More and more mineral products are coming into the market. Many people buy them, feeling that they are natural and gentler on the skin. But what does mineral really mean ?
We often think of "mineral" as opposed to "chemical". Minerals are good and natural, chemicals are bad and artificial.
We need to throw this concept out of the window.
According to Wikipedia:
A
chemical substance is a material with a definite chemical composition. A common example is water.
A
mineral is a naturally occurring substance (...) formed through geological processes.
So you see that every chemical in not artificial, neither is every mineral good for our skin.
When it comes to skin care, not all minerals are equal. Be smart, read the label and do a bit of research before you apply that on your skin.
'It is interesting to note that any cosmetics company can claim that its products are mineral-based. This is because the cosmetics industry is self-regulated. It is not dependent upon an outside party to test and prove, or disprove, its theories. A product can contain just a trace amount of mineral ingredients and still be called a "mineral cosmetic." '
source.
Mineral oil:
This ingredient is used not only in cosmetic but also in baby products. While it sounds natural and safe, it is in fact quite harmful.
Wikipedia: Mineral oil or liquid petrolatum is a byproduct in the distillation of
petroleum to produce gasoline.So it is in fact a synthetic substance, there is nothing organic about it. It contains substances that cause cancer. It is not absorbed by the skin, it leaves a film on it which clogs the pores. It may irritate the skin and cause breakouts.
"Petroleum, paraffin, paraffin oil and propylene glycol are all derivatives of mineral oil and have similar effects on your skin. Propylene glycol, in particular, has been known to inhibit cell growth and has been linked to kidney damage and liver abnormalities." from
hereMore info
Replace it with: plant-derived oils, such as almond oil, wheat germ oil or olive oil.
Vaseline:
This is the trademark of petroleum jelly. However, petroleum jelly (vaseline) is very often contaminated by petrolatum, a suspected carcinogen that is banned in Europe. More details
here.
Replace it with: shea butter. It's wonderfully moisturising, and contains vitamins A and E.
Talc /Talcum powder:
This carcinogenic is used in powders, decorative cosmetics, baby products; but it may be present in many home and garden products. Talc is similar to asbestos, and it too has been found to cause cancer. It also causes respiratory diseases.
More info
here and
here.
Replace it with: cornflour/cornstarch or potato starch. Many products from natural companies such as Dr. Hauschka use cornstarch in their face powder.
More stuff:
I've only touched upon the tip of the iceberg. For more information on ingredients in mineral makeup that are harmful, try these sources:
Mineral makeup is causing my face to itch: A compilation of mineral ingredients in cosmetics that might cause irritation.
Mineral Cosmetics: Healthy or Hazardous?
Allergy to Mineral MakeupPhoto: Released to Public: The Mineral Moon (NASA/JPL)
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