Tag Archives: natural makeup tips

How to choose an Eyeliner Brush

#31 Fine Liner Brush If you are thinking of trying an Alima Pure brush for your mineral eyeliner, you’ve probably noticed, we have two different versions.  The #31 Fine Liner Brush is a pointed shape (and also excellent for spot concealing), while the #33 Angle Liner Brush (which is also great for filling in brows) is flat and angled.  So how does one decide between the two?

Think about how you like to apply your eyeliner.  Do you “sketch” it on with a back and forth motion?  Do you favor pencils to liquids and gels because you can use this back and forth motion more easily?  Then the #31 brush is the one for you.

If you tend to “draw” on your eyeliner in a long, sweeping motion, and sometimes wear liquids or gels because you can get such a precise line with this type of motion, you will probably prefer the #33 brush.

With either brush, you can use your eyeliner wet or dry.  If you prefer to use the eyeliner dry, be sure that you load the brush with color and then tap the bristles into the lid of the jar to work the color into the brush.  This will help avoid dark sprinkles on your cheeks.
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How to wear The Hamptons Eyeshadow collection – Summer Romance Look

The Hamptons Eyeshadow collection

By popular request, we have applied The Hamptons Eyeshadow Collection to Alima Pure staffer Candice, following the directions for the Summer Romance look.  The Hamptons will be available for sale for several more weeks, but don’t delay– just like your summer rental, it will be gone by Fall!
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Tone down sunburn with Color Balancing Powder

pistachio with brushThe sun came out in Portland this past weekend.  And it didn’t just come out, it came out with a vengeance, drying up the perma-puddles and sending sun-starved Portlanders in search of tank tops, shorts and pedicures.  Then came the aftermath — photos on Facebook, with the caption, “maybe it will turn into a tan,” and a run on aloe vera gel at the drugstore.

But until it does turn into a tan, consider toning down your sunburn with Pistachio!  Alima Pure’s Color Balancing Powder in Pistachio is perfect for toning down unwanted red, and although that usually refers to redness from rosacea or allergies, Pistachio is an equal-opportunity red-fighter; sunburn and windburn also fade away under this soft green powder.

Of course, having Pistachio in your collection doesn’t mean that you should skip the sunscreen…far from it!  But sometimes, no matter how hard you try to reapply, you end up with too much sun.  When you do, just buff on Pistachio with your #15 Flat Top Foundation Brush, #21 Buff Brush or #25 Foundation Brush, and follow with your regular foundation.  Or, if your sunburn is on your body, skip the foundation and just let Pistachio do all the work.  You’ll be amazed at how efficient it can be!

 

3 for $30 Eyeshadows: Brilliant for Brown Eyes

Our makeup artists often receive questions about selecting the right eyeshadows for various eye colors.  We have written several blog posts about great shades for different eye colors, which you can find herehere and here.  But we know that people love to buy our Limited Edition collections.  Combining that knowledge with the questions, we came up with the idea of 3 for $30 eyeshadow sets.  

To make things very simple, our first three are designed to be perfect for blue eyesbrown eyes and green eyes.  These 3 for $30 collections will be changing every six to eight weeks, and won’t always be based on eye color, but sometimes on things like pastels, brights or the perfect smoky eye. For the remainder of 2012, and beyond if our customers like them, we will have several of these sets available at any time.  We hope they make your shopping easier!
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Frequently Asked Foundation Questions

With our semi-annual Foundation Sale going on, it seems like a good time to answer some of the questions we hear most often here at Alima! Here are answers to some frequently asked foundation questions.

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Beat winter pallor with beautiful blush!

January and February–the time of year when most of us (in the northern hemisphere, anyway) are at our palest and looking in the mirror can be a bit of a shock.  To brighten up your look and give your cheeks that rosy, just-in-from-the-cold look, consider using a more intense blush shade.

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Dare to mix Cold and Warm

Dare to Mix Warm and Cold 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 Lipbalm in Mango. Who knew breaking rules could be so pretty?

Glam it up with a little Holiday Glow!

Holiday Glow 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.
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Introducing Rahel, our Naturally Gorgeous Model

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!
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Update your makeup bag for winter

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.