Makeup Terminology: What's Really In Your Cosmetics

Cosmetic Terminology:
What Makeup Packaging and Ingredient Tells You About the Product

Although women and men have been wearing makeup since earliest history, Max Factor is credited with the invention and mass marketing of pancake foundation makeup in the 1950's. Max Factor, who started out as a wig designer, created the first grease paint makeup for the movies in 1914, and went on to do the makeup of such stars as Lucille Ball, Jean Harlow, Claudette Colbert and Bette Davis. The company was acquired by Proctor & Gamble in 1991, but still does business under the famous name of the master.

And makeup has come a long way since 1914. Very few women these days are willing to rub tinted petroleum products on their faces—unless there's a really brilliant marketing scheme in place to convince them to do so. In fact, consumers have proven again and again that we'll buy practically anything if we thing it will make us look or smell good.

What Does Hypoallergenic Mean When on Makeup Packaging?

But let's start with a real shocker, just discovered by this writer while researching this article. Did you know that "hypoallergenic" means nothing at all? It's true! The FDA has no requirement in place that systematizes allergy testing for makeup, so any brand that wants to claim its product is "hypoallergenic" may freely do so, to the detriment of makeup wearers with sensitive skin or one of the many allergic conditions so common to modern life. Ditto for "allergy tested". If it's a food product, manufacturers must let us know if products may have potential for loosing nut allergies, but you could rub your face, all unknowing, with pure peanut oil if it's sold to you by a makeup company. The FDA does prohibit the use of super-toxic chemicals, but other than that, (and I quote the FDA regulation) "Cosmetic firms are responsible for substantiating the safety of their products and ingredients before marketing." The FDA doesn't require them to do any particular testing first.

Non-Comedogenic Cosmetics - Is there such a thing?

So, when a makeup claims to be non-comedogenic (pore-clogging), they're just whistling Dixie. Have you ever seen a lotion or liquid foundation that doesn't dry up in the bottle, causing an occasional clog? Why wouldn't it clog your pores if you failed to wash it off? Of course it would.

Oil Free Makeup - Check the Makeup Label to Confirm

Now, "oil-free" is something a consumer can check out. Cosmetic companies do list ingredients on the package, and you can read whether there are oils involved, unless they are hidden by chemical names you don't recognize. For example, palm kernel oil is also known by its name of myristic acid, or tetradecanoic acid .

No Animal Testing and Cruelty Free - Depends?

And wait; there's more. Companies that advertise "no animal testing" or "cruelty-free" products may actually test or buy ingredients that have been tested on animals at other manufacturers'. Look for the label that says "No new animal testing". To get truly cruelty-free products, you may want to choose makeup companies who include in their mission statements a clear stand on cruelty-free products. It's not something you can sue over if you find they're lying, but most corporations won't go to the trouble of pretending to be cruelty free to the extent that they'll include it in a mission statement.

Sensitive Skin? Read the Cosmetic Labels Closely for Hidden Ingredients

Especially for those with sensitive skin, fragrance free and talc free makeup may be important. You have to read the labels—"unscented" just means that the product doesn't contain a particular perfume, but it often does mean that fragrance has been added to mask the less-pleasant smell of the unfragranced ingredients. Dye free mouth makeup is rare—lipsticks typically have some sort of dye in them, but mineral makeup is usually dye free. And finally, the claim that a product is "dermatologist tested isn't worth the paper it's written on. There are no legal requirements to fulfill in dermatological testing. Even SPF numbers are not to be relied on, since the FDA hasn't been able to determine effective ways of testing products for protection from UVA and UVB rays.

Steps to Follow When Choosing a Beauty, Makeup or Cosmetics Product

So, what's a gal to do? You can't rely on labeling to tell you what's really going on in your makeup. But there are a few ways you can protect yourself against makeup products that may not be good for you.

• The fewer ingredients, the better. After all, if you're exposed to a multiplicity of chemicals, chance are mathematically greater that you will be sensitive or even allergic to one or a combination of them. If your makeup, however, is made of two or three ingredients, you'll be able to check them out more carefully and you won't be encountering a chemical cocktail every time you put on your makeup.
   
  
• Learn the beauty industry's lingo. Look up the ingredients in your makeup and find out what they're for and what they do. If there are allergies reported against them, you may also find that out in your research. So that's where that rash is coming from!
   
  
• Remember that you and your skin are unique. Come popular anti-acne face creams contain camphor, which feels cool on the skin and has a slightly mentholated fragrance that smells clean and nice. Most people aren't sensitive to it, but some people are. For these people, using this "calming, cooling" cream can actually cause peeling, redness and dryness. Even essential oils and "all-natural" ingredients may cause reactions. You may be sensitive to something no one else minds at all. You may be just fine with a product everyone else hates. If you experience a rash, breakouts or stinging from your makeup, find one with different ingredients.
  

 

Makeup of the 1920s and Flappers

Roaring 20s Fads and Trend in Makeup and Hair Styling The Roaring Twenties decade saw jazz and women's liberation in education, behavior, dress and makeup. Pancake makeup was invented in 1914, women got the vote in 1920, and as far as many conservative folk were concerned, the world fell apart. Women were dating without chaperones, necking unreservedly at parties, dancing lewdly and drinking hard liquor in nightclubs and dives. The Flapper era began with the look called "comme le garcon" (or, "like the boy"), straightening and shortening skirts and dresses, slimming figures and—most shocking of all—cutting the hair of the nation's fashionable young women. Short hair was a big deal: nice girls kept their hair long, as a metaphor for maidenhood. For a woman to chop her hair short was to practically admit she was no longer a virgin. But women went more than a step further than a boyish haircut and tendency to party; they began smoking in public—something no "lady" did. They outfit themselves with silk robes embroidered with vintage inspired floral motifs. They discarded the restrictive girdles and corsets and bound their breasts flat to achieve an even more "masculine" appearance in their costumes. And they wore lots and lots of makeup. Before the '20's, women wore cosmetics, but nice women hid their rouge pots and powder puffs away from fathers and husbands, who heartily disapproved. Discretion was imperative. But when the '20's hit, young women went for makeup in a big way: stars like Theda Bara and Clara Bow made paper-white skin, blood red lips and insanely made-up eyes into must-haves for every fashionable woman who ever rolled a stocking below the knee. Makeup was in its rawest form, because the market was just beginning to grow. Early mascara was a cake of wax that was melted and applied in a gluey mass to the lashes with an orange stick. The trend in lipstick was the reddest red—no other color options were available—and smudgeproof lipstick was mandatory for would-be vamps who wanted to neck without leaving a trail. Eyebrows were painfully thin; in a fad, women plucked out the entire eyebrow and penciled it back on higher than it had been in the first place. Eye makeup consisted of kohl, which might be made of ingredients as strange as soot, lead and goose grease. Kohl went all the way around the eyes, turning the whole orbital area into a deep-stained smudge reminiscent of vampires. For a dramatic touch, some 'vamps' drew a line of kohl from the corner of the eye outward, simulating a slightly Asiatic look that was deemed sexy and bad. (Even today, imported kohl may contain lead: substitute black eyeliner instead). Powder (usually rice powder) was vital to the Flapper look: skin looked white to the point of near-death; one author called it, "the pallor usually associated with innate vice". Themes in makeup as in dresses were based on the Orient. Along with other 'unfeminine' behaviors, Flappers didn't hide their makeup any more than they did their legs; lipstick was applied at the dinner table and powder compacts made public appearances at parties and speakeasies. Portable makeup containers—compacts and lipstick tubes made of precious metals and encrusted with jewels—became ideal accessories when cosmetics left the boudoir for the banquette. The bobbed haircut made the nineteen twenties Flapper movement what it was, and sent many young women to their rooms in disgrace "until it grows back!". The Bob hairstyle was a blunt cut worn halfway between cheekbone and chin. Bangs could be worn cut straight across or swept to one side. Like the made up face, hair didn't look "natural"; it was slicked down, glistening with brilliantine. The Shingle, which followed the Bob, cut the hair at the nape in a V-shape, exposing the neck. Shingles were accompanied by marcelled finger waves or spit curls at the temples. The most drastic version of the Flapper hairdo was the Eton crop, cut very short and close to the head, with a curl plastered tightly above either ear.

Women's Makeup and Styles in the 1930s

30’s Hair Styles and Vintage Makeup of the Depression Era

The decade of the 30's was the beginning of makeup created for a particular purpose and purposefully applied. With the stock market crash of 1929, the Flapper era disappeared like the bubbles in a glass of flat champagne: the moneyed class that had fueled the fashion revolution was suddenly dead broke. Nobody wanted to party anymore.

But with economic depression comes a re-evaluation of one's way of life, and women, were less fiscally secure than they had ever been. In a world where no one is working, women had only one thing to fall back on; marriage, preferably to someone solvent. The scary, independent woman of the '20s was supplanted in the nineteen thirties with someone softer, more traditionally feminine. There were husbands to catch, and frightened men run fast. Fashion themes softened, mellowed to reflect the general mood of the Depression.

Makeup and Faces of the Nineteen Thirties

But that was in the real world: the world of movies stepped in to help people forget their troubles. The five cent movie ticket allowed nearly anyone to spend the day at the cinema, and movies were glamorous spectacles designed to spirit the public to a happier place—if only for an hour or two. Movie heroes and heroines were not poor or hungry or scared; they danced, drank vintage champagne and swanned about in fabulous costumes of gowns and furs. Trends of the 1930s buried the deadly vamp look for softer, more appealing styles. Complexions were still pale, but a faint bloom of pink or peach made its way into starlets' cheeks. Dark colors were replaced with blushes of pink and lips of rose or raspberry. Eyebrows were high and long, smoothed and shiny with petroleum jelly. Nail polish was applied to the center of the nail, leaving the half-moons and tips bare.

Two Looks of the Era

There were two looks in the '30s—elegant lady or fresh-faced girl next door. Women's makeup and hairstyles reflected both possibilities, and made both choices possible for woman who wanted to switch roles for an evening—or a new lifestyle.

Max Factor was the man behind makeup: the hot lights of the movies created a need for something that could help stars look their best. Max Factor's salon on Hollywood Boulevard brought him clients like Bette Davis, Lucille Ball, Marlene Dietrich and Claudette Colbert. Credited with inventing cosmetic necessities like mascara and pancake, Max Factor was also said to have coined the term "makeup".

Depression Makeup and Hollywood Makeup Differed

With movie stars unashamedly made up, the concept of cosmetics moved into the mainstream. Ordinary women were no longer nervous about using powder, lipstick, mascara and rouge (blush). And makeup had another appeal during the Depression; for the price of a tube of lipstick, a woman could treat herself to something that would improve her appearance and her self-confidence. Whether her goal was to marry or to attempt to enter the workforce, women needed every advantage when it came to looking glamorous. With film becoming more accessible to more people, real women were exposed to the fads and fashions of Hollywood, with the result that makeup usage spread across the country. But nail polish was the toughest sell: early market research showed that women thought it looked cheap and tacky; it was fine for movie stars, but real women were opting out. It took a concerted effort by film studios and advertisers into the 1940s to get American women to paint their nails, but with encouragement from the day's greatest female stars, nail polish made it to the mainstream.

1930's hair styles also softened from '20's extremes. Hair was worn longer, often pulled into a smooth chignon for evening wear. Although hair was longer, styles were still strictly fashioned with tight, glossy waves and pincurls in set patterns that took time and skill to create. One popular hairstyle was the Coronet, where the hair was pulled back tightly and the head wound with braided hair. Haircuts were no longer a statement of rebellion—just a way to keep a style under control.

1940s Fashions and Makeup During War Times

Vintage 1940s Makeup and Fashions that Make a Great Party Theme or Classic Swing Costume

The 1940's era redefined women and set the stage for later feminist thought on the history of women. For the first time in the country's history, the average woman was expected to lead two disparate lives; homemaker and wife of a man at war, and factory worker. So well had women learned their places that, when the majority of men went to war, there was no one to work in the factories and shipyards. It didn't take long for the government to realize that women were the only way to produce the equipment and supplies needed to run a war. Some women were delighted to enter the workforce, seeing it as the first time in their lives that they could achieve economic independence. Other women really believed that it was unfeminine to work outside the home. They refused to go to work. But using cajolery, flattery and outright threats, the government sent the women to work—for the Forties.



Forties Clothing Fashions
Fashion for real women follows function and form. Women were '40s morale-boosters—dresses had small waists, tight busts and full skirts. Women were expected to tighten their belts; silk stockings disappeared when silk was used for parachutes and other wartime items, and women drew lines up the backs of their legs with eyebrow pencils to simulate stocking seams. Thin figures were in: shoulder pads made their first appearances on the female figure. Women's jobs were male jobs—welding and soldering, building and production—so, at work, they were wearing costumes like coveralls and denims. Many women discovered the comfort and ease of wearing pants, and actresses like Katherine Hepburn and Bette Davis made trousers for women into lasting trends.


40’s Swing Dancing Makeup Trends
Makeup was affected by the war, which turned many women's thoughts away from romance and towards simplicity. Lips were a true, patriotic red; creamy skin was powdered and smoothly pink. Mascara had founds its place on women's faces, although it may have been worn more after work. Romance and practicality fought each other on the home front, where women wanted to look beautiful even whether swing dancing or working shifts at a shipyard or factory. To make up was a way of maintaining one's feeling of femininity in a world that was challenging women to take on more of the man's role than was ever allowed before.


1940s Women’s Hair Styles
Hairstyles were smooth and longer; the pared-down look of the Thirties gave way to the more romantic, softer look of the War Years. The Bob haircuts disappeared; women were going for longer locks, even if they did have to be pinned up at work. Curlers and irons created wavy hair that was pulled away from the face. Forties' hair styles were glamorous and high maintenance. You could wear your hair down, with long, rolling curls, like Lauren Bacall, or up for evening in a chignon with lots of accompanying waves and curls. Fingerwaves and pincurls were still among the hair designer's repertoire, and many women slept on curlers or did the dishes with their hair in a bandana to cover the pincurls drying tightly against the head. And hair color wasn't unheard of: peroxide became the way to have more fun as women turned blond in salons and at home.

1940's women were asked to do a lot, and working for the war effort took a toll. But glamour was in, fresh from Hollywood, and women who were earning their first paychecks were also shopping, dressing elegantly and using cosmetics like movie stars. Part of the rationale was that the nation's women couldn't afford to look frumpy in a time of war; the other reason for spending so much time and effort on one's appearance was to stay somewhat positive and optimistic. "Putting a brave face on" was more than an interior process: wearing makeup and nice clothes was a statement of self-worth and confidence.

Vintage party themes or ideas for the '40s decade include the uniformed swing dance, which mimics dances held in USO canteens throughout the war. Costumes include military dress uniforms for men, and WAC, WAVE or Red Cross uniforms or party dresses for women.

Rock and Roll Era Fashions

1950s Housewife Era and Rock and Roll Inspired Makeup Trends and Vintage Fashion Styles

If you ever watched the TV hit series, "Happy Days", you have some good ideas about Fifties fashions during that fabulous decade. Teenage girls' costumes included cashmere twin sets and poodle skirts for date nights, nice, mid-calf length dresses to school and simpler skirts or even blue jeans at home. Trends were conservative, although rock and roll would soon change that. The casual hairstyle was a ponytail, wrapped in a scarf. When you washed the car, you might substitute the scarf for a bandana, which was easier to wash than chiffon.

Fabulous “Nifty” Fifties Trend Background

The Nifty Fifties were a continuation of Forties femininity, with a little added paranoia. Those men left alive had come home from war. The unusual thing about WWII was that for the first time, women's work had expanded to all sorts of jobs—not just teaching or nursing. Women had worked in munitions factories, shipyards, banks—everywhere a man had gone to war, a woman had taken his place. But when the war ended, the factories and industries employing women dismissed them summarily and en masse. Women were sent home—even the single ones, the widowed with children, the ones who wanted and needed to work. Many women were delighted to return to housework and wifehood after years of hard work and privation. Some were angry and hurt at the change from wage earner to housewife. All were disenfranchised.

Soon, babies were created and born in enormous numbers. The Baby Boom forced the country into something resembling normalcy: after all, kids require diapers and kindergartens and puppies and homes in the suburbs. It's hard to hang onto the vintage past when the future is cooing in your face.

50’s Feminine Fashions Meant Lookin’ for a Husband

Fashion changed with the country. Once again, a woman's main occupation was in the marital hunt, and after the hunt, bliss and childbearing. For the hunt, women needed the tools of the trade—makeup, perfume, high heels, ultra-feminine wardrobes. In contrast to the scaled-down fashions of WWII, Fifties styles were fluffy with petticoats, bosomy and leggy. The Forties figure was slim and straight, with shoulder pads to make a bolder, more responsible appearance. The ideal Fifties era figure was rounded, curvy and made for love. Smart girls pretended dumbness and dumb girls reveled in being pretty. Movies started an odd trend, though. Eyeglasses became fashionable. Cat's eye styles, rhinestones and bizarre shapes brought attention to the eyes. In "How to Marry a Millionaire", Marilyn Monroe taught the world that men would make passes at girls who wore glasses—even rich men. (But in the movie, Marilyn's character got the line wrong, saying, "Men aren't attentive to girls who wear glasses".

The 1950’s Married Housewife Glamour Girl

The quintessential '50s married glamour girl was Lucille Ball, whose fashion sense was as rigorous as her business acumen proved to be. Lucy's poodle haircut was perfect for the day; shorter, but perfectly controlled by permanent and frequent trips to the salon. Hair spray became commonly used, making more complicated hair styles possible. Peaches and cream make up replaced any previous vamp-styled pallor. Lips were rosy pink or red and welcoming; eyes were lined in mascara (the one cosmetic that has never gone out of fashion). Eyeliner made an appearance at night, as well as pastel nail color and eye shadow colors in blue and green. Foundation was de rigueur.

Evening Makeup Looks and Trends for the 50s

Evening cosmetics shimmered in shades of pink for lips and eye shadow reaching past the lid. Eyebrows were plucked thin and slightly high, as if to underscore the naiveté of the woman below them. Dimples were revered, but not freckles, unless you were a child. Bangs often consisted of pincurls, finger fluffed into a fringe. Women looked like dolls—the girl next door for daytime became an elegant Parisian model by night. For a nation returning from war, it was a return to a safe, romantic fantasy.

1950s teen party themes might include the sock hop, with dancers wearing rolled up jeans and penny loafers or vintage circle skirts and Oxford shoes.

Eye Makeup Tips to Make Eyes Appear Larger

Types of Foundation Makeup: Choose the Best Base Cosmetics for Your Skin for a Perfectly Even, Flawless Face

Foundation is one of life's little mysteries: when and where should you wear it? What does it actually do? What are the best foundations made of and how should they be applied? Let's a look at the variety of foundations currently in vogue, discussing their pros and cons and looking at the latest in cosmetic technology to make sense of the stuff we're smearing on our skin.

What's Foundation For?

Young women may think that foundation is a middle-aged game, but the fact is that the right foundation can protect your skin and keep it younger longer. Many foundations and moisturizers now come with SPF in them, so whenever you wear foundation, you're protecting your skin from the most damaging environmental condition short of cigarette smoke; the sun. Even young women with flawless skin should wear a light foundation purely for the SPF coverage it affords.

In addition to sunscreen, the right foundation can provide additional moisturizing, which is useful if you work or go to school in modern, climate controlled buildings where the air is very dry. Keeping your skin well moisturized is another way to head off the signs of aging, so that, in a fascinating paradox, the more you wear foundation, the less you need it for coverage.

Foundation's cosmetic purpose is to correct skin irregularity, hide fine lines and generally provide a base for the ret of your makeup. You can fix problems with wan or ruddy skin with the correct color of foundation, adding a slight blush or toning down redness by your choice of color. If you don't want heavy coverage foundation and want proper moisturizer with a little bit of tint, you can choose a tinted moisturizer instead of a thicker foundation.

After tinted moisturizer, the lightest foundation base is whipped or mousse makeup. Mousse has added air, so it goes on lighter and thinner. It's a spray, so puff some into your hand and apply a thin layer to your face. If you have dry skin that gets caked looking with thicker foundations or want to get better control by layering on thin applications of foundation, mousse is a good choice. If you tend to be in a hurry when applying your makeup, whipped foundation can also help you avoid the unpardonable sin of slapping on too thick a layer, which will look worse than wearing no makeup at all.

Traditional Liquid Base Makeup

Liquid foundation is arguably the most well-known foundation type. Your mom's foundation makeup probably came in a bottle: she upended it onto a fingertip and then wiped it on, always stroking upward, because the beauty mavens say that helps prevent wrinkles. If you want to use it as concealer, liquid makeup can be applied with a tiny brush in layers underneath your eyes. Just make sure you have a great mirror so you don't end up with too much foundation in an area that cakes easily.

Concealer Can Give Full Coverage to Problem Skin Areas

You can find all sorts of concealers, but they are mainly sold in tubes. Concealer is just a foundation with more of the water removed, making it thick and increasing its coverage. Most makeup artists agree that undereye concealer should have a golden hue to minimize the dark circles so many of us are prone to. Other concealers can be used to cover blemishes or even scars. The trick is in the application. You may find it works best to pace your concealer between two layers of foundation in the problem area for nearly perfect coverage.

Waterproof, Smudgeproof or 24-Hour Foundation

There are foundations that purport to be impervious to rain, hugging and time itself, and some claims may be more honest than others. What is true is that these foundations, often in a liquid or cream-to-powder base, have to contain waterproof materials such as wax and oil. If your skin tends to be sensitive, you may find the various whatever proof foundations cause breakouts or roughened skin. If you spend a lot of time in the rains of London or flying from one destination to another with little time for applying new makeup, you'll want to try the waterproof, smudgeproof foundations, but be aware that they may have ingredients that aren't especially kind to your skin. Look for organic foundations with ingredient names you recognize.

New Foundations the go from Creams to Powders Can Be Found in Local Drugstores

Newer base makeups that turn from cream to powder is partly marketing ploy, in part pretty cool idea with its own share of followers. The idea is good: you apply a cream, which goes on smooth and easy thanks to its liquidity. It then dries and sets, and the powder in it surfaces to form a flawless and lasting look. This foundation is popular with women who want good coverage without having to layer on foundation and then powder.

The Latest Makeup Craze: Mineral Makeup

You've probably noticed that companies are coming out with what they call mineral makeup, and that it costs a lot more than the Cover Girl you're used to seeing at the local drugstore. Mineral makeup has a lot to be proud of: it's hypoallergenic, usually has and SPF of 20 per layer applied, comes in a thousands tints and has no added chemicals. Now, most makeup has some minerals in it; zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and talc are three minerals commonly used as makeup foundation colors and SPFs. Mineral makeup's claim to fame is that it omits many of the ingredients that are irritating to the skin—fillers such as talc (I know, it's a mineral, but not one that's good for your skin), starches, oils and dyes that can cause allergies. Minerals go on with a brush, so fine-spun that a little goes a long way and lasts a long time too, making the higher initial outlay more sensible than you'd think after all. And many mineral makeup wearers swear that not only does it provide them with great looking coverage, but that it actually improves their skin quality.

Foundation Makeup: Tips for Choosing and Applying

Mineral Makeup Offers Lightweight Natural Looking Coverage that Even Sensitive Skin and African American Skin Types Can Glow in . .

Mineral makeup is the latest in the trend in cosmetics toward the simple, all natural and elegant. Mineral base makeup is made with pure minerals rather than fillers and colors, and it comes in powder, liquid or cream versions. The powder makeup is applied with big, fluffy brushes: the brush is dabbed into the powder, then the excess is tapped off and the brush is then applied gently to the face. Start by putting on less than you think you'll need: you'll be surprised at how well the minerals cover. Mineral powder makeup is so finely spun that it's easy to overdo it; putting on too much is a hazard of novice users. But once you get a little experience, you probably won't want to go back to ordinary makeup. Mineral foundation is weightless, and somehow manages to provide coverage while looking invisible. What you get is the look as soon on TV, soft focus but not blurry.

Mineral Cosmetics are Great for Sensitive Skin Types and Conditions

Mineral make up is the best cosmetic for women with acne, rosacea or other skin conditions, not only because you can control the coverage by adding thin layers, but because the ingredients are non-comedogenic and inert, less likely to cause reactions. People with allergies can use mineral makeup, and reviews of the various brands consistently mention how easy it is to apply and how wonderfully it camouflages imperfections. African Americans and other ethnic women are delighted to discover that, unlike many other make-up brands which ignore skin colors that don't fall into the narrow range of Caucasian shades, mineral make-up companies are creating makeup that blends beautifully with every skin tone.

--Editors Tip ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Get a Fresh, All-Natural Look With Mineral Makeup

The all-natural look is extremely hot right now.  The major problem with that trend is that most people just don’t look that great without some sort of makeup.  Minor flaws, and sometimes more problematic issues like rosacea or acne interfere with the “natural look.” Mineral makeup is a solution that offers women of all skin types and colors a fresh, all-natural look that does not appear to be “overly made-up.”  Ordinary makeup adds colors, fillers, and weight to your skin.  Mineral makeup is weightless and invisible, and covers your minor flaws beautifully—making your skin appear younger and smoother instantly.  Because it’s made with pure minerals, you’ll find you need to use less—getting closer to that all-natural look you’re striving to achieve!   Whether you’re trying to smooth out some minor imperfections or avoid using makeup that clogs your pores or causes a reaction, mineral makeup can do the trick.

Find a better way to get the all-natural look you’ve been searching for, no matter what your skin tone is!

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Skin Has a Natural Healthy Glow with Mineral Based Ingredients

For basic skin care, add mineral foundation to your regime: many women have noticed that simply using the makeup contributes to their skin's health. They say their pores look smaller, blemishes or roughness that had been caused by unknown allergies to other makeup products disappear and in general their skin looks better after having used the minerals for awhile, even when they aren't wearing makeup. Mineral makeup doesn't contain talc (a known irritant), other fillers, weird chemicals or added colors. Mineral cosmetics do contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, both minerals that provide sunscreen protection. Companies like About Face, Bare Essentials, Sheer Cover and Bare Minerals are providing women with cosmetics that actually improve the skin while improving the day to day look of the skin.

Sample Sizes are Available at Many Retailers and on TV to Help Your Choose the Right Foundation Shade for Your Skin Coloring

Mineral makeup isn't cheap, so if you aren't sure what shade works best on your skin, try to get a sample size to take home and try in different lights. Some companies like Base Escentuals and Loreal have store counters where you can try different shades, but unless the light in the store is similar to the light you work and live under, you may find you get home with a shade that doesn't complement your skin. You may want to purchase two shades; one lighter and one darker, for contouring or mixing. For lightweight coverage, you'll probably just need a foundation color and maybe a blush: for heavier coverage, choose a concealer to apply after the foundation. If you're used to buying inexpensive liquid or cream makeup, you may be shocked at the cost of a good mineral makeup, but it takes awhile to go through it, and most customers find that it's completely worth the price.