Beauty Buzz: Mineral Powder Foundations

2 October 2008

Mineral Make Up

Mineral is a buzz word in make up at the minute with celebs and beauty fans alike all opting for the natural finish. But what does it really mean? And are these minerals actually as good as they claim?

Female First beauty team take a look at the science behind Mineral powder foundations and check out the best products on the market.

Mineral make-up leaves behind the oil base of traditional foundations and uses a mix of natural elements titanium and zinc oxide.

These oxides naturally have SPF 15 to protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun.

Zinc also has fab anti-inflammatory qualities which help calm skin complaints such as acne and rosacea.

Mineral powders are also a lot lighter than liquid foundation and therefore they are great for those with sensitive skin and do not clog up your pores as much as the heavier bases.

All sounds great so far- but what are the down sides to this new craze: Mineral foundations are applied with a blsuher brush so they can be a little bit messy if you're not extra careful.

Also they aren't always good at covering all blemishes. The powder can clog around spots and dry skin and also highlight wrinkles and fine lines- but this all depends on the brand.

The best way to find out if mineral are the way forward for your skin is to test them out for yourself. Here is a rundown of the top products we found to get you started:

The most popular mineral powder foundation on the luxury market is Bare Escentuals. It was the best selling make up product on the US market and is love by Hollywood celebs including Jennifer Aniston. However at £21 it is a bit prciey if you're just experimenting.

A more affordable option is Maybelline Mineral Powder Foundation. At just under a tenner it won't break the bank and has the same easy-to-apply qualities. It can be a little bit messy to apply but once it's on your make up stays put all day. This product however is not made entirely of natural products but it does promise not to contain any talc or fragrance.

If you want a total bargain then Avon Personal Match Smooth Mineral make up is for you. It's a total steal at £7 and comes in a fairly large pot- value for money. However, like most mineral make up products, it isn't ideal for mature skin as the powder tends to cling to wrinkles and lines after a few hours.

Barefaced Beauty specialise in mineral cosmetics so their products are perhaps the most natural on the market. Their mineral foundation is fairly reasonably priced at £12.95 and also comes in a huge range of different tones.

Female First- Caz Moss