- Mineral makeup uses powdered minerals like talc, mica and titanium dioxide to make skin look younger and smoother. Because these minerals are undiluted by other artificial ingredients, mineral makeup can be used even on extremely sensitive skin. Truly pure mineral makeups use only mineral substances that are found in nature; even the color is derived from natural minerals.
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Mineral makeup comes in a variety of colors and cosmetics.Mineral makeup comes in powdered form. However, if you want to use it as a liquid, there is a process for making liquid foundation, eye shadow or eye liner using brushes and distilled water. Mineral makeup is considered an anti-inflammatory product because the natural ingredients soothe the skin and can even calm outbreaks of pimples or rashes. - Because of extremely good advertising, it is easy to believe that anything labeled "mineral makeup" will help improve your looks and skin. However, many makeup products are currently being marketed as mineral makeup simply because they contain minerals like talc or bismuth. Talc has been a staple of nearly all forms of makeup for years, and bismuth is not a natural mineral but rather a human-made one. If your mineral makeup contains either talc or bismuth, but no other minerals like zinc, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or mica, your makeup is probably just traditional makeup in new packaging.
- Mineral makeup has a wide array of health benefits. It is an anti-inflammatory agent and may ease acne outbreaks and other skin irritations. Mineral makeup is very difficult to detect when applied as a powder, and can make your skin look both natural and blemish-free. Minerals like mica reflect light which helps hide wrinkles, while zinc blocks the sun with an SPF equivalent of 15.
- One of the most popular "rumors" about mineral makeup is that sleeping in it is better for your skin than if sleeping with with no makeup on at all. While mineral makeup can help clear up skin irritations, you should never sleep in any makeup without first consulting your dermatologist. Very few--if any--licensed professionals will actually recommend that you wear makeup to bed.
- Some mineral makeups contain extremely finely ground versions of minerals. While the manufacturers may promote this quality as a good one, there is some preliminary research that indicates that extremely fine powders of some minerals can actually be carcinogenic because they can enter your system via pores in your face. This research is not conclusive, but it is disturbing. Generally, it is best to avoid the "groundbreaking" ultrafine powders that boast "nanoparticles" in their ingredients.
