Entries for Monday August 31

BareMinerals’ High Shine Sand Dune

• Manufacturer: bareMinerals/Bare Escentuals
• Availability: was released as part of the Siren of the Sea kit
• Color Range: gilded sand shimmer
• Staying Power: 4 out of 4
• Cost/Amount: $13.00 for .57 oz
• Would you purchase again: yes
• Similar shades:

This is an interesting color…but I have my reservations. It’s kind of damp-ish, and I didn’t keep the original jars/labels, so I’m not sure what’s in it that makes it seem damp-ish…so I don’t know if this is something that will harbor bacteria more than my other totally dry loose-powder shadows. I suppose only time will tell.

The SheSpace’s Astrology - Virgo Collection

• Manufacturer: The She Space / About Face Cosmetics
• Availability: beginning August 22, 2009 through TSS' online storefront
• Contains: 12 mineral eyeshadow colors
• Cost/Amount: entire eyecolor collection, fullsize jars: $52; entire eyecolor collection, samples: $6; individual samples $.50; individual jars, $4.50
• Would you purchase again: some colors, yes

This is a fall collection, which means less brilliant, bold colors - so while this collection didn’t hold a lot of items that interested me personally, there was a good selection. The colors weren’t jeweltone, but they weren’t drab, either: there were some of the more neutral colors in this collection, but a few saturated pigments. I chose three in fullsize not because the collection didn’t grab my attention, but because there were so many colors that were similar to what I already owned.

Entries for Sunday August 30

Aromaleigh v1’s Bête Noire collection

• Vendor: Aromaleigh v1
• Availability: part of the regular line; available through their webstore
• Contains: 13 eye colors
• Cost/Amount: USD$8.00 for 1.2 grams. Sample baggies also available at $1.30 per baggie.
• Would you purchase again: yes

NOTE: Aromaleigh v2 has re-released this collection in June 2012.

I initially held off purchasing any of the colors from this collection - frankly, they unnerved me. I wasn’t sure how well the different colors would actually show, and since I don’t often wear smoky-eye looks I didn’t want to end up with several colors that would only really work for an eye look that I didn’t often wear. I finally chose my colors carefully, though (since at $$1.30, these are among the more expensive samples Aromaleigh offers) and while there are two that are not what I was expecting, I was pleased at the four others I did choose. The upside is that these are rich colors. The downside is that they appear much more similar if the sparkle is buffed away - but they’re still nice to pat into place to add a bit of glam.

Meow Cosmetics’ Lost Rainforest collection

• Vendor: Meow Cosmetics
• Availability: July to October 2009 (and successive summers) from the company's webstore
• Contains: 20 eye colors, 2 iridescent blushes, and 3 iridescent glow powders
• Cost/Amount: eye colors: $8.00 for 1.2 grams, $1 for a sample baggie. Blush: $14.25 for a 20-gram jar. Glow powder: $11.25 for a 10-gram jar.
• Would you purchase again: yes

I'm used to Meow's other colors being fullsize in 10 gram jars, not fullsize in 5 gram jars. The fact that I got these at 20% off doesn't remove the sting quite so much...but these colors were going to retire soon, so I bit the bullet. This collection has returned every summer since its introduction, availability being approximately June through September. (Though some years it's come available beginning Memorial Day weekend - the last weekend in May.)

BareMinerals’ Beautiful at 60 kit

• Manufacturer: bareMinerals/Bare Escentuals
• Availability: released August 2005 through QVC
• Contains: three eyecolors and one face color
• Cost/Amount: unknown
• Would you purchase again: no

Another interesting note on the composition of the “Beautiful at Any Age” kits: the finishes are more toned down for the older-decade kits. All the colors in this set are matte, with the sole exception of the all-over face color. So apparently older people should abandon both color and sparkle? Yeah, like I’m going to follow that trend…

Entries for Saturday August 29

BareMinerals’ Beautiful at 50 kit

• Manufacturer: bareMinerals/Bare Escentuals
• Availability: released August 2005 through QVC
• Contains: three eyecolors, one face color, one lip color, and three brushes
• Cost/Amount: unknown
• Would you purchase again: yes

It’s interesting to compare the various at-any-age kits BE assembled and see how the color range changes as the decades progress: 20s get pinks and lavender, 30s get purples, 40s get orange and brown, 50s get soft browns and a golden, 60s get two “soft focus” colors. So apparently colors are only for the younger set. (Then again, this is the cosmetics company whose public face commented on television that pale-skinned people look ill. Just like every other company, they’ve got a bias.)

Entries for Thursday August 27

BareMinerals’ Summerfest kit

• Manufacturer: bareMinerals/Bare Escentuals
• Availability: unknown - but not available as of 2007
• Contains: three eyecolors and one blush
• Cost/Amount: unknown
• Would you purchase again: yes

I'm going to assume that this kit was available through QVC. I'm unsure of the original release date - I don't have a premium Delphi membership and wasn't able to find the mention of the kit by manually trolling the forum archives at BEA. (If someone does know the original release date, can you let me know? Thanks.) This is a "safe" kit, in that the colors are soft enough to be pretty without standing out too much. The four colors in concert look best on warmer-toned individuals, though neutral-toned complexions can wear them as well. Cooler-toned folks like myself can wear the colors, but not as effectively and not all at the same time - not without some anchoring cool color.

Entries for Sunday August 23

BareMinerals’ Beautiful at 40 kit

• Manufacturer: bareMinerals/Bare Escentuals
• Availability: released August 2005 through QVC
• Contains: three eyecolors, one face color, one lip color, and three brushes
• Cost/Amount: unknown
• Would you purchase again: yes

It’s interesting to compare the various at-any-age kits BE assembled and see how the color range changes as the decades progress: 20s get pinks and lavender, 30s get purples, 40s get orange and brown, 50s get soft browns and a golden, 60s get two “soft focus” colors. So apparently colors are only for the younger set. (Then again, this is the cosmetics company whose public face commented on television that pale-skinned people look ill. Just like every other company, they’ve got a bias.)

Entries for Friday August 21

BareMinerals’ Smoky ‘V’ Eye kit

• Manufacturer: bareMinerals/Bare Escentuals
• Availability: beginning August 2007 through Sephora, then the webstore and boutiques
• Contains: two eyecolors, one brush, and a tip card
• Cost/Amount: USD$32
• Would you purchase again: no

One of BE’s tutorial kits (Smoky Eye, Get Cheeky, Foiled Eye, Rocker Eye, Eye Lining, et cetera). I think this kit was simultaneously released through multiple channels: Sephora, BE webstore, BE boutiques, et cetera (though I never saw this kit available through QVC). I had acquired the colors separately, the brush did not interest me at all when I saw it in my local Sephora, and (as usual) BE’s tip cards really only work on one type of eye shape - and mine isn’t that particular shape.

Entries for Wednesday August 19

BareMinerals’ Crash Course kit

• Manufacturer: bareMinerals/Bare Escentuals
• Availability: beginning summer/fall 2009 through Sephora
• Contains: one eyeshadow, one lip color, one mini mascara, and a bag
• Cost/Amount: USD$22
• Would you purchase again: yes

I initially bought this kit for the eye color; but found that I liked the mascara, as well. (I knew I wouldn’t like the lip gloss much, even if it was a pretty color - the texture just puts me off.)

It was eventually available through all channel partners; but started as a Sephora exclusive.