Description: Makeup created with high quality micronized minerals, which is a process by which the minerals become microscopic and flat. The minerals overlay each other in order to protect your skin from the elements. These minerals and botanicals are beneficial to your skin and provide good coverage, while allowing the skin to breath and not have a cakey appearance. They feel light on your skin and won’t clog pores. The products are formulated with minerals such as Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, which provide broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection from the sun. They also are water/sweat resistant and non-allergenic, and can also help calm and soothe skin as they contain natural anti-inflammatory properties.
What to look for: Makeup products that are oil free, fragrance and talc free. Do not buy products containing the binder bismuth oxychloride, which is a byproduct of lead refining and clogs pores; also, products that contain any petroleum ingredients (petrolatum, petroleum jelly or paraffin), animal products (carmine, glycerol, lanolin, lecithin), or fillers. Look for product lines that endorse the “Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Platform”. These companies do not use any products known or suspected to be carcinogens, cause mutations or birth defects, and have found safe alternatives to these commonly used toxic ingredients. There are over 10,000 commonly used chemicals in makeup and of those, 89% have not been assessed by the FDA. They have only banned 9 of these chemicals to date.
Uses: Can be used daily for coverage of uneven skin tones, blemishes, rosacea, or simply for the sunscreen benefits. Mineral makeup is the only makeup that can be used after skin treatments such as: facials, laser, surgery, microdermabrasion or chemical peels.
Where to find: Safe cosmetics platform: www.safecosmetics.org/companies/signers.cfm Salons/Spas, Dermatologist office, Department stores, Online resources and Health food stores.
Avoid: Products that have been tested on animals. Products which contain dyes, chemicals, binders, alcohols, or parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-).