review // Signature Minerals

I've been using Signature Minerals makeup for a bit over a year now. I found it at the beginning of my switch to all natural products and I really love it.  I've wanted to post about this company for some time now, but I was waiting to place a new order before I did.  Well, I have, so here it is!

Signature Minerals' makeup is...

100% natural, silky smooth mineral makeup that is nice to your skin. It contains no toxins or irritants, so even those with sensitive skin, rosacea, and other skin conditions can use it.

  Since Signature mineral makeup cannot harbor bacteria and does not clog pores, it is an excellent choice for those suffering with acne breakouts, as well.

Signature Mineral Makeup is Gluten Free, Corn Free and Vegan, and has a natural SPF of around 15.

 I thought I'd show you some of my favorites.  :)  And don't forget to check out the swatches at the end!

Loose Mineral Foundation ($14-$18)

 

 

Signature Minerals foundation comes in 17 shades to cover to a wide variety of skin tones.  And of course you can always mix two to get your perfect shade, if necessary.  Before you buy a full size (they come in 30g & 20g jars and a 10g refill bag) you can order almost FREE samples to find your right shade.  Yeah, FREE...it's amazing.  All you pay is the $5 in shipping.  You can choose 6 samples from all of the foundations, correctors, blushes/bronzers and veils.  My perfect shade is 4.0, and then I just add a bit of warmth in the summer with bronzer.  These foundations are finely milled and go on silky.  I've found that the secret it to apply it is in several very light layers.  That way each layer can melt into your skin and it won't end up looking cakey.  I love to use my Eco Botan Artisan Kabuki Brush from Everyday Minerals to buff it in.   

It also lasts a good 8-10 hours.  Since my skin can be dry sometimes, using powder foundations can make my face feel tight.  So if I'm having one of those days then I'll make sure I moisturize really well, prime with my 100% Pure Primer and spray rosewater and aloe on my face before applying the foundation.  Then I'll spray my face again once I finish my makeup.  That seems to really help cut any dryness I might be having and set my makeup.  On normal days, I will get a little shiny in my T zone, but not as much as with a liquid makeup.  I just use a blotting tissue and I'm good to go.  

Loose Mineral Concealer & Corrector ($10-$18)

 

These 10 powders are specifically formulated to cover and visibly correct pesky problem areas, like under-eye circles, redness & blemishes.  There are 4 skin-toned concealers and 6 color correctors.  They come in 30g, 20g & 10g jars, plus 6g & 10g refill bags.  I actually don't use any of the concealers, but I am in LOVE with the Soft Mint Corrector.  It might be my most favorite thing from SM!  Since my fair skin is prone to redness, especially around the nose, this is a life saver for me.  Instead of having to pile on a thick layer of foundation to cover the redness, this pale mint-colored powder covers/neutralizes it in one light application.  Most days I actually apply this before the mineral foundation with the same Kabuki brush, although sometimes I'll do a light dusting at the end with a EcoTools Powder Brush.  My mom loves the yellow Sunshine Corrector for dark under-eye circles and she says it works so good, that people have asked here what she's been using.  
And that's always a nice thing!

Loose Mineral Concealer & Corrector ($10-$18)

 

Signature Finishing Veils are designed to minimize pores, control oil and reduce shine.  There are 5 to choose from, 3 tinted ones, a translucent and one that adds radiance to the complexion.  Again, they come in 30g, 20g & 10g jars, plus 6g & 10g refill bags.  I personally use the Angel Veil, a pale beige powder with yellow undertones.  Now, while I'm not sure that it really minimizes my pores, the kaolin clay & serecite in this powder does help control oil in my T-zone during the day and gives me a soft overall finish.  I apply the Angel Veil, mainly to my T-zone, with my fluffy powder brush after I finish my other face makeup.  A little goes a long way so you only need to tap the tiniest bit into the lid and you're good.  I have also tried samples of the Radiance and Translucent Veils.  I've found that the Radiance is a nice check highlighter, but a little too much all over for me.  If you have dull skin, it would be a nice perker-upper.  And I can leave the Translucent, it's not great at absorbing oil since there's no koalin, so I don't really see the necessity.  Keep in mind, the Angel jar above is old... a new full size Veil (20g jar) comes with a Rotating/Click Lock Sifter, like my pic of the Foundation and Soft Mint.

Mineral Bronzer ($10-$18)

 

These bronzers give a very natural finish and will not turn orangey on your skin.  They come in 30g, 20g & 10g jars, plus 6g & 10g refill bags. The 2 lighter non-shimmery shades are fairly neutral.  One of these, Goddess is my favorite.  It gives a nice amount of warmth in the summer and a subtle contour in the winter.  I have also tried samples of the 2 darker shimmery shades that lean toward golden brown hues.  These are obviously too dark for me, unless I were to self tan, so I just like to use them as eye shadows.  If you're naturally darker or self tan often, these would be beautiful on you.  I apply this bronzer with my E.L.F. Complexion Brush all over or my Real Techniques Angled Kabuki to contour.  I like this bronzer becasue it's buildable and blendable, so it's pretty hard to mess it up.  Again, the Goddess jar above is old... a new full size Bronzer (20g jar) comes with a Rotating/Click Lock Sifter.

Mineral Blush ($10-$14)

 

There are 18 shades of blush to choose from... matte, satin & shimmery... in a variety of colors.  They are available in 30g & 20g jars and a 6g refill bag. These SM blushes wear light but last all day, no streaking or fading.  They are silky and super pigmented so REALLY the tiniest bit gives a nice amount of color.  I suggest starting small and build up if desired.  I haven't bought a full size blush yet, but I did get some samples to try, including a beautiful matte coral and shimmery pink.  I have also tried a few others a while ago.  The only ones I haven't loved are some of the dustier tones, like Adobe Sun, Dusty Mauve & Buff Apricot.  They come off a little chalky looking on my skin.  I think these would be best for the fairest complexions.  And Rosewood is a little too deep for me, so I know it would be great for darker skin.  But I am loving Coral, Pink Jazz and Roseberry.   I apply these blushes with the EcoTools Tapered Blush Brush.  

 

Mineral Eye Colors ($5-$10)

(Larger jar above is Athena)

Signature Minerals offers dozens of highly pigmented eye shadows in a variety of colors, textures and finishes.  For easy ordering they are divided into finish categories on their website: matte, semi-matte, pearl, shimmer & metallic.  Right away, I can tell you that the pearl finish is my favorite.  Most of these shadows are super pigmented with high color payoff.  I'd say the only ones that lack a lot of richness are some of the matte shades, like Accent. They actually notate Accent as Semi-Matte and Cream & Taupe as Matte, however I feel like they should be switched.  Accent has no sheen, while Cream & Taupe have just a hint.  I've also tried Terre Medium before (a Matte), and it really is...matte.  This is probably my only qualm...I wish it was more clear what was what.  These shadows do tend to crease a bit by the end of the day, but as I've said before, they lack the chemicals that make commerical shadows pretty much permanent.  I just use a natural cream shadow base before, and that helps them last a good 8 hours.  The shadows are available in 10g & 5g jars, but you can also try unlimited samples for $2.50 each (approx. 1g product)

SWATCHES

Remember that swatches are usually much more pigmented so you can see the coloring. Real application can start much lighter and be built up.

Foundation, Bronzer, Corrector & Veils
(Keep in mind, several of these are hard to see...becasue they are made that way...so you don't see them!)

Blush & Extra Bronzers

Coral - True Coral (Matte)
Roseberry - Dusty rose with bare hints of shimmery pale raspberry
Pink Jazz - Cool rosey pink with a pearlescent shimmer
Rosewood - Earthy rose with a luminous glow
Adobe Sun - Warm earthen Clay (Matte)

Eye Shadows

Grey Fox - Brown with pearly silver/gray highlights
Majesty - Silvery brown with purple iridescence
Taupe - Warm brown with a hint of raisin (Sheen)
Cream - True golden cream (Sheen)
Athena - Shimmering golden pink (it's much lighter than shown on the website) MY FAV :)
Accent - Eggshell white (Matte)

 Signature Minerals makeup is non-irritating and I can firmly vouch for that, because I have very sensitive skin.  It has never given me a rash or made me break out.  The fact that it only has a handful of ingredients, was one of the main reasons I tried it in the first place.

The last thing I wanted to talk about was Signature Minerals' customer service.  They really care about their products and their customers and will do what is necessary to make them satisfied.  I got locked out of my account a few months ago, emailed them in the morning and by early afternoon of the same day I got a personalized email with a solution.  Then, in my latest order, I received a Lipstick (by Honeybee gardens) that I was not happy with.  I emailed SM again with my issue and a picture, and they gladly accepted my return of the lipstick.  I chose another shade, which I hope to get next week.  I just wanted to mention this quickly because I truly feel that a company's commitment to satisfaction is just as important as their product line.   And I love dealing with companies who recognize this.

If you're interested in trying out some of their products, I'm going to share this month's 25% off code with you (25snap). It does expire May 6th, so if you want the next month's code make sure you sign yourself up for the monthly newsletter!  You can find the sign-up on their homepage down on the left.

I do know that their pricing may go up a bit next month, due to an increase in their raw ingredients, etc. so be aware.  Hence the higher discount this month... usually it's 15-20% off.  That's why I stocked up on my must haves!!

Please don't hesitate to comment below or shoot me an email if you have any questions.  I'd love to hear from you!  :)

review // Tarte - The Tarte of Giving Set - PART II

If you missed { PART I }, check it out here.  

But now on to { PART II }.  :)

PRODUCTS

This limited edition eyeshadow palette is broken down into 4 sections with 5 shades in each section. The colors in each section can be used together to create looks from natural to dramatic, and you can mix between sections for a unique look all your own (I tend to do this option). The shadows have a creamy velvet texture that glides on smoothly and evenly, and are very easy to blend. The pigmentation is great, except for Bianca's Coloring Book*.  It's a pale, matte pink and I feel like it just disappears when applied no matter how much I layer on.  But the rest are amazing.  It has 8 matte shades and 12 satin/shimmer shades, and included are some basics, but also some trendy colors... like rose gold, copper, bronze & cobalt.  The staying power on these are great and they wear a long time without creasing or fading.  I do wear them over a base or primer though, so I'm not sure how they hold up without. From other reviews I've read, pretty well, it seems.  I've listed the colors & descriptions of the shades below, and I've highlighted my favs.

Top Left - Quad 1 (L to R, then long skinny shade)

Kim’s Porcelain Doll – Frosty White with Blue Micro-glitter

Jen’s Jump Rope – Matte Medium Dark Cool Grey

Scott’s Skate Board – Cool Navy Blue with Cobalt Blue Micro-glitter

Staci’s Charm Bracelet – Metallic Silver Shimmer

Nuria’s Boombox – Matte Black

Top Right - Quad 2 (L to R, then long skinny shade)

Leah’s Locket – Metallic Gold Shimmer

Candace’s Tap Shoes – Matte Dark Neutral Brown

Ally’s Bicycle – Metallic Taupe with Silver Micro-glitter

Maureen’s Soccer Ball – Medium Bronze Brown with Copper Shimmer

Claire’s Cashmere Gloves – Medium Frosty Sage Green with Silver Micro-glitter

Bottom Left - Quad 3 (L to R, then long skinny shade)

Steph’s Pearls – Frosty White with a Pink Undertone

Jess’s Storybook – Frosted Mauve Pink

Erica’s Dollhouse – Frosted Rose Gold

Meredith’s Hula Hoop – Matte Medium Dusty Plum

Sam’s Ice Skates – Dark Grey with a Purple Micro-glitter

Bottom Right- Quad 3 (L to R, then long skinny shade)

*Bianca’s Color Book -  Matte Cream with a Pink Undertone

Anna’s Tea Set – Frosty Champagne

Daniel’s Teddy Bear – Matte Medium Warm Brown

Tom’s Stuffed Tiger – Shimmer Copper

Kate’s Puppy – Matte Chocolate Brown

And finally, 8 limited edition lip glosses come with this set.  Tarte doesn't have gloss like this in their line, so I was really intrigued to try these out.  There are a variety of pink and red tones, some with shimmer.  The size of each (about 2.5" long) is great for travel or popping into your purse. They are richly pigmented, not too sticky and last for several hours.  I've noticed that when they wear off it isn't splotchy, which is nice, and they don't suck the moisture out of my lips.  Most others glosses make me feel like I need to apply chapstick when they wear off, but I feel like these actually moisturize my lips.  They have a doe-foot applicator which makes application easy and mess free.  They glide on smooth and almost melt into my lips, giving it a stain-gloss look.  I really love the minty smell and the slight tingle on my lips (my favorite lip products are usually those that come with a cooling sensation).  I've listed the names and description of the colors below, and again, I've highlighted my favs. 

 Finn – Mauve Pink

John – Bright Tomato Red

Ro – Pinky Nude

Kam – Mauve Pink with Gold & Silver Shimmer

Viv – Bubblegum Pink with Gold Shimmer

Sully – Berry/ Rosy Plum

Spence – Peachy/Pink with Silver Shimmer

PRICING

$ out of $$$

For the original price of $59, it's an amazing value for everything you get.  Keep in mind, if you find this set somewhere besides Sephora the price may be different/higher.

PURCHASING

I believe this set was a Sephora exclusive, so it was only available there and on Tarte.com.  It has since disappeared from both websites, but you may be able to find it in a Sephora store, if they still have it.  Otherwise, I've found it on Amazon and ebay.

CONCLUSION

Overall, I LOVED this set and all it's parts.  I loved the value and the range of products you get to try.  All of the deluxe minis from { PART I } I will most probably be keeping in my beauty routine, becasue they not only have good ingredients, but they work!

I was not, in any way, paid for this review, by Tarte or any other affiliate. 

I purchased every product myself and decided to share to help others find a bit of direction in their own natural beauty journey.