Mineral makeup pioneer Jane Iredale
With the increasing consumer attention in recent years, I am regularly asked about specific properties and features of minerals makeup. The most frequent question I get is, “What is mineral makeup and how is it different than traditional makeup?â€
Authentic mineral powders are a foundation, concealer and powder all in one. If the label indicates an SPF, it is also a sunscreen. Makeup has always contained minerals, but what makes mineral makeup different is the absence of fillers. Traditionally, fillers such as talc can comprise as much as 70 to 90% of a formula. It is important not to dilute minerals with fillers because the high percentage of minerals is what provides such versatile coverage, sun protection and benefits for the skin. This concentrated pigment also gives the mineral powder such adherence that it rarely transfers or needs touching up. Mineral powders, assuming they have been well formulated, are exclusively a combination of high performance mineral pigments.
The quality, quantity, particle size and type of minerals differ from brand to brand, but you should see a combination of any of these ingredients: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxides, mica, bismuth oxychloride or boron nitride. The minerals should appear at the top of the ingredient list and not at the bottom; ingredients are listed in descending order by volume.
The benefits of mineral makeup are impressive. There is no question that sun protection is one of the most important things we can do for the health of the skin. The elegance of minerals is that they make this protection easy, effective and beautiful. However, do not assume that because you have a mineral makeup in your hand that it has sun protection. Assume the reverse unless it has an SPF rating on its label.
Minerals allow the skin to breathe and function normally – a boon to all skin types but especially for those who are sensitive or suffer from acne or rosacea. If minerals are applied properly, they should feel weightless on the skin. Minerals are so versatile that practically any look is attainable. But I think a phrase that I’ve heard more than any other to describe the finished effect is: “It looks like my skin only better.â€Â Perhaps in the end this is what attracts women and men to mineral makeup. It fits perfectly with today’s lifestyle. It’s fast, easy and effective. It’s multi-functional. It allows us to feel natural and look flawless at the same time. And for those of us who are interested in eliminating as many toxins as possible from our lives, it does that too.
Jane Iredale is the president and founder of jane iredale – THE SKIN CARE MAKEUP. She was the first to supply the aesthetic industry with a full line of makeup based on minerals. She has worked with world-renowned plastic surgeons and dermatologists in the development of her line and lectures all over the world on its benefits.