Mineral makeup has increased in popularity as we become more and more conscious of the effect products have on our skin and bodies. Mineral makeup is free of irritants like perfumes, preservatives such as parabens, alcohols and dyes that many traditional makeup brands use. However, many mineral makeup lines contain Bismuth Oxychloride.

Bismuth Oxychloride is a chemical that produces shine. Although approved for use in cosmetics, 75% of the users (mostly women) are allergic to this chemical. When you use a product containing bismuth oxychloride you are pushing small metallic particles into your skin that will clog your pores. Acne and roseacea sufferers who use these products find that they also irritate and aggravate their condition. You can tell if you are allergic if your face itches after application. This chemical is also not complimentary for use on older skin because the shimmery look creates a mask-like appearance that enhances wrinkles making skin look older and feel drier than it is.

After years of struggling to find a makeup line that did not make her sensitive skin itch and break out with acne, Kristin Adams founded Afterglow Cosmetics mineral makeup line which suited her needs.

“All the women in my family are sensitive to food, cosmetics and perfume” says Kristin. “I started using make-up to cover up acne but it seemed to only make my skin feel and look worse.”  To develop the line, Kristin teamed up with one of the foremost cosmetic chemists in the industry. Their focus on using only pure, natural and organic ingredients make Afterglow‘s mineral makeup a favourite with dermatologists and estheticians worldwide. But even with all the great benefits, many women that have switched from traditional makeup to mineral makeup are confused about how to the best way to use mineral makeup. Here are a few tips that will help optimise your experience.

For those with dry, flaky skin, add a small amount of powder into the palm of the hand. Add a drop of moisturiser. Blend the two products together until a smooth, creamy consistency is achieved. Use your fingers or make-up wedge to apply. For young or blemished skin, apply it in very sheer layers bronzer or foundation with a vegan kabuki brush or flat top brush all over the face.

Loose powder mineral makeup is NOT designed to work with a sponge. Mineral bronzers and blush can be applied with a fan brush, blush brush, kabuki brush, or flat top foundation brush. Apply to areas where you want a fresh sun-kissed glow.

To apply eye shadow, dip an eye shadow brush into the desired colour and apply to your eyelids.

For liquid eyeliner, wet your brush with water use our Organic Colour Lock; dip into the desired colour of mineral powder.  Mix liquid and powder together on the back of your hand or in separate container until well blended; apply to the lid as desired.

Afterglow Cosmetics has 15 shades of organic lipstick and four shades of Organic Hydra Gloss. These are premixed for ease of use. However if you feel the desire to create your own shades, dip your lip brush into your favourite lip balm/stick/gloss and then into the mineral powder of your choice. Blend well and then apply to lips.

Afterglow’s mineral makeup is 100% vegan with a unique blend of minerals and natural pigments, carefully formulated with your health and beauty in mind. Afterglow’s products have continuously been among the most highly rated for safety on the Environmental Working Group’s “Skin Deep Report” website.

Afterglow are also proud signers of The Breast Cancer Fund’s Compact for Safe Cosmetics (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics) to advocate for safer cosmetics. 

We all ’suffer’ in the name of vanity. Consider the plucking of eyebrows, or the brazilian – and I ain’t talking about the Duque de Caxias.

We preen and experiment constantly. I’m still making ’surprising’ and ’shocking’ beauty discoveries at the grand old age of 25. I have you know, been accustomed to Vogue and Instyle since day dot – not to mention my constant scrupulous magnifique lookage at gorgeous celebs on the red carpet.

Suffer we do, all in the name of beauty… but it’s not all hit ‘n’ miss. Now and then you discover products that are worthy of a killer gush. I’m talking in league with my favourite Dior lipgloss (sadly discontinued, what were they thinking?), YSL’s great lash mascara and my Givenchy ‘Irresistable’ perfume. It takes a rare product to turn my first preference for bronzer from Lancome to something else entirely – something that’s good for my skin, even, and Afterglow’s pure organic mineral makeup has done it for moi.

The Organic Mineral Glow Bronzer

I’ve tried just about everything, and with bated breath I received a batch of make up from Mookychick (all for free, perks perks!) to try out. If I’m totally honest with you I wasn’t expecting to be wowed. But lo and behold! I was beyond excited when I gave this beauty a go because, as you can see from the photos, the bronzer actually makes my skin glow! Shh… I know it says thats its the job but the people behind ‘Afterglow’ (the make up, not the feeling) genuinely deliver. I loved the mineral bronzer so much I’m taking my samples on holiday!

The issue I generally have with make up, even the posh stuff, is that I never feel like I have make up on. I went partying in the West End last week and by my standards, I trowelled my best paint and potion on because I knew I’d be standing next to girls wearing loads of it (in the nicest way), but I still ended up looking like a naked-faced ghost.

When I put the Afterglow bronzer on I actually felt like I had some colour to me, and it didn’t feel like I’d slathered myself in prosthetic makeup.

The Organic Lip Love Lipstick

The mineral lipstick wasn’t quite my colour but the texture and ease of application were a dream, and the smell fairly neutral and clean (so no-one will be able to smell a strong scent before you get there, unless they’re a cat).

The Organic Mineral Eyeshadow

The loose mineral eyeshadow comes in little pots, and they’re faultless to apply. I generally find with many eyeshadow products that they crease on the delicate folds of your eyes, gather attractively in the corner like sleep and generally misbehave, causing embarassing gloop issues. Not pretty… so I gingerly applied the mineral eye powder and as I did so, it sparkled! Yay. Me like sparkles. Also, being a powder it slid on happily and there it stayed.

The Health Bit

As an eczema sensitive skin sufferer, Afterglow Mineral Cosmetics came up trumps again because all of their products are completely free of pesky ingredients normally found in make up such as scary-sounding ‘petrochemicals’, ‘carmine’ and ‘lake dyes’ (eep!!)

Of course, the products are tested on people not fluffy bunnies and if you’re heading towards old age (like me) then the anti-aging properties are an added bonus. Fabulous

The Final Word

I have to say I will definitely be investing in a pot of the mineral bronzer, though, out of all the mineral makeup products I test-drove. Because it’s pretty awesome.

Mookychick.co.uk

ORGANIC COLOUR

Brand New You Say’s “We love a fun, sassy take on make-up especially if it’s a natural mineral range. Afterglow Cosmetics have just become available over here and boy, do we have a crush on these pop-inspired beauty bits”.

The mineral eyeshadows (£16) come in a range of disco-friendly shades and the bronzers (£18) are perfect for keeping an all-year-round shimmer.

October 2008 Issue

With a new season on the horizon, we get the chance to update our make-up bags with some autumnal treats. While the catwalk shows in February promised dark gothic lips, futuristic colours, burgundy lips and metallics – intermingled with fresh-faced effortlessness – we are in for a treat. Keep hair long and bouncy and think glamour and sophistication. Basso & Brooke were inspired by “architecture and urban cityscapes” using a palette of grey, black, burnt oranges and midnight blue for their rock n’ roll eyes. Futuristic eyes used silver and khaki over the lids to dazzling effect, one that will transcend perfectly onto the high street and no doubt to the local Christmas parties. Vampy lips at Julien Macdonald – dark violet and burgundy lips bring out the inner goth in all of us. Make sure your brows are up to the challenge – keep them well groomed.

Grey and taupe as well as metallics are a make-up must-have for the autumn months. Whether you go sparkly in the run-up to Christmas or use a palette of light grey by day and dark and sultry for night, ensure you embrace the look. Mineral powders are great for achieving that polished look so news that US brand Afterglow is now available here is music to our ears. Their eye colours, conveniently, are as bright as next season requires and ensure you shimmer all night long. £16; www.afterglowcosmetics.co.uk

The Afterglow Mineral Eye Shadow is 100% mineral and includes organic antioxidants. A range of 25 different shades are available.

The Afterglow Mineral Eye Shadow is in a classic pot (which is 100% recyclable) but is a loose powder rather than pressed like many products. I wondered whether this would be as easy to apply as my usual product, but actually there was no problem. The information I received with the eye shadow stated that it could be used dry or wet, so I tried both methods and both were effective. It was easy to get an even coverage and you didn’t need to use much product. The shimmer effect is not over the top so I found it suitable for day or night wear. Eyes can obviously be quite a sensitive area, so I think many of us stick to what we know, but I had no reaction to this product, and it is promoted as being gluten-free so suitable for those with a gluten sensitivity.

At £16 the Afterglow Mineral Eye Shadow is not a cheap product but prices for eye shadow vary massively, even amongst mineral eye shadows, so this doesn’t stand out.

UK Energy Saving Ratings
Performance – 5/5
Value for Money – 3/5
Packaging – 4/5

OVERALL RATING – 4/5