New Inika – Natural Mineral Makeup Looks for 2010

Just before Christmas Inika launched its new product range, full of vibrant colours for 2010. The collection was an instant hit with natural mineral lipsticks, eye shadows and blushers, and some new treats to add. New to the already best selling range of pure Mineral foundation powder makeup is the mineral liquid makeup, which gives you total coverage and flawless perfection that’s even ok for the most sensitive of skins. The Inika collection now boasts a luscious new lip whip which provides colour and hydration in one swoop, as well as a light reflecting crème and fantastic new shades in the range.

So if you’re looking to update your natural makeup bag this spring, check out some of Inika’s new colours. The latest looks this season are inspired by Nicole Farhi’s 2010 Catwalk of Green and Purple colours. Here are some tips on how to create the same stunning look

Get that flawless matt look with Inika’s Mineral Foundation; pick the shade closest to your skin colour. Make sure your brows are shaped and coloured either using Inika Brow baby pencil or using a mineral eyeshadow, I use Coco Motion from Inika’s new range applied with an angle brush.

Apply Purple Haze Inika Mineral Eyeshadow to the top lid with the Inika eyeshadow brush. Keep the brush damp when applying if you’d like a darker look or dry if you’d like a powdery finish. I love platinum eyeshadow on the outer corner of the brow.

For the great green finish, I’d recommend either the new Kingfisher mineral eyeshadow shade or Forest Gold, depending on how dramatic you want to be and what complements your clothes best.
Get that great liquid eyeliner look, with Inika’s black eyeliner, just dampen it first before applying. Finish with lappings of Black mascara; we love the new Inika Volumising Mascara.

For the gentle natural looking lips I recommend Naked Ambition Inika Lipstick and subtle touch of Inika’s Rosy glow to contour the cheeks, or an Inika bronzer that suits your skin tone.

All products are free of bismuth oxychloride, parabens, phthalates and synthetic dyes and available online at www.buyorganics.co.uk. Stocks are selling out fast so some items are on back order, they're going out as fast as they're coming in!!!

Discover What’s Causing Your Makeup & Skincare Allergies

So many women have approached me after having suffered difficulty with their makeup. Some were fine for years and then suddenly developed swelling around their eyes or on their face, or illness where previous they never had a problem.

Makeup and cosmetics are part of most women’s daily routine. It’s a ritualistic thing that gets us ready to go out and face the world. It can be very alarming and really knock a woman’s self esteem if she suddenly has to go out with no makeup due to blotchy skin, rashes, and red eyes or in worst cases actually lead to depression!

So here’s a heads up on what symptoms you may be suffering from and what may be causing it along with advice on how to prevent yourself from developing problems in later life. Now I’m not a medical doctor, just a natural makeup and cosmetics enthusiast, so this article is based on my own research of what information is already out there, so consider it practical, useful but not gospel.

Manufacturers put chemical and synthetic ingredients in makeup, such as fragrances and preservatives, parabens, petrochemicals, formaldehydes and fillers that can act as allergens and trigger an allergic reaction. They don’t always cause a reaction in everyone, but it has been shown that 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed, similar to the method by which nicotine patches work; therefore what we put on our skin does matter. (Please note it is worth mentioning that some people are also allergic to natural ingredients, but the numbers are much lower).

How do you know you are having a reaction?

Two types of allergic reaction are typical of makeup and cosmetics; irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.

Irritant contact dermatitis: This is more common than allergic contact dermatitis and develops when an irritating or harsh substance actually damages the skin. Irritant contact dermatitis usually starts as patches of itchy, scaly skin or a red rash, but can develop into blisters that ooze, especially if the skin is irritated from scratching. It mostly occurs where the makeup has been in contact with your skin. Where your skin is thinner such as the eyelids, or where it is cracked and dry, irritant dermatitis will be more common. The skin actually breaks down when it comes into contact with the harsh chemicals substances in the makeup, most often these chemicals directly injure the outer layer of the skin, resulting in symptoms of a cosmetic allergy.

Allergic contact dermatitis: This is an allergy to a specific ingredient or ingredients in a product. Symptoms include redness, swelling, itching, and hive-like breakouts. In some cases, the skin becomes red and raw. The face, lips, eyes, ears, and neck are the most common sites for cosmetic allergies, although reactions may appear anywhere on the body. The body's immune system is reacting against a specific substance (the allergen) that it considers foreign and harmful. This may be a specific ingredient that doesn’t agree with you, it could be a chemical ingredient or even a natural one. Everyone is different, and every ingredient is a possible allergen

Neurological Problems

It has also been reported that some of the chemicals in makeup can cause neurological damage, inducing depression. These and other reactions are so insidious that you wouldn’t know that they are because of an ingredient in your lipstick or eye shadow for instance. ME sufferers have reported relief from switching to organic cosmetics, however studies are ongoing.

It can take seconds or minutes for a reaction to occur to really strong triggers, or alternatively it may take weeks or years for low levels of exposure to toxins to finally create a level of sensitivity that will result in a reaction. Hence, prolonged use of makeup containing harsh chemicals is not a good idea for anyone. Your skin and body needs a break!

Studies show that up to 10% of the population will have some type of reaction to a cosmetic over the course of a lifetime. Reactions to cosmetics occur more often in women, most likely because women tend to use more cosmetic products than men, and where your skin has been damaged by prolonged use of makeup containing toxins, it will need to time to heal and recover.

Safe or not safe; who’s telling the Truth?

Although government agencies such as the FDA permit a lot of these chemicals in the makeup to be used, they do not directly test all the compounds, products and chemicals themselves. Instead they allow this multi million dollar cosmetic industry to regulate itself. Across the UK the situation is much the same with the multitude of chemicals within each of the toiletries and makeup products used everyday not being tested to see how they react in the cocktail we use them in.

What to do If you have an Allergy

Although it may sound drastic, the first step is to stop using all makeup. When your symptoms are gone and your skin has calmed down again, then start using them again, one product at a time. Give each product at least a few days trial, even a patch test will do. If you are allergic immediately then stop using it immediately, if you aren’t allergic, use it a couple of days more to check it’s really ok. This may help you determine which product or products are responsible for the reaction. If your skin flares up, you will have to give it a few days to calm down again before you start testing the other products.

If you cannot identify the source of the reaction or if your symptoms do not go away after you stop using the cosmetics, consult your Doctor/Nutritionist as it may be a nutritional problem or infection. Your doctor will assess your skin and could do a patch skin test to find out what is causing the problem. Although your Doctor may prescribe you a steroid cream, this will only temporarily relieve the symptoms, but it will not remove the cause of the allergy. The only way you can avoid further allergies is by avoiding the ingredients that you may be allergic to.

Preventing an allergy to makeup and skincare?

There are several steps you can take to try and avoid cosmetic allergies, including:
Read the list of ingredients on all cosmetic products. If you find an ingredient that has caused a reaction in the past, don't use that product. Keep track of ingredients that have caused reactions, and look for products that do not contain those ingredients.

When considering a new product, even a natural one, do a "mini-patch test" first to see if it causes a reaction. Put a sample of the product on your inner wrist or elbow and wait 24 hours to see if a reaction occurs.

Keep it simple. Choose natural organic cosmetics with simple formulas. More ingredients mean more potential allergens. With fewer ingredients, it's also easier to pinpoint the source if you do have a reaction. Even some organic and natural products have to have some preservatives in them to keep them safe to use.

As makeup stays in contact with the skin for a long time look for products that are natural or organic and that do not contain the harsh chemicals that may cause an allergy such as formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP, Propylene Glycol, AHA’s, phthalates, parabens, fragrances and BHT’s. Natural and organic makeup formulas use milder and naturally sourced preservatives and ingredients and are therefore much better for sensitive skin people. This doesn’t entirely remove the chance of having an allergy, as any of the one ingredients, however natural, may trigger a reaction.

Mineral makeup is all the rave because it doesn’t need preservatives and is so mild as to suit even the most sensitive of skin. But not all mineral makeup is equal. Inika for example is excellent from using it myself and from friends and customers who have given it positive feedback.

Being a little cautious and testing any cosmetics or makeup before use will in the long run provide benefits and help protect your skin from allergic reactions and discomfort.

I'll be following up this blog with some tips on how to prevent allergic reactions to cosmetics getting the better of you.

Sonia

Green Goddess Organic Makeup Looks for Spring 2009

Contrary to what some might think, organic make up is not a product that is reserved only for fashionistas, divas or wild women hugging trees! Organic cosmetics and make up has largely come into its own over the last couple of years and is no longer inaccessible to the majority of the population. It is no different in application, quality or performance to regular make up, in fact it’s superior in its purity and wellbeing factor for you and your body.

Price, is no longer an issue! Prices rival beauty houses with fancy packaging and synthetic fillers, the only difference is that this is the Real McCoy! You can’t get more luxurious than this.

The looks for this spring have been set on the catwalk. Flawless foundation, smokey and sultry eyes, nude lips and pretty pastels are the look for this Spring. So if you’re looking for purer versions of your all time favourites or the current shades they are all available from the latest organic make up beauty houses.

For instant spring appeal, Inika’s natural mineral foundation applied with a Kabuki brush will give you a flawless matt finish, whilst not being cakey and heavy; Inika’s natural foundation has literally been flying off the shelves. Sample colours are available online at buyOrganics so can you can find your perfect flawless skin shade before you invest in a bigger pot. Inika’s illuminisor, also adds that special touch of radiance just where you need it, on cheek bones, shoulders, collar bones, but completely naturally.

For Nude lips we love Nvey Eco’s Nude Lip Gloss. This season it’s all about going back to your natural lip colour and making the most of your eyes. For cheeks our top make up tip from leading make up artists is to mix some of your favourite organic bronzer with a little pink blush. Nvey Eco do a great compact bronzer, which is great for carrying around in your handbag, alternatively you can find your perfect bronzer shade from Inika’s range and mix with a little of their illuminsor or kiss-kiss blush, a neutral pink shade that suits every one, just for the apples of your cheeks.

For eyes, try either Nvey Eco’s cake black eyeliner or Inika’s black pencil eyeliner, along with any of our natural mascara’s. Long lashes are in, thanks to Cheryl Cole, false lashes are on every ones shopping list and can easily be combined with natural mascara for volume and that wow effect. Follow with Inika’s Thunder eye shadow and blend with either Forest Gold, or Nvey Eco’s Gunmetal or Grey shimmer eye shadows, or any other dark organic eye shadow shade to give a smokey allure.

Nail trends are not to be forgotten this Spring either, a variety of trends have been going around this season, some are opting for the blues and greys whilst hot pink colours are also proving to be summer favourites, try Zoya’s spring collection for a little bit of everything that gets you in the mood.

With relatively little effort, and a couple of additions to your shade wardrobe, this seasons spring collection of makeup can be organic and natural, who said you can’t be sexy and pure all in one go!!!