My love for trying new things can only rival my love for complexion products, and this review satisfies both of those cravings. Today I’m sharing my thoughts on Mia Mariu Primer, Liquid Foundation and Cream Concealer, and also giving you a chance to win your own trio.
BRAND OVERVIEW
The Mia Mariu philosophy makes the connection between beauty and health inside and out. Mía Mariu’s high performance products are formulated with the most natural ingredients available helping you achieve vibrant beauty and health inside and out. Each unique product fuses nature and technology by combining the highest quality botanicals, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and peptides. The result? healthy products that provide a perfect balance that reflects itself through youthful, healthy, beautiful, glowing skin and renewed energy and vitality, at an exceptional value.
Step 1: Perfecting Finish Mineral Primer
According to the company, this primer “creates a smooth facial canvas allowing the foundation to glide on seamlessly, leaving a fresh natural look that lasts all day. Mineral Primer is power packed with antioxidants and vitamins to give your skin a healthy glow.”
Right from the tube it looks and feels like an unscented moisturizer. It has an unscented water-based formula that was created to work well with the brand’s three types of foundations, as well as any other water-based and mineral complexion products like CC creams. I applied a dime-sized amount to my face, and after it was set, my pores looked smaller and the skin felt smoother. I’m not sure this primer would work for very dry skin though, just based on how tight it made mine feel.
Step 2: Perfecting Finish Mineral Foundation CFL01
Mia Mariu offers three types of Perfecting Finish Mineral Foundations to choose from: powder, cream and liquid. All of them “deliver oil-free, luminous all day coverage while providing the benefits of natural minerals and vitamins. Each Mineral Foundation reduces the appearance of pores to obtain a perfectly matched radiant tone.”
I chose the Liquid formula because it’s much easier to control the amount of coverage that way, at least for me. I tried using powder foundations before, and they just didn’t work out for me, and neither did creams; I guess it takes a special kind of skin to pull those off.
Despite its runny consistency, Perfecting Finish Liquid Mineral Foundation provides very opaque, full coverage. I used a brush and a sponge to apply it, and decided that it’s easier to do with a sponge, because the brush kept creating too many strokes, and since this foundation sets pretty quickly, if those lines weren’t immediately evened out, they were here to stay. Even though I selected the lightest shade CLF01, the color wasn’t really a good match for my skin tone [it was too yellow and too dark], so maybe I can make it work by mixing it with another shade.
The wear time on me was average – 6 hours until I noticed creases and oily patches. It’s really hard to find a foundation that won’t melt after being exposed to 90 degree temperatures while having sweat and oil oozing through.
Step 3: Perfecting Finish Mineral Cream Concealer CCC01
Some MUAs apply concealer first, but I usually wait until I’m done with my foundation to see if I still need it or not. Sometimes a light layer of foundation is all it takes to look refreshed, and a whited out undereye area would only make it worse. To finish off my Mia Mariu complexion routine, I used Perfecting Finish Mineral Cream Concealer, which the company describes as “an oil-free, vitamin packed, high intensity formula that effectively covers imperfections like dark spots, discoloration and blemishes for a perfect and even tone.”
I don’t often buy concealers in pans like that, usually I go for liquid pens or solid sticks, so I had to bust out my unused concealer brush for this one. The formula feels very thick [the consistency of a butter stick straight from the fridge], so it took me a few strokes to grab enough product. Once applied, this concealer provides perfectly full coverage, and really masks any kinds of imperfections. In that aspect, I thought it worked just as well as a much more expensive dermablend. It really covers everything, but I think it would work better for blemishes and discolorations, because it made my undereye area look a bit crepey. Maybe I applied too much?
And now here are some swatches for you. From left to right: primer, foundation, foundation again [blended], concealer. Unfortunately, color-wise neither one of the color products suits my complexion, but I think I can make the foundation work by mixing it with something else, like a CC cream. The primer however is fabulous, and will most likely join my current routine.
And here’s how the products look on me all together. Granted, I chose the perfect day to try these: after a sleepless night my undereye area was nice and dark, and I was looking paler than usual [practically transparent] because of that. As you can see, the foundation and concealer make my skin look a bit too yellow, even though I normally choose products with yellow undertones for myself.
I included a closeup of my skin so you could see for yourself how flawless this foundation makes the skin look. The image not altered in any way, and I didn’t use any skin smoothing/blurring filters. The primer made my pores disappear and the foundation glided all over it like butter.
PRICE & AVAILABILITY
Perfecting Finish Mineral Foundation – $25 USD for 1 fl. oz. Available at Mia Mariu.
Perfecting Finish Mineral Primer – $20 USD for 1 fl. oz. Available at Mia Mariu.
Perfecting Finish Mineral Cream Concealer – $16 USD for 1.9g. Available at Mia Mariu.
Do any of these products sound good to you? Well, you’re in luck, because you have a chance to win all three! One winner will receive Perfecting Finish Mineral Primer (x1), Perfecting Finish Mineral Foundation (x1) in the formula and color of your choice, and Perfecting Finish Mineral Cream Concealer (x1) in the color of your choice. Need help figuring our your perfect match? Check out this page for tips.
The rules are embedded in the widget, but I should double-mention that this giveaway is for US & Canada residents only, and the potential winner’s entries will be validated. The prize is fulfilled by Mia Mariu, so I’m not responsible for any issues once I hand the winner’s info to them [i.e. if the Sponsor doesn’t ship the prize in a timely manner, or doesn’t ship it at all]. If any problems arise, the best I can do is communicate with the sponsor on your behalf. There will be no prize substitutions. The giveaway starts on 7/17/2014 at 12:01 am EST and ends on 8/01/2014 at 11:59 pm EST. Good luck!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Wow, what a flawless look! I’m really loving the sound of these. I haven’t heard of the brand before. The prices seem quite reasonable too. Love the look of that concealer!
This brand is new to me too so I had no idea what to expect. The foundation provides great coverage, I just wish the color worked better for me 🙂
That foundation is incredible!
I agree, it really seems to work well. I wish the color was closer to my skin tone.
I love how great these look on your skin!
Thank you!
Even though the foundation is the wrong color, it has amazing finish! I wonder if they have a more neutral color, because I’m also fair (though I think darker than you) with a pink undertone. That cream concealer is not something I would pick up for myself, either – like you, I prefer a tube or stick.
I agree, Nidia, this foundation really has a nice formula, I just wish it came in more shades 🙂
You look great in these products! I’ve tried this brand before and felt like they made nice products.
Thank you! Glad you liked these products too.
That foundation is amazing!
I think so too, I just wish it came in more shades. They really need to expand the range to include very fair and deep colors.
You look amazing in the products. Unfortunately, the brands shade range is limited.
Thank you, Kim, I agree, it would be nice if they expanded the shade range.
I really like the liquid and cream mineral products that I have had samples of. Would love to try this brand! thanks for the review and giveaway 🙂
You’re very welcome, Sherry! Good luck!
This products look great on you!
Thank you Leelo!
Now this is a giveaway I’m excited for ! I would love to test out the primer 🙂
Glad you like it Betzy!
I’m impressed with how soft and smooth your skin looks!
It really does have skin-perfecting qualities. Now if only the color matched me better, then this would be my ideal foundation.
Your skin looks flawless
Thank you! I give all the credit to the foundation 🙂
I love this brand! I got the powder foundation set 😀
Oh nice! I look forward to reading your review, because I really want to know how that powder foundation worked out for you 🙂
This gives amazing coverage for you!
Thanks! It really does provide good coverage, and the formula isn’t too thick either. Wish it came in a more suitable color for me 🙂
Great giveaway! I’ve never heard of this brand before.
Thanks Destany! I don’t think I’ve seen them around either, my guess is they’re a new company.
The foundation is awesome!
Glad you like it, too, Ange!
This looks fantastic on you!
Thanks Justina! Would be nice if the foundation and concealer came in lighter colors though.
It’s so hard for me to find face products with yellow undertones so thank you for this!
I’m right there with you Miranda, it’s hard to get a color match for my skin, especially for drugstore products, so i often have to make custom blends.
i tried this a while back. looks goodon you.
Oh nice, what did you think of these? Did any of the colors match your complexion?
What pores? I see perfection! You have naturally flawless skin my dear. I’m not familiar w/ this brand but the products look promising
Thanks girl 🙂 Trust me, my pores are naturally like giant craters [genetics], but with the right primers and toners I do my best to make them less visible.
Wow…these look seriously luxurious!
That simple packaging really makes them look nice, doesn’t it?
Your skin looks great! I’ve never heard of this brand before.
Thank you! I really give all the credit to the foundation.
Luminous and really lovely coverage, what more can you ask for?!
So happy to hear that it gets your seal of approval!
Wow these products really work well at refining your face. Love!
Thank you Brooke, they really do provide good coverage.
I wonder if they have darker colors. This looks great on you!
Thanks Melody! I don’t think they have deeper shades, so far the lineup is very limited.
WOW! You look amazing! Such a nice giveaway too!
Thank you, Elvira!
Thanks for introducing this brand. I don’t think the concealer would work for me because I too prefer a more liquidy formula. If it’s too hard for me to work in I just won’t use it.