Mineral magic

IMAGINE ditching the morning make-up routine because you did it the night before.

Going to bed with a full face on is no longer a sin in mineral beauty circles – and the latest face powder on the shelves by bareMinerals claims you’ll wake up to a smoother complexion as it rejuvenates your skin as you sleep.

The Pure Transformation Night Treatment (£45) is the answer to some women’s bedtime prayers, with one in ten admitting they would never let their partner see them without make-up, a Superdrug survey recently revealed.

Mineral is the buzz word in beauty. And as its name suggests, the make-up is derived from powdered mineral elements – microscopic flat crystals that overlap to create a filtering layer on the skin.

Traditionally in powder form, minerals now come as gloss, mascara and pencils too.

While long-established manufacturers such as Bare Escentuals, Bellapierre and GloMinerals have been raving about pure cosmetics for years, other more mainstream brands are getting in on the act.

Bobbi Brown has launched a Skin Foundation Mineral Make-up; The Body Shop unveiled a new Extra Virgin Minerals Foundation line and MAC’s Mineralize range features limited edition shades.

Want your cosmetics to be more skin-friendly?

It’s time to try some mineral magic.

WHY MINERALS?

How can its ingredients make it acceptable to leave your make-up on overnight, without clogged pores in the morning? Apparently, mineral makeup can actually act as an extension to your daily skincare regime.

“Make-up containing natural minerals is more gentle on your skin than irritating chemicals and harsh preservatives, but doesn’t compromise on your coverage,” says Skinesis founder Sarah Chapman. “It doesn’t clog your pores like other make-up. This prevents the dull, congested, lifelessness that can occur when you frequently wear heavy make-up day in, day out.”

It may just look like powder, but ingredients frequently found in mineral make-up, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, have anti-inflammatory properties and are natural sun protectants. The lack of chemical nasties makes it ideal for those who suffer from sensitive skin or acne.

PRODUCT CHOICE

Many mineral cosmetic ranges – partly due to purity levels – can look rather ‘beige’ in comparison to other brands, but that is rapidly changing.

Kimberly Wyatt has put her Pussycat Dolls days behind her to co-found a mineral make-up line, BM Beauty, that’s stacked with colour, including the bright Storybook Collection or metallic Starry Eyed Glamour.

But whether you want a natural look or explosion of brights, the real beauty of minerals is their versatility.

“Mineral make-up can be mixed and used in so many different ways,” says Amanda Bell, of Bellapierre.

“It can be mixed into a liquid or cream, used ‘neat’ as a powder, mixed with gloss – the possibilities are endless. The mineral colour is pure pigment, so it’s very adaptable and transfer-proof.

What’s more, the colours blend easily together so you have the option of creating shades.”

APPLICATION ART

There may be guilt-free benefits, such as sleeping in your mineral make-up, but application requires extra effort.

Sarah-Jane Froom, of Bare Escentuals, says. “A lot of people feel you won’t get a full coverage with minerals. This is a myth. You can achieve a light, medium or full coverage without even looking like you’re wearing make-up.”

BareMinerals has a technique for beginners called Swirl, Tap, Buff.

“A little goes a very long way,” says Froom. “Just keep buffing and the coverage you want to achieve will come. Don’t be tempted to keep going back to the pot.”