Natural Cosmetics

What's In Them?

We've already established that there's no moisture--and therefore no bacteria. We've also said that true mineral makeups are "all natural." But what does that mean? Natural cosmetics are a mixture of mica, iron oxide, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Different lines add other natural ingredients to make their own formula unique. The mica is what gives you a glowing finish because of its light-reflective qualities. The titanium dioxide acts as natural protection from the sun. Some contain bismuth oxychloride, which could be an irritant for extremely sensitive skin, so check the ingredients before you buy--especially if you already know bismuth won't work for you. All natural cosmetics are not created equal, so if one doesn't work for you, try another. Most lines offer samples of their foundations so you can try without too much of an investment.

Brands to Try

• Aromaleigh
• Bare Escentuals
• Everyday Minerals
• Geografx
• Jane Iredale

How to Apply

There's a little bit of technique to learning how to apply mineral makeup, but after a time or two, it'll be a breeze. Application takes no time at all.

Foundation

For this you'll need a large powder brush, also known as a kabuki brush. You can often purchase one with your mineral makeup. Or you can pick one up at Target. Sonia Kashuk makes a great line of brushes and they're sold there. Sprinkle just a bit of the foundation into the jar's lid or onto a piece of foil. Swirl and tap your kabuki brush around in the foundation. You should have very little on the brush when you first apply to your face. Start at the jaw line and move the brush in circles, as if you're buffing the foundation into your skin. Pick up a little more foundation; apply to the other side of your face the same way. Move on to the forehead, nose and chin. The foundation will take a few minutes to "meld" with your skin and may look a bit chalky initially. After a few minutes you should be able to tell if you need more coverage. If you do, add a little more. Once you do this one or two days, you'll be able to determine just how much you need without waiting for it to "meld." The application process will go much quicker then. If you have extra left in the lid, tap it back into the jar. If you used a piece of foil and have some remaining foundation on it, fold up the foil and save it for tomorrow.

Color-Corrector

You apply these before the foundation if needed in exactly the same manner. What these do is balance out discolorations in your overall skin tone. If you suffer from the redness of rosacea or eczema, you might want to try a green powder. Overdo it a bit with the sunless tanner? Try blue to counteract the orange. This will give you a more uniform canvas before you even put the foundation on.

Eye Shadow

Mineral eye shadow is still made from the same basic ingredients as the foundation and color-correcting powders. They'll need a base to help them stick to your lids, so apply concealer first. If you'd rather try a traditional base, check out Urban Decay's Primer Potion, L'Oreal's De-crease or one of MAC's Shadesticks. Natural cosmetics lines offer eye shadows in all the same finishes as drugstore eye shadows. You're not stuck with just flat color. On the contrary, mineral eye shadows are quite vibrant and easily blended with an eye shadow brush. Applied wet or with a mixing medium, they make beautiful liners or exciting flashes of color for your lids. A set of eye shadow brushes will work better for applying loose powder shadow than a sponge-tip applicator. For wet lining, try a stiff-bristled, angled brush. Sprinkle a bit onto a piece of foil or your hand, dampen your brush, and dip into the shadow. Don't dip a wet brush into the whole jar of shadow.

Blush

Natural cosmetics offer blushes that give you a natural glow. The mica reflects light and gives you a youthful, healthy appearance. You can also mix blushes together in a separate jar or on a piece of foil to get your own perfect color. Tap a small amount of product into the lid or foil. Then tap a slightly smaller brush than you used for foundation into the blush, starting with just a small amount and building from there. Sweep it onto your cheeks like any other blush. You're done!

Concealer

Concealers come in color-correcting colors as well, but the most popular is a multi-tasker. It's matched to your skin and choice of foundation colors. You can apply it to blemishes or under eye circles with a concealer brush. Those have stiff bristles and a tapered point for strategic application. You put the concealer on before your foundation, then buff the foundation all over. When you're done, the two will be blended together and your face will be virtually flawless.