Yes, Mary Kay‘s one of the makeup companies that joined the mineral makeup bandwagon! Oops, that reminded me, Crissy aka Turquoise sent me a book about her business success story – I should read it after I finish Golden Compass!

Let’s check , we have L’Oreal, Neutrogena, Physician’s Formula, Laura Mercier, Mac Cosmetics, ELF – do we have some more? let’s have a list , shall we? Please do leave a comment if you know a brand that has joined the mineral makeup bandwagon!

I’m curious about Mary Kay’s new mineral makeup line. They have really really good undereye concealers, and I am wondering how the mineral foundation would fare. A little bit of snooping led me to this cute beauty blog, with her review of Mary Kay’s Mineral Foundation.

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36 Responses to 'Mineral Makeup News : Mary Kay Joins In!'

1. Sue - December 28th, 2007 at 12:58 pm

   the golden compass – excellent, excellent book. i hope you read the others too!

2. Naijomii - December 29th, 2007 at 12:31 am

   Avon has had it out for several months now as well.

3. Random News… « BeautyBlitz - December 29th, 2007 at 11:41 am

   [...] Mary Kay has entered the mineral-makeup fray, so check it out if you’re a Mary Kay fan. Source: The Mineral Makeup Blog [...]

4. Ticia - December 30th, 2007 at 8:27 am

   I had been using Sheer Cover mineral make-up and liked it, but didn’t like that you have to buy the whole kit every time that you needed more, plus it only lasted about 3 weeks. I am now using Merle Norman mineral make-up and love it. I have oily skin and so far the Merle Norman is working much better. You also get a lot more for your money. It comes in a large jar for $25.00.

5. NewToMineral - January 6th, 2008 at 10:43 am

   just wondering about mineral ingredients…
   why does Mary Kay has as its first ingredient TALC when other companies promote their products as TALC-FREE?
   What’s up with talc?

6. Amanda - January 9th, 2008 at 11:04 pm

   I just started using my MK mineral foundation – I love how quick and easy it is to apply. I am anxious to get a hold of some mineral eye shadows and see if their application is similar. Great blog!

7. Jane - January 10th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

   M.A.C. is also coming out with a few products by the summer. L’Oreal, just their foundation here in the Philippines, for now. Nice blog

8. Jane - January 10th, 2008 at 3:54 pm

   Oops, sorry, you already posted M.A.C. hehe I do hope L’Oreal will bring in their other products here, too!

9. KYredhead - January 19th, 2008 at 5:03 am

   This is from the Cosmetic, Toiletry, & Fragrance Association’s website:
   “Talc absorbs moisture and oil, helping skin feel soft, fresh, cool and dry. It also reduces friction and chafing that can irritate skin. In color cosmetics, Talc is used to help control shine and absorb oil. Talc occurs naturally as mineral deposits and is valued for its softness.”

   When I called BareMinerals’ 888 number and asked why they don’t use talc, the man on the phone said that the difference between a liquid foundation and a powder foundation is talc (which is in powder only). He added that BareMinerals doesn’t use talc because even though many people think of BareMinerals as a powder, they don’t want to be considered a powder foundation.

10. Laura - February 4th, 2008 at 12:37 am

    I saw some questions about TALC here… My mother just informed me about a website (http://www.safecosmetics.org/) that focuses on informing people about companies that use what I would refer to as dangerous ingredients in their make-up. A representative from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics that my mother met while on vacation indicated that TALC has properties similar to aesbestos. SCARY…right???? This is why they no longer use talc in baby powders – it can enter your body and has been linked to endometriosis.

11. Rachel - February 8th, 2008 at 6:31 am

    In response to the previous post,I am a Mary Kay Consultant and I have contacted our Corp Headquarters and they have told me that one our products do not go below the first layer of the skin, so none of mineral make up will get into your blood stream and cause any damage. Secondly, all of our products go through strick FDA testing and private testing as well. We would never put anything in our products that would hurt people. Come on we are Mary Kay! We have been in the cosemetic business for over 40 years now.

    I will list the information below as to why according to Mary Kay Medical Relations Department, why we use Talc (which is a mineral by the way) in our foundation.
    It is used for 4 Different Functions:

    1.) Enhances Application and Texture- gives that silky soft feel
    2.) Anti-Caking keeps Loose Powders free flowing and Press Powders retain good application
    3.) Oil Absorbing – helps control oil
    4.) Increasing coverage and reduces transparency of colors

    I think it’s only fair that you get all the information straight, before you start bashing the product. MK mineral makeup wouldn’t be on the market if it wasn’t safe.

    ~Think Pink,
    Rachel

12. Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little - February 22nd, 2008 at 5:55 pm

    “We would never put anything in our products that would hurt people. Come on we are Mary Kay!”

    I’m sorry, but since when is “Mary Kay” a synonym for “We promise not to hurt you”? Maybe it is in your vocabulary, Rachel, but then you’re hardly unbiased, are you?

    I can’t speak to the topic of Mary Kay’s mineral make-up, since I don’t typically wear make-up. Sorry. But I’m not unfamiliar with the brand. I was recently given some Mary Kay lip balm as a gift. It contains petroleum. Petroleum. I’m aware that fossil-fuel-based lip balms is an industry standard among the big bad big-box and department store brands, but it’s not exactly edible, is it? And it tastes foul.

    Talc may have an undeserved reputation based on study findings that are far from conclusive, sure (see the American Cancer Society’s article on the subject). But that has nothing to do with whether I’d trust a Mary Kay product over one from a company truly committed to natural, safe, non-toxic ingredients. I mean, petroleum. Ew. Give me Burt’s Bees lip balm any day.

13. Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little - February 22nd, 2008 at 8:15 pm

    Hello again. Did a bit more research here.

    My low opinion of Mary Kay products was not raised by a visit to their web site (see link in original post). I couldn’t find an ingredients list no matter where I looked! Why not? Why don’t Mary Kay want, or think it important, for customers to know what’s in the make-up before they buy it?

    I found an ingredient list at a review at Mineral-Makeup-Reviews.com. The top two ingredients are talc and cornstarch. (Cornstarch? In mineral make-up? Why?) There’s preservatives in there, specifically parabens–that’ll put you right at the top of most mineral make-up aficionadas’ sh!tlists ’cause there’s a tentative link to cancer there. It may be no more certain than talc’s link to ovarian cancer, but including it shows a real lack of understanding of mineral make-up customers’ concerns. Also? No titaniam dioxide or zinc oxide. Which are the main ingredients of almost every reputable mineral make-up. Because they, unlike cornstarch and parabens and copolymers and sorbic acid, are minerals.

    I think Mary Kay fail to understand that mineral make-up is more than just swapping out your FD&C dyes for iron oxide and mica. The whole point is to remove everything that isn’t A) pigment and B) inert filler to carry the pigment. Inert/inorganic ingredients (i.e. minerals) mean less stuff that can react with and thus irritate the skin. They also mean no need for preservatives, which again results in a shorter ingredients list. Adding cornstarch to make your foundation feel “silkier” going on, and then adding parabens and sorbic acid to keep the cornstarch from sprouting bacteria rather misses the point.

    MK gets a quarter of a gold star for not using bismuth oxychloride, though. Well done ma’am.

14. Talc or not - March 2nd, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    For those wanting an ingredient list for any of Mary Kay’s products you can’t get those from the website that she probably visited. This website is basically a redirect to a personal consultant so you can purchase product not a place where you can go to obtain information about the company’s product ingredients. When you obtain that consultants information you need to ask them for a product ingredient list. Each consultant is trained to willingly provide that product ingredient list to their clients or anyone who asks. Did you ask for a product ingredient list?
    Talc is a natural occurring mineral! It is not asbestos unless you know something more than I do!

15. Sandi - March 4th, 2008 at 1:22 am

    I think the issue with Talc being similar to asbestos, is that you inhale it and it gets into your lungs. Asbestos was mainly an inhaling issue, and with it not being detectable for the average human we didn’t know what harm it does until later.

    In makeup…I dunno. It should be in such small amounts that it doesn’t matter, and you can always hold your breath when you apply it I suppose.

    Titaniam dioxide or zinc oxide I think are the minerals that make the foundation have an SPF rating. They are sunscreens. I am not sure which ingredients in Mary Kay are UV blocking.

16. MaryAnn - March 5th, 2008 at 12:38 pm

    Does anyone have any information regarding the recent lipstick scare? Does Mary Kay lipstick contain any lead? I cannot find ingredients listed for their lipstick. This report on lead in leading brand lipsticks was on television news.

17. Jamie Smithson - March 6th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    I agree with Nicole that talc or cornstarch is not a good ingredient if you want a good mineral make up because it always leaves the skin thigh and with wrinkles. I recently got a mineral make up from sister in law and it is wonderful the brand is Azure and it is 100% natural. It is hard to find because it is only sold in exclusives derma-spas but if you girls want something really good. You should give it a try!

18. Sandi - March 12th, 2008 at 12:59 am

    MarAnn, here is an excerpt from their FAQ site: http://www.marykay.com/whatsnew/justthefaqs/default.aspx

    “Do Mary Kay lipsticks contain lead?”
    Mary Kay does not use lead or lead-based ingredients in its lipstick or in any of its other skin care or color cosmetics. Because lead occurs naturally throughout the environment, however, there are trace amounts of it in most consumer products, including most lipsticks and other cosmetics. According to the American Council on Science and Health, potential trace amounts of lead occurring naturally in cosmetics are not harmful to the consumers who use those products.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have set daily safe levels of exposure for adults, children and pregnant women. Any naturally occurring trace amounts of lead in Mary Kay® products are well within the limits established by the FDA and EPA.

    Ingredients that Mary Kay uses in its lipstick meet all requirements for cosmetic ingredients. Further, Mary Kay performs thorough, ongoing reviews of its products and ingredients and works closely with its suppliers to ensure the safety of all product ingredients. Mary Kay has been a recognized leader in product and ingredient safety for many years and stands behind the quality and safety of our entire product line. Mary Kay® products are safe, and you can continue to use them with complete confidence.

19. Lori - March 13th, 2008 at 9:23 am

    I just received my Mary Kay Mineral Make up – and it contains TALC – I feel cheated. Naturally you can not email them – and I don’t want to hear the junk talk from the “independent” that is anxious to make a sale -very disappointed that the MK company talks about the millions they do in research then puts talc in their product. Never buy or trust this company again.

20. Red - March 20th, 2008 at 1:44 pm

    A Special Report
    by Paula Begoun and Bryan Barron

    It Isn’t All Natural

    More than any other makeup product, mineral makeup’s
    claims revolve around what it doesn’t contain. Those selling mineral makeup warn how other companies’ loose or pressed powders are tainted by the presence of talc (even though it’s a natural earth mineral), fragrance, fillers, and “harsh chemical dyes.” According to most every catalog and website selling mineral makeup I’ve seen, they all want you to believe theirs is the ideal product containing only the good and none of the“bad,” while simultaneously being the perfect choice for every skin type and skin care problem or concern. Of course, the appeal of these products being all”natural”
    and therefore organic and healthy for skin is hard for the consumer to ignore.
    As is true of most cosmetic advertising there is some truth amid lots of overblown hyperbole. Mineral makeup can be an option as a foundation or a powder over more typical liquid foundation. But looking at the facts instead of the hype, there is very little reality amid the exaggerations, misleading information, and of late, what can only be called intentional fabrications.
    Here is what you need to know: Of the more popular mineral makeup lines—such as Youngblood, Bare Escentuals, and Jane Iredale—whether in pressed or loose powder form, mineral makeups tend to contain the same basic ingredients, which are bismuth oxychloride, mica, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. Depending on the company you may see the addition of minor ingredients (such as boron nitride), which
    contribute to the product’s texture or application. Some companies include antioxidants but these extras make up a tiny amount of the product and can’t remain stable in the packaging or even suspended very well in a powder, meaning they are added for clever marketing claims because they can’t help your skin in this format.
    Before we go any further, it is best to eliminate the most erroneous of the claims being made about mineral makeups. You may have heard something akin to this information I found in an online beauty article: “many people have turned to using makeup if it contains pure minerals. These [mineral]makeups differ from others in that they are made up entirely of minerals, and have no chemicals or preservatives.” I know many women believe this, but there isn’t one word of truth in
    that comment. It is troubling that marketing, rumor, and bad reporting can alter fact. First, any ingredient in a cosmetic, by definition, is a chemical. Even water is a chemical in a cosmetic
    formulation. Chemical should not be a scary word!
    Definitions aside, from an ingredient standpoint, there is nothing all natural about the ingredients in mineral makeup. For example, the standard primary ingredient in most mineral makeups is bismuth oxychloride, which is not found in nature and isn’t better for skin than talc. In fact, in many ways talc is a far more natural, unadulterated, pure ingredient than bismuth oxychloride. Bismuth oxychloride is manufactured by combining bismuth, a by-product of lead and copper metal refining (dregs of smelting if you will) mixed with chloride {a compound from chlorine), and water. Its use in cosmetics is due to its distinct shimmery, pearlescent appearance and its fine white powder texture that adheres well to skin.
    On the downside, bismuth oxychloride is heavier than talc and can look cakey on skin. For some people, the bismuth and chloride combination can be irritating. All the claims revolving around how mineral makeups are better for skin are marketing hype to the max. But I’ll explain more about this a bit further on.

    You shall have to Google the authors for the rest of this article. It is interesting. We don’t need to be hostile about what each person chooses to put on their face. I have heard bad things about ALL the other companies on the market. Mary Kay isn’t the number one best selling brand in America because it isn’t good. Our customer rentention is some of the hihghest in the industry. If something works for you, use it. If you have control issues, find what you need to be content. Sensitive skin? Look for your best option. It won’t always be Mary Kay. We have choices in America. Life is good. Not everyone is going to like the same thing. Vive la difference. Not too Frenchy, am I?

21. eversleigh - March 21st, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    I, too, felt cheated when I saw the ingrediants. Just returned my mineral makeup and brush and exchanged it for something else. Bare minerals is the best and worth every penny! MK does not even compare when it comes to coverage and the actual feel of the makeup.

22. Barbara - April 14th, 2008 at 12:22 pm

    I am a consultant for Mary Kay and am very upset that the 1st 2 ingredients are talc and cornstarch. I don’t want to sell it, have tried it and don’t like it, and do think it’s a cheap ripoff! I like minerals because thay are more healthy, but am uncomfortable about breathing in talc. I think Mary Kay is going to have a problem. Also, I was not able to find the ingredients before purchasing full sized products.

23. Sabine Wieland - April 20th, 2008 at 9:44 pm

    I am a Mary Kay consultant since three years and I used to love their products – at the time – but for some reason they are always behind! Colorwise, innovationwise, ingredientwise. It is hard to sell your old fashioned products in a market that is so fast moving. I started ordering again when they offered the Mineral foundation. Wanted to see how they compare. Well, I actually like it better than Bare Escentuals because it does not look as caky and “made up” , it looks more natural and actually feels like you wear nothing on your skin. Holds on very well for a whole day. The only negative, compared to Bare Escentuals, is, that if you actually sleep in it, your skin looks horrible in the morning. With Bare Escentuals you actually look good in the morning. This shoud however still not be an option, you should wash your face at night. Ingredientwise I agree with Red, just be aware that all the companies want to sell their product and they all cheat, just wear what feels good for you! Nothing is all natural, all the ingredients are very refined for use in cosmetic products, which is attained by chemical processes.

24. mac makeup - April 28th, 2008 at 1:21 am

    More like which brands haven’t joined the mineral makeup bandwagon. What am I missing? I just haven’t been wowed yet by mineral makeup.

25. Sammi Smith - April 28th, 2008 at 10:15 pm

    Although I do agree with most of the saying above about makeup in general, but, I do have my own argument about Talc in this makeup. Above, Rachel states: Talc Enhances Application and Texture- gives that silky soft feel, Anti-Caking keeps Loose Powders free flowing and Press Powders retain good application, Oil Absorbing – helps control oil, and increases coverage and reduces transparency of colors. But, according to this website: http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/cosmetics/talc.htm – talc causes cancer. It is closely related to the potent carcinogen asbestos. Talc particles have been shown to cause tumors in the ovaries and lungs of cancer victims. Talc particles are able to move through the reproductive system and become imbedded in the lining of the ovary.

26. De - May 4th, 2008 at 4:50 am

    I just got done attending a mary kay party. I asked some questions about the mineral foundation and the consultant could answer none of them. That is why I came on here to check some things out. Glad I did.Sure it does not contain bismuth, but the talc and cornstarch are enough to make me run for the hills. My skin despises both.

    Thanks for the heads up ladies.

27. Mary - May 13th, 2008 at 9:05 am

    I wouldn’t use anything BUT Bare Essentials Mineral Make-up. I’ve tried the others, even Color Science which is 3X the amount of $$ as Bare Escentials and none of them work as well. Talc is used as a filler and the face does in fact start to look cakey. With Base Escentials you just get a dewy fresh look.

28. Donna - May 25th, 2008 at 2:27 am

    Bare Essentials???????Looks great but is not for the person with sensitive skin, acne or rosacea. It is a skin irritant. Also, it will make you itch when you sweat. I also hear their mineral veil and some of their other products contain PARABENS!!!!Is this true? http://www.safecosmetics.org

29. MKMon - June 2nd, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    Talc/Cancer clarification:

    Talc used by women in the genital areas MAY be linked to ovarian cancer, and talc miners who inhale large amounts of crushed talc rocks all day every day MAY have a higher risk for talc-related lung cancer. There is also a risk if babies inhale large quantities of baby powder that contains talc.

    To sum it up- don’t INGEST talc, and you’ll be fine. Talc used on top of the skin won’t absorb, and you won’t breathe enough in to do more damage than a coughing fit if you inhale a puff of it.

    To make you feel even more safe, here are some excerpts from http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org:

    1. Cosmetic-grade talc does not contain asbestos, which is confirmed by X-ray diffraction, and optical and electron microscopy. In addition, the producers of cosmetic-grade talc have established purity specifications to ensure that it does not contain residue levels of asbestos.

    2. To help prevent inhalation by consumers, talc used in loose powder products in the United States is milled to a relatively large, non-respirable particle size (>5 µm).

    If you change your mind about trying Mary Kay minerals, visit http://www.marykay.com/monicajackson. Enjoy!

30. Sammi Smith - June 21st, 2008 at 7:37 am

    Talc might be safe on the face, but if anything can lead to any kind of cancer, i would not use it. I don’t care if there are facts on how it won’t affect my face, it still causes cancer elsewhere. so no thanks to that

31. kim - August 7th, 2008 at 4:02 am

    Bismuth burns the face, plain and simple. About Talc, don’t know, but who here can say they do NOTHING to risk cancer……don’t drink, don’t eat, heck, don’t even breath………..don’t guess anyone can say that……the risk and polutants are all around, the least of which is your make-up…….

32. ruth - September 12th, 2008 at 5:05 am

    Talc is not asbestos!! For clarification, please go to this website…http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/996/is-talcum-powder-asbestos.

    Talc can sometimes be contaminated with asbestos, which is where the problem comes in. You just have to find products that have asbestos-free talc!

33. KT - September 20th, 2008 at 12:52 am

    I was undecided about getting some MK eye shadows but, after reading your posts, I have made up my mine not to buy them. As far as which mineral makeup is best, I am sure it’s just a matter of personal preference. I have tried several, including the popular BE, Youngblood, Prescriptives. However, I have found now what works for me. Jane Iredale. I no longer have breakouts and it’s so light on me, I don’t even remember I have make up on. It does not contain, talc, parabens, or bismuth. I don’t turn orange by midday and my pores actually reduced in size since I started using it over a year ago. It is not the cheapest but it is all worth it, and it lasts a long time. They have both loose and pressed powder. I prefer the latter as it is mess-free and fast to apply in the mornings. If you are torn and would like to try it, I heavily encourage you to do so.

34. Kathy - November 13th, 2008 at 2:35 am

    I just bought MK mineral foundation…my very first mineral product and what makes it different from just plain ordinary loose powder then, with the talc? Before there was “cornstarch” powders there were tinted powders, just like liquid foundation. The zinc and mica are supposed to reflect the light somehow so the flaws are less noticeable. Without that what’s the difference? I for one am very dissappointed and will try another product.

35. Mesothelioma-Asbestos-Cure - December 4th, 2008 at 9:20 am

    I unfortunately have acne prone skin…and started using Bare Minerals makeup instead of the old fashion foundations in the market. Conclusion, the mineral makeup from Bare Essentual has done it’s job on my skin … it does not get irritated, flaky …etc and it doesn’t produce additional breakout as the others.

36. CLM - June 24th, 2009 at 8:50 am

    Thought I would weigh in here, as I’m a physician and a user of both Bare Essentials & Mary Kay mineral powder foundations.

    I’m an internist & pediatrician, board certified in internal medicine, pediatrics and adult infectious diseases. Having said that, I’m not a pulmonologist, but I am very aware of pulmonary disease.

    Talc is associated with cancer but rarely ever causes it in adults because, as others have stated, the mechanism of cancer formation is via INHALATION (you have to breathe in the talc.) Nobody routinely breathes in enough of any of these powders (baby powder included) to get cancer. [An aside, you'd get very ill from breathing in the powder (in lieu of "air") before you would ever get cancer.] With regard to endometrial cancers from talc: these are seen when talc is somehow inserted into the abdominal or peritoneal cavities, as talc is quite irritating.

    In medicine, we actually take advantage of this quality of talc and intentionally use it in situations where we want two surface to adhere, such as in the pleural space in the chest. Pulmonologists will inject talc into the pleural space when a patient has a problem of reaccumulating fluid there (this is called “pleurodesis.”)

    The bottom line: there are many agents that would be a problem if you inhaled them, but are just fine if you put them on your skin. The most significant agent I can think of in this category is water. It is easy to fall into “purist” ways of thinking, but it is quite difficult to actually live this way, and sometimes even impractical. With my knowledge of malignancy and talc, I have no fear of putting talc on my skin.

    Regarding the makeup, I have used both. I am in my late 30′s and have begun to accumulate wrinkles around my eyes. I have been a strict proponent of good skin care for years & am loyal to the Philosophy line. I am quite partial to the Mary Kay foundation because it accumulates in the eye wrinkles less and has longer staying power. I also do not use a cover powder–I use only the $18 mineral makeup, and I’m good for the day. I found the Bare Escentuals to look like a cake on my face and be much more difficult to buff with the brush. I suspect that the talc may be what makes the difference between the two products, as the post above suggests.

    Just my two cents.

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