Finding the Best Mineral Makeup?

For natural living women the choice is a little easier.

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The best mineral makeup is really a matter of personal choice.... Probably not what you wanted to hear if you came to this page looking for a simple answer. But it's the truth. With all the mineral makeup companies out there I gurantee you you will find more than one that will work very well for you.

It would be hard not to notice all the ads for 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.

Narrowing Our Search

There are so many different brands of mineral makeup and 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.

Using the "tricks" I mentioned, 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 and any other ingredients like talc, synthetic preservatives or coloring.

Will Mineral Makeup Live Up To It's 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 and in the corners of my eyes.

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 with Afterglow

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 confident and ready to experiment more, I tried my 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, I started 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, try applying mineral foundation to the areas that you want to correct with a small brush first and blend. You might not need additional concealer. Then apply the foundation all over. I tried this on the lines that are forming between my nose and mouth. It worked quite well.

On to Alima foundation.

Alima also went on easily and smoothly giving a little more of a matte finish which was very nice. I have been surprised that both brands went on so well giving me a a very natural finish.

My daughter also tried Alima although she was a little reluctant because she usually wears very little makeup, prefering a more natural look. 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.

Would I Use Mineral Makeup Everyday? Definitely.

I have always used liquid makeup. Sometimes it would settle in lines and wrinkles or I would find too much or too little makeup where I hadn't blended carefully enough.

This was not a problem with mineral makeup. It did take a little getting used to but with a little practice it's easy to apply and blends well with no lines. Both brands provided great coverage and if more coverage was needed on some areas it was easy to do with another sweep of the brush and more makeup. A smooth natural looking finish is easy to do.

I liked 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.

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 dry. I felt it accentuated the lines and made my skin look dry. I returned to cream concealer during the winter months.

What Should We Expect From 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

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

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.

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.

Mineral Makeup Reviews. Visit this page to read reviews from other women for a wide variety of different mineral makeups.