Beauty Beat: Mineral Makeup

Look in a mirror. Is your face a different color than your neck? Is your makeup giving you the female "5 o'clock shadow" as it settles in the fine lines around your mouth and eyes? Are you stuck in the "makeup causes blemishes but also covers them up" downward spiral?

If you nodded your masked, blemished or fine-lined face to any of the above questions, boy do we have some good news for you.

Mineral makeup is quickly replacing liquid foundation for many women, according to Rosina Luca, stylist and marketing manager at Avalon Salon and Aesthetic Day Spa in Hyde Park. "Because these are available as pressed or loose powders, they look more natural than liquid foundation and don't make you look like you're wearing a mask," she says. "And because this powder is mineral- and not talc-based, it has a superfine texture that looks dewey and flawless instead of caked on and chalky."

Avalon carries Jane Iredale brand mineral makeup, and according to its site, these are the benefits of mineral versus traditional liquid foundation:

• Non-comedogenic, will not block pores.
• Virtually no allergy risk. All products have been sensitivity tested.
• Broad-spectrum UVB and UVA protection – up to SPF 20.
• Anti-inflammatory, helps to calm and soothe irritated skin.
• Very water resistant rating by an approved FDA lab.
• Complete coverage for skin conditions like acne, rosacea and redness following treatments like chemical peels and laser resurfacing.
• Contains no talc or parabens.
• Composed of inert minerals that cannot support bacteria.
• Environmentally aware.
• No products have been tested on animals.

Here's how they work: The makeup blends minerals and pigments that are micro-pulverized, using proprietary technology and processes to form microscopic flat crystals. These crystals overlap each other on the skin to form a filter that allows the skin to breathe and function normally while still protecting it from air-borne pollutants.

"The minerals have a fantastic staying power, so you rarely need a touch-up during the day," says Luca. "And because the powders are water resistant, they won't crease or smear during strenuous exercise or a misty day."

While Jane Iredale was the first to supply the aesthetics industry with a full-line of makeup based on minerals, many more companies will be entering the mineral makeup marketplace in 2008. There's even rumor that MAC Cosmetics will be releasing a mineral makeup line.

To learn more about mineral makeup, its skin-improving benefits, application techniques or to get a free 30-minute make-up consultation, call Avalon at 513-533-1700 or visit www.avalonss.com/makeup.html.