In a world of chemicals that you can't pronounce, let alone fathom what the short and long-term effects will do to your body, why not try a healthier route towards enhanced beauty? Mineral makeup has been used for ages, and it can be traced back to ancient cultural application practices of royalty. For example, Cleopatra, known for her astonishing beauty, rimmed her eyes with kohl, a stone-based mineral. Presently, there are many companies out there taking on this task to make beauty enhancing products such as makeup, healthy. This particularly excites me as mineral makeup tends to get a bad reputation as far as results. I am here to finally end those misconceptions of all mineral-based makeup. First let's talk the benefits!
No More Acne
Many of the mainstream chemical based makeup products contain fillers. These products tend to clog pores and not let the skin breathe. This can lead to acne, blackheads, as well as irritated skin.
Sun Protection
Mineral foundations often contains ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These are both natural sunscreens. There is nothing like a healthy skin care product that comes with dual functionality.
Shelf Life
Because these products are made without additives they tend to last much longer than their traditional chemical based counterparts. Dry, raw ingredients when stored properly can have a long lasting shelf life.
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I partnered with an Atlanta makeup artist, Myia Ashford, to test out some mineral makeup and come up with an everyday look as well as a night out look.
BEFORE
The best way to get a fabulous makeup look is to start off with a clean base. Cleanse and moisturize your skin first before you apply anything. I like to do a deep cleansing mask or try the oil cleansing method. For these two looks I have chosen to try out vegan based products by Laws of Nature Cosmetics®. They are an organic and all natural mineral makeup company that prides themselves on serving women of color and all of our beautiful shades. I really love their products because they are non-toxic and chemical free. Who could ask for a better combination! These products not only enhance my beauty, but are also good for my skin!
Apply Foundation and Concealer
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I was interested in how the look and consistency of the mineral based makeup would feel on my skin, and I actually enjoyed both aspects. Using both the creme and powder variations of Foxy Finish™ Mineral Foundation in rose beige, I was able to create a beautiful even complexion on my face. Myia suggests when applying mineral based liquid foundation and/or concealer to use "a dense powder brush in circular motions for a flawless airbrushed look." I personally like to pay much attention to my under eye area to give me a younger fresh face lift. I already have thick eyebrows so I don't do much filling in, but I like to brush and groom them where necessary and add a little filling in where I see fit.
Look 1: Daytime
For a day look I like to keep it simple. I tightlined my eyes using Mineral Maven™ Pro-Vitamin Gel Liner to give them emphasis and depth, as well as mascara to lengthen my lashes. I also used Mineral Maven™ Organic Eye Shadow in the color Penny for a light shimmer in conjunction with my favorite bronzer combinations. For a pop of color I chose a more defined lip. I love how pigmented the lip stick was and how it applied. There was no need for a liner! I used Instant Karma™ Mineral Sheer Lipstick in Rose.
Look 2: Nighttime
For my night look I just transitioned my daytime makeup by removing the lipstick and dramatizing the eyes. Using the same gel liner I added a more emphasized line with a wing. I also used Mineral Maven™ Organic Eye Shadow in the color Emerald along with some contrasting cool grays to create a smokey effect. Myia suggests when choosing the right mineral based eye shadow to keep in mind that "darker eyeshadows tend to be more pigmented than natural/neutral shaded colors," so don't go too heavy! Since I went more dramatic on my eyes, I wanted to switch to a more neutral lip that just added a hint of color and sheen.
I think overall that these two looks are very versatile, and prove that mineral makeup can produce just as good of results as any other. I will definitely be using them more!
Beauty and hair maven Naomi Mackenzie is a freelance writer and business consultant. Her passion is to continuously keep up with the ever evolving techniques and topics as it relates to skin and hair, while helping others to embrace their own definition of beauty in a healthy way. Her blog, KissTheChaos (www.KissTheChaos.com) shares both an educated and personal perspective, sought to spark ongoing discussion. Follow her on Instagram at @oOolala_laa and on Facebook here.
