In case you wonder, what mineral makeup is, here is what you need to know about these amazing products. Mineral makeups are beauty cosmetics a company manufacture from very fine inorganic pigments and minerals that exist naturally on earth. Such cosmetics are free from chemical preservatives like fragrances, dyes, or oils that are present in traditional cosmetics. A quality mineral makeup label will not use artificial fillers like starches and talc for skin coverage.
Pure mineral makeup products only contain a few ingredients with the main ones being titanium oxide (opacifying and color agent), mica (opacifier, colorant), zinc oxide (sunscreen), iron oxide (colorant), magnesium stearate (anti-caking agent), and bismuth oxychloride (iridescent for shiny effects, colorant).
Most people say that mineral-based makeup is quintessentially better for your skin as compared to traditional or chemical based makeup. However, like any other thing with a tag, mineral makeup deserves a closer look to determine if it is really a safer and better choice.
The Scoop on Quality Mineral Makeup
Many brands of mineral makeup contain no artificial colors, talc, parabens, chemical dyes, or petroleum products. Products without these irritants and toxins are definitely better than any chemical-laden and toxic makeup that makes it to the shelves of stores. Mineral cosmetics rarely cause allergic reactions due to the lack of preservatives, fragrances, and dyes. It is also a fact that such cosmetics are non-comedogenic, a characteristic that does not trigger skin conditions like acne, rosacea, or dryness and keeps the skin breathing and healthy.
Mineral cosmetics are “pure” and they are good for the environment because during their manufacturing process, they lack toxic chemicals and they are not reliant on petroleum, a non-renewable resource.
Some Ingredients to Avoid When Buying Mineral Cosmetics
Unfortunately, not all manufacturers of mineral makeup keep away from artificial additives. For some, it is a formula to cut down costs or to improve the quality of the makeup. If you head out to the store or search online for these cosmetics, then here are a few ingredients you need to watch out for and avoid.
- Parabens: Added needlessly as preservatives, parabens are present in a few mineral cosmetics because they restrict the growth of bacteria and retain freshness of products. However, regular use of such products could lead to estrogenic problems, which may have links to the development of breast cancer.
- Talc: in some mineral cosmetics, the presence of talc is suspected to be carcinogenic. A few companies add these as a base filer to mark up the price of their products. If you see this on their cosmetics, do not buy them!
- Synthetic Dyes, and Colors: Added to enhance the color pigments of cosmetics colorants contain coal-tar chemicals, come of which are carcinogenic.
- Bismuth Oxychloride: routinely present in mineral makeup to enhance texture, this is a skin irritant. It could cause itchiness, redness, flakiness, dryness, and other problems.
Is Titanium Dioxide Harmful?
When you read the label of any mineral makeup cosmetic, you will find that titanium dioxide is a primary ingredient. Apart from cosmetics, it is also present in skincare products (listed as Ti02) that sell in stores. Recent studies advice that this mineral is associated with strong health risks. Some say that when you inhale the nano-sized particles, it causes lung cancer.
Could this mean that all mineral makeup cosmetics are unsafe? No, the answer depends on the brand you choose and their formulation. Not all brands contain these elements, so it is best that you carry out your own research and learn more about the ones to avoid.
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