Mineral make up is becoming increasing popular. More and more brands every day are starting to release mineral makeup lines. But what is mineral makeup? And is it really better than normal makeup for your skin?
Mineral makeup definition
Mineral makeup is made only from naturally occurring minerals (like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and mica) that are finely crushed and milled.
Is mineral makeup really all natural?
Because it is created with minerals found in nature, mineral makeup is touted to be all natural. Pure mineral make up doesn’t contain oils, preservatives, fragrances, alcohol, talc and dyes. However, the regulations for what constitutes mineral makeup is not very clear and therefore, any products containing minerals as a primary ingredient, even if it contains preservatives and other chemicals, can be marketed as mineral makeup.
Ingredients
Mineral make is created with very little ingredients so that it is natural and less likely to cause negative reactions. However, some ingredients are causing concerns.
Bismuth Oxichloride, an artificial mineral used to bind or bulk up products and to give a radiant glow, can make your skin itchy, red, bloatchy and, in large amounts, cause cystic acne.
Mica, another ingredient used to give your skin a glowy appearance, can cause breakouts.
Skin Benefits
Pure mineral makeup is good for skin because, being final milled, it is not comedogenic and won’t clog your pores. It is also especially good for people with sensitive skin as it doesn’t contain chemicals that irritate the skin.
Sun protection
Mineral makeup contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, who are the best two sunscreen ingredients as they protect from both UVA and UVB rays. However, they are used in powder forms and can easily be brushed off. While mineral makeup offers some UV protection, you should always apply sunscreen before makeup.
Coverage
Mineral makeup is light but you can achieve full coverage layering on the powder until you get the effect you want.
Application
These products come in loose powders form and are usually applied with a kabuki or large fluffly brush. First, cleanse and moisturize your face. Then, swirl the brush in the cap and tap off any excess powder. Apply it in a circular downward motion starting from the center of your face.
The messy factor
Mineral make up are loose powders that come in jars and can therefore be very messy. Loose powders can spill everywhere and are hard to travel with.
Is mineral makeup really better for your skin?
Mineral make up works very well for some people, while others report breakouts and irritation. Mineral makeup is not all the same. Different brands use different ingredients and formulations, so you just need to experiment until you find the right products that work for you.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I only use mineral foundations for 1.5 years now and they’re working very well for me. Mica, if not properly ground, can cause tearing to the skin and hence, causing acne. Sericite is a form of mica that’s treated so it’s better. I personally find the mica-free foundations to be chalky and I’m lucky enough not to have an allergy to mica (which is really rare.) I am, however, allergic to bismuth oxychloride though.
I’m glad mineral foundation works well for you. I’ve just started using it as well and so far I like it. I’m trying to avoid products containing bismuth oxychloride though as that’s a nasty ingredient. Lots of people reportd breakouts after using it.
Great points… have you heard about the mineral sunscreen?
i have no problem with mineral makeup tho i have sensitive skin. but the mess is quite intolerable as the powder is always all over the place -_-”
Nikki: I’m really liking the Body Shop foundation so far. It is longlasting, very light and the coverage is quite good as well. I just wish it wasn’t so messy to apply. Or maybe that’s just me..
Jnie: I like mineral based sunscreens creams and I always look for titanium dioxide or zinc oxide when I buy one as they protect from the entire spectum of uv rays. But I don’t think sunscreen in powder form offers that much protection really. Not only it can be brushed off, but you’d need to apply at least 1.2og of facial powder to get adequate protection!
xin: mineral makeup is really good for sensitive skin. It only uses few natural ingredients so chances of irritations are small. Just make sure it is pure mineral makeup that doesn’t contain chemicals and other stuff that isn’t natural at all.
And I agree the mess is really really bad.
I can’t agree more! I love everything bout TBS foundation but its 5x messier than the regular mmu foundie
I guess it has to do with their mesh !
Nikki: I guess so too. The first time I used it powder was flying everywhere! I’m being more careful now, but it’s still messy.
I am so impressed with how much information you have in addition to giving your own opinion on certain products. I seriously finished reading this post without anymore questions in mind about mineral products.
What a great blog. Thanks!
Jessica, aww thank you! You’re making me blush. I’m so glad you found this post useful.
I love my mineral make-up. I have used 3 kinds (cover girl, bare minerals, and Mary Kay) So far my fave is Mary Kay. It matches my skin perfectly and I can’t feel it on my face, but yet it covers without A LOT of application. Cover Girl clogged my pores(I do have big pores), Bare minerals while I liked it, but I didn’t like HAVING to apply the mineral veil to get ride of the “make-up” look. Now with Mary-Kay I have no clogging (thank goodness), I don’t feel it on my face, costs ratio is great(~$12), also I don’t have that “make-up” look. Which has a bit to do with my pores.
As far as the mess goes, I don’t get a lot everywhere. I really watch what I am doing (I am super clumsy) and make sure I don’t spill. Even when I used loose powder make-ups in the past I was very careful not to spill.
As far as traveling get a large enough case. When placing the make-up up right in your case and when you travel make sure you are not just throwing your case in the vehicle. You have to place the case up-right in your vehicle to prevent from making a mess. Just a little common sense.
Jeri, I’m glad you love mineral makeup and have found a brand that works well for you. And it’s great that it’s cheap too.
I think mineral makeup in general is quite messy but with some practice and attention, you can reduce that too a minimum. I’m glad you don’t have this problem though.
And thanks for the travelling advice tip. That’s very helpful.