Pure, Natural, Beautiful Skin!

I have been using mineral makeup for a while now and I am excited to see such a buzz about it these days. Suddenly every brand out there has a mineral line of cosmetics. But, not all mineral makeup is created equal. Some products still contain parabens and other chemicals. I have tried several different brands, including the more popular Sheer Cover (also called Bare Minerals and Bare Escentuals) seen on late-night infomercials. I liked the product, but was curious about one ingredient in particular-bismuth oxychloride. So I googled it and found that it is a naturally occuring element, but some companies use a synthetic form of it, which goes through various chemical processes during production. It can be a skin irritant in some people, causing itchiness and other symptoms. Well, that explained the itchiness I had been feeling on my skin!

I started shopping around online and found two great mineral lines that make very pure and natural, beautiful makeup. Both companies offer inexpensive samples, allowing me to try different shades to find the right one for me. I love mineral makeup because it is light and weightless, blends nicely into any skin type, and it reflects light which minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. It offers a natural SPF with titanium dioxide, and with it's nurishing minerals, it can actually improve our skin! "Matching" our skin perfectly just isn't possible, and our skintones may vary throughout the seasons of the year. But I find that with mineral makeup, I can easily adjust my shade by mixing colors together-and I have total control over the amount of coverage I want by using different brushes.

My favorite brand is Alima Pure. It comes in simply beautfiul packaging, the company uses recycled materials for shipping, and they always throw in extra samples! I especially love their eyeshadows. I bought sample sizes of several colors months ago and I have yet to run out...a little goes a long way. My favorite shadows are Amethyst, Plum, and Zen. Alima Pure makes the most gorgeous eyeshadows I have ever tried!

Another brand I like is Sheer Miracle. Their website and packaging are not very glamorous, but they offer beautiful, pure makeup. I really like their foundation. Their colors are a very similar match to the popular Bare Escentuals, without the bismuth oxichloride. I use "Medium Light Neutral", a great blend for light skin with both pink and golden undertones.

Here's to playing with makeup and here's to a healthy, gorgeous you!