Mineral Make up has been around since the mid 70s, and is thought to be a natural environmentally and skin friendly alternative to traditional make up. Today it is on the rise in popular make up. In fact, many main stream companies are coming out with mineral lines of their own.

How good is mineral make up? What ingredients are in them?

Is it really better better for your skin and the environment?

Read on to learn all about the hype. 

The Mystery of Mineral Makeup Revealed

Ideally, mineral make up is made of all natural,
finely ground minerals from the earth, such as mica, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide, being natural they are thought to be better for the environment and your skin. Most traditional make up contain these minerals as a base but also contain chemicals, dyes, and
preservatives.

However, with any "green" product, just because they are labeled "all natural" or "all mineral formula" doesn't mean there as natural as you think. This is because there are two general categories of mineral make up. The first category is companies that do not use synthetics (like paraben
preservatives and other fillers) and stay true to the original intent of pure
mineral makeup, and those that also use minerals with fillers, colors,
preservatives, and other chemicals. They have minerals in them, so they can still claim to be "mineral make up," so be sure to do your research and read the label when you are looking for mineral make up. 

Some mineral make up brands also use bismuth oxychloride. Bismuth is a brittle metal with a white, silver-pink hue, often occurring in its native form with an iridescent oxide tarnish showing many refractive colors from yellow to blue. Company's put it in mineral make up because it makes it shine, or have a opalescent look to it. It is approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration as a color additive.

Mineral Make Up and its Claim to Fame

Generally they advertise they are better for skin due to these claims:

• Free of preservatives, parabens,* talc, oil, fragrances, and other skin irritants.
• Non-comedogenic, will not block pores.
• Broad-spectrum UVB and UVA protection.
• Anti-inflammatory, helps to calm and soothe irritated skin.
• Very water resistant.
• Light to complete coverage for skin.
• Good for conditions like acne, rosacea
  and redness following treatments like chemical peels and laser resurfacing.
• Contains inert minerals that do not promote bacteria growth.
• Not tested on animals.
• Environmetally safe.

*Parabens - a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry. They are considered safe but cause skin irritation and contact dermatitis in individuals with paraben allergies.

Better For Your Skin? 

It comes from the ground and is natural, therefore it can't be bad from your skin right? Not always.  

Mica flakes or sheets are transparent to opaque,
resilient, reflective, refractive, water resistant, and lightweight hence why companies use them in their make up. Its also used in toothpaste as a mild abrasive. Test a small area of
skin first before using a product with mica to ensure that you are not allergic to it.

Zinc Oxide often found in sun screen, because it absorbs both UVA and UVB rays of ultraviolet light but does not absorb into the skin. It is also a
main ingredient of mineral make-up mainly because of its vast array of
colors.

Titanium Dioxide is used in cosmetic and skin care products as a pigment and a thickener. It is also used as a tattoo pigment. Like zinc oxide, it absorbs UV rays but your skin does not absorb it.

Iron Oxide pigments are also used in make up. They are
considered to be nontoxic, moisture resistant, and non-bleeding. Iron
oxides are safe for cosmetic use are produced synthetically in order
to avoid the inclusion of ferrous or ferric oxides, and impurities
normally found in naturally occurring iron oxides.

Bismuth oxychloride make give you that glow that you were always looking for, however it might also make you itch or give you a rash since many women are allergic to it. This metal differs from zinc oxide and titanium dioxide because your skin absorbs it therefore clogging pores. Test a small area of
skin first before using a product with bismuth oxychloride on your entire face.

These minerals are thought to be safe and non toxic and are used in many cosmetics and lotions. Many companies state the their mineral make up does not clog pores because of its fine power state. However, there is some controversy that the microscopic or nanoparticle size used for mineral make up can have different, even toxic properties, compared to the mineral in its conventional size.

Jane Houlihan, research director of consumer watchdog agency
The Environmental Working Group in Washington states, "Minerals like zinc and titanium are safe when applied to healthy skin
but in a micronized nanoparticle form, there remains a concern, particularly
when applied to damaged skin, or when inhaled."

However, I could not find what these concerns were.

Many other mineral or natural make up products also use plant based ingredients that are safe for skin such as:

• Beeswax
• Candelilla wax
• Cocoa Butter
• Jojoba oil
• Pycnogenol (from pine trees)
• Rice bran oil
• Shea butter
• Sunflower oil
• Sweet almond oil
• Vitamins A, C, E

Some Brands you might know. . . .

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals - contains BM

Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics - does not contain BM, contains other plant based ingredients

Sheer Cover  - Contains BM, Boron Nitride,
and Bisabolol (a natural fragrance)

AfterGlow Cosmetics - Does not contain BM, contains other plant based ingredients

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers - Contains BM and others

Feel free to tell me of any other brands that claim to be all natural minerals and aren't or that contain BM! 

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