I just took a peek at Sephora’s website, and lo and behold, the home page is devoted entirely to mineral makeup!  As you probably know—mostly because I will not shut up about it—I’ve been using mineral foundation for years, and consider myself something of an expert on the matter.  Not all mineral foundations are created equal, however.  Recently, I’ve been working with two facial plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills (much more on this later!), and I’ve been tapped as their skincare expert to help create an in-office and online store.  If you’re getting your face hacked to bits (in the name of beauty, bien sur!), there are two fairly good assumptions one can make: 1) You’re at least a teeny bit vain; and 2) Your skin is going to need some post-procedural TLC.  The leap to mineral foundation is therefore a natural one, since the best versions not only cover skin better than traditional foundation, but are also weightless and won’t irritate all those nips and tucks.  When I found out we couldn’t carry Bare Minerals (unlike some other cult mineral makeups, doctors’ offices can’t carry the brand), I was gutted, to say the least.  So began a search for mineral foundation that we could feature…and which I could stand behind.  And…sigh…the search is still on.  Over the years, I’ve tried Jane Iredale, Glo Minerals, Colorescience, L’Oreal, Hourglass, and blah…blah…blah.  I don’t like any of them, for various combinations of the following reasons: the powders aren’t as finely milled; the coverage is inferior; the packaging looks like it was made from recycled diapers, etc.  I’m always amazed when women corner me and ask, with a slight edge to their voice, “But, have you tried (insert mineral makeup brand here that is not Bare Minerals)???  It’s so much better!”  Alas, my friends, I’ve tried them all…and the only one I can get on board with is Bare Minerals–people are obsessed with it because it works.  And a couple of months ago, when Bare Escentuals approached me to appear in one of their infomercials…I agreed to extoll its virtues for free.  Why?  Like I said: because I’m obsessed…and because it works.

K writes:

Hey ‘Jolie in NYC’,I am in desperate need of something to reduce redness. Normally I just have really un-even skin but lately I am always red. I hate wearing full on foundation but I look permanently sun burned! I called my dermatologist but my appointment is two months out. He is killing me but whatever. Is there anything over the counter that works? Thanks for your help… You Rock! 

Hi K.! I feel your pain; I, too, have a complexion that tends to look tomato-red when left untreated. You might have rosacea, a fairly common skin condition that causes skin to flush when exposed to heat, sun, alcohol, stress, etc. (Basically, to life.) Definitely keep your appointment with your dermatologist, but in the meantime, there are products at the drugstore that might help. Check out the Eucerin Redness Relief line, Purpose Redness Reducing Moisturizer with SPF 30 or (for something pricier but a favorite of many) B. Kamins Booster Blue Rosacea Treatment. And not to be a total broken record, but you really should consider Bare Escentualsmineral foundation to help cover your redness. It feels weightless on your skin but covers redness like a dream (especially if you use the full coverage kabuki brush) and also contains sunscreen. (A note for those of you who have sensitive skin often irritated by sunscreens; physical sunscreens like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide—which is in Bare Escentuals—will normally not irritate skin. It’s chemical sunscreens, like Parsol 1789 or mexoryl, that cause more sensitive complexions to react negatively.) I hope that helps until you can make it to your derm!

A. writes:

I bought Bare Escentuals bareMinerals foundation and am still a little shaky applying it.  I’ve read the brief primer on Sephora’s web site but find steps like ‘buff the bareMinerals into the skin in a circular motion…’ (huh) a little hard to visualize.  I emailed Sephora to suggest that they offer a video demo.  Since you’re a pro with mineral makeup, I thought maybe you could offer some tips.  I was a little heavy-handed in the bathroom this morning (on only my second day wearing it) and had to start one side over again.  I think I might look like a ghost!  Thanks.

Hi. A!  Thanks for the question.  BE can be a little tricky to apply at first (and, seriously, what the hell does “buff it into your skin” even mean??) but it really is very simple once you learn how to do it.1) Take off the sticker from the jar (either fully remove it, or peel it back about halfway.)  You’ll see about twenty tiny holes, and that’s where you’ll shake out the makeup from.2) Sprinkle a little of the powder from the exposed (or half-exposed) holes onto the inside of the black jar lid.3) Take your brush and put it on the makeup in the lid, then move the brush around the inside of the lid, until you’ve swept up all the visible makeup there.4) Tap the brush against something (your wrist, the sink, whatever.  Anything will do!) to let the extra makeup on the outside of the brush float into the air.  (Don’t do this two inches away from your new black or white shirt, as you will then be covered in tiny particles of makeup!)  The point of the whole lid swirling/tapping exercise is to get the makeup on the inside of the brush, rather than sitting on the edge of the bristles.  This is so the makeup is applied better and more naturally, rather than glopped on.5) Spend about five minutes lightly applying the makeup to your face with the brush.  I like to start on my cheeks, working my way to the nose, go around the crevises of the nose, get my eyelids, go up to my forehead, work around the edges of my face, then go onto my chin and the area under the chin.  Take your time.  Buff, paint, press, insert-whatever-verb-you-want-to-use-here…just put the damn brush against your face and apply the stuff!6) Repeat steps 2 -5 as much as is necessary to get a good application.  Doing it once or twice will give you light, tinted-moisturizer-esque coverage; doing it several times will make your skin look as flawless as a china doll’s.  Have fun!

Beauty Question: Complexion Luminizers

Friday, August 19th, 2005

C. writes,

I would LOVE it if you would write something about luminizers (if that’s the right name for them). It’s obvious that every model/celebrity in every magazine is wearing it, yet the accompanying text will inevitably only mention a blush color–are they trying to perepetuate the illusion that celebrites actually just naturally sparkle and glow? I want to know what is really on Naomi Watt’s cheeks! 

Very astute observation, C.! Yes, most celebrities have liberal amounts of luminizing powder, gel or cream applied just so to make their already blessed complexions look magical, like they’ve been kissed by fairies or something. (Obviously impossible, unless Colin Farrell counts. I have heard rumors.) Anyhow, there are several great products you can use for the same effect, and some of them are dirt cheap—no Hamptons home required for a gazillion-dollar glow, I swear. Try Wet ‘n’ Wild Mega Glow Face Illuminator, which is under $3 and works just as well as pricier luminizers. Dab it in the inner corners of your eye, under your eyebrows on the browbone, and on the apples of your cheeks, blending slightly. Just be careful not to get it near your nose or in the area between your eyebrows—both are high-shine zones, and you might end up looking like an oil slick. If you’re more of a powder-lover, try Bare Escentuals Clear Radiance ($18 and worth every penny). I’ve spoken at length about my love for this product, which makes your skin look healthy and glowy. (Apply a very small amount with a brush in a C-shape around your eyes and up to your temples.) Voilà! Now you’ll be Beyoncé-on-the-cover-of-Dangerously-in-Love’s twin.

Beauty Question= “Help Me Fight Blemishes!”

Wednesday, August 24th, 2005

J. writes,

Hi Jolie! (or Nadine, whichever you prefer:-) )I need help! I’m a redhead with fair, freckled skin that’s ridiculously sensitive. I’m kind of weird in that I actually do have theability to tan a little bit but I try to avoid that. In any case, my skin is really sensitive and I find myself breaking out all the time. I’m 24 years old and still in school so I avoid makeup, especially foundation, most of the time but I put on a tinted moisturizer for a job interview the other day and within 24 hours my skin had completely broken out. I thought I found a great face wash (I’m currently using Aveeno) but everytime I try something new, it works for a couple of weeks and then starts failing on me. Any suggestions? Thanks! 

J., I think you and I are secretly twins, since your description and issues sound exactly like me! (Yes, my hair is naturally reddish…I think…it’s been so long!) My skin is especially sensitive and keeping breakouts at bay is a daily struggle, but I’ve finally found a regimen that works for me (and will work for you, too, I hope!). One of the only cleansers that consistently works for me is Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash. I’m in love with it, and using it twice a day keeps my skin clear. (It has 2% salicylic acid, so you might need to alternate with another cleanser for a week or two. Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash is an excellent choice—although it doesn’t fight acne, it’s extremely gentle, doesn’t leave any residue and even helps get rid of eye makeup.) I then follow with Purpose Dual-Treatment Moisture Lotion SPF 15 (dermatologists love this line because it’s non-irritating), my beloved OC8 (to sop up oil) and, finally, Bare Escentuals makeup. (This is the point where you’re thinking, “Why won’t she shut up about Bare Escentuals?” And my response: Because it just really is that good.) It is theonly foundation I’ve found that won’t clog my pores, feels weightless—so doesn’t leave you with that nasty “I have a face full of makeup” feeling—and completely covers redness and pigmentation. (It goes without saying: whatever foundation you choose, make sure it’s oil-free!!) Give yourself about three weeks on the new regimen to let your skin get used to it and, of course, be religious about washing your face twice daily. I hope it works for you as well as it’s worked for me!

My latest obsession

Friday, July 1st, 2005

I know I can’t shut up about Bare Escentuals makeup (truly the best foundation and concealer in existence), but I just discovered another Bare Escentuals product recently, and I’m hooked: Clear Radiance. It’s one of those shimmery powders that reflects light, and it has a slightly pinkish tone—which sounds garish and horrible, like something Christina Aguilera might wear, but is actually lovely and pretty—that brightens up the skin and makes everything look gauzy and fuzzy in a great, 1930’s-movie-closeup kind of way. My skin’s not bad, but definitely not gush-worthy; whenever I use this as the last step in my makeup routine, though, people fall over themselves to ask what I’m using or what my secret is. And, by the way, I promise I’m totally unbiased and aren’t secretly working for the company. I just love all their stuff that much.

My love of Bare Escentuals knows no bounds, so when I found out about their new night product, Rare Minerals, I was understandably pumped.  Now, after using it for a month, I have a few thoughts:                           

1) Not as obsessed with it as with the daytime stuff, but it’s still quickly become one of my favorites                        

2) I haven’t actually seen a ton of difference in the quality of my skin, so I don’t know if it’s necessarily worth $60…however…

3) The fact that it’s, essentially, makeup for nighttime is absolutely genius.  I don’t think I need to explain why it’s genius (c’mon—either you get it or you don’t), but as a girl who looks like a zombie when she takes off all her makeup, thereby completely scaring the crap out of any and all who encounter her that way, it’s nice to have a little artificial (ahem) help