Ask Emma

Everybody is talking about mineral make up. It’s the new make up revolution you just have to try. If you’re anything like me you it will be love at first sight.

So how does mineral make up differ to your normal fluid foundation? What exactly is mineral make up?
Simplicity is the answer. Mineral make up bring us back to basics, containing no nasty, harsh ingredients which will trigger of skin irritations and breakouts. Mineral make up will provide a beautifully flawless and even finish without looking like you need a chisel to remove it.

The make up consists of all natural finely ground minerals from the earth, steering clear of any chemicals, dyes and preservatives which are found in other forms of make up. High quality mineral make up will also consist of zinc oxides and titanium dioxides to provide you with the sun protection your skin needs in the most natural form possible. It should contain no fillers i.e. flour, bismuth oxychloride, talc powder or corn flower. The mineral powders sink into the oils on your skin giving your skin an even, flawless finish without creating that awful ‘caked-on’ look.

This also allows your skin to breathe which is therefore more healing and soothing on the skin.
Mineral make up is ideal for skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, sensitized and irritated. It is also fantastic to apply after having a peel / laser resurfacing / microdermabrasion treatment etc, as it does not contain any ingredients which will cause further irritation or support bacteria on the skin.

You will be amazed and how easily a mineral powder foundation can conceal redness from rosacea, acne scaring and active acne as well as any other possible flaws which you may experience.

The key to applying your mineral powder foundation correctly and evenly come down to two simple things; the brush and the three step process. You should invest in a good brush for application. Each company will have their own and they tend to be quite similar in quality and effectiveness.

I especially loved the Skin Rich mineral make up brush as it evenly distributed the minerals over my face and has been designed specifically for mineral make up. For that beautifully flawless coverage, apply your mineral make up in a simple three step process. Swirl it, tap it, and apply it!

Swirl a small amount (you only ever need a tiny amount of product as it goes a very long way) of the mineral powder into the lid of your container until all the natural minerals are tucked up into the bristle. To do this you should really swirl for approximately three minutes.

Tap the brush off the side of the container or container lid to shake off excess loose minerals. You should not be able to see any minerals on the outside of the brush. If you do, tap some more.

Lastly, in a circular motion, with firm pressure (to ensure you press the product into your skin) apply the make up with your brush. You can build it up in layers for more coverage or for that night time appearance but always remember, with all mineral make up foundations, less is more.

I have personally tried and tested an abundance of mineral make up foundations. Jane Iredale would have to be my all time favourite, although it is quite pricey so not something you would use every day.

Skin Rich and Bare Mineral both offer a more affordable range, both of which I currently use and feel my skin has settled in doing so. They both also offer bronzers, loose eye shadows and concealer’s etc so you can fully convert from a pore clogged mass concealer to clean skinned natural beauty.

Many cheaper brands are now producing a mineral powder foundation. I have also tried L’Oreal Bare Naturale Powdered Mineral Foundation which has a nifty build in brush. However it is not a true 100% mineral based foundation as it does contain some extra ingredients. L’Oreal have many shades to choose from so you will find one which will blend into your skin correctly.

So throw away those messy, oily, bacteria supporting foundations and give your skin a chance to breath. Experiment with a few different brands and I highly recommend you invest in a good quality brush for application. Go on, your skin deserves it!