I’ll start with the foundations and veils.
Mineral foundation is touted as oil absorbent and gentle on the skin, and is supposed to provide a natural, “bare skin” look. I haven’t experienced that. What I have experienced is something my niece might describe as “sparkly vampire skin,” the constant need to blot and reapply, and irritated skin.
The main reason I wanted to try mineral foundation was because it’s supposed to absorb oil and keep skin from looking shiny. While some brands of makeup made my skin look flawless and pore-free right after application, I was severely disappointed with each brand I tried as the day wore on. Instead of making my makeup less high-maintenance, it created more issues. I was now stuck carting around blotting papers, a canister of loose powder, and a huge brush so that I could blot and reapply several times per day. I knew my skin was oily – but too oily for mineral makeup?
The sparkle effect is due to the mica concentration in the foundation. Different brands use different formulas, and the effects aren’t so pronounced with some brands; I noticed it more with the L’Oreal, and least with the Revlon. With all the touch-ups I had to do to keep down shine, I wound up looking like my face had been sprinkled with ground quartz by five o’clock!
But the worst part, by far, was what the makeup did to my skin. It didn’t seem to matter what brand I used, I noticed that my face would be red and irritated after a few days, especially my cheeks. Since most mineral foundation is loose powder that is applied in a buffing motion with a large kabuki brush, I thought perhaps it was the brush, and not the makeup, that was irritating my skin. I found that wasn’t the case when I tried L’Oreal’s pressed mineral compact, which is applied much like traditional powder, with a puff instead of a brush. It also irritated my skin, and didn’t even provide half the coverage that the other, loose powders did. I will say that the worst brush I encountered was the one that came with the Revlon mineral foundation. It’s made of stiff, plastic bristles that can’t be good for anyone’s skin!
As for the veils, I’ve only tried L’Oreal and Cover Girl. With the L’Oreal, I used it in combination with the pressed compact foundation. I got more coverage with both together, but that’s about all I can say. I really liked the look right after application, but it didn’t hold up well during the day and irritated my skin. With the Cover Girl, I used it over my regular Luxiva Lasting Foundation and powder. It provided no benefit that I could determine, but at least it didn’t cause a lot of irritation – I think that’s because I had used regular foundation underneath.
Now, on to Revlon’s mineral eye makeup.
The eyeliner was chubby, and provided a nice, fat, line that didn’t require much blending. The mascara was dark and very lovely. Both would have been perfect for the dramatic look I usually shoot for, or a natural smoky eye. But after two days of use, my eyes became extremely red and irritated. It was bad enough that I returned both products for a refund!
Several of my colleagues and friends all use mineral foundation, and none of them have experienced the problems I have, though each use different brands. It’s interesting to note, however, that the Neutrogena that my boss uses irritated the hell out of my friend’s skin – she uses the exact same Merle Norman I tried, but has had no issues with it whatsoever. Another colleague uses (and loves) the L’Oreal. I don’t think any of them has to touch up their makeup more than once per day, if at all.
So don’t let my bad experience turn you off of all mineral makeup for good. Just be cautious and maybe a bit skeptical of some of the claims. You may have to experiment with a couple of brands (like my friend did) to find one that works for you. If you experience any irritation or redness, though stop using it! One piece of advice, however: No matter what brand you use, invest first in a good quality kabuki brush; don’t rely on the brushes that come with some brands of makeup. Even if your skin takes to the makeup, you don’t want a bad brush irritating or even injuring your skin. Merle Norman, Bare Escentuals, mark., and Shishedo all make excellent kabuki brushes.
Ghost Said:
on May 25, 2009 at 11:59 pm
I tried a grand total of two mineral foundations. I never got the hang of buffing them on in a circular motion, like you are supposed to do. It always looked streaky and crappy.
I should try again sometime, though. The minerals never gave me extra zits or rashes, like other foundations do.
Guin Said:
on May 26, 2009 at 8:02 pm
The hardest part for me was getting enough on the brush, but not too much. Some brands, like the L’Oreal and Revlon, make it harder, because there’s no flat lid like with Bare Escentuals or the Merle Norman.
If it’s gentle on your skin, I’d definitely try again. You might just need practice.
Good Girls Pinch « Artistry in Kohl Said:
on March 13, 2010 at 6:40 pm
[...] subtle and matched to my coloring. I have this because it was packaged with the the L’Oreal compact mineral makeup and finishing veil and it has been sitting in my cabinet for ages. I finally decided to crack it open and try it on [...]
Something to Build On « Artistry in Kohl Said:
on January 27, 2011 at 8:53 pm
[...] I’ve talked before about my bad luck with mineral makeup. And again, I’m not sure what made me try this. It is new. And it’s one of the few that promise to hydrate skin with a coconut water formula. Honestly, everyone raves about mineral makeup, dammit, and I want to be able to use it too! Maybe this will convince me to give up? [...]