Mineral makeup is the miracle cosmetic. It works on all skin types and doesn’t contain dyes, chemicals, filters or oils. It’s as close to nature as makeup can get.

Only in recent years has mineral makeup come to the forefront in the cosmetics world. It’s not just foundation either. Some companies produce entire mineral makeup lines with foundation, blush, eye shadow, eye liner, even mineral mascara.

What Mineral Makeup Does

Mineral makeup provides coverage with loose pigments in a powder, pressed powder or liquid form. It’s great for mature skin since it refracts light, which reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and discolorations. It’s great for those who suffer from acne because it aids in healing and actually cuts down on the incidence of inflammation.

Not only does mineral makeup blend naturally on skin, it helps dry-skinned users by shutting in moisture so that your face is hydrated all day. Even better, with regular use it can improve your skin. And it can last all day.How to Apply Mineral Makeup Foundation

The most important thing to remember when applying mineral makeup is that you do not need much. Use just a very small amount at a time.

Since most mineral makeup is in a loose or pressed powder form, you can apply it very much like traditional makeup. In most cases you’ll apply mineral makeup with a brush or makeup sponge. Since it’s usually in powder form, you don’t want to attempt applying it with your hands. Look for a mineral foundation brush with lots of hair. Don’t get a long flimsy brush – short bristles are best.

Before you apply your foundation, blush and eye shadow, you’ll want to clean and moisturize your face. Once your moisturizer has soaked in a bit, you can apply your mineral foundation. This helps trap moisture and keep your skin hydrated. It also helps to blend the foundation.

If you’re using a loose mineral foundation, press your brush into your foundation container. It usually has holes which the powder sifts through. Once you’ve gotten a little on your brush, tap off the excess and apply to skin, starting at the center of your face (nose, chin and forehead). Then work your way outward. Apply up to several layers until you have the coverage you want.If you’re using a pressed mineral foundation, use a makeup sponge to apply to your face.

Mineral Makeup and Color

When shopping for mineral makeup, don’t forget that it will often look lighter in the container than traditional makeup. Mineral makeup reaches its true color once it’s been on your skin for 15 minutes so give it time to set, then take a look at the deep colors that appear before your eyes.

Mineral Makeup Brands

And now for the fun stuff! While many makeup companies now carry several mineral makeup products, some specialize in only the good stuff.

Jane Iredale

This brand, started in 1994, carries an entire product line from mineral foundations and concealers to mascara, lip, even eyebrow color. You can choose from one of the brand’s many natural hair brushes designed for just about any purpose, from camouflaging to defining angles, contouring the eyes, smudging and more.

Check out the: PureLash Mascara – this is made for women who previously may have been unable to wear mascara because of eye sensitivity. This version has no petroleum or shellac products but has algae extract, wax and a variety of plant and mineral extracts like sweet almond seed.

Check out the: Cream to Powder Eyeliner – this eyeliner goes on as a cream and dries in powder form to provide deep color all day. Mix and match the 3 colors in your palette for customized shades. The blacks and browns can dub as brow color too!bareMinerals

This makeup line makes a big promise to customers – that their makeup is so pure, you can actually sleep in it. With a fusion of makeup and skincare, bareMinerals helps pamper the complexion. Only natural products that are good for the skin go into their makeup line. Plus, bareMinerals take the concept of all-natural makeup one step further by creating a skincare line as well.

Check out the: bareMinerals Get Started Kit – this starter kit has 2 shades of the bareMinerals SPF 15 foundation, a mineral veil, all over face color and 3 brush applicators. If you’re not a minerals believer now, you might be once you’ve gotten your hands on this kit.

Check out the: RareMinerals Renew & Reveal Facial Cleanser – this water-activated powder cleanser has no chemicals, but instead is based on the brand’s trademarked RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex. This cleanser does not contain any parabens, soaps or detergents.

Afterglow Cosmetics

This mineral makeup brand is certified organic. But that doesn’t mean the brand is lacking in color or wow factor. The brand has 8 shades of 100% natural blush in deep colors like foxy brown or lighter hues like peachy. Afterglow’s eye shadows range from barely there “fog” to dramatic shades like “endless,” a deep blue-purple. All the brand’s powder eye shadows can be mixed and matched to create your own unique look.Check out the: Organic Setting Powder – this neutral powder can be worn on top of foundation to help absorb oil and lend a satiny soft finish to your skin, or it can be worn alone for a barely there natural look. These minerals are jet-milled, which helps skin feel soft and lets it breath the whole day through.

Check out the: Glow Kit – this pack dubs as a starter kit for those new to mineral makeup, and makes a great travel kit. With kits in light, medium or deep medium, you’ll get 2 organic mineral foundations, 1 organic mineral blush, 1 organic setting powder, a vegan baby kabuki brush, instructions and a fun “glamour” bag.

Those are just a few of the many mineral makeup products on the market. With a little research and some fun experimentation, finding the minerals that best compliment your complexion should be a breeze!

Mineral makeup provides a balance of natural, chemical-free ingredients that can be used on all skin types, mature and acne-prone skin included. The cosmetic is also extremely versatile, giving you a natural look when you want or creating extreme drama with bold shades – take your pick.