Apply Mineral Makeup

Apply Mineral Makeup

A lot of women (and men) have discovered the benefits of using mineral make-up as opposed to the traditional liquid foundation, or powder. Mineral make-up doesn't contain the chemicals that cause some people to break out, or aggravate sensitive skin conditions. There's a trick to applying this type of foundation, but it can look natural if done right.

Moisturize your face beforehand. The mineral powder (so to speak) adheres to the natural oil of your skin, and if your face is too dry, the powder might end up looking like just that - powder. Apply lotion and wait 10 minutes, as a face too oily would melt the make-up. Trial and error might be needed to find the perfect balance.
Pour a small amount of foundation into the cap of the jar. This helps avoid using too much, and you could always add a layer if needed. Use maybe a little more than a pinch or so.
Apply eye liner next and use your kabuki brush to dust off any powder droppings from your cheeks.
Dab on any enhancers that you may need to specific areas, such as under the eyes. Press fingertip in foundation for a concentrated amount and dab your blemishes to make them disappear.
Swirl the kabuki brush in the cap, then tap the brush to dust off the extra powder. The brush is most important in covering large areas of your face, and an inferior brush might make the make-up look artificial. You might want to invest in a decent one.
Apply the foundation by rubbing the brush on your skin in a circular motion. This is where you decided how the make-up will look. Its recommended to start lightly on the cheeks and move off to the side of your face. The brush isn't supposed to just dust your skin with powder, its going to BUFF the powder, to help it adhere to the oil in your skin. The more you buff, the heavier the coverage will be. This take practice to find the right technique.
Once you have the look you want with foundation, apply a setting powder. Apply it the same way you would the foundation. BareMinerals sells a type of setting powder called "Mineral Veil", and a lot of people who have problems with the makeup melting off have them due to the lack of applying the setting powder. Without it, the make-up will eventually look a little tired. With it, the makeup will hold much longer and look less sweaty. You can really tell the difference between using it and skipping it.

Always use a non-mineral, oil-based moisturizer that will not clog pores. If your moisturizer does not absorb into your skin, neither will your mineral makeup!
Use a setting powder on eyelids to set shadows and avoid creases.
Use a setting powder as a base all over if you have oily skin...it will help absorb the oil naturally.
With the correct brush, eyeliner will glide on with no gaps. Powder tends to sprinkle, so use your kabuki brush to "pick up" the fallen powder.
Always apply eyeliner prior to foundation so you won't leave smudges from sprinkles.
Using special enhancers such as "polished" will refract light and make your dark under-eye circles disappear. Also use in the corner of eyes, mouth, etc. to reduce the appearance of fine lines.
Foundation should be applied in light layers. If you feel you need more coverage, keep applying light layers.
Brush your blush on the same way you would traditional makeup, but be sure to use your kabuki brush to avoid outlines and streaking.
Apply mineral eye shadow as usual..lighter colors under brow line and darker colors on the lid.
Using a good quality mascara with keratin will help strengthen lashes and improve their look even when you're not wearing mascara.
For those with oily skin, finishing with a setting powder will give extra protection and oil absorption and help you obtain a matte finish.
The foundation will look a little powdery when you first apply it. It will settle into your skin and look much more natural in a few minutes.
A kabuki brush is essential to covering your face, but a smaller brush will serve to use the powder as a concealer if you want to use it that way.
This is a great product to use if you have acne, or eczema, or other skin conditions, as it contains less ingredients than traditional make-up. Most mineral make-ups even have soothing properties to heal such conditions.

Avoid powders that contain talc
Use natural lipsticks that do not contain perfumes and dyes.
Some people do have further allergies to the minerals. Its not common, but if your skin gets itchy, or red, then you might not be able to use this type of foundation.
Though some brands claim to have an SPF factor, you might still want to use a sun screen if you plan to be outside.
Its not recommended to sleep in ANY sort of make-up, so while this might not have the chemicals that can harm your skin, it still covers your skin. Pores open and skin heals when you sleep, so wash your face before bed.


Things You'll Need

setting powder
foundation
blush
eyeshadow
eyeliner
mascara
enhancers for dark circles, etc
kabuki brush
proper eyeliner brush