Afterglow Cosmetics.co.uk

So what is classed as mineral makeup?
It’s not a dumb question! In fact, there are no regulations governing what can and cannot go in a pot with the word ‘mineral’ written on it. Like organic and natural beauty products, mineral products may not actually contain any more mineral content than others. At risk of sounding pedantic, it pays to read the label.

What’s in mineral make-up? 
It’s more a question of what isn’t! Mineral make-up is composed of very finely ground mineral powders from the earth (mica, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the big guns). Many of these minerals are also found in ordinary make-up. The ‘purest’ forms of mineral make-up contain no paraben preservatives, fillers, dyes, chemicals, colours, binders, other chemicals and irritants. Watch out for a chemical called bismuth (bismuth oxychloride) too. This is a pearlising agent which can irritate skin and give an unnatural Tango orange glow. 

What difference does mineral make-up have for your skin?
Devoid of the above-mentioned nasties, mineral make-up is purer, lighter in texture and kinder to skin. Minerals have anti-inflammatory properties, which have a calming effect on acne, rosacea, allergies and sensitive skin. Mineral make-up is comedogenic, meaning it doesn’t clog your pores as much as heavier chemical products. Some mineral cosmetics are also suitable for vegans and gluten sensitive types.

Afterglow Cosmetics founder Kristin Adams (pictured above) says: “The typical adult uses nine cosmetics & personal-care products a day with an average daily load of around 126 chemicals. Most of these chemicals are absorbed into your body through your skin. Others, found in lipstick and lip balm you actually eat as they come off your lips when eating, drinking or wetting your lips. Mineral cosmetics are natural and don’t contain any harmful ingredients.”

What are the downsides?
The powder-heavy formulae can have drying effects and even accentuate wrinkles and lines. Prices vary a great deal, but as a rule you use less product than you would for standard cosmetics, so mineral makeup can give you value for money even if you have to shell out a bit more to start with.

The Miracle of Minerals
“With the latest trends for mineral cosmetics hailed as the beauty ‘Holy Grail’, offering good-for-you make up that delivers flawless results, Stylebible takes a look to see whether they are as good as they sound.”
by Laura Mason

There must be something in the air as a surge of popular US brands such as Afterglow Cosmetics, Youngblood, bareMinerals and Bare Escentuals have all recently launched in the UK.  Celebrity fans Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Aniston have been raving about the ‘mineral miracle’ so is it worth a jump on the mineral bandwagon?

If you are a stranger to mineral make up, try comparing it to a vegan – the simple premise of mineral cosmetics is based on the philosophy of blending 100% pure, high-quality ingredients, combined with cutting edge technology to create hypo-allergenic make-up that is kind to skin but does not compromise on quality and effectiveness. This means that sleeping in your make-up no longer needs to be a beauty sin after all!

Top make up artist Laura Mercier who launched her own mineral-based product line back in 1996 strongly believes in the many benefits of the mineral based cosmetics: “Mineral makeup is more than a trend. It is “make up” product that is actually good for the skin for several reasons. It provides the skin with minerals that promotes a healthy complexion and offers excellent SPF protection. Mineral make up gives the look of radiant and natural skin while not clogging pores and is perhaps the easiest foundation to apply. It is especially nice to wear in the summer because it feels as if you are wearing nothing on the skin but at the same time it remains water-resistant.”

There are many myths surrounding the world of mineral make-up, especially with such a vast surge in launches and general interest. One common misconception is that all mineral make up is pretty much the same – not true! ‘Mineral’ is quite a loose term as any product containing minerals as an ingredient can be labelled ‘mineral make up’. Meredith Osborn, Director Global Brand Awareness for bareMinerals, says the discrepancies between brands occur due to the fact that “mineral makeup formulas generally fall into two large camps – those that take care not to use ingredients such as preservatives, binders and fillers, such as bareMinerals, and those that do add fillers, artificial colours, binders, preservatives, and other chemicals to their formulas”.

The good thing about ‘true’ mineral products is that they are free from pore-clogging, drying fillers such as talc, which often constitute up to 80 per cent of conventional make-up formulations to stretch dyes further. Layers of overlapping mineral crystals prevent excessive moisture loss while still allowing the skin to breathe. The formulation is also free from the top three sensitivities – perfume, chemical dyes and preservatives – and masks any imperfections or redness making it ideal for most allergy prone skins so what more can we ask for?!

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