Test: mineral foundations in powder, liquid and compact
Mineral makeup is hip and hot. Even semi-precious stones are incorporated into make-up products, giving a feeling of luxury combined with ‘back to nature’. Foundations are now also available in mineral variants. Liquid makeup, powder foundation and compact foundation are available in mineral form. What does the mineral foundation do for your skin? Which skin type suits what? And does it also cover the necessary troubles such as pimples and red spots? Read more.
Tested: compact foundation
Brand: The Body Shop
Name: Extra Virgin Minerals cream compact foundation SPF 15, color ‘rose vanilla’
For whom?
Compact foundation is not for everyone, and not for every occasion. It is particularly ideal for those who want firmer coverage. This may be because you have uneven skin with spots and/or pimples. But compact foundation is also a pleasant product for the evening, in sparse (candle) light. This foundation has been tested on rosacea skin, or skin with red spots. The coverage is fine. Just dab on the problem area, focusing on it, and the skin is even. If the skin is not too oily, powder is not really necessary.
What?
The compact foundation tested here is similar in texture to the fairly new ‘solid-to-liquid’ compact foundations, but it is not. A true solid to liquid becomes, as it were, wet when touched. However, this foundation is creamy and not nearly as firm and massive as many compact foundations from previous generations. The nice thing is that the scent – which applies to all products tested – is natural and light, and not heavily sweet or cosmetically perfumed.
How?
The compact foundation is easy to apply with your fingers, but surprisingly, application is even nicer with the included wide foundation brush.
Tested: liquid foundation
Brand: The Body Shop
Name: Extra Virgin Minerals Liquid Foundation SPF 30, color ‘natural vanilla’
For whom?
A liquid foundation is the great classic. Traditionally, most types and colors are available in this foundation. Not as far as the Body Shop is concerned: a wide palette of nine shades is available for all three products mentioned. A liquid foundation is considered everyone’s friend, but that is not necessarily the case. A liquid foundation is a suitable base for light to medium coverage – depending on the amount applied. But heavier coverage for blemishes such as redness, circles and blemishes requires a concealer stick for use in addition to the fluid foundation. Or a compact foundation, then you’re done in one go. This story also applies to the tested foundation.
What?
The texture is reminiscent of classic, light and pleasant to apply water formulas such as Clinique. Nice. The coverage is light to medium. Problem spots require a separate concealing product.
How?
Easy to apply with your fingers. No brushes or pads included, but easy to dose via the pump bottle.
Tested: powder foundation
Brand: The Body Shop
Name: Extra Virgin Minerals Loose Powder Foundation SPF 25, color ‘rose vanilla’
For whom?
A powder foundation is a fairly new product, which at first glance can be confused with an often small box of loose face powder. Coverage depends on the amount of product used, but please note the following. Just like other powder foundations, the big advantage of this Minerals Loose Powder Foundation is that the product beautifully and slightly mattifies oily skin. However, since oilier skin quickly causes a foundation to ‘cake’, a thicker layer quickly becomes less attractive. An attempt to first use the liquid foundation and then finish with the powder foundation was not very successful: the result is not very even. This powder foundation is therefore particularly recommended for skin that requires fairly light coverage but is prone to shine. Then the skin gets that little bit of finish that makes it nice and smooth and well-groomed. Without dulling the skin, this foundation transforms the ‘shine’ into a natural semi-matte.
How?
The pictorials in the box assume the use of a powder brush. However, it was not included with my packaging. Either a pad or a brush or down is essential.
100% mineral pigments, cruelty-free and.. with extra virgin olive oil
A valuable fact about The Body Shop is that it is strongly committed to using Fair Trade and avoiding cruelty to animals. This also applies to this series of foundations. The products are enriched with Extra Virgin Olive Oil. 100% pure mineral pigments have been used to color the products. No fragrances have been used and no parabens. The products can also be used on sensitive skin, and they are non-comedogenic (in other words: they do not clog pores). All The Body Shop brushes are free from animal hair.
Extra Virgin Minerals is a registered trademark of The Bodyshop