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The Truth About Mineral Makeup

Lately, mineral makeup has become a popular trend in cosmetics.  It is usually produced in powder form and comes with a handy brush to dust the colored minerals on your face.  The manufactures of mineral makeup products claim that it is more natural and healthy for your skin simply because it is made from minerals.  As a result of this type of hype, mineral makeup can be costly to consumers.  But if the claims that mineral makeup manufactures make are true and this makeup really does nourish your skin with healthy minerals while avoiding clogging your pores, then maybe the higher cost is worth paying.  So, the question is, are these types of claims true, or can they be verified by any trustworthy sources?

One promise that mineral makeups usually make to their users is that their products contain only natural ingredients.  This makes sense to a regular person, because minerals come from the ground, and what could be more natural than that?  However, when you see this on makeup labels you need to remember that the word “natural” is a huge marketing term that really doesn't have a lot of significance when you apply it to the ingredients in a product.  Mineral makeup might contain some natural minerals, but there are often artificially manufactured minerals such as bismouth oxychloride that are found in so-called “natural” mineral makeup products.  In addition to artificial minerals, these cosmetics can contain dyes, preservatives, and artificial fillers.  They can still be labeled as “mineral” makeup, even if it contains many non-mineral compounds.  There is no check for this type of marketing and labeling of products.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not double check whether your makeup is truly natural as it claims.  The FDA only makes sure that there is nothing intrinsically harmful in cosmetics.  That means that cosmetic marketers have a lot of freedom for how they label their products and they know the term “natural” is one than many like to see.  That being said, there really are some valid natural mineral makeups available.  You just have to look a little closer than the pretty label on the outside to find out what is really on the inside.  One possible benefit of mineral makeup is the fact that it usually comes in powder form rather than a cream or a lotion.  This means that it probably contains fewer preservatives than other types of makeup.  Preservatives are usually artificial, and can more easily cause skin irritation and allergies.

The other claim that is made by manufacturers of mineral cosmetics is that they are more beneficial for your skin than other types of makeup.  You will often see the vague promise that mineral makeup will “nourish” your skin.  This is another term that looks good in ads or pretty packaging, but it is difficult to validate that you will actually receive any benefit.  These makeups also claim to be non-comedogenic, which means they won't clog your pores and cause acne breakouts.  Since they don't clog your pores that probably means that the makeup does not penetrate your skin at all.  And if it doesn't get through your skin, how can it “nourish” your skin?  Most likely, the minerals simply sit on the surface of your skin and even out the appearance of your skin tone, just like any other type of makeup.

In conclusion, mineral makeup is a cosmetic product that many women use and enjoy.  If you are one of these women there is no reason to change your regimen or stop using your mineral makeup.  However, if you would prefer a different type of makeup but use the mineral simply because you think it is more healthy, go back to whatever you prefer, because mineral makeup does not seem to offer any extra health benefits.