Redeeming Beauty Mineral Make Up Review and GIVEAWAY!

I am not a girly-girl.

I am lucky if I remember to brush my hair every morning and if my outfit matches.  I usually wear jeans or khakis because anything matches with those and I don’t have to think.  Let’s just say, my appearance is not exactly in my top priorities.  Or even in them at all, often times.

Still, I am aware that the image I present to the rest of the world is important, especially if I am in a professional situation.  While it’s fine to wear yoga pants and a nursing tank with messed up hair if I am just cleaning the house, that isn’t exactly a great look if I am off to give a speech…or even go shopping.  I don’t want to look like a mom who “let herself go.”  I can’t stand that stereotype anyway, like we are somehow ruined as women because we’ve had kids??  Please.

I really don’t like it when someone says “She looks great…for a mom of ___ kids.”  Hey, how about just “She looks great!”  No qualifiers?

Anyway.

As part of this mild interest in improving my image (which I know is really necessary for professional situations), I have thought and my husband has mentioned on multiple occasions that maybe I ought to consider some make up.  Not like some women, who spend 30 minutes a day “putting their faces on” and will not appear outside their bedrooms until they are done.  I’ll never be that woman — it’s just not me.

I considered the idea for all of 30 seconds and dismissed it.  Why?  Because most make up is full of toxins.  I don’t see the point in trying to live a natural lifestyle and already not having a “need” to put on make up…and compromising that for the sake of beauty.  Why would I put that junk on my skin for vanity?

But then Emily of Redeeming Beauty approached me and asked me to review some of the natural make up she makes.  It’s not like all the other junk on the market.  I was intrigued.

Emily’s “Sugared Lime” eye shadow…isn’t it gorgeous?

Chemical-Free Make Up

If I was going to wear make up for professional situations or other times I wanted to specifically look nice, it would need to be healthy and safe.  I’m not compromising my health for beauty.

Emily’s make up does not require me to make that compromise.

She promises that her make up is free of:

• Talc
• Fragrance oils
• Preservatives
• Dyes
• Petroleum
• Parabens
• and more!

Not only that, but she makes all of the make up herself, by hand.  Many of her products are vegan and none are tested on animals.  They are also really affordable.  The eye shadows (which is what she sent me to try) are only $5.49 each!

The foundations are only $16 each — who doesn’t pay more than that for any high-quality chemical make up?  These are based on minerals and they never expire, either, which is awesome for someone like me who wouldn’t use it very often.  I heard all the time that I needed to throw away my drugstore make up every 6 – 12 months due to color separation or bacterial growth, which was not cost-effective for me at all.  With Emily’s products that would not be an issue.

Emily’s blush (which is also mineral-based and does not expire) is only $10, and a little goes a long way — so it will last.  The lipsticks (again, mineral-based) are only $3.50.

The prices are great because I have looked up mineral/natural make up sets before and have seen them come in at $35 – $50 for just a basic foundation/powder set.  That seemed like a lot to spend to me…and realistically, as much as I wanted to change my image I was not going to spend that much on something I would rarely use!  Emily’s prices are a lot more realistic for me, and are a great savings for women who do use make up more often.

Emily also has a “hair and body” section with dry shampoo and sugar scrubs, and a new line of chemical-free nail polishes!  (And the nail polishes are only $6 each — I’ve seen most chemical-free nail polishes starting at $10.)

My make up, sitting on my bed!

How It Works

Okay, all of that is great.  Safe make up, no harmful chemicals, great prices.  But how does it work?  If it doesn’t look good, then it’s not worth anything.

The make up shipped to me very quickly and came well-wrapped on the outside and the inside.  The inner products are wrapped gently in natural-colored cloth — very cool.

I unwrapped my make up — I did not know what colors to expect.  Emily had asked for my hair and skin colors so that she could choose colors that would work for me.  (If you already know what color you want and she doesn’t have it, she will work with you to create a custom color!)  I got a light pink color, two shades of purple, and a primer.  You can see them unwrapped now.

I put on some of the lighter purple eye shadow, and I also played with the pink stuff.  It is very shimmery and smooth, and it goes on lightly — no garish colors or “clown make up” here.  It blends well and easily and adds just a hint of color, nothing crazy.  Subtle is very good for someone who doesn’t usually wear make up!

I do wish that Emily had the option of order brushes of some kind — since some of us (like me) are basically starting from scratch with make up.  I also wish she included some information on what brushes were best to use with what and how to apply it.  It is probably obvious to most women, but as a total make up novice — I need all the help I can get!  A small paper explaining what to apply first, what brush (or other tool) to use and how to make them look most natural would be awesome.

I can tell that these products will last a long time.  They are tiny little pots but you only need a tiny little bit!  Even with daily wear I think they would last several months.  With occasional wear, forever?

I couldn’t get a good picture of me wearing the make up — I tried!  But it was hard to see that I was wearing it because it is subtle (it is obvious in person — but the pictures weren’t great).  That’s okay.  Emily’s models look much prettier in the make up than I do….  Mine is applied with my not-so-adept hand and all.

Finally, I want to mention Emily’s customer service.  She stayed in contact with me throughout the selection process, without “bugging” me.  She asked for my skin and hair colors so she could recommend make up colors that would work well for me — a big help to someone who does not usually wear make up and has no idea what to choose.  She followed up with me to make sure that I liked the make up and it was working for me.  How many big companies will do any of that?

I think this make up is a great deal all the way around.  It’s hand made in the U.S. and everything is handled by Emily herself.  It’s chemical-free, mineral-based, and safe.  It’s reasonably priced, it doesn’t expire, so it’s really cost-effective whether you use it daily or infrequently.  I might just have to order more, and pepper Emily with questions on how to make it work the best, so that I am prepared for those days that I need a little image upgrade!

Want to Win?

Emily has graciously offered to give one “Basic Face Palette,” which will be customized to the winner’s coloring.  It consists of foundation, blush, and setting powder.  You could win!!

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents over the age of 18.  It closes at 11:59 PM on Saturday, 1/26.  The winner will be announced on Monday, 1/28.  The first entry is required; all others are optional.

What would you choose if you won?