My laptop is dead--

It's a videocard and motherboard problem. I'll be around but not so much, girls. I'm sorry. I hope I can get it fixed, or at least that I can get a new one sometime soon (since school is starting up in a week). The winners for Gia's and my contest will be announced sometime soon I hope. I'm really sorry. :(

Funky Arabic by Ashley

LOVE the colors used and the execution was SO good!!!!! What do you THINK ladies????? You asked for tips Ash but all I have for ya is PRAISE!!!!!

Mineraux Mineral Makeup

My laptop gave me the BSOD (blue screen of death) the other day. I figured it would happen soon enough since my laptop has been having trouble booting up lately anyway. So girls if I'm missing that is why. :( I have to wait for my dad to get back so he can fix it (anywhere from a week to a month or more). I'm going to do my best to keep posting anyway, but please understand that I may not be able to read everyones' blogs/comment!!

Let's see...this is a week overdue. I was lucky enough to get invited to the launch of Mineraux mineral cosmetics on May 23. This brand offers premium mineral makeup products tailored for the new Filipinas. Minéraux is dedicated to further empower women to shine inside and out.

I did a simple FOTD for that day with my Jesse's Girl bejewelled quad. I didn't even bother to use any eyeliner because my eyes were uneven (one was puffy--don't you just hate when that happens!? It's bad when both of them are puffy but when ONE is and the other one isn't..GRR!! Lol, sorry =D). Here is my FOTD:

I miss my long nails!! Anyway, for this I used MAC studiofix in NC35, Ellana finishing powder in Espresso con panna, G-lish Patrick Rosas blush, NYX round lipgloss in real nude, PAC white eyeliner, Jesse's Girl Bejewelled Quad, Maybelline Cat Eyes mascara

During the event, which was held at Barcino Wine and Tapas Bar at The Fort, the owners of the Mineraux talked about their brand. The supplies and product come from and are made in the US and in Canada, but Mineraux prides itself in being a "Pinay" brand. Mineraux was initially established in 2007.

After a while, we were served food and allowed to see what they had to offer on the makeup bar. They had available foundations (premium blend), blushes, eyeshadows, eyeliners, brushes, and bronzers. They also had mineral veils and color correctors. They will have lipsticks and lip glosses available this month (June).

The makeup bar

We were given freebies in gift bags--three full-size jars of products of our choice. My choices were foundation (warm medium tan), blush (raspberry), and neutral mineral veil. My mom was with me and she chose foundation (cool fair), eyeshadow/eyeliner (dark brown--can also be used as eyebrow powder), and let me have one of her choices, so I chose eyeshadow in soft green.

My initial thoughts on this brand are (please note that this is my opinion, and I got to play with the products for a limited amount of time only):

Packaging:
The packaging for me was sleek, and quite nice. The sifter in the foundation jar was good, it had big square holes so the foundation can reenter the jar and not make a mess. The only thing I don't like is that the stickers on the bottom of the jar are starting to come off.

Foundation:

The holes are nice and big so the powder goes back in the jar so things don't get as messy.

From what my mom and I have observed, these foundations last pretty well throughout the day. I still got oily after some time (2-3 hours), but I'm taking into consideration the fact that I'm really oily, and the heat/humidity really worsens my situation (but I should be seeing a difference in my skin after a while, since thanks to Catherine I am now trying Jojoba Oil as a moisturizer). The foundation applied nicely, and quickly, and blended perfectly into my skin (at first I thought it was either too light or too yellow but it blends perfect). The coverage was not that good, I still had to use concealer, though there was considerable concealment of my undereye circles.

Blushes

This is my choice of blush from the collection because from what I saw, it was the only blush that was not very shimmery. That is one bad thing I noticed: most of Mineraux's blushes were shimmery, and that did not go well with me because I do not want to look like a disco ball!! There were only about one or two shades that weren't too shimery, or matte and this was one of them. Good thing it was a pretty shade. :) As for the staying power, well this blush faded on me after a while..around 2-3 hours the moment I got oily.

Mineral Veil

The amount they gave for this product was not very generous considering the amount of foundation they gave. But that's okay, I can repurchase because it's not very expensive (prices later). This transluscent mineral veil works really nice for me. I sometimes just put this on after I put my sunscreen on so my face will stay matte longer, and it really does do the job, although my face still got oily (as usual 2-3 hours later). It applies nicely and evenly.

Eyeshadow

On the first swipe the eyeshadow shows a decent amount of color. It is very blendable and stays well with a base. I didn't need to apply wet because even dry this shade was pretty pigmented. From what I've observed while I was playing with the others during the release event, everything is pretty pigmented. They have some matte shades and more shimmer shades, but I love a matte shade called Apricot. I wish I'd asked for it but then I wouldn't have really been able to use it. I will purchase it instead. :) All in all I think their eyeshadows are nice, I just wish they would release more shades.

These four are the only products I have really been able to try from the brand, however I will definitely try the rest when I get the chance.

Here are swatches:

1: foundation in warm medium tan, not blended

2: neutral veil, not blended

3: blush in raspberry

4: eyeshadow in soft green, several swipes

Now I would like to show you the prices for Mineraux, in peso. What is good is...the brand is so AFFORDABLE!! See for yourself below:

Now I'm sure you can ask yourself where you can buy Mineraux products. Well, for you readers who live in the Philippines, good news!! The first two Minéraux make-up corners are targeted to unveil in Power Plant Mall in July 2009 and in Glorietta Mall in August 2009.

But, of course, I'm sure some of you can't wait that long, so if you can't, then starting this June (1st week supposedly) you may purchase online from http://mineraux.com.ph/ and http://mineraux.multiply.com/. I'm not so sure how international readers may avail of the products, but I'm sure you can buy online. We'll see how things turn out!!

Swatches are available, but personally I can already see that they are not accurate. I will wait until a more accurate version comes out before I show you all.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed my post! Have a good day. :)

Project 10 pan update: Another product panned today!! Vaseline healthy sunblock. That brings my total up to 4!!

Beauty News: L'Oreal Paris Does Luminato in Toronto!

Beauty mavens in Toronto are invited by L'Orèal Paris to get pampered and receive complimentary summer makeup and hair makeovers on the opening weekend of Luminato!


Here are the details:

WHAT: To help Torontonians go to Luminato in style with the latest summer beauty trends, L’Oréal Paris is offering complimentary makeup and hair makeovers from some of Canada’s top makeup and hair artists. Participants will also get the opportunity to ‘walk the red carpet’ at the Beauty Tent where a photographer will capture their final beauty look as a special memento.

WHO: Special guest appearances at the Beauty Tent by L’Oréal Paris’ Official Makeup Artist, Eddie Maleterre and Official Hair Artist and Colourist, Eric Del Monaco – the same beauty masterminds who created all of the runway beauty looks for LG Fashion Week, Beauty by L’Oréal Paris in Toronto and appeared on the hit TV show, Project Runway Canada. Eddie and Eric will direct the team of 20 makeup and hair artists for three-days at this amazing beauty hub, as they apply 1,000s of beauty makeovers on Torontonians using L’Oréal Paris ‘star’ products of the summer.

WHERE: L’Oréal Paris Beauty Tent
Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto

WHEN: June 5 - 7, 2009 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)
11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The following special guest appearances with L’Oréal Paris Beauty Experts, Eddie Maleterre and Eric Del Monaco will feature their pro beauty tips and secrets: *

Friday, June 5 at 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 6 at 4 p.m.

Sunday, June 7 at 4 p.m.

*Please note: above timelines are subject to last minute changes due to weather conditions.

http://lorealparis.ca

Beauty 101: Summer Hair Tips with Dylan K. Hanson!

Summer beauty and summer heat doesn't always mix which is why Makeup Junkie has asked some top experts in the beauty biz secrets to maintaining your beauty composure in the heat and humidity! Check out Dylan K. Hanson's summer hair tips!

Dylan's hair tips:

Humidity

a. Helping prolong the life of your hairstyle with less frizz… using or finishing hairspray will help lock out moisture.
b. Try using products (ex: mouse’s, foam, sprays) that have Anti-Humectant formulas, they are specifically designed to help control your style in higher humidity

Ocean and swimming pools

a. Cleansing your hair regularly after swimming will help prevent undo build-up of chlorine and salt water. Specific cleansing shampoo & conditioners are available. Another option to save those delicate hair colours is by wearing a swimmers cap.

Sun

a. A touch of sun can add a beautiful sun kissed glow to your hair but too much will damage it, causing excessive dryness & colour fading. Leave-in conditioners are great for added moisture and hair product with UV protection are a plus. For long days at the beach a fashionable hat is never out of fashion.
TIP: Learning ways to style your hair without using blow dryers and heated elements will help save extra moisture in dry conditions. Use the natural heat of the climate to your advantage. Styling wet hair in single to multiple Ponytails or Braiding can make great beachy looking waves naturally once the hair has been air dried and elastics removed. Even enhance your natural wave or curls by scrunching hair with mouse or light gel and allowing to air dry.

Dylan K. Hanson
Hair Stylist & Make-up Artist

“Live-Love-Laugh” Dylan K. has been building a strong reputation off his signature style of polished and precision beauty, extending from the classic to the avant-garde.

Hanson has collaborated with internationally acclaimed photographers producing stunning covers and images that have graced the pages of Harpers Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Esquire, Glamour, Elle, and G.Q among others. Also, highly respected for his runway, advertising and television work. Hanson’s impressive lists of clients include celebrities such as Pamela Anderson and Kiera Knightly, as well as royalty and supermodels. Currently based out of Toronto. http://artistgrouplimited.com/dylan-k-hanson

Photos courtesy of Artist Group Limited.

http://artistgrouplimited.com

Beauty News: Makeup Junkie Wishes Pink Beauty A Very Happy Birthday!

One of Makeup Junkie's fave brands, Pink Beauty Cosmetics, is celebrating their 3rd Birthday! To celebrate, Pink Beauty is offering 30% off your entire order between June 1-8! Have a very Happy and Sweet Birthday!

For more information click here.

Beauty Feature: Mascara's Battle It Out Round 5!

Back in October of 2008, Makeup Junkie tested and reviewed 10 must-have mascaras and we had a blast doing it! We've gone and tested more mascaras just in time for the hot, sweaty, summer season. If you've been searching for the perfect mascara and don't want to dish out a lot of money to do it, read on because we've got you covered! (Results may vary and can perform differently on everyone.)

Mascara: Stila Convertible Mascara
Rating: 9.5 winks
Price: $22 USD
Special Feature: Innovative polymer formula encases each lash with smudge-proof, water-resistant tubes. Double-ended brush: large brush volumizes and defines while thinner brush defines the lower and harder-to-reach lashes.
Smudge-factor: none!!
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: Definitely
Wand: Medium and thin brush
For: Gals who want everything out of a mascara with extra definition.
Overall: I've never tried any mascaras from Stila and was pleasantly surprised that this mascara performed so amazingly! You get it all plus it's one of the few mascaras that didn't smudge or smear after a long day at work. I would have given it a perfect 10, but washing the "mascara tubes" can get a little messy. Expect to invest an extra 5 minutes cleaning the tubes off.

Mascara: Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara
Rating: 6.5 winks
Price: $24 USD
Special Feature: Waterproof version of the cult classic, Dior Diorshow Mascara. Big fat wand for big fat lashes.
Smudge-factor: yes, very smudgy - boo!
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: extreme
Wand: Big fat brush
For: Gals who want big volume, dramatic lashes, and don't normally smudge.
Overall: I was sadly disappointed in this must-have cult fave. Big voluminous lashes - check. Smudgy-smeared mess - check! I figured the water-proof version would not smudge but I couldn't be anymore wrong. I really loved how dramatically long and full my lashes looked but hated the smeary mess it made throughout the day. I found the big fat brush quickly coated my lashes but it was hard not to get the mascara all over my lids. The icing on the cake - the high price tag. All in all, gals who don't have a problem with smearing will love the big faux lash effect but you can probably get the same effect for cheaper.

Mascara: Flirt! Lash-A-Delic in Groovy Blue
Rating: 8 winks
Price: $14 USD
Special Feature: Buildable colour and definition.
Smudge-factor: no
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: natural volume but buildable
Wand: medium wand
For: Gals who want electric colour and fun, bold lashes.
Overall: Love! Adding a bright colour on the lashes adds an element of surprise. It's unexpected and gives a fun twist on your everyday makeup. Groovy Blue is bold but really makes brown eyes pop! If wearing blue on its own is too bright for you, swipe this over your favourite black mascara to tone down the blue. You'll love the volume, lift, and definition this mascara gives you - and not to mention the hot pink packaging! Also available in Boogie Brown and Mod Black.

Mascara: Benefit BADgal Waterproof Mascara
Rating: 6.5 winks
Price: $19 USD
Special Feature: Waterproof version of the best-selling original, BADgal Mascara. Waterproof and smudge-proof formula that gives you the same voluminous effect as the original.
Smudge-factor: yes!
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: medium wand not like the original fat brush
For: Gals who want lushes lashes while singin' in the rain. Good for those who don't have a problem with smudging.
Overall: Another mascara I had high hopes for. I definitely preferred this brush over the original one because it was easier to coat each lash without the mess. I also liked the lift and volume it gave. I did NOT like the smeary mess it made. It's not fun walking around thinking you look great only to discover hours later that you have mascara smeared all over your bottom lash line. I guess I'm just not one of the lucky ones who don't have smudging issues!


Mascara: CARGO blu_ray Mascara
Rating: 7 winks
Price: $20 USD
Special Feature: Comb-like brush allows for extra definition and a natural finish. Made for high-definition film.
Smudge-factor: a little
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: natural but buildable
Wand: comb-like wand
For: Gals who want extra definition and natural volume.
Overall: You can expect good lift and no clumping with this mascara. The comb-like brush also allows you to get right to the root and those hard-to-reach lashes. If you like a natural finish then this mascara is great, but if you want more volume you can add a few more coats. But if volume is what you want then just go with a volumizing mascara. The mascara smeared a little but surprisingly not as bad as the waterproof brands. While it gave good lift on first application, my lashes did start to droop throughout the day. Bottom line, for those who have naturally voluminous lashes and just want a natural finish and extra definition, then this mascara gets the job done.

Mascara: Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascara
Rating: 7.5 winks
Price: $22 USD
Special Feature: A multi-effect volume mascara that is formulated with hard waxes and synthetic polymers. Creamy formula conditions lashes.
Smudge-factor: a little
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: medium wand
For: Gals who love volume and want to reapply without the clumps.
Overall: I am a huge fan of Anastasia's brow line and was excited to try this mascara. The mascara gave instant volume and lift from the first swipe. I was able to reapply more mascara for extra volume without clumping. It smeared just a bit on the outer corner but nothing too noticeable. All in all, it's a good mascara but you can probably get the same results with a cheaper brand.


Mascara: CoverGirl LashBlast Luxe Mascara
Rating: 7 winks
Price: $8.99 CDN
Special Feature: Blackest-black formula, now tinted with luxe shimmers. Giant luxe brush helps blast lashes to their biggest, boldest and most beautifully shimmering.
Smudge-factor: a little
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: fat wand
For: Gals who loved the original LashBlast mascara but want to give their eyes more attention with some shimma'.
Overall: I'm a huge fan of the original LashBlast waterproof formula, however, while it gives you the same big volume, I found the shimmer really subtle. What's the point of a shimmer mascara if you can barely see it? I applied a few more coats and was able to see it shimmer in the right light. It's kind of gimmicky but fun for perking up those lashes for a night time event.

Mascara: Maybelline Lash Stiletto
Rating: 6.5 winks
Price: $9.29 CDN
Special Feature: Elastic formula stretches lashes up to 70% visibly longer in one step. Pro Vitamin B-5 and silk protein strengthen and condition for hi-gloss black-patent shine.
Smudge-factor: a lot
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: wand is tapered at the end
For: Gals who want sky-high length and glossy shine.
Overall: This mascara gave good lift and length but nothing extreme compared to other lengthening mascaras. I found the length of my lashes to look the exact same compared to that of a volumizing mascara. I did like the wet glossy finish it gave my lashes but hated how much it smeared and smudged. The tapered brush made coating each lash really easy but overall didn't win me over.

Mascara: Kiehl's Marvelous Mineral Mascara
Rating: 7.5 winks
Price: $16.50 USD
Special Feature: Mineral pigments add natura rich colour. Anacia Senegal thickens for length and volume.
Smudge-factor: none
Clump-factor: none
Lengthening: natural
Volume: natural
Wand: medium
For: Gals who are looking for something all natural for the lashes in every way - natural finish and natural ingredients.
Overall: I like the natural ingredient factor, however, the finish was too natural for my almost non-existent lashes. This is great for the "no-makeup-makeup-look" when going to the gym when you just want a little definition. The volume is buildable but it took several coats before I was satisfied with the volume. At least there are no clumps! Amazingly, it did not smudge. Not sure if that has anything to do with the mineral pigment possibly working like a stain on the lashes.

Mascara: Lise Watier 24 Hrs Glam Mascara
Rating: 4.5 winks
Price: $20 CDN
Special Feature: Elastic polymer formula and Flexi-QueenTM brush surrounds each lash with 3D waterproof film for 24 hour glamourous look. Waterproof and resists sweat, humidity and tears.
Smudge-factor: none but it did flake
Clump-factor: very clumpy
Lengthening: yes
Volume: yes
Wand: medium
For: Gals who want glamourous volume all day and all night.
Overall: Do not attempt a 2nd coat if you want to avoid a clumpy, spidery-mess. It's no joke when they say it's elastic. When I applied a 2nd coat the elastic fibers stuck to each other. It was like stringy cheese! It would also pull some of the first coat off which was very annoying. When I attempted to comb the clumps out, I ended up taking the mascara off instead and had to reapply in some areas. There was no smudging but the mascara did flake a lot. While the lift and volume lasted all day, my lashes looked like a mess.

To view previous mascara reviews click Round 1, Round 2, Round 3 and Round 4!

What's #1 on your mascara list? Have you tried any of these? Makeup Junkie wants to know!