Mineral makeup: what it is and is it the best option for fitness?

Your idea of mineral make-up may go back to memories of chalk-like powder and cakey foundation - but the days of orange lines and heavy complexions are long gone. The new age of mineral make-up is filled with products that are both natural and breathable - like a lovely second skin. So how are they different, and who should use them? Here’s what you need to know.

What is mineral make-up?

Any beauty products made up of tiny minerals - from mica to zinc, talc to titanium oxide - are classed as mineral make-up. The minerals are milled down to an ultra-fine consistency and combined with pigments. There are no oils, waxes, preservatives, parabens, fragrances or other synthetic ingredients that can clog up your pores and irritate your skin. 

What are the benefits of using mineral make-up?

You may have heard the term mineral make-up floating around beauty and wellness spaces. Like many of us, you may also be wondering if it lives up to the hype. Here are the facts:

●   It’s mild on your skin

Thanks to the lack of artificial nasties, mineral make-up doesn’t disturb the natural processes that occur in your pores. This is good news for anyone prone to breakouts or sensitive skin. And if you want to wear make-up after surgery, you’re best off plumping for minerals.

●   You’ll get a gorgeous satin finish

A lot of mineral make-up contains mica, otherwise known as ‘nature’s glitter’. Mica is the name given to a group of silicate materials that are ground down into the powder responsible for that satin-like shimmer. This naturally produced ingredient is well-used in organic products and works in harmony with all skin types to achieve that much-coveted glow.

●   It provides a little sun protection (but still wear sunscreen)

You can get a flawless look and maintain more youthful skin by wearing mineral make-up. Titanium dioxide is an effective sunscreen and zinc oxide works to protect your skin from the sun. However, it’s unclear exactly how much make-up is required to benefit from this protection. As dermatologist Francesca Fusco tells WebMD: “No mineral make-up is going to give you enough SPF to protect you against damaging ultraviolet rays”. If you’ve already applied sunscreen in the morning and it’s a hot day, one sweep of mineral powder could provide an extra layer of protection.

●   It has anti-inflammatory properties

If you’ve ever used calamine lotion to soothe a rash, you’re basically covering it with zinc oxide coloured with iron oxide. Both of these are in mineral make-up and both are known for their skin-soothing properties. Again, it’s still unclear how much of the products are needed to provide this effect. 

What are the disadvantages to wearing mineral make-up?

One thing to be aware of is that mineral make-up may not stick to your skin as long as traditional make-up. That’s because it doesn’t have the usual binders and ‘sticky’ ingredients needed to do so. It’s also limited in shades, so might be trickier to get that perfect match to your skin tone. 

Mineral make-up: is it the best option?

When it comes down to it, mineral make-up really does live up to its hype. Finer products much gentler on your face and particularly better for problematic skin, such as those prone to acne or with sensitive areas. Of course, its light nature means it doesn’t have that long-lasting ‘stick’ like traditional products. But that may be something you’ll want to compromise for a more natural beauty routine. It’s entirely up to you.

Does with work with your workout?

Being a softer approach to the beauty routine, mineral make-up can be a lighter way to train with a bit of colour. However, we always recommend you sweat with clear skin to make sure the pores are clean and not clogged. Have a look at our top 3 reasons why make-up and workouts should not be combined.