I hated my oily skin for so many years. I spent my early teen years hiding behind my hair, and getting teased for my greasy skin. I would often eye other girls' skin enviously. Long story short, it really made me feel ugly. So when I discovered makeup, I was ecstatic. It was around that time that there was a buzz about mineral makeups. They boasted how it wouldn't clog pores, and about its ability to offer lots of coverage with little product. After seeing the Bare Minerals infomercial, I was sold. To me it was a god-send.
Actually the first mineral makeup I used was Urban Decay's, Surreal Skin. It was my first real makeup purchase ever (apart from lip glosses and chapstick), and it worked. It stayed on all day, despite moisture. And my red zits were no match for its light reflecting power. It couldn't hide the bumpy texture of my skin however. I loved mineral makeup so much that I decided to invest in Bare Minerals when I ran out. It was only a bit more expensive at the time, so why not?
Bare Minerals did clog my pores a little bit. I noticed my skin was clearer if I went with bare skin for a few days. But the same can be said about all makeup, and other than that I had no major reactions to it. I used it loyally for years. That is until the BB cream craze hit, so I switched to BB creams for a year or two.
Suddenly, disaster struck. Perhaps, now that I've entered into my twenties, my hormones had changed as well? I developed a case of perioral dermatitis that persisted for a year or so. I won't go into great detail about it (if you're interested you can read about it in my older post). Basically, it's a rash, and to get better I had to say goodbye to all my old cosmetics. A painful long year of healing, and my face was back to normal. Or so I thought...
So with my new sensitive skin I sought out a makeup that would do me some good. There was no question in my mind about what foundation I would use; I picked up my trusted Bare Minerals foundation. Since its formulated for sensitive skin, it shouldn't stress me out, right? Oh, how wrong I was. It took me a few months to realize that Bare Minerals was hurting my skin. It started off rather mildly. I began getting some dry patches here and there, which I attributed to the cold fall air. My solution was to apply a bit more product to my reddened areas... big mistake. Then I started to notice painful inflamed skin, and deep pimples. Perhaps, it was my fault all along for not doing my research on the product fully, and ignoring the warning signs. Though I think some blame does fall on certain mineral makeup companies that aggressively market to sensitive skin.
Is mineral makeup good or bad? I'm afraid it's not so black and white. There are many reasons why mineral makeup can be good and good for you. In fact since ancient times humans have painted their faces with minerals (like kohl for example). Most foundations, eye shadows and blushes are pigmented with minerals. The success of mineral makeup on certain skin types is partly to do with its lack of synthetic additives. Since things like fragrances and preservatives have a tendency to irritate skin, these products were suggested to those with sensitive skin. There are good natural mineral makeups out there, that don't break you out. The problem lies with companies that claim to offer all-natural products, but in truth are full of harmful ingredients.
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Is mineral makeup good or bad? I'm afraid it's not so black and white. There are many reasons why mineral makeup can be good and good for you. In fact since ancient times humans have painted their faces with minerals (like kohl for example). Most foundations, eye shadows and blushes are pigmented with minerals. The success of mineral makeup on certain skin types is partly to do with its lack of synthetic additives. Since things like fragrances and preservatives have a tendency to irritate skin, these products were suggested to those with sensitive skin. There are good natural mineral makeups out there, that don't break you out. The problem lies with companies that claim to offer all-natural products, but in truth are full of harmful ingredients.
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| mica |
Substances like talc, mica and bismuth oxychloride
are all such offenders. Talc is mined from the earth and is used to absorb
moisture. In the past it was even used as an antiperspirant. Unfortunately, talc is
very similar to asbestos, and long term exposure is suspected to cause poor health. Mica is very stable and heat resistant, its light reflecting properties add to the mineral foundation’s "glow". Bismuth oxychloride is also light reflecting. However all of these substances have a
sharp structure, and buffing them into your face will create microscopic tears in the
skin. Leaving it raw and open, ready for infection.
That being said, I'm not completely turned off by mineral makeup. Now I'll have to read the labels more closely. Gone are the days of my youth when I could wear whatever I wanted on my face and not have reactions. The oily skin that I disliked so much, was more resilient than my skin now. Moral of the story, be careful what you wish for.
