Alima Mineral Makeup

[martygreene]

I've been far too lazy, and need to place an order with them. I had the issue that none of their shades went light enough for me, so they custom mixed five shades, sent them to me, and I had two matches! I really need to get on the ball with it and order one of them, I've just been so gosh darn busy lately.

[nTrain]

Has anyone else noticed that Alima's yellow shades are literally yellow? I'm Asian and i do have a yellowy undertone, so i got a sample of W-3. It actually emphasis the yellow in my skin. Hello. I'm Asian, not Big Bird.

[Winthrop44]

I am Caucasian and can wear W-1. My perfect match though is a combo of N and W shades. From what I understand their Golden shades are even more yellow. Did you try the N? I have also read about some Asians finding the Olive tones perfect. If you are interested in this foundation you should give some other shades and mixtures of shades a try.

[MissChievous]

You can get Alima foundation custom blended if you're in between shades, just email them.


I got my full sized foundation yesterday....super fast!!! And I live in Switzerland. The customer service is really phenomenal. I also ordered the 4 blush samples and I unfortunately realized that the swatches given on the website don't reflect their colours at all. I swatched them on my wrist and have to say, I wasn't impressed at all with the shades. I have to try them on my face but I don't think I will like them that much.

What brush do you use for applying the mineral blush? The same kabuki? I'd rather not get blush pigment in my kabuki because I use that for the foundation and I can't wash my kabuki everyday....the 187 maybe? The 168 picks up too much of the loose powder so it doesn't work so well.

[Winthrop44]

The only viable blush brush (for me, so that means synthetic) I currently own is the 169 from Raquel. That's the synthetic version of the 168. I only use it on pressed blushes however. I have found some Alima blush shades I like (all matte) - Honey Rose, Carnation, Azalea, and Desert Rose or Antique Rose (I forget which now) but I have not found a brush to apply them the way I like. I like to apply my blush verrry softly, and I think I need an all synthetic 187 for these! Kate told me they are working on getting one at Alima. I have used her #21 buff brush and you can control the amount picked up fairly well but it pretty much just deposits the color where you put it - I've not been able to blend out the matte blushes with it the way I'd like. Maybe I should try working with it a little more, but honestly it's just been easier to let the Alima blushes sit in my drawer and use my pressed ones. I would definitely give your 187 a try if I were you. Maybe a baby kabuki would work too. I think there are synthetic versions of those and I may look into them if Alima doesn't get a skunk brush soon.

[chrissuen]

I use my 187 for my alima blushes and it's perfect for this purpose, so I'll say go for it!

[MissChievous]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winthrop44

The only viable blush brush (for me, so that means synthetic) I currently own is the 169 from Raquel. That's the synthetic version of the 168. I only use it on pressed blushes however. I have found some Alima blush shades I like (all matte) - Honey Rose, Carnation, Azalea, and Desert Rose or Antique Rose (I forget which now) but I have not found a brush to apply them the way I like. I like to apply my blush verrry softly, and I think I need an all synthetic 187 for these! Kate told me they are working on getting one at Alima. I have used her #21 buff brush and you can control the amount picked up fairly well but it pretty much just deposits the color where you put it - I've not been able to blend out the matte blushes with it the way I'd like. Maybe I should try working with it a little more, but honestly it's just been easier to let the Alima blushes sit in my drawer and use my pressed ones. I would definitely give your 187 a try if I were you.

I think the 187 is a mix of natural hairs and synthetic? In any case, I have been using the 187 before with it but I found it hard to get the dosing right with the amount the brush picks up. This is using the samples though, so the containers are really small.

BTW, I hate the jar containers of Alima foundation too. It is really cheap looking and the lid is too small to get the swirling action going well, so I'm using my old BE lid to swirl. I wish they would change their packaging to make the sifter lid wider.

[Winthrop44]

I know. I shake a bit of foundation out into a separate glass saucer-type thing meant for condiments. I got the idea from a glass sold for this purpose by Cory Cosmetics (blech!) long ago. You might try tapping a tiny amount of blush out of the baggie or little jar (I forget which she's sending them in these days) into something like that and then trying your 187. Yes, it is a mix of synthetic and goat. The white hairs are synthetic.

Edited to say I just looked back at the March newslatter to make sure I was remembering correctly and she says in there they are working on new packaging -- what that's really all about though I have no idea.

[nTrain]

I've heard such good things about the Buff Brush. I've been waiting to get it with the foundation brush when they're back in stock but I guess i'll have to find a different brush for blush

I just looked to see when the last post before mine was made just to see if this thread was still relevant and I noticed that you posted yesterday at 4:20. haha

[jenii]

I have two Alima blushes. I have Dianthus (which I apply with my 187 brush), and I have Apple Blossom (which I use either Alima's #21 brush, or my MAC 168 to apply).

Basically I'd use the 187 to apply any shimmery blushes, and a regular blush brush for the mattes.

I love Alima. I just ordered some of their concealer, and a color balancing powder in Pistachio, because I have a green concealer from EDM, but it's kinda cakey and hard to blend. Their Sunlight concealer is cakey too. Makes me sad because it's so good at covering up dark circles, but it makes the skin around my eyes look crepey when it's NOT (I'm only 26, ffs).

Actually, a lot of EDM stuff is kinda cakey.

[nTrain]

Booo. Down with EDM! Do you like your MAC brushes better than the Alima buff brush for applying blush?

[jenii]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nTrain

Do you like your MAC brushes better than the Alima buff brush for applying blush?

For sheerer blushes, Alima's buff brush is great because it deposits a bit more color than a MAC brush would. The head's also smaller, so I feel like I have a bit more control over where color goes on my cheeks.

But, all in all, both Alima and MAC brushes are equally useful to me.

[greentwig]

I want to try this.

Q: Do any of you use this over you put this powder over your MAC foundation?

I wear NC 20.

[evil]

alima is having a sale on their shadows til june 30th

http://alimacosmetics.com/alima-mine...al-offers.html

[jenii]

Aw man! I just placed an order RIGHT before this sale started, I guess!! AW.

[Esperanza]

I got my Alima's order on Thursday but I wasn't at home until yesterday... I finally tested my foundation samples this morning and I really like the finish and the shades (I've made a mix between Satin N2 and Pongee N3) although I think I'll need to put some loose powder on top of it.
I've got combination skin that tends to become a bit oily and I find that with the Alima foundation, my skin has a tendency to shine a bit more than when I'm not wearing anything. I know that I probably don't have the right brush to apply the mineral texture (I'm using the little pink brush made by Guerlain for the Meteorites) or maybe I've put too much foundation on, I don't know... this is the first time I use a mineral brand and maybe I have to improve my application technique!!
I had some free samples too (the illuminating shimmer powder and 2 e/s) but they come in small bags that are definitely not convenient at all!!

[Winthrop44]

Try a kabuki or the Alima 25 brush. It does take a little practice too!

Has anybody else noticed that the colors on the Alima web site have changed? Maybe it's my monitor but everything looks darker to me and more off vs real life than before. I'm not on there alot but I first noticed this weekend.

[Esperanza]

You're right, that's weird... It's the same with my computer & my bf's

[SagMaria]

Seeing as ALIMA'S eyeshadows are on sale right now and their shadows haven't been discussed much in thid thread does anyone have any recs and/or favorites? I actually ordered the summer set, has anyone ordered it too?

[martygreene]

To me they look more accurate. Before the level 1 and 0 shades LOOKED like they would work for me, but in real life were much darker.

Now it looks right.

[suijuris]

Re: eyeshadows. I got a few samples recently and I have got to say they are brilliant. Really finely milled and more pigmented than EM eyeshadows, and the shimmer is actually shimmer, not chunky glitter. My favourites so far are Grace (it's a lilac-taupe shade, not a bronzed plum as described on their website), Chai (a champagney taupe with a hint of peach), Taupe (a kind of warm champagne brown), and Black Orchid (a deep shimmery burgundy which looks amazing foiled).

Oh, and I know their eyeliners aren't on sale, but I got a sample of Nightingale (dark navy) matte eyeliner for free and it's just gorgeous. I never thought I could wear blues on my eyes because my eyes ARE blue, but it looks really nice for day or night and it's very easy to apply (I am a total klutz at applying eyeliner).

[greentwig]

Q: I'm a NC20.....if you are also which Alima powder do u use?

TIA! =D

[dirtyMartini]

Hey guys I just want to warn anybody before buying shades "Lily: C-0" in the matte foundation, and "Porcelain" in concealer. These two are literally PAPER-WHITE! So just make sure you get samples before you buy.

I have a bad habit of always picking the lightest shade because most foundations look too dark on me.. Well, not this one, and I already ordered the full size stuff So, learn from my mistakes..

[Winthrop44]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lhorgan

Q: I'm a NC20.....if you are also which Alima powder do u use?

TIA! =D

I'm NC15 with yellow undertones and wear N1. I would recommend you test samples in N1, N2, (maybe N3?), W1 and W2. Most people consider the W shades to be very yellow, but I can wear W1 and lots of people mix shades. Some NC wearers have also ended up with Olive shade O-0, which is not on the web site. If you want to test that one give Alima a call or order a different sample and write in your request in the Notes section during checkout. HTH!

[Winthrop44]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtyMartini

Hey guys I just want to warn anybody before buying shades "Lily: C-0" in the matte foundation, and "Porcelain" in concealer. These two are literally PAPER-WHITE! So just make sure you get samples before you buy.

I have a bad habit of always picking the lightest shade because most foundations look too dark on me.. Well, not this one, and I already ordered the full size stuff So, learn from my mistakes..

If you have not opened the products, meaning you have not removed the seal over the sifters, you *might* try calling Alima and asking very nicely if she will consider exchanging for you. I doubt it because that's why she offers samples, but it might be worth a try. Good luck!