Achieve a flawless finish while giving your skin exactly what it needs with the best mineral make-up available
Mineral make-up is changing the face of beauty, and it’s not just a phase. In fact, according to a lot of experts in the industry, mineral foundation is the best foundation to combat a slew of skin problems. Not only is it kind to sensitive skin, it’s also non-comodegenic. This means it doesn’t clog pores and lead to blemishes like others. It absorbs excess oil too. So, if you have oily skin, mineral foundation will be your saviour.
Over the years people have been drawn to the idea that mineral make-up is more natural and therefore kinder to and more comfortable on your skin. Hence its rise in popularity. And although many people think mineral make-up only includes powders, liquid formulas can be mineral too. If you have dry skin, but still want the goodness of a mineral foundation, get a liquid formula. Your skin will feel hydrated and dewy.
Theres’ also a range of beneficial properties to many of the formulations found today. If you suffer from redness or sallow skin, try a colour correcting mineral foundation. These also help combat sallowness and hyper-pigmentation. And if you’re looking for something that can battle fine lines, invest in one of the anti-ageing formulations.
Plus, there’s one to suit every budget. From purse-friendly options like M&S and the classic Lily Lo to more luxurious products on the market, like bareMinerals.
A lot of them have the added benefit of adding a subtle glow too. Clarins’ Mineral Loose Powder gives seamless coverage, while creating a bright and radiant finish. Light enough for everyday use, it can also help protect your face against dryness. Simply buff it into your skin with a large face brush.
The Pressed Base compact from GloMinerals, £31, is another one we’ve saved space in our cosmetic cases for. Used by stars including Jennifer Lopez and Kristen Dunst, it’s touted as the best foundation, concealer and powder all-in-one. Give your face a quick swirl with it and you’ll see why. Similarly, Young Blood’s Mineral Liquid Foundation covers and protects in one. Dab it where needed and blend outwards for a natural finish. You’ll never turn back.
These foundations also make a great base for special occasions. Heading down the aisle soon and not sure what the best foundation for your wedding is? We recommend stocking up on Jane Ireland’s Pure Pressed Base. Thanks to its ability to give skin a smooth matte finish, it’s become a real favourite among brides. Apply full coverage in the morning and then touch-up throughout the day. Or is you fancy a personalised recommendation, you can’t beat Powder’s foundation quiz.
If powder seems too heavy for you, try bareMinerals Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation. It’s ultra lightweight and doubles up as a serum. Apply with fingers for a dewy look or use a face brush and buff it into your skin.
And with its dinky in-the-lid brush and small pot, L’Oréal’s True Match Minerals, £14.99, is a great option for on-the-go touch-ups. Put it in your hand bag to use on your morning commute. Then once you’re on the train, simply dip the brush in the pot and apply to your face using circular motions.
Shop our round-up of the best mineral make-up and find your perfect foundation…
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bareMinerals Bareskin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation, £27, fabled.com
This ultra-thin, skin-perfecting fluid provides seamless adjustable coverage, a natural finish and the look and feel of beautiful skin. Plus, the shade spectrum is amazing!
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Clarins Mineral Loose Powder, £30, clarins.co.uk
Clarins’ Mineral Loose Powder has a fine texture which gives a radiant and bright finish, as well as a great, flawless coverage – with or without makeup. Not only is it comfortable enough to wear in the day but it protects your face against dryness too.
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Becca Mineral Powder Foundation, £30, spacenk.com
The shade spectrum of this range is amazing and it’s water resistant, so lasts through almost anything, including sweaty summer days.
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M&S Autograph SPF 15 Mineral Loose Powder Foundation, £12, marksandspencer.com
M&S Autograph SPF 15 Mineral Loose Powder Foundation is not only fragrance and paraben free, but it’s lightweight and offers light-medium coverage with a built-in SPF 15 to boot.
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Lily Lolo Foundation, £13.49, lilylolo.co.uk
The darling of the mineral make-up world, Lily Lolo’s ultra-cute foundation has a huge cult following thanks to its fantastic coverage. A little really does go a long way and we could rave on and on about the brilliance of ‘Blondie’ ? its suit-all neutral base. Also, the brushes are excellent too, and very affordable. One of the best foundations for oily skin.
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bareMinerals Foundation, £26.50, fabled.com
bareMinerals Foundation is not just the best-selling mineral make-up in the US, but – prepare yourself for this – the best-selling foundation full stop. Fansites and nutty groups abound, swapping tips on the latest shades and application tips. If you are looking for a mineral make-up without added ingredients (which many of the cheaper brands do use), then this is the one for you. However, be warned, it does deliver a slightly shinier finish than some versions and, therefore, doesn’t always flatter oily skin types.
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GloMinerals Pressed Base, £28.95, glo-minerals.com
GloMinerals Pressed Base is a brilliant foundation, concealer and powder all-in-one. It’s used by J-Lo and Kirsten Dunst, and if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us!
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L’Oréal True Match Minerals, £14.99, fabled.com
L’Oréal’s True Match Minerals is perfect if you want a portable mineral make-up applicator. The dinky brush-in-the-lid makes it easy for use on the go and it’s been so successful, they’re now matching mineral blushers and eyeshadows, too.
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Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Base, £32, janeiredale.com
If Jane Iredale’s Pure Pressed Base is anything to go by, the original may still be the best. The UK mineral make-up range was first created as a clean make-up for women recovering from dermatological treatments and plastic surgery. Much loved by actresses and dancers, including Linda Evangelista, for its long-lasting formula, it’s also become a firm favourite with brides, too. The pressed powder version is slightly sheerer than the Amazing Base loose powder but has a great matte finish.
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Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation, £37, qvcuk.com
This weightless powder will give you full coverage for up to 12 hours and the best part is that it looks super natural, doesn’t cake and works well with sensitive skin.
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Laura Geller Baked Balance-n-Brighten Correcting Foundation, £23.40, Amazon
Use this mineral make-up on its own or combine with your favourite base for a flawless complexion. Formulated with anti-oxidant rich Centella Asiatica and White Tea, the luxuriously smooth and silky texture of this baked foundation will help offset ruddiness, dullness and balance your skin tone.
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Cover FX Pressed Mineral Foundation, £31, fabled.com
This oil-absorbing mineral powder plus foundation in one imparts an instant natural matte finish and provides sheer to full buildable coverage.
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youngblood-mineral-liquid-foundation-suntan
If you suffer from dehydrated skin, this will answer all of your needs. The formula is made up of rare reduced deep sea water, botanicals and more than 20 ocean minerals and it helps to calm and rejuvenate your complexion, while the deep sea water is full of iron, potassium, magnesium and copper which inject the skin with moisture therefore making the liquid foundation ideal for normal to dry skin.