Mineral Makeup-A Mini Guide

I have tried to collect some of the best articles about mineral make up here. They have been

written by specialists or professional users. I read them and learned a lot. I hope you can take

some minutes and read them too. Enjoy! Lena George, Mineral Makeup Fan

Mineral Makeup-Natural Beauty

By Lynn Starner

As we become more aware of our

environment and more aware of the products

that we are putting into and onto our bodies,

natural and homeopathic products are taking

the cosmetic industry by storm.

It's likely you've noticed new skincare and

cosmetic companies popping up with "all

natural" and "organic" products. Of course,

just because they say they are, doesn't

necessarily make it true. That is where

consumer education comes in, and why it is

so important.

The title of this article is "Mineral Makeup".

After learning what mineral makeup is, what

products go into it, and what its benefits are,

you can decide if this is the right choice for

you.

What Is Mineral Makeup?

Mineral makeup is designed from all

naturally occurring products. It is often

recommended by dermatologists to women

with sensitive skin, rosacea, post operative,

laser and other procedures because of its

intrinsic skin soothing and anti-

inflammatory properties. It is a powder

makeup of finely milled minerals. It can

provide very sheer or very opaque coverage,

depending on the formulation and

application. However, it still allows natural

skin radiance to show through, so you don't

get the dreaded "mask" look. It is typically

free of fragrance and preservatives. Minerals

cannot feed bacteria, so there is no danger of

spoilage, thus it needs no preservatives. It

does not go bad. It is very good for oily skin

because it has several oil- absorbing

components.

It is usually applied with a brush, and is

typically shown to be "buffed" into the skin.

This technique forces the makeup into your

pores, which is never a good thing. A

technique that works with better quality

mineral makeup (which we'll discuss later)

is to "dust" the makeup on, instead of

"buffing" it. If a brush irritates your skin,

you can also use a non-latex or flocked

sponge. Application can be done either wet

or dry.

What Are The Ingredients?

This is the most important part. Learning

what is in your makeup will give you the

ability to choose what will meet your needs

best. These are the ingredients you will most

likely come across.

· Titanium Dioxide- A white natural

sunscreen and anti-inflammatory agent. It is

highly reflect, with only a diamond being

higher, and thus minimizes fine lines and

some skin discolorations.

· Zinc Oxide- A natural sunscreen providing

broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection.

· Sericite- A colorless mica that can be used

to cut the opacity of Titanium Dioxide and

also works as an oil absorber.

· Cornstarch/ Rice Powder- Cosmetic grade-

An oil humectant (draws oil out of the

pores). Can make acne worse as it is a

source of food for bacteria.

· Kaolin Clay- Natural oil-absorption.

· Mica- Natural "glitter". Provides shimmer

and sparkle.

· Iron Oxides- Natural pigment- very

opaque. Used for tinting cosmetics.

Ingredients To Avoid

These ingredients are also common, but can

cause problems so are best to avoid.

· Talc/ Various Powders- Common fillers-

can cause respiratory problems.

· FD&C Dyes- Derived from coal tar.

· Bismuth Oxychloride- Known skin irritant-

causes itching, rashes and breakouts.

Especially prevalent when the wearer

sweats.

· Ferric Ferrocyanide- Controversial because

of its suspected toxicity.

· Carmine- Crushed beetles.

What Brand Should I Buy?

Well, if you're familiar with mineral

makeup, it's likely you've seen the

infomercials. After further research you'll

find these companies use controversial

ingredients, and charge quite a bit for their

products.

There are several good mineral makeup

companies out there that provide a much

better product at a more affordable price, as

well as a superior customer experience.

They also offer samples, which the larger

companies do not. You'll get to try the

makeup (unlike in the drugstore!) for a

fraction of the cost before you buy it. They

don't have expensive advertising and

packaging to pay for, so the savings are

often passed on to you.

Lynn is the proprietor of Beauty Bliss

Mineral Cosmetics at

http://www.beautyblisscosmetics.com

Mineral Makeup - A Cosmetic Evolution

By Ananda Mahony

As a skin care specialist and someone that

has suffered from skin problems in the past I

am always looking for quality cosmetics and

make up that minimize the impact of

synthetic chemicals while at the same time

support skin health. With commercial

foundations this has always been difficult.

Despite their ability to "cover up" many

foundations contain a raft of chemical

ingredients that actually worsen skin

conditions such as acne and rosacea, irritate

sensitive skin and significantly contribute to

pore congestion.

One solution to these cosmetic issues is

professional mineral make up. Relatively

new to the skin care market, this cosmetic

emerged from the US about 5 years ago.

Since then, a number of Australian brands

have brought out quality ranges which have

proven to be highly effective replacements

to conventional liquid, powder and crème

foundations.

A key feature of professional mineral make

up is its purity. The genuine product

contains none of the potentially toxic or

occlusive ingredients of conventional

foundations such as mineral oils, fragrances,

colors, preservatives and petrochemicals.

For this reason it is of enormous benefit to

those with skin sensitivities as well as

reducing the overall toxic load for all users.

Based primarily on titanium or zinc oxide

mineral make up contains less ingredients in

general thereby avoiding fillers such as talc,

used to "bulk" out the formulations. As an

ingredient, talc it is very cheap so offers

great profit margin for producers, however it

offers no benefit for the skin and can in fact

cause problems. The main disadvantages of

talc as a cosmetic ingredient is its

comedogenic effect which means it will clog

skin and block pores. Those particularly

affected by this will be people with acne,

pimples, rosacea and anyone who has

undergone cosmetic treatments. Talc can

also have an occlusive effect on the skin,

trapping heat and toxins and eventually

interrupting the normal function of the skin.

Rather than sinking into or filling pores, the

particles sit on the surface of the skin

allowing the skin to breathe properly. The

pigment used is generally iron oxides or

mica combined with titanium dioxide or zinc

oxide which very effectively covers redness,

sun damage and blemishes without

contributing to congestion or stopping the

skin from breathing. The other advantage is

that the dense pigment of the minerals gives

full coverage to skin conditions without

looking unnatural or heavy on the skin.

These features mean it provides ideal

coverage for those with the above mentioned

skin conditions.

Another benefit of the mineral sitting on top

of the skin means that it doesn't fill up lines

and wrinkles thereby making them more

noticeable. The minerals overlap like fish

scales and don't fall into fine giving a "soft-

focus" look to the skin.

Professional mineral make up is generally a

dry powder, either pressed or loose. This can

take some getting used to after liquid

foundations however, when applied

correctly, that is within 5 minutes of using a

moisturizer, it goes onto the skin smoothly

and settles down so that any powdery look

quickly disappears. Within 5 minutes of

application, a professional version feels

weightless and looks soft on the skin.

The key ingredients are Zinc oxide and

titanium dioxide which are also commonly

found in chemical-free sunscreens and offer

protection from UVA/UVB rays. Use of

these ingredients provides a broad spectrum

sunscreen protection. While the sunscreen

protection can be quite high (up to the

equivalent of 30 SPF) it is important to note

that most mineral foundations aren't

therapeutic products which means that they

haven't been specifically tested for sun

protection (unless otherwise stated). Useful

as day to day protection, alternative

sunscreens should be used for extended sun

exposure.

One note of caution is that not all mineral

make ups are the same. While professional

versions are generally very pure, some

commercial versions may contain talc and

other potentially irritating chemical

ingredients. The best way to choose a good

one is to read the ingredient listing on the

label of the product. It is an Australian

labeling requirement that all cosmetics

contain a full list of ingredients so avoiding

talc should be easy. If you want to ensure

your version is as natural as possible avoid

those with talc (known comedogenic),

bismuth oxychloride (known allergen and

irritant) and parabens (potential toxicity

issues).

Easy to apply, mineral make up is long

lasting and ideal for anyone with sensitive

skin, allergies, skin conditions such as

rosacea, acne, pigmentation or uneven skin

tone as well as those that want a natural,

high performance foundation.

Mineral Make Up Benefits

« Does not clog pores

« Gives full coverage for skin conditions

« Allows skin to breathe

« Pure minerals are ideal for sensitive skin

« Minimizes soft lines & wrinkles

« Easy to apply

« May offer sun protection from UVA/UVB

rays

« Feels weightless

Ananda Mahony ND is a naturopath and

holistic skin specialist. Her practice focuses

on the treatment of skin conditions and Food

As Medicine. Ananda also owns Vitale

Natural Skin & Body Care, a natural &

organic skin care store in Paddington.

http://www.vitalenatural.com.au

As a naturopath Ananda has been involved

in the natural skin care industry for many

years. She specializes in the treatment of

skin disorders such as acne, eczema, rosacea

and dermatitis as well as anti-aging.

Applying Mineral Makeup

By Lynn Starner

It seems that for every type of mineral

makeup there is also a different technique to

apply it. Now, each company may have

slight differences in their makeup that when

it is applied a certain way will make it look

or adhere better. However, there are some

very basic guidelines to applying mineral

makeup that will work with almost any

brand you buy. Of course, it's always

preferable that you develop your own

personal style- your own touch. You know

how you like your makeup to look, so

practice, practice, practice until you get your

application method how you like it. After

all, it is your face.

Applying Foundation/ Finishing Powder

Foundation is admittedly the hardest to

apply. You see some brands that say "swirl,

tap, buff" and other brands that say "don't!"

What are you supposed to do?

The general rule of thumb is that if a mineral

makeup contains bismuth oxychloride, you'll

likely have to buff it in, and buff it in well,

for the makeup to look its best. Generally a

kabuki brush is used with this technique.

What's A Kabuki?

Good question! It's a very densely packed

brush. It gives very heavy coverage because

so much more makeup is left on the bristles

after you tap. It's a good option for people

who want a more opaque look or need

heavier coverage. Usually with a kabuki you

must buff the minerals into your skin, or else

you'll look streaky, emphasize your pores,

etc.

Buffing techniques, usually with a kabuki,

are known to irritate sensitive skin. Even

women without sensitive skin have

problems with irritation. Remember, it's

"swirl, tap, buff."

Fluffy Brushes

Using a fluffy face brush is the other popular

way to apply mineral makeup. Better quality

makeup is more pigmented, so using a

kabuki is out of the question for most

women. But a nice fluffy brush is just the

ticket since a little makeup goes a long way.

Whether you choose synthetic or animal hair

brushes is up to you. Both can be equally

good, depending on the quality. The same

basic rules apply as with the kabuki- swirl

your brush in the makeup, tap off the excess

and the brush in a downward motion over

your face. No need to buff. If you'd like

more coverage, just repeat the steps again.

"Swirl, tap, brush." Almost the same words,

but incredibly different effects.

Applying Foundation Wet

Wet? Yup. There are some gals who prefer

the finish when mineral makeup is applied

wet. There are a couple of ways to do it.

With A Brush- Mix your foundation and

some water/moisturizer/lotion, etc. until a

creamy consistency. Then dip your brush in

it and apply in a downward motion. It will

dry to a soft powder.

With A Puff/Sponge- You can either

dampen your puff or sponge and dip it into

your foundation and apply in a downward

motion or mix the foundation with

water/moisturizer/lotion and apply with a

sponge. It will dry to a soft powder.

Finally, you can apply your foundation dry,

then mist with a hydrosol or something

similar and either use a brush or a sponge to

smooth the moisture into the powder. Be

sure to use a downward motion. Some gals

even like to layer their makeup this way.

Powder, mist, smooth. Powder, mist,

smooth.

Why The Downward Motion?

Good question. Your pores and facial fuzz

lay that way naturally. When you smooth

your makeup that direction it makes a more

"natural" look.

Other Facial Applications

For your other color cosmetics applied to

face, here are the general outlines.

Concealor- Using a taklon concealor brush

or an all-over eyeshadow brush, dip it into

the concealor or foundation you're using, tap

off most of the excess and apply directly to

the area you want to conceal. Blend very,

very well. If you're using an all over

concealor, complexion enhancer, finishing

powder, etc. use a fluffy face brush and

swirl, tap and brush lightly in a downward

motion.

Blush- Swirl, tap, brush in a slight curve

from the apple of your cheek to your

hairline. A nice fluffy blush brush works

best.

Eyeshadow/ Eyeliner Application

This is the really fun stuff. You can apply

mineral makeup wet or dry. Applying it wet

is called "foiling" and makes the colors

more bold and can even change them

slightly in some cases.

For regular application, simply dip your

brush into the color, tap off the excess and

apply like you normally would.

For foiling, mix some minerals with water,

hydrosol, eye primer, etc. until a creamy

consistency. Then apply as you normally

would. When dry you can buff with a dry

brush to blend (but this may cause some of

the mica to come away).

The foiling method works very well for eye

lining. Colors that might be too bold to wear

on your eye make great liner colors. Foiling

them will help them last longer and show up

better.

And that's it! These basic tips should help

you apply mineral make up like a pro. Play

around with it, develop your own style and

technique, and most of all...Have Fun!

Lynn Starner is the proprietor of Beauty

Bliss Mineral Cosmetics at

http://www.beautyblisscosmetics.com

How to Avoid the 4 Most Common Problems with Applying

Mineral Makeup

By Naweko San-Joyz

Is mineral make-up causing your more

cosmetic problems that it seems to be

solving? Well, relax. In just four easy steps,

you can overcome the most common

complaints associated with applying mineral

make-up including itchiness, dryness, color

imperfections and messiness.

1. Ending the itchiness

Itchiness and dryness connected with

mineral make-up must be tackled as a

relational problem because the dryness

could provoke the itchiness. So, let's rule out

possible causes of itchiness first by ensuing

you have no allergies to the mineral make-

up. This requires a simple forearm patch

test.

To perform the test, cleanse a roughly one-

square inch area on your forearm. Let area

dry. Then apply a light layer of mineral

make-up to the skin. Leave the cosmetic on

for 24 hours, then rinse it off. If no rash,

redness or itching occurs, you should not

need to worry about having allergies to

mineral make-up. If you do have allergy

symptoms, stop using the mineral make-up.

Another indirect source of allergies arising

from mineral make-up could be the brush

applicator. People develop allergies to cat

hair. Similarly, you could develop an allergy

horse hair, which is sometimes used in

cosmetics brushes. Make sure you are not

allergic to your brushes.

2. Dryness

Mineral make-up can be great for acne and

large pores because of the drying effect of

its common ingredients like titanium dioxide

and zinc oxide. However, this trait my not

prove ideal for dry skin. To help minimize

moisture loss, apply a rich moisturizer, or

nighttime face cream before dusting on the

mineral make-up.

Moreover, mineral make-up exhibits an

exfoliating effect on the skin which is

superb for acne, but potentially excessive for

dry skin. To compensate for the extra

exfoliation that mineral make-up delivers,

you can reduce your usage of other

exfoliating products like astringents or at-

home microdermabrasion treatments.

3. Color

The titanium oxide inside mineral make-up

reflects and diffuses light, which helps

camouflage skin blemishes like age spots

and acne scars. Because the look of mineral

make-up is so readily influenced by light,

you need to apply this product in full

spectrum light to view how your selected

make-up shade truly looks on your skin.

For instance, once you apply your mineral

make-up in the bathroom, go outside into the

sunlight and view how your make-up looks

in full spectrum daylight.

The results may scare you. You may look

two shades lighter or darker than you did in

the bathroom. Now that you know how the

mineral make-up appears in full spectrum

light, you can adjust your cosmetic shade as

needed.

4. The mess

How can getting pretty create such a mess?

Mineral make-up by nature is dusty and so

to keep your cosmetic application as tidy as

possible, you have to practice dust control.

Here's how:

a. Set the foundation jar on a paper

towel. b. The foundation jar should

contain a middle, porous lid that sifts

the foundation for a more sheer

application. As you shake the

foundation jar to sift the mineral

make-up, your create dust. To avoid

a sifting dust cloud upon opening the

jar, after your shake the closed

foundation jar, let the jar set for 10

seconds so that the mineral make-up

dust can settle and not fly all over

your countertop. c. Next, to avoid

creating a mess on your face, lightly

dip the foundation brush into the

sifted foundation. You don't want a

thick layer on the brush because this

creates dust. Furthermore, when

trying to correctly apply a

foundation, it is always easier to

apply more foundation than it is to

remove excess foundation.

Now, perhaps you will have four less

problems when applying mineral make-up.

Enjoy.

Naweko Nicole Dial San-Joyz founded

Noixia, a San Diego based research firm

dedicated to helping people intelligently,

safely and affordably enhance their image

by offering custom skin solutions to people

with acne scars http://www.Noixia.com on

the face and body. San-Joyz She has

appeared on radio stations, in newspapers

and on TV shows across the United States

promoting beauty through health

consciousness. Anyone seeking to enhance

their image and remove acne scarring can

find custom, clinically proven solutions at

http://www.Noixia.com

SheerCover Foundation Makeup-Limited Promo Kit

Affordable, top performance mineral foundation makeup kit. Have a look to this

exclusive promo offer here: SheerCover Mineral Foundation Promo Kit