Alternating Mineral and Liquid Foundation Benefits Dry Skin

Mineral makeup has been all the rage for several years now. The most famous brand by far is Bare Escentuals, which came on the cosmetics scene through infomercials. Now, this type of makeup is everywhere and some of the largest cosmetic companies have come created their own mineral makeup lines.

Some of the benefis of mineral makeup is how gentle it is on the skin and how easy it is to apply. But it can still be drying for those with already dry skin. One way to help counteract this is to use a foundation primer like Bare Escentuals Prime Time foundation primer.

Sometimes our skin changes with the seasons.  Another way to stave off the possible drying effect of mineral makeup besides stopping its use is to alternate it with that of a quality liquid foundation for your skin type.  For instance, my skin is dryer in the winter which is when I wear a liquid foundation.  I'm more apt to wear mineral makeup in the summer; however, as I age, this is changing (see my tip below on when it's best to leave mineral makeup alone).  People who get a lot of sun or use tanning beds may be just the opposite and have dryer skin in the summer.

There are varying opinions on what is the best foundation for the dry, oily, and combination skin types. Below are some common sense suggestions to consider.

• Use oil or gel-based cream or liquid foundations for dry skin such as MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation or Cover Girl TRUblend liquid foundation.

• Use water-based foundation for oily skin such as Cover Girl's Original Clean Makeup foundaiton and L'Oreal True Match.
  

No matter what different companies may claim, mineral makeup isn't for everyone. If you have a skin condition such as eczema or rosacea, then you may find it too drying to use at any time. It's easy application just isn't worth making your skin worse. This isn't the case for everyone, so you may want to give it a try.

Older women may also find that it accentuates fine lines and adds years to their faces instead of taking years off as promised in makeup ads.

If you've never used mineral makeup before, find a company that has samples available before you invest money in a product that will have a negative effect on your face.