Emani Minerals 1129 Vegan Series Brush Set /Review/

Hi guys!

I have some spare time so I'm with you and today I'd like to tell you about great company - Emani Minerals.

Emani Minerals was established in 1998 with a single-minded objective – to provide a line of cosmetics to a wide range of people that goes above and beyond the high standards of the professional makeup industry. Emani Minerals top priority is to incorporate the benefits of mineral-based products and formulate these products that are paraben-free, talc-free and do not have starches, dyes, and perfumes. (Info from Emani.com)

But I'll tell you about their mineral makeup a bit later because today's review is for Emani Minerals 1129 Vegan Series Brush Set.

Emani Minerals 1129 Vegan Series Brush Set / brushes close up

Image from Emani.com

What company says: Travel friendly brush kit contains Emani Vegan Series brushes: V1 Foundation, V3 Shadow Blender, V4 Contour, V5 Brow / Liner, and V6 Lip. This sleek black light weight makeup case makes it easy for any girl on the go and is a must have product for your makeup bag! (Info from Emani.com)

Directions:

V1 Foundation Brush: For applying cream concealer or liquid foundation . Distributes the perfect amount of color evenly.
V3 Shadow Blender Brush: For applying all over base eye shadow.
V4 Contour Brush: For applying a darker contour color in the crease of the eyes to create depth.
V5 Brow / Liner Brush: Fills in eye brows, eye liner and applies glitter. For drama, wet tip to create cake liner.
V6 Lip Brush: For applying lipstick or blend with Base Transformer and blush to make sexy lip color.

Wash with gentle makeup cleanser or anti-bacterial soap until water runs clear. Squeeze out water, lay flat to dry overnight. (Info from Emani.com)

Ingredients: synthetic bristles, no animal hairs are used. Vegan.

Price: $39.00 / 1110 rub. You can buy it here and this is a great deal because separate brushes will cost you $72.00 / 2050 rub. And if you buy this set you also get a great case to store your brushes in. They also offer Free Shipping with $75 order plus free sample at checkout.

My experience: Emani Minerals 1129 Vegan Series Brush Set is an awesome brush kit! I'm lucky to have a chance to add this to my makeup artist kit!

Emani Minerals 1129 Vegan Series Brush Set comes in a sleek case which is about 3" x 9" / 8 cm x 23 cm when closed and about 6" x 9" / 15 cm x 23 cm when open and includes all the brushes you may need during the day. It makes this brush kit perfect for carrying in your bag for everyday use on the go as well as for traveling.

Emani Minerals 1129 Vegan Series Brush Set

the case

This brush kit is of the highest quality. The brushes in the kit all have bristles that are tipped which provide great precision. These brushes also have short handles with non-light reflecting collar and do not have animal hairs and dyes.

The brushes in this kit are totally vegan friendly. If you're wondering I'm not vegan but I entirely understand those people who are vegan. If I have to work with a vegan client I'll be more than happy to use this brush kit for work.

Let me show you each brush in this set.

Emani Minerals V1 Foundation Brush

Emani Minerals V1 Foundation Brush is perfect not only for applying liquid foundations but for applying loose powder foundation, pressed foundation or translucent powder too. The bristles of this brush are extremely soft. It is a pure pleasure to use this on my face) For my taste when used with mineral powders it gives lighter coverage but anyway it provides even application and you can layer if you feel like to.

 Emani Minerals V3 Shadow Blender Brush

Emani Minerals V3 Shadow Blender Brush has soft yet resilient bristles. It distributes the color evenly all over your eyelid. Also great for final blending and allows you to achieve that seamless eye look.

  Emani Minerals V4 Contour Brush

Emani Minerals V4 Contour Brush has shorter bristles. great for applying eye shadows to the crease or browbone or if you have smaller eyes you can use it to apply color all over your eyelid.

Emani Minerals V5 Brow And Liner Brush

Emani Minerals V5 Brow And Liner Brush has a slanted shape and is very easy to use when filling in your brows or lining your eyes.

Emani Minerals V6 Lip Brush 

Emani Minerals V6 Lip Brush is suitable not only for applying lipstick or lipgloss, it also does great in mixing a clear lipgloss with loose mineral blushes helping me to create personal colors for some of my clients. It can also be used to cover any spot on the face with a concealer.

All told, I love this brush kit and every brush in it! Oh, almost forgot - since the brushes are synthetic they are very easy to care for - just wash them with your cleanser / shampoo, tap the excess water and let them dry. I washed them several times and there wasn't any shedding!

I received Emani Minerals 1129 Vegan Series Brush Set from Emani.com for review purposes. 

Freebies And Winnings /February/

Don't you think I'm a bit late with this post haha)

Freebies.

Samples:

Yves Rocher So Elixir

Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Shampoo

Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Conditioner

Breeze By Beautykey Elite Honey 9,5% Self Tanner

Breeze By Beautykey Professional Medium 10% Self Tanner

Gucci Guilty

Boss Orange

Winnings.

1. Bunch of goodies from Apothica.com.

2. Two cute cards from Primrose Press - 'Hello' and 'Aloha'.

3. Body and pedi scrubs from Wild Woozle. That giveaway was hosted by The Well-Heeled Society™.

4. Swahili Coast Jet Set from Shaw Treatment. Thanks Yuri from Tigerlily's Book for hosting such a great giveaway! BTW check out her second blog Two Thousand Things!

Ecco Bella Giveaway Winner!

Hi guys!

Have you noticed lack of posts recently? I'm busy with my job and don't have enough time to make any blog post of full value. Don't forget that English isn't my mother tongue, so making a blog post is quite time consuming and difficult for me. Anyway, I am more than happy to announce the winner of Ecco Bella Giveaway!

Congrats Nick! 

I'll send you an email and you'll have 72 hours to respond and claim your prize.

If you did not win this time, do not be discouraged! I have planned another giveaway for you! So stay tuned!

Sigma Make Me Up Giveaway At Glamorama Makeup And Beauty

You can win a Sigma Beauty Make Me Up Kit! Enter here! The giveaway is open worldwide and ends April 20, 2011.

BTW Sigma Beauty Make Me Up Kit is the Product Of The Weak at Sigma Beauty. It costs $99.00 / 2970 rub. and includes 12 professional quality brushes for a complete makeover! 

I hope I win! 

Complimentary Shipping on NEW Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadows at Giorgio Armani

Enjoy Complimentary Standard Shipping with your eyeshadow purchase at Giorgio Armani. Use code MEGANETK at checkout.

Image from GiorgioArmaniBeauty-USA.com

NEW Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadows from Giorgio Armani

HIGH VOLTAGE 24 HOUR EYES TO KILL SHADOWS 

This innovative hybrid texture, which is not a powder, nor a cream acts like a smooth, lasting color film. Each shade is intensified with a second pigment for a multi-dimensional effect. In just one swoop, create a wet, shimmering smokey eye. Base color covers eyelid, and second pigment adds drama to the contour.

The technology: Color-FilTM, for the first time in an eyeshadow. A new high resistance bi-polymer enables the formula to perfectly fit the color to the eyelid with cushiony suppleness, for a never seen comfortable long wear.

Twenty four hour color wear, crease proof, flake proof, waterproof and sweat-proof, Eyes To Kill Intense Eyeshadows slide on, stay on, but wipe off in an instant. Apply wet or dry with fingers or the Armani large eye contour brush. (Info from GiorgioArmaniBeauty-USA.com)

What is you fave color?

My choices:

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow - Pulp Fiction

Image from GiorgioArmaniBeauty-USA.com 

 Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow - Lust red

Image from GiorgioArmaniBeauty-USA.com 

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadow - Gold Blitz

Image from GiorgioArmaniBeauty-USA.com 

Concept Fusion Energizing Hair Mask 'Hot Chocolate' Based On Milk Proteins With Cocoa Extract

Yes, another hair care product) Hot Chocolate... Doesn't it sound yummy?

Concept Fusion Energizing Hair Mask 'Hot Chocolate' Based On Milk Proteins With Cocoa Extract is produced by Russian manufacturer RoCOLOR using the technology and under the control of German company ESSEM HAIR GmbH. 

 Concept Fusion Energizing Hair Mask 'Hot Chocolate' Based On Milk Proteins With Cocoa Extract

the jar

What company says: Useful treat for normal, dry and damaged hair! This is a real energy cocktail!

The active ingredients are milk proteins and extract of cocoa.

It is known that milk is a product rich in its composition, which contains almost all nutrients necessary for our body. That is why milk proteins are dominated as main part of our mask. Milk proteins intensively nourish hair and scalp and restore the structure of the hair on the damaged areas, make the hair strong, smooth and shiny. Extract of cocoa tones and strengthens the hair, gives hair strength and durability, fills the hair with vital force and energy.

Directions: Apply to clean damp hair, spread for its entire length, and through 3-5 minutes rinse with warm water.

Ingredients: Aqua, Cetrimonium Chloride, Glycerine, Laureth-3, Cetearyl Alcohol, Silicone Quaternium-18 (and) Tricedeth-6 (and) Trideceth-12, Polyurethane-39, Castor Oil Ethoxylates, Isopropyl Myristate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Milk Protein Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Parfum, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Methylchlorisothiazolinone (and)Methylisothiazolinone.

Price: $4.60 / 140 rub. for 15.22 fl.oz. / 450 ml. This mask is made under professional brand and only sold at Pro Shops. I guess you can purchase it only in Russia. Mine is a gift from my mother-in-law. 

My experience: This mask has a very thick texture, it's kind of gelatinous but when applied to the hair it's more soft and creamy.

 Concept Fusion Energizing Hair Mask 'Hot Chocolate' Based On Milk Proteins With Cocoa Extract

the texture

It has yummy chocolate scent which seems a bit synthetic to me. However the scent doesn't stay on the hair for too long.

You've seen my hair in the previous blog post and you know it's really long. And the ends of my hair is really dry. It is a common situation for long hair. Some of you may even have split ends just like me. All we can do is regularly cut the hair ends and treat the hair. I love using hair care products) And don't like visiting my hairdresser(

As for this particular mask, since it is from a Pro Shop I have thought that this will be really great. But besides its yummy scent it has little or no effect. This makes the hair voluminous and fluffy instead of 'smooth and shiny'. Great if you want volume or fluffy-ness (I guess I invented a new word haha). 

In a word, I expected more from a professional hair mask.

Miracle Protein /Review/

Hi guys!

I'm not sure if I have told you before that I'm crazy about my hair. I have tried tons of hair care products looking for a miracle product that can help me with my dry hair. And I am closer than ever to completion of my search.

Miracle Protein is produced by the Singapore-based company named SILKmineral. It is created to instantly boost your daily care to new level.

Miracle Protein

the jar 

Image from SilkMineral.com

What company says: Helps to UV reflect, moisturize and strengthen hair / skin.

Silk Peptide - moisture retention due to it's strong ability to attract water.Conditioning properties and link hair / skin fibers to improve elasticity and resilancy.

Silk Amino Acid - prevent dehydration of hair / skin and form crystalline protective barrier from damage oaf alkaline.

Silk Powder - anti-inflammation properties, helps reflect UV radiation, and absorbing excessive oil.

Allantoin - helps in anti-aging.

Menthol - cooling agent, anti-fungul and anti-bacteria. (Info from from SilkMineral.com)

Directions:

Miracle Protein

directions

Image from SilkMineral.com

Ingredients: Silk Peptide, Silk Amino Acids, Silk Powder, Allantoin, Menthol. 

Price: 1.76 oz. / 50 g Economy Tub is $31.29 / 938.7 rub. and 0.7 oz. / 20 g Festive Jar is $18.63 / 558.75 rub. You can also purchase a Trial Bottle for $4.17 / 125.16 rub. It holds 0.28 oz. / 8 g of product.

My experience: I received a Trial Bottle of Miracle Protein. 

 Miracle Protein

Trial Bottle

Miracle Protein is fine milled white powder with a light menthol scent. 

 Miracle Protein

the texture

I use Miracle Protein with my conditioner and hair mask as stated in the Reference Guide above. Miracle Protein is easily soluble in water. When you mix it with your conditioner or hair mask they are easily mixed together and if you love the scent of your hair care products when you'll be happy because Miracle Protein doesn't change their scent.

After rinsing out even when the hair is still wet I can feel that it is softer and smoother than usually and it's not that tangled. When dry the texture of my hair is improved, the hair is more manageable and straight and the volume is amazing. It looks and feels healthier.

 before Miracle Protein

after Miracle Protein

The effect of Miracle Protein is long-lasting and goes further than several hair washings without it. 

The other day I went to the hairdresser to have my ends and bang cut and I was surprised by how little hair was cut at the ends. I must say that I hate to have my ends cut because it takes so long to grow it out so I was really happy to see it! Miracle Protein does work!

BTW After applying my hair mask with Miracle Protein to my hair I have noticed that the skin on my hands is softer and smoother too) Really multipurpose product!

I received Trial Bottle of Miracle Protein from SilkMineral.com for review purposes. 

Products I Started /February/

Everyday Minerals Face Lucent Powder - Champagne

Everyday Minerals Shimmer Eyeshadow - All Spice

Everyday Minerals Pearl Eyeshadow - Smokey Pink

Everyday Minerals Pearl Eyeshadow - In The Garden

Everyday Minerals Shimmer Eye Shadow - At The Zoo

Everyday Minerals Pearl Eyeshadow - Hipster Hippo

La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream

La Prairie Cellular Treatment Rose Illusion Line Filler

Avon Solutions Cleanse Total Radiance Day And Night Cleanser

Avon Solutions Total Radiance Plus+ Skin Refining Toner

Avon Solutions Total Radiance A.M. Day Cream SPF 15

Avon Solutions Total Radiance P.M. Night Cream

beingTRUE Protective Shadow Primer

Yves Rocher Lash Plumping Mascara - Black

SpaRitual Nail Polish - Up And Away

SpaRitual Cuti-Cocktail Nail And Cuticle Oil

La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream /Review/

Hi guys!

Today I want to tell you about another great item from La Prairie - Cellular Eye Contour Cream. It is a 24 hour age fighting eye care. La Prairie launched this cream back in 1978, and it has permanently been a best seller since then. Can you imagine? For over 30 years! What a wonder! 

  La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream

 (Photo from LaPrairie.com)

What company says: The tender skin around your eyes deserves the tender loving care of this richly hydrating eye cream, which combats dryness, the most common cause of fine lines and wrinkles, and effectively treats other visible signs of premature aging.

A nutritious protector with rejuvenating qualities, its gentle firming action smoothes and brightens the skin and improves its elasticity.

It is La Prairie’s eye-care product, which satisfied customers have pushed to the top of the best-seller list.

Smoothes and conditions the delicate eye area
Helps maintain skins ideal moisture level
Minimizes the appearance of fine lines
Delivers intensive moisturization and helps prevent future dehydration and dryness (Info from LaPrairie.com)

Directions: Apply day or night. Lightly pat a small amount of this richly hydrating treatment under the eye and sweep gently over the top of the lid and along the brow bone. (Info from LaPrairie.com)

Ingredients: Water, C12-20 Acid Peg-8 Ester, Hydrogenated Polysobutene, Petrolatum, Dicaprylyl Maleate, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Propylene Glycol, Acetylated Lancolin, Glycoprrotiens, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract, Carbomer, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Triethanolamine, Hypericum Perforatum Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, Methylparaben, Glycerin, Urea, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Magnesium Aspartate, Glycine, Alanine, Creatine, Propylparaben, Ethlparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether, Fragrance.

Price: Here in Russia it is $135 / 4060 rub. for 0.5 fl.oz. / 15 ml. 

My experience: La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream comes in a sleek jar. I love it's combination of opaque white glass and silver-toned metal - simple and stylish.

La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream

the jar

It has really thick texture. As you can see from the photo below, it is white color. 

 La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream / swatched

 on the hand

It also has a pleasant scent that I can't describe. It seems to me that this is a typical scent of a luxurious cream. Although I'm not sure.

In spite of it's thick texture La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream isn't oily at all. What I feel when I apply this cream to my eye area is moisture. This is a very pleasant feeling I enjoy every morning and evening. 

Also the good news is that this product is paraben free. It contains a combination of amino acids that deeply moisturizes and improves skin's ability to retain moisture. Botanical extracts smooth and soothe the skin, relieve puffiness, eliminate irritation. Exclusive cellular complex saturates the skin with energy, nourishes and moisturizes. La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream doesn't irritate the delicate eye area and it is totally makeup-friendly. And because of it's rich texture a little goes long way - the amount of this cream I need for 1 use is the size of a match head. I'm sure that the 15 ml jar of La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream will last me a few good months. Here we go after 1 month of using.

 La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream / comparison

 the amount of product in the jar after I have opened it / top

the amount of product in the jar after 1 month using / bottom 

To be quite honest I can't say that I have a lot of problems in my eye area such as wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness, etc. At my age I only started to notice first fine lines and some lack of firmness and elasticity. In total it makes me look kind of tired. Don't get me wrong, I use different eye care products on a regular basis. But they can not be compared to La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream. After the first application the skin in my eye area became softer, smoother, and brighter, and those fine lines disappeared. And after 1 month the results are even better. See for yourself!

La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream / comparison

 before / top

after 1 month using / bottom 

As stated on La Prairie's web site, the main goal of La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream is intensive moisturization and I must say it copes with it's task very well! I have been using this for 1 month and I know why it is a best seller! It's a good moisturizer for your eye area and you can use it as a daily care starting from 18 years to prevent premature aging. However this is not an anti-aging / anti-wrinkles treatment. So if you have wrinkles, dark under eye discoloration, circles or bags, look for a stronger treatment.

The only thing I regret about La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream is that it doesn't contain SPF.

Summing up I want to say that this is a really great moisturizing cream for the eye area and it is worth the money.

I received La Prairie Cellular Eye Contour Cream from LaPrairie.com for review purposes. 

Products I Finished /February/

Yves Rocher Riche Creme Intense Regenerating Care With 30 Precious Oils

Domashnie Retsepty Anti Hair Loss & Strengthening Complex

L'Oreal Paris Elseve Total Repair 5 Conditioner

Oriflame Hair X Repair Therapy Split-End Serum For Dry And Damaged Hair

Earth Mama Angel Baby Angel Baby Lotion

Avon Foot Works Green Tea & Mint Exfoliating Scrub

Aromarti Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Natural Oil

400+ Giveaway At Tara

You (and I - LOL) can win:

- Makeup Train (this is an awesome train case comes with straps so you can carry on shoulders!)

- Pure spring Cherry blossom set
Body mist
Lotion
Shower gel
Net sponge

- ELF Encyclopedia Book

- NYX pigments (8)
Orange
Baby pink
Pearl
Fanta
Ocean blue
Mocha
Walnut
Black

- NYC Mosaic Face Powder
Peach glow
Heart of gold

- Sally Hansen Foot scrub
- Sally Hansen Nail Pen
- Sally Hansen Lip treatment

- Nail Enamel Art Pen
A 3 way art pen great for art, comes in 14 colors!

Enter here! Open Worldwide! Ends  April 6, 2011! Good luck!

ps I want to win so bad...

Premium Deal At Sigma Beauty!

Image from SigmaBeauty.com

Introducing the new Sigma Premium Travel Kits. Now you can take our most luxurious and functional brushes from our Premium collection wherever you go! This kit has everything you need to do your makeup routine on the go and in style.

Clutch Dimensions (closed): 7 x 4 inches.
Face Brushes: 5 inches total
Eyes/Concealer Brush: 4 inches total

Brushes in this kit:

Duo Fibre Powder/Blush - F15 - Medium size tapered duo fibre brush.Generates a natural look during blush and highlighter application. Mix of synthetic filaments and natural bristles.

Tapered face - F25 - Large domed brush with tapered tip. Ideal for application and blending of powder products, blush, and highlighter. Natural bristles.

Large Fluff - E50 - Ideal for applying and blending powder products on the lid, highlighting and contouring. Natural bristles.

Large Concealer - F65 - Large synthetic concealer brush. Can be used to apply cream-based products to large areas. Also ideal for application of liquid or cream products. Synthetic filaments.

Short Shader - E20 - Flat, short, slightly rounded and dense brush. Perfect for precisely applying colors on the lid and smudging along the lash line. Natural bristles.

Small Eye Liner - E10 - Delivers a precise fine-line along the lash line. The length and density of the bristles are ideal for creating artistic designs. Synthetic filaments.

Small Tapered Blending - E45 - Small domed brush with highly tapered tip. Versatile, this brush can be used to apply and blend intense colors into the crease area. Natural bristles.

Sigma Makeup offers a free travel size E25 brush with this kit! (Info from SigmaBeauty.com)

Colors available: Hot in Pink, Sweet in Pink, Stylish in Black, and Classy in Silver.

Hurry!

Winner Announcement!

You know my '52 Followers Giveaway' is closed and it's time to announce the winner!

Congrats rosey! BTW check out her awesome blog - roseylicious, you'll find great nail art ideas there!

Dear rosey, I'll send you an email and you'll have 72 hours to respond and claim your prize.

Don't forget that I have another giveaway on my blog open - enter here!