Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil Review

Bare Escentuals is like the Holy Grail when it comes to mineral face make-up; their signature black-lid jars appear in all of my friends' make-up collections. While I have tried the Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation - which has warranted great reviews and is indeed a wonderful product - what I'm most impressed with is the Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil.

I have combination skin that's pretty prone to breakout. My forehead, chin, and especially nose area gets really shiny a couple of hours after washing my face. Even if I apply matte foundation, those areas still get shiny. So I was super excited after receiving 10-day sample of the Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil (the original version, not the hydrating, SPF 25, tinted, or illuminating) with my order from Sephora. After just one day of using it, it has become a staple in my make-up bag.

The Mineral Veil is supposed to absorb oil and minimize the appearance of lines and pores without any chemicals that can cause build-up and be harsh on your skin. It's supposed to create "the ultimate, translucent "finishing touch" to your makeup," melting into your skin, "infusing it with softness and light, giving the look you see with a soft focus camera lens."

I use the BE Mineral Veil after applying concealer, the BE Mineral Foundation, eyeshadow, and eyeliner. Then I dust a thin layer of the Mineral Veil all over my face, concentrating on the areas that tend to get oily. A small amount of the product goes a long way. Unlike many other "mineral veils" and finishing powders that I've tried, Bare Escentuals' is by far the best. It really disappears onto my skin (unlike ones by CoverGirl and EverydayMinerals, which visibly sits on my skin) and it keeps my skin matte all day, something that nothing else I've tried has managed to do.

The Mineral Veil also sets eye-makeup in place, which is why I apply my eyeshadow and liner beforehand. But apply mascara afterwards just so the powder doesn't get stuck on your mascara-ed lashes. I don't use blush or bronzer, but if you do, they should also be applied before the Mineral Veil. To maximize the effect of the product, apply primer all over your face after you put on lotion and before applying anything else.

Have you tried the Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil? What did you think of it?

DIY: Too Faced "Walk of Shame" Kit

In college, the Walk of Shame is oftentimes unavoidable. Therefore Too Faced's infamous "Walk of Shame" kit - which has garnered praise for its great colors as well as attacks for its controversial name - is a well-known kit amongst college girls. (The company recently changed the name to "Sweet Escapes") It has also inspired imitation sets like this one from walkofshamekit.com, which includes everything from an extra dress to a call/don't call notecard.

While I think the whole "walk of shame" kit is a great idea and all, I don't exactly agree that Too Faced's set contains all the essentials. I see that the blush, mints, and lipstick would come in handy after an all-night rendezvous, but toothbrush and primer? Who's got time to brush their teeth and worry about how big their pores are the next morning? The key is to get out of there ASAP while looking as put-together as possible.

Here, I've created my own do-it-yourself "walk of shame" kit, perfect after a night spent at your boyfriend's (or booty call's), the morning after a sleepover with the girls, or even after pulling an all-nighter at the library. Here are the essentials:

Compact with Mattifying Powder - You're skin is bound to look a little shiny no matter how much powder you applied the previous night. Dust on some matte powder for that clean, fresh-faced look. It will also alleviate any redness and conceal blemishes.

Eyedropper - Eyes tend to get red and swollen if you didn't catch much sleep the night before (and especially if you drank alcohol all night or if you were studying into the wee hours of the morning). One of two drops will clear redness and refresh your tired eyes.

Brightening Pencil - After the eyedrops, line the inner and bottom rims of your eyes with a brightening pencil (or gold/cream/white eyeliner). This will create a fresh and adorable doe-eyed look, no one would ever guess you were out late the night before.

Mint Gum - While Too Faced's kit had floss, mints, and a toothbrush, I think it's much easier to just bring a 5-piece pack of gum. Just pop a piece into your mouth and leave the brushing and flossing for when you get back to your dorm.

Mini Perfume - No fashionable girl should ever be reaking of cigarettes and alcohol. Always carry a mini version of your favorite perfume (or even more convenient, a sample of it) so you will smell fresh whereever you go.

Cheek Stain - I don't know about you guys, but I often look like death after getting little to no sleep. A bit of cheek stain livens up my face and makes my complexion look so much better. Opt for a stain rather than a blush - blush requires a brush, which is slower to use and is one extra thing to carry.

Lip Plumper - I first considered putting a lip balm into the set, but then I decided some color would be good the next morning. I love this one from Fusion Beauty because it makes my lips look plump and juicy no matter how dry and cracked it may be. And it smells great and is not too sticky.

Clutch - Finally, you'll of course need a clutch to hold everything together. Opt for one thats cute (so you can take it out to a party), has a wristlet (so you don't lose it), and is as small as possible (for convenience).



What do you think of this DIY version? What would you have in your kit?