I've gotten several requests recently for my opinion of Youngblood mineral cosmetics, so this week I am pleased to offer a complete review. Enjoy!

Youngblood Skin Care was created by Pauline Youngblood, a paramedical aesthetician who worked for 8 years for dermatologists and plastic surgeons with an interest in problematic skin. She regularly met patients who had cosmetic needs that were not being met by regular products, so she began working with chemists on a formulation of micronized minerals and pigments to create her own concealing powder. The result was a lightweight foundation powder designed to be versatile and long lasting. The Youngblood line has since grown to include mineral blush, and, most recently, eye shadow. Youngblood products are designed to work on any skin type because they are lightweight and natural with coverage that is easy to control.

Natural Mineral Foundation - Loose Powder ($29.95)
This loose powder is designed to be your foundation, concealer, and finishing powder all in one. It comes in 14 natural looking shades, from lightest "cool beige" to deepest "mahogany", and is supposed to work well for all skin types. The application techniques included with the powder are fairly involved, basically to help you get the best results. I found it did take me several tries over a period of about a week to get the color and coverage just right. I experimented with "ivory", "neutral", and "barely beige" and finally settled with "neutral" as the best color for my skin. I also switched between applying the foundation with a powder brush and applying it with a sponge, and I found that a combination of the two techniques worked the best. I now use the powder brush for all over coverage first, then I go back with a little powder on the sponge to cover more difficult areas, like blemishes and broken capillaries. Since the powder is designed to be versatile, you can even mix it with a moisturizer or water to create liquid foundation or concealer. I mixed a small amount with some eye cream to create an undereye concealer; the finish was lighter and less powdery than using the dry powder alone.

For my normal to dry but also acne-prone skin, I found the foundation covered well but didn't look heavy or thick, and thankfully it did not dry my skin out - a natural concern with most powders. It did take me some time to get the application just right so I didn't get shiny by the end of the day (a result of applying too much powder), but once I got it figured out, I really like the look and lightweight feel of this product better than many ordinary foundations I've tried, especially for covering blemishes.

Compact Mineral Foundation ($32.50)
Take the loose foundation mentioned above, add a little talc, and press it into a compact, and you get Youngblood's Compact Foundation. It's available in 10 shades (ivory, neutral, barely beige, soft beige, honey, warm beige, rose beige, toffee, sunglow, coffee, and hazelnut) and has a slightly matte finish, which is nice for normal to oily skin.

Crushed Mineral Blush ($15.95)
A light dusting of one of these pretty mineral blushes over my Youngblood foundation completed the fresh and natural look I was hoping for with these products. This loose powder blush comes in 6 shades - dusty pink, coral reef, plumberry (my favorite of the bunch), cinnamon, adobe, and cabernet - that are lighter and more translucent than most ordinary blushes. Just like the foundation, you simply tap some of the minerals into the lid of the jar, your hand, or on a tissue, swirl in your brush to pick up the color, and apply. Compared to the department store brand blushes I normally wear (Bobbi Brown, Christian Dior, Lorac), I really prefer the sheerer, glowing look of these minerals.

Crushed Mineral Eye Shadow ($14)
Youngblood recently introduced brand new loose mineral shadows, and I have mixed feelings about them. As a sleep deprived new mom steadily approaching 30, my eyes are starting to look, shall we say, less than youthful :). The last thing I want is a wrinkly looking eyelid, and unfortunately that is what a few of these colors did to me, particularly the ones with a touch of gold. Here are shade descriptions:

Moonstone - shimmering white
Alabaster - natural beige
Peridot - light green-gold
Golden Beryl - golden shimmer
Fire Opal - copper pink
Cashmere - rich taupe touched with gold
Granite - light nude-bronze
Sedona - rich red-brown
Azurite - soft slate blue with touch of green
Heather Smoke - smoky purple
Irish Moss - rich olive green-gold
Morganite - soft pink shine

On a positive note, the texture and blendability of these shadows are very nice, and they wear well throughout the day. I'd recommend choosing the softer shades like Alabaster (one of my favorites), Azurite, or Sedona.

Youngblood also has a line of brushes as well as a small selection of skin care products, including a cucumber cleansing gel, two alcohol-free toners, and a handful of moisturizers and specialty treatments. I hope to have reviews of these products in the coming months.

For more information about Youngblood mineral cosmetics, check out their website at http://www.ybskin.com, or call 1-800-216-6133. You can see color swatches of the foundations and blushes on the website under "Products".

I'm always excited about welcoming new Panelists to our happy (and busy) little "family". Our newest member, Aina, offers her opinions on cosmetic lines for women of color this month with an investigation into Black Opal and Fashion Fair. You won't want to miss this!

February Feature: Cosmetic Lines for Women of Color - Part Two

Learn more about Aina and the rest of the Cosmetic Connection Product Panel at http://www.cosmeticconnection.com/panelists.html

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