Mineral cosmetics companies are popping up on the Internet everyday with ingredients that are questionable as even being a pure mineral. Take bismuth oxychloride, while being in the mineral realm. Its a heavy metal and necessitates the constant buffing mineral makeup companies advise to force it into the skin and pores to keep it from sliding off your face. Over buffing of minerals can cause irritation and continuing inflammation on sensitive skin types. Further, it can make acne cystic by congesting pores and cause rosacea to flare. It is a by-product of lead and copper refining.
Bismuth oxychloride commonly used as cheap filler. Thus major makeup companies can make a larger profit by using it with a pure pigment! The weight of this bi-product is heavy; of course it is heavy, it has lead in it and lead does not belong on your skin! Moving right along, please listen up, here is why even the former laden chemical companies are using BO in major brands that are now joining in on the mineral cosmetic market!
BO is the world's cheapest filler. In conclusion, don't buy products that contain bismuth oxychloride in them, if you do your risking many skin issues that can cause irritation, reading the ingredients in the products that you buy is of the highest importance!!! Please read all the ingredients of all mineral products and if the company does not list ingredients, ask or by pass them altogether! My research shows that over 40% of mineral cosmetic companies don't even list any of there, ingredients online, however the FDA requires one to print a label and place it on the bottom of any containers shipping worldwide.
Here is a mineral cosmetic secret that few women know of, any product that has 1% or less of any ingredients the FDA say it doesn't have to be on a label! Consequently, companies don't list all of their ingredients. Some of the major brands out there also use another so to speak get out of jail free card by using these words (may contain bismuth oxychloride) if it says may contain my research shows BO is in your product. The exception to this rule is the use of (may contain Kaolin Clay); there are products that don't contain kaolin clay, however when making labels it's easer to just print may contain this ingredient. My research does show this not to be true with BO as this is a get out of jail card!
If a product does contain Ferric Ferrocyanide the FDA states it must be listed on a label because this is often used in deep blues for eye shadows. However ferric ferrocyanide is never safe on one's lips. Since your lips can transfer this product in to your bloodstream also Chromium Oxide Chromium Oxide Green is also not safe for your lips. Carmine (also called Crimson Lake) is safe for eye shadows, and used in some lipsticks.
Some women have allergic reactions to Carmine: Cochineal is the name of crimson or carmine dye and the cochineal insect (Dactylopius coccus), a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the dye is derived. Carmine used in mineral cosmetics eye shadows as a rule are low in percentage of volume however it’s really a choice for those who don’t like using any part of an insect on their skin!
Pure minerals are just what the statements means. Please realize there are many gimmicks out there, and I am only trying to give you some insight on what is going on with the mineral cosmetics of today! Because I am a research makeup artist I have spent one year learning what it’s all about and what one should divert their attention on and what to avoid. After all minerals are good for your skin in many ways, however one can defeat their own purpose of them when mislead with some commercials!!!
Pure minerals means no dyes or lakes like the chemical cosmetics have and they should be without talk powder as many women have an allergic reaction to talk. Natural pigments are used instead of dyes or lakes or should I say should be used. There is no reason for a true pure mineral to have any fillers. They should not have any of the following ingridents in them: Magnesium Stearate a filler and
Zinc Stearate used to fight mold.
These products are not needed in loose minerals. However you will find some of them in pressed powders. The most common minerals found are Mica: A virtually neutral, transparent mineral that transpire naturally in the earth's face and mined from all parts of the world. When purified and crushed into fine powders which are used in developing mineral makeup.
Titanium Dioxide: A naturally occurring mineral from the earth's surface. Provides long-lasting coverage for mineral makeup foundation, setting powders and provides a natural, broad-spectrum UV protection. Anti-inflammatory properties and May calm skin and prevent breakouts.
Which is good for your skin as a whole with its built in SPF 15.
Zinc Oxide: Anti-inflammatory with antimicrobial properties. It is the broadest spectrum UVA and UVB absorber that’s approved for use as a sunscreen by the FDA, and is completely photostable. It is also a main ingredient of mineral cosmetics.
Iron Oxides: are the most commonly used pigment for coloring cosmetics such as foundation and eye shadow. Mixing these three groups of Iron Oxide in different ratios produces various skin colors. Good formulators sometimes use Iron Oxide to correct undertones of mineral cosmetics that delete casting hues to ones skin tone.
Serecite: Fluffy translucent mica that may be used alone as a primer or setting powder and offers a silky texture to foundations and finalizers. Often used in mineral makeup formulas.
Ferric ferrocyanide: An organic pigment that provides blue tones to natural mineral pigments. Not safe for lip use.
Kaolin Clay: A pure cosmetic powder that absorbs moisture, helps keeps down shine, provides an opaque, white base for colors, and assists with adherence to skin. Kaolin Clay is odorless, has a smooth texture and often used in mineral makeup matte foundation formulas. You will note that most cosmetic companies add Kaolin Clay and Boron Nitride when their products contains BO it will aid in adhesion to ones skin! BO also creates a strong shine to your face and this is unnatural in the over all look.
Boron Nitride: The different forms of boron nitride provide slip, silkiness, adherence, and oil-absorption capabilities. Cosmetics Boron Nitride (BN) powder is a primary raw material for a wide range of cosmetic and skin care formulations, including foundations, Concealers and lipsticks, and sunscreens. Some advantages are increased adherence, smoother and softer feeling products, improved spread ability, extended wear, soft-focus properties oil absorption and to improve compressibility for pressed powders. It also brings out pigments to a brilliant color and has a positive effect on skin.
Rice Powder: A highly absorbent product stemmed from ground rice. Absorbs both moisture and oils. Leaves a soft, silky feeling when added to mineral makeup powders.
Mother-of-Pearl: Also know as Calcium Carbonate. Used as a whitener, oil absorber and filler, this fine white powder occurs naturally in marble, limestone, and oyster shells. Uses include pigment and pigment extender in cosmetics, mineral makeup, and as whitener in toothpastes. The use of Mother-of- pear is often used in pearly eye shadows. It is also often used as another filler, however in small amount of use it can make a unique look in cosmetics.
Pressed powders versus loose minerals: To press a powder a chemical must be added to compress it to a solid form. Here is the negative pressed powders can have, whenever you add a chemical to a mineral there is the chance of bacteria being put in it. The amount of product is also lessened, as the containers are compact in size. The product has been altering to micro size. I will talk more about micro products in another article. The only positive I can say are pressed powders are less messy and are easer to carry around with you!
Pure Loose Minerals never have additives: Pure means just that a process of advanced machinery the minerals go through. This means to you the consumer that loose minerals never need any paraben whatever, and even better yet you get what you pay for! While loose minerals never clog your pores, they can be reapplied as often as needed without ever giving you a caking feeling on your face.
Loose minerals do need a quality kabuki brush for their application and yes a little messier but worth it in the long run. For the best result swirl, a small amount of your loose minerals, angle your kabuki brush and swirl into the lid until all the minerals have been tucked into the bristles. Tap away excess. There should be no visible mineral on the outside the brush. Buff the minerals into the skin in a circular motion, starting on the outside your face near your cheekbone, swirling as you go. Buff around your face and then approach your forehead, cheeks, and nose.
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