Ok, unless you have been living on another planet you would be totally aware that the new makeup mantra is mineral. That would be makeup made from crushed rocks and it totally does rock! Bellaboo beauty buff, Snezna Kerekovic, susses out this beauty craze
Now you might be forgiven for thinking that the makeup mavens that conjure up creations to make us all beautiful have stumbled across an incredible new discovery in the form of mineral makeup. Given the hype and the proliferation of brands now touting mineral mania it's easy to understand why you might think this. But, mineral makeup is not new. It's been around for 30 years. But suddenly, thanks to our preference for all things natural, it has taken off in a big way.
So, what's the deal?
Mineral makeup is made from crushed rocks that are finely milled and
ground. A true mineral makeup brand will not have any synthetic preservatives,
fragrance or colourants. The real clincher is no talc or nylon. These
are ingredients used in traditional makeup as a filler. They are cheap
ingredients used to fill out the product but are also known pore cloggers
with no benefit to skin.
In typical beauty-jump-on-the-bandwagon fashion, there are a number of brands out there purporting to offer mineral makeup but a quick scan of ingredients quickly reveals the presence of talc and once you see that little mention you can bet that this as mineral as Posh Spice has not had a boob job!
The mineral makeup marvels use all natural pigments, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide - both also physical sunscreens. This means that it is literally good for your skin. The fine particles are not pore-clogging, and act to heal and calm skin.
Our test
As a total and avid fan of dewy foundations, I had not tread the mineral
path, even though as the creator of Bellaboo I am a 100% committed
to natural ingredients versus synthetic. It ain't rocket science to
figure it's better to feed your face with non-harmful natural plants
and flowers than harsh and dubious chemicals. So, if you are approaching
your skin care with this mantra why not makeup?
My verdict - mineral
makeup totally rocks!
First up, mineral foundation. It takes a little getting used to as
it is a powder. You use a soft fine brush to sweep across the powder
and then over your face. Many mineral brands recommend a Kabuki Brush
- which uses natural, fine hairs and is super soft and allows for
even coverage.
I was a bit dubious about a powder offering me the same kind of coverage as my traditional foundation but was pleasantly surprised. It definitely offered unbelievable coverage but the best part was that it looked super natural - almost as if you weren't wearing any and just had incredibly flawless skin! My fave foundation has got to be the Jane Iredale Amazing Base ($79), it gives you flawless and complete coverage without looking as if you are wearing foundation. It acts as a foundation, powder, concealer and sun protection (spf 20) all in one. Now that's multi-tasking for you! Youngbloods Natural Mineral Foundation offers foundation, concealer and powder in one and gives a really natural, healthy coverage ($59.50). Used with the cool Kabuki Brush ($37), you get a gorgeous finish.
The great thing about mineral foundation is that it is oil-free and non-pore clogging and that is of major benefit to teen skin under siege from pimples or acne. The one thing most of us do when we have pimples is try to cover it up with makeup. That usually means plying on makeup that is laden with ingredients that are only making the problem worse not better. Not so with mineral makeup - it allows your skin to breathe and the minerals are actually good for your skin.
Now, mineral makeup is more than just about base. Mineral Eyeshadows use pure crushed minerals rather than artificial colourants to get some incredibly earthy and glittery shades. Youngbloods Eyeshadow Quad gives you the perfect blends to create high fashion looks. Jane Iredale Pressed Shadows come in a cute little compact ($51) with a trio of shades for beautiful blending and defining. The fine mineral particles mean super-fine formulations with smudge-proof and crease-proof benefits.
TIP: Use mineral eyeshadows wet or dry. Blend a little water with your shadow and you can use the shadow as a brow definer or eyeliner. Mix a little clear gloss with a mineral shadow to create a nourishing and radiant lip fix in the colour of your creation!
Mineral makeup brands will use the crushed minerals as the basis for colours in everything from pencils, lip sticks and glosses. They are mixed with natural ingredients such as natural butters, oils and flowers to give you makeup choices minus irritating chemicals, preservatives, artificial colours or fragrances.
What is there not to love about mineral makeup then?
Our pick of hot
mineral makeup finds:
Jane Iredale
Youngbloods
Inika
