How to Purchase Mineral Makeup

Not all mineral makeups are the same. What to look for when purchasing the latest rage in cosmetics.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Proper foundation ingredients When you're looking at mineral makeup either online or in the stores, make sure you read the ingredients before anything else. Look for the words "bismuth", "bismuth oxychloride", "paraben", "talc", or anything else except mica, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and perhaps coloring agents like ultramarine blue or ferric ferrocyanide. Bismuth, although technically a mineral, is not an "earth mineral", and is a by-product of iron and copper processing. It is a skin irritant for many, and is used as a filler to "bulk up" packaging. If you see any of these ingredients, move on.
2. Niced size jar, but 2 grams net weight? Next, compare net weights. You may "think" you found a good deal when you see a foundation powder offered in this nice, large sifter jar, but when you look at the net weight, there may only be 2-4 grams of powder inside. Make sure you're given the NET WEIGHT and not the size of the sifter jar (usually 20 or 30 grams).
3. Tester sizes - 3 pack choice When choosing foundation colors, try before you buy. Apply it to your face if you're buying retail, and make sure you've got the right color. If you're buying online, remember that all monitors will show colors differently, and what you see may not be what you get. Read the descriptions of which skin tones the color works for. Buy tester sizes of 2 or 3 colors first, and see which is the right one for you. Tester sizes should be at least 1 gram of powder - enough for a week or two's worth of use. Be careful of testers offered in plastic bags: much of the powder sticks to the bag and means less for you to use.
4. Flat top foundation brush Make sure your brushes are appropriate for what you're doing with them. Do not use brushes made of synthetic materials, as they don't hold the powders or go on evenly. Kabuki or large powder brushes work well for applying finishing layers where you want an especially light touch. Flat top foundation brushes work best for applying foundation, as it's easier to swirl and buff with these. Depending on taste, either a blush brush or a kabuki/powder brush works best for applying blush.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're just getting started with mineral makeup, save money by buying kits that include brushes and powders. Avoid kits if you're just needing to buy additional makeup.
• Look to see if any type of mineral "veil" is necessary to keep the makeup on your face. Products containing paraben, rice powders, bismuth usually need this added expense.
• Don't be afraid to mix colors - play with it and have fun. Sometimes you need to mix a couple of colors to get just the right shade you want.
• Use the powders creatively. They can go on dry as eye shadow, with a wet liner brush to become long lasting eyeliner that doesn't smudge, mixed with clear lip gloss or balm for a color co-ordinated lipstick, and even on your nails mixed with clear nail polish!