The popularity of mineral makeup is on the rise, with every cosmetic company seeming to release their own version. Unfortunately, there is no regulation on how the term “mineral makeup” is used, and as a result, any company can use it as a label for almost any product. Traditional mineral makeup is typically made with a few ingredients found in traditional cosmetics as well, such as natural sunscreens, pigments, mica, and oil absorbers. Over the years, many traditional makeup companies have incorporated these common ingredients into their products.
Regarding additives, preservatives are added to provide a longer shelf life so that if the products do not sell immediately, they can still sit on the shelves for an extended period and remain fresh. This helps companies save money by avoiding the disposal of expired products.
Basic Ingredients:
- Titanium Dioxide: Natural sunscreen and colorant, providing additional coverage to foundation.
- Mica: Adds shimmer, sparkle, or shine to the product, and a non-shimmer version called serecite helps mineral makeup glide smoothly and reflects light to help minimize fine lines and skin imperfections.
- Zinc Oxide: Highly effective natural sunscreen.
- Kaolin: A common white clay used because of its softness and gentleness on all skin types.
- Iron Oxides/Ultramarines: Natural pigments that give strong, vibrant colors commonly found in mineral makeup.
Additional components in liquid and cream makeup include oils, alcohols, stabilizers, and other preservatives. Perfumes, botanicals, and emollients are also often added.
You can find mineral makeup that includes silk or pearl powder, providing a luxurious feel to your makeup and believed to help rejuvenate and revitalize the skin.
Additional minerals like magnesium stearate, boron nitride, and bismuth oxychloride may be included to help makeup adhere to the skin and provide better coverage.
Almost everything you need for traditional mineral makeup! There’s no need for preservatives as minerals cannot support bacteria, so they have an indefinite shelf life. Designed to reduce shine and breakouts, they do not contain pore-clogging waxes, silicones, or oils. Some may find them fragrance-free or non-allergenic, so mineral makeup companies generally lead the way. Standard mineral makeup powders, not liquid or cream, so no stabilizers or emulsifiers are needed to separate liquids.
This means that mineral makeup is very versatile and suitable for all skin types. Here’s an example of what good mineral makeup is and its ingredients:
Neek Aqua Luce Mineral Foundation: Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron Oxides, Red Iron Oxide, Ultramarine Blue, Black Iron Oxide (Reference: www.sheeraqua.com). You can see how few ingredients there are. Compare the ingredient list of other mineral makeup brands, and you’ll get an idea of what to look for.
What about this brand? Even big cosmetic companies have started making “mineral makeup,” but the labels are more important. Here are some ingredients in these products:
Revlon ColorStay Loose Mineral Foundation: Talc, Silica, Nylon-12, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Trimethoxycaprylylsilane, Dimethicone, Cyclpentasiloxane, Perfluorononylethyl Carboxydecyl, Alumina, Lauroyl Lysine, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Titanium Dioxide – CI 77491 – 77492 – 77499, Bismuth Oxychloride – CI 77163.
Maybelline Mineral Power Loose Foundation: Zinc Oxide (natural sunscreen), Polymethyl Methacrylate, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, PTFE Synthetic Wax, Acrylates Copolymer, Lauroyl Lysine, Stearyl Dimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis, Trimethoxycaprylylsilane, Trisostearyl Triisostearate, Exploral Floral Extract. May contain: Mica/Titanium Dioxide/Iron Oxides.
Maybelline Liquid Mineral Foundation: Zinc Oxide, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Boron Nitride, Dimethicone, PTFE, Synthetic Wax, Acrylates Copolymer, Lauroyl Lysine, Stearyl Dimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis/Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Trimethoxycaprylylsilane, Trisostearyl Triisostearate, Trisiloxane, Triethanolamine, Camomilla Recutita Extract/Matricaria Flower Extract. May contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.
L’Oreal Bare Naturale Mineral Powder Foundation: Boron Nitride, Kaolin, Isopon-ononononononone, Cinnabar/Mica, Magnesium Gluconate, Manganese Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Copper PCA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopherol, Panthenol. May contain: Titanium Dioxide, Bismuth Oxychloride, Mica, Iron Oxide.
The differences are clear now. Pure mineral makeup generally has fewer than ten ingredients, whereas big companies’ “mineral makeup” has many more. By adding tons of other ingredients, it’s not mineral makeup anymore; it’s just powder makeup—less likely to be irritating, less likely to be annoying than what you’ll get from a store, and you’ll be able to better choose what suits your skin with this knowledge of what will fulfill your needs and preferences.