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Sat Oct 21, 2006 3:38 pm |
Pure Luxe vs. Alima
Customer Service
I got samples of Pure Luxe (PL) couple of months ago. Christina the owner has great customer service. She can also mix any colors together for you. If you would like a mix of 2 foundation colors, you can request it. Also, she adds cornstarch at your request. She replied to my email within 2 days.
What's great about PL is that they have their own forum on delphiforums where you can find a lot of information about application, colors, and even ask Christina questions straight on the forum. The link is http://forums.delphiforums.com/pureluxe
If you're interested in other mineral makeup (MMU), delphiforums also has other interesting forums worth exploring. I don't think I am computer incompetent at all but I find the PL forum a little hard to navigate, or maybe it's because EDS has spoiled me with its easy usability
Alima is supposed to have amazing service from the other reviews I found. However, when I asked a question concerning color choice through their website, I didn't get an email until 4 days later! I thought I was forgotten. And then 2 days later, I got another email that answered my question again! The thing that put me off slightly was that the color suggestions from the first email was really great (W-3, or w-2). Then the second email suggested something quite different (N-2 and W-3). I guess it's not that big a difference and I did end up ordering samples of all of them, but it's just a little less reassuring to get different color suggestions and in TWO different emails. Alima did apologize in their email about how long it took to reply and said it was because their website is relatively new and they still haven't got the hang of it yet.
Delivery Time
I’m in Canada, and the delivery was about 1.5 weeks from both Alima and PL
Packaging
The samples from PL are in little containers bubbled wrapped. The containers have the screw-able top. You have to be a little careful with these containers if you put it in your bag. I find that they unscrew easily by themselves and end up spilling some. PL has their name on the lid and they put a sticker of the color/item name on the bottom. I found this to be a little hassling because I always have to look at the bottom to see what it is that I am sampling. They fill the little containers quite generously. For the foundations, it was about 70% full. For the eyeshadows, it was about half full, maybe less. I used my sample foundation for more than a month. The eyeshadows are still quite full. I am thinking it'll take me forever to finish the eyeshadows, so I am wondering how big the full sizes are?!
The Alima packagin is something to RAVE about! I should've taken a picture! The foundations were placed in another plastic bag with a piece of paper inside I believe with a lovely quote on it. In addition, they gave me three extra samples of a bronzer, a blush, and an eyeshadow! And the colors they chose are apparently specific for my skin color These extra samples are in little ziplock bags. The actual foundation samples that I ordered are in similar sized containers as the PL, but I think these containers are more secure and do not open by themselves as easily as PL. Alima seems a lot more practical: they have the word "Alima" AND the color name on the lid!! This made me so happy and made me realize what a hassle it is to read color name on the bottom of the container for PL. Also, Alima is even more generous than PL (if that's even possible) and the containers were about 90% full. There was also a booklet in the whole package, very professionally done btw, and it introduces Alima and gives a list of other products as well as the ingredients. I thought this was very considerate and I just loved receiving Alima! I get a lot of things shipped to me, and this was one of those few times where I am just so darn impressed!! ok enough about Alima's awesome packaging
Application
What I like about both PL and Alima is that you need a fluffy (Christina calls it floofy:lol: ) brush and you just fluff it on! A lot of other MMU need to be 'buffed' on and I just don't like the idea of grinding tiny minerals into the skin. A lot of PL users recommends Smashbox's powder brush(#19 I believe, or maybe it's #1?) or a just any fluffy powder brush. I personally use the Quo blush brush (shoppers in Canada!) and it works out great. Eventually though, I will want to try the Smashbox. I tried the JI Handi for the PL, which is a kinda dense, ultra soft flattop brush, and it just wasn't as nice as a fluffy brush. The Handi did distribute the powder evenly, but it seems to look more heavy and you can actually see the makeup.
What I do to save time is to get a really shallow bowl or a plate that curves up on the edges (this prevents getting powder out of the bowl/plate) and dump a little powder near the edge. In the morning, I grab my brush and swirl the powder from the edge and swirl it around in the center and tap and just fluff it downwards on my face. If you do it upwards, your tiny little face hairs will get caught with powder, resulting in a cakey application. You only need a little each time and I just do it twice. When I want it to cover more, I just layer more.
The first time that I put on PL followed by its April's Mix (gorgeous gorgeous!!), I wasn't that impressed. About half hour later, I look in the mirror and i was literally stunned! My face has achieved that glowy and dewy look that I've always dreamed of!!! I have combination skin, but the makeup did not make me look oily, just glowing away like a light bulb!! I loved it! Eventually realized that MMU takes time to settle in and meld into your skin. If you want to hurry the process, just spray your face with a fine mist of whatever ( I just use distilled water, you can use any spritzer) and then do another layer. Your face should not be actually wet.
When I floofed on Alima, it seems to meld into the skin faster than PL. And the application process itself is an absolute dream. It looks clumpier than PL in the container and I was a little worried that it'll clump on my face. But NO! It goes on all creamy and soft! and I'm not even using the best brush. It goes on smoothly and creamy Alima says it's supposed to have this satin matte finish and I think it is precisely right. I don't like a completely matte look cuz I feel like it looks unnatural on me, so imagine how pleased I was to see that the finish was overall matte and it makes your skin slightly dewy. I didn't use the April's mix or any finishing powder on top of it. Without the April's mix, it does not achieve that ultimate glow that April's mix does, but it is not that far behind and I enjoy taking that one step of putting finishing powder out of my routine. The reason that I didn't order the finishing powder from Alima is that it doesn't have that great of reviews on MUA.
Ingredient List
I listed some ingredients below. I think I like Alima more because it has less ingredients in it than PL. Alima's blushes are really great but mica is the first ingredient and I think some people get reactions to it.
PL foundation
Titanium dioxide, sericite,kaolin, iron oxide, mica, and zinc oxide.
PL April's Mix
cornstarch, sericite, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, mica, kaolin and zinc oxide.
PL shadows
Mica. (Depending on shade) may contain sericite, kaolin, iron oxide, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, tin oxide and ultramarines
Alima foundation
Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Zinc Oxide (CI 77947) Mica (CI 77019). May contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77489).
Alima blush
Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). May Contain: Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77489).
Color choices
As a reference, MAC SA matched me to a NC30. However, it was not a perfect match because it was a little too yellow for me. I am Asian with combination skin. My skin color actually has a lot of pink to it.
The closest color for me from PL is warm cream and buff. They are about the same color in terms of lightness/darkness, but warm cream is warm (more yellow) and buff is neutral (with a little more pink than warm colors) When I put them one of each side of the face, I don't really see a difference. But I think I prefer the warm cream, because the buff makes me look a little pale and I don't think it's a perfect match for me(maybe in the winter). But I am only about 90% satisfied with warm cream. It seems a little too warm for my skin. I ended up adding a little Buff into the Warm Cream.
For Alima, its W-3 looks identical to Warm cream in the container, however it is not as yellow as the warm cream when applied and I think it's a perfect match for me personally. W-2 looks a little lighter than w-3 in the container but it still works out great for my skin. I think I will keep the N2/N-3 for winter. Alima has more color choices and I like how simple it is to understand their naming system. There is N(neutral), W(warm-yellowish), C(cold-pinkish), G(gold, more yellow than warm), O(olive), E(ebony), B(bronze). For any clarification, click on Alima 101 on their website and they give good descriptions of each. And then for each category, there is color depth going from 0-6 (0 being the palest, 6 being the darkest). With a system like this, I think everyone can find their own color! PL divided their colors into warm, neutral and cold, but it takes a bit work to figure out how light/dark each color is. I suggest to email each company and ask for recommendations.
I think that Alima may have more pigmentation than PL. With PL, I have to put on several layers (3-5) to get that perfect skin look. I just need 2 layers for Alima. They both result in very nice natural, this-is-my-skin-with-no-makeup look.
Products
PL's April's Mix
This is probably my favourite item from PL. It looks kinda ashy in the container. It is a finishing powder that you can put on after the foundation or before and after the foundation. It is a mixture of correctors and different glow stuff. Basically, the more glow you want, the more you fluff it on. It is wonderful! I got so many compliments when using this. Everone tells me I look radient
PL's You glow Girl and Radiance
These are also finishing powders (April's Mix has you glow girl in it I think) but without correctors in it. It gives you the glow, more than the April's Mix. I find it a little too much and can only put on one layer. It is very nice still but I prefer April's Mix.
PL's eyeshadows
PL's eyeshadows are to die for! The color selection is impressive. I've found some colors from PL that I haven't seen elsewhere (or I am just to lazy to think about it). The samples are great and last forever. People have complained about their staying power but I haven't had a problem with it. But if you really want to ensure it will stay, try UDPP underneath. Below are some of my fav colors:
Bikini: this looks so gorgeous. it is a bold pink with Gold shimmers! love love!
Elysium: pink/taupe shimmer. This reminds me a little of Arena from MAC, but softer and so much more beautiful! A must!
Asp: reddish brown and green shimmer. This goes on as a nice brown shadow, you don't really see the green but I'm sure it adds to the total effect.
Charisma: similar to bikini but more peach than pink
Indigo: bold aqua blue. I use it wet as eyeliner over black eyeliner and it makes my brown eyes go KA-ZING!
And there are so many more I haven't tried! Check out their kaleidoscope collection. But I've had good luck with all the shadows I got, so I am quite happy.
Let me just add (to seduce you guys even more!) that everytime that I wear a PL shadow, I always get compliments!
PL blush:
I've tried Nymph and Blushing bride.
Nymph: supposed to be like orgasm from Nars. It looks really nice in the jar. When put on, it looks more pink than peach. Also, I kind of did a few layers one day and my room was kind of dark, and then I check it under daylight, it was a neon super shimmering pink with a hint of purple After that, I only do a layer or two and it looks fine. Probably would not repurchase due to the obvious shimmers.
Blushing Bride: looks kinda dark in the container for my skin, but when put on, a very nice mute rose color. I like it
PL Banana mix:
This is a corrector for undereye circles. The powder form was nice in that it didn't crease, but I just don't like the light coverage. It did nothing for my circles. The cream form (banana mix and the eraser combined) was horrible! It looks obcenely yellow in the container but when put on the skin, it goes clear and just makes my eyes look oily.
PL Eraser:
The powder form did nothing for me. I felt like I was just putting on cornstarch. The silicone one is ok but I wouldn't repurchase. Because I am in my early 20's and don't have much fine lines or large pores, eraser was not really applicable for me. This is one product that do get a lot of raves though. The eraser has been compared to Smashbox's primer.
Alima blush:
The sample I received was Carnation. Very nice. But I haven't used it enough to decide if I would repurchase it or not.
Random
PL is really good about adding new products. Recently, Christina added 12 eyecreams and 4 cream blushes. Since PL’s eyeshadows are so pretty, I’m probably gonna end up getting samples of the eyecreams.
Lasting power
Both are really great. I've worn both to go out at night and after much dancing, it's still perfect on my face just like when I left the house. It has also lasted me from morning to night.
Websites
PL’s website is a little disorganized. If you want an item and cannot find it, then it’s probably in another category.
Links:
http://pureluxecosmetics.com/
http://alimacosmetics.com/
PricesAll prices are in US dollars
Alima: $18.95 for 30g
PL: $25 for 30g (on sale now for $20)
Alima samples
$2.75 for foundation
PL samples
$1 for most things (eraser is a little more expensive)
Shipping
Both ship internationally
Alima
$4 for US (free if $60 and above)
$6 Canada and Mexico (free if $125 and above)
$10 everywhere else (free if $125 and above)
PL
0-9.99 dollars spent at PL: $2.50
9.99-49.99: 5.00
50-99.99: 8.00
so overall, I am having a permanent love affair with Alima (we'll probably get married)! This is one MMU that will probably stop me from exploring any further
PL wasgreat to sample and many people do love it, but I really enjoy Alima's creamier application and higher pigmentation. I also do not need a finishing powder with Alima. If I've never tried Alima, I'd probably use PL.
ok, longest review ever! probably too detailed hehe I am taking a day off from studying, so I figured why not spend a couple of hours on EDS? |
_________________ 20's: rare pimples and oily T-zone..annoying little blackhead buggers on nose |
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