Fitness, Health & Beauty

Beauty Bonanza: Motives by Loren Ridinger

January 7, 2012 0

Finding the right brand of makeup is a challenge. In fact, more often than not, I don’t use one brand across the board. In the past, I used to use TIGI Bed Head foundation, Maybelline powder, Lancome mascara, Revlon eyeshadows, Cover Girl blush…you get the idea.

But the older I get, the more I try to be a conscious shopper. If I’m concerned about pesticides and chemicals in my food, and I have ethical problems with eating meat, then those same concerns should extend to other aspects of my life. For me, this means avoiding things like leather clothes, or hair color that’s been tested on animals. It also means that, ideally, I want the products that I use on my skin to be pure enough to eat.

That’s challenging when it comes to cosmetics, though. I’ve found some natural, organic brands (100% Pure and Juice Beauty), but the problem with natural makeup is that you don’t always get the best coverage or depth of color. When the dyes are make of fruit extract, then you can be sure that they’re natural and gentle, but if your makeup wears off after an hour or requires several layers to provide coverage, then what’s the point?

So I was very happy when my friend sent me a link to this post at the Happy Herbivore. It mentions a makeup line called Motives by Loren Ridinger, which is described thusly:

It’s the makeup that JLO wears and I have a letter from the company stating that the products contain no animal by-products and are not tested on animals. It has twice the pigment of a popular artistry brand, proving that vegan makeup can be bold and pigmented too! Basically, its luxury make up at far less than luxury prices! It’s also high definition and mineral based and can be custom blended in liquid and mineral powder form not just to your skin tone but to your skin TYPE (oily/dry) and CONCERN (aging/hyperpigmentation) as well. It is truly an incredible brand and I highly recommend it.

I was totally excited to try it, so for the past few months, I’ve been building up a collection. I now have the foundation, bronzer, blush, mascara, eyeliner and about 8 eye shadows.

The verdict: For the most part, I really like it. The eye products in particular are great. The mascara gives nice definition without flaking off, the liner goes on like butter, and the shadows come in really fantastic colors (although I haven’t decided yet if they are long-lasting enough). The blush is a beautiful shimmery peach (the color is called Lust), and I’m holding off on using the bronzer until summer.

As for the foundation, I’m on the fence. The color matches my skin tone, and on good skin days, it provides light, even coverage. However, on blotchier days, I find myself either needing several layers or having to mix it with other foundations to get enough coverage. Fortunately, there are several foundation lines within the Motives brand, so it’s possible that I simply need a different type of base. As I continue to explore the brand, I may experiment with the heavier coverage options.

The only other caveat I’ve run into is that the Motives website is hosted through something called Market America. I’m not totally clear on what Market America is or how it works, but it seems to be a business network that you can join and then become a seller. As I understand it, the company was created by someone named JR Ridinger, who I assume is a relative of Loren’s. When I made my purchases, I had to create an account, which then attempted to recruit me into the Market America family. I have no interest in doing that, and I wish I could purchase Motives without having to deal with that. But it’s a small inconvenience, and to me, it was worth it to try this line.

The bottom line: we all have to do our own research to find the brands we like and trust  and that meet our ethical standards. For now, I’m enjoying the Motives line, and I would recommend it. Please let me know if you’ve tried the products and tell me what you think.