In honor of the 3 year anniversary of Affordable Mineral Makeup™, Purely Natural Minerals is giving away $15 of free makeup to one lucky winner!! Pretty Sweet!

Go here to check out the details and make sure you enter!

As you know, just because a label says "all natural" doesn't mean ALL the ingredients are ALL natural. The only way you can make sure you are getting what you want is by reading the label. Makeup is the same way. Just because it is advertised as "Mineral Makeup" doesn't mean that the product you are looking at is truly only mineral makeup. Many "mineral makeups" contain extra ingredients known as fillers such as talc, bismuth, cornstarch, etc. And many "mineral makeups" contain chemicals and toxins that are the same as what is found in liquid makeup. Eeek!

Check out the ingredients in some of these common mineral makeups. Is the makeup you are using actually "all natural"? If not, I urge you to try a brand that is all natural and see the benefits for yourself.

I will start with my favorite (*wink*). Notice how few ingredients are used.

Affordable Mineral Makeup: Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron Oxides, Zinc Oxide

Titanium Dioxide is widely used in cosmetics and skin care for its thickening and whitening properties. It also has waterproof and SPF properties while providing a Matte look.

Mica s a sheer, translucent and skin-hugging mineral. Reflects light from the face, creating an illusion of a smoother, softer and more radiant skin tone.

Iron Oxides give the makeup its pigment.

Zinc Oxide is known for its healing properties in problem skin such as rosacea and acne, it has the ability to stay on even while sweating and swimming, as well as offers protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Avon Mineral Foundation: Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 5.0% Inactive Ingredients: Iron Oxides, Mica, Bismuth Oxychloride, Nylon-12, Methylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Kaolin, Lauryl Pca, Zinc Pca, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Pca, Lecithin, Urea, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Trehalose, Polyquaternium-51, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Atelocollagen, Beta-Carotene, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Tocopherol

As you can see by the list of ingredients, many of the ingredients are non-mineral ingredients. It also contains Bismuth which is known to irritate the skin and parabens.

Bare Escentuals and bareMinerals Mineral Makeup: Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Bismuth Oxychloride, Mica, Iron Oxides

Based on the ingredients, Bare Escentuals is a much more pure mineral makeup. It does contain Bismuth which has been known to cause skin irritation for some people.

Jane Iredale: Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 14%, Zinc Oxide 6% Other Ingredients: Mica , Boron Nitride, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Plankton Extract, Algae Extract, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Extract. May contain: Iron Oxides , Ultramarines

Boron Nitride (BN) is a synthetic, inorganic powder (produced from boric acid or boron trioxide). When used in cosmetics, it has absorbent properties similar to those of natural powders such as talc.

Zinc Stearate is a creamy, white, non-carcinogenic powder used as a filler in powdered cosmetics. It has excellent adhesion and coverage properties as well as water repellency properties... but it can irritate the skin.

Dimethicone is a silicone based polymer.

Mary Kay Mineral Makeup: Talc, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Zinc Stearate, Dimethicone, Boron Nitride, Zeolite, Methylparaben, Sorbic Acid, Ethylene/Methacrylate Copolymer, Propylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, BHT, Iron Oxides, Mica

The first two ingredients that are listed are fillers and many of the other ingredients are discussed above and not beneficial. This makeup does not contain Titanium Dioxide which gives makeup it's SPF properties so if you chose to wear this makeup, make sure you also put on sunscreen. Additionally, this makeup contains parabens and many chemicals (such as Sorbic Acid).

Pür Minerals: Titanium Dioxide 8% Inactive Ingredients: Mica, Boron Nitride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Bismuth Oxychloride, Zinc Stearate, Magnesium Silicate, Magnesium Carbonate, Silica, Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii), Tocopheryl Acetate, Iron Oxides

This makeup contains Boron Nitride and Bismuth

These are just a few of the many brands of "mineral makeup" on the market. As you can tell, it is EXTREMELY important that you read the list of ingredients before you buy so you are confident in what you are putting on your face.

One of the reasons that I love Affordable Mineral Makeup™ is because it is so pure. I know each ingredient listed and why it is used. I feel confident that I am making a good choice for my skin while still getting an exceptional product at an affordable price.

If you have any questions, please contact me at Brenda@purelynaturalminerals.com

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Sources: http://www.mineral-makeup-reviews.com/Mineral-Makeup-Ingredients.html, http://naturalglamourminerals.blogspot.com/, http://www.purminerals.com, http://www.ehow.com/facts_5147638_dimethicone-makeup.html, http://www.theconservatorie.com/products/Zinc_Stearate-53-4.html, http://www.cosmeticscop.com/dictionary_term.aspx?tid=932&lid=498&term=boron+nitride

Many of the fine women from Unique Women in Business are offering great Earth Day Sales - even more reason to celebrate!

Wabi Brook Studio: 20% off anything in the store!

Pink Papaya: 35% off all items!! Email Erin at ejtobias@yahoo.com with your order.

Fashion Touch: 20% off all orders and free shipping on orders of $30 or more!  Send a message to the seller with the subject "Earth Day"

Intimate Expressions: 15% off all orders! Orders must be emailed to chris.pester@yahoo.com and paid through Paypal

Design Knit Fun: 20% off all orders and free shipping (discounted international shipping)!

FemmePetal: Free shipping on all orders! put "uwib" in the coupon section.

Wildtree Herbs: 10% off all orders! Orders must be emailed to chris.pester@yahoo.com and paid through Paypal

Mojo Indigo: Free shipping on all orders!

and don't forget: Affordable Mineral Makeup™: 10% off all orders and a free 10g jar of makeup - your choice of color - on all orders over $100.  Details: http://purelynaturalminerals.com/2009/04/21/10-off-and-free-makeup-for-earth-day/

Check out these great shops and these great sales today!  And hurry! Sales only last until midnight.

What better way to celebrate then to go shopping?  Personally, I can think of none!  Here are some great sales to help you celebrate:

Affordable Mineral Makeup™: 10% off all orders and a free 10g jar of makeup - your choice of color - on all orders over $100.  Details: http://purelynaturalminerals.com/2009/04/21/10-off-and-free-makeup-for-earth-day/

Louis Vuitton: To commemorate Earth Day on April 22nd, Louis Vuitton will donate 15% of all on-line U.S. sales on Earth Day to The Climate Project. Details: http://www.nitrolicious.com/blog/2009/04/20/louis-vuitton-to-donate-15-on-sales-on-earth-day/

Mini Me Geology: In celebration of Earth Day, April 22nd, we are offering 22% off all orders of $22 or more through the 22nd! Details: http://www.minimegeology.com/blog/2009/04/17/earth-day-sale-at-mini-me-geology/

OrganicBouquet.com:  20% sitewide savings in honor of Earth Day! Details: http://www.organicbouquet.com/c_341/Earth-Day-Eco-Sustainable-Flowers-Plants-Gifts.html

Amazon.com: Offering sale prices on all kinds of items.  From detergent to cell phones to gardening supplies to toys and so much more! Details: http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=1260993011

Disney: Take 3 empty plastic bottles into a Disney Store and receive a free gift (like a reuseable tote bag)! Details: http://disneyshopping.go.com/

Payless: They are currently having a BOGO sale.  Much cooler than that: They just launched a new shoe line that is eco-friendly and they donate $1 from all sales to The Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees Campaign. Details: Payless

Starbucks: Take in your own travel mug (or buy one there) and they will fill it with freshly brewed coffee for free.  Also, they will give you $0.10 off every time you bring in your own mug through out the year. Details: http://www.starbucks.ca/en-ca/_Social+Responsibility/Earth+Day.htm

Whole Foods Market:  Free reusable grocery bag to the first 100 customers on Earth Day!

Are you just getting started and need more deals and discounts?  Check out these articles:

http://suddenlyfrugal.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/more-free-stuff-for-earth-day/

http://suddenlyfrugal.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/free-stuff-for-earth-day/

It is so important to know what we are REALLY putting on our bodies. All though many products claim they are "safe" or "natural" they are anything but that. I first became aware of SafeCosmetics.org when I was searching out safe sunscreen. I had read an article that explained the many different toxins and carcinogenic ingredients that are included in sunscreens and I couldn't believe that I was religiously and voluntarily slathering this junk all over me and my kids 6 months out of the year.

Thanks to SafeCosmetics.org, I now only buy sunscreen that is considered a "low hazard" so my family and I still get great sun protection without all the dangerous chemicals. I also check on lotion, hair care products, makeup, toothpaste, etc.

SafeCosmetics.org "is a national coalition of nonprofit health and environmental organizations. Our collective goal is to protect the health of consumers and workers by requiring the personal care products industry to phase out the use of chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other serious health concerns, and replace them with safer alternatives. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is working with endorsing organizations, responsible businesses and thousands of citizen activists to shift the cosmetics market toward safer products and to advocate for smarter laws that protect our health from toxic chemicals and encourage innovation of safer alternatives."

One great thing about Affordable Mineral Makeup™ and Earth Mama Angel Baby™ is that they have signed the "Compact for Safe Cosmetics" - a pledge to formulate products that do not use ingredients that are known or suspected to cause certain health harms within three years of signing. We may be small but we care about our customers and the ingredients that go into our products. Read the Compact document or see a complete list of the signers. You can also search companies by name and find out if they have signed the "Compact for Safe Cosmetics" or if they test on animals (neither AMM™ or EMAB™ test on animals)

Check out SafeCosmetics.org and their database today!