PRODUCT DIRECTIONS

MINERALS:

Tap a small amount of loose mineral powder into the lid of your jar and swirl your flat-top or kabuki brush into it. With the brush head facing up, tap the bottom of the handle on a hard surface, e.g., bathroom countertop. This settles the powder into the brush head.  Using a circular motion, firmly spread powder on clean, dry skin to evenly blend pigments.   For the most natural look, start with less powder and buff it in well, again using a circular motion.

COVERAGE FOR BLEMISHES, RED SPOTS, ROSACEA, etc.:  A separate concealer product is NOT needed for blemishes, red spots, rosacea, etc.  Use either an eye shadow brush or the edge of the flat-top brush to apply small amounts of powder to the problem areas and blend well.   Or, for those with dry, flaky skin, the loose minerals of any color can be blended with Legacy’s Moisturizer to create a cream to also cover spots.  First, use Legacy’s skin care 3-step system to cleanse, nourish, and hydrate the skin (see instructions below).  Let dry. Next, tap a small amount of mineral powder into the palm of the hand.   Add a drop of Legacy Moisturizer. Blend the two products together until a smooth, creamy consistency is achieved.  Use your fingertip or a make-up wedge to apply.

Trouble-shooting Mineral Application:

If your minerals look pasty and thick here are a few possibilities:

1.  The brush!:  The right brush is an absolute necessity when applying loose minerals. Brushes sold on our website are especially made for minerals application because they have a very high density of hair and they are short, firm, and soft. Think of how hard it is to spread cold butter on bread with a plastic knife.  The same kind of thing happens if you try to use brushes you may already own no matter how expensive or high quality they may be.  They won’t work.  You need the right brushes that are made especially for Monave’s pure minerals.  Monave’s minerals have no fillers (unlike other highly-advertised brands) so the brushes on our site will work best.  Even other bronzer brushes that work with other mineral lines with fillers will not have firm-enough or dense-enough hair to accomplish the task. The result? Too much minerals that hasn’t spread well, sticking in all the wrong places, definitely not natural looking!  Get the right brushes!

2.  Too much product on the brush:  Minerals are highly concentrated. They are made up of pure pigment; the same pigments that cosmetics companies use to add color to pressed and liquid foundations.  Because there is little if any 'filler" in this type of powder, it is imperative that you put just a little bit of powder on your brush and use that on one cheek.  Buff it in well in a circular motion before applying more. How much is enough?  Basically, you press the head of the kabuki brush or flat-top brush (our favorite) directly against the holes of the sifter (the sifteris the surface in the jar with the holes), tip the whole unit upside down, tap the jar a bit, and then lift the sifter off the brush. There should be a light dusting of powder on the brush head and that amount is sufficient to cover at least one cheek and possibly the whole face.  You can always add another layer, so start with less.

3.  The wrong shade:  This can be an issue with women of color.  If you have a golden undertone and the color you apply has a blue or neutral undertone, your face may appear grayish or pasty.  It is not necessarily that the product is too light or has the "wrong" formula for your skin, just the wrong undertone.  Don't assume that mineral foundation doesn't "work" on ethnic skin.  Monave’s minerals are truly unique and many shades have been created specifically for ethnic skin tones.  Be persistent until you find a shade that at least comes close.  Blending loose mineral foundation shades together is as simple as shaking the jar, and blending one color with another may achieve that perfect shade that you're looking for!  This is why trying our Samples Sets is a great idea.   

If you are still having trouble after trying some of these techniques, please e-mail us (healthyskin@frontiernet.net) with the specifics of your situation and we will try to help you further.

Skin Care:

How to use Legacy’s Skin Care:

All 3 products (Cleanser, Serum, & Moisturizer) are highly concentrated and were developed to spread easily.  The Serum and the Moisturizer are not like cold cream or hand lotion, no need to slather them on in a thick layer.  Because of its unique formulation, a very THIN layer of Serum and Moisturizer is VERY effective!  If your face feels sticky when you’re done, you’ve used too much, so thin it out with a little water.

1. 2 pumps of the Cleanser into the palm of your left hand, rub palms together for a few seconds (this will volumize the foam a bit), spread all over already-            slightly-moist face and neck and gently rub in.  RINSE OFF (do not rub face with towel afterwards, this can cause microscopic tears in the pours and allow bacteria to get into the skin and cause breakouts.  Just blot face lightly with towel).
   
   
2. 2 pumps of the Serum into the palm of your left hand.  With your index finger      of the other hand, dot the Serum all over your already-slightly-moist face and neck and gently spread all over face and neck with slightly wet fingertips.  LEAVE ON (let dry for a few minutes, then do the next step below.
   
   
3. 2 pumps of the Moisturizer into the palm of your left hand.  Dot the same as Serum above.  Use slightly wet fingertips and spread gently all over face and neck. LEAVE ON.  For men & women:  let dry, then apply Monave minerals.

Repeat the skin care steps above twice daily, in the morning and at bedtime. 

At bedtime, a dot of extra moisturizer can also be used on any fine lines under the eyes, on the forehead, on the neck, or around the mouth (be careful not to get any in the eyes).

Nail Polish:

Overview
Have some fun and get creative by mixing this clear polish with any of Monave’s great loose mineral or Sparkly Stuff colors for a nail polish creation all your own!
To create your own colors simply tap a small amount (much less than you think) of mineral powder from your jar of multi-purpose powder, ultra-mattes, or blush into a small container.  Next, dip the nail polish brush into the powder and brush over the nail.  Brush repeatedly until all of the powder is smoothly blended into the polish.
This will dry very quickly and a second coat can be applied if desired.  Use rubbing alcohol or vodka-grain alcohol to clean off the brush before dipping back into the bottle. In this way, your nail polish will remain clear for the next color.

Nail preparation
Solvent-based polishes can strip healthy nails of naturally-produced oils. This clear polish does not contain these solvents so the oils remain on the nail.  Wash and dry hands thoroughly before applying polish.

Dry time
Polish dries to a tack-free state nearly as fast as regular polish. Two thin coats will dry faster than one thick. Cold hands, low temperatures, or high humidity can prolong drying time. Water resistant in about 15 minutes.   Able to withstand other chemicals (shampooing, doing dishes) after about an hour.  For best results, polish nails at the end of the day so they have overnight to cure properly.

Product exceptions
You may find this product is a bit more difficult to remove from toe nails, because toe nails are naturally more dry and have less natural oils.

Scratch resistance
Unlike solvent-based polishes which reach their maximum hardness in about 40 minutes, this clear polish must be given time to create a tough film.  About 75% of the hardness is achieved very quickly, but it needs 4-6 hours to achieve maximum hardness. The more time you give it to cure properly, the longer it will wear. You may choose to apply it at night when the day's activities are done.  Because the film is quite thin, worn areas at the nail tips or scratches can be easily touched up to create a freshly-applied appearance.

Ease of removal
The film that is formed by the water-based system becomes more difficult to dissolve as time passes.  For this reason, it is recommended that you remove the polish at or before one week of wear the first time you use it. Do do so, apply rubbing alcohol or vodka-grain alcohol to a cotton ball or cotton pad.  Hold the wetted pad on the nail for a few seconds, then proceed to rub the polish off while applying gentle pressure.  Do not scrape at the nail.  It may take a few swipes longer than you're used to, but it will come off.   People with nails that are dry, porous, or have ridges, may need to work at it a bit longer.  Acetone-based removers will not work because this is not a solvent-based system.  Wash hands with soap and water thoroughly after removal.  If you have naturally dry skin, you may also want to use a drop or two of Legacy Moisturizer on your cuticles.

Tips and tricks
While this clear polish may look and act like traditional solvent-based polish, it does have its eccentricities.  Most people would rather have to do an extra step if necessary rather than use polishes which contain potentially toxic ingredients.  Here are some special instances and ideas that can help you create the perfect manicure:

1. Dry Nails
   Individuals with dry skin and dry nails tend to have a more difficult time removing this clear polish.  For those folks, as mentioned above, we recommend moisturizing the nails first before applying polish.  Rub a little Legacy Moisturizer or cuticle oil (or any good oil like jojoba, sweet almond, olive, etc.) into nails until the shininess disappears and the oil is absorbed into the nail. Then polish the nails as usual. You may want to remove the polish after one week of wear. Moisturize after removing polish.
   
   
2. Cold Temperatures
   Since this clear polish is water-based, it can thicken in cold temperatures.  It is recommended that you store the polish at normal room temperature.  If polish does thicken, add ONE drop of water to bottle and shake well. This should return the polish to normal consistency.  If it does not, the polish had been too cold for too long and needs to be replaced.
   
   
3. Length of Wear
   It's rare that this polish doesn't last long enough.  However, if you find the polish isn't wearing as long as expected, the problem probably comes back to application.  It is recommended that you try to polish your nails at night if possible.  Though this polish is tack-free in no time, it takes longer to cure at the molecular level than traditional polish.  So the longer you give it to set up without exposure to water, etc., the better it will wear. That being said, everyone wears polish differently.  How long the polish lasts on you also depends on your body chemistry, daily activities, and environmental exposure.  Applying an extra top coat can extend the wear of polish. 

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