By: Gergana and Daniel

 Minerals give your skin a youthful "glow“ and a natural look.  Minerals offer very good coverage that doesn't feel like you're wearing any makeup at all.  It is free of preservatives, talc, oil, fragrance and other chemicals.  Most mineral foundations have a natural SPF (sun protection factor).  Smoothes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, conceals blotchiness.  Improves the overall appearance of skin with acne.  Ideal for sensitive skin.

 Minerals provide the color to eyes, cheeks, lips, and nails.  Iron oxide, one of the most important color minerals.  Today, iron oxides give red, orange, yellow, brown, and black tones to makeup.  Chrome oxides are used for greens.  Ultramarine blue and pink coloring is made from a mixture of kaolin, soda ash, sulfur, and charcoal.  Even gold has historically been used as a colorant.

 Two major ingredients in mineral foundation are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, more commonly found in sunscreen.  While mineral makeup has a built-in SPF, it’s best to layer it over sunscreen for assured protection.  Zinc oxide has the added bonus of helping you if you suffer from facial redness, your foundation can help calm your skin.  Because most of these ingredients are found in nature, mineral powder tends to be nontoxic and much better for your skin than other cosmetics are.

 Some media reports have advised women to scan labels for bismuth oxychloride, the ingredient that gives makeup its pearly finish. It’s been said to cause skin irritation and acne flare-ups, leading some mineral makeup companies to eliminate it from their formulas.  Only a very small minority of people with highly sensitive skin will find themselves irritated by the ingredient

 We’re told liquid makeup has harmful chemicals and mineral makeup is healthier. Now, a well-known medical professional says mineral makeup is more dangerous than liquid.  Mineral makeup is now part of nearly every cosmetic brand’s product line. Millions of women use it, many of them doing so because they wanted to stop using liquid foundations which put chemical ingredients into their skin. They come from the earth and consist of natural minerals such as zinc and titanium.  That doesn’t mean they don't contain chemicals. Minerals are made up of chemical elements, but since the companies don’t put in additional chemical ingredients they claim the products are purer.

 Technically, most makeup is “mineral” makeup as it contains many of the same elements as mineral-based formulas, the differences lie in the ingredients that the mineral foundations leave out. Because mineral makeup doesn’t include parabens, fragrance, talc, preservatives, oil, or other harsh chemicals, they’re ideal for sensitive or breakout-prone skin types that often become irritated with heavier formulas.

 Mineral foundation is good for people with oily skin. Liquid is good for people with dry skin.  Mineral foundation makes your skin even more dry if you use it.  Liquid foundation also gives you a smooth finish.