Mineral Makeup has taken the world by storm - and with good reason!

It's better for your skin than petroleum-based cosmetics, it's fast & easy to apply, feels fantastic on your skin and is even better for the environment than traditional cosmetics.

 

But more than 70% of all women are still completely unfamiliar with mineral makeup. Since we firmly believe that this is a 'trend' that's here to stay, we work hard to try to educate as many women as possible on all the wonderful benefits of mineral cosmetics!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When comparing mineral makeup brands, you also want to bear in mind the ingredient listing. Many brands include 'fillers' - ingredients that may be redundant in the formula but add weight and/or volume to the product.

 

 

 

 

The controversy over the use of nanoparticles in everyday cosmetics has been going on for a while now.

 

What are nanparticles?

From Wikipedia: "a particle is defined as a small object that behaves as a whole unit in terms of its transport and properties."

Particles are then classified in terms of size: fine, ultrafine and nanoparticles.

The properties of materials change as their size approaches the nanoscale. For example, Zinc oxide particles have been found to have superior UV blocking properties compared to its bulk  (larger size) substitute. This is one of the reasons why it is often used in the preparation of sunscreen lotions.

 

However, the debate has begun due to the fact that certain studies have shown that some nanomaterials can not only penetrate the skin, but also cells and tissue, moving through the body and possibly causing biochemical damage.

  

At best, the evidence is inconclusive – it's too early to say whether there is a risk or not.

 

We here at Bellissima have decided that, until further study is conducted and results are more conclusive, we will not use nanotechnology in our formulations. Our mineral cosmetics contain particles no smaller than micron size, with most particles in the range of 2-30 microns.

 

 

 

It's a fact: loose mineral cosmetics are, well... untidy.

While the packaging industry struggles to develop new and inventive concepts that will help cut down on the loose mineral powder mess, many women can't help but feel the attraction of pressed minerals to help clean up their bathrooms, bureaus and purses.

 

We choose mineral cosmetics to be good to our skin, opting for the purest, most chemical-free products we can find. And loose minerals fit the bill.

 

The problem with pressed mineral powders is with the ingredients.

 

Pressing loose minerals into a much neater form involves adding ingredients. Binders and preservatives are the most common and necessary additions.

 

Pressed minerals need binders in order to keep it's form. These binders can be chemical or synthetic: carbomers, copolymers, silicones, etc.

and/or natural or naturally derived:

butters, oils, oil esters, etc.

 

Once some of these ingredients are introduced into a mineral product, there is now a necessity to use a preservative system. And some of the most effective preservatives for these products are in the paraben family: methylparaben, propylparaben.

 

We here at Bellissima love the idea of a pressed mineral product! However, we feel that until we can develop a method of pressing that retains it's purest form and adds as few ingredients as possible, we will continue to only offer loose mineral products.

 

 

No one wants to spend time squinting at teeny, tiny writing, trying to decipher the labels on teeny, tiny jars, but it's necessary to stress how important it is. You make the switch to mineral makeup to be good to your skin, don't you? Some mineral cosmetics do not contain all natural, healthy ingredients, and choosing the wrong products can cause your skin as much damage as mainstream, petroleum-based cosmetics.

 

Here is an easy to read, easy to understand list of ingredients commonly found in mineral makeup and their properties: the reason they're included in formulations. Notice how many ingredients are redundant and only add 'density' to the overall product. We have opted to list all ingredients here by their common name.

 

 

Titanium Dioxide: Offers waterproof, sun protection and anti-bacterial properties. Adds brightness while providing a matte finish. Has light refraction properties to reduce the look of fine lines and large pores. Helps minerals adhere to the skin.

 

Zinc Oxide: Known for it's healing properties for problem skin (such as rosacea), it helps minerals adhere through sweating and swimming while providing UVA/UVB sun protection.

 

Mica/Serecite Mica: Serecite mica is translucent, helps minerals adhere to the skin and reflects light to help reduce the appearance of enlarged pores and fine lines. It also helps in giving minerals a silky feel.

 

Silica/Silicone Microspheres: High-quality mineral powder, it helps reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles by reflecting light, adds a smooth, silky feel while offering high oil-absorption properties.

 

Boron Nitride: A high-quality mineral powder, it has a soft, silky feel, adds luminosity and luster, texture and offers oil absorption properties.

 

Allantoin: A skin protectant, it helps promote healthy skin by relieving skin irritations, chapped and dry skin, sun burns, fever blisters and more and stimulates new and healthy tissue growth.

 

Iron Oxides: Are all-natural mineral pigments, giving mineral makeup it's color.

 

Ultramarine Blue: Since there is no Blue Iron Oxide, Ultramarine Blue is used. Even though cosmetic grade, Ultramarine Blue is not safe, by FDA standards, for direct application to lips and fingernails. However - the minute quanitity that is used as a pigment in mineral makeup is not considered harmful to the skin.

 

 

Bismuth Oxychloride: This ingredient offers luminosity and sheen, maximum coverage and adds a smooth texture to minerals. It is a known skin irritant, and people with a sensitivity may suffer breakouts, itching or skin irritations.

 

Magnesium Stearate: This ingredient provides average coverage, texture, and high adhesion properties to minerals. Magnesium is a naturally occurring metal and stearic acid is derived from vegetable oil. People with allergies or a sensitivity to metals or oils (such as soybean) report rashes and skin irritations.

 

Talc: Provides excellent coverage and oil-absorption properties. Talc not only can clog pores but may be a cancer-causing agent.

 

Kaolin Clay: Offers medium coverage, high absorption, and helps minerals adhere to the skin. It can dry skin out or clog pores, causing breakouts.

 

Silk Powder: Silk offers moisturizing properties, entraps oil, and offers relief for skin burns. It is not a mineral and may clog pores, causing skin irritations or breakouts.

 

Rice Powder: Offers oil absorption properties. As a food-derivative, may cause bacterial growth and cause skin irritations.

 

Manganese Violet: Adds color to mineral cosmetics. It is a metal: people with allergies or a sensitivity to metals or oils report rashes and skin irritations.

 

Cornstarch (Zea Mays): Offers oil absorption properties. As a food-derivative, may cause bacterial growth and cause skin irritations.

 

 

Carmine: Provides red pigmentation to mineral cosmetics. Although natural, this is an animal by-product - made from boiled and ground beetle carcasses.

 

Chromium: Adds color to mineral cosmetics. It is artificial and a known skin irritant.

 

FD & C Dyes: Synthetic colorants believed to be cancer-causing agents.

 

Triethoxycaprylysilane Fragrance: Synthetic fragrance that may cause allergic reactions and skin irritations.

 

Pearl Powder: Derived form pearl shells, adds luster and luminosity to mineral makeup. Known to clog pores and cause skin irritations.

 

Ethylhexyl palmitate: A chemical replacement for Silica or Silicone Microspheres.

 

Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben: Synthetics used to extend the shelf-life of mineral makeup (please be sure to visit http://www.squidoo.com/mineralmakeupfaqs for more information about the shelf-life of mineral cosmetics). They are rumored to be toxic. May cause allergic reaction and skin rashes.

 

Mineral makeup is great for your skin - as long as you choose products with the right ingredients.

If a company doesn't list their ingredients, don't buy it.

If they don't tell you up front what their ingredients are, don't buy it.

If you don't recognize many of the ingredients listed, don't buy it.

And if they include ingredients on our 'Avoid' list?

Well, you know the drill...