skysenshi.com

When I finally accepted a full-time career in the academe, I found myself lacking…err…funds. I had to do away with many of my expensive skin care brands, but I also had to take into consideration my personal policies against parabens, carbon foot prints etc. 

I asked my sister for a good mineral make-up brand and she recommended Ellana Minerals.  I was shocked to find that the average cost of their eyeshadow is about 10% of the price of my favorite Shu Uemura eye color.  I kid you not! (I wish I could find the Ellana equivalent of Shu’s ME Green, though.)

I had to buy my collection from a bazaar in SM Makati.  I had a bad experience with the online sample thingy. The samples didn’t reach my address. My sister, however, had no problems with her online orders.  Fortunately, the owner was kind enough to tell me to print the email and show it to the bazaar handlers.  I didn’t get all the samples I needed but I was able to get a makeover and I also bought a few stuff, including make-up brushes.   Here are some of the looks I was able to achieve with the product:

The make-up brushes are synthetic and the website assures us that the products are cruelty-free.  I especially love the retractable brush. The brush’s adjustable body allows me to achieve better control, depending on which part of the face I’m applying make-up on.

The best thing I like about Ellana Minerals?  I don’t use them conventionally. I use the concealer as an eyeshadow base; the some eyeshadows as lipstick, blush and sometimes eyeliner; the lip balm as a cheek tint and so on.  I love the versatility of the products, not to mention, the fact that the powder is so fine, layering is not a problem. They also last a long long long long long time.

UPDATE (December 31, 2009): I actually forgot to mention one other reason why I like Ellana. It does not have bismuth oxychloride, an ingredient found in L’Oreal’s mineral foundation that made me itch like hell.

Eyeshadow pic from http://www.ellanaminerals.com