There’s a new and exciting brand of lipstick on the market… and one that promises to keep nasty, irritating ingredients such as synthetic preservatives well away from your lips. I think sometimes we forget just what we are putting on our lips (and ultimately into our bloodstream) and sacrifice quality for cheap products… because they are cheap!

Well, if you are conscious about toxic synthetics running around your body you need to get your mitts on a stick or two of the Afterglow range (there are 15 colours to choose from), which we recently trailed for ourselves.

The Review:

What was immediately apparent was the feel of the lipstick once on, it didn’t feel as oily as most other lipsticks, more creamy if you like. The second thing that is most noticeable is that your lips don’t tend to dry up, it’s like adding a creamy moisturiser to your lips. Thirdly, there’s no disgusting perfume taste left in your mouth… result! Finally, removal is incredibly simple and our lips felt… well, refreshed and moist rather than the normal dryness (and staining) so many other lipsticks leave you with.
Sticks retail at a respectable £22 for a 4g stick, but once you’ve tried it for yourself we’re confident you’ll be converted!

Mineral makeup has increased in popularity as we become more and more conscious of the effect products have on our skin and bodies. Mineral makeup is free of irritants like perfumes, preservatives such as parabens, alcohols and dyes that many traditional makeup brands use. However, many mineral makeup lines contain Bismuth Oxychloride.

Bismuth Oxychloride is a chemical that produces shine. Although approved for use in cosmetics, 75% of the users (mostly women) are allergic to this chemical. When you use a product containing bismuth oxychloride you are pushing small metallic particles into your skin that will clog your pores. Acne and roseacea sufferers who use these products find that they also irritate and aggravate their condition. You can tell if you are allergic if your face itches after application. This chemical is also not complimentary for use on older skin because the shimmery look creates a mask-like appearance that enhances wrinkles making skin look older and feel drier than it is.

After years of struggling to find a makeup line that did not make her sensitive skin itch and break out with acne, Kristin Adams founded Afterglow Cosmetics mineral makeup line which suited her needs.

“All the women in my family are sensitive to food, cosmetics and perfume” says Kristin. “I started using make-up to cover up acne but it seemed to only make my skin feel and look worse.”  To develop the line, Kristin teamed up with one of the foremost cosmetic chemists in the industry. Their focus on using only pure, natural and organic ingredients make Afterglow‘s mineral makeup a favourite with dermatologists and estheticians worldwide. But even with all the great benefits, many women that have switched from traditional makeup to mineral makeup are confused about how to the best way to use mineral makeup. Here are a few tips that will help optimise your experience.

For those with dry, flaky skin, add a small amount of powder into the palm of the hand. Add a drop of moisturiser. Blend the two products together until a smooth, creamy consistency is achieved. Use your fingers or make-up wedge to apply. For young or blemished skin, apply it in very sheer layers bronzer or foundation with a vegan kabuki brush or flat top brush all over the face.

Loose powder mineral makeup is NOT designed to work with a sponge. Mineral bronzers and blush can be applied with a fan brush, blush brush, kabuki brush, or flat top foundation brush. Apply to areas where you want a fresh sun-kissed glow.

To apply eye shadow, dip an eye shadow brush into the desired colour and apply to your eyelids.

For liquid eyeliner, wet your brush with water use our Organic Colour Lock; dip into the desired colour of mineral powder.  Mix liquid and powder together on the back of your hand or in separate container until well blended; apply to the lid as desired.

Afterglow Cosmetics has 15 shades of organic lipstick and four shades of Organic Hydra Gloss. These are premixed for ease of use. However if you feel the desire to create your own shades, dip your lip brush into your favourite lip balm/stick/gloss and then into the mineral powder of your choice. Blend well and then apply to lips.

Afterglow’s mineral makeup is 100% vegan with a unique blend of minerals and natural pigments, carefully formulated with your health and beauty in mind. Afterglow’s products have continuously been among the most highly rated for safety on the Environmental Working Group’s “Skin Deep Report” website.

Afterglow are also proud signers of The Breast Cancer Fund’s Compact for Safe Cosmetics (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics) to advocate for safer cosmetics. 

The Afterglow Organic Lip Love Lipstick is made from a range of natural and organic ingredients and there is a wide selection of colours available.

In my opinion there are a couple of critical criteria for a good lipstick; that it does not dry out lips, and that the colour is long lasting. So I gave the Afterglow Organic Lip Love Lipstick a try to see how it performed. Firstly, it has a standard consistency and is easy to apply and get good coverage either direct from the tube or using a lip brush. It also has quite a typical, not unpleasant, lipstick taste. In terms of being long lasting, I found this product to perform as well as other lipsticks I use. I also discerned no drying effect, making it a pleasant product to use. Overall, therefore, this lipstick ticks all the performance boxes.

In terms of price, the Afterglow Organic Lip Love Lipstick retails at a rather high £18. The plastic tube should be able to be recycled but would need to be cleaned out first.

UK Energy Saving Ratings
Performance – 5/5
Value for Money – 2/5
Packaging – 4/5

OVERALL RATING – 4/5 

The Afterglow Mineral Eye Shadow is 100% mineral and includes organic antioxidants. A range of 25 different shades are available.

The Afterglow Mineral Eye Shadow is in a classic pot (which is 100% recyclable) but is a loose powder rather than pressed like many products. I wondered whether this would be as easy to apply as my usual product, but actually there was no problem. The information I received with the eye shadow stated that it could be used dry or wet, so I tried both methods and both were effective. It was easy to get an even coverage and you didn’t need to use much product. The shimmer effect is not over the top so I found it suitable for day or night wear. Eyes can obviously be quite a sensitive area, so I think many of us stick to what we know, but I had no reaction to this product, and it is promoted as being gluten-free so suitable for those with a gluten sensitivity.

At £16 the Afterglow Mineral Eye Shadow is not a cheap product but prices for eye shadow vary massively, even amongst mineral eye shadows, so this doesn’t stand out.

UK Energy Saving Ratings
Performance – 5/5
Value for Money – 3/5
Packaging – 4/5

OVERALL RATING – 4/5

Hot on the heels of all things natural and organic, mineral make-up is everywhere at the moment, but look before you leap on the bandwagon. Not all mineral products are any better for your skin than ’standard’ make-up. Many contain parabens, dyes and fillers, along with a chemical called bismuth oxychloride which can give a rather unatural orangey glow. 

Our current fave for quality mineral
make-up is US brand Afterglow. Their organic mineral foundation contains pharmaceutical grade minerals and pigments, natural sunscreen and age-defying antioxidants. A worthy investment, especially if you have super-sensitive skin.  It’s even suitable for people with gluten sensitivity.

Afterglow Organic Mineral Foundation, £28 (20 shades)
www.afterglowcosmetics.co.uk