5 Things You Need to Know About Mineral Makeup

1. Mineral Makeup is Hot

Mineral makeup, once used by ancient Egyptians, is now the hottest trend in cosmetics. There are a few cosmetic companies solely devoted to mineral makeup, though most all makeup companies now carry a mineral line. The concept of minerals in makeup has been around for thousands of years. Natural minerals are abundant and often come in an array of pretty colors. Pulverizing and adding them to your compact is not new, but has become popular among consumers seeking natural ways to improve their completion and have younger-looking skin.

2. Are Minerals Natural?

The main reason that women tell me they buy mineral makeup is because it is natural and they want to use only all-natural products on their skin. However, determining whether or not a makeup truly is natural is a lot harder than you think. There is no regulation for what constitutes a mineral makeup. Even if a product is labeled as "natural" minerals, a company can still put artificial fillers, preservatives or dyes in the makeup. As long as it contains minerals, they can claim it is natural mineral makeup.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) does not check makeups to see if they contain natural minerals; it monitors all makeups only to ensure they are not harmful, not that their advertising is truthful. There is no requirement for a company to validate claims that its makeup is natural.

In fact, some minerals, such as bismouth oxychloride, are actually not natural, yet they are often included in "natural" mineral makeups.

Since mineral makeups usually are powders, they typically do not have the preservatives which are needed for cream or liquid makeups. This might be beneficial since these preservatives can cause irritations or allergies.

3. Are Minerals Good for Your Skin?

There is no published evidence that shows mineral makeup has health benefits for your skin. Claims that minerals nourish your skin are unsubstantiated. Because the minerals in makeup do not penetrate your skin, they cannot really have any effect. Imagine it like this: if the minerals were beach sand, your skin would be a sponge. If you dusted some beach sand on the sponge there is no way that sand would penetrate to get to the other side--it just sits on the surface. If you read carefully, many companies claim their makeup nourishes the skin but also claim that it won't clog your pores. If the makeup won't even get into huge pores on your skin, how could it possibly penetrate through the skin to have an effect?

4. Are Minerals Dangerous?

The other thing to consider is that not all minerals are healthy. For example, asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is carcinogenic and increases your risk of mesothelioma cancer. Talc, which is similar to asbestos, has also been scrutinized for possibly contributing to ovarian cancer and lung disease. Because of inhalation risks, we discourage parents from using talc on babies. Neither of these, of course, are used in mineral makeups, but they help make a point that just because something is a mineral does not mean that it must be good for you.
Lastly, mineral makeup might increase your risk of developing an allergy to metals such as gold. Though typically unusual, allergy to gold has become more common since mineral makeups have become more popular.

5. Are Mineral Makeups Good Sunscreens?

Companies also claim that mineral makeup is a good sunscreen. It's true that titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which are often found in mineral makeup, are good physical sunscreens. However, because they're a powder, they do not adhere to the skin and are easily brushed off. As a result, your actual ultraviolet light sun protection is less uniform and less effective than it would be with a cream.

Mineral makeup might be a great cosmetic--many women love products such as Bare Escentuals and others. They like the look and feel of these products. If you do, too, then by all means use them.
If you don't use mineral makeup, however, then don't worry: you're not missing anything.