More Than a Bag of Rocks
by Donna Maria Coles Johnson

For the past 4 years, the holidays have been an odd mixture of breast pumps, tears, sleepless nights, spousal adjustments, finger paint, throw up, whole grain cereal (in very odd places around the house), joy, financial challenges, midnight pharmacy runs, laughter, toddler crafts, visits to hospitals to see my ill father and surprises of all kinds. It seems like I was just minding my own business living when suddenly, I got married and started a family. What could I have possibly been doing with all that time on my hands before I had children? I can't really remember but I think I recall spending quite a bit of it plucking my eye brows, having girlfriend parties, waxing, trying new lip sticks, mixing nail polish colors and languishing in a warm bath tub at least 3 times a week.

I no longer spend as much time primping and prepping, but having a 4-year old daughter who loves fingernail polish and lotion has caused me to return to my roots a bit. A few weeks ago when I was dreadfully tired and my husband and son were out together, my daughter painted all 20 of my nails while I napped. Now that's the kind of beauty routine I can get used to!

Of course I want my daughter to take the time to look her best. Even so, I am careful about the messages I send her about beauty. In a world where it can be so easy to become preoccupied with the exterior, I don't want her to ever judge herself or anyone else based solely on appearance. On the other hand, I want her to understand that she is indeed beautiful and that there's nothing wrong with using some carefully selected tools to help enhance that beauty. This is where the bag of rocks comes in.

While Charlie Brown may be forever stuck with a worthless bag of rocks on Halloween night, I have found some rocks that really help me shine. The rocks I'm talking about are mined from the earth and then crushed and treated to form the powdered mineral makeup colors I have grown to love. I was introduced to mineral makeup in 2002 by my friend Debbie Bilezikian at Monave Mineral Cosmetics. Up until that time, I had shied away from using makeup simply because it was messy and inconvenient. Foundation left my skin feeling like it was wearing a truck, and sometimes looking like it too. I couldn't imagine how mineral makeup could be any different. But it is, and for those of you who have not tried it, the holidays are a perfect time to do so.

There are lots of reasons why mineral makeup is nice but by far the most compelling is how it enhances my skin's natural glow and color without making it look like it's made up. I've tried lots of makeup and mineral makeup is the only kind that complements my skin without making my face look like a pancake. It's easy to use, available in every possible color imaginable and a small amount of product goes a long way so it's easy on the budget too.

So if your plans to celebrate the holidays include a night out with a special someone, and you are looking to create a look that brings out the best in your facial assets, give mineral makeup a try. I have been pleased with all of the mineral makeup I've tried from these companies.

• Monave (mentioned above): Their Saturnina foundation is a near perfect match for my skin color and Debbie just added a vegan line of lip sticks that simultaneously color and moisturize the lips.
• Herbs of Grace: Fantastic eye shadows complement my eyes without making it appear as though I'm trying to be 25 again. My favorite natural color combination is Oatstraw, over the entire lid, Cocoa above the eye and a tiny touch of Indigo in the outside corners.
• Bare Escentuals: I purchased their 11-piece kit with two foundation colors (one for summer when my skin turns a few shades darker), an all-over face color (which I just use for blush), 3 eye shadows and some fantastic makeup brushes.
• Abbey St. Clare: Their eye shadow in Moonstone is nice and adds a pearlescence that is perfect for a special night with hubby.

The fall and winter seasons are probably the best times of year to experiment with new cosmetic colors. There's no shortage of parties and you can always find an excuse to dress up and enjoy being a girl. You're sure to find mineral makeup colors that complement every corner of your face and help celebrate your natural beauty inside and out.