Skinn Cosmetics is one of my favorite brands, because the products are affordable, they look great, and perform, flawlessly. And each season I look forward to seeing what creator, Dimtri James, creates next. Before he started Skinn Cosmetics, Dimitri James worked for some of the largest cosmetics companies in the world. Clearly, he learned a thing or two about what looks good on women, because his color cosmetics are easy to use, with on trend colors tweaked to wearable, and products that perform, at a nice price. Dimitri put his investment into the products instead of fancy packaging, and he offers his “wares” through televised home shopping, the internet and exclusive, privately owned spas throughout North America.
For early spring, there’s a collection of season-spanning colors called the Skinn Cosmetic’s Color Affair Debutante Collection by Dimitri James. As with previous collections, you get a lot of colors, a lot of versatile options, and a lot of value. The collection features seven products for your face from eyes to lips, including a compact six eye shadows, A compact with two blush and bronzer colors, two Tint & Shine (lip) Duos and a two Line & Shade Sticks and Skin Illuminizer.
Skinn eye shadows are one of my fashion week staples, because they have collagen-boosting peptides and don’t fade, run, crease or turn color. The Eye Shadow Palette features extraordinary, highly pigmented eye shadows for every occasion with six vibrant shades designed to be worn individually or combined to enhance your beautiful eyes. The squares of silky pressed powder shadow are large. There are four matte shades (nude, deep plum, taupe and eggshell) plus two shimmer shadows, a deep plum and a deep bronze. These are so versatile you can make an intense, smokey eye look or just wear a light look for daytime.
The “Twin Set” Duo Lip Stick & Gloss pairs a clear, plastic tube with a long lasting lipstick and a coordinating gloss. he powders are talc free and have Skinn’s skin care ingredients and anti-oxidants. Pink Tulip has a light pink lipstick paired with a sheer, creme pink gloss. Used together, they give your lips a fuller, poutier look. The Coral Poppy duo features an intense coral lipstick with a sheer, shimmery coral gloss. The duo gives you pouty, full looking lips following the orange trend, but there’s enough coral so that the color is flattering, not “citrus.” If you’re looking for a trendy “orange” this coral will be your salvation! Alas, while the lipsticks are creamy and supposedly full coverage, they left some bare spots on less than perfectly smooth lips. Exfoliate well, or you might have to add a lot more lipstick for good coverage. Also, the dual-ended compact is a bit bulky to put into a makeu bag, but the addition of a mirror on the lip gloss side makes it a perfect carry in your purse, otherwise.
The Blush & Bronze Palette offers versatility with two rectangular pans of intense blush in medium pink and apricot, and a medium-golden bronzer. the powders are talc free and have Skinn’s skin care ingredients and anti-oxidants. The blush colors can be buffed down to a healthy glow, or applied with a heavier hand for a serious pop of color. These season-spanning colors will add color to Winter weary skin and still work well with a tan (faux one, please) or with deeper complexions. There’s something for everyone in this trio!
Perfect for purse of travel are the two (eye) Line & Shade Sticks featuring a thick, long-lasting creamy eye shadow stick, and a thin, Luxe Waterproof Eyeliners. Each dual-ended pencil has two complimentary colors. The liner contains shea butter, peptides, wild yam root and grape seed extract. Aubergine Mist pairs a soft eggplant-colored shadow with a soft, hard-to-define plum/grey liner. Forest Dew combines a blackened deep green shadow with a brown liner (I would have preferred black or another deep green with this as the brown just sort of blends in to the nearly black shadow).
The Skin Illuminizer creates natural radiance that does not look fake nor accentuate fine lines. Complimentary to all skin tones, the illuminizer smooths and conditions the skin and contains jojoba and Vitamin E.
As the final piece, it seems that every Dimitri James Skinn Cosmetics set includes a Skinn Illuminizer. The liquid in a pump is used to brighten and add radiance, and contains all four natural skin tones (pink, yellow, bronze & copper) so it compliments everyone’s skin. It also has jojoba and Vitamin E to give your skin a bit of pampering. It seems to even out skin and add radiance (but not that overly dewy look that just isn’t attractive on anyone over a certain age). Use a sponge or just your fingertips, to apply this blendable illuminizer to cheeks and lips (where the sun would naturally kiss you). If your skin is pale (or reasonably so) this cucumber-scented illuminizer makes a natural all-over glow which really looks pretty! You can also experiment, trying it over or under makeup as day cream.
Skinn Cosmetic’s Color Affair Debutante Collection retails for $68 and can be purchased as a set on www.shopnbc.com. When you realize that you’re getting a whole makeup wardrobe with multi-tasking, portable products, it is a steal! I’ve never met Dimitri in person, but I’ll be tuning in to check him out live on Shop NBC March 16 & 17.
