Mineral make-up – Let’s dig a little deeper!

The mineral make-up bandwagon…everyone wants to jump on board! Even the big name brands have been releasing their own ‘mineral’ products. But before you buy, arm yourself with a few facts. There is still considerable confusion and even misinformation around. We regularly have to fill in the gaps for ‘experts’ before they write their beauty feature or advise their clients.

Many cosmetics masquerade as being natural, healthy and pure. Some contain a minuscule amount of their ‘signature’ ingredient, too little to even be effective, and mainly contain a cocktail of unhealthy but cost effective ingredients. Cloaked in suitably vague or ambiguous marketing hype they can really appear to be the ‘real deal’ that they claim to be!

Because a product contains minerals or has the word in its name does not necessarily make it a healthier option than regular makeup! There is considerable variation between brands’ ingredients. The majority still contain ingredients that are artificial and / or natural but that are known to be highly irritating or toxic.

Visit U-Tube and watch a video about brand X’s “pure minerals”. Check out their ingredients though and you’ll usually discover bismuth oxychloride, one or several parabens, talc, carmine, propylene glycol etc. Their minerals may have been pure at the start, but the product itself is no longer 100% minerals, or 100% natural safe ingredients!

Granted, the addition of minerals to regular makeup does improve both its appearance and performance. If you hope however that your skin will look or feel significantly better, think again! The nasties they still add are counter-productive to the soothing, healing and non-blocking nature of the minerals.

Some think mineral makeup is confined exclusively to dry powder makeup. Other natural and safe ingredients can be added to create moisturising and beautiful lipsticks, glosses, liquid foundations etc. Usually though, a cheap synthetic or two are added so read the label before you buy. Can the brand say 100% natural and safe, or is their language ambiguous, with only a list of key or active ingredients?

There is the impression that colour options are limited, when quite the reverse is true. Nature offers them all - pastel, vivid or metallic! You can still have the blood red or hot pink lips worthy of any Dolce and Gabbana creation! Forget dowdy packaging and image; Musq is a perfect example of clean, modern, feminine containers with an image that resonates with both the fashion and health conscious consumer.

No longer a compromise, today’s 100% natural cosmetic brands look and feel totally luxurious, while delivering concentrated active ingredients that the skin can better recognise and utilise. Mineral make-up has come a long way since prehistoric times! Just as we don’t have to compromise with make-up being made up of the high levels of lead and arsenic of centuries ago, why compromise by not using a 100% natural brand. Shop smart and don’t buy the marketing hype. Read the ingredients first. The few listed problem ingredients above can be copied and kept in your purse or by the p.c. when shopping. Whatever you choose to buy, do so being properly informed!

This article is the intellectual property of Musq Pty Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in any form without written permission of Musq Pty Ltd. 01.01.08