What does the term ‘Mineral Foundation’ actually stand for?
The name seems to say it all, but is it true….are the minerals actually natural minerals or do they need all kinds of additives to actually work?
It almost is too good to be true, but it is obvious nature actually provides us with something that enhances our complexion, hides blemishes, hides acne and rosacea and covers minor wrinkles. On top of this the minerals can be used with dry, oily and sensitive skin. As they have a calming effect, your skin will look well rested after the use of minerals! Off course, to reap all these rewards from mineral foundation, make sure you get the best mineral foundation for you!
What is the Best Mineral Foundation made of?
The minerals are mostly sourced from the United States and are used in their most pure, soft form. They look like a powder, but when you feel this powder between your fingers it actually feels like a very soft cream.
There are usually 5 different minerals used to make a foundation. The relative amount of these minerals also determines the tone (darkness of the foundation). The darkness of the foundation is also determined by the amount put onto the skin. The thicker the layer, the darker the colour. It is therefore, when choosing the colour, important to weigh sheer cover versus the amount of minerals. The closer you get to your skin tone, the lighter you can go on the layers. If this is what is best for you depends on what you want or need to accomplish. If you need to cover some blemishes that have a darker colour than the colour of your skin, you will need to find a solution somewhere in between. Also, to cover minor wrinkles, often a slightly thicker layer is needed, so the colour will turn out darker as well.
Usually you can buy starter packs that contain 2 shades, so then you can mix and match to find the best mineral foundation tone for you in a certain time of the year. And it is obvious that your skin is lighter in winter, so the requirements as to colour will also change. It is good to have the 2 shades, so then you can move to the darker colour when you get a tan in summer. So make sure you choose the light colour as the base that fits your winter skin. With the darker tone you can than grow with the season.
The following Mineral ingredients are usually found in mineral foundation:
Mica, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide and Bismuth Oxychloride.
Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide protect the skin from environmental aggression. So a low grade protection from sun is also achieved, which is great during midday in summer!
Something important to know: Especially if you are offered a mineral makeup that has a very interesting low price: Beware and read the label….check what is in it and make sure you do a good minerals review. It is cheaper to buy some Makeup ingredients like chemical fillers then to buy the real thing, so it is possible that some companies will try to lower the price and make their product more attractive by putting something in that is less pure. If this happens, it can be that you are trying to do the right thing for you and your skin, but unintentionally you are still putting toxic ingredients on your body. It is a bit of a challenge to find the best mineral foundation, as this is also personal and a bit depending on your budget as well. Expensive in this case does not mean much better, be aware of that.
To read more about possible toxic ingredients of makeup, please read our page on chemical free makeup, click here.