Makeup Mondays With Mario: Fix For Flaky Foundation

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.


Help me, Mario. I have super dry skin and no matter what I do or how much moisturizer I use, my skin always looks flaky when I wear foundation. What am I doing wrong? If anyone can help me, I know it's you!

Thanks,
Kaitlin


Hi Kaitlin,

Flaky skin can be a result of a skin condition such as eczema. If you haven't already done so, please have your skin checked by a dermatologist to determine what the problem is - if any - and the appropriate treatment you may need.

I find that with very dry skin, it's good to use a tinted moisturizer. Stay away from setting powders which will absorb all the skin's moisture and bring attention to flaky, dry areas.

Another option is to use Bare Minerals mineral powder foundation - it works beautifully on dry, flaky skin and even gives a glow!

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,
Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

Jane Iredale Chocolicks Lip Glosses: Holiday Beauty Gift Guide

I'm adding the Jane Iredale Chocolicks Lip Gloss set to Spoiled Pretty's Holiday Beauty Gift Guide - although once you buy it, I doubt you'll be able to resist your selfish urges and actually give it away.

This collection of mini lip glosses offers any chocoholic four decadent options to satisfy her sweet tooth. And the set gets brownie points for the clever packaging.

What's even better? These glosses are formulated with 100% natural ingredients; sunflower seed oil has antioxidant benefits and jojoba seed oil hydrates!

* Truffle: rich brown gloss tastes of double chocolate
* Chocolate Orange: shimmering brown gloss tastes like dark chocolate and zesty orange
* Strawberry Cream: glossy pink that tastes like fresh strawberries and white chocolate
* Caramel: sheer bronze gloss with buttery sweetness

The glosses' pigments are subtle and sheer, so they're sure to compliment any complexion. They're on the sticky side, so if you have an aversion to tacky glosses (I happen to be an equal opportunity lipgloss lover) - this is something to note.

The Jane Iredale Chocoholicks Lip Gloss set ($44) is available at dermstore.com and drugstore.com.

For more expert gift picks, check out Spoiled Pretty's 2009 Holiday Beauty Gift Guide!

20% Off Bare Escentuals Get Started Kit at Sephora!

For one week only, get 20% off Bare Escentuals Get Started Kits at Sephora (originally, $60 - now $48). Shop in stores or on line. If you purchase at Sephora.com, this item ships for free! Enter code GETSTARTED at checkout.

Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse Makeup: Buy Right Now!

At the risk of sounding snobbish, I haven't worn drugstore foundation since college. And even then, it looked a hot mess. But I was broke and I didn't have any other options.

Since then, I've been making my foundation purchases at Sephora and the department store beauty counters because my color is difficult to match and it's near impossible for me to buy without trying. And even if I did find a close color match, the formulation was either too dry, too greasy, too sheer or too opaque for my persnickety skin.

But I've changed my tune since I attended a Revlon event last week in New York City. We bloggers went home with a bunch of Revlon's newest goodies...and my favorite, by far, is their Colorstay Mineral Mousse Makeup. Since I tried it, it has become my go-to foundation. Can you believe? For less than $14, you can purchase one of the best foundations I've tried all year.

Colorstay Mineral Mousse Makeup has a unique air-whipped texture that dries to a soft matte finish...perfect for those with oily and combination skin. It wears like a dream all day, averting the mid-day greasies. The coverage is sheer enough to let your skin breathe, but not so heavy that it looks like a mask. I apply it with the BeautyBlender sponge to ensure a seamless finish. And I swear that my acne has taken a little time out since I started using it.

Do yourself a favor and go buy Revlon's Colorstay Mineral Mousse Makeup right now.

Mary Kay Giveaway!

For this week's giveaway, Spoiled Pretty is partnering with Mary Kay. Ten winners (yeah, you heard right...TEN) will receive a mini Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover and Mineral Eye Color Quad!

Mary Kay's Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover gently removes eye makeup, including waterproof mascara, without tugging or pulling the delicate skin in the eye area - and without leaving your eyes a greasy mess. The Mini Mineral Eye Color Quad allows you to sample Mary Kay's beautiful Mineral Eye Colors in one easy palette. Featuring the versatile Lemongrass, Amber Blaze, Silky Caramel and Denim Frost shades, the quad comes equipped with a mirror, applicator and instructions on how to apply each color for a trendsetting look! The mini quad is also a perfect travel companion.

To enter the giveaway, send an email to spoiledprettycontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name and mailing address. The subject line should read " Mary Kay Giveaway." The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Sunday, July 19th. Ten winners will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Monday, July 20th, I'll announce the winners' names. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. residents.

Good luck!

I've Fallen Hard For Urban Decay's Fall 2009 Collection

Though summer has just begun, fall makeup collections are popping up left and right. Not to be outdone, Urban Decay (one of my all-time favorite brands) just dropped 30+ products like they're hot. And they are. Take one look at the this virtual look book and try not to buy. I dare you. Makeup junkies, just try to keep those purse strings tight and see how that works out for you.

The Urban Decay Fall 2009 Collection includes:

Ink For Eyes Cream Eyeliner: It’s everything you want in a cream eyeliner! More precise than a pencil, more forgiving than a liquid, this super-smooth formula offers more control, play time, and buildable coverage than your average liner. Create razor-sharp lines or smoky bedroom eyes… the creamy formula and double-ended applicator make it easy. Try the angled liner brush for precise details, or use the smudger for blending and drama. Available in Binge (midnight blue), Demolition (brown), Empire (eggplant), Loaded (deep green), Pyrotechnics (iridescent glitter, clear base), and Zero (black).

Complexion Primer Potion - Pore Perfecting: Smooth on a little Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion before foundation (or alone!) to totally minimize the look of pores and fine lines. The velvety, paraben-free formula flashes down to a soft-matte finish, without the greasy, heavy feel sometimes associated with foundation primers. The result? Flawless skin with an airbrushed look and feel. Foundation applies smoothly, evenly, and won’t fade away. Ideal for oilier skin, but dry complexions who want pore perfection will love it, too.

Complexion Primer Potion - Brightening: Dull skin? Fine lines? Disappearing foundation? Try Brightening Complexion Primer Potion under foundation (or alone!) for beautifully moisturized skin that looks brighter and feels tighter. This lightweight, oil-free, paraben-free formula includes buzz-worthy ingredient Matrixyl 3000, celebrated for its ability to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Hyaluronic Filling Spheres also minimize the look of fine lines while leaving skin beautifully moisturized. Your skin will look youthful, lifted and firm, and your foundation will apply smoothly, evenly, and last longer!

Eyelash Primer Potion: Wave this magic wand before your favorite mascara for lashes that appear thicker, longer and stronger…right before your very eyes. Tiny fibers band together, cling to every lash, and construct towers of Babel… reaching for heavenly lashes. Just apply Eyelash Primer Potion, then apply your favorite mascara as usual. Your lashes will look fake, but the magic is real.

Lip Primer Potion: This invisible primer lays a silky foundation for your favorite lipstick or gloss. Color is truer, applies smoother, lasts longer, and will not fade or feather. The easy-glide formula feels velvety-soft, without the drying feeling often associated with long-lasting lip color. The formula includes SPF 15 (yay!) and moisturizing Vitamins A, C and E for a primer that protects and perfects.

Deluxe Eyeshadow: Created with maximum staying power, Deluxe Eyeshadows offer incredibly long-lasting wear that won’t fade (especially when paired with Urban Decay's miraculous Eyeshadow Primer Potion). Available in three new shades: Freakshow (deep purple w/red sheen), Frigid (deep purple w/blue sheen) and Ruthless (pale sandy taupe shimmer).

Lipsticks: The luxuriously creamy formula nourishes and protects lips with Vitamins A, C, and E. Hyaluronic Spheres are added to stimulate cellular function, prevent dehydration, and fill-in lines and wrinkles—now, how many Lipsticks can do that?! The teardrop-shape bullet (etched with an Urban Decay logo) is infused with a decadent crème caramel scent and flavor. Yum. Available in three new shades: Confession (deep, semi-sheer burgundy), Naked (creamy pink-nude) and Oil Slick (glossy black w/silver microsparkle).

24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencils: Just like Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils, these Lip Pencils are guaranteed to last, and also contain Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, and Cottonseed Oil to nourish the skin and improve the smoothness of application. They're the perfect complement to Urban Decay Lipsticks, Stains, and Glosses. Available in two new shades: Paranoid (dark pinky nude) and Wallflower (medium nude).

Surreal Skin Cream-to-Powder Foundation: This ultra-lightweight formula transforms from a decadent cream to a micro-fine powder upon contact with skin. The light-as-air texture glides on effortlessly and feels as natural as your own skin. (No heavy, greasy, or powdery makeup texture.) Lighter than liquid, the buildable formula gives you all the coverage you desire, without the pore-clogging effects of heavier foundations – you can even wear it as a concealer. Available in eight shades.

Surreal Skin Mineral Makeup: Use a little for sheer coverage or keep puffing for heavier coverage. Titanium dioxide, a major ingredient, provides formulation color and great coverage. The handy on/off switch means you can toss it in your purse – no spills. Available in four new shades.

I'm lusting after this entire collection, and I think the feelings are mutual because every single product is calling my name...especially, the Ink For Eyes Cream Eyeliner. Which ones have you at hola?

MAC Mineralize Will Materialize On October 16th

Mineralize: The mania for mineral-rich makeup-foundation, powders, blush, eye shadows – is ever on the ascendant. Minerals will glorify and galvanize MAC’s latest mineral earth-offerings, and showcase our permanent Mineralize collections. The Artists have only but to ask: We are delighted to bring back our best-selling Mineralize Eye Shadow and Mineralize Blush at their request…three eye shadows from A Muse, three from Antiquitease, and six blush shades from Sonic Chic. Two shimmer shades of Mineralize Skinfinish will be permanent as well. In addition, brushes that are the most effective with Mineralize products will prove indescribably indispensable. Now available together in one permanent collection.



Mineralize Satinfinish SPF15 Foundation
NC15
NC20
NC25
NC30
NC35
NC37
NC40
NC42
NC44

NC45
NC50
NW20
NW25
NW30
NW35
NW43
NW45
NW50
Suggested Retail Price: $26.50 U.S.

Mineralize Skinfinish
Soft And Gentle: Gilded peach bronze
Gold Deposit: Gold copper bronze with gold sparkle
Suggested Retail Price: $25.00 U.S.

Mineralize Skinfinish/ Natural

Light: Soft pale beige
Light Medium: Pale golden beige
Medium: Soft creamy beige
Medium Plus: Tan beige
Medium Dark: Caramel beige
Medium Deep: Rich golden tan
Dark: Deep caramel
Deep: Dark Rich golden bronze
Suggested Retail Price: $25.00 U.S.

Mineralize SPF15 Foundation/Loose
A Lightweight, loose powder foundation. Gives skin a smooth, radiant look with a natural finish. Special mineral complex helps keep skin healthy and nourished.
Light, Light Medium, Medium, Medium Plus, Medium Dark
Medium Deep, Dark, Deep Dark, Deeper Dark
Suggested Retail Price: $29.00 U.S.

Mineralize Eye Shadow (Duo)
Engaging: Pinky beige and yellow gold with rose veining (frost)
Earthly Riches: Deep plum and dirty deep grey with pink veining (frost)
Family Silver: Dirty light silver and midtone dirty silver with gold veining (frost)
Heat/Element: Rich yellow gold/rusty red brown (frost)
Illusionary/Burning Ambition: White gold with gold pearl/deep milk chocolate (frost)
Bright Side/Gallery Gal: Champagne gold/soft olive green (frost)
Suggested Retail Price: $17.50 U.S.

Mineralize Blush

Dainty: Light yellow pink with gold pearl (frost)
Warm Soul: Midtone beige with gold pearl (frost)
Gleeful: Deep dirty blue pink with gold pearl (frost)
Gentle: Raspberry with gold pearl (frost)
Love Joy: Warm midtone brown with gold pearl (frost)
Love Thing: Dirty burgundy with gold pearl (frost)
Suggested Retail Price: $18.50 U.S.

Brushes

109 Small Contour
Suggested Retail Price: $32.00 U.S.

187 Duo Fibre Face
Suggested Retail Price: $42.00 U.S.

188 Small Duo Fibre Face
Suggested Retail Price: $34.00 U.S.

190 Foundation
Suggested Retail Price: $32.00 U.S.

217 Blending
Suggested Retail Price: $22.50 U.S.

239 Eye Shader
Suggested Retail Price: $24.50 U.S.

182 Buffer
Suggested Retail Price: $45.00 U.S.

Mineralize will be available at MAC stores, counters and at maccosmetics.com beginning on October 16.

MAC Sheer Minerals Coming October 16th!

Sheer Minerals: A lightweight, loose powder foundation gives skin a smooth, radiant look with a natural finish. Special mineral complex helps keep skin healthy and nourished.


Mineralize SPF 15 Foundation/Loose
Light
Light Medium
Medium
Medium Plus
Medium Dark
Medium Deep
Dark
Deep Dark
Deeper Dark
Suggested Retail Price $29.00 U.S.


Mineralize Sheersheen Powder/Loose
A sheer, loose mineral powder that gives a luminous glow to the face. The natural micro-fine mineral highlights the complexion and helps minimize that appearance of flaws on the skin.
Sheerbronze: Soft bronze with gold pearl
Lucent: Faded mid-tone pink with pink and white pearl
Silver Aura: Muted pinky beige with silver shimmer
Suggested Retail Price $19.50 U.S.


Mineralize Skinfinish
Soft and Gentle: Gilded peach bronze
So Ceylon: Rose bronze with golden bronze veining
Petticoat: Pale rose with gold and amber veining
Suggested Retail Price $25.00 U.S.


181 Small Buffer Brush
Suggested Retail Price $30.00 U.S.

182 Buffer Brush
Suggested Retail Price $45.00 U.S.

Available at MAC stores, counters and at maccosmetics.com on October 16.

Bare Escentuals Friends & Family: Take 20% Off

I know that many of you are Bare Escentuals loyalists. So this one is for you…

Between June 19th and June 22nd, Bare Escentuals is offering a 20% Friends & Family discount on all purchases. Enter coupon code FRIEND8 at checkout.

Alice Cosmetics Giveaway Winners Revealed!

Happy Monday, lovelies. The time has come to announce the winners of Spoiled Pretty's latest giveaway, sponsored by Alice Cosmetics. If your name is Anika Berryhill-Watson, Roopa Kalyanaraman, or Belinda Moore - congrats, it's your lucky day!

Each of these ladies has won a Buff Palette, three eye shadows, a foundation, a Buffer/Veil, and an eye shadow guard!! Yowza!

For those of you who entered but won absolutely nuthin', Alice Cosmetics feels for you. That's why they're generously offering a 20% discount off any purchase made through June 3rd (at 11:30 EST). Simply enter coupon code SPOILEDPRETTY at checkout.

Alice Cosmetics Giveaway!

I don’t typically get excited about mineral makeup. Probably because, nowadays, it seems like everyone is introducing a mineral line. So when I say that I’m blown away by Alice Cosmetics, you know I’m telling the truth.

I’m not really a mineral makeup girl. And I’m a klutz. Something about jars of powder just seems too complicated and cumbersome for me. But what I love about Alice Cosmetics is that it’s a line of minerals made for people like me. The rich shades are comparable to colors you would find in a “traditional” line of makeup. Plus, Alice Cosmetics offers innovative brushes and accessories.

One of the standouts is the Mini Miracle Cloth, which cleans your face without soap! Made of millions of microfibers (each a tiny fraction of the size of a human hair), the Mini Miracle Cloth emulsifies the oil in the skin and then rinses it away along with your makeup. As an added bonus, it aids in the treatment of acne because you can wash using only water, with no added chemicals or irritants.

I am so wild about Alice Cosmetics that I’m partnering with them for a giveaway! Three winners will receive one Buff Palette, three eye shadows (winner’s choice), one foundation (winner’s choice), one Buffer/Veil (winner’s choice), and one eye shadow guard.


The Buff Palette is a more elegant way to load your brush with minerals. Make life easy for yourself and use this palette instead of your jar lid for swirling your brush full of foundation minerals. The palette allows the full brush head to be used and provides the perfect surface for mixing minerals to find your perfect match. Comes in a red velvet pouch with a small companion brush for sweeping excess minerals back into the jar through the "lip."


All of Alice Cosmetics twenty eye shadows are appropriate for sheer to heavy coverage. And the powders can be used wet for more intense color. As my inner-arm illustrates, the colors are fab (from left to right: Gold Frost, Hunter, Bourbon, Amethyst Gem, and Tawny Star).


The twelve shades of foundation, the heart of the Alice Cosmetics line, are made to complement all complexions from the palest to the deepest – and can be mixed to create your perfect match.


Alice Cosmetics Buffers/Veils are translucent powders that give your makeup a perfect finish. These feather-light mineral powders set your foundation and blush…or use alone without foundation for a natural look.


Last, but certainly not least, is the Eye Shadow Guard. This handy tool helps to keep eye shadow from spilling down below the eye, particularly when applying in heavy layers. It also doubles perfectly as a mascara guard.

Each prize is worth over $80!

To enter, send an email to spoiledprettycontests@gmail.com. Be sure to include your full name. The subject line should read "Alice Cosmetics Giveaway.” The contest ends at midnight (EST) on Sunday, June 1st. Winners will be chosen at random from among the entrants. On Monday, June 2nd, I’ll announce the winners’ names. Please, only one entry per person; duplicate entries will not increase your chances of winning. Contest is open to U.S. & Canadian residents only.

Good luck!

Urban Decay Loose Pigments: Thrills And Spills

I am an Urban Decay groupie. So I really wanted to love their new Loose Pigments. I expected to fall head over heels for these intense, silky soft shadows. But while I am fond of the Urban Decay’s newest offering, I can’t say I’m in love.

I give these pigments major props because the hues are incredibly beautiful. Every shade is a superstar. Believe it or not, the formula is actually mineral makeup, made from pearlized powders - and no dyes or synthetic pigments are used.

But the problem with the product lies in the packaging. Urban Decay created a spill-proof tube, cap with an ergonomic flared handle, and built-in brush to minimize mess…except it’s still kinda cumbersome. The brush picks up a wee too much product, and spills excess pigment when you remove it from the tube. So you end up with hands and fingers sprinkled with shadow before you’ve even lifted the brush to you eyelid.

If you’re thinking about purchasing the Loose Pigments, I would recommend visiting Sephora and playing around with testers. Try before you buy, so to speak.

Bottom line, if these were Pressed Pigments instead of Loose, I’d own one in every color.


Left to right: Smog (medium brown ), Asphyxia (bright pink w/ purple shift), Goddess (midnight blue w/ electric blue microglitter), and Goddess (midnight blue w/ electric blue microglitter).

Maybelline Does Mineral Makeup

Maybelline has a new line of mineral makeup – now available in drugstores.

The collection features concealer, powder and liquid foundations, blush, bronzer, and pressed powder. With built-in sun protection, this mineral line is doubly skin-friendly.

Philadelphia Phocus: Ursula Augustine

When I visited Ursula Augustine in her Rittenhouse studio, I patiently waited while she finished the makeup of a customer. As she was leaving, the woman warmly hugged Ursula and said, “See you on Saturday” before walking out of the door. Being that it was Thursday, I asked, “Is she a regular?” Ursula explained that the woman isn’t just a regular; she does her makeup 20 days out of every month. The moral of this story? Ursula Augustine has skills, and she takes care of her customers.

Ursula is a board-certified cosmetologist with an impressive career that spans over two decades. Earlier this year, she opened Philadelphia’s only makeup studio, About pHace – and since then, has been very busy, thanks to features in The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Magazine (she was voted Best of Philly 2007, Makeup Application). Ursula’s creative talent is no news to me, as we have been acquainted for years. So for my first Philadelphia Phocus, I decided to pay her a visit and find out how the new business is doing.

The first thing I noticed while touring Ursula’s studio was the organic tea bar; depending on the day, Ursula’s customers can choose blends such as Blueberry Echinacea or Exotic Chai. And while they sip tea, customers can leaf through some of the books in her library. Ursula prefers non-fiction, particularly biographies – from Marlon Brando to Chuck D, and everyone in between. Ursula’s space, is a calm retreat in the midst of bustling downtown Philadelphia; with its waterfall wall sconces and meditation area, it’s easy to understand why Ursula’s customers come back again and again. But, naturally, talent is her ace in the hole.

In addition to her makeup artistry, Ursula recently unveiled her own line of cosmetics and skin care products that blend natural products with beautiful packaging. Her makeup line is mineral based, but this is no Bare Minerals knockoff. The foundation is liquid powder – so it’s minerals without the mess. The foundations and powders come in a variety of shades to compliment every skin tone.

Ursula’s eye shadows and blushes are gorgeous, yet very wearable – and her lipsticks are available in three finishes: matte, lip shine, and micro-bubble (which release oxygen to the lips throughout the day, keeping them hydrated). The item that blew me away, however, was the Retexturizing Face Primer – which, literally, melts into skin and leaves an invisible layer of silk on the face. Amazing is the only word to describe it.

Ursula’s own line of skin care is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and natural preservatives. When asked to name her favorite product, she couldn’t decide. “It’s like picking your favorite child,” she complained. Finally, she narrowed it down to two – her Oolong Tea and Carrot Oil Eye Cream (which smells like she poured it straight out of the teapot into the jar) and the Pumpkin Apricot Walnut Facial Scrub that she kindly gave to me as a gift. The scrub, which Ursula created years ago with her Cuisinart, is unlike any I have ever tried. It uses ground walnuts (not walnut shells) because they are gentler on skin. And the product can be used without water - just apply and tissue off, which means that you can pamper your skin anywhere, anytime.

It gets better…Ursula offers “pHace Lift Parties” - so you and a group of your friends can enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres while taking a “Smoky Eye Class” or learning how to get that “J.Lo Glow”. She divulged that she’ll soon be adding karaoke to the menu!

Ursula’s About pHace Rittenhouse Makeup Studio is located at 1700 Sansom Street, Suite 201. For more information and to contact Ursula, visit her website.

Spoiled Pretty Tip: If you visit Ursula’s studio, ask her about the TGBIW brush. The acronym stands for “The Greatest Brush In the World”, which was shortened to fit on the brush’s handle. Created with a blend of sable, mink, and inner-thigh goat hair, the brush's name doesn’t exaggerate.

Photos courtesy of The Philadelphia Inquirer.