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.

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Photo by Vincent Lappartient

Chanel 2012 Spring-Summer Haute Couture Show Makeup by Peter Philips

Peter Philips, Creative Director of CHANEL Makeup used the following CHANEL products to create the runway beauty looks:

Complexion

• Skin prepared with HYDRA BEAUTY SERUM Hydration Protection Radiance (available April 2012)
• PERFECTION LUMIERE Long Wear Flawless Fluid Makeup SPF 10
• ECLAT LUMIERE Highlighting Face Pen
• CORRECTEUR PERFECTION Long Lasting Concealer
• POUDRE UNIVERSELLE LIBRE Natural Finish Loose Powder

Eyes

• ILLUSION D’OMBRE Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Apparition and Destination (available July 2012)
• LE CRAYON YEUX Precision Eye Pencil in Bleu Aérien (available July 2012)
• STYLO YEUX WATERPROOF Long Lasting Eyeliner in Marine
• LE CRAYON KHOL Intense Eye Pencil in Marine
• CRAYON SOURCILS Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil
• INIMITABLE WATERPROOF Mascara in Black
• RECOURBE CILS DE CHANEL Precision Eyelash Curler

Cheeks

• JOUES CONTRASTE Powder Blush in Rose Ecrin
• ROUGE COCO BAUME Hydrating Conditioning Lip Balm
• LE CRAYON LEVRES Precision Lip Pencil in Natural
• ROUGE COCO Hydrating Crème Lip Colour in Superstition

Nails

• LE VERNIS Nail Colour in Sky Line (available July 2012)

The Exclusive Collection BLEU ILLUSION will be available at specific points of sales in July 2012.

See more photos! 

Photo by Vincent Lappartient

Photo by Vincent Lappartient

Photo by Vincent Lappartient

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Welcome to Fab Over Forty: Rae Cosmetics – A Melt-Free Makeup

Whether exercising indoors or outdoors, if you are a makeup wearer while you exercise you run the risk of it melting off your face.  That’s where Rae Cosmetics comes in.  Rae is long lasting mineral cosmetics that are perspiration and heat resistant to prevent makeup from melting off your face.  Created by makeup artist Rochelle [...]

Thanks for reading Fab Over Forty. Please feel free to contact me. You’ll find my information on the “About” page on Fab Over Forty. Fab Over Forty

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What is your makeup removal routine? What do you remove first? What products do you use?

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).

Thanks to Julie for today’s question! Got a question idea? Submit yours here.

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Nothing beats a chic updo with a red lip on the red carpet. See how you can recreate Dianna Agron‘s look at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards! Makeup Makeup artist Monika Blunder was inspired by the spring 2012 fashion shows where the makeup was fresh but still very glamorous. Since Dianna’s red Giles dress [...]

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