Liquid Foundations

If you’re looking to invest in one cosmetic, you can’t go wrong with a good liquid foundation. Cheaper foundations often lower the cost by including some controversial chemicals and preservatives. Liquid foundations can also multi-task, performing well as moisturizers and sunscreens while providing decent coverage. Quality liquid foundations usually cost around $30 and should be replaced every 6 months.

Recommended products include:

• Gabriel Moisturizing Liquid Foundation – Includes SPF 18. A medium-coverage foundation that works well for all skin types, especially dry and sensitive skin. Excellent color range.
• Zuzu Luxe Oil-Free Liquid Foundation - Another great medium-coverage foundation, manufactured by Gabriel Cosmetics. This also has an excellent color range and SPF 18. As an oil-free foundation, it is particularly well-suited for oily skin types.

If you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind lighter coverage, consider:

• Kiss My Face Tinted Moisturizer – A light, moisturizing foundation that provides very sheer coverage and SPF 8. The color range accommodates fair skin and isn’t suited for darker skin colors.

Powder Foundations

Powder foundations are often very natural and are gentle enough to use on those recovering from plastic surgery. Powders can last for up to two years, which can make them more cost effective than liquid foundations. These foundations are sheer when applied dry, so consider applying wet for heavier coverage. Some of my favorite powder foundations include:

• Alima Pure Satin Matte Foundation – Few companies can match Alima Pure’s foundation line. They offer 60 shades at a reasonable price, and cheap samples are available to ensure a perfect match. These loose powders are typically applied dry, with a brush.
• The All Natural Face Pressed Powder Foundation – This is one of the only pressed foundation powders on the market.  The price is unbeatable, and there are 50 shades available. They also make loose powders and pressed powder refills.

Guest post by make-up artist Kaylin Johnson of Kaylin’s Kit.

I was lucky to try a couple of Johnny Concert’s vegan cosmetics and now I’m hooked!

The first item I tried was the Tainted Cupcake eyeshadow ($16). I’m pretty much sold on anything with “cupcake” in its name. This shimmery pink champagne eyeshadow is loaded with beautiful silver sparklies. This is the perfect shade to accent the corners of the eyes and the upper brows. I like to layer this with simlar shades in the pink family, but it also looks great all by itself. Joanna named this shade “Tainted Cupcake” because it reminded her of “delicious spiked icing.” *high-five* Sugar fiends unite! Check out the high intesnity sparkles in this pic…

Tainted Cupcake Eyeshadow, $16

All right, ladies, I know how hard it is to find red, vegan lipstick that doesn’t suck.  Sometimes, I’m just simply in the mood to vamp of my lips with some strikingly red *shazam.* Amen for Johnny Concert’s REDRUM (as in The Shining) lipstick ($24). It’s 100% vegan and it’s H-O-T! Nothing quite says sexpot like fire engine red lips! It doesn’t hurt that this lipstick is packed full of noursihing moisturizers, too!

REDRUM Lipstick, $24

Check out these ingredients: Organic Castor Oil; Organic Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter; Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil; Wildcrafted Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax; Organic Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil; Hydrogenated Castor Oil; Organic Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil; Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Butter; Organic Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia) Nut Oil; Mica; Iron Oxides.

Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! What’s you’r favorite lipstick?

For more info: Johnny Concert

Foundation Primer & Hydrating Serum ($28): Not only is this primer vegan, but it fills in all the lil’ wrinkles and lines in your face making it perfectly smooth and even for foundation application. This primer is so velvety and smooth. I can’t stop touching my face when I apply this serum. It’s like a magic potion for smooth skin. It also happens to be incredibly moisturizing and contains organic extracts (chamomile, mallow, cornflower, mint, peppermint, witch hazel aloe, calendula and ginkgo biloba) which help nourish your skin. Seriously, if you want to look years younger, you need to be rocking some foundation primer. I highly recommend incorpoating this into your beauty regimen.

Pressed Mineral Foundation ($30): After prepping your skin with Emani Hydrating Serum & Primer, you are all set to go for foundation. I’ve been using pressed mineral foundation for years. I’m addicted to this stuff. Your coverage can be light to heavy depending on how many layers you apply.  This talc-free, pressed mineral foundation is infused with organic rosemary and grape seed extract, which helps to balance your skin’s moisture and gives you even coverage. Plus, this compact is totaly portable, so you can plop it in your purse for touch ups.

Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Rosemary Extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Iron Oxide

Vegan Foundation Brush ($24): Emani makeup brushes are soooooo incredibly soft! The foundation brush is ideal for applying loose powder foundation, pressed foundation or translucent powder. This brush is 100% vegan and free of dyes. There really is no need to be using makeup brushes made out of squirrels booty fur (or whichever animal they steal fur from). Plus, these synthetic brushes last longer and don’t harbor bacteria like conventional makeup brushes do.

Crushed Mineral Eye Dust ($10): First off, I’d like to say how crazy I am about that bright shade of blue (Dare Devil) featured in the photo. It’s mesmerizingly beautiful. All of these eyeshadows are made with 100% pure mineral pigments and are free of talc and other fillers. Emani Mineral Color Dust goes on sheer but for an intense finish, you can wet your brush and then apply. There are lots of shades to choose from. They have earthy tones, pastels, bold, fun colors – they have it all! Some of these shades work perfectly for your lips. Get crazy and try a bunch of differnt stuff. Be your own makeup artist. For longer lasting eyeshadow, feel free to prep your lids with eye cream then layer foundation on top to create a smooth base. Then apply your rockstar makeup and go out and paint the town red (or Dare Devil blue)!

Ingredients: Mica, Iron Oxide, Titanium Dioxide

For more info: Emani Minerals