Mineral Makeup Uncovered

Seems like nothing is sacred these days.  Not even mineral makeup, the darling of the cosmetics industry and something that us green & healthy folks consider a step above conventional cosmetic products.  But alas, it turns out there's a thing or two to watch out for when choosing a mineral makeup brand.  I've been confused/concerned about this for awhile now and finally took the time to sort out a few things.  Hope this helps you too!!

Here's what you definitely don't want in your mineral makeup:

• Nanoparticles - Minerals ground into teeny-weeny particles so small they can be absorbed into the skin and enter the bloodstream, leading to health problems, including lung cancer.  (Not to be confused with micronized ingredients, which from what I have read, are 1000 times larger than nanoparticles.  Micronized minerals are found in most mineral makeup products and appear to be safe to use.)
• Parabens- Pure mineral makeup lines do not contain parabens....but now that the big brands are in on the mineral scene, you never know what they might slip in there.  Like this 'mineral' blush from Revlon that contains parabens and nano-sized titanium dioxide and is rated a 10 (worst hazard) on the Skin Deep cosmetics database!! 
• Bismuth oxychloride - A byproduct of lead and copper refining that can cause skin irritation in people with sensitive skin.
• Dimethicone - A silicone-based emollient that does not allow skin to breathe.  Basically it's like coating your skin in plastic wrap. Yuck!!
• Talc - Some brands use talc as an an inexpensive filler.  It cheapens the product and is dangerous to inhale.

   

Confused about which brand to buy?  Believe me, you are not alone!!  Here are a few brands that I've either tried myself or that have come highly recommended:

 

• Orglamix - I purchased some mineral foundation from this teensy company via Abe's Market and think it's just fab!!  Prices are very reasonable ($5 for 2g) and products are formulated without yucky stuff like nanoparticles, bismuth oxychloride, synthetic dyes, parabens or synthetic fragrances.  Shop on Etsy for the full range of this artisan-crafted mineral makeup.

   
• Everyday Minerals- People have been raving about this line but I haven't tried it myself.  It is vegan (meaning they don't use any animal-based pigments, like carmine) and free of dimethicone, bismuth oxychloride, fragrance, silicone, lake dyes and parabens.  Looks like pretty pure stuff and well-priced too.  Check out the try-me-free program where you can get free samples with any purchase!!
• miessence- Having raved about miessence skin care, I would love to try their mineral makeup. A very pure line that does not contain any of the nasties written about above. In addition they choose not to use titanium dioxide because it is an unstable ingredient that must be coated with additional ingredients to be safe. Prices are a bit higher ($20 for 6gm) but the quality is way high.
• Jane Iredale- Some of my Facebook readers recommended this line that appears to be sold mainly in salons (or online).  However, many products contain dimethicone and prices are getting up there ($42 for 10g of foundation)
• Christopher Drummond Beauty- This company claims to go "beyond mineral makeup"by creating formulas without titanium dioxide or zinc oxide which they claim are irritating.  Instead, they use trace minerals, plant extracts and botanicals that sooth skin instead of irritate it. But when I scoured the ingredients list (like a good, green detective), I discovered that a bunch of products DO contain titanium dioxide, which was a bit odd (apparently they feel it is necessary in some products).  The company sent me some free samples to try and I have to admit the products are very nice!  Their signature product, Saude Pele Radiance Booster, gives my skin a healthy glow without being at all sparkly. And the cream concealer goes on super smooth.  If you have especially sensitive skin, this might be the product line for you but at $65 for an 8 gram container of foundation, it would be a stretch for me.
• Bare Escentuals- One of the pioneers of mineral makeup, Bare Escentuals is now sold just about everywhere (including QVC - gag!).  Their Clear Radiance blush is in my bathroom cupboard and I've always thought it was a great product.  So I was bummed to discover that it contains bismuth oxycholoride. Since I don't have any sensitivity to that ingredient, I'll probably continue to use it (it's rated a low hazard on Skin Deep) 

All things considered, I like the idea of supporting small businesses, so I will likely give my business to Orglamix or Everyday Minerals.  What mineral makeup brands do you use?  What are your most important considerations when purchasing a mineral makeup line?  Product quality, Ingredients, Price??

Comments

[Micaela]

Hi Carol - I agree trying to figure this stuff out can drive you crazy! I had not heard that Christopher Drummond started using titanium dioxide - but this post was written over 2 1/2 years ago - so a lot could have changed since then. Do you ever use the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database? You can check out all the ingredients in products there.
Best of luck with your quest for a greener, cleaner beauty routine!
Micaela