.:: CybeleSays ::.

Making Good With Minerals

I had a couple of readers write in about skin irritating ingredients in mineral makeup, foundation specifically. So many different lines are popping up these days that it’s starting to get confusing. So here’s what I thought we’d do – over the next two months, we’ll examine mineral lines on the rise, the kinds of ingredients they use and what that means for you. We’ve featured most of them on these pages before but let’s really get to the bottom of each.

And let’s really try and put the myth to bed that mineral makeup is actually good for your skin. Remember how everyone is throwing the word “natural” around these days? Well these companies are too and some of the ingredients can be just as irritating and un-natural as their non-mineral-based competition. This info from the Cosmetic Cop is worth the read. Don’t mistake this thinking we are not fans, as we are especially when it comes to the glimmer shadows from BE. *sigh*

Ok, onward. First up, the EVERYDAY MiNERALS line and their line which includes Foundations, Finishing Powders, Pressed Powders. Created by an ultra-busy Mom, the Founder was one of the first estheticians in California making headway into the area of all-natural and organic in the area of beauty.

Ingredient breakdown of powders:

Mica – transparent mineral mined from the earth that provides light reflection (think of those liquid foundations that contain ingredients to lessen the look of wrinkles to the naked eye)

Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide - sunscreens

Iron Oxide – a natural color without dyes or animal ingredients

(some of the shades contain) Ultramarine Blue – ingredient used in blue and purple shades (the cool shades)

What we like about this line:

* Besides having a vast array of foundation shades, they really go the extra mile in getting it exactly right with warm vs cool complexions.

* Doesn’t contain some of the well-known skin irritating ingredients.

* The packaging has some thought behind it. What I mean by that is I’m really not enticed by some of the Mom and Pop mineral makeup brands out there. Sorry but I need good-looking packaging too. So shoot me.

* The prices are very reasonable and most of them come in these three sizes: $2.50/sample, $6/mini, $12/big

* 100% money-back guarantee.

What we feel can be improved upon:

* The website is not the easiest to navigate.

* Sizes do not give you exact measurement of product. Did I miss this on the site?

So do you currently wear mineral makeup? Why do you like it? Check out this line @ everydayminerals.com

Sephora's Minerals Win Me Over

Anytime I come across a pressed mineral foundation, I’m immediately interested. And this latest one from SEPHORA is the latest one to catch my eye. Their Mineral Double Compact Foundation SPF 15 ($22 @ you know where.com) is everything a good formulated mineral powder should be – talc-free, Bismuth Oxychloride--free (this particular ingredient commonly found in mineral makeup can be irritating to those with sensitive skin), paraben-free (not all mineral powders are) and it contains Titanium Dioxide (the SPF). The application sponge it comes with unique in that it's black on one side for maximum coverage and the white on the other for minimum coverage. Cool!

My only “room for improvement” suggestion would be the actual compact it comes in. Through the top you can see the powder. OK, cool. Open it and the inside powder level moves open to reveal the sponge below. Also on that “level” with the sponge is the mirror. But after you take the sponge out and apply some powder you have to flip the level up to see the mirror. Need some more powder, yup, have to flip it back to get at the powder and then back to get at the mirror. And I have seen the speed some women use when applying powder! Not the easiest way to use this compact. So it’s a great powder with a detail that could be adjusted. Common Sephora, you know better.

* Ding-Dong* Avon Calling ...

Speaking of minerals, AVON just steered into the mineral makeup lane and put out a line of powder foundations, blushes and eye shadows. I, of course, gravitated to the powder foundation with Smooth Mineral Makeup ($10/.21oz). I couldn’t find any ingredients to the powder so I’m not sure if it is made with from pure minerals and if it has filler ingredients in it. Anyway, out of 137 reviews on avon.com, 82% of them would recommend it, and so do I. And the price is so right. $10? Nice. The Smooth Mineral Eye Shadows ($8/.05oz) rated a little higher than the foundation and the packaging is the best I’ve seen for mineral shadows. There is a hole in the middle of the pan where you can stick the brush in to grab some color or dip your brush in the hole in the cap. Both @ avon.com

I’m On The Minerals And Can’t Get Off

All foundations seem to pale in comparison since I discovered mineral makeup a few years ago. It’s easy and quick to apply and really looks natural. I’ve only come across one other liquid mineral foundation, Illuminare, and I loved it, so I was really open to this liquid one from YOUNGBLOOD. Their Liquid Mineral Foundation just came out and it is infused with Reduced Salt Deep-Sea Water and also Calendula, Cucumber and Green Tea to name a few. Let’s talk about what you see and feel.

See = nothing

Feel = nothing

Like it’s supposed to, it really does feel like I don’t have anything on my face and it evens out my skin tone beautifully. So I guess you could say I'm going au-natural! $39.95/1oz @ ybskin.com

New Today ...

I really like trying new foundations from the big companies because they have the means to stay on the cutting edge of technology. Yes, face products are also in this category but I can tell instantly what a foundation is about where with a cream, only time will tell. So push your current foundation to the side to make room for CHANEL’s new Mat Lumiere Long Lasting Luminous Matte Fluid Makeup ($52/1oz @ chanel.com). It’s everything you want in a medium-coverage foundation these days: lightweight, shine-free, matte, and long-wearing, to name a few. And this formula uses a new kind of blend of silicone polymers combined with spherical powders (who thinks to even try this??) to create a “modernized matte.” Don’t quite know what that means but my skin looks fresh and flawless and I found I don’t need to touch up my t-zone as often throughout the day. Available in 12 shades.

!Bon Voyage!

Who doesn’t wish they could just grab a few items and take off on a tropical vacation! Tahiti? Cancun? How about the on the other side of the world below the equator in the South Pacific? New in the collection of LAUREN HUTTON’s Passport Series is her Passport South Pacific ($60 @ laurenhutton.com) and what a beautiful bargain this one is. Ms. Hutton was amazed by the oils and herbs the locals in Bora Bora used so she infused some of them (Tahitian Noni Juice, Tamanu Oil and Seaweed Extract) in this makeup. And as with all her products, they are color coded so your application of each will be a breeze. Available in Dark, Medium and Light, each palette packs all the necessities for a quick vacation or daily outing.

The Cream Compact contains: 2 Sheer Concealers, 4 Spot Concealers, 2 Face Colors and Tinted Lip Balm.

The Powder Compact contains: Contour Shadow, Blush, Pooch & Nose Powder, Eyebrow Powder, Eyeshadow, Wet/Dry Eyeliner, Bronzer and Pressed Powder.

And isn't the blue leather case just gorgeous? Now get packing!

Face Technology

SMASHBOX has got your face covered. For foundation, that is. Liquid or powder, these two will give you a flawless complexion. And they are both good for skin!

I’m not one for a liquid these days because they tend to feel heavy but I am floored by this High Definition Healthy FX Foundation ($38). It almost feels like I am not wearing any foundation as it simply sinks in the skin. Here’s the benefits: is oil absorbing, contains anti-aging ingredients, SPF 15, a unique patented moisture time-release system and a new skin cell-energizing ingredient, Ribose. I didn’t know my cells needed re-energizing but I guess they do in order to keep me looking young.
Top your look off with their Function 5 Self-Adjusting Powder Foundation ($36). It’s five kinds of powders in one! Here we go again: non-drying, oil absorbing, contains vitamins A, C, B5 and E, helps calm redness associated with Rosacea, and you can build the coverage you want. Available in six shades. Both @ sephora.com

It's A Pressed Matter

This was my first sampling of JANE IREDALE Mineral Cosmetics. I had never used a pressed version of minerals before and was very impressed with the formula of PurePressed Base ($48). This is a foundation, powder, concealer and sunscreen all in one pretty gold compact. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide act as anti-inflammatories as well as broad-spectrum sunscreens (SPF 18). There are no oils, talc, dyes or synthetic preservatives in her products. The color choices come in four categories: Cool, Neutral, Warm and Global. I found the foundation gave me good, smooth coverage with only a small amount of product.
Another rec from the line are the PurePressed Eye Shadows ($27). Again, I had never tried pressed mineral shadow either and they blended smoothly and the color stayed true all day! My choice for the single pan color – Allure which is a soft pink shimmer ($17.50) and for the duo, I chose Heather 1 & 2 which is a combo of heather pink and a deep dove grey. This duo is perfect for this fall’s natural color palette. These can used wet or dry. This line comes highly recommended and used by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and now, ME! All @ janeiredaledirect.com ~Lisa

Paint n' Powder

One of the best multi tasking products these days is the tinted moisturizer. SONiA KASHUK jumps in the ring with both guns blaring. Light reflectors help disguise fine lines and wrinkles while UVA and UVB protectors guard against the sun, so it makes sense to try Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 ($11.99/2oz @ target.com). I chose Sheer Tint 2, which is perfect for medium skin tones and I really like how it seems to even out the skin even though it gives a very sheer coverage. ~Lisa
DuWOP Smoothset Powder Primer ($32 @ sephora.com) is a balm and powder in a compact. The balm minimizes pores so the powder sits smoothly on the skin. What’s unique about the balm is that it absorbs oils and fills in the cracks or wrinkles and it does a very nice job at both jobs. I just wish more of the balm came in this one. Available in three shades: Translucent Sahara, Translucent Mojave, and Translucent Kalahari.

Mineral On-the-Go

You won’t catch me toting around those round containers with my mineral makeup inside when I need a foundation touch up during the day. They’re just not convenient. Instead, I pack ARCONA’s Sunsations Seychelles Mineral Makeup ($45/7grams @ arcona.com) in the brush-on tube. The button’s on the bottom and you just pump the powder into the brush and buff. And this one contains a sun protection SPF 25, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and vitamins C and E. Available in seven shades.