few weeks ago. Before I do that, don't forget to enter Aromaleigh's contest to get a chance to win a full set of full sized jars of Aromaleigh's Spring Solstice collection. CLICK HERE for the mechanics of the contest.

Here's a step-by-step illustration on this springy look. All items Aromaleigh products unless otherwise indicated.


Apply MAC Butternutty shadestick all over lid, brows, and lower lashline. Smooth product on the lid with finger. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply Greenstroke paint pot on lid. Doesn't have to be perfect.


Using a flat, stiff shader brush like the MAC 239, apply Greenbrier on the lid foiled using MAC Charged Water.


Using the other side of the same brush, apply Heartleaf on the inner to mid-lid dry using quick patting motions.


Apply Chantal dry on the outer V using another shader brush. Blend into the other shadows using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush.




Apply BackinBlack on the crease and outer V dry sparingly using a stiff shader brush and blend the colors together using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush. Using the MAC 224 brush, apply MAC Brule shadow on the borders of the shadows above the crease to blend out harsh lines. Apply a matte highlighter to the browbone.


Line eyes using MAC Penultimate liquid liner in Rapidblack. Apply Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero to rim eyes. Using MAC 316 brush, apply Trillium on inner lower lashline, and Chantal on outer lower lashline. Apply Revlon false lashes in Intensifying. Apply mascara.













Face:
Monistat gel as primer
MAC Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone mattifier and pore reducer
Earthen Glow mineral foundation in Yuan Yuan
MAC Studio Sculpt concealer in NC20
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
DreamWorld Whipped Cocoon (silk finishing powder) in Whipped Strawberries
MAC mineral blush in Warm Soul
MAC mineralize skinfinish in Refined over blush

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Lollipop Loving
Aromaleigh lipgloss in Gosh (discontinued)

Get A Chance To Win A Full Set of Aromaleigh's Spring Solstice Collection

I just checked out how many entries have the label "Aromaleigh" here in my blog. There were 48 entries with Aromaleigh labels, and this is going to be the forty-ninth one. Forty-nine labels! That just shows how much I like this brand. Well Kristen of Aromaleigh is holding a contest where one can get a chance to win a full set of full-sized jars of Aromaleigh's Spring Solstice shadows!! I am pasting the contest mechanics prizes below:

Here's how to enter. This is a "viral" contest, in which you'll be posting about Aromaleigh and this contest on your blogs, social networks, forums you visit, myspace bulletins, facebook, vox blogs, etc, etc.

You may enter 3 times- which means that you can post about this event in three different places. To enter, make your post in your blog/forum/community/etc of choice, which has to include a link to http://www.aromaleigh.com home page, or the Spring Solstice collection page: http://www.aromaleigh.com/nespsoliedey.html

Then, come back to the contest post at our WORDPRESS BLOG and leave a comment including where you posted your entry and the link.

Please use your real email address when you post (no one else can see this info but me) so that I can get in touch with you when we do the contest drawing. If you enter a bad email address, and you win- then I can't get in touch with you. Capicé?

What do you need to post to have a valid entry? Something about Aromaleigh. Perhaps why you like it and why you want to win this contest. Let others know about the contest so that they can have a chance to check it out, too. And you've got to include the url.

I'll go and check each entry to validate it, and in the very beginning of April, I will collect all entries and hold a video drawing that will be posted on my You Tube channel and here, in which I draw 5 winners. You'll see it happen, real-time~!

So let's get started... this is a fabulous chance to win one of five FULL SIZED sets of the Spring Solstice collection! This is a big dollar value item, and we've got FIVE of them to give away! So let's start spreading the word about this contest and Aromaleigh.

This contest is open to customers worldwide!

So why do I want to win the Spring Solstice set? As I said in a previous entry, they are so pretty and the finish and texture are awesome. They are not as metallic as the Opulent Lustres (thank God!), and they have almost the same beautiful finish as the Valentine 2009 shadows that I loved. Watch out for Spring Solstice look that I will be posting soon.

Other reasons why I love Aromaleigh? Check out the forty-nine Labels here on my blog. (At the bottom of this entry are my tags. Click on the "Aromaleigh" one.) I think all those entries are a testament that I just don't pretend to be a fan of Aromaleigh in order to win this contest.

You have a chance to win too! Spread the word via your own blogs, makeup forums, and your Facebook or MySpace pages. So what are you waiting for? Just follow the instructions and you're good to go!

Aromaleigh Haul: Valentine Shadows, Spring Solstice and Ultra Resolution Powder

As always, Aromaleigh has tempted me to put in another order because I just freakin' love their products. The Valentine 2009 shadows were on sale (they were deeply discounted, though I don't exactly remember by how much), so I snagged the last few ones that I had been lemming for. I got Fervor, described on the site as "cool brown with a heart of pink roses, and bright sparks of copper", Wine & Dine, "wine and rich garnet tones apply like silk with the slightest copper iridescent highlight tone", and Heart and Soul, "sheer, easy to wear vivid magenta with sparks of pink; can be foiled for more intense application." Then since my order reached $30, I got a free full size Pure Hue in Tea Rose. My favorite from this haul is Heart & Soul. It is such a pretty vivid pink. I swatched them for an entry from way back, but here they are again:









These are much more "alive" in real life. I swatched these using just the samples, so I was scrimping on the pigments and wasn't swatching them as heavily as I would have liked, resulting in some washed out swatches. Don't be fooled by these - the shadows can be as soft or as vivid as you want them to be, depending on the heaviness of the application or if they were to be applied foiled or dry. Either way, these are gorgeous.



My Spring Solstice shadow samples are here! They are so pretty and the finish and texture are awesome. They are not as metallic as the Opulent Lustres (thank God!), and they have almost the same beautiful finish as the Valentine 2009 shadows that I loved. These are amazing colors and I can't wait to play with these. Watch out for looks and swatches using the Spring Solstice collection!



Lastly, my full size Ultra Resolution finishing powder (URFP) in English Rose has arrived, and I am super stoked. As I had mentioned in previous entries, this is Aromaleigh's version of the high definition finishing powder but better because they come in tinted forms. The ingredients and effect are similar to those of the high definition (HD) powders you see on the mainstream market today, like the highly-coveted Make Up Forever HD Microfinish Loose Powder. Aromaleigh has the edge, I think, because it offers four variants of these. The Clear variant is for those who have light to medium skintones, the Translucent for those who are darker-complected, and they added two new shades that emit a subtle glow: "Peaches & Cream" (a perfectly proper pinky peach) and "English Rose" (a tender cool pink, like blushing cheeks) that give a radiant look with just the lightest touch of color on the face. A light dusting of this leaves my skin with a radiant luminosity, reducing the appearance of large pores and imperfections, giving a beautiful soft-focus effect. Now, my four variants of the URFP are complete!



Love each one of these! I enjoy interchanging them together with my cream toppings from DreamWorld Minerals. I get a kick out of choosing which finishing powder I should use for the day (Hmmm...finishing powder with silica? With clay? With clay and silica? With silk powder?). The possibilities are endless and each has a different function that caters to my skin's needs for that day. Clay soaks up excess oil, silica blurs imperfections, and silk powder is self-adjusting; it's able to absorb or release moisture as the skin needs, and gives the skin a soft, satiny, luxurious feel). And that is why I really love these small mineral makeup companies - the skin relishes in each natural, paraben-free product that they offer.