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Mineral makeup is generally
formulated with all natural, finely ground minerals from the
earth, minus the chemicals, dyes, and preservatives found in
traditional makeup. It's defined by giving your skin
smooth, natural, long-lasting coverage, which is achieved by
micronized minerals. Essentially, micronized minerals are
extremely finely ground minerals that allow application of the
makeup to be light and gentle. Since there's no regulation that controls
when or how a product is labeled as being "mineral makeup",
it's important to understand what makes for an effective mineral
makeup product, and which ingredients more truly are natural and
'from the earth'. Products that contain some percentage of
minerals may be marketed as mineral makeup, even though they
might also contain a lot of synthetic ingredients - ones that
you may not want on your skin, especially if you have sensitive
skin.
In general, mineral makeup brands and products fall into two
main categories - ones that use all natural minerals and
ingredients (staying loyal to the true definition of mineral
makeup) and ones that contain synthetics like paraben
preservatives, binders, and other ingredients. Two
minerals that are most commonly found in mineral foundations are
zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Each mineral makeup
product has a unique formulation, and there's really no way to
know which is best for your skin until you try it.
However, before you decide which mineral makeup brand or product
you want to try, read the labels to determine whether a specific
product is as natural as what you're looking for.
There's much controversy over the variety of
"natural" ingredients included in mineral cosmetics. Some of the
ingredients, although "natural", are not necessarily "from the
earth". For example, some products also contain a natural
mineral ingredient known as bismuth oxycholoride. Although it is
a natural ingredient, it's not one that's found in the earth.
It's actually a byproduct of processing lead and copper and it's
often used to bind products. This is not an ideal product to
have in your mineral makeup as it tends to be a skin irritant
for many and can cause significant skin irritation. So why do
some products contain this ingredient? Bismuth oxycholoride
gives makeup a "pearlized" sheen or glow. Some people
prefer that their makeup include this ingredient because it
gives skin that pearly glow and have not experienced any adverse
effects from it. In fact, some of the most popular mineral
makeups on the market today contain it. However, for those
who tend to have more sensitive skin or if you simply want your
makeup to be as natural as possible, you may want to avoid this
particular ingredient.
Look for brands that contain all natural ingredients, and if you
have sensitive skin, be sure to talk to your dermatologist for
brand or formulation recommendations. Mineral makeup can
be the solution to giving you beautifully smooth and
long-lasting coverage, but it's important that you read the
labels before you buy, and always purchase your products from a
reputable retailer who has doctors or expert estheticians on
staff to help you answer any questions you may have.
DrSkinSpa.com, which carries a wide selection of mineral makeup,
is doctor owned and operated and can provide consultation to
help find the best product for your specific case.
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