Romancing the Storm

Inika Cosmetics is an organic make-up brand now available throughout New Zealand. Thread.co.nz takes a look at some of the Inika products including their new limited edition colour story for winter 2011, Romancing the Storm…

Inika Cosmetics is an organic make-up brand now available throughout New Zealand. The products are all free from talc, parabens, genetically modified ingredients, animal products and are cruelty-free. Best yet, they are fashionable and you don’t have to wear sackcloth and ashes to be ethically made-up and beautiful!

Thread.co.nz takes a look at some of the Inika products including their new limited edition colour story for winter 2011, Romancing the Storm.

They’ve released a limited edition gift pack with the complete Romancing the Storm colour story at a special price so clients can create eyes and lips in the beautiful Autumn shades.

Like yum plums? You’ll love the Autumn Plum Mineral Eyeshadow in loose powder, complemented by the tawny gold of the cream eyeshadow, a limited edition Rose Gold Crème de Cassis Cream Eyeshadow. Smudge it on with fingertips or a brush. The eye-shadow has no talc and fillers so it is intensely pigmented and comes on nice and strong, the way we like it! It has a slight irridescent shimmer to it.

Line your eyes with the softest eyeliner pencil out – Creamy Black Caviar Eyeliner – and complete the story with Naked Ambition Lipstick which goes on quite sheer and nude.

Inika Romancing the Storm Limited Edition Gift Pack retails for $89.00 (Individually: Autumn Plum Eyeshadow $28.99, Black Caviar Eyeliner $28.99, Naked Ambition Lipstick $39.99.)

And how about the rest of the range?

My favourite in the range is the Light Reflect highlighting creme. Tip: make sure you blend it really well as it has a fairly thick consistency so will set exactly where you put it – a fabulous trait unless you haven’t blended it well! I used it above my cheekbones but you could also apply it on the browbone and eye area.

Inika Mineral Mascara has a 2-in-1 "double-Z" brush designed to give thicker AND fatter looking lashes with a ‘lengthening edge’ as well as a ‘volumising edge’. The unique thing about this mascara is that it is safe to use on Lash Extensions. I found it to not clump at all, and to be fairly subtle in coverage, and so I did double coats.

Under your foundation, start with a primer. Inika Certified Organic Pure Primer with macadamia oil, shea butter, avocado and apricot, creates a base canvas for make-up and helps your make-up last longer. I also really liked the light fresh herbal scent and the hydrating feel.

Inika Liquid Foundation ($69.99) is full of organic antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It hydrates and nourishes the skin with antioxidant green tea extract and rosehip help to accelerate the formation of new skin cells, improve circulation and protect the skin with pure mineral pigments. It was a finalist in the 2010 Prix de marie claire de la Beauté Awards – Best Make-Up Product (Splurge) category.

It is a certified organic liquid foundation in a squeezable pump tube (30ml $69.50) with a light-medium coverage. I found it spread well and dissolved into my skin beautifully. If you want a heavier coverage, follow up with the Inika mineral foundation which comes in a loose powder.

Lastly, take it all off with the Inika Eye and Make-up Remover with chamomile, calendula and cucumber. This was an incredibly gentle and soothing lotion to remove my make-up with, as my eyes often get stung by harsher removers.

See www.inikacosmetics.com for more info and read our Inika interview on Thread here.

By Megan Robinson 8 March 2011.