Monave Cosmetics : You look like yourself, only Better !!

Everytime I use mineral makeup I fall in love with the results they give - A natural look which lasts the whole day. I do not have to worry about breakouts or reaction because the formulations are all  pure, healthy, free of preservatives and chemicals, vegan and gluten free. Today I will be reviewing yet another range of mineral makeup - Monave was kind enough to send me few products to try - Let's see what I got -- 

• Monave - Face Illuminizer
• Monave Mineral Blush -  Color Desert Rose 
• Monave Mineral Bronzer - Color Rum
• Monave Lip Glaze - Color Bordeaux

Before I get started, A bit about the company ---

About Monave:

The Monavé line of mineral cosmetics includes lip glosses, lipsticks, blush, eye liners, bronzers, mineral makeup foundation, as well as naturally formulated facial skin care and natural hair care products.

Mineral Makeup by Monavé is makeup that you can trust. Full ingredient disclosure reveals a product line based in whole, organic botanical ingredients, and completely gluten-free formulas that are 95% vegan. Monavé has never engaged in animal testing, and chooses the highest quality mineral makeup ingredients, not simply for the press, but for the health and performance of the products. As always, all products are free of paraben preservatives, dyes, and bismuth oxychloride. Monave Mineral Makeup also believes that all women deserve high quality, natural makeup, so Monavé has a wide array of shades for all complexions, lifestyles and ages.

Mineral Makeup by Monavé was awarded first place in The Natural Solutions magazine 2009 Beauty with a Conscience awards!

 
My Experience with the Products -

• Face Illuminizer  --

        
This product is my favorite - It comes as a finely milled powder in a screw cap jar. When I inspected the powder for the first time I thought - This is like any other mineral foundation. I remember using this powder on my friend on her engagement day and It worked amazingly !! The product works best as a setting powder. I set the liquid foundation with this powder which gave best results. The powder sets into the skin to give that natural glowy skin look - It is not "glittery" in the sense that the product adds a radiance and soft look to your skin Without adding glitter. The product does not give that shimmery look like highlighters give but a subtle natural glow look upon application. The powder is very finely milled hence one has to be carefully while handling the product - I have lost quite a bit of the powder which flew off because of the wind.

Swatch

Blended the Powder  - Can you notice the subtle glow ??

All in all this product is a must for all the brides who desire to get that natural glow look on their face during their wedding rituals and during their honeymoon trip. The product is free from irritants, animal by products, dyes or preservatives making it very skin friendly. 

• Mineral Blush -- 

Swatch

The mineral blush comes in a small screw cap jar. The color of the blush will suit any Indian Skin tone. It is a deep shade of red. Again this shade will work the best for any festive seasons - It will look gorgeous on Indian Brides. The blush is quite build-able , apply it lightly over your cheekbones everyday to give that soft warm rosy glow on your cheeks or you can build up the shade to give a shimmery deep rose color. The shimmer in the blush is definitely noticeable - When the lights hit the face - the blush will appear as a pearlescent color on your cheeks - Again Perfect for Indian weddings.  

• Mineral Bronzer --

 

        

This is the product if you are looking for a frosty shimmery glow on your face. This mineral bronzer is perfect for warm skin toned girls looking to achieve that sun kissed look. Again the shade is build-able.  This bronzer can double up as a highlighter and also for contouring purposes. 

• Lip Glaze -- 

 

        

Swatch

 Bordeaux shade is deep maroon with red micro glitters in it. I thought - Here comes a shade which I will never be able to wear but I was proved wrong.  The lip glaze finishes off smooth and gave slight color on my lips with a glossy finish. The color really complements me and I also liked the staying power of the gloss - it lasted me for good three hours which is quite okay. It is not sticky as other lip glosses which I love and also has no odor or taste.

Love it or Chuck it ?

Definitely Love it !! Although availability is the issue .. These products are worth trying out once to experience that nude natural radiant look. 

Please note:The products were sent by the company's PR for consideration.

M.Vie Cosmetics Eye Shadow Quad - True Blue

The last thing left for me to review from M.Vie Cosmetics is its Eye Shadow Quad. Normally I don't wear eye makeup everyday . Its only on some special occasions that these quads come out of my vanity drawers - Sometimes when  I am feeling plain lazy I don't even bother and just head out with kohl lined eyes. I am extremely moody when it comes to makeup.

When I received M.Vie Cosmetics True Blue Eyeshadow Quad - I stuffed it into my vanity drawer and completely forgot about it ... It was only recently I came back to it - In hopes of creating smokey eyes with the help of the palette because I wanted to try out new ELF Cosmetics brushes I got (Yups Post coming up on that too !! - So many things to do ..so little time!! )

So Let's Take a look of the Product -
Product: M.Vie Cosmetics Eye Shadow Quad - True Blue
Price: $25.95

What the company claims:
From ink and denim to the soft blue of a star-filled sky, this collection defines and energizes—for truly mesmerizing color. Mirrored compact includes .09-oz. each Silver Lining, Ocean Blue, Starry Night and Inky.

Created with the highest quality natural ingredients, our exclusive m. vie mineral makeup has the most highly-pigmented hues to bring your beauty into full bloom.

First Look at the Product:
The Quad comes in a very classy packaging - Sleek palette with black leather top with magnetic clamp. The palette houses four eyeshadows along with a two ended brush and a mirror inside.

Swatches:

My Experience with the Product:

This shadow is so convenient to carry around. The magnetic clamp prevents the palette to open up inside the bag and the palette is also just the right size  - Its not too big to occupy space in your bag and not too small that you have to hunt it down. 
The colors are great !! My personal favorite is the Black - its the blackest black with shimmers in it. It is rightly named " Starry Night" and accentuates your outer corners of eye very well.
The shimmer on the black eyeshadow is not over the top - I like that !! Understated Bling !
I created a nice smokey eye with the help of black and dark blue and it turned out to be okay.

Sorry for the "Pathetic" Pics !!!  - I need a good photographer !! 

The eyeshadow brush that was provided with the quad is also quite nice - The angled brush is perfect to create the winged liner look and the eyeshadow brush is good for patting color onto the lids.
The eyeshadow easily stayed on my lids throughout the evening without a primer. The color pay off of these eyeshadows is also nice.  
This eyeshadow quad  is great for creating smokey look with a black dress but then the price is very high. The mineral eyeshadow quad is expensively priced - You can easily find a dupe of this eyeshadow in the market.

You Can Check out the Product - Here.

Disclosure: I received this item free of charge from Midnight Velvet. No monetary compensation was received or offered, nor was I under any obligation to write about this product. All opinions expressed are my honest thoughts on this product. I am not offering any sales or taking any orders for this item. I will not receive any compensation in connection with any sales of this item.

Midnight Velvet - m.vie Cosmetics - Starter Kit

I am basking in glory of Mineral Makeup these days. The power of minerals has got me loving my skin day by day. The flawless finish, non comedogenic, fresh and glowy look are some of the many perks that mineral makeup has to offer.

Its been more than a month since I switched from Sheercover and started applying Midnight Velvet's (m.vie) Mineral makeup. There's no looking back after that....

About Midnight Velvet -- 

Founded in 1987 they set out to create a shopping experience that invites you to immerse yourself in a world of dramatic fashions, glamorous jewelry, fragrances and exotic home décor that delights the customers with its quality and beauty.
Their dedicated team of artists, designers and fashion merchants is constantly traveling to the most exotic destinations in the world to find products they think are worthy of the Midnight Velvet customer. Their goal is to make what you see on our website and within the pages of catalogs the most original, most unique offerings available to keep our product selection fresh, new and completely you.

Product - m.vie Cosmetic Starter Kit
Price - 49. 95 $

Claims - Custom-designed for your specific skin tone, mineral-rich pigments diffuse light to create a radiant, flawless look.

Each set includes:

• Mineral Mist (0.4 fl. oz.)
• Lipstick (0.14-oz.)
• Pressed Mineral Foundation (.21-oz.)
• Pressed Mineral Blush (.08-oz.)
• Mini Kabuki brush
• Black mesh embossed velvet cosmetic case (6" long)

My Experience with the Kit - 

I was given the kit meant for "Medium" skin toned people. I loved the fact that they had custom designed kits to cater to each of different skin toned customers. They have kits for Fair, Medium Fair, Medium, Medium Deep, Deep and Dark.  
The Medium Kit has - Canvas Shade Foundation, Sherry Shade Blush and Midnight Mauve Shade lipstick. The shade selection has been optimized to suit medium skin toned people.

Let's get to review's of each of the product in the kit -


Pressed Mineral Foundation -

The Pressed Mineral Foundation comes in a black box packaging. This mineral foundation, unlike the other foundations which come in a jar with shifter inside the jar which dispenses powder minerals, comes in a pressed form. You don't have to worry about fly away accidents with this beauty. The Mantra of mineral makeup - Less is More !! Its really true.

The small kabuki brush is ideal for applying this foundation. Just swirl the brush for a minute onto the pan, tap off the excess and glide it in circles onto your face. The natural pigments diffuse and blend into your skin like a dream. The first time I applied it, I thought I have not applied anything - It looked too sheer. Later on, I learnt that if you desire bit more coverage - apply sparingly first. Let the product sit for a while on your skin- Maximum for a minute - The color will develop gradually. Its Magic !!! You will notice sheer natural coverage the first time you apply it !

Still if you desire fuller coverage - Repeat the application and build the coverage. The small pan of pressed foundation is travel friendly and so sturdy - You can carry it anywhere you like.

Using it almost everyday for weeks, I can confidently say that it will keep you skin oil free for 5 hours. It is absolutely skin friendly - it has not given me any side reactions and breakouts. I am so happy with this product.

Mini Kabuki Brush -

The mini Kabuki Brush provided with the kit is made up of artificial hair. The brush is the softest brush ever !! The bristles are densely packed to pick up the right amount of product. The shape of the kabuki is perfect for perfect application of mineral foundation. This brush has become a staple in my makeup bag.

Pressed Mineral Blush -

 

The Pressed Mineral Blush comes in a packaging same as that of Mineral Foundation. However the brush palette is smaller than that of Pressed Mineral Foundation.
The shade is very pearly and natural looking. It is a nice sheer pearly pink color. It finishes off giving glowing subtle pinky cheeks.
The product is concentrated with natural pigments. I apply it with the help of a smaller kabuki brush and blend it up along my cheek bones.. The blush lasts long easily for 4 hours. The shimmer particles are so minute that its not easily visible to the naked eye. This helps the blush to impart that natural glow look to your cheeks.

Mineral Mist -

This product is my second favorite after the Pressed Mineral Foundation. The Mineral Mist comes in a super cute small spray bottle with transparent liquid inside.
This mist is perfect for setting your makeup after everything is done. I just spritz the mist onto my powder brush and dab the mist all over the face. It helps to lock in the makeup.
The fragrance of jasmine and lavender freshens you up. The mist freshens your face and it is my savior in Mumbai's hot and humid weather. 

Lipstick -

The lipstick comes in a matte black case which is very sleek and classy looking. The color of the lipstick is a perfect brown shade with a hint of red in it. The shade is not a perfect brown or nude color which will go on all outfits. It is very apt for Indian skin tone. This shade will go perfect with ethnic wear.
I simply adore the texture of this lipstick - its creamy and glides onto your lips to give you a perfect pop of color in a single swipe.
The creamy and moisturizing texture keeps your lips soft and prevents them from chapping and the high quality of the pigment stays on your lips for good amount of hours.
Be careful not to use a gloss over this lipstick because it will cause the color to fade away within a hour of application.

Love it or Chuck it ?
Absolutely Love it !! It is sleek travel-friendly and most important of all - Skin friendly !! Although pricey - It's a one time investment !! I plan to use this everyday !!! You can get your kit Here.

 Disclosure: I received this item free of charge from Midnight Velvet. No monetary compensation was received or offered, nor was I under any obligation to write about this product. All opinions expressed are my honest thoughts on this product. I am not offering any sales or taking any orders for this item. I will not receive any compensation in connection with any sales of this item.

Sheer Cover Concealer: Review

I love the natural makeup look - It looks so elegant and enhances our skin in a way that it looks perfect and fresh. Our skin looks natural and glowing - Not "Made up" and " Fake".

One benefit of Mineral Makeup is just that it boasts usage of beneficial and 100% natural ingredients which protect your skin from any kind of damage since it doesn't contain any synthetic ingredients like dyes, talc, perfume etc.

I have had huge dark circles for as long as I can remember. After trying and testing everything from the drugstore possible - I was left with one conclusion - Nothing is going to work on these panda eyes.So when I received the Sheer Cover Starter Kit - Sheer Cover Concealer was the FIRST THING I had to try out.

Here is the my testimony on the Product: 

Sheer Cover Concealer comes in a transparent small compact like packaging case - which houses two colored concealer in one case. You have to custom blend both the shades so as to match your skin tone.

Custom Blending:
For that custom blend - I first applied a stripe of each of colored concealer on my jawline. I figured out I needed to custom blend both the shades a bit to cover up my blemishes and acne spots. As for my dark circles, I needed lighter shade to nullify the dark circles and then blend the darker shade to match my skin tone.

I found the concept of keeping both the shades of concealer separate very innovative. It is convenient and easy so as for customer who can blend the shades to match their skin tone perfectly. It is also ideal as our skin tone tends to change throughout the year.

My Experience: 

I have been using this concealer everyday now. Its lightweight and compact packaging is a HIT with me. I carry it everywhere in case I need to touch up. The concealer brush which is provided along with the concealer is just awesome !! Its perfect stiff bristles applies the concealer in the most perfect manner.

I am in love with the consistency of the concealer -  It is creamy and light. You don't feel like your wearing anything on your skin. It perfectly blends into your skin and does not migrate into your fine lines. I have read that the concealer tends to become powdery and patchy on your skin after a while. I did not face this issue at all. I have used this concealer constantly everyday. I apply a good moisturizer after cleansing my face. Let the moisturizer seep into the skin and then apply the concealer on my problem area with the help of the brush. I pat on some compact all over the face and I am ready to go.

The darker shade is more apt for my skin. To cover my dark circles I need to blend bit of both the shades.

 The combination of concealer and a compact powder is perfect for everyday routine. The concealer stays put for good 5 hours. Another thing I love about the concealer is that it does not wipe off - you can snuggle and rub all you want - it wont budge from your skin.

The concealer is great for covering up blemishes, dark spots and acne marks on your face. I need to put on little efforts to cover up my dark circles - but the end result is just perfect !  The concealer was successful in covering the redness I had on my right side of the face -  thanks to my beauty therapist who popped off my acne during a facial session.

It is perfect concealer and I would recommend this concealer to anyone who has problem areas on their skin. The concealer followed by the mineral foundation will ensure you look radiant and flawless!!!

Please note: The product was a part of the kit which was sent by the Company for consideration.