Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you will have heard about the latest mineral make-up. It's the new, natural way to wear foundation, eye, lip and cheek colour that uses finely ground up minerals like titanium dioxide, mica and zinc oxide. By Juliette Winter.
So why would you want to colour your cheeks with minerals? Talk to any mineral make-up devotee and they'll spin off an endless list of benefits, but to save time, here are the two main reasons you should brush on some mineral makeup:
1. Mineral make-up is naturally soothing for sensitive skin. Some mineral make-up brands like bareMinerals use only minerals, so there are no potential irritants like fragrance, dyes, talc, preservatives, mineral oil or fillers. Dr Rosemary Nixon, dermatologist, Skin and Cancer Foundation, Victoria says,"mineral make-ups have less allergens and the ingredients should be less comedogenic, making them less likely to block pores and cause acne." But Dr Nixon warns that formulations vary so read the ingredients to make sure you know what you're getting your skin into.
2. Mineral make-up has natural sunscreen ingredients zinc and titanium dioxide, that work by reflecting the sun's rays. This protection is perfect if you're avoiding chemical sunscreens, but you'll need to check the label for the level of sun protection factor (SPF) as each brand varies. And as with all sunscreens you'll need to apply a thick layer to get optimum protection, so if you like your foundation coverage on the sheer side, slip a sunscreen on underneath your mineral make-up.
Westfield Group