Guest Blogger: Darla on Mineral Makeup and Facial Primer

Darla is a work-at-home mom who spends her days "silver power selling" on ebay and doing accounting work.  She is also very active in her 11-year-old's life and holding down the homefront when her Chief of Police husband is working his long shifts.  Darla enjoys decorating (in a lazy kinda way), organizing, cooking, blogging and shopping for Coldwater Creek clothing sales.      

Darla gets her "highs" from a great bargain, and although she lives in the middle of nowhere (where Target is 2 hours away and CVS is like a plane ride away), she takes full advantage of the new Walgreens and coupons bought online. She writes almost daily at her new blog, Beauty Inside and Out.

Amanda did an awesome post on Bare Minerals a few weeks ago.  But what about those of us who are allergic to bismuth and mica (an ingredient found in most minerals) and *gasp* those of us who have LARGE pores.  What's a girl to do?!!!

 

First of all, how do you know if you are allergic to a certain mineral?  For me it was simple, the eye shadows made the skin peel off my lids, but for most it's not that extreme.  It's usually just some itching around the nose and forehead area.  It usually gets worse over time (and more annoying).  It may even leave your face red after a few hours of wearing it.  If that's the case, chances are you are allergic to either bismuth or mica (or both).

 

There are plenty of brands of minerals on the market without these ingredients though, just Google bimuth free and/or mica free minerals, and you will get an assortment of hits, I promise.  My favorite is EveryDay Minerals in the "original glo".  It's not for my skin type, but I tested them all out and found that the ones that were for oilier skin made my pores look HUGE, which is also a common problem with minerals.  But don't despair, I've got some help for that as well -- it's called a facial primer.

 

With minerals, if you are like me and have to buy them online, I've found it's best to buy testers (the smallest sizes) before investing in a large one to make sure you love it.  It's better to spend $5 and hate it than gamble on a $12-20 size and return have to pay to return it.  And it just can't be said enough, be SURE to use buy a GOOD mineral if you have imperfect skin (otherwise you'll find it oxidizing early in the day -- looking streaky or separating) and use a good brush. I highly recommend Kabuki.

 

Now, onto facial primers.  You may wonder WHY you need one.  Well, if you can see your pores and they are dark, you need one.  Yeah, you really do.  Pictures don't lie.  Take a close-up of yourself and see how those pores look with your foundation on.  Yuk huh?  Time for a facial primer. 

Many of them also control the oil on your face, which is great because minerals tends to cause you to have a "dewy" look, which is great for a youthful look but notsomuch for those of us with oily/large pore skin.

 

Facial primers go on super fast and are clear.  They usually have a light reflector in them as well so when you take your "after" photo you will see a big difference in the clearness of your pores.  Some great ones to try are:

Smashbox photo finish foundation primer (probably the most popular)
Mary Kay Oil Mattifier (most affordable)

DHC Velvet Skin Coat (my all time favorite)

 

Primers go on under the foundation, or you can apply on top later in the day if it is also an oil-mattifier to help soak up more oil and give you a fresh look, which is great for summer time!  So, for those of us with less than perfect skin, we too can share in the all mineral rage!  ENJOY!

Comments

[Melissa]

I've been using Everyday Minerals for about a year and a half now! I love it - I recently got a GC to Sephora, and I was out of my foundation (but nothing else) and didn't want to just buy the foundation, so I got some Bare Escentuals. I can't tell a difference in the product, and that stuff was twice what I pay for EM!

Thanks for the tip on primer - I've been wondering what to do to minimize my pores, which have gotten HUGE in my old age. I have heard of folks using Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-gel, that it has the same ingredients/feel of the other stuff (for a fraction of the price), but I haven't remembered to check it out at the store.

[Shannon River]

Thank you so much for the heads up about what seems to be a great product - Everyday Minerals. I have never heard of them before. I can't wait to try them!!

[Michelle@Life with Three]

I started using a primer a few months ago and love it. It definitely makes a difference. Also, thanks for the heads up on the mica and bismuth allergy potential. I never even considered that.

[Chel]

Thanks for the tip. I'm trying the mineral make-up and haven't quite decided that I like it. Maybe adding the primer will help. I love, love, love the Smashbox primer & use it with my regular foundation already.