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Mineral Makeup: A Beauty Product That Actually Works
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Have you ever wondered which beauty products work and which don’t? That’s not an easy question to answer. One must leave room for differences in each woman’s body chemistry as well as her skin sensitivity. That will affect how well beauty products will work from woman to woman. However, there are certain types of products that do tend to work well across the board. Over the course of the next few articles we will take a look at some of those highly successful cosmetic products. Today, let’s begin with the hottest rage in cosmetics – mineral makeup. Mineral makeup has become very popular primarily for one single reason. It works for virtually every woman regardless of her skin color or type. It works for women with dry skin, oily skin, complex skin, and of course normal skin. That doesn’t mean, however, that every single mineral makeup works well across the board. Many so-called mineral makeups on the market today are not pure minerals. They still contain chemical additives and preservatives that can irritate delicate skin, causing all kinds of complexion problems. Those considering the use of mineral makeup should always read the product’s label. It will list ingredients that have been mixed in with the minerals. If those additives are also listed on products that have previously irritated a woman’s skin, chances are that switching to a mineral makeup with the same ingredients won’t make much difference. On the other hand, if the product is made purely from minerals of the earth or combined with natural botanicals, chances are good that the skin will respond well to the switch. Some of the best mineral makeup on the market today include: Bare Minerals from Bare Escentuals. Made from 100% pure of-the-earth minerals, Bare Minerals pioneered the way for this type of product in the cosmetic industry. Free from fragrances, oils, and talcs that can irritate the skin, the makeup also avoids preservatives, fillers, and binders that can interrupt the skin’s natural chemistry or clog up small pores. It is virtually weightless whether it is used dry for light coverage or wet for fuller coverage. As a side benefit, Bare Minerals offers a SPF 15 sun protection. The product comes in multiple foundation shades with a color that suits almost any skin tone, from the very fair to the darkest women of color. However, the foundations can also be custom mixed in order to achieve just the right tone for any particular skin type. Bare Escentuals also offers a line of mineral eye shadows, eyeliners, blushes, bronzers, and lip colors. As the leader in the mineral makeup industry, Bare Minerals is also the most expensive. Prices vary between product types. A typical Bare Minerals start-up kit will retail for somewhere between $50 and $75. Kits generally contain two shades of foundation (for customization, if required), one blush, and two or three eye shadow colors which can also be used for eyeliner. Some kits also contain lip color and Bare Escentual’s mineral veil; a translucent finishing powder. Ennvoy Pure Minerals is another naturally pure makeup that doesn’t use chemicals, dyes, fragrance, or other oils that could irritate or damage a woman’s skin. The makeup is advertised as safe for even the most sensitive skin and perfect for any type of complexion. The product line’s foundation comes in four shades, including fair, light, medium, and medium-tan. Unlike Bare Minerals, however, Ennvoy does not have a shade for women with extremely dark skin nor does it have SPF sun protection. The makeup line also offers mineral eye shadows and eyeliners, as well as powders and shimmers. Ennvoy’s prices are, in some instances, lower than those of their competition. However, in other areas they are comparable or slightly more expensive. Pure Mineral foundation retails for around $39, which is slightly higher than that of Bare Minerals. However, their blushes retail for around $16, which is significantly lower than its main competitor. Their eye shadows retail for around $10 each, which is definitely cheaper than Bare Minerals. Mineral Pure Makeup follows the same pathway as the first two. They sell pure mineral makeup that is safe for virtually every type of skin. Although this brand is newer than some of its competitors, Mineral Pure is a family-owned business that works hard to keep the cost of their product within the reach of the budget of the average woman. Mineral Pure has a line of additional products that work to accent the foundation. These include mineral eye shadows, concealors, blushes, and bronzers. While Bare Minerals starter kits usually range around $60, Mineral Pure offers a seven piece starter kit for just over $20; making them one of the most affordable mineral makeups on the market today. Sheer Cover is yet another pure mineral makeup. This one claims to use light reflecting minerals that help to make the skin look fresh and dewy. It also claims that the product’s ingredients allow them to work directly with the skin’s own properties to deliver the most natural look available on the market today. Sheer Cover, unlike some of the other mineral makeups, is infused with soothing botanicals that actually help to soothe and comfort the skin. Additionally, it has a powerful anti-oxidant infused into the product with the help of green tea. Sheer Cover is sold in kits that contain virtually everything you will need to do a full facial makeup application. It includes foundation, blush, bronzer, concealor, lip color, a skincare regimen, and the necessary brushes all for the low price of $29.95. Raw Minerals is a brand that is quickly gaining fame for its combination of pure minerals and soothing botanicals. Like its closest competitor – Sheer Cover -- raw minerals eliminates anything that might be harmful for the skin. Additionally, it offers the highest SPF protection of any mineral makeup on the market today. Raw minerals comes in four combinations. Each combination includes two foundation shades for light, medium, tan, and deep. Additionally, through the line’s mineral glow, it is possible to further customize colors to design a makeup that is perfect in every sense of the word. Raw minerals currently offers a foundation, mineral glow, and an active veil. But does not as of yet appear to have a full product line. Their prices are lower or comparable to other mineral makeup brands. Many other cosmetic brands such as Almay, Cover Girl, L’Oreal, Maybelline, and Revlon have come up with their brands of mineral makeup. Keep in mind, however, that not all of these mineral product lines are "pure" mineral makeup. Some still contain fillers and binders or additives and preservatives that can be rough on the skin. Read the labels thoroughly before purchasing the makeup. Better still, go to the company’s website and request a free sample to try out before a purchase is made. Chances are that mineral makeup, in some form, is here to stay. Therefore, it behooves women to do their research to determine which brand is most likely to be perfect for them. Next Article: Long Lasting Lip Colors: Do They Work?
