Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Winter Solstice, we wish you a beautiful holiday, filled with joy and love.
Alima Pure will be closing at noon (PST) on Friday, December 23 and remain closed until Tuesday morning, December 27 so that our staff may spend time with their families. If you need to contact us, please send an email. We try to answer email in the order in which we receive them, so be patient, but we will get back to you!
The holidays are the perfect time to think about giving, and the New Year is the time when thoughts naturally turn to self-improvement. If you want a little inspiration to help kick-start you on both, I highly recommend reading Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie, the creator and “Chief Shoe Giver” of TOMS shoes.
Mycoskie, who had no background in footwear or even retail, started TOMS as a way to help provide shoes for children in developing countries. Inspired by a trip to Argentina, he was able to donate 10,000 pairs of shoes to Argentine children within a year. With his “One for One” model, the company has become one of the fastest-growing footwear companies in the world, and is a for-profit company that has built giving into its DNA.
The book is filled with stories, not only about TOMS, but about other companies who are doing things “that matter.” Through their inspiring stories, you learn the importance of having your own story, facing your fears and being resourceful without resources. No one can deny that TOMS shoes has been successful, both as a for-profit company, and as one doing good in the world, so their story is one that many will be inspired to try to duplicate. The book offers a blueprint for channeling enthusiasm and limited resources to create something that can grow.
An inspirational and quick read, this book should be required reading for anyone wants to make a difference in the world. Would you like to win a copy of Start Something That Matters? Visit us on facebook and tell us your story of giving (whether done by you or for you). We will share some of the stories and our facebook fans will vote on which story is the most inspirational. The winner will receive their own copy of Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie.
You have probably been told that when you apply your makeup, you need to pick either warm or cool colors and stick to them for your entire face. While that isn’t bad advice, there are exceptions to the rule, and conveniently, our Cold Outside and Warm Inside collections contain some of the very best shades with which to break the rules!
Justine is wearing shades from both Cold Outside and Warm Inside. We started with her Beige 4 foundation. We brushed Rosy Cheeks form the Cold Outside collection on the apples of her cheeks.
On her eyes, we applied Candlelight from the Warm Inside Collection from lashes to brows. On her lids, we applied Mulled Cider, also from Warm Inside. Then we used a damp #33 Angle Liner Brush to line her upper lid with Jack Frost from Cold Outside, winging the liner at the outer corner just a bit. When you are thinking of mixing warms and cools, remember that golden shades look especially beautiful with blues and purples.
We finished the look with a light dusting of shimmer powder Fire Light from Warm Inside on the tops of her cheekbones, and shined her lips with Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Mango. Who knew breaking rules could be so pretty?
Alima Pure is proud to be a member of 1% For The Planet, ” a growing movement of 1402 companies that donate 1% of their sales to a network of 2,738 environmental organizations worldwide.” Members of 1% FTP are financially committed to creating a healthier planet. One of the exciting things about 1% FTP is that we can choose exactly where our donation goes from the huge list of 2,738 organizations. The downside to that benefit is that we have to choose from that list, all of whom are worthy causes.
This year, we’re asking for input from our customers. What environmental causes are important to you? From Air Quality/Atmosphere to Wildlife Protection, there are myriad choices, and who better to make those choices than the people who made our donation possible? We will be taking nominations for where our donation should go on Facebook through Wednesday (December 14). Then until Monday, Dec. 19, you will be able to vote for the nominated non-profits. On that Monday, we will announce where our 2011 1% donation will be going.
You’ve probably whittled down your holiday shopping by this point, and maybe you’re stuck where many of us at Alima Pure are…the teachers, the co-workers, the cousins, the “I should have something handy in case so-and-so forgot were weren’t going to exchange gifts this year.” We think we have the perfect solution–our “Under the Mistletoe” collection!
This handy set of three of our Organic Nourishing Lip Balms comes packaged in our signature Alima Pure bag, all you really need to add is a ribbon and gift tag. And the shades cover a wide range, so they will work for most everyone!
Acai is our palest, shimmery pink – perfect for when you just want a hint of color, but a lot of moisture.
Rhubarb is a medium pink with no shimmer – on fair skins it really shows up, on medium and deeper skin tones, it provides a subtle, warm pink.
Fig is a deeper, bronzed plum shimmer – in all honesty, we have never found anyone that can’t wear it.
This perfect little set is available now through late December for only $16, and is a $28 value.
Sometimes we all need a little inspiration, especially when it comes to crossing names off of our gift list. In hopes of making your gift-giving a bit easier, we asked some of our favorite makeup artists for some advice on what gifts they would give from Alima Pure.
Jessa Blades is a Natural Beauty Expert, Makeup Artist and Founder of Blades Natural Beauty – Your Trusted Natural Beauty Resource. You can visit her site or her blog.
Jessica Belknap is a Portland, Oregon based Makeup Artist and Green Beauty Expert. Visit her website or find her on facebook.
Terri Lodge is a National Makeup Artist, owner of Blush Premier, specializing in beauty, fashion, special occasion and tv/print/film makeup. You can find Terri at Blush Premier or beautybyterri.com .
With a budget of just $25, and shopping for hostess gifts, office gifts or nieces, the makeup artists recommend:
Jessa Blades: Pearluster Eye Shadow in Quartz ($11) with a #35 Eye Detail Brush ($12). “Everyone needs a go-to perfect smoky-eye color. It can be worn layered for a bold look for special events and worn lightly for everyday. This is a great gift to give anyone who is trying to find an easy way to define their eyes and bring a bit of “fancy” into their makeup routine.”
Jessica Belknap: Luminous Shimmer Blush in Freja or Satin Matte Blush in Mimosa ($17 each) and an Organic Tinted Lip Balm in Mango ($7 each). Freja would be the choice for someone who likes shimmer; Mimosa would be a more matte selection.
Terri Lodge: A Luminous Shimmer Powder ($17) and Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Natural ($7). “These shimmer powders are beautiful on the skin and come in a variety of colors/tones to match any skin tone perfectly.” Or Satin Matte Eye Shadows in Fleur and Raven ($11 each). “These are great neutrals and Raven can be used as a contour and a liner.”
The artists came up with great gift selections for friends and family with a budget of $50:
Jessa Blades: Bronzer in Trinidad ($17), #23 Kitten Brush ($25) and Pearluster Eye Shadow in Champagne ($11). “A set perfect for winter, for all the holiday parties and for everyday, helping you glow and look healthy and luminous.”
Jessica Belknap: The Irresistible Brush Set ($55) and Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Natural ($7). Okay, she went $12 over, but the brush set is such a great value, she couldn’t help herself!
Terri Lodge had a several suggestions at this price point:
-Either the Cold Outside Holiday Collection ($36) with Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Holly Berry ($7) for a cool toned gift, or the Warm Inside Holiday Collection ($36) with Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Mango ($7) for a warm toned gift.
-Trinidad Bronzer ($17), the #7 Half Moon Brush ($25) and Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Natural ($7).
-Satin Matte Foundation ($22) to match their skin with Concealer ($12) and Satin Finishing Powder ($17) to match. “The perfect palette!”
-Three eye shadows and a liner shadow ($11 each) in your choice of colors and an Organic Nourishing Lip Balm ($7).
When the budget increased to $100, the artists pulled out all the stops. These make great gifts for Mom, your sister or your BFF:
Jessa Blades: Alima Pure Brushes #17 Blush ($22), #33 Angle Liner ($14), #35 Eye Detail ($12) and #39 Large Shadow ($16) for a complete set of must-have brushes. “These are a great gift that people never buy for themselves but are a MUST HAVE for any makeup bag. And a lip balm in Natural and a tint ($7 each) for some fun treats for the lips.”
Jessica Belknap: The perfect gift for Mom! #21 Buff Brush ($18), Pearluster Eye Shadow in Champagne ($11), Satin Matte Eyeshadow in Raven ($11), Luminous Shimmer Eye Liner in Illusion ($11), four samples of Satin Matte Foundation in shades close to hers ($1.50 each) and an “IOU” for her perfect match color ($22), Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Holly Berry or Fig ($7) and Satin Matte Blush in Carnation or Desert Rose ($17).
Terri Lodge: The Irresistible Brush Set ($55), a Luminous Shimmer Blush ($17), a Pearluster and a Satin Matte Eye Shadow ($11 each) and an Organic Nourishing Lip Balm ($7). “The perfect face! A good rule to go by, the younger the person, the more you can use shimmer. More mature ladies can use pearls and mattes and can highlight with soft shimmers.”
We hope these suggestions give you the inspiration you need to wrap up your holiday shopping!
This week Alima Pure has a special on three of our Luminous Shimmer Powders (your choice of Lumina, Sorbet or Dolce) and the amazing #21 Buff Brush for only $25. This great value makes a great gift and is also a fun way to treat yourself, but how exactly do you use a shimmer powder?
During the holidays, it is fun to add a bit of glam to your regular look with a touch of shimmer on the tops of the cheekbones or under the brow bone. If confined to these two areas, there is no reason you can’t wear shimmer powder during the day.
At night, let your imagination run wild! In addition to the brow bone and cheekbones, you can dab a small amount of shimmer on the bridge of the nose and the chin, and run a bit across the forehead. Or if you are truly not shimmer-phobic, tap out some of your Satin Matte Foundation into a bowl or on a paper towel and mix a small amount of the shimmer powder in, to give you a subtle, but radiant glow. You can also apply the shimmer powder to the lips, either mixed with your favorite lip color, or dabbed on top (focus on the center of the lips, don’t go clear out to the sides). If you apply a small amount to the center of your lower lip, you can create a pouty, fuller look.
If you are wearing something that is either low-cut or has a wide neckline, dust shimmer on exposed skin. If you’re wearing bare shoulders, carry the shimmer across your shoulders, gradually blending it down the arms.
If you’re wearing a skirt, pour some body lotion into your hand and then tap shimmer powder on top. Mix the two well and apply to your legs. Don’t go overboard here, because you don’t want it to rub off on everything you touch. Just a tiny bit will adhere nicely with the lotion and should wear for hours.
Rahel is so warm that it almost feels like she is radiating sunshine. A Portland physician who cares for women with pelvic floor disorders such as prolapse and incontinence, Rahel has also worked at the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa in her native Ethiopia. It is easy to imagine the soothing effect she would have on young women suffering from the condition of fistula, which causes them to become social outcasts.
We selected Rahel as our third Naturally Gorgeous model because of her smile and warmth, but we were delighted when she expressed surprise that we could match a foundation to her skin. Prior to Alima Pure, she had never found a foundation that truly matched her skin. Can you guess from her photo which shade is hers? Read on to find out!
AP: Where were you born?
RN: I was born and raised in Ethiopia. I got a scholarship to attend college in the US, which is how I got here.
AP: Now you work in Portland as a physician, but how often do you get back to Ethiopia?
RN: I spent a year at the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa between my residency and fellowship training. That was a life altering experience and probably informs much of what I do now. I now go back about once a year to do medical work in rural Ethiopia where I spend about 2 weeks. I wish I could spend more time, but it is hard to do with all my clinical and motherly obligations in the US.
AP: What do you do for fun?
RN: I like exploring Portland and finding new places to eat with my (six-year-old) son and husband.
AP: What do you really care about?
RN: I care about my family, my patients and my profession as a clinician, researcher and educator. I also deeply care about my medical work in rural Ethiopia. Our global project called Footsteps to Healing is about improving the maternal and women’s health in rural Ethiopia, building local healthcare capacity and educating our students, residents and colleagues.
AP: What inspires you?
RN: I am inspired by people who have achieved greatness in their life but manage to stay humble. I am even more inspired by people who have very little material things but have the biggest heart and the brightest smiles. This is the virtue of my Ethiopian people.
AP: What scares you?
RN: Ignorance.
AP: How do you define beauty?
RN: To me, beauty is simple, unadulterated, genuine and deep. I think if you have true beauty, you do not have to work hard to feel it or to see it in others.
AP: What makes you feel beautiful?
RN: A relaxing steam bath after yoga. The rare occasions when I actually dress up for a night out and take time to put on my simple Ethiopian silver or wooden jewelry.
AP: What surprises people about you?
RN: Introducing myself as the doctor to my elderly female patients. They think I look too young. It also surprises me how fast their surprise is replaced with trust and openness once we start to talk.
To get Rahel’s Look:
We applied Satin Matte Foundation in Golden 6 with the #25 Foundation Brush. For extra coverage under the eyes, we used her foundation with the #3 Concealer Brush. On her cheeks, we used Antique Rose Satin Matte Blush applied with the #17 Blush Brush.
For her eyes, we used Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Leone on the #37 All Over Blending Brush (which helps keep shimmer from becoming overwhelming). Then we added Luminous Shimmer Shadow in Aphrodite on her lid with the #39 Large Shadow Brush. We filled in Rahel’s brows with Satin Matte Eyeliner in Espresso with the #33 Angle Liner Brush.
For the finishing touch, we used our Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Holly Berry.
Please click to learn more about the work of the Hamlin Fistula Hospital.
You’ve seen Cold Outside on a real person, and now here is Warm Inside on Jessica!
We started with her foundation, Beige 2. Then we applied Candlelight from her lashes to her brows and Mulled Cider on her lids. We brushed Hot Toddy into the crease, and concentrated a little bit at the outer corner of her eye, then applied it with a damp #33 brush along her upper lashes. A touch of Satin Matte Eyeshadow in Raven filled in her brows.
We swept Firelight Luminous Shimmer Powder along the tops of Jessica’s cheekbones with the #23 Kitten Brush, and dusted what remained on the brush across her forehead. We added a touch of Satin Matte Blush in Pink to the apples of her cheeks, and finished the look with a sheer layer of Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Sweet Pea.
Can you create the highly stylized makeup looks of a Robert Palmer video girl with Alima Pure’s Irresistible Brush Set? Absolutely! But you don’t have to, you can use it for more current and wearable looks…something we highly recommend. And as this week’s Deal of the Week, we hope you find it Simply Irresistible!
With a retail value of $85, the Irresistible Brush Set features four of our handiest brushes; the #25 Foundation Brush, the #17 Blush Brush, the #39 Large Shadow Brush and the #35 Eye Detail Brush in our signature Alima Pure bag for only $55. But this week only you can get this fabulous set for only $45. Don’t miss this opportunity to stock up for you and the people on your gift list!
Click here for more details about the specific brushes in this great set, and how to use them.
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