How to Use Mineral Makeup

Mineral makeup is one of the hottest beauty trends for women. Many women claim that bare minerals makeup can help clear acne-prone skin and promote healing. Others think it is just a clever marketing scheme, and mineral makeups are no better or worse for your skin than oil- and water-based makeup. But women who actually use mineral makeup can all agree that the finished product definitely looks better than traditional makeup. If you are unsatisfied with your regular makeup, here is a guide to using mineral makeup instead.

Understand that mineral cosmetic contains finely ground mineral particles. It comes in the form of loose powder with no added binders or fragrances. To apply it, you will need several sizes of brushes to achieve the best makeup effects. Buy a large, good quality round brush to easily apply the loose powder to your whole face. Use several smaller brushes to address smaller areas of your face.

Since mineral makeup is more expensive than regular makeup, and because you might not know which tints complement your skin, buy small sized containers at first. Cosmetics companies offer convenient sample sizes that you can experiment with. You can also shop around for free samples and promotional offers. A compact of foundation or box of loose mineral powder may set you back up to $60, so don't buy it until you've tried it.

Many online makeup stores sell raw minerals so that you can create your own blends of mineral makeup.

Mineral makeup is dry; it doesn't contain any water, oils, or resins to bind it. So, you need to help the makeup stay on your face for all-day wear. Wash your face thoroughly and apply a thin layer of moisturizing lotion. After the lotion has dried and absorbed into your skin, apply the mineral makeup powder. There are long lasting formulations that contain minerals ground to an ultra-fine powder. But the smaller the minerals, the more comedogenic (pore-clogging) the mineral makeup is. If you have acne or rosacea, you should avoid this type of mineral powder.

Although mineral makeup does not contain dyes, fragrances, or binders, the fine particles of minerals can still clog your pores. Therefore it is important to wash it off at the end of the day, every day. Mineral makeup gives your skin a beautiful air-brushed look, and with these simple tips, you can look your best.

© Had2Know 2010