Brand Review : Boe Cosmetics

Boe Cosmetics has been in my makeup periphery for a while now, it's exclusive to Big W and generally when I plan to make a makeup purchase its from Priceline points, give me allllll the points) or Chemist Warehouse (50% Off twice a year sales);

But you know, one does wander into Big W, and with a makeup sale on, the lure was strong.
Also there was a person at the makeup counter (need to purchase makeup items through that specific counter at my local BigW).

I'd inspected the Boe items before and decided with $3 off it would be a good day to sample.  They have two range - the older range is $2 per item, therefore only the newer range was $3 off.

So I had uploaded this post earlier today and was unhappy with my photos and it had been bugging me all day, so I've retaken the majority of them.  There's a few with the white background fr clarity - such as the ingredients list.   But I'm happier with these new photos, its amazing what a change in time and location can do to a photo.

From the new range - Boe Professional - I bought foundation, concealer and a lipstick
From the old range - matte lip paint, mascara and eyeshadow pencil.

Foundation - only 3 colours and I bought Fair.  Nice shade for "Fair" - I've found that some brands lightest tone is damn pale, but their second lightest tone is what I would call nearly tanned by my skin colour (looking at you Models Prefer and Savvy).  Also a nice feature of the bottle is that it is an airless pump, so the inner bottom pushes the foundation up and minimises waste.  Nice. Clever feature that more brands should incorporate.  Also this foundation has a tiny ingredients list and one of the main ingredients is shea butter which is great for dry, sensitive or eczema prone skin.  I really really like this foundation and have been reaching for it more than my Rimmel!

Seriously - for a liquid, heck even a powder, foundation this is a tiny list.
(I'm tempted to go and get the BB cream - if the colour shades are similar. And the ingredients play nice)

Concealer - again three tones, but the light is VERY light, might go back and try the medium shade.  Drier than the foundation.  Could be good for matte highlighting.

Even thought it has Mica it doesn't actually seem that shiny...

Quick comparison of the two shades - not blended, then blended.  The foundation looks almost too dark, but when blended out it matches my skin tone on my face/neck nicely.

Due to the high level of shea butter in the foundation this is very easy to blend, it looks shiny in the photo on the right above but it settles down as the shea butter sinks into your skin.  You can layer powder products over this foundation and they don't look clumpy - just allow a few minutes for the foundation to settle.

Lipstick - this is from the "Supershine" range (they also have a Matte, Diamond Finish and Colour Last). I chose the nude colour in "Empress". It spoke to me more than the others which were heavy in the reds and pinks which I have plenty of.  This shade I didn't actually have.  Also - "Empress", enough said.  Longevity isn't fabulous however - this requires maintenance throughout the day.

From the original range:

Matte Lip Paint - so tiny! Which is good because other ones are so big I doubt I'll finish them (like the Velourlips).  Fabulous pigmentation, stays on really well through drinking, but not eating.  Awkward to apply - its a plastic tip that you use to push the colour around - I will probably use a lipbrush from now.  It applies sticky but dries and mattes quite quickly.  And lasts and lasts and lasts - I tried micellar water to remove it, then cream cleanser, the oil cleanser.  This pigments is strong - so go for the oil cleanser (or even baby oil, olive oil) to remove it initially.

5 cm long tube!!

Eyeshadow stick - nicely pigmented, also can be sharped so you're not just getting the tip of colour (like on of the NYX eyeshadow pencils and Face of Australia Kohl's).  Very creamy but sets quickly after you apply so you need to work it immediately  It can be sheered out or applied thickly.

 

Mascara - the brush is a bit strange, chunky spiral bristles.  It applies really nicely though for a $2 product. I'm not 100% sold on this.  I've worn it twice and I think it may be irritating my eyes.  However its also peak hayfever season so I dont know.  I'll probably try it a few more times before I make a final judgement.

I've got swatches on my hand below so you can get a better idea of pigmentation and colour.

On the left side top: Eyeshadow stick #225

                    middle: Velvet matte lips (no name or number)

                    bottom: Super shine lipstick in Empress

On the right side : top half is blended out Foundation in Fair (now looks dewy as it has set)

                            : bottom half is blended out Concealer in Fair

Overall the products are nice for daily wear, or for keeping in your handbag as touch-up items.  The foundation is a win - I could possibly repurchase.  The matte lips is fabulous and will last for ages, I will look at the other colours as well because for $2 its a bargain for the quality.  

What Boe Products have you used and been impressed by?  Or have been let down by?

ColorStay? ColorCling... (Revlon ColorStay Makeup for Normal to Dry Skin)

Sometimes I stray from my Rimmel Foundation.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
This was a purchase where I was "Oh look I'm an adult, gonna buy a different foundation yeah (and 40% off)".
I also thought - Revlon, good brand, nice to branch out to some other brands maybe.  I really like the Revlon Eye Primer - that provides great prep for my eyeshadows.  And their Photoready primer is also quite nice.

This is the shade Ivory .  Pretty much the palest shade in the Revlon range - yet too pale for me now, my skin tone has changed due to the inflammation from my allergies.  First world issues.  Most of the other Revlon foundations I tested were just too yellow for me, I cant remember what the second palest shade was like.  I think I might have a neutral skin tone but again, allergy/eczema flareups can mess with my skin tone, so I try to match my chest.

I did some research on this and actually thought it would be good for my skin because the name says "Normal to Dry Skin".  It should also say "if you have any slightest bit of dryness it will cling and clump and make your foundation look like a cracked surface".

Classy line there - shows the tonal difference clearly...

So far I have not been able to make this work, but I will endeavor with some primers and maybe even hack it with some oils.  Because it sets dry, powdery dry.  Which only serves to emphasise the dry and crepey skin I have around my eyes at the moment.

I have a specific gene mutation that is linked to dry skin/eczema and is characterised by extra lines on the top of the hand and the palm of the hand.  Y'all can SEE the lines clearly on my hands with this foundation.  Imagine that on your face.

I found this really hard to blend or buff out with both my brush and makeup sponge.  It was a very streaky application.  Also once it sets, it sets and trying to add more layers doesn't work well.

I feel a bit let down by this foundation.  The formula does not moisturise at all and seems to actually suck the moisture out from my skin in a remarkably short time.  Within a half-hour I had the foundation doing the highly unattractive "cling to dry patches" that my Rimmel foundation does after 6 or so hours.  Also the lack of being able to layer nicely - I prefer to do several thin layers of foundation to build up my coverage.

Oh and I'm annoyed at myself for not picking up that there is Salicylic Acid in the ingredients list until now.  Stupid me - I would be interested to see how this works on oily skin, despite being marketed as "Normal to Dry".

What foundations have let you down?

Mineral Makeup - Is the hype over? Or is the train starting up again?

Aaah life, getting in the way of posting about pretties.  Damn life.  
But now I'm on leave for a few months, so posting should be more regular now I can get things done during the day and not be falling asleep on the couch at 6pm (which has been my M.O. for the past however many months....)

I initially wrote this post months ago but never got around to "finishing" it, and now I've changed some of my opinions in favour of mineral makeup.  Again.  Because my skin has been playing up.  Again (immune system issues).

Is mineral makeup really better for your skin if you have allergies?

I certainly used to believe so - I went gung-ho about 7 years ago for Physicians Formula - first the cream and then the powder foundations. It was within my budget, it was easy to find and the reviews were pretty good.

The brush was crap.  It was very irritating so I had to invest in a separate kabuki brush.
source: Priceline, because mine are all gone.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: TITANIUM DIOXIDE, ZINC OXIDE. INACTIVE INGREDIENTS: MICA, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, BORON NITRIDE, ZINC STEARATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, LAUROYL LYSINE, CHLORPHENESIN, POTASSIUM SORBATE, RETINYL PALMITATE. MAY CONTAIN: IRON OXIDES (source - Priceline)

Then I got interested in mineral eyeshadows and so forth, I tired a few different brands and some indie brands as well.  Looking back, my skin was not at its best when I was using the mineral products.  I have moved on to different products and formulations as I have learnt more about my skin type and allergies.

I think what many people don't realise is that the pigments used in mineral makeup are the SAME pigments used in "regular" foundations.  What you will find is that the "regular" foundations have other products added such as preservatives, stabilisers (so the liquid doesn't split) and silicone for applications benefits like pore filling.  The mineral makeup that comes in a loose powder will generally have less ingredients, if its a liquid it needs a preservative of some sort.

So when a foundation touts itself as being a "mineral foundation", well technically they all are!

The main minerals are titanium dioxide, mica (which makes things look glittery/glowy), iron oxides and zinc oxide (also in sunscreens - makes things opaque).  Sometimes talc, tapioca starch or corn starch are added as fillers. The reason why you would need only a little of the powder mineral foundation is due to the higher concentration of pigments compared to a liquid.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is used in products like paint (ever used a tube of Titanium White paint?), sunscreen, food dye and makeup .  It contributes to the opacity of the product, thickens the product and provides some UV blocking (sunscreen). Medium to full coverage foundations have a greater amount of titanium dioxide (mineral and "regular" foundations).  It is sourced from different minerals found in rocks.  Minerals are the building blocks of rocks and are compounds of different elements.

To compare powder versus liquid mineral makeup: Nude by Nature is a very population mineral foundation that is readily available in Priceline.  I would say it sits at the high-end of the drug-store level of foundations.

Liquid Mineral Foundation 30ml

INGREDIENTS: Aqua (Water), Simmondsia Chinensis [Jojoba] Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Titanium Dioxide, Ceteareth 20, Tocopherol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Diheptyl Succinate, Iron Oxides [CI 77492], p-Anisic Acid, Glycerin, Glycine Soja [Soybean] Oil, Iron Oxides [CI 77491], Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Iron Oxides [CI 77499], Syzygium Leuhmanii Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Santalum Acuminatum Fruit Extract, Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum
(source - Priceline)


I wouldn't buy this due to the Lilly Pilly, Quandong and Kakadu Plum extracts

Its interesting to note that even though this is a mineral makeup, it still has stabilisers, thickeners, and binders in it as you would find in a "regular" foundation

Mineral Cover 15gms

INGREDIENTS: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Magnesium Stearate, Kaolin, Jojoba Esters, May contain: +/- [C.I. 77491, C.I. 77492, C.I. 77499 (Iron Oxide), C.I. 77007 (Ultramarine Blue)].
(source - Priceline)

For both of these I have highlighted the minerals that are in the foundations.

I have since purchased this Mineral Cover due to my recent skin flareup in search of a foundation that would not irritate my skin and provide another layer of opacity to my makeup.


I have layered it over liquid foundations as a "setting type" of powder.  And it has worked very well in this manner.  It stopped my 3 layers of foundation flaking off and attaching to the flakes on my face without looking too dry and overly cakey after several hours.  By itself, I still need layers of this and it does go clumpy if my skin is still damp from moisturiser - so I have to wait for my skin to dry, which is the opposite of how I wear liquid foundation.  This also oxidises a little bit on me when I use it as the only foundation.

Side note - if you're Salicylate sensitive avoid anything with corn starch.  Its high in salicylic acid. Found this out the hard way with Physicians Forumla: Matte Finishing Veil which I bought when I was on the mineral makeup bandwagon.

For a while you could only find certain types of products in mineral makeup, such as the Mineral Wear Talc Free Correcting Powder.  I still use this and when I hit pan I won't repurchase it.  Since changing my routine I prefer liquid colour correctors and do not like the chalky/heavy feeling I get from the powdered mineral makeup.

Again, crap brush.  I use a separate powder brush for this.

Ingredients : Mica, Boron Nitride, Mineral Oil, Aluminum Distearate, Petrolatum, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Carmine, Ultramarines

Now that mineral oil would put most mineral makeup purists completely off.  But mineral oil is a whole 'nother topic.  As is the Petrolatum.  I don't mind mineral oil as it doesn't irritate my skin.

So in terms of mineral makeup, I would say if you are super-sensitive you would need to buy a product that has as few ingredients as possible.  Avoiding the "enriched with" labels.  Its about reading the labels and being aware of what will work for your skin type.  And being flexible with how you use the mineral makeup to suit your needs and expectations.  For myself currently its not a product I can use alone to give my the cover I like.

Does anyone use a pure mineral foundation?  What has made you stay/change to that product?

Mizon WaterMax Moisture BB Cream

I have been on a hunt for a BB Cream as my skin has improved and I dont need 6 layers of foundation.
Here in Australia BB creams are, shall we say, orange.  Great for tanned skin.  I dont tan.
I tried Garnier (got it in a subscription bx that shall not be named), Nivea (let down city), samples from Maybelline (but Maybelline foundations always oxidise on me.  Not their concealers however..) and swatched Australis and my beloved Rimmel.
All were "Nopes", not even a "if I work it into my skin really well can I make it work?".  Oh and Australis oxidised like hell - my hand looked like someone had drawn a line in fake tanner.

So when I did my large haul from RRS I saw that Mizon had a BB cream that was also in their "free Shipping", and it was a respectable price, so I put it in the order.

Ingredients: Aqua, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, cyclomethicone, titanium dioxide, glycerin, butylene glycol, cetyl ethylhexanoate, sodium hyaluronate, cyclopentasiloxane, dimenthicone, crosspolymer, cetyl peg/ ppg-10/1 dimethicone, dsodium chloride, trehalose, natto gum, rosa hybrid flower extract, biosaccharide gum-1, sodium pca, sorbitol, glycine, alanine, proline, serine, threonine, arginine, lysine, glutamic acid, iris florentina root extract, viola mandshurica flower extract, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) extract, glacier water, sea water, betula platyphylla japonica juice, hydrolyzed coralline officinalus extract, butyrospermum parkii(shea butter), mangifera indica (mango) seed butter, olea europaea (oluve) fruit oil, helianthus annus (sunflower) seed oil, oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, disodium edta, polymethyl methacrylate, Ci 77492, Ci 77492, Ci77499 , phenoxyethanol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, fragrance

It is a hydrating BB Cream - I have not found a BB cream for dry skin in my search from Australian shops.  They were all (the ones I tried) for normal, or even oily skin, essentially containing salicylic acid and mattifying ingredients.  So that in itself was another point towards this product.

I am please with how it has turned out.  It is a close colour match for my Rimmel foundations, just a touch greyer but that does not faze me overly as once you do the rest of your makeup you cant see any grey.  This BB cream doesn't inflame my skin at all (giving dark looks to a Nivea BB cream) and it doesn't dry out over the day so I still have a nice soft dewy look.  If my skin is a little flakey it will "catch" on the flakes, so use this on moisturised skin so it has a smooth base - or use a primer.

I cant use it when my skin is inflamed however, as it is too sheer for that even when layered and I think it oxidises if I layer it under my Rimmel foundation, but by itself it works very well.  I will definitely use this up.  If I cant find a better one (also trying out samples of Etude House Precious Minerals BB creams) I might repurchase it.

What BB Creams have impressed you recently?

It's all about that base. Foundation base that is.

I know that some people would say that because of my allergies I should avoid makeup and blah blah blah.
I like makeup.  Its like making a new artwork everyday.
I also like the face that makeup can camouflage my bright red face during an allergic reaction.  
6 layers of makeup is the most I have used.  Just to have a skin-toned face.  Thats not counting blush etc.    

I'm not 100% sure if I'm cool or warm toned.  I try to match my face to my neck/chest and go from there.  Looking at the picture below you can see I've got a cool and a warm tone foundation(and a rogue, I'll explain further down).  I haven't been matched as such, I tend to slap some of the tester on my arms first to see if it oxidises and then match my neck/chest.  

My favourite brand for foundation is hands down Rimmel.  I've used different types of their foundations for at least 7 years and I always go back to them.  I have a foundation that is medium to heavy cover and a lighter cover foundation.  I use to use the Physicians Formula Mineral Foundation, but I was never really happy with it.  Then I found Rimmel.

This is Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation SPF 20 in 010 Light Porcelain.  This is the full coverage foundation that I use when my face is bright red.  I usually need 2 layers of this.  I will be honest, I have yet to find a foundation that covers my red skin in one layer (when I say red, see the red label, that's the colour my skin goes when I'm having an allergic reaction!).  I do have to use a green colour corrector underneath. 
This has a lovely dewy finish.
Even with multiple layers it is a very comfortable foundation.  Only in humid weather does it get uncomfortable.  When my skin is happy I can use 1 layer of this with normal concealer use.
.



This is Rimmel Match Perfection in 081 Fair Ivory.  I use this when my skin is in good condition.  It doesn't work as well as the Lasting Finish to help cover the redness. Again a dewy finish.  I like a dewy finish 90% of the time because I have epic dry skin.  Anything mattifying is a big no-no unless its humid weather.
This type doesn't layer as well as the Lasting Finish.





However both last through a full workday - I usually have finished my makeup at 7am and I removed it 11 to 12 hours later.  And its all there!

This is another Rimmel Match Perfection in 301 Warm Honey that I got in a Priceline goody bag in 2014.  Not my skin tone at all but I use it to darken the two above foundations when my skin is a bit darker in summer.

I might use 2 pumps of the Lasting Finish and half a pump of the Warm Honey.  I'm doing this so I actually use up this product, because it is a foundation that I like already so I don't get splitting from formulation incompatibility.




Another point is that Rimmel make pale enough foundation for my skin.  During January when Chemist Warehouse had their 50% off sale I went in and bought 3 foundations.  2 from Rimmel and 1 from Maybelline (a surprising contender - usually Maybelline foundations oxidise really badly on me).  

All in their lightest shades.  
In the middle of an Australian Summer.

The concealer I consistently go for is the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind, I have Light on the go a the moment.  I did remove the little sponge at the end because tons of product gets wasted in that. And the germs that will live in the sponge made me twitchy.  Anyway, this concealer works very nicely under the Rimmel foundations.  Strangely I don't have a Rimmel concealer, they are too dark and orange.

I will be doing a post on some more foundations in the future, as I bought two new (to me) foundations in the recent Priceline 40% Off Cosmetics sale.

These Rimmel ones are my go-to, for both everyday makeup and going out makeup.

Later days