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. 

Organic Mineral Foundation by Afterglow
Price: £28
Stockist: AfterglowCosmetics.co.uk

Afterglow Organic Mineral Foundation comes in unassuming, yet surprisingly clever packaging. The pot has a clear lid, which enables you to see how much foundation you have tapped out without having to remove the lid – making it easier to use than other similar brands. The powder glides onto the skin easily and gives a good, even coverage. On oily or combination skin it may feel a little tacky to the touch and could leave you with a shiny complexion later in the day, so to combat this Afterglow has an Organic Mineral Setting Powder which helps with oil absorption. For anyone with a dry complexion the foundation should cover well enough on its own without being too drying. This foundation surpassed the ELLE team’s expectations for not only being good quality, but being effective, too.

Make up artist Judie Tallman needed only to play up Lindsey’s natural beauty using Afterglow’s Organic Setting Powder in Translucent and Organic Mineral Blush in Smitten.

JudieTallman says:

“Minerals are great because they ‘melt’ into the skin when worn and give a natural matte look without the powder buildup.” 

Lonely Street hits the USA theatres in winter of 2008. To find out more about Lonely Street click here.

Mineral makeup is everywhere right now, and Afterglow is one of the newer additions to the UK cosmetics counter, having been a huge success in the States. It’s got great ethical credentials, is certified cruelty-free by the BUAV and contains no parabens or fragrances. So how well does it actually work?

I managed to get my hands on a few samples of the ‘80% organic, 100% natural’ range, and have asked a few members of the office to give me their verdict on the brand.

I tried the dusty rose blush, the first mineral blusher I’ve used. I liked this product a lot, as it was so soft and velvety it blended into my skin with ease, and gave a really natural-looking glow. It was easy to get the shade and intensity just right using a brush, creating as much or as little definition as you want. Get it online for £18

Catwalk Queen Editor-in-Chief Gemma tried the organic mineral setting powder over the weekend. The idea of this product is to help absorb oil to create a smoother finish, but it’s also loaded with antioxidants to help preserve a youthful glow. Gemma tried the ‘light’ setting powder, and commented: “It’s a perfect texture and works really well, but it’s more yellow / orange toned which doesn’t work so well with my skin. However I’m wearing it today,
and I think it looks quite natural.” Get it online for £22