Make up question

[Apryl Srissa]

I don't wear much make up, but since I'm saving so much money not using hair products, I really would like to replace what I have with more envirofriendly products. I really liked some that I had from Body Shop, but then read about them being bought out, so now where?

What companies do you guys like? or not like? Why? I'm going to need some things pretty soon, but would rather not just grab whats cheap, but find what I can really feel better about.

thanks,

[mysonshine]

I've recently discovered mineral makeup. And there are so many companies to choose from. I've only sampled from one and so far I know I will never go back to "regular" makeup ever again.

[Apryl Srissa]

What is mineral make up and where do you get it?

Thanks for the post

[mysonshine]

Mineral Makeup is made from crushed minerals instead of all the chemical ingredients found in most cosmetics. I can actually pronounce them!
The most well known name I believe is BareEscentuals - the infomercial you see on TV. But there are tons of companies online that people say are better and less expensive. And I think some *may* be WAHMs. There are also forums just about mineral makeup.
I've tried Everday Minerals - they have a free sample kit, you just pay shipping (about $3.50).
Since I started using the makeup, my face hasn't broken out like it used to and my cheeks aren't as red. So I think something in my old makeup was irritating my skin. We'll see how it does this week - expecting AF any day.
I'm not sure if the color I'm using is the perfect match for me but it's close enough until I can sample some other ones.
LMK if you need some more info.

[Spastica]

Target and some pharmacies carry Physician's Formula, which is a mainstream, cheaper version of BareEscentuals.

Looking at the ingredients, there are minerals like mica, silica, and sometimes talc. You're right though, some of the other chemical junk that could potentially clog pores are not in mineral makeup.

The minerals basically sit on top of your face and create a visual illusion that your face is flawless. The minerals are too big to clog your pores and some of them do fun things like soak up excess oil on your face, oils that would otherwise clog your pores and make your face look 'not-so-dewy'.

I'm learning about mineral makeup myself, I'm wondering if it's that much better than regular makeup. I WAS however, impressed that the ingredient list was MUCH shorter in the Physician's Formula than regular makeup. I'll have to see how well it works on my skin, but as far as what I've read, it should be decent.

[Spastica]

Hmm - impressed a day later

I bought the Physician's Formula talc free mineral compact powder yesterday and I slapped it on like I do my regular compact powder when I got home and wasn't impressed. I looked like I had a layer of ugly powdery stuff on my face.

THEN - I then saw a tutorial later online (courtesy of a link that somebody posted here) and applied the powder in firm circles all over my face (really 'buffing' it in) and it looks muuuuuch better. My face looks 'naturally' even with the Physician's Formula mineral powder only and I didn't use any foundation and other goop.

Mind you, I just used the brush that came with the Physician's Formula compact powder and I don't have any "Warmth" powder (I'm tan anyway), but already saw a big difference. I got excited that I got my money's worth, so I thought I'd share


Here's the original thread on mineral makeup: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...an%27s+formula

Here's the tutorial: http://community.livejournal.com/bar...tml?view=86203

[Apryl Srissa]

Thanks. I will check out the one I can do locally. I really am just looking at eyes/ lips, so will have to check that out. I have a friend who sells avon trying to get me to order from her, but I don't know if they test on animals or anything, and she has no idea (and would only be getting info from them, so I wouldn't call it objective) so I've been just putting it off.

At least now I have something to try

[gilleoin]

Tons of mineral makeup on eBay, and many sell smaller 'sample' sizes, but from what I have heard a little goes a long way. I have Burt's Bees (from a Co-op, too cheap to buy retail) (tinted lotion, face powder, eyeshadows, blush) and I like it so far and it rates in the safer scale on that website (I forget it, but it's linked to throughout this forum). They have a very limited line of colors, so I will be buying some minerals (I also think I accidently bought some last year ! lol.

The hardest thing I am finding to replace is mascara. The only ones I have found that are all natural and don't have any parabens or chemicals is MiEssence or Masquerade. They are about $20/bottle!!

[Apryl Srissa]

I've already checked out Burts Bees, they don't have the products that I am wanting. But sadly, I checked the one eye thing that I like best, it is Physician's Formula. So I was using a good one all along and never knew it. I like how it feels and goes on, but it just isn't a color I would choose, so I will have to check out more options. I really only use eyelines and lipsticks/liners, so don't really need much.

Good luck with the mascara, I have no ideas there. I can't use it, it gunks up my glasses (my eyelashes are to long for it) so no clues. I remember in high school reading to use vasaline, but somehow I don't see that helping for natural or safe

[tamaralv]

SO what are some of the more natural "mascara" type products out there? I like to have something on my lashes those 5 nights a year I actually wear make-up, but *hate* the way it irritates my eyes.

[boongirl]

Have you all tried searching on the skin deep website? They have in depth information about beauty and skin products and their ingredients. They can provide you with very detailed information on 14000 products, telling you which are hazardous to your health and why and which are better. Do a search for mascara, for example, and see what you find.

[Lilcrunchie]

I'm another mineral makeup convert (probably about 2 years ago now?).

I have used: Cory cosmetics, J. Lynne, Bare Minerals, and Everyday Minerals and like them all. The WAHM/smaller companies give you more bang for the buck. Right now I'm into Everyday Minerals and really like their products (and they have free samples).

Cory gives a little more coverage, and colors tend to run light. A lot of really fair skinned people like that company if they can't find matches in other lines. I'm not fair (more of a light olive) and I was able to find a decent match. Samples are inexpensive there too. Cory has great eyeshadows!

J. Lynne is great as well.

Bare Minerals...I like, but is expensive for the amount of product in comparison to the other brands. I like an eyeshadow I have from them, but it will take FOREVER to use. I mostly use sample sizes for eyeshadows (from all of the above companies) because one full-sized bare minerals eyeshadow would IMO take an eternity to use. Bare Minerals sells mineral veil to go over their foundations, and that product *does* contain parabens, so I never used it.

Some have more sheen to them (like Bare Minerals). Some come in varying finishes (Iike Everyday Minerals...I like the semi matte). Cory is very matte. The different brands do vary in their ingredients somewhat. Some people find they are sensitive to bismuth or mica. If that happens to you, rather than giving up on mineral makeup, consider trying a different brand without mica or without bismuth.

I like that mineral makeup doesn't have parabens and phthalates. It doesn't really go "bad" or separate. It has sun protection built in. I find the colors are bit more forgiving than liquid foundation, and you can "tweak" your color with the season (adding a little darker foundation to your summer makeup for example, or making your foundation a bit more yellow or pink). It doesn't feel like you are wearing makeup. There is a learning curve to the application (always start w/ just a tiny bit and go from there...most people really overdo it initially). I do a "damp" application which is different than what you see on most infomercials or what most other people do. I read about it online and it works the best for my skin.

It does kind of a mess of my countertops but I'll live with that

[gilleoin]

Originally Posted by tamaralv

SO what are some of the more natural "mascara" type products out there? I like to have something on my lashes those 5 nights a year I actually wear make-up, but *hate* the way it irritates my eyes.

The only ones I found that are "chemical free" are
MiEssence (Ingredients: Organic aloe vera (aloe barbadensis) leaf juice, organic sugar-cane ethanol, black iron oxide, organic unrefined beeswax (cera alba), organic jojoba (simmondsia chinensis) seed oil, white (kaolinite) clay, organic organic shea (butyrospermum parkii) fruit butter, non-gmo lecithin, natural gum, organic rose (rosa damascena) otto, organic bitter orange (citrus aurantium) extract, organic grapefruit (citrus paradisi) seed extract.) and

Masquerade (Ingredients: Distilled water, Organic Ethanol, Organic Beeswax, Stearic Acid, Kaolin (white clay), Natural Plant Waxes, D Panthenol (Vitamin B5, 3Soy Lecithin (Non gmo), Nettle Extract (Urtica Dioica), Horsetail Extract (Equisetum Arvense), Coltsfoot Extract (Tussilago Farfara), Honeysuckle Extract.)

If anyone knows of any other natural ones, pleasepleaseplease share