mineral foundation station

the quest for the best foundation is something i spend probably 30% of my work day trying to find for someone. they want a mineral, paraben free, liquid foundation with spf 30 thats also hd. basically, people want a miracle and honey...that just can't happen!

the most popular request is to find a mineral foundation. technically all pigments are mineral derived. so you can pretty much go anywhere. thanks to bare escentuals and insomniacs, bless their hearts, people associate mineral foundation with being the most gentle product with less harmful ingredients, spf & of course paraben free....maybe. 

but in actuality there are a lot of problems with finding mineral make up. make up is constantly going through technology improvements and at the time of bare escentual's release there wasn't much out there. these days you see mineral foundations that are loose, pressed, liquid, cream, aerosol the works. but lets talk brass tax a moment, there aren't any mandates on what is and isn't considered 'mineral based.' its simply a word used on products to boost interest. yes, a company could have taken out a few dyes and increase their amount of iron oxides but its nothing to scream and shout about. 

if you are truly looking for a mineral based foundation ask yourself this question first: why?

are you doing it because you have sensitive skin?

*because i have news for you simple ingredients are raw, meaning they aren't as processed as much as synthetic ingredients, leaving a greater opportunity for irritation. unless that product is actually proven to be better sited for sensitive skin, don't go running to the first product that has the word 'mineral' in it's title.  

going natural?

*great congratulations! these days it isn't as hard as it used to be. but i hope you are an excellent ingredient reader! things are not always what they seem. not only will you be interested in the ingredients but possibly the origin too. let me make a suggestion, obsessing over individual ingredients will drive you insane, save yourself the headache and settle for the brand that doesn't test on animals and has a majority of its products from natural origin. 

your friend, sister, mother, cousin, brother, co worker, boss or dentist use mineral make up and now you think you should too?

*this is always the wrong reason to check something out. 99.9% of the time, whoever recommended the product to you does not have the same skin as you. you need to find out what is best for you, period. referencing others, is not necessary. everyone's skin is different, whether it be the color, texture or type. be willing to make some compromises to get the best product for you, but if your ideals are more important than the actual coverage and quality of the product then stand your ground!