7 Reasons You Should Switch to Mineral Makeup

Mineral makeup hasn't always had the best rep. In the past, you may have associated it with a chalky, grainy texture and a full-on mask-like effect. And that's a sentiment makeup artist Aimee Adams agrees with. "I never used to carry mineral-based makeup in my kit, " she says. "It was quite heavy on the skin and not as easy to work with. But now that the textures have gotten lighter and you can get mineral makeup in liquid form, I have a couple of varieties on me at all times." Plus, it's fair to say that mineral brands of 10 years ago didn't have the variety and luxe feeling of "regular" makeup.

But times have changed. A lot. Mineral makeup has never been more innovative, creative, and sought-after, and for good reason. Not only are the formulations some of the most desirable, but the skin-boosting side effects are better than ever. So how is it made? Well, minerals such as mica, zinc, and titanium oxide are milled to a super-fine consistency, and this is then combined with pigment. However, it's often what's not contained in mineral makeup that makes it more beneficial. You won't find any oils, waxes, preservatives, synthetic fragrances, or bulking agents that are used by conventional makeup brands, so they can use less pigment, and therefore you need to use more it to get the coverage you want. Mineral makeup really does go a lot further, and the more you wear it, the better your skin gets. So why wouldn't you want to switch up?

Read on to discover all the reasons you need to know for converting to mineral makeup.

1. It's Non-Comedogenic

In simple terms, that means that mineral makeup, unlike a lot of other makeup, won't clog up your pores. This is because mineral makeup doesn't contain talc, which stays on the skin's surface, sinking into pores. Therefore, mineral makeup could be a good option if you suffer from enlarged pores or breakouts.

2. It's Got SPF Built In

"Many mineral makeup products contain zinc oxide, which, as well as being a great skin healer, is a natural, sunscreen to prevent burning, signs of photo-aging, and irritation," explains Kerrie Smyth, skincare specialist for Glo Minerals.

3. It's Ideal for Sensitive Skin

"I always ask a client what their skin is like, and if they say it's sensitive and reactive, I immediately reach for a mineral foundation instead of a regular one," says Aimee Adams. Unlike other foundations, mineral bases don't contain chemical dyes. Mineral formulations often exclude some ingredients which may cause reactions in sensitive skin types.

4. It's Not All About Foundation

You probably think it's all about the base when you think of mineral makeup, but there's so much more. The advancement of mineral pigment technology in textures other than powders now means you can prettify your entire face using just mineral makeup. 

5. It Stays Put

Due to its lack of oils and waxes, mineral makeup doesn't slide off the skin as regular makeup does. "I've used mineral makeup on shoots in really hot locations, and it just doesn't budge, which is amazing," says Aimee.

6. It's Safe for Your Skin

"Mineral makeup acts like skincare. That's why it's recommended by dermatologists and skin specialists all over the world," says SJ Froom, international makeup artist for BareMinerals. "Women wear makeup to feel beautiful and confident, but heavy formulas can cause skin problems, such as breakouts and irritation. This leaves us in a vicious cycle of using more makeup to cover up skin concerns, never giving our skin a chance to be healthy. Mineral makeup contains natural skin-improving ingredients and incredible technology, which means brands don't need to sacrifice health for performance." 

7. It Contains All Kinds of Other Goodness Too

"Our new liquid foundation contains bamboo-stem extract to provide a blurring soft focus and papaya enzymes, which promote cell turnover and will leave you with softer, smoother, and brighter skin," says SJ.

Also, look out for mineral makeup containing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory green-tea extract and soothing chamomile. 

Now you're hooked on mineral makeup, here are the best brands you need to know about. 

BareMinerals

BareMinerals BarePro Performance Wear Liquid Foundation SPF20 $34.00

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With a mineral makeup history that spans over 35 years, BareMinerals is probably the most recognizable mineral brand available. It all began with the iconic mineral powder foundation (which has just had a shade extension to now offer 30 different tones), but it also caters to everything else your makeup bag could need. Not only that, but the brand also offers up impressive skincare products too.

Its latest and most exciting launch is its new liquid foundation, BarePro. This light and easy-to-blend foundation comes in 30 shades and offers all the skin-soothing benefits of a mineral foundation with the ease and comfort of a liquid formula.

Glo Minerals

Glo Minerals Pressed Base $50.00

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Frequently found in dermatologist offices or on cosmeceutical skincare websites, Glo Minerals is designed for skin that needs extra care and attention. All the products have been designed to be used post-procedures and contain anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ingredients. Their best seller is a pressed foundation, which you can sweep over your face with a large foundation or kabuki brush.

PÜR

PÜR Eye Polish $16.00

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Launched in 2013, PÜR Cosmetics (originally known as PÜR Minerals) wanted to shake things up in the mineral makeup world by creating innovative products that hadn't been seen or done before. Case in point: their eye polish, the first-ever gel-based mineral eye shadow brought to market. You can apply it with a brush or your finger, and it preps and primes the eyelid, so the color stays in place. It comes in six shades and, unsurprisingly, has become one of the brand's best sellers. 

Lily Lolo

Lily Lolo Naked Pink Cheek Duo $24.00

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Founder of Lily Lolo, Vikki, began by making mineral makeup products at home. Fast-forward 10 years, and Lily Lolo is a fully-fledged successful makeup brand stocked around the globe. Not only are all the products mineral-based, as you would expect, but they are totally cruelty-free too. As well as makeup, there are also skincare products (check out the makeup mist), but our absolute favorite product has to be the cheek duos that create a flush of color. They are available in two shades, a pink duo and an orange-coral shade that looks fab on darker skins. 

Jane Iredale

Jane Iredale Puregloss Lip Gloss $26.00

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Jane's background was originally in TV and film. In that stage of her career, she witnessed the effects of heavy makeup on actresses' skin and saw the need for an alternative. That was back in 1994, and Jane Iredale's mineral makeup has been growing and growing ever since. You can find it online, but it is more often stocked in dermatologist offices, where it's prescribed for use after procedures. That is how gentle and skin-enhancing the products are. As well as a full makeup range, including her best-selling lip glosses that come in 18 shades, the line also includes skincare and even fake tan products.