Mineral makeup on a budget
by Trixie Reyna, Managing Editor
Are you one of those who are interested to try mineral makeup but just find them too expensive?
When a friend first introduced me to mineral makeup a couple of years back, I immediately got hooked; however, there are two drawbacks: the brand I liked is only sold in the US and when people who order in bulk abroad sell the products here, they’re really expensive.
But who wouldn’t love mineral makeup? Not only does it NOT irritate your skin—it supposedly even improves it—it is also fun to apply and comes in shades that blend well with your skin. They last long, too.
Some known makeup brands have already, thankfully, come up with their own mineral makeup line, but if you still find them too expensive, maybe you’ll find that Elegant Minerals is what suits you best. Read on to know why.
Elegant Minerals is a mineral makeup brand from Texas, USA, now made available in the Philippines exclusively by Posh and Glam. Unlike other mainstream mineral make-up brands, Elegant Minerals reportedly uses only 100 percent mineral cosmetic ingredients such as titanium dioxide, mica powder, and iron oxides. But the best part of all, really, is how they are very affordable compared to other brands—without sacrificing quality.
For instance, the smallest jar (5g) of mineral makeup would only cost you Php290, while the largest jar (30g) is only Php1,300. Currently, Posh and Glam offers twenty different colors of Elegant Mineral foundation, over thirty mineral eye shadow shades, and more than ten mineral blushes and bronzers.
And this is what I immediately noticed: each jar is really packed to the brim, unlike other brands that come in bigger jars but are almost always only half-full. I learned that Elegant Minerals jars are in fact filled by volume, because mineral makeup varies in weight. For instance, foundation weighs differently from eye shadow, setting powders, and blush. Elegant Minerals in 5, 10, and 20 gram variants come in jars filled all the way to the top, so you don’t feel you are short-changed at all.
Learn how it looks on your skin on the next page.
January 21st, 2009 at 10:23 am
the URLs are invalid
January 21st, 2009 at 12:26 pm
The link you provided does not seem to exist
January 21st, 2009 at 10:13 pm
We apologize, these URLs are from the distributors themselves. Will update you regarding changes. Thanks!
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 am
I haven’t really heard of Elegant Minerals before. Maybe I could have a hunt for it sometime. However, I do recommend NYC Mineral foundation. It’s really affordable and works well. ^_^
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:34 am
the two links were interchanged. try elegantminerals.com and poshandglam.multiply.com
checked it already. now i’m finally joining the mineral make-up craze.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:53 am
Hahaha, thanks Cheodosche!
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:19 am
It’s NOT TRUE that mineral makeup does not irritate skin. If you have very sensitive skin, this is NOT for you.
I and a fellow patient of a well known dermatologist were comparing notes about mineral makeup. Even a single application (I’ve tried lots of brands)causes flare ups of tiny bumps which are itchy and scaly.
For sensitive skin the only option is VMV, Almay or Clinique.
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Hahahaha.. Cecile, please note that the writer gets paid for writing good reviews of the product.
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:42 pm
i heard the posh & glam website was down for a week now. u can try http://www.elegantmineralsph.multiply.com
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 am
We actually don’t, Loren.
January 25th, 2009 at 12:01 am
@Cecile:
Yes, it is possible to get a bad reaction to mineral makeup if you are allergic to these two ingredients:
Bismuth Oxychloride
An allergy to mineral makeup can almost always be pinpointed to one particular ingredient known as bismuth oxychloride. A byproduct of lead, copper and other metals, bismuth oxychloride is not commonly found in nature. Cosmetic companies use it in their mineral makeup products to impart a shine to the skin. It is also very refractive, which makes it optimal for covering fine lines and wrinkles.
However, bismuth oxychloride is very heavy. It inevitably enters the pores when it is buffed into the skin, resulting in not only clogged pores, but irritated skin. It is crystalline in its molecular makeup, which can cause the skin to itch when it is applied. If you experience discomfort, it is quite possible you have developed an allergy to mineral makeup due to this ingredient.
Carmine
Though it has been FDA-approved and is considered safe to use in color cosmetics, carmine is best avoided if you have sensitive skin. Carmine is a dark red pigment made of the crushed shells of cochineal beetles. They are dried, ground and added to the cosmetic base. It has been known to cause severe allergic reactions in many people.
That is why it is best to have a patch test done first before you purchase a whole set.
See the link for the source of this info.
January 25th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Link:
http://makeup.lovetoknow.com/Allergy_to_Mineral_Makeup
January 26th, 2009 at 6:49 am
i also swear by ellana minerals – been a fan ever since my first sampler of their cafe breve premium blend foundation. i have skin asthma and so my skin’s quite choosy with make-up. but now, i can’t leave home without their stuff! i luv it! check them out at http://www.ellanaminerals.com
February 4th, 2009 at 9:11 am
I love Elegant Minerals. I’ve used them for over 2 years now… Their eye shadows last longer than any other company I’ve tried!
For some reason I can’t forward this reveiw?
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I have tried Ellana’s mineral foundation and it lasted on my face the whole day – with no retouching. Tho my face was super oily in the afternoon