I use several professional makeup brands personally as well
as professionally when I work with my bridal and special event clients. One of
the brands I use most frequently is Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics. I did an early review of their
products when I was first introduced to them which you can read here. I’ve written before that although I try to
use products that have super “clean” ingredients, they do have to actually
perform well. While I don’t compromise on my skincare and personal care
products (I now make most of my own stuff), makeup is an area that I have yet
to find a brand that is free of ingredients on the toxic ingredient lists and
actually looks great and stays put all day. So I do the best I can and try to
stick to the few lines I have found that use ingredients that are safer than
the majority of the mainstream and other professional brands, but that are also
highly pigmented, easily blendable, stay on all day, and photograph well.
Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics is one of those brands. So when they offered to send me their
Mineral Radiance Crème Powder Foundation to try out and review I was more than
happy to oblige.
About the foundation:
Youngblood’s Mineral Radiance Crème Powder Foundation is
available in 8 different shades and gives a luminous, matte finish. Besides the
minerals and pigments, the foundation also includes therapeutic ingredients
which benefit the skin. Peptides and the other nutrients help to soothe red,
sensitive skin, and green algae helps keep the skin hydrated. It is suitable for
all skin types, but is ideal for normal to dry skin. This product is also vegan.
The best way to see how well the product blends and covers
(in my opinion) is to apply it to clean, moisturized skin with no concealer or
primer (although Youngblood offers both). At first I tried applying it with my
flat synthetic foundation brush (looks like a paint brush and works best with
liquid foundations). I have to say it didn’t work all that well. I have
combination to oily skin, and this product is ideal for normal to dry skin, so the
product didn’t bind well to my skin or blend well with that particular brush. I
don’t like using sponges because I feel they absorb more of the product than
they actually apply to the face and I don’t like to waste. I found success
using Youngblood’s Ultimate Foundation Brush which is a densely packed flat
topped buff brush. I simply tapped the brush into the product and then stippled
the product all over my face until it was completely blended in and it went on
beautifully. It blended perfectly with no streaking, creasing, or lines of
demarcation. It covered well enough that I didn’t feel the need to apply any
concealer.
Although this is supposed to be a crème powder foundation,
that wasn’t quite the finish I got—probably due to my oilier skin. It never
turned to powder, just stayed creamy. I used their Hi-Definition Hydrating Mineral Perfecting Powder to finish it off and secure that matte finish. This combination
stayed on all day with very minimal creasing. It provided a good base for my eyeshadow
and blush as well.
The eyes…
Now that I had my canvas prepped with the foundation and the
powder I was ready to add some color. I always like to do my eye makeup before
blush or lipstick, because sometimes I think I know what I want the look to be
and then I change my mind during the application. For this look, I chose to use
warmer colors in way that can easily be worn to the office or out to a party.
The technique is meant to widen the eyes and really make them pop without being
overly smoky or too dramatic.
I began using Halo, a lovely pinkish peachish neutral with a
slight frost. I applied this to the lid and up the brow on the half of the eyes
closest to the nose.
I then chose Bordeaux, an elegant and warm wine tone for the
outer half of the lid and outer corners. I took this above the crease, but
stopped under the brow bone. I also smudged a small amount to the outer corners
of the lower lids. I then took a clean brush and blended the two colors
together in the middle.
I finished the eyes by using Alabaster from Youngblood’s Gemstones eyeshadow quad as an accent on the brow bone and inner corners of the
eye and blended it all in. I used their Blackest Black Extreme Pigment eyeliner
on the top lid only, curled my lashes, and used their Outrageous Lashes Mineral Lengthening Mascara in Blackout on the top and bottom lashes with a second coat
on the top only. I used Brow Artiste in Brunette to define my brows.
The finished look:
After the eyes, I applied Youngblood’s Pressed Mineral Blushin Sugar Plum along the cheekbones, and then did my lips with their Rose lipliner pencil and Brilliance lip gloss.
I love this look—it is one of my favorite eyeshadow
techniques and I really love how the foundation looks and feels throughout the
day. I’m sure that on less oily skin it would provide that powdery finish on
its own without the need for a finishing powder.
For more information and to purchase Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics, please
visit their website.
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