I Love Thee: Jane Iredale PurePressed Base SPF20


You all know how much I adore Jane Iredale products after having read my Letter to Jane Iredale. With this brand, it was the beauty within that had captured my heart.

This marks the first of a series of posts featuring products that I use and absolutely love. While many are from the Jane Iredale brand, products from other brands may be featured as well.

About Thee
The name is Jane Iredale PurePressed Base. It is a pressed mineral powder foundation with a choice of 24 shades, divided into four categories – neutral, warm, cool and global. The warm shades have yellow undertones, the cool have pink undertones, the neutrals are for those with very fair skin tones while the global shades are suitable for those with tanned and darker skin tones.

The make-up of this foundation is pretty simple, as evidenced by the list of ingredients:

Titanium Dioxide 14%, Zinc Oxide 3% Mica, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Plankton Extract, Algae Extract, Pine Bark Extract, Pomegranate Extract. May contain: Iron Oxides, Ultramarines.

The extracts are what Jane Iredale calls good-for-skin ingredients as they are antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory properties and serve as protection against UV radiation, just to name a few.

This foundation comes dressed in a luxurious gold round compact with a mirror under the lid and an application sponge.

How I Use Thee
I always first apply a good facial moisturiser to cleansed skin and wait till the moisturiser is fully absorbed into the skin before applying PurePressed. Otherwise, it would appear blotchy on the face.

To apply, Jane Iredale recommends using her Handi Brush (a flat-top brush) or her Kabuki Brush, the former being the preferred choice. I, though, tend to use the Kabuki Brush. I just swirl the brush in the foundation without picking up too much powder and apply it to the face with a light hand in downward strokes. It is best to apply in thin layers and gradually build it up for the desired coverage. Never apply too thickly at one go or press into the skin with a sponge, says Jane Iredale. Committing this crime would cause the individual minerals to separate and make the face shiny. The application sponge that comes in the compact is to be used only for minor touch-ups, by the way.

PurePressed may also be used as a concealer by dabbing the area/spot with a small brush. However, I think this would work only for lighter spots. For more conspicuous scars, a concealer is recommended.

Why I Love Thee
The beauty about mineral foundations is that it is possible to go two or three shades lighter or darker and you would still look fine. According to Jane Iredale, this is due to “the way the mineral foundations interact with light in ways that adjust to your skin tone”. For example, I belong to the warm category and my staple shade is Warm Sienna. I also have Latte which is a global shade and is, in my amateur estimation, about two shades darker than Warm Sienna. I’ve used Latte on its own outside of the summer months without any problems at all.

The foundation feels light on the face, so I never have the sensation of wearing a mask. Its coverage is quite sheer and matte.

It is long-lasting, even in hot and humid conditions, and it doesn't get rubbed off easily. Jane Iredale recommends reapplying after prolonged sun exposure, excessive perspiration or after towel drying. With towel drying, only pat the face dry and not wipe. Washing it off is easy and fuss-free - just use any cleanser.

It provides UVA/UVB SPF 20 broad spectrum sun protection. A foundation that is also a sunscreen.....how convenient!

To those fearful of potentially toxic evils, you'd be glad to know that this product has no colourants and parabens.

Most importantly, it doesn't break me out. I would attribute this to the absence of talc, oils and bismuth oxychloride. Perfect!

Why I May Not Love Thee
All right, let’s get real and I will say why you may not love this foundation: it doesn't come cheap. It is priced at US$49.50 for 9.9g / 0.35oz. It used to have a US$46.00 price tag, which I thought was already dear!

I believe the price increase coincided with the design revamp of the gold compact not too long ago. This revamp has resulted in a different look on the lid which now has a huge logo across, and a magnetic opening/closing has replaced the previous press-in latch (product pictured is with the old compact). However, the good thing about the new compact is that it is now refillable with refills priced at US$40.00. All one has to do is push a pin through a tiny hole at the bottom of the compact to remove the used pan.

Final Words To Thee
All said, I will stick with this foundation for as long as it maintains its inner beauty. Its superior qualities far outweigh its steep price and that’s why I still say: I love thee.

More information can be found on the Jane Iredale website and my other posts on this brand, including my Letter to Jane Iredale.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I read your letter to Ms Jane! I was hooked and went to find out more from our Austalian online beauty website Adore Beauty. Jane has some fabulous products but they too are very pricey in Australia and I figure I will really need to test!! This post was informative and has not calmed my wanting..... Not a good sign for my purse!! I am off to sit on my wallet!! ;)

Michelle @Lipstickrules said...

I need to get my hands on Jane stuff someday!

Have a great weekend.

Witoxicity said...

@Danielle
It would be great if you could get your hands on some Jane Iredale products. Her foundations are fabulous! Yes, the foundations are pricey but I wouldn't say the same for many of her other products - their prices aren't too prohibitive. That's a good thing! :)

@Lipstick Rules
Oh yes, you should, Michelle! You would love her products. I hope getting hold of Jane Iredale products won't be too difficult in Canada.

Have a lovely Sunday! :)

Gail said...

Hi, I loved your post about gems in makeup (not sure my comment went through so just mentioning it again) and also wanted to say because of you always going on about J.I, I am swapping for some of her fdtn on makeupalley... Hope it's amazing as you have me all excited!!! thanks xxxx

Witoxicity said...

@Gail
Oh dear, I'm afraid your comment on my previous post never went through! I never received it at all! But thanks. I'm pleased that you enjoyed reading it. I certainly had fun writing it! :)

Great to hear that you're getting some Jane Iredale stuff! Yes, it is my fault for getting you sucked into this, but I certainly hope it will be to your liking. :D

Anonymous said...

I love the gold packaging!
Aren't most foundations and powders (non drugstore) getting more and more expensive these days? It's crazyy.

Witoxicity said...

@Natalie Nguyen
Yes, you're right. I wish they weren't so dear but at least, I know Jane Iredale's foundations are quality products. Some of us with sensitive skin don't exactly have the luxury of choice. :)