Although mineral makeup may be the new rage, it is actually not new. Women and men have been adorning their bodies with “earth colors” since ancient times. Recently, conventional methods have led to the development cosmetics that are less than natural and chock-full of chemicals and sometimes even carcinogenic, ingredients.

Mineral makeup is an attempt to get back to basics, using naturally occurring minerals which are ground to a fine powder, as the base for the makeup.

Many different companies have developed their own lines, including Sephora, Jane Iredale, BareMinerals, SheerCover, PurMinerals, and more. Each one has formulated its own bases, although most are similar in their composition. Prices, however do vary, frequently increasing depending on the name on the label.

While the same base minerals make up the bulk of the product, other minerals, pigments, and dyes are added that make the products different. With more and people becoming aware of the negative outcomes of using chemicals on their skin, natural mineral cosmetics are the newest craze in the cosmetic market. These cosmetics offer a chemical-free option in the area of make-up and thus are appropriate for anyone regardless of any skin conditions the person may have.

As beauty legend has it, it was the mid-1970s, in the aftermath of the frenzied Haight-Ashbury love-ins of San Francisco, that a quiet, little cosmetic revolution was born. It was called “mineral makeup” – products made of all natural, finely ground minerals from the earth, without any of the chemicals, dyes, and preservatives found in traditional makeup.

Fast-forward some 30 years: Mineral makeup is virtually exploding the beauty market. “This is an extremely popular style of makeup – and it’s something that a lot of my patients use and love, and I use it myself. It’s also the product most patients ask about,” says Kathryn Frew, MD, a dermatologist at Juva Skin and Laser Center and MediSpa in New York City.

And while mineral makeup comes in a variety of forms – and at prices ranging from less than $10 to more than $50 per product – undoubtedly the most popular in all price ranges are the loose powder foundations and blushes. These are light, finely ground loose minerals that are buffed into the skin using a wide, fluffy brush. But does “natural,” “mineral,” and “from the earth” really equal better? WebMD discovered the answer has a lot of qualifying factors – and some vastly differing opinions.

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If you are a woman of a “certain” age, you have, no doubt, started to become aware of the effects of aging on your skin. And, although time passes by, there are many things that you can do to help your skin age more slowly, look better, healthier and younger. What many women may not realize is that the type of makeup that you wear can have a huge impact on how your skin looks and feels now and in the future.

The answer to having younger and healthier skin is, in fact, to wear a Pure Mineral Makeup. Why? Traditional makeup is most often composed of lots of fillers and binders making it a heavy weight that not only looks heavy and “over made” on your face (which makes you look older), but actually cakes up in lines and wrinkles making them appear even more obvious.

A Pure Mineral Makeup is composed of pulverized minerals, which produces a very lightweight, silky makeup that feels like you’re not wearing makeup at all. Pure Mineral Makeup sits on top of the skin so it doesn’t accentuate wrinkles. In fact, light reflects off of the minerals and actually diminishes the appearance of lines and wrinkles on your face-making you look younger.

Another benefit of a Pure Mineral Makeup over regular makeup in making you look younger, is that a Pure and Natural Mineral Makeup is Hypoallergenic and Noncomedogenic naturally, due to the inherent properties of the minerals themselves. No need to add or remove chemicals to produce these important benefits. Because the minerals in Natural Mineral Makeups sit on top of the skin, they don’t clog your pores. No woman wants to be 30 or 40-something and suffer from break-outs (like a teenager) due to her makeup.

We all know how important sun protection is in keeping our skin healthy and young looking. A Pure Natural Mineral Makeup has a natural SPF of 15+, again, without the addition of chemicals and additives that are potentially harmful and harsh to our skin.

Another fabulous benefit of Pure and Natural Mineral Makeup in the fight against aging, is that it is water resistant, so even after a strenuous workout, stressful or hot & humid day there is no need for a touch up. This eliminates the layering and heavily made up look of regular makeup and keeps your skin looking fresh, natural and younger looking all day long.

Not all Natural Mineral Makeups are created equal, however. Make sure you find one that is a 100% Pure Mineral Makeup and you will discover that it absolutely can make you look younger!

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Mineral makeup is the latest trend in cosmetics. It is sold from department store counters, championed on late night infomercials and touted in fashion magazines. How do the various brands differ, and which one is best for you? How does mineral makeup differ from traditional products? Let’s take a look.

Despite different brand names and marketing strategies, most mineral makeup has remarkably similar ingredients. Some commonly used minerals include micronized titanium dioxide, micronized zinc oxide, iron oxide, silk mica, and hydrated silica.

Micronized titanium dioxide, a common ingredient in sun block products, is particularly suited to protect skin from damaging sunlight. This white mineral’s crystalline structure naturally reflects and defuses the sun’s harmful rays. Micronized zinc oxide works in combination with the micronized titanium dioxide to reflect the sunlight’s dangerous UVA and UVB rays.

Iron oxide is found in nature in red, orange and yellow hues. These pigments are blended into flesh tones for mineral foundations. Silk mica and hydrated silica soften the mineral compounds for use on the skin. Silk Mica gives mineral makeup a smooth texture, and hydrated silica binds the minerals to make them less messy. Individual brands may add secondary ingredients, such as vitamins, extra skin softeners or stronger pigments to neutralize skin tone.

Mineral makeup can counteract a host of familiar challenges. People prone to allergies or with sensitive skin will find mineral makeup contains no irritating dyes or perfumes. They do not use talc and other fillers that can be harmful to the skin. The acne-prone will find mineral makeup is organic, hypoallergenic and oil free; it will not clog pores like some conventional cosmetics.

Unlike traditional cosmetics, mineral foundations can provide sheer to full coverage. A light, sheer finish can be accomplished by moving the applicator brush in small circles on the face. Mineral makeup can also provide a more opaque texture if applied in layers with a damp sponge, much like you would apply liquid foundation. Fortunately, the consistency of mineral makeup gives coverage without the thick, unnatural, pore-clogging consequences of traditional liquid foundation.

Although mineral makeup has been a fixture in high-end department stores and specialty cosmetics shops for several years, a handful of more economical options are now on the market in drugstores. Consumers can expect to pay $25 for upscale mineral makeup brands, while drugstore mineral makeup from Neutrogena and Physician’s Formula range from $9-$12.

With so little variation in actual ingredients, the difference in brands is often limited to marketing strategy. Many brands cater to a specific skin type. For example, Mineralogie claims their mineral makeup is suited to those with oily skin, because it does not include minerals that give other brands a shimmery finish.

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