Could your daily makeup application be undoing all the hard work of your current skincare regime? Ash Cometti investigates.
Have you ever taken the time to read the ingredients list on the back of your favourite foundation or your most-loved mascara?
Chances are you won’t be able to pronounce half of the ingredients shown, let alone decipher which ones are sourced from nature.
In recent years, the trend towards more natural beauty products has driven up the demand for mineral makeup. It’s hardly a surprise, considering the multitude of benefits mineral makeup can offer the skin over its traditional predecessors.
Mineral makeup acts as the final step in your skincare regime
Think of mineral makeup as a skincare/makeup hybrid – it has the power to transform the appearance of any complexion, while boosting skin health thanks to the host of natural ingredients contained within. Formulated in a laboratory, these ingredients are almost chemically identical to what’s found in nature.
Traditional makeup may contain harmful ingredients
Think preservatives, talc, wax, dye, parabens, artificial fragrances, cheap fillers as well as petroleum-based and synthetic ingredients, all of which aren’t kind to skin. Typically, traditional makeup is comedogenic, meaning it can clog pores and result in open comedones (blackheads) or closed comedones (whiteheads). The inclusion of synthetic fragrances can heighten skin sensitivity, while bulking talc can dry out the skin, causing an overproduction in oil.
Mineral makeup is both versatile and buildable
Gone are the days of mineral makeup being available in limited shade ranges and only offering the lightest veil of coverage. Today, mineral makeup comes in a variety of pigments that can be used wet or dry to add colour to lips, cheeks or eyes. Plus the lightweight consistency of mineral-based powders means they can be applied in layers to achieve the amount of coverage desired.
Traditional makeup is often less pigmented
Some powder foundations contain less pigment, which means you need to apply more of it to require the right look or level of coverage you’re after. The issue with poorly pigmented foundations (or those that don’t have strong colour payoff) is that by applying it in layers can mean the finish is streaky or patchy. Not very chic.
Mineral makeup is suitable for sensitive skin
Fewer ingredients means less chance of irritation, which is good news for those with sensitive or reactive skin. Whether you struggle with perioral dermatitis, rosacea, acne or have a compromised skin barrier, it’s important to note how differently mineral makeup sits. Try a mineral-based loose powder, which sits on top of the skin instead of absorbing in. This helps keep pores clear and allows the skin to breathe, therefore minimising the chance of irritation.
Traditional makeup can settle into fine lines and wrinkles
The addition of talc into traditional makeup can mean instead of blurring imperfections, it highlights them. The result is a base that creases and doesn’t sit evenly on the skin. Mineral makeup is designed to feel like a second skin, and looks to micronised particles to ensure it is lightweight and comfortable to wear all day. Plus, it can withstand different temperatures, keeping makeup meltdowns at bay.
Tempted to make the switch? Consider Curtis Collection’s range of cruelty-free mineral makeup, available from Mooi Skin. Offering everything from BB creams and blush, through to lipstick and primer, each Curtis Collection product contains skin-loving ingredients to promote a healthy, radiant complexion.
Check out Curtis Collection here.
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~ Ash Cometti has spent the past eight years writing about all things beauty for some of the country’s most esteemed magazine titles, including New Zealand Weddings, Remix and Viva. A beauty junkie at her core, Ash is forever binge-watching her favourite beauty YouTubers, sourcing her makeup look inspo on Instagram, or (much to her husband’s dismay) taking up far too much drawer space in the bathroom
