The Hyatt Regency Trinidad's Spa Esencia launched the Jane Iredale makeup line on November 19, at the upscale hotel on the Port-of-Spain waterfront. Spa patrons, makeup artists and other specially invited guests mingled over electric blue cocktails while spa personnel at stations around the room explained the benefits of the line known as "The Skin Care makeup". The Jane Iredale line is made of pure minerals and free of such ingredients as talc, paraben, FD&C dyes, synthetic preservatives and lead. It boasts a number of claims, including that it is suitable for irritated skin, even right after plastic surgery or a facial. Its lip gloss is actually edible–and the Chocoholick variety, made with cocoa and strawberries, is yummy, to boot. The line's various foundations and powders provide variable coverage with smooth, natural, long wearing finish.
"It's good for the skin and it feels good," said Hyatt general manager Russell George, who chaired the evening's formal segment. He explained that as a sponsor of the Miss T&T Universe 2010, the makeup was a hit with the contestants. "We were so excited about the results that we are happy to roll it out to everybody," he said. Miss T&T Universe La Toya Woods, who spoke later, called it one of the best makeup lines she has ever used. It improves her skin, which is prone to breakouts, she said. The praise for the line continued with spa patron Ingrid Graham. "It makes me be me," she gushed. It feels light weight, a little goes a long way, it is easy to apply and leaves me with a glow, she said. Makeup artist Kirk Thomas, who worked on the contestants for T&T Universe, was present to demonstrate the power of pure minerals. He did a sultry smoky eye and red lips on Woods, mentioning as he did that, this was the first mineral makeup he had found worthy of approval as a makeup artist. Jane Iredale had colours for all T&T skin tones, he said.
Throughout the room women of different complexions agreed–with one exception. A former model with coffee-dark skin found the Liquid Minerals foundation, which she had tested on the back of her hand, too ashy. Many of the products in the line come with a lifetime guarantee, as the mineral ingredients don't allow them to spoil or become contaminated. Compared to local brands and drug store brands like Maybelline, Jane Iredale is quite pricey. For example, Liquid Minerals, the foundation made of mineral balls suspended in a clear glycerine solution and dispensed in a pump, is $396.75 a bottle. A lipstick is $166.75, and an eye-shadow trio combination, such as were given out to guests at the launch, costs $235.75. The line is available in T&T exclusively at Spa Esencia.
What's it like?
Kirk Thomas, makeup artist, did my face with the Jane Iredale line at Spa Esencia before the launch. Starting on clean, moisturised skin, he applied Liquid Minerals with a brush and followed it with Amazing Base loose powder. The only caveat he gave was that the powder had to be applied with downward strokes or it would make me look shiny. Next he applied Purepressed blush in two different shades to my cheekbones and around my face for definition. He used Purebrow gel to fill in my eyebrows and then Purepressed eye shadow and eye pencil to highlight the eyes. A few swipes of mascara finished the eye area. Neutral coloured lip definer was used to fill in my lips, followed by lining in a darker tone and a coat of Puregloss lip gloss. The finished face was soft, natural and matte for hours.
I have super oily skin and blemishes from breakouts, but the makeup covered them both without concealer. It felt weightless and didn't irritate my skin. "I know you're wearing something because I know makeup," said my friend Marcia. "It looks natural." The lip gloss was neither sticky nor greasy, and also lasted through a couple of hours of hors d'oeuvres and drinks. The only thing I found unimpressive was the mascara, which didn't do much to define or lengthen my fine lashes. However, the makeup, especially the eyeliner, was ironclad, and stayed tenaciously in place. KaronKelly Fernando, creative director of the beauty blog www.glamitycalamity.com, said via chat that the product's claims of long product and SPF shelf life are likely because zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the main ingredients in the bases. "But those are also the ones that give the ashy appearance to the skin. So it works if you have fair to medium skin, not for darker ones." She also added, "There are a lot of (mineral) products on the market these days. They all have the same ingredients."