Silk Naturals

Hello,

I'm Chinese, and brought up in England (so I'll have to use International shipping to get this stuff!), and I find it hard to find good foundation/powder shades as they seemed designed for Cauasian skins, plus I have really sensitive skin with Eczema. I've heard some good reviews about this product (but I've heard some people who find it difficult to create the 'right' shade) and thought I'd give it a go. I've never used mineral make-up before (it's a relatively new thing in the UK) but I've had my shade matched by BareMinerals and I'm a Medium Beige - with no mix of any other colours. I was wondering what foundation colour would match me? I'm including some photos below, but I do seem to appear to have different skin shades in each photo. :s It's odd, one day I will look lighter and one day darker. I think the first two might be the best though as they're taken outside:








Many thanks!

Love, Bee

Hi Bee,

Welcome, love your smile and tan!

I'm ethnic Chinese too and I think my coloring is very similar to yours. (here are some of my FOTDs with SN make up) I've had great success playing with Warm Gold and Buttery Gold. I have not tried the Original formulation for the Ivory. I like a heavier coverage so I use Heavy Ivory.

I prefer to mix my foundation in small batches because I never know from one day to the next whether I'll need more depth or more "pinks" in my coloring. If I've gone for a night with no sleep, I end up looking quite pale and yellow. And that's when I add in a dash of "Date Bait". Or if I want to look a tad more dewy, I'll add a pinch of Pristine Perfecting Glow.

Then there are days when I look a little flushed because my skin reacts to the heat and humidity. That is when I make a batch of foundation with just Buttery Gold and Heavy Ivory.

Currently, I'm wearing 1 scoop of Buttery Gold + 1 scoop of Warm Gold + 1 scoop Ebony + 7 scoops of Heavy Ivory.

I've also worn...

- 1 Warm Gold + 1 Ebony + 5 Heavy Ivory.

- 1 Buttery Gold + 1 Ebony + 5 Heavy Ivory.

They all look natural on me, with different effects. The Buttery Gold gives me a fairer look. The Warm Gold makes me look like I got a touch of healthy sun. Both match my neck, though. That's how forgiving mineral make up is.

I hope all that helps. Just ask, if you need any more clarifications. The ladies here are more than happy to help!

Hi Bee! Welacome to our forum!

pinkpomelo has answered you so thoroughly, there is not much more for me to add. I definitely think you need to try the three base colors she mentioned (Ebony, Warm Gold, Buttery Gold) plus whatever finish of Ivory that you are seeking (light coverage-Original, medium coverage, or heavy coverage). The Ivory sample *kits* come with a jar and scoop for mixing.

Thank you so much! I'm pondering what to order now... I did see some photos of you before in a post and I did think that your skin shade was a bit similar to mine.

So...since we have similar skin shades, can you recommend any good lip colours? I have quite dark lips naturally. I like colours that are slightly pink, probably warm, and just bring out my lip colour so it has a red/pink bee-stung kind-of colour? A lot of too sheer/pale colours don't come out well on me. They either don't show up on my lips or make me look ill and washed-out. I like fairly glittery colours.

You can recommend anything to me really. As you can see from my photos, my make-up is fairly minimal. I like looking natural...just enhance my features slightly. Usually a bit of powder, eyeliner and mascara, pretty blusher and a lip-colour.

I also want some shimmery powder thing to go on my face. I tried a gorgeous one from Sephora once but it made me break out in an allergy rash.

By the way, I enjoy viewing your blog. I love looking at all the colours on you.

I've heard a lot about Viva Glam V from MAC and I know there is a copy from SN, I was wondering if you've tried it and how that colour comes out on our skin shades?

Also, do you have any recommendations on what brushes are good for each product?

Welcome, Bee! I'm not pinkpomelo, but I'll chime in on what I can. I've never tried SN's dupe of Viva Glam V, but I own VGV. Since you have quite dark lips naturally, VGV probably won't show up as a color on you and may not be "red/pink bee-stung" or glittery enough for you. However, I do think VGV's neutral pink warmed up by gold flecks (what MAC refers to as "pearl") is universally flattering. It's not milky or opaque. VGV and Karen's dupe of it are sheer glazes that subtly enhance the lips but don't broadcast "lip color" in any way.

Haha, I think I'm going to assume Bee's reply is directed at me? I don't think Jen's got Asian complexion. But Jen has a killer instinct for colours!

Bee wrote:So...since we have similar skin shades, can you recommend any good lip colours? I have quite dark lips naturally. I like colours that are slightly pink, probably warm, and just bring out my lip colour so it has a red/pink bee-stung kind-of colour? A lot of too sheer/pale colours don't come out well on me. They either don't show up on my lips or make me look ill and washed-out. I like fairly glittery colours.

That sounds like me. I can't take shades that are too nude or pale. Even if I'm wearing really smokey eyes, my lips need to have some tinge of brown/red/pink or I just look like Death... with pretty eye shadow.

I'm not an expert, but I have found that on me, combining Swept Away with Infatuation gives me a plumping effect. By itself, Swept Away was too pink for my complexion. But as a highlight colour on my inner lips, it gives the illusion of plumper lips.

So far, I've combined Swept Away with Infatuation or Skinny Dip.

I'll try to have more photos off them soon.

I like the natural look for most days too. But sometimes, I think its very fun to play with colours and go all "mardi gras" on my face. If its too much, I can just wash it off.

For shimmer, try the glows. I have samples but I haven't got the occasion so far to put them on. Ahh... who needs one, I should just go ahead and use it this weekend. I'll take a pic. SN's mineral glows have mica, silk powder, silica, titanium dioxide, and iron oxides. I haven't heard of anyone getting a rash from them, but there's a lot of reasons to get rashes. Sometimes, its also because the testers (brushes, powders, double dipping... eek!) are not very hygienic. Or it could be the one of the chemicals or preservatives.

The Viva Glam V clone is "Berry Crush" and yes, I have that too. Oh gosh, I'm such a SN looter. Extempter's explanation of it is very accurate.

On my lips, it comes out a frosty pale. Berry Crush is not matte, but also not glittery. The words that come to mind are "pearlescent" and "champagne roses". For me, this color pairs very well with the modern smokey eye kit and Maybe Baby (or climax) blush.

These days I use only 2 brushes for my eye shadows: the Ultimate Eye Shadow Brush ("UES") and the mini-brush that came with the modern smokey eye kit. The UES really grips mineral powder and the liner end really makes clean, accurante lines. The other doe-footed end takes a bit more finagling for me because I have small eyes, and so I usually prefer the mini-brush. But if I'm doing a single wash, then I love the Foiling Brush. It not only picks up powder like nobody's business and applies it on with accuracy. I can also use the edge of the brush to apply a thin line of highlight color just under my brows.

Phew! That's a LOT of information at one go. I hope I didn't overkill. Hahha!

If you are looking for warm pink/red, pigmented and sparkley, try Beloved and XOXO. They are in the Kiss Bliss line. They are a hybrid of a gloss and lipstick so the colors are stronger than the Organic Glosses. I did this pic a week ago for someone else, but it might help you, too. It is difficult to get a good pic of the sparkle in a lippie.

Thank you! That was all so helpful. I've now done some purchasing (I might have gone a little crazy) and have bought:

Sample Ivory Medium Coverage Kit
Sample Ebony
Sample Buttery Gold
Sample Warm Gold

Sample Angel Glow
Sample Golden Glow
Sample Pristine Perfecting Glow

Darling Gloss
Breathless Gloss
Temptation Gloss

Kabuki Brush
Baby Kabuki Brush

I'm in a dire need of some good brushes! I was wondering how the Glows come packaged? In a pot or in a bag? If in a bag, how do I use it? :s Whoo, will be looking forward to the post in the next 2-3 weeks! All that came together to £40 which isn't bad... The brushes were my most expensive items (the price is okay). Everything else was really cheap.

That list looks like a very good place to start. I put on cherub glow today on the highest point of my cheekbones. It gave a pearlescent sheen that illuminated my cheeks and mae them look plumper. Nice! high cheekbones! yay!