FAQ

Blemish not concealed.
Apply moisturizer and let it soak in. Wet a concealer brush with tap water and squeeze out excess moisture. Note: Do not dip your wet brush directly into any powder. Tap mineral powder out into a separate container or a lid. Apply with a wet brush Yellow or Green Color Corrector before your foundation. Then, with a wet brush, apply Light or Medium Concealer, or mixture of foundation and concealer using one of our concealer brushes. Lastly, apply mineral foundation as usual.
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Choosing the correct mineral makeup foundation shade.
Simply select the product that matches your undertone and shade. If unsure of your undertone, start with a neutral tone. Try a few sample sizes to start out. They will last several applications, depending on how much coverage you need. Mineral makeup is very forgiving - you do not need an exact match to your skin tone. However, if you feel that the tone is too pink or too yellow, or the shade is too dark or too light, you may mix two foundations together to achieve any shade you desire. This is very common for those who tan easily in the summer. It's very versatile! Note that the colors you see on the screen might not resemble the actual product since every computer displays colors differently. We encourage you to try sample sizes before committing to full-size products.
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Concealing redness from rosacea or sunburn.
Mix your mineral foundation with Green Color Corrector to tone down the redness.
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Face is itchy after applying mineral makeup.
Itching can occur several minutes after applying makeup, or you may only notice it when you're hot or sweating. Try using heavier moisturizer before applying makeup. You may have a sensitivity to zinc oxide. Sensitivity can even develop after several months of using products with zinc oxide. Discontinue use if you believe you may have developed sensitivities. If you are using natural-bristle brushes, switch to synthetic brushes, especially if you have animal allergies. Sulfur allergy could be another culprit. If you have known allergies to sulfa drugs, sulfites, etc., avoid products containing ultramarine blue as it contains sulfur. Another possibility is that your skin may have become over-sensitized from tiny fissures. This can occur if you use a stiffer brush to buff minerals onto your skin, or you're buffing minerals too firmly. Use any of our premium synthetic brushes or Flocked Sponge if not already, which are very soft and gentle on your skin, and use a softer sweeping motion instead of a buffing motion to apply minerals.
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How do I apply finishing powder?
After applying your mineral foundation, tap a small amount into the lid, swirl your favorite powder brush, tap off excess, and lightly dust it onto your face.
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How do I apply mineral blush?
Tap a small amount into the lid, swirl your favorite brush into it, and tap off excess. Gently glide it across your cheekbone toward your hairline. Use any leftover color in your brush and gently swipe it across your forehead, nose, and chin. You may apply your mineral blush before your finishing powder for a more diffused finish. If you are using one powder brush for both blush and finishing powder, make sure you remove all traces of color from your brush.
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How do I apply mineral foundation?

Clean and moisturize your face at least five minutes prior to applying foundation. This will help the powder go on smoothly instead of lying on top of fine lines, accentuating them. If your skin tends to be on the oily side, try applying a Finishing Powder with Kaolin Clay as a primer. This will help foundation adhere to the skin better.

Traditional method:

Apply concealer if necessary/desired. Tap a small amount of foundation into the lid or a container such as a glass or ceramic dish. Swirl your favorite brush in the powder using firm pressure, changing directions frequently to evenly distribute the powder onto the surface. Tap the handle against the lid to remove excess powder. If using a sponge, simply dip one of the corners into the powder. Sweep (no need to buff) the foundation using a downward motion, making sure to cover your hairline and under your chin to avoid any lines of demarcation. It is very important to keep the layers thin. Apply another layer if desired for additional coverage. You may use the foundation as a concealer by applying more foundation with one of our Concealer Brushes in desirable areas.

Wet application method:

Does applying loose powder foundation accentuate your fine lines and pores? Do you hate the mess the powder makes on your bathroom counter? For a more flawless coverage with less mess, try applying the foundation using the wet method. Again, it is very important to use a small amount of foundation and apply in thin layers. Tap a small amount of foundation into a separate container. Glass or ceramic works best. Spritz your favorite brush or flocked sponge with water (distilled is preferred) so that it is slightly moist, not dripping or soaking wet. Dip the brush or sponge into the powder and sweep onto your face using a downward motion. Gently spread across your face evenly. If you picked up too much powder, you might need to spritz more water onto the applicator to spread the powder. You can also pick up the powder onto a dry brush or sponge first, then spritz with water. Try applying the first layer wet, then the second layer dry. If you’re using a sponge, use one corner per side per day, and wash the sponge after 4 days. Because water harbors bacteria, it is important to wash your brushes frequently if using the wet application method.

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How do I clean my mineral makeup brushes?
It is very important to keep your mineral makeup brushes clean since they can harbor bacteria that can spread to your skin, causing breakouts. It is recommended to wash them every two weeks at a minimum, more if using the wet application method. For synthetic bristles, wet your brush and apply a small amount of mild soap and lather it between your fingers. Rinse thoroughly under running water. Repeat these steps until the water runs clear. Dry the brush by gently squeezing as much water out as possible using a towel. It will dry quicker if you use a very absorbent towel such as a microfiber towel found in the automotive or kitchen sections at department stores. Reshape the bristles and lay it out flat to dry overnight, or preferably, hang it bristle-side down. Do not store a wet brush with bristles pointing upwards as this will trap the water in the handle, causing damage to the brush. To wash natural bristle brushes, treat them like you would your own hair - wet your brush and use a small amount of mild shampoo, such as baby shampoo or body wash. You can apply a little bit of conditioner to soften up the bristles. Make sure to rinse thoroughly.
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I have dry skin; should I use mineral makeup?
Mineral makeup actually helps to remove excess oil and moisture from the skin preventing clogged pores and breakouts. If your skin is already dry, you should use a thin layer of a lightweight moisturizer at least thirty minutes before you apply your makeup to be sure your skin’s moisture layer is protected.
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I have sensitive skin. Can I use mineral makeup?
Mineral makeup is perfect for those with sensitive skin. The natural ingredients in the cosmetics are free of all chemical agents including dyes and fragrances which tend to cause outbreaks and irritation with sensitive skin. In fact, mineral makeup might help to soothe sensitive skin as many of the most common ingredients are known to have healing and rejuvenating properties.
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Is your mineral makeup hypoallergenic?
There are no federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term "hypoallergenic." Our mineral makeup is very gentle on the skin since it only uses naturally-occurring minerals, but check our ingredient list for possible allergens. Zinc oxide is one of the more common allergens, as well as the sulfur found in Ultramarine Blue.
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Mineral foundation looks too pink on my skin.
If using Cool foundation, use Neutral, or blend Cool and Neutral together. If using Neutral foundation, use Warm, or blend Neutral and Warm together. Alternatively, you can mix your foundation with our Green Color Corrector.
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Mineral foundation looks too yellow on my skin.
If using Warm foundation, use Neutral, or blend Warm, Neutral, and/or Rosy Beige together. If using Neutral foundation, use Cool, or blend Neutral, Cool, and/or Rosy Beige together
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Mineral makeup looks streaked, blotchy, or uneven.
Makeup is being over-applied, moisturizer is too greasy, moisturizer may contain alpha-hydroxy acids, or moisturizer is not completely penetrated before makeup is applied. Minimize the amount of foundation used, blend with a finishing powder, or experiment with different moisturizers. Moisturizers containing alpha-hydroxy acids will cause the minerals to drag on the skin.
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Mineral makeup looks too translucent.
Use more foundation or mix foundation with concealer for heavier coverage. When mixing foundation with concealer, you may need to choose a darker shade of either product as concealers are made to be a few shades lighter than your skintone.
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Pores appear larger or mineral powder is lying in the fine lines.
Mineral powder is being over-applied, the color is too dark, or an incorrect brush is being used. Over-application is the most common mistake that mineral cosmetics users make. Use less powder and apply in THIN layers. Also, custom-blend two colors together, use a lighter shade, or utilize a different brush (see our line of mineral makeup brushes to determine the ideal pairing of brush types to power). Try the "wet application" method, making sure to use less mineral powder and applying in THIN layers.
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Skin looks chalky, cakey, mask-like, or feels too heavy.
Mineral foundation, finishing powder, or concealer is being over-applied, color is too light, or an incorrect brush is being used. Over-application is the most common mistake that mineral cosmetics users make. Use less powder and apply in THIN layers. Also, custom-blend two colors together, use a darker color, or utilize a different brush (see our line of mineral makeup brushes to determine the ideal pairing of brush types to mineral power).
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Skin looks dry.
Let your moisturizer soak in for at least five minutes prior to mineral makeup application. Use a heavier moisturizer or blend your moisturizer and minerals together, creating a liquid foundation. Some mineral cosmetics do not dissolve well in some moisturizers. Experiment using different moisturizers.
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Skin looks shiny or oily.
Moisturizer is too heavy, or skin tends to be on the oily side. Use an oil-free moisturizer or apply Semi-Matte, Matte, or Ulti-Matte finishing powder under and over the foundation. For oily skin, do not use any products containing drying alcohols or harsh soaps as they will strip your skin's natural moisturizer, and your skin will overprduce oil to compensate for the loss. Using oil such as our Anti-Aging Serum on your skin will actually help produce less oil. Once you start applying moisturizers containing oil, it will probably take a month of transition time until your skin stops producing less oil.
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What is mineral makeup and how is it different from "traditional" makeup?
Mineral makeup is mostly made of crushed-up, natural minerals. Some mineral makeup lines contain preservatives, irritants, and harsh minerals, but our line of cosmetics does not contain these ingredients. "Traditional" makeup contains chemicals, fillers, preservatives, waxes, oils, and fragrance to prolong shelf life and to maximize profit, but at the detriment of your skin's health.
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What's the shelf life of mineral makeup?
All of our mineral ingredients are inorganic and contain no moisture, so bacteria cannot form on them. Essentially, mineral makeup will last forever. However, it is possible for organic matter to transfer into the minerals if the brush that came into contact with your face touches the powder. Always pour makeup into a lid or a washable container and wash your brushes frequently. As a rule of thumb, replace your makeup once a year.
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Why doesn't your mineral cosmetic say it contains SPF?
To market our products as containing SPF, the FDA requires that we handle them as drugs as well as cosmetics. Since we're not in the business of selling drugs, we chose not to include the SPF labeling on our products.
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Why is the color slightly different when I reordered the same shade mineral makeup?
Even though we use the same exact formula each time, the use of naturally-occurring minerals and our custom-blending process means that slight color variations are possible. However, there should never be a major difference.
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Why should I switch to mineral makeup?
Mineral makeup is perfect for all skin types and has tremendous benefits over traditional synthetic makeup products. Mineral makeup can help to soothe your skin while promoting better skin condition and health overall. In addition, the clean, smooth coverage will make your face radiant and your natural, healthy glow will shine through without chemicals or heavy fillers blocking the way.
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