Buff'd Mineral Foundation, Blush, Bronzer, Highlighter Swatches & Review

If you check out My Comprehensive Review of Mineral Foundations I've Tried, you would know that I've tried over 20 mineral makeup brands. I love mineral makeup on my face because I have sensitive, acne-prone skin, and mineral makeup is one of the purest and gentlest on the face in the market today. I included Buff'd Mineral Cosmetics in my comprehensive review, and it was (and still is) one of my favorite mineral foundations. But first, let me show you some Buff'd mineral products and swatches.

Buff'd Illuminating Dust in Candlelight

Golds and Bronzes Using MAC Eyeshadows

Here's some golds and bronzes using my MAC stash. I love how bright the gold is, but the bronze and browns tone it down to look like almost neutral.






I used Gold Mine on the lid, Tempting on the crease, and Bronze on outer V and to contour crease.



A couple of weeks ago, I received this brand-new in box Graphic Brown fluidline that I bought from this girl in a MAC makeup community. Graphic Brown is limited edition, and this is my most favorite fluidline of all, aside from Blacktrack. It is the perfect, most gorgeous chocolate brown liner with subtle flecks. I had used up mine and this is my second jar, and so glad I was able to snag it for cheap. I used this for this look.


I used Brave New Bronze lipstick from the Style Warrior collection.



I also used my Buff'd mineral foundation in Almond. I love how smooth the finish is, and it also brightens up the face. Best of all, being pure minerals, it's all natural, without preservatives, parabens, bismuth, and anything that can irritate the skin or clog the pores.

All products MAC unless otherwise stated.


Apply Bare Canvas paint all over lid, brows, and lower lashline. Smooth product on the lid with finger. Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" or the 239 brush (stiff shader brush), apply Gold Mine on lid in patting motions.


Using the 224 brush, apply Tempting on the crease.


Using Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Bronze on outer V and crease, blending into Tempting.


Apply more Tempting using the 224 if necessary, blending all the crease colors quick, one-direction sweeping motions.




Using the Sonia Kashuk bent eyeliner, apply Graphic Brown fluidline on upper lashline.


Using the 227 brush, apply Ricepaper on browbone, and using the Coastal Scents mini detail brush, apply Ricepaper on inner corners. Apply Fascinating eye kohl on lower lashline. Using the mini-detail brush, apply Gold Mine on the inner lower lashline, and Bronze on outer lower lashline. Apply mascara.







Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Buff'd mineral foundation (original formula) in Almond
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil concealer
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
DreamWorld Whipped Cocoon (silk finishing powder) in Whipped Strawberries
MAC blush in Other Worldly

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Brave New Bronze
MAC dazzleglass in Smile

Coastal Scents 28 Piece Neutral Palette Look

Before I go to the main topic, here is my Valentine's day haul from MAC. Hubby gave me some cash as a Valentine's day gift, so I went back and got some stuff that I'd been eyeing from MAC. I added Strayin' lipstick to the Hello Kitty items I got because I've seen amazing looks using it. I am glad I got it because it is really such a pretty color, and very pigmented too (unlike the other Hello Kitty lipsticks I've seen). I also got the 228 brush for detailed eye work, and this is pretty similar to the Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 1/4", although the 228 is more paddle-shaped. This would be great for smudging and for applying color on those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. I also got Brule, which looks boring in the pan but works amazing as a blender color or as a transition color for gradient hued looks.









I am showing the products because I used Strayin' and the 228 for the look and tutorial below.



I've had this palette for a month or so now and it's very versatile, as I'm sure a lot of you know by now. Some of the shades are chalky, but some have quite nice finishes and are pretty pigmented. For the price, it's pretty much worth it, as long as you use a good base. Here's a step-by-step illustration of the look. Please refer to the photo of the palette (see above) for the particular shadows used.


Apply MAC Beige-ing shadestick all over lid, brow and lower lashline. Using MAC 252 brush, apply Shadow A all over lid up to browbone.


Using MAC 228, apply Shadow B on inner corners.


Using the Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" (or the MAC 239), apply Shadow C packed on the lid.


Using MAC 224 brush, apply Shadow D on crease using windshield wiper motions.


Using the bigger Essence of Beauty crease brush, apply Shadow E on the crease, going down to create a V.


Using MAC 226 brush, blend out Shadow E.


Using MAC 227, apply more Shadow A on the browbone. Line eyes using MAC Blacktrack fluidline. Apply Victoria's Secret kohl pencil in Black Velvet on waterline and tightline. Using the smaller Essence of Beauty crease brush, apply Shadow E on outer lower lashline. Apply Mod Lash falsies #21. Apply mascara.








close-up of Strayin'







Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Buff'd mineral foundation (original formula) in mix of Chamois and Almond
MAC Studio Sculpt concealer in NC20
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
Silk Naturals finishing powder in Date Bait
Aromaleigh Rocks! Pure Rouge blushes in mix of Breathless and Femme Fatale
MAC mineralize skinfinish in Blonde over blush
MAC Refined Golden bronzer to contour

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Strayin'
MAC cremesheen glass in Fashion Scoop

Looks Using New MAC Acquisitions (and Some Birthday pics)

So I said I would be busy this weekend for my son's birthday party. He loved Star Wars so we did a Star Wars themed party. Everybody loved it.


Darth Vader was an obvious hit


So was Princess Leia




The pinata


Face-painting


Water balloon games


Sponge game


sack races


And of course, the cake

Sorry to digress! Anyways, I was able to use some of my new MAC products, and I particularly love Soft and Gentle MSF. I compared it to Shimpagne and, though I love both, I think the warmer tones of Soft and Gentle complemented my skin better. In both looks, I used Inter-View mineralize eyeshadow; I used the dark brown shade for the crease. In both instances as well, I used my new favorite dazzleglass, Baby Sparks. I am soooo in love with the dazzleglasses. I wasn't able to get the other ones this weekend for lack of time. Here's some great news, though: you can Back-2-MAC for dazzleglasses at your local MAC free-standing store! That is, you can exchange six empties for any one of the dazzleglasses at any MAC free-standing store. That news made my day last Thursday, because dazzleglasses are more expensive than lipglasses, so it's like I got more value for my empties when I exchanged them for dazzleglasses.





Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Joppa full coverage mineral foundation in Light#3 mixed with soft coverage in Medium-Light#3
Mary Kay Signature undereye concealer in Ivory
Dayna's Rested on undereye area over Mary Kay
DreamWorld creme topping (finishing powder) in Butterscotch (clay and silica formula)
Lumiere silk blush in Mimosa
MAC Soft and Gentle MSF over blush

Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base
MAC pigment in Blonde's Gold foiled on lid
Dayna's mineral shadow in Winey on outer lid
MAC mineralize shadow in Inter-view (dark brown shade) on crease and outer V
MAC Ricepaper shadow to highlight
Almay liquid liner in Brown on upper lashline
MAC eye kohl in Teddy on waterline
Maybelline and L'oreal Voluminous mascaras

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Lightly Ripe
MAC dazzleglass in Baby Sparks




Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Buff'd Original mineral foundation in Chamois and Almond (50-50 mix)
Mary Kay Signature undereye concealer in Ivory
Dayna's Rested on undereye area over Mary Kay
DreamWorld creme topping (finishing powder) in Butterscotch (clay and silica formula)
Lauress matte blush in Delightful
MAC Soft and Gentle MSF over blush

Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base
MAC pigment in Goldenaire foiled on lid
MAC pigment in Museum Bronze on outer lid
MAC mineralize shadow in Inter-view (dark brown shade) on crease and outer V
Almay liquid liner in Brown on upper lashline
MAC Retrospeck shadow to highlight
MAC eye kohl in Teddy on waterline
Maybelline and L'oreal Voluminous mascaras

Lips:
Rimmel lipliner in Epic
Silk Naturals lippie in Jaybird
MAC dazzleglass in Baby Sparks