Swell Shopping: Urban Decay Shadow 75% Off

Check out this Weekly Special makeup deal from Sephora.com ....


Urban Decay Loose Pigments, which usually retail for $20, but are currently $5 for a limited time. Wow. Big discount.

Loose Pigments are intensely colored mineral eyeshadows. They can be used in a variety of ways and are available in 4 shades; Baked, a rich bronze, Shag, a pale bronze (looks sort of mocha-like online), Smog, a medium brown, and a white shadow called Yeyo. These shadows are rated at 3.8 out of 5 stars.

The Loose Pigment formula is actually mineral makeup, made from pearlized powders derived from minerals. No dyes or synthetic pigments are used. The coolest advantage over other brands' loose pigments? No messy pots! The spill-proof tube uses a special internal funnel to keep pigment inside until you're ready to use it. The cap features an ergonomic flared handle and a built-in premium brush. Dip the brush into the color to apply, or tap out a little color and use your own brushes.

Image credit: Sephora.com

Swell Beauty: Ava Anderson Non-Toxic Makeup & Skin Care

Ava Anderson is not your average teenage girl. In 2008, at the age of 14, she saw a report that alerted her to the dangers of traditional makeup and skin care products.

The study was performed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), See study at right. We were both shocked, and I immediately went to my room to begin what would turn into months of research. The more I learned, the more alarmed I became. I started searching for safe products for my family, my friends and myself. After hundreds of hours of research it was apparent that although the market was flooded with “organic”, “natural”, “safe” and “pure”, there were almost always toxic ingredients and chemicals in there, as well, not to mention the ones hidden in the ingredient “fragrance.” I managed to find some “ok stuff” but nothing that was truly non-toxic.

Anderson found that nothing was truly non-toxic, so she set out to develop something of her own. Cosmetic toxicity is rated on a scale of 0-10. Ava's products are all zero.

My daughters and I have been using the Ava Anderson* mineral foundation and blush, plus a variety of the lip glosses. The foundation is perfect for teens who have issues with their skin. It's made with a Silk Powder that is is both an anti-inflammatory and a natural moisturizer.

I like the colors - Bailey uses the light foundation, Sarah and I use the medium. It's light and comfortable. Very nice makeup. It's easy to control how heavy you apply the makeup - you can go light if you only need a little coverage, or apply more for a more opaque finish. You can purchase just the foundation or get a kit that includes the Kabuki brush, blush, and foundation.

The glosses are made with plant-based ingredients including shea butter, mango seed butter, vitamins, antioxidants, and beeswax. The colors appear dark in the tube, but they go on very sheer with a light color. Perfect for teens .... or moms - I love the plum color.

You can find the Ava Anderson Non Toxic products here.

*Products furnished to writer for review.

Image credit: Chase Your Bliss Photography

Swell Makeup: Mineral Eye Shadow

I've mentioned before that I'm teaching my youngest daughter, Sarah, about makeup. She's been allowed to wear a bit ever since she turned 12. I did her eye makeup before school yesterday. I want to show her colors that work well with her hazel eyes.

A year or so ago, I purchased two sets of mineral eye shadow from Pink Quartz. One was a shimmery dress-up kit and the other was a matte set. I'm not sure if she still sells them this way, but you can see the colors used in the brighter set here. To do Sarah's look, I used a matte peach and I lined with an olive color. She loved how it turned out. If you want a more dramatic look, simple use more shadow or wet your brush before applying.

When you use a mineral shadow to line your eyes, use an angled liner brush, and instead of "drawing" along the lash line "push" the color in. If you try to draw it, the powder tends to spread and land on your cheeks.

I recently had the opportunity to try the Cowgirl Dirt* line of mineral shadows. You could do a similar look with their Copper and Cactus shades. If you prefer a smoky eye, try the Midnight. It's a deep navy color that also makes a great liner.

Tomorrow, I've got a new mineral makeup to share with you. It's a line designed my a teenage girl. How cool is that?

*Product sample furnished to reviewer.

Image credit: Chase Your Bliss Photography