Finding the Best Mineral Makeup?

For natural living women the choice is easier.

---

So why is it easier for NLW's to find the best mineral makeup? There are many companies that sell mineral makeup right now with more turning up all the time. But as natural living women we have a few "tricks" up our sleeve. A few things we can easily look for that helps narrow the field when searching for any cosmetics or skincare products.

It would be hard not to notice all the companies that now offer mineral makeup. All of them claiming to be the best mineral makeup. It's hot right now. Many of us are curious about it and wonder if it would work for us. Well, after writing about it for this site. I decided to give it a try and see if I could find the best mineral makeup for myself.

Using the "tricks" I mentioned to find the companies that I would purchase from. I started with my own list of companies that have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and also signed a contract committing to no animal testing. (You will get a copy of this list when you sign up for my free newsletter.)

I chose Alima Cosmetics and Afterglow Cosmetics in my search for the best mineral makeup.

I did a double check on the ingredients just to make sure. I did this because when a company signs the Compact For Safe Cosmetics they have 3 years to get any nasty ingredients out of their products so I check to make sure. I also checked for bismuth oxychloride, a natural ingredient commonly used in mineral makeup that can cause irritation in some women.

Alima Cosmetics has also sought BDIH certification which further insures the purity and safety of their ingredients.

Do Mineral Makeups Live up to Their Claims?

First, let me tell a little about my skin and it's needs. I have dry, fair skin with some lines and wrinkles that I wouldn't mind being less noticeable and some dark shadows under my eyes and in the corners.

I have always used liquid foundation and cream concealer. Powder usually makes my skin feel dry which is my main concern about mineral makeup.

In my search for the best mineral makeup, I order from Afterglow Cosmetics first and I choose my color by holding my present foundation up to the screen and matching. Maybe not the smartest approach but I was lucky and the color was fine. By the way both companies have samples making choosing easy and both offer quite a bit of information to answer any questions.

My first results

My makeup arrived quickly with it's own instruction sheet, pretty much like the instructions on my mineral makeup page. I had also ordered a vegan kabuki brush from another company because I had read that application was easier and better with the proper brush.

I started with my own concealer, I just didn't see mineral concealer working for my dry skin. Working slowly and following all the instructions, I applied the foundation covering my face and neck. Surprisingly it was easy. When I was finished, I had a smooth, even natural looking finish with a slight glow to my skin. And no dry feeling. Pretty impressive.

Diminished lines and wrinkles? The key word here is diminished. They are not going to go away but they will look softened.



Is this the best mineral makeup?

Feeling more confident and wanting to experiment even more, I ordered samples from Alima Cosmetics, foundation, concealer and eye shadow. This is a great inexpensive way to have a little fun.

With two different colors of concealer in hand I began. Using one of my old small brushes I applied the concealer. I didn't tap the brush enough and the application was too heavy and the color didn't seem right, it was too light. I thought the mineral foundation might correct that but I didn't like the effect.

So, start over. This time I try the other color, tap that brush good and try again. This time I take my time and gently blend in the concealer. It looks much better.

Just a note to those of you who just need a little concealer, you might try applying the foundation to the areas that you want to correct with a small brush first and blend. You might need an additional concealer. Then apply the foundation all over.

I found this to be very effective. I tried this on the lines that are forming between my nose and mouth. It worked quite well.

On to the foundation.

Once again easy and the results are great. Alima gives a little more of a matte finish. Very nice.

What's impressed me with both of these brands of mineral makeup is how easy it is to have a smooth, even, professional but natural looking finish.

Now for those of you thinking that this might not look very natural consider this. My daughter who usually wears very little makeup, liking a more natural look, was really not sure mineral makeup would work for her. After trying it, she was very pleased with the results. It evened out her complexion and gave her a more finished look. I thought it made her skin look even more beautiful.



Applying mineral eyeshadow

Just a couple of quick suggestions here:

When applying foundation make sure you do your lids too. This makes the eyeshadow go on more evenly.

Use a very soft, small brush. I gently applied the shadow in a back and forth motion to get the soft look I wanted

Hold something under your eye when applying shadow to catch any of the loose powder before it falls on your beautifully made up face. I just used a tissue.

Would I use mineral makeup everyday? Definitely.

I have always used liquid makeup and have had to be careful to blend it in. You know how that is, sometimes I'd miss some areas or not blend in carefully and end up with lines.

The mineral products I ordered are all in powder form.It did take a little getting used to but with a little practice it's easy to apply and blends well with no lines. A smooth natural looking finish is easy to do.

One of my favorite things is that the mineral concealer did not end up in the creases under my eyes. It didn't exaggerate the creases or melt in the lines. With my usual cream concealer I was always having to pat under my eyes to blend in concealer that had settled in the creases.



Did we find the best mineral makeup?

The best mineral makeup should:

contain all natural ingredients and no bismuth oxychloride

be available in colors to meet all complexions

be lightweight but provide good coverage

easy to apply for a smooth, natural appearance

last even in humid weather

Both of these companies offer pure natural mineral makeup and I was pleased with the results from both. While Alima had a more matte finish that I like, I have come to like the soft glow my skin gets with Afterglow.

I think overall that I would pick Alima Cosmetics as the best mineral makeup. The really nice makeup, great colors, quick service, their environmental concerns and the BDIH certification make it a winner. All things that made me feel good about ordering from them.

Take at look at both websites yourself. Consider your needs, colors available and the costs. With just a little checking I am sure you will be able to find the best mineral makeup for you. And remember, while appearing a little more costly, very little is used so it lasts a long time.

Begin your search for the best mineral makeup.

Alima Cosmetics offers jar return and earth friendly packaging. They carry cruelty free brushes made from taklon. Sample sizes are affordable and while they do not have as easy a return policy as Afterglow with all the samples and the extra free samples they send you probably won't need to worry abut it.

Afterglow Cosmetics uses organic ingredients for their antioxidant protection against free radicals. A nice selection of vegan brushes are now available. They have an easy return policy and also encourage you to experiment with samples.

Here is one more mineral makeup you might want to try that looks very promising. They have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and are committed to no animal testing.

Jenulence - Pure, synthetic-free mineral makeup: handcrafted loose mineral foundation, blush, eye shadows, body shimmers and natural skincare products, pure, hypoallergenic, natural looking, and long lasting. Jenulence offers mineral cosmetic and cosmetic brushes for retail and wholesale.

---

Having used mineral makeup through several seasons I have found that for me using the mineral concealer in the powder form was not working during the winter months when my skin was drier.

It seemed to accentuate the lines and made my skin look dry. I have returned to cream concealer until winter is over and there is more moisture to the air.

You know my experiences let's hear your thoughts on the best mineral makeup. If you have been using mineral makeup or have used the products on this page I would love to hear from you. Write your review at Mineral Makeup Reviews. It's easy and fun to do.