Mary Kay – Mineral Powder Foundation Review
Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation ($28.00)
The face is like a fresh canvas — Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation provides the ideal base for transforming the face into a masterpiece of color. The consistency is lightweight and buildable, allowing women to determine their own preferred coverage level and desired color impact. With a sweep of the brush, the multitasking powder-based foundation glides on easily, blends seamlessly and hugs the skin for long-lasting coverage. Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation controls shine and instantly conceals minor skin imperfections, helping to create a glamorous finish like those produced by professional makeup artists.
What I liked: First, I found that Beige 2 was a good color-match for my skintone, and I always seem to have trouble finding a suitable shade when it comes to mineral makeup, so that was a pleasant surprise. You get a nice amount for the price, and I feel like the jar would last me at least six months, if not more. Since it is a powder, the shelf life is even better than a liquid foundation, since it is harder (almost impossible) for powders to harbor bacteria (which like wet and moist environments, e.g. liquids). It is incredibly fine milled, making it easier to pick up and buff onto the skin. The biggest secret to mineral makeup is buffing it into the skin, rather than just placing it on it. The more you buff, the more it works into the skin and becomes “one” with it (ha!). It is a soft, buildable mineral foundation, though I would say it tops off at light-medium coverage, so those who want heavy coverage should probably still opt for heavy creams and/or liquids.
What I didn’t like: Nothing stuck out about this that made me go, “Grr!” The packaging could be a bit more sleek/aesthetically pleasing, perhaps, but I think that’s such a minor (and not to mention, superficial!) detail that can easily be overlooked. I think they should promote a buffer brush with this, just because I find that works much better than any other powder brush! The color range only includes six shades, which makes it fairly limited in my eyes, so I’m not sure how our lightest/darkest ladies will fair in finding an appropriate match.
I was wondering if anyone else with sensitive skin has tried mineral make up? I can’t wear powder or foundation or I break out, and I am dying to jump on the bandwagon! (Of course it’s advertised as natural and non-comedogenic but I’d rather believe user reviews than advertisements)
I don’t know what Mary Kay’s product uses, but if you’re jumping on the mineral band wagon, be sure to avoid products with talc and bismuth oxychloride. Those will most certainly clog your skin/make you break out. I also have sensitive skin and cannot use those ingredients in products.
Nora’s totally right – bismuth and talc often cause breakouts and skin reactions for those with sensitive skin. I’m not positive myself on the ingredients list for these, but I would definitely look out and be sure whatever mineral product you tried didn’t have those!
Thanks guys!!! I’ll have to check my stash but I know I can’t use Clinique for sure (which they say is soooo mild). I can get away with a little cream/gel blush (tarte, hard candy, benetint). I’ll have to make a little cheat sheet for my next Sephora trip =) Thanks again!
I have super sensitive skin.
The Mary Kay mineral powder foundation was light, soft, silky smooth and caused absolutely no problems on my skin.
It’s great. I really love it !
Hey Claudia,
I have really oily breakout prone skin and Bare Escentuals Mineral makeup has been awesome for me. It’s a little expensive, but no more so than the Clinique & Estee Lauder liquids I was using that evaporated by midday and left me shiny & broken out. I’ve been using BE for about 4 years now and my skin has never looked better. I’d say try it & avoid the Mary Kay mineral foundation. The MK foundation contains TALC which makes my skin breakout really fast. Just my 2 cents!!
Hi Kathy, I am sorry to hear that the mineral foundation does not work for you, but if you have oily skin you could have tried the cream to powder or even the loose powder. These other foundations could give you the coverage that you need. You should always ask your consultant what ingredients are in the products. Please do not buy Mary Kat products from anyone who is not an active consultant, beacause the products may be old and When you buy from your consultant she backs up Mzary Kay’s promise of 100% satisfaction guarantee. You also get yo try before you buy it. Here are the ingrediants for MaryKay’s Mineral Foundation:Ingredients
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
If anyone has further questions please either contact your consultant or you can contact me at [email protected]. Thank you and God Bless!!!
Hi LaShandra, I was just wondering if the mineral foundation has spf coverage also? Do you know offhand if Bare Essentials also has talc in their ingredients?
Thanks
Deb
Hi Deb, thanks for your question. No, Mary Kay’s Mineral foundation does not have SPF coverage, but we have a tinted TimeWise Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 20, the TimeWise Day Solution Sunscreen SPF 25 (this is part of our TimeWise Miracle cleansing set), & Mary Kay also has some Sun Care products which includes SPF 30 Sunscreen and our latest Tinted Lip Balm Sunscreen 15(they come in 5 fabulous colors). As far as Bare Essentials I looked on their website and they say that their product does not contain TALC. TALC is a mineral I am trying to find out more information on what is used for in the foundation. I hope that this answers your questions Deb, if you have anymore you can contact me @ [email protected] or visit my web site MaryKay.com/grimeslle
I am allergic to the bismoth oxy chloride which is a form of arsenic. Google it and see what it actually is. I have used Bare Essentials for 1 week and my face itches all over. Bare Essential contains bismoth oxy chloride. Talc however does not bother me. Also, surgeons sometimes use it inside your body and lots of medicenes docs. prescribe contain it as a filler. I was totally shocked to know that talc is a filler in the thyroid hormone medication synthroid. I do not take synthroid but take a different brand of thyroid hormone. However, I could not understand why they would use a filler in meds that cause cancer. Makes me wonder if it is really true.
The first step to beautiful skin starts with a good skin care regimen. Mary Kay offers the essentials to great skin.
If you have a good cleanser and moisturizer than you can use they new Mineral Powder products without any problems!
i have very sensitive as well and i would recommend LA Minerals since it doesn’t have talc and bismuth which other brands have. I’m not sure though if mary kay contains either.
I agree with you gem, I’ve tried tons of mineral makeup and so far I like the Hollywood foundation from LA Minerals the best. No break outs, and it covers good and lasts all day.
Mineral make-up is the way to go if you have sensitive skin, eczema or rosacea. However, it’s wise to check the ingredients. DASH Minerals doesn’t have any fillers, like bismuth oxychloride. I suffered from frequent break-outs – hives, red splotches, etc. I tried a couple of types of mineral make-up and I found that DASH Minerals was not only affordable, but also provided the coverage I like.
I have a skin disorder, Rosacea! And I can use Mary Kay mineral Powder it feels good on my skin. I order mine at marykay.com/hilmal. The brush is sold separately but it’s nice too!
I am using the Mineral make up and have very sensitive skin. It makes my face tingley, but the rep said that I will need to wait at least one week so that my face can get used to it. I have never worn make up products either. I hope this helps. I will let you the results in a week.
Hi Lady B, I just called the Mary Kay Consultant line about your question and the suggest that you try to find out what your allergic to. Some tingle is ok, but hives, swollen eyes are not. Try putting on just that product on your lower cheek, chin area for 4 to 5 days to see what happens. If you have no reaction then it should be safe to apply all over for another 4 to 5 days to see if you are having a reaction. Try all your products separately the same way to try to figure out what products might be bothering you. Once you have isolated the product then you can analyze the ingredients with a doctor. I hope that this helps you Lady B. If you have anymore questions please don’t hesitate to ask me or your consultant. God Bless, LaShandra ([email protected])
i have been using marykay for a while now.and it does a wonderful job covering imperfections.. beacuse i deal with acne and it help cover it and make me look like i did not have any acne.but i still have continued to break out but i dont know if it the make up or not.hope this give you some incite on the product.oh yea and it matches my skin perfectly that is so hard to find
Nora, my sister and i have very sensitive skin and absolutely love mary kay’s mineral powder. That and their timewise products, so many products have broken my skin out that i can only use a bar of dove soap on my face, but Mary kay’s timewise facial cleanser is perfect and does not break out my skin :] i love it!
Wow – Mary Kay! I haven’t thought about them in a long time. I used to be an avid Mary Kary wearer, but was turned off by the packaging and the pressure to be a Mary Kay team member – ahhh!
I always did like their foundation, though, so I’m intigued by this product. Although I think I’ll hold out for the mineral foundation that MAC is supposed to launch in May.
Hey Tuprnut! I know, talk about an old school brand, right? I always associated it with older women.
Mary Kay is NOT your grandmother’s Mary Kay. Go to their website and you will see a huge difference. Not only do they have mineral based foundation but eye and cheek colors are also launching.
I definitely agree! They’ve been revamping their line to modernize it 🙂
not to be rude or anything; but you guys obviously have not saw our new stuff & have never attended some of our meetings because “old” women or what ever u associate it with only makes up maybe 10% of our ladies..
Hi Sar,
I think that’s the thing, though, because we have these conceptions of Mary Kay from years ago–and it’s not accessible to me whatsoever in person, so I don’t have the opportunity to see customers at the Mary Kay store or anything, you know?
I noticed you were waiting for MAC in May. I just saw an add for it and it is $11 more than Mary Kay. Also remember, Mary Kay offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason you don’t like it you will get a full refund and at $18 it is $11 cheaper than the new MAC powder. I saw the MAC powder in an add today so they must have launched early (yes I am a Mary Kay consultant).
Thanks for the tip, Donna! I have tried Mary Kay’s – it was okay, but I didn’t love it enough to switch from liquid to mineral yet.
Yeah, but Mary Kay contains Talc as its first ingredient for their mineral eyeshadows, makeup and stuff… I don’t like that at all. I believe it’s a little misleading. I’ve tried the loose powder, and it’s ok. I wouldn’t say it’s the best, but well, it’s 11 dollars cheaper than Mac… You can’t ask for a higher quality at a lower price.
If you really like the products, when you contact a Mary Kay consultant, be clear and up front that you have absolutely no interest in becoming a team member and ask that they respect your wishes.
I am a Mary Kay consultant. I hate being given a song and dance when I am interested in a product. Therefore, I don’t do it with my clients. I have too much respect for them.
I agree with you, the products are awesome. I just love them.
Kindest regards,
Louise Lafontaine
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Check out the Mary Kay Mineral Bronzing Powders as well as the Mineral Powder Foundations
http://www.marykay.com/cleegroup/whatsnew/newproducts/compact/default.aspx?section=04
Thanks, Catherine!
I have problem skin…it’s very sensitive, I have rosacea, and I’m 43 yrs old. I have tried several “mineral” makeups that have bee baught from discout stores, online stores, and none of them seem to cover my red skin very well until I started using the basic cleaning system for your face by MK and started using the mineral makeup. I love it!!!! It doesn’t dry my skin out…stays put all day looking natural. This is the first make up that I have used that I have received compliments and have been asked what new make up I’m wearin. Everyone has their favorites for this or that reason,…Mine is I just LOVE the new MK mineral makeup…foundation, blush, and eyeshadows.
I’m so glad you’ve had such success with it, Laura!
I read from another email that the first ingredient listed for Mary Kay’s mineral make up is TALC. This was after I went to a Mary Kay party and asked the representative where the ingredients are listed and if it had SPF. The representative was uninformed. I also read from another email that it does not have any SPF. I will buy Bare Essentials next time.
You should email them to ask, Paula!
I say give MK minerals a try. I’ve used BE for over 5 yrs, and never thought I’d change, but I decided to give it a try & I’m SO glad I did. I think MK colors are more true & natural colors…BE seems to have a more orangy color to it when I put them side by side. However, keep in mind that it really does start with great skin. MK has wonderful skincare products…give them a try! (btw, I’m also a MK consultant-can u tell? 🙂 oh yeah, and I’m in my early 30’s–like some of you, I thought it was for older women but boy was I wrong!!)
I’m really glad you’re enjoying Mary Kay’s mineral foundation!
Mary Kay has two mineral foundations: Pressed powder and loose powder foundation.
Loose Mineral Powder is $18 less tax
Pressed Mineral Foundation is $16 less tax
The brushes which can be purchased separately;
Large powder brush is $10
Compact powder brush is 4.00
Geez…Has anyone read through these comments? Yeah, some Mary Kay products DO contain talc. So does every other brand of skin care. Check out even Arbonne.
If you are sensitive, don’t use it. But, not everyone has that problem. Each individual should determine if they are able to use it.
Talc is only harmful if applied to certain “areas” and if inhaled. Maybe some of you should research that.
I totally respect trying to be healthy and not use toxic substances, but this is not the case.
Good luck! 🙂
That’s very true, Celina! A lot of people don’t have issues with talc, bismuth, etc., which are popular ingredients across makeup brands. It’s about what works for you!
I WANT TO KNOW WHY MARY KAY IS CALLING IT MINERAL MAKEUP IF ITS HAS TALC IN IT WHICH IS NOT A MINERAL. THAT DOESNT ADD UP AT ALL. SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS IN THE MINERAL POWDER BESIDES TALC WHAT OTHER CHEMICALS ARE IN THIS MINERAL MAKEUP THAT IS NOT A MINERAL. ANY CONSULTANT PLEASE REPLY TO THIS QUESTION I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS. YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT [email protected] I AM ALSO CONSIDERING BECOMING A CONSULTANT FOR MARY KAY BUT I REALLY NEED TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT THANK YOU.
All makeup, even mineral makeup has a certain amount of talc in it. Without the talc, it would clump up and you would be unable to apply it smoothly. Mary Kay has minimal amounts of talc. You can get this information by accessing the Mary Kay website and checking out products and their ingredients.
The Mary Kay company really tries very hard at having the finest and safest products on the market. They wouldn’t have stayed in business for so long otherwise.
These are products that I can use when I had given up on all other cosmetic products. I have super sensitive skin. But I’ve had absolutely no problems with Mary Kay.
You will have no regrets in becoming a Mary Kay Consultant. The benefits are incredible. The training is almost free and you can apply it to any part of your life. The tax deductions alone are a great incentive. Plus, you get your products at cost (plus taxes, shipping & handling). Your interaction with clients will be special. I just love it.
Good luck
Hi Louise,
Thanks for this helpful information!
Since when did science change and TALC change from being a mineral?
Talc (derived from the Persian via Arabic talq) is a MINERAL composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula H2Mg3(SiO3)4 or Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. In loose form, it is the widely used substance known as talcum powder.
Veronica,
You stated ” WANT TO KNOW WHY MARY KAY IS CALLING IT MINERAL MAKEUP IF ITS HAS TALC IN IT WHICH IS NOT A MINERAL.”
Please educate yourself before making such comments. The correct answer from Wikipedia:
Talc
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Talc
Talc (derived from the Persian talc via Arabic talq) is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula H2Mg3(SiO3)4 or Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. In loose form, it is the widely used substance known as talcum powder.
Hi, i bought a MK mineral powder foundation several weeks ago. I was very enthusiastic about the product at first for it provided a medium coverage. However, later on I had breakouts which made me feel uneasy. I think mary kay is not really fit for sensitive skin.
You might be sensitive to some of the ingredients found in it – I believe talc is in it, which some people react to!
Hi Millet….I’m curious as to what kind of skin care you use?? Are you using the Mary Kay skincare line? Also, I can tell you when I used BE I had more breakouts than I have since I started using MK minerals. Of course, I’m using the MK skincare line which I believe is the key.
Keep in mind that some people (a few friends of mine actually) weren’t able to use BE so really any product line has the potential to cause irritation. Like Celina said, every person is different.
Yea, even the lightest shade in this was too dark for me. but i gave it to my mom and it works wonders for her. she looked flawless. but all the foundations from mary kay that i have tried are too dark but the sheer mineral pressed powder thing. but its not so good with coverage obviously.
Hi Hillary,
I am surprised that the MK cream foundations were too dark for you. The #100 is almost cream/white. The #104 & #105 have pinker tones but they are also very pale. Have you tried them?
Where on the MK website would I find the list of ingredients for MK Mineral Powder Foundation? I’ve attempted finding it on the site with no success.
Email the brand, that’s the best way to get ingredient lists.
I was trying to find out what minerals were used in the mary kay mineral powders. Why is it that you can not find out what any of the ingredients are for any of the mary kay products.
Try emailing them asking for the ingredient list.
No bismuth in MK mineral powder. Email the company, or ask your consultant to get the ingredients. You can email me too if you want. 🙂
I’m NOT a Mary Kay consultant, but I just tried their mineral foundation yesterday, and all I can say is WOW! This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! I’m a dark-skinned African-American woman, and I have a very hard-to-match skintone, but Bronze 2 fit me perfectly.
I’m new to mineral makeup, and I’ve been sampling several brands. None of them were able to provide me a natural-looking coverage that allowed my own skintone to show through…they gave great coverage, but the makeup ended up looking like a mask, and the colors weren’t always right. MK provides great coverage that looks completely natural, and the $10 flat-top brush that comes with the powder is amazing! It’s even better than the Jane Iredale brush that costs four times as much.
I’m aware that the Mary Kay makeup isn’t all natural, so I was hesitant to try it, but I’m glad I did. The talc and cornstarch provide incredible oil control (all of the other mineral makeups I tried made me look even oilier). The finish is a smooth, natural matte finish that I’ve never been able to obtain with any other makeup. The coverage is light-medium, so here’s what I do: I dust the MK makeup all over my face, then I dust a heaveier-coverage mineral makeup only in the areas where I need camouflage–this combination is working beautifully. The other brand’s makeup applies better with the Mary Kay brush, too. My skin looks like it’s glowing from within, without the overly shimmery look of traditional minerals. I bought mine off of eBay for $11, and the brush was included, so this makeup is a fantastic value. I’m a happy camper!
This is an old post but if you are searching and coming across it, I hope this information will help.
There are now a total of 12 shades in our Mineral Powders. They range from Ivory .5, which is very light to Bronze 5, which is very dark. If you would like to try them, go to MaryKay.com and search for a consultant near you. The beauty of Mary Kay is you can try before you buy.
Ingredients: talc, zea mays (cornstarch), zinc stearate, dimethicone, boron nitride, zeolite, methylparaben, sorbic acid, ethylene/methacrylate copolymer, propylparaben, tetrasodium edta, isopropyl titanium triisostearate, bht, iron oxides, mica
Can I tell you what all of those are? No, I can not. However if you go to the site, and get to the ingredients information, you can click them and it will detail the ingredient fully.
I have tried so many different types of mineral makeups, but Mary Kay has definitely been the best! I love the way it makes my face feel. I have extremely oily skin with redness and some acne. My skin is also VERY sensitive. This product makes my face look fresh and clean! it definitely beats all other mineral makeup products, including Bare Escentuals. I found BE more oily than Mary Kay. The only thing that worries me about the MK product is that it contains Talc. I haven’t had any noticable problems so far, but it’s not like my acne is going away either. So, overall i think it’s a great product.
Oh and i’m a teenager, so it’s definitely NOT for old women.
There are actually 12 shades in the Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation line. =) Ivories, Beiges, and Bronzes… There is also the Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation brush made specially for the mineral powder foundation. It only costs $10 =)
I tried Mary Kay’s mineral powder foundation for the first time and here’s my opinion: good: covers well, much more for your money than other popular brands, easy and quick to apply (like all powder foundations), good skin match, nice finish. bad: feels drying at first(though it does seem to absorb after a while)), extremely easy to make a mess(maybe it was just that I had too much on the brush?), container could use some work to maybe let less product out at a time?, questionable ingredient(talc).
I’ve used Bare Escentuals, Sheer Cover, Smashbox, and now Mary Kay. Of all these mineral powder foundations, Sheer Cover was my favorite as far as how it felt on my skin, as it was never drying. Mary Kay seems to cover the best initially, though. I’d say if you have normal to oily skin, Mary Kay would do really well. If your skin is on the drier side, I would look into Sheer Cover, or use a really good moisturizer before using Mary Kay (which I did). I did end up purchasing Mary Kay and will use it when I want more coverage. I will probably still continue to purchase Sheer Cover, however, especially in the winter months.
This website will give you a list of all the toxic chemicals in this product.: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/118764/Mary_Kay_MK_Signature_Loose_Powder/
This is a TOXIC product….http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/118764/Mary_Kay_MK_Signature_Loose_Powder/
It rates 9 out of 10 for high toxicity for: Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Contamination concerns (ARSENIC, LEAD, HEAVY METALS)
I began having hormonal problems after using this and all other Mary Kay products because of the heavy use of toxic chemical in their products.
BTW…I am not a Mary Kay basher but was a Mary Kay sales rep (twice in my life) and unknowingly sold these products to unsuspecting women. I used, and loved, every single product in their product line.
Before I signed up as a consultant, I asked my Sales Director about the chemicals in their products and she told me “there is no 100% natural, organic makeup out there”. This is so not true. I had a bad feeling ever since she told me that and then began to do more research. After discovering the chemicals and what they do to our bodies (especially the disrupting the hormones in my case), I withdrew as a Mary Kay Consultant.
I only tell you this because I used them and believed in them too, until I did more research.
Regardless of how well they work or how many shades they have, etc., the bottom line is they have harmful ingredients in them.
I now use the http://www.ewg.org website to look for toxic-free product.
Please research the products you use and put on your body.