Powdered Mineral Makeup
By ANDREA B. REITER
For the Pocono Record
June 10, 2008
Want flawless skin? How about luminous skin?
That’s what the latest beauty product is touting in order to get women’s attention.
Mineral makeup is in vogue at beauty counters across the country. Retailers such as Wal-Mart, CVS, Rite-Aid and Target all display the new cosmetics. The products are developed by companies ranging from Revlon, Neutrogena and Physician’s Formula to Avon and Maybelline. Other brands of mineral makeup are available from various Web sites.
Is mineral makeup really all that new, though?
According to thehistoryof.net, Ancient Egyptian ladies used a cosmetic called “mesdemet.” It was made of copper and lead ore, which are minerals to be sure. The idea of mineral makeup didn’t stop there, however.
For many centuries, certainly from Elizabethan times through the 19th century, women tried to look pale since pallid skin showed that they were very classy and didn’t have to work outside. To achieve this illusion, they used mineral makeup â a mixture of powdered hydroxide, carbonate and lead oxide.
Oh, lead poisoning? A small price to pay for beauty.
By the late 19th century, however, women substituted the lead with zinc oxide, which probably wasn’t as bad.
Today’s mineral makeup is the new marketing phenomena. Yes, it does contain crushed minerals, but it does not contain, for the most part, dyes, waxes, fragrances, chemicals or preservatives. It is most often in powder form that is buffed into the skin with a fluffy brush.
Sharon Martin, director of the Stroudsburg School of Cosmetology, said that mineral makeup is free from talc, which can “build up on the skin and cause pimples, whiteheads and blackheads because talc is so thick.”
Talc, of course, is a mineral, too. It is hydrated magnesium silicate. Some minerals good; some minerals, not so good, it seems.
Martin prefers Physician’s Formula, which has “just come out with a new organic kind,” she said. “I don’t like all the heavy feeling of cream makeup. It feels dirty. The mineral powders even out my skin tone and smooth out my skin.”
Martin added that companies do make mineral makeup in a cream form, but they recommend powder for sensitive skin.
Makeup lines also have compacts that look like they are made up of many colored balls. “They even out your skin tone, and don’t make it look ashy,” Martin said. “The makeup also evens out my red cheeks. It makes me look like I’ve used blush even though I haven’t.”
Martin added, “It is for people who want a natural look but don’t want to be bothered with all the high-class nonsense.”
Although mineral makeup can be pricey, Martin found that by looking for good sales, one could purchase it for a reasonable price.
Considering safety
Martin recommends using a package of mineral makeup for a maximum of three to six months before discarding it because it may have bacteria growing on it after that. “You have bacteria on your skin. The bacteria gets into the brush or puff, which may contaminate the product,” she said. The bacteria would make the product look clumpy or smell different. “If that happens, you should throw it out,” she said.
The powder isn’t at all drying, according to Martin. “My skin has never been more moist than since I’ve been using it,” she said. Mineral makeup also contains a sun block, which further helps to protect the skin.
Articles on webmd.com note that while people who love mineral makeup do, indeed, love it, other say that it dries the skin, makes it look ashy and accentuates wrinkles.
The health Web site also provided information of concern: The idea that when minerals are ground down to their microscopic or nanoparticle size, as is the case in this makeup, they can have toxic properties if applied to damaged skin or inhaled.
Additives matter
Michelle Neifert, executive of guest experience at Target in Stroudsburg, said that Target sells the Bare Minerals makeup, which is made of crushed minerals free of talc, oil, wax and other chemicals.
“It is a light cosmetic that blends really well with your skin. It actually evens out your skin tone instead of covering it up,” Neifert said.
The products, which include base powders, gleam/sheen add-ons, blushes, faux tans, concealers, as well as eye makeup and lip gloss, come in various kits with brushes, instruction books and/or DVDs to help the uninitiated get started.
Prices range from around $49 to $54. The starter kit is called “Pure Moxie.”
Neifert added that the products don’t make your face really dry, but it’s best to use a moisturizer underneath.
“The kits have been selling very quickly,” said Neifert. “On TV and online, they are very costly. Here, they are relatively inexpensive; something an everyday person can buy. The makeup lasts for a pretty long time, too.”
Neifert obviously believes in her products. “I am very happy with my mineral makeup,” she said. “It probably has more pigments than the cheaper cosmetics.” She explained that the cheaper cosmetics use less of the pigments and more of the fillers, such as talc, oil and wax.
“Mineral makeup doesn’t use these products; so the color is more intense,” she said.
Mineral makeup fad causes skin-deep controversy over safety concerns | PoconoRecord.com
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Here is a great audio program from NPR: Mineral Makeup: Is it Really More Natural?
by Kelly Wilkinson
Listen Now
Morning Edition, June 23, 2008 · Makeup made from minerals is all the rage. Manufacturers claim that it is more natural than traditional makeup because it’s made from ground minerals.
Premium Mineral Makeup at Discount Cosmetics Prices!
Are Your Cosmetics Safe?
As a young girl, I remember the moon as being a creature of wonder and magic. She was beautiful and charismatic. She was someone I could talk to, and she would listen gently and whisper back to me her response, in moondust and stars.
