Stila wants you to be beautiful...

This post is just about how much I LOVE the make-up line Stila. Here's the link to Stila Cosmetics website.

Stila, pronounced "STEE-la" was founded by celebrity make-up artist Jeanine Lobell in 1994, and is now owned by Estee Lauder. They have very cute girly packaging, which I will admit first attracted me to them when I was oh, maybe 16. I first tried them out by buying a shimmer cream that had been recommended in a fashion magazine. Over the last 14 years, I have used eye shadows, eye liners, lip glosses, lip stains, etc made by Stila and I have never been disappointed. Here's the thing about Stila. Everything is made to enhance your natural beauty. They make georgous shimmery, complimentary creations in shades of cream, taupe, browns, and grays, with a few funky colors thrown in (but not so much, its not Mac!).

My favorite eye color is Wheat, a gorgeous basic that looks good on everyone I've tried it on.

I have also used their lip stain for years, and I love it. I drink water all day long, so gloss never stays put. But I apply this stain and keep a nice color for hours. Cherry Crush is my latest favorite.

I am lusting after this right now. Here's the product description:

A must-have for a day at the beach, a tropical holiday or anytime you show a little skin. The dry oil formula adds a gorgeous natural looking tint with a hint of glistening shimmer. It's formulated with macadamia and jojoba nut, sandalwood and barley extracts for fabulous moisturization.
To get the red carpet after sun glow, shake bottle well, and spray 2 or 3 pumps into palm of your hands to apply and blend with fingers. Let it dry before putting on your perfect outfit.

Anyway, it is carried at Sephora and Ulta, unfortunately no longer at department stores. (and nowhere in Utah anymore, more's the pity for my Ut girls, but order online, or come visit me)

Mineral Make-up On the Go

This post is not about sunscreen or mineral make-up per se, but I feel I should start with a quick introduction of the two.

If you have ever opened a beauty magazine, or talked to an esthetician or dermatologist, you know that sunscreen is crucial to good skincare. I know some girls who like a little sun on their cheeks, but just grab some self-tanner and wear your sunscreen, everyday, no matter what. So this is where mineral make-up enters the picture.

Good mineral make-up is made-up almost exclusively of minerals, the two major ingredients usually consisting of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Coincidentally those two play a major role in sun-protection. On this post, my only advice about which mineral make-up to use is to check the ingredients. If talc figures into the ingredient description, then you are being ripped off. Talc is just powder and has none of the protective qualities of true mineral make-up. But this is for another post at another time...

At one of my former workplaces we carried Jane Iredale mineral make-up but were constantly approached by other product reps giving out samples. During my time at this particular office, we were happy with old Jane and did not decide to switch. But I did enjoy all the free samples from those other companies. My favorite was IS clinical's portable mineral make-up. It was so handy to carry in my purse and reapply when I felt I needed more sunscreen. (I did use it primarily as a sunscreen, rather than everyday make-up.) Eventually it ran out and I debated tracking down a spa that sold it to buy a replacement, but eventually just bought more of my favorite Bare Escentuals color. The thing is, most mineral make-ups come in loose form, in a jar. I do think that is beneficial for even coverage and extended usage, but not exactly portable.

Then I saw Sephora's refillable powder brush for $22! Now I have the option of which make-up I want to make portable. I do also recommend IS clinicals brush, although I do think it is a little pricier and I do prefer the colors and grade of other make-ups in that price-range. I also saw that Neutrogena's mineral make-up comes in this portable form. I haven't checked their ingredient list so I don't want to make a hard recommendation there, but it is nice to know that there is that as a possible economic option.

Another choice for you thriftier gals is to buy a cheaper powder, such as the one found at drugstores by the brand "Jane." Last summer I was looking for an inexpensive line to use for a darker color, strictly for the summer months, and didn't want to pay for the more expensive line. I perused the drugstore line's ingredient lists and as of last summer, found Jane's to be a higher concentration of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, as well as more pure minerals than most of the other brands. And I think it costs like 4 bucks.

Anyway, this post is really just a recommendation for making your mineral make-up portable for the best sun protection. And Sephora's brush offers you freedom of choice, if you don't want to pick just one brand.