MIMC (Mineral Make Cosmetic) Natural Mineral Color Powder Eyeshadows

MIMC, or Mineral Makeup Cosmetic is a Japanese mineral makeup brand. Japan is not very well-known for producing mineral makeup, unlike the U.S. which makes mainstream brands like Bare Escentuals, Afterglow, Youngblood, and Jane Iredale to name some. In Japan and Hong Kong, MIMC managed to gain a good following. I believe the brand spiked my interest since I laid eyes on it in a Beyond Organics store (selling all organic products from all over the world) in Times Square Causeway Bay. I took many a swatch and pestered the sales clerk for some time. I did this for a couple of trips and after about two years of looking at their brochure, I finally decided to try some of its products. I thought this brand is the perfect blend for my love of Japanese cosmetics and curiosity over mineral makeup.

I was very intrigued with their eyeshadows since the beginning. The Natural Mineral Color Powder is a mineral eyeshadow made of 100% natural ingredients. It comes in many shades ranging from neutrals to more colorful ones (green, pink, violet, purple). 

I settled on three different shades of neutral; to be mixed and matched or worn alone. 

They come in clear plastic vials, easily portable but can be messy when not stored upright.

The shades are number-coded -- 20,112, 27. 

The applicator is a fuzzy, spongy tip. 

Some Japanese info. 

Here they are from darkest to lightest. 27 -- a dark cocoa with red undertones. 112 -- a cool bronzey-brown. 20 -- a light champagne. All have a shimmery finish. 

Under indoor conditions. 27 can be hard to pull off; the red undertones and rich color give off a bruised look when applied heavily. It is best used as a shader/contour color, sparingly. 112 is more forgiving and would work on most skin tones. It gives a nice wash of medium brown color. I usually use 112 and 20 together. 20 can be used on the lids alone for subtle definition or as a highlighter.

Under direct sunlight. The eyeshadows are very smooth and rich in pigment. It didn't cause any irritation and stayed put whole day. These shadows produce the most beautiful finish I have ever encountered. I have always wanted to achieve a wet, glossy eyeshadow look without looking like having oily lids, and these do the job very well. The shadows also do not require a makeup remover to be cleansed off. However, they do have their bad points. It takes some getting used to with application. The sponge tip is not very easy to maneuver, and applying the shadows with a brush, as can be imagined, is quite tricky. I always end up with shimmer on my cheeks because the pigments scatter everywhere. They are not the easiest to blend either. Oddly, i found using my fingers make for the easiest method of application and most natural-looking finish. Overall, these are very good quality shadows that would require a steeper learning curve. If I could just find a way to eliminate the sparkly stuff clinging to the rest of my face, these could be some of the best shadows yet.