Better for your skin

 

It's not what's in the mineral makeup that makes it skin-friendly----it's what's not in it. Unlike typical cosmetics, mineral makeup (which runs the gamut from loose powder to lipstick) doesn't contain common skin irritants such as artificial fragrances, colors, and preservatives. Good news for sensitive types and those with rosacea and acne! So what is in the makeup? A combination of zinc oxide, the calming agent in most diaper rash creams; titanium dioxide, a natural sunblock; iron oxides; and inorganic pigments (for color). The minerals themselves are too large to penetrate the skin, so their role is to protect and improve the skin's surface. (Plus, they won't clog pores.) But other (nonirritating) ingredients now found in most mineral formulas--including antioxidants, vitamins, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory ingredients--can get below the surface to repair skin from within. If you're going mineral for the first time, start with just a few products and see how your skin responds.

--Doris J. Day, M.D., is a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Medical School and the consulting dermatologist for Good Skin.