Mineral Makeup Madness: Fulfilling Your Recommended Daily Allowance

January 14, 2010 at 3:37 pm , by Mandy Hendrix

Mineral makeup may have started as a trend, but has proven its staying power. Why? It won’t aggravate sensitive or problem skin and has a built-in sun protection factor. I was recently on a shoot with Ricky Wilson, a Dior makeup artist, who loves the stuff because, “it offers a good amount of coverage while letting the skin glow.” Sounds amazing, right? And you won’t have to look too hard to find it either; you can easily pick up mineral-laced products not only at natural grocers and beauty boutiques, but in the drugstore aisle, too.

Here are my favorite skin-loving minerals:

Foundation: This is the grandaddy of all mineral categories. Options abound, so feel free to experiment with different textures and application methods to find your perfect match.

• The vibrating puff of Lancome’s Oscillation Powerfoundation, $48, makes application fun, but also helps the powder sink into skin.

• Bare Escentuals BareMinerals Matte SPF 15 Foundation, $28, won’t leave you with a shiny finish.

• Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Foundation, $8.50, is a great liquid option.

Mascara: Minerals are a good choice for sensitive eyes or contact lens wearers. (Myself included.)

• Kiehl’s Marvelous Mineral Mascara, $16.50, is also free of fragrance and parabens.

Blush: A soft dusting of mineral blush (or bronzer) is a quick way to pull your look together.

• CoverGirl TruBlend Microminerals Blush, $11, includes a mini kabuki brush (the oh-so-popular mineral makeup brush) in a spill-proof bottle.

Lipgloss: This can be a tricky category to find, but considering how often we lick our lips, you might think it wise to try a more natural choice.

• The 12 shades of Revlon’s Colorstay Mineral Lipglaze, $9, look amazing and will last you from morning ’til your first sip of coffee at least until noon.

Setting Powder: If you don’t “wear powder” but want a shine-free face, look for this ultra-lightweight finisher to top off your look.

• Youngblood Pressed Mineral Rice Powder, $30, is one of my personal favorites, especially in the summer when I tend to get a bit oilier. I dust it on with a fan brush and don’t worry about looking greasy.

Sunscreen: It may sound silly, but if you have sensitive skin, look for the active ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which are less irritatating.

• Clarins UV Plus Day Screen High Protection SPF 40, $42 is lightweight and works well over a moisturizer in the morning.

Facial mask: Clay is great for sucking up oil on the face and unclogging pores. It’s also rich in minerals.

• Avon Mineral Facial Rinse-Off Treatment, $25 has a cool brush-on applicator and blue (!) clay.

Shampoo and conditioner: Yes, even your hair gets the mineral treatment.

• MineralFusion Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner, $10, contains Dead Sea minerals that fight water impurities and defend against UV rays for prettier, shinier hair.

Need advice on how to apply your new mineral foundation? Check out February’s issue for tips and tricks.