paraben-free

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.

Read more