Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Move Over Mary Kay: Mia Mariu Makeup Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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I’ve been out of the traditional 9-5 work force for over 2 years now. It was a tough decision, but it was the right one for me, personally. I recognize just how privileged I am to have had that option, and even though my days at home are not all cupcakes and rainbows, the good far outweighs the bad for me.

However, my husband’s income alone is not sufficient for us to thrive, so I have to find various ways of working from home to help out with our bills. I know I’m not alone in that situation, and I always love to showcase valid and valuable opportunities for women to earn money in a flexible environment. That’s why I’m excited to show you Mia Mariu cosmetics today!

Mia Mariu is a health and beauty company based in Dallas and headed up by a savvy woman who understands the needs of her representatives, as well as the ins and outs of what it takes to produce a high quality product that women will love. If you are seeking an opportunity to earn income and if you enjoy using great makeup, take a moment to learn more about the Maia Mariu opportunity. I’m amazed that you can get started with the company for just $125! That’s a very low entry threshold! And I love that you aren’t required to keep stock on hand.

I’ve been trying out three different products from the line, and I’m excited to tell you about them! First up, I’ve really been enjoying the Mineral Liquid Foundation. I am a HUGE fan of mineral makeup (as the Mia website states, “cut the shine, reduce the pores, wow the public.” That pretty much sums it up! Getting the coverage just right for a powder mineral foundation can be somewhat tricky, though, so I really like liquid options that still give that awesome finish that I get from powder versions. This product retails for $25, which falls in line with what you might spend at a department store counter (maybe a bit less). I will say that it sets quickly, so be purposeful when you apply it! The coverage is absolutely outstanding.

I also reviewed the Loose Mineral Shadow Liner. This product can be applied dry as a shadow, or wet as a liner. I have actually been getting much more adventurous lately with the way I wear eye shadow, and I’ve been learning tips and tricks from bloggers (who else?) about ways to play with color. I’m having a blast with that process, and I’m also coming to REALLY appreciate a quality shadow that won’t disappear in just a few hours. This product retails for $14. I don’t have the right brush to use the shadow as a liner, but its now on my Christmas wish list!

Finally, I’ve been using and LOVING the Anti-Aging Brightening Serum. I’ve talked before about how my skin really is starting to lose that youthful glow now that I’m decidedly in my 30s (I was really wavering about doing 31 over again this year, but eventually had to concede and move forward). I like that this product targets age spots, works on overall glow (which is where I’m seeing the biggest difference) and also works on lines and wrinkles. Talk about a useful product! It retails for $38 and I would recommend it to anyone who is noticing that perhaps they don’t look as young as they feel!

In summary, I’d say that Mia Mariu offers high quality makeup and skincare and a wonderful business opportunity. Most definitely check them out! And even if you aren’t interested in becoming a representative, find one in your area to support and enjoy the great stuff they have to offer!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win all three products that I reviewed! That’s a combined retail value of $77!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

I received complimentary products for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own. 

Everyday Minerals Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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I’ve mentioned before that mineral makeup is my very favorite to wear. If you haven’t tried it yet, you simply MUST. Your makeup doesn’t look as heavy on, but that doesn’t meant that it doesn’t provide coverage, I promise. I’m at the age where looking like I don’t have on a stitch of makeup doesn’t really work for me, anymore, but I also don’t want to look like a makeup artist just tried out every product at the counter on my face. I have found mineral makeup to be the very best way to get a polished look, but not a caked-on look.

Also, mineral makeup is good for your skin! What other makeup products can boast such a claim? The ingredients are found in nature and in my experience, don’t clog your pores the way other products do. If you forget to wash your face one night, no big deal. Gotta love that!

Today I’m featuring a line called Everyday Minerals, and I am SUPER impressed with the quality of this makeup! This line is organic, vegan and eco-friendly, and 100% full of quality makeup that lasts all day. The first product I received to review from the line was the soft bronzer. I was quite nervous when I saw it, because I have really pale skin, so I NEVER use bronzer because the end result is always an orange face. Well, I could not have been more pleasantly surprised by this product! It is designed for lighter skin and can be used all over to give a healthy (not orange) glow. I have used it in place of foundation a few times and was pleased with the end result! Want to hear what’s even more exciting? This product is just $9.00! SERIOUSLY!!!

The second product I reviewed was the mineral blush in pink ribbon. Once again, I’ll tell you that when I saw the product, I was a bit nervous. It has a good amount of shimmer in the product, and as a 31 year old, I tend to shy away from putting sparkly stuff on my face. But, as it turns out, this blush is absolutely adorable, and the shimmer is subtle and pretty, not over the top or garish. The shade is also very fresh and absolutely perfect for spring. A big container of this blush is $10.00. These prices are so awesome!!!

If you are curious about trying out mineral makeup, or if you already love mineral makeup but are looking for less pricey options, you will be very pleased to go with Everyday Minerals. Start by putting together 7 samples for yourself. You even get to select the price for these samples (paying as little as .01!), and 100% of what you give goes towards the Everyday Wilderness Preservation Plan. How cool is that?!  If you are ready to place a larger order, you can order products individually, or go with one of their custom kits, ordering 3 big size items for a 25% discount. And remember that the prices are already great!

You are sure to find products that meet your needs and your skin tone at Everyday Minerals. They offer 34 shades of foundation, 20 shades of light application powder, 21 shades of blush, and 84 shades of eyeshadow.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to snag a bronzer and a blush from Everyday Minerals! Get ready to glow!

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Do You Know What Is in Your Lip Gloss??? (GIVEAWAY!!!)

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Have you ever given thought to how lipstick and lip gloss is made? I know I haven’t. Did you know that the vast majority of these products contain beeswax and carmine? And do you know how these products are collected? Beeswax, obviously, is harvested from bees. And anytime you are using an animal by-product in large quantities, the likelihood that the creatures who are providing these products are being treated kindly lessens.

And as for carmine…do you know what it is? It’s crushed beetle scales. Totally serious. And it is in LOTS of makeup. Woah.

Today I’m highlighting a company called Monave. their products are micro-formulated in Baltimore, and the company is woman-owned and operated. You won’t find any carmine in these products, but you will find a large selection of vegan makeup as well as gluten-free makeup (you’d be surprised by all the places you’ll find wheat products when you start looking!).

I had the opportunity to try out the Lip Glaze and found it to be quite beautiful. It was smooth, and not sticky. While it didn’t last very long, I’ve never encountered a lip glaze that does, and it certainly didn’t wear off any faster than other products I have used in the past. The color was sheer, but still noticeable. I quite liked it!

If you are becoming more and more concerned about the chemicals that you are putting on your face or the welfare of the creatures whose by-products might be used for your makeup, then Monave is a company worth checking out. Most of their products are vegan, most of them can be gluten-free upon request, and all of their products are free of irritants, dyes and preservatives.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win 2 lip glazes from Monave! Woo hoo! The contest will run until May 9th at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States. Limit one entrant per household, please.

Mandatory entry: Tell me your two favorite lip glaze colors, and choose wisely, as the winner will get what she puts down for this entry!

My answer: Divine and Ruby Slippers!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: Like Monave Minerals on Facebook
2. Blogger love: Like Stuff Parents Need on Facebook

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my homepage. Link

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Jenulence Mineral Foundation Review

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Have you tried mineral makeup yet? I really hope you have. And if you haven’t, you really should!

Worried about the price? I’ve found that my jars of foundation last a really long time (several months). The coverage is also outstanding and breakouts just don’t happen with mineral makeup (I can only speak for myself on that matter, obviously). So the price is really quite reasonable when you consider how long it lasts and how good it looks.

Ok, you are thinking, you are right. I should give this stuff everyone talks about a go. Should I buy the stuff in the drugstores to save a few bucks? In my humble opinion, no. I personally found the coverage to be lacking, so I went through my drugstore brand much faster than I thought, which made it no longer the good deal I thought it would be.

Ok, Tiffany, so I guess I should go get Bare Minerals, right? You can if you like, but I’ve learned over the past year that there are a few other brands out there that offer products of the same quality as Bare Minerals, minus the super high pricing (Who do you think pays for all that advertising in the end? The customer!).

stock photo of jenulence mineral foundation Today I bring you a fabulous find, Jenulence. From their site, “JenulenceTM mineral makeup is handcrafted using synthetic-free high quality natural minerals and cosmetic pigments. We do not use synthetic preservatives, talc, nano-particles or micronized minerals in our mineral makeup. It is water and sweat-resistant, hypoallergenic, doesn’t clog the pores, and delivers complete sun protection.” I love their motto: “If you can’t eat it, don’t use it on your skin!”

Jenulence offers an ingredient list for each of their products, and everything is just as natural as they claim, which is really awesome. When is the last time you could pronounce all the ingredients in your makeup?

For my review, I chose 2 products that I need most as a mom. I need to look put together really fast, and I need some help covering up my dark circles since I don’t get as much sleep as I need. Therefore, I selected the Pink Ginger Mineral Foundation Powder and the Under Eye Dark Circles Concealer.

First, I want to talk about the concealer. It goes on really smooth and brightens the skin under my eyes. I’ve noticed that when I wear it I have a brighter overall look. This is so ideal for those (many) days when I feel tired, and you can see evidence of my tiredness without some good makeup on! Thank you, Jenulence, for creating this product!

Second, I want to talk about the foundation powder. One of the things I like the most about Jenulence is the great range of colors they offer for their foundations. When I’ve ordered Bare Minerals products in the past, I’ve had to order 2 of their colors and combine them to achieve the right look. That equals more money, which is quite painful! Jenulence has the perfect shade for me, no blending required. Hooray! Pink Ginger is pale but still peachy, and it goes on really smoothly. My skin looks flawless in it, and I love to wear it. Check out all the shades they offer; you will be amazed!

I also really appreciate that Jenulence has all budgets in mind, so they offer their products in different sizes, depending on your needs and what you can afford to spend at the time of purchase (another big thank you from this girl who has to watch her pennies!).

Buy it!: Jenulence foundations start at just $1.00 for a trial bag, and go all the way up to $20.00 for the full size product. You’ve got nothing to lose by giving a few of their shades a try, and I bet you that you’ll love them just as much as I do, and go back for more!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need Reader will win one full size jar of Jenulence foundation/powder! The contest will run until October 1st at 11:59pm EST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize before it is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Limit one entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory entry: I want to hear which of the fabulous foundation shades you think would be best for your skin. I’m so wowed by their selection and I’m curious to hear what your match is!

Additional entries:
1. Sponsor love: “Like” Jenulence on Facebook or subscribe to their newsletter (found on the bottom left of the home page)
2. Blogger love: Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways (listed on the sidebar of my home page)

Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.