Buying & Understanding A New Trend In Mineral Makeup
Filed Under: Make up on January 15, 2010
Mineral makeup is made from all natural earth minerals, ground finely into makeup. It contains no dyes, allergens, or chemicals, most often found in regular makeup. Though it was invented in the 70′s it has only recently started really taking off in the beauty industry, especially with the new wave of “green” consciousness.
Obviously it’s important to know what kind of makeup you’re using. A woman’s skin is unique and can range from very dry to very oily. Certain makeups and chemicals within it can really irritate the skin, cause acne, or clog the pores badly. It’s important to not use too much and to wash it off every night with a good cleanser.
It’s made from minerals like mica, gold, zinc and magnesium, which are supposed to rejuvenate the skin. Traditional powders can make skin look worse, clogging in the lines and wrinkles and causing them to look deeper. Minerals are supposed to make the skin glow. However, some experts argue that those types of minerals have been in regular makeup all along.
Either way, mineral does not contain the traditional irritants and chemicals that regular makeup does and is therefore more natural and pure for the skin. If a person’s skin is that sensitive, no matter what they put on it is probably going to cause some problem, but since mineral is non-comedogenic it may be the lesser of the two evils.
One of the drawbacks is that mineral is more expensive, of course. Supposedly better for sensitive or acne prone skin, there are opinions on both sides of the fence for the makeup. Users that love it say the makeup is fine, loose, doesn’t clog and makes skin absolutely glow, while those who don’t say that it irritates the skin, dehydrates it and causes fine lines.
The zinc in most mineral makeups has a natural UV protection to it and so helps protect when in the sun. Though not a lot of protection, it’s still better than nothing. It’s supposed to be especially helpful for rosacea and skin redness problems, and won’t cause flare ups of other skin issues.
And if you fall asleep wearing the makeup, it’s not as big a deal as with traditional makeup, which is really pore clogging to have on for too long. However, dermatologists do not recommend sleeping in makeup, as the skin needs to be allowed to breathe.
When buying mineral makeup though, be aware that not all are the same. Regulations allow makeup that contains any mineral as the main ingredient to be marketed as mineral makeup, even if it still contains other less natural and harsh chemical ingredients. So they either stay true to the mineral label – with no fillers and absolutely natural with no dyes, or they aren’t completely true, using fillers and preservatives that are still unnatural. Also, a mineral called bismuth oxychloride that gives the makeup it’s glow, but it’s a byproduct of copper and not from the earth. Read labels to really make sure that the product you’re buying is the real deal.