I ordered the Gel Eyeliner a few weeks back in 'Black Out' and now I am so in love with this eyeliner! It stays put and looks gorgeous! However, I am a bit afraid to try any other shades, since I am pretty allergic to traditional cosmetics - especially anything with Blue in it.. Toothpastes, perfumes, shampoos..

I have checked the ingredients list in the gel eyeliner, and I believe the colors come just from minerals, which I can wear just fine (Yay!) It is still listed under 'trditional cosmetics'. Is this just because of all the 'additional' stuff you need to have to make it a 'gel eyeliner'? Like I said, I'd love to try other shades, especially 'Scuba dive' and 'Tidal wave'.

Second: Every now and then I get to have 'free Rocks!' with my order. I notice that they do have 'D&C blue 1' in the ingredients list, which I am pretty sure is a 'No!-No!' for me. Do only the blue(ish- maybe purple) shades have that? I have ordered 'blackplanet' and 'whiteriot' with my free rocks! to be sure I am not getting any blue1 in my make-up, but I'd love to try other shades too.

My make-up allergy made my life pretty dull and colorless until I discovered AL and Mineral Make-Up. Nothing has irritated my eyes so far, and I'd like to keep it that way! And I have been wearing eyeshadow and liner almost every day now without problems for 7 months! =)

Again, should I just not get any Rocks! shades beside white and/or black with basic sparkles, and should I try more gel eyeliner shades??

Oh, and also, what is the shelf life of a gel eyeliner if I don't open it? Is it still something like 4 - 6 months? Since I fell in love with the liner, I feel like I should just order LOTS of it and store it the next time it comes on sale =)

Thanks, love AL


- Mint

Hi, Mint - I'm so glad you love the gel liners! I really adore them, too - Scuba Dive is a gorgeous indigo shade, very rich. And Tidal Wave will soon be here - I haven't seen it in real life yet, but I'm sure it's just as gorgeous.

I don't have the answers to your ingredient questions - hoping Kristen comes along to give you clear answers. But wanted to share with you my experience, since I'm also sensitive to particular ingredients.

My sensitivity is to red - specifically, a natural red colorant, which is used in almost everything in drugstores and department stores, and seemed to be included in every shade I would ever have considered wearing (brown, peach, bronze, plum, etc). So for YEARS - like 20 or so - I went without because I couldn't find anything that didn't give me a severe reaction.

When I found Aromaleigh, it was like being freed from prison, makeup-wise. Suddenly I had such a huge number of options for colors - and I found that sometimes (rarely and for short periods of time) I could use a color that contained my trouble ingredient in small proportions. And the ingredient disclosure is like gold to those of us with sensitivities and allergies!

In general, knowing that red tones are my issue, if an ingredient listing says "may contain", I usually avoid the red tones and still use the other colors.

Interestingly, I'm not at all bothered by the D&C colorants used in Rocks, but rather by a natural colorant (that for most everyone else poses no issue at all, and is even used in natural and organic foodstuffs, it's that pure and innocuous!).

On looking at the ingredients for the gel liners, I think that the blues would be safe for you - I don't see any D&C colorants at all. And I would say that an unopened gel liner would have *almost* a life-time shelf life. ANd yes, I think the gel liners are considered traditional cosmetics because they are not loose mineral powders and contain other than natural ingredients.

hth a little bit, and hope Kristen or Amy can answer your question about the Rocks! colors!
\
-b.

Oh - my Tidal Wave just arrived, and it is so pretty! It's a gorgeous greyed blue, a bit shimmery, like satin. It would be in the same family as Isabella, Lilith and Tide - that gorgeous mid-deep grey blue shade, the color of the pacific ocean at twilight. Just gorgeous - can't wait to play with this one!

quote:

Originally posted by Bridget:
Oh - my Tidal Wave just arrived, and it is so pretty! It's a gorgeous greyed blue, a bit shimmery, like satin. It would be in the same family as Isabella, Lilith and Tide - that gorgeous mid-deep grey blue shade, the color of the pacific ocean at twilight. Just gorgeous - can't wait to play with this one!

Oo, sounds wonderful! I will definitely have to get that one then =) I just have to wait until May, and for a sale. I have been a baaad girl and already ordered twice this month, though I promised to only do it once a month.. Darn Lustres and PHs sale, heh! And now I also need to get one of the new lipliners too..

Mint, I'm wearing Tidal Wave today, and just know it will be absolutely GORGEOUS on you! For starters, it's just a gorgeous color. But really, I think it will suit you to a T!!

For anyone contemplating Tidal Wave gel liner, I say just do it! You won't be sorry!

Here's a fuller description of the color, now that I've got it on.

Depth - it is about the same depth as Marcasite - the lighter shimmery grey gel liner. So a medium - deep shade, closer to medium. GREAT for those who like a softer look in their liner, but still want some oomph!

Color - a beautiful, RICH steely blue. The family is definitely Lilith-Isabell-Marina-Tide - that amazing color of blue that in clothing really does look gorgeous on everyone (even warm old me - most blues just make me look "off)

Shimmer - this is a lovely satiny-pearly shimmer- definitely NOT a flat matte, but not high sparkle or high shine, either. If it were an eye shadow, it would be in the Satin Petals family, I think.

Actually, it would make a terrific lid color - use the gel as a paintable base to build depth for a saturated or smokey eye. Works great! I can see using this as a lid color under ANY Of the Rocks! blues (will have to play with detinationunknown tomorrow if I get some minutes). And also under any of the mineral shadows, too - it will give great cling to any shadow.

Today I have it on with a very simple, subdued eye. Fawn all over lid, Latte and Venus mixed in the crease, Latte swept under lower lashes, and upper lid line with Tidal Wave. Looks so pretty!

it's a gorgeous one!

-b.

Mint, what mascara are you using? My eyes are very sensitive like that. I ordered one of the regular eye liners that aromaleigh has because I like the smudge brushes. But I plan on ordering one or two of the gel ones and perhaps the drama ones too.

I am curious about mascara for sensitive eyes...

quote:

Originally posted by lisabk60:
Mint, what mascara are you using? My eyes are very sensitive like that. I ordered one of the regular eye liners that aromaleigh has because I like the smudge brushes. But I plan on ordering one or two of the gel ones and perhaps the drama ones too.

I am curious about mascara for sensitive eyes...

I haven't had problems with too many mascaras - which is strange considering the reaction any other traditional eye-make-up gives me. I do use just pure black mascaras. I used to love Arcancil when I lived in Finland, but I have't seen it anywhere in the US. Right now I am using L'Oreal Voluminous and I am pretty happy with it. It washes off without too mucyh effort. I have also liked Rimmel mascaras.

I am tempted to try the ones AL sells (Especially the Long & Luscious one), but a while back, before I knew of AL, I stocked up with L'Oreal mascaras and have now about 5 unopened ones waiting.

I have heard great things about the Loreal mascara you wear. But I wear Maybelline and lately my eyes get very red at the end of the day.

I just ordered the AL mascara and I can't wait to try it. So far, none of the AL products even slightly irritate me, so I have my fingers crossed.

you could always sell those extra ones on ebay! since they are unopened ~ i'm sure lots of people would want to buy them. even if you only get half the $$$ back that you spent on them... it's better to sell them than toss them in the garbage. depending on the kind you could get between around $5-$7 w/o the shipping! or you could sell them as a lot and not have to worry about indvidual auctions (although you'll prolly make less $$$ going that route). anyway, just a suggestion.

lisabk60 ~ let me know how you like the AL mascara. i'm thinking about getting some myself.

I'm completely in love w/these gel eyeliners! so far I've only got Chocolate Mousse and Marcasite, but they've totally won me over, mainly for 3 reasons: 1) a little really does go a long way, 2) they're so quick and easy to apply when all I want is a basic, neutral liner (I haven't got any of the bolder colours), and 3) they really ARE "indelible": yesterday we took our kids up to a local amusement park -- it was almost 100˚F out (believe me, this was my DH's idea to go out in that kind of heat, NOT mine, but being the dutiful wife and mother, I went along LOL), but my gel liner stayed put, even after playing in the fountains to cool off! I'm so glad I got these -- they're my new go-to basics!

*MWAH!*
Tanya

Hi Mint!

I would think unopened gel liners should have a fairly long shelf life...maybe as much as a couple of years.

As for your "blues" sensitivity...if there's a color you're curious about, get a sample and do a "patch test". Put a small dab of the product on the pad of a small band-aid and apply it to sensitive skin such as the inside of your elbow. (You may need to dampen a gel eyeliner sample to do this, I know they tend to dry out). If you don't experience any immediate reaction, leave it on overnight. If you take the band-aid off in the morning and don't see any signs of irritation, you're probably safe wearing that color.

At this point I have 5 gel eyeliners, and I am very happy with them all. I use Marcasite almost every day, but even the ones that I use only once a week or less often are fine. I keep them in a tightly sealed plastic bag, out of sunlight and haven't noticed any kind of drying =)

None of the AL products I have tried so far has given me any kind of allergy symptoms, so I am now feeling very safe. I have quite a collection of blue shades now, and the Tidal Wave gel liner is just gorgoeus! I asked about the Rocks! shades and Blue 1 and Miss K gave me a list of shades to avoid. This means I am going to start experimenting with some bright Rocks! shades once I find a bit more time. Yay! =)

i can't wait to see the looks you come up with from the rocks! shades you can wear.

i have 4 of the liners but am excited to try out a few more!!!

Mint,
I do hope you are able to wear destinationunknown, it would be fantastic on you!
Melissa

you're right... that would look gorgeous!

Unfortunaterly destinationunknown is one of the ones with Blue 1 ( Kristen answered my question about Rocks!) )

I will need to get more samples one day soon and start experimenting =) I just received a surprise sample of blackangel, and I love it! It is a just a WOW! liner color. Makes me think I also need to try londondungeon. And then I need to think which ones to get for my lids - sparklies or mattes. They all are so tempting!

Mint, you definitely need to try London Dungeon! I love it. I also LOVE Shadow Play. You must try that one if you don't already have it

I have to say I LOVE the gel eyeliner. I've tried MAC, Bobbi Brown, and Stia, and am allergic to all of them. Only the Aromaleigh product works for me.

Thank you! Please don't stop making this in Black Out!

aren't they wonderful? i don't know anyone who ever tried them didn't fall in love immediately. the consistancy is so wonderful to work with, stays put forever... and it doesn't take hours of lots of scrubbing to wash off. even if you don't have allergies... these are still the best darn liners out there. i'm sure AL will carry these gel liners forever (unless the company that makes these little beauties stopped selling them). i hope they continue to come out with new shades as well.

sambagrrl07 ~ i'm really glad you finally found a liner that works for you w/o bothering your eyes. how long have you been using aromaleigh?

Hi Mint! Where in Finland did you live? My mother is Finnish- I spent every summer of my childhood there until the age of 20. My family is from a small town called Aitoo, not far from Tampere.