Mineral Make-up
I’ve been curious about mineral makeup for years now. The first time it crossed my radar was a little over 4 years ago. I was a bridesmaid in an extravagant wedding, and the bride brought in a pricy makeup artist to transform us all into a picture-perfect wedding party.
As the makeup artist spread out her stash of goods on the counter, she was raving about the new mineral makeup she had just started working with. She was anxious to try it out on all of us.
Mineral makeup looks like loose powder, and is touted for being more natural-looking, as well as better for your skin. Instead of containing harsh chemicals and animal products, it’s made of natural minerals like mica and potassium. (Learn more in this USA Today article.)
She dipped her brush in the powder and glided it over my cheek. The mineral makeup went on smooth, sheer and gave my skin a soft glow that I instantly fell in love with. I had to have some.
I hunted around for some mineral makeup of my own and found that, 4 years ago, it was only sold at high-end department stores. I found it, alright, but one small compact cost more than I was willing to spend on a nice pair of shoes, let alone some crushed powder. I gave up the dream.
Fast-forward to now. Turns out mineral makeup has staying power. As with most advances in fashion and beauty, it started out in the high-end market and has made its way into the mainstream. Now, cosmetic companies like Revlon, Neutrogena and L’Oreal are marketing affordable lines of mineral powder, eyeshadow and blush. You can also check out the Bare Escentuals Get Started Kit which includes mineral makeup, application brushes, and instructions for wearing.
I picked some up. For the same price as a sticky liquid foundation, I now have a light, airy powder that I can dust on and feel good about. It makes me feel fresher than regular makeup, and less like I need to wash my face.
What do you think? Are you ready to jump on the good-for-you, environmentally-friendly bandwagon when it comes to your makeup? What does your make-up training school teach you about mineral makeup?
Tags: make up
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:45 am
Mary Kay Cosmetics has come out with an AWESOME line of mineral makeup. They’ve got bronzers, highlighting powders, eyeshadows, and blushes. My favorite is their line of navy blue shades…yeah! Blue is back, baby! (It’s all about proper application though…we don’t want a scary 80’s flashback!) What’s great is that they have anti-aging properties in their makeup to help fight against free radicals and premature wrinkles. Mineral makeup is not only light and fresh but it stays where you put it! All day! It’s wonderful!
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:07 am
Oh, me too, me too! I finally joined the mineral make-up cult in February, and I’m hooked! I tried a Neutrogena one first and wasn’t impressed, so I went full-out and bought the Bare Escentuals starter kit ($60). Seemed kinda pricey, but so far it’s been two months and I’ve barely made a dent in the containers, and that’s with daily use!
the only thing I don’t like is they are messy. It doesn’t take long before a nice layer of minerals builds up on my vanity!
April 9th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Minerals are the way to go. The more natural the ingredients, the better it will be for your skin, look for the word “mineral” when buying products, and make sure it says 100% pure minerals. Natural “mineral” products will just lay on the surface of your skin. Other products will sink into pores, clogging them and then you are headed for breakouts.