What about mineral makeup?
Ok, unless you’ve been living on another planet, you’d be fully aware that the new makeup mantra is mineral. That would be makeup made from crushed rocks and it’s totally cool!
Now you could be forgiven for thinking that the makeup experts conjuring up creations to make us all beautiful have stumbled upon an incredible new discovery in the form of mineral makeup. Given the hype and proliferation of brands now promoting the mineral craze, it’s easy to understand why you might think this. But, mineral makeup is not new. It has been around for 30 years. But suddenly, thanks to our preference for all things natural, it has taken off in a big way.
So what’s the deal?
Mineral makeup is made from finely ground and ground crushed rocks. A true brand of mineral makeup will not have any synthetic preservatives, fragrances, or dyes. The real deal breaker is not talc or nylon. These are ingredients used in traditional makeup as fillers. They are cheap ingredients that are used to fill the product, but they are also known to clog pores without any benefit to the skin.
In typical jump on the beauty bandwagon fashion, there are a number of brands claiming to offer mineral makeup, but a quick scan of the ingredients quickly reveals the presence of talc and once you see that little mention, you can bet this one! as ore as Posh Spice hasn’t had a boob job!
The true wonders of mineral makeup use all natural pigments, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, both of which are also physical sunscreens. This means that it is literally good for your skin. Fine particles won’t clog pores and work to heal and soothe skin.
Mineral makeup is great!
First, mineral base. It takes a little getting used to as it’s a powder. You use a soft, fine brush to sweep the powder and then onto your face. Many mineral brands recommend a Kabuki brush, which uses fine, natural bristles and is super soft and allows for even coverage.
VERY IMPORTANT TIP: Make sure you wash your brush with a little shampoo regularly, at least once a week. There is absolutely no skin care benefit to a brush that is loaded with bacteria and dead skin cells after multiple uses.
A natural question about this natural coverage is how it compares to traditional liquid foundations. Really good. It definitely offers full coverage but with a more natural and less groomed look.
The best thing about mineral foundation is that it is oil-free and won’t clog pores, which is great for teen skin plagued by pimples or acne. The only thing most of us do when we have pimples is try to cover it up with makeup. That usually means applying makeup that’s loaded with ingredients that only make the problem worse, not better. Not so with mineral makeup – it allows your skin to breathe and minerals are actually good for your skin.
On top of that, you get a non-mask-like effect + the natural vitamins and antioxidants in the minerals will add an anti-aging benefit and protection against free radical damage. And if all this weren’t enough, some of the minerals are natural sunscreens so you get protection from harmful rays.
Now mineral makeup is more than just a foundation. Mineral eyeshadows use pure crushed minerals instead of artificial colors for incredibly earthy, shimmering shades. Fine mineral particles mean superfine formulations with smudge- and wrinkle-proof benefits.
TIP: Use mineral eye shadows wet or dry. Mix some water with your shadow and you can use the shadow as a brow definer or eyeliner. Mix some sheer gloss with a mineral shadow to create a nourishing, radiant lipstick in the color of your creation!
Mineral makeup brands will use the crushed minerals as a base for colors in everything from pencils, lipsticks, and glosses. They are blended with natural ingredients like natural butters, oils, and flowers to give you makeup options without harsh chemicals, preservatives, artificial colors, or fragrances.
So what’s not to love about mineral makeup?