Celebrity Makeup News and Blogs:
February is link love month! We’re taking questions from other bloggers and encouraging you to check out their blogs. Today’s question is from Mary at Pure Healthy Makeup. Stop by and say hello!
Mary asks: Is is possible to make pressed makeup without using any synthetics?
The Right Brain responds:
Rather than re-opened the debate on natural vs synthetic, I’ll try to address your question as it applies specifically to powdered makeup.
Loose powder needs fewer ingredients
One can certainly make the case that certain brands of so-called mineral makeup are among the most “natural” of cosmetic products. For example, Mineral Hygenics only contains a few powders which are all derived from crushed rocks (more or less.) This kind of product is relatively easy to formulate using only mineral (ie “natural”) ingredients because it’s just a simple blend of powders.
Pressed powder is more complex
Pressed powders, on the other hand, are much more complex. In order for the powders to stay compressed they need some kind of binding oil. And for those oils to mix with the powders they may require a surfactant to lower the surface tension. And the pressed powders have to spread easily across your skin so they may require emollients to provide slip. And these surfactants and binders and emollients may require antioxidants to prevent rancidity. And, since pressed powders have a surface that comes in contact with fingers and makeup brushes, they are more likely to require preservatives than loose powders. And…well you get the idea.
The more ingredients that a formula requires, the more difficult it becomes to source ingredients that everyone will agree are “natural.” And although natural alternatives may be available, they may not work as well as the nasty old “synthetic” chemicals. This is particluarly true of preservatives and of many surfactants.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
It’s not impossible to formulate a pressed powder without ”synthetics” but the requirements of the formula make it much more difficult.
Image credit: Beautyiswithin.
Do YOU know of a pressed powder that made of only natural ingredients? Leave a comment and share your natural knowledge with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
If it’s heavier eye makeup, I typically use a cleansing oil (which one simply depends on what I have on hand or what I’m testing, but my default is shu uemura’s). If it’s a lot of long-wearing eye makeup, I will also use a separate eye makeup remover after I’ve done my face with a product like Lancome Bi-Facil. For lighter makeup, a lot of cleansers breakdown the majority of the product, and then I’ll use a toner afterward to ensure the rest is off (as well as around the edges of my face).
