Categories: Beauty

Mineral Make Up: The Argument for and Against

Mineral make up is a hypoallergenic, all natural make up solution that is being hailed at the moment as being the best thing since sliced bread. While that may be the case, one should first know the pros and cons of mineral make up before making the plunge into the growing list of mineral make up users. There are a great deal of advantages to mineral make up, for sure. However, there are also some potential disadvantageous ingredients one should be aware of before purchasing any particular mineral make up brand. However, before I list the potential downsides to the product, I’ll get into the reasons why mineral make up is so popular right now.

First, since mineral make up is hypoallergenic, it works wonderfully for women with sensitive skin. It’s been complimented in saying that it causes fewer acne breakouts and fewer clogged pores than typical cosmetics on the market today. In fact, its been called ‘the make up you can sleep in,’ since its formula does cause the clogging that normal happens when make up are applied. You’ll have to try this out for yourself, but wouldn’t it be great if long gone were the days of breaking out after falling asleep for the night in your make up?

Mineral make up companies also boast that their line of cosmetics contain ingredients comparable to those that you’d get from a day at the spa. They insist that their products offer the skin a revitalizing treatment merely by applying it on a daily basis. Users have raved about their mineral make up making their skin feel healthier and smoother. I have friends that swear by it and will now use nothing else, and since their mineral make ups contain deeper coloring than typical cosmetics it is longer lasting so they need fewer touch up applications throughout the day, something they say makes life a whole lot easier especially after a long day at the office.

With all these advantages and just knowing you’re using minerals as opposed to chemically manufactured products, why would you think twice about it? Well, SkinCareNet, a company focusing on skin health, released an article outlining the potential downsides of mineral make up.

SkinCareNet warns against the following products for their possible side effects and due to the fact that although they have been approved by the FDA as color additives, they have not been approved by the Cosmetics Industry Review Board.

Titanium Dioxide (TI02): This ingredient has apparently been the subject of several studies and has as of yet received no official word on whether it is safe or hazardous. However, it is under investigation for being a possible carcinogen. (2005). This is a widely used ingredient in many different brands of cosmetics so if you’re concerned by the use of Titanium Dioxide, you might want to scan the labels of your favorite cosmetic before applying it.

Other noteworthy ingredients were Bismuth Oxychloride (or more simply just Bismuth), Mica, Ultramarine, and Iron Oxide. (SkinCareNet, 2005). As previously mentioned, each of these has been approved by the FDA as a color additive in cosmetics, and several of these are also found in typical cosmetic brands as well as all natural brands. While the jury is still out on these ingredients you might want to limit your exposure.

However, it is also important to keep in mind just how bad most cosmetics have already been proven to be. With only a few questionable ingredients mineral make up still seems to be leaps and bound above the competition. It’s sure you give you a healthier alternative typical products, and with the benefits listed above the argument for mineral make up seems stronger than that of the argument against.

References:

SkinCareNet. (2005). Is Mineral Make Up a Good Choice For Natural Skin Care? Retrieved March 18, 2007, from eMaxHealth Website: http://www.emaxhealth.com/66/7287.html