UPDATE This is a good mineral line for over-40s. Caveat at bottom of review.
Written: Jan 14 '05 (Updated Jul 29 '09)
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| Full Review |
I am leaving the bulk of this review largely untouched because my assessment of the actual product has not changed, and I am leaving the bulk of my ratings as well, because they honestly reflected my experience. However there is an update at the bottom which I hope you will read.
I've tried a wide variety of mineral cosmetics. While there are items I like in other lines, Aromaleigh is (edit: was) my all-around favorite, and the revamped line should be a hit with customers who have tried Aromaleigh in the past. As I get older, it remains one of the most wearable, customizable mineral lines I have found - the site even sells pigments and other cosmetic ingredients so you can mix your own eyeshadows, blushes and lip products. The other hallmark of this line is the amount of information that founder Kristen Leigh Bell provides on each formation - she goes FAR beyond the information required by the FDA to help you make informed choices.
First off, DO NOT BE ALARMED BY THE NAME. Every cosmetic product I've tried from them has been 100 percent unfragranced - thank goodness. I am not a big fragrance fan, which is why I haven't tried any of the limited aromatherapy line this site offers. (However, there is a pet aromatherapy line that some might want to check out.)
Some of the things you notice right away: The website is well-organized, and there are careful explanations of shades, textures and coverages given for the cosmetic products and skin treatments. The prices are about half the cost of comparable lines and the sizes are generous. There is a low-cost sampling option, and every order includes free samples, too. But maybe the best feature of the website is the connection to an online message board. While the board does tend to the rah-rah, you can connect with real-user views of the various colors and products, get application tips or just lurk'n'learn! I just wish she'd find some board software that doesn't require registration just to lurk!
Now on to her line:
Foundation is, well, the foundation of any good line, and this is where Aromaleigh really DOESN'T shine. Wait - that's a compliment. The main selling point of this line is that (unlike the "BEeg" name in mineral makeup) Aromaleigh foundations are 100 percent matte. The mainstay of the line was, until recently, called "Pure Powder." It's now been renamed "Voile" and slightly reformulated. But it's still an excellent product that provides sheer, buildable coverage. Unlike some other powder foundations (StudioFix, I'm talking to you!) this powder doesn't settle into fine lines and make them look worse.
But the really good news is that Kristen now offers an option for dryer/older skin known as Glissade. Now, I was perfectly happy with Pure Powder. But having sampled Glissade, which is coated with a silicone mixture that doesn't feel nearly as dry on the skin, I can see how great can get even better! It's almost like a liquid powder, and it seems to sit on the skin even more lightly than the Voile formula - though I did notice a hint of oilness at the end of the day. Both formulations are still offered in a broad range of colors, broken into six "families" based on skin's undertones. If you're worried about shade selection (it is a bit daunting) take advantage of the sampling program to try out three or more related shades.
There's another new product coming - a creamy concealer meant to replace the Pure Cover concealers. I'm iffy about this one - I like Pure Cover.
As for color cosmetics - what can I say except wow. There are dozens of choices, and new collections coming out all the time. One thing that I love about this line is that Kristen doesn't just split shadows and lip products into "frost" and "matte." She lets you know whether they are very sparkly (As a 40-year-old, I avoid these) have a subtle glow (my favorite) or are perfectly matte. Another strong point: She doesn't short those who prefer matte shades, though most of the new collections focus on shimmer.
Most of her products, including the shadows, are in loose powder form. Just as with the foundation, that makes it far easier to mix two or more shades to get exactly what you want. Adding to the fun is a wide selection of Pure Hues and pigments that you can use to adjust your shadows (many of these are wearable on their own.) To facilitate this, Kristen sells a full line of empty jars and tools to mix your own powdered products.
Among the other tools she offers are "kabuki" style brushes and flocked sponges that make application a breeze. I strongly recommend getting one or the other - if not both - to facilitate the application of the powder foundation.
Kristen seems to be mostly dropping the skincare from her site, and I have to say that's a good move. I didn't find much here that was outstanding, despite many (fairly expensive) options that seemed confusing. I sampled several cleansers and "tonics" but never found anything that blew me away.
The packaging is not as elegant as some other lines. But the quality is certainly there, the shipping is quick and accurate, and the only problem I ever had was quickly and cheerfully resolved.
Overall, I like this line a lot. Give it a try. I think you will too.
UNFORTUNATE UPDATE: Since I wrote this review, I've been made personally aware of several instances where Kristen and/or Aromaleigh staff have engaged in online behavior that I cannot endorse, including accusing people who have posted negative reviews of lying and slander. I was caught on the edge of her wrath on one occasion, when she misintepreted something I said on a message board (ironically, the vast majority of the posts on the message board to which she was responding were complimentary - she didn't see it that way and said so, at length.)
She has also admitted to rewarding customers for good reviews. (She says she did not promise anything to reviewers; however the issuance of "thank yous" was discusssed on at least one external message board.) Even if done after the fact, this behavior dilutes the impact of sites like epinions and throws the integrity of everyone who has given her a positive review into question. The truly unfortunate thing is that I believe many of those reviews were sincere and earned without hope of a reward; Aromaleigh's products are genuinely lovely and service is very quick.
Though I regret the necessity, I stopped purchasing from Aromaleigh about two years ago simply because of this pattern of bullying behavior. Recent events have convinced me that I should update.
In addition, there are now other lines that offer good mineral options for women over 40 that didn't exist when I wrote this review. I'll do my best to review some soon.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Pure Powder, Pure Cover, color cosmetics, skincare and more
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Epinions.com ID:
wordgirl
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Location: Central Florida
Reviews written: 28
Trusted by: 1 member
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