bareMinerals Radiance Rocks

Innovative beauty? Possibly. bareMinerals Radiance Rocks are made up of three minerals in their most natural state.


Hmmm....

Interesting but what's it for?

Jump!

This set is made up of three mineral rocks in various shades for a sheer wash of refreshing, cooling color on eyes, cheeks, or body.

Possibly one of the most interesting cosmetic assembles the Muse has seen to date these do so appear interesting. They come packaged with a Kabuki Brush for application and three shades which are bronze, champagne, and warm rose. Honestly, they look gorgeous but the question is will they be messy or way too pigmented to work with?

Remains to me scene but this Muse did so plop 'em in her cart at Sephora and is eagerly awaiting their arrival on her doorstep...maybe they'll be as special as they look!

What do you think?

Available for Sephora Beauty Insiders for $35.

P.S. Bare Minerals has done "rock"-like cosmetics before with a bronzer rock this past Summer.

Aromaleigh Silk Powder Primer Review

The Muse happens to be quite addicted to transparent powders for some reason especially ones that promise to make me flawless. Aromaleigh Silk Powder Primer preps your face for mineral foundation supposedly leaving behind a flawless canvas for makeup!

Does it work?

Find out after the jump!

The general idea of this powder is to use it as a prep and prime prior to minerals. Since my main foundation of choice aren't minerals it's somewhat useless however I did want to try it out anyway. I'm actually pretty impressed with it

I used it in three separate ways. Once to prime my face prior to using Urban Decay Surreal Skin Mineral Foundation, secondly as finishing, setting powder, and thirdly to mask minor flaws prior to using a cheek stain sans foundation. As a primer it works remarkably well. It's difficult to explain the results but my mineral makeup looks more refined and finished when I use this prior to application. As a setting powder it doesn't really work as the powder is a bit on the thick side and white causing a strange cast of weird on my face. It also doesn't work very well on it's own as again same strange white cast when used.

The powder is quite a thick texture and not as silky as many transparent powders I've used. It blends quite well and in regards to prepping for minerals it exceeds and does the job well. It's actually meant for normal or combination skin types but it worked well enough on my crazy not sure what it wants to be skin at the moment. The powder acts almost like a barrier or shield between your skin and the mineral foundation of your choice. This technique allows for your minerals to last longer and look flawless.






It supposedly refines pores and fine lines but I have neither so I can't speak for that. It also claims to be a natural moisture absorbing powder so as the temperature and humidity changes in your environment it'll keep your oily skin under control. I've used it in the normal oily places on my face such as forehead and sides of noses but didn't notice too much of a difference. This has to be explored further before I have my final say on that feature.

Overall, it's a good product if you're a mineral foundation user however if your dominate foundation is liquid or cream you can safely skip. I think it's worthy of a try out for mineral users as you'll notice your foundation will last longer while your face will have a more flawless look.

Skin79 The Oriental Smooth Sun BB Pact Review

When I first started Musings it was very much a blog about Asian beauty. I'm not Asian but I plan to be in my next life. With my love of all things Asian and all things beauty, Musings was a rather ideal place to combine both. Much of my original posts were on Japanese brands and a fair bit of MAC thrown into the mix.

As of late I find I do less and less Asian posts and that really upsets me as I feel like I'm not bringing you enough great beauty abroad purchases particularly because of my great love of Asian makeup finds.

I plan to redeem myself in this. Hopefully if you've been reading a while you'll rejoice over more Asian themed cosmetic posts and if you're new to Musings you'll enjoy discovering products you may never have been privy to before.

Today I'm going to bring you a review on Skin79 The Oriental Smooth Sun BB Pact.


Jump ahead for it!

You know since it's demise I've been trying to relive my time with Raycious. I have a stash of four powder palettes I'm stowing away for a rainy day from Raycious and it terrifies me the day they'll be gone. Raycious is an incredible line of base makeup products created by Sofina in Japan. Sadly, it's long since gone but I loved it so.

I'm always on the look out for a similar powder such as that but never have succeeded at finding one as great.

For now Skin79 The Oriental Smooth Sun BB Pact will do the job (not as great but just as good).

This powder is part of a collection that Skin79 has out at the moment entitled The Oriental. The powder is pretty much your basic mattifying powder from Korea with a few added benefits slapped in for good measure.

Allow me to say that the powder is made with Asian skin in mind so large pores, oily skin, etc....are kept at the forefront in the production of the powder so it does excel at helping with these problems. Also the powder does come in a single shade so it's best used on light to fair skin or yellow undertones but sadly not darker or olive tones.

The compact comes housed in a lilac compact with sponge. It has a protective seal that closes off the powder so you can lay your sponge on top without worrying about having a fly of loose powder all over the place. Little touches like this are why Asian makeup excels at quality.








The powder itself is a creamy shade which isn't richly pigmented but still manages to even out skin tone, set makeup (particularly BB Creams), and create a smooth working canvas for makeup or to simply mattify the skin. It's slightly chalky in texture and has a finish as such but regardless most Asian brands sport a similar formula. This formula actually aids in keeping oily skin matte. Even though the texture is strange it still manages to create a very smooth look to skin hiding flaws such as acne scarring, enlarged pores, etc...with proper prepping and priming the powder aids in creating a good flawless canvas.

The powder is meant to keep skin fresh and natural looking even with continued application. Meaning retouches won't cause a "made" up look to face but will simply look natural and flawless. It's SPF 25 formula also makes it very appealing as the sun protection alone could urge you to want it.


I'm a very big fan of Asian pressed powder as it does a great job at making my face look flawless without having a made up look and also doesn't flake on my dry skin.

Overall, I wouldn't say that Skin79 The Oriental Smooth Sun BB Pact is particularly special but it is a nice item to have for setting my BB Cream and holding it in place.

I got mine directly from Korea for retail but I've seen it on E-bay for $16.99 which I think is a fairly good deal. If you're a fan of powders or if you've never tried an Asian pressed powder this is a good place to start!

Dior Diorskin Extreme Fix Review

Before there was MAC Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder, before Make Up For Ever HD Powder, there was Dior Diorskin Extreme Fix. In the Spring of 2008 Dior quietly released this interesting little powder as a Nordies Exclusive. It quickly became the must have item in the makeup world but has since disappeared from shelves within the US. If you look really hard you'll probably come across this but I've only seen it in Europe and Asia as a general catalog item as part of the Dior standard collection.

Jump ahead for a peep at this powder and a review.

I've had this powder since February 2008 and it's taken me this long to get down to the nitty gritty of reviewing it.

What is it?

A long lasting setting powder for foundation. It's the same concept as many HD transparent powders you see on the market today. The powder has a silicon base which is supposed to bullet proof foundation and make it last longer. Question, of course, does it work?

I'd like to discuss the formula briefly prior to getting into further details. I will say that the powder is superior to other transparent powders on the market today. It's very silky and has a certain thickness about it I haven't seen in powder before. It smooths onto skin beautifully, doesn't leave a behind a white cast, and is a breathable layer of foundation protection. Although white in color for the most part the powder is transparent once applied.






As of late I forgo foundations in favor of BB creams for the most part. I find BB creams do not need to be set prior with powder as they last considerably longer than any cream or liquid foundation I already have. Even with my normal foundation routine I normally forgo powder since my skin is typically dry and an extra layer of powder flakes up, looks cakey, or just ages my skin. Diorskin Extreme Fix is very lightweight so it absorbs fairly easily without caking or flaking. I haven't really noticed it extending the wear of my foundation but than again not many products do (even really good primer). However, I will say I like the airbrushed finish the powder gives my face. If you have fine lines, uneven skin tone, or just need a powder that gives an ethereal glow to your skin this does just that.

Overall, I'm happy to have added it to my collection but I do admit I don't use it much. You can probably find a cheap alternative but if you're a Dior fan I imagine you'll want to add it to your collection. I will say out of all my transparent powders this is a favorite and I feel the formula is considerably better than any I've tried prior to this that are available in the US (not speaking for the Asian beauty market).

All in all it's a very nice powder and I really should utilize it more as maybe I'll fall in love with it as that has yet to happen.

Anyone a fan?

Have it in your beauty train case?

Love it?

Tell the Muse!

Villainess Mud Masks Review

The Muse loves a mud mask. Must stem from her childhood days as a tomboy as playing in the mud was a favorite pass time as I recall it. Some of that branches into adulthood as mud masks are so my thing.

I particularly love ones that promise to detox my skin and make me all fresh faced and glowy again!

I recently introduced you to Villainess Soap. Villainess is known for making fine soaps and scrubs but they are also venturing into the land of skin care as well recently with a makeup remover and now mud masks...humff...who knew!

I ordered a few of the masks for myself several weeks ago and I've been fiddling about with them for some time. Jump ahead to finally here what I think!

At $12 per 2 oz jar these are an inexpensive mask as you can get tons of use from the one container. The "muds" come packed in a gorgeous little plastic container with vintage label. These are powdered in formula and need a tablespoon or two of water to get them worked up into a fine paste for your face. There are several muds to choose from that work in different ways and for different skin problems. These can be used on face or body. All three that I tried seemed a bit strong so sensitive skin types do beware as most of these caused a mild stinging while setting on my face but I didn't mind much as my skin is virtually bulletproof, really takes alot to break me out or upset my skin. The three I purchased were Blush, Dulces En Fuego, and Scintillating.

I want to say that Scintillating is my absolutely favorite mud but sadly it's not. Scintillating is a fabulous scented soap and scrub from Villainous that I adore. It's a mix of vanilla and mint which is fresh, crisp, and cooling. I was skeptical about it appearing in a mud form but I was determined to love it. The mask supposedly purges oils, toxins, and buildup from the pores and is a combination of powdered mint leaves and essential oils to encourage healthy blood flow to skin. Sounds incredible right? Problem is I couldn't bare to leave it on my face for more than a minute because it stung terribly. OUCH! I assume it's the mint that's a little too intense for me but this one I can't really rate because it was just too painful to keep on long enough to see any sort of results. All three masks I tried did have a sting but this one was the worst of the lot.








Next on my list was Dulces en Fuego which smells like a herbal hot chocolate cocktail. It's a mix of rhassoul and white kaolin clays which supposedly draws impurities from the skin. This is supposed to brighten dull completions and promote sluggish circulation. The results are quite good. Can't speak for any impurities being drawn out of my skin but after use twice a week my skin glows in the mornings after use. This one also stings a bit but nothing as intense as Scintillating. I liked this one very much as the results were visble in my glowing skin.








Lastly my favorite of the lot for is Blush. This is slightly soury sweet smelling mud with a combination of white and pink clays to draw out toxins and marshmallow root to soften skin. Fruit acids help to shed dead cells. The results are also quite visible with this as well. It's supposed to be very good for cleansing congested pores but for me it did a rather nice job with the flaky patches on my face (chin, between my eyes, etc...) and also gave a fresh, glow to my face. This tingles but doesn't sting thankfully.










The masks all start out wet when first applied but quickly dry out and tighten on the face. None dried my face out or caused any other skin havoc during use or after but of course results will vary so use caution when trying. Depending on how you mix the mask and how much water you use versus powder you'll end up with either a runny or thin paste. Below the photos show only a small amount of powder used with way too much water so you'll want to use enough powder and water to create more of a paste as it makes application easier when you aren't working with a runny consistency such as this.




All in all I generally liked these for the price. Two of three worked fairly well and I think I'll indulge further when I complete the three I do have as they are friendly little masks for getting my skin back in order after a rough day of city air. I don't highly recommend them as they probably aren't for everyone since the stinging could present a problem but if you're an experimental skincare type of person these may appeal.

If you're like to try them for yourself they can be found at www.villainess.net

Dr. Denese SPF 30 Defense Day Cream Review

The gods are every so friendly when they bless us with products that can work in a multitude of ways. For example say you want your skin prepped, mattified, evened out, and protected from the sun. You'd need a few products to do that right?

How about one product....

See? It's a tiny miracle when one product can multitask as my primer, even out my skin tone while acting as my tinted moisturizer, and providing me with SPF and sun protection!

w00t!

Click below to hear all about my rave for the brand new Dr. Denese Defense Day Cream.

Dr. Denese SPF 30 Defense Day Cream will not only act as your daily dose of sun protection but also manages to act as a primer that mattifies your skin, a tinted moisturizer to even skin tone out, and holds the key to light Summer coverage.




Likey.

Why oh why did I discover this so late into Summer? I do so wish I had this in my beauty arsenal since June at the very least. Now that I have it I'll never let it go!


Not only does this provide me with my daily dose of SPF it also acts as my foundation and keeps my skin matte and oil free. The formula feels quite like a primer as it has that silicon-feel so this could easily work well at filling pores and smoothing your face out. It's oil free and mattifies my face brilliantly although I probably couldn't get away with this in the Winter when my skin is dry but right now when I'm a bit shiny it's ideal. You can of course wear it with foundation or powder but I can get away with using it on it's own. It's slightly pigmented and tinted with melanine which is the skin's own natural color pigment allowing for a natural skin color on any skin type as it self-adjusts to disguise imperfections. It's not going to offer full on coverage but it does offer very sheer, light coverage, enough to even out my skin tone and give me a very natural, flawless finish. The effect is that of using a mineral powder in my opinion as it gives my face a slightly airbrushed look. The finished results could account for the formula which creates a barrier on the skin acting much like a primer. Many SPF's are heavy and greasy so I love the idea of my moisturizer having built in SPF and acting as a foundation and primer all in one.


Overall, I absolutely love this stuff. Incredibly good. If you happen to fall into the category of loving lighter makeup during the Summer this is the ideal treat. It manages to perfect already good skin, wears long while offering a decent SPF for face, and leaves a matte and velvety smooth finish.

This morning's FOTD was very minimal as you can see below. For my foundation, primer, and moisturizer I used Dr. Dense SPF 30 Defense Day Cream. As you can see in the photo my skin looks incredible (feels like it too!). It's so strange as the product is very subtly tinted but it manages to create nice, even coverage on my skin.


Loves it!

Total Muse Approval for purchase.

Freeze 24-7 Freeze & Go Review

You may have captured Freeze 24-7 products here and there lately on clearance. Hautelook had a sale today with some of the line and a few other places as well. The line never interested me much due to the poor reviews I've seen and the inexpensive price tag, ouchie talk about $$$!

However, my sister happened upon a huge stash of Freeze 24-7 at a serious discount recently and tugged some of it home to me as she thought I'd like to try it for myself. She couldn't be more right in all honestly as I've always wanted to indulge but for the reasons above I never did.

One item she snagged for me at the price tag of $29.99 was Freeze 24-7 Freeze & Go. This is a HUGE savings as it normally runs a whopping $75 bucks! Dude, a 0.68 oz little tube for $75 bucks must be some sort of miracle product.

Click my review to hear all about it.

I find with most Freeze products they are jacked up to the max. Promising the world and some when it comes to a flawless complexion! Talk about over hype.

I find that Freeze 24-7 Freeze & Go is not different in that aspect. A fix for large pores, a way to absorb oil, brighten skin, fix fine lines, eliminate skin imperfections, enliven tired skin, defend skin against free radicals, and walk the dog this primer has it all.






Speaking of primer...I suppose that's what I'd call it. Freeze classifies it as an instant smoother and brightener I define the formula and the concept in simple terms of facial primer. Let's not get fancy here guys. You can use this under or over makeup but honestly the idea of using a primer over my makeup has always puzzled me so I just tried it under but maybe one day I'll be tempted to use it over.

It is heavily silicon based but not in an unpleasant way that I've experienced primers with this type of formula before. Actually, anyone with a heavily lined face or larger pores will probably drop to their knees and thank the gods above for such a great filler. For me it's useless as my skin is to dry to even understand the concept of a large pore. Does it brighten? Does it fill? Does it make foundation last longer?

Well....

It does give my face a nice clean finish and it does ever so slightly give a fresher look or maybe I'm imagining it? But honestly I do feel like my face looks better once it's in place. My tired, dull skin seems to like it alot. Does it fill? Not sure as I said no pores but does a really good job of filling fine lines under my eyes and prepping for foundation. Doesn't make my foundation last longer much sadly, I noticed no real difference. I did notice when my skin was feeling dry that it pilled a bit upon application, yak. But if I prep correctly prior to use it applies and blends perfectly well.

Box claims it works miracles on dark circles even...ummm not so much. The product is way over hyped and terribly overpriced but I can't help but feel that I liked it. The thick formula feels like the ideal way to prep prior to foundation and I'm positive it would be some sort of miracle for oily skin (my skin isn't that oily that I'd need something as strong).


If you can find it on sale or you're daring enough to splurge $75 bucks it's sorta worthy of a look at. It intrigued me. I'll continue to use this (shouldn't be around long as the tube is so small I'll get a few uses out of it at best) to see how I fair. I do wish I had the cash to blow on another one so I'm hopeful that wherever my sister picked this up she can snag me another for the same price. $29.99, even that's too high for such a small size but $75 bucks? No ways!

Side by side with an Urban Decay Lipstick for size comparison

Overall, interesting little primer....very interesting. Actually in 20 years it may be exactly what I'll be looking for to fill up deep lines in my face, best keep that in mind because I might be liable to dish out the $$ when my face isn't as young as it is now!

Anyone try?

Lover?

Leaver?

Korres Primer Review Silicon-Free Primer

When Jebus set out to create primer he though of filling the pores of beautiful girls everywhere, of taming their oily skin, of creating a perfect canvas for makeup. During this creation process the Muse thinks he might have forgotten the rare few of us who don't really have a problem with oily skin or large pores......those of us who have dry skin, sometimes flaky bits on our face, and feel the need for a moisturizing primer that isn't silicon in nature.

Although he forgot much of this Korres remembered that we were around and in turn created the exact primer we need.

Jump ahead to hear my review.

Korres Primer makes my day all the brighter with it's silicon-free formula. If you're looking for a primer that makes your foundation easier to blend, allows your foundation to apply easier, and offers extra moisture to your face, Korres Primer is the way to go.


Although debate could arise that a creamy, moisturizing primer is basically the same concept as using a facial moisturizer, not the case. Facial moisturizers on a whole compared to primers are vastly different as they are a bit more greasy, aren't as dense, and don't offer that smoother feel that allows foundation to sit on top of skin rather than blend into the skin.

The formula is a moist, dense cream that adds extra moisture to the skin while prepping and priming for foundation. I'm unsure if I'd recommend it for oily skin but dry and normal skin types should rejoice at the prospect of a silicon-free primer. It's lightly scented with orange which I think is very nice although some may find they don't like it if they are sensitive to smell, as for me I think it just adds to the appeal of the product. The product absorbs upon contact with skin but still manages to cast an invisible barrier on top of skin so that foundation doesn't oxidize or absorb away completely into skin. It keeps foundation fairly fresh but I didn't notice extended wear when using this.




Overall, if you're not a fan of silicon based primers and just seek a simple, effective way to prep and prime your dry skin (or normal) prior to foundation Korres Face Primer is a great choice. I liked it alot and will purchase it again when I'm through. The $28 price tag could be a bit much for some if you are just wanting to test out so it's nice that Korres has a smaller size for a mere $10 which should get you a few uses prior to indulging in a bigger size if you end up loving it.

Anyone try?

Love?

Leave?

Tell the Muse!

Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Candlelight Review and Swatches

Oh I fancy myself some gold shimmer. Gold is such a good color for me and so flattering. Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Candlelight is part of the Too Faced Fall Collection 2009 and one of my favorite items released. A pretty little compact filled with powder candlelight is just what ever girl needs in their life.


Jump ahead for the review!

Housed in a cream and gold compact this finely milled, sheer golden powder has a hint of shimmer to deliver a lit from within finish to skin. The powder is ideal for sweeping on cheekbones and face for a subtle little kiss of gold. It works a treat on bare moisturized skin to illuminate skin with a natural finish. The powder easily multitasks as a great way to brighten up eyes or the brow bones too. It's also packed with a dose of skin-saving antioxidants to help protect and sooth tired skin as it warms and illuminates your complexion.














I'm all about gold so this has much of my attention. It's a rather universally flattering shade that works well right now in the Summer, will remain looking fabulous as the Fall and cooler weather approaches, and will be ideal for the holidays when I want a brush of gold across my face.




Truly a great little palette for illuminating and brightening up my complexion for a soft, romantic glow.

Muse Approved for purchase!



A touch of candlelight on my cheeks!


Loves it!

Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Candlelight is available now from Sephora for $25.