Friday 29 February 2008

Mineral Makeup


Jennie Gandhi

Since time immemorial
make up has always been an essential part of every woman´s life. From wedding parties to family get together and informal gatherings every woman applied make up to look beautiful and youthful. Although it might make the face look good but the harmful effects of make up were always ignored. Regular application of makeup resulted in aging skin, fine lines, wrinkles and an overall decrease in the natural face value. Thereafter a healthy makeup was required and a mineral based makeup was created by Bare Escentuals in 1976 and was named by Diane Ranger in 1977.

Mineral
make up, by definition, is makeup products made from minerals. It comprises of a variety of natural minerals found in the earth´s crust and is free of chemicals, alcohols, dyes and other preservatives. These minerals are finely milled, pulverized, purified and coated with inorganic pigments before reaching the end consumers. The coated pigments are for coloring and shimmering effects. The most common minerals often used are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, iron oxide and bismuth oxychloride. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide have anti-inflammatory properties and are the best UV blockers.

There are several reasons to why these cosmetics made of minerals have become a rising trend in the cosmetic industry. The first and foremost advantage is that the makeup provides an excellent sun protection and is potentially free from fragrance, preservatives and oils. Secondly, they will not clog pores, are water resistant and will not support bacterial growth. Some of the mineral cosmetics also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients like vitamin A, C, E, and K and green tea extract. These provide a long lasting application in less expenditure without getting faded out. In humid countries like India, these mineral cosmetics are the perfect products because humidity melts off make up in a very short span of time. No company has ever boosted for their mineral cosmetics but these are some of the consumer reviews for mineral make up.

A pure mineral face makeup is combined with inorganic pigments that help to achieve the desired color. It stays for longer and is much lighter and effective, the best products for people with acne and sensitive skin. Bare mineral make up are cosmetics with loose minerals that are free from waxes and oils. These are used to cover imperfections and offer UV protection.

Following are some of the most widely used ingredients in mineral cosmetics:

Titanium Dioxide: A natural anti-inflammatory agent that blocks ultra violet rays. It is the perfect oxide for any skin type.

Kaolin Clay: A china clay that has good oil absorbing properties.

Mica: A natural glitter that is often used to add color and shimmer.

Serecite: colorless mica that is used to increase shine.

Zinc Oxide: A naturally occurring sunscreen that provides strong resistance to UV rays.

Sericite Mica: It is a mixture of a natural pigment derived from muscovite mica and titanium dioxide. This mineral make up recipe is used for personal care products, lotions and soaps.

Magnesium Stearate: A recipe made from esters of magnesium stearic acid. This recipe is used face powders, mascara, eye shadows, creams and ointments.

Bismuth Oxychloride: A recipe made from fine crystals composed of bismuth and salt. This mineral recipe is used for face powders, foundations, lipsticks and mascara.

It is believed that various mineral oils are used for aromatherapy in order to achieve beautiful and healthy skin. Some people also prefer yoga and different yoga positions help them to attain beautiful skin- the healthiest way of improving skin health.

0 comments:

Post a Comment