In the last few years the market for mineral makeup has exploded. There are the staple companies that have been around for years, La Bella Donna, Jane Iredale, and Bare Escentuals. Now, the larger conglomerates have introduced their own line of minerals, Neutrogena and L’Oreal. With this surge of mineral makeup and the claims that it is ‘all natural’ and provides benefits to the skin, is it really true that the products help the skin or is it just all hype?
“Quite frankly, I think mineral makeup is just a genius marketing plan — a new way of selling women the same ingredients that technically have been in makeup for years,” says dermatologic and pharmaceutical chemist Ben Kaminsky, author of the new book Beyond Botox: 7 Secrets for Sexy, Ageless Skin.* Some of the main ingredients found in mineral makeup have been staple ingredients for makeup for years such as, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and mica. Also, there are the claims that mineral makeup has sun protection. The average level of protection is SPF 15 and Bare Minerals has a seal of approval by the Skin Cancer Foundation that it is a sunscreen. However, most dermatologists will still encourage patients to where a moisturizer with sunscreen and the mineral makeup as added protection. Finally, not all mineral makeup is alike. Some are careful not to use synthetics like paraben preservatives, while others add all kinds of fillers.
I think it’s important to check the ingredients when purchasing makeup and skin care in general. There are some women that don’t mind synthetic ingredients. There are others that are looking for as natural a product they can get. While others are allergic to many synthetic ingredients and have to be extra careful.
Between you and me, my favorite mineral line is La Bella Donna, check out their full line here.
*Source – “The Lowdown on Mineral Makeup” - WebMD.com
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Comments
Robyn @ PurelyCosmetics
February 13th, 2009 - 12:46:38 PM
You are absolutely right about checking the ingredients on mineral makeup. Granted, many of these ingredients have been in cosmetic products for years, but the difference is what is also combined with those ingredients. The makeup of years gone by is full of chemicals that are not "skin friendly". Many commercial brands call their makeup "mineral", but often the first true mineral is listed either last on the ingredient list, or in the "may contain" clause. The more recent surge of mineral makeup products apply quickly, are skin forgiving, don't rub off on your clothes, and don't sink into your skin. Never rely on the SPF factor of any makeup - always wear sunscreen. The SPF is too widely dependent on individual application to be relied upon. When checking your ingredients, here are some to avoid: Bismuth Oxychloride (a by-product of lead and copper processing) is a skin irritant for many people, who find that it will turn their skin red and make them itch - especially in warmer weather. This filler gives the "glow" and a nice tactile feel to the product, and is in nearly every drugstore and commerically available brand. The same glow can be acheived using other, more natural (but also more expensive) ingredients. Products containing parabens should be avoided, as parabens have been linked to breast cancer. Silicone based ingredients (basically anything ending in "cone") are preservatives that can also clog your pores, and inhibits your skin's ability to breathe. Think of wrapping your face in saran wrap before applying your makeup. Another very important thing to look for is whether the company is using nano sized or micronized particles. These products can pass through the skin cell barrier, and by their very nature, will always give less coverage. The long term safety of micronized ingredients has yet to be determined. They are a definate no-no for those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, as they are far too easily inhaled. Depending on the ingredients, it's not necessarily that mineral makeup is beneficial to the skin as it is not as harmful to the skin. However, there are ingredients that do provide actual benefits: zinc oxides can help reduce redness and inflamation, silk powder and pearl powder provide essential amino acids, jojoba mimics the skin's sebum (helpful for oily skin, as it prevents your skin from producing even MORE oil), allantoin will help stimulate cell rejeneration... I could go on and on, but I think I've yapped enough!
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