We love our customers, and we want to be sure our customers love their Alima Pure. To help us with that goal, we are announcing a new policy…Pure Satisfaction. Pure Satisfaction is our guarantee that you will love any full-sized product you purchase from us, or you can return it (no questions asked) within 30 days.
One of our commitments as a company is to continually improve our impact on the environment. We reached a point where the most meaningful thing we could do was to eliminate some of our samples. We have long struggled with sending all of those little plastic jars out into the world, hoping they would be responsibly recycled, but we couldn’t really be sure. We understand that a few of our customers will be saddened by this, but going forward, we will not be offering samples of eyeshadows and eyeliners. We will continue to provide you free eye shadow samples with your orders and hope that this is a way to find new favorites.
We believe finding your foundation shade is important and can be difficult online - so we will still offer foundation samples, as well as blush, finishing powder, bronzer and concealer samples. But for eyeshadows and eye liners, products where matching is not really involved, rest assured that you can read our descriptions, ask our advice if you like and make your choices with confidence…because if you don’t love it, you can return it. See our Pure Satisfaction Guarantee for details.
If you’ve been eyeing the Cold Outside holiday collection, but wondering if you could really pull off those vivid, cool tones, we hope this helps. We applied the colors to our model, Nikki, so you can see how fantastic they look on a real person.
Nikki is wearing Beige 4 foundation and the entire “Cold Outside” collection. We applied Snowdrift from her lashes to her brows, and then put Snow Angel on the inner 2/3 of her lid. With a damp brush, we lined under her lower lashes with Snow Angel. We then applied Jack Frost to the outer 1/3 of her lid, and blended it gently into the crease. With a damp brush, we lined her upper lashes with Jack Frost.
We gently applied a little Rosy Cheeks to the apples of her cheeks, and slicked on some Cranberry Organic Nourishing Lip Balm as the finishing touch. We think Nikki looks beautiful! Her image is unretouched.
One easy way to bring a little drama to your holiday look is to wear your eyeliner in this “winged” fashion. This is easier than you think – don’t be intimidated!
TIP: When experimenting with a new makeup technique, the best time is right before bed. You’re going to take your makeup off anyway, so it doesn’t matter if it gets a little messy.
WINGED LOOK: Start with one of our powdered eyeliners and a very small bowl, or the lid of the jar. Tap some product into the bowl and add a few drops of water. Mix, adding more water or powder until you get the consistency you want. Practice drawing a few lines on your hand to see if you need to add more liner for more intense color. In this demonstration, we used Luminous Shimmer Eyeliner in Paparazzi and our #33 Angle Liner Brush. The #33 is perfect for applying the eyeliner mixed with water, because it is easy to draw it on in one, smooth motion.
Begin at the inner corner of the eye and draw a line right in the roots of your eyelashes, stopping a little before you get to the outer edge. Stop before your lashline starts to angle down (or you will be drawing the eye down which is not what we want.) Now gently slope the line upward, aiming toward the end of your brow. Start small with this upwards motion, you can add to it later for a more intense effect.
Go back over this line, thickening it, not being so careful to stay at the roots of the lashes. Taper the line to a point as shown. If this “tail” at the end looks too far away from your lashes, fill in underneath, working from your point back towards the lashes.
Open your eyes and examine your line. How does it look with your eyes open? Do you need to extend the line further, or did you go too far? Is the line smooth? Touch up as needed.
The sudden drop in temperature here leaves no doubt, winter truly is just around the corner! And as the weather changes and the last traces of any tan you had fades into oblivion, you may want to consider updating the contents of your makeup bag for the season.
Comfort is key when the weather gets colder, so it is always a good idea to have a moisturizer that you can apply to hands, elbows or even your face when you really need some moisture. Coconut oil is a great choice, you can easily transfer some from a larger container into a small jar, and because it is solid at room temperature, you don’t need to worry about leaks or spills.
To add a little color back to your face, carry a bronzer that is slightly darker than your natural skintone and a blush with a rosier tone. Satin Matte Blush in Antique Rose, Honey Rose and Desert Rose are great options, as are Bronzers like Maricaibo, Mauna Loa and Trinidad.
When the skies are dull, add a bit more brightness to your look with a Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow with not-so-subtle sparkle. Buttercream, Venus, Paris or Leone are easy to sweep all over the eye area and look great with or without a contour color.
Finally, switch from a drying lipstick to our moisturizing Organic Nourishing Lip Balm. Cranberry gives lipstick-like coverage, but provides anti-oxidants and moisture at the same time.
Meet Jenn, the second of our Alima Pure Naturally Gorgeous models.
When we first met Jenn, we were captivated by her ready smile and natural exuberance. She’s one of those people who, after spending just a short period of time in her presence, you feel as if you have known her for years. And if you did, maybe you’d be lucky enough to be invited to a dinner party at her house…she is apparently a fearless hostess! Read on to see…
Alima Pure: What do you do for a living?
Jenn: Office Manager at a High Tech company in downtown Portland – I fondly think of myself as the “den mom.”
AP: What do you do for fun?
J: Ride my bikes, bird-watch, travel the world, bake, read non-fiction.
AP: Pets?
J: One black and white cat named Dorothy Rabbit – the softest cat in the world, we sell tickets!
AP: What do you really care about?
J: I care about the health and well being of the planet and the health and well being of all the creatures on it.
AP: How do you define beauty?
J: Someone who respects herself and has balance in her life is always beautiful. Intelligence, honesty and humor are wonderful beauty aids.
AP: What inspires you?
J: Nature, music, kind people.
AP: What scares you?
J: People who have made up their minds about everything. Meanness. Going downhill really fast on my bike.
AP: What surprises people about you?
J: That I live in Portland and I don’t drink beer OR coffee!
(AP Note: That really IS surprising!)
AP: Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party?
J: Julia Child, Albert Einstein, MFK Fisher, David Attenborough, Eleanor Roosevelt, Pablo Neruda, Jane Goodall.
AP: Really? Julia Child? Would you do the cooking yourself?
J: Yes, I think I would cook for Julia Child. One of my favorite things I learned from her books is that she very firmly says ““….never apologize for the food you prepare…I don’t believe in twisting yourself into knots of excuses and explanations over the food you make… Usually one’s cooking is better than one thinks it is. And if the food is vile,…then the cook must simply grit her teeth and bear it with a smile- and learn from her mistakes.” She also says that you don’t have to cook fancy or masterpieces, just good simple food from fresh ingredients – I can do that! Can’t you just hear her voice saying that? Love her. (Quotes from Julia Child, My Life in France.)
AP: What makes you feel beautiful?
J: Smiling, exercise and spoiling my skin with care.
AP: Do you have any beauty challenges?
J: Mostly my own insecurity – I constantly have to refrain myself from comparing myself physically to all the beautiful women in the world – it seems to be a bad habit women get themselves into. After I work on that discipline. I mostly have to work on keeping my activity level up so I’m comfortable in my clothes. I also have very fair and pinky-blotchy skin, which I’m horribly self-conscious about. I like to feel like my nose isn’t red like a strawberry and my vitiligo isn’t too obvious!
We think Jenn is Naturally Gorgeous! To get her look:
We started with our Color Balancing Powder in Pistachio, applied with the #25 Foundation brush to tone down a little redness. We then applied Satin Matte Foundation in Neutral 2 with a #25 brush, and then used some on the #3 Concealer brush where she needed a little extra coverage. Then we added a bit of Satin Matte Blush in Pink to the apples of her cheeks with our #17 Blush Brush.
On her eyes, we used Satin Matte Eye Shadow in Fawn as a base, from lashes to brows, with the #37 brush. This matte shade is great for neutralizing the lid color so that colors show up more true. We then contoured the crease with Satin Matte Eye Shadow in Putty and the #36 brush. On the lid, we added a bit of Luminous Shimmer Shadows in Aubergine and Black Orchid, both with the #36 brush. The eye was lined with Luminous Shimmer Eye Liner in Carnevale on a damp #33 brush, and her brows were filled in with Satin Matte Shadow in Raven on a dry #33 brush.
We slicked Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Rhubarb on Jenn’s lips, and she was ready for her close-up!
Brush sets are classic holiday gifts. Nearly every woman wants high-quality makeup tools, but not every woman can justify buying them for herself. Here’s your chance to make a friend, sister, mother or daughter swoon this holiday season! Alima Pure’s Irresistible Brush Set includes four of our incredibly soft makeup brushes in a beautiful signature bag for only $55, a savings of $30!
The set includes our cult-favorite #25 Foundation Brush, the plush and perfect #17 Blush Brush, the does-it-all #39 Large Shadow Brush and the oh-so-handy #35 Eye Detail Brush. The bag is easy to clean and features our adorable Bird zipper pull.
The #25 Foundation Brush was created by Alima Pure for the most efficient and beautiful application of our Satin Matte Foundation. It’s synthetic bristles are gently domed to easily reach all of the contours of your face. The #17 Blush Brush will deliver your blush or bronzer without a hint of the itchiness or scratchiness that animal-hair brushes can cause. The #39 Large Shadow Brush can be used to cover the entire lid with a base shade, or turned on it’s side to contour a crease or lid; and the #35 Eye Detail Brush can quickly smudge a liner, cover a blemish or polish a lip.
It may sound a little silly at first, why would anyone want a little spray bottle for water? But if you are a devoted Alima Pure wearer, you probably already know…it is not silly at all! Our atomizer can be very handy when you are applying your makeup.
When you are applying your foundation (in several sheer layers, of course), sometimes it can start to look a little dry, especially when the weather is changing as it is in many places right now. Mist your face very lightly with the atomizer and allow the mist to air dry. Suddenly what looked a little dry looks a little dewy and very natural. As an added bonus, it will also wear a bit longer. If you still want more coverage, it is perfectly acceptable to apply more foundation after your mist has dried.
When applying eye shadows and liner, the colors look more vibrant and wear without creasing if they are applied wet. Rather than pouring shadow out of the jar and adding water to them, try loading up your brush with color and working the color into the bristles, then spritz the brush! By doing this, you avoid having overly wet shadows, and by the time you have applied the shadow to your eye, your brush is dry enough to repeat the process. This technique works very well with the liners and gives a more dramatic look than using them dry, but less dramatic than if you mixed up shadow with water in a container.
Until November 2, receive an atomizer with any Alima Pure purchase of $20 or more (before shipping, and after any discounts).
Okay, maybe it isn’t exactly cold yet, but we know it is coming–the winter chill and the holidays. Whether you prefer strolling through the snow or snuggling by the fire, Alima Pure has you covered with two Limited Edition holiday collections that can be worn separately or together.
The Cold Outside collection features three cool-toned shadows and a blush. Snowdrift is an off-white shimmer with a hint of silvery blue. Snow Angel is a light-to-medium blue with silver sparkle. Jack Frost is a deep, blue-toned purple shimmer. Rosy Cheeks is a gorgeous, just-in-from-the-cold pink blush.
For the Cold Outside look, apply Snowdrift from crease to brows. Apply Snow Angel on the lid form the inner corner, and over 2/3 of the lid. With a damp brush, line under the lash line with Snow Angel. Apply Jack Frost to the outer 1/3 of the lid, and lightly blend into the crease. With a damp brush, line the upper lid with Jack Frost. Swirl a bit of Rosy Cheeks on the apples of the cheeks. Finish with Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Cranberry.
Warm Inside features three warm-toned shadows and a shimmer powder. Candlelight is a pale gold shimmer. Mulled Cider is a medium rose-gold sparkle. Hot Toddy is a deep, shimmering bronze. Firelight is a warm gold Luminous Shimmer Powder.
For the Warm Inside look, apply Candlelight from the lashes to the brow. Add Mulled Cider to the lid, and sweep Hot Toddy into the crease and at the other corner. With a damp brush, line upper lashes and outer 1/3 of the bottom lashes with Hot Toddy. If desired, dust a little of your favorite blush on the apples of your cheeks. (We really like Satin Matte Blush in Pink for this, or Rosy Cheeks from the Cold Outside collection!) Then highlight the tops of the cheekbones and around the temples with Firelight. Finish with Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Cranberry.
The Baby, It’s Cold Outside collection is available only at www.alimapure.com for a limited time. Each set contains three full-sized eyeshadows and a full-sized blush or shimmer powder, packaged in a beautiful Alima Pure gift box. Cold Outside and Warm inside are $36 each, with $2 from each set going to the Global Fund for Women.
When Alicia first walked into the photo shoot, we thought it would almost be a waste of time to apply make up to her. Although she isn’t a professional model, just the roommate of one of our employees, she is clearly a very beautiful girl. Putting makeup on her seemed a little like “gilding the lily.” And we thought that you, our readers and customers, might feel as if we were going the route of traditional cosmetics companies, who show their products on gorgeous models in an attempt to increase sales because, well, who doesn’t want to look like that?
But sometime after the photo shoot, someone accidentally opened one of the “before” shots of Alicia. We were amazed. Although there is no denying how beautiful she is without a stitch of makeup, we couldn’t believe what a difference just a few Alima Pure products made.
That got us thinking, so we looked back at some of our other “before” shots. (Unfortunately, we weren’t diligent about doing “before” shots at every photo shoot!) Sure enough, we also had before and after shots of Kelly and Melissa, two more of our Naturally Gorgeous women. And so we have presented them here, on our “Amazing” page for you to enjoy. The details about what we used on each of them are also found on that page.
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If you are concerned about what is in the cosmetics that you wear, then certainly you have hesitated to purchase Halloween makeup for your children. Those thick, greasy colors made in China can’t be good for the glowing, healthy skin of a small child, can they?
Luckily, choosing a safe Halloween does not mean settling for a boring costume. Alima Pure cosmetics are safe for all ages, and you can create any look your little trick-or-treaters desires, from a cute kitten to a scary zombie. Let your imagination run wild.
Look #1 – Cute kitten.
For this simple look, we used Onyx Satin Matte Eyeliner with water. We painted on whiskers, outlined the nose, and lined the upper eyelid. On the lid, we winged the liner out past the edge of the eye, and then curved down under the eye to create a more rounded, dramatic cat eye. We dabbed some Satin Matte Blush in Pink onto the tip of the nose, and slicked a little Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Rhubarb on her lips. Add a pair of kitty ears and your little cat is ready to prowl!
Look #2 – Fairy Princesses
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For these cute little princesses, we kept the look simple. We started with a little Luminous Shimmer Shadow in Hellebore right under the brows on each girl. Then we used bright, shimmering eyeshadow, applied with a damp brush all over their lids. (From left to right, Aegean, Amethyst and Leone.) Then we dusted Luminous Shimmer Powder in Lumina all over their faces. Satin Matte Blush in Pink went on the apples of their cheeks, and Organic Nourishing Lip Balm in Rhubarb was applied to their lips. Add a pretty dress, wings, maybe a headband or crown, and they are totally fancy!
Look #3 – Rock Star
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This was a first for Alima, applying makeup to boys for a photo shoot! We think the results speak for themselves, but before we begin, a warning. Do not attempt this at home if you have a child (or adult), who has a difficult time sitting still. Peter, seen here in “Cat Man” face, was in the makeup chair for close to 45 minutes because of the complexity of his design.
For both boys, we started with Satin Matte Eyeshadow in White, mixed with water and applied with a large brush. Because we were going to be shooting this under lights, we did not do the whole face in white, and then paint the other colors over, because we were worried that the black would appear grey with the flash. If you are just sending someone off to a party or trick-or-treating, however, it may be fine to do the entire face in white, then paint the other colors over the top. We sketched the designs on with black first, so the white was painted up to the edges of the black. After it was applied, we layered on more white with a #15 Flat Top Foundation Brush and a sponge. Then we mixed Satin Matte Eyeliner in Black with water and painted it on with a smaller brush for the black areas. ”Cat Man” has green around his eyes, we used Luminous Shimmer Shadow in London, mixed with water. For the grey tip of his nose, we mixed Pearluster Eye Shadow in Zen with water. Evan, in his “Star Child” makeup was a little simpler, but in case your wig allows more eyes to show than his does, remember that the eye without the star needs to be completely covered in white, and that a strong black brow should be painted over that eye. For both boys, we finished with Nourishing Lip Balm in Holly Berry. Neither one wanted to take the makeup off after the photo shoot, so they wore it for several hours at home. It looked good and fresh for several hours, but after 3 or 4 hours the white, because it was applied so heavily, did start to flake off. Plan your activities accordingly! Black “rock star” wigs completed the look for both boys.
