Mineral Makeup ApplicationUpdated 3 months ago

How to get the most out of your Mineral Makeup

We get very few complaints about our makeup, but here are the problems we sometimes hear and what we suggest to solve them. Usually, it requires just a simple adjustment. Most women are used to a liquid foundation that they have to apply in copious amounts to get any coverage. The switch to a powder that is applied in small amounts and gives instant coverage may take some suspension of disbelief as well as some practice. We always recommend that the tools that were designed for these powders be used. This isn't just to sell products – the results are visibly better.

Too Much Shine

Layering too thickly and pressing into the skin with a sponge tends to separate the individual minerals. This pulls the mineral that creates the glow to the surface. It is easy to avoid this by applying the minerals in thin layers in downward strokes with the brush. Keep adding layers until the desired coverage has been reached. It may also help to spritz with our D2O, Balance or POMMISST and then blot. Try applying PureMatte on top. For very oily skin with large pores, apply Absence underneath powders, especially in the large-pore area. Apply minerals on top and touch up with PureMatte throughout the day.

Accentuates Pores or Fine Lines

Try using the pressed powders, not the loose ones. Spritz with D2O, Balance or Pommisst and blot, or mix the loose powders into a moisturiser and make a cream foundation. Apply it with fingers or a sponge. If the powders appear to accentuate lines under the eyes, dampen a cotton pad with D2O or Balance and gently press it on the problem area, or dab on a small amount of moisturiser.

Uneven and Blotchy 

This is usually because the minerals have been applied before the moisturizer has been absorbed or because the moisturiser only lays on the skin's surface. The simple solution is to wait a minute for the moisturizer to disappear or to blot any excess. D2O, Balance or Pommisst are good substitute moisturizers for oily skin.

Also, some unevenness can be attributed to sponge applicators that do not “move” on the skin. This is why we recommend our Flocked Sponge if a sponge is used. It’s the only sponge we’ve found that blends the powders and does not drag. The sponge in the pressed compacts is only meant for touchups.

Wrong Colour

This was probably chosen in poor lighting. The best way to test for the right colour is to do it on the jawline in daylight. The colour should disappear if it blends perfectly with the skin. An easy way to begin is to test Natural and Amber. They have the same value, but Natural has a pink undertone and Amber a yellow one. You can see quickly whether to try a lighter or darker base and which undertone best complements the skin. It is easy to adjust a loose base colour by mixing in an opposite. For example, choose a darker shade with the same undertone if the colour is too light. If the base is too yellow, choose a pink base as the mixer. Try a small amount in a dish first to get the right proportions. To mix the powders well, use a clean kitchen whip. This will combine the colours in seconds.

Take the Foundation Quiz today to find the right shade for you.