The Ancient History of Mineral Makeup
Mineral makeup got its commercial start in the 1970s, Hammer says, "with some of the really early all-natural makeup products." But, he says, its history is as ancient as the human desire to enhance one's looks.
"Mineral makeup is a return to technologies that have been in use since ancient times," he says. "Many ancient cultures used ground-up natural minerals as a means of applying color to the skin for decoration, camouflage, war paints, etc." Cleopatra's kohl-rimmed eyes are an example. "But the history of mineral makeup no doubt goes back much farther, even to early cave-dwellers."
So who first successfully marketed the concept? One pioneer was Diane Ranger, the cosmetic chemist who founded Bare Escentuals in 1976 and later started Colorescience Pro, another mineral line. She developed her first mineral cosmetics because she felt there was a need and market for natural ingredients and a natural look and feel.
"In 1976, cosmetics firms were required to list ingredients on their products for the first time, and I was shocked at what we were putting on our skin," Ranger, who had grown up wearing heavy traditional makeup, says. "Then I went through my 'hippie girl' phase and discarded makeup along with my bra."
The growing desire for natural cosmetics coincided with the increasing number of women who identified themselves as having sensitive skin. "Add in marketing and media awareness, and an aging baby boomer," Ranger says. "All these matter."
What's in Mineral Makeup?
Minerals such as iron oxides, talc, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide are micronized, or ground and milled, into tiny particles to create makeup.
"Different products micronize to different levels," Ranger says. "A product micronized to six times leaves minerals larger so they go on the skin with light to medium coverage. Products micronized 12 times create fine-sized particles that sit closer together and offer more coverage."
A key difference from conventional makeup is what's not in mineral makeup.
"It generally does not contain the emollient oils and waxes, fragrance, and preservative ingredients found in conventional formulations," Hammer says. "Mineral products are usually preservative-free, and since they have very low odor, they are often also fragrance-free," he says, noting that preservatives and fragrance are often what cause irritation.
To ensure you're buying a quality mineral makeup product, read the label. If it says "mineral-enriched" or if the formulation is liquid or mousse, these products may contain ingredients such as paraben preservatives or dimethicone added for a smooth texture. Items that aren't powders might also contain moisturizers, antioxidant vitamins, or other ingredients for your skin. It's your choice.
The Benefits of Mineral Makeup
It is makeup coverage that is gentle for even the most sensitive skin.
Mineral makeup is the best makeup for almost all skin types and even my most sensitive-skin patients can tolerate my high-quality mineral makeup.
It is natural.
The best mineral makeup powder is naturally free of fillers, preservatives and irritating chemicals. Remember, makeup is your "color coat" to layer on top of your therapeutic skin care products. Use just the mineral pigments without the fillers to create the look you want.
It has anti-aging benefits for your skin.
Mineral makeup gives your skin added sun protection, a key anti-aging benefit. The mineral particles help bounce harmful UV sun rays off your skin in the same way a mineral sunscreen does. Apply mineral makeup over one of my SPF 30+ mineral sunscreens and you are giving your skin the best everyday sun protection available today. It will help you stop the clock and have healthy, great looking skin for years!
It is elegant simplicity for your skin care regimen.
Mineral makeup is three products in one: foundation, powder and concealer. It's elegant simplicity for your makeup regimen.
It Possesses Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Mineral makeup is made with many minerals, but one of them, Titanium Dioxide to be precise, has high anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce skin irritation and redness, making it essential for those with acne or rosacea. So mineral makeup it's natural and also helps with skin problems! But this is just one of the many advantages. However, from now on, you don't have to worry whether using makeup will cause irritation or make your acne worse. You can feel beautiful and look even more beautiful at the same time.
Ideal For All Skin Types
Mineral makeup is ideal for all skin types, sensitive, dry or oily. The products contain no preservatives, chemical dyes, fragrance, silicones, or talc and the ingredients are not absorbed by the skin but actually adhere to it. So no more worries whether you've bought the makeup that suits your face or not. It's totally safe to use it even if your skin is damaged.
Buildable Coverage
Because it is a lightweight powder, Bare Minerals foundation allow individuals to customize the coverage that they receive from the product. A dusting of the product with a fluffy brush provides light, natural-looking coverage for those who only want to even out their skin tone. For those who require more coverage, additional layers can be added to reach the desired look.
The eyeshadows offer similiar flexibility when it comes to coverage. When applied dry with a fluffy eyeshadow brush, the shadows give a sheer wash of color to the eyes. Additional layers can intensify the look. For a bold, dramatic look, the eyeshadows can even be applied wet, giving eyes a metallic sheen.
Natural SPF
Mineral foundation serves as a natural sunscreen because the titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in the foundation helps block UVA and UVB rays from the sun. The product has an SPF of 15, and is easy to reapply throughout the day. Many people neglect to reapply their sunscreen because they do not want to ruin their makeup by applying a lotion or cream over it. A powdered product like Bare Minerals foundation is a convenient way to protect your skin from the sun throughout the entire day.
Non-Irritating and Calming
For individuals with extremely sensitive skin, many issues arise with cosmetics that contain dyes and fragrances. Because Bare Minerals products contain only natural ingredients, they are less likely to irritate the skin. In addition, the titanium dioxide and zinc oxide in Bare Minerals foundation and blush actually have anti-inflammatory properties, meaning that the products can actually have a soothing effect on skin irritations. As a result, Bare Minerals face products are often recommended individuals with inflammatory skin conditions such as acne or rosacea. The foundation and blush are also non-comedongenic, which means that they do not clog pores and should not contribute to new acne breakouts. Because the eyeshadows are made from natural ingredients, they do not irritate the eyes and may be used comfortably by individuals who wear contact lenses.
Waterproof
Summer is all about pools, oceans, the sea, but don't let all of this stand in your way of getting your makeup done. Yes, another good thing about this makeup is that it's also waterproof, so you can wear it in every occasion, especially in these hot summer days, on the bitch or the pool. No one will even notice that you have your foundation, or a little mascara on.
