Spa-riffic color: Alima Pure
Alima is now Alima Pure, and it’s not just the company name that has expanded. The company known for its handcrafted mineral makeup has expanded its color palette and brush collection since Worldwide Spa Review last reviewed it, and will soon release a selection of its favorite foundation colors for a special spa line.
"I especially loved Glow, a light golden shade, and Meadow Green together. I got compliments all day the first time I wore them. Instead of applied color they look like a magical me.’"
“They are the same foundations, but since we have 60 of them, (there are) too many for most spas and boutiques to carry,” said Terresa Clark, Creative Director at Alima Pure. “We picked 12 that we feel cover 90 percent of the population.”
The foundation applied evenly and easily on my skin. It stayed translucent and looked like my skin, only more even-toned. It’s hard not to find the perfect shade for any skin with Alima Pure’s ten shades in each of six categories of skin tones including cool, neutral, beige, warm, golden and olive. Foundations retail for $20.
Alima Pure’s products have a sheerness that never made me look “caked.” Even the blush over the foundation – available in 37 matte and shimmering shades – didn’t look made-up, but like beautiful skin. There are also five bronzers. Alima has plans to add two more this month; January 2010. Bronzers and blushes retail for $15.
The translucent quality even translated to the more brilliant colors of eye shadow like Gold Dust and to rich dark colors like Tigereye. I especially loved Glow, a light golden shade, and Meadow Green together. I got compliments all day the first time I wore them. Instead of applied color they look like a “magical me.” The products lasted all day on my lids – through allergy attacks, laughter and a sudden rainstorm – and into the evening without losing their luster or becoming uneven.
Alima Pure has a dizzying number of eye shadow and liner color choices. I counted 99 shades of eye shadow; 49 in the Luminous Shimmer collection, 20 in the Pearluster collection, and 30 satin matte colors. They also offer 19 colors of eyeliner. Shadows retail for $9; liners for $10.
The finishing powder blended the colors, making sure all of the products on my face transitioned nicely. It also works alone for a natural-looking glow on bare skin. My skin still felt like there was little or nothing on it, but it looked very natural. Finishing powders retail for $15.
My favorite part of applying Alima Pure’s products is using the brushes. Alima Pure is a cruelty-free company – look for the leaping bunny logo – but their brushes are so amazingly soft that I was afraid they were made from animal fur until I read the labels. They are made from a super-soft taklon. (Bravo Alima!)
I have very sensitive skin and any abrasiveness usually causes at least a little redness. Alima Pure’s brushes felt soft and light as air. There was no redness at all. They are definitely the finest brushes I’ve ever used; distributing the product evenly with a minimal amount on the tips, so no waste. You can manipulate them easily for effect, too.
The Starter Kit of four brushes – blush, eye shadow, foundation and liner/brow – retails for $60. The company’s Web site offers a brush-care page.
Samples of most products are available for $1 to $1.50.
Call 503-786-8224. Mail Alima Cosmetics, 18342 SE River Road, Portland, Oregon 97267. Visit www.alimapure.com to learn more, or to shop for individual products or sets.
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