Ask Joli: Blush or Bronzer?

You’ve got questions, Joli Baker has answers. Read on for advice from the Pür Minerals president and get the beauty scoop—pür and simple.

Q: I'm fair-skinned and want to achieve a healthy glow for summer. Should I turn to blush or bronzer? How do I know which is right for me? Lizzie, Baltimore, MD

Summer is almost here, so naturally, you want to give your skin a gorgeous glow. Blushes and bronzers will both add a kiss of color, but which is right for you? Depending on your skin tone and the look you want to achieve, you may want to choose a bronzy sheen over a rosy blush, or vice versa.

Bronzer should be chosen as a subtle form of adding color and warmth to the skin that makes it look healthy. Think of the difference as warmth versus revitalization. Blush is more of a revitalization. It adds color that makes you look energized. Bronzer can be used all over the face, neck and chest area. Blusher is confined more to the apples of the cheeks and maybe a little on the forehead. I like peachy/brick shades for the yellow-toned skins and the pink/plum for pinker skin tones. 

Application

Blush looks exceptionally lovely on pale or fair skin. Blush should be applied to the apple of the cheeks. I actually prefer applying with a fluffy powder brush in sweeping circular motions. This makes you far less likely to end up with big round circles or lines that run from your ears to your nose. When you are finished applying blush, it should appear as if you have walked up a flight of stairs with a healthy glow in your cheeks, not as if you’ve run a city block. Always apply half of the blush that you think you need. You can always add more, but it’s really difficult to tone down once you’ve applied.

Bronzer can be applied in one of two ways:

1. You can use a big, fluffy powder brush again and apply it from the forehead to the chin and cheek to cheek. This is for a very subtle glow and works very effectively on fair skin.
2. The other method is again, with a nice, big brush, applied in sweeping circles all over. This is great for skin tones with a little more color, or if you’re applying to the neck as well.

Really shimmery bronzers should be used on younger skins with few lines. I love mosaics for fair skins and those that want a more subtle, bronzed look, as well as on more mature skin. Matte bronzers can be tricky because they tend to be a little less forgiving when applied.

To get a rosy glow or a sun-kissed sheen, view the Pür Minerals Specialty Powder Collection.

Ask Joli: When to Replace Your Brushes

You’ve got questions, Joli Baker has answers. Read on for advice from the Pür Minerals president and get the beauty scoop—pür and simple.

Q: How often should I replace my makeup brushes? –Stephanie, Alpharetta, GA

As long as you wash your brushes at least once a week, they should keep for a very long time, around several years. Not only do brushes pick up the oil and germs from your skin, but they can harbor dirt, debris and bacteria from the air. Washing your brushes with warm water and a mild soap will help keep your skin clean, healthy and clear.

I also recommend spraying brushes with a professional makeup brush cleaner, such as Pür Minerals Sweep It Off, after each use. This will not only help remove dirt, makeup and oil, but it also prevents colour mixing to ensure smooth, even application with each use.

If your makeup brush begins to shed excessively or come loose at the handle—you can avoid this by using the correct makeup brush for the correct product and applying with a gentle, sweeping motion—then it’s probably time for a replacement piece. But you don’t have to spend a ton of money to get high-quality makeup brushes that will last a long time. Each makeup brush in my Pür Professional Brush collection is made with soft, all-natural bristles in a sturdy construction for extended durability—and at an affordable price point.

Do you have a beauty question for Joli that you would like to see answered here? Leave us a comment or send an email to blog@purminerals.com.

Stop Seeing Red

Are you plagued by inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, rosacea and hypersensitivity? Check out our Pür Minerals expert beauty advice to this Pür fan to help get the red out!

Q: I am wondering what products you suggest for Rosacea skin. I currently use your 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup and I love it. Are there any other products that would be as gentle? I am also sensitive to scents.

We are thrilled you love our 4-in-1 foundation! All of our makeup is great for those with rosacea. We do not add fragrance to our powders. However, the Universal Marble Powders may not work for you as initially they have an earthy scent. The scent dissipates with use.

As for skin care, our products have mild natural fragrances. With rosacea, it’s important to keep the skin hydrated and protected from the sun. Harsh chemicals will exacerbate the problem as will harsh exfoliating products. A good basic skin care regimen is Revitalizing Facial Wash, Skin Perfecting Serum and Mineral Moisture Complex.

Revitalizing Facial Wash completely removes makeup without stripping skin of its natural oils. It does have a very light citrus scent. Skin Perfecting Serum also has a slight citrus scent, but both products are free of chemical dyes and safe for all skin types. Skin Perfecting Serum has anti-aging benefits, increases hydration and provides gentle natural exfoliation with glucosamine, which is one of the most gentle skin exfoliating ingredients available. Mineral Moisture Complex not only moisturizes but has wonderful anti-aging benefits as well.

These three products are all available in travel sizes in our Let’s Get Started skin care kit. You also may want to consider Day Renewal Complex SPF 20 as a daytime moisturizer to protect your sensitive skin. Like all products at Pür Minerals, all of these products contain high-quality natural ingredients, making them safe for even the most sensitive skin.

Ask Joli: Hydration and Exfoliation

You’ve got questions, Joli Baker has answers. Read on for advice from the Pür Minerals president and get the beauty scoop—pür and simple.

Q: I generally have balanced skin, but the winter months wreak havoc on my complexion! Can I still exfoliate even when my skin is dry, and what extra steps can I take  to keep my skin hydrated? – Vicki, Los Alamos, NM

While winter weather conditions are responsible for seasonal dry skin—especially in already-dry climates—hot, dry indoor heating is also to blame. When we turn up the heat, we dry out the air, which tends to dehydrate our skin.

Start by using products that target evaporation and trap moisture in the skin. Mineral Moisture Infusion,  for example, contains unique humectants that literally pull moisture from the air to quench skin’s thirst. In addition to skin care solutions, there are some commonsense things you can do to avoid skin dehydration. Using a humidifier can also help. Avoid fabrics like wool that have the potential to irritate, opting for breathable, skin-friendly cotton. And when washing clothes, use detergents free of skin-irritating dyes and fragrances. Most importantly, continue to use sunscreen—dehydrating UV rays can leave skin parched even through the coldest part of the year.

You can definitely continue regular exfoliation even if your skin is dry. Because skin cells have greater difficulty shedding in the cooler, drier months than in the warmer ones, they build up faster and keep surface moisture from reaching the fresh, new cells below. As those cells become dehydrated and dry up, the skin starts to crack and flake. By exfoliating, you remove that top layer of dead skin and allow hydrating ingredients in. A gently exfoliating mask or a face and body scrub like Pür Polish is perfect for the winter. Because the latter uses all-natural aloe vera and citrus oils, it moisturizes as it exfoliates to plump and protect young skin cells.

Do you have a beauty question for Joli that you would like to see answered here? Leave us a comment or send an email to blog@purminerals.com.

Q&A with Joli

Pür Minerals President Joli Baker recently sat down with Trends Asia for a candid, tell-all interview. Here’s what Joli revealed to the high-class fashion and beauty magazine.

Q: Is there an interesting side to the Pür Minerals story that most people would not know?
The most interesting thing about Pür Minerals that people probably don't know is that my husband, Bob, was actually the one who brought the original formula to me.

Q: What's your favorite product to recommend to the Asian customer?
I actually have two products that are my favorites to recommend to my Asian customers:
1. Colour Correcting Primer in Peach. This primer is a colour neutralizer that immediately creates a neutral palette of the complexion.
2. Mineral Light specialty powder. This powder lightens and brightens the complexion with a sheer, light-reflecting glow that is soft and beautiful.

Q: What's the part you have the most fun doing at Pür Minerals?
The most fun aspect of my job is live TV. I feel an immediate connection with the customer because they have literally invited me into their home and we have such a great time. I am able to communicate my message as if it were one on one.

Q: What's the most challenging part of starting a business like Pür Minerals?
The most challenging aspect in developing Pür Minerals was getting people to know about us. I had this fantastic product and initially it was difficult to get the customer to understand how special it was. We launched long before minerals were popular, and people just didn't understand. TV gave me the opportunity to explain to millions of women how my product worked and how it was so different from everything else in the marketplace.

Q: How do you conquer the challenge?
I really owe my success to The Shopping Channel because they gave me a voice. The brand really took off once people understood the 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup product and how passionate I was about creating something for women that truly improved their life. This one product offers an alternative to traditional makeup that is super easy to use, multi-tasking, contains great ingredients and requires so little time to achieve such great results. Canada gave me my start and really holds a special place in my heart.

Q: What's your 2009 plan? Any possibilities to enter the market in China?
My hope is that in 2009 we will see an expansion into more international markets. Right now we have a TV presence in the UK, Australia and Japan. My hope is to develop a wonderful network of distributors that will take my product worldwide. We would love to see expansion into China. Women all over the world deserve the opportunity to experience the difference Pür Minerals can make for their skin and in their life.

Ask Joli: What's in Your Makeup Bag?

You’ve got questions, Joli Baker has answers. Read on for advice from the Pür Minerals president and get the beauty scoop—pür and simple.

Q: Happy Holidays, Joli! As a huge fan of beauty pür and simple, I'd love to know which products are your favorite. I just love your look; what do you keep in your makeup bag? – Alix, Bloomfield, NJ

Happy Holidays to you, Alix! My favorite beauty product other than the 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup is Triple Impact Mascara. This product lengthens, thickens and curls my eyelashes in seconds. The beauty of mascara is your eyes will look bigger, you will look alert and well rested as well as younger. I think it is the single greatest invention in beauty after your foundation.

The greatest budget-friendly find has got to be the 3-in-1 Universal Pencil. This pencil is like a mini makeover stick. It is brow shaper, eye defining pencil, eye shadow and lip colour all in one. For under $20, you get a multi-functioning beauty marvel. It is self-sharpening, waterproof and mechanical. It's like makeup for dummies.

I think there are a few beauty essentials that every girl should have in her makeup bag. The biggest asset is a fantastic foundation. The 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup is foundation, finishing powder, concealer and SPF 15 all in one. The reason that this is such a hero is you can achieve flawless skin, spend less than $25, and apply it all in less than a minute. It is friendly to all complexions and ages. It takes the guess work out of makeup.

As I mentioned earlier, mascara is a must. The 3-in-1 Universal Pencil and a neutral shade of lip gloss are also essentials. If you have these things you can apply your makeup and look fantastic and be out the door in less than 3 minutes without breaking the bank. Who doesn’t love beauty pür and simple?

The biggest beauty blunder in my mind is trying too hard and using products you are not comfortable with. Often times less is more and when a woman applies too much makeup of any link it is harsh and unflattering.

The best beauty advice that I can offer any woman is this: Think about your ultimate goal when purchasing or applying makeup. You should spend no more that 5 minutes with your beauty routine and the look you achieve should take you from morning coffee with friends to the office to an evening out. Makeup is about bringing out the beauty in you.

Click here for tips from Joli on how to get a gorgeous holiday look!

Do you have a beauty question for Joli that you would like to see answered here? Leave us a comment or send an email to blog@purminerals.com.

Ask Joli: The Pür-fect Holiday Party Look

You’ve got questions, Joli Baker has answers. Read on for advice from the Pür Minerals president and get the beauty scoop—pür and simple.

Q: Holiday parties are my favorite part of the season! This year, I really want to make an entrance. How can I create a stunning, sophisticated holiday look that also allows me to transition from a day at the office to an evening out? – Leanna, Vernon, CA

Indeed the holidays are a time to sparkle, and my favorite holiday party look always involves a bit of glimmer. Add a wonderful gold or silver liner to your eyes or add a beautiful shine to your lips. And don't forget the body! Dusting a glowing or shimmering powder will make arms, back, legs or décolletage look absolutely sexy. Smoky eyes and lengthening, thickening mascara add the perfect amount of drama.

Changing your look from office to party should be a snap. There are only a couple of things that must be in your makeup bag: a deeply pigmented eye shadow such as black or navy (I love our Pressed Mineral Shadow in Onyx); an eyeliner brush; and a creamy, pearl lip gloss. 

To start, simply take the deep eye shadow and smudge it over your existing eyeliner; this will add that smoky intensity for evening. Then, add a sheer party gloss. Our Pout Plumping Lip Glosses are perfect for any holiday soiree. Pearl Crème is a dazzling, pearl shade that highlights lips while still letting their natural rosiness shine through. These quick and easy tricks can be done in less than 3 minutes and are sure to make you someone's holiday delight.

On the weekends, turning a day into night look is very similar to changing from office to party. Remember to have fun with your makeup. Don't be afraid to add a little more drama than you would use during the day. Play up one feature that you think is your best. I usually focus on eyes or lips. Mascara, deeper eye shadow colours and glowing face powders will awaken your complexion and let your inner beauty radiate outward.

Click here for more tips from Joli on how to get a gorgeous holiday look!

Do you have a beauty question for Joli that you would like to see answered here? Leave us a comment or send an email to blog@purminerals.com.

Ask Joli: Sculpting Bold, Beautiful Brows

You’ve got questions, Joli Baker has answers. Read on for advice from the Pür Minerals president and get the beauty scoop—pür and simple.

Q: I’ve noticed that thicker eyebrows are in this fall. How can I make my brows look bold and beautiful without looking beastly? –Shane, Charlotte, NC

Gone are the days of pencil-thin arches. This season demands volume! You may have noticed this trend while thumbing through the latest beauty magazines, but in case you missed it, bold brows are in. If you don’t already have one, now is the perfect time to add a 3-in-1 Universal Makeup Pencil to your beauty collection. It adds natural looking definition to eyebrows—plus, it doubles as eyeliner and lip pencil.

Before adding volume, it’s important to make sure your eyebrows are properly shaped. Hold your brow pencil or eyebrow brush vertically along the right side of your nose so it forms a line from where your nose and cheek meet to the inside corner of your eye. Your eyebrow should start where this line crosses the brow line. To find your arch, simply turn the pencil to form a line from the nose position to the outer edge of your iris. Your arch should peak right above it. Turn it again to line up with the outer edge of your eye to find where your brow should end.

Our Mineral Brow Perfection is a multi-tasking eyebrow sculpting tool that creates a natural frame for the eye. I created this product because every woman needs great brows. It consists of a brow shaping wax to form and sculpt eyebrows and a micronized mineral powder to fill in and define brows. The key to using the wax is to brush backwards against the grain to “fluff” the brow. Next, dip your eyebrow brush into the brow powder and fill in brows to the desired intensity. The brow powder actually picks up highlights found in your natural hair, so it never looks fake or drawn on. 

If you have naturally thin eyebrows, I recommend treating them with Pür-ly Abundant. It adds much needed drama to over-plucked brows (as well as sparse eyelashes) and conditions each individual hair with a host of powerful, natural ingredients. In fact, it's currently the only brow treatment product on the market that’s not animal-based. The plant-derived ingredients in Pür-ly Abundant have been shown to increase hair growth by 17% in just 3 months. Apply the treatment to your eyebrows twice daily and you’ll start to see a difference in no time!   

Do you have a beauty question for Joli that you would like to see answered here? Leave us a comment or send an email to blog@purminerals.com.

Award-Winning Coverage: 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup

Since 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup was recently named “Best Natural Selection” at the 2008 Allure Best of Beauty Awards, I have been getting more questions than usual about our multi-tasking cornerstone product. Not to worry, we at Pür Minerals are here to answer all of your queries about the foundation, powder and concealer with SPF 15. Read on for everything you need to know about 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup—or as we like to call it, the one minute makeup miracle.

Q: How do I choose my 4-in-1 shade?
4-in-1 is available in 10 true shades ranging from Porcelain to Deepest to suit all skin tones. To choose your shade, stop by the Pür Minerals counter at any Dillard’s or ULTA store nationwide for a complimentary colour match. Or, you can use our online Makeup Planner. You only need to answer a few questions and a shade will be recommended.

Q: What ingredients are used in the formula for 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup?
You can view the complete list of ingredients at PurMinerals.com, but rest assured that 4-in-1 well deserving of its “Best Natural Selection” title. It’s the number one form of makeup recommended by dermatologists, because it's free of fragrance, alcohol, talc, fillers, petroleum-based oils, chemical dyes, preservatives, and parabens. 4-in-1 is bound together with a little shea butter and vitamin E which help result in a velvety-smooth finish without clogging pores.

For flawless application every time, follow these Pür Tips:

• 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup is best applied using the 3D Method: Dip the brush into the foundation, Draw a few circles in the lid of the compact and then Dust onto your face.
• For maximum coverage, apply 4-in-1 with the Chisel Brush. For lighter coverage, use the Powder Brush to dust the foundation onto your face.
• For a pür-fectly flawless finish, go back over any areas that need additional spot coverage, such as blemishes, dark circles or broken capillaries, with the Utility Brush.
• Wear 4-in-1 alone, or top with one of our Pressed Mineral Blushes or Specialty Powders. For first-time users, I usually recommend the Pür-fect Starter Kit. It comes with travel sizes of 4-in-1, Mineral Glow and Universal Marble Powder in Pink. It also comes with a full-size Chisel Brush, which is the magic behind the Pür Minerals look.

Get more beauty tips from the Pür expert herself—watch Joli's 4-in-1 instructional video!

Ask Joli: Maintaining Your Makeup

You’ve got questions, Joli Baker has answers. Read on for advice from the Pür Minerals president and get the beauty scoop—pür and simple.

Q: How often should I replace my makeup? –Vanessa, Atlanta, GA

Maintaining your makeup is a crucial part of achieving perfect looking skin. You can’t expect to get flawless coverage with beauty products that are well beyond their shelf life. Here are some basic guidelines to help keep your makeup—and your skin—in tip-top shape.

Foundation and Powder
While traditional powders and liquid foundations should be replaced after 6 months, mineral-based formulas last much longer. In fact, our 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup doesn’t expire—you’ll run out of the product before it ever goes bad! Because minerals are inert and don’t support bacterial growth, mineral makeup by Pür Minerals has a longer life span than conventional cosmetics.

Mascara
Due to the heightened sensitivity of the eyes, mascara has the shortest shelf life of all beauty products: around 3 months. To get the most from your mascara, don’t pump the wand during application. This will cause excess air to get into the mascara tube, resulting in drying, clumping and an even shorter lifespan.

Lipstick and Gloss
I make sure to toss out my lipsticks and glosses after 1 or 2 years. After that, they tend to start looking dry and cakey. An odd smell is a key indicator that your lipstick has gone bad. To make your lipsticks and glosses last longer, store them in your refrigerator where the cold temperature will help keep them fresh.

Pencils
Lip and eye pencils generally last up to 2 years, but discard your pencils immediately if you have used them when you have a sore or a sty. Reusing your lip and eye pencils when they’ve been exposed to germs can spread or worsen an infection.

Brushes
As long as you wash your brushes at least once a week, they should keep for several years. Not only do brushes pick up the oil and germs from your skin, but they can harbor dirt, debris and bacteria from the air. Washing your brushes with warm water and a mild cleansing agent will help keep your skin clean, healthy and clear.

Do you have a beauty question for Joli that you would like to see answered here? Leave us a comment or send an email to blog@purminerals.com.