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Are mineral beauty products really worth it?

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1. My kind of mineral foundation: Vani-T have combined the benefits of crushed rocks with a clever, easy-to-use liquid spray. Krush Mineral Flawless Finish Airbrush Foundation with SPF 8 is €46.50, at Arnotts.

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By Kirstie McDermott
Wednesday Jun 3 2009

Let me confess: I hate mineral make-up. Or, to be more specific, I really, really dislike mineral powder foundation.

When the craze for crushed rocks, ores and semi-precious gemstones took off a few years ago, I read so many hyperbole-filled blog posts and magazine articles about this stuff that it seemed to be nothing less than the second coming of Christ. "Wear it to bed!" trumpeted one brand, with another screaming, "it's so pure you can use it right after a chemical peel!"

The reality, however, was a little different . . .

Mineral foundations are the emperor's new clothes of cosmetics: messy, confusing, hard to use and prone to spills, there is a big learning curve, and they're rarely portable -- so no touch-ups on the go.

Plus, unlike fluid foundation which you can happily slap on with the tools nature gave you -- your paws -- you do need to buy proper brushes to get the best finish, so the cost can start to rack up.

While oily gals like minerals because of their sticking-power and shine-absorption properties, this sort of foundation rarely looks good on anyone with a mature or dry skin type. Well, unless you like clunky-looking coverage that settles into -- and accentuates -- every fine line and open pore, that is.

Those hassles were certainly the case with the niche brands that spearheaded the trend such as Bare Escentuals, but as the market widened and beauty corporations such as L'Oréal began to get on board with minerals, the possibilities suddenly became a lot more interesting: new product types, enriched formulas, better colours, textures and wearability are now the order of the day.

Okay, so they may not be the 'pure' formulation trumpeted by mineral evangelists, but they're a damn sight easier to wear.

So, while I'll happily admit to being impressed with Prescriptives' All Skins Mineral Make-up, in general, I'm still not a big fan of powder foundation.Where these products really shine is in eye, cheek and lip products -- oh, and these days, you'll even find minerals in skin and haircare, too.

Mineral pros

Because a lot of mineral products come in a loose powder form, they're versatile: add some loose coppery shimmer to body oil for a bronzed glow, or mix some pink blush into clear gloss for a rosy pout.

They contain a naturally-occurring physical SPF, so if you're allergic to chemical sunscreen, these fellas will work well for you.

In general, a little goes a long way with minerals, meaning you'll get a lot of use out of your products.

Mineral cons

Pure, unadulterated mineral powders tend to suffer from a lack of shades -- after all, the only colours available are those found in rocks and gemstones, so you don't tend to get fashion-forward brights too often.

The mess factor can't be overlooked. Spill some of this stuff down your dress before you head out and you'll be changing, quick-sharp.

Coverage can often look clumsy and caked, because unless you're a real whizz with your brushes, mineral powder foundation can be hard to blend.

- Kirstie McDermott