Do you love your mineral makeup?

Mineral makeup is wonderful - just try to not create a huge dust storm when applying it.  I always avoid breathing in any powders. Blend in a circular motion with a big fluffy brush, or use a day sponge applicator.

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Because we treat many acne patients in our practice, this question is very relevant from our perspective. Although mineral make-up is promoted as being oil-free - we have concerns as to whether it can be classified as "non-comedogenic." Non-comedogenic refers to whether or not an ingredient/product may cause or contribute to the clogging of pores. We stumbled upon this topic when we observed our lasers interacting with the minerals in this type of make-up even after we had washed our patients' faces several times before their treatments. Although the make-up was no longer visible on the patient's skin - the minerals were still down deep in the pores as evidenced by the lasers interaction. I have been in contact with a few of the bigger names of the mineral make-up industry to request supporting evidence that their product is non-comedogenic. To date, I have not received a reply. We instruct our acne patients to consider a two week trial period wherein they do not use mineral make-up to see if there is a connection between this and their current skin condition. In our experience, most of our patients that took our suggestion did progress.

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Mineral makeup is taking the cosmetic industry by storm. Lately many of the top cosmetic lines are climbing on board if they have not already. It took me awhile to hop on board because I had a hard time imaging that a powder could give me the coverage that I wanted, be 100% natural and create a soft glow. I must admit today that is all I wear on a daily basis is my mineral pressed powder. It is portable, simple to apply and good for my skin. When deciding on a mineral foundation just make sure the cosemtic company really states what the natural ingredients are. It is very important to have the right tool to apply the mineral foundation with. A regular powder brush will not cut it and you will look like a piece of chalk, not kidding! You need a kabuki brush to apply the mineral foundation with so that the minerals can break down onto the skin creating that natural glow. A kabuki brush is a fuller shorter denser brush verses a powder brush. There is a time and place for mineral makeup. For everyday use it is perfect, but when photography work is involved it may not be the best choice due to the reflection from the various lighting the photographer may use - in that case stick to a flatter, matte foundation. If you are extremely oily, which a small percentage of the population is, mineral may not be the best choice because there is nothing in mineral makeup to control or absorb the oil. If you are a normal to oily skin, I recommend a mineral pressed powder verses a loose; it is a little less reflective so you will get less of a glow. If you have not hopped on board, what are you waiting for? Don't miss this ship!

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Mineral cosmetics in general are an excellent alternative for those who are looking for a foundation that is lighter weight but still offers the coverage they enjoyed with their liquid cosmetics. Since mineral foundation generally comes in powder form it can be much more forgiving. Busy moms, teens, busy women in general or those that aren't necessarily perfectionists love mineral makeup because they can apply it fast and never have to worry about the tell tale mask or line they might get from a bad liquid foundation application. Women with oilier skin or women living in humid parts of the country do especially well with mineral make-up because it is less likely to run, slip off the face, crease or pool when the weather heats up. Women of all ages can wear mineral cosmetics. Some say that mineral cosmetics are 'drying' or assume they are because they are a powder. There are so many different brands of mineral cosmetics available that some are indeed dryer than others but many work just fine on mature skin. If your skin is dry, as with other cosmetics, I suggest you use a separate moisturizer under your mineral make-up. It is said that women with sensitive skin should use mineral make-up. I believe this statement is too broad. Most cosmetic companies now have their version of 'mineral cosmetics'. Unfortunately, with the growth in popularity of minerals, the original purity of the formula has been diluted. Do not assume that just because a product says "mineral" that it is natural or safer. Read the label, do your homework about ingredients. If you can, stay away from paraben preservatives. Again, read and compare ingredient labels. Mineral cosmetics are divided into two camps – those that contain bismuth oxychloride and those that don't. Bismuth oxychloride is an ingredient included in many mineral cosmetics which is considered a 'pearlizing agent' and creates a more 'dewy' or 'glowy' finish. Some, especially those that look for more coverage, find the finish of mineral make-up with this ingredient is too unnatural or glowy. Other women enjoy the slight shimmer or dewy look this ingredient offers. If you have sensitive skin, bismuth oxychloride can irritate skin, make skin itch or cause break-outs. The alternative is those mineral brands that do not contain bismuth oxychloride. Most of the no-bismuth brands offer mineral foundations that still have a nice glow but are more semi-matte than their bismuth counterparts. Though mineral make-up inherently has a certain level of sun protection. I never recommend using mineral cosmetics for sun protection alone. You should always use a separate sunscreen under your make-up. Don't forget your neck or décolleté (your upper chest). Often, women who rely on their foundation as their sole source of sun protection neglect their neck and décolleté and suffer from aging due to sun damage in these areas.

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